Rock – Page 89 – 7th Level Music

Rewind Review: Mephistofeles – Whore (2016)

Hailing from Argentina, Mephistofeles emerged onto the doom metal scene in 2016 with Whore – an album that feels and sounds as heavy as a war hammer being dragged through a blood-soaked battlefield by a lone warrior approaching a wounded lich. Oh yes, and a lot of it is inspired by lead singer and guitarist Gabriel Ravera‘s ex-girlfriend – a drug addict who made him miserable.

“Black Sunday,” the opening track, alone has enough heavy doom riffs for two albums. The band’s love of Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Salem’s Pot, and Electric Wizard is evident from the first chords and vocals. Ismael Dimenza‘s bass is as thick as molasses, and Iván Sacharczuk‘s cymbal crashes become hissing, whispering spirits after while. The title track cranks up the fuzz and increases the tempo to an undead army’s marching beat.

“Your life is nothing,” Ravera sings on the cheerfully titled “Kill Yourself,” which feels and sounds like another homage to doom giants Electric Wizard. I like how it turns into a bit of a psychedelic trip for a little while with Dimenza taking his time on the bass,. “Cursed to Death” has a sweet (leaf) groove to it. Ravera’s guitar takes on a bit of an early ZZ Top (or, perhaps, Moving Sidewalks) sound, and Dimenza and Sacharczuk are locked-in on their groove.

“Drug Addict” brings back the heavy stoner rock riffs (How could it not with a title like that?), as Ravera’s vocals take on sounds of desperation, near-panic, and then anger. Meanwhile he and his bandmates pound out some of the heaviest riffs on the album. “Evil Beauty” saunters around the room like a deadly panther that’s actually a transformed sorceress from a hidden temple in an Argentinian jungle who seeks human hearts to complete the ritual that will restore her to human form. “Wizard of Meth” closes the record, complete with weird samples about being torn to shreds and scattered across the universe and sludge riffs that seem to crush you with their mass.

It’s an impressive record, and there’s a punk undertone to it with its attitude and sheer shock value. I can’t help but think some of it is played with a wink, which is cool Doom metal is a serious genre, but it does need to be able to chuckle now and then.

Keep your mind open.

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Rewind Review: Dry Cleaning – Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks (2019)

Released not long after their first EP, Sweet Princess, Dry Cleaning‘s Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks further intrigued post-punk fans in the United Kingdom and around the world with its hypnotic, mostly spoken-word lyrics and wild, angular sounds.

The Cure-like bass of “Dog Proposal” gives way to jangly guitars and vocals about working one hundred-hour weeks and trying to break out of the daily grind (“I’ve joined a gym near the office!”) seem to come from a different place, physically and mentally, than the instruments. “Viking Hair” is a story of a stunning woman who’s “a tragic heroine” when it comes to her love life. The band throws Joy Division guitars at you while the lyrics grab you by the back of your brain.

“I’m cool with spoils,” sings Florence Shaw on “Spoils” while Lewis Maynard lays down a great, heavy bass line and Tom Dowse‘s guitar tilts back and forth between buzzsaw and police car siren. “Stream, stream, stream my favorite shows. Just tell me who dies and who finds love,” Shaw sings / speaks. Even she is tired of the endless scrolling of streaming TV.

“Jam after School” is a weird and cool mix of school gossip and what sounds like a clinic on how to create a good post-punk single. “Sombre One” has an appropriate title, as it’s just Shaw’s sparse vocals (“Can’t seem to get out of bed easy.”, “Snacks and drinks, closed space, get rid of photos.”, “Move into the caravan park and be done with it.”), Dowse’s sparse guitar notes, Nick Buxton‘s hand percussion, and strange samples. The closer “Sit Down Meal” has Shaw stating, “You’re nothing but a fragrance to me now.” I’m not sure which is harsher: Her verbal smackdown or the band’s killer, almost swaggering hooks and chops.

It’s a sharp EP that left everyone clamoring for more material from Dry Cleaning. Thankfully, New Long Leg came out earlier this year.

Keep your mind open.

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Review: The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings

Montreal, Québec’s The Besnard Lakes have returned with a massive, yet not too heavy album, that, like its predecesors, has a cryptic title. This one is The Besnard Lakes Are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings. What is this thunderstorm of which they wish to warn us? It’s the storm we all must face – death.

Written over the course of 2019, when COVID-19 was emerging, claiming lives, canceling plans, and changing the world by forcing all of us to look impermanence square in the face, the album is a stunning piece of work. It’s even more impressive when you consider that frontman Jace Lasek‘s father also died the same year. Processing his grief, and visions his father spoke about on his deathbed, led to Lasek confronting the Grim Reaper head-on. The band also paid tribute to two legendary musicians and songwriters – Mark Hollis (who also died in 2019) and Prince (who had died three years earlier).

The album’s four sides are titled “Near Death,” “Death,” “After Death,” and “Life.” It is an album of sadness, grief, love, and peace. The opening track, “Blackstrap,” brings Pink Floyd‘s Dark Side of the Moon to mind with its echoing guitars and sampled telephone busy signal. The title might refer to a type of molasses, and how sadness might feel like being stuck in it. The song crawls along like an old but happy cat with its thumping bass and psychedelic synths.

“Raindrops” has the kind of cool bass groove that only Olga Goreas seems to be able to create, and Lasek’s vocals move back and forth between dreamy simplicity and falsetto flashes that he seems to do with ease. The warped, distorted “Christmas Can Wait” is one of the tracks honoring Lasek’s late father. The song melts and reforms into a mix of psych and synthwave that is so good that it’s almost unbelievable.

“Our Heads, Our Hearts on Fire Again” brings brightness breaking through the clouds with vocal styling that reminds me of The New Pornographers, a string section, a brass section, and possibly a Venusian choir for all I know. It’s a tonal shift on the album, and a brilliant one (on an album that’s already brilliant up to this point).

“Feuds with Guns” is the shortest track on the album at a little over four minutes, but it doesn’t feel any less expansive. The organ and drums seem to rise up from a desert canyon, and Lasek’s vocals seems to glide down with a setting sun. “The Dark Side of Paradise” again brings Pink Floyd to mind, but adds shoegaze elements to the psychedelia for a trippy brew. Lasek’s vocals sometimes disappear into the synths and guitars, blurring the line between which shadows the other until the song transforms into a beautiful instrumental.

“New Revolution” breaks through the pallor of death with bright guitars, healthy heartbeat drums, and vocals brimming with hope and joy. “The Father of Time Wakes Up” in the band’s tribute to Prince. It’s a lovely one that doesn’t overdo it with wild guitar solos or funk jams. It keeps the psychedelic riffs and hypnotizing bass and uses a simple, but effective guitar solo as Lasek sings, “You’ve been hurting since the father of time woke up.” (and moved onto another plane). Haven’t we all? The chorus of “With love, there is no time.” is a wonderful reminder of a universal truth that is easy to forget.

“Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings” takes up the entire fourth side of the album. It’s a glorious track of nearly eighteen minutes with The Besnard Lakes helping us get up from the ground, to walk out of the dark, and to let go of attachments so we won’t be dragged by them. The horn section returns and drums blend with real thunder to bring a cleansing sound. The song drifts into the sounds of wind and simple synths to become a meditative experience (doubly so, as I discovered, if you play it while next to an open window and birdsong naturally blends with it).

It’s a gorgeous record by a band operating at the height of their powers, and an uplifting album as we emerge from a pandemic and a divisive election (here in the U.S., at least), and strive to move forward from anger and fear.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation Austin returns…on Halloween weekend, no less.

The Reverb Appreciation Society has announced the return of the Levitation Austin music festival this year, and it’s on Halloween weekend just to make it weirder.

The festival will take place at various downtown Austin venues (Stubb’s, Mowhawk, Empire Garage, Hotel Vegas, and more) and coming in early for the Thursday night shows is well worth your time and money. Lineup announcements and ticket sales will start this summer, so keep your eyes peeled, book your travel, and plan your Halloween costume.

Keep your mind open.

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Clutch announces winter tour with Stöner and The Native Howl.

Clutch has just announced a string of Winter 2021 headline tour dates celebrating 30 years of rock and roll starting on December 27th in Baltimore, MD. Supporting the tour will be STONER, the brand new band featuring Brant Bjork (Kyuss) and Nick Oliveri (Queens Of The Stone Age, Kyuss).

The run will also include Detroit natives and “thrash grass” pioneers, The Native Howl.

“We are incredibly excited to hit the road again” states Clutch. “We’ve missed the shows, the fans, the venues and the opportunity to watch the other bands we share the stage with. It’s going to feel like our first show all over again and we can’t wait! Come out and let’s make some Rock and Roll!.”

Tickets will go on sale to the general public Friday, May 21st at 10:00 am at www.ClutchOnTour.com.

CLUTCH Celebrating 30 Years of Rock N Roll Winter Tour Dates: Dec. 27 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Dec. 28 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom Dec. 29 – Cleveland, OH – Agoura Theatre Dec. 30 – Detroit, MI – Filmore Theatre Dec. 31 – Cincinnati, OH – The Icon

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Doug at New Ocean Media.]

Review: Warish – Next to Pay

Let’s just start with this: Warish‘s new album, Next to Pay, is not a happy-go-lucky record. Lead singer / guitarist Riley Hawk has said that the album “is about a sense of imminent doom, everyone is going to die.” So, be prepared for what’s to come when you hear it.

What you’ll hear is a lot of rage, screamed vocals, blaring guitars, punk drumming, and throbbing bass. Warish’s love of Nirvana is prevalent on the album, as the influence of Misfits and Black Sabbath‘s crazier material. The title track opens the album with guitar riffs that sound like they’ve been deep fried as Hawk sings about time slipping away from him and the Grim Reaper getting one step closer each day. Hawk’s guitar on “Another No One” blares like a tornado warning siren. “S.H.M. (Second Hand Misery)” could’ve been a Bleach-era Nirvana B-side in another life. Hawk’s voice sounds like it’s going to crack at any second throughout it.

“Burn No Bridges” has Hawk trying to fight his way through physical and metaphysical storms. “Do you have a broken mind, or is it just your brain?” Hawks asks on “Say to Please,” a song that rages about the little guy fighting for the dreams of rich elitists. His guitar solo on it is a damn barn burner. “Seeing Red” is powered by Alex Bassaj‘s cool yet heavy bass walk. The drums and cymbals on “Destroyer” pound so hard that the song more than earns its name.

“Woven” is one of the jauntiest songs on the record, but is no less fuzzy and fiery. Hawk’s voice takes on Kurt Cobain qualities during the chorus. Bassaj’s bass cranks up on “Scars,” while Hawk tells everyone he doesn’t care what they think of him or anything else and new drummer Justin de la Vega puts down precision beats like Gatling gun rounds.

“Ordinary” takes on a bit of a doom energy and the vocals sound a a bit goth. “Superstar” takes off at about eighty mph and doesn’t let off the gas for a second. “Make the Escape” reminds me of Iron Maiden with its epic metal riffs and vocal styling. Hawk’s voice takes on a deeper tone and a break from the screaming he’s done through most of the album. The effect is excellent. The closer, “Fear and Pride,” brings back Hawk’s guttural growls and I’m sure will bowl over audiences once they get to play it live on a regular basis.

It’s a loud, heavy record, but what else do you expect from Warish? The band had plenty of rage to purge that was built up in 2020, and Next to Pay is here to help the rest of us burn that rage out of our system.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Dave at US / THEM Group.]

Review: D-Tension – Secret Rock & Roll Project

“So, what did you do during the pandemic?” is a question that’s already a popular conversation starter among those lucky enough to have lived through it. Some us studied French, wrote comic books, and decluttered multiple rooms in their house. Others started new fitness regimes, made babies, read books, built a new bathroom, or didn’t do a damn thing.

Boston area MC, producer, and DJ D-Tension taught himself to play guitar and recorded a rock record, Secret Rock & Roll Project. D-Tension emerged from the pandemic 200 pounds lighter, thanks to his sheer will and new diet, and channeled his love of the late Eddie Van Halen by picking up an axe and, again through his Green Lantern-like will, taught himself how to play.

The result is a fun record that covers gentrification, partying, aging, sex, drugs, and, of course, rock and roll. Opener “Kenmore Square” has D-T musing about how his neighborhood has changed to the point where he no longer recognizes it. He can no longer visit Planet Records or score a ticket to a Red Sox game for twenty bucks. He can’t see Gang Green or Pixies there anymore because a damn high-rise fancy hotel was built on top of it. Gentrification and the unforgiving hand of Father Time have changed all of that. He, like all of us, wants to blame it on Amazon and other big corporations, but he also admits that he, like all of us, are to blame, really. His solo is also a blast, letting us know that all that pandemic guitar practice has paid off.

“Know No Know,” with its thick bass and organ stabs, is a fun track about trying to play the subtle long game with a potential lover. “That’s Alright” has a country flavor to it, which is a smile-inducing surprise and a song of love and being happy to be with someone during times of isolation and boredom (pretty much most of 2020, really). “It Ain’t All About You” is a scorching rocker with punk speed and attitude in which D-T calls out a former lover who wasn’t around for him when he was at his lowest.

“The Night We Regret” is a simple, witty ballad with D-T singing about an old flame that might actually be late night drunken ramblings left on a voicemail. “Fast One” has a beat that D-T could’ve used on any hip hop album, but he boosts it with sizzling guitar to turn it into a wicked rock track. “Away” could’ve been a Smithereens track in another life with its lyrics of lost love and cool bass line.

“Joanna Strikes Back” has a bit of a Devo sound to it and tells a great story of a former punk girl turned Average Jane who tears it up for one night in full punk regalia and debauchery. D-T play spaghetti westerns guitars and surf on “Idata del Gaucho,” which is a stunning piece. The closer is a heartfelt ballad, “Cry,” with piano chords that are angry one moment, sad the next.

We should all so be lucky (and strong-willed) to emerge from a health crisis and isolation with art this good, and with a new skill we can grow in forever. We should also be happy that D-Tension chose not to keep this project secret.

Keep your mind open.

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Review: Osees – Levitation Sessions II

Never ones to rest on their laurels, or seemingly to rest at all, Osees put together another live-streamed show, Levitation Sessions II, and wowed everyone again with a great set of deep cuts and obscure cover tunes.

The show, recorded in an empty factory that front man John Dwyer describes as like “a fight scene set from Point Blank or the John Wick trilogy,” starts with the rockin’, swingin’ fan-favorite “Tidal Wave.” It’s hard to choose which part you like best. Dwyer’s fun guitar riffs? Dan Rincon and Paul Quattrone‘s double-drumming? Tim Hellman‘s rock solid bass line? Tom Dolas‘ sneaky synths? Dolas’ synths take the forefront on the weird, wonky “Grown in a Graveyard” – a tune that keeps you guessing for its entire length. Then, once you kind of, sort of figure it out, they unleash a raucous version of “The Dream” – which might cause you to trash whatever room you’re in when you hear it, or stomp the gas pedal if you’re driving at the time…until it drifts into psychedelic bliss around the five-minute mark and give you a chance to breathe (but only for a moment). Dwyer absolutely shreds for the last two minutes of it.

“Stinking Cloud” is a jolly tune about death and heavy on synths from Dolas and Dwyer. The garage rock swing of “Enemy Destruct” is outstanding. “Poisoned Stones” sounds as gritty and grungy as you hope it will. “Spider Cider” is silly and fun (with Dolas putting his big synth rig aside to play rhythm guitar, no less). Hellman’s bass seems to hit extra heavy (without overwhelming his bandmates) on “It Killed Mom.”

Another deep cut treat is “Meat Step Lively,” which could almost fit onto an episode of Shindig with its groovy swing. “Snickersnee” is trippy bliss, which Rincon and Quattrone in perfect step as Dwyer stabs at ghosts with his guitar. “Destroyed Fortress Reappears” drifts into heavy synth psychedelia by Dolas and Dwyer and the entire rhythm section produces a hypnotizing beat.

“Web” is another great cut that builds up to a wicked beat and doesn’t let go of you. Hellman’s bass groove is outstanding on it. “Encrypted Bounce” is the longest song on the album, coming in at almost nine minutes, and it’s full of wild garage rock guitar from Dwyer and great fills from both drummers. “Beat Quest” adds heavy 1980s, and then 1970s, synths to the mix.

The encore was a set of Chrome covers: “Chromosome Damage > T.V. As Eyes,” “ST37,” “Looking for Your Door,” and “SS CYGNI.” The first is a fun, upbeat splash of driving beats and warping synths that melts into a lava lamp haze. “ST37” could almost be a Devo track with it’s goofy guitar and weird lyrics. Hellman’s bass takes on a sexy panther tone in “Looking for Your Door.” The final track is a hypnotic repetition of beats and riffs that slowly backs out of the room and drifts away.

Levitation Sessions II does a great job of making you want to see Osees live again as soon as possible. They’re starting to announce tour dates for the fall, so don’t miss out if they’re near you.

Keep your mind open.

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French post-metal legends Year of No Light announce 20th anniversary box set.

Bordeaux, France post-metal sextet Year of No Light announce their forthcoming fifth studio album Consolamentum today, sharing the first single “Réalgar” via all DSPs. Hear and share “Réalgar” via Bandcamp, Spotify and YouTube.

Consolamentum is the band’s first album on Pelagic Records. To celebrate joining the label and Year of No Lights‘s 20th anniversary, they will release a limited edition deluxe wooden box set of the band’s entire discography, titled Mnemophobia on July 2nd. The handmade, hand-silkscreened wooden box features 12 vinyl LPs in 6 gatefold sleeves, exclusive colored vinyl variants, a slipmat, metal pin, patch and poster. For more information, see HERE.

Year of No Light’s lengthy, sprawling compositions of towering walls of guitars and sombre synths irradiate a sense of dire solemnity and spiritual gravity, and couldn’t be a more fitting soundtrack for such grim medieval scenarios. But there is also the element of absolution, regeneration, elevation, transcendence in the face of death. Consolamentum is dense, rich and lush and yet somehow feels starved and deprived.
It comes as no surprise that ever since the beginning of their career, the band have had an obsession for the fall of man and salvation through darkness. The term “consolamentum” describes the sacrament, the initiation ritual of the Catharic Church, which thrived in Southern Europe in the 12th – 14th Century – a ritual that brought eternal austereness and immersion in the Holy Spirit.

“There’s a thread running through all of our albums”, says the band, collectively “an exploration of the sensitive world that obeys a certain telos, first fantasized (“Nord”) and reverberated (“Ausserwelt”), then declaimed as a warning (“Tocsin”). The deeper we dig, the more the motifs we have to unveil appear to us. Yes, it’s a bit gnostic. This album is invoked after the Tocsin, it’s the epiphany of the Fall.”

With debut album Nord (2006) and sophomore release Ausserwelt (2010), the band madethemselves a name in the European avant-metal scene. Extensive tours of Europe, North America and Russia in 2013 and 2014, including two appearances at Roadburn festival, Hellfest and a spectacular performance in a 17th Century fortress in the Carpathian mountains introduced them to a broader and quickly growing international audience.

With their seminal 3rd album Tocsin, released in 2013, Year Of No Light reached the peak of their career thus far – a logical decision that Consolamentum was made with the same team again: recorded and mixed by Cyrille Gachet at Cryogene in Begles / Bordeaux, mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side.

“We wanted this album to sound as organic and analog as possible”, comments the band. “All tracks were recorded live. The goal was to have the most natural, warm and clean takes possible, to give volume to the dynamics of the songs. We aimed to have a production with a singular personality.”

For the adept listener, Consolamentum seems to be venturing deeper into the dark and claustrophobic spheres explored on Tocsin – but the band doesn’t conceive of the evolution of their music in a linear way, as it would be apparent from looking at their discography.

“It’s more a matter of sonic devotion. Music against modern times. Year Of No Light” is above all a praxis. We wanted intensity, trance, climax and threat, all of them embedded in a bipolar and mournful ethos.”

Consolamentum is huge, poignant, frightening, sublime, smothering and cathartic – and, much like Decibel Magazine says of its predecessor, it’s “audacious, memorable and supremely confident.”

Consolamentum will be available on 2xLP, CD and digital on July 2nd, 2021 via Pelagic Records. Preorders are available HERE.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Dave at US / THEM Group.]

CHAI get bouncy on “Ping Pong” – one of the best singles of the year so far.

Japanese quartet CHAI present a new single/video, “PING PONG!,” from their forthcoming album, WINK, out May 21st on Sub Pop. The track is a laser beam ode to a social activity that CHAI love but cannot currently partake in. In Japan, CHAI would often play ping pong after visits to the public hot springs, called onsen. “PING PONG!” also features YMCK, who brought a gaming feel to the production, which CHAI wanted to match.“

CHAI elaborate: “We’re channeling our inner playful selves, challenging ourselves to fun, and bringing you that nostalgic-feel with this song! There’s just something about old video games that’s super cute, a little tacky, yet at the same time fancy. Something that you think is “old-school” but at the same time super refreshing. YMCK collaborated with us on this and created the ultimate 8bit World of CHAI!”

“The theme for PING PONG is exactly as is, ‘ping pong.’ In Japanese culture, there’s this routine where Hot Springs or ‘onsen’ and playing PING PONG go hand in hand.
When the four of us hit the hot springs, we always wear a Yukata (unlined Summer kimono), drink a cup of milk, and go right into some PING PONG! It’s very Japanese, something we don’t think exists overseas and that’s exactly what we want to share! You can hear it in the lyrics and you can feel it in the music video!”

YMCK adds: “It was our first time creating something from start to finish remotely but everything turned out amazing with each member’s character shining through!
Don’t miss this ever-so free and forever dancing world of CHAI! “
WATCH CHAI’S VIDEO FOR “PING PONG!”

CHAI is MANA (lead vocals and keys) and KANA (guitar), drummer YUNA, and bassist-lyricist YUUKI. Following the release of 2019’s PUNK, CHAI’s adventures took them around the world, playing their high-energy and buoyant shows. They took quarantine as an opportunity to shake up their process and bring their music somewhere thrillingly new. Rather than having maximalist recordings like in the past, CHAI instead focused on crafting the slightly-subtler and more introspective kinds of songs they enjoy listening to at home—where, for the first time, they recorded all of the music. WINK is also the first CHAI album to feature contributions from outside producers (Mndsgn, YMCK) as well as Ric Wilson. They draw R&B and hip-hop into their mix (Mac Miller, the Internet, and Brockhampton were on their minds) of dance-punk and pop-rock, all while remaining undeniably CHAI.
WATCH THE “NOBODY KNOWS WE’RE FUN” VIDEO

WATCH THE “MAYBE CHOCOLATE CHIPS” (FEAT. RIC WILSON) VIDEO

WATCH THE “ACTION” VIDEO

WATCH THE “DONUTS MIND IF I DO” VIDEO

WATCH THE “PLASTIC LOVE” VIDEO

PRE-ORDER WINK

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[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]