TONS Wax on Pandemic Malaise in “Slowly We Pot”
TONS have been a mainstay of the Heavy Psych Sounds label since their inception and I’ve grown to adore their deftly downtuned and savage sound, even if they aren’t (yet) among the better known names in the doom scene. The Turin band’s sound is huge, and in its own strange way cleansing.
The song before is the latest single from the Italian fistfull (which I listened to at least a half-dozen times when I first heard it), who are all set to release their new record ‘Hashension’ (2022) next month. “Slowly We Pot” starts out with gnarly bass that scratches away at the concrete of our civilized cage. Doomed-out guitars follow, tuned to a wintery conglomeration of dismal clouds and rainy drizzle.
The sludgy death vocals are some of the sickest I’ve ever heard, a notch dirtier than Bongzilla (whom they also shared a recent split) and just about reaching levels of Reptile Master and Dopethrone nasty. I’d hate to see those raw throats after two weeks of cross-continental touring!
Expect Hashension by TONS to release on some wild and crazy vinyl variants on October 7th (pre-order here). Slap it on a playlist with Conan, Clouds Taste Satanic, and Lucifungus.
Give ear…
SOME BUZZ
Tons formed in 2009 with members of hardcore bands from the Turin scene (The Redrum, Lama Tematica and NoInfo). Slow and heavy sounds take the place of the frenetic HC rhythms; the texts speak about weed in an ironic way, but also about a certain tendency to esotericism that characterizes the city of Turin. In 2010 they recorded a demo and in 2012 the first full length “Musineè Doom Session”, recorded by Danilo “Dano” Battocchio, was released for the Turin-based Escape From Today and for the Roman Heavy Psych Sounds. In 2013 a split with Lento from Rome came out and Tons began to plow the European venues, opening the stage for bands like Bongzilla, Unsane, Church of Misery, Napalm Death, Pentagram, and many others.
In 2014 they were invited to play at the Duna Jam in Sardinia and at the Incubate Fest in Tillburg (NL). In 2015 the drummer Marco Dinocco left the band and was replaced by Andrea Peracchia (Dogs for Breakfast/Slaiver). Paolo Paganelli (Woptime/Linea77) was also added as a solo guitarist. In 2018 the second full length of the band “Filthy Flowers of Doom” was released for Heavy Psych Sounds Records, which would bring Tons again around Europe in 2018 and in 2019.
After the infamous split album with the almighty Bongzilla, Tons are back with their third full-length studio album. Hashension is composed by 6 heavy reefer songs which express the band’s devotion to the Green God. The recipe is the same, but always evolving: an infusion of slow and swampy doom/sludge metal with hints of psychedelia, and the band members’ hardcore-punk background gives the record a groovy and personal feel throughout.
THE DOOMED & STONED SHOW
Recorded during the weekend of RippleFest Texas, this week’s show focuses on new music from Hippie Death Cult, Mammoth Volume, Planet of the 8s, Conan, and more!
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PLAYLIST:
INTRO (00:00)
1. Planet of the 8s - “Raised By Night” (00:31)
HOST SEGMENT I (07:42)
2. Mezzoa - “Where’d You Go” (23:32)
3. Hippie Death Cult - “Nice to Know You” (26:23)
4. Deadly Vipers - “Big Empty” (32:18)
5. Psychlona - “ 1975” (37:48)
HOST SEGMENT II (43:52)
6. Lamassu - “Chokehold Companion” (52:52)
7. Mammoth Volume - “Diablo IV” (59:26)
8. High Tone Son of a Bitch - “John the Baptist” (1:04:50)
9. Mantar - “Grim Reaping” (1:13:09)
HOST SEGMENT III (1:17:15)
10. Obiat - “Acid Wake” (1:31:32)
11. Formation Ritual - “It Summons You” (1:38:14)
12. Birth - “Long Way Down” (1:43:47)
13. All Souls - “I Dream” (1:51:04)
OUTRO (1:54:18)
14. Tons - “A Hash Day’s Night” (BONUS) (1:55:27)
15. Conan - “Righteous Alliance” (BONUS) (2:01:34)
CREDITS
- Theme Song: Dylan Tucker
- Thumbnail Art: Conan
- Incidental Music: Hellvetika
THE DOOMED & STONED SHOW
There’s been a lot of buzz this week about something called THE DOOMIES. We’ll tell you all about the forthcoming Doomed & Stoned Awards, how it became a thing, and when it’s goin’ down. Speaking of which, you should promptly visit Doomies.net and cast your ballot, as voting ends after Friday, April 9th!
Also on the show: we catch up with new doom metal & stoner rock from the likes of Red Fang, King Buffalo, Haunt, Heavy Temple, High Reeper, Cave of Swimmers, and more. PLUS, the return of UK desert-grunge sensation Shallow, back with a new record after 21 years!
The Doomed & Stoned Show is now playing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, Soundcloud, Mixcloud, PlayerFM, and streaming platforms everywhere. Huge thanks to Patrons for making it possible each and every week!
🔥PLAYLIST🔥
☀ INTRO (00:00)
1. Haunt - “In Our Dreams” (00:31)
☀ HOST SEGMENT I (04:08)
2. King Buffalo - “Hebetation” (19:43)
3. Tines - “Thin Blue Line” (24:10)
4. Shallow - “Into The Ether” (28:23)
5. Cave of Swimmers - “Double Rainbow” (31:20)
☀ HOST SEGMENT II (34:46)
6. Red Fang - “Arrows” (44:13)
7. Hecate - “Isobel’s Chambers” (48:06)
8. Robots of the Ancient World - “Mystic Goddess” (51:32)
9. Big Scenic Nowhere - “Murder Klipp” (57:36)
☀ HOST SEGMENT III (1:02:24)
10. High Reeper - “Winter King/Devil’s Grip” (1:09:47)
11. Heavy Temple - “The Maiden” (1:14:16)
12. TONS - “Chronic Morning Obesity” (Part I) (1:19:56)
13. GBVRH - “Sacrifice” (1:27:07)
☀ HOST SEGMENT IV (1:31:53)
14. JIRM - “Tales Of The Future” (1:46:17)
15. The Black Heart Death Cult - “Trees” (1:51:24)
16. Isak - “Ablaze” (1:57:04)
17. Freedom Hawk - “Liftoff” (2:03:44)
☀ OUTRO (2:12:45)
18. Hellamor & Red Stone Chapel - “The Hard Hit Single” (bonus track) (2:13:41)
📝CREDITS
Theme song: Dylan Tucker (Old Blood)
Thumbnail: Art by Luca SoloMacello for Doom Sessions Vol. V (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Incidental music: Hellvetika
THE DOOMED & STONED SHOW
Finally ready to take hold of this New Year, you guys. Thought I’d start out the first episode of The Doomed & Stoned Show with a bombastic mix of old year and new year, with music by:
- Yob - “The Screen” (00:12)
- Eagle Twin - “Heavy Hoof”(09:59)
- Boar - “12” (17:20)
- Beldam - “Beauty’s Martyr” (25:56)
- Thee Plague of Gentlemen - “Your Love is King (Of The Dead)” (32:21)
- WOORMS - “Mouth is a Wound” (39:42)
- ChronoBot - “On The Level” (43:38)
- ETHEREAL - “Holy Sage” (48:01)
- Bismuth - “The Eternal Marshes” (55:19)
- TONS - “Those of the Unlighter” (1:11:41)
- Bardo - “Ocaso” (1:18:34)
- Cultura Tres - “Black Sabbath (cover)” (1:24:07))
- Frayle - “Things That Make Us Bleed” (1:31:41)
- Soom - “Under A Gleam The Dream Is Hidden” (1:37:15)
- Drug Cult - “Serpent Therapy” (1:50:37)
- Thunder Horse - “Coming Home” (1:59:34)
- Bible Black Tyrant - “Wilderness of Steel and Stone” (2:06:22)
- Betelzeus - “Congolese Sterilisation” (2:17:37)
*also streaming on Mixcloud, where you’ll find an extensive archive of past episodes! If you dig the music, please support the bands.