ALBUM PREMIERE: Ambassador deliver a cavernous and explorative musical masterwork on "Belly of the Whale"

Debut album “Belly of the Whale” by Ambassador, is a cavernous musical quest fusing heart rending doom, shoegazing aesthetics, and a deeps pop sensibility. Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, “Belly of the Whale”, is set to drop on September 28, 2018. Eluding the stale tropes of modern rock, Ambassador evokes a sense of maturity and sonic exploration but with their emotional and vulnerable sounds remaining rooted in post rock, progressive metal and southern blues. The band has been compared to groups like Dredg, Pink Floyd and A Perfect Circle, featuring introspective and ethereal lyrics supported by concise grooves all defined by an ominous sense of melody. Each composition exposes new colours and textures with its own distinct energy and today at THE SLUDGELORDwe’re proud to be able to premiere this truly one of a kind record, check it out in full below and you can order it now (HERE)

Band info: Facebook || Bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Causa Sui - “Vibraciones Doradas”

By: Victor Van Ommen

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/11/2017

Label: El Paraiso Records

 “Vibraciones Doradas” is a mélange of fuzzy, jam-rock. It flourishes, squirms, grooves and rides the wave of cool. Their rhythms are repetitive, innovative and progressive. These are the elements that define Causa Sui. It’s how the band puts these elements to use that makes Causa Sui one of the best.

“Vibraciones Doradas” CD//DD// LP track listing:

1. The Drop (7:12)
2. El Fuego (11:24)
3. Viborera (2:07)
4. Seven Hills (7:24)
5. Vibraciones Doradas (9:05)

The Review:

And just when you thought 2017 was winding down, Causa Suicomes at us with one last release before the Christmas shopping begins. What a drag, right? One more heavy-psych release to revel in before all that family time. One more psychedelic freak-out to take into account when throwing together your Happy Holidays Mix Tape.

For those who have the room to pile more releases onto their plate, here’s one fuzz-filled main course that you should take a scoop of. The album in question is “Vibraciones Doradas” and it’s been put together by Jakob Skott, Jonas Munk, Jess Kahr and Rasmus Rasmussen.  The four Danes play drums, guitars, bass, and synths, swirls and other fun stuff respectively. The album’s first run of vinyl is already sold out, and rightly so. It’s that good.

Hitting its mark quickly, Munk starts things off with one of those riffs that are going to come to full fruition in a live setting. In the grander scheme of things, this opening swing is a pretty standard riff, but keep in mind, this is just the starting point. It’s a way for the band to create an immediate connection with the listener. It shows that Causa Sui, as progressive as they are, are still indebted to their stoner rock roots.

The guitars go on and on and on. The jams ring true and the band is locked in. Munk phrases his licks like lyrics, making up for any lack of a front man. His riffing is drenched in fuzz and the grooves that unfold over the course of these five songs are as sun-bleached as can be. These Danes will forever bask in bright tones and on “Vibraciones Doradas” – loosely translated as Golden Vibrations – they proffer up more of these lush grooves.

At a mere 37 minutes in length, “Vibraciones Doradas” gets in and out quickly and leaves the mark it’s meant to. There are still plenty of jams, that’s what Causa Sui is great at. Their musicianship and connection with each other has always translated well to their recordings. Be it how Skott sets the groove in the album’s standout, “El Fuego,” or how they follow his double attack of the snare on the rough and rugged “Seven Hills,” there’s unity in this quartet and this unity is felt down the bone.

Jams, jams and more jams. That’s what you’re going to get on a Causa Sui album, and that’s what you’re getting on this new slab, too. “Vibraciones Doradas” is a mélange of fuzzy, jam-rock. It flourishes, squirms, grooves and rides the wave of cool. Their rhythms are repetitive, innovative and progressive. And as psychedelic as the squealing guitars are or how laid back that bass tone is, the music still manages to hold on to some form of song structure. These are the elements that define Causa Sui. It’s how the band puts these elements to use that makes Causa Suione of the best.

“Vibraciones Doradas” is available on CD//DD//LP here

Band info: 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: Stinking Lizaveta - "Journey to the Underworld"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/02/2017

Label: Translation Loss

Stinking Lizaveta’s new album “Journey to the Underworld” finds the band in deadly form, crafting music that is seriously weird and complex yet still delivers an addictive riff high.

“Journey to the Underworld” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Witches and Pigs

2. Chorus of Shades

3. Sharp Stick in the Eye

4. Six Fangs

5. Blood, Milk and Honey

6. Journey to the Underworld

7. Love Song For Jusu

8. A Stranger's Welcome

9. Allegro

The Review:

It’s an impressive feat for a band to be in their 23^rd year of existence to release an LP that sounds as raw and hungry as a debut. Stinking Lizaveta’s new album “Journey to the Underworld” finds the band in deadly form, crafting music that is seriously weird and complex yet still delivers an addictive riff high.

The Philadelphia trio have honed their idiosyncratic sound to perfection here, delivered with a telepathic tightness. The band’s style of riffage recalls retro rockers like of Earthlessand Comets On Fire but is so vital and fresh it could only have come from the present. Instead of the endless molten jams into the outer realms of the previously mentioned acts, Stinking Lizaveta travel just as far into the unknown but tie themselves into carefully orchestrated labyrinthine constructions but still find room for wild unhinged solos.

The propulsive drive of opener “Witches and Pigs” contains traces of proper Thin Lizzy-esque classic rock while “Chorus of Shades” features some glorious shredding and irresistible leads that are steeped in NWOBHM. “Sharp Stick in the Eye” is an almost funky strut with a groove that winds itself tighter and tighter as the band’s playing gets more frenetic.  There is a heaviness and darkness in these songs though that sees them slip across into noise rock territory, an underlying nastiness that adds a sweet sharpness to proceedings.

The title track seems them ease up a little on the intensity to allow a little psychedelic rock to bubble to the surface. “A Stranger’s Welcome” sees them employ passages of acoustic guitar to bring a spaghetti western dustbowl feel which although brief provides a powerful contrast to the epic riffage that surrounds it.

“Journey to the Underworld”is another incredible release from a truly unique band. Stinking Lizaveta manage to make instrumental metal that sounds like nothing else out there. Here’s to another 23 years of madness 

“Journey to the Underworld” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook