Psychedelic Rock

Ancestors – Suspended in Reflections Review

By Huck N Roll on August 26, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Pelagic Records, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, 31 comments

“Sometimes when bands have lengthy breaks between albums, it’s easy to forget them. Case in point: Ancestors, whom I had forgotten all about until Suspended in Reflections showed up in our August list. A quick dig through my music library showed me why the name was familiar: their 2012 album, In Dreams and Time, was one of my favorites of the year, a truly stellar piece of art that, had I been reviewing back in those days, would have been a front-runner for Record o’ the Month.” Respect your Ancestors.

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.

Chubby Thunderous Bad Kush Masters – Come and Chutney Review

By Master of Muppets on July 22, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Doom Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Retro Metal, Riff Rock Records, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, 30 comments

“I mean, really. Come and Chutney? By fucking Chubby Thunderous Bad Kush Masters?? Well played, you Chubby London fucks; you have my attention. Billed as FFO Weedeater, Bongzilla, Black Sabbath, and… and fucking Vengaboys?! Well now, I’m as elated as a child at an amusement park.” Don’t come round here no more.

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.

Boss Keloid – Melted on the Inch Review

By Huck N Roll on April 27, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Doom Metal, Holy Roar Records, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Sludge, Stoner Metal, 91 comments

“At AMG Headquarters last week, as a number of us were gathered around the bench press station during our allocated one hour of yard time, discussions turned from who could bench the most, to personal tastes when it comes to genres to review. When I was finally allowed to talk, I said I like my dad metal, sure, but I also enjoy deeply of prog, doom, some stoner — and I like it all to be just a little off-kilter. Well, members of Boss Keloid must have been standing nearby, because Melted on the Inch, their third album, ticks all my non-dad-metal boxes.” Boss dad prison metal.

Soldat Hans – Es Taut Review

By El Cuervo on April 12, 2018 in 2018, Post-metal, Post-Rock, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Swiss Metal, Wolves and Vibrancy Records, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Psychedelic Rock, 37 comments

“There isn’t much more satisfying in life than the accidental stumble into something really cool. A relationship. A blog in which you would still be participating 7 years later. A record for which you had no expectations as you simply didn’t know it existed. It’s the last of these which is the feature of today’s review. I have much less free time these days so I spend less time sampling new music. A lack of interest in the first 2 or 3 minutes of a song is a death sentence for that record. Switzerland’s Soldat Hans and their sophomore album called Es Taut should have fallen at this first hurdle given its glacial pace. Should.” Es Taut, Cuervo?

Octopus – Supernatural Alliance Review

By Master of Muppets on April 10, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Retro Metal, Reviews, Rise Above Records, Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Retro Metal, Rock, 78 comments

“Here we are, once again, gathered together under the metaphoric roof of the Angry Metal Hall. Our ranks comprise fans of all walks of metal, no two tastes are identical and yet we all convene here to bang our heads as one. What joins us disparate degenerates as children of the Jørn? What fantastic force unites the photometers, hamsters, and screaming boxes that plague our comment section? The answer holds as trve now as in those dark days preceding the internet: it’s the riffs, stupid. This obvious answer in turn poses an obvious question: “What does this have to do with Octopus’ Supernatural Alliance?”” What a big tent you have.

JIRM – Surge Ex Monumentis Review

By Huck N Roll on April 3, 2018 in 2018, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Small Stone Records, Stoner Rock, Swedish Metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 28 comments

“First of all, look at that cover. If that isn’t one of the most glorious pieces of album art, I don’t know what is. It reminds me ever so slightly of Dio’s old mascot, but JIRM don’t worship at that altar. No, the band formerly known as Jeremy Irons and the Ratgang Malibus. play a groove-filled psych/stoner blend with plenty of progressive tendencies, and Surge Ex Monumentis is their first album under the shortened moniker. After three albums with their cumbersome old name. Why the name change? To distance themselves from a washed-up, mean old actor, or to just give us less to try and remember? And what else besides the name has changed?” Up the Jeremy Irons!

The Golden Grass – Absolutely Review

By El Cuervo on April 2, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Hard Rock, Listenable Records, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, 21 comments

“I love that title. Absolutely. It’s so charming. So affirmative. The Golden Grass, too, which sounds like a chip off the old rural-prog block made famous by the likes of Jethro Tull (though with a more obvious weed connotation). But despite strong ’60s and ’70s rock influences, Tull this is not. Hailing from Brooklyn, Absolutely represents the third full-length release by these chaps. Is it good? Absolu… well, partly.” Grass or pass?

Howlin’ Sun – Howlin’ Sun Review

By El Cuervo on February 7, 2018 in 2018, Apollon Records, Hard Rock, Non-Metal Metal Things, Norwegian Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Blues, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, 10 comments

“I’ve already waxed poetic about my deepening love for ’70s rock but the ’60s remain a relatively uncharted territory for me. I’m of the not-so-humble opinion that The Beatles are overrated (though unquestionably hugely influential) and I find the progressive developments and greater variety found in ’70s rock far more appealing to a decade whose bands who were still much simpler and overtly blues-based. Thus, the promise of ’60s rock with a heavier edge, professed on the promo sheet appealed—on what am I missing out? Can the ’60s interest me? Will I ever stop questioning myself? Answers to some of these questions might be found below.” Question self, question music.