When art and music come together the results can sometimes vary but, when that right blend is poured out on to a canvas or in this case music, everything just comes together. I’d like to introduce you to Old Blood. Taking influence and inspiration from Classic Rock, Metal, Trip Hop, Desert Rock, Stoner Metal, Doom, Sludge and bits of Jazz, Old Blood have created a style which they call “Acid Doom.” Their debut self titled album is chock full of head bobbing rhythms, charging riffs and vocals that cut like a diamond. They stand out from their peers not just musically but with their artistic stage show, leaving those in attendance with a sense of being a part of something more than just a show. Do yourself a favor and check out what fresh takes Old Blood has to offer.
There is something really cool about discovering a band that has been around for a while. As a listener you’ve more than likely discovered the bands latest album and become enthralled by them that you are compelled to go back and check out their other releases. Recently, I heard about a band called The Atlas Moth and when I heard their song “Coma Noir” and I was immediately drawn in. The Atlas Moth released a new album this year entitled Coma Noir and it’s down right epic. The band sites groups like Deftones, Neurosis, Cave In, The Cure and The Flaming Lips among their influences and while listening to the entire album you can hear how all these bands have helped to shape the bands sound. The sheer intensity they emit is very reminiscent of Neurosis, and Cave In (especially their albums Until Your Heart Stops and Jupiter). The band takes chances too and experiments with different moods and textures just as Deftones, The Flaming Lips and The Cure do. It all comes together to make for a psychedelic metal experience. Songs like “Galactic Brain,” “The Last Transmission From the Late, Great Planet Earth,” “Actual Human Blood,” “Smiling Knife,” “Coma Noir,” and “The Streets of Bombay” will have an effect on you and leave you lost in a bit of a trance. The entire album as a whole will almost hypnotize you. After listening to all The Atlas Moth albums, you can definitely hear the bands evolution into an absolute heavy force to be reckoned with. Do yourself a favor and take some time to get lost in The Atlas Moth.
Post Punk has fast been gaining and growing as one of the most popular genres these days. I’ve seen a lot of people from heavier bands going in this direction as side projects or after they’ve left their bands. There is a band hailing from Vancouver, Canada called ACTORS that have really nailed the post punk/darkwave sound. Actors have taken the classic post-punk sound and added a bit of a modern twist to it without losing the true essence of what the genre is. Their synth drenched scores could easily be found in countless films, all the while the songs have a dance vibe to them that fit in clubs. Led by singer/guitarist Jason Corbett, ACTORS have taken their well studied sound and delivered the goods. Their album It Will Come To You is chock full of dark sounds but with a sense of light underneath the beats.
What do you get when you cross 80’s metal a la Iron Maiden, Metallica and Megadeth and 90’s rock in the vain of Nirvana and Soundgarden? Well I’ll tell you, Void Vator is the end result. This four piece Los Angeles based band, is a melodic heavy rock group that is really starting to leave their mark on the scene. Their debut EP Dehumanized, was produced by Ulrich Wild (Deftones, Pantera, Static X, OneSideZero). The five songs on the EP, especially “Time Has Come” and “No Return,” are chock full of rock, riffs, and melody, which is exactly what this band is all about. Check out Void Vator for all your melodic heavy rock needs.
You might remember the name of Justin Stewart Cotta from the band Memento where he was the singer or the band VAST in which he played guitar during an early incarnation of the band. It has been a little while since Justin has released new music, actually it’s been 10 years. After the break up of Memento, Justin returned to Australia and got involved with theater but he never forgot about the music. Justin’s new release, the 3 song EP Amor Vincit Omnia is a delicate and expressive acoustic offering which is the perfect way to return. His powerful voice and lyrics are ever present while the subtle acoustic guitar adds a layer of melancholy without making you feel low. There is a real intimacy to the songs (“Love Yourself,” “Miracle Man,” and “Rain”) that emit a brightness to the darkness. What a way to come back. So check out what Justin has to offer the world and enjoy!
Justin Stewart Cotta- Amor Vincit Omnia:
As I’ve said before, rock music is alive and well. You just might have to search for all the true gems. Speaking of gems, there is a band from New Jersey that is about to take the world by storm and unleash a fury of rock upon us all. That band is Black Wail. This four piece is quite spectacular. Mixing 70’s hard rock, psychedelia, punk rock and metal, Black Wail have created a sound that is more than needed for today. Their new album Chromium Homes is outstanding. It’s drenched in Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy and southern rock (Allman Brothers and Skynyrd) influence but also with bits and pieces of punk rock a la The Misfits and Ramones and tinges of High On Fire and Sleep. What a combination of sounds, to create something so pure and full of rock. Black Wail is a band that not only stands out amongst the crowd but also decimates them with their magnitude of sound. So do yourselves and your friends a favor and check out Black Wail and tell everyone!
Art and music go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s just the right combination and it works out perfectly. When you have people that are inspired they are able to create something that stands out and inspires others. Recently I was introduced to King Woman, a band that evokes so much of what I love about music these days. The transcendental and psychedelic prowess of their music creates an aura of power and desire that is stunning as it is dark. I read somewhere that compared King Woman to Black Sabbath with Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star fronting the band. That’s a pretty damn good way to describe what you are about to hear.
The debut album Created In The Image Of Suffering is full of doom rock, and sensual vocal melodies that will leave you with goosebumps and a feeling of warmth. The album was recorded by Jack Shirley, who recorded Oathbreaker’s masterpiece Rheia. So you know that this album is powerful and sounds brilliant. Being able to create music that is artful isn’t easy but, King Woman definitely harnessed the will to make something substantial and worth while.
One of my favorite things about doing Audioeclectica and writing about up and coming bands is being able to watch them grow. Some of the bands of the week I’ve written about have really stepped up their games from their first releases. One such band is Spirit In The Room. Led by main songwriter and multi instrumentalist Dennis Sanders, Spirit In The Room has carved out their own niche. The use of electronics and programming fits perfectly with the experimental sort of doom punk rock vibe. There seems to be a river of inspiration flowing through Dennis, as the band is constantly releasing new material that just keeps getting better. One other thing that I really dig about Spirit In The Room is the fact that Dennis isn’t afraid to take chances with his music. There are tons of different influences that poke their heads out in the songs, and that’s what makes Spirit In The Room different and intriguing. Check them out as they are about to embark on a small tour.
If there is one thing I really enjoy about music, it’s when I come across bands/artists that are taking chances. Not just taking chances though, but, putting out music that is deeply rooted in inspiration and emotion. This weeks band of the week Crowhurst, is just that. The music is dark and full of rage, all the while being experimental and pulverizing. There are shades of industrial, black metal, and ambiance throughout the songs. Led by vocalist/keyboardist/sampler Jay Gambit, Crowhurst have brought back the dark industrial vibe that has been missing from the genre for some time. One can tell from listening to them, that they really believe in what they are creating. Nothing seems forced or misplaced. If you are looking for something dark, heavy and bombastic, then Crowhurst is what you need.
One of the things I look for in bands is a sense of melody. Without melody, the music all blurs into noise. There is a band out there that is taking the combination of melody and heavy rock to new heights, A Mirror Hollow. This 4 piece band, based out of Los Angeles, is exciting and bringing the melodically heavy with them. A Mirror Hollow has released their self titled EP a while back and since then, the band has only gotten better and have really found their sound on newer songs like “Ridicule The Innocent” and “Blame.” Their live shows are as energetic as their music and then some. Each member of the band brings a unique element to the group, making them something to be intrigued by. A Mirror Hollow is on the right track to make an impact among their peers, and those listening to sing along.
