One of the things that is great about The Swamp Krewe (besides the hundreds of digital albums and exclusive CDs) is getting album recommendations from the other members. Sargent Signals recently sent me a link to the new prog rock album "The Trial of the King" by Chromatic Aberration. It's an EP by track count, and a full album by play time. Whatever you call it, this is some seriously groovy music. The album is mostly prog rock with its vocals and vibes, but the band isn't afraid to blend in a bit of psych especially when it comes to the final track with its epic length. Listen to "The Trial of the King" by Chromatic Aberration on Bandcamp:

Definitely some great guitar work going on here, which especially stands out on the longer of the two instrumental tracks, "The Incidence of Memory."

The lyrics suggest that while this might not a full-blown concept album, it's definitely thematic with songs about conflicts and kingdoms and, well, trials of kings. The music ties it all together nicely, too.  

Fuzzy's Favorite: "The Trial of the King" with its epic length, although the whole album sounds great and holds up to repeated listens.

FFO: MELLOW BEAST, LOOT THE BODY, and you already know which 70s albums. 

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Episode 3 - "Studio Recording" with Sleeping Child

Fuzzy Cracklins of The Swamp Records talks with Phil the guitarist of Sleeping Child about the studio recording of their upcoming album.

https://sleepingchild.bandcamp.com

"The Sleeping Child" cocktail recipe is at 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKVDl6qpmqf/

Shout outs and recommendations from Sleeping Child:

Kyning. The best progstoner/metal band outta Leipzig

https://instagram.com/kyning_band

https://kyning.bandcamp.com

Weddings. Our dear friends and sick as fuck grunge band from Vienna

https://instagram.com/weddingstherockband

https://weddingstherockband.bandcamp.com

DZM. My best friends Blackmetal/ Crust/ Rap project with the most heavy live performance I have ever seen

https://open.spotify.com/album/77KlKLjPlkpU1wpSjG0aZg?si=m9zn0KJMTb6tvyQzzDKsZQ

New live album from CRUST (Russian sludge trio)

https://crustband.bandcamp.com/album/crust-and-a-dirge-becomes-an-anthem-live-at-mod

Support the Underground when you join The Swamp Krewe! You'll get over 151 digital albums of heavy music with the option for Swag and a CD every month with free shipping. Get in The Swamp at https://www.TheSwampRecords.com 

Fuzzy Cracklins

Promoter of the Heavy Underground

Music reviews at https://www.fuzzycracklins.com

News at https://www.instagram.com/fuzzycracklins

fuzzycracklins@gmail.com

The Swamp Records

Vinyl, CD, tapes, and The Swamp Krewe music subscription

https://www.theswamprecords.com

Intro Music by Professor Electric

https://professorelectric.bandcamp.com

Show Art by Steve Yoyada

https://www.instagram.com/steven_yoyada

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Episode 2 - "Cover Songs"

Fuzzy Cracklins of The Swamp Records talks with Piotr the bass player of SEUM about cover songs.

https://seumtheband.bandcamp.com

Cover song Spotify distro:

Amuse.io

License Providers: 

https://affordablesonglicensing.com/

https://www.easysonglicensing.com/

Type O Negative cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8QSazMF7J0

Paul Winck (Summer of Seum artist):

https://www.instagram.com/paulwinck/

Dying Watan (Prince artwork artist):

https://www.instagram.com/dyingwatan/

Shout outs and recommendations:

Rexxar: 

https://www.instagram.com/rexxar.official/

https://theswamprecords.bandcamp.com/track/kush-of-riff

Dpatrol:

https://www.instagram.com/dpatrolhpxbnh/

https://dpatrol.bandcamp.com/releases

Cerbere: 

https://www.instagram.com/cerbere.666.band/

Ruin of the Romantics:

https://www.instagram.com/ruin_of_romantics/

https://ruinofromantics.bandcamp.com/releases

Intro Music by Professor Electric

https://professorelectric.bandcamp.com

Show Art by Steve Yoyada

https://www.instagram.com/steven_yoyada

Support the Underground when you join The Swamp Krewe! You'll get over 151 digital albums of heavy music with the option for Swag and a CD every month with free shipping. Get in The Swamp at https://www.TheSwampRecords.com 

Fuzzy Cracklins

Promoter of the Heavy Underground

https://www.fuzzycracklins.com

The Swamp Records

Vinyl, CD, tapes, and The Swamp Krewe

https://www.theswamprecords.com

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If you like your stoner music to land more on the desert side of things, and instrumental, with a bit of psychedelic flair, then BLACK SKY GIANT has just the album for you. "Planet Terror" is a collection of 7 songs with slow, fuzzy riffs with clean guitar solos that sound like they were recorded at the bottom of Death Valley. Add in some choice samples, with a dash of synths, and you have an album which will keep you mesmerized all the way through. Listen to "Planet Terror" on Bandcamp: 

It's probably no surprise that Black Sky Giant is from Argentina. This is definitely an album to recommend highly. 

Fuzzy's Favorite: "Perpetual waves to come" but don't miss "The phantom gun" and "Ulameth (endbringer)" with their killer use of samples. 

Follow Black Sky Giant (and also check out their first album) on Bandcamp at https://blackskygiant.bandcamp.com

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Fuzzy really enjoyed last year's psych rock concept album debut from MELLOWBEAST, and the Story of Hyperion continues with their new release "The Tale of Sir Gregory" which is the 3rd album in the tale. This album has more of MellowBeast's easygoing early 70s psychedelia sound which is so carefree and natural that it can't help but to lift your spirits and carry you along in a wave of upbeat tempos. And what about our hero, Sir Gregory? Have a listen on Bandcamp to find out: 

"The Tale of Sir Gregory" has a story to connect the songs, which is hardly a requirement when the songs are so consistently good across the album, but the theme of a magic kingdom filled with dragons, goblins, and heroes fits so well with the music that the concept serves to elevate the entire project to the top of the current roster of psych rock bands. 

According to MellowBeast, the timeline of the story does not match the release dates of the albums. Here's the story of Hyperion in chronological order:

• The Tale of Sir Gregory -- With the threat of a goblin attack looming the last king of man sends for his loyal knight sir Gregory to go on a deadly journey across Hyperion in search of a weapon powerful enough to stop the goblin hordes. On his journey he stumbles upon a dragon with whom he quickly becomes infatuated with. The dragon queen, sympathetic to Gregory's cause decides to aid him. The pair of star-crossed lovers search for an old sorcerer who has helped the dragon in the past. It is then that they discover the sorcerer was behind the goblin attacks. In their combined rage the dragons soul embues into Gregory's sword creating an all powerful weapon. Eventually Gregory is defeated in combat and the dragon spends the rest of her days within the sword, brewing hatred for the wizard
• Sorcerers Sword -- A devotee conjurer is deeply saddened by his sudden loss of magical powers. In his darkest day he hears whispers calling to him. Whispers from a sword long forgotten to time. After aquiring the sword, madness soon creeps in. Plagued by terrible visions he takes it upon himself to cleanse the planet of Hyperion and create a new world in his own vision.
• Hyperion -- This album is set in present day. A man bored of his mundane life finds him self teleported to an alien world full of weird and wonderful creatures who are obsessed with a prophecy telling of a hero that will come and save the world from the reign of the evil wizard

I'm hoping for at least one more album in the Story of Hyperion, since the last song is entitled "The Kingdom is Burning." Sounds like a cliff-hanger!

Catchy riffs, guitar solos, vocal styles for the characters, all wrapped up in a fantasy epic. "The Tale of Sir Gregory" is another great psych rock album from MellowBeast.

Grab a limited edition CD and listen to the entire MellowBeast discography at https://mellowbeast.bandcamp.com/album/the-tale-of-sir-gregory

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There's a reason WORMHOG's "Yellow Sea" is #1 on December's Doom Charts. Actually, there are a lot of reasons. Let's break it down. Blasting, heavy riffs. Killer vocals. Epic guitar solos. Splash of prog metal on top of a desert rock foundation. Flashbacks to the glory days of grunge. Listen to "Yellow Sea" by Wormhog on Bandcamp:

I can't think of another recent album which combines elements of prog metal into a desert / stoner sound this seamlessly. The time changes and quick guitar solos feel perfectly integrated with the overall vibe, and never seem to be tacked on as an afterthought or embellishment. 

The vocals are definitely reminiscent of some grunge bands, and interact perfectly with the stoner prog music. This is an experienced band that understands the sound it wants to achieve, and has the skills to pull it off. 

And dig that album cover inspired by Zardoz! (The album cover was created by kamaris_junk.)

Recap: Non-stop heavy vibes with a touch of prog, top-rate production, and killer music throughout. 

Fuzzy's Favorite: "Beneath The Yellow Sea" but if you think there are any weak songs on this album, then you haven't listened to it yet!

From the band: 

Wormhog is a Stoner Prog band based in Athens, Greece.

The band’s first EP, “Mother Worm Father Hog”, was released in 2014 and was recorded live at D Studio in Athens. Being loyal supporters of everything that’s heavy, Wormhog draws inspiration from bands such as Black Sabbath, Mastodon, Alice in Chains and Blue Oyster Cult. Clearly influenced by their musical background, the band’s main direction in songwriting is retro grooves merged with progressive twists and swirling guitar solos.

After years of steady presence in the Athens underground music scene, the band released their first LP, “Yellow Sea” which was once again recorded, mixed and produced at D Studio, Athens by Mihail Karpathiou. “A trip through space, a strange eclipse of the sun, the birth of a monster, it’s fall from the sky and into the Yellow Sea”. This album vaguely unveils the origins and nature of the wormhog beast while also exploring other themes concerning the journey of life.

Follow Wormhog on Bandcamp at https://wormhog.bandcamp.com

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TLDR; Hell yea!

"Vs. Gargantuan" by SUPERLORD rips. Simple as that. 4 tracks that spend most of 30 minutes laying down a metal assault that is both super fresh but also reminiscent of the best of 70s and 80s metal. 

I would still listen to 80s metal if it all sounded this good. And to be fair (to the band, not to 80s metal), SUPERLORD adds some modern elements from stoner doom like extended riffs and an extra layer of fuzz. And the clean guitar solos (especially in "Desert Ruins") are right out the best of 70s heavy rock. That's not to say any of these riffs are derivative. Not in the least. It's more like, SUPERLORD is inspired a lot of great music, and on "Vs. Gargantuan" they are sharing those inspirations with us. 

Fuzzy's Favorite: "Desert Ruins" which is easily one of the best songs from last year that I've heard. But the whole EP is just as solid and just as good, and the extended length of "Alice Olive" definitely gives it some bonus points, while the vocals on the title track are flat-out heroic (musically and lyrically).

SUPERLORD is from England with members:

• Aaron Brennan - Guitar/Vox
• Tom Humphrey - Bass
• Mike Whittle - Drums

Check out their shirt with art by Steve Yoyada and follow the band at https://superlordband.bandcamp.com

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Let's keep it real -- sure, most of us really dig some great singing but there are times when you just gotta keep it instrumental. There's something about letting the instruments do the singing which hits the spot. Maybe you want to zone out without the distraction of words, or perhaps you want to focus on the music. Whatever the deal is, instrumental music is one of the highlights of the underground scene. If you're with me on this, then you will absolutely dig "Hemerith" by Praÿ. Fuzzy is a little late getting his ears onto these 2 extended stoner tracks, but it's a new year and time for new tunes. Have a listen to Praÿ and we'll chat afterwards:

Sure, it's only 2 tracks, but with nearly 25 minutes of vibes, there is a lot to dig into here. And Praÿ doesn't waste any time digging in. The heavy riffs start right off with "Faithless Goddess" and keep going through "Widow Of Light." The former is a little cleaner, and the latter is a little fuzzier, but both have a desert rock foundation which is undeniable and exceptionally good. 

Each instrument in this trio (bass, guitar, drums) stands out so cleanly in the mix that I would suggest this EP to anyone who asks me, "What's this stoner music thing all about?" It's not too slow or too fuzzy, it's got catchy riffs, and each instrument gets its chance to do its thing. If you have a friend who digs heavy rock but hasn't yet caught the stoner bug, then you need to send them this album. They'll connect with the heavy bass & drums section, or the guitar solos, and feel right at home, but realize there's a lot more going on here than with your typical rock music.

Usually I like to pick out a favorite song, but with only 2 tracks (both equally good), instead I'll point out a favorite section. It's the middle of "Widow Of Light" which splits the song in half with a haunting guitar solo and more of that heavy bass & drums which I dig so much. 

Praÿ hails from Lyon, France with members: 

• Guitar: Maud Gibbons
• Bass: Jason Rols
• Drums: Antoine Berthet-Bondet

From the band: 

Our stuff is to mix stoner rock with doom, psychedelic music and space rock.

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