Lords Of Altamont – Forever Loaded (Heavy Psych Sounds) [Rich Piva]
Jake Cavaliere is a busy guy. Last year, his new project, Black Honey Cult, his Velvet Underground/13th Floor Elevators/post punk band, had a top ten album of the year for me. Now Jake is back with the project most people know him for, Lords Of Altamont, who bring us their new record, Forever Loaded, via Heavy Psych Sounds.
Jake Cavaliere is a busy guy. Last year, his new project, Black Honey Cult, his Velvet Underground/13th Floor Elevators/post punk band, had a top ten album of the year for me. Now Jake is back with the project most people know him for, Lords Of Altamont, who bring us their new record, Forever Loaded, via Heavy Psych Sounds.
Record eight was recorded all over the world (most of his bandmates live in Europe, while Jake is in California) and continues to bring that punky, garage rock, kick out the jams energy that all of their other great records do, but with some subtle changes that makes Forever Loaded stand out a bit more than the others.
If you just heard the opener, Got A Hold On Me, you would know the Lords are back in full form, kicking down the garage door for the whole neighbourhood to hear their Blue Cheer/MC5 stylings in all their glory, and you would be right because it kicks ass. Fuzz and filled with wild energy, the opener declares The Lords are back in town.
If you just heard the opener, Got A Hold On Me, you would know the Lords are back in full form, kicking down the garage door for the whole neighbourhood to hear their Blue Cheer/MC5 stylings in all their glory, and you would be right because it kicks ass. Fuzz and filled with wild energy, the opener declares The Lords are back in town.
What’s Your Bag is some late 60’s garage punk greatness with the keys leading the way making this one even more killer. Devil Rides is next, and boy do I love this one, and also where you start to notice this record is way more keys forward than I am used to, with it behind the sound lifting it up and adding to a fuller Lords experience. The ripping solos are still around too. This one has it all!
Rusty Guns is so much fun. It reminds me of The Modern Lovers if Jonathan Richman would have been less lovesick and more into motorcycles. There is not a skip on Fully Loaded, but my favourites include Get Out Of My Head, which reminds me of The Cramps, Got You On The Run, which picks up the pace and rips it up, guitar and keys hand and hand, and Disconnected, which makes me handclap along with it. The closer, an almost seven minute epic (for them), is this punk, psych, krautrock journey that exists to bend your mind in multiple different directions. Trippy and so very cool.
I always feel like The Lords Of Altamont are a few steps away from imploding, and I hear that on Forever Loaded, which is probably why I love it so much. Garage/punk/psych/whatever, Forever Loaded rips, more synths and all. All hail the Lords Of Altamont, once again. 9/10
Stepmother – Absurdus Manifestus (Tee Pee Records) [Rich Piva]
The Australian band Stepmother may be on TeePee Records, but don’t think you are getting some riff heavy psych stoner band. This is straight up punk rock right from the garage. I loved their 2023 record and am psyched to see the band is back with Absurdus Manifestus, 13 more tracks that just rip the place up.
Stealing from their Bandcamp bio because I can’t say it better…
“Fusing high velocity Motor City proto punk with fuzz, feedback and electric psych…”
Yes, yes indeed. The trio turn on the engine, put it in drive, and floor it for 33 minutes or so. The first two tracks are all you need to know what’s going on, as the MC5/Blue Cheer ripping destroys your speakers and your ability to sit still. The interesting thing for me is I hear some power pop eeking through too. What’s New, while ripping it up Detroit punk style, also reminds me of Cheap Trick (really good thing).
I always feel like The Lords Of Altamont are a few steps away from imploding, and I hear that on Forever Loaded, which is probably why I love it so much. Garage/punk/psych/whatever, Forever Loaded rips, more synths and all. All hail the Lords Of Altamont, once again. 9/10
Stepmother – Absurdus Manifestus (Tee Pee Records) [Rich Piva]
The Australian band Stepmother may be on TeePee Records, but don’t think you are getting some riff heavy psych stoner band. This is straight up punk rock right from the garage. I loved their 2023 record and am psyched to see the band is back with Absurdus Manifestus, 13 more tracks that just rip the place up.
Stealing from their Bandcamp bio because I can’t say it better…
“Fusing high velocity Motor City proto punk with fuzz, feedback and electric psych…”
Yes, yes indeed. The trio turn on the engine, put it in drive, and floor it for 33 minutes or so. The first two tracks are all you need to know what’s going on, as the MC5/Blue Cheer ripping destroys your speakers and your ability to sit still. The interesting thing for me is I hear some power pop eeking through too. What’s New, while ripping it up Detroit punk style, also reminds me of Cheap Trick (really good thing).
The guitar work on Gimmie Mine veers into AC/DC territory and I am here for it. I swear this is not because they are Australian. The trio ventures into that power pop territory nicely on Beast And Man as well. Some of my other go to tracks on Absurdus Manifestus include the early punk rock goodness of Sick Thoughts, Space Invaders, which would have fit perfectly on a Screeching Weasel record from the 90s, and the closer, Journey To The Center Of The Mind, that has amazing fuzzy guitar work that closes out this energy blast from Down Under perfectly. No skips here, just put it on repeat and let it blast for three times or so.
I am very happy Stepmother has a new record and I am extra happy (not surprised) that Absurdus Manifestus rips it up. If you are into pure garage punk energy with underlying pop sensibilities and fuzzy ripping guitar work then Absurdus Manifestus is for you. If not, go home and do your homework, square. 8/10
I am very happy Stepmother has a new record and I am extra happy (not surprised) that Absurdus Manifestus rips it up. If you are into pure garage punk energy with underlying pop sensibilities and fuzzy ripping guitar work then Absurdus Manifestus is for you. If not, go home and do your homework, square. 8/10
Stainless – Lady Of Lust & Steel (High Roller Records) [Matt Bladen]
Recorded as a trio but now expanded to a live five piece, Portland, Oregon band Stainless assault the sense with classic heavy metal with speed metal/thrash.
It makes for a snarling, galloping, muscular heavy metal that expands on their Nocturnal Racer EP with a “more accomplished sound” according to band leader Jamie Byrum who is primarily a guitarist but on the record plays everything except bass, and produces the record for that vintage cassette sound of the tape trading days.
Now I hinted that there’s more than just classic metal here, with (Don’t Cross Me) Fool they add a groove of Deep Purple Mark IV with Clifton Martin’s bass ramping up the funk, Take A Listen Mama too dwells into the 70’s with a bit of Scorpions-like atmosphere.
Stainless haven’t totally gotten rid of that as the tile track and Restless An’ Ready both have that vintage leather clad sound of Priest and Accept. The big draw are the gritty vocals of Larissa Cavacece who snarls, sneers and screams across the record, unleashing her most vicious vocals on thrashers such as Whorefrost and Danger In The Night.
Lady Of Lust & Steel is classic heavy metal with a wider brush to paint with, thrash and hard rock both come knocking on the door and Stainless welcome them on to create a retro metal showcase. 7/10
Recorded as a trio but now expanded to a live five piece, Portland, Oregon band Stainless assault the sense with classic heavy metal with speed metal/thrash.
It makes for a snarling, galloping, muscular heavy metal that expands on their Nocturnal Racer EP with a “more accomplished sound” according to band leader Jamie Byrum who is primarily a guitarist but on the record plays everything except bass, and produces the record for that vintage cassette sound of the tape trading days.
Now I hinted that there’s more than just classic metal here, with (Don’t Cross Me) Fool they add a groove of Deep Purple Mark IV with Clifton Martin’s bass ramping up the funk, Take A Listen Mama too dwells into the 70’s with a bit of Scorpions-like atmosphere.
Stainless haven’t totally gotten rid of that as the tile track and Restless An’ Ready both have that vintage leather clad sound of Priest and Accept. The big draw are the gritty vocals of Larissa Cavacece who snarls, sneers and screams across the record, unleashing her most vicious vocals on thrashers such as Whorefrost and Danger In The Night.
Lady Of Lust & Steel is classic heavy metal with a wider brush to paint with, thrash and hard rock both come knocking on the door and Stainless welcome them on to create a retro metal showcase. 7/10
Kate’s Acid – Hellbender (High Roller Records) [Matt Bladen]
In the history of European metal, there are few bands that can claim to be speed metal originators, but Belgian band Kate’s Acid (then named Acid), can definitely be considered to be one of the first speed metal bands on Europe. Lars Ulrich probably loves them!
While they only burnt brightly for 3 years or so in 2019, vocalist Kate de Lombaert, decided to fire up the engines again with a new band behind her as Kate’s Acid, returning to Keep It True (obviously) the wheels of this new machine hit the tarmac with the live record Blowing Your Ears Off culled from that set in 2024.
Hellbender sees a new version of the band featuring guitarist Geert Annys, drummer Ash and basist Camilo (Thunder Screamer) Ortega backing Kate for the first new material since the 80’s, though you wouldn’t think this a contemporary album as it’s full of the power and the glory of those years when metal bands when it ruled the airwaves, wrapped up in modern production skill.
Kate’s vocals still have plenty of power behind them with tracks such as Valkyrie and on Air Raid which is an unusual ballad from the band, closing the album on a reflective note, as Mate shows some fragility behind the bravado. With wheels firmly back on Kate’s Acid, it’s like they’ve never been away! Sit Down Lars! 7/10
In the history of European metal, there are few bands that can claim to be speed metal originators, but Belgian band Kate’s Acid (then named Acid), can definitely be considered to be one of the first speed metal bands on Europe. Lars Ulrich probably loves them!
While they only burnt brightly for 3 years or so in 2019, vocalist Kate de Lombaert, decided to fire up the engines again with a new band behind her as Kate’s Acid, returning to Keep It True (obviously) the wheels of this new machine hit the tarmac with the live record Blowing Your Ears Off culled from that set in 2024.
Hellbender sees a new version of the band featuring guitarist Geert Annys, drummer Ash and basist Camilo (Thunder Screamer) Ortega backing Kate for the first new material since the 80’s, though you wouldn’t think this a contemporary album as it’s full of the power and the glory of those years when metal bands when it ruled the airwaves, wrapped up in modern production skill.
Kate’s vocals still have plenty of power behind them with tracks such as Valkyrie and on Air Raid which is an unusual ballad from the band, closing the album on a reflective note, as Mate shows some fragility behind the bravado. With wheels firmly back on Kate’s Acid, it’s like they’ve never been away! Sit Down Lars! 7/10
SharpTone Records is thrilled to welcome Glasswaves, a Rochester, New York-based trio that seamlessly blends dark pop, alternative rock, and electronic elements with a heavy and dynamic edge, to the global roster. The band has shared the video for gloomy and glitchy new single fvck.me.up. Watch it below. “What started as a completely different idea […]