Psychedelic Rock

Kabbalah, Spectral Ascent (Ripple 2023)

Wayne Edwards, , , , , , , , ,

Kabbalah’s first full-length album Spectral Ascent gets a new release from Ripple Music.

Kabbalah is a doom rock trio from Pamplona, Spain. They released a triplet of EPs in rapid succession beginning in 2013 that established them as a significant force in heavy music. Spectral Ascent was their first long-player, originally released in 2017 by Twin Earth Records. Ripple Music released Kabbalah’s second album, The Omen, through their Rebel Waves Records imprint in 2021. Now Spectral Ascent will be available to the wider audience that has been clamoring for it, especially the physical versions. According to the Metal Archives, Kabbalah is Marga Malaria (bass, vocals), Carmen Espejo (drums, vocals), and Alba Díez de Ure (guitar, vocals).

The music is a combination of doom and classic rock, ritual music and occult psychedelics. “Resurrected” sounds like a rock song from the 1960s that has been updated with current sensibilities. It has a smooth rock side and a trippy side that come together to create a greater whole. “Phantasmal Planetoid” is a beautiful steady doom piece that brings out the darkness through tone more than volume. “The Darkest End” exploits moments of pop rock ideation and cool choruses to engage the listener while at the same time introducing more subtle spells.

My favorite track on the album is probably “The Darkness of Time” because of its extra active posture. “The Shadow” sticks in my memory as well because it seems misty to me, like something you can see well enough but still, somehow is behind a barely-visible veil that masks something nonphysical. This song truly has sway over me. This set deserves to be heard by a wide audience because it is sure to be embraced whole-heartedly by a broad swath of heavy music fans. We should be grateful for the re-issue. Highly recommended.

Spectral Ascent is out now digitally through Ripple Music. CD and vinyl versions will ship around June 23rd and can be preordered now – a good idea if you want to get one before they sell out.

Links.

Bandcamp, https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/spectral-ascent-reissue

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/Kabbalahrock/

Ripple Music, https://www.ripple-music.com/

FFMB review of The Omen, https://flyingfiddlesticks.com/2021/01/17/kabbalah-the-omen-rebel-waves-records-2021/

© Wayne Edwards

Kabbalah, Spectral Ascent (Ripple 2023)

Tumble, Lady Cadaver (2023)

Wayne Edwards, , , , , ,

Toronto hard psych trio Tumble give us the first glimpse of their music with Lady Cadaver.

Tumble got together just last year. The sponsor a retro hard rock sound with a psychedelic purpose. The band is Liam Deak (guitar, vocals), Tarun Dawar (bass), and Will Adams (drums).

This EP has two songs, a situation we used call a single in the old days of physical media. “Lady Cadaver” is the feature, and it comes out punching. It is a fuzzy delight. This is an up-tempo airplay single if I ever heard one. The bluesy stoner set-up is joined with Deak’s exemplary rock and roll voice to mingle in synchronicity. There is even a drum solo just past the middle. When is the last time you heard one of those in a studio recording? Purportedly about a bad trip, this one slaps.

The B-side is “The Plague” – the band says it is a “psychedelic heavy rock instrumental for your hip shakin’, head banging pleasure.” That’s what we can call truth in advertising. It is trippy and catchy, and it also rips. It is a wonderful showcase for guitar, and the rhythm section gets a workout, too. I can’t wait to hear more. Highly recommended.

Lady Cadaver is out now, far and wide. Listen in at your favorite streaming source, and find out more information about the music and the band through the links below.

Links.

Tumble website, https://www.tumbleband.com/

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/tumbletheband

© Wayne Edwards

Tumble, Lady Cadaver (2023)

Elder, Ruby The Hatchet, and Howling Giant at Black Circle, Indianapolis, May 05, 2023

Wayne Edwards, , , , , , , , , ,

Elder shook the rafters at Black Circle on Cinco de Mayo, capping off an evening of heavy music that included Ruby The Hatchet and Howling Giant.

Elder

Not only was it Cinco de Mayo, it was also a full moon. It is hard to think of much better circumstances under which to see a metal show. Not just any heavy music show, either: Elder, Ruby The Hatchet, and Howling Giant.

Howling Giant took the stage first at the venerable Black Circle, a boutique venue for music in Indianapolis that gains renown with each passing day. Howling Giant is a psychedelic rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, that has been around for about ten years. Back in the beginning, they released a string of three EPs – self-titled, and Black Hole Space Wizard in two parts – that turned a lot of heads. A full-length album followed, and new music is coming up soon. Their style is laid back and tight, and they warmed the room to full cook behind blackout curtains as the sunlight waned. It was my first time seeing them live and now I can’t wait to hear more of their music.

Howling Giant

Ruby The Hatchet is an east coast psychedelic rock band that should be high on your list of acts to catch live. I have been a fan since I first heard them, and I have a particular reverence for the album Valley of The Snake (2015), but, truly, all of their records are fantastic. The Black Circle show is the third time I have seen Ruby The Hatchet in the past nine months, and every performance has been fantastic.

Ruby The Hatchet
Ruby The Hatchet

The set opened with “Thruster” from their latest album, Fear Is A Cruel Master (out now on Magnetic Eye Records), and most of the songs were from the new one. That’s good news because it is such a great record. Last year, they had been playing a cover of the Uriah Heep song “Easy Livin’” at their shows. At Black Circle, they treated the crowd to a cover of “Harden My Heart” by Quarterflash, complete with the saxophone intro. Wow. I didn’t see that coming, and it was amazing. It was another incredible show from Ruby The Hatchet.

Ruby The Hatchet
Ruby The Hatchet

Elder is a progressive psychedelic stoner rock band. They started back in 2006, and have they have had an intriguing career. Through 2020, they had released five full-length albums plus a number of demos, spits, and EPs. In 2021, they did an extended collaboration project with Kadaver, resulting in the full-length album, Eldovar: A Story of Darkness & Light. Elder’s latest record came out last year, Innate Passage.

Elder
Elder

The songs Elder writes typically run about ten minutes or longer, so what you see on stage are extended performances where the musicians seem to be transformed. Or, alternately, they are transforming the crowd. They played a couple of songs off the new album, and also dipped into their extensive catalogue to pull up fan favorites. It was a trippy experience, what with the holiday and the moon and these three incredible bands. Don’t miss this tour.

Elder
Elder

The shows will go on for a few weeks as the bands are out until the first week of June. Have a look at the tour poster below for cities and dates where you can catch them. If you want to see more photos from the Black Circle show, there are separate photo galleries for all three bands – touch the links below.

Photos by Wayne Edwards.

Links.

Elder, https://beholdtheelder.com/

Ruby The Hatchet, http://www.rubythehatchet.com/

Howling Giant, https://howlinggiant.bandcamp.com/

Black Circle, https://www.blackcirclebrewing.com/

Photo Galleries.

More Elder photos, https://flyingfiddlesticks.com/2023/05/13/photo-gallery-elder-at-black-circle-may-5-2023/

More Ruby The Hatchet photos, https://flyingfiddlesticks.com/2023/05/13/photo-gallery-ruby-the-hatchet-at-black-circle-may-5-2023/

More Howling Giant photos, https://flyingfiddlesticks.com/2023/05/13/photo-gallery-howling-giant-at-black-circle-may-5-2023/

© Wayne Edwards

Elder, Ruby The Hatchet, and Howling Giant at Black Circle, Indianapolis, May 05, 2023

Blood Ceremony, The Old Ways Remain (Rise Above 2023)

Wayne Edwards, , , , , , , , ,

Psychedelic folk rock band Blood Ceremony reveal more secrets on their fifth album, The Old Ways Remain.

Blood Ceremony is a psychedelic doom band with acid folk tinges and a unique approach to heavy music. In fact, they are pretty light on the doom and the heavy, instead emphasizing the other aspects. The prominent use of a flute is the first thing you think of, but it is not the only element. The compositions are grand in an understated way – I know that sounds like nonsense, but listen in and maybe you will see what I mean. From their first album in 2018 through to the new one, the originality of their creations is unmistakable and impressive. The band is Sean Kennedy (guitar), Alia O’Brien (vocals, flute, organ), Lucas Gadke (bass), and Michael Carrillo (drums).

The first of ten tracks is “The Hellfire Club,” which starts with a great popping lick introducing lush vocals. The returning guitar always catches your attention, sharing the spotlight with the singing. And then the flute steps in and sets this music apart from all others in the valley. The short ripping lead break toward the end is a nice touch as well. “Ipsissimus” puts the flute up front, and now we are expecting it and it is a regular and welcome part of the music. The cool seventies flow is fantastic … like floating down a river on your back watching a calm and fascinating sky. “Eugenie” stands out for the elegant way it pairs the vocal to the guitar, and the thoroughly engaging base line. Excellent.

Every song on the album has something special about it that makes it stand out. I am especially enamored with “Powers of Darkness” for its understated wickedness (and lead guitar break), and “Mossy Wood” for its mysteriousity and bardly setting. The set comes to a close on “Song of the Morrow,” the longest track and perhaps the most somber. The music on this album has great depth because of the range of instruments that are employed and, frankly, because of the talent of the musicians in writing and performing it. If you are into folk rock/metal that reaches into other realms as well, you are going to like this album. Highly recommended.

The Old Ways Remain is out on Friday, May 5th through Rise Above Records. Follow the links below to get yours.

Band photo by Mathew Manna.

Links.

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/bloodceremonyrock/

Rise Above Records, https://riseaboverecords.com/artists/riseaboveartists/bloodceremony/

© Wayne Edwards

Blood Ceremony, The Old Ways Remain (Rise Above 2023)

Faith In Jane, Axe To Oak (Grimoire 2022)

Wayne Edwards, , , , , , ,

Faith In Jane sets a new standard with their latest album Axe To Oak.

In only ten years Faith In Jane is already releasing their eighth album. Pretty amazing. The trio from Maryland – Dan Mize (guitar, vocals), Brendan Winston (bass), and Alex Llewellyn (drums) – play psychedelic rock on a heavy, grungy plane. Expect extended jams and musical journeys into the unknown.

The first song on the album is the nine-minute exploration “Whiskey Mountain Breakdown.” They are starting off with their trump card – this song is amazing. I have always been a fan of the longform heavy music creations, and this one has to go into the queue for heavy rotation. The song has a pounding pulse and is at the same time beautifully lyrical. Mize’s voice is perfect for this manner of music and his guitar work flows and rages.

“She Moved Through The Fair” comes next, and it is a somewhat contemporary arrangement of a traditional ballad. It is surprising to hear and it fits perfectly in between the opening epic and the following song that challenges first in endurance and ingenuity, “Enter Her Light.” A bit slower in its opening bars, “Enter Her Light” casts a darker shadow with its sinister tones than do the preceding songs. The lilting moments, having a different context here, carry a distinct message and sentiment.

Side two features more radio-friendly lengths in its tracks while maintaining the established sense of peregrination, despite the apparent contradiction. “Heavy Drinker” has a noticeably weighted fuzz and it is indeed a good song to sit down and drink to. I can verify that with personal experience. “How Many Ships Sail In The Forest?” is an unusual piece in that its pace is particularly slow while its length is the shortest on the set. Perhaps that is only notable to me. The guitar is amazing in this instrumental song, as is accompanying bass line.

“Axe To Oak” and “The Seeker” are a natural pair. The former has a heavy groove while the latter is more laid back and very much in the grunge dimension with a big flourish at the end. One seems to flow into the other, and it works in both directions. These two songs are a great way to wrap up an incredible album. Highly recommended.

Axe To Oak is out now through Grimoire Records. Links below.

Band photo by Caroline Winston.

Links.

Faith In Jane website, https://www.faithinjane.com/

Bandcamp, https://grimoirerecords.bandcamp.com/album/axe-to-oak

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/faithinjane

Grimoire Records, http://www.grimoirerecords.com/

© Wayne Edwards

Faith In Jane, Axe To Oak (Grimoire 2022)

Electric Jaguar Baby, Psychic Death Safari (Rebel Waves 2022)

Wayne Edwards, , , , , , , , ,

The new album from Electric Jaguar Baby continues the fuzzed up garage rock trance, Psychic Death Safari.

Since 2015, eclectic duo Electric Jaguar Baby from Paris, France has been creating fascinating vibes. Over the course of the intervening years, a trio of EPs and their debut album have left a trail for music lovers to follow that is wickedly diverse and endlessly entertaining. The identity of the central musical pair remains mysterious, but we do know that there are guest appearances on the album by Luca of Go!Zilla on vocals and organ, and Jed of ZigZags on guitar.

The band describes the new album as “a gangbang between Ty Segall, Josh Homme, Jack White and Ozzy Osbourne, sprinkled with retro and occult 70’s vibes”. If that doesn’t capture your imagination then you must be in a coma.

“Hitmaker” opens with a catchy 1970s rock riff then continues with similarly-styled vocals. It hooks you immediately – there is no way to not hang out and listen. “Flashlight” is a little denser, a bit trippier. It sets a cruise and rolls on down the gently winding highway. By the time we get to “Shiver River,” I had an Amboy Dukes flashback. Every song cooks, and the listening is good.

There is a lot to like on this record. One of my favorite tracks is “Hellcome” – love the lead guitar and the assertive past-central riff. And come on, “Jaguar’s Boogie” is a thing of beauty. If you are into garage rock, 1970s sensibilities, and fuzzed up trippy stoniness, there is no way you can go wrong here. Recommended.

Psychic Death Safari is out now through Ripple Music’s Rebel Waves Records on vinyl, CD, and digital. If you like what you hear, check out the band’s back catalogue at their Bandcamp page (link below).

Links.

Electric Jaguar Baby website, https://express.adobe.com/page/SarZGmiV5SG7Y/

Bandcamp, https://electricjaguarbaby.bandcamp.com/album/psychic-death-safari

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ElectricJaguarBaby/

Ripple Music, https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/psychic-death-safari

© Wayne Edwards

Electric Jaguar Baby, Psychic Death Safari (Rebel Waves 2022)

Wizzerd, Space‽: Issue No.000 (Fuzzorama 2022)

Wayne Edwards, , , , , , ,

Mountain stoner band Wizzerd throw down the fuzz on their third full-length album, Space‽: Issue No.000.

I don’t know what I have been doing with my life, but I didn’t hear anything from Wizzerd until the Ripple Music split Turned to Stone Chapter III: Wizzerd vs. Merlin. That one turned my head. Stoner mountain music is a real thing. I mean, I always think first of the desert when fuzztones ring, but this manner of music transcends all environments. Doomchild (2016) was the first, followed in 2019 by the self-titled album. And then there are a couple of demos and a string of EPs from Wizzerd circulating in the cosmos – a good chunk of music to make your way through on a journey you will never forget. The band is Jhalen Salazar (guitar, vocals), Jamie Yeats (guitar), Sam Moore (drums), and Layne Matkovich (bass).

The new record has eleven tasty tracks, beginning, appropriately, with “Launch,” which is a ramp of calamity to “Sisters of the Sun.” Listen to the opening bars of “Sisters” and you will know right away which island you have landed on. Happy-go-lucky transforms into a more serious-sounding hammering fuzztone that hangs on to the end, with dashes of guitar enthusiasm. Staying in space, “Supernova” continues the exploration on essentially the same plane. It does feel like the urgency has amped up on this one, and I love the dual guitaring. “Attack of the Gargantuan Moon Spiders” does not take place in space but might as well for the way it fits in with the early tracks. You can feel a down shift, and it is a good, rollicking gear. The psychedelica is kicking in hereabouts and once it gets its tendrils in you, there they stay.

What appeals most to me about this record is the incredible guitar work. The trippyness is fine thing, too, but I will always walk across the room and point at the guitars. There is a loose-form jamminess to many of the passages and those meld better with your psychic self in its altered state, but no alterations are actually necessary to enjoy the music. Watch out for “Space Chase” to give you an adrenaline injection, and “Doom Machine Smoke Break” for a nice hypothetical cool down that is actually a deep dive into the nature of things. This album definitely cooks. Recommended.

Space‽: Issue No.000 is out on Friday, September 30th through Swedish label Fuzzorama Records. In the US, Bandcamp is the easy place to pick it up (once it appears there – at this writing there is only a single showing up … patience).

Links.

Bandcamp, https://wizzerd.bandcamp.com/

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/wizzerddoom

Fuzzorama Music, https://www.fuzzoramarecords.com/

© Wayne Edwards

Wizzerd, Space‽: Issue No.000 (Fuzzorama 2022)

Birth, Born (Metal Blade Records 2022)

Wayne Edwards, , , , , , , , ,

San Diego prog rock band Birth issue their debut full-length album, Born.

Birth emanated from the band Astra, the latter having released an impressive set of albums, including The Weirding (2009) and The Black Chord (2012). They play progressive rock in a style that might remind you of King Crimson at times, or the deeper moments of Yes. Jazz inlays and ethereal engagements combine with celestial pulses and expeditions featuring ever-present key work and mesmerizing guitars. The band is Conor Riley (keys, acoustic guitar, vocals), Brian Ellis (guitar, keys), Trevor Mast (bass), and Thomas DiBenedetto (drums).

There are six tracks on the new album, beginning with the title song. O man, what a way to kick things off. It is a psychedelic flashback that could be a combination of ELP and Yes with more cosmic energy infused into monumental conceptions of Earth. Illustrious keys and vibrant guitar enterprises give way to thoughtful, languid explorations. It was difficult to resist simply hitting repeat over and over on the first song. “Descending Us” comes next with a more serious-sounding set-up. The vocals transform from bard to soothsayer as the song goes along, and the guitar is a constant reminder of flux, creation and destruction.

Throughout the album, we experience this manner of journey and description at every turn. We are invited, really, to consider what is happening around us at the terrestrial level as well as the celestial one, and all spaces in between. “Cosmic Tears” is perhaps my favorite song on the album as it, for me, showcases best the way in which a paradigm can be constructed – it imagines the edges of understanding then peers within them and beyond. The writing and performance are exceptional. Highly recommended.

Born is out from Bad Omen Records and Metal Blade Records on Friday, July 15th. This is one to mark on the calendar.

Links.

Bandcamp, https://birthprog.bandcamp.com/album/born

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/Birth.prog

Bad Omen Records, http://www.bad-omen-records.com/

Metal Blade Records, https://www.metalblade.com/us/

© Wayne Edwards

Birth, Born (Metal Blade Records 2022)