Stoner Rock

Mr. Plow – Maintain Radio Silence Review

By Grymm on August 10, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Reviews, Ripple Music, Stoner Rock, Stoner Rock, 38 comments

“There could be a multitude of reasons why it happen, but very rarely is it a good sign when an artistic piece gets delayed. Whether it’s a movie you’ve been wanting to see for ages or a game that you’ve had reserved for nearly three years, when you anticipate something and it gets pushed back time and again, you go from being anxious about it to worrying. But sometimes the exact opposite happens. Case in point: Maintain Radio Silence, the first album in 12 years from Houston rockers Mr. Plow.” Mr. Plow, that’s their name.

Motorowl – Atlas Review

By El Cuervo on August 6, 2018 in 2018, Century Media, Doom Metal, German Metal, Hard Rock, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, 21 comments

“In 2016, The Underground yielded a cool troupe of hard rockers hailing from Eastern Germany called Motorowl. Their debut, Om Generator (“OG”), was an accomplished and mature outing for such a fresh group and they naturally caught my eye when they reappeared in our promo bin, replete with Century Media record deal intact and spacey new artwork. I like exposing small bands even if signed to (relatively) big labels so permit me 600 words or so to explore Atlas.” Who??

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.

From Beyond – The Band From Beyond Review

By Steel Druhm on May 8, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 64 comments

“Life coaches and creepy self-help gurus always seem to tell you to get a clear plan and follow it. As if all life’s complexities and intrinsic chaos could be bypassed by the mere existence of bullet points and feel good mission statements. Like many of my fellow metal fanciers, I prefer a life of chaos, uncertainty and random disaster. I feel safe saying Texas oddballs From Beyond are right there with me on that too. Their debut jettisons policy and protocol, instead hurling ideas against a studio wall to see what sticks and how deeply.” Of plans and punches.

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!

Freedom Hawk – Beast Remains Review

By Steel Druhm on March 24, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Hard Rock, Reviews, Ripple Music, Rock, Stoner Rock, Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, 46 comments

“Finding myself with a little free time on my hands this past week, I decided to snag an extra promo from the sump and try my luck with some unknown acts. I got lucky enough with Last Days of Eden, so I doubled down and went back for more, grabbing a promo from Virginia’s Freedom Hawk, and wouldn’t you know it, I’m on a bit of a roll here..” Freedom rock.

Oblivious – När Isarna Sjunger Review

By Eldritch Elitist on February 14, 2018 in 2018, Gaphals, Hard Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, 0 comments

“Welp, it’s official: I’ve finally joined the likes of Steel Druhm, El Cuervo and Huck n Rolll in AMG’s Dad Rock Review Squad. In my defense, this was a total accident. Oblivious’ debut record was mistakenly labeled “Doom Metal” when I found it at the bottom of the thoroughly-picked early February promo barrel, and while I suppose a reasonable line of logic can be traced between the House that Sabbath Built and Oblivious’ brand of fuzzed-up hard rock, it doesn’t do anything to leave me feeling emotionally trampled.” Dad’s do it better.

The Bad Larrys – Hodads Review

By Huck N Roll on February 6, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Self-released, Stoner Rock, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 21 comments

“I’ve never had Larrys as friends. I have no idea if most of them are good, and the only bad ones are in this band. And although I know what hodads are, and I’m pretty damn old, I’ve never known any personally. So this album from The Bad Larrys, Hodads, is a whole lotta unknowns for me.” Don’t Larry profile!

Weedpecker – III Review

By El Cuervo on February 2, 2018 in 2018, Polish Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Stickman Records, Stoner Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 54 comments

“It’s entirely unsurprising that Weedpecker reside on the same label’s roster as Elder. Both feature groovy, stoner riffs, are progressive and are drug-fueled to differing extents. Fortunately, unlike Elder, Weedpecker aren’t unrelentingly average; in fact, they’re drastically superior.” Superior drugs make for superior rock.

Laser Flames on the Great Big News – Laser Flames on the Great Big News [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]

By Saunders on December 12, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Rock, Retro Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Things You MIght Have Missed 2017, Doom Metal, Progressive Rock, Retro Metal, Sludge, Stoner Rock, 30 comments

“The term retro metal/rock gets bandied around a lot, due to the over-saturation of bands mining the freewheeling creativity of ’70s rock to varying degrees of success and very little originality. Lumping Laser Flames under the retro label would be a great disservice to the creativity and inventiveness the band conjures throughout the epic stoner odyssey of this self-titled release.” Retro rock with freakin laser beams!