Saturday, January 23, 2016

Desert Suns - Desert Suns





There aren't any prices for guessing which style of music San Diego band Desert Suns play. Their bandcamp page states, "In that space where psychedelia, blues-rock, doom and sludge coalesce, it’s there you’re likely to find Desert Suns." This is heavily 70's tinged desert rock,

The band provide knockout blows early in the album with the psychedelic hard rock of "Burning Temples" and the hard-out jamming groove of "Space Pussy" with its wailing guitar. There's a definite Sabbath influence in "Passing Through". The vocals sound close to Ozzy but Desert Suns have the talent to manage not to sound like yet another Sabbath clone. "Ten Feet Down" is a serious change of pace with a huge dose of Southern blues. The opening vocals on "Memories of Home" remind this listener of "The Real Thing" period Mike Patton although there's also Ozzy simultaneously shining through.

This is a great debut and it's easy to see why the two labels wanted to re-release this. I hope Desert Suns stick around for some time.

This album was originally released on a limited 300 run of vinyl but has been re-released in Nort America on vinyl and CD by Ripple Music and HeviSike music.

4/5


Desert Suns on facebook



Check out the whole album on Desert Suns bandcamp page.

Friday, January 22, 2016

War Curse - Final Days EP




There are no prizes for guessing what style of music War Curse play. The band's chosen handle should be familiar to any Kreator fans out there as it's a song from the German thrasher's "Hordes of Chaos" album which we reviewed here. War Curse are closer to old school Bay Area thrash metal than the thrash coming from the European continent.

The press release states that Final Days is highly recommended for fans of Kreator, Megadeth, Havok and Testament. It's a little odd that Exodus aren't mentioned as their influence runs strong in every song. The vocals of Tarek Puska sound on all the songs like a cross between Steve Zetro and Chuck Billy with a stronger Exodus feel. "Blue Line of Injustice" is a slow thrasher that uses the template Slayer set with "South of Heaven". "Severed Crosses" is tight melodic thrash with a catchy chorus.

This is an impressive EP that will appeal to fans of eighties style thrash. I'm looking forward to hearing more from this tight unit known as War Curse. These guys get bonus points for rocking a Black Fast T-shirt on their facebook page cover photo.


3.5/5

War Curse on facebook



Check out "Final Days" on bandcamp.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Mustard Relics - Martyred Heretics CD-R compilation



I've been out of touch with the blogging world for a little while now. I could make up or just give a bunch of excuses but blow that....readers don't look at this blog for excuses although I guess some would say this is an excuse for a music blog that covers excuses for music and that'd be right in an opinionated way.

Anyway lets get to the bit that you probably want to read and cover some musical ground. My blogging buddy, Justin from the Mustard Relics blog has been a lot busier than this lazy blogger and put together a compilation CD that largely covers electronica. My knowledge of electronica is fairly limited as it's not a genre that I listen to a lot of. I do know and like bands like Front 242, New Order, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails plus a few others that I can't remember the names of right now and if I get around to editing this, you'll likely see them written here otherwise put a pen to screen and insert the names I've missed here: _________________________________________________________________________________)________________



The compilation opens with a horror movie sample which sets the theme of the CD. The first song is by a band called "Prayers" and the opening of this song reminds me of Depeche Mode but these guys have slightly shouted vocals and looping over the electical sounds. The tune is a definite toe-tapper.

Angels Dust song "Funeral" has a bleak spacey dark feel that reminds me of Joy Division (a band I've been thrashing during my time off blogging). The female vocals give the song an uplifting feel despite the title. This tune is great. Listen to it!

B
Pornostroika dadaifi's track had me thinking of the collabaration that Afrikaa Bambata did with Leftfieldd. If you don't know it, you must watch the video to Afrika Shox. Due to the lyrics of the track not being in English I have no idea what these guys are on about but if I consider the lyrics and vocals as a separate instrument, it's a rocking track.

Mach Baron's track "All Flesh is Grass" opens with a sample from a horror movie and is an apocalyptic industrial number with more frightening precise accuracy than your average horoscope writer both lyrically and musically.

Street Sects - sound like a death metal band playing disco and if that sounds terrifying keep well away. Truth is, it's great and sounds better than most of the death metal that appears in my inbox. Oh shit, now I'm likely to get a tonne of disco review requests, haha.

Blitzkrieg Baby have a spoken track with music in the background. There's a poetic feel to the tune.

After a misanthropic rant Pornostroika dadaifi are back and the tracks called NZ's on the trees. I have no idea what these guys are on about but the electronic noodling and ranting (n whatever language it i) mesh well.

Pyrotoxxxn's "Microsleep" is sleep paralysis nightmare hell put to song.

Gianko's track is a little difficult for this listener to get into but that's because it's over 14 minutes long and lately a goldfish would have a longer attention span than this reviewer.

I'm not going to give this a rating as compilations are tricky beasts to review let alone rate. Support Justin and give Martyred Heretics a listen on bandcamp and if you're inclined to get a CD do so before he runs out. There's zine styled inserts with the CD which look really great and lend a hands on feel for those of us who still like tangible music product.

Beastwars - IV

After over a year off for various reasons, we have returned solely because we wanted to review the new Beastwars album. I really w...