Iron Jinn - The Futurist

 

 

Iron Jinn – The Futurist

Back in 2023, on a hot and sweaty day, I had the honor of being a fly on the wall as Alain Johannes and Iron Jinn went through the setlist of what songs they would be playing for most of the dates they would go out together. A few weeks later, on another sweltering day, I caught that show, live in Nobel, Leiden, where the entire show felt like a wild feverish dream. And that energy is something the band always manages to conjure….

Just listen to the new single The Futurist, a nearly eighteen-minute long progressive rock journey, where you descent into a humid, flickering interior where groove and atmosphere coil like smoke. The band drifts deeper into shadowed prog terrain and become this pulsing, hypnotic, unsettling, yet strangely radiant force of nature, as if some distant light keeps breaking through. If The Futurist is the seminal calling card for the new album to arrive this fall on Suburban Records, we’re all in for one hell of a compelling, immersive and incredibly intense adventure… 

PR Wire:

Iron Jinn presents ‘The Futurist’
…and Reich and Rolls towards the new album

Iron Jinn releases the first single of their upcoming album and simultaneously coins ‘Reich & Roll’ as their new genre. On the 19th of September Iron Jinn present their new album at Doornroosje, Nijmegen. They invited the legendary kraut duo zZz as a special guest. Tickets are on sale now. In the 18-minute epos ‘The Futurist’ you hear jazzy McCoy Tyner chords and riffs like molochs roll into a Steve Reich-ian minimal music jam, where guitars, cellos and keys subtly build a cathedral of sound; brick by brick. A lot of bands are psychedelic in sound, but Iron Jinn excels in mind-bending ideas. A distorted banjo is used to churn out rapid rolls like machine gun fire, while the voices of singers Wout Kemkens and Oeds Beydals reverberate their words about a world where technology is seen as salvation and models and data as messiahs. A reality where people are expected to adapt to the systems instead of the other way around. Later in the song Kemkens croons and echoes the words of Oppenheimer and Plato and just a few moments later (in the closing seconds of the track) you hear the most balls out version of Iron Jinn yet. This band is all about contrasts and it really  shows in ‘The Futurist’. Yes, if you want to be hard as a rock you also have to be sweet as silk.

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New album

Iron Jinn’s upcoming studio album (september 2026) is their first as a fivepiece. Within the new compositions, seven pieces in 70 minutes, the band places a strong emphasis on dynamics and musical interplay. Unlike their debut album (2023), an ambitious studio project as a trio, this new studio album was refined and deepened on stages through Europe. It introduces new colors in the form of two adventurous players: bassist Gerben Bielderman and keys player Jarno van Es, the latter debuted with Iron Jinn on Roadburn and luckily never left. The album  recordings - under the helm of Pieter Kloos (Motorpsycho/The Devil’ Blood/DOOL) - took place in a former dance studio, quite fitting since the band plays more light-footed than on Iron Jinn’s former heavy, sometimes doomy, studio work.

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Heath – Isaak’s Marble

 

 

Heath – Isaak’s Marble
Suburban Records – 2024
Rock, Seventies, Prog, Psych, Blues, Classic
Rated: ****

This five piece hails from The Hague, Netherlands. Or well, they reside there, for Heath has members from Sweden, Australia and the Netherlands. And on their debut album Isaak’s Marble they not only traverse the globe looking for the right kind of sonic inclusions for their sound, they also travel through space and time to take everything in that has been done before. This is that early prog, the psych of yore, the sixties and seventies approach to the right kind of Kool-Aid for you to guzzle and enjoy. The atmospheric parts are as colorful as a flowery meadow, the harmonica induces zealous energy and the guitar solos will have you dancing around like a flower power love child. And that’s just on the opening ten minute long title-track, which gives you everything you need to know about Heath and their debut album Isaak’s Marble. And because those ten minutes will ignite a spark at every one of your nerve endings, you will be sticking around for the following ten minute long Wondrous Wetlands. With a more Americana and pastoral scene beginning, a bit of jazz to turn it all into the classic rock, blues and psych you are expecting, it becomes this beautiful and blooming prog rock dalliance that flutters and feels like the perfect spring day. And because they profess themselves not to be limited by any boundaries, it ends with the Wondrous Wetlands snow globe being violently shaken and heated above a fragrant fireplace. With a few seconds short of seven minutes, the following Strawberry Girl is the shortest track on the album. Miniscule Eastern touches, some scoot boogie funkiness and a whole lot of catchiness, this is impossible to sit still to. The almost fourteen minute long Valley Of The Sun closes the album, once again with that Eastern touch, the warmth of candle lit summer nights and so many layers that the colors of the Persian rug will start to flow over into each other as the trip continues. With some highly dynamic twists and turns, even a few very intense and radical moves, Valley Of The Sun feels like the magnus opus of five hippies that just want to run wild together. And that’s something we love to hear! Heath has been together for only two years, released those three stand alone tracks you can find on their Bandcamp and has now unleashed their full-sized debut, which are some forty-one minutes of pure psychedelic bliss. Four tracks that are as good as they come, with nothing amiss. And judging from every meticulously placed note, sound and wisp, they’re not just playing for Isaak’s Marble…

(Written by JK)

The album comes out May 10th.
But you can listen to Atalantis and two earlier singles on their bandcamp... 

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Hawkwind – Stories From Time And Space

 

 

Hawkwind – Stories From Time And Space
Cherry Red Records / Suburban
Rock, Space, Psych, Prog
Rated: ***

I really had not expected that grand master Dave Brock would continue to churn out an album equal to the damn fine 2021 record Somnia. With his eighty-two and going on eight-three years on this planet; and for more than half of that time behind the Hawkwind steering wheel, the man has given us so much great space rock to travel with. Sure, the legendary Hawkwind albums all came out in the seventies, but these last few in the past couple of years have still been pretty impressive. Especially Somnia in my humble opinion. Well, Stories From Time And Space comes close to that album. Even though it opens fragile with Our Lives Can’t Last Forever, which fits the song. And of course, fits the man’s age and his recent stint at the hospital. Old hippy times will be there to take you away with its vapors once second track The Starship (One Love One Life) rolls around. Space rock that will evoke that nostalgia within you and the absolute lust to keep experiencing these wild musical cosmic adventures. As we can be sure Dave Brock also feels this, that it’s the reason he keeps soaring as much as he can. And Stories From Time And Space rocks, not as hard as they might have in the past and always with a leisurely groove, but that’s often exactly what you need to zone out to. That’s also the reason why the sparing vocal usage feels right for this album, it all sounds like the music is there to make you dream and that those dreams will tell you all the stories you need to hear. Relaxed yet very energizing. And as Hawkwind regales you with everything they learned through time and space, we cannot help but hope to hear more in the future…

(Written by JK)

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Fire Horse – Out Of The Ashes

 

 

Fire Horse – Out Of The Ashes
Suburban – 2022
Rock, Hard, Stoner, Seventies, Sixties Pop, Grunge
Rated: *****

Today we celebrate the release of Out Of The Ashes! And we also celebrate the bass player’s birthday! Three cheers and three hoorays! Or perhaps many more, for the album is a true blast! Have you already heard about the new powerhouse, super-power-trio on the block? They’re called Fire Horse! And have just delivered their debut album Out Of The Ashes. Super-power-trio we say, because they are comprised out of bass player (Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!) Peter van Elderen from Peter Pan Speedrock / Tankzilla, Kevin Stunnenberg from Birth Of Joy and Guy Pek from Grenadeers. If you did hear about this new power trio you probably already heard one of their singles: Against The World, Stormtrooper, Trust or the one from 2021, Fire Horse. Well, the album is full of more of that goody goody heaviness. We get hardrock, with minor psychedelic touches, we get stoner, with an angular stomp and gritty choppiness, we get sixties pop influences, and we get all of that on eleven wild tracks. Sure, most of the songs are hardrock, fast paced grunge, high energy, which move in a straight line, and power you through the landscape. But with sweet, yet edgy vocals that gives it all its very own character. But there are also Sabbath referencing songs, where even the vocals move towards Ozzy’s style and pitch, just listen to over 6 minutes long ninth track Situations. There are sixties pop melodies that are Beatlesque and harmonies like the Beach Boys, check out third track Against The World for that. Or do you wanna hear some stoner rock in the Palm Desert vein? Check out closer Keep It Coming! Than there are those little tidbits that just punch your memory card and makes your brain go crazy about what it reminds you of? Some Black Crowes here, some Queens of The Stone Age there, but above all, Fire Horse sound like a super-power-house-power-trio doing what they love and bringing that love to the heavy rocking masses! And there can be absolutely no doubt about that love when you listen to the song bearing the bands name, for during those four minutes that Fire Horse rocks, you hear blistering seventies guitar, vocals that just gallop their way into your brain, perfectly paced, and in beautiful control. Fire Horse, a pure-bred rock ‘n roll beast that will leave scorch marks on your heart with every stomp of their hoof!

(Written by JK)

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The Sore Losers – Ultra Elektric

 

 

The Sore Losers – Ultra Elektric
Suburban – 2021
Rock, Alternative, Punk
Rated: ***

I could have sworn we mentioned The Sore Losers before on the HiVe, but apparently we did not. Even though we definitely dug their first four albums and just listening to opening track Tightrope, we cannot even fathom not digging their fifth record Ultra Elektric. A raw, energetic and yes, electric opener that will surely get the energy flowing the right way and the heads a nodding! Their fifth album is the first where they took matters into their own hands and produced the whole shebang themselves. Which worked out splendidly, cause the album feels like a speeding bullet, a runaway freight train or a gigantic monster truck barreling down the highway and those very few instances where a moment of serenity gives you that extra breath of air; well, you know you are going to need it. Cause after that short second, that damned massive train will barrel down the tracks without any form of breaking and with a constant shovel full of hot and heavy coals. All signs are red and so are all the volume levels! Let’s go! Let’s rock! Keep it Ultra Elektric!

(Written by JK)

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DeWolff – Live at Royal Theatre Carré with Metropole Orchestra

 

 

DeWolff – Live at Royal Theatre Carré with Metropole Orchestra
Suburban / Electrosaurus Records – 2021
Rock, Blues, Seventies
Rated: ****

The three-headed classic rock ‘n roll monster from the South of the Netherlands keeps on doing that thing you would love to see them do. It’s DeWolff, the band we’ve been mentioning ever since the HiVe started. It’s the band we’ve dug ever since their first release from 2008 and that we’ve seen release majestic album after majestic album, blossoming and exploding into those wonderful records we keep on spinning. Especially that Grand Southern Electric and Thrust album of later years, which were simply put: classic solid rock gold. And then during that pandemic year of 2020 they went into Carré with a handful of people in the audience and a stage filled with musicians. Cause they got the Metropole Orchestra to perform live with them and it works pretty darn good! Even though it’s not that needed across the record, cause the three have enough power by themselves, it still add enough or even more on those moments that called out for something orchestral. Those subtle touches during the blues track Medicine for instance or on those few tracks when it all comes together perfectly and during Sugar Moon when the Orchestra takes center stage. A track list of old and new songs, translated into epic proportions by the DeWolff three and the Metropole fifty. It’s DeWolff, Hammond, guitar and drums. And a complete orchestra to subtle fill every nook and cranny and turn the compositions into something grand…

(Written by JK)

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Sloper – Sloper EP

Sloper – Sloper EP

Suburban – 2020

Rock, Blues,

Rated: ****

A new band with two drummers. And not just any drummers. No no no, the legendary Cesar Zuiderwijk from the Golden Earring and the equally stunning Mario Goossens from Triggerfinger. Together with Pete Shoulder (The Union, Winterville, Silverthorne) and guitarist Fabio Canini they formed a band whose names and deeds will be retold throughout history: Sloper! At least that is what we hope. Cause this first four track EP brings forth that classic heavy rock in all its glory. Steeped in the blues this has golden classic written all over it. A punch of psychedelic and a lot of free rock feeling. Soulful, warm and intense! Can’t wait for the full-sized album!

(Written by JK)

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Gomer Pyle – Before I Die I…

Gomer Pyle – Before I Die I…

Suburban – 2020

Rock, Stoner, Grunge, Space, Psych

Rated: *****

The February Doom Charts are once again chuck full of amazing albums. But the following was one of my top choices, it’s heavy and it moves you to the core, and we were honored to write the small blub about their new album. The Dutch outfit Gomer Pyle has been around for more than 20 years and has always been known for perfecting the mixture of stoner and grunge. But their second album Idiots Savant from 2009 already added more to that concoction. Psych, Space, you name it, they did it. Musically diverse the tracks became genres upon their own. Slow forward to the summer of 2017. On a festival in Germany, long time friend of the band, label owner, member of Astrosoniq and their booker Bidi, passes away. The news hits like lightning on a bright and clear summer day. This album pays homage to their friend, (hence the name: Before I Die I...) but also to vocalist Mark Brouwer’s father and all the others they lost. It also pays homage to friendship, to love and so much more. In short: it pays homage to this thing called Life. And they do that on nine amazing tracks that all feel like a different kind of canvas; all filled with their brilliant splatters of heavy rock. It’s colorful and all the somber moments are offsets by shimmering and dazzling moments of beauty.

(Written by JK)

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Monomyth – Orbis Quadrantis

Monomyth – Orbis Quadrantis

Suburban – 2019

Rock, Space, Kraut, Psych

Rated: *****

It came like a thunderclap back in 2016 when the Monomyth five released a statement that their cosmic epic of heroism in three parts was finished. But luckily the crazies decided there was still enough to discover in the world of rocking trance, psychedelic storms and everything beautiful about space and kraut rock. Cause the new Orbis Quadrantis is in many ways another majestic and wide-spun piece of gold. This time however they go about it more cautious, more defined as if they wanted to execute everything with extreme precision. As the layers amass and the sound quadruples you can still hear every little minute detail. And above all; Monomyth remains highly hypnotic, mystical and transcendent…

(Written by JK)

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(The blurb as it was written for the Doom Charts, where Monomyth new record reached the 19th position. Check out the other releases on the list as well... They're all freakin good!)

7 Miles To Pittsburgh – Revolution On Hold

7 Miles To Pittsburgh – Revolution On Hold

Suburban/Bertus/ A67 Records – 2019

Rock, Hard, Seventies, Prog, Metal

Rated: ***

Greta Von Fleet. If there ever was a band that has gotten a lot of flak over their Led Zeppelin sound, Greta Von Fleet are a sure competitor for the top spot. I wonder if 7 Miles To Pittsburg from The Netherlands might suffer the same fate. It would be highly unfair, even if the vocalist, is a part of a Led Zeppelin cover band. On their sophomore release Revolution On Hold we definitely hear riffs that could have belonged to Jimmy Page, but that’s about where it ends. Cause there is so much prog here, one could wonder what their true starting point was? Joris Lindner, responsible for damn fine guitarwork, played drums for Komatsu for a year or two, which means we know where his heaviness stems from. But besides the two cats we mentioned, the rest is largely unknown to us. We would imagine there is some eighties-LA love there and an adoration for stuff like Rush or Flower Kings. Which it turns out to be correct, since Martin Helmantel and Dirk Bruinenberg, both played in prog-rock effort Elegy. Hardrock, metal, seventies and prog, a combination that can lead to something absolutely beautiful. And in this case it has! It’s all done with a lot of style and highly soulful. Let the Revolution begin!

(Written by JK)

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Navarone – Salvo

Navarone – Salvo

Suburban – 2018

Rock

Rated: ***

We’ve been mentioning the Dutch five-piece Navarone ever since they started releasing full-sized albums. For some reason, we passed over on their 2017 album Oscillation. But we mentioned their self-titled debut EP, the awesome A Darker Shade Of White and 2014’s Vim And Vigor. But as the new one Salvo starts running; we imagine we remember why we passed on Oscillation. It might have been due to the fact that the band enrolled in some Dutch tv-program that produces weak artists, singers and bands. They should not have done that, they’re already better that that. You know the one I’m talking about; I believe it runs in every country across the globe. But hey, we all have to do whatever we have to do, so let’s give Salvo an honest run! Even bigger sounding guitars and gestures. A definite hardrock groove and a vocalist that damn well can sing, as we already knew. But he does implore some little tics and tricks that might become annoying after a few spins; just put second track Reset on repeat and you will hear what we mean. They move even more towards a condensed (hard) rock sound that implores pop sensible hooks, choruses and aims to please the big crowds. It’s a comfortable album with mostly predictable choices; more Alter Bridge than anything grimy, but still, it has its moments…

(Written by JK)

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The Kaak – Chromosomes

The Kaak – Chromosomes

Underaged and in love with the old blues roots and everything punk! Buster and Thor! Here is Dutch duo The Kaak who just released their first self-titled seven inch with four songs in a short and sweet six minutes burst; featuring this little ditty!

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