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Sunday 1 June 2014

Interview with Judd Madden - New album "Everything In Waves" out on June 6!

I had the pleasure of meeting Judd Madden in late December 2013 at "Riffmas", an annual event hosted by Melbourne band Riff Fist. He's a humble bloke who is clearly passionate about his music. Just about to launch  his 7th album in just 5 years, Judd has kindly put some time aside for an interview. Read on and find out more about Melbourne Australia's prolific one man doom machine...

Judd - Thankyou for your time mate. First things first, let's start with your impending album "Everything in Waves". What can fans of your music expect to hear on this?

No worries man, my pleasure. Everything In Waves is a mixed beast; crushing doom, patient post-metal and some quieter acoustic sections. I feel that it's my best music so far, drawing different musical themes together as a cohesive whole. It's similar to Artesian in scope but more varied, like Drown and Float together. This is the big one.



The video clip for 'Mountain Slayer' was a perfect compliment to the sonic scapes of your most recent album 'Glacial'. In addition the artwork on all your albums has been exceptional, a perfect fit to the sounds within. What have you got  planned on the visual front for 'Everything in Waves'?

Yeah the response to the video was great! For this album, I'm working with an amazing artist who's doing a series of paintings - one per track. That's 10 paintings, specifically for this album... and they are fucking awesome! They're very different to anything that I would ever come up with by myself. We can embed the art into the audio files so the two will be tied wherever they travel. It's exciting.




You seem to be a jack of all trades when it comes to the wide array of instruments you can play. Apart from drums, bass & guitar I hear the cello (or violin?) on "Artesian"... Can you tell us a bit about your musical background - are you self taught on all these varied instruments? Also, what other bands have you played in prior to commencing your solo project?

Yes, that's a cello I manage to scape my way through a few takes with... it makes a reappearance on this album. I also mix in piano and organ quite a bit (I have a 1970 Electone 'Grandma' Organ). I'll try anything, there's a trumpet and a clarinet sitting here too, but (sadly?) they don't make the cut very often. Drums, piano and didgeridoo I learnt as a kid, then picked up bass and guitar in high-school.

I've been in a few bands, jazz and classical in school, a punk band called Anomity (drums) and a rock/metal band called Fighting Locusts (bass). These days I more enjoy jamming with friends, swapping around instruments... just making up shit and having fun with music. Anson from Sun Shepherd / Thermal Mass used to try and get me out, but fuck... I'm a doom hermit and I like it that way.



I read on an interview you did with the Sludgelord a while back and heard from the interview on the 'Rage & Frustration' podcast that you were considering playing live at some point - have these plans progressed any? It would be absolutely amazing to hear these 'doomscapes' live, and I'd very much think here in Melbourne I would not be alone in being keen to hear, and feel, the Judd Madden riffs live.

It's definitely something I'm interested in doing, probably just as a once off. I have a few mates that could help out, my drummer moved overseas though, so it's all on hold for the moment. One day, one day.



Is there a possibility of a physical release of your albums at any point? Have you ever approached or been approached by any labels? A vinyl box set of all seven Judd Madden albums would be epic :)

People ask this all the time! A vinyl of any album would be sick, a box set would be ridiculous haha... Maybe I'll do a small run of the most sought after album, and see how it goes.

I haven't approached any labels - this was always a DIY project, and I don't mind staying that way. When you don't play live, and you can self-release via Bandcamp or whatever, why do you even need a label, really? Simplicity is good. But hey, if Neurot or Hydra Head get in touch, I'm all ears.



To wrap up, is there a particular storyline or theme to the new album? Looking at the track listing things seem to have taken a bit of a scientific feel here...

Reality, energy, perception, matter, cosmos. Everything is fucking amazing and we're here to experience it.



Thanks again Judd for your time, and for creating some exceptional heavy music to zone out to.

Cheers! Thanks for your support.

"Radio & Tone", the first track from "Everything in Waves",  will be streaming on www.handofdoomradio.com from June 1 - Airing times will be announced on the Hand of Doom Radio Facebook page throughout the leadup to the release of the album. 

"Everything in Waves" track listing:
Radio & Tone
Redshift & Knowing
Vectors & Mach
Colour & Theory
Air (I Am Sitting In A Room)
Emission Lines
Memory Only Atoms
Alpha Crucis A
Alpha Crucis B
528Hz (DNA Repair)

Tune in for a taste of the doom Judd has been cooking!
 

Wednesday 28 May 2014

Von Grimm Records presents: Conan - Australian 'Blood Eagle' tour 2014 w/ Yanomamo




Soul crushing doomlords CONAN are set to tour Australia this September, proudly supported by Sydney sludgemeisters Yanomamo. Further support acts will be announced closer to the tour dates.

Tickets available from either www.vongrimmrecords.com or Oztix.com.au as per the tour poster above.

I recently had the good fortune of seeing Conan live in Europe. They are devastatingly heavy and in fine form - don't miss these shows!

Check out the Facebook event page

Friday Sept 5th Perth, WA - 7pm @ The Rosemount

Saturday Sept 6th Brisbane, QLD - 7pm @ Crowbar

Sunday Sept 7th Sydney, NSW - 2pm All Ages Day Show, NSW @ Venue TBA

Sunday Sept 7th Sydney, NSW - 8pm Evening show @ Hermanns Bar, Chippendale

Tuesday Sept 9th Canberra, ACT - 8pm @ The Basement, Belconnen

Thursday Sept 11th Melbourne, VIC - 7pm @ TBA

Friday Sept 12th Melbourne, VIC- 8pm @ The Old Bar, Fitzroy

Saturday Sept 13th Melbourne, VIC @ The Tote, Collingwood - 7pm

 




Official Website: http://www.hailconan.com





Saturday 24 May 2014

Garganjua - Debut EP "Trip Wizard" out now - Heavy sludge doom from Leicester, UK.



This is 20 minutes of awesome you should crank ASAP, rock solid production throughout. It's very clear from the outset that a strong effort has been made not only with the songs but getting a great sound in the studio. Exceptional debut from these guys, a band to keep an eye on, highly recommended listening.I can hear the same promise I heard in the debut offerings from Bong Breaker and Aleph Null a few years back. 

From the opening mile thick riffs of 'Huntress' you know Garganjua subscribes to the 'tune low, play slow' mantra and that is always a formula for seriously good listening. Vocals reminiscent of Six Feet Under throughout this track, great stuff indeed. With "Lazy Green" the band shows another side to the vocals, switching it up to a laid back clean style and back to the evil in the chorus. You can imagine the heads banging and the beer flying during this track at one of their gigs. They invoke shades of the mighty St Vitus in the slick opening riff to the EP title track "Trip Wizard". Sledgehammer low ominous riffing ensues
 
Hoping the fellas bring on a full length album soon, as this EP should be generating some great momentum . It's definitely left me wanting more..... The UK sure is churning out some bloody great bands these days!

GARGANJUA
Scott- Guitars/Vocals
Gaz - Bass/Vocals
Neb - Drums

Get it here >> http://garganjua.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Garganjua/263223580440586




Sunday 9 February 2014

Aleph Null - cover art and track listing of their debut album 'Nocturnal' revealed!


So there it is right above, the cover art for the debut full length album "Nocturnal" from the mighty Aleph Null. The band have relentlessly set extremely high standards across the board from the outset with the Dale EP and onward - intricate layered songwriting, spellbinding lyrics, high quality recordings, and in the visual arena with their official video clips. 

This album sees Aleph Null raising the bar yet again, breaking new ground for them in terms of light/dark contrast in the music and stepping into some slightly faster paced passages on a few occasions with riffage reminiscent of St Vitus / Spirit Caravan. Overall, Aleph Null are a band that undoubtedly have that same work ethic, talent and integrity that are at the core of Yob and Elder - pushing themselves to excel in their craft, not content to rest on the one tried and tested formula, and delivering on their potential time and time again. 

All of this adds up to that whatever this band releases, you know before you hear it that it will never disappoint - for me Aleph Null have become one of those 'I'll buy it' bands where you've already committed the $ before the album has been released,  all the more impressive in that they have released their two previous EP's for free download on Bandcamp. I've heard so many times from people that they would gladly have paid time and time again for both those EP's, and I concur. I'm fairly certain this album will see a physical release, well it deserves one for certain, and I wish the band all the good fortune possible with it in receiving the attention and respect they more than deserve. 

Aleph Null for Desertfest Berlin & London, Doomed Gatherings and/or Heavy Days in Doomtown?
I vote yes! Heck, a late addition to the Roadburn Afterburner even?........... Cmonnnn!

Here is the track listing for 'Nocturnal'. Brace yourselves, it's release is imminent! Keep your eyes out on the bands Facebook  and Bandcamp pages for  further updates:
  1. Roman Nails
  2. Muzzle of a Sleeping God
  3. Black Winged Cherub
  4. Stronghold
  5. Backwards Spoken Rhymes
  6. Nocturnal Part I
  7. Nocturnal Part II
 A0 is:
Carsten-Bass
Jens-Drums
Philip-Guitars,Vocals
Stoner Sludge from Düsseldorf, Germany



Here's the killer Aleph Null video for 'Dale' from the bands first EP "Dale"


Sunday 2 February 2014

Aleph Null - world premiere of a track from their forthcoming album!



✟ ALEPH NULL - WORLD PREMIERE TRACK FROM THEIR UPCOMING ALBUM ✟


 Hand of Doom Radio will be world premiering a track entitled "Backward Spoken Rhymes" from the impending debut full length album 'Nocturnal' from German riff juggernauts Aleph Null all through the coming week - Surprises around every corner and verse, that signature intricate songwriting, lush discordant note selection, powerful vocals and crushing low end heavy everything. 


Airing times will be announced throughout the week on the Hand of Doom Radio Facebook page, so keep your eyes and ears out! 
 UPDATE!
 Brand new Aleph Null track 'Backwards Spoken Rhymes' will air again at 8pm 4th, 5th and 6th Feb Central European Time, which is 7pm GMT (London) and 2pm USA EST. Tune in at www.handofdoomradio.com to hear the stunning new track from the German sludge masters!

 Many thanks to the band for making this possible, and for the music so far over the last two years. Here's to many more Aleph Null masterpieces!

Check out the first two magnificent EP's from Aleph Null, "Belladonna" and "Dale" at http://alephnull.bandcamp.com/ - check the band out on Facebook also.




Tune in at www.handofdoomradio.com  or here on the blog \m/

Sunday 19 January 2014

THE DEVIL RIDES OUT RELEASE NEW MUSIC VIDEO 'EMPTY SKY'

THE DEVIL RIDES OUT
RELEASE NEW MUSIC VIDEO 'EMPTY SKY'
 

Long before Beyonce dropped her self-titled video album late last year, four very hairy, very loud gentlemen from the west coast of Australia dreamed a little dream. Perth stoner/sludge lords The Devil Rides Out announced back in June 2013 that they were to release a short film for every track on their new release, each one with a different director / artist given free reign to do whatever they liked. This "video album" was entitled 'Ugly Creatures'.

As they had hoped for, the resulting films have been incredibly varied but always interesting, from Cat Hope's experimental take on 'Blood River' to the more traditional live performance video - with a twist - of Baz Harvey's 'Ugly Creature'. They've also enjoyed a bit of success, with 'The Righteous Walk' - created by the bands own Joey K and Andrew Ewing - selected to appear on the 2014 Music Feedback DVD compilation, and Richard Eames' epic video for 'Burn Again' being selected for the 2013 WAM Festival DVD compilation as well as the 2013 Sydney Underground Film Festival.  

'Empty Sky' - the fifth and final "Creature" in this ambitious video project - has been directed by up-and-coming young filmmaker Robert Bremner and is a badass homage to Eastern samurai cinema via Italian spaghetti western and a Tarantino-esque sexy/cool aesthetic. The dream-like film was shot by Bremner with assistance from Alex Aitken and stars Taihra Swaine and Ayzia Hogan as the rival samurai warriors in a battle to the death, beneath an empty sky...

Watch 'Empty Sky' here now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrrwU_cAXp0

'Ugy Creatures' can be purchased online from the The Devil Rides Out Bandcamp page: http://thedevilridesout.bandcamp.com/

Sunday 5 January 2014

2013 - A leviathan year for the riff!

THY KINGDOM SCUM

Here's our take on what resonated strongly and continues to do so from the mountain of releases that came out in 2013, in some semblance of an order in terms of impact/longevity on the turntable/cd player/car stereo. That said, everything here is a worthy listen - dont pay attention to the numbers so much (the #'s stop at 20, it all got far too hard to sort) the riffs are rock solid right to the end. There's very likely a few things missed (so much goodness this year, hard to keep track of it all!), but all in all this pretty much captures what was listened to heavily throughout.

Check em out & enjoy. Apologies to any bands who cranked out the heaviness in 2013 and have been overlooked here.











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