Blog

Chris Glyde – Rochester, NY 

https://www.facebook.com/chrisglydemusic#

https://www.instagram.com/chrisglydemusic/

https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisGlydemusic

Chris Glyde – Rochester, NY 

https://www.facebook.com/chrisglydemusic#

https://www.instagram.com/chrisglydemusic/

https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisGlydemusic

Finland’s Stonegazer, current line up Jussi Virtala (vocals); Juho Puusniekka (guitars); Lauri Lehto (guitars); Tomas Kurki (bass) and Jani-Matti Salmela (drums), have been knocking around the underground scene for a fair amount of time but first came onto Desert Psychlist’s radar via their 2016 release “MDRM” a raw edged collection of songs that blended swampy southern sludginess with elements of heavy blues and grunge, a sound that came over at times like a weightier Mississippi Bones. Prior to “MDRM” Stonegazer had released “Volume II” and “Demo 2012“, both releases containing some really good songs but both hampered by less than ideal production values. Things really started to come together for Stonegazer with the 2020 release “The End Of Our World“, an album that saw the band really stepping up a level in the song writing and arrangement stakes as well as seeing them dipping their toes a little deeper into those grungier/bluesier pools they had began to explore on “MDRM“. This year (2025), after a five year break from recording, Stonegazer return with a new release, “Threshold“(Kozmik Artifactz), a far better produced album that fully delivers on all the promise those earlier albums hinted at but just fell short of delivering.

“Threshold” opens with “The Feed” a brain-frying blend of sludgy metal and heavy rock that begins with guitar feedback screaming around a growling bass motif backed by solid steady drumming then segues into a thrumming blues flecked stoner groove, the song continuing in this mode for a full one minute twenty seconds before being joined by vocals. If you are a fan of big beefy vocals that are a little bit wearied and posses a gritty soulful quality then Stonegazer’s man behind the microphone Virtala is your kind of singer, if you didn’t know he was Finnish you would swear blind he was brought up on a diet of fried chicken and grits in one of America’s southern states. “Next song “Unity” follows along similar lines to it predecessor with bassist Kurki and drummer Salmela laying down a barrage of ebbing and flowing groove for guitarists Puusniekka and Lehto to decorate with a mixture of crunching power chords and piercing lead work, Virtala delivering over this onslaught of bluesy southern metal throaty sermonizing that at times hovers close to the upper reaches of his range. Third track “The Machine” sees Stonegazer introducing into their heaviness subtle touches of psychedelic texturing, not enough to distract ears away from their core metallic bluesiness but enough to be noticeable. It’s back to full on shock and awe for the excellent “Simulacrum” then along comes “Kairos” a song that for Desert Psychlist ticks more boxes than it leaves blank, its groove is throbbing and slightly proto-metallic, its guitar work is a blend of crunchy and swirling and its vocals are bold brash and forceful on the verses and grittily melodious on the chorus. Any bands experimenting with music of a southern rock flavour are almost duty bound to throw their hats into the “torch song” arena and Stonegazer are no exception but where most bands will gradually build their torch songs to a crescendo layer by gradual layer Stonegazer on “Dissolve” go from reflective tranquillity to face-melting intensity in one giant leap. Next song “Age Of Unreason” begins down home and bluesy then explodes into a blustering metallic stoner groove that features growling low end and busy percussion supporting fuzz soaked refrains and feel drenched bluesy soloing over which vocals are delivered in snarly bear-like tones. Final number “The Weight Of The World” comes out the traps furious and feisty then eases back a little on the volume to allow space for Virtala to deliver his wearied and throaty vocals, all well and good up to this point but the real highlight comes when the songs shifts from stoner rock(ish) to stoner doomic, a shift that sees the guitarists layering thrumming textures and piercing solos around a dynamically darker vocal.

Stongazer’s “Threshold” boasts a sound that takes the heavy southern metal of bands like Pantera and Corrosion Of Conformity blends it with the mid-western swagger of bands like Mississippi Bones and Valley Of The Sun then sprinkles over the results elements of Seattle grunginess and 70’s heavy blues rock. It’s a huge sound that is made to sound even bigger thanks to it’s vastly improved production values. Who would of thought a band from the frozen reaches of Northern Europe could sound so authentically American. 

Check ’em out ….

© 2025 Frazer Jones

Finland’s Stonegazer, current line up Jussi Virtala (vocals); Juho Puusniekka (guitars); Lauri Lehto (guitars); Tomas Kurki (bass) and Jani-Matti Salmela (drums), have been knocking around the underground scene for a fair amount of time but first came onto Desert Psychlist’s radar via their 2016 release “MDRM” a raw edged collection of songs that blended swampy southern sludginess with elements of heavy blues and grunge, a sound that came over at times like a weightier Mississippi Bones. Prior to “MDRM” Stonegazer had released “Volume II” and “Demo 2012“, both releases containing some really good songs but both hampered by less than ideal production values. Things really started to come together for Stonegazer with the 2020 release “The End Of Our World“, an album that saw the band really stepping up a level in the song writing and arrangement stakes as well as seeing them dipping their toes a little deeper into those grungier/bluesier pools they had began to explore on “MDRM“. This year (2025), after a five year break from recording, Stonegazer return with a new release, “Threshold“(Kozmik Artifactz), a far better produced album that fully delivers on all the promise those earlier albums hinted at but just fell short of delivering.

“Threshold” opens with “The Feed” a brain-frying blend of sludgy metal and heavy rock that begins with guitar feedback screaming around a growling bass motif backed by solid steady drumming then segues into a thrumming blues flecked stoner groove, the song continuing in this mode for a full one minute twenty seconds before being joined by vocals. If you are a fan of big beefy vocals that are a little bit wearied and posses a gritty soulful quality then Stonegazer’s man behind the microphone Virtala is your kind of singer, if you didn’t know he was Finnish you would swear blind he was brought up on a diet of fried chicken and grits in one of America’s southern states. “Next song “Unity” follows along similar lines to it predecessor with bassist Kurki and drummer Salmela laying down a barrage of ebbing and flowing groove for guitarists Puusniekka and Lehto to decorate with a mixture of crunching power chords and piercing lead work, Virtala delivering over this onslaught of bluesy southern metal throaty sermonizing that at times hovers close to the upper reaches of his range. Third track “The Machine” sees Stonegazer introducing into their heaviness subtle touches of psychedelic texturing, not enough to distract ears away from their core metallic bluesiness but enough to be noticeable. It’s back to full on shock and awe for the excellent “Simulacrum” then along comes “Kairos” a song that for Desert Psychlist ticks more boxes than it leaves blank, its groove is throbbing and slightly proto-metallic, its guitar work is a blend of crunchy and swirling and its vocals are bold brash and forceful on the verses and grittily melodious on the chorus. Any bands experimenting with music of a southern rock flavour are almost duty bound to throw their hats into the “torch song” arena and Stonegazer are no exception but where most bands will gradually build their torch songs to a crescendo layer by gradual layer Stonegazer on “Dissolve” go from reflective tranquillity to face-melting intensity in one giant leap. Next song “Age Of Unreason” begins down home and bluesy then explodes into a blustering metallic stoner groove that features growling low end and busy percussion supporting fuzz soaked refrains and feel drenched bluesy soloing over which vocals are delivered in snarly bear-like tones. Final number “The Weight Of The World” comes out the traps furious and feisty then eases back a little on the volume to allow space for Virtala to deliver his wearied and throaty vocals, all well and good up to this point but the real highlight comes when the songs shifts from stoner rock(ish) to stoner doomic, a shift that sees the guitarists layering thrumming textures and piercing solos around a dynamically darker vocal.

Stongazer’s “Threshold” boasts a sound that takes the heavy southern metal of bands like Pantera and Corrosion Of Conformity blends it with the mid-western swagger of bands like Mississippi Bones and Valley Of The Sun then sprinkles over the results elements of Seattle grunginess and 70’s heavy blues rock. It’s a huge sound that is made to sound even bigger thanks to it’s vastly improved production values. Who would of thought a band from the frozen reaches of Northern Europe could sound so authentically American. 

Check ’em out ….

© 2025 Frazer Jones

This Friday, August 1st, will be the first Bandcamp Friday since May of 2025! For those that don’t know, on Bandcamp Fridays the Bandcamp music site drops their cut from any sales that happen in that 24 hour period, so bands get 100% of the share of each sale (minus credit/debit card fees if you pay with one) which makes it a great day to support bands and buy some new music! To that end, I thought I’d round up a few local metal releases that have come out since the last Bandcamp day.

Obsidian Blade is a new local band with a trad metal/NWOBHM vibe but the members have all been involved in other bands in the DMV scene for some time. They’ve started playing out live a bit but so far this is their only recorded song available, and it dropped on June 10th.

The Borracho guys are at it again with their repetitive heavy grooves as their new full length album that releases on August 8th, though you can pre-order now and enjoy the 3 preview tracks right now.

Kontusion finally dropped their debut full length album on July 25th and man is this some back-to-basics filthy, brutal death metal! None of that spacey death metal that is in vogue to be found here.

Cemetery Sex is a local goth band and their debut album is dropping August 1st. The album showcases Anastasia Noire’s beautiful vocals that soar over the rainy-day vibe guitar riffs.

The most intense music in this post comes by way of Blood Monolith on their debut album that dropped on May 16th. This has been one of my favorite albums to drive around blasting this summer!

As The Sea Parts is a black/death band that formed in the 90s, went on hiatus for about 20 years or so, and finally dropped their debut full length on July 11th. The album has former Dying Fetus drummer Erik Sayenga on drums and sick cover art by Mark Riddick!

Fresh off their appearance at this year’s Maryland Deathfest, I.C.E. just released their third full length on July 11th and their frigid black metal riffs will def keep you cool in the dog days of summer.

If you dig instrumental metal with a fiddle then be sure to check out the newly remixed version of Seasick Gladiator‘s self-titled debut from 2017 that just dropped on July 12th.

That’s what I’ve got for now but if you know of any other metal releases by local bands since the last Bandcamp Day, or any that are pre-orderable just email me at DCHeavyMetal@Gmail.com and I’ll add them to this post!

Like A COWBOY

As promised in my Run for the ROSES and Good HORSES blog, and in honor of the National Day of the Cowboy, I’m sharing my playlist Like A COWBOY highlighting songs featuring Cowboy in the title. National Day of the Cowboy is celebrated on the fourth Saturday in July, falling on July 26^th this year (2025). It is a day established to honor the contributions and spirit of cowboys and to preserve the pioneer heritage of the American West and cowboy culture.

Cowboys are animal herders who tend cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback. They arose in the mid 19^th century from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico as well as having historic roots tracing back to Spain. They gradually became figures of great significance and legend. Other names for cowboy have included buckaroo, cowpoke, cowhand, and cowpuncher. Buckaroo is an anglicized version of vaquero, with Spanish pronunciation “ba ‘ke ro.” And of course cowgirl is the female counterpart which arose in the late 19^th century- my Cowgirl playlist will be the them of a blog for another day .

Some famous cowboys of sorts over the years have included Buffalo Bill Cody, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, the Marlboro Man, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood in their western movies, the cowboy of the Village People, and Woody in Toy Story.

Often people confuse cowboys with outlaws and gunfighters such as Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James, and Butch Cassidy. Some of my favorite Western movies, which often focus more on gunslingers than cowboys, include Silverado, Tombstone, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, Fistful of Dollars, For A Few More Dollars, High Plains Drifter, Unforgiven, The Magnificent Seven, The Hateful Eight, Dances With Wolves, City Slickers, Pale Rider, 3:10 To Yuma, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, Django Unchained, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, Giant, Shane, Once Upon A Time In The West, True Grit, High Noon, Rio Bravo, and Treasure Of The Sierra Madre. For those interested in such cowboy movies, which again often lean toward outlaws, gunslingers, and lawmen, here is a list, compiled by Rotten Tomatoes, of the top 100 western movies of all-time.

While great Western movies, they don’t always exemplify the life of the cowboy.

So my inspiration for the playlist was listening to Ashley McBryde’s “Aint Enough Cowboy Songs.” Not that I ever need a reason to explore music, it prompted me to determine if there was any truth to the premise. And lo and behold, I think there are plenty of Cowboy songs. But in the spirit of her assertion, I think there perhaps can never be enough Cowboy songs, no matter how many are written and sung.

Some of my favorites include Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” Big & Rich’s “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy),” Garth Brooks’ “Good Ride Cowboy” and “The Cowboy Song” (though alas Garth continues to eschew making his music available for streaming, thus I had to settle for covers), “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Randy Houser’s “Like A Cowboy,” Dustin Lynch’s “Cowboys & Angels,” and Waylon & Willie’s “Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.” The songs are predominantly by country artists. Though I did include some non-country songs, and some songs that don’t include cowboy in the title, but either feature Cowboy prominently in their lyrics or were prominent in cowboy movies.

In Ashley’s “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” she briefly yodel’s the melody made famous in Eddy Arnold’s “Cattle Call” also made famous by a then 13 year old Leann Rimes, though actually recorded when she was just 11! I included both in the playlist, as well as Randy Travis’ “High Lonesome” also referenced in the song. Toby’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” sings of Gene (Autry) and Roy (Rogers), who obviously have entries on the list. While many argue that Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter isn’t a country album, I included her mega-hit “Texas Hold ‘Em” on the list. In her defense, Taylor Swift seems more pop than country to me, also included on this list with “Cowboy Like Me.” Judge for yourself.

Perhaps the consummate singer of cowboy tales is one who also lived it, rode it, and wrote it – Chris LeDoux. He was an American country music singer, songwriter, and hall of fame rodeo champion. Recording 36 albums including two gold and one platinum album in his 35 year career, with 20 Cowboy songs included in the playlist. Prior to his music career taking off, he had a career taking off from the chutes, winning the bareback riding championship at the national finals rodeo in 1976. He more than wrote about being a cowboy, he lived the life of a cowboy.

Well I wake up in the mornin’,
I brew my coffee hot and strong.
I get out my ole guitar, and try to write a song.
And them larks are singin, oh lord, just outside.
And I’m stuck here in this kitchen tryin’ to write.

And I’m writin’ these cowboy songs.
yodellehe, cowboy songs…
Just me and my beat up ole guitar.
Cowboy songs, yodellehe, cowboy songs…
Well maybe one of these cowboy songs
is gonna make me a star.

Now Hank Williams jr. writes ’em rough,
and sings ’em tough.
And Charlie Daniels sings a song about the devil.
And Waylon and Willie sing about… whatever they like.
And I’ll probably be sing these cowboy songs
for the rest of my life.

And writin’ these cowboy songs.
yodellehe, cowboy songs…
Just me and my beat up ole guitar.
Cowboy songs, yodellehe, cowboy songs…
Well maybe one of these cowboy songs
is gonna make me a star.

Well this don’t sound like Strawberry Roan,
or that lonesome Cattle Call.
And you might think that it don’t sound
nothin’ like a cowboy song at all.
But it is, ’cause I wrote it… and I’m a real life buckaroo.
And I wrote this silly little cowboy song, especially for you.

Here it is… cowboy songs, yodellehe, cowboy songs.
Just me and my beat up ole guitar.
Just a cowboy song, yodellehe, cowboys songs.
Well maybe one of these cowboy songs
is gonna make me a star.

Cowboy Songs – Chris LeDoux

His friendship with Garth Brooks helped bring his music to prominence, with a nod by Garth in “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)” relating:

The competition’s gettin’ younger
Tougher broncs, you know I can’t recall.
A worn out tape of Chris LeDoux,
lonely women and bad booze
seem to be the only friends I’ve left at all

Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)
– Garth Brooks

When Chris was diagnosed with a progressive liver and gallbladder disease, Garth volunteered to be a partial liver donor. However his generosity was not to be, as he was not a tissue match. Chris ultimately succumbed on March 9, 2005 at just 56 years of age to his disease after failing health despite a liver transplant from another doner.

Here is Chris with his classic “This Cowboy’s Hat” from his hometown of Casper, Wyoming.

While Autumn Brooke didn’t write the song “Hey Cowboy” as a tribute to Chris, it sure seems appropriate, a touching memory for any fallen cowboy called home.

Hey Cowboy, I heard you moved away
To a place where the cattle run free and you never run outta hay
Hey Cowboy, I heard they’re buckin’ bulls
And they’re the meanest sons of bitches that you ever could’ve wished for
Hey Cowboy, I know you’re doin’ fine
‘Cause they’ve got dirt roads for miles and the beer’s on ice

There’s no more long, hard days
No more calves to tag or colts to break
And there’s one less hat in the arena tonight
But his entry fee’s been paid
And now there’s hoof prints on the streets of gold
‘Cause today God called a cowboy home

Hey Cowboy, you left somethin’ behind
That mustang sittin’ in the field that nobody else but you could ride
Hey Cowboy, you left your boots there by the door
I put your Stetson on the mantle and your dog’s waitin’ for ya on the porch
And hey Cowboy, I hope that you don’t mind
But I took your old six speed for a drive

Hey Cowboy, how’d you leave without sayin’ goodbye?
I guess packin’ your bags without warning is just the cowboy way of life

There’s no more long, hard days
No more calves to tag or colts to break
And there’s one less hat in the arena tonight
But his entry fee’s been paid
And now there’s hoof prints on the streets of gold
‘Cause today God called a cowboy home
Yeah today God called a cowboy home

Hey Cowboy – Autumn Brook

I also included in the playlist Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” though not truly a Cowboy song, them mood, as well as the album cover with Kenny in his western gun slingin’ garb playing poker evokes images of the wild west and cowboys.

It reminds me of one of my dad’s favorite western albums, again with an amazing album cover, with Marty Robbins, who I thought was the greatest singer of cowboy western songs until I learned of Chris LeDoux.

Also on the list is the theme song from Midnight Cowboy, as well as the very popular hit from the same movie “Everybody’s Talkin’,” and I couldn’t pass up including at least one song from a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western, with the theme from “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” an movie soundtrack album with yet another great cowboy cover.

To close the country portion of the playlist, Waylon Jennings weighs in on the fading of the cowboy way of life with “Last Cowboy Song,” and Roy Rogers closes out with “Happy Trails” – a great cowboy ending.

Some rock and pop songs featuring cowboy  in the title or sound include the classic Bon Jovi anthem “Wanted Dead Or Alive’ – I’m a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride… Tesla’s “Modern Day Cowboy,” Rickie Lee Jones’ Flying Cowboys,” George Michael’s “Cowboys And Angels,” Billy Joel’s “Ballad Of Billy The Kid,” Elton John’s “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” from the album of the same name, Eagles’ “Desperado,” and Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” declaring “Some people call me the space cowboy.” Not surprising, Bruce Springsteen, who, though from New Jersey, has a large horse farm and his later career has had a Western feel, thus providing a few entries on the list. And believe it or not, heavy metal great Pantera even made the list, though they do hail from Arlington, Texas.

The closing song of the non-country Cowboy songs is “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone.” I think they’re still here. They’ve just evolved. Perhaps watch “Yellowstone” to get a glimpse of the modern-day cowboy. So in response to Ms. McBryde’s assertion that there “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” I’d say there are aplenty, over 8 hours and 145 songs, but perhaps, when celebrating cowboys, that still ain’t enough.

I thought I’d share some music videos to take you out west where the horses and cowboys roam free.

Ashley McBryde’s providing inspiration for my playlist with “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs”

Toby Keith’s classic “Shoulda Been A Cowboy”

Tim Montana’s “Be A Cowboy”

Randy Houser’s “Be A Cowboy”

And Lainey Wilson offering when to “Call A Cowboy”

And Randy Travis doing the “Cowboy Boogie”, with some familiar faces of actors who’ve played cowboys, including Chuck Norris, Burt Reynolds, and Lou Diamond Phillips.

And a classic with Gene Autry singing “Cowboy’s Heaven”

And Michael Martin Murphy’s version of “Cowboy Logic”

So I hope you enjoy this foray into the west in honor of the cowboy. Happy trails and happy listening.

And if you’re interested in accessing all of Chris LeDoux’s Cowboy songs some 35 sone, at least one for each year of his career, I made a separate playlist. He has several greatest hits compilations, including Classic Chris LeDoux, The Ultimate Collection, Anthology, 20 Greatest Hits, and Best of Chris LeDoux.

I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew.  Rediscover the passion of music in your life.

Live in the moment.

Enjoy the moment.

Love the moment.

Listen to the MUSIC!