Siena Root - Pioneers

Artist: Siena Root

Album: Pioneers

Year: 2014

Rating: 88/100

Siena Root have been one of Stockholm's best kept secrets for several years now, and after a hiatus which brought about the arrival of new vocalist Jonas Åhlen, guitarist Matte Gustafsson and organist Erik Petersson to join bassist Sam Riffer (some people are just born with it, I suppose) and drummer Love Forsberg, and the result? "Pioneers", a sprawling, hard blues/stoner jam. The main question is, how does the new look Siena Root look against the old one?

Rather good, as a matter of fact. Jonas Åhlen's delivery is reminiscent in a way of former Spiritual Beggars main man JB (also the main voice of doomers Grand Magus) and guitarist Gustafsson enjoys some serious solo trade-offs with organist Petersson in a riff laden attack that is equal parts reminiscent of the Spiritual Beggars themselves along with older heavyweights such as Deep Purple and even John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. "Root Rock Pioneers" is a jaunty, upbeat jam primarily led by the guitar and organ work, while opener "Between the Lines" sets the tone ideally for the rest of the album, and "The Way You Turn" has some incisive drumming on it. While the full length jamming of their previous efforts might have been phased out a little, there is still plenty of that to really enjoy, particularly to be found on "Root Rock Pioneers", "Keep on Climbing" and their own tribute to the Doors in the form of "In My Kitchen".

While the constant changing of the personnel in the ranks of Siena Root might have hampered them somewhat where consistency is concerned, there is no doubting that "Pioneers" works rather nicely as a stand alone album. Definitely worth your while getting hold of this as a starting place where Siena Root are concerned.

Track Listing:

1. Between the Lines
2. 7 Years
3. Spiral Trip
4. Root Rock Pioneers
5. The Way You Turn
6. Keep On Climbing
7. Going Down
8. In My Kitchen

David Bowie - Blackstar

Artist: David Bowie
Album: Blackstar
Year: 2016
Rating: 90/100

With the passing of David Bowie still fresh in the mind of any and every self respecting music fan at the time of this review going to press, the reality of "Blackstar" being the great man's swansong album is the bitterest pill for many to swallow. His legacy can't be understated, as without him, we would never have had the likes of Bauhaus, the Cure, the Pixies, Sonic Youth, Joy Division, the Killers, Pulp, Marilyn Manson and many, many more.

The album gets going with the title track, a sprawling, ten minute melange of minimalist, sparse accompaniment, punctuated with sax and guitar here and there. It's dark, it's experimental, but most importantly, it shows that Bowie has always been capable of balancing both of these aspects of his work while keeping the tightest focus on his songwriting, From a lyrical perspective, "Lazarus" seems almost to pre-empt his death with lines such as "Look up here man, I'm in danger/I've got nothing left to lose/I'm so high it makes my brain whirl/Drop myself on down below", with the closing line "I'll be free, just like that bluebird" leading into a simply outstanding sax solo showing that even in the throes of what is his final studio album, he still was unafraid to try new things. Elsewhere, "Sue (Or In A Season of Crime)" is another dark, jazzy number punctuated with outstanding jazz drumming and stabs of guitar here and there, "Dollar Days" exudes the weary wisdom that can be heard in Bowie's voice, while closing number "I Can't Give Everything Away" is a melancholic closer set against a much more musically uplifting backdrop, with harmonica and sax breaks. Unsurprisingly, it's this closing number that provides the album's most touching moment.

David Bowie may have known that his time wasn't long while he was recording "Blackstar" but his creative well was a long way off running dry, as it well shows. "Blackstar" is a superb album that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as "Hunky Dory", "Diamond Dogs", "Station to Station", "Low" and "Heroes". A fitting way to end his passage on this planet, and an excellent album all round.

Track Listing:

1. Blackstar
2. 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore
3. Lazarus
4. Sue (Or In A Season of Crime)
5. Girl Loves Me
6. Dollar Days
7. I Can't Give Everything Away

Ignite - A War Against You

Artist: Ignite

Album: A War Against You

Year: 2016

Rating: 80/100

Ignite are back. Yes, Ignite are back, after a ten year hiatus, which involved vocalist Zoli Teglas spend a short stint in the line up of fellow SoCal punk rockers Pennywise, before injuring his back. Once he made a full recovery, Ignite took back to the studio for the first album they've done since the excellent "Our Darkest Days" ten years ago. So what can we expect from this?

Well, much of the same, but in the case of Ignite, that's never a bad thing. Opening track "Begin Again" is the sort of rallying call to arms we can expect from the Orange County quintet, and the tracks hit harder than a boxer's uppercut, with hit after hit supplementing their attack, as is to be expected. "Oh No Not Again" is a singalong with massive choruses to match the riffs, "Where I'm From" and "The Suffering" are angry diatribes about how the world could be a much better place than it actually is, while the title track "This is a War" and "Rise Up" offer some slower alternatives to Ignite's attack, enough to make the listener imagine that Ignite must be an excellent live band.

Although it's not quite "Our Darkest Days" (although let's face it, it'd be a hard push to match that album in terms of sheer brilliance), "A War Against You" is the kind of return Ignite and their fans were hoping for to give a voice back to those without one. If you're looking for a gateway to Ignite and their music, this would be an excellent place to start.

Track Listing:

1. Begin Again
2. Nothing Can Stop Me
3. This is a War
4. Oh No Not Again
5. Alive
6. You Saved Me
7. Rise Up
8. Where I'm From
9. The Suffering
10. How Is This Progress?
11. You Lie
12. Descend
13. Work

Hear and There's Top 20 albums of 2015

This year has been a bloody fantastic year for music. So much so that picking a top 20 when it came to the year's best albums, it was rather more of a challenge than perhaps it was in recent years for me. Anyway, I have compiled the first official Hear and There top 20 albums of the year list, and it looks a little something like this:

20: Doomtree - All Hands

My first exposure to the Minneapolis hip hop collective. An album with some sterling work by rappers and producers alike, 

19. Calexico - Edge of the Sun

Beautifully miserable Americana from the Californians. Joey Burns's wonderful melancholic mid-range baritone dips and soars at the right moments. A good follow up to "Algiers".

18. Gentleman's Pistols - Hustler's Row

Riffs, riffs and more riffs from the Leeds quartet, now signed to Nuclear Blast. It's like they never went away on this showing.

17. Harm's Way - Rust

Things you expect from hardcore punk: it's succinct, it makes its point with minimal fuss and it hits harder than an uppercut from Anthony Joshua. Mission accomplished on all three points from Harm's Way.

16. Monolord - Vaenir

Swedish doom trio that make enough noise for nine; slow, heavy and bassy as hell, just like it should be. Topped off nicely with a superb set at Desertfest in Antwerpen.

15. Between the Buried and Me - Coma Ecliptic

Showing just how far they have come from having done "The Silent Circus" with one of the most mature efforts they've put out to date. Powerful musicianship and songwriting as always from the North Carolina quintet.

14. Ufomammut - Ecate

First taste of the Italian doom trio with an album that sounds like the musical equivalent of an erupting volcano. Slow, low and heavy, just how it ought to be.

13. Of Monsters and Men - Beneath the Skin

Trademark quirky, catchy guitar pop from the fun loving, eccentric Icelanders. Recognition on a wider scale should definitely be on the cards for them after this one.

12. The Tallest Man on Earth - Dark Bird Is Home

A fuller sound from Kristian Matsson and his cohorts, along with a few gambles that pay off huge dividends. The album that could well catapult him into full blown superstardom.

11. Imperial State Electric - Honk Machine

More classic rock/garage punk excellence from Nicke Andersson and Dolf de Borst. With rumours of a Hellacopters reunion on the cards (including top billing at next year's Sweden Rock), the Electric show no signs of slowing down with this all round superb effort.

10. Graveyard - Innocence and Decadence

I'll be damned if "The Apple and the Tree" wasn't one of the catchiest, if not the catchiest straight up rock and roll tunes I've heard all year. A welcome return to the fold for Truls Mörck did them no harm at all, either.

9. Mutoid Man - Bleeder

Stephen Brodsky. Ben Koller. Lots of wonderfully ugly noise and ear bleedingly brutal riffs. No more really needs to be said than that.

8. Bjork - Vulnicura

The genius turned 50 in style this year with, quite frankly, the best album she's released since "Post" twenty years ago. Not easy listening by any means, but a strong release that offers more on every listen.

7. Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color

Brittany Howard was a name that passed by everyone's lips at some point this year, and "Sound & Color" was a significant reason why. Blistering blues rock that didn't let go for a minute once you started listening.

6. Enslaved - In Times 

Continuing to plough their own furrow and doing as they please has paid off for Enslaved for years, but none more so with one of their most impressive albums of recent years. Long may they continue putting out work as brilliant as this.

5. Clutch - Psychic Warfare

I wouldn't own every single one of Clutch's albums if I didn't feel they weren't doing something right, and this is no exception. Yet another album where Clutch establish themselves as the best rock and roll band in the world going right now.

4. Elder - Lore

Another band I'm relatively new to that seriously impressed me this year. A band not afraid to change things up if they'd done an idea repeatedly, with some serious riffs and musical chops to boot.

3. Beach House - Depression Cherry

A warm, soothing balm to the soul; the musical equivalent of taking a long, relaxing bath and not wanting to move for a good hour. Filled with warm synths, simplistic guitar parts and Victoria Legrand's wonderfully smooth vocals.

2. Riverside - Love, Fear and the Time Machine

The Polish prog metallers set the bench mark for what should make a great prog album with this one; simple ideas that sound complex without coming off as too self indulgent, coupled with Mariusz Duda's heartfelt, outstanding vocals and lyrics. A simply jaw dropping piece of work.

AND THE WINNER IS......

1. Baroness - Purple

After bus crashes and setbacks galore, Baroness returned in style at the tail end of 2015 with this absolute monolith to knock us all for six. With a UK and European tour coming up in early 2016, I can't wait to hear this one's songs live in all their glory.

Baroness - Purple

Artist: Baroness
Album: Purple
Year: 2015
Rating: 96/100

It is said that sometimes, the further you fall, the higher you bounce back, and that adage couldn't be more true for Baroness if it tried. After their tour bus crashed in Bath when over this side of the pond for their tour on the back of double album "Yellow & Green", Baroness main man John Dyer Baizley took some time out to recuperate, regroup and bring Baroness back to the studio with a brand new line up. The end result is this, "Purple". So, the burning question; is it any good?

Actually, it's pretty damn spectacular! The Savannah quartet have returned with not so much a bang, but more a full blown explosion as the album bursts into life. Opening track "Morningstar" makes the listener feel like they've been bludgeoned with one from the word "go", while tracks such as "Shock Me" and "Chlorine and Wine" show the listener that the Baroness they all know and love is well and truly back after the curveball that was "Yellow & Green", a much more instantaneous beast than first thought by many, but beset with too many inconsistencies. Elsewhere, "Kerosene", "The Iron Bell" and "Desperation Burns" are typically hard hitting with some wonderfully silly spots thrown in, "Fugue" sounds like an early 70s instrumental soul jam before normal service resumes, and John Dyer Baizley seems vocally to be in as fine fettle as ever, his uplifting tuneful bellow resonant and clear as always.

Like the proverbial phoenix rising from the flames, Baroness are back with the bang that they truly hoped for. "Purple" establishes them as one of the finest sludge metal acts in the here and now, and should rightly get them the positive attention that they surely deserve. Outstanding stuff.

Track Listing:

1. Morningstar
2. Shock Me
3. Try to Disappear
4. Kerosene
5. Fugue
6. Chlorine & Wine
7. The Iron Bell
8. Desperation Burns
9. If I Have To Wake Up (Would You Stop the Rain?)
10. Crossroads of Infinity

Wounded Cross - Bonecrusher

Artist: Wounded Cross
Album: Bonecrusher
Year: 2015
Rating: 76/100

Newcomers Wounded Cross hail from Rugby, Warwickshire, coming together through a mutual love of rock and roll, dirty guitar riffs and traditional doom metal in the vein of the likes of Black Sabbath and the equally legendary Saint Vitus. Vocalist Graham Bliss leads the quartet with more of a Wino-inspired mid-range howl as opposed to a higher register wail, but still leads the quartet by example.

The three tracks on offer on "Bonecrusher" are three monoliths of doom, with small pockets of outside influence to be found here and there. Guitarist Tommy Love's classical training comes into play more than once with some excellent lead riffs and solos. Drummer Paul Revell's roots lie primarily in metal, and that can be heard for all on opening number "Biocentrism", with some subtle double-kick drum work and powerful fills. Graham Bliss's vocals and lyrics form the backbone of the songs, and while his delivery isn't highly polished, it works well enough to sustain the listener's interest. "Biocentrism" and "Bonecrusher" offer the more traditional side of doom metal, but where Wounded Cross mix things up a bit comes in the form of closing track "Ashes", offering a slower, more reflective take on their aural assault before building to their traditional sound again.

On the whole, "Bonecrusher" is a short but sweet offering from these newcomers. It feels a little disappointing that it finishes so quickly, but there's enough to sustain the listener's interest. I'd like to hear what they could do with a full length offering in the not too distant future.

Track listing:

1. Biocentrism
2. Bonecrusher
3. Ashes

GIG REVIEW: Graveyard, O2 Academy 2, Birmingham

Headliner: Graveyard
Date: 3rd November
Venue: O2 Academy 2, Birmingham
Support: Imperial State Electric
Rating: 10/10

Imperial State Electric's Nicke Andersson is conspicuous by his absence tonight. The former Entombed and Hellacopters main man is not well, owing to an illness that caused him to lose part of his hearing. However, Nicke is clearly a firm believer in the old rock and roll adage of "The show must go on", and for that reason Imperial State Electric are here as a power trio tonight, led more than ably by former Datsuns bass player Dolf de Borst. The three-quarter strength Imperial State Electric, as a result, rip enthusiastically through a set of new and old material that they had to rework as a power trio, including such gems as "I'll Let You Down", "Reptile Brain", and an absolutely barnstorming cover of the Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer". If they're this good as a power trio, I can only imagine how good they might be with Nicke back in the fold.

Graveyard, on the other hand, are at full strength, and they're on the attack right from the word go with forceful renditions of "Magnetic Shunk" and "Hisingen Blues" setting the tone early on in their set. The big hitting songs just keep on coming, though; newly rejoined bass player Truls Mörck takes the lead vocal mantle for a rousing version of "As the Years Pass By, the Hours Bend", their first foray into blue eyed soul, "Too Much is Not Enough" is warmly received by the crowd, and "Lost In Confusion" makes a welcome return to the set. To close the regular set off, Graveyard give us the always brilliant "Blue Soul" and "Uncomfortably Numb", before giving us a brilliant four song encore. First, singer and guitarist Joakim Nilsson emerges for the solo number "Stay For A Song", before the rest of the band rejoin him and wind things up nicely with "Apple and the Tree", "Ain't Fit to Live Here", and a simply outstanding performance of "The Siren". All in all, a fantastic little gig.