Bandcamp

[Zzzptm]

Got a steamin' hot plate of metal from Brazil: https://madmonkees.bandcamp.com/album/guerra

Their whole catalog is worth checking out.

[JSTHECONQUEROR]

This is the best thing that has happened to me in quite some time!
https://giantdwarf.bandcamp.com/album/giant-dwarf

[Zzzptm]

This is the best thing that has happened to me in quite some time!
https://giantdwarf.bandcamp.com/album/giant-dwarf

Wow, I'm loving the opening track! Awesome find, sir!

[JSTHECONQUEROR]

https://starlightritual.bandcamp.com/album/starlight-ritual

If you like Dio, Rainbow and Dio Era Sabbath this is your stuff right here!

[Zzzptm]

Valley of the Sun's latest LP, "Old Gods"

Giving this album a first listen, thought I'd post as I played the tracks. Hopefully, I can finish before I have to start my first call of the day.

Several styles are evident on this album, all of them heavy. Opening title track, for example, is like "Sweet Leaf" mixed with "Planet Caravan" - hard, mid-tempo and spacey. Second track, "All We Are" gives us a savory bite of early 90s grunge, reminding me of Helmet's "Unsung", but with a nice guitar solo in there, but I think they could have done without the Millennial Whoop at the end.

Next track, "Gaia Creates" is a happy little instrumental with interplay between acoustic rhythm guitar and lead electric guitars. Little keyboard and light percussion features fill it out, much in the style of a quieter Allman Bros. track. Really pleasant feel to that one.

Heavy returns with the aggressive riff-happy "Dim Vision". It definitely hearkens back to early 2000s Fu Manchu, and that's a great thing, as sounding like "Hell on Wheels" is a compliment. Riffs give way to grooves for the chorus and this song clearly has a great engine pumping away under the hood. All cylinders in tune and driving it forward.

"Shiva Destroys" - percussion/drum instrumental. I guess they needed a drum solo in there, so here it is. Only 76 seconds, take it for what it is, a palette cleanser.

"Firewalker" - back to the hard, driving rock, but this one's more Seattle than California. Think Soundgarden's "Kickstand" in terms of hit and length.

Back to slower, spacier grooves with "Into the Abyss". If you move your head involuntarily to music, this one will bring on a slow nodding action, coupled possibly with a slight head tilt as you close your eyes to savor the textures and soundscapes. It gets loud in the middle and that works well for this piece. Nice, slow, spacey grunge that goes down smooth and sweet. Lovely phased guitar finish with bells to finish out the piece.

"Faith Is for Suckers" - starts off quiet, but edgy. As the title indicates, this isn't a track with a light touch. Not as heavy as "Dim Vision", but it still speaks up for itself. Nice cowbell in there, I'm sure they had a laugh with that. Solo goes for the feel of the piece, a nice mid-tempo rocker.

"Buddha Transcends" - another sub-90 seconds track that isn't hardcore punk. A real incense-burner, this one. Given what happened with the last instrumental on this album, I'm expecting a real face-slammer for the next track...

And "Means the Same" has a 10-second intro fuse before the rest of the band fires up and gets the big rig moving. Very much like Truckfighters in terms of heavy and feel and drive. This is a great song to drive to - I know because I got it when I pre-ordered the album.

"Dreams of Sands" goes back to the dreamy heavy that we had with the title track. It's heavier and harder than its predecessor, which I think is appropriate for an album closer. You want to drive that musical point home, and this is the one to do it with.

Overall, the band's strength is in its instrumental work. The vocals are good, but not outstanding. That's OK, though. I have some really tasty work from the guitar leads and having a laid-back vocalist allows that guitar to step forward and hold the spotlight. One fast song and a bunch of mid-and slow-tempo songs make this album, overall, a heavy sort of mellow to listen to.

[Zzzptm]

Love this band, their sound absolutely pegs mid-80s *good* metal. New album releases on 27 September.

https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/state-of-shock

[JSTHECONQUEROR]

Listening to this masterpiece
https://giantsquid.bandcamp.com/album/the-ichthyologist

[Zzzptm]

Mos Generator has a new album of pared-back jams: https://mosgenerator.bandcamp.com/album/spontaneous-combustions
Got a garage sound to it, because it's basically live jams in a rental house in-between occupants. If you like long studio jams, this is just for you. Yes, there are imperfections, but that's what makes it fun for me. And when they get it all right, it's even more exciting.

Ruby the Hatchet does a cover of Uriah Heep's "Easy Livin'": https://thehatchet.bandcamp.com/track/easy-livin
Bass doesn't thump out the way Gary Thain did it, but it's still a good rocker of a song.

Greek rockers Deaf Radio have a new album: https://deafradio.bandcamp.com/album/modern-panic
I'm listening to the opening track (after the short intro), and it's a real rocker. Thinking I gotta have this one, for sure. Kept listening, and it's some strong material, for sure.

[Zzzptm]

Oh yeah, the latest from War Cloud: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/state-of-shock

NWOBHM sound here in 2019. True to that early 80s Metal Blade type of sound, back when metal was pretty much just "metal, dude." So, yeah, what type of metal is this? It's metal metal, dude!

[Zzzptm]

Here's a cover of a song by Mick Ronson, by the band Sister Midnight:

"Power of Darkness" https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/track/power-of-darkness

Got some great, heavy grooves and some blisteringly good guitar work. Check it out!

[Charger]

I just found these guys (and gal) and they're pretty awesome!!

https://savagemasterofficial.bandcamp.com/

[Zzzptm]

Check out War Cloud's latest: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/state-of-shock

Very much like early Metallica/Megadeth. Love their stuff.

[Zzzptm]

Check out The Marlboro Men:

https://themarlboromen.bandcamp.com/album/how-the-west-was-lost-and-other-vivid-hallucinations

https://themarlboromen.bandcamp.com/album/who-says-you-cant-get-high-at-95mph

https://themarlboromen.bandcamp.com/album/the-marlboro-men

I'm listening to them now and it feels like I'm on the Great American Road Trip as I jam out.

[JSTHECONQUEROR]

I love Bandcamp! Here is my collection if anyone is interested in looking. I have bought a ton of stuff in the last few months. Been buying more digital and have avoided cds more due to the circumstances we are all in. https://bandcamp.com/jstheconqueror

[Zzzptm]

Cool! I'mma following you now.

Totally not surprised by your avatar there.