Freedom Hawk Update

So, I ordered the cd, and have been trying to get into it.  Holding On is a little different than Freedom Hawk's earlier stuff.  "Bandito" is way cool though, and "North Swell" and "Indian Summer" rock as well.  They probably could've left a few of the tracks off entirely though.  However, other than that, it's not a bad effort by the Virginia Beach band.  Overall it's a good album.  I think I just had my expectations a little too high.

New Freedom Hawk Album!

I hope everyone is having a great start to the weekend. This post should've been made about a month ago, but I just let it slip my mind. When I saw Freedom Hawk with ASG last year at The Brew Station in Kill Devil Hills, NC, I was immediately converted. I had listened to some of their music, but just never got into it. After witnessing their blistering live performance, I thought I'd give them a second chance. They've become a staple in my musical diet and I'm thoroughly excited about the new album.  If you like groovy, stoner metal and hard rock, you'd probably enjoy this band.

The new album is to be released on Small Stone Recordings (http://www.smallstone.com) Late Summer/Early Fall on CD with a 180g Vinyl LP to follow. The new album titled “Holding On”, with the cover illustrated/painted by Alexander Von Wieding.

These are the track names in no particular order.

Thunderfoot
Flat Tire
Edge of Destiny
Magic Lady
Standing in Line
Bandito
Living for Days
Her Addiction
Zelda
Nomad
North Swell
Indian Summer
Faded


Check out the band at: http://www.freedomhawkband.com/

ASG & Motorhead!

ASG never fails to impress. Check this out!

ASG continues to rock!

ASG in the OBX. It was an amazing show.

Karma To Burn - V

Hello all.  I hope everyone has plans to enjoy this lovely weekend.  Running across this yet to be released gem, I trust it will be a fruitful weekend.  Karma To Burn is an instrumental stoner, hard rock outfit from Morganton, WV.  These fella's know how to rock.  They opened for The Sword when I saw them a few months back, and put on an awesome show.  Check out some video from that show HERE. 

Freedom Hawk Coolness

Hey everyone!  They had this sweet widget up on the Freedom Hawk website and I thought it would be a good way to share some of their outstanding music again.  Enjoy.
 

Careful with that...

I've recently had some luck unearthing some epic music the past few weeks.  Clutch is one of my favorite bands, and I am pleased to find out that they are embarking on a short headlining tour in the U.S. in the near future.  There are details on their website.  This EP was a promo sent to radio stations and such.  According to Discogs, the cover art came from a contest held on the band's website, and the band chose the winner.  Several of the songs can be found elsewhere, but the radio edit of the title track is neat if you haven't heard it.  It's mixed a little differently.  And, the last song, Frankenstein, is an extended cut that is exclusive to this promo EP.

Enjoy some Clutch and show some love if they come to a city near you.

Songs for the Death

Songs for the Death (Alternate Versions from the album 'Songs for the Deaf')

Track Listing:

1		You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar But I Feel Like A Millionaire (Rough Version)	2:36
2		No One Knows (Orchestral Arrangement. No Guitar Solo. Piano Conclusion)	4:44
3		Firth It Giveth (Slow. Rough Version)	3:18
4		Hanging Tree (Album Version. Unmixed)	3:07
5		Go With The Flow (Rough Version. Added Percussion)	3:04
6		Do It Again (Alternate Lyrics)	2:48
7		God Is On The Radio (No Reverb On Guitar & Drums)	5:43
8		Another Love Song (Album Version. Unmixed)	3:01
9		Song For The Deaf (Instrumental)	5:01
10		Mosquito Song (Alternate Vocal & Guitar Arrangements. Minus Alain Johannes Guitar)	5:36

I ran across this extremely rare gem at a local record store that has re-emerged here in Johnson City, TN. Backdoor Records was home to this outstanding find.  Most rock fans will probably need no introduction to Songs for the Deaf.  Queens of the Stone Age has become quite a musical force in the alternative rock, stoner rock world.  This album is a collection of some alternate mixes and versions of songs from the previously mentioned QOTSA classic.

I have been able to find very little information about this release, if anyone has any additional info, let me know.  Also, if this one is new to you, leave a comment.  I was really excited about this find, I hope you guys are too.

Righteous Fool

These fellows opened for Clutch and Kylesa when I saw them on New Year's at the Orange Peel.  Great sound, but I would hope so coming from a couple of Corrosion of Conformity veterans.  This is just the two song EP, but they are two good songs.  An excellent blend of metal, hard rock, and stoner rock.

The story about how I got these songs is pretty neat, if anyone would be interested, just ask.  I got these from the source, with some awesome customer service.  Righteous Fool is in the studio recording the full length and it should be around soon.  Keep a check on these guys.

Causa Sui

Being that these guys are in my list of favorite bands at the moment and have been a constant source of amazing music in my ears for months now, I feel this post is a little overdue.  Causa Sui is a Danish trio consisting of Jonas Munk: Guitars, keys, electronics & vocals; Jess Kahr: Bass; and Jakob Skøtt: Drums & percussion.  

Today I’ll focus on their Summer Sessions Vol. 1-3.  They have also released a self-titled album and Free Ride.  According to the band’s website, the Summer Sessions consist of hefty doses of “mindbending stoner-kraut-psych-jazz freakouts” that they consider to be a “series of loose, experimental albums.”  My descriptions will probably fall short, but I just love these three albums.  They really do flow together as a whole project.

Vol. 1 is pretty laid back with a very long (24:42) opener and three other fairly long tunes.  All of them are pretty relaxed jams that do not get repetitive like many psychedelic jams.  Causa Sui adjusted well to working as a trio, and the songs seem to combine psych and jazz very well while maintaining a great sense of rock.  The first installment in this series was released August 2008.



Summer Sessions Vol. 1 Track Listing
1. Visions of Summer (24:42)
2. Red Sun in June (8:06)
3. Portixeddu (7:39)
4. Soledad (7:48)

Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 make an unexpected, yet fitting departure from Vol. 1 by incorporating some saxophone.  It provides an interesting layer to Causa Sui’s already thick, spacey (but not too electronic) sound.  It really is amazing how they construct such complex sounds and maintain such a stripped down approach.  Vol. 3 is the heaviest of the bunch with huge riffs and a great feel. 

Summer Sessions Vol. 2 Track Listing
1. Sun Prayer (1:06)
2. Rip Tide (5:28)
3. The Open Road (14:17)
4. Cinecittá (3:27)
5. Tropic Of Capricorn (23:01)

Summer Sessions Vol. 3 Track Listing
1. Eugenie (8:09)
2. Red Valley (9:50)
Manifestations Of Summer (15:38)
3. Lonesome Traveler (3:28)
4. Santa Sangre (8:23)
5. Venice By The Sea (3:47)



If you dig on psychedelic, stoner, kraut, 70’s rock you should definitely give these guys a listen.  Summer Sessions Vol. 1-3 can be sampled at Causa Sui’s myspace page and the vinyl and cd sets can be purchased at All That Is Heavy.  I’ll try to get some follow up reviews on their first two albums and Pewt'r jjjjj (side band of Causa Sui and guitarists Jørgen Teller & Ron Schneiderman of Sunburned Hand of the Man).

Images courtesy of causasui.com

Lo Pan - Sasquanaut

Another batch of groovy stoner rock I've been jammin' to lately.  This is the first cut of Lo Pan's Sasquanaut.  This one is self-released.  They recently signed with Small Stone Records and it's been re-released with some remixing and remastering.  I've not heard the remasters, but this one is pretty kickin' as it is.  Some elements of Kyuss, Orange Goblin, Sabbath, and the like make up this rockin' gem.  This is truly some gritty and fuzzy rock that should definitely be played loud. 


Buy

If you like this one, their debut was posted here.