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Crank this to 7.9 of 11 Released: 2011 Genre: Garage Rock Sounds Like: Honkeyfinger, Speedball Baby, Brimstone Howl Having formed in 1994, Bantam Rooster put out 5 albums before calling it quits in 2003. Although they never hit their stride in the popularity arena, the band put an imprint on the garage rock scene. Fans of Bantam Rooster are quite savvy folks from a perspective of what Bantam Rooster brought to the garage and punk rock scenes. Their style was a bit unruly dancing on the southern hillbilly end yet their sound still holds true through today’s garage rock sentiment whether you time warp them back 10 years or forward 10 years. Hailing from Lansing, Michigan, the band was led by Thomas Jackson Potter a balls to the wall performer with a super aggro-falsetto appeal. .Potter entertained several different bandmates over their span and often toured as a duo. Ultimately they became the lost child of the duo scene as label-mates the White Stripes (Sympathy For the Record Industry) catapulted ahead while Fuck All Y’All died a pretty quick death. This was their last album and Potter went on to start his new band Chrome Spiders in 2007. Track List: 1. Dumb It Down 2. High Priestess 3. This Time 4. Shitlist + 1 5. Perceptive Pornstar 6. Crack In Your System 7. The Detroiter (part 2) 8. You´re The Sun 9. Burn Down 10. Lockdown Monologue 11. It Girl 12. Dealbreaker 13. High School Girls 14. This Close To Suicide The fourteen tracks flow quite nicely as Bantam Rooster ends their force with quite a bang. This album was in our opinion their best and most energetic and visionary. Throughout the track list we hear the roots of what has now hit tremendous popularity from the Black Keys to the Dead Weather on to the Derangers. The production is appropriately gritty and mono but volume quite crisp working quite well. From the heavy tracks that feature the screeching of Potter of "Dumb it Down" to "Shitlist +1" to the more pensive Doors influence "Perceptive Pornstar" Bantam Rooster delivers variety with a very heavy twang. The punk-edge bleeds further through accompanied by tremendous harmonic work and Ramones-like distinction on "High School Girls". The closer "This Close to Suicide" offers up a very melodramatic ending and morphs into some of the heaviest vocals on the album. Potter sounds like Brian Johnson set afire. What a powerful ending. Fuck All Ya All is a whirlwind of gritty and heavy twangy fun. We strongly recommend this one for fans of unfiltered garage rock and rockabilly. Bantam Rooster certainly ended their legacy on a strong up-tick. Ultimately the album contains an intriguing mix of simple but heavy guitar rhythms and a lead singer with pipes that leave you never questioning his conviction and energy. Very entertaining all around. Standout Tracks: Shitlist +1, Dumb It Down, You´re The Sun

Crank this to 8.4 of 11 Released: 2018 Genre: Doom Sounds Like: Agalloch, My Dying Bride We have been on the prowl for some unique atmospheric doom. Blood Folke hailing form St. Paul Minnesota quenched our thirst with a folking solid third release. A step above their previous releases as this one holds fast to their picturesque landscape of mellow darkness and goth undertones. Terrific folking production catapults this diverse 34 minute blend of dramatic doom. Lauren’s string prowess on the viola is the perfect differentiator asIII paints a rich landscape. The vocals are troubling at points and really hold this one back from an Editor’s pick unfortunately. Vocalist, Dan Wieken is at his folking best when he kicks it up a notch and gets out of the slow goth mode. Check out the 6:27 mark on the opener "Frost". He cranks it up a bit as cries of angst disguise the sometimes off-key drone. Further on "Vulture" Dan impresses with some heavier gritty vocals. Track Listing: 1. Frost (7:25) 2. Occult (7:42) 3. Tighten the Reigns (6:59) 4. Vulture (12:08) Standout Tracks: "Tighten the Reigns" kicks folking ass. Lauren’s strings shine and Dan does a stellar job with the fretwork. Great contrast and energy on this track. The build-up towards the 6 minute will fire you up for sure. We are not going to lie to you….Dan’s vocal break on this one helps as well. ‘Vulture’ is not far behind with its epic contrast and attention to detail. Adult Beverage Pairing: Three Hour Tour (6.1%) ABV from Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery delivers a wonderful coconut Milk Stout. Lighter bodied and silky smooth along with rich chocolate overtones. ROTATION RECAP: Weight of the Heavy 8.5 Fretwork Prowess 8.6 out of 11 Captivation and Variety 9.2 out of 11 Vocal Performance 6 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 8.8 out of 11 Contrast 8.5 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 8.6 out of 11 Production Value 8.4 out of 11 Lasting Impression: We encourage you to give this one a few rotations. The texture and thought put into this album is unique. The last two tracks steal the show for us, they are incredible and well worth your time. Give this one a gander and throw it in heavy rotation. Band Members: Joe Krawetz - bass Lauren Gaffney - viola Bryan Pierson - drums Dan Wieken - guitar vocals Follow Blood Folke: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 9.6 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2014 Genre: Psychedelic Rock Sounds Like: Wolfmother, Led Zeppelin, Dead Meadow We are way past the odd and confusing band name. What we have settled into is that this is that this is a fucking great band that will hopefully be around for a long time. On their third release, Spirit Knife, Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus (JIRM) continue to mature and prove that their sound is rich and complex. Deep melodies and patient complex song structure are what define the band. As a listener you need patience and to let their albums grow on you like a fine wine. In our previous review Bloom, we used names such as Led Zeppelin and Mystic Krewe of the Clearlight to describe their vibe. We accentuate "vibe" in that JIRM has a sound all their own. Spirit Knife takes things a step further from their last album offering up fewer but much longer songs that are consistent melodic wonders. The album is more beautiful than it is heavy. The themes throughout are quite melancholy and on the darker side.  Lead singer/guitarist Karl Apelmo continues to amaze us with the maturity and the strength in his voice. Very charismatic vocals and we are confident that he will create some significant buzz in the rock world... eventually... his voice is too inviting to dodge significant notice. 'Spirit Knife' is loaded with vibrant echo effect on Apelmo's vocals. We are huge fans of echo particularly on a solid and distinct voice like his. Spirit Knife is definitely less 'psychedelic' thanBloom.  In fact, we could argue 'Spirit Knife' is more of a straight rock album. Bloom was filled with more Graveyard-like bluesy psychedelic rock anthems whereas 'Spirit Knife' contains more depth and layers within each track. After several listens the songs will intrigue you and we found ourselves hearing new subtle changes. You know the saying... "more is not always better". Focus and consistency is whatSpirit Knifedelivers. A consistent mood throughout that becomes more appreciated if the listener takes it straight through and avoids jumping tracks. The first track, "Fog by the Steep" sets the tone for the album and is perhaps our favorite on the album. An eerie guitar melody reverbs throughout. Within the first minute you hear the screaming guitars kick in along with Apelmo's Plant like screeching. Believe it or not this may be the heaviest moment on the entire album. The next track "Wind Seized" will whisk you away via enchanting echo and great lyrics. The song is one of the more uptempo tracks off the album, but contains some great high and low change-ups. Track 3, "Sworn Collision" is a beautiful tune. This one took quite awhile to grow on us. At first we felt the song conjured up melodies from the intro to "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", but as do all of the tracks on this album, the layers get pulled back and we got beyond this. This is one of the more heartwarming tunes on the album. Track 4, "Once Levitated" also takes some time to grow on you. The melody eventually becomes infectious. This song shows JIRM's tenacity in sticking with their melody primarily driven by the inflection in Apelmo's voice accompanies by sweet and vibrant guitar-work. The next three tracks continue on a similar vein... great soothing jams and longer songs that call on your patience in letting the wine age and develop. The last cut and title track is epic. Ten minutes of echoing bliss. The song culminates into a powerful ending. We are hopeful that in six or seven years, we are going to look back at JIRM's library of works and greatly appreciate the tenderness and precision put forth in Spirit Knife. JIRM takes well calculated risks on this album. While they toned down the psychedelia, they could have gone the route of more commercially viable music with shorter lengths and catchier melodies. Thankfully, they did not and have created eight very powerful songs that take time to appreciate. Stay with this one and put it on your heavy rotation. We know this will be a mainstay in our collection indefinitely Follow Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 10.4 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2020 Genre: Heavy Rock, Post-Metal Sounds Like: Red Scalp, Solstafir, Baroness Empress have fucking thread the needle on their third release entitled Premonition. The album is sonically stunning with its majestic tones and elaborate song structure. The trio hails from Vancouver, British Columbia and are a must for your heavy collection if you enjoy the three ‘Sounds Like’ bands above. Lead singer and guitar frontman, Peter Sacco (former SEER) delivers one of the best vocal performances of the year. The sadness that fills his lungs is distinct as all hell and will consume your thoughts. Empress delivers steadfast patience in letting their songs breathe so as to make the high points and culmination on tracks all that more powerful. Their song structure hits unheard of levels that remind us of Swan Valley Heights and Red Scalp. Rich well thought out painted landscapes that whisk you away. Track Listing: 1. A Pale Wanderer (8:09) 2. Sepulchre (4:44) 3. Passage (4:57) 4. Trost (6:11) 5. Hiraeth (8:03) 6. Premonition (7:04) 7. Lion’s Blood (9:39) Standout Track: We will be cliche here and say, its an across the board gem, as the album bleeds perfectly together. Guns to our heads though, we will take the closer "Lion’s Blood" for its utter chilling movement just before the 7 minute mark. The fucking bottom drops out and Brendan Gunn absolutely kills it with some of the most chilling bass work we have heard. Not but 30 seconds later we hit blissful majestic post rock vibes that then morph into absolute beautiful anguish. Now just a short second place behind is "A Pale Wanderer". This track has an infectious melody that will stay with you for life. Adult Beverage Pairing: Bloomsday a 7% ABV cites-like orgasm from Fieldwork Brewing in California has the perfect complexity to match Empress’ latest masterpiece. A creamy body is balanced out with a hint of the hop's high alpha bitterness, creating a fruity bite that tastes just like fresh squeezed juice, pith and all. With an aroma that could level a house and a tropical intensity that could make your eyes feel like they're going to pop right on out, Bloomsday IPA wrapped up in liquid poetry. ROTATION RECAP: Captivation and Variety 10.7 out of 11 Vocal Prowess 10.4 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 9.8 out of 11 Fretwork Prowess 10.2 out of 11 Percussive Vision 10.2 out of 11 Originality 10.4 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 10.7 out of 11 Contrast 10.6 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 9.7 out of 11 Production Value 10.3 out of 11 Band Members: Peter Sacco- guitarist/vocalist Chris Doyle- drummer Brenden Gunn- bassist Final Thoughts: This is precisely why we do what we do. A band that has absolutely taken their sound to a new level on their third release has captured a sound and feel that must be in everyone’s collection. The seven tracks will engage you from start to finish. We so appreciate the time and clear effort that went into the making of this album. Finds like this help cushion the blow on our inability to go to great live shows that to Covid. Well we are sorry to get a little negative, but throw this one on during your next outdoor endeavor or blissful hike. It will be a game-changer for you. Follow Empress: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 10 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2016 Genre: Progressive Metal, Sludge Sounds Like: Young Widows, Dripping Goss, Swans We could have easily glossed over this new release. With a band name like ‘Bloodiest’ you can't blame certain music enthusiasts for thinking death metal, lack of contrast, and incessant high decibels. Oh contraire mon frère, this ain’t no fargin bludgeoning one level metal act. Instead, our ears were pleasantly perked to the sound of a very pensive mood setting act. An act with free-flowing texture and eight songs that have the ability to really alter your mindset. Please do yourself a favor and welcome this six piece Chicago act to your music collection. While we yearn for films that take us away and get us thinking differently about the world around us, so does Bloodiest. A sonic escape very difficult to pin down into one genre. While maintaining a dark and ominous backdrop, the self-titled album dances between sludge, doom, avant garde, stoner, progressive and experimental. All while maintaining a central theme movie soundtrack quality. The production is sensational as the vocals deliver vibrant echo along with grinding Tool-like guitar clarity, and some very stellar percussion-work. Track Summary: Mesmerize (5:18) - Terrific opener with Floater-like vocals coupled with hints of Adam Jones’ fretwork. The despair and circuitous ways of this track make it perfectly titled. A terrific build and culmination ensue all with a boatload of experimental beauty. The Widow (7:53) - Persistent repetitive percussion support a brilliant onslaught of varied acoustics and electric fretwork. Gregorian chants lurking in the background takes the listener away. Enter some of the best vocals we have heard in a long time. The accompaniment drops volume down to let the vocals soar. This one will send chills throughout. Perhaps our favorite track on the album. Condition (2:55) - Cleanse the palate with a beautiful instrumental. Dark melodies accompanied by chord changing creeks that will more than intrigue the listener. Then culminating in rudimentary degenerative paralyzing chords. Broken Teeth (7:32) - We can’t help but conjure up images of Roger Waters at the onset of this one. The track quickly takes hold with vibrant melodies and a grinding underscore that will peak the listeners interest to see how this thing is going to end. The build-up and chaos that ensues does not disappoint. Mind Overlaps (3:23) - Continuity in the backdrop, but this song is ultimately soundtrack-like filler. The track maintains the escape, but lacks statement. He Is Disease (6:36) - Clearly the most evil and heavy track on the album. While the vocals are very diverse on this album, the vocal tangent on this track is freaking impressive and downright ballsy. Separation (7:58) - This track reminds us of Swans meets Evil Blizzard. Separation is drilled in your head. The power of repetitiveness, but swirling echo and some of the most original licks you will hear. Reverb and fuzz tones galore. Suffer (2:04) - The closer is concise and leaves us satisfied. Why not delve into some new hardcore metal while maintaining the drone and dark melodies from previous tracks. A truly powerful punctuation on a terrific album. Standout Tracks: The Widow, Separation, Mesmerize Members: Bruce Lamont - Vocals Cayce Key - Drums Tony Lazzara - Guitar Eric Chaleff - Guitar Colin Dekuiper - Bass Nandini Khaund - Piano/Synth It is not uncommon where bands with as many as six members lose our attention after a few rotations. Often we find too many musicians drowning out the melodies and dampening the contrast. Much to the contrary with Bloodiest, as each musician respectfully intertwines with each other to craft a fine piece of work with surprising clarity. At Rotation11 our passion is discovering music with an innovative and fresh sound. Bloodiest exude hand picked freshness with a very intelligent and organic make-up. We encourage you to put this in heavy rotation as it will significantly enhance the diversity of your library. Follow Bloodiest: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 10 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2020 Genre: Stoner Rock, Heavy Rock Sounds Like: The Sword, Kylesa, Demonic Death Judge Scorched Oak have gone above and beyond on their stellar debut album Withered Earth. The trio hailing from Germany have hit the ground running with a patient and full-bodied heavy album. The riffs are thick and laced with touches of heavy blues coupled by the duel vocals of Linda and Ben. The vocals are one of the main draws to the album as Linda's bluesy tone compliments the sludge onslaught vocals of guitarist Ben. This male/female interaction elevates the band to Kylesa levels, which is fucking impressive for a debut album. Each track is very full and lengthy. You will encounter many peaks and valleys of heaviness on this record. The quieter moments are just as strong as its heavy counterparts, marking for a very enthralling listen. The music has a heavy and weighty feel in vein of bands like Wo Fat and early Sword. It's an album that needs to be listened to in its entirety to appreciate the layers and patience put in. Withered Earth doesn't stick to one particular metal genre, it has such a broad range that will attract many fans of heavy rock. Track Listing: 1. Mountain 06:21 2. Swamp 07:45 3. Forest 09:37 4. Tide 10:29 5. Desert 14:26 Standout Track(s): If we must pick a track, we will start with "Forest". This tune begins with a quite dirty blues note, than 2:00 in it takes off. The rhythm here is very smooth and heavy with trippy vocals that have the slightest echo. The bass breakdown is tremendous and when Linda's vocals creep in, it's stoner rock heaven. Adult Beverage Pairing: We need something rich with flavors and layered like Withered Earth. We recommend Galactic Cowboy Nitro by Colorado's Let Hand Brewery. This 10.6% American Imperial Stout hits with bittersweet chocolate and black coffee, yet not overdone. Like Withered Earth, you must experience to appreciate. . ROTATION RECAP: Captivation and Variety 10 out of 11 Vocal Performance 9.7 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 9.6 out of 11 Fretwork Prowess 9.6 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 10 out of 11 Contrast 10.1 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 10.2 out of 11 Production Value 10 out of 11 Final Thoughts: Withered Earth is loaded with heavy cosmic jams and bluesy stoner riffs that go one for days, it's a thing of beauty. Do yourself a favor and just get this album. Follow Scorched Oak: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 8.7 of 11 Released: 2016 Genre: Doom, Heavy Psych Rock Sounds Like: Ethereal Riffian, Opeth The Boston based trio Blue Aside has found a way to slip under the radar even though one of our offices is located just outside bean-town. The band delivers what we like to call cathartic doom. The five track EP features steady and relaxing rhythms that will comfort your mindset. What Blue Aside excels at is dramatic contrast in vocals meandering between death and heavenly psychedelic verse. Tracklist: 1. The Traveler Of Time And Space (5:23) 2. Otis' Sun (7:32) 3. Orange Eyes (9:03) 4. Black Rays (6:48) 5. The Inevitable Journey (7:33) Total Time 36:19 Line-up/Musicians: Adam Abrams / Guitar, Vocals Matt Netto / Drums, Vocals Joe Twomey / Bass, Vocals Released by Hydro-Phonic The opener, “The Traveler of Time & Space” starts off simplistically with little flare and standard death vocal doom fare. At about the 2:40 mark we become pleasantly surprised with the more advanced rhythms and spacious vocals. The swirling guitars add a lot of flavor and intensity as Adam Abrams closes the track with an intense solo. “Otis’ Sun” is a seven minute wonder. Very inspirational track that contrasts dark and evil. The soft vocals are heartwarming and we love the melody that is driven home here. This track blends quite well with “Orange Eyes” the lengthiest track on the album. There is a ton of originality on this track as the varied vocals work so well with the guitar melody. Subtle acoustic guitar kicks in midway through the five minute mare that launches the track into otherworldliness. "Black Rays" is perhaps our least favorite track as Alice Cooper with a punk edge derails us a bit. We appreciate the variety. The guitar work however does not disappoint on this track. There are some very impressive licks throughout. The closer "The Inevitable Journey" is the heaviest of the five tracks. An instrumental onslaught for the first two and a half minutes. Quirky vocals ensue which work quite as we hear some classic Galactic Cowboy influences. The Orange Tree is an impressively diverse album. Doom fans looking for something a bit different need to give this one a listen. The album will grow on you after each rotation as the multiple layers in vocal style and strong guitar work will take a more defined shape. Give this one time as the gents from Boston have quite the vision. We look forward to exploring some of their other works. Standout Tracks: The Inevitable Journey, Otis’ Sun Follow Blue Aside: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 8.3 of 11 Released: 2017 Genre: Psychedelic, Progressive Rock Sounds Like: The Pineapple Thief, Chevelle, Oceansize There has been very little excitement over the last few months on the new band front with respect to the progressive rock genre. We were pleasantly surprised to have stumbled upon Croatia’s Daughters of Kilimanjaro and their debut EP release. The three tracks which run approximately 20 minutes in length total are filled with texture and great songwriting. Daughters of Kilimanjaro possess a tight sound and chemistry that takes a hold of the listener immediately. There is an intangible we have not heard from many of the new progressive rock bands out. No tiring long-winded build or tangent that is hard to grasp. Rather, the Croatians impress by their straightforward and crisp approach. Very nice harmonies ala Chevelle blend nicely into powerful build-ups in solid Tool fashion on each of the tracks. While this is a formula we have heard before, Daughters of Kilimanjaro pull it off through authentic chemistry. Tracks: 1. Kilimanjaro (5:48) 2. Maze (7:03) 3. Bartok (8:10) What is our favorite track? The build-up in "Maze" is powerful and engrossing. Great percussion typifying that straightforward approach we appreciate. The lyrics are intriguing and complimented by some very high pitched and lofty fretwork. Check-out Fila’s climatic angst and scream to close the track... impressive. How is the production value? Above average. As Leonard Klaić deserves some compliments here for a very even and crisp job. While the band features intense percussion and guitar-work, the sound fills your headphones and the room with balance and precision. What adult beverage do you recommend accompanyEven Quentin Got Disgusted? ‘The Cocktail’ Zadar Maraschino – a liqueur flavored with maraska cherry, a characteristic product of Dalmatia Sour cherry juice – of that same maraska cherry behind the above liqueur which grows mainly in the vicinity of Zadar Fresh lemon juice – essential to the cocktail Arancini – candied orange peel traditionally manufactured in Dubrovnik and responsible for the distinct Crocktail taste What are our final thoughts forEven Quentin Got Disgusted? Daughters of Kilimanjaro show balance and poise on their debut EP. Progressive rock fans should appreciate their not trying to do too much. Rather they perfect the classic build and anthemic song structure that has been quite lacking over the past several years. We recommend you keep this one in heavy rotation. Currently a ‘name your price’ release on BandCamp, it is well worth you throwing some Croatian Kuna. Band Members: Fila-vocals Vedran-guitar Taro-guitar Tibor-bass Slat-drums Follow Daughters of Killimanjaro: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 8 of 11 Released: 2010 Genre: Heavy Rock, Sludge Sounds Like: Baroness, Kylesa, Torche It’s pounding, aggressive, heavy and sludgy... just a few words describing Black Sleep of Kali’s Our Slow Decay album. What makes this a stand out from the crowd is the infectious melody within each song. The vocals are top-notch, with standout belches to harmonized interludes, supporting the music beautifully. If you were ever a fan of the band Black Market Flowers, the vocals resemble this style, just a bit heavier. The drumming is intense and is the driving force for most of the album. There really is no weak moment here, track 1 "There is Nothing" starts right off with crushing power vocals and a sweet bottom-heavy deep sound. Followed by "The Crow and the Snake" and "Eulogy", which are extremely catchy, intense rhythmic songs, the vocals really shine in "Euology", it’s actually uplifting. "In Time", is an 8 minute down-tempo heavy groove with exceptional vocals, sounds amazing on headphones. "The Great Destroyer" is intense sludge with tight drumming leading the way. The change-ups are flawless as shown in "Cries of the Crow", 4 minutes in, the song takes a nice subtle turn into a smooth heavy rhythm, it’s like enjoying one your favorite ales. The album closes with more stoner driven, guitar driven songs such as "Big Sky" and "An End with No Beginning". There is a wealth of talent here, and we at Rotation11 hope they don’t fly under the radar, they can be a force to be reckoned with. Standout Tracks: Eulogy, The Crow and the Snake Follow Black Sleep of Kali: Bandcamp

Crank this to 8.6 of 11 Released: 2014 Genre: Stoner Rock, Sludge, Instrumental Sounds Like: Mother Engine, Les Lekin, Colour Haze Hailing from an island off the coast of Normandy called Guernsey? First off where the hell is that? And why have we never heard of this place? We are not the most well read crew on the planet, but seriously when did this place pop up on the map? Not only has Brunt opened us up to a new mystical land but they have enlightened us to a fresh take on psychedelic sludge. These five tracks sound absolutely heavenly on your headphones and certainly put them on the map. Crisp production and pinpoint fretwork lead the way as the power trio grind through five very powerful tracks. Tracks List: 1. St. Felix of Nola (08:43) 2. The Tale of the Hideous Tricorn (05:30) 3. Rabbit of Cannabong (06:34) 4. A Concise Cosmic History of the Swob Monster Pt. 1 (04:52) 5. Raw Goat (06:24) Track one starts off very methodical and eases in with some grinding repetition that builds now nicely... wait until the 4:20 mark, it will floor you as it fades into a somber soft lull. Very impactful and blissful contrast. Track two is perhaps the most straightforward piece on the album. Solid wawa pedal throughout while the percussion is the real highlight on this one. Enter track three "Rabbit of Cannabong" with some slapping of the bass and uncle salty interludes. Some of the best reverb you will ever hear at about the 1:45 mark. This one features some of the strongest melodies off the album. Brant Bjork influences really take hold towards the end of this track. Track four utilizing Swob Monster in its title must be intriguing enough. 70s influenced riffage ala the Dutch virtuosos Focus... all we need is a little yodeling and we are good to go. This track features the strongest technical guitar work off the album. The closer "Raw Goat" is our favorite off the album. The bass is entrancing from the getgo and the production is absolutely crystal clear as you hear every creak in the bass strings. A very calming and warm guitar sweeps over the steady bass. We hear some elements of 3 Mile Pilot and then a dramatic fury of very heavy guitar work. Vibrant guitar melodies eventually burst through providing for a very dramatic ending. The trio that is Brunt absolutely deserve your attention. They may not be breaking ground here but they provide enough craftsmanship to make this more than a hohum post rock instrumental. Instead the Guernseyites deliver a polished psychedelic sludge journey with enough change-ups and intense moments to make this a very positive find for your music collection. Standout Tracks: Raw Goat Follow Brunt: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 10.2 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2016 Genre: Stoner Rock Sounds Like: Sugartooth, Roachpowder There are many elements that make up a quality stoner rock album. What are some of the key ingredients that we look for? A rich and powerful undercurrent of bass and rhythmic sludge fretwork are essentials. Couple that with some fresh euphoric vocals that resonate and you are on the right track. Carnaval and their latest album entitled Miss Universe certainly meet these two hurdles. To further the blissful cloud of smoke, Carnaval delivers a level of precision and tightness that elevates this beyond your average stoner rock album. They infuse a variety of other ingredients making this a clear editor’s pick for us. Miss Universe is a tremendously diverse journey that gets better with each listen primarily due to the myriad of deep stoner grooves and bold lyrics. What is the standout track? So many fucking great tracks on this album. After much debate we have to go with “Bluebird” by a hair. The carved out grooves and undercurrent on this track are second to none. Layer that with some passive aggressive soft-spoken vocals that culminated into this intense melody. We practically blow our load at the 5:46 mark. Now don't get us wrong here depending on our mood either “Burning Sun” or “Seven” come in a close second. Are there any quirky tracks or unusual areas on Miss Universe? Yes, “Rocket”. Do not get frustrated with the initial vibe off this jovial slapstick track. It will absolutely grow on you… that we promise. With tremendous percussion and a shit ton of precision, this track really climbed the ranks. To be frank we disliked this song at first listen, however, after a few rotations it's become a hidden gem amongst our crew. What adult beverage do we recommend accompany this album? We highly recommend Bell’s Consecrator Dopplebock. This traditional 8.00% (ABV) doppelbock is fermented with old world lager yeast. Reddish brown in color with a mild hop profile. Consecrator is a well-balanced, full bodied beer with a smooth, malty finish. Final thoughts for Miss Universe. From the far reaches of Zalog Ljubljana this foursome has blown us away. We are not gonna lie to you, we have absolutely no clue where Zalog is. (Apparently it's nestled in the eastern part of what is central Slovenia). The power of Stoner rock influences all parts of the universe and more specifically Miss Universe fits right in with some of the best Stoner rock albums over the last twenty years. One of the real bright spots of finding a hidden gem like this is the intrigue of listening to their previous releases. To our surprise, Carnaval has been around since 2004 and have two full lengths and an EP in their discography. We will certainly delve in over the coming weeks. Kudos to Kapa Records and their brilliance in signing these folks. A second shout out to Hanna Juta Kozar for the intriguing artwork that lured us in. This album is an essential for any Stoner rock fan. Grab it on Bandcamp and throw it on rotation. Band Members: Ažo - guitars & vocals Vičo - guitars Mato - drums Sacco – bass Tracklist: 1. New Shoes Of Mine 04:31 2. Seven 06:28 3. Moon Shuffle 06:50 4. Round Nose Cat 06:15 5. Bluebird 06:41 6. Space Bar 05:43 7. Silver Starlight 04:54 8. Rocket 05:20 9. Burning Sun 09:43 Follow Carnaval: Bandcamp/Facebook

Crank this to 8.9 of 11 Released: 2018 Genre: Black Metal Sounds Like: Bathory, Opeth Two deeply rooted Minnesota metal acts coming together to paint a majestic black metal journey. 20 minutes featuring some of the most impressive black metal contrast we have heard in a long time. Harkening us back to the early Opeth days, this collaboration blends beauty and fear. Tanner Swenson delivers some heartfelt acoustical melodies that drive the heart of this album. Gathering II has you yearning for more as the two acts unite effortlessly where black metal is the backbone, but progressive metal fretwork shines through. Track Listing: 1. A Demonstation (7:16) - Oak Pantheon 2. Tanequil (4:33)- Both acts 3. Now Enters Dusk (7:36) - Amiensus Standout Track: We will go the politically neutral route with "Tanequi," the joint effort while the shortest of the lot provides some stellar harmonies and we appreciate the diverse vision within the track. Fact of the matter is that the EP will be in rotation start to finish seamlessly. Difficult to play midstream tracks on this one as it really holds up well for the 20 minute duration. Adult Beverage Pairing: We highly recommend Bent Paddle Brewing’s (Minnesota) Barrel-Aged Double Shot Double Black Ale is loaded with cold press and two doses of whole Madagascar vanilla beans. Topped with aging the beer for 15 months in bourbon barrels. This fucker backs a black metal punch at 11.2% ABV. Not only from the vicinity of both bands, but brewed in oak barrels, makes this one a perfect match. ROTATION RECAP: Captivation and Variety 8.5 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 9.0 out of 11 Vocal Prowess 8.7 out of 11 Fretwork Prowess 9.0 out of 11 Percussion Prowess 8.7 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 8.9 out of 11 Contrast 9.5 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 8.9 out of 11 Production Value 8.8 out of 11 Band Members: Tanner Swenson - Guitar & Vocals (A Demonstration, Tanequil) Sami Sati - Vocals (A Demonstration, Tanequil) James Benson - Vocals (Tanequil, Now Enters Dusk); Guitar (Now Enters Dusk) Alec Rozsa - Keyboard & Guitar (Now Enters Dusk) Todd Farnham - Bass (All tracks) Chris Piette - Drums (All tracks) Final Thoughts: Gathering II is a very patient and beautiful EP. 20 minutes of majestic contrast make this a must for black metal fans, as the Minnesota collaboration provide such complimentary vision. Put this one in heavy rotation and dig up some of those old Opeth endeavors. Follow Oak Pantheon: Bandcamp / Facebook Follow Amiensus: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 9.7 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2020 Genre: Math Rock Sounds Like: Barkmarket, The Jesus Lizard, Henry Rollins Band Some of our favorite albums we discover after the band has broken up. From the unrivaled one-item collaboration of Strippers In Love’s I Am What I’m Becoming to Ancient Sky’s masterful and majestic work of Mosaic we have stumbled upon another suffocated diamond in the rough. Welcome Watcher and their overtly dark and abrasive math rock gem entitled Punishment. While indeed defunct, the band apparently never fully released the 9 song LP within Punishment. The nine tracks feature everything true math rock lovers would want, from rich baselines to thick elaborately complex percussive arrangements fed by perfectly matched guttural vocals. The Nashville Tennessee natives do a wonderful job with their change-ups and contrast. Each track blends impressively to form an album that we find addictive no matter which track you kick-off the listening venture with.While we have no clue why the band called it quits, they should know that they had the chemistry so lacking within today’s math rock scene. Punishment has grown to be a staple within our heavy rotation and while the opportunity for further visions from the band look bleak, we would love to inspire some kind of resurgence down the road. No harm in asking. Track Listing: 1. punisher (1:19) 2. thickneckbreeder/mask (6:15) 3. few long while (2:07) 4. druthers (1:49)\ 5. mirror pt. 2&3 (6:30) 6. two cups (3:41) 7. mirror pt. 1 (1:45) 8. sway (2:09) 9. thoss road (4:05) Standout Track: "Thickneckbreeder/mask" will pummel your eardrums. The track is frankly exhaustive taking some very wild and divergent turns. Against the grain beauty is how we like to call it. The vision to hear and produce sounds that many may not get at first listen, just shine 12 or 13 listens in. Adult Beverage Pairing: Bearded Iris Brewing has some wonderful IPAs in its bailiwick. Punishment goes swimmingly with their 9.8% ABV Bamboozle. A hazy orange-gold color with some feverish white head. Notes of tangerines, mango, and slightly sweet malt along with some very earthy resin. ROTATION RECAP: Captivation and Variety 9.7 out of 11 Vocal Prowess 9.3 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 9.8 out of 11 Fretwork Prowess 9.4 out of 11 Bass Undercurrent 9.9 out of 11 Percussive Vision 10.2 out of 11 Originality 9.7 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 9.8 out of 11 Contrast 9.7 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 8.9 out of 11 Production Value 9.4out of 11 Final Thoughts: Punishment is an impressive one-off from the now defunct Watcher. While we have not taken a deep dive into exploring the connections of this band, we certainly will. For those that may have some degrees of separation to connect us with the band members other projects, we would love to hear from you! Follow Watcher: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 9.3 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2020 Genre: Metal, Post Metal Sounds Like: Cult of Luna, Ghost Brigade Not sure we would label this one ‘suicidal black metal’, in fact, fuck that, we want to be around a long time to enjoy the journey that Stockholm, Sweden stalwarts, Kall,bring to the table on their latest album Brand. The six-piece act features members from Lifelover, Trist, and Canopy and create what is certainly overcast black metal, but with tremendous post-rock clarity. The band’s second full-length is a markedly improved work of art that dives deep into rich melodies and progressive metal tangents. Sofia’s saxophone sprinkled throughout the album adds a dimension of psychedelia that works impressively. We were taken off-guard at first listen, but the dramatic contrast it lands across the dark guttural vocals of Kim Carlsson is exceptionally original. Most impressive is the band’s ability to keep us entertained throughout the mid-tiered 17 minute track ‘Fukta din Aska’ and then almost 13 minute majestic ride in "Hide Below". Track Listing: 1. Rise (7:25) 2. Fervour (7:03) 3. Eld (6:20) 4. Fukta din Aska (17:18) 5. Hide Below (12:54) 6. Fall (8:38) Standout Track: "Fervour" shines above the six tracks. Not only does the track mark the debut of the saxophone underpinning but the track melds black desperate vocals with jazz experimental psychedelia. "Fervour" is a unique and wonderful off-branching bringing the strongest melodies of the lot. The contrast of bright fire with dark melancholy is what takes this track to the next level. Adult Beverage Pairing: Wildfire Cocktail - This flaming Brand cocktail is bludgeoned with Bacardi 151 rum and sweetened by using a mix of Midori and Watermelon Vodka to make a melon martini to lift those dark thoughts. Perfect for your next Kall listening party. Ingredients: 1 ounce Midori (or Any Melon Liqueur) 1/2 ounce Watermelon Vodka 1 ounce Vodka 1/4 ounce Simple Syrup 1 teaspoon Bacardi 151 (optional) Ice ROTATION RECAP: Captivation and Variety 9.1 out of 11 Vocal Prowess 8.7 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 9.6 out of 11 Fretwork Prowess 9.2 out of 11 Percussive Vision 8.9 out of 11 Originality 9.2 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 9.2 out of 11 Contrast 9.3 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 9.5 out of 11 Production Value 9.1out of 11 Final Thoughts: Kall has taken a dramatic leap forward with Brand. Metal fans who may dabble within the black metal genre may find this album most appealing as it offers such a variety of angles. The clarity that these six artists bring is impressive and loaded with chemistry. We will avoid the genre labeling here and encourage you to give this several turns for its variety and rich texture. Band Members: H. - Lead guitar Fix - Rhythm guitar Kim - Vocals Phil A. Cirone- Bass Peter - Drums Sofia - Saxophone Follow Kall: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 9.1 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2015 Genre: Space Rock Sounds Like: Oresund Space Collective, Vibravoid On our endeavors to seek out new and unusual space rock, we have to travel to New Orleans, LA where a four-piece band known as Chef Menteur resides. We haven’t the foggiest idea why they don’t have more of an underground following since their blend of instrumental space and psyche rock is so broad and immense. Through the up and coming impressive label Sunrise Ocean Bender, Chef Menteur has released a 3-Disc set simply titled III. This set includes a re-release of of their 2012 album East of the Sun & West of the Moon, the unreleased ‘companion’ album North Tomorrow & South of Yesterday, from the same sessions and their newest album 2014’s Force Majeure. These four musicians are extremely talented and feed off each other very well. Their music is difficult to pin down, at times it’s mesmerizing ambiance or heavy droning space rock. They even take their music into progressive rock territory as well. For an instrumental band, it would seem difficult to keep the listeners’ full attention for all 3 discs, yet they have managed to capture our attention and not only hold it, but have us coming back for more. Since there is such an enormous amount of music to get lost in, 23 tracks totaling 2 hours 45 minutes and 47 seconds, it’s impossible to describe in a song by song break down. We recommend you take your time and let the music seed within your conscience. We’ll do a brief overview of each disc as it would take a novel to break this one down. Disc 1: East of the Sun & West of the Moon (69:33) Tracks: 1. Narconaut - 4:48 2. Il obstrue ma vue de Vénus - 4:40 3. Terpsichore - 4:42 4. Lozenge Club - 1:22 5. The Forest - 5:46 6. Oxen of the Sun - 11:31 7. Ganymede - 19:07 8. The Long Stand (part 2) - 3:56 9. Ordo Templi Orientis - 5:25 10. I Belong To This Plateau - 5:58 11. For the Lion - 4:20 12. King Richard - :32 The first disc takes off right way with “Narconaut,” sounding like classic Farflung, its heavy and very spacious, all three musicians are in total synch. With echoed guitars, psychedelic synths, a rich gravity deifying bass, and mesmerizing drums, this song has it all, and its only track one. The disc keeps us our interest with the infectious acoustics and bass in “Il obstrue ma vue de Vénus,” which is one of the stand out tracks. We absolutely love the diversity the band brings forth with the jazzy trumpet in “Terpsichore” and the electronic ambiance of “The Forest”. As the album progresses it continues to hold our attention and we have no desire to skip to the next track. The two longest songs “Oxen of the Sun” and “Ganymede” will suck you into their spaced-out, trippy atmosphere as they have this anti-gravity, hypnotic feel. The last few songs continue to impress and become impossible to describe in words. With compositions ranging from Hawkwind-like psychedelics to Middle Eastern soundscapes, just check out “Ordo Templi Orientis,” the sound is so damn impressive when cranked up. Disc one is a space rock gem on our books, let us now travel to disc 2. Disc 2: North of Tomorrow and South of Yesterday (64:43) Tracks: 1. Ribbons from Lake Kwashiorkor - 2:47 2. Farfisa Duo Raga - 4:44 3. Omnilab - :39 4. Terpsichore - 7:22 5. Where Wings Take Dream - 2:45 6. Pastranomy pastranomi - :15 7. One Fret Beyond - 3:11 8. The Long Stand (Part I and II) - 9:04 9. Lozenge Jazz Club - 6:36 10.  Sinks of Gandy - 3:54 11. Phallus Marinarus - 12:25 12. The Mamluk Qalandars - 4:02 13. Don’t Invite a Centaur To Your Wedding - 1:38 14. Sorry For the Delay - 9:36 15. Kenny G Goes To Guantanamo Bay - 1:00 The songs in this disc was recorded during the same sessions as disc 1, but never saw the light of day until now. We are stoked that they finally were able to release these songs, its more space rock to sink our teeth into. The band continues on its journey with a slightly different formula on this disc. The music seems a bit more relaxed here, the overall ambient-space rock aura drew us in and captivated us. Songs like “Farfisa Duo Raga,” Terpsichore,” “The Long Stand (Part I and II),” “Lozenge Jazz Club,” “Phallus Marinarus” will hijack your mind and absorb you. Just let go and take these songs in, they are open-ended, spacious and dynamic. Now that we are in a spacious state-of-mind lets now move on to the last disc of this set. Disc 3: Force Majeure (31:71) Tracks: 1. Færoe - 8:26 2. Pyrymyd Scheme - 4:33 3. Death Wraith 2000 - 5:48 4. Surface Tension - 5:26 5. Immense Dimension - 8:34 The last disc of the set was originally released in 2014 on cassette only, and has just now been transferred on disc for this limited package. This album has a more potent, upbeat sound than compared to discs 1 and 2. You wouldn’t think this from the onset with the first track, it’s a long peaceful ambient affair. Track two, “Pyrymyd Scheme” really gets the blood flowing, it’s extremely catchy and upbeat with magnificent bass-work. ”Death Wrath” is another vibrant song with more outstanding bass and possesses a trippy feel. “Surface Tension” is great and has that surf meets space rock vibe, it’s a very smooth track. The last song and ending our experience with Chef Menteur is very entertaining and embodies everything we have like about them. This one injects some elements of shoegaze into the mix. Its odd rhythm is highly contagious and the way the band subtly change rhythms is impressive. A great way to close out 2 hours 45 minutes and 47 seconds of trippy, illuminating space rock. Band Members: Brian Abbott (bass, guitars, keyboards, trumpet) Dan Haugh (drums, banjo, tamboura, keyboards) Phil Rollins (guitar, keyboards, bass) Alec Vance (guitars, keyboards, sitar, bass, harmonica, vocals) Final Thoughts: Chef Menteur are a force to be reckoned with, it’s amazing they don’t have a bigger underground following. We must thank their label Sunrise Ocean Bender for releasing this 3 disc set. There is not much more we can possibly say, we highly recommend you gobble this one up if this is your cup of tea. This package is a limited release, but is also available digitally. We highly recommend the disc package, as far as MP3s have come, the sound quality on disc would be tremendous. Standout Tracks: Narconaut, Il obstrue ma vue de Vénus, Death Wraith 2000 Follow Chef Menteur: Bandcamp

Crank this to 8.9 of 11 Released: 2020 Genre: Metal, Sludge Sounds Like: ISIS, Eyehategod, Nailbomb Ex-members of -(16)- and Goatsnake have joined forces to form the California based drudgery of Keverra. Two very tough acts to follow, both with very unique dark brooding sounds. The result, an impressive dive into caustic reality. The self-titled debut is filled with biting riffs that deliver incredibly full sound along with dramatic change-ups and contrast. Terrific production highlights the intricate percussive work by Mateo that is well-supported by a rich and dark brooding bass-line. Kurk’s lead guitar provides some interesting melodic angles that blend well with subtle industrial backdrops. Vocally Kurk personifies a blend of Al Jourgensen (Ministry) with clarity and the likes of Aaron Turner (ISIS) and Mike Williams (Eyehategod). We have never been fans of the short interludes between songs, but this approach is not too annoying. Track Listing: 1. Albion (5:18) 2. Incendiare (:42) 3. Bathsheba (6:08) 4. Anaesthetic (:34) 5. Tiooa (4:34) 6. Bitter Air of Exile (2:42) 7. Object to Be Destroyed (5:25) 8. Funerary (1:01) 9. No God (4:51) 10. Black Tie Event (4:46) Standout Track: "Bathsheba" has some incredible dark melodies that will stay with you. So much dramatic contrast that catches our fancy on this one.The track delivers the emotion and fervor that harkens back to Wavering Radiant days. ROTATION RECAP: Captivation and Variety 8.7 out of 11 Vocal Prowess 8.8 out of 11 Weight of the Heavy 9.3 out of 11 Fretwork Prowess 8.7 out of 11 Bass Undercurrent 8.7 out of 11 Originality 8.5 out of 11 Overall Album Flow 8.7 out of 11 Contrast 9.0 out of 11 Album Cover Aesthetics 8.5 out of 11 Production Value 9.4 out of 11 Final Thoughts : A solid debut indeed for the LA trio. Fans of Goatsnake or -(16)- may not get the unique sounds of the past but Keverra shows some very likable chemistry. Give this one a gander and add it to your dark sludge metal collection ( a name your price on BandCamp believe it or not). Line-up: Kurk: Guitars, Vocals, Noise Scott: Bass Mateo: Drums, Vocals, Samples Follow Keverra: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 9.6 of 11 - Editors' Pick Released: 2017 Genre: Heavy Rock Sounds Like: The Jesus Lizard, Pissed Jeans, Indian Handcrafts The debut full length from Buffalode could be one of the most entertaining heavy rock albums to be released this year. The duo from Lincoln, UK consists of Chris Thompson (Guitar/Vocals) and Scott Nairn (Drums) and together they form a unique blend of raw heaviness. What drew is in was the offbeat and unique vocals of Chris Thompson. He gives off that intriguing nonsensical vibe similar to that of Jesus Lizards’ David Yow combined with Matt Korvette of Pissed Jeans. What makes Buffalode so captivating to us is the combination of relentless change ups and the slightly unorthodox vocals. They’re style is out there as they conjure up fond memories of discovering bands like Jesus Lizard and Barkmarket, yet hang in the same class as acts like Indian Handcrafts and Tweak Bird. What are the highlights of the album? As of now “Mary, Mary, Arbitary” may be our favorite cut by a smidgeon, but tomorrow it will no doubt be another song. With tracks like “A Brief History of Nothing,” “Dinocalypse Now,” Stalagmight, Stalagmight Not” and “Discorduroy” it’s pretty damn impossible to find any distinct highlights. The album never sits on one rhythm for too long, it’s a constant bombardment of heavy rhythmic changes. How is the production value? For a duo, these guys threw everything into this one and left it all out on the table as it was recorded in just two days… very impressive. What adult beverage to enjoy while listening to this album? Flying Dog’s Bloodline Blood Orange Ale. This is one tasty mother of a brew that compliments Buffalode. Final thoughts on Graze Anatomy? We are stoked to come across Buffalode and their unusual brand of heaviness. They fit seamlessly right in our heavy rotation and will enhance your collection as well. Pick this album up as these guys are currently flying way the fuck under the radar. Tracklist: 1. Introduction 00:55 2. Dinocalypse Now 04:01 3. Stalagmight, Stalagmight Not 03:07 4. Cane Toad Purse 03:10 5. Maybe I'm a Mollusc 05:30 6. A Brief History of Nothing 03:29 7. The Last Honest Man 03:31 8. Discorduroy 04:30 9. Graze Anatomy 04:40 10. Mary Mary, Arbitrary 04:17 Follow Buffalode: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 10 of 11 - Editor's Pick Released: 2015 Genre: Stoner Rock Sounds Like: Colour Haze, Grandloom, Ethereal Riffian Not only is Arenna's new album deserving of an editor's pick amongst the elite bands flying under the radar on our site, but it has also opened us up to one absolutely amazing album artist in Khoa Le. Across the board excellence in sound and vision! Fruits from our extensive hunting and digging. Arenna offers up an intangible often lacking from bands in this genre today. The intangibles of depth, style and substance. Hailing from Spain the five piece crew took a four year hiatus from their last release entitled Beats of Olarizu (2011) and is back with an inspiring seven song LP spanning just over 47 minutes. Track Listing: 1. Butes 10:20 2. Visions Of Rex 6:29 3. Drums For Sitting Bull 6:16 4. Chroma 8:59 5. Move Through Figurehead Lights 7:01 6. The Pursuer 6:15 7. Low Tide 1:39 Track Highlights: 1. Butes- Epic opener that features intense guitar rhythm and very exposed and vulnerable vocals. The frailty and quirkiness in the vocals win us over. Great change-ups on this track as well. 2. Visions of Rex- We hear influences of Kyuss' "Catamaran" with the lite bouncing effect and heartfelt guitar work. Terrific building crescendo on this track. 3. Drums For Sitting Bull-  Contains some of the most empowering melodies on the album. Really engages the listener. Arrena has a special talent in navigating change but maintaining the original melodic undercurrent. 4. Chroma- Steady as she goes. The subtleties on this track are so soothing. Checkout the terrific ending accompanied by some spoke word in the last 2 minutes. 5. Move Through Figurehead Lights- Jazz-like percussion at the onset layered with acoustic and electric sadness. Absolutely love the variety this track delivers. Heartfelt and impactful. 6. The Pursuer- One of the heaviest tracks on the album, yet still majestic. Just enough echo in the vocals with a ton of electric layers going on. Love the culmination. 7. Low Tide- aaaaah . Soothing acoustic ending helping us reflect on how damn good this album is. Now we would be remiss to not delve a little further into the vision that is held by artist Khoa Le on this album cover. We have perused her very rich and elaborate collection and it is down right cathartic. The colors and detail match Arrena's achievements on this album so well it is a brilliant pairing. We strongly encourage you to checkout her stuff at http://khoaillustration.com , particularly as we try to court her into being a participant on our Homage To The Artist page on Rotation11. Given To Emptiness is one hell of an album. The band's four year hiatus was apparently a very productive one as this is quite an uptick from their last release. All seven tracks deliver one unique experience. We encourage you to buy this one in hard copy as sound and vision shine. Put this one in heavy rotation and you will have a wonderful mainstay within your stoner and psychedelic collection. Standout Tracks: Visions Of Rex, Drums For Sitting Bull, The Pursuer Follow Arenna: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 9.3 of 11 - Editor's Pick Released: 2013 Genre: Post Rock Sounds Like: Coldbones, Cleft, sleepmakeswaves Where the hell have we been the past 4 years, letting Arbor Lights slip through our radar is a major oversight. The foursome from Birmingham, UK has recently enlightened us with their 2013 debut album Hatheron Lake. Often we find instrumental Post-rock bands can sound very similar to one another, yet they have a formula that sets them apart from their peers. So, if you love instrumental Post-rock that expresses inspirational and majestic soundscapes, than look no further than Arbor Lights. What are the highlights ofHatheron Lake? Let’s begin with “Interstellar,” this comforting track will consume you with its uplifting aura. The drums and bass work are steady while the clean guitars portray feelings of hope, this track really gives off positive vibes. The 12:53 minute “Damascus” is fucking Post-rock perfection. Putting it in words is impossible, the track is very exploratory without veering to far from their style. It’s heavy, mesmerizing and soft, allowing the mind to drift and paint beautiful landscapes. The guitars on “Silhouettes” are absolutely remarkable and the use of the Glockenspiel steals the show, really elevating this track. The song builds beautifully over time gaining momentum until a sudden drop-off to end. The rhythm on “The Mayor and the Driver” is quite addicting. This could be the heaviest song on the album as the band really turns up the feedback and distortion. How is the production value? The production is clean and polished, exactly the way Post-rock was meant to sound. Does the album art reflect the music? Yes, the exploratory watercolor drawing of this cover definitely caught our attention. What adult beverage to enjoy while listening to this album? Tröegs Hopback Amber Ale.  Brewed in Pennsylvania, U.S. this 6.00 (ABV) ale is brewed with a medium to light bodied texture. The strong flavors of floral hops and caramel, along with a mild buttered bread and a subtle bitterness goes beautifully withHatheron Lake. What are our final thoughts on Hatheron Lake? Arbor Lights have become a mainstay in our rotation. If you love the Post-rock scene or well-structured instrumental music with some exploration, do not overlook these guys. The album is a Name Your Price at Bandcamp, so you can’t go wrong, but you may feel a bit guilty not throwing a few bucks their way after hearing this album. Band Members: Alex Clarke – Guitars Matt Elton - More Guitars Greg Aston - Bass James D Clarke - Drums Tracklist: 1. The Silent City 07:19 2. Interstellar 05:22 3. Damascus 12:53 4. Silhouettes 07:11 5. The Mayor & The Diver 08:04. Follow Arbor Lights: Bandcamp / Facebook

Crank this to 9.5 of 11 - Editor's Pick Released: 2017 Genre: Hard Rock Sounds Like: Sugartooth, Local H We gave this album a rotation because the great Conrad Kealy from And You Will Know Us By The Trail of the Dead fame completed the artwork. Just a passing rotation as we were curious as to a potential connection. Well about five rotations later we're knee-deep in the authentic emotion delivered by The Annie Crooners finding it difficult to move on. We found ourselves addicted to the sincerity and raw energy that lead singer Seb Withycombe exuded coupled by the rare chemistry apparent within the five piece band. Given this natural cohesiveness, we were thinking perhaps these folks have five or so albums under their belt and have flown under the radar to this point. Nope, wrong again, Moon Sugar is the Australian band's debut release. Track Listing: 1. Mortarmelon (5:07) 2. Drunken Old Man (5:16) 3. Crimea (6:53) 4. Soulman (4:51) 5. Zaibeats (5:24) 6. The Good Vein (10:17) What is the standout track off of Moon Sugar? While there is not much drop off and all tracks hold their weight, the opener "Mortamelon" holds nothing back. We particularly love the bass-line undercurrent and melody and percolates to the surface as it infects the onslaught of diverse fretwork. Chirnside is amazing on the drums and we would envision quite a live performance. Great classic build-up on this opening track that will suck you in to keeping this one in heavy rotation. By the way "Crimea" comes up just shy of the standout track... great build-up and tapping its toe into some progressive rock territories. What adult beverage do you recommend accompany Moon Sugar? Vic Secret Australian Double IPA from the Three Notch'd Brewing Company. 7.4% ABV and excellent balance. Not too heavy with some sincere bite. Named after Victoria, the state in Australia, this unique hop gives this beer a big passion fruit, pineapple fruit profile. The haze and the super low bitterness of this beer help create an breezy fruit filled creation. Band Members: Steve Wilcox (guitar) Hamish Chirnside (drums) David Chirnside (guitar) Andrew Chirnside (bass) Seb Withycombe (guitar, vocals) Final Thoughts. Straight shooting hard rock bands tend to live and die by their frontman. Vocals are too much at the forefront and music aficionados quickly see through insincere lyrics and emotion. Much like one of our favorite acts, Sugartooth and their frontman Tim Gruse,  Seb Withycombe bleeds raw emotion and charisma. His vocal style is endearing and infectious to the bone.Moon Sugar is one hell of a debut that shows tremendous maturity. We can see these guys branching out into more experimental territories as they continue to share their interests. We highly recommend you put this one in heavy rotation as it earns an Editor's Pick in our book. We hope to follow them into a very prosperous career. Follow The Annie Crooners: Bandcamp / Facebook