Radar Men from the Moon

 Radar Men from the Moon is a new band from the Netherlands that caught my attention two years ago, when their debut came out, initially because of their catchy name and the even catchier artwork of their debut album, Intergalactic Dada and Space Trombones (2011). So, since I've been listening to them the whole day, and especially to their sophomore release, I decided to praise their efforts by writing this post.

 The type of music here can obvioulsy be implied from the band's and album's name and artwork. Pure psychedelic / stoner rock. Five lengthy tracks, all round the 9 minute point, which sound more like jamming sessions than actual songs. But despite the freely arranged compositions after a couple hearings you can tell that there's actually a plan, an idea behind each track. The music is calm, groovy, catchy, chilling and of course instrumental. Lots of effects are used on the guitar, the bass is perfectly played as are the drums. Really very creative rythm section by the Dutch. Many samples are also dropped in at times adding a kvlt feeling.

 Standout Tracks: "The Wire", "Intergalactic Dada and Space Trombones", "The People Who Stay On

the Earth Will Explode" (my favourite) .

Download

 Echo Forever is their second and lastes album for the time being, released in 2012. Although there are no great surprises this album manages to keep your attention thoughout the 50 minutes of its running time. And by "no great surprises" I mean that the band did not change their musical style and approach much compared to their debut. Still instrumental, still jamming, still catcy, still awesome. What I noticed about this album is that it sounds - to me at least - a little darker than their previous work. Even the artwork selection confirms this opinion. The songs' duration also changed a little bit,  there are more tracks with a shorter duration, but there are still lengthy compositions. Despite the fact that they're both outstanding outputs, I'll go with the second one. It sounds to me like a more mature effort. Of course sampling is present here as well.

 Standout Tracks: "Echo Forever", "Atomic Mother", "Darkness", "Heading for the Void", "Avant Garde Luxury".

Download

 

 So, for the fans of relaxing, lenghty, spacey stoner or psychedelic rock this is the perfect band to check out. With obvious 70's prog-rock influences and a lot of energy and creativity Radar Men from the Moon is one the rising stars in the scene.

 Bandcamp

Dolorian - Voidwards (2006)

 Voidwards is Dolorian's third release and latest for the time being. This band captured my attention from the very first time I listened to their debut "When All the Laughter Has Gone", which I consider a nearly perfect album, and has kept on surprising me since then. If we compared those two albums the verdict would be a win for the latest. Although this comparison would not be the wisest thing to do, because of the different approach on each, I think that Voidwards surpasses everything this band has done in their carreer.
 In Voidwards everything is completely different possibly than anything you  've heard in your miserable life. It is an amorphous amalgamation of dark thoughts, spiritualism and keyboard enhanced slow doom - blues leading you to inner peace and that's exactly where its aural grandeur lies. Songs do not follow the typical structures that the majority of metal bands does. They are some kind of downward spirals willing to consume every single drop of optimism is left inside you. Once you start your listen and you begin to like it there's no way back. The music will haunt you 'til the end of your days once you fall in love with it.
 What I admire the most about this release is the point of musical inteligence the band achieved to reach. Genius. Do not try to understand what you're hearing or lay the tracks in sections or riffs for your own mind's sake.. otherwise it is likely to be blown. Especially tracks like "In the Locus of Bone", "Ivory Artery" and "Raja Naga - Rising" will have that type of effect on your mind. Although as individual "riffs" - or rather patterns - might be simple and not technical, wholly as compositions they're extremely complex and the changes are very often. There's a high diversity among the style of the songs as there are interludes ( "Co-illusion", "The Absolute Halo is Awakening" and "The Fire Which Burns Not" ), gentle and peacefull lengthy instrumental pieces like "The Flow of Seething Emotions" and more aggressive ones like "Epoch of Cyclosure" and the epic "Raja Naga - Rising" closer.
 The vocals on this album are mostly whispers. That might be considered a drawback for someone who liked mostly the raspy black metal vocal approach on the debut, but I think that whispering is better for that type of musical approach, adding an overall more meditative and darker nature. The production is also dark and absolutely clean so you're able to hear every single note or beat played clearly.
 To sum up, I consider Voidwards being one of the greatest albums of all time or at least of what I've heard since now. I suggest to lay down, loosen your mind, concentrate solely on the music and let Dolorian do the rest. I guarantee the outcome will leave you astonished as it keeps on leaving me after every listen. Bear in mind it's dangerous but it totally worths giving it a try. So, enjoy responsibly.  " The seeker must seek.."

Standout Tracks: LISTEN TO IT AS A WHOLE.

Download

The Body - All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood (2010)

 The Body, the duet hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, is one of the finest emerging "new" bands in the Underground scene. I was overly excited when I first heard this album and especially the second track, "A Curse". Although, the Body's music is mainly sludge / doom they're not the typical sludge metal outfit. They incorperate many different elements in their heavy, slow-paced music such as orchestral passages, choirs and chants.
 The experimentation begins instantly from the very first song, "A Body". An orchestral vocal pattern perfomed by females serving as an intro for about 5 minutes until the actual song kicks in. Devastating just like the whole album. The second track, "A Curse", is the most catchy, straightforward and -let's say- accessible one on the record. Great nihilistic lyrics soaked in misery and misanthropy that suit perfectly with the dark music. Then comes the weirdest track, "Empty Hearth" which features the chant of an unknown religious cult in rapture or something.
 Overall, the music is heavy, repetitive, massive, creating a concrete wall of sound- or rather drones. The vocal approach - apart from the choirs and the chanting - reminds me of old Burzum , high-pitched shrieks with an agonizing and desparate feeling. The drumming is one of the highlights of this album. Although it is not as technical as in death metal nor there is any blast beat thoughout the 7 tracks, therefore the drummer turns out to be creative enough, adding more heaviness and brutality on the repetitive riffage and making it more interesting and "groovy" . A fact that worths mentioning is the nine men ensemble sharing the percussion duties on the last track, the epic closer "Lathspell, I Name You", creating the heaviest, most crushing drum beats you've ever heard, similar to an earthquake.
 A unique, experimental band with a weird and provoking approach, blending their typical sludge / drone / doom influences with orchestral-like clean female chants. Minimalistic compositions, black metal vocals with a totally nihilistic and misanthropic outlook on life and a suffocating, thick and sludgy production. " All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood" is a must for every open-minded fan of sludge / drone / doom and even black metal who craves for something unique and innovative.
You can listen the album here.

Standout Tracks: "A Curse", "Ruiner", "Lathspell, I Name You"
Metallum Page
Download

Cloven Hoof - Dominator (1988)

 Power and glory is what comes first to my mind by listening to that great album by Cloven Hoof. Dominator, being the album that helped me to get to know what Cloven Hoof means, is a great job done by those NWOBHM pioneers and I could describe it as a warcry!
 From the first tune to the last, the songs flood with power, filled with lyrics about battles, kings and every sort of epic themes, which surely take you into the times of knights and dragons, lords and castles! In all that atmosphere, the traditional Heavy Metal structure of compositions helps pretty much, with powerful riffs, technical solos and those high pitched vocals.
 What's more, Dominator, could be described as a more powerful album than Cloven Hoof's debut album, adopting a style more similar to the Epic Metal one, something that is not bad, but unlikely it sounds just great, being a successful approach to the genre.
 What I do not really like about Dominator, is the artwork of the album, but that's something we could get used to with the NWOBHM and Heavy Metal bands of those era, as only a few of them had nice made artworks (Cirith Ungol is a nice example).
 Finally, this album of Cloven Hoof is surely something pretty well done and it is worth a listen or maybe many...many more! Make sure to check it out and better in vinyl (if you could find it), keeping the good old ways alive!
Album info: Metallum Page
Download here: Mediafire Download