Witches Of God - "The Blood Of Others" CD

This Los Angeles band's debut smokes in a big post-Black Sabbath way. 

All the genre's staples are here, from the gargantuan, way-out stoner-psyche riffs of "Devils III" to the massive space-metal beast that is the title track. "Higher Than The Heavens" is most certainly the acid-dropping offspring of Ozzy, Geezer, Tony, and Bill. "The Horror" features guest vocals from Scott "Wino" Weinrich of St. Vitus, The Obsessed, and Shrinebuilder), and moves from heavy rock to weird, evil tribal sounds. Absolutely great stuff here. I consider this the album's high point, but give it all a listen and see for yourself.

All said, "The Blood Of Others" is an excellent stoner metal album that brings the bongs and blown speakers. Amen, brothers. And I love the cover art.  

Witches Of God self-release

Witchbook

Conny Ochs - "Raw Love Songs" CD

Debut solo release from a German singer/songwriter who recently toured and collaborated with doom/stoner metal legend Wino, "Raw Love Songs" is a rich and sonorous collection of just what the title implies. "Stampede, Stampede" is a lovely acapella opener, leading into the moving "Lily Of The Valley", which channels Jeff Buckley. "Angels And Demons" reminds of both Buckley and Nick Cave, being full of tortured dark and raw emotion. "Good House" could almost be H.I.M. minus the glitter. The almost-blues of "Waiting For The Monster" are also effective. "Raw Love Songs" is quintessentially a dark acoustic folk album, and a good one at that. (Exile On Mainstream Records)

Ochspace

Conny Ochs site

Shrinebuilder - "Shrinebuilder" CD

Heavy and and melodic psychedelic metal here, from a new project from prominent members of Om, Melvins, and Neurosis, with Wino (from the Obsessed) on vocals. "Shrinebuilder" draws on everything from stoner rock to classic metal to drone/tribal hybrids to lysergic improv, and to good effect. "Solar Benediction" evolves from heavy groove to mellow psychedelia in it's almost 9-minute duration, while "Pyramid To The Moon" is a huge and head-nodding slab of post-Sabbath groove, albeit with added space-out textures. "Blind For All To See" is a slow, churning drone-stone wanderer, sounding like a massive epic jam from another time and space. If big, monstrously heavy and monolothic doom metal is your thing, Shrinebuilder are certainly a must-hear. (Neurot Recordings)

Shrinespace