SAINT HELENA FESTIVAL 2017 – Riff Erupting Blackened Masses

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Black Metal, Bronze, Cranial, Crippled Black Phoenix, Doom, Downfall Of Gaia, Electric Wizard, Feierwerk Munich, Full Of Hell, Ghost Bath, Heretoir, Iron Monkey, Justin Greaves, Merzbow, Nails, New Dark Age, Ocean City, One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache, Phantom Winter, Pink Floyd, Profound Lore Records, Saint Helena Festival, Salems Pot, Season Of Mist, Sludge, The Body, Thränenkind, Trap Them, Trumpeting Ecstasy, Ultha, Unru, Witchthroat Serpent

Saint Helena is a volcanic tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean, measures about 16 by 8 kilometres and has a population of 4,534. The island, one of the most remote islands in the world, was named after empress Saint Helena of Constantinople. Not quite as remote as the eponymous island is the annual festival with its exquisite selection of Doom, Stoner and Post everything bands. With the announcement of Black Doom/Sludge four-piece Downfall Of Gaia, the lineup of the sixth edition was completed. 13 bands will be summoned at Feierwerk Munich three months from today on June 24, 2017.

Can’t wait to see them again: Thränenkind

Headlining the event will be Bristol-based Crippled Black Phoenix. Spawned in 2004, Founder and multi-instrumentalist Justin Greaves had already made a name for himself as drummer for Iron Monkey and Electric Wizard among others. Signing with Season of Mist in 2016 brought the E.P. “New Dark Age” and the latest album “Bronze” which has been very well received by critics and fans alike. Crippled Black Phoenix create an atmosphere with a certain resemblance of one UK household names (Pink Floyd – for anyone who wouldn’t guess that…). At the other end of the scale Full Of Hell present their harsh grinding death from the east coast. Formed in 2009, this young Ocean City band has released their now acclaimed joint venture with none other than Merzbow himself. 2016 saw the release of their collaboration with the thundering and depressive duo, The Body, entitled “One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache” as well as a Split 7″ with Californian Hardcore monster Nails. 2017 will see the release of third full-length titled “Trumpeting Ecstasy” on May 5 via Profound Lore Records. And this night will also be Pychorizon’s reunion with the band that is single-handedly responsible for one of the best shows of last year AND the best album of 2016, Munich’s very own Thränenkind. The Post Black Metal outfit will be sharing stages with North Dakota-based Ghost Bath once more, to present their scene and genre dividing sound.

With acts like Ultha from Cologne, Heretoir from Augsburg, Phantom Winter & Cranial from Würzburg and Unru from my birthplace Bielefeld, the organisers of Saint Helena Festival place great emphasis on hosting bands from the German Black and Doom Metal scene. For complete lineup check flyer below.

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BLACK MOTH – The Killing Jar

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Andy Hawkins, Black Moth, Black Sabbath, Dave Vachon, Debut Album, Dom McCready, Doom, Fuzz, Grunge, Harriet Bevan, Jim Sclavunos, Jim Swainston, Land Of The Sky, Mothic Horror, Nick Cave, Nico Carew, Riot Grrrl, Spit Out Your Teeth, The Killing Jar, Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats

Leeds-based Sabbathian apprentices BLACK MOTH take off with their 2012 debut “The Killing Jar”, manecing like a lepidoptera swarm across the blackened sky…with their unique blend of doomy riffage, Fuzz-ridden tunes and softly Grunge-inflicted melancholy, the band compiles what they refer to as Mothic Horror. Starting as a foursome, BLACK MOTH sees the beginning of an easy underground escape, within two years of this unholy gathering. Sit back, relax or better yet: Go NUTTS upon the ten tracks, offering a most grooving rhythm section and hypnotic string-arrangements that built the foundation on which the sirens’ calls of one Harriet Bevan will take you by storm. Bouncing between a soulful warmth and Riot Grrrl-ish screams, this frontlady got more balls than many of her male companions – fellow guitarist Jim Swainston, bassist Dave Vachon and sticksman Dom McCready NOT included.

BLACK MOTH clearly got a full package to offer, lyrics and designs referring to their band name, verging on the state of making fun of their own image. In their current incarnation, with second axegrinder Nico Carew, the quintette is ready to spawn it’s yet untitled sophomore attempt. Their second-born mindchild is also produced by Nick Cave, Jim Sclavunos and recorded by legendary Leeds engineer Andy Hawkins.

Just fairly off track from their spontaneous on-road support for country mates UNCLE ACID AND THE DEADBEATS, BLACK MOTH will be playing throughout the UK in April and May – It’s time to spit out your teeth and give yourself to the Mothpit!

Tracklist:

01. The Articulate Dead

02. Blackbirds Fall

03. Banished But Blameless

04. Spit Out Your Teeth

05. Plague Of Our Age

06. Chicken Shit

07. Blind Faith

08. Plastic Blaze

09. Land Of The Sky

10. Honey Lung

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KADAVAR – Year End Show 2013

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Abra Kadavar, Anthrax, Berlin, Black Sabbath, Christoph Bartelt, Christoph Lindemann, Doom, It's Only Music But Live, Kadavar, Live, Simon Bouteloup, SO36, Space Chaser, Stoner, Thrash Metal, Valerio Ciucci, Year End Show

Words & pictures courtesy of Valerio Ciucci / IT’S ONLY MUSIC, BUT LIVE

SPACE CHASER had the task to open the sold out evening which saw only Berlin-based bands perform. The band, which released its new Ep “-” just few months ago, played an honest Thrash Metal, strongly influenced by the masters of the 80s. SPACE CHASER paid tribute to bands such as ANTHRAX and did it pretty well, with a fast and aggressive sound and full dedication to the Thrash Metal verb. The audience first rows went crazy, with people handbanging and supporting the band continuously. Many other people in the audience, though, were a bit confused, having a Thrash Metal band as opening act for KADAVAR. About thirty minutes to warm feet and neck, the show left open the question about the sense this kind of music has in 2013, and if we have to thank this kind of bands, which keep alive the sound.

Putting the Thrash (and beer) back in Metal: SPACE CHASER

KADAVAR is one of the most appreciated bands of the Berlin-based music scene. Three guys with beards and hair so long that one can’t really define the border between them. Three guys that one can easily understand the kind of music they play by just one look. After the omonimus album released in 2012, KADAVAR started gaining an increasing success, which led the band to release the new work “Abra Kadavar” last spring. The new album was warmly received by fans and critics, and allowed the band to embrace a never ending worldwide tour in front of large audiences.

Rocking off the old year with old sounds: KADAVAR

In a packed SO36, Kadavar came on stage accompanied by the roar of the fans: a combo of tracks from the album “Kadavar”, including some of the band’s biggest hits, immediately lit the audience up. A powerful 70s Hard Rock reworked with Stoner Rock and Doom influenced embraced the place. When listening to the first album it was possible to hear the BLACK SABBATH influences in every piece, while the new songs try to have a more personalized sound; the mix of those two aspects of the band worked perfectly smoothly during the live show. Christoph Bartelt made a great work behind the drum set while Simon Bouteloup created rhythmic bass lines in support of the guitar work by Christoph Lindemann, with the three of them blowing the audience’s mind off with. After 70 minutes of an amazing performance, KADAVAR left the stage. They didn’t offer any encore although the audience strongly called for it. KADAVAR sonorities are nothing new or innovative, but they do what they do in an excellent manner. As someone once said: “You can’t reinvent the wheel, but you can roll it!”

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FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2014 – Additional Confirmations

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70s Hardrock, Øresund Space Collective, Blood Ceremony, Blues Pills, Bluesrock, Doom, Freak Valley Festival, Mos Generator, Psychedelic, Rockfreaks, Samsara Blues Experiment, Stoner, Stubb, The Heavy Eyes, The Lone Crows, Wo Fat

After the 2014 edition of FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL has already been revealing a most exhilarating Line-Up let by Canadian Occult Rockers BLOOD CEREMONY, the organizers are thrilled to have the latest confirmation with multi-culti Rock outlet BLUES PILLS!

Stated the organizers: “We are totally freaked out that our buddies BLUES PILLS will play Freak Valley Festival 2014!!

It’s been a long, hard and winding road for mankind, but in December 2011 the moment we’ve all – yet unknowingly and yet unaware of our coming salvation – been waiting for finally saw the light of day. Elin Larsson, Cory Berry and Zack Anderson, all just in their early Twenties, formed a group which should quickly become one of the most acclaimed and interesting bands in music. Behold the birth of a new musical experience, an experience we thought was long gone, lost in time and space. Behold the birth of Blues Pills.

The young American-Swedish-French quartet create a very unique, intense and extraordinary rock atmosphere while at the same time having a major mainstream appeal that takes you right back to the time of BLUES PILLS’ ancestors Aretha Franklin, The Original Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Cream. Driving bass lines, grooving drums and guitar solos from another planet by the only 18-year-old Dorian Sorriaux, harmonized and tied together with such easiness, such delight, by Elin’s incredible voice, sometimes singing in her mother tongue Swedish.

With the idea to take soul music, combined with blues and rock’n’roll and turn it into a new force of unimaginable energy, intensity and freshness, their blonde archangel & soul-saviour Elin Larsson will guide you gently into a new world, the band´s empire of soulful rock; her beautiful voice seems to be taking you beyond the stars to an infinite universe on a journey that appears endless in time, yet profound and revealing. Elin’s powerful lyrics are full of emotions, her jazzy-soulful voice never falls into the trap of an aestheticization of kitsch, but unfolds an outstanding beauty itself with a refreshing new take on the timeless and unquestionably noble art of Rock’n’Roll, touching your soul.

Take some BLUES PILLS and dive into their world of musical visionariness at FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2014.”

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FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 29th-30th-31th May 2014
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The FVF pre-sale has started and the tickets are selling like warm bread already!

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL | No Fillers – Just Killers

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ROYAL THUNDER – Video Shoot & Tourdates

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Blue, Brett Campbell, Bryan Spinks, CVI, Devin Holt, Doom, Dylan Desmond, Heavy, Joe Axler, Joseph D. Rowland, Josh Coleman, Josh Weaver, Lee Smith, Mark Lierly, Mlny Parsonz, Pallbearer, Relapse, Renata Castagna, Rock, Royal Thunder, Samothrace, Tourdates

Royal Thunder, who released their debut album CVI to rave reviews in May, are seeking UK-based fans for their “Blue” video.
The director, John Bradburn (Young & In the Way, Chrome Waves) of 93 Million Miles), is seeking female fans between the ages of 20 to 35 with blonde or black hair to be leads in the upcoming clip. The shoot also requires a number of extras of any age or gender but they must be from the Midlands or the Southern portion of the UK. The video shoots in September.

Interested parties should send an email with photo to royalthundermusicvideo@gmail.com.

Royal Thunder return to the road on Sept. 6, touring with Pallbearer and Samothrace.

Tour dates are:
September 8 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie
September 9 Cambridge, MA TT The Bear’s
September 11 Brooklyn, NY The Knitting Factory
September 12 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel
September 13 Columbus, OH Ace of Cups
September 14 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen
September 15 St. Louis, MO Fubar
September 16 Lawrence, KS Jackpot Saloon & Music Hall

Additional fall tour dates will be announced soon.

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THE DEVIL’S BLOOD – The Thousandfold Epicentre

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Documentary, Doom, Dutch, Farida Lemouchi, Interview, Occult Rock, Selim Lemouchi, The Devil's Blood, The Thousandfold Epicentre

Allthough I might not be too pleased with the first impression that I got from the highly expected new output by Dutch Doom/Occult Rock (whatever one wants to call it) favourite THE DEVIL’S BLOOD, but giving up on them is no option – yet. Right now I am not able to figure out enough words for a whole review, since I did not feel like listening to the album again and again.

“The Thousandfold Epicentre” clearly needs more time to get me, unlike their previous work, which caught me by storm. As I pointed out before via facebook: Most songs sound too much alike, climatic structures are lacking and as far as I’m concerned, no outstanding “Hit” to be found. It seems that all this hype that evolved around THE DEVIL’S BLOOD, for now is over for me, but I hope that the upcoming release-show will convince me again. And just like the music shall speak for itself, let mastermind Selim Lemouchi speak (and his sister Farida sing for us) for himself, while trying to understand the ideas behind his music and lyrics.

 

Tracklist:

1. Unending Singularity

2. On The Wings Of Gloria

3. Die The Death

4. Within The Charnel House Of Love

5. Cruel Lover

6. She

7. The Thousandfold Epicentre

8. Fire Burning

9. Everlasting Saturnalia

10. The Madness Of Serpents

11. Feverdance

Please note that the entire documentary/interview is available only in the dutch language and with english subtitles!