Huck N Roll

Off you fuck, chief.

Black Space Riders – Amoretum Vol. 2 Review

By Huck N Roll on August 1, 2018 in 2018, Black Space Records, German Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Psychedelic Rock, 39 comments

“And now for part two of my reviews of two-part albums, the follow-up to Black Space Riders’ January release, Amoretum Vol. 1. What hooked me into that first album (and has kept me coming back regularly to select songs) was the overall feel of the songs — groovy, psychedelic cuts with a tight focus on rhythm and plenty of David Bowie influence. What I didn’t like was the opening song, an out-of-place, messy garage-punk outlier, and the penchant for the band to identify themselves only with initials. My final words in that review were ‘I’m on board for Vol. 2. Hopefully, Black Space Riders keep it going.’ So… do they?” Space madness.

Spaceslug – Eye the Tide Review

By Huck N Roll on July 26, 2018 in 2018, BSFD Records, Doom Metal, Polish Metal, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Stoner Metal, 65 comments

“Okay, I’ve got a question: do stoner rock bands write and play high, or do they just cater to those in the world who like to listen to their music while drifting in a haze of smoke? I don’t know any bands of this particular style personally, so I can’t ask them. I do remember Keith Richards once saying, ‘Don’t play high until you can play sober.’ Or maybe it was Jaco Pastorius. Or Jimi Hendrix. Or Thelonius Monk. Or Charlie Parker. Augh, I don’t know! Regardless, it’s a question I have whenever I listen to a stoner metal album, and today’s entry from Polish band Spaceslug is no exception.” Space Slug, motherf_cker.

Kontinuum – No Need to Reason Review

By Huck N Roll on July 15, 2018 in 2018, Avante Garde, Icelandic Metal, Lifeforce Records, Non-Metal Metal Things, Reviews, Avante Garde, Non-metal Metal Things, 44 comments

“Last month, one of our ~~devoted thralls~~ loyal readers was bemoaning the fact that we haven’t used the “Non-Metal Metal Things” tag in a while. Well, here you go, courtesy of dark Icelandic rockers (and Madam X favorites) Kontinuum. Why is the Huckster reviewing this album instead of Madam X?” Icelandic mystery.

Between the Buried and Me – Automata II Review

By Huck N Roll on July 13, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Sumerian Records, Progressive Metal, 103 comments

“July is “Part Two” month for me, and first up is the second half of Between the Buried and Me’s double album, Automata. Take a moment, if you will, to reacquaint yourself with the first half of this opus. Too lazy to click: Well, to summarize, BTBAM wrote their usual long album, but new record label Sumerian suggested they split it in half and stagger the release. That allows those folks who can’t stomach an hour of music to take it in smaller bursts.” A band of many parts.

Mountaineer – Passages Review

By Huck N Roll on July 5, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Lifeforce Records, Post-metal, Reviews, Shoegaze, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Shoegaze, 55 comments

“Passages follows last year’s debut, Sirens and Slumber, and Mountaineer themselves follow Secrets of the Sky, the former band of guitarist Clayton Bartholomew — a band that L. Saunders loved a few years ago. This all raised two questions: first, will I love Passages as much as L. Saunders loved Pathway two years ago, and second, will my streak of quality June releases come to a satisfying conclusion?” Hucky endings.

The Sea Within – The Sea Within Review

By Huck N Roll on June 28, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, German Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Progressive Rock, 85 comments

“I’m as leery of self-proclaimed supergroups as the next guy. They almost never work out. Usually, though, they at least have some humility about themselves, and claim they are not in fact a supergroup, but rather just a bunch of chaps who happen to want to make music together. Not so with The Sea Within. In fact, guitarist Roine Stolt (Transatlantic, The Flower Kings) says “Call it a supergroup if you want – I think we can handle that.” Big words!” Super group, super attitude.

Fire Down Below – Hymn of the Cosmic Man Review

By Huck N Roll on June 21, 2018 in 2018, Belgian Metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Ripple Music, Stoner Metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 85 comments

“I have two basic approaches when it comes to reviews. If the album is by a band whose discography I am familiar with, I’ll read the PR materials to learn more prior to listening. If it’s a band I haven’t heard of, but either grabbed off the promo list or was voluntold to take it by the inestimable Madam X, I won’t read anything about the band. I’ll dive right into the promo and form some unfettered opinions over a few listens before checking out the PR material. That’s how I did it with Belgian quartet Fire Down Below and their sophomore album, Hymn of the Cosmic Man.” Ignorance is bliss.

Odd Palace – Things to Place on the Moon Review

By Huck N Roll on June 18, 2018 in 2018, Alt-Metal, Danish Metal, Prime Collective, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Alt-Metal, Progressive Metal, 51 comments

“Many of us at AngryMetalGuy.com make no effort to hide the fact that we love music that falls just off the beaten path. A good way to get mine and others’ attention is to name-drop The Mars Volta and King Crimson in a promo blurb: I’m immediately like a small child accepting candy from a stranger.” Free opinions!

Orange Goblin – The Wolf Bites Back Review

By Huck N Roll on June 14, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Candlelight Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Spinefarm, Stoner Metal, Heavy Metal, Stoner Metal, 27 comments

“Not a lot of bands last twenty years, and even fewer do so with no real lineup changes. British stoner rock stalwarts Orange Goblin are a rare breed: aside from losing second guitarist Pete O’Malley long ago, the other four members have stood fast since 1995. Two things usually happen in these cases: first, the band gets incredibly tight, with fantastic chemistry. Twenty-three years together will do that. On the flip side, more often than not the songwriting suffers (see: Angry Metal Guy’s Law of Diminishing Recordings™). Bands turn into caricatures of what they are most famous for.” Orange you glad the Goblin’s back?

Witch Mountain – Witch Mountain Review

By Huck N Roll on June 7, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 58 comments

“Who remembers Scion AV? Scion was a Toyota offshoot that clearly had headbanging executives in charge: for a few years they sponsored the release of tracks by metal acts ranging from Meshuggah to The Melvins. And there’s the tie-in: the first time I heard Witch Mountain was from a Scion AV download back in 2010. Those two songs became bonus tracks on a European vinyl rerelease of Cauldron of the Wild, so still relatively unknown, but they showed us what Witch Mountain were: heavy traditional doom influenced by Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus, with chillingly mesmerizing vocals courtesy of Uta Plonktin.” 99 problems, but a Witch ain’t one.