SuuM - Buried Into The Grave (2018)

Stumbling out of the forest, looking pale and practically undead is SuuM - a band who seem to have sustained themselves on nothing but traditional doom for months. They're now here to indoctrinate you into their wicked lifestyle with their debut album "Buried Into The Grave", an offering set upon a profane altar in the middle of a mausoleum. It's based on a classic style that sits well next to the likes of Saint Vitus or Reverend Bizarre, but feels just a touch more modern. This stuff broods in the darkness as an ominous storm brews overhead, complete with a few thunderous explosions when songs burst into an occasional rage. The first track "Tower Of Oblivion" does well to announce the band's dark intent as the guitar lies down a thick layer of slow-churned dreariness as a foundation before the vocals moan over it with infernal lament. Add in a practically maniacal solo followed by a maddening build up with a vigorous grumble from the drums and you'll soon find your eyes glazed over as you give in to the gloom. The rest of album continues in a similar direction - groaning nefariously through the night - until "The Woods Are Waiting". This one is a moody instrumental with simple, sorrowful guitars and a touch of the blues - it's few moments respite for you to reflect before the end. With the final track "Shadows Haunt The Night" all the lingering spirits in the crypt seem worm their way out into the world, presumably to go forth and bring the essence of SuuM to all. Even if you don't check this one out, you may hear the dead whispering its praises as they pass over you in the night! -Brandon
 

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Pressor - Weird Things EP (2018)

Pressor plays burly sounding synth driven Stoner/Sludge/Doom, with the riffs that move like lava, and a ferociousness of a bear with a face full of bees. These Russian heavyweights are big on stoner grove riffage, and make great use of it throughout the 4 tracks for "Weird Things". There's nothing too distinctly weird about this album, outside all of the added space sounds by the synth. No, I think the weird is in reference to weird fiction and the authors that write such literature. This seems like it would pair well with Lovecraft, Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, or even Philip K. Dick. Although I can't imagine reading and having this cranked at the same time. Which has me thinking, has anyone ever tried to play an audio book via audible and played it to music? I think that would be fucking sick to listen to this while also listen to someone reading Conan or even some pulpy Sci-Fi Adventure.
I digress, but really the album has the might and heaviness of Conan's sword, the darkness and foreboding doom of Cthulhu, and the alien extraterrestrial sounds of deep space travel. The fuzz from the guitar and bass merge as one to form a plume of volcanic smoke, with the texture of the ash raining down. The drummer always seems to find that doom pocket, regardless of tempo or mood changes, and pounds the shit out of each rhythm to make it that much heavier, to create an even bigger impact. I really dug the ghost trail vocals especially since they were done in a sing/scream style, making it less psychedelic, and more aggressive with that extra bit of gruff. Overall I really liked this EP. Pressor is slightly different and surrounding itself with interesting soundscapes while mercilessly crushing it at the same time. Well done! Cheers!- Samir

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Shambles - Primitive Death Trance EP (2017)

This is some truly gross sounding stuff, that has been unearthed from a dank crypt in Thailand. Shambles play OSDM with a slow Death/Doom rumbling is that likely to put anyone who listens to into a death trance, luring them into the abyss. The band relishes those murky moments where the riffs are so slow and low that they fall off the bone, but also have this tightness about them where the blasts let you know these dudes are fucking around either, and they can be brutal on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to speed. I really fucking love the low end of the string on "Primitive Death Trance". It's probably my favorite takeaway from this EP, and what has resulted in repeated listens. Plus these dudes have been around for over 20 years so clearly they know what the fuck they're doing, and have crafted some pretty repulsive sounding tunes. What I want to know is, where the fuck are all the other Death/Doom bands in Asia? I want to hear them! In the meantime though i'll keep listening to this album because it's really fucking good. Highly Recommended! Cheers! -Samir

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Flesh Relic - Silent World (2018)

In Chicago, a secret ritual is underway. Combining witchcraft, alchemy, and science one man brings a formidable sound to life. Flesh Relic is a project masterminded by Edward Nudd of Cokegoat (another great band that you should investigate if you aren't already familiar with them) and "Silent World" is the fifth EP under the Flesh Relic banner. This release uses layers of sound, smoothed together with synth to create a slice of progressive doom that slithers out of the darkness and into the obscure recesses in your mind. It evokes this kind of Pallbearer meets Opeth feel - not too similar to either band, but it strikes at the same nerves and draws out the same sensations. All four tracks on this album come through clear while the guitars and gentle synthwork generate this white fog of atmosphere that permeates the room and seeps into your soul. Meanwhile the vocals mix whispered growls and clean, deep melodies, with both styles breathing dark thoughts and themes into your mind and breeding shadow and doubt within you. It's only about 20 minutes in total, but that should be enough to let the EP's misty aura envelope you and get you hooked on the sound. I definitely dig it - I'm going to be watching for more and digging through the earlier releases in the meantime! -Brandon

Funeralia - Where Death Is My Hope (2017)

Record label "Moscow Funeral League" made the world a little more gloomy when they tapped a new vein of darkness out in Spain - a group by the name of Funeralia. The band's first release (a "mini-album" by their own nomenclature) is titled "Where Death Is My Hope" and it features all the joy of a dead rose on a snowy grave. We're talking about gothic death/doom with classically-inspired keys and orchestration, the kind of sound that's perfect for a romantic evening in a decrepit mansion lamenting the death of a loved one. It opens with a cold, ominous wind and a chilling piano intro before blossoming into a full-bodied, churning anguish. Piano continues throughout the piece accompanied by typical metal instrumentation and symphonic stylings, creating music that's heavy enough to wreck you, but with a strong air of sophistication. On top of this, there are the dual vocals with a gorgeous mix of agonized, rumbling death growls and angelic quasi-operatic melodies (that keep getting stuck in my head) that will make you feel as though your soul is being torn between heaven and hell while your body is trapped in a state of unending despair. The dreary tone of the songs take you on a slow venture through the graveyard, with a tragic sigh and contemplation as you look over each headstone, but if the music itself doesn't sell you on sorrow, the audio clips of thunderstorms and crying that are mixed in might. This album is melancholic to the core, but definitely worth the pain. -Brandon

Smoke - Stoned to Death (2018)

With a name like Smoke, you can only imagine what this band sounds like. Hailing from the deep swamps of Louisiana, Smoke is heavy on the Stoner vibes while also mixing in some Sludge Doom for good measure. If you mixed Iron Monkey, Weedeater, and maybe a little QOTSA together, you would most likely get Smoke. The band has that warm and fuzzy sound to it, while also managing to hit hard like a left hook to the jaw. Scratch that, make it a shovel to the head. These guys definitely love their stoner riffage, but you can definite catch a whiff of that NOLA Sludge/Doom heritage in there as well. These dudes sound nasty as fuck though.
Like I said they have that warm and fuzzy sound and that comes mostly from the guitars on this. It's definitely laid on thick like Robitussin to a sore throat. Speaking of which, the vocals on this are fucking killer, and I couldn't imagine them using anything else. It really gives them that edge and contributes to their overall dank and dirty sound. There's a really good bass tone on this album, that is really punchy and cuts through. A lot of times I often associate the sludge sound with the guitars, but if I were to pin a "Sludge Sound" for bass, this would probably be it. The drums on this are fucking amazing. There are moments where you wouldn't expect it and this dude throws in some double kick that really adds a heavy layer to this. It's also used sparingly, which gives it even more of impact when it does happen.
Overall I really dug this. It's not the most original stuff out there right now, but it's definitely the type of music I'm into that's for sure. If you're looking for something that has a stoner groove, but want something that's harsher than your typical heavy psych, then Smoke is definitely your shit. This gets my stamp of approval! Cheers! -Samir

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Fu Manchu - Clone of The Universe (2018)

Usually I don't review albums from established bands like this, but I felt like I needed to make an exception here. Fu Manchu certainly doesn't need my help in promoting their new album. I'm simply writing this review to file it away for the "Best of" year end list, and also to proclaim that it is probably my favorite Fu Manchu album of all time. Even more so than "The Action is Go".
My love for that album started not too long after it came out. I was reading Thrasher or Guitar World (I can't remember where the article originated), and I saw Fu Manchu being featured with J Yuenger of White Zombie (who I'm still a fan or, just not Rob) who apparently produced their new album. I remember him saying he let the band use his vast pedal collection, but that's the only thing I really remember from that article. Either way, It peaked my interest and when I finally got my hands on "The Action is Go", it blew my mind. The front cover with the retro skateboarding picture captured the full essence of the whole album. Godzilla sized 70's style rock riffs with a punk rock energy played to the backdrop of a California summer.  This was my introduction to Stoner/Desert Rock, and I believe this was my doorway drug to the harder stuff like Sleep and Electric Wizard. I was already a metal head well before that, so it makes sense I would be drawn to the more sinister and aggressive aspects of the Stoner genre.
Fast forward to yesterday when I listened to this for the first time. I mean up until this point I have casually followed their albums. I liked "King of The Road" but after that I got quite lost on their stuff. It just didn't seem to hold up for compared to what I heard. Until now. I mean seriously, this is a great fucking album. The guitar and bass still have that massive fuzz sound that's often duplicated but nothing is quite like the original. The riffs are just as Kaiju-like as they ever have been before, and they're just a little less California Sunshine and little bit more Angry Red Planet Mars. I think what I like most about this album is the fact that the last track is about just as long as all of the other songs combined, and it features Alex Lifeson from Rush on it.  In a way it makes me feel a little nostalgic about rush even if i'm not the biggest fan. Just knowing they're not going to be together anymore makes the track seem a little bit more special.The song might seem vast but it doesn't get old, and it's not bogged down by being repetitive with plenty of tasty riffs to keep the listener satisfied.
So overall this is definitely one of my favorites of the year from a band that I have been a fan of for decades now. So grab your skateboard, or bong, or whatever you need this to be the soundtrack for and turn this shit up, because it fucking rules. We live in a day and age where Stoner Rock is plentiful, and for the most part have nothing new to offer. Yet, for whatever reason, Fu Manchu manage to pull off their signature sound while still feeling fresh after all of these yes. Cheers! -Samir