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Goat Major – Album Review

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Goat Major – Ritual

Ripple Music

Release date: 08/03/2024

Running time: 41 mins approx

Review by: Alun Jones

9/10

“Ritual” is the debut album of Occult Doom Metal band Goat Major. The band, comprising Jammie Arnold (guitar), Simon Bonwick (drums) and Tom Shortt (bass and vocals) came together as a three piece during the pandemic and the frustration of lockdown. They hail from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in Wales, which makes a lot of sense. Wales is steeped in ancient legends, historic monuments and plenty of castles, druids, standing stones, devil dogs and faerie folk – a rich landscape for inspiration.

Musically, we have here eight songs that follow the classic doom/stoner template of fuzzy guitars, rumbling bass and crashing drums. The first track, ‘Snakes (Goddess of the Serpent)’ offers up a burning, slow riff before launching into a dirtier, groovy rhythm. The title track has a driving pace with a hypnotic feel, induced by backing vocals and a relentless grind.

The songs aren’t all just freaked out, fuzztastic trips though. There’s a palpable air of Dennis Wheatley and Hammer horror permeating the whole affair, best demonstrated by ‘Mountains of Madness’, with its slow, atmospheric start. Goat Major bring the gloom to the doom with a touch of malevolence.

Rounding off the album is a short, melodic track called ‘Lay Me Down’, which reminds me of the sort of mellow insert that Budgie (or Sabbath, for that matter) would employ. Appearing last, it’s a lovely oasis of calm after the preceding murkiness. It’s easy to compare the album to Electric Wizard, Uncle Acid and Cathedral, but the foreboding feel Goat Major have created shows they have ideas of their own.

Bubbling away in Goat Major’s coffin is a recipe for some classic Occult Doom Metal. They’ve taken the original sources, added some sinister seasoning of their own, and delivered a hell of a debut album. “Ritual” is easily qualified to make my end of year Top Ten.

PS: in no way has the fact that this band is from Wales influenced my high opinion of this excellent album. Diolch yn fawr, Goat major!

Check out Goat Major on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.

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

Ancient VVisdom – Album Review

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Ancient VVisdom – Master of the Stone

Argonauta Rcords

Release date: 26/01/2024

Running time: 31 minutes

Review by: Alun Jones

9/10

Ancient VVisdom have never graced my ears before, so I was very keen to dive into their latest creation, “Master of Stone”, and share with you, good reader, my thoughts.

The band burst forth with ‘Sold My Soul to Satan’, which bounces along with a hook-riddled riff and captures the listener from the get-go. This song nicely encapsulates the style and theme for the album with absolutely no mercy. It’s a head banging, fuzz drenched rocker that’ll drag you along like a tin can hanging from the back of Lucifer’s wedding hearse.

That opener wasn’t a fluke, either: ‘The Adversary’ and ‘The Apollyon’ are both infectious blasts of hard rock with an air of the strange and arcane. The next track, ‘World’s Demise’, is a stomping, eerie acoustic number – all of a sudden Ancient VVisdom sound like Satanic troubadours heralding the end of the world. It’s a dramatic and clever display of skill and variety of musicianship.

If that acoustic approach reminded me of New Model Army, then ‘Ashes from On High’ is the most Metal track here. It chugs along like Slayer playing a retro style Sabbath cover. Brothers Nathan Opposition and Michael Jochum have obviously studied the masters well. If you like old school doom rock, maybe some Type O Negative and Danzig, right on up to modern scene stealers like Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats and Green Lung, you’re bound to love this album.

With songs that are catchy and memorable, and also dripping with a melancholy other-worldliness, ‘Master of Stone’ is a fantastic album. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. This may be true in my case, but Ancient VVisdom are here to educate us all.

Find out more about Ancient VVisdom on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

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

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.

Ron Coolen – Here to Stay Album Review

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Ron Coolen – Here to Stay

Self released

Release date: 01/12/2023

Running time: 60 minutes

Review by: Alun Jones

7.5/10

Ron Coolen is a Dutch multi-instrumentalist with a passion for rock and metal. Working with vocalist Keith St John and with contributions from some amazing guitar wizards (George Lynch, Gus G and Christopher Amott to name just a few), we have here a new release that sounds contemporary, but also harks back to the glory days of 80’s metal.

With an opening track entitled ‘Heavy Metal Till I’m Dead’, it’s pretty obvious what we’re going to get. This song bursts out of the speakers, embellished with some furious shredding from Joey Concepcion, and I defy anyone not to raise the devil horns and sing along. It’s great fun, with ‘You’re Just a Bad Dream’ offering more of the same full-on energy. If you dig Van Halen, or any of the big stadium rock of the 80s, you’ll find plenty on here to enjoy (especially the VH style glory of ‘Shake Me to the Floor’).

My personal favourite song on “Here to Stay” is the start/stop ACDC-style riff of ‘Mr Jones’, though I don’t think this was written about me. Other tracks such as ‘Jaded Eyes’ offer a welcome change of pace, with an atmospheric feel that’s reminiscent of Sonic Temple era Cult.

I wasn’t sure whether I’d enjoy this particular release from Ron Coolen, but you’d have to be a cold-hearted ice demon not to be infected by the musicians’ reverence for metal. Some of the keyboards can grate a little, but the overall production is crisp and warm. Not all of the ideas work, but as a love letter to 80’s hard rock, it’s easy to enjoy. If you want to rock, then listening to “Here to Stay” is all you need to do, Ron Ron Ron. To do, Ron Ron.

Check out Ron Coolen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Bandcamp and YouTube.

This review is a joint presentation from Platinum Al and 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.

Bongzilla – Album Review

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Bongzilla – Dab City

Heavy Psych Sounds

Release date: 02/06/2023

Running time: 57 minutes

Review by: Alun Jones

8.75/10

What’s that lumbering out of the murky haze?  Why, it’s none other than Bongzilla, trampling everything in their path with gargantuan, sludgy riffs whilst surrounded by billows of smoke.  No need to run, citizens – these dudes move too slow to pose any physical threat, you’ll outrun them easily.  This music is not about speed.  It’s about being refreshed beyond all recognition.

“Dab City” is the sixth album for Bongzilla, and their second for the Heavy Psych Sounds label.  They’ve been firmly established as a three piece for some time, comprising of Mike “Muleboy” Makela on bass and vocals, Jeff “Spanky” Schultz on guitar and Mike “Magma” Henry on drums.  Unsurprisingly, the album was recorded with the assist of various “mood enhancements”, right onto analogue tape.

There are seven songs here, with several of them hovering around (or over) the ten-minute mark.  You’re definitely getting your money’s worth.  Title track and opener ‘Dab City’ clocks in at 11.51 of super heavy, psychedelic sludge.  ‘Cannonbong (The ballad of Burnt Reynolds as lamented by Dixie Dave Collins)’ rolls in at nearly 14 minutes of slow’n’steady, frazzled doom metal.  And what a song title!

Other tracks offer more fried and fuzzed out rock, with ‘Hippie Stick’ and ‘American Pot’ revealing a groove and swing to their sound.  Vocals are less smoky and strangled and more like a zombie from The Walking Dead, but it all melts together well.  I don’t think there are any shocks on “Dab City”, but who cares?  Bongzilla have concocted a ripe batch of stoner, sludgy metal that will satisfy the righteous.

And remember, kids – don’t do drugs!      

Check out Bongzilla on their website, Facebook, Bandcamp, Instagram and Spotify.

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

Tankzilla – Album Review

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Tankzilla – Tankzilla

Heavy Psych Sounds

Release date: 19/05/2023

Running time: 44 minutes

Review by: Alun Jones

9.5/10

Let’s talk about Tankzilla.  To start, what a rad name!  According to the band’s PR, “Satan fucked a Panzer and the offshoot is Tankzilla”.  Which pretty much sums everything up nicely.  So nicely, in fact, that the rest of this review is a bit pointless.

Tankzilla are actually a duo consisting of Peter Van Elderen (guitar and vocals) and Marcin Hurkmans (drums), who started jamming together after their previous bands split.  Before you get clever and assume that these guys are gonna be just like Royal Blood, they’re not.  They have a whole lot more Motorhead in their dirty DNA.

‘Lucifer’, the first track, proves this nicely, with an opening riff reminiscent of ‘Deaf Forever’ by Lemmy’s crew.  The song quickly erupts into a bludgeoning juggernaut all of its own, crushing everything in its path and setting the course for the rest of this slab of sonic destruction.

Yes, the power of the mighty riff rules in Tankzilla’s blitzkrieg campaign.  ‘Crossroad’ drops more loud bombs adding a funky feel, while tracks such as ‘Wolfpack’ and ‘Soulsurfer’ have a hard rocking edge.  The assault slows a little with ‘Brother from Another Mother’, but keeps unleashing maximum firepower.  Bonus points for the sample from The Mandalorian too in ‘Mutant Freak’.  This is the way!

The final song, ‘Hard Way’, has a Melvins vibe to it – something else which makes me very happy indeed.  Whether firing on all cylinders or easing off the gas a little here and there, this debut album is devastatingly excellent.  Tankzilla are a relentless, riff loaded monster and nothing can resist their onslaught.  Definite Top Ten of the year list for me.

No time now, but remind me to tell you about that time with Motorhead in Europe, when we took the band to visit a military museum on a day off.  Philthy was hungover, so Lem let him sleep it off in an old Russian tank.  We closed the hatch and scarpered, leaving Phil in there all day.  He only just made it to the next gig in Copenhagen by the skin of his teeth.

Check out Tankzilla on Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp and Spotify.

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

Witnere – Albion Aflame Album Review

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Witnere – Albion Aflame

Self-released

Release date: 11/02/2023

Running time: 39 minutes

Review by: Alun Jones

8.25/10

Witnere (their name is Olde English for tormentor: so far, so cool) are a British metal band comprised of Jason Taylor on drums and Declan Doyle on the guitar and bass.  Vocals are shared, and also aided with the assistance of their comrade Scott.  This is their second album, produced and released by the band themselves.   

“Albion Aflame” is rooted in a solid, defined concept: Britain in the Dark Ages, and the myth – or history, maybe – concerning King Arthur.  Immediately, this foundation elevates Witnere to a higher standing, with plenty to explore.  First track ‘410 AD’ is a folky number that captures the theme brilliantly, dropping the listener right into the frame. 

From there, it’s an album of magic, prophecy and bloody battles amidst a collection of powerful songs.  ‘Merlin’s Warning’ gallops off in an Iron Maiden style, relentless drums and guitars roaring.  Great melodic instrumental section, fiery lead – all top quality, with a riff you can hum (this is v important).  ‘Furor Saxonicus’ is a fast paced, face ripper – and again also very catchy.  You can head bang and chant along, waving your air sword at imaginary enemies.

‘King of the Britons’ features another agile, speedy riff that conjures the melodic approach of Thin Lizzy.  The rest of the songs follow in this style – without losing their appeal – until we reach the epic ‘Avalon’.  Our story is almost over: acoustic guitar intro gives way to a more sombre, though still awesome, finale that builds on quieter verses and rousing choruses.

There’s a lot to take in lyric wise (a lyric sheet would be great), but the vocals across the album – whoever they’re delivered by – are varied and confident. 

The production on this recording is extremely impressive: it’s crisp and clear, without sounding “nice”.  ‘Albion Aflame’ benefits from excellent musicianship and performances, too.  What’s most impressive, though, is the level of story telling detail that Witnere are able to create.  There’s a lot of care and passion gone into every element of this album, from the research to the execution.  ‘Albion Aflame’ surprised me with its professionalism and depth.  You don’t have to use sorcery to track this album down, but I suggest you waste no time in doing so.  

Check out Witnere on Facebook, Bandcamp and Spotify.

This review is presented by Platinum Al and Ever Metal.     

The Lords of Altamont – Album Review

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The Lords of Altamont – To Hell With Tomorrow, The Lords Are Now!

Heavy Psyche Sounds Records

Release date: 17/03/2023

Running time: 35 minutes

Review by Alun Jones

9.5/10

Ladies and gentlemen, I am excited!  Why am I excited, you ask?  Because I freakin’ love this album by the Lords of Altamont, that’s why!  Here we have ten unrelenting tracks (plus a bonus) of fast and furious rock’n’roll, created by a gang of motorbikin’ miscreants on their own highway to hell.  It’s leather, denim, roaring hogs and cheap booze fuelled rock the way that it should be.

Now you may know I’m a tad dubious about live albums.  Often times, live records are fumbled contract fillers or a shoddy cash in.  Well, you can relax here, pilgrim – “To Hell With Tomorrow, The Lords Are Now!” is a live in the studio release with pristine sound.  It doesn’t lack the crowd atmos, but it does more than over achieve by being a rowdy collection of tunes performed as if the band are in the room, right there with you.

If you’re new to the Lords of Altamont, you can expect an explosion of gritty rock’n’roll instilled with the sound of garage rock, Detroit punk and 60’s R&B.  So hang on tight as The Lords tear through filthy, feel good tracks like “Going Nowhere Fast”, “Velvet” and “Going Downtown”.  Sing along with the wind in your face to “I Said Hey” and shake your booty to “7th Day” – all of these infectious tracks will hit their mark. 

This album works as a great introduction to the band and their two decades plus history, in a no nonsense, no holds barred presentation.  Like a forgotten B-movie soundtrack from 1969, “To Hell With Tomorrow…” is one for all the rebels and wild ones out there.  Park up, step inside the truck stop and let yourself go. 

The Lords are now!      

Find The Lords of Altamont on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and Bandcamp.

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

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.