The Reference Council » Music

Red Fang – Hank Is Dead

Steven — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:46:45 +0000

This fucking post took me an hour to write only because I kept on listening to this song, and then the album and then I watched the video again and then I made some more coffee, smoked a few cigarettes and listened to it again. Damn you Red Fang for making awesome rock music and having the balls and talent to make even better videos.

Seriously, just fucking watch this, rock out, have fun and say “Fuck It” as often as you can.

Mastodon – Dry Valley Bone Video

Steven — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:41:21 +0000

If you are Mastodon ( ha, right, anyway ) and bring out one of the best metal albums of all times, which they did, how do you top that? Well, you can get Tim Biskup to direct and animate a video for one of your better ( if that is even possible ) songs on said album.

As if they listened to the many voices in my head, they went ahead and did just that.

Watch the video by Tim Biskup for “Dry Valley Bone” here and try and ignore the shitty audio quality.

Dr. Timothy Leary, Ph.D. – Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out [1967]

Steven — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:47:50 +0000

In case you ever wondered what Freedom sounds like, fret no more. The infamous title of this post actually does come from a doctor, the famous Timothy Leary, and if you look past what the conservative establishment has turned this phrase into, well, you are in for a ride. Back in 1967, recorded an album that, above some serious acid induced jams, narrates a sort of acid meditation. Never forgetting who gave Leary and his commune the acid, mostly, the tax payers.

So, before the nazi’s out there shut down the internet, go get yourself a copy here.

Documentary About Life, Happiness, Money and Tech Metal

Steven — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:44 +0000

“Why You Do This” is a question I need not to ask anyone that has been or is a touring band – we all know. For those that don’t, and for those that want to remember, this documentary is an excellent low tech insight into the mind frame of exactly the above.

Watch it here.

So What’cha Want Revisted

Steven — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:25:27 +0000

If you can’t be down with the Beastie Boys then Fuck You. I found this on Mr. Friedman’s blog, excellent as usual, and it’s a hilarious short film honouring those 3 chaps that did so much for everyone in this bullshit industry. Just watch it, granted it makes a lot of sense if you like myself am a real fan, but even if not, watch this instead of your usual rubbish.

Here.

No Made Sense “New Season/New Blues”

Steven — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:12:34 +0000

I have started this new music year off with an album I slept on for the second half of 2011 and boy, am I kicking myself in the nuts for not having picked up this album before hand- No Made Sense’s 2nd album “New Season / New Blues” came out in July of last year. If I had known, this would have easily been in my top ten of 2011, but as it is, I just got it today. Considering they are a three piece band their wall of sound is breathtaking and they fill a void that I knew existed but didn’t dare think would happen. To explain, they have their own original, amazing sound, but if you were to compare it someone it would be in between Neurosis and Mars Volta. In a way it is beautifully crafted Post-Metal without the drone/electro aspect of Neurosis, but the heavy aspect of their later work, and then mix that with the technical, challenging sound scape of Mars Volta.

You can listen, download their new album on Bandcamp here. Highly Recommended.

“No One Knows” Alt. German Version

Steven — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:29:34 +0000

Back in 2005 my lady and I went to a gig by a spoof band called “Dick Brave and The Backbeats”- it’s a spoof band because their lead singer, is in actual fact one of Germany’s biggest boy band-ish dudes- he wanted to break out of all that so he came up with an alter ego with this Dick Brave dude. All in all, it’s super over polished pretty boring Rockabilly- which is still better than most of the crap out there. The gig was so-so and just too clean for our liking. However, towards the end of the gig they dropped a cover of Queens of the Stone Age’s ” No One Knows” and I have to admit, it is my favourite cover of any Queens song ever.

So if you dig a bit of rockabilly and Queens have a listen and be merry.

Black Metal In The 90s

Steven — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:00:50 +0000

Long before every self proclaimed youth culture expert agency jumped on every imaginable bandwagon with the only intention of selling it and you off to the highest bider, “scary” subcultures existed, like Black Metal. I know it is hard to imagine a world where “sub cultures” existed without them having been created by large multinational companies or cocaine agencies run by assholes but so it was. When I started getting into Death Metal around 92 the big scare was Black Metal- to you non metal heads, there is a big difference- and a lof the mags were writing about the violent aspect of the Norwegian scene. To give you a glimpse into what the mainstream world thought of “sub cultures” before they realized they could butt rape it and make off it, watch this clip.

Photo via über-hipster Brooklyn Vegan

Here.

Lamb Of God’s New Song Kicks Ass

Steven — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:30:09 +0000

Not liking Lamb Of God is in a way similar to saying you don’t like the first 4 Metallica albums- it’s any oxymoron. I think it has been over 3 years or nearly so since Lamb Of God have released any new material, and while that wait is long I can totally appreciate a band wanting to take time and make something good. When did that last Tool album come out again? Right. So, anyway, this new song kicks all kinds of ass. Really.

Metal Sucks is now streaming it on their website.

Botswana Jams

Steven — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:36:49 +0000

It is not very often that I come across something in the guitar world that genuinely makes my jaw drop- all the noodling and folky crazy jams on guitars are great and all but really, there is hardly anything new. Even if, mostly it sounds like shit. Today, the opposite happened. Via various means I came across this clip of a woman from Botswana playing guitar and holy jumping jesus- ok, I won’t get into all of it, just watch it and be inspired.

Lady- the Valhalla of Guitar Heros awaits you.

Little John & The Monks

Steven — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

A nod to a long, long time ago, today’s tune of the day comes from a unfortunately, unsuccessful band called Little John and The Monks. They were part of the early 60s Pacific Northwest Garage Scene and some of you might even remember the tune from an old website called Black Lodges, the song is called “Black Winds”.

Jam Out.

Black Tusk – Set the Dial

Steven — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:52:06 +0000

You know, I was going to write this really good review of the new Black Tusk album, which by the way is fucking killer, and lo and behold, the guys over at Invisible Oranges wrapped up a 4 page article in my head in 4 excellent articles. Fuck. So, rather than me pummeling you with pages upon pages of metal nerdom, I suggest you read their review of it.

Here.

Melvins Q&A

Steven — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:34:59 +0000

Might as well start the week off right- by reading this most excellent interview with the all mighty Melvins over at Decibel Magazine.

Read it.

Tune For The Day

Steven — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:28:50 +0000

Just a little something that came my way this morning and that has helped me get through a bit of a shitter of a day. Nothing serious, fun and a little pissed off folk punk with smart lyrics. Good shit.

Andrew Jackson Jihad- Return of the Magi 2. Jam out here.

11.11.11

Steven — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:18:04 +0000

People are coming up with the craziest shit because of this date, which I agree, is kind of cool in a elementary school way but my eye will only be on one event that day.

Black Sabbath, in the only line up I accept: Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward will hold a press conference at the Whiskey a Go Go in LA, hopefully, about a reunion tour later next year. Fingers crossed. Odd fun fact about all this, 41 years ago, Black Sabbath played their first ever gig there, on the 11.11.11.