Reviews
Ape Machine
Holy Serpent
Whiskey Dick
Turbowolf
Graveyard Johnnys
Live at Freak Valley
Holy Serpent
Welcome To Yeehaw Country
Two Hands
Dead Transmission
Pagan Hel
Ripple Music / Ape Machine
Music
When the mystical lyrics of
vocalist Caleb Heinze lock
in with the band’s stonecold groove, APE MACHINE
demonstrate an earthshaking ability to rock. A true
four-piece, the group has
been called “a rock and roll
band with a finger on the
pulse of the 70’s and their
asses firmly in the present”
and “real heavy-psych for
the iPhone generation” that
delivers “true guts and glory
rock and roll!“
Taking me back to my roots
of the good old days when
there was just rock, Ape
Machine have that sleazy
rock feel that impels you to
move your head or at least
tap your foot or both. The
chunky beats are enthralling
and thrilling. Constant
excitement is reached in
an instant by pressing
play and the tracks bristle
with lively rhythms and
uncompromising riffs. Energy
and thunderous rapture is set
alight on the bands eleven
track album ‘Live at Freak
Valley’.
It could be suggested that
there are Sabbathesque
riffs in the bands offerings,
which should please a few
like-minded people who are
of the Sabbath persuasion,
not that I am complaining,
far from it, this album is
alive with melody, hooks
and grinding riffs all for your
listening pleasure.
You can’t beat a bit of purple
and the band have added
their lively swagger to the
proceedings with a cover of
‘Black Night’.
This is a superb album that
plants you firmly back in the
70’s to re-live them vibrant
times. Still un-mistakingly
good to hear some great
rock, played the good old
fashioned way, and for those
who missed the era – there
is always You Tube! You have
to remember that without
‘rock’ to underpin todays
music there wouldn’t be
metal, so it is good to explore
various genres, even better
to plonk yourself back to
where it all started and Ape
Machine have caught the
vibe supremely!
Released 26th May 2015.
Pagan Hel
RidingEasy Records
Despite their relative youth
the band has become
remarkably adept at turning
out some of the heaviest,
most offhand and authentic
sounds around. Holy
Serpent rages with agitation
and grazes with a simple
chug that captivates as it
swings us back into an era
of Psychedelic and newer what’s now known as Stoner!
Shroom Doom is laced with a
caustic heavy riff that invites
a swirling imagination,
soaked in a rich rhythmic
regime. ‘Fools Gold’ holds
serious outpourings that are
extremely muscular. ‘The
Plague’ is a staggering ten
minutes long and unmasks
an unsettling swathe of
euphoria. ‘The Wind’ has that
certain magic of taunt and
tease as it winds around the
ears and squeezes tightly.
It is amazing when you listen
to stoner doom bands you
realise that they do sound
very similar to early Sabbath,
although Sabbath were just
simply known for being a
‘heavy rock band’ back in
the day.
The 5 track E.P is steeped
in its own unique presence
and explores a doom
laden environment that
increasingly grows darker
with a forged emotion and
sultry passion.
‘Stoner’ is a sub-genre
combining elements of
Psychedelic, blues, acid and
of course heavy metal. Its
slow passages feature groove
laden and distorted bass and
is a more ‘old’ kind of retro
sound.
Holy Serpent haven’t
patented the sound, but
they sure have made it more
accessible and conclusive by
adding to their ‘stoner’ stamp
of the ever increasing genres.
It is great music to chill out
to and Holy Serpent are no
exception to the rule. What
you hear is what you get with
Holy Serpent it is as simple
as that!
It improves with every
listen and that has been at
least three since starting
this review, so get ready
for a highly charged listen
that eventually becomes
addictive.
Released 12th May 2015.
Neale MGeever
Rusty Knuckles
On the Urban Dictionary
‘Whisky Dick’ is described