Devil Electric/Self Titled/Kozmik Artifactz/207 Full Length Review

  Devil  Electric  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  stoner,  doom  metal  and  occult  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2017  album  which  was  released  by  Kozmik  Artifactz.

  Heavy  yet  melodic  doom  metal  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  and  after  awhile  female  vocals  are  added  onto  the  recording  while  the  music  also  has  a  lot  of  roots  in  the  70's  but  with  a  more  modern  atmosphere.

  A  great  amount  of  stoner  and  70's  occult  rock  elements  can  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  remain  very  true  to  a  melodic  and  retro  style  and  they  also  bring  in  a couple  of  brief  instrumentals  while  a  couple  of  later  songs  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  sticking  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction.

  Devil  Electric  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  stoner,  doom  metal  and  occult  rock  to  create  something very  dark,  heavy  and  retro  sounding,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Devil  Electric  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  stoner,  doom  metal  and  occult  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Shadowman" "The  Dove  And  The  Serpent"  and  "Hypnotica".  8/5  out  of  10.

  

Maharaja/Kali Yuga/2017 Full Length Review

  Maharaja  are  a  band  from  Dayton,  Ohio  that  plays  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2017  album  "Kali  Yuga"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Powerful  sounding  bass  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  drum  beats  and  melodic  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  as  well  as  some  aggressive  vocals  while  elements  of  hardcore  can  also  be  heard  on  the  recording  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  more  influenced  by  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion  while  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  stoner  metal  and  after  awhile  high  pitched  sludge  style  screams  start to  make  their  presence  known  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  a  couple  of  the  songs  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  clean  singing  is  also  used  briefly.

  Maharaja  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  sludge  metal  while  also  mixing  in  the  energy  of  hardcore  punk,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  occultism  and  apocalyptic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Maharaja  are  a  very  great  sounding  sludge  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blood  Moon"  "Ouroboros"  and  "I,  Undyimg".  8  out  of  10.

Highrider/Roll For Initiative/The Sign Records/2017 CD Review

  Highrider  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  mixture  of  heavy,  thrash,  doom  metal  and  hardcore  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "Roll  For  The  Initiative"  which will  be  released  in  September  by  The  Sign  Records.

  Thrash  metal  style  riffing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  blast  beats  and  angry  shouting  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  while  atmospheric  keyboards  can  be  heard  in  the  background  at  times  while  the  mid  tempo  sections  are  very  heavily  influenced  by  hardcore and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  some  of  the  guitar leads  also  add  in  a  touch  of  traditional  metal  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  adding  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  you  can  also  hear  some  psychedelic  touches  in  the  keyboards  at  times  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  70's  feeling  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  bring  in  the  energy  of  punk  rock  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  sound  very  powerful.

  Highrider  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  heavy,  thrash,  doom  metal,  psychedelic,  punk  and  hardcore  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  something  very  original.  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  negative  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Highrider  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  heavy,  thrash,  doom  metal,  psychedelic,  punk  and  hardcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nihilist  Lament"  "The  Greater  Monkey"  and  "The  Rope  And  The  Blade".  8  out  of  10.   

False Gods/Reports From Oblivion/2017 EP Review

  False  Gods  are  a  band  from  New  York  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and   plays  a  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  with  some  elements  of  southern  metal, thrash  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2017  ep  "Reports  From  Oblivion"  which  will  be  released  in  August.

  Distorted  amp  sounds  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  drum  beats  which  also  leads  to  a  heavier  direction  along  with  some  angry  hardcore  vocals  being  added  onto  the  recording  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  riffs  also  use  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  being  influenced  by  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  fashion  and  the  music  also  incorporates  elements  of  southern  and  thrash  metal  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  sloe  and  mid  paced  parts  along  with  the  vocals  also  using  a  semi  melodic  tone  briefly  along  with  a  brief  use  of  sludge  style  screams  and  the  music  always  remains  heavy.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  False  Gods  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  hardcore,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spirit  World".  8  out  of  10.

  

Neurosis/The World As Law/Neurot Recordings/2017 CD Re-Issue Review

  Neurosis  are  a  band  from  Oakland,  California  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  played  more  of  a mixture  of  crust,  d  beat,  hardcore  punk  and  extreme  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  1990  album  "The  World  As  Law"  which  will  be  re-issued  in August  by  Neurot  Recordings.

  Acoustic guitar  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads  and  powerful  bass  guitars  being  added  onto  the  recording  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  take s the  music  more  into  a  hardcore  punk  direction  along  with  some  shouting  style  vocals  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  elements  of  d  beat.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  elements  of  noise  rock  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  acoustic  guitars  also  return  briefly  as  the  album  progresses  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  some  of  the  more  aggressive  riffing  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  thrash  and  one  of t he  songs  shows  signs  of  the  future  experimental  style.

  On  this  recording  Neurosis  played  mostly  a  d  beat  style  of  hardcore  punk  while  a  great  amount  of  metal  influences  can  be  heard  along  with  an  experimental  touch,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  devastation, evolution  through  pain  and  spirituality  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Neurosis  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Double-Edged  Sword"  "To  What  End?"  and  "Blisters".  8  out  of  10.      

Brume Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?



JM: Brume is a slow playing, monotonous three piece doom/metal band from San Francisco California. Think if Portishead played metal, yeh that. We got together in 2014 over a love of bands like The Melvins, Yob and High on Fire. Since then we've released two records, our most recent being our debut full length we recorded with the legendary Billy Anderson.



2.You have a new album coming out this month, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the ep you had released in 2015?



JM: Rooster is a sonically more diverse and dynamic record overall. We focused on writing an album that would balance the slow, hypnotic vibe we had captured with Donkey, and create more diversity. More focus lyrics and vocal melodies, greater contrast musically not only throughout the album but within songs themselves.



SM:  I like to think of music being a timestamp on that part of our lives.  That is who we were at that moment and it won’t be who we are tomorrow.  So 2015 sounds like us and our vibe in 2015 and 2017 is what we were vibing in 2017. Courage, freedom and darkness reflects 2017.  2015 represents stress, hope and wonderment.



3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?



SM: The lyrics are adapted poems from one of the thousand notepads I have laying around my home to get repetitive thoughts out of my head for good and find peace.  Foolishly, I now find myself now repeating them over and over again on a microphone.  I suppose they are about self-torment when I think about it that way.  



One song talks about that we are all contributors to fuck faces power whores, if we don’t stop depending on other humans. Another is about the fear and healing behind honesty.  Another about my soul being at war and it manifesting itself in another fucking dream about the devil.  Another about this backstabbing cunt who always plays the victim. Another is about a man I admire. It’s about real life.



4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Brume'?



JM: We desperately wanted to call the band Fog not only because of where the band lives (SF) but the mood fog brings. Unfortunately there are plenty of bands called Fog. So we landed on the name 'Brume' as a French word meaning fog that also had the secondary 'witchy' element to it. There is an electronic artist in France that has used this name, at the time we picked and started using it he was defunct but alas, he's back. We now both use it.



5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?



JM: Desertfest in London was absolutely incredible. We played to a fully packed 700+ Underworld/Camden (a line around the block to get in whilst we played) We were joined by my brothers Gareth and Rich from London Sludge band Gurt for our last song of the set. Inter Arma played later on the same stage and we saw so many incredible bands over the course of the weekend. So much love, beards and drinks. Epic. I hope we get to play Desertfest again soon.



SM: I’m in love with elephant tree, inter arma, sedulus, gurt, vodun, graveline and we shared a stage with them, like Jamie said, at the Underworld.  So my stage performance reflected my gratefulness for performing for or with people I admire.  I try to feel like each show is my last show so I stay in the moment and appreciate what is going on at the time I’m playing. Sometimes I’m grooving with one person in the audience the whole show as if they are the only person there and we get each other.



JPL: I’ve been told we smile too much for a doom band. It can’t be helped. I love these two.



6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?



JM: We toured the UK the day we released the record. We have some shows planned around the bay area (with Inter Arma and High on Fire/Big Business/Holy Grove) and plan to get out to more of the west coast later this year.



JPL: I’m hoping we’ll do an extended tour of the US and more of Europe in 2018.



7.The new album is coming out on your own label, do you feel you have more freedom working by yourself than what you would have with a label?



SM:  We are more into timing when it comes to releasing our album rather than being a part of a label.  Not to mention, we love and support our favorite bands and the labels that support them.  Ripple and STB treat us like family and they have wicked bands on their label.  Don’t forget about vinyl! We released with DHU, they are wonderful and supportive label.  Lucky to work with someone so flexible and accommodating.



JPL: Most definitely. We’ve always clung to the DIY principle and having the label is another way of continuing that and elevating our sisters-and-brothers-in-arms who are also making incredible music that may otherwise go unnoticed.



8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of stoner and doom metal?



JM: The feedback has been awesome. From a scene perspective the love has been pretty overwhelming. JJ at the Obelisk, Billy Goate, Zachary Painter and co at doomed and stoned plus the past three months we've been in the Doom charts top ten is just crazy. We've done a lot of interviews and had a ton of great reviews. Our Vinyl has come out on DHU Records and seeing all the photos of people lose their shit on the wax is a blast too. We are so happy with the response.



SM:  I’m still shocked.  I think it has been way more than I expected and it seems like it grows every month.  All of that support has allowed us to keep writing, travel, record, etc.



JPL: The scene is very much alive. It’s been a lot of fun so far.



9.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?



JM: Susie is an Engineer Wizard and mom to a 3 yr old. I am a Creative Director and Jordan works in video production and runs a record label. Brume takes every ounce of our spare time away from our incredibly patient wives and husband.



SM:  Nope.  Brume, family, engineering and sleep takes the full 24 hours in a day.



JPL: I’ve always got my ear to the ground. I’m always ready to take on too much.



10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?



JM: I am excited to see how much more diverse and sonically boundless we can be. We have ideas already brewing on the next record that already break any mold people might think we use.



SM:  If we stay on the same trajectory, we’ll fit less and less into a specific genre and create music more and more that represents who we are at the time we make it.  That typically is not healthy for your musical career and at times can be disappointing for your old fans; but it still feels right and what we want to do, so fuck it.



JPL: I think we have a lot of surprises left in us.



11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?



JM: I Love Monotonous Blues like Junior Kimborough and West African band Tinariwen. I also love sad music. Folk music is a constant source of beautiful sadness for me, i'm really digging Sean Rowe at the moment. Radiohead was a huge influence on Rooster for me. In genre, I'm a Yob obsessed boy. Can't get over it but All Them Witches are one of the best bands out there. You'll find between the three of us that influence wise we are kinda all over the map. I love it that way. It means the next record will be even weirder.



SM: I’m from Louisiana, USA.  I grew up with Blues and Traditional Jazz and fell head over heals for punk rock in 7th grade.   It changes often but a few on my constant rotation this month is Wovenhand mostly and, also, King Dude, Elephant Tree, Spelljammer, Gurt, He whose ox is gored, Inter Arma, Chelsea Wolfe, Grimes, Earth, Bjork and Diamanda Galas.



JPL: I’m a sucker for a catchy melody. Right now I’m into marimba videos on YouTube. I don’t know why.



12.What are some of your non musical interests?



JM:  I'm a designer so I spend a fair bit of my time designing for brands, people and friends too. I surf. As much as I can. It's the most relaxing thing in my life.



SM:  I like chemistry, engineering, software, sewing, fixing people’s hair, making hats



JPL: Like all good Americans, I love fishing and baseball.



13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?



JPL: Thanks to everyone for their support from all over the world. We definitely feel it and we hope to bring you lots more music in the future.

Tommy Stewart's Dyerwulf Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf consists of me on bass and vocals plus my friend Eric Vogt on drums. I’m also the bassist for the classic thrash band Hallows Eve, who is inactive at this time. So I decided to get up and do some different stuff! Amonst several projects I decided it would be fun to just strip it don to me with a drum accompaniment. II have admit, I was a little apprehensive at first, but then got so much positive response I decide to keep doing it awhile.


2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

Very heavy and very raw. I did some crazy shit in the studio to record this thing. For one thing we actually did record it loud as possible. The decibel meter was hitting about 108 which is totally unnecessary, but that was half the fun of it! I wanted to get that real roar, that real live sound I can make on a bass that gets covered a lot in most recordings I’ve been on. Also we straight up recorded each song only 3 times and took the best one. So all the mistakes are there and that’s how we wanted it. Very real. Please turn it up when you’re listening to it or you’re not getting the full thing! The vocals I did sit down to do and they’re definitely produced, but I did some odd shit with them as well.


3.On the album you have the bass guitar as the lead instrument, what was the decision behind not using any regular guitars?

I just didn’t hear it as needed. These songs needed a beat, a melodic passage, and some vocals to talk about it. That’s all. Simple minimalism. Plus it’s kind of a dig to my guitar friends to say, see, guitar can be done without. I love guitar! But not always important. What really matters is the song and atmosphere. People forget about who did it one day, but a real good song is remembered.


4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Some people ask me what the hell are you talking about in your songs?!  Most of it is about something personal and real to me. I can explain each line. There is one song called Horrorshow which is my doom redo of an old Hallows Eve song I wrote from Tales of Terror. It was about my disillusionment as I grew from a boy to man. Another is With Darkened Eyes which I refer to as possibly the only doom metal love song ever written. It’s about the passing death of one lover to the awakening of a new one. And that happened to me so, again, for me it’s real.


5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Dyerwulf'?

Nothing cryptic. I rleeased a solo album under the name Tommy Stewart. Apparently my name is so common I needed to alter something so people could find me. I’ma  Game of Thrones fan. So there ya go! This project is my direwulf. My companion.


6.You have a musical history that goes back to the mid 70's, what is it that motivates you to keep going after 40 years?

I just have nothing better to do. Seriously. I’m sure I would be dead or in jail if I didn’t be obsessed with my music projects till the day I can’t do it anymore. I care very little for much in the world. Some small close family, art, music matters to me. That’s about it. I’m not meant to do other things. I think this is meant to be m  mission. I don’t know why, but I know to do it.


7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

At this time we have only played 6 shows I think. We are quite new as a band. Of course I’ve played a lot of shows in forty years, but these few shows have had tremendous response. People have been over the top nice and encouraging to us after the shows.


8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

Yes! I am booking some US dates right now, today, for some Bludy Gyres and Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf shows in the north Midwest in September. I’m going to also be working up more fall dates, mainly for the US east coast, but also applying to all the European festivals. That’s where I really want to be.


9.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding your line up or do you choose to remain a duo?

Who knows? I try to be open minded and color outside the lines. We did have 2 drummers at one of our shows just for fun. Right now we’re planning on a doing a second album as is, but maybe something will be different later.


10.On the album you had done a cover of The Monkees 'Porpoise Song', what was the decision behind doing your own version of this song?

Ah. This is very personal. I’ll tell it in a short way. This was a favorite song of my wife who passed away in 2010. One day I was singing it to her container of ashes and I suddenly felt I was singing it with much enough passion that perhaps I should record it. The best music, to me as an artist, is that which is truly felt as you play it.


11.The new album was released on 'Soman Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

It’s in France and run by Mister Eric Ruether! I liked the deal which seemed to be a good deal for our goals at this time. I liked his ideals about the package and passion of the music is more important than the money.


12.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom metal?

So far, we are hearing that fans of doom metal should hear this, we’re getting the thumbs up, good, good. I’m glad because that’s who I made it for. I don’t expect everyone to like such a specialty sound as roaring basses and tribal drums with some guy, that’s me, hollering about fools and the breast of death and so on. If your waiting for the guitar sound like a cat screaming when his tail is stepped on, it’s not there. This is all very aggressive bass and played with abandonment.


13.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that you are a part of?

Ah ha! Now, on the other hand I’m also in Bludy Gyres which has a new album out called Echoes of a Distant Scream. It is also doom metal, but more in the vein of Solitude Aeturnus or Candlemas. More rich and possibly the main signature sound is the two harmony guitars at work. This band is the opposite of the other. I also produced this one, but it’s done meticulously, 164 hours of editing, nothing live about it, very studio, lush and precise. A little outside the box, unique, but well thought out.


14.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?

I don’t know! I have been doing more producing. I just produced an album for a band called Malviant. I have a studio I call Blue Ogre noise Lab. I’ve worked on six albums this year. I’m also toying with the idea of starting my own small label. I’v also thought of doing an album with guests only on it. Sort of the same idea as the old Probot, but different music. We’ll see!


15.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I really listen to a lot of of doom such as Electric Wizard. In daily listening while cleaning the studio for instance, I might have on some super old Pink Floyd or probably some friend’s album.


16.What are some of your non musical interests?

Tough. I do like to go on adventures with my close family. I just got back from staying in the French Quarter in New Orleans for a week. Our family has a condo there so we go occasionally and soak up the atmosphere. I’m fully attending 70000 Tons of Metal in 2018. So I guess you could say I like to travel. I spent about a week in Yellowstone that was awesome and involved a lot of hiking. I’m ready to go anyday, let’s go somewhere!


17.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

 I’d say that I really do appreciate the fans who have sent me good vibes about the dyerwulf album. And I appreciate the feedback of any kind! It really means a lot to me because this isn’t just another album for me. It’s a very personal album. So thanks to those who have been telling me they dig it.