Satan's Satyrs - Wild Beyond Belief

Satan's Satyrs play dirty, dingy rock and roll tinged with that punk attitude that everyone loves so much (amirite?). The guitar tone here is off the chart, transporting you right to the heart of Fuzz City USA. We lose a bit of clarity in the overall production sound, which is a bit muddy, and the drums have this strange treble-heavy density to them (which is rather intruding at first but you get used to it), almost as if they are being played in another room away from you, but if anything, this just adds to the charm of the record, which is a highly enjoyable, mirky romp through witch/doobie burning excellence.

"Electric Witchwhipper" is probably my favourite track, and is just totally dripping in sleaze, making me want to dive into a swimming pool filled with 80s exploitation films (ouch!). Check it out below.

Kong Lives - Kong Saves

Kong Saves is the debut EP from new South Wales based doom metal / stoner outfit Kong Lives, featuring members of Tradish and the recently (sadly) defunct Desalvo. Kong Saves treads firmly on the ethereal yet groove-laden side of doom, rarely falling full force into the pits of sludgy despair. The trippier, more laid back parts remind me of Germany's Samsara Blues Experiment, whilst the more full-on, distorted passages are akin to The Inside Room-era 40 Watt Sun mixed with something altogether more Slabdragger (yeah fuck it I'm going with that statement haha).

Track 4 features backing vocals from Judas Cradle's very own Sam Wall, which is a nice addition to the nihilistic blast of doom. The fitting artwork was pen(cilled?) by long-time illustrator and once PUS vocalist Bvrzerk, and the amazing studio production was carried out by Newport's Rhys Bryant (who has recorded the likes of Grand Collapse and Pizza Tramp, among others). 

You can stream the whole thing at the group's Bandcamp page, so check it out below.

Om / Six Organs Of Admittance - Split 7"

It is quite a bizarre feat to see the sprawling works of Om confined to the time restraints of a 7" record. Nevertheless, the duo manage to pull it off without it having any negative impact on proceedings. I seem to keep forgetting (I know, right?) that Om are one of my favourite bands, and this obscure 7" does not disappoint in any way shape or form. However, if you are new to Om, I would suggest starting where their music has a bit more room to breathe.

This is however, my first dabble with Six Organs Of Admittance; "Assyrian Blood" showcases intense atmospherics, with hopeless drones verging almost into harsh noise. This is musical meditation pushed up to 11. The material on this split in particular reminds of the group Barn Owl, if not a bit more introspective. 

Gorilla Pulp - Peyote Queen

Fantastic heavy stoner rock from Italy. Think Samsara Blues Experiment but heading off in a more straight-forward, Kyuss-themed direction, rather than becoming lost in endless songs. The psych here is well controlled and reigned in, but do not fret - there is plenty of "woah!", "man!," and "duuuude!" moments here to keep perpetuating the frrrreakah enough to space these bluesy numbers out into the stoner territory. Hey, there's even a Peter Frampton-style wah part towards the end. What more do you need? Also, as a strange off-note, sometimes the vocalist gets really into these heavy redneck American stylings, it almost sounds like ex-Mushroomhead frontman Waylon Reavis.

Honestly though, it's all a bit typical of this kind of thing and brings absolutely nothing new to the table. That isn't to say that this isn't an enjoyable listen, just don't expect Gorilla Pulp to re-invent the wheel. All the tropes are in place; the beautiful crunching guitars, the (probably) hand-painted 60s tits on the record sleeve, and the song titles such as "Magic Mushroom", "Witch Boogie" and "Electric Woman".

It's time to shake the dust off those bell bottoms and scrap all the crap out of your bong.

Windhand - Soma

(Words by Richard Lewis, Doomfinder General)

Windhand are a doom band from the USA that play the kind of heavy fuzzy as fuck doom with washed out vocals that everyone loves. Whilst some people will read that as Windhand being some sort of second rate Electric Wizard, the reality couldn't be further from the truth.

Opener "Orchard" sums up the overall feel of the album with massive fuzzy riff following massive fuzzy riff while vocalist Dorthia Cottrell's haunting voice helps lull you into an almost trance-like state (which also makes the album being named after the perfect drug from Brave New World far more apt). There is a nice acoustic break about halfway through (which you would think is jarring but  it actually fits really well and I'd like to hear more of it in the future) before it's back to the fuzz which ends with my personal favourite song, "Cassock".

The massive (in both sound and length) "Boleskine" follows, and even at 30 minutes it seems to end too soon. Sometimes you really do just want to listen to the same riff over and over again for about 10 minutes because it's so good. Eventually, it fades and all that is left is the sound of wind and you're left wondering where the last 75 minutes went.

Dead Meadow - Dead Meadow

Welcome to a world of fuzz.

Boasting one of the greatest (yet simplest) guitar tones that I have ever heard, Dead Meadow's turn of the century debut dreamscape of a record is a fantastic trip through a stoned, lush world of 60s and 70s influenced rock music. The opening track, "Sleepy Silver Door", is quite simply one of the greatest things ever put to tape. It's one of my favourite stoner-related tracks, with simple yet amazing riff, beastly guitar solo and epic lyrics: "Can't find a key to the sleepy silver door / I'm washed up on the shore of reality".

If you are prepared to wade through a swamp of steaming rock music, viewing life through the lens of a grainy outdoor camera that the BBC used in the 80s, I strongly recommend you some Dead Meadow. It is the perfect music for a serene low-dose trip on nature's finest psilocybin-rich fungi, to traverse forests and mountains - potentially barefoot - pondering the wonders of nature and generally just feeling really good about yourself and everything around you. 

I'll be quiet now. Spark up and love.