The Elven – Solstice

 

 

The Elven – Solstice
Spinda Records / Clostridium Records / Echodelick Records – 2025
Rock, Hardrock, Classic, Psych, Roots, Seventies
Rated: *****

Radiating warmth and blissful harmony, the brand new outfit The Elven have released the perfect spring and summer time album with Solstice. Heralding the coming of a new season, a new sound, steeped in love, freedom and the music of yesteryear. With grace and poise they dip their toes in as much of the classic stuff as they can handle, never shying away from using seventies, roots, blues and psych to touch up their hardrock. Ever since the first single Shine was released The Elven has been on heavy rotation over here. And whenever the sun blessed me with its rays, The Elven would be spun first, as we gazed skywards and thanked the energy bestowed upon me. And if you haven’t yet gotten acquainted with this new project through the first single Shine or their second single Closer To Freedom, let us jot down once more who The Elven are. Born during those weird pandemic times, the project is comprised out of bassist Rod Tirado and guitarist/vocalist James Vieco of Saturna fame. Who managed to rope in their friend Isaiah Mitchell from Earthless to lay down his guitar prowess. And with added keyboardist Tabatha Puig from The Capaces and drummer Javi Gómez from Patente De Corso, they managed to get together and write for one whole month. The result of which are the eight songs on the Solstice album... 

Which starts out  with that brilliant Shine track. Not just a single, but a prayer and so soulful, that it will immediately warm every fiber of your being. And those vocals, James Vieco sounds completely in synch with this track, the composition and its meaning, delivering it so pure, honest and with touch of gruff that runs straight from his heart to yours. Far Beyond is that classic seventies stroll, that riverside walk that stops at the pier and has you gaze off into the distance, determined to beat on, boats against the current. Followed by Closer To Freedom, slowing you even more down, to a stop, to an inhale that will fill you with nothing but energy as you let go of all those desperate thoughts, the memories of those ten thousands mistakes, and embrace forgiveness. Translated so beautiful by the vocals and the guitar lines that brush ever so lovely beneath the voice. With New Pair Of Wings, we come to the most current, even pop sensible, track of the album. Light as a feather, its meandering build will surely lift you up and send you off as high as you can possibly be, the flight punctuated by a lovely guitar solo, which stops as the track gets a minutely wilder sequence, until break down. Stand Right Next To Me, with a jazzy touch, courtesy of a saxophone brought to you by Juan Lichter and a guitar that riffs off the sax and the percussion that keeps this comfortable and confident bop and swing going. The longest track on the album, sits so snugly in the middle of the album, it will make you long to dance tightly together with all those stranger you might meet at a roof top party somewhere on a warm and sweltering night. Out The Door, with lovely key work, gives of most of the Black Crowes boogie and the Southern touch they usually bring to the table. But this table is set for you to dance upon, arms constantly in the air and shuffling those like crazy. Slower, gruff crooner, Wherever I Go follows, is that soulful early seventies rock once again, although the guitar tone of the solo also has a bit of middle nineties, but as the keys meander throughout the composition, and the guitar shambles across, the overall atmosphere is that of vintage love once again. Final track All Of A Sudden feels like that peaceful glade in the middle of the forest, filled with flowers and a sun that will always break through the clouds at the perfect moment. It is the instrumental outro, which lets both guitar and piano become that sunray once again, filling you with warmth and understanding. Preparing you for a new time, a new season and a chance to do whatever you need to do. Like a first day of spring can do…

(Written by JK)

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The Elven – Closer To Freedom

 

 

The Elven – Closer To Freedom

It does give off that atmosphere, a spring sun and a form of freedom many of us long for. It’s the new, second single, by that brand new outfit The Elven. The project made up out of members from Saturna and Earthless and who will be releasing their debut album through Spinda Records (ES), in a new collaboration with Clostridium Records (DE) and Echodelick Records (US) on April 3rd. A beautiful song called Closer To Freedom will stop you in your tracks, will make you face the sun and breathe…

PR Wire: 

The Elven drop "Closer to freedom" as their second single...

It's been already a month since The Elven presented themselves to the world with their first-ever single "Shine". But now it's time for "Closer to freedom", the second and last track that they will reveal before April 3, 2025, the date when their debut album 'Solstice' will be released through Spinda Records.

What began at the end of 2020 as an irrational need to compose music by Rod Tirado and James Vieco from Saturna soon took on a different identity when they brought in their friends Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless) on lead guitar, Tabatha Puig on keyboards, and Javi Gómez on drums. In just one month, they wrote the 8 songs that make up this debut album, titled 'Solstice', which they recorded with all the freshness and spontaneity of the moment at the Analog Drive-in Studios, alongside Christian A. Korn at the controls and Dani Pernas as co-producer. Pernas would later handle the mixing before passing the project on to Estanis Elorza for mastering.

Solstice

1. Shine
2. Far beyond
3. Closer to freedom
4. New pair of wings
5. Stand right next to me
6. Out the door
7. Wherever I go
8. All of a sudden

For the graphic design, they once again enlisted an illustration by Jondix (Tool, Black Sabbath, High on Fire, Electric Wizard) and the design by Jalón de Aquiles for a vinyl edition that will be released by Spinda Records (ES), in a new collaboration with Clostridium Records (DE) and Echodelick Records (US), who previously worked together on the debut album by Loma Baja.

'Solstice' will be available on April 3, 2025, and will be released exclusively in digital format and on vinyl; in a limited edition of 300 copies in marbled yellow, which can already be pre-ordered at spindarecords.com.

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Saturna – The Reset

 

 

Saturna – The Reset
Discos Macarras / Spinda Records – 2023
Rock, Metal, Prog, Blues, Psych, Stoner
Rated: ***

As you might know, might have seen, read and heard, we’ve had the honor of premiering their Your Whimsical Selfishness single and naturally also mentioned the follow-up called: The Never-Ending Star. Which means we should definitely write a few words of praise about the full The Reset album as well, right? Of course, cause we absolutely adored the earlier Saturna releases! This time around, they decided to move their psychedelic and stoner rock into more progressive and metal territories, taking everything they do into classic territory. That was already clear after hearing that first single, which opens the album. And that feeling carries over to the second track, The Never-Ending Star, with which we have also already spent quite some time. To hear it continue to, a bit more seventies, and a bit more hardrock on third track Smile, feels like a justification that our instinct was right. The guys want to embrace the metal past and aim for a timeless masterpiece. But continuing with Smile that almost AOR, traditional feeling isn’t all there is, for Smile does bare its teeth, Smile leaves a definite bitemark and that clench and grit only gets dispelled by following track December’s Dust. Twin acoustic guitars, vocal harmonies, a Saturna take on the classic ballad. It could have been written by any of the great rockers of yore. Into The Sun aims for a more proto, seventies, bluesy, Graveyard sounding approach. That blues touch is present in the following A Few Words To Say as well. With a vocal touch that also reminds of the formidable Kamchatka, which means the blues feels completely free of all constraints. A touch also heard in ninth and tenth tracks On Fire and A Way To Reset. That final A Way To Reset is so soulful, warm and completely rounded out. Ending the The Reset album on a high note and with forty-five minutes. The perfect amount for the vinyl treatment. Although the digital version has six bonus tracks, which will be tempting to be purchased as well! Looking back at 2023, I doubt I heard a better and more powerful blues, prog and classic rock statement than The Reset.

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Every week the amount of albums we would love to write about gets bigger and bigger. Unfortunately, we do not have all the time in the world. Cause well, the rent must be paid and we need to keep Mr. Charley of our back. So, we can only do as much as we can. It is however a necessity and obsession. We cannot do without it. And to give a few more singles, eps and albums a bit more attention, albeit little, we started doing that Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday thing. And guess what, it’s Friday again! So here it is, another Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday! And it burns hot like molten lava!

 

Bandshee – Bandshee III

We assume that the title of their new EP hints at the mount of tracks on their new release. Cause, yes sirree, Bandshee III has tracks numbered to the amount of three. Which delivers highly bluesy heavy rock, seventies inspired and touched by a little bit of psych here, grunge there or even stonerrock. Turning it all beautifully soulful and warm. Bandshee III, isn’t enough for me! I personally can’t wait a Bandshee Eight!

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Der Mancha Red – Shame

Very soon the very cool Face Your Underground compilation disk will be out, edition Number 27. Featuring all sorts of heavy underground bands from the Lowlands. Among them, Eindhoven’s ten ton dead body heavy hitters Der Mancha Red! Recorded solely for this compilation, their new single Shame. An emotive, howling and slow-moving dance into the firepits of despair. Or as they stated themselves: “Just in time to spend a nice and melancholic Christmas in the light of witch burning and Gotterdammerung!”

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Face Your Underground

 

Saturna – The Never-Ending Star

Its only about two weeks before the release of their new studio album 'The Reset', but last week Barcelona hard psych rockers Saturna dropped a new single titled "The Never Ending Star". Progressive and seventies oriented, in both metal and hardrock genres, The Never Ending Star brings the goodness for five and a half minutes. So, set your alarm for December 1st and keep an eye out on Spinda Records and Discos Macarras Records for the release!

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Dark Shaman - Evil Ceremony

Italian trio Dark Shaman delivers their new Evil Ceremony EP with a truckload of fuzz and scuzz! Grimy occult, garage doom, dipped in acid and licked by the Four Horsemen. There is something extremely inescapable about this, and as soon as opening track The Black Skull starts its unholy ritual, you know you are in for a hell of a good time. Twenty-two minutes of it to be precise!

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Onda – Onda

Bella zio! More Italy for ya. We mentioned the opening track Ancients back in July, and Italian quartet Onda has now released their self-titled four track EP. Precious alternative rock that moves into progressive, post and has that lovely gothic touch. For yes, the three other tracks deliver all that was good about Ancients, but in abundance. Prized compositions and instrumentation, and on top of all that a wonderful vocalist named Erika Maffi. I’m a fan!

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Glue - Black Earth at His Feet

Glue is a trio from Switzerland, and with the new single Black Earth at His Feet deliver a wild and sprawling instrumental stonerrock and psychedelic metal track. Nine minutes that riff off their progressive side and uses extra ambient touches to paint an extremely detailed atmosphere. Blown away by the entire composition and then to find out they’ve been releasing music since 2019. Onwards and backwards through their music we shall go! Glue'd to the stereo for more heavy Swiss goodness!

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Vantre – Sanji

You in for a fifteen-minute-long adventure through a landscape that marries droning elements to those of freak out rock? Vantre does a whole freaking lot in those fifteen minutes, its math rock, psychedelic, progressive, stoner and so much more! Noisy ruckus one moment and jazzy subdued, yet disturbing confusion the next. Like a predator lying in wait to pounce and eat you whole!

And if you are hungry as just as fast… We’ve got a few codes!


REDEEM HERE

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Northern Heretic - Killing Floor

Heavy band featuring members of Kings Destroy, Eternal Black, Begotten, Reign of Zaius, and End of Hope, straight out of New York, New York the new three called Northern Heretic deliver their Killing Floor single. Doom metal, with attitude! Slow, almost morose grooving, straight out of the gutter and into the filthiest dive bar you can imagine. No pineapple on pizza here, you will get thrown out of the city for trying to order that filth, and the three will see you out. And that end minute or so is them pummeling you silly if you try to get back in…

And for those that understand, the fast and lucky three… We got you a code:

REDEEM HERE

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s
Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…

Jacket Thief
Bismut
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
Acid Throne
Dirty Sound Magnet
Dead Feathers
Saturna
Phe
The Rolling Stones
Rival Sons

Another week in the books. One filled with hectic scrambling to get certain articles done in time. And one filled with a sadness in our bones that we couldn’t attend DesertFest Antwerp this year. But luckily we had so much great music to listen to again! To get us through it all… And hey, Helldorado festival is just around the corner! Plus, whenever Kyle, Reek and even Doktor420 deliver something for the HiVe we always love that week! Did you listen to Bigstrut yet? Or Phe? Or Tumanduumband’s Throne of Grief release? And Doktor420 wrote about his experiences listening to Visite du Temple Inné by Crabe. And since Doktor420 writes something once every two years, this must be something you need to listen to as well! Enjoy the new week! And all that new and heavy music!

International Premiere – Saturna - Your Whimsical Selfishness

 

International Premiere

Saturna - Your whimsical selfishness

We’re honored to bring you yet another premiere this Friday. Another one coming out on that cool Spina Records label out of Spain. Together with La Habitación 235 over in Spain, we’re premiering the new Saturna single today! It’s called Your Whimsical Selfishness and comes from their The Reset album, which will be released on December 1st. The heavy psychedelic rock band is back and tries on a more progressive and metal identity for this track. Choppy, hooks abundant and with intense vocals the track promises to make December a steamy hot month!

Spinda Records · SATURNA - The Reset - 01 - Your whimsical selfishness

Words from the PR wire:

SATURNA RESETS TO FACTORY DEFAULT

Barcelona hard pysch rockers Saturna are back, and that's always good news. 'The Reset' is the title of their fifth studio album and it's coming out on December 1, with a first single "Your whimsical selfishness" and album pre-order out today.

Let's be honest: when you receive a private listen to a yet-to-be-released album and you cannot stop listening to it over and over again, you know you're looking at something very special. Well, something similar has been the feedback received to the email sent by Spinda Records a couple of weeks ago with Saturna's new studio album. With the years, the band from Barcelona has earned a privileged situation in the Spanish hard and heavy rock scene (together with bands such as Cachemira, Bourbon, Electric Alley or Zålomon Grass) thanks to unbelievable albums and epic live shows.

'The Reset' is their new album and it will be out on December 1 via Spinda Records, in collaboration with Discos Macarras, although the advance single "Your whimsical selfishness" is available as from today, at the same time that pre-orders for the album in its physical and digital formats are up and running already) - and keep an eye on the digital edition as it includes live bonus tracks of "A national acrobat" by Black Sabbath and "Come together" by The Beatles.

 

It is evident that the band formed in Barcelona back in 2010 had enought time to grow as musicians and to write these new songs - it is with no doubt their best album to date, and with a significant different in comparison to previous ones. Everything sounds more compact and more real.
"[...] We are very happy with the result achieved for this new album. In it you'll find a mixof 70s hard rock and psychedelia, but also acoustic moments and killer riffs. We really think that this fifth album is our more eclectic one, and we cannot wait for you to give a go [...]"

Saturna headed to Analog Drive-in Studios with around 25 demos writen since the release of 'Atlantis' back in in 2019, and from there they came out with the 10 songs that were later on mixed by their usual collaborator Dani Pernas, mastered in Doctor Master, and which finally made up 'The Reset', an album whose artwork has been created by Jondix (a regular collaborator of Tool). And all this was happening at the same time that James Vieco released his studio album 'Nimaya' in 2020, and his 'Unplugged at RockSound' a few months later in 2021; the band participated with the single "Volver a empezar" (their first and only song in Spanish so far) in 'Grados. Minutes. Segundos.' boxset by Spinda Records, in addition to publishing a split album with Electric Monolith for Ripple Music US label; and without forgetting Rod's first solo album and his album with James Vieco and Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless) - both yet to be released. 

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The Doom Chart for September 2019

Doom Chart

    “Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” ~ Frank Zappa

This month the Doom Charts theme is progression. Not in a literal sense, but as Mr. Zappa says above, deviation from the norm. Norm being popular music and trends that we see getting attention in mainstream culture. The Doom Charts aren’t here to compete with the billboards, in fact we are just music nuts who generally deviate from the herd to form our own tastes regardless of what others may think. I think the running tally of bands scoring in the top 25 are proof of that and even the bands on here themselves are progressing as bands and not settling on putting out the same record year over year. That is why we love the heavy music community so much. We’re all here for the music and marching to the beat of our own drum or, better put, our favorite band’s drums…

Sir Bucky delivered those intro goods this month and he was right on the money once again. Although one might ofcourse conclude that because the Doom Charts are growing and the crazy herd is getting bigger, the choices become more obvious to those in the know. And you should count yourself luck in that case. You already know. And you already know there is even more out there… Cause yes, it’s a given, if you wallow like a lovely pig in the niche of some fly infested mudbath where only a few dare to venture, you will know more about that little pool of despair than everybody else. So you will know the even more obscure yet possibly better albums. So, feast your ears on the ones you do not yet know, dry out the mud in the blazing sun while listening to all those albums that made the Doom Charts this month… And if you know them all, even better… You will have time to go on discovering even more!

Cause, exactly 287 albums received votes this month from the contributors and the Top 25 of those are posted... No less than Nine of my picks made the final 25 this time around... That actually never happens... But I'm extremely glad to see Howling Giant, Goatess, Vokonis, The Black Wizards, Horseburner, Saturna, Mars Red Sky, Monomyth & Planet of the 8s made the list... And shit, I'm just as excited for all the others... Gonna have those on the playlist first, cause there are even a few I did not get a chance to hear yet... Damn, I love those Doom Charts! Especially when they bring that unknown musical magic to my doorstep!

Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio, podcasters and album reviewers from the heavy underground around the globe.  Each month, our critics submit their picks for the best new doom, sludge metal, stoner-psychedelic and heavy rock albums.  The results are compiled and tabulated into the chart below.  This is a one-stop shop for the best new albums in the world…

The Doom Chart for September 2019