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Sonic Scream – Without a Sound [EP]
Raised on heavy blues, Sonic Scream’s debut is a grand foray into record-collector rock: Dark-heated fuzz blasts that borrow from Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden and the Foo Fighters in equal measure, while retaining their dingy, garage roots.
Shark Blood [Demo]
Shark Blood make “outlaw music” and like any bunch of non-conformists, their early compositions have a feeling of instability about them, like they might collapse or soar at any moment. Thankfully, this nihilist blast of aggression extends to repeated plays.
The Del-Vipers – The Del-Vipers [EP]
Intent on bring back a niche, and enjoyable genre to a modern audience, the Del-Vipers’ debut doesn’t stray far from the simple, three-chord prang and rolling instrumentals of the Ventures and Dick Dale; it’s commercially viable surf-rock for all the family.
Viper Fever – Gypsy [EP]
Originality is an overrated trait in the music industry, especially when a new band perfects an old formula. Like seasoned veterans, these Chicago-based psych-rockers sound like they formed in another decade; more specifically, the late ‘60s. Reconstructing druggy drone-rock has become an all too familiar theme in recent years, but when it sounds as good as this you can see why.
Sun Shepherd – Procession of Trampling Hoof [Self-Release]
Industry and metal has always had a close bond. Take Black Sabbath, for instance, and the industrial heartland of Aston. Sun Shepherd, like Sabbath, has links to industry – engineering, to be exact – while they also have a penchant for slow, prodding, jam-heavy guitar grooves.
Sun Shepherd, like the rest of the stoner-metal fraternity, owes its existence to the blokes from Birmingham, however, unlike Sabbath, Procession of Trampling Hoof is decidedly fragile and minimalist; its sonic gravitas is the result of a fuzz pedal and a set of amps that never move off the ‘ecstatic darkness’ setting. It’s a gnarly listening experience, but one that will be shared and enjoyed by stoner-devotees everywhere.
Brujas del Sol – Moonliner [Devouter Records]
By Simon Hadley
For those who are sceptical about the return of space-rock, one band that’s always worth listening to is Brujas del Sol. Since their 2010 debut, this Ohio-based four-piece have continued to add new colours to their psychedelic palette.
As a result, Moonliner finally feels like the finished article; they’ve curbed some of their most indulgent impulses in favour of a well-rounded sound that distinguishes them from their contemporaries. What’s more impressive, however, is that the band have stayed true to their game plan: The guitars still have a split personally; spiralling skywards, before descending back to earth in a fuzz-induced rage.
Despite the band’s autopilot tendencies – anyone who’s seen them live will know this – there’s always something that will catch you off guard: A sitar splash, a drawn-out vocal, or even a shimmering solo. Cynics will argue that this has been done countless times before, and, of course, they are right, but Brujas del Sol embodies a valuable notion: In order to move forward, it’s sometimes necessary to look back.
Lonesome Mustangs [EP]
Using their roots as a marketing ploy, Lonesome Mustangs are hoping to breakout of the DIY dirge with a brace of soulful bluesy-psych songs. Some of them are woozy and languid, while others contain the frazzled guitar-heavy stomp of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
Frankenberries – Frankenberries [EP]
Frankenberries is the sort of moniker that appears after a late night game of scrabble, or a “yeah, that’ll do,” conversation. Despite their exterior containing a nonchalant shrug, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more serious-as-a-heart-attack record this year. Containing dual affinities for brute punk-rock and bedraggled shoegaze, this is a sneering set of songs that refuse to back down.
Turf War – The Great Escape [EP]
As spring is finally upon us, it makes sense for a grungy, guitar-powered act to release their good-time hymns to the youthful masses. As the title implies, this Atlanta-based five-piece make road-trip music that equates to a teenager’s highlight reel: Windows down, friends in the back, and a cooler full of beer in the trunk.
The Lemons – Fresh Squeezed [EP]
The Lemons are a Chicago boy-girl duo that sing about “seaweed coming,” and embrace the lo-fi, melancholy values of the ‘90s with child-like charm. Fans of indie-pop and bad puns shuffle this way.
Their Methlab – Their Methlab [EP]
If you want to keep genre-tagging to a minimum, this self-titled debut should be filed in the post-rock section along with Mogwai and Isis. Opting for stirring shifts that the aforementioned groups pioneered, Their Methlab’s instrumentals work best they are kept to a minimum: The quieter moments contain the most power.
