Tag Archives: Stoner Rock

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS: Death Hilarious.

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Here we go. Record number 5 from the North East’s loudest band- Pigsx7. What can they do on record number 5 that they haven’t already? Like, what is left to be done now?! Haven’t they burst our eardrums enough?! No. They haven’t. There’s more to do, more damage to our ears to be done.

Death Hilarious is a masterpiece, that you can be sure of. Again, Pigsx7 are a band who do not make bad records. Everything they release is so exciting and different- but always beautifully loud to the point where you may need medical attention (not the best kind of attention you can get, but still.) If you’re wanting a record to drown out the noise and to make you feel like every bone in your body is being crushed- this is the record you need. It’s the band at their peak. They’ve done it. They’ve made something that defines their sound in a new way, and I love how with every record they are unafraid to push the person who listens to it. It may be us old fans or it may be new ones; either way they push you and it’s wonderful.

If you’ve been lucky enough to see Pigsx7 live, then you’ll know that it’s an experience that goes beyond anything else you’ve seen or felt. For me, bands like this are the ultimate comfort band. Their sound feels like a secure grip around me, and I can’t get free from it- I guess it feels like home and it’s calming. Others may hear something utterly dripped in chaos and pure noise, but for me, that’s my version of calm. I never claimed to be “normal” because none of us are.

The record consists of 9 songs and is around the 45-minute mark- that’s enough time to let a record utterly consume you. Every song deserves its spot here, and the way it ends on the 8-minute wonder that is Toecurler is magnificent. It’s a grand record, and the ending does not mean the band are going quietly at all. If anything, they get louder. Matt’s screaming on this song is next level, you can really feel how healing it is. It’s like getting every ugly and painful feeling out. It’s the kind of song you’d want playing in a sketchy Slasher film where the killer loses it towards the end.

This is their most experimental record to date, and they won’t lose fans over it at all. If anything, they’ll gain more. Welcome to the cult of Pigsx7! I’ve played the record a lot this morning, and with every listen I’m getting a new appreciation for the band. You can hear the growth on the record. I remember first listening to them and I had NO idea what was going on- all I knew was that I was instantly hooked, and I found a band that were going to change how I listen to music and how I take music in. Turns out, that feeling has stood very firm with every record they released since. Death Hilarious is no exception. If anything, it heightened it.

I started writing this a week ago, with the intent of putting it up by the day had ended. But I felt with every listen of the record, I found something else to cling onto and relate to. So, for once, I let the record stay with me. For a week solid, this has been the only record I’ve listened to. I’ve played it at the gym on a loop, played it to and from work, listened to it at work- that’s a lot of hours. Have my feelings changed? Not in the slightest. I still think this is the best record Pigsx7 have done, and it explores the brutalness of anxiety and everything that comes with it, in a way I’ve not felt before from a record. The way Matt screams some of these lyrics will rip right through you. I know for a fact I cried when I played it the first time. Some lyrics just get you in the gut, and with more listens I feel less alone with whatever goes on in my head. Someone else gets it, and they are expressing it in a way that is a billion times better than I ever could. That’s the power of music- it makes you feel less alone, and less of a burden too.

If you’ve seen Pigsx7 live, you will know how big their sound is in that environment so when you listen to them on record- it can feel different. They’ve managed to capture that huge live sound and put it beautifully on record. They’ve done it. This is THE record they had to make and tonight I get to witness it live. It’s going to leave me hard of hearing tomorrow- it did last time, and I cannot wait.

Death Hilarious is a record I’ll keep going back to for different reasons. This week it’s helped me focus at work and the gym. Maybe next week it’ll feel like a hug, and the week after it’ll be my comfort record. All I know is that it will be one I keep going back to constantly. I don’t think it’s a record you play and just forget about. You don’t do that with a Pigsx7 record, it’s impossible.

Every song on the record does feel like a smack in the kisser and a punch to the ribs, and you just cannot get enough of it. Stitches has a Glam Rock feel to it, and you’ve got the ripper of a song, Toecurler that just sums up the whole record as the closer. In 45 minutes, Pigsx7 give the listener all they want and deserve.

The record feels like an exorcism of sorts and that powerful release is felt on every single song, and I think that’s why you cannot help but feel hooked right from the start. But that’s Pigsx7 all over.

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS: Detroit.

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The best Geordie lads are back! Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs (I have to count every time!) are thankfully back with a beautifully heavy number, Detroit.

Detroit, in their words is about, “a ghastly, needy and controlling man.” And the world knows we have plenty of them- especially at the moment! This is Pigsx7 at their loudest, at their utter best. If a new record is coming (let’s be honest, it must be because a tour’s been announced too) and this is the sound they’re going with, then I think we’ve found the record of 2025 already.

To quote the band, “Detroit’ is massive slab of striking noise rock about a hideous man with even worse behaviours. Better we let Matt take it from here: “Detroit reflects on the worst manifestations of male jealousy and resentment, and the ways in which the deliberate avoidance of accountability can lead to deflecting responsibility in exchange for blaming external forces like fate or God for perceived injustice”.  And if I couldn’t love this band anymore, all the money the streaming of Detroit generates will be donated to domestic abuse charities prior to the tour. THAT is how you do it.

The new song is heavy and rowdy. You can feel the aggression and the story-telling really makes it, you feel the rage too. You almost feel as pathetic as those types of people who behave this way, and that’s what makes Pigsx7 such a bloody incredible band- they put you in the position of others, even when that position is really unsettling in every way possible. For me, Pigsx7 are a comfort band. I love nothing more than just being on my own, wandering round or at work with their music blasting worryingly loud in my ears. I find the whole sound just makes me feel really safe. I cannot explain why, it just does. I’ve only seen them live once, and I remember being stood at the back but I could see EVERYTHING and even though the room was packed- I felt like it was just me in the room. Easily one of the loudest and best bands around, and the gig was definitely up there as being one of my favourites.

A new tour for 2025 has been announced, and the dates are:

UK – APRIL 2025:
03 – Brighton, UK – CHALK
04 – London, UK – KOKO
05 – Bristol, UK – SWX
07 – Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
08 – Birmingham, UK – The Castle & Falcon
09 – Birkenhead, UK – Future Yard
11 – Manchester, UK – New Century Hall
12 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
15 – Edinburgh, UK – La Belle Angèle
16 – Glasgow, UK – St Luke’s

EUROPE – MAY 2025:
17 – Paris, FR – La Maroquinerie
22 – Cologne, DE – Gebäude 9
23 – Düdingen, CH – Bad Bonn
24 – Munich, DE – Strom
26 – Leipzig, DE – UT Connewitz
27 – Berlin, DE – Säälchen
28 – Hamburg, DE – Knust

So, if record number 5 really is on the way then I think it’s safe to say it’s going to be nothing short of divine!

TEEN MORTGAGE.

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Sometimes you need to listen to something really noisy, just so you can feel something like a billion vaults go through your skull in the hopes of adding excitement to your day. Or whatever gets you through.

That’s where you need bands like Teen Mortgage. A duo that feels like a billion electric shocks to your skull. Do you feel anything yet? Probably not. Keep listening.

They are loud. The good kind of loud. The kind that makes you want to be as loud as them. Maybe louder? Only do what you can, if you want.

I know nothing about them, nor do I need to or want to. All I know is that they are pretty fucking good, and again, I’m late to the party. I don’t like parties anyway. This came from needing something loud to listen to at work. It’s doing the job. I have no idea how long they’ve been making music for, but in this case- time means nothing. Does it ever? Sometimes. When it drags, you feel like you could just gauge your eyeballs out to do something. We’re all waiting around for something. Usually for the day to be over. Light relief can always be found in music. I love the sound this band has. There’s slight hints of Melvins mixed with Heavy Lungs, and other bands I love. There’s a beautiful rage in their sound, and you can’t get enough of it. There’s this delightful fury in the songs that makes you want to throw things around and smash ‘em up. Do it. You’ll feel better. They have this energy that’s in the beloved Bruise Control and Death Goals. Loud. So fucking loud. So good. Inject this right into my eardrums.

Pick a favourite song? No. Not yet. I’ve spent a solid few hours listening to them on repeat, and Sick Day has this ridiculous feel to it. It’s the drums. Always the drums. It makes me feel like I’m slamming my head into a wall but with no feeling at all. Of course, the reality would be a headache, or worse. Anyway.

The Change is a solid one too. That’s one to play if you want someone you care about to like this band. If someone doesn’t dig them, it’s all okay to have trust issues over it and reassess your relationship with them. It’s okay. The Change COULD be one of my favourites, but every song I’ve nearly deafened myself with is exceptional. I feel like this bad mood I’ve been stuck in for a while has slightly lifted. I think I just need a nap. I always need a nap. My cat has got it figured out: wake up, have a little snack, maybe run around. Sleep for 5 hours. Repeat. Sleep again. More sleep. Could SHE handle this band? I’ve subjected her to some sorts at home- I think she’d be alright with this.

They’re the best at what they do, and this heavy sound they have is just a real joy to listen to. They’re the kind of band that make you fall back in love with music again. I’d noticed I’d been obsessively listening to set bands/songs over and over again. I don’t like when I do that, so finding Teen Mortage came at the right time. Ed is a giant on the drums. There’s this grand Melvins feel to his style- really sludgy, really loud. Then you’re hit with James’ vocals and guitar- add all this together, and you truly have a band worthy of every fraction of your attention, time, love, ears, anything/everything.

Teen Mortgage make music that is cathartic; it feels like a huge release listening to them. The modern world is too self-centred, and sometimes you just need a band like Teen Mortgage to smack you in the face with the kind of music that would probably scare your family.

Play it loud. Burst those eardrums*

*Don’t!! I don’t want you hurting yourself.

LEGAL NOISE: Legal Noise.

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Some bands are just made to make songs that stick in your brain. And boy oh boy do Legal Noise make the kind of music that sticks right in there! I’ve written about this band before, so my feelings towards their music is pretty clear. But, as there is a new record out…actually, hold on. As their DEBUT record is now here, it’s only right I go into more detail as to why this band are pretty damn great!

As far as debut records go, this one is perfect. That was always going to be the case- what else do you expect from a band as awesome as this? Every song was made for you to thrash your body around to as if something has possessed you. The kind of songs that are destined to be heard in sketchy basement bars. The kind of songs you play when you feel happy or fed up- there’s a song for every mood and more on this record. These 8 songs are wild and a solid way of getting us to know Legal Noise much better. Whatever you’ve heard from them before- but it to one side, and dive headfirst into this record. This is a great record with nothing sounding out of place or forced. You can really hear their passion, and that passion makes you wish you had some musical talent. Imagine being in a band as cool as this!

The band sent me the record a few weeks before it was released, and I wanted to wait a while before I wrote about it. I’ve found this is the case with anything new I listen to now. Normally it’d be one listen and devour it. Now I’d rather listen to it over and over, then work out what I want to say. Joel mentioned that the first half of the record is a more of a Garage feel, then the second half is a lot heavier. That’s the best way to describe this record. The second part kicks you in the gut with Dracula, and it’s my favourite on the record by far. I love the heaviness of it, and how the heaviness smacks you right out of nowhere. Then it keeps on going on the second half of the record. It’s honestly a perfect record and for me, that balance of this sort of Stoner Rock coming in halfway to kick you in the face is just divine.

There’s only 3 of ‘em in the band, and by god they make a whole lot of noise. The kind of noise that needs to heard full whack 24/7. Time is just over 5 minutes long and you know what? We need more of it. This song could easily sound as perfect if it was 3 times longer. It’s such a great song, and it’s honestly a joy to listen to. Every single song is a joy to listen to. The record ends on a 10-minute number (Try To Hide) and the second it finishes; you’re playing the record all over again. And again. Legal Noise are a band that you know you HAVE to see live. I really hope this record is the one that brings them over to the UK and they sell out every place they visit. It’s a record that needs to be heard in all its heavy glory. We all form bonds with records whether immediately or over time; this record is one you fall in love with immediately.

I just urge anyone who reads this to play this record loud and throw your body wildly around as you let every song get into the depths of your soul.

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS: O2 Ritz, Manchester 30th September 2023.

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Every time I write about Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, I always feel like I find something new to love about them. On record, they are one of the most thrilling bands around yet, after being obsessed with them for so long, tonight was my first time seeing them live. Whenever I had a ticket, something or someone would get in the way. Whether it be a clash of plans I couldn’t get out of or having a panic attack and having to miss out again- you name it, it’s stopped me from going. Reluctantly. Tonight, I finally got to see them. I’ve never felt so content at a gig. It was so loud, so beautiful and just out of this world.

Before I get into the show, I want to state that Matthew Baty is THE most powerful front man of any band around right now. The way he struts round the stage in his vest and shorts (I sound like I’m talking about a PE lesson from school when you’ve forgotten your kit!) like one of The Bushwhackers (if you’re a WWE fan you’ll get it.) A phenomenal band through and through.

I’ve been to enough loud gigs to last me a lifetime but trust me- this is up there with being one of the loudest. The love for this band is felt throughout the venue. I’m stood right at the back with a perfect view of everything, and the atmosphere is something else. Every single song is cheered with unifying admiration. This band have been together for around 11/12 years, and to see them play a venue like the Ritz is incredible. Matthew mentioned that the first time they ever played Manchester was in some warehouse, and now they are playing venues like this. They are a band that deserve to be heard, and like Matthew said- maybe now the music industry will take them seriously. Let’s be honest here, what the music industry thinks about Pigsx7 means nothing- all you need to do is go to their shows and you’ll see exactly why they are the best around.

The show is sheer justification of why they are the most entertaining and hypnotising bands around. They don’t do encores which personally, I am in favour of. Either stay on the stage and a play a few more or just leave!

The setlist rips from start to finish. You want loud? You’ve got it and so much more! They end their set with A66, and it felt like every song felt like a lead up to that moment. My god this setlist, this show- out of this world. Reducer? Insane! GNT? Mind-blowing. You got the hits and so much more, and even though it was my first time seeing the band it will definitely not be my last. Far from it! They opened with the face-melting Mr Medicine, and that was enough for us to all quickly realise that this was going to be one hell of a night. My ears hurt the morning after, but that’s what you want from a band like this. Beautifully loud. There is something really magical about this band, and their live shows truly show how incredible they are. Every single song is delivered with this euphoric passion that makes you question how you’ve got through life without experiencing this before.

For me, it was all about finally seeing World Crust- this one just blew me away. I’m pretty sure I had this weird grin on my face throughout the whole show, but this one was next level. I felt proper joy at this show, and it’s a joy I didn’t think I’d feel but turns out, I can! I guess all isn’t so bad afterall. The comfort I find in this band is like nothing else, and their live shows are an extension of how phenomenal they are. I urge anyone and everyone to see them live. Even if this isn’t your type of music, the atmosphere alone will change your mind and probably like me, you’ll want to be at their shows every night.

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS: Land Of Sleeper.

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Are you looking for the loudest record of the year? Do you want something that’ll burst your eardrums in the most pleasant way possible? Pigsx7 have gone and done it with their new record, Land Of Sleeper. 8 songs that are sheer delight, absolute carnage and beautifully loud.

Writing about this band brings me so much joy. I just LOVE them. They combine everything I love about music, and everything I want from music and just make something that is effortlessly slick and charming. This morning on the way to work, I had a horrible pain in my chest. I knew what was coming- it was the start of a panic attack. I needed to somehow tame my mind to deter something from happening. I started to listen to some meditation for anxiety on Spotify. I found myself getting wound up over the persons voice and how it felt like they were being patronising. I hated it. I needed something but I didn’t know what. So, I went and found something to listen to. Again, I found myself turning to Pigsx7. I tuned into the new record once more. I don’t know what happened, but I felt almost calm. My brain was tame, the pain in my chest wasn’t as bad. I was alright. It probably seems strange to have something so loud be a calming force- but that’s just what they do. I don’t know if it’s the vocals or the heaviness of the sound. It just feels like a massive grip around me offering reassurance.

It is such an incredible record, and I know I say it every time I write about Newcastle’s finest- but there is something about this band that is so magical and so euphoric. There’s this aggression in the music and vocals that doesn’t make you feel threatened- it makes you feel quite safe. Every time they’ve toured something has gotten in the way of me seeing them but I’m determined to see them this year. I just need to. I have to. They’re the kind of band that you have to really focus on. You can’t just mindlessly play a song and be like, “oh this is nice.” You have to really soak it all in, and I think that’s why listening to them this morning when I felt awful truly helped. I wasn’t aware of anything or anyone around me- just this record. I think it was Big Rig that saved my brain this morning, but if I’m honest- every song on this record is a dream to listen to.

The vibrations in the songs, the way every song moves you in a psychedelic way allowing you to be free with your limbs and screaming the words back at Matt is just insane. You can hear how they poured their everything into this record, and it’s evident in their previous records. This band don’t make shit songs- ever. They don’t have one bad song. They are consistently excellent, and Land Of Sleeper massively shows this. Every song is a call to action and a bolt of reassurance for the soul. Most of the songs on the record last over 5 minutes, and I think for me that’s part of the attraction. I love how their songs feel like stories or a journey. I feel like I’m being taken into a sacred world and Pigsx7 are the leaders. I’ve said it before but when I listen to them- i feel like I’m listening to Melvins and Sleep for the first time. Those two bands are vital and shaped a lot of the music I listen to, and to hear a band like Pigsx7- they complete my holy trinity in a way! I honestly cannot praise this record enough. I’m going back to Big Rig again- the last 2 minutes of this songs turn into some obscure instrumental that will blow your mind. You can’t help but dig it- it’s incredible!

Land Of Sleeper is made up of anthems that need to be heard as loud as possible. There’s this raw energy on this record that has developed from each record they’ve put out- this is THEIR record, and I love how you can tell that they have and always will make music that is for THEM and no one else. It’s how THEY want to sound. Perfection is subjective, but come on now- this is another perfect record by the band. There’s a lot of pent up emotions and rage being released on this record.

For me, a lot of the songs have that same outpouring that’s on Release The Bats by The Birthday Party. I can’t explain it- I just know that there’s a similar link in how it’s poured out. I’m just in awe of this record and how yet again, Pigsx7 have gone and done it with another masterpiece.

NEW GUINEA PIGS ON THE BLOCK.

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Aside from having a great name, New Guinea Pigs On The Block are insane musicians. If you’re wanting something that makes you feel like you’ve heard Melvins for the first time, or if you want to feel like your brain has been smashed in and your eardrums beautifully burst- then like me, you will in love with New Guinea Pigs On The Block.

Their new record has been released via the great Italian label Area Pirata, and if you go and listen to what this label have been putting out since 2001, it is no surprise that New Guinea Pigs On The Block have found a home with them. The perfect match. This record was made to blow your mind. In the UK we have a band called PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS, and they are off the scale kind of noisy. The kind of loud that would make prudish folk squirm, and that’s exactly what New Guinea Pigs On The Block do too. They will make people feel uncomfortable with how noisy they are, but for me- it’s part of the charm.

The record has 13 songs that will move you, melt your face and make you wish you could make something like this. I wish I could. I know, I always do. I know. These 13 songs feel like they came out of someone who had been cooped up in a small space for years and just had to let it all out. Kind of like this pandemic shite really. The band are just talented beyond words. You can really picture what their live shows would be like in your mind, and when a band can paint that picture for you within seconds of getting into the record- well, you know you’ve found something to treasure.

Rib Tips is the one I’d play for someone who was on the fence about how loud they want their music to be; it’s a gentle ease into the band if that’s how you want to be. With the pubs near my flat now opened, I can drown out drunken noise with this band. Bliss! I’ll buy whatever they sell (within reason.) They are just a real joy to listen to, and I love that lo-fi feel. You feel like you’ve stepped into the deep unknown when you listen to them, and for me that’s something I really love finding in music.

You’ve got this Psych feel to the songs that makes you feel like you’re stuck in a dream, but you’re wide awake and probably a little wired too. They take you on an intense journey and part of you doesn’t want to ever leave it. Take Out The Trash is the one you probably need to play the loudest right now. It reminds me a little of MC5 in a way- that really heavy sound that you can’t get enough of. Knock On Thee Door starts quite calm compared to other songs on the record- it’s got Funk feel to it that really makes you move. Basically, this band are great. That’s all there is to it.

New Guinea Pigs On The Block are everything you could want from a band. Everything on this record they did themselves, and that gorgeous DIY feel is something to really grasp hold of. I just love the way they take you on this trip, and your mind goes off. The mind and body are split when you listen to this record, and this separation is what makes the record so addictive. Just going back to Knock On Thee Door- it is just under 7 minutes of sheer bliss. It really allows you to hear just how phenomenal they are as a band. Every band member on this song truly shines and you just can’t get enough of it. 6 minutes and 55 seconds just isn’t enough for this song. Songs like Iguana Man and Stone Hedge are nothing short of genius. The whole record is basically 13 songs of pure heaven and the insight to musical geniuses that are, New Guinea Pigs On The Block.

There’s only 3 of them in the band, but they sound like there’s about 10 of them. I love this record and this band, and with this record it is fair to say that they have created something to treasure and adore forever. I want to play it all the time and spend my days just soaking up every sound, every note on this record. It’s a monster of a record, and the band aren’t afraid to really go for it. Honestly, one of the best records I’ve heard all year!

BABY CANDY.

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We know that Australia has given us some amazing bands, and Baby Candy are another band you can cite as being exceptional. They are everything you could want from a Stoner/Psych Rock band, and more. If you want loud sounds with some good ol’ fashioned reverb; then Baby Candy are the band for you. They’re for everyone.

They’ve just released two new singles (She’s Melting and What’s Inside) and these songs are not to be ignored at all. They are to be blasted out as loud as possible. Tell everyone you know about this band. Then we can all cry together until bands can tour again. They definitely give off that vibe of being a band that you HAVE to see live. This kind of music isn’t made to just be heard in bedrooms or through headphones. This band definitely need to be seen live. It’s bittersweet in a way because you can hear just how great they are but at the same time- you just wish you could go to a show.

Baby Candy have been going since 2018 (I think) and up on their Bandcamp page there is a song from 2018, some demos made last year and the two singles that came out this month. Although we do not have many songs, what they have given us so far is a clear indication that this band are really great. They sound like everything you could possibly want from a band that are unafraid to be loud and really delve into creating their own sound. The demos they made last year (titled Pandemos) are four songs that really hit you in the gut. There is so much going on, and so much to appreciate. They are brilliant musicians, and with just a handful of songs they have most certainly created something to be treasured.

That solid Garage Rock sound is there, but it’s mixed with this heaviness that just makes you zone out in the most magical way possible. You feel like you’ve gone back to the 60s with these songs (the Pandemos) but stepped into the future at the same time. I just love what they do, and I love their sound so much. There are a few bands I could liken their sound to (as in bands I love) but when you keep listening to them, you can’t help but think “I’ve never heard anything like this before!” There is something familiar yet brand new about them, and that’s what I adore about them so much.

Baby Candy are the kind of band that you don’t just half heartedly listen to. You really invest your time into their music- there is so much to love and appreciate about their music, and I think that is part of the charm. It’s totally fine to have bands that you listen to in the background or whatever, but sometimes you want something that just gets you right in the gut. If you want to really experience this, play their song Have You Lost Your Mind. You will see what I mean. It’s the kind of song that makes you stop what you are doing, and all you can do is focus on this song. Everything on this song is just golden and beautiful. I can’t get enough of it, and it’s easily my favourite song by them so far.

The sheer ferociousness in the songs, the production, everything- it is just impeccable. We need bands like this. They really do make you feel like you’re going into another universe with them. Shut your eyes and silence your mind when you listen to Baby Candy and let them take you on a trip. Go as far out as possible, and don’t come back down to earth if you don’t want to. Live in the world they have created and be free.

PSYCHIC VOID.

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Some spooky and loud shit for you- Psychic Void. Excellent name for a band, even better music. I love them. They are so loud to the point where it would make someone feel uncomfortable, and I LOVE that about them. There are no romantic tunes here or pitch perfect notes. Far from it. It’s a shouty, chaotic brawl and it’s divine. It’s probably what my version of Heaven sounds like. Oh Canada, you’ve done it again with another exceptional band!

They’ve put a few records out already, so I’m just going to focus on the reasons as to why I love them and why playing them loud enough to cause your ears to probably bleed is so satisfying.

Songs like Morning Anxiety, Day Dreamer and Skeleton Paradise are just INSANE. They remind me of our lovely Newcastle lads, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs. There’s this Stoner Rock feel that makes you feel like you’ve slipped down a Melvins rabbit hole and you then get smacked in the face so HARD that you are catapulted into this pit of sleaze, sweat and gloriously loud songs. The songs aren’t for the those who like to feel clean and pure. They are for those who aren’t afraid of being an absolute mess. If you want a band that make you feel like you are being possessed, then chewed up and spat out by the Devil- then you will LOVE Psychic Void.

I think Terminal Vacation is their first record, and my god it is so good. It’s one of those records that makes you feel a bit uneasy and afraid to sleep without the light on, but don’t let that put you off! These songs probably were intended to scare you shitless. Stick their songs in a good Horror film, and you’ll get what I mean. Beautifully terrifying in all the right places.

A couple of years ago they released Gutter Butter which is the calmest they have sound, but it is still a powerful piece of art that needs to be blasted out as loud as possible. This band are just incredible. Last year they released the mind-blowing Skeleton Paradise. This is something else. It’s like Nine Inch Nails meets Sleep mixed with Japan’s finest BORIS. It’s all over the place in the best way possible, and is unlike what you’ve heard before. It’s such a remarkable record that again, should hopefully terrify you. These 8 songs are just out of this world and made to be played to the point where your street starts to shake.

You cannot keep still listening to this band at all. I’d imagine that their live shows are an experience too- can you imagine hearing songs like Dirty Hands and Knelt live? It’d be like every part of you finally came alive and you carry that with you for the rest of time; comparing everything to the moment you saw the band live. There is something really incredible about Psychic Void, and it’s that something you seek out in bands that eventually become everything to you. You cling to these songs with all you have.

The energy they have is ridiculous; it’s really unlike anything else around. They’ve just got this brilliant and effortlessly slick sound. Jesse has this growl to his voice that makes you wonder how he can still sing like this! How has he not damaged himself yet? The screams on Denim Daddy will send you into a frenzy. The whole second record is like the obnoxious and snotty sibling to their debut. It’s perfect.

Psychic Void make songs that will make you feel like you’ve had an electric shock to the heart. They will jolt you, bruise you, batter you and make you feel like nothing else will ever top this feeling. You’ll really get this from the song Alley Dweller, which could be one of their greatest songs. But let’s be honest, this band do NOT have any bad songs at all. They are consistently great and that’s why that, although they have perfect this sound, they have made something of their own.

I’m obsessed with what I’ve heard, and now I want more.

My lunch break is over, now I need to try be a little calm for the next few hours!

Check out their songs here: https://psychicvoid.bandcamp.com/

DUSTY MUSH: Rainbow Creatures EP.

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Right out of nowhere we have a brand-new Dusty Mush EP! Totally unexpected but definitely needed. I’ve written about this Parisian band before, well I think it’s just Cédric on this, but irrespective of band members- this is one heavy EP.

 Everything about Dusty Mush demands your attention, and the Rainbow Creatures EP is no exception. It’s like a sped-up version of Sleep or some wild shit. Cédric is a phenomenal musician, and I always look forward to hearing what he’s up to, and with this EP he most certainly brings back that excitement. Although the EP is only 4 songs long, it’s a great taster for those who have never ever listened to Dusty Mush before.

 Rainbow Creatures doesn’t really last 10 minutes but you know how it goes- you just keep on hitting the repeat button and wait for the magic to hit you between the eyes all over again. I love The Fog and how unapologetically rowdy it is. For some it could be an uncomfortable listen, but for me it just shows us how fantastic Mr. Bottacchi is! The guy is out of this world, and I think The Fog just may be his best work to date.

 

 

 

Dusty Mush is the epitome of experimental and all that good stuff. There is glorious sound going all the way through these 4 songs, and it just makes you want to lock yourself away for a little whilst and blast these gems out. They really are meant to fuck with your head and posses your body; I’m all for it. Poison Oak is the only instrumental number on the EP, and it shows us how great a musician Cédric is. It’s a great way to close the EP but as you know, it just leaves you wanting more.

 The title track is an absolute monster, and it has this huge sound to it- this almost drone-like feel to it that’s found in the likes of OM and such. It’s got this unfiltered heavy feel, and it just stays with you. The song sounds like it could be some kind of folk tale told to scare people shitless. I love the eerie sound on it, and I love how that creepy feeling is apparent through every song on the record. It is a pleasure to listen. A real treat for the ears.

 Monterey is a quicker number. You can imagine someone fleeing in a getaway car listening to this, and not looking back on what they have done. What I’ve found with this EP is that is could easily be the soundtrack to a film. It’s got that bite to it that could easily make it the soundtrack to some wonderfully messed up film- you know the kind. The kind of film that stays on your mind for days, and every so often you find yourself thinking about it, so you have to watch it again and again. You can’t shake it. That’s exactly what you get from the Rainbow Creatures EP. It’s a work of art, a gnarly masterpiece.

 

 

 

If you’re after something that’s going to take you on some blissed-out psychedelic trip, then you need to get yourself a copy of Rainbow Creatures immediately and let Cédric whisk you off to some place truly magical. The EP has been released via Dirty Slice Records, and only 30 copies of the coloured tapes have been made. You know what to do.