Angry Metal Guy

Acid Witch // Stoned
Rating: 3.0/5.0 — Binge and dirge
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Websites: myspace.com/acidwitch
Release Dates: Out now worldwide!

Toward the back of the Big Book of Metal Ingredients there is a little known concoction. It calls for one part Saint Vitus, one part Cathedral and one part Necrophagia. To that mix, add creepy church organs, horror movie samples and trippy/psychedelic flourishes. Finish by generously seasoning with magic weed, baking heavily and voila! You get Acid Witch and Stoned is an apt title indeed since this will give you a sore neck and a serious case of the munchies. This is the second album by these death/doom/stoner weirdos from Michigan and they stay true to the odd sound pioneered on their 2008′s debut Witchtanic Hallucinations and provide another wack0,  tongue-in-cheek trip through metal and reefer madness. While I highly doubt this will find a very big audience, it’s a pretty entertaining, heavy yet silly slab o death/doom and unlike anything else out there. Continue reading

Monster Magnet // Mastermind
Rating: 4.5/5.0 — Rocks harder than a van parked at Woodstock!
Label: Napalm Records
Websites: zodiaclung.com | myspace.com/monstermagnet
Release Dates: EU: 29.10.2010 | US: 10.26.2010

Monster Magnet is one of the coolest band names ever, hands down, don’t argue.  As for the music they’ve produced, I’ve been back and forth on it over the years.  I liked their first two albums with their over-the-top 70′s psychedelic, fuzzed out, space rock worship and I always thought Dopes to Infinity was their crowning achievement in terms of rock songwriting.  After that things seemed to go downhill as they drifted toward a more commercial rock sound lacking the style that originally drew me in.  Despite this drop off, I never lost respect for band mastermind Dave Wyndorf because he was churning out stoner rock before it was called stoner rock and WAY before it became hip, trendy and “retro.”  Like his band, Mr. Wyndorf has  had his share of ups and downs but there is no disputing that the guy is stoner rock personified and a living, breathing throwback to another musical era.  Therefore, it’s with mucho gladness I report that Mr. Wyndorf and Monster Magnet are back on top in a big way with their eighth album Mastermind. 

From note one of opener “Hallucination Bomb” it’s apparent Wyndorf has at least partially returned to his roots, which means thick, Black Sabbath-inspired riffs and a palpable 70′s vibe teamed with strange, often hilariously oddball lyrics. This song is classic Monster Magnet and makes me realize how much I missed their earlier style. However, don’t start expecting another version of Spine of God. As Mastermind unspools to reveal one top-notch rocker after another, it’s clear Monster Magnet has morphed from a stoner rock band into a finely tuned, greasy and dirty American hard rock unit. The 70s vibe is still there but it isn’t always the defining characteristic it once was. Great tracks like “Bored With Sorcery,” “Dig That Hole” and “Gods and Punks” are really just good old fashioned hard rock and some tracks even have a noticeable Clutch vibe to them (“Hallucination Bomb” and the excellent “100 Million Miles Away” in particular). This time out Mr. Wyndorf has really nailed that perfect balance between the older 70s worship and straight-up, no bullshit hard rock and everything about this album feels rejuvenated, hungry and pissed off.

Of the twelve tracks on Mastermind, nine are outright rockers suitable for biker bars, auto shops and strip clubs. The remaining three are more mellow, emotional tracks which work well with the possible exception of “The Titan Who Cried Like a Baby” which goes on too long without much energy. Special mention must go to “When the Planes Fall from the Sky” for its slow, dirge-like pace and evil, menacing mood.  A great, great song on an album full of great songs!

The guitar work from Ed Mundell and Phil Caivano is superb across the entirety of Mastermind and this is a very riff driven rock album. Nearly every track contains rocking, catchy riffs and the soloing is spot on for this type of rock, retaining enough stylistic flashbacks to the 70′s for even their oldest fans (check out “Perish in Fire” which also includes bongo drums!). Alongside the outstanding riffery, Wyndorf’s vocals are even better than usual with some extra piss and vinegar in them, especially on “Gods and Punks” and “When the Planes Fall From the Sky.” Additionally, his lyrics are excellent, alternating between completely wacko, funny as hell and  morose.

This is by far the best and most consistently great album Monster Magnet has made since forever and the first to successfully merge their past with their more recent direction. I haven’t stopped playing this album for two days and I have no plans to stop doing so anytime soon. Total win for Mr. Wyndorf and the Magnet!

Spiritual Beggars // Return to Zero
Rating: 4.0/5.0 — Who said doom couldn’t be fun?
Label: InsideOut [EU | US]
Websites: myspace.com/spiritualbeggars
Release Dates: EU: 30.08.2010 | US: 10.12.2010

A wise and Angry Metal Guy once said (earlier this week) that “retro is the new new” and the trends in the angry metal world are surely proving those prophetic words true. We are up to our collective arses in retro thrash, retro power and retro retro. While new is always great, even the “new” new can be mighty fine as with the latest release from Sahg and this wicked mother, Return to Zero from Sweden’s own Spiritual Beggars. This is the seventh full length from Michael Amott’s long running side project and respite from the melodic death metal world and although it’s as retro as retro gets, this is one slamming, jamming slab of heavy stoner/doom rock n roll! Continue reading

Mose Giganticus // Gift Horse
Rating: 3.0/5.0 — Sludgedoomstonersynthrock
Label: Relapse Records
Websites: mosegiganticus.com | myspace.com/mosegiganticus
Release Date: July 20th, 2010

Every now and then, a band comes along and I’m utterly at a loss for how to classify them in the official Steel Druhm Book O’ Metal [That's what you get for not using the Angry Book o' Metal Classifications™, n00b. — AMG]. Generally, this causes me anger and vexation, but I always give a nod of appreciation for the bands that resist easy classification. The latest recipient of the nod is Gift Horse, the second album by Mose Giganticus, for they have truly baffled my considerable pigeonholing acumen. They have forced even me to admit I’m stumped. Mose Giganticus is apparently a one-man entity created by Matthew Garfield, a staple of the Philly punk rock scene for some time. While some of that punk ethos is apparent on Gift Horse, this isn’t exactly a punk album. What is it then? Good question!! Let’s try to piece this puzzle together shall we?

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