CANADIAN RIFFS: BINGE & PURGE - Botfly - “Denouement” (EP) & Lousy Riders – “Orphan"

By: Mark Tremblay

Botfly - “Denouement” (EP) (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

The Review:

One of the best kept secrets of Canada’s east coast return with their follow up EP “Denouement”; a bleaker and more metallic offering to their critically acclaimed full length “Hatch”.

The first track, “29/04/2015”, brings the classic sludge/noise-rock fusion of riffs akin to that of KEN mode. Botlfy, however, add their own twist by utilizing major chords during the song’s heaviest moments, a signature of the band.

The second side of the EP, “Homesick”, is an extremely dissonant track; a song about losing touch and growing apart. On this song, Botflyincorporate post metal into their sound. The softer, delay-heavy moments within this song compliment the aggressive riffs in a way which makes the best Botfly track to date.

Keep any eye out for Botlfy when the next full-length comes out.

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

Lousy Riders – “Orphan” (Toronto, Ontario)

The Review:

“Orphan” is the perfect soundtrack to any 60’s biker film marathon. Lousy Rider is a two piece hailing from Toronto Ontario. The band also features regular collaborations from legendary Metal producer Greg Dawson, and jack-of-all-trades musician Mike Simpson.

The album features both ends of the stoner metal spectrum; the groove-oriented“fairy wear boots” style Sabbath worship, to something a bit more sinister. “Devil’s Chair”, “You Made Me”, and “Fake House Love” bring weight through crushing riffs, and off-kilter drum beats. These tracks are much more Metal than their previous EP, and showcase growth within the band. The Kyuss flair comes through with “Radiation” and “You Made Me” that focus on vocal harmonies that are seldom pulled off in modern stoner metal.

Like all great stoner metal albums, it ends with a classic instrumental jam track. Taking a page from Sons of Otis, Lousy Riders flex their musical chops to weave a delicate and haunting instrumental aptly titled “Stoned”.

Overall. If thick riffs and out-of- the box approaches to metal sub-genres is your kind of thing, Lousy Rider’s “Orphan” is a must check out for you.

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

REVIEW: Grizzlor / Godstopper - "Grizzlor / Godstopper 7inch"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: 7inch

Date Released: 17/02/2017

Label: Corpse Flower Records

 

Overall this is an excellent split that showcases two awesome bands with differing styles united in their bizarre approach and love of the riff.

“Grizzlor/Godstopper 7”//DD track listing:

1). Grizzlor– Are You Doing Your Job?

2). Grizzlor– Jack and Diane

3). Godstopper– Down Here For Long

4). Godstopper - Cellphane

The Review:

Corpse Flower Records have brought together two titans of oddball noise rock in the form of Grizzlor and Godstopperto create a killer split 7”.

New Haven’s Grizzlor came to my attention with their mighty 2015 7” “Cycloptic”. This time the band have slowed the tempo slightly to pack two songs into seven minutes, making these tracks almost prog in length compared to their previous output. Their unique brand of lurid, sludgy weirdness is as potent as ever though coming across like the Melvinsproviding a twisted soundtrack to Saturday morning kid’s cartoons. “Are You Doing Your Job?” sees the band expand their twisted surf edge in the form of unhinged reverbed-out guitar solo while “Jack and Diane” is a perkier slice of damaged punk rock. These two tracks offer a tantalising glimpse of Grizzlor’s power and hopefully they will be back soon with a longer release.

This split is my first taste of Godstopper and it has definitely made me hungry for more. The Torontoquartet deliver two tracks of wildly contrasting style but both of high quality. “Down Here For Long” is the heaviest track on the record, with crunching stop/start riffs giving way to outbursts of glorious Torchestyle melodic sludge. “Cellophane” provides a complete change of pace in the form of a strange power ballad. Consisting mostly of sparse guitar, piano and rim clicks, it’s a catchy tune that has hints of Faith No More’squieter moments, particularly during the brief eruption of distortion. 

Overall this is an excellent split that showcases two awesome bands with differing styles united in their bizarre approach and love of the riff.

“Grizzlor/Godstopper 7” is available here

Band info: facebookgrizzlordestroys|| facebookgodstopperband