Got in from the Truckfighters show a little before 3AM last night, so rather than even open the laptop to post something, I just went to bed. I’ll have a full review of that show come Monday, but yeah, it was something else. The tour dates are here; if they’re coming by you, you should go. Especially if Valley of the Sun are on the bill too. I imagine the two of them together makes for some pretty formidable fuzz.

Coming off that gig last night, I wanted to cap this week with something thickly toned, next-gen and mightily grooved, and UK outfit Alunah seemed just right. Alunah will release their next album through PsycheDOOMelic in 2012, but “Call of Avernus” is the title cut from their 2010 full-length. Good band, good song. Hope you dig it.

Next week, The Patient Mrs. and I are headed west to Detroit to loaf around and see what’s what. I kind of put in the June numbers post that we were thinking about moving, and it’s not entirely untrue, but it’s more of a backup plan than anything else. Either way, we leave Wednesday night, and I don’t know what that does for posting after that, but if I have time to get anything up, I will. I’ll be seeing Clutch in Flint while we’re out there, so hopefully I’ll be able to do something on that.

I also want to get that YOB interview posted before I split, so hopefully that’ll be Wednesday. That, reviews of Admiral Browning and the aforementioned Valley of the Sun, and a look at Eagle‘s new Deep Purple reissues are all forthcoming, so there’s much to stay tuned for. I’m also headed down to see YOB and Dark Castle at Kung Fu Necktie in Philly tonight, and I don’t think I’ll give the show another full review, but I’ll have my camera on me, and maybe able to post some pictures if I come out with any decent ones. Kind of a crap shoot, as far as that goes.

If you’re going to that, or to Clamfight and Rukut afterwards at JR’s Bar, or if you’re not, I hope you have a great and safe weekend. I’ll see you on the forum and back here Monday.

Although it feels like a superficial comparison to make, I’d be remiss if I didn’t liken Alunah to the classic work of Acid King, who walked a likeminded line stylistically and with whose vocalist, Lori S., Sophie shares more than a passing similarity in tone and cadence. Highly reverbed laid back female stoner vocals; it’s not an influence I begrudge Sophie or Alunah, and if anything I think it works mostly in the band’s favor throughout Call of Avernus – most especially on centerpiece cut “Eternal Sea” – but it had to be said. The main riff of that song reminds of the bassline in “Southern” from Alunah’s UK countrymen Trippy Wicked and the Cosmic Children of the Knight (whether or not the two bands know each other, I have no idea), but I expect that’s more coincidence than anything else. If from all this you’re getting the impression Alunah aren’t exactly original, you’re right, but more importantly, if you listen to Call of Avernus — in either the opener “Living Fast in an Ancient Land,” which starts out with a doomy bass rumble from Gaz (I’m convinced no UK stoner band is complete without a dude named Gaz) before Sophie and Dave join in, or the mid-paced Sabbath groove of the title track – and you try to think of bands who are proffering this kind of unabashed stoner riffage these days, it’s going to be a short list.

Alunah are true to the ethic of stoner doom in a way few bands are, and yeah, Call of Avernus has its derivative moments, but rather than be caught up in them, I find I’m glad there’s someone out there making use of the style. While so many others are tripped up in trying to nail down this or that one-band subgenre, Alunah are worshipping the riff and hailing the leaf in classic fashion. Catchy album highlight “Song of the Sun” previously appeared on the Queen Elephantine split and on the 2007 Crystal Voyage demo, but it’s a welcome inclusion here, and placed well early into the record, which then cuts out the riff rock chicanery for a quiet two minutes with “Magick Lantern.” It’s kind of a funny track, and I think Alunah could probably have done more with it, built it into something bigger, but they seem impatient to get back to the rock with “Eternal Sea.” Drummer Jake is more suited to the heavier material, but he does well in the quieter atmosphere as well. Once “Eternal Sea” has carried into Call of Avernus’ second half, “Dance of Dionysus” reaffirms the stoner doom middle-ground the earlier portion of the album set. It was bound to be a comedown after “Eternal Sea,” but the shuffle groove is a good time nonetheless, and while neither Sophie or Dave is a shredder, the solo toward the end of the track does well to shake things up. “Circle of Stone” makes use of long instrumental passages and a killer bassline from Gaz interspersed with short vocal sections, while the shorter “Higher,” though it shows some of the unipolar side to Sophie’s approach singing-wise, grooves like a bastard in its chorus thanks to Jake’s ready crash cymbal.

Call of Avernus and Alunah make their exit with “Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn,” based around one of the album’s strongest riff progressions. A break in the middle gradually unveils the cowbell (classy of them to hold off till the last track for it) or something percussive thereabouts, and one of the record’s most potent sections. Alunah aren’t looking to reinvent stoner rock, but what they signal is the development of “traditional stoner” as a subset within the umbrella of the genre. By adhering as strictly to these genre characteristics as they do, Alunah manages to carve out a niche for themselves exactly by blending in. On the other hand, their lack of adherence to the current trends in underground heavy rock makes them a standout on the international scene, and backed by the strong performances on Call of Avernus, I’ve no doubt they’ll be able to develop further on subsequent offerings. It will be interesting to hear just how they come into their own, and after Call of Avernus, I look forward to discovering how that plays out.

Alunah’s website

Catacomb Records

First and foremost we’ll be hitting London again on Saturday June 19th for a night of rock and roll noise at The Unicorn, 227 Camden Road in the very able company of Sons of Merrick and Alternative Carpark. Entry is completely free so hopefully we’ll see a few people down there for a pint and some random shouting!!!

Secondly we’ve decided to stick out first EP, High Unholy Mighty Rollin’ up on Bandcamp as we’ve run out of copies ourselves. Please feel free to download it. The cheapskates can have it for free but if you feel generous you have the option to make a donation.

In the future we may well put the original Elephantine demo up there as well as that’s also long out of print.

In the meantime, we’ve been writing some new stuff and pretty much have all the tracks ready to go in and record our debut album. We’re just waiting for the nod from the studio for dates then once it’s complete we’ll be hassling unsuspecting labels for a release. More news as we have it.

The new EP on Catacomb Records entitled The Simplicity of the Riff is Key is going to pressing, the artwork is all complete and there is a tentative release date of the first week in April. Obviously we’ll be letting the world know as soon as it’s available so you can rush to buy copies!!!!

To coincide with the EP’s release we’ll be going on tour in the first week in April with Sun Gods in Exile from Boston [actually Maine – ed.] on their first visit to the UK. Their debut album on Small Stone Records, Bright Light White Lines has been getting awesome reviews pretty much everywhere so this tour is certain to kick some ass!!! There are plans to put out a split EP with Sun Gods featuring a couple of unreleased tunes by each band. This will be strictly limited edition and low key for the tour.

Catch both bands at:
Truro – Bar 200 (Live Bar) Monday April 5th
TBC Tuesday April 6th (hopefully Bristol)
Birmingham – The Old Wharf Digbeth Wednesday April 7th – support from Alunah
Sheffield – The Cremorne Thursday April 8th – support from Alunah
Leicester – Retribution Friday April 9th – support from Alunah
London – Loud Howls Festival at The Gaff, Holloway Road alongside End of Level Boss, The Freezing Fog, Suns of Thunder, Domes of Silence, Alunah, Stubb, Bodukwe and Obiat – DJ set from Orange Goblin

Plans are also afoot for our first trip to Europe as we’re looking at a couple of gigs in northern France…more news as we have it.

With “Song of the Sun,” Alunah offer comparatively straightforward riff-based heavy rock, set apart from the pack by the lead vocals of Sophie (no last name given), for whom Acid King comparisons can’t possibly be anything new. Nonetheless, the band spend their time wisely, fading out and back in at the end for an additional few seconds of riffing and lead lines. The four piece aren’t really breaking any new ground for stoner rock, but neither are they offensive. They’re recording a new full-length this year, and I’d be interested to check it out, so if the idea of “Song of the Sun” was to get people interested in the band by giving them a small taste, then it worked.

Whether they’re hailing on any given day from New York, Providence, RI, or Hong Kong, the prolific Queen Elephantine always seem up for a little mind expansion. Somewhat ironic is that by keeping their contribution, “Mephistopheles,” to around six minutes, they’re actually more reigned in than usual. I get the feeling there’s a half-hour version of this song out there somewhere. As it stands on the split, though, the band, led by Indy Shome continue their progressive journey through deconstructed psychedelia. In contrast to Alunah, Queen Elephantine care little for structure and ride their song out to wherever it takes them. In the context of an LP, this can be challenging, but here they keep it relatively on track, which makes for a fascinating balance.

For Alunah, this is their second release following the Fall to Earth EP (also on Catacomb), and Queen Elephantine seem to have a new split or online-only release every few months, so it’s a fair bet we’ll be hearing more from both bands. Going by the tracks included on this 7”, that’s just fine, since they each have something of their own to offer but don’t stray so far from the other as to make for incongruous listening.

Alunah on MySpace

Queen Elephantine on MySpace

Catacomb Records

I don’t find Trawling through Sludge to be wholly redundant, though no doubt some others will. Their blend of Sleep-style stoner metal riffing and shouted vocals makes for a decent listen at least across the 10-plus minutes of this 7”, with both “The Fallen” and “The Prophecy” delivering meat and potatoes sludge. They keep a groove locked in throughout and don’t seem to ask more of their audience than up and down nodding and vague appreciation, both of which are easily enough earned.

As it was released in 2008 and limited to 250 copies (the first 100 of which came with a Sonic Lord guitar pick), I’m not sure as to the availability of Trawling through Sludge at this point, but if nothing else, take this review as notice that Sonic Lord are out there, riffing into the ether. The four-piece aren’t changing the world, but they seem to do just fine as they are, and should they decide going forward to expand on the feedback-laden, grueling pace of “The Prophecy,” they’ll have no problems making friends in the heavy underground.

Sonic Lord on MySpace

Catacomb Records

UK

Were it any longer, they might need something to break it up, but if Grifter?s focus is on simplicity — which according to the title of the release (and I see no reason for them to lie), it is — then they?ve got that down. Four songs, no lush intros or outros. In and out in about 16 minutes. The disc opens with a riff and closes with someone shouting, ?Fucking cunt,? in a charming British accent, leading to inevitable giggling. You get verses, choruses, bridges and endings. They supply the stoner groove, you supply the head bobs, everyone gets loaded and that?s the way it goes down.

Their last EP, 2008?s High Unholy Mighty Rollin? was a little thicker sounding in the guitars, but the less-metal and more-rocking vibe of The Simplicity of the Riff is Key works in the context of this clearer production. There?s a live barroom feel to opener ?The Voices? the band?s prior work just didn?t have. ?Blind Rat Swarm? keeps the tempo on pace, and ?Pendulum? brings a bluesier side for the punkish upswing of ?I, Jesus? to exploit as it finishes out the proceedings. And then it?s done. The end, see you next time.

That there are bands like Grifter hiding out in the forests of Britain can?t possibly be a bad thing, and if anyone out there needs their palette cleansed from the rigid complexities of the rock/metal underground (as we all do occasionally), here?s a power trio with a pint that?s got your name on it. Words like ?generic? and ?samey?? Don?t bother. Don?t over-think it. Grifter wants you to shut down your brain for 15 minutes and rock out. Doesn?t seem like such an unreasonable request. Simple enough.

Grifter on MySpace

Catacomb Records