VVARP – Power Held In Stone

 

 

VVARP – Power Held In Stone
DHU Records – 2025
Doom, Metal, Occult
Rated: ****

Learning that Melbourne trio VVARP pays tribute and honors the Wurundjeri People Of The Kulin Nation because they recorded their new album Power Held In Stone on their land, warms my heart and soul. I’ve always been fascinated with Australia and it’s original people. And I hope to one day visit the continent. But enough about me, we’re listening to Power Held In Stone and are enchanted by the shamanic doom that it contains. Their soundtrack to the ‘folk horror film that exists only in our collective imagination’ brings it all to life and spreads its tale like a river of mist across your mind. The shimmering sound silhouettes set in stone by the doom stomp, those pounding drums and the rattling bass work. The vocals offset it by its often monastic, chant like nature, turning every composition into a deep and powerful force of vision. Casual listening will not be permitted, you are welcomed and allowed to cross over to realm beyond our perception, but only if you lay down all your reservations and open your mind. VVARP will show you a different reality…

(Written by JK)

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Ibliss - Demonic, Her

 

 

Ibliss - Demonic, Her
DHU Records / Forbidden Place Records – 2021
Doom, Stoner, Occult
Rated: ****

The honor was hours to write a few words about this six-track release for the January Doom Charts; six tracks which will soon find your way on vinyl and cd respectively through DHU Records and Forbidden Place Records.  The lo-fi Demonic, Her album by Malaysian three-piece formation Ibliss will immediately give you the chills! The raw, gritty and filthy sound tends to do that; especially when you feel the demonic breath of her occult offering the entire time behind your ear. Aah yes, the sinful properties of man, that vintage spilling of blood, dancing on a tightrope between creepy and catchy, Ibliss translates it all into something hallucinatory and mesmerizing. And even though the lo-fi live setting, the occult lyrical content might give you the chills, it will also put a smile on yer face. Cause you hear without any doubt that the three had an absolute blast recording this majestic release. Demonic, Her is one hell of a demonic, debut!  

(Written by JK)

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Häxan – Aradia

Häxan – Aradia

Fuzzed & Buzzed Records / DHU Records – 2020

Rock, Proto, Doom, Blues, Occult

Rated: ****

As we struggle  to whittle down the amount of albums we choose as the best ones released during March, we are completely awed again by the amount of great music. So much, so many. And then we come across the new Häxan album Aradia… And we get the shivers… And right after that we get to write the blurb for the March Doom Charts for Aradia… As we wonder through those sounds of yore, the blues of yesteryear, that aged doom and the proto-metal that started it all you realize that there weren’t that many bands that did it as good as Häxan does today. On their new album Aradia we hear that occult touch done with a golden shimmer! With a wicked glint in their eyes the foursome give a record filled concise rockers that all seem to mesmerize. Pulling you ever nearer to the bubbling cauldron… Aradia, a brilliant album that touches you right there… Where all the shivers start…

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 5 artists listened to last week…

Stoner HiVe’s

Top 5 artists listened to last week…

Space Raptor

The Imperial Mustard

The Red Widows

Orbiter

Russian Circles

During the heatwave, everything took a backseat. Even though I thoroughly love the heat, it does become a bit absurd when the temperature keeps hitting the 40 degrees and the house warms up to 30 or even more. A one or two hot sweaty nights are doable, but if they’re like that every night, it starts to get very ugly… We listened to some music, definitely, but dug up a lot of old favorites. The great ones from yore… Kyuss ofcourse. When the desert heat is upon us, one has to play Kyuss… But as for new releases: Galactic Shenanigans by Space Raptor worked nicely! Out since May, the German quartet definitely delivered some good instrumental psychedelic heaviness! Another German outfit that got quite some spins was the new The Imperial Mustard slab of kraut rock called You. Out on DHU Records is the new The Red Widows album, stoner doom, dusty and dark, named Fuzzifixion. Orbiter, the Florida USA one, releases Southern Failures! Man, that became a quick favorite! It’s stoner, it’s sludge, it’s doom, it’s punk and it’s Sabbath and it’s so much more! Started spinning the new Blood Year by Russian Circles only yesterday, but then quickly could not get enough! Hottdamn, they outdid themselves there and it will be spinning for a long time come! So, go on, check’m out, check’m all out! Cause they kick ass!