Churches Burn - Adversary

Churches Burn are from Colombus, Ohio and don't have nearly as many fans as they should. They've got this killer bass-deep kinda tone that's covered in layers of filth and grime with some psych fringes here and there...they're pretty comparable to JAIL, but I like 'em a lot more.

Churches Burn - Adversary

Melvins - Three Albums You Already Have

Here we are again, on the pre-ignition of another monday, and there's none more of an appropriate time for us to appreciate the Melvins. (MELVINS MONDAY!) That and I have more schoolwork I'm avoiding.

Prior to 93, the Melvins were anything but typical compared to their contemporaries from the region (see: grunge); they were sludge, they were metal, they were punk. When that whole dumb thing in the north-west corner happened...something changed. Bullhead wasn't too far removed from the formula we heard on Ozma--if anything it represented a transitional period. But in 1993, they veered off-course for better or worse.

The Melvins made a straight-ahead "rock" album, not unlike what everyone else was doing at the time. Were they cashing in? Were they taking the piss out of everyone else? It's not like they completely abandoned what they were doing before and turned to some contrived sound without reason; vestiges of their old style still soaked through in a few tracks (Hag Me, Copache, Set Me Straight, At the Stake, yadda yadda). What gets me about the whole change is that it's not like what they were doing on Ozma, Bullhead, and Eggnog was worn out or unoriginal...they fucking INVENTED sludge and played it for not even 5 years--then said fuck it--and moved on. Something so innovative, so new and fresh, although not all that accessible compared to other music, was at the very least THEIRS...and they just fucking threw it aside for other bands to pick up and march on with.

Really though, if they hadn't grown into a different genre of music, chances are their records would've ended up as stale, boring and unexciting as a Slayer or Cannibal Corpse release...the type of shit that only someone like Angry Pantera Kid would cum all over himself about. Or they could've suffered a slow painful death like TAD did from the mid to late nineties.

...nonetheless: whatever they were doing--they did it WELL, and that's what counts. Here's to 3 years of Mark D, solos, and KISS covers:

1993 - Houdini
1994 - Stoner Witch
1996 - Stag

--fred

Black Skies - Aqua Dogs/Family Man 7"

Here's a glimpse at the band when they first started--before Cameron joined as their drummer. Aqua Dogs is an abrasive stoned-out sludge swim you'd expect from the band nowadays, while Family Man is a 3 and a half minute rollicking instrumental jam. You can buy the record straight from the source through paypal off of their myspace.

myspace

This one's a personal vinyl rip:
Black Skies - Aqua Dogs / Family Man 7"

--fred

Black Skies at WMUC (11/23/08)

I've been meaning to post this among a few other things for a good while now...this is an on-air recording of Black Skies' performance, as well as an interview (with us), here at WMUC late last year. Kevin was "Rock Hard", Trey and Cam made a love connection, and Michelle played with Sonny's Big Muff (DEATHAMMER). Good show, good times:

Black Skies Live @ WMUC 11.23.08

In case you want to hear the rest of the show featuring DEATHAMMER's set and hilarious interview, check it out here.

--fred

Black Skies - Hexagon EP

Black Skies is a Sludge Rock band hailing from Chapel Hill, NC. I'm pretty sure they've only released two 7"s and one EP, of which has proved itself pretty popular on the stoner/sludge blogosphere thus far. Black Skies plays straight-ahead sludged-out rock, not unlike 'High on Fire', with the grittier (and LOUD) sensibilities of 'Jucifer'.

I could go on forever about how awesome the band is and what great people they are...but you probably don't want to read that. I will say however that they have recently released their EP on Vinyl in very limited quantities, so pick it up while you still can:

Buy their LP
myspace

Black Skies - Hexagon (320 kbps)

--fred

Dead Pegasus - Self Titled

Here's a hardworking DIY group from Philly. Dead Pegasus plays a sort of heavy alternative rock/sludge that hasn't really been crafted since the late 90s. Sounds like RATM (don't stop reading) jammed in a blender with Saviours, with little bits of High on Fire sprinkled on top. Give these guys some love:

Dead Pegasus - Self Titled

High Tone Son of a Bitch

'High Tone Son of a Bitch' is a stoner rock band from Oakland, California featuring past members from Cruevo, Noothgrush, Porn (The Men of), and Totimoshi. They stuck around long enough to release one 4-track single produced by Alex Newport (of Fudge Tunnel and Max Cavalera-project Nailbomb, as well as producer of a fuck-ton of other bands like Sepultura, the Melvins, SOAD, Mars Volta, Taint, and others).

High Tone Son of a Bitch - Better You Than Me

Snailface

You guys remember Kowloon Walled City? Well, they're back (sort of), with their side project entitled 'Snailface'. This record's a complete offshoot from Kowloon's previous work (and it should be noted that this IS NOT a Kowloon Walled City release), and is being offered on their site for free download, but I figured I might upp it here as well.

'Snailface' is the Rock-LP the Melvins always wanted to record. A liberal-cramming of Cock-Rock (Transvaginal Organ Harvest), Alternative (Botanomancer) and shameless 70s nostalgia (Drug School), into a Stoner tromp worthy of Orange Goblin and the like results in a record that rings echoes of the Zebraman. I say it's a shame this isn't a legit band:

Snailface - Self Titled

--fred

PORN (The Men of) & Merzbow

If you aren't familiar with the Men of Porn yet, check out this earlier post.

This record is a "collaboration" between PORN and Japanese Lord of cacophony, Merzbow. There's not a whole lot I can honestly say about this album...if you're a fan of PORN, it's a new album release (hooray)! If you're a fan of Merzbow, you'll dig it without a doubt.

Sincere Moment:
Don't download this expecting to reap some fresh PORN material. My take on the record is that Merzbow borrowed the masters for "Wine, Women, and Song" and did his own thing with it...but it's still an interesting listen, don't let me dissuade you. Check it out:

Porn & Merzbow - ...And the Devil Makes Three
Part One
Part Two