With a heavy alt rock sound that is more like UN-caged wolves, Austria's CAGED WOLVES have dropped their new album "Act Of Nature Beyond Control" with nearly an hour of riff-laden, fuzzed-out songs with intense vocals. Deep bass, chugging guitar, and driving drums -- Caged Wolves delivers a seriously heavy set of rockers. Listen to "Act Of Nature Beyond Control" EP by Caged Wolves on Bandcamp: 

If you're old school (like me), you will consider Caged Wolves to easily fit into the style of grunge, with their heavy riffs and style that takes them beyond your typical rock band. 

In a way, this is a double-EP. The 2nd set of 3 songs are the instrumental versions. I really dig having the option to hear the songs with- and with-out vocals, although overall its the versions with vocals which are strongest. 

Fuzzy's favorite: "Through The Rainbow Valley" hits the heavy riffs, extended guitar solos, and intense vocals that make Caged Wolves stand out. This is a really solid EP. 

Caged Wolves is from Vienna, Austria.

Follow Caged Wolves band and check out their merch on Bandcamp at https://cagedwolves.bandcamp.com/album/act-of-nature-beyond-control

Want more music from Austria? Check out SPECK and DOS BRUJOS. 

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Fuzzy is in Vegas this week looking for new digs (and keeping Mrs. C loaded with beverages) but I had to take a break to check out the new album "Evil Notions" from solo band CLYDE VON KLAUS. And I am really digging this one! This is a high-octane blend of doom, metal, grunge, and layers upon layers of killer vocals. Have a listen to  Evil Notions by Clyde Von Klaus on Bandcamp:

I gotta say, this whole album has me on a gigantic trip down memory lane to a time when bands like MOTHER LOVE BONE were laying the foundations of the grunge revolution that on the way. But that's not to say "Evil Notions" is exactly the same thing -- but it lives in the same world with its raw energy, killer riffs, and those awesome vocals. 

Some of the highlights for me include the vocals and guitar on "Freezing Drizzle" and "Fatalistic" and the slow, heavy riff of "The Futures Past." But every song on this beast is a winner.

From the band: 

Clyde Von Klaus is a one man band from Hutto, Texas. All songs created by coming up with some drum beats. Then I bring the songs to life by the drums commands. Spontaneously written and put together. Mistakes and drum clicks just add to the raw thrill of playing hard. No click tracks and no plan. The process is creatively and artistically rejuvenating. The closest thing to being in a band I’ve been able to recreate.  The thrill of putting ideas together on the spot and seeing what it creates and in the end it surprises me.  

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If you ever thought to yourself, I really dig grunge but I wish it was just a little heavier? Then you are in for a treat with "Cellar Door" by MAGUS SCORPIO. This 2-track debut EP shows off the chugging riffs and killer vocals of Wisconsin's Mike Mata who handles it all. Check out "Cellar Door" on Bandcamp: 

To me, grunge is stripped-down heavy metal but you can call it whatever you like. It's just hard-charging rock, right? And that's enough to enjoy right there. But what MAGUS scorpio adds to the mix is just a little extra layer of heaviness, and also some extended solos which are rarely found in classic grunge. For instance, dig the solo at the end of "Broken Meditation" which just flat-out rips the roof off.

Hey it's NYP on Bandcamp so check out "Cellar Door" and be sure to hit that follow button on MAGUS scorpio's Bandcamp page so you can find out when their album is released.

MAGUS scorpio on Bandcamp

From MAGUS scorpio band: 

MAGUS scorpio is a unique project combining the dark and heavy sounds that make up doom and stoner rock inspired by Satanism in a modern setting while contrasting the experience with a touch of psych/euphoria most notably expressed through 90s alternative (at times known as grunge) music and the sweet leaf we all know and love.

MAGUS scorpio is looking for a label to release their upcoming album. Contact magusscorpio13@gmail.com

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"Warped Existence" by EVEN VAST has just gotten a release on CD from MOON RELIC RECORDS, with the addition of 5 live tracks. If you missed the album during its original release, here is your chance to discover Even Vast's heavy rock sound with some elements of grunge and doom, and absolutely killer vocals. Check out  "Warped Existence" from Even Vast on Bandcamp:

I did some quick research on Even Vast, and it seems they have been around a while and started off in Italy, with a relocation to the UK and a resurgence in 2018 with "Inside Your Head" and finally this album following up in 2019. Now that they have signed with MOON RELIC RECORDS and released the remastered album on CD, I am sure we are going to hearing a lot more from Even Vast!

The live tracks really push this beast over the top, both in terms of overall length and it's always great to get live versions. But what makes these so special for me is the inclusion of the saxophone. The sax is an instrument is a rare instrument in the stoner world, but if it was good enough for The Stooges, then it should be good enough for more bands! And it sounds absolutely killer here.  (The sax is on the studio cuts too, and it seems to really stand out on the live versions.)

This release is really a double album. With 5 live tracks, you can't say that you aren't getting value for your money with this!

I've got a copy of the CD on the way and I can't wait to spin it!

Fuzzy's Favorite: "Imaginary Friend (Live)" 

Even Vast is from Nottingham, UK with members: 

• Luca Martello (guitar)
• Chris Taylor (vocals)
• Steve Kilpatrick (bass)
• Nicholas Mark Roe (drums) 
• Alessandro D'Arcangeli (woodwind)

Follow the band and grab a CD at https://evanvast.bandcamp.com

Visit the Moon Relic Records web site for more killer music at https://www.moonrelicrecords.com/

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What better way to send off 2020 with a big "Fuck you!" than with 2 nasty tracks on a 7" split with a 28 page zine to back them up? SEUM and FÁTIMA drop covers of each band's songs on December 24. The digital download on Bandcamp includes the zine in PDF format, and there will be a limited number of 7" vinyls with custom popup art by comic artist Gorka Uztarroz. 

Seum kicks it off with their cover of Fátima's "Saliva Bath" and then Fátima returns the favor with their cover of Seum's "Raining Bricks." The biggest difference from the originals to the covers is with the vocals, with Seum slathering gritty dirty vocals on their song, and Fátima dropping a grunge interpretation. 

To me, a great split not only sounds great, but makes you want to dig into the other band's music. For me, hearing the sludgy take of "Saliva Bath" with its drawn-out ending was enough to get me to head over to Fátima's "Turkish Delights" from earlier this year, and hear the original. Much more in a grunge style and got me listening to the whole album. 

Don't miss the 28-page PDF zine included with the digital download! Art, lyrics, backstory, inspiration for the split, detailed recording info -- this is a music lover's delight. There's even a section dedicated to the album's art and cover.

Each band has made their cover into their own creation. 2 great covers, a killer zine, and a popup 7" make for a great send-off to a shitty year!

Follow the bands to get the split & 7" vinyl when it drops on December 24 -- 

Seum on Bandcamp

Fátima on Bandcamp

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Fuzzy loves grunge. It saved rock n' roll by stripping it back down to its basics. Fuzzy also loves sludge. Because it's so nasty and raw. At some point during last night's post-Happy Hour alcoholic haze, I stumbled upon the debut EP from Russia's THUNDER VOLT. I'll keep it real and say that upon awakening this morning, I had no idea how this album ended up in my Bandcamp collection. So I figured it had been placed there by Drunk Fuzzy, and I've been listening to it all day. So much grungy goodness, but with a raw sludge edge to it. Check out the sludge grunge of Thunder Volt on Bandcamp: 

Hey, I love the full-blown sludge of CRUST and VANTA, and especially the recent split from MEGALITH LEVIATHAN with DEKONSTRUKTOR but I also love Nirvana, Alice In Chains, and Soundgarden. And I simply cannot describe Thunder Volt as anything except an original and exciting blend of sludge and grunge. Like what Nirvana would sound like if they had gotten just a little nastier, or what Crust would sound like if they dialed it down a bit. The result is simply killer.

The group's history is simple. About a year ago, under the pressure of a difficult psychological experience, I decided that I would play Stoner Doom Metal, as I had dreamed since 2010. I wrote an ad on a music forum and found a bass player. We were looking for a drummer for several months and during that time I wrote 4 songs that were included in the first EP. When we found the drummer and finally started rehearsing, the whole Covid-19 thing started happening in the world. We sat in isolation for a long time and as soon as we started rehearsing again, the bassist decided to stop playing music and left the band. For about a month we were looking for a new bass player and after reviewing about eight candidates, we decided to take Sergey. All this time I've been writing new songs and if the higher powers want it, our new album will be ready this fall. The album will be called "Wanted man" and, of course, we will immediately post it on our Bandcamp page. 

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LEAFDRINKER drops their new concept album "Nausea" on August 24. This is the band's best album to date, and they turn the fuzzed-out heavy psych energy way up on this one. Great music with a dark, industrial theme to tie the songs together? Dig it! 

Fuzzy loves concept albums. So when LEAFDRINKER sent me "Nausea" to preview, I wasted no time in playing it. A concept album puts an extra burden on the musicians, because the songs have to work together. Both to tell the story and explore the themes, but also musically because without a cohesive approach to the entire album, the whole point of the concept falls apart. 

I really dig the opening. It's long, slow, and ominous, and sets the tone for the album. Like a heavy overture. But also each song on a concept album needs to stand on its own. That's why we don't see a lot of concept albums being released; they ain't easy! And "Landsickness" definitely stands on its own. Heavy with some great guitar work.

"Father Inire's Mirrors" is a short instrumental interlude. Lots of ripping guitar work to bridge us into the next track. Dig it!

"Bad Faith" opens so fast and heavy it's almost a surprise, and considering the previous track "Scylla" was also a door-buster, there's no way to deny the amount of energy on this album.

"1,000 Plateaus" is another high-energy interlude, quickly followed by "Weirding Way" which keeps the fuzz and heavy psych in full force, but also shows the variety Leafdrinker is capable of. This song really plays into the overlap between heavy psych and grunge and experimental rock. 

"Charybdis" is the longest and slowest song on the album, but Leafdrinker delivers the heavy fuzz and trippy guitar work. The solo in the middle is especially good. And the lyrics are especially good: 

Our law is disorder

Our progress bids blood

All actions required

Lumped in with the sum 

"Mereology" really shows off Leafdrinker's grunge roots. Great song.

"Endless, Nameless, Formless" continue the dark theme and heavy riffs, and "Phage" ends the album with a satisfying conclusion with a huge variety of sounds and vocal styles. Epic! 

The lyrics are dark and full of despair and desperation. "Nausea" doesn't tell a story from start to finish, but the songs share a common theme which explores the world we are living in at the moment. The music ties them all together. "Nausea" is a totally badass concept album. Check it out!

Fuzzy's favorite song: "Charybdis" but really, the way to listen to this album is as a single musical story. 

From the band:

"Nausea" is a concept album whose 10 songs are tied together by themes of industrial capitalism, environmental degradation, social (in)justice and general ennui, with added spices of mysticism, science fiction and ancient mythology for flavor. 

Follow Leafdrinker on Bandcamp to find out when the album drops on August 24. 

Leafdrinker band is from New Orleans with members: 

• E Cole: bass
• L Condes: drums
• J Romagosa: guitar & vocals

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