Tag Archives: Black Sabbath

Green Goat – Album Review

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Greengoat – A.I.

Self-released

Release date: 26/01/2024

Running time: 38 minutes

Review by; Alun Jones

8.5/10

Opening with a Bladerunner-style synth led track that features a spoken word delivery of Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, is a bold (and different) move for a Stoner/Doom band. In a genre where, thematically, we’re usually content to contemplate the joys of weed consumption and the mysteries of the occult – usually via a 1970s Hammer horror aesthetic – this sci-fi launching point is a welcome breath of fresh air.

This is where we enter the album “A.I.” by Spanish doomsters Greengoat. It’s a great band name, and one that harks back to those pot and patchouli, candles and Peter Cushing tropes we’re used to. But ‘The Void’ takes us on a different tangent, with the Rutger Hauer voice over. Second track ‘The Seed’ takes this mellow intro and runs with it, till 30 seconds in – yes, it’s big fat chunky riff time! And what a big, fat chunky riff it is – slow and grinding, developing an irresistible groove with the drums dropping in, eventually exploding into a full force rocker.

The line-up of singer/guitarist Ivan Flores and drummer Ruth “Kalypso” Moya invoke a moody soundscape that borrows from spacey, harmonic passages of Pink Floyd and adds crunchy hard rock. It’s a euphoric concoction as the music builds. And oh, how it builds…

A more traditional stoner groove pervades the other songs on the album, with groovy riff workouts showcased across tracks like the head-nodding, tripped out title track and the fuzzy, Fu Manchu-like ‘Burn the End’.

Throughout the album, Greengoat weld together a progressive, futurist theme with some good, old fashioned, retro Sabbath style rockin’. “A.I.” will no doubt entwine itself around my conscious all the more as I play it in the weeks to come. This is a fine album with great ideas – the analogue age and the digital age tentatively strolling forward together.

Find out more about Greengoat on Facebook and Bandcamp.

This review is brought to you by Platinum Al in association with Ever Metal.

District 13 – Album Review

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District 13 – Step into the Fire

Self-released

Release date: 20/10/2023

Running time: 66 minutes approx

Review by: Alun Jones

8/10

Back in October, London based heavy alt-rock band District 13 released “Step into the Fire”, their second album. Apologies District 13, this album has been hanging around for a little while. But in true Ever Metal “championing the underdog” style, we couldn’t let it slip by without a review. Not my fault for writing the review late for once, believe it or don’t. You don’t believe me, do you? Ah well, whatevs.

The prime motivators in District 13’s sound have been declared as Black Sabbath and The Ramones, two fine bands and exactly the type of thing that tickles my fancy. And it should yours, too. The crunchy metal riffs and gonzo punk attitude is obvious from the start, with opening track ‘Step into the Fire’ showing some hard rock guts and a big, hooky chorus.

‘Apologetic Trickster’ ups the punky pace somewhat, though there’s a vein of dark, melancholy longing running through all the tracks. One of the absolute highlights is ‘Burned out in Paradise’, which begins in an achingly morose fashion before bursting into an angst fuelled burner. If you dig Bleach era Nirvana, Therapy? and early QOTSA, I’m sure you’ll find something to love here: try ‘Emotive Addiction’ and ‘Red Flags’ for starters.

There’s plenty of melody mixed in with the ferocity. ‘Goodbye’ features a heart rending, uplifting chorus worthy of Seattle’s finest. That song and ‘Starry Eyes’ help to add texture to the album with a slower pace. The final song, the acoustic ‘Forever This Way’, is a really beautiful track that falls between Led Zep III, Bowie and REM. That one’ll melt your heart, if nothing else does.

“Step into the Fire” is definitely a solid album, full of great compositions and performances. My only complaint would be, with 14 songs running over an hour long, it’s a lot to take in. Trimming 3 or 4 songs off would make this feel more of a cohesive and easily absorbed album – though I wouldn’t like to be the one who had to decide which songs to drop. Otherwise, it’s great to hear music like this: District 13 have passion and ideas and are obviously not afraid to aim high.

Check out District 13 on their website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.

This review is brought to you by Platinum Al and Ever Metal.

Green Lung – “This Heathen Land” Album Review

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Green Lung – This Heathen Land 

Nuclear Blast Records 

Release date: 03/11/2023 

Running time: 43 minutes 

Review by: Alun Jones 

9.75/10 

Halloween ain’t over yet, kids – at least not while the arch druids of Occult Rock, Green Lung, are back in town!  Yes, London’s finest purveyors of witchy, stoner incantations have a new album, “This Heathen Land” – released by Nuclear Blast Records, no less.  So gather ye round, my acolytes, whilst we indulge in the ritual listening of this opus.  Light some candles, burn some incense, imbibe potions of mind-expanding merriment.  And take all your clothes off!  

Album number three from Green Lung kicks off with a suitably 1970s intro, setting the magickal vibe right away.  ‘The Forest Church’ is the first track proper, which takes its inspiration from Danzig-approved cult folk horror classic “The Blood on Satan’s Claw”.  It’s a riffalicious chunk of doomy wonder, built around an organ drenched, moody base. 

‘Mountain Throne’ blasts out as a Sabbath style rocker, awash with those lush, skronky keyboards.  Then GL add some sauce to their sorcery with their ode to ‘Maxine (Witch Queen)’, an ecstatically catchy slice of psychedelic, garage rock-infused debauchery.  ‘The Ancient Ways’ and ‘Hunters in the Sky’ are both powerful yet groovy rock that’s reminiscent of the greats and gleefully conjures up its own aura.   

Green Lung really stretch themselves on ‘One for Sorrow’, which features huge, doom riffs and atmospheric synths with an epic chorus.  The mellow, folky sound of ‘Song of the Stones’ adds yet more colour to the palette, and still sounds essential – just like those more refined tracks on early Black Sabbath records.  The melodic, drama infused ‘Oceans of Time’ – inspired by Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” – adds a suitably bombastic and ambitious climax to the album.   

A word of wisdom for the initiate: the vinyl version of “This Heathen Land” shows exactly why physical media is still so important and potent.  My copy is green vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve with lyric booklet and a map of the UK, showing various otherworldly sites that have inspired the album.  This obsessive attention to detail is fascinating and illustrates just how much care and attention has been poured into the whole work!   

Green Lung is completely fearless, their ability to rise to the challenge and create art this meticulous is highly impressive.  And I should know, I’ve seen The Wicker Man and I own a black cat.  Seriously, my children: “This Heathen Land” is essential. 

You can put your clothes back on now.    

Find out more about Green Lung on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and their website.

This review is joint presentation by Platinum Al and Ever Metal.

Deathchant – Album Review

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Deathchant – Thrones
RidingEasy Records
Release date: 13/10/2023
Running time: 37 minutes
Review by: Alun Jones
8.5/10

OK, so this one’s a grower. This is the third album by Deathchant, and it started as “good” but progressed to “great!” pretty smoothly after a couple of listens. There’s a lot going on with “Thrones”, and it wasn’t necessarily what I’d assumed beforehand. Yes, there’s heavy, sludgy grooves and psychedelic shine as would be expected, but it’s tempered with a classic rock sensibility that adds both power and gravitas.

This is personified most obviously in tracks such as ‘Mirror’ and ‘Chariot’, both of which come ferociously pounding out of the gates and boast a melodic lead guitar that reminded me (very pleasantly) of Thin Lizzy. There’s also plenty of crunch in those tracks, and the doomier sections of the title track, which builds brilliantly within its 7 minutes and 40 seconds of contrasting ooze and fast paced rock.

It was the track ‘Mother Mary’ that first grabbed my attention, though. This relaxed, more introspective track, tucked away at number 4 on the playlist, immediately convinced me that there was much more going on with Deathchant than I’d immediately suspected. Anyone with any class can tell you that Sabbath’s ‘Planet Caravan’ is a momentous, pivotal track on ”Paranoid”, and it’s the same here. ‘Mother Mary’ quietly entices the listener into a different, dream-like realm.

‘Hoax’ does the opposite, waking the listener up with a jolt – and the album closes with the heaviest song of the lot, ‘Tomb’, part doom march and part striding, muscular beast. The vocals can sometimes seem a little low in the mix, but overall the finished work has enough twists and turns to ensure we’re always engaged.

As an album, ‘Thrones’ teases at first and will full-on deliver if you give this album a little time. Crafting together gloomy proto metal and snazzy classic rock frills, Deathchant have created something original – it’s thrilling and cathartic at the same time.

Fins out more about Deathchant on their website, Bandcamp, Instagram and YouTube.

This review has been brought to you by Platinum Al in association with Ever Metal.

Trouble – Run to the Light Album Review

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Trouble – Run to the Light (Expanded Edition)

Metal Blade Records

Release date: 16/06/2023

Running time: 58 minutes

Review by: Alun Jones

8.5/10

Emergency!  Emergency!  Quick – this is urgent!  Due to a slight administrative cock-up (that might be my fault, I’m not telling), a review for this reissue of Trouble’s classic third album almost slipped through the net.  But there is no way I’m going to let that happen.  Absolutely everything Trouble related should be treated with total respect and receive the maximum coverage.  Hence, here’s my review to commemorate the re-release of this landmark album.

Metal Blade, who released the original version of “Run to the Light” in 1987, have been gracious enough to give us all a chance to rediscover this album from Chicago metal legends Trouble.  Trouble is, as I’m sure you know, one of the great doom metal bands that originated the style back in the eighties – before the sub-genre even had a name.  Whilst everyone else was speeding up and thrash metal was coming to the fore, Trouble were one of the few bands who took their inspiration from early Black Sabbath.  They played slower, griding riffs resonating with melancholic power.     

‘On Borrowed Time’, with its funereal intro and gloomy pace, illustrates the Trouble template well: and features a revved-up section in the latter half.  The title track has a bouncy intro riff reminiscent of ‘Symptom of the Universe’ that’s married to a crushing, slower section.  It’s this multi part approach to song writing, contrasting sections of heavy and light, that most recalls Tony Iommi and crew.  Trouble isn’t directly stealing guitar lines or concepts, it’s the spirit and craft of Sabbath that they emulate.       

The bonus tracks in this Expanded Edition include three demos of album tracks that are interesting, but for fans only.  The real curio is the cover of The Beatles classic ‘Come Together’, which originally appeared on “The Best of Metal Blade Vol. 2” in 1987.  Fans of the band will be aware of Trouble’s affection for 60s psychedelia, so this track will make perfect sense.  ‘Come Together’ is no real surprise – it sounds exactly how you’d imagine it would – but it’s a nice temptation for the faithful.

“Run to the Light” offers little in the way of new gems, but to lament that would be to miss the point.  It’s incredibly important to have albums like this in circulation, available for all to investigate and add to their collection.  I can only apologise to the band and record label for the tardiness of my review; if it’s any consolation, I’ve already bought a vinyl copy to cherish (to go alongside my ancient CD copy).  I’d encourage readers to buy a copy of this Trouble album and indulge in the joy of doom.      

If you’re looking for Trouble, try their website, Facebook or Bandcamp.

This review has been brought to you by Platinum Al in association with Ever Metal.

Platinum Al’s Top 10 Rock & Metal Albums of 2023

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Just as per last year, I compiled my Top 10 Rock & Metal albums for Ever Metal, which was published on the site. Now you lucky devils over here at the Virtual Hot Tub get to take a look too!

Absolutely ridiculous, that’s what it’s been like trying to pick just 10 albums to make my “Best of the Year” list.  There’s been a ton of great music in 2023.  Here’s my attempt to pick out my favourites:

10. The Sound of Origin – Man in the Arena

Sludgy, Grungy, Stoner Metal from Huddersfield, this album features Trouble’s Kyle Thomas on a couple of tracks adding even more class to a solid record.

9. Church of Misery – Born Under a Mad Sign

Gruesome Doom from the Japanese masters of Sabbathian serial murderer Metal.  Killer!

8. Torso – A Crash Course in Terror

John Carpenter synths meet chainsaw guitars in this brutal, 80’s horror inspired monster of an album from Torso.  Short but evil.

7. The Lords of Altamont – To Hell with Tomorrow, The Lords are now!

Psyche Biker Rock with skronky keyboards and attitude, The Lords of Altamont deliver a slab of Garage Punk’n’Roll to keep the party going.  YEAH!!!

6. Tankzilla – Tankzilla

Debut album from this dynamic duo, a righteous cacophony of pounding, groovy riffs that’ll make your body move like a serpent. 

5. King Kraken – MCLXXX

These guys blew me away when I saw them live back in February.  Their album is also a work of Groove Metal wonder.

4. Kvelertak – Endling

Norwegian Punk Metal with a Classic Rock sheen?  Yes please!  More joyous tunes from Kvelertak is nothing short of a true gift.

3. Blood Ceremony – The Old Ways Remain

Folk Metal, flute infused Occult Rock that sounds both ancient and modern at the same time, we waited a long time but this album will cast a spell on you.

2. Green Lung – This Heathen Land

I was one of many waiting anxiously for the third Green Lung album, and it didn’t disappoint.  Exquisite Occult Rock that’s doomy and hook filled, Green Lung have exploded with this record.

And number one is…

1. Desert Storm – Death Rattle

Three years ago, Desert Storm were number 2 in my 2020 Top 10, after a little band called AC/DC.  This year they deservedly take the top spot, with a massive album that I’m still enjoying months later, up against some stiff competition.   

Plus some honourable mentions:

Baroness, who’s latest album “Stone” probably would’ve made the top 10 if I’d listened to it sooner.

The Damned – their “Darkedelic” album may not be for all of Ever Metal’s audience, but it’s bloody great all the same.

Metallica – that “72 Seasons” thing was good but too long.  Nice try.

Keep coming back to Ever Metal and Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub for all the best rock reviews!

Slumbering Sun – The Ever-Living Fire Album Review

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Slumbering Sun – The Ever-Living Fire

Self-released / Us/Them Group

Release date: 24/02/2023

Running time: 45 minutes

Review by: Alun Jones

8/10

Yeah, yeah – I know!  Just keep quiet and probably no one will notice.  Ok, this review should’ve been written weeks ago, but if you just keep schtum and play along, I might just get away with it, OK?  OK??!!  Right, they’re coming – remember the plan!

Hello there, ladies and gentlemen!  Yes ‘tis I, your humble scribe, with another review of a new (ahem) album that I’m sure will tantalise your aural orifices.  This time, a piece of musical majesty entitled “The Ever-Living Fire”, by a superb group of musicians known as Slumbering Sun.  Comprised of members of Destroyer of Light, Monte Luna and Temptress, the pedigree is certainly top notch.

Musically, Slumbering Sun offer a collection of melodic, progressive doom that drags numerous styles into its bubbling cauldron of influences. 

Opening song ‘Morgenröte‘ starts with an ethereal blend of female vocal, guitar and violin, conjuring the sort of misty morning amongst druidic stones that I might encounter on the mystical isle of Anglesey in Wales.  Two and half minutes in, and a huge megalithic guitar erupts into the proceedings, and over the course of the remaining 10 minutes the band are more like an orchestra than a typical rock band – passages ebb and flow, heavy and light, revisiting themes on their journey.

Track 2, ‘Liminal Bridges’, commences with a mellow intro, before the song explodes into a shinier, brighter – dare I say, uplifting? – vibe.  It’s like Thin Lizzy composed a mega Sabbath epic and decided to hurtle off into the forest with it.  ‘Love in a Fallen World’ reverts to a more sombre feel again, but features a great guitar melody and builds slowly and satisfactorily.

‘Dream Snake’ is my personal highlight of the record: unsurprisingly, as it’s the most Sabbath of all the tunes here (even down to the Ozzy-like vocals).  Finally, there’s just over 9 minutes of lumbering, doom laden exploration on the title track, which manages to cover massive prog metal sections and a huge “na na na” backing vocal. 

Track by track then, that’s your overview of “The Ever-Living Fire” by Slumbering Sun.  The band certainly don’t aim low, throwing in a varied collection of sounds and ideas from classic doom to Celtic folk.  I mean, they’re from the southern states of the USA, they’ve probably never been to Llandudno!  The album is hugely creative, but it is somewhat dense – it’ll take a few listens to appreciate.  Magical stuff when it falls into place, though.

You can find Slumbering Sun on Bandcamp and Instagram.

This review has been brought to you by Platinum Al and Ever Metal.

Heron – Empires of Ash Album Review

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Heron – Empires of Ash

Sludgelord Records

Release date: 02/12/2022

Running time: 37 minutes

Review by: Alun Jones

8.5/10

“Empires of Ash” is the new album from Heron, and if you like the sludge, this is gonna be one for you.  It’s the band’s third full length album, and you’ll know when you listen that there’s a whole mountain load of experience brewed up in this mighty concoction.  Experience, plus what seems like a lifetime’s worth of melancholy and frustration given voice through huge, expansive slabs of atmospheric thunder.

Starting with ‘Rust and Rot’, Heron take us on a 9 minute plus odyssey encompassing thudding drums and menacing guitar.  Vocals are guttural and brutal, the end result is a thrilling wade through a sludgey mire.  Contrast this to the second track, ‘The Middle Distance’: a sombre yet beautiful (yes, you read that right) epic, which only erupts into molten fury after the three-minute mark.  When the vocals come in, you’ll drop your pint.

‘Hauntology’ is another epic, and very aptly titled.  Eerie yet calm and pensive, till again it builds to an enthralling outburst.  ‘Hungry Ghosts’ is a more ruthless amalgamation of Conan with later period Danzig guitar flash.  The final track, ‘With Dead Eyes’ has a melodic entrance, and once more decimates with a powerful vocal.

Whether it’s doom, sludge, post-rock or any other shade of metal, there’s a wide variety of styles and influences on this album.  I was lulled into a relaxed haze before being startled awake with fiery exultations on several occasions.  Heron have really gone all out with “Empires of Ash” to create a record that is unique and imaginative.

Ozzy had trouble with a heron.  He’d just had a new pond built on his farm, and one bird kept gorging on Oz’s expensive ornamental Koi carp.  One night, we decided to lay ambush and surprise the heron with a siren and a shot gun when it flew in at dawn for breakfast.  Bill Ward fell asleep, so we floated him out on the water on an inflatable raft, as he snored under the moonlight.  When the heron arrived, I sounded the siren, Oz fired his gun into the air and Bill woke up startled, then fell into the pond screaming “I can’t swim!”.  Oh, we did laugh.  The bird flew off, never to be seen again. 

Check out Heron on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

Pay Sludgelord Records a visit on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.

This review is brought to you by the combined powere and elegance of Platinum Al and Ever Metal.

All Souls/Fatso Jetson – Album Review

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All Souls/Fatso Jetson – Live from Total Annihilation

Ripple Music

Release date: 19/08/2022

Running time: TBC

Review by: Alun Jones

8.5/10

Well, bloody flipping heck – this is pretty good, innit?  A split album, recorded during the pandemic in L.A.’s Total Annihilation Studios, light on the production and heavy on the creative purpose.  We have, for your enjoyment, a collection of songs from alt rockers All Souls and desert rock pioneers Fatso Jetson.

All Souls deliver five songs here (that’s all of Side A to the connoisseur), all of which offer a dark yet epic character.  ‘Who Holds the Answer’ is a mid-tempo, infectious rocker and ‘You Can’t Win’ has a melancholy start that grows into a moody, Spaghetti Western tinged piece.  The American Gothic vibe is showcased further on ‘Winds’, again utilising a sparse, melodic approach to generate a cinematic soundscape.  The final two tracks, ‘Sentimental Rehash’ and ‘Timebomb’ are both faster paced and more abrasive, with robot like, post punk riffs – but both still have menace.

Side B belongs to Fatso Jetson, and their first song ‘Drifting off to Storybook Deth’ is my personal favourite of this entire recording.  It welds the gloomy heaviness of the Melvins with the atmosphere of classic Soundgarden into an ominous monster of a track.  ‘Monoxide Dreams’ takes a hypnotic trip off into a windswept, barren horizon.  The repetitive, mesmeric ‘Dream Homes’ is a robot riff instrumental like Sabbath jamming Devo tunes, whilst ‘Long Deep Breaths’, the final track, is an exploration of dark psychedelia.            

Further proving that “desert rock” has more than one style, both of the bands here are adept at taking that expected template and weaving other influences and ideas into their songs.  Both dark and beautiful, All Souls and Fatso Jetson’s efforts are all fascinating.  “Live from Total Annihilation” is ideal music for watching the sun fade and the night creep in.

Have a gander at Fatso Jetson on their various web presences: Facebook, Bandcamp, Instagram and Spotify.

All Souls also have webby business on Facebook, Bandcamp, Instagram and Spotify.

This review is presented to you by Platinum Al in cooperation with Ever Metal. Go and check out Ever Metal now!

Nebula – Album Review

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Nebula – Transmissions from Mothership Earth

Heavy Pysch Sounds Records

Release date: 22.07.2022

Running time: 39 minutes

Review by: Alun Jones

9/10

As I write this, we’re sweltering in a record-breaking heatwave.  North Wales, which is where I’m based – and also where the nerve centre of Ever Metal can be found – has had some of the highest temperatures in the whole of the UK.  It’s crazy.  And so, a new album from desert rock titans Nebula seems extremely apt right now.  “Transmissions from Mother Ship Earth” has arrived at exactly the right time.

And it arrives with a welcome burst of fuzz drenched psych rock, exactly as expected, in first track, ‘Highwired’.  Big fat riff, dashes of space rock and a whiff of herbal cigarettes: classic Nebula, really.  Up next is the title track, which adds some nice, sixties secret agent vibes to the melting pot, together with a punishingly heavy section.

‘Wilted Flowers’ begins with a mellow guitar section before exploding into a thunderous head tripper.  There’s a feel of Mudhoney and the Stooges with Nebula’s best work, as evidenced here and with ‘Melt Your Head’.  Other tracks like ‘Warzone Speedwulf’ and “The Four Horseman’ sound like early Monster Magnet dripped in acid fried Steppenwolf and left to dry in a Tarantino desert landscape.    

No surprises then with this latest Nebula release, and with titles like ‘I Got So High’ you can guess exactly what to expect.  But who cares?  “Transmissions from Mothership Earth” is a solid album of pounding rhythms and spaced-out fuzz rock.  It’s bound to make my end of year best of list, and right now it’s the perfect soundtrack for summer.  Enjoy, fellow explorers – it’s gonna piss it down with rain tomorrow.

Talking about nebula and space and galaxies and all that, did I tell you about the great telescope trick we played on Bill Ward once?  It was at Brian May’s house, and he’s well into all that astrology business.  Bri’s got this huge telescope for star gazing.  So Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and me persuaded Bill to take a look.  What he didn’t know was that Brian had put black paint inside the lens, so Bill ended up with a great big, black monocle on his face.  Bill didn’t realise, and walked round like that all night – extremely paranoid as to why all the guests were laughing at him.  Great fun!

You can find Nebula on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Check out Heavy Psych Records online and on Bandcamp.

This review is a Platinum Al and Ever Metal joint presentation.