Year

2019 Albums

Album Review: Superfat – Guadal 7.8 (Stoner Rock)

May 22, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

May has been a hell of a month for stoner music fans with a whole slew of high quality releases. I’ve been listening to this genre so much lately mostly because that’s where the art leads me and holy fuck what a first impression this record gives. Insane design work by Vice Ilustrados. One of the most impressive pieces I’ve seen with so much detail, coloring, theme and framing that is just spot on. Love the little mushrooms on the wooden surfboard. There’s a lot of doom to smile at here. This record is a great story for me because of the relationship between the band and the artist here being so personal and mutual. It’s a collaboration more than a commission with both parties crediting and respecting each other. It’s exactly what I like to see here at Noob Heavy where the art matters. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Ruff Majik – Tarn 9 (Stoner Doom)

May 22, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

South African garage doom? fuck yeah. Ruff Majik embody the stoner sound with such reverie and mastery. I’ve described it a million times now, we all know what stoner doom sounds like. Sometimes it’s slow and bassy, then sometimes it’s fast and bassy. Sometimes it’s average, and every now and then something awesome like this comes along. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Bright Curse – “Time Of The Healer” 9/10 (Stoner Rock)

May 21, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

Bright Curse are a french band that have flown beneath many radars since they started in 2012, I’m glad I found them. Time Of The Healer offers stoner influenced post-rock with decent vocals. It’s difficult to classify it as post-rock, perhaps prog rock is equally relevant. There’s a lot going on here with it even daring to cross the threshold of sludge/stoner doom metal. And yet, at times reminds me of Radiohead or even Tool. It’s a strange mix that works well overall. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Mork – Det Svarte Juv 7.8 (Black Metal)

April 27, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

Just a quick review as I don’t have a whole lot to say today and I’m about to go to the ocean. So naturally I spent the sunny morning checking one of the latest black metal releases I’ve missed, Det Svarte Juv. Mork is a one man black metal band featuring Thomas Erikson. Really impressive work for one person, it sounds better than most shit I hear from your average 5 piece. For real. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Secret Band – LP2 9.1 (Post Hardcore)

April 20, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

Secret Band is the heavy side of Dance Gavin Dance and their first LP in 2014 reflected that more accurately. This LP marks their departure from that context as they develop a more unique metal orientated sound. The Metal Archives will have a hard time not accepting Secret Band after this one. I won’t go into the background with DGD, Will, Jon, Eric, Acceptance Speech and Happiness again, you can suss out my first review to read that stuff. […]

2018 albums

Album Review: Slugdge – Esoteric Malacology 8.7 (Prog Death)

October 8, 2018 Noob Heavy admin

Esoteric Malacology has some unexpectedly harsh death metal within the first part of the LP. With a lump of progressive elements and a thickness in the bottom of the mix that draws from their sludge namesake – Elements which are more thoroughly expressed in the mid to late parts. When the clean vocals also become prominent. Slugdge are a slug-themed sludge band but with this release the progressive death is really coming through more than anything else. The sludge is more from the mixing vibes. […]

2018 albums

Album Review: Bongripper – Terminal 10 (Doom Metal)

October 5, 2018 Noob Heavy admin

Bongripper are on some shit, I can tell you that much. These guys have always been a unique force in the metal world with a diverse selection of albums to choose from. They always have a different feel with each release like they re-approach their music each time. The album art changes drastically and the stories are varied and often colorful or entirely devoid of color. I particularly admire them for their ability to communicate ideas without using vocals or lyrics. The albums are tight and the listener receives a clear theme or message each time that’s only foreshadowed by the track and album titles. […]