Disclaimer: This was originally written in 2018, back when I had a partnership with Addicted Records. They’re a Moscow based label specializing in experimental music, featuring many great Russian artists. I take no side in any current conflicts, this is meant to be an apolitical showcase of the artists featured here.
Pressor – Weird Things (2018) – Pressor are by far one of the weirdest doom acts I’ve ever heard, so the name definitely fits. Doom fans will find that the album offers a warm, gothic atmosphere comparable to the greats, but on a whole other level with the use of trippy synths. You might not think much about a doom band with a prime focus in noisy synths, but combined with the Dracula’s Castle atmosphere of it all, it sounds like the count on a high dose of LSD. Recommended!
Detieti – Frogressive Punk (2018) – There simply aren’t enough words that I can say about Detieti, other than the fact that they play a little bit of everything on this remarkable release that spans nearly an hour of music. If you’re looking for trippy atmospheres, doom, death metal, acid jazz, punk, hip hop, electronica and just all around oddity, you’re bound to find it here. While mostly instrumental, Detieti make some of the best atmospheres that I’ve heard all year. Definitely something that you need to experience for yourself, The Grim Tower highly recommends Frogressive Punk.
Jahroom – Cut Price Goods (2018) – Much along the same lines as Detieti, Jahroom prove that Russia is leading the pack in experimentalism. With unique soundscapes that range from ethereal ambience to hard-driving traffic, you’re bound to experience an array of moods while listening to this type of music. Acid jazz fans will also love it, even though I would also recommend psilocybin while jamming this one. Nyx is also included in this experience, making what I’d consider a noteworthy addition to the saga. Yet another disc that The Grim Tower recommends.
Dekonstruktor – Eating The Universe (2018) – On the more doom side of things, Dekonstruktor push a heavily raw side of doom that experiences a few stylistic changes here and there to make it stand out from others in the pack. It is mostly instrumental, but if you’re looking for raw fuzz, you’d be hard-pressed to put it down, especially when things start getting a bit weird and uncomfortable. But that’s the best part, isn’t it?
Dekonstruktor – Fuck Life, We Go Further (2018) – Continuing the same familiar rough and meaty sound as Eating The Universe, we have a more apparent vocal element here that sounds as voracious as the music itself. There’s definitely a level of venom here, but also a style that sounds like strangled Black Sabbath. If Sabbath were a little less bluesy and more foreboding, you might get this heater of an album. Since it’s cold outside, this might just come in handy. And don’t forget about the haunting noise experiments in “Fuck Life” and “We Go Further.” These only add necessary evolutions to an already intriguing act. Some of it is even nightmare inducing.
Disen Gage – Nature (2018) – Three tracks are featured here, each with a different level of noise. The first cut sounds like animalian static, as if a sounds of nature album were corrupted by computer viruses and acid jazz musicians. The second cut throws us out into the atmosphere, surrounded by billions of glittering stars. But things might not be quite what they seem. The last cut is a tour-de-force that throws us directly into the eye of a tornado, as it lets us off into a swamp where frogs croak along with those alien things from Super Metroid. And at the end of it all, is a calm; yet melancholy peace. Or did I say staggering metal? You be the judge of that. Either way, it’s brilliant. Was that werewolf?
Juice Oh Yeah – Sila Vselennoy (2018) – You’ve probably heard this kind of weird stoner rock before, but there’s nothing wrong with adding something new to your collection, right? Juice Oh Yeah also experiment around with different structures, making for not the same old weird stoner rock experience. It’s definitely raw when the stoner rock comes into play, but I found the folk influences that appear later on in the album to be well worth a listen. Stoner rock and doom heads are going to dig it as well.
Spaceking – In The Court Of The Space King (2018) – Despite it’s title, there’s not much of a relation between this proggy stoner rock album and the King Crimson classic. But that’s not to say that these guys don’t hit hard though. Think of early Monster Magnet or The Sword’s debut album and you’ve got it. While not the most imaginitive stoner album I’ve ever heard, the disc certainly has some balls and manages to experiment a little right near the end with “Stardust.” So that’s saying something. Not too shabby, gentlemen.
Soom – Djebars (2018) – Soom are a bizarre little act who like to combine ambience with noise and fierce doom metal. The bass hits extremely hard on this album, but that’s not when they’re throwing oppressive noise into the mix. He album has a peculair setup as every other song seems to be a noise cut instead of separating the two distinct sounds into two parts of an album. But it works for them, and I love the drum blasts that I’m getting right here at the end. Not something I would expected, but neither would I have seen such on odd mixture of doom, noise and whatever else they’ve conceieved. Are those ghosts? Whatever the case, this definitely worked for me and I’d equally recommend it to you.
Thy Grave – Anhedonia (2018) – Frightening doom with a demonically harsh vocal approach that I find to be much in my favor, there’s definitely something unique to be had here. The album mostly focuses on terrfying doom with what sounds like a tortured frontman, but there are some noise experiments in a handful of areas. Thy Grave are definitely the most metal tinged in this set though, so if you’re looking for something truly aggressive from this label, then look no further. Seriously folks, this one is truly grueling. You’ll love it. It even contains two covers from Terminator 2 and Loinen.
Torf/Sixpackgods/Thy Grave – Addicted Blues (2018) – A three way split between doom and stoner tinged bands, Torf offers up a familiar stoner sense that feels a bit psychedelic and even gets political in some areas while Sixpackgods offer up two solid stoner rock songs with a little bit of tribalism in the middle. I found “Speed Up Sister” to be a bit comical as the frontman has a caveman approach to the vocals, which fits the band very well. Thy Grave return for two more cuts, which I actually like more than anything I’d heard on Anhedonia. The music here sounds even more deprived, going for less of a warm doom vibe and more of a creepy Gothic vibe. Thy Grave could really stand out, if they chose to continue this style over what was featured in Anhedonia. Give me more evil sounding shit, guys – you’re more than capable of it. Admittedly odd to see an act as fearsome and depraved as Thy Grave here, but it makes the whole split worth it, in my opinion.
Pree Tone – Kiddy (2018) – Pree Tone create heavily melodic prog rock with stoner vibes, the best part about this album is when it goes into those far out realms that I lack weed for… wait a minute. I might just have some. (Looks around the house) Alright, so while I get to looking for weed, you guys sit back and enjoy the mesmerizing soundscapes produced on this extremely trippy experience that you’re probably going to need more than the weed I’m currently looking around for, in order to properly experience. I’ll bet that these guys were high when they wrote this stuff and those equally far out solos seem to solidify my point. Without question, the most psychedelic release here, you’ll love the euphoria of it all.
Mother Witch & Dead Water Ghosts – Ruins Of Faith (2018) – Without question, Mother Witch & Dead Water Ghosts are the most true to form doom metal release on this label and rightfully so. Powerful female fronted doom with an imperfect touch that suits the raw essence of the experience, this definitely captures the true spirit of doom metal music. Sometimes they just like throw it into atmosphere, but that’s all part of the observance. All part of the experience. And don’t give me that shit about “females not being able to play doom” because she absolutely kills her lines, almost giving me a SubRosa vibe. I’m definitely sold by the hypnosis offered on this one, bringing a memorable and almost occultic vibe to my ears. If something was supposed to have been summoned from this recording, than it was. Somewhere in the universe. I’m almost sure of it.
IWKC – Hladikarna (2018) – An ridiculously odd mixture of music, IWKC play a type of tribal influenced synth rock with a stoner influence. Sometimes this even amounts in some very cathcy chorus numbers and other times it becomes straight fucking Gothic death/doom. Yes, you heard me right. IWKC do not seem to know or care what boundaries are, and I’m more than happy to hear that. Who would’ve thought that I would hear a memorable death/doom performance on a trippy, proggy synth rock album? This label is blowing my mind wide-open folks, this is what independent thking and distribution was made for. This is art without boundaries.
The Grand Astoria – Deathmarch EP (2018) – The Grand Astoria play a brand of stoner rock with slight effects, more or less. Though it’s also quite catchy and you’re gonna dig the melodies. Something really needs to be said for the guitar work here, which is not only well-produced but flows perfectly along with the atmosphere that these guys are trying to make. I might not be the biggest fan of the vocals, but they’ll definitely grow on us. You also have to love the King Crimson influence that they’re putting into practice here as well. “Aelita, Queen of Mars” is highly noteworthy in that area. Prog fans, you’re going to love these mesmerizing structures, so definitely give The Grand Astoria a shot. Why don’t people know about these guys? Oh, that’s right. It’s my job to tell them!
The Grand Astoria/Montenegro (2018) – Don’t take “The Body Limits” or Argentina’s Montenegro for granted here, because both offerings fit just fine with the material offered on The Grand Astoria’s Deathmarch EP and this full-length experience (it might just be comprised of two parts, but this disc is nearly an hour long) more or less cements the greatness of The Grand Astoria and Montenegro in my mind. I wasn’t expecting much when I was first handed some of these discs, but I love when my expectations are shattered like a funhouse mirror after it has been hit with a sledgehammer. The calm sounds of nature soon become a fiery stoner doom cut, which escapes into heavily prog territory. The vocals still aren’t my cup of tea, but I can sense the emotion within them. He’s really putting everything that he has into this and they’re definitely flowing properly with the harmonies on the record. There are even some nice sections in which one can headbang, just before an enlightening moment of contemplation. If that’s not enough for you, then the incredibly over-the-top experimentalism featured on the next cut will deliver it’s weight in gold. I’m telling you, we’ve got to give these guys a chance. That’s just plain good music, I don’t care who you are. The Grim Tower highly recommends both jams by The Grand Astoria and Montenegro.