MOTSUS – Oumuamua

Belgian stoner metal?  Yes, thank you.

I hadn’t heard of MOTSUS until they offered me a download of their new EP Oumuamua.  I’m glad they reached out to me, because this thing is heavier than that Chinese space station due to crash on Earth any day now.

The royally epic “Kings and Queens” opens the EP.  The whole track rumbles with an angry energy that is hard to describe, but “score for a rocket launch film scene” is fairly close.

The guitars soar on “Warm,” while the bass and drums hammer like dwarves in a deep mine searching for rare gems.  “Freddy” is equally heavy, and “Exploder (Part I)” is doom conjured up from the bottom of that dwarven mine.  The bass in particular stands out on this track, sounding like a growling lion and a jet engine roar at different times.

“Hoochy Woochy” might have a funny title, but the song is isn’t jovial.  It’s as thick as battlefield mud.  The build up to the rolling, crashing drums, furious guitars, and war hammer bass is excellent.  The EP ends with “Tin Men,” a churning, guttural tune perfect for the march of robotic soldiers across a desolate landscape.  It also has the only lyrics of the album – a monologue about a UFO coming to either destroy us, or worse, ignore us all together.

Oumuamua is a Hawaiian word for “scout,” and the album’s title refers to the first interstellar object to pass through the solar system.  It was discovered in October 2017 and is tumbling through space.  It took about 600,000 years to pass by us.  It’s not a comet or an asteroid.  It’s some sort of new object, according to NASA.  It passed us by.  It didn’t stop.

Regarding alien life in the universe, Arthur C. Clarke said, “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the universe or we are not.  Both are equally terrifying.”

MOTSUS has created a mixtape for this unknown traveler.  Let’s hope it comes back to hear more.

Keep your mind open.

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BlackWater HolyLight releases “Willow” from upcoming self-titled debut.

BlackWater HolyLight premiere new track via Paste Magazine from forthcoming RidingEasy debut
 Rewiring “heavy music” w/ hints of Sonic Youth, Chelsea Wolfe, Raincoats, Stooges, Beefheart, et al.
Hear & share “Willow” (YouTube) (Paste Magazine)
“Flat out it’s one of the best heavy psych debut albums you’ll hear in 2018.” — The Obelisk
“This quartet has been burning up stages all around their hometown, fueled by their abrasive blend of doom metal, psych rock, goth and a tangy soupçon of pop music… They landed a spot on the 2018 Best New Bandpoll in alt-weekly Willamette Week, but could quickly take over the world.” — Paste Magazine
“They mesh elements of doom, Krautrock and atmospheric indie into one bewitching rock whole.” –Classic Rock Magazine
Portland, OR quartet BlackWater HolyLight share a new track from their forthcoming self-titled debut album today via Paste Magazine. Hear and share “Willow” HERE. (Direct YouTube.)
 
The Obelisk recently launched “Wave of Conscience” HERE. (Direct YouTube.) The album’s first single, “Sunrise” launched this winter, is available to hear and share via YouTube HERE.
The notion of “heavy music” is continuing to expand of late, with many intrepid artists finding new ways to incorporate the power of traditional metal into new music, but without all of its trappings. Enter Portland, OR quartet BlackWater HolyLight to further swirl musical elements into a captivating hybrid of emotional intensity. Heavy psych riffs, gothic drama, folk-rock vibes, garage-sludge and soaring melodies all collide into a satisfying whole with as much contrast as the band’s name itself.
“I wanted to experiment with my own version of what felt ‘heavy’ both sonically and emotionally,” says founder and vocalist/bassist Allison (Sunny) Faris. “I also wanted a band in which vulnerability of any form could be celebrated.” BlackWater HolyLight — Faris, guitarist/vocalist Laura Hopkins, drummer Cat Hoch and synth player Sarah Mckenna — formed upon the breakup of Faris’ longtime band and she sought a fresh start. “In my last band I was the only female in a group of 6, so I wanted to see how my song writing and vulnerability could glow taking the drivers seat and working with women.”
The band’s self-titled debut begins with a simple, almost grunge-like riff as a chorus of voices introduce a melodic line in call-and-response until the band kicks in, slowly building into crescendo like a lost outtake from Led Zeppelin‘s Houses of the Holy. Elsewhere, “Sunrise” begins with a chorus-drenched post-punk groove until a sonic boom of heavily distorted guitar skree erupts out of nowhere. Nearly as suddenly, the song returns to its lulling core, subtly building the tension until it ruptures completely in a blast of noise. Likewise, “Carry Her” establishes a dark, sparse melody and distinctly thin sounding drums not far removed from early work of The Cure. However, BlackWater HolyLight’s penchant for surprise attack finds a sudden shift into a doom-like dirge, colored with eerie synth notes and pounding shards of fuzz. Throughout the album, their songs shirk traditional verse-chorus-verse structure in favor of fluid, serpentine compositions that move with commanding grace. The band expertly, yet subconsciously, incorporates hints of Chelsea Wolfe, Celebration, Captain Beefheart, The Raincoats, The Stooges, Pink Floyd, Jane’s Addiction and more to form their unique brand of dark’n’heavy transcendence..
BlackWater HolyLight was recorded by Cameron Spies at Gold Brick Studios and The Greenhouse, and with Eric Crespo at Touch Tourcher Recording in Portland. The album will be available on LP, CD and download April 6th, 2018 via RidingEasy Records. Preorders are available for LP & CD at www.ridingeasyrecs.com and digital at blackwaterholylight.bandcamp.com.
BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT LIVE:
03/24 Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival
04/12 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Artist: BlackWater HolyLight
Album: BlackWater HolyLight
Label: RidingEasy Records
Release Date: April 6th, 2018
01. Willow
02. Wave of Conscience
03. Babies
04. Paranoia
05. Sunrise
06. Slow Hole
07. Carry Her
08. Jizz Witch

On The Web:

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Earthless – Black Heaven

Psychedelic / stoner metal trio Earthless (Mike Eginton – bass, Isaiah Mitchell – guitar and vocals, Mario Rubalcaba – drums) decided to shake things up on their newest album – Black Heaven – by giving the majority of the tracks vocals by Mitchell.  Their three previous records have all been comprised of long instrumental tracks that blend into each other, but Black Heaven opts for shorter cuts (one is even under two minutes) that still shred and astound.

Starting with “Gifted By the Wind,” Rubalcaba lures us in with almost a jazz beat until Eginton and Mitchell hit you like a one-two punch.  Mitchell’s voice automatically brings Cream to mind (certainly a major influence on the band).  “End to End” pans back and forth in your earbuds like a swaying cobra and then comes at you like an angry mongoose.  Eginton’s bass riff in it is quite good, and the whole song is perfect for driving done the centerline on an open stretch of I-80.

“Electric Flame” is the longest song on the record (8:51, which is about half the length of most tracks from Earthless‘ previous three records) and Mitchell uses the “extra time” to deliver a great solo around the five-minute mark that takes the track into a great jam from all three guys.  “Volt Rush” is the track that’s under two minutes, and it shows how Earthless can do in under two minutes what most bands can’t do in three times that – shred with jaw-dropping furor.

Don’t worry if you’re a fan of Earthless’ instrumental work, because the title track is nearly nine minutes of the band hitting harder than the Thing punching the Hulk.  One of the many things I love about Earthless is how all three guys can launch into a solo at the same time, yet it all fits together, and how all three can come back to the same groove in the blink of an eye without missing a step.  All you can do is let it hit you and say, “Holy [insert expletive of choice here].”

“Sudden End” is a great title for an album’s final track.  It almost sounds like a Bad Company song, if Bad Company had opted for louder amps, heavier bass, and guitar that seems to be propelled by solar winds.  Rubalcaba puts down chops that seem simple at first, but you soon realize that he is putting down a deceptively heavy groove that has to fade out because it shows no signs of stopping until the next time all the planets are in alignment.

Black Heaven is another fine record from Earthless and as good to hear as it sounds like was for them to make.

Keep your mind open.

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Lollapalooza Chicago announces its 2018 lineup.

The annual Chicago lineup for Lollapalooza has been announced.  It features some heavyweights and, as usual, a lot of upcoming bands.  Bruno Mars is definitely a big score for the festival, as are Jack White, the Arctic Monkeys, the National, Portugal, the Man, Franz Ferdinand, and Chvrches.

Tickets are on sale and will go much faster now that the lineup has been released.  A four-day general admission pass will cost you $335.00 plus taxes and fees, and VIP and Platinum packages will run you thousands of dollars.

Keep your mind open.

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Perry Ferrell announces immersive, Star Trek holo-deck-like project for Las Vegas that includes Porno for Pyros.

Jane’s Addiction front man and Lollapalooza founder Perry Ferrell has announced that he’s working with a virtual reality technology developer / film studio to create an immersive entertainment experience in Las Vegas called Kind Heaven.  Accord to a Spin article, Ferrell was inspired to create this by a vivid dream of him in some sort of futuristic Southeast Asian city.  The experience will include VR pickpockets, markets, and maybe even a holographic version of himself having sex in his apartment.

He’s already planning to have several bands play there, both in person and through virtual reality.  One of the biggest announcements in that department is that he’s reuniting Porno for Pyros – the band he founded after Jane’s Addiction broke up in the 1990’s.  Ferrell mentions Coldplay in the Spin article, but doesn’t necessarily say they’ll be playing at Kind Heaven in 2019.

Keep your mind open.

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Thom Yorke announces solo European tour dates.

Radiohead front man Thom Yorke has announced solo tour dates for Europe and the United Kingdom.  These dates are in May and June and land before Radiohead kicks off on a tour of North America.  Tickets go on sale to the general public on March 23rd, so get them while you can.  They were surely sell out.

May 2018
28th Teatro Verdi, Florence, Italy
29th Fabrique Milano, Milan, Italy
30th Halle 622, Zurich, Switzerland

June 2018
1st Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany
3rd Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium
4th Royal Theatre Carré, Amsterdam, Netherlands
7th Usher Hall, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
8th Roundhouse, London, United Kingdom
10th Palace Theatre, Manchester, United Kingdom
12th L’Olympia, Paris, France
13th Le Transbordeur, Lyon, France
16th Fira de Barcelona – Sonar Festival, Barcelona, Spain

Keep your mind open.

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Failure offer great perks for pre-ordering their upcoming fifth album.

Meticulous rockers Failure are at work on their fifth full-length album, which will be a collection of 3 EP’s that explore the disconnection of humanity we’ve created and embraced with technology.  Sound heavy?  I’m sure it will be, as will the riffs and drum fills.

Failure is offering some cool perks through the PledgeMusic page for the new record, including a drumming lesson, signed drum heads and sticks, handwritten lyric sheets, downloads of the albums in various formats, T-shirts, and more. Don’t wait too soon to get on board, some of the rewards are already gone.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation France 2018 dates announced.

Mark your calendars.  Levitation France is scheduled for September 21-22nd this year.  Lineup announcements and tickets will be available soon.  I’m already making plans to attend this year.  Don’t miss out on what is sure to be a great time.

Keep your mind open.

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Mamby on the Beach reveals 2018 lineup.

Chicago’s Mamby on the Beach music festival returns with another impressive lineup of hip hop, EDM, and rock acts.  Getting Common, Spoon, and Cold War Kids all in the same weekend is impressive.  Grizzly Bear will probably put on a mind-bending set, Jamila Woods impressed a lot of folks at Pitchfork Music Festival last year, and Jai Wolf‘s DJ set will most likely be a must-see.

Tickets are on sale now.

Keep your mind open.

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The Flaming Lips release four years’ worth of early studio recordings and rarities.

The Flaming Lips have released an early Easter gift with Seeing the Unseeable: The Complete Studio Recordings of the Flaming Lips 1986 – 1990.  It’s available for pre-order through their PledgeMusic page.  It contains four albums and a lot of unreleased demos and B-sides.  This is the first time these tracks are available on CD.

They’re also offering Scratching the Door for pre-order on CD, which collects early tracks from the band’s original lineup.  This stuff is a gold mine for Flaming Lips fans.  I’m probably going to grab some of this, as it will be material they played when I saw them in the mid-1980’s in a tiny club outside Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Keep your mind open.

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