Danava have always been able to separate themselves from other Iommi-inspired retro rockers by infusing an unabashed weirdness into all that they do. Hemisphere of Shadows, the Portland band’s third full length and first since 2008′s UnonoU, is no exception, and, in fact, the addition of a second guitarist (Andrew Forgash) means the blitzkrieg of riffs are now twined-out to inflict a maximum assault of strange. With a much shorter run-time than previous albums and a decidedly tighter focus, Hemisphere of Shadows finds Danava reigning in their druggy psych-metal jams without strangling them, and without stripping them of their cosmic, downer, prog, and occult flourishes. Danava seem to be so on point here that there’s no way they didn’t record this album at Stonehenge one white hot and foggy night, and with songs like “Shoot Straight With a Crooked Gun,” “The Last Goodbye,” “I Am the Skull,” and “The Illusion Crawls” (featured earlier this year on a split with Lecherous Gaze and Earthless) galloping around like Ichabod Crane in an Iron Claw t-shirt, Hemisphere of Shadows will find all kinds of favour with fans of ’70s freak n’ roll and fuzzy good times.
Saviours’ 2009 album, Accelerated Living, was one of the very first reviews I wrote after launching this blog. Now, almost two years and about 250 reviews later, the Oakland band is back with their fourth full-length, and when most bands at this point find a mature, polished groove in which to fit themselves, Saviours, quite unabashedly, are holding on to that ripped-jean, skate-or-die stoner metal sound like it was the last beer on Earth. The raw, basement-grade quality of Death’s Procession is the perfect platform for the dirge of riffs — both chugging and melodic — on display here; the red-eyed mix of NWOBHM mayhem and slacker thrash come together like an old school stink bomb thrown right into the Grim Reaper’s face. But Saviours only ride the traditional wave so far as the sludgy shore, at which point they stomp around in the wet sand, light a raging fire in some boozy deity’s name, and party all night amid a quagmire of bikers, broads, killers, dealers, and wizards. If we’re both around in another two years and 250 reviews, I guarantee it will be the same damn deplorable business, oh so excellent and brutally bad-ass, because Saviours know no other way in which to excel.
Check out the video for “Crete’n” from Death’s Procession!
Killer threesome of eclectic rock n’ roll from Danava, Earthless, and Lecherous Gaze, each of whom show up to this party flying the freak flag for their respective brand of druggy metal. This cross-label union featuring two Tee Pee bands and one Kemado band is a melting pot of heavy music with the retro-psych rock of Danava’s “The Illusion Crawls,” the 70s stoner boogie of Earthless’ “Demon Eyes” (aka “Woman With the Devil Eye”), and the leather-biting proto-punk of Lecherous Gaze’s “Get You Some” creating one big happy weird beard culture. It’s also a treat for the simple fact that it’s the first new music from Danava and Earthless since 2008 (the Earthless track an especially surprising departure for the band in terms of length, vibe, and the fact that it contains vocals), and it introduces newcomers Lecherous Gaze to anyone unfamiliar with their 2010 Audio Testament demo in proper, esteemed fashion (more on them and their recently released self-titled EP to come later). This is a unique and worthwhile amalgamation, so get on it.
Danava
Saviours
Danava/Earthless/Lecherous Gaze