Scorching
fires out west have been dominating the landscape, filling the air with smoke
and ash in the last month or so. Bandcamp has been ablaze for other reasons.
Last round I featured some of the best of bandcamp mid-year recap. This round
I’m going back to showing off some of the new finds that keep the year moving
in a positive direction. At some point you’d think it would start slowing down,
but the music just keeps releasing and it blows my mind every time. Check out
the latest batch of Bandcamp Bonanza face melters.
Second Coming of Heavy – Chapter 6: Kayleth / Favequaid Splits seem to be gaining traction as of late. Ripple has not only taken the special edition split vinyl to the next level, they have done it with class. Look at the art package that being featured on each chapter by Ghosttown Graphics. It’s just insane and to know that the splines will create an image when stacked together at the end of the 10 chapter saga, it begs for complete discography collectors to hop aboard. Each chapter features two up and coming heavy rocking bands. Chapter 6 is on fire. Chapter 6 brings us another round of bands with their first appearance on Ripple. This is a perfect combination of atmospheric riffs and high octane rock songs. Kayleth bring the expansive grooves straight from outer space while Favequaid deliver us an undisputed punky grit layered with tasty chops. It seems each Chapter brings a new favorite. The saga gets better and better and the artwork is intense. Cannot wait to receive my OBI vinyl edition and complete the entire set.Favorite track: Favequaid - Everytime.
Sun Rider – III Another band with exquisite artwork in their catalog, Sun Rider bring a sludge stained stoner metal to the party with monster riffs and scarred vocal tones that combine to make a heavy blues album that comes out similar in output to the band HARK, but less progressive and more bluesy. Check out their entire discography and you’ll be considering hitting that buy button on the vinyl even though the shipping is insanely pricey.
Howling Giant – Black Hole, Space Wizard: Part 2 Now here is a band to keep your eyes on. These dudes from Nashville know how to write a great song and keep it accessible with a wide range of polish, but they also know how to maintain a heavy ass energy. I just can’t say enough good things. Each release that comes out of these guys brains is a new favorite. Part 2 is intense. Howling Giant return with Part 2 of the BHSW saga launching rocket fueled riffs beyond the atmospheric boundary of standard hard rock fare. Astronautical fuzz echoes over metallic solos as the progressive harmonies consume by way of gravitational force. Part 2 is a gorgeous and monolithic slab of stoner metal that'll have you begging for more. Keep your eyes on these guys. They're going places.
The Last Coyote – Gunfighter Tales I found these guys using the method of checking the bandcamp new section by genre, and randomly stumbled over these guys. This is the kind of music I yearn for. Sifting through the bandcamp vaults today The Last Coyote makes its presence known. Gun smoking melodies crackle with bluesy strums and outlaw wales across the western prairie like a flaming ring of mountain fire.
Between the Lines – Between the Lines This is refreshing and suffocating at the same time. There were parts that had that 15 years old nostalgia going on, yet it stands out in the field of hard rock. The bass slaps like a sack of balls against a kilted thigh as the dark, brooding groove hymns Between the Lines of crunchy distorted rock and goth enhanced grunge. For fans of Tool and freaks alike, this debut will steamroll your expectations of an Irish rock band.
Hair of the Dog – This World Turns Last but certainly not least Hair of the Dog came out with a new album this year. I am a huge fan of this band which required that I pre-order the vinyl to go with the first two albums I scrounged together last year. Pretty stoked on this new one, it gets better every time you play it and I find it ranking high on many year-end lists’ Hair of the Dog is the type of band you can play in the morning to ease the bangover from witnessing their show the night before. This World Turns exemplifies all that is heavy rock taking the band to future cult classic status and showing no signs of losing hide. The melodies echo lean distorted glory with progressive riffs, bar worthy balladry and intricate snarls of rock and roll fury. Can't deny this as one of the best hard rock albums of 2017. Vinyl ordered. Just look at those colors on the cover. This is the full package. Favorite track: This World Turns.
That ought to keep you busy for a bit. I’ve got more on deck for future Bonanza Bonanza features and it shows no signs of slowing down. Let it burn!
-The Huntsman
