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Last Updated: 11/17/2009

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Status: Single
City: LaHayette - The Netherlands
Country: NL
Signup Date: 1/5/2006

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Sunday, February 22, 2009 

They're back. Man, it took a while.


SS-091 Dark Matter (2009)
Van Conner: Vocals, Guitar, Microkorg
Patrick Conner: Vocals, Lead Guitar
Adrian Makins: Bass, Vocals
Matt Vandenberghe: Drums, Percussion

Instrumentation Credits:
Hammond Organ on Under Satan’s Will and Daylight in the Swamps by Brian Garfinkle.
Heavy Guitar on Battleship by Jack Endino.
Lead Vocal on Everyone Sun, Blood to Blood and Hands of Grace by Patrick Conner.
Co-Lead Vocal on Under Satan’s Will by Adrian Makins and Van Conner.
Lead Guitar on Under Satan’s Will by Van Conner.
Microkorg on Everyone Sun by Patrick Conner.

Recorded in Fall 2008 @ Soundhouse Studio - Seattle, WA.
Engineered and Produced by Jack Endino.
Mastered by Chis Goosman @ Baseline Audio Labs - Ann Arbor, MI.
Cover Design and Layout: James Bender of Thrill Industries
Photos: Steven Vest

ss-059 Champions of Magic (reissue) (2005)

ss-046 Head Full of Pills (2004) 

 Say what you will about VALIS... Just as long as you can do it without using the words "trees" or "screaming" because Van Conner has stepped out of the shadows and landed front and center in what can only be described as a total reinvention of self. Van has traded in his bass for the chance to man the helm of his own personal rock 'n' roll juggernaught. Nicking a hint of the psychedelic from Conner's previous band and joining forces with younger brother Patrick, VALIS takes a much more straight forward approach to music. Sonically, it's the equivelant to tearing down walls. With a thunderingly explosive rhythym section and and equally searing guitar licks VALIS is treading familiar ground in heavy riff laden rawk but with an incredible enthusiasm and lust that's been somewhat lacking amoung the other survivors of post-grunge Seattle.

Formed in the basement of Mudhoney drummer Dan Peters back in 1996, VALIS began as a casual side project for both Conner and Peters along with Van's brother Patrick (Kitty Kitty) and Kurt Danielson (TAD). With no shortage of problems to be found in his other band Conner and company gradually shifted Valis to the front burner and by 1998 had replaced Peters with a full time drummer and released their first record, a split release with Kitty Kitty on Frank Kozik�s Man�s Ruin Label. All veteran's of the northwest scene the boys began paying their dues once again out on the club circuit, sharing bills with the likes of Fu Manchu and Queens of the Stone Age. With the demise of their label, VALIS signed with Sweden�s Lunasound Recordings and released their first full length recording "Vast Active Living Intelligence System" to rave critical reviews in 2002. A lot has happened to the band since then. Producer Wes Weresch officially joined as VALIS's resident "Eno" figure adding theramin, keys an array of other sound producing gadgets to their sonic arsenal. Kurt left for parts unknown making way for long time friend Adrian Makins (Kitty Kitty) to add his considerable skills into the mix. Lastly, (and maybe most importantly) VALIS has found a new home right here in the U.S.A.

It's been a long winding road (not a winding sheet, mind you) for VALIS. After a scene explosion to make the stock market bust of 1929 look tame and label debacle after label debacle, Van and the boys are finally able to get back to what they started out trying to do so many years ago. After inspiring countless bands and subgenres Van Conner has come back to the music that inspired him in the first place: Rock and Roll. "Head Full Of Pills" is the kind of strong song writing and guteral psychedelic rock that could revitalize the northwest�s once supreme rock dynasty.

Oh yeah,  and he used to be in the Screaming Trees.
..

9:20 AM 
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Sunday, February 22, 2009 

Current mood:  animated

Solace


In 1994, east coast rockers Godspeed were taken from their South Jersey basement and thrust into Electric Lady Studios to record their Atlantic Records debut, Ride.  Featuring future SOLACE members Tommy Southard and Rob Hultz, Godspeed's major-label run included a cover of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath for "Nativity In Black: A Tribute To Black Sabbath" which featured none other than Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson on lead vocals.  The video for their single "Houston Street" aired on MTV and tours of the U.S. and Europe with Black Sabbath, Dio, Sugartooth and British doomsters Cathedral followed.

Godspeed dissolved after just one album, but following stints as lead guitarist for Sugartooth and Slap Rocket, Tommy reignited the band in 1996 with Rob and former Glueneck singer Jason, naming the revamped outfit SOLACE.  With the intense riffage of Godspeed, Glueneck's raw power, and a dash of ferocious drumming thrown in for good measure, SOLACE's music found equal footing in the
Rock, Metal, and Hardcore genres.

In 2003, SOLACE finally cemented their line-up when they added former Lethal Aggression drummer Kenny Lund and second guitarist Justin Daniels.  With the dual guitar assault of Southard and Daniels, the wall of thunder onslaught of Hultz and Lund, and Jason’s otherworldly vocals, SOLACE became an uncompromisingly heavy force that must be heard to be believed.

CMJ called SOLACE “wicked and devastatingly heavy”.  Metal Maniacs described them as “a solid, pure heavy rock band free of fashionable pretense, with an appeal to anyone who can still appreciate such a concept in today’s cluttered, sometimes confused musical climate”. Their debut album Further was described by Kerrang! as “irresistibly catchy and thoroughly terrifying”.  13, the band’s second album was labeled, “as stomach-turning and power hungry as vintage Sabbath” by the All Music Guide, thus transcending the expectation of the “sophomore slump”.  In fact, there was no slump at all.  SOLACE ’s 2007 release, The Black Black, was described by Slam-Zine.de as “simply perfect in its entirety,” while John Pegoraro of StonerRock.com said, “If I had to describe The Black Black in a word, it would be one long girlish shriek of joy.”

In addition to their amazing recordings, SOLACE is an intense live act complete with flailing hair and face-to-face dueling guitar solos.  Those who have seen them perform can attest to the fact that they give everything on stage.  There is a reason why the band has acquired as strong a reputation for their performances as they have for their recklessly hard living: you’ll enter a heathen and leave a convert.  It's that simple.

2006 saw SOLACE play the sold-out Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland.  They were so well received that in May 2007, they returned to Europe with fellow doomsters Orange Goblin to unleash the brutality that European fans had been craving.  While playing at The Underworld in London, Terrorizer Magazine gauged the sheer aggression of their sound and stage presence as “…somewhere between Alabama Thunderpussy on meth and Municipal Waste on 16rpm - an extremely acceptable and potent proposition.”   Since returning from Europe in June 2007, they have stepped back into the studio to perfect their highly anticipated sixth release, A.D. for their new label, Small Stone Records.

Nine years and five albums since their formation, SOLACE has proven impervious to the ravages of time and worthy of the respect and praise that they’ve received for their passionate motivation, energy, and raw talent. Clearly, there is no end in sight to their exquisite reign of terror.

Solace > A.D. SS-093/2009


SS-093
Tommy Southard:  Guitars
Justin Daniels:  Guitars
Rob Hultz:  Bass
Kenny Lund:  Drums
Jason:  Vocals

Recorded at Trax East, Mad Oak Studio, Semaphore Studio & Hot Horse Sound.
Recorded by Eric Rachel, Bennie Grotto, Brian Koerber, Sanford Parker & Justin Seitz.
Produced by Solace.
Mastered by Chris Goosman @ Baseline Audio Labs - Ann Arbor, MI.
All lyrics by Jason.

Artwork and Layout by Paul Vismara.
Live photo and angel photo by Penelope Pappas.
9:12 AM 
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Sunday, February 22, 2009 

Current mood:  animated
Giant Brain came about because of a painting, really... When Detroit art-tiste Mark Dancey painted what he thought Detroit genius-savant Andy Sutton's brain might look like, the concept for a group came about� one that would fuse all things good about Detroit music with the improvisational aspects of Krautrock. If only because the Giant Brain is native to the Motor City, one could think of Giant Brain as Can gunning a GTO down Route 66, or the Stooges speeding down the Autobahn in a late model Porsche.

Andy (bass, drum programs, and general concepts) had played in bands with his brother, Al Sutton, producer of records by such indie -rock stalwarts as Big Chief, Don Caballero, The Laughing Hyenas, as well as �stoner-rock� acts like Five Horse Johnson and Halfway to Gone. The siblings enlisted the musically and otherwise unemployed Philip D�rr, former lead guitarist of Big Chief, and conveniently the only real Kraut in the neighborhood, and Al took the reins as editor/arranger. Together they began recording pretty much immediately. This Philosophy-101 musical method of thesis/antithesis/synthesis has finally yielded Plume, a merger of Krautrock and Stoner-Rock that will undoubtedly make Daimler-Chrysler wet its corporate trousers with envy at the Teuto-American synergy it can only dream to someday achieve.

As with the great Krautrock bands they so admire, improvisation is a major part of the Giant Brain, in-studio as well as live. The concept is devilishly simple: establish a basic premise, deconstruct, demolish and re-construct it, (if necessary) invite some friends to do whatever they're good at, until the end-product is a right, mostly-instrumental, Detroit-cum-Stuttgart jam... Ear candy abounds on Plume, an album that should be experienced at least once with headphones and under the influence of something� anything. Live gigs, though rare, consist of the core band of Andy and Phil on stage with any and all manner of guest musicians, while Al mans the controls to create that "come-hither-so-we-may-rock-your-pants-wet" atmosphere out of the controlled chaos that is so desperately lacking from other, less off-the-cuff bands�

Plume is a record for fans of Kraftwerk and Kyuss, Neu and Blue Cheer, but we leave you with a word of caution: early versions of the Giant Brain�s Plume have been shown to cause impromptu outbreaks of provocative dancing. Consider yourself warned.
Thorn of Thrones SS-090/2009
Personnel:
Andy Sutton: bass, loops, programming, vocals.
Al Sutton: loops, programming, editing, keyboards, vocals, percussion.
Eric Hoegemeyer: drums, percussion, programming, editing, keyboards.
Philip Durr: guitars, bass, keyboards, melodica

Guest Musicians:
Damon Che: drums on 'Asian Love Song, What?' and 'Space Mannequin'
Sue Lott: vocals on 'Empyrian'

Thorn of Thrones' review from StonerRock.com...


Thorn of Thrones? Up until about five minutes ago, I could've sworn the second album by Giant Brain was called Throne of Thorns. It makes more sense, albeit in a black metal sort of way.

But hell, this could've been called Diaper of Thorns and I still would've gotten a kick out of it. Like debut Plume, this nine track album is a damn near note-perfect mixture of Kraut rock and stoner rock, a record that thumps along with a consistent, machine-like rhythm but still manages to keep an earthy feel. Tracks like opener “Relentful Relentless,” “Gooser,” and “Space Mannequin” border on techno, with their surplus of programmed beats and assorted audio effects, but the interesting thing is how the band manages to use this seemingly restrictive style as the backdrop for improvisational jams. If anything, being shoehorned into a lockstep groove opens the band up.

What's most appealing about Thorn of Thrones is how Giant Brain tweaks the conventional but never so much as to lose its immediate appeal. Strip away all the computer-driven layering and you still have a band that knows the ins and outs of a good song or two. Recommended.

- John Pegoraro
..

..

Albums


SS-090 Thorn of Thrones (2009)

SS-067 Plume (2007)

....
9:06 AM 
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Saturday, November 29, 2008 

Current mood:  artistic

  • Five Horse Johnson
    TBD 2009
  • Giant Brain
    Thorn Of Thrones 2009
  • Los Natas
    El Nuevo Orden De La Libertad 2008
  • Mos Generator
    TBD 2009
  • Red Giant
    TBD 2009
  • Sasquatch
    4 2009
  • Solace
    A.D. 2009
  • Sons Of Otis
    Exiled 2009
  • The Brought Low
    TBD 2009
  • Throttlerod
    TBD 2009
  • Tia Carrera
    TBD 2009
  • Tummler
    Dead In The Water 2009
  • Valis
    Blood on Blood 2009
Currently listening:
See You in Hell!
By Roadsaw
Release date: 2008-08-26
10:25 AM 
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Friday, October 24, 2008 

Current mood:  energetic
DOZER - Beyond Colossal

SS-087/2008


Fredrik Nordin: Vocals and Guitar Tommi Holappa: Leadguitar Johan Rockner: Bass Olle Mårthans: Drums Produced by Tommi Holappa and Fredrik Nordin Co-produced by Karl Daniel Liden Engineered By Karl Daniel Liden Recorded at Studios 301,Stockholm and Rockhuset Studios, Borlange. Mixed by Karl Daniel Liden at Tri-Lamb Studios,Stockholm. Mastered by John Golden at Golden Mastering,Ventura,CA. All songs written by DOZER Guest vocals on Empire's End and Two coins for eyes by Neil Fallon (Neil appears in courtesy of himself) Hammond Organ on Bound For Greatness by Jocke Aslund. Artwork and Design by Nathan Lavertue. Band photo by Erik Backwall and Per Jonsson.



Reviews for Beyond Colossal...


StonerRock.com


The new Dozer album “Beyond Colossal” is really moving me. Like their last release “Through The Eyes Of Heathens,” Dozer has once again out-did themselves. Like a fine wine, this band gets better with age. The songwriting keeps building up to a level that most bands can’t accomplish. I am really blown away on how good this new record is.

“The Flood” rocks like an opening song should. Plenty of heavy riffage and great singing melodies alike, Dozer has once again returned with a vengeance. The second track “Exoskeleton, pt. II” was featured on the split “Tour EP” with Iceland’s Brain Police. A great song that formulates what Dozer is capable of. The third song entitled “Empire’s End” picks up the pace again and drives along with conviction. “The Ventriloquist” opens with bass and has a softer touch with more great singing courtesy of Fredrik. The dynamics of these songs are inspiring to say the least. The fifth song called “Grand Inquisitor” reminds me of something off of “Heathens” with the excellent guitar playing and contrasts of light to heavy.

After all, “Beyond Colossal” was recorded by Daniel Liden (drummer on “Heathens” and the first two Greenleaf albums.) He definitely knows the Dozer sound. His ability to produce such a great sounding record says a lot. All of the songs on this release are very good and stand out individually as well. The new drummer is a perfect match for the band. This will be one of this years top albums!

“The Throne”, “Fire For Crows”, and “Two Coins For Eyes” should appeal to all Dozer fans. The last song “Bound For Greatness” is a mellow tune that ends the CD perfectly with good singing and some tasty keyboards. “Beyond Colossal” will definitely be in my top 10 for 2008. For fans of any and all of the Dozer releases, this one is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for sure!!!


 - Mark Richard (Backer)

Currently listening:
Beyond Colossal
Release date: 2008-11-25
2:06 PM 
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Tuesday, September 09, 2008 

Tia Carrera Bio

It's an evening like any other in Austin. In a basement there's a bluesman with white hair that enlightens the crowd with an old Gibson in hand while in the next room the My Education propose their infernal post-rock in a club capable of containing no more than fifty people. The ...And You Will Know Us By The Tail Of Death are in studio recording their latest album and other strange elements such as Fires Were Shot, are in their rooms trying, in solitude, to put together some sort of extraordinary great new idea. That same evening on Red River Street, somewhere around the firsts of June, at Room 710, a new band, one of the many found in town, is getting ready to go on stage. They call themselves Tia Carrera, a garage/psycadelic trio to whom few, besides the Austin Chronicle and a tight circle of their own friends, pay any attention. On the other hand we're talking about a band that hasn't yet printed a disc and has only done a few live shows. That night the public was silent. An acidic evening was announced but what could possibly happen on stage is still a mystery. Before the amps even finish warming up a man known as Jason Morales leavea on an acid trip that will last all night.

The Tia Carrera finally let out the beast and while it gets loose it screams, head-banging the surrounding cage, the crowd now knows to have become witness to one of those unforgettable Austin nights. It was as if that evening at 710 of Red River Street the spirit of Jimi Hendrix, after having patiently waited 35 years in paradise decided to come back down for a series concerts using the bodies of Erik Conn, Andrew Duplantis and Jason Morales. Jimi Hendrix. Right, cause it's practically impossible to not associate this name (or this ghost) to the narcotic sensations that Tia Carrera let out. You feel the influence along with that of the Doors and Blue Cheer but let me underline that in this case their is no copy-catting involved. Tia Carrera are pure fury; instestinal passion, a passion that is felt with every beat of the drums and every note on this fantastic live album. It's without a doubt among one of the discs I loose my breath listening to and so I won't hesitate say that this Live 6-03.03 (along with the following The November Session) is a great album.

Extraordinary musicians (reason why bassist Andrew Duplantis was asked to tour with the Son Volt), crazy perhaps, but tragically striking. Truly saddening the fact that their European distribution is practically inexistent since the album was only printed on vinyl. These kinds of bands deserve better and would be a great response to all of those who keep repeating that "todays music stinks".

.. --> end artists -->
.. --> releases -->

Albums

Copyright© Small Stone Recordings

Currently listening:
Directions To See A Ghost
By The Black Angels
Release date: 2008-05-13
8:33 PM 
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Monday, September 08, 2008 

Current mood:  irritated
From www. smallstone. com...

We are gearing up to release a whole bunch of new stuff between now and the end of the year and we will be returning to CMJ this year (we skipped it last year, for those of you who pay attention to details like that).


CMJ:

The Small Stone Showcase @ CMJ 2008 will be going down Friday, October 24th @ Trash Bar in Brooklyn, NY. This will be our first time doing the event in Brooklyn vs. Manhattan. It should be a good time.


7 (Doors)
8 Hackman
8:45 Ironweed
9:30 Throttlerod
10:30 Shame Club
11:30 The Brought Low
12:30 Roadsaw

* We also plan on having Puny Human and/ or A Thousand Knives Of Fire on standby just in case someone backs out at the last minute.


Fall 2008 releases:

Whitey Morgan and The 78's - "Honky Tonks & Cheap Motels" (SS-086) September
Ironweed - "Indian Ladder" (SS-085) October
Dozer - "Beyond Colossal" (SS-087) November
Hackman - "Enterprises" (SS-089) November
Giant Brain - "Thorn Of Thrones" (SS-090) December

* We had planned on releasing new albums from Los Natas, Solace, and Sons Of Otis this Fall, but they are not 100% completed yet. A safer bet for these three would be Winter 2009. If anything changes along the way, You all will be the first to know.
Currently listening:
Tales
By Iota
Release date: 2008-06-10
10:12 PM 
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Sunday, March 09, 2008 
Apr 18, 2008 Tilburg, Holland 013 - Roadburn Festival

Apr 20, 2008 Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang WITH Blood Of The Sun

Apr 22, 2008 Osnabruck, Germany - Bastard Club/Alex Skatehall WITH Blood Of The Sun

Apr 23, 2008 Hallein, Austria - Freysitz WITH Blood Of The Sun

Apr 24, 2008 Granate, Italy - Woodstock WITH Blood Of The Sun

Apr 25, 2008 Milano, Italy - Night for the Deaf c/o C.S.O.A. Cox 18 WITH Blood Of The Sun

Apr 26, 2008 Luzem, Switzerland - Sedel WITH Blood Of The Sun

Apr 27, 2008 Nürnberg, Germany - KV WITH Blood Of The Sun

Apr 28, 2008 Jena, Germany - Rosenkeller WITH Blood Of The Sun

Apr 29, 2008 Berlin, Germany - Wild At Heart WITH Blood Of The Sun

Apr 30, 2008 Schwerin, Germany - Doc.K WITH Blood Of The Sun

May 2, 2008 Lubbenau, Germany - Kulturhof WITH Blood Of The Sun
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Sunday, March 09, 2008 
Apr 3, 2008 Milano, Italy - Mangolia WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 4, 2008 Piacenza, Italy - For Sale WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 5, 2008 Vicenza, Italy - Sabotage Bar WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 6, 2008 Hallein, Austria - Freysitz WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 8, 2008 Fürth, Germany - Kunstkeller 027 WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 9, 2008 Wild At Heart Berlin, Germany WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 10, 2008 Lübbenau, Germany - Kulturhof WITH range Sunshine

Apr 11, 2008 Sittard, Netherlands - Fenix WITH Orange Sunshine, Peter Pan Speedrock

Apr 12, 2008 London, UK - Underworld AT Days of Worship Festival WITH Orange Goblin, Witchcraft

Apr 14, 2008 Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 15, 2008 Osnabrück, Germany - Bastard Club/Alex Skatehall WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 16, 2008 Jena, Germany - Rosenkeller WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 17, 2008 Chmenitz, Germany -Subway to Peter WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 18, 2008 Halle, Germany - Hafenstrasse WITH Orange Sunshine

Apr 19, 2008 Tilburg, Netherlands 013 - Roadburn Festival
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Sunday, March 09, 2008 
We are very busy around here making our final preparations for SXSW 2008. It should be a good old time to be had by all. The boys in Roadsaw canceled at the last minute due one of their family members passing away, so the Iota band will be stepping in to take their place. With that said, the brand new Roadsaw album "See You In Hell" will be finished in about two weeks (well, according to Riggs anyway). We will be pulling the trigger on this album whenever they hand it over to us, but, we promise that it will be coming out sometime this year.

Looking ahead to April, both Los Natas and Dozer are now scheduled to to record new albums for us in their respected homelands of Argentina and Sweden. The new Dozer album is tentatively titled "Beyond Colossal" and will be released this coming October. We do not have an exact release date for Los Natas yet, but it would be safe to say that itheir new one will be coming out sometime in Fall of 2008. So, I guess it is time for Billy Anderson to get his ass back to Argentina.

Both Solace and Iota have almost finished their Small Stone debuts.  We will have more info for you on those two bands and their forthcoming new album(s) next month.

Dixie Witch and Mos Generator are gearing up for their first European Tour(s) this April. Dixie Witch will be cruising around the old world with the Orange Sunshine band, and Mos Generator will be sharing the stage with Blood Of The Sun.  Both bands are also scheduled to play the Roadburn Festival. For more info, please check our Tours page.

The new Shame Club album "Come On" is at now at the plant, We are hoping to have it back in time for SXSW, but we also know that we are cutting it really close. If you are a fan of The Brought Low, Five Horse Johnson, and/ or Jawbox, the Shame Club were tailor made for you. We are very excited to be working with these guys... Hopefully you will be too.

Finally, The new Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned album "South Side Of The Moon" is now here and in stock. We should have a track from the album up on our Jukebox momentarily. If you are open to the idea of Goth and Southern rock being combined, then the new G.S.&T.D.D. album is right up your alley.
10:27 AM 
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