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Crank this to 9.3 of 11 - Editor's Pick Released: 2019 Genre: Post Rock Sounds Like: Russian Circles, Pelican Don’t let the band name deceive you here. All is Violent have a majestic, relaxing and cathartic sound to them. The post-rock trio from Melbourne Australia have put forth a very impressive debut EP entitled Cartographers Of Human Purpose. The trio possess the maturity and patience of a band that has played together for a lifetime. The landscapes painted on this twenty five minute plus foray are quite beautiful and intricate. Putra Sadikin shines with a pinpoint fretwork that bleeds a warm melancholy. The depth and richness in his play is addictive. We found ourselves keeping this EP in rotation for two or three sittings at a time picking up new intricacies each time. Its an elaborate work of art and really lets your imagination wander. Terrific contrast doused with deep, low, sonorous, full-bodied texture. Track Listing: 1. The Constant Past (7:19) 2. Cartographers Of Human Purpose (12:50) 3. Memory Complete (5:36) Standout Track: The title track takes the prize here. The track spanning over 12 minutes contains dramatic highs and lows as we find our self easily lost in the crisp percussion and bass-line undercurrents. Adult Beverage Pairing: Boatrocker Banshee (Barleywine) at 14.2 ABV packs a fucking punch, but will quickly whisk you away to the shores of Australia as you listen to Cartographers deep melodies. Slight haze coupled with chocolate aromas and a plethora of fruity grape and caramel notes. ROTATION RECAP: Captivation and Variety 9.1 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 8.8 out of 11 Fretwork Prowess 10.2 out of 11 Percussion Prowess 9.1 out of 11 Originality 8.2 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 9.6 out of 11 Contrast 9.4 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 8.2 out of 11 Production Value 9.1 out of 11 Final Thoughts: Don’t let the name and dark album cover fool you on this one. This is a beautifully crafted EP and an impressive debut from the Aussie trio. All Is Violent play like well-oiled veterans of the trade and we very much look forward to their bright future. Band Members: Putra Sadikin - guitar Brian Dominiecki - bass Peter Papadimitriou - drums Follow All Is Violent: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 8.7 of 11 Released: 2019 Genre: Krautrock, Space rock Sounds Like: Oresund Space Collective, God is an Astronaut Album artist Harry Hadler (The Lights Are On) lured us in on this one. The pensive framework art and distant floating civilian set the backstage for Alber Jupiter’s second release. The two-piece semi-instrumental act hailing from Rennes, France provide a deep pensive array of galactic tunes buttressed by some very impressive bass-work. We appreciate the centric backbone of the 41 minute journey being the bass as the listener floats to the rich clarity and rhythms. Only "Fangs" really deviates from the formula infusing some King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard-like vibes, a solid lead in to the title track closer. Track Listing: 1. Intro (2:32) 2. Flying Turtles (7:14) 3. Uber en Colere (8:12) 4. Martine a la Plage (7:15) 5. Fangs (5:48) 6. We Are Just Floating in Space (11:21) Standout track: As good as the closing title track is and the deviation provided by "Fangs," "Uber en Colere" takes the prize for its amazing contrast and poignant melodies. The most reflective and expansive of the six tracks is a standout for sure. We appreciate the prodding bass and heartfelt struggle inherent within the track. Adult Beverage Pairing: We highly recommend grabbing a Gasconha Blonde at 5.5% ABV. France’s own blonde beer with abundant and persistent foam. The alliance of 4 malts and hops English and German gives it a lot of character. Its flavors are complex and balanced. The attack on the palate offers a very marked galactic profile on malty and a delicate bitterness. ROTATION RECAP: Captivation and Variety 8.4 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 8.4 out of 11 Bass/Fretwork Prowess 9.5 out of 11 Percussion Prowess 8.4 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 8.7 out of 11 Contrast 8.8 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 9.0 out of 11 Production Value 8.9 out of 11 Final Thoughts: While we very much enjoy the balanced space attack within ‘We Are Just Floating In Space’, there are splashes of some very impressive tangents (‘Fangs’). It provides us a little flavor of what could be down the road for the impressive duo. Perhaps some experimental krautrock with distant ominous vocals dive into new territories. We will look to keep a strong pulse on Alber Jupiter’s future endeavors. Band Members: Nicolas Terroitin - Bass, Voice Jonathan Sonney - Drums, Spds Follow Alber Jupiter: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 9.4 of 11 - Editors' Pick Year Released: 2020 Genre: Rock, Heavy Psychedelic Sounds Like: Bask, King Buffalo Ontario heavy psych natives Familiars have finally released the full length we’ve been waiting for. On the heels of three impressive EP’s, Familiars do not disappoint what so ever on All In Good Time. The trio continue on their path of stoner-gazed psychedelics, yet with more exploration and very creative songwriting; bringing fourth a comforting heaviness. All In Good Time possess a wonderful drifting flow as each track fits perfectly among one another, making it real easy to get lost in thought for a moment or two. The album has a bit of a lonesome feel that fits naturally on a beautiful hike or a long road trip. The vocals have the perfect level of distant haziness, as if they were floating above the music. The music has a very dense and lofty feel throughout, check out the track “Barn Burning” with its rich bass that may rattle your speakers a bit. Familiars have upped their game and are beginning to hone in on a sound that is totally original. Tracklist: 1. Homestead 06:43 2. Rocky Roost 03:29 3. The Common Loon 04:38 4. Barn Burning 06:53 5. The Incident 04:44 6. The Dirty Dog Saloon 06:09 7. Avro Arrow 05:30 8. Bonanza 05:26 Standout Track(s) ”The Common Loon” may be the standout track. The percussion and the rhythm of the chorus is so fucking infectious. We have no doubt this track will lure in fans who celebrate the heavy rock. “Avro Arrow” comes in a close second with it’s intense jams and heavy psychedlia. ROTATION RECAP Vocal Performance 9.3 out of 11 Risk of Subwoofer Damage 8.9 out of 11 Captivation and Variety 9.5 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 9 out of 11 Lyrics and Song Structure 9.5 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 9.4 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 8.3 out of 11 Production Value 9.2 out of 11 Final Thoughts All In Good Time is a hidden gem and we can only hope this will gain steam among the heavy rock community. Do yourself a favor and just pick up their entire catalogue, you’ll thank us later. Line-up Kevin Vansteenkiste: Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Banjo, Wurlitzer, & Vocals Jared MacIntyre: Electric Bass Guitar, Wurlitzer & Vocals Anton Babych: Drums, Percussion Simon Larochette: Pedal Steel, Additional Percussion Follow Familiars: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 9.9 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2020 Genre: Sludge, Stoner Rock Sounds Like: Cavity, Weedeater Upon first glance of the new album cover for Finland’s sludge foursome, we thought maybe they have gone towards a post-metal or post-rock sound. The landscape photo is a welcome change rather than the traditional stoner themed illustration. Picking up from their last album Seaweed, Demonic Death Judge have elevated their game on this one. The Trail is 48 minutes of brutal sludge with elements of old Cavity, a side of Weedeater darkness and some Clutch groove for good measure. Demonic Death Judge introduce a more exploratory side to this album, which is the big draw, it’s more than your traditional sludgy affair. Tracks like “Fountain of Acid” with it’s hallucenigetic groove or the mesmerizing journey of “The Trail” bring the album to new realms of sludge heaviness. The vocals are in the typical crusty and raw fashion, which we would expect nothing more. The percussion is steady and beefy while the guitars produce a hypnotic and deep fuzzy groove, creating one hell of a heavy record. Tracklist 1. Cougar Charmer 01:21 2. Filthy as Charged 05:53 3. Hardship 04:43 4. Elevation 04:13 5. Shapeshifting Serpents 05:53 6. Flood 06:35 7. Fountain of Acid 02:53 8. Cougar Charmer (Reprise) 03:12 9. The Trail 08:49 10. We Have to Kill 04:42 Standout Track(s) ”Shapeshifting Serpents” is so fucking addicting, perhaps it’s the sludge song of the year. The spacey vibe coupled with the heavy fuzz is downright inspiring. A classic in our rotation. Adult Beverage Pairing We want something bold with with some kick. Pick up Big Yeti by Colorado-based Great Divide Brewing Company. This smooth 13.2% ABV Imperial Stout offers complex coffee roast flavors and pairs perfectly with the heavy fuzz of The Trail. ROTATION RECAP: Vocal Performance 9.8 out of 11 Risk of Subwoofer Damage 10 out of 11 Captivation and Variety 9.9 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 10.2 out of 11 Sludge Onslaught 10 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 9.8 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 9.5 out of 11 Production Value 9.9 out of 11 Final Thoughts Demonic Death Judge has released on of the top sludge albums so far in 2020. This is a no brainier for fans of the heavy, this album will easily add great variety to your rotation. Line-up Jaakko Heinonen Toni Raukola Eetu Lehtinen Lauri Pikk Follow Demonic Death Judge: Bandcamp / Facebook