Lollipop Magazine

Saint Vitus – Lillie F 65 – Review

April 15, 2012

Doom kings Saint Vitus bring forth their first album in 17 years. Scott “Wino” Weinrich says he favors “music that grabs you by the balls.”

Gideon Smith & the Dixie Damned – 30 Weight – Review

April 15, 2012

“Do I look like I give a fuck if you like it?” Gideon Smith asks on “Ride With Me,” and if you’re not on board, seriously, find another site to visit.

Freedom Hawk – Holding On – Review

April 15, 2012

Why more bands haven’t sought out singers that emulate Ozzy’s awesome vocal style is a mystery, but Virginia’s Freedom Hawk took the hint.

Horseback – Half Blood – Review

April 15, 2012

Who put black metal vocals in my stoner rock?

Infernal Overdrive – Last Rays Of The Dying Sun – Review

April 15, 2012

Infernal Overdrive list Zeppelin, Grand Funk, and Deep Purple among their influences. More than copying, they actually put thought into writing good songs.

Cathedral – Anniversary – Review

April 15, 2012

Doom legends Cathedral are calling it quits after 20+ years, with one last album due this year before the coffin is lowered.

Black Tusk – Set The Dial – Review

April 15, 2012

Savannah’s Black Tusk sound a lot like fellow Georgians Kylesa. Their fast and heavy mix of stoner metal with hardcore punk is immediate and effective.

Earthless – Radio Moscow – P13 – Review

April 15, 2012

San Diego instrumentalists Earthless aren’t messing around. You can’t help but think of the reverb hitting you in the face at your favorite outdoor venue.

Backwoods Payback – Momantha – Review

April 15, 2012

West Chester, PA stoner stalwarts Backwoods Payback are “3 dudes, 1 gal rocking harder than you” according to their Facebook page.

Dwellers – Good Morning Harakiri – Review

April 15, 2012

Dwellers, pushers of dark psychedelic sounds, have been described as writing “swampy ghost songs.” That’s about right.

The Parlor Mob – Dogs – Review

April 15, 2012

The Parlor Mob singer Mark Melicia steals the show on the New Jersey band’s full-length, Dogs.

Ironweed – Your World Of Tomorrow – Review

April 15, 2012

Ironweed lament that multi-national corporations have enslaved the planet and that CNN, Facebook, iTunes, and Twitter have lulled people into complacency.

Lo-Pan – Salvador – Review

April 15, 2012

This Ohio band’s “El Dorado” is some dirty American rock that holds up well to ridiculous comparisons.

16 – Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds – Review

April 15, 2012

The term “sludge metal” immediately conjures up thoughts of the basketful of bands. Los Angeles’ 16 breaks out of that narrow description.

Corrosion of Conformity – Review

March 30, 2012

Gone is Pepper’s trademark voice (Mike Dean’s voice is fine, but no replacement), as well as a little of the band’s sense of adventure.

Wizard Rifle – Speak Loud Say Nothing – Review

March 23, 2012

Jerking the listener around in a million different musical directions is usually a recipe for disaster, but even as a young band, these two dudes pull it off.

Orange Goblin – A Eulogy for the Damned – Review

February 17, 2012

UK metal veterans Orange Goblin come out of the gate swinging on their first album in five years. “Red Tide Rising” punches with some hefty old-school force.

Sixx: A.M. – This is Gonna Hurt – Review

December 30, 2011

Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx has exorcised a lot of his demons and he’s now in a good place. Unfortunately, people in good places tend to make weak, pussy-ass art.

40 Watt Sun – The Inside Room – Review

October 21, 2011

A more metallic ’10s update on early-’90s shoegaze, 40 Watt Sun sounds like the bastard three-way of Kevin Shields, Peter Murphy, and half of Seattle circa ’91.

Pretty Boy Floyd – Kiss of Death – A Tribute to Kiss – Review

July 29, 2011

It’s a Kiss tribute, released in 2010, by a band who peaked with their first album in ’89. Mean, but true. 15 covers ranging from classic Kiss to who cares?

Red Fang – Murder the Mountains – Review

June 27, 2011

These Portland guys are in the sludgy, fuzzy metal camp. The band’s two vocalists will take you back to the golden Oliveri years of Queens of the Stone Age.

Bloody Ceremony – Living with the Ancients – Review

May 23, 2011

Holy crap, that’s a lotta flute. You’ve gotta know at what point to rein it in, and Toronto’s Bloody Ceremony barrels right past that point on its second album.

The Sign of the Southern Cross – I Carry The Fire – Review

April 25, 2011

You might be expecting some serious Sabbath love, but this three-song EP makes it clear that Pantera/Down worship is more where their heads are at.

Electric Wizard – Black Masses – Review

February 16, 2011

The mighty Electric Wizard return in all of their fuzzy/doomy/all-encompassing Sabby-ness with Black Masses.

Royal Thunder – Review

February 14, 2011

Bassist/singer Miny Parsonz may be the biggest reason I have a half-bat for this Atlanta trio, but the whole package is something special.