Author: Staff Writer

Blackjack Mountain: Holding Time [Swamp Records]

Album Reviews

It’s a time-honoured tradition for bands from America’s Deep South to declare a love for their roots: From the Allman Brothers to the Zac Brown Band, they’ve all done it.

On first listen, this Georgia three-piece is no different. However, these blink-and-you’ll-miss-it references to the cultural heritage of their homeland are few and far between. This is only a tiny portion of Blackjack Mountain’s DNA.

‘What I Need’ is a sure-fire radio banger that will get more than it’s a fair share of exposure. It’s a winning formula of fuzzed-out riffage, soulful vocals and a pedal-to-the-metal rhythm that will ensure that you arrive at your destination in double-quick time.

Elsewhere, Holding Time is awash with clichés to a backdrop of whiskey-drenched licks, bass kicks and a whole lotta attitude: “You know I like to party, and you know I kick some ass!” exclaims vocalist and guitarist, Tyler Bates, during the power chord bonanza of ‘River Flows’, while during ‘Loaded Gun’ he declares that “I’m feeling loose and [feeling] mean” with carefree gusto.

Amongst the retro-rock gumbo, there are also moments of reflection. The heart-on-the-sleeve pull of ‘Nevermore’ explores the darker side of life (“Death waits for me/Blackbird, hear my plea”) while ‘I Don’t Mind’ acknowledges, somewhat wistfully, of “drinking up my life, and burning down the town.”

In contrast, ‘Echoes of Time’ is an unexpected cosmic jam that ebbs and flows, before bursting into vintage heavy riffing. It’s a strong, if not explosive parting shot from a band whose best moments are yet to come.

American Slang: American Slang [Self-Released]

Album Reviews

Firstly, let’s take a moment to appreciate the attention to detail: Artwork inspired by a polaroid discovered in your parent’s attic (spoiler alert: it wasn’t) and a moniker that wouldn’t be out of place on the bill at Woodstock.

American Slang is unmoved by current trends. Instead, opting to churn out jams that administer a peaceful easy feelin’. The upbeat jangle of ‘Leon’ soothes that swamp rock fever, while ‘Greens’ would be a fitting tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s recently departed founder.

A vast array of ’60s hitmakers line the grooves of this record, most notably, the Grateful Dead. And like Jerry Garcia’s band of sonic gamblers, the Californian four-piece occasionally drift into faux jazz territory (‘Bloom’) by experimenting with softer dynamics, before increasing the layers of distortion and volume once more (‘Singular Envelope’). In a year that promised so much, but delivered so little, this is an unexpected treat. However, as the album fades to black, you can’t help feeling wistful.

Desert of Bones: Desert of Bones [Self-Released]

Album Reviews

Desert of Bones’ Bandcamp biography states that their debut effort is “a tale of mysticism, witchcraft and sacrifice described throughout nine songs of acid psychedelic riffs.”

That’s apparent from the first spin. Tracks such as ‘Desertania’ and ‘Witchcrafting the Demons’ take joyous twin-guitar expositions across bubbling polyrhythms and organ flourishes, before returning to a classic rock blueprint.

Initially recorded in 2012, the album lay dormant in Invisible Horizons Studios for the best part of eight years. Guitarist and vocalist, Nelson Castello – who now leads the doomy Son of a Witch – is the only member that is currently active. All of which, adds to the album’s allure.

Kaz Garaz: Pizzazz [Self-Released]

Album Reviews

Kaz Garaz refers to Melbourne and Narrm in their bio, the latter being the traditional Boon Wurrung word for the nearby bay. It’s a quirky addition, that while historically correct, is also proof that these lads are free-thinking individuals.

This liberal mindset transcends into their debut full-length, Pizzazz, as happy-go-lucky ditties are replicated over and over, floating by without much impact. However, there are notable exceptions. The new wave-inspired ‘Right on Time’ is a highlight, as is the whimsical jangle of ‘To Your Health’ (“Drink to your health, and take the whole night off”). With each minute that passes, there is an impending feeling of déjà vu, which is hard to shake off.

Drie Manner: The World [EP]

EP Reviews

Drie Manner is a band that is hard to pin down. On their debut EP, the Indonesian three-piece manage to create a patchwork of sounds, without settling on one particular genre. ‘Queen of Pentacles’ galloping rhythm is a snarly slab of stoner-metal-come-sludge, while ‘Are You?’ is a drawn-out, repetitive four-minute jam. The tracks are interpolated by a brief, cosmic interlude (‘The Beginning of the World’). Again, adding to their ever-increasing musical palette. Sister track, and closer, ‘The End of the World’ is the amalgamation of their previous efforts, as clean and guttural vocals cascade and echo on top of chugging riffs in equal measure.

Brända Ängar: Brända Ängar [EP]

EP Reviews

Brända Ängar is a direct translation of ‘Burnt Meadows,’ and like their American cousins, the Swedish trio is very much at home in the world of psychedelic rock. Proggy flourishes are prominent in the short, but heady, stomp of ‘Skrattspeglar,’ while the band drift into doom metal territory in ‘Bister idyll’. A melting pot of ideas crammed into 12 minutes bodes well for future releases.

Autopista 40: Sagrada Herejía​/​Insurrección [Single]

Single Reviews

Less than a year since the release of their third album, El Triunfo del Espíritu, Columbia’s favourite hard rockers are back with a potent explosion of fuzzed-out heavy blues and soulfulness. Produced by Gabriel Medina Bello, the Ibagué four-piece close out 2020 in the same way they entered it (pandemic aside, of course). 

Death Pesos: Battlesnake [Single]

Single Reviews

The third track released by the Boston power-trio this year ricochets between proto-metal ferocity and garage-rock swagger for the best part of eight and a half minutes. Similar to its predecessors, ‘Jade Axe‘ and ‘Spells & Potions‘, ‘Battlesnake‘ brings the band’s penchant for Stooges-esque Raw Power – not to mention their cocksure attitude – to the forefront.

Zeup: Blind [EP]

EP Reviews

Zeup is the latest band to be spawn from their region’s bustling stoner-rock scene. The Copenhagen trio’s crushing riffs draw similarities with their geographical neighbours (Dozer, Greenleaf, Spiritual Beggars et al). None more so than during the energetic fret workouts of ‘Illusions’ and ‘Blind’. Still, comparisons aside, it remains to be seen whether Zeup have what it takes to stand alongside the scene’s Scandinavian heavyweights, but the early signs are positive.