Words by Jonathan Stout
When not doing freelance writing, Jonathan Stout is heavily involved in the NKY and Cincinnati music scenes as the Marketing Manager for Kentucky based venue The Southgate House Revival and founder of DIY Recording label Lo Fi City Recordings. He’s also an active musician, performing and recording with Sleepy Drums, Mutt Fuzz, Burnt Cabins and gewgaw.
It’s been a big month for fans of heavy doom psych, with thundering and epic releases from Monolord, Slift, All of Them Witches and Sleep! Let’s get into it…
Slift’s new album Fantasia (Sub Pop) is possibly one of their most direct and focused releases, immediately pinning the listener down with the album opener and barely letting up during its 48 minute runtime. Uniquely blending thrashing post hardcore with a snarling heft of doom, sprinkled with cosmic spacey psych atmospherics, they stir up quite the inspired noise for a power trio. But that said, it’s inspiring how lean many of the arrangements are with minimal guitar overdubs to fill space (like many trios do when in the studio). Instead – even though this is a very professional sounding release – it still sounds very raw and genuine. Built around very tight performances from musicians really pushing themselves. They give it their all in these performances and they have a great energy that I’m sure transfers marvelously in a live setting.
All Them Witches have also returned with a new batch of their patented heavy blues infused doom on the release House of Mirrors (BMG). Really dialing in on ominous themes and melodies for this one, it maintains a spooky vibe that goes well to soundtrack these uncertain times – or a horror movie just as well. Musically, the band is as heavy as ever, but what sets them apart the most from their stoner rock/doom peers is the warm, soulful, melodic vocal delivery from Charles Michael Parks Jr., who can effortlessly deliver a grooving blues song like “Aethernet” (which would make Dan Auerbach blush) as well as add emotional depth to heavy numbers like “Starting Line” (which could be added to a Pile album without anyone noticing). What further sets him apart is in the heavy numbers where some singers would be compelled to scream, he instead brings a delivery that is much more rich, melodic and genuine – which is why I think this band has been able to achieve more mainstream success than some of their peers.
Monolord made their highly anticipated return in May with Neverending (Relapse Records) and all I can say is it’s so good to have them back! This album should by no means let down longtime fans, as they have steadily climbed well beyond the capacity of others with every album. These songs rumble and ramble, dialing in and delivering from the jump. With songs like “You Bastard” and “The Masque” they channel the power of the epic metal chorus without sacrificing an ounce of crunchy sludge. Vocalist Thomas V. Jäger has only gotten better and better at mastering his urgently mournful and tuneful delivery (sounding more and more like Mastodon’s Brann Dailor with every release). It’s too bad Ozzy’s not around anymore, because I think they could’ve collaborated on some killer songs in a different timeline (seriously – listen to “The Masque” and imagine Ozzy singing it. I can imagine it so well that I want it to be real!)
Ok, so I mentioned it earlier so we might as well talk about it – on June 16 stoner doom legends Sleep surprise announced not only new music but a completely new band lineup, with Al Cisneros now being the sole original member. The reality that guitarist Matt Pike would no longer be a part of the wildly influential band made fans simultaneously drop their bongs all across the world. Let’s just say, from what I can gather from online comments is that this decision is not particularly popular – and quite frankly, rightfully so! Matt Pike is as important to the band’s sound, notoriety, and mystique as Cisneros – if not more so. Beyond his work in Sleep, he’s been highly influential with other bands like High On Fire and had a major hand in pioneering the entire sub genre in general! As one of the most notable names in heavy metal for quite some time – his presence was a huge draw for many.
So how is the new material? With this announcement they also released the new track “Have Spacesuit Will Travel” as well as an accompanying comic book, available through Third Man Records. Let’s be clear – Cisneros didn’t hire a couple of deadbeats, he hired the mighty Dale Crover of Melvins (and his bandmate in Shrinebuilder) on drums and Bubba Dupree of influential ’80s hardcore band Void on guitar. The results? Honestly, I enjoy it quite a bit. For fans of stoner metal – you’ll find all the tasty ingredients. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t sound like Sleep. Bubba has a great tone and drops a face melting solo at the end of the track but the glaring elephant in the room is: no matter how good it is, it still isn’t Matt Pike. Which, I do appreciate that Bubba doesn’t try to ape Pike, delivering something more genuine to his own style.
In the end, I would actually be fully hyped on this if instead Cisneros just called this a different band. What a sick super band that would be! But calling it Sleep potentially disrupts their legacy – or at least re-writes it, which is something that can be very uncomfortable for longtime fans.
Further Recommended Listening:
Rubber Band Gun/Joey Joesph: ROAM BABY ROAM
White Denim: 13(Bella Union Records)
Little Barrie: Gravity Freeze (Easy Eye Sound)