Abrahma
Through the Dusty Paths of Our Lives
Small Stone

In 2005, Sebastien Bismuth (vocals, guitar), Nicolas Heller (guitar), Guillaume Colin (Bass), and Benjamin Colin (drums) started their rock n’ roll life as Alcohsonic, a bluesy, torn-jean unit, and as such they released one album, one EP, and a single, but their hard rockin’, chicks-dig-it good times didn’t last. Given their name it might be fun to assume they checked themselves into musical rehab, and that particular premise would then make Abrahma their clean, spiritual return to the fold. Mighty, mystical, and full of the power of purpose, this version of the Parisian quartet prefers the desolate desert to the badly-lit barroom, the smoky swamp to the neon avenue, and it’s clear from the deep n’ groovy throw down that is Through the Dusty Paths of Our Lives that this was a resurrection borne of thunder and doom. In fact, after busting out with a trio of mountain-sized statement songs (“Neptune of Sorrow,” “Tears of the Sun,” “Dandelion Dust”) this album proceeds to run the stoner rock gamut throughout the course of its 15 songs, from heavy psyche (“Headless Horse,” “The Maze”) to stomp n’ slide (“Honkin’ Water Roof,” every song in the “Vodun” trilogy) to spacey colossus (“Big Black Cloud,” “…Here Sleep Ghosts” [the former featuring guitar solos courtesy of Ed Mundell]), all of it serving as one hell of a start to a brand new day.

Listen to “Neptune of Sorrow” from Through the Dusty Paths of Our Lives!

Sonic Avenues
Television Youth
Dirtnap Records

As I write this, my one-and-a-half year old daughter is no doubt being babysat by cartoons, which says more about the power of DJ Lance Rock or Toopy and Binoo than it does my parenting skills, believe me. But at least there’s hope. Her age is an advantage, and given the right tools — crayons, stickers, books, toy drums, dance moves — my cute little ball of clay may one day have the brain power and artistic fortitude to combat high definition zombification. Of course, she’ll need a like-minded crew of pop weasel funsters with which she can run, some true-blooded twenty-somethings that are environmentally sharp and politically smart. And should she call me one day from her cozy, TV-free apartment in Montreal, where her and some of her electrically-charged, vociferous idea machines share a living — and creating — space, seeking my sage council and wise advice, I’ll tell her the garage punk fuzz of Sonic Avenues’ Television Youth is the perfect accompaniment to her Gen Z groove. It’s biting, melodic, furious, hip, Denton-driven, and just as powerful as fashion and booze. Change the world, I’ll say. Break them of their spell.

Listen to “Television Youth” and “OCD Vibes” from Television Youth by Sonic Avenues!

I prefer to review albums the year they are released in order not to appear dated, but sometimes albums find their way to me the following calendar year. I respect the effort (and, in some cases, money) bands put into sending me their music for review, so the least I can do is give them some blog time. Here’s a quick run through some music that was released in 2011, because it’s never too late…

Black Rainbows
Supermothafuzzalicious!!
HeavyPsychSounds Records

The title of Black Rainbows’ third full-length should be enough to break the handle right off yer crank, but in case you need extra convincing, this is some hot-as-the-sun Italian boogie doom from a power trio who are dwarfed only by the stacks through which they blast this dynamite rock. They sounded a lot like Kyuss on their 2007 debut Twilight in the Desert, but they’ve since molded their raw and green stoner sound into something heavier and bluesier, which means they now stomp and howl like a Small Stone band junked out on stardust and motor oil. Oh yeah.

Listen to “Behind the Line” from Supermothafuzzalicious!!

Shooting Guns
Born to Deal in Magic: 1952-1976
Self-Released

Instrumental psych-metal from Canada’s Shooting Guns, whose magic dealin’ dates should give you an indication of where they mined the fuzzy nuggets that fill this black sack ’cause the whole thing sounds like a 60s-fried stomp through a field of bear traps in foggy moonlight. Take the hairy doom of “Dopestrings” and “The Last Great Depression,” the acid drone of “Harmonic Steppenwolf” and “Liberator,” and the weird garage of “Public Taser” and “Stay Awake Forever” and you’ve got a debut full of toxic nocturnal emissions that’ll jangle your mind just right.

Listen to Born to Deal in Magic: 1952-1976 right here!

Re1ikt
Reki prabili liod
Vigma/BMA

I don’t know how to pronounce the band’s name, nor do I know the translation to any of the song titles or lyrics, but what I do know about this Belarusian band is that they’ve put out a slew of releases since 2008 and their 2011 effort, Reki prabili liod (which I do happen to know means ‘rivers broke through the ice’), is a daunting and epic blend of post-rock and progressive metal with some folk influences mixed in (like their chilling cover of “Rana na Ivana,” a traditional Belarusian folk song). Reki prabili liod contains all the melodic darkness of a Swallow the Sun without any of the death, which I suppose will remind you of bands like Russian Circles or Red Sparowes. With an Eastern European twist, of course.

Check out the video for the song “Reki pad ildom” here!