Long time coming again, it depends on the support and interest. Here is a new review section, hope you might find something.

Demo /EP reviews Volume 24

Asteroid (Swe) – Same A new name in the same cosmic DOOM tradition from the same area as Witchcraft and Burning Saviours, Örebro, its funny cause this town produces quite some combos with a interesting concept, first came Norrsken and out of them came some various names and its still progressing, it might be some magic mushrooms hidden there, also the semilegendary The Strollers came from there. Asteroid have been around the bush since 2003 and this is my introduction to them, a 4 track story and looking at the lyrical themes with titles like 2029 A.D, Time-Space-Mind you see the space concept, but musically it is pretty back to basic sounding and retrostylish and not too far from Witchcraft and the Saviours but the major change is that these guys have a more simple guideline and more bass heavy except the uptempo Electric Voodoo that is a bit similar to the early Kyuss stuff around Blues For The Red Sun. My fave is Time-Space-Mind, a slow effective magnificent little shiner with nice emotional riffing. The only fail I can figure out is the production, it’s a bit dry and polished but that maybe is the concept in the standpoint however that is my only problem cause after I have played around 10 times I feel that they should boosted up the volume on the speakers a bit and made it more powerful, but this disc shows talent, that is no doubt, a combo on the way sort of speak. Bonus info is that bassplayer and frontman Johannes Nilsson is kidbrother to Joakim Nilsson, former frontman of Norrsken and now guitarist of Albatros. Info/Order www.asteroid.se mail kim@asteroid.se

BlackJack Blades (US) – Same A new name from the New York scene, BlackJack Blades who introduce themselves with their first offering, a 4 track piece with roots buried in the early 1980s metal on both sides, NWOBHM and early US combos like Riot, Savatage, Manilla Road and Metal Church to name a few, it does swing this one. BlackJack Blades formed after frontman/guitarist Eric Baestlein left L.A after several years to head back to his native New York where his original combo Lost Breed originally started from before they went to California and later released two great albums for the Hellhound label and the combo that came out of the ashes of Lost Breed, The Vengeance Brothers that made some demos and like Lost Breed gigged quite extensively on the L.A scene. Note also that Lost Breed had Wino for a short stint in the late 1980s. This is a powertrio BlackJack Blades and they have so far done several gigs at various N.Y clubs beside this demo that they hope to bring some luck for a deal. After have spent quite some time with it, basically on the cause Eric since I am a longtime fan of his playing I am impressed with the stuff that is in here. It is as stated very 1980s sounding but with a modern feel to it, its definitely a hardrocker done with a glimpse of an eye. It has a simple attitude, its tight and rocking and a good groove into it, I dig the production as well, that helps to bring out a good concept. The last tune have snatched off The Sabs After Forever a bit, that is obvious, its my fave tune actually a great tripper with a nice flow. Eric Baestlein have come a long way after various turmoils and with his mates in BlackJack Blades have they made a very cool disc with a quality that stands out. Get this one if you are a fan of good metal. Info/Order www.blackjackblades.com mail eric@blackjackblades.com

Borgo pass (US) – Nervosa Nervosa is the latest give from Borgo Pass, the N.Y combo have featured on these pages in the past. This is a 11 tune disc and still self issued, that is the weird thing this should be label supported, maybe a label with enough effort and support will take care of Borgo Pass and give them a break. Borgo Pass have made a number of demos in the past that I had enjoyed and still do and Nervosa is no exception, but I should consider this to the be the first album on the cause of material. Nervosa carries the trademark that the passers have been building on for the last few years, a varied concept mixing wonderful melodylines with a powerhouse dynamic doomy groove, they have put more effort in that on Nervosa and made it more intense and screwing, I am exhausted after have spinned this forwards and backwards a number of times. First the production, it has that specific pulse, its refreshing and very living. The material holds, the mainfactor is the arrangements and it has a varied feel that makes it pleasant and enjoyable to listen to it from acoustics to a mighty crunching sound and James Tamarazzo, what a frontman. I dig his voice, he is moving the mountains with a compact register and a strong passionate feel. My message is that Borgo Pass have made a complete artwork with Nervosa, there is nothing that stands out of the picture. A excellent, wellmade and very productive piece of disc that really stands out. If you haven’t heard Borgo Pass before, buy Nervosa that is the perfect introduction. Info/Order www.borgopass.com mail bsv4@aol.com

Diamond Lil (UK) – Patron Of Hell (Zerlinda) Malc MacMillan, the NWOBHM guru have unleashed a new obscurity in form of a single in 500 copies on his Zerlinda label. The first one I got from him was the Burner single, that I really digged. Burner had a great response and with that as background it is time to release another lost UK combo called Diamond Lil. A 4 piece fronted by Lorna Oakley. Patron Of Hell and flipside The Loser was originally recorded at Spaceward Studio in Cambridge for nearly 30 years ago, 1976 right in the beginning of the NWOBHM period. Iron Maiden had taken their first steps at that time by playing locally in the clubs. Diamond Lil didn’t make much noise and therefore they handed in. What the members went off after Diamond Lil was over its hard to tell. But this single is a monument over this combo and after have spent some time listening to it, I can say that this is not really on the same level as that Burner 45. This is a bit more darker and downtuned but also pretty laidback. I find Patron Of Hell pretty good, its not really a stunning tune but it has a pretty melodic feel and has some charming moods to it. Flipside The Loser doesn’t have too much impact on me, pretty laidback and conventional that is the mainproblem I have. A huge salute to Malc for another digup of early brittish metal. I find Diamond Lil and Patron Of Hell to be a rather cool item to have than for the visual standpoint. Info/Order mail zerlindarecords@hotmail.com

Fall Of The Idols (Finl) – The Pathway Destiny falls to ruins !!!. Cermonial Doomsters Fall Of The idols have returned with a new highly interesting demo and a great progression from their first Agonies Be Thy Children, isn’t these guys signed after this one, I will have a worried mind. Agonies is a killer disc and this one is even more intense and more mournful. The major change from Agonies is that Jyrki Hakomäki have skipped the drums to concentrate on the vocals and left the bashing to Hannu Weckman and this one have a more church feel in the vocal standpoint with the addition of excellent choirs. Another difference from the first one that I feel is that this is even more atmospheric and way more dynamic actually than Agonies.. I dig Fall Of The Idols concept, they keep it pretty back to basic but they have these specific harmonies that sets them above the more standard combos with a passionate sound and the experimentation they have that makes a creative feel. Beside those three tracks that is listed on The Pathway there is a bonus for you, a great piece that follows the concept for The Pathway, fantastic epic ceremonial DOOM. Fall Of The Idols have found a more personal touch on The Pathway even though there are still vibes of the original epic combos but they have carved an inch of their own cause The Pathway really delivers and I am blessed. Info/Order www.falloftheidols.tk mail falloftheidols@yahoo.co.uk

GreatDayforup / Solace (US) – BlackMarket/Hammerhead (Underdogma) A double bash treatment from Underdogma. Nice to see Solace back in action, its been some time and thanx to guitarist Tommy Southard for the copy, more on Solace later. Its been a while I heard anything from Underdogma but its nice to see they are still rolling. Kicking off with GreatDayForUp a new combo for me that introduce themselves with 3 tunes. I have tracked them back to back and the more I hear it, I am getting into it, a pretty varied concept that is positive, a nice production. Here is larming cosmic uptempo stuff to more slow, pounding things with a pretty intense groove. My fave of the bunch is Soul Of A Motherfucker, a nice doomish groover with a emotional concept, pretty darksounding and haunting, that’s my thing. Solace finnish off with 3 tunes and the typical Solace trademark still remains, excellent asskicking tripping heavygroove with Jasons powerhouse vocals on top. Hammerhead and the instrumental Rumble are more slower and intense are Cement Stitches more of a actionpacked number, fast and furious grinding metal. A nice wellmade EP with two interesting combos that creates quite some noise. Info/Order www.underdogma.com GreatDayForUp www.greatdayforup.com Solace www.solacedoom.com

Josh´s Appletree (Swe) – Atomic Fruit Guitarist Hawkan Englund is back on the tracks with his new combo after the closure of Mouth Of Clay that I founded way more entertaining than this disc. Atomic Fruit have 14 tracks and should have been in this album section but this is not a label release so therefore its here. The main difference from Mouth Of Clay to this combo is that M.O.C had a more varied concept, Josh´s Appletree is more a basic back to 70s sound that rolles over into a pretty ordinary travel, this is also way more melodic than M.O.C, the hammonds is there, rough edgy vocals, bluessharped guitarwork and a competent backing section but it’s the performance that matters and the songs, I don’t find that much heart and soul in it. Atomic Fruit feels pretty rushed and not as spontaneous as I thought it would be, I feel that the disc is pretty much a one way ride, simple and not very happening. Next time, I want way more dynamics, more spectrums for expressions and a lot more varied concept, in that way will Joshs Appletree become a much more exciting combo. Atomic Fruit is a disc with very few suprises and basically it is a streamlined retrorock offering packed in the same formula. Good luck with disc number two. Info/Order www.joshappletree.com mail joshappletree@gmail.com

Macrocosmica (UK) – Farewell To Earth ( Trepanner ) This one came out in May this year and have been in the can for quite some time. Farewell To Earth is a 8 piece offering and this Glasgow combo past since they formed 1996 have been a few Scottish BBC sessions, a PEEL session also, a single, a EP, a minidisk, a previous disc called Art Of The Black Earth that came out 2003 and this one. Macrocosmica isnt a couple of young ones, these guys have served their time in combos like Bangtwister, Teenage FanClub, MogWai for example so sure their previous efforts have been some ways of an influence, I can only judge that by listening to this one, I haven’t heard their previous stuff. Farewell To Earth is certainly not uninteresting to listen to. My first impression was that I thought that their concept was a bit complicated cause of the many breaks and bridges that is in here but after a few rounds I am more and more into it. I dig progressive rock but too much technicals can make things boring, Farewell To Earth is a disc that tends at times to be close to that border but with the intensity in the performance it saves it. Farewell To Earth have heavy elements but I wouldn’t call them Doomish in the standpoint, my views is that they have a more independent feel taken from the early Sub Pop tribes and the more alternative UK scene, also there is a darker gothic element at times in their soundpicture. Farewell To Earth is a disc of nice harmonies, a productive artrock sound and good melodies that makes it pretty interesting. Info/Order www.macrocosmica.org.uk mail macrocosmica@hotmail.com

Miserichorde (UK) – Infinity For those who remember there was a UK combo on Hellhound called Year Zero, they did a few stuff on record and a very short support stint to Solstice and Count Raven back in 1994. The YZ folks went their separate way after some time cause of the labels lousy support and the label failed also, but YZ had enough already. Griff the mainman,guitarist and former bassplayer of Cathedral was the first out with a new project called Father after a stint in Black Star, formed by former Carcass mainman Jeff Walker. Now has one more ex-YZ member taken the stand and released the first offering, bassplayer Murray Geddes, the mainman behind Miserichorde. Infinity is for most a instrumental trip of 7 tunes. I am not too found of instrumentals but this is as I understand a test but no matter how much as I try I miss the vocal arrangements on this one, that is a big minus, hey Murray go for it, Griff did it so why not. Musically is the instrumentation quite ok and pretty enjoyable to listen to but I do find one more problem and that is this is too basic and too streamlined sometimes even though there are some nice changes and pleasant melodylines in here. If I had to label it I would say a progressive style with Doomy overtones. For YZ fans and Doom supporters, support Murray. Info/Order stage.vitaminic.co.uk/main/miserichorde2 mail forlorn@skybone.fsnet.co.uk

Roanoke (US) – Stormbringer Its been a while since I reviewed something with only one track that keeps going on forever, one of them was those Jap bores Boris that made an album for Southern Lord and some demo that I cant remember right now. The only ones that have been able to do it so far are Sleep, the grand opus Dopesmoker or Jerusalem as it was later called cause that was devastating and caused a stir. Roanoke is a new combo that introduce themselves with a 31 + minute track called Stormbringer. This is sludgy DOOM core, slow mournful and suicidal all in one take and have been made in the past by combos like Grief, Winter and so on so Roanoke doesn’t present something new, the main thing are this disc entertaining or not. This Portlandbased fourpiece have created something that is right out of the schoolbook for this type of DOOM, there is not too many tempochanges running here, its all basic and pretty much standard so its not too much in this trip that cheers me up, musically it’s a ok concept and the thing is that this type of stuff that Roanoke play are in right now and attracts the new DOOM fans that thinks all those combos that plays slow and suicidal are the real thing and forget that there is a more broader scene. Maybe I am sounding old and bitter but I cant get into it no matter how much I try, this is too conventional and have no actual suprises. Info/Order www.roanokenoise.net

Stöner Kebab (Italy) – Chapter Zero (Dufresne) A very corny bandname, maybe one of the worst I can think of, Stöner Kebab are a Italian combo that have just released this disc on the Italian label Dufresne Records. Chapter Zero doesn’t have too much to offer in a musical and visual standpoint. Old and used ideas for most. In their bio they state that these guys play heavy and drugaddicted, heavy at times and to play psychedelic, you have to live it, a multiuse of chemicals and pills and with no sleep and living on the edge and have a natural progression, these guys doesn’t have it as far as I am concerned. Playing Chapter Zero there are only The March Of The Yellow Wizard that they keep intact, pretty independent sounding and pretty emotional actually and it has some good moods and fine back to basic riffing, beside that one there isnt too much that I dig here, some cool vibes in the opening Cop Song also but overall have this package not much meaning to it. Check em out for yourself Info/Order www.dufresneattack.com Stöner Kebab stonerkebab@libero.it

Troglodyte Dawn (US) – Same (Stone Groove) This one is actually a bit dated, it came out originally 2003 on the label Stone Groove Records. Troglodyte Dawn is based around mainman Randy Michaud that is supported by some guests in terms of some leadguitars and some basslines and with production guidance but this is Randy Michauds trip from start to finnish. I got this one by summer this year from Randy and my first impression was and still are that he have created a very interesting piece that is pleasant to listen to. The main factor that I find here are the varied concept. Here is all kinds of feels and emotions, epic stuff, spacy trips to progressive arrangements along with more uptempo riffing, mr Michaud is not afraid to experiment that is obvious, just hear the various instrumentation that is used here kazoo, digiridoo, noseflute (!), chimes the list goes on beside the usual rock concept, all this arrangements fits the concept perfect. Looking at the lyrical themes here, Randy have used the bible as guidance and that lyrical direction makes the performance even more solid and deep. There is also a few instrumentals here and a great version of The Sabs After Forever. Even though this one is from 2003 are this disc a great piece to listen to. For the listener the concept might be a bit confusing cause it has various twists and turns and be a bit weird at times but it is that type of concept that brings out a wonderful performance. Should please Doomsters, progressive,symphonic fans and various types of genres. Troglodyte Dawn is offering a wide music spectrum. Randy, hope you come up with a follower soon. Info/Order Randy Michaud PO BOX 6244 Peoria AZ 85385 mail trogdawn@cox.net

Gabriel Lilliehook