Image by Valerie Kuypers/PAP/EPA

Such sad news, I still can hardly believe it isn't a hoax. Chris Cornell was one of my teenage “heroes” and his music was a massive part of me. I feel like a little piece of my childhood just died. He was truly one of the best, most dynamic singers around, a musical talent not to be replaced. Thank you for all the amazing music and inspiration you gave us.

Say hello to heaven Chris!

Honeymoon Disease - Electric Eel Single / Video

The Swedish band Honeymoon Disease have unleashed their new music video for the vinyl seven-inch single Electric Eel. It was directed by Max Ljungberg and it's Honeymoon Disease's first new material since the release of their 2015 debut The Trancendencee. Electric Eel follows the typical Honeymoon Disease cadence of bombastic retro rock rooted in the classic sounds of the 70s. Another grand testament to the incredibly healthy state of Swedish retro rock.

Also, they’ll be back in studio this summer to record their next album. The new album is set for an early fall release on The Sign Records.

Spotify | Deezer | iTunes

Blackbird Hill - Midday Moonlight EP (2017)

I’m a real sucker for catchy music like this, tunes that will have your feet tapping and singing along to their infectious melodies. So when I received this album for review - I just had to do it.

In six songs and twenty-five and a half minutes, Midday Moonlight treats the listener to a brand of nearly perfectly executed blues rock. It has a great variety of sounds, electric blues, delta, americana and just good old rock and roll, and yet they all fit Blackbird Hill. As you listen to each track, you'll find it hard to pick a clear favourite. All of the songs are equally good. The guitar hooks are where it's at. There's a lot of really bouncy riffs that sound like they’d make for a big, sweaty blast of fun in concert. The drumming is simple, yet masterful and ripe with subtle technique.

The EP starts out fantastic with Trigger Law. A song that channels the spirit of Jimi Hendrix with its raucous riffs and an almost hip-hop sounding drum beat. It's hard to get this out of your head for the rest of the day. Next up is Horseback Sight. It's a mellow, moody song that hits all the right notes. The third number, Run Like Mad, is an energetic song that is very simple and straightforward, but also probably the catchiest number on the record. Stories From The Road shows that the band is able to stretch a song out to without losing any steam or having those listening lose interest, as even at eight minutes, it's as captivating at the end as it is at the beginning. Second to last is Hold Your Fire, which is a catchy, upbeat and sweet track. The very first few bars, the intro to this song, reminds me a bit of Sonic Youth's Cool Thing. Then comes the final track, Midday Moonlight. This gorgeous song begins with a slamming opening chord that is catchy and resonant. It has the most passionate vocal performance on the album. Also, the fuzz dial here is obviously set to '11'!

With so many bands trying so hard to do something new, it's nice to have a duo like Blackbird Hill to prove that good old-fashioned blues rock can still beat the socks off any trendy new style. Midday Moonlight has its flaws but it is certainly a great effort.

Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Website

Samsara Blues Experiment Embark On European Tour

Samsara Blues Experiment, one of German's finest psychedelic stoner rock band, is about to embark on a new tour throughout Europe starting May 12, that includes stops in Hamburg, Paris, Athens, Reykjavik and several other cities. The band goes on tour to promote their new album One With The Universe (Listen in full HERE), which will be released May 12 on Electric Magic Records (in cooperation with World in Sound Records).

Samsara Blues Experiment European Tour 2017

12.05 - Berlin (DE) Zukunft am Ostkreuz - Stummfilm Special
13.05 - Berlin (DE) Zukunft am Ostkreuz - Official release party
14.05 - Hamburg (DE) Hafenklang
15.05 - Wiesbaden (DE) Schlachthof
16.05 - Bielefeld (DE) Forum

17.05 - Nijmegen (NL) Doornroosje
18.05 - Nantes (FR) Le Ferrailleur
19.05 - Paris (FR) Le Backstage
20.05 - Köln (DE) Underground
27.05 - Athens (GR) Fuzz Live Music Club
03.06 - Reykjavik (FIN) Gaukurinn
11.08 - Finkenbach (DE) Finki Festival

Facebook | Bandcamp | Youtube | Website

Blackbird Hill - Midday Moonlight Single / Video

If you’re looking for some rock’n’roll, you should definitely listen to Blackbird Hill. If you’re not, you probably should anyway. Blackbird Hill is the band of two guys from Bordeaux, Alexis Dartiguelongue and Maxime Conan. They make sweet nuggets of heavy blues rock that worms in your ears and stays there. You can taste it while listening to the title track from the upcoming album Midday Moonlight. Now the band has also unveiled a music video for that song. Watch it above.

With "Midday Moonlight", French power duo BLACKBIRD HILL take you on an exhilarating ride throughout America's wide open spaces, for a six-track journey made of telluric blues riffs and organic folk tales. Sometimes howling, always soulful, their sincere take on Delta blues mythology will appeal and intrigue you, like an outtake off a modern western duel between Jack White and Wovenhand. The artwork for this new 6-track record "Midday Moonlight" was designed by Ita Duclair.

Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Website

BLACKBIRD HILL "Midday Moonlight"

Out May 5th, 2017 on CD and digital

Pre-orders available here

Ripple Music's West Coast dealers of heavy riffage ZED hit the Road to tear up the Lone Star State

Ripple Music's West Coast dealers of heavy riffage ZED are joining forces with East Coast hard rockers Wasted Theory to take the Lone Star State by force this May. And when these two forces meet, you better be ready for some Hard and Heavy Rockin! Known as the ‘Trippin’ Through Texas‘ tour, the two bands will devastate the 4 biggest cities, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, along with some of the best bands Texas has to offer, such as Wo Fat, Greenbeard, White Dog and more!

ZED bassist Mark Aceves says "We are super excited to finally bring our sound to our friends and fans in Texas, it's been a long time coming, especially for me being that I'm originally from Texas. It's going to be like a homecoming! And to be able to share the stage with such great bands and dudes like Wasted Theory, Wo Fat and others just adds to how killer it will be. ~ Ripple Music"

ZED: Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp

Wasted Theory: Facebook | Bandcamp 

Trippin' Thru Texas will happen on the following dates:

10.05 – Satellite Bar, Houston TX w/Stonework & The Society Of Bandits (9PM – All Ages)
11.05 – Limelight, San Antonio TX w/locals TBA (9PM – 21+)
12.05 – Dirty Dog Bar, Austin TX w/Greenbeard & White Dog (9PM-21+)
13.05 – Double Wide, Dallas TX w/Wo Fat & Crimson Stone (9PM – 21+)

Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries #4

Welcome to another issue of Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries. It's been a while since the last one. Maybe it should be renamed 'Monthly Bandcamp Discoveries'?... Heh... Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. I don't have a lot of free time lately and I don't expect things to change anytime soon. That's why this issue contains only eight entries. It's a mix of some recent discoveries, and some older material. This time you’ll find artists from France, Italy, USA, South Africa and Russia.

P.S. If this is your first visit here, be sure to check out:

#1 | #2 | #3