Tag: retro-rock
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Brant Bjork – Jalamanta (reissue)
After the psychedelic stoner rock of Mankind Woman and the funky jazz odyssey Jacoozzi, Brant Bjork is putting out his third record in about a year, this time going back to the beginning with the 20th-anniversary deluxe edition of his solo debut, Jalamanta. A solo album in the truest sense of the word, this record…
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Dead Witches – The Final Exorcism
If you ever wanted to hear what Electric Wizard might sound like with female vocals, this is the band for year. Featuring venerable ex-Wizard can-basher Mark Greening, Dead Witches recorded their sophomore effort in the same rural English studio as Dopethrone and Let Us Prey…although I’d say this one sounds more akin to the Wizard…
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Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman
The press release for this record was all talking about how this is Brant Bjork’s most political album yet, cuz apparently you gotta be political to sell records in this day and age. But when I listen to Mankind Woman, I don’t hear politics—it’s all about the grooves, maaaaan! This 11-track effort kicks off with…
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The Judge – Tell it to the Judge
Remember about 10 years back, when all those 70’s worshipping fuzz rock outfits were all the rage? Well, since then trends have shifted (to Dungeons & Dragons doom in pawn-shop hippie clothing), and most of those bands that still sound straight outta the 70’s seem to be really into the stuff that they play. Now,…
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Demon Eye – Prophecies and Lies
Now, some of these occult doom rock bands that have come around lately ain’t no count, but Demon Eye… Demon Eye is pretty decent. I was a fan of their last album, Tempora Infernalia, which made its way onto my larger Top 25 list a couple years back, so a new record from this North…
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Mos Generator – Abyssinia
I was a pretty big fan of Mos Generator’s last album, Electric Mountain Majesty, which was released in 2014. It was a solid blend of retro-rock and proto-doom that’s got me jonesing for the follow-up, Abyssinia. This one starts off nice ‘n heavy right outta the gate, with a great-big Swedish-style stoner rock riff in…
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Bright Curse – Before the Shore
British imprint HeviSike Records leaves little to the imagination—you get a sense of what kinda music this is before you even push play. And sure enough, the debut album from London power trio Bright Curse is equal parts heavy and psychedelic, capturing that retro-rock feel of Kadavar or Graveyard. “Lady Freedom” is led by a…
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Ruby the Hatchet – Ouroboros
I’ll be the first to tell you that I didn’t love Ruby the Hatchet’s Tee Pee Records debut. Sure they captured the sound of the 70’s… by adequately aping 17 other bands that are bringing the 70’s back. My biggest beef was that they didn’t bring anything new to the table, and seeing them open…
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La Chinga – Free Wheelin’
Super stoked for the sophomore slice from these Vancouver-based bashers, who put out their stellar self-titled debut back in 2013. These retro-rock revivalists are kinda like the West Coast’s answer to Monster Truck…y’know, with better weed. Free Wheelin’ comes rolling outta the gate with “Gone Gypsy,” which sounds like early Aerosmith with some Robert Plant…
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Saviours – Palace of Vision
Y’know, I was kinda wondering what had happened to these guys; it had been over four years since the release of their last record, Death’s Procession, and subsequent tour supporting Weedeater. No longer signed to Kemado Records, which seems to have fallen off the face of the earth itself, this Oakland retro-rock outfit is still…