ALBUM REVIEW: Astrosoniq, "Big Ideas Dare Imagination"

By: Victor Van Ommen

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 02/06/2018

Label: Van Records

“Big Ideas Dare Imagination” DD//LP track listing:

1). King

2). The Great Escape

3). Mindless

4). KEPPRA!

5). Vision Factor

6). Freezen

The Review:

A year ago, Astrosoniq lost a close friend and sometimes band mate. His name was Bidi. He was a guy who clearly made an impact on the heavy rock scene of The Netherlands and beyond. As a tribute to their fallen brother, Astrosoniqtook to the studio and made this, their new album, “Big Ideas Dare Imagination.” The band brought in many friends to participate in the making, writing and performing of this album. It’s a group effort. It’s an album the band and their surrounding community needed to make.

Astrosoniq has been around for quite some time. The amount of recognition that they’ve received for their work is arguably underrated. Albums such as “Made in Oss” (technically an EP), “Son of A.P. Lady” and my personal favorite, “Speeder People”are incredibly adventurous. These albums push the borders of every genre in existence – yes, even that one – and they make it work. Doomy jazz with a country twang? The Wizards of Oss master it.

Surprisingly enough, this new album is not as adventurous as the band is known to be. Each song on here is a rock song- sometimes metal, sometimes stoner – but the adventure factor is missing. The experimentation can be heard when it comes to song structures and the addition of a saxophone, for example, but the wild ride Astrosoniq is known to offer just isn't here. For me, as a fan of the band, this took some getting used to.

So I wondered - does the passing of a friend call for a wild adventure? The slow, weirdo hook of opening track “King,” certainly doesn’t think so. It makes its point just fine. The rolling bass and passionate vocals of “The Great Escape” also see no reason to fly off the handle. It’s a sturdy song, just as the straight up rockers of “Mindless” and “Keppra!” are pretty cool songs. Album closer, “Freezen,” is the weirdest and most refreshing track, even if it is just leaning on 1 idea the whole time. So the songs are good. But where does this album fit in the Astrosoniqdiscography?

I’m left with mixed emotions here. Astrosoniqhave made an album that’s close to their hearts. That’s obvious. The passion, courage and heartfelt emotion are certainly present in these 6 tracks. Involving guest musicians was a good move. Bidi made an impression on many people, so it’s a no-brainer to involve these people when making a tribute to the guy. At the end of the day, though, “BIDI” doesn’t gel as an album. Each song very much stands on its own, almost to the point that “BIDI” sounds like 6 songs made by 6 bands. However, considering the context of the album, this isn’t a critique in the slightest. This is the album that Astrosoniq needed to make. This is the adventure Astrosoniq needed to take. The listener will just have to approach these songs with an open mind.

“Big Ideas Dare Imagination”is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

REVIEW: Howling Giant - "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2 [EP]

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 25/08/ 2017

Label: Independent

For such a new outfit, Howling Giant brings sophistication to the lyrical and musical aspects that you might not expect. The result will astonish those fans who have been eagerly awaiting this sequel.

"Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2" CD//DD track listing:

1. Henry Tate

2. The Pioneer

3. Visions

4. The Forest Speaks

5. Circle of Druids

6. Earth Wizard

The Review:

Nashville, Tenn.'s Howling Giant, a relatively new addition to the stoner rock lexicon, has generated high hopes early. The first EP in this thematic series gained reams of positive reviews. Such coverage was earned fairly. Part One of the story was quite fuzzy, as well as robust, and drew comparisons to Electric Wizard, among other performers.

Yet can "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2" draw the same lofty praise as the initial recording?

The concept recordings – it is still a bit unclear if the story will carry on into a third EP, or more than that – tell the tale of humankind's rise and ultimate vanquish through the eyes of a protagonist. Such a heady vision can easily collapse under the weight of presenting that depth of a story with any hope of coherence. Howling Giant indubitably plumbs this mythology, but make it clear the music comes first. Arrangements are dexterous and vocals plaintive when needed, urgent the next. For such a new outfit, Howling Giantbrings sophistication to the lyrical and musical aspects that you might not expect. The result will astonish those fans who have been eagerly awaiting this sequel.

Howling Giant has garnered a lot of support for its sound and been likened to bands like The Sword. Although you can hear many classic-tinged acts in Howling Giant's sound, repeated listens may conjure diverse parallels. The album's opener, "Henry Tate," for example, has a sound and vocal delivery reminiscent of NoMeansNo circa "The Day Everything Became Nothing." Given NoMeansNo's pioneering post-punk bona fides, that comparison is a high compliment, but it gives you a glimpse at how deceptively talented this young band is on the new release.

The new music seems like an impressive leap from Part 1. The washed-out vocals get a much better mix this go around. Drumming here is standout. The storyline, without spoiling anything, is furthermore going to keep you listening, especially if you enjoy a story with your songs. All said, Howling Giantdemonstrates early accolades were deserved.

"Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Tronald - "Tronald"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 30/09/2017

Label: APF Records

…combining distorted guitars, chugging bass and flicks of vocal melody trapped under a crushing boulder of decomposing blackened death metal. It is raw and piercing in a fashion you cannot reasonably expect on a debut. But there it is, moldering for your delight.

“Tronald” CD//DD track listing

1. Tronald

2. Boss Keloid Are Shit

3. Obelisk Ov Hash

4. Dalnort

5. Gains (Prelude)

6. Vegan Gains

7. Get Your Grubby Little Hands Off My Bennell

8. Burgled Senseless

The Review:

Over the next four years, it is all but assured that you will hear the voice of U.S. President Donald Trump a lot more in extreme music than you ever thought possible. Some of it will certainly be based in outright opposition; there have been a trickling of music thus far critical of the new Commander in Chief by everyone from Prophets of Rage to rapper YG, whose "Fuck Donald Trump" last year gained the California native a lot more notoriety than he previously had. However, much more from metal will surely be inspired by Trump's strongman persona. His over-the-top threats and flowery promises from a world leader are the stuff of Megadethand Queensryche concept recordings. Hearing President Trump's bluster on "Danlort,"off Tronald's self-titled debut, you may be reminded that this period could musically be a very long four to eight years.

The specter of power is one that metal has reflexively rebelled against, whether it is the doctrines of organized Christian faith, authoritarians of every stripe or the stricter social norms that define mainstream culture. Usually such aggression is answered with the sort of musical force that only metal can deliver.

For you, "Tronald" may be just that kind of soundtrack. No stress if you are already at peak-Trump, peak-knee or whatever outrage is happening at the second. The Manchester, UK namesake do not come across as an expressly political collective. Tronaldis, however, well suited to deliver an assertive and uncompromisingly heavy recording. Just as exciting, the listener gets treated to an inventive group with a fiery first outing in its new self-titled release.

What makes Tronald so engaging to catch is the diversity of its approach. Ticking in at just under 20 minutes, the eight tracks on "Tronald" are one of the more interesting collections you will hear this fall. From practicing a chorus to the previously mentioned Trump snippets, Tronald mixes in its doom and sludge-heavy style a healthy dose of experimentation. Whether it is a hardcore/thrash chord or two in "Vegan Gains" or grinding pace of "Bennel,"you hear a band that is crafting what it may eventually be in the future. Right now, Tronald does many things quite well, at least in small spurts – more than half the cuts are less than two minutes. Long enough to be intriguing, but short enough to make you wonder what comes next.

On "Obelisk," Tronald's longest song, you get perhaps a better sense of what the quintet is capable of. The doom track creates a humid scene around it, one that combines distorted guitars, chugging bass and flicks of vocal melody trapped under a crushing boulder of decomposing blackened death metal. You get the picture. It is raw and piercing in a fashion you cannot reasonably expect on a debut. But there it is, moldering for your delight.

Discerning fans will count several influences, and Tronald does not break particularly new ground just yet. However, the band gets off to a rousing start. And one has to feel optimistic about its future.

"Tronald" is available here:

Band info: bandcamp || facebook