Pontiak - Sea Voids LP

Released yesterday is the new "Sea Voids" LP by Pontiak. I only have their split LP with Arbourteum from last year, and apparently this is already their 3rd new record since! Impressive to say the least. And even more impressive that they somehow manage to still release quality music, even at that rate! Now, besides the fact that their names always make me think of cars, Virginia's Pontiak are definitely one of my favourite new acts out there because their monolothic metal infused with southern stoner and some fuzzy psychedelic acid reminds me obviously of Dead Meadow but also of The Walkmen at the same time, and one of their new tracks is riff-worshipping ala Black Sabbath or Led Zep, with the desert feeling of Master of Reality, and the first seconds are equally downtuned as OM . If you're into any of these bands, "Sea Voids" is definitely a safe bet, and for only $13 a pretty cheap one too.

"Sea Voids" is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide and comes in a custom fabricated jacket silk-screened with metallic gold ink, available from Thrill Jockey.

Fu Manchu - Signs of Infinite Power LP

Has anyone heard this yet? Released last week with little fuzz which is weird given they have the patent for heavy fuzzed-out desert-riffing. So,"Signs Of Infinite Power" is already the 11th studio album by Fu Manchu and I can't say I've been eagerly awaiting this album, nor that the artwork inspires me to get excited, but they are a legendary act so worth the write-up. The strange thing is that only European distros seem to have the LP version available, but I could be mistaken of course. Best deal out there is the limited ed. LP + CD for €17,99 from Just For Kicks out of Germany.

If you happen to catch them live, they also have a limited 7" with them called 'Bleach Blanket Bongout", only sold on tour, featuring 1 song off "Signs Of Infinite Power" and a JFA cover on the b-side. Limited to 1000 copies.

Keelhaul – Keelhaul’s Triumphant Return To Obscurity 2xLP

Ah, how I heart Keelhaul. Ah, how good it is to have them back. After 4 years are so, Keelhaul are finally back with a new album on Hydrahead with the killer title "Keelhaul’s Triumphant Return To Obscurity". I for one can't wait to hear this album, and am kind of bummed out that I can't enjoy the online stream over at keelhaulstriumphantreturntoobscurity because I'm on the phone all day long (I post here while being kept 'on hold').

This new 2xLP will no doubt be another slab of fantastic stoner / sludge metal with a dirty Southern feel to it, even if the guys don't live anywhere close to the South - they have more in common with "Holy Terror Land" and have been spotted in bands such as Integrity and Ringworm to mention a few.

The official pre-order for this 2xLP which comes on black, white and translucent purple vinyl aren't up yet, but if you get in touch with Chel, he'll work his magic for you. For information on how that works, head over to chelvanin.com and figure it out. All orders placed before October 20 get $2 off the regular price of $20. If you order all 3 colours of the 2xLP it'll only set you back $50 and Chel might even throw in some mini Keelhaul binoculars, and there's a CD version that comes free with the 2xLP by the way.

PS: Chel has also some copies of the self-titled Xasthur LP, maybe you should get one of those while you're at it.

Saviours - Accelerated Living 2xLP

At first I didn't get this band. I probably still don't because the clue has not found me yet, but after seeing them twice doing their thing on stage, I found them so entertaining it's hard not to like them. You see, I didn't get Saviours because they had Yaphet Kotto members but sounded nothing, and I mean nothing at all, like that. Then, I always saw their name dropped in the same sentence as The Sword and Kylesa, two bands that just don't do it for me. Plus, I wasn't sure if this was "hipster-metal" or "gimmick-metal" or whatnot, but I was actually just confusing them with Genghis Tron (don't even know why). But, here we have it, the ugly truth is, I like me some Saviours!

"Accelerated Living" is the newest (3rd? 4th?) studio-album by this Oakland, CA outfit, and promises to be a blast. Saviours play metal. Their metal is classic, yet stonerish. They have as much in common with Thin Lizzy as with Motörhead. Their love for the power reminds of High On Fire, their love for the beer reminds of, well, Motörhead.

Saviour's new gatefold 2xLP "Accelerated Living" contains all the tracks from their recent 7"s (minus the covers), as well as 5 new tracks. Pre-orders are now up from Kemado

Naam - Naam 2xLP

Tee Pee Records are now accepting pre-orders for the self-titled album by Naam. Naam recall late 60s/early 70s psychedelic rock like Blue Cheer, mixed with contemporary stoner. Their debut EP made me think of bands like like Grails, Black Mountain or Dead Meadow and even some Black Angels. So, this can't be bad, right? Right!

The "Naam" 2xLP is now up for pre-order, which will ship to us before the November 3rd release date. I'd buy this just for the artwork alone from Tee Pee

Ancestors - Of Sound Mind LP

Tee Pee records are finalizing the release of the sophomore effort by LA's Ancestors. a progrock-stoner-doom quintent. Yep, these guys manage to pay tribute to both Sleep's "Holy Mountain" and Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and get away with it. Their debut was very impressive, so I'm definitely looking forward to hearing their new effort. The preview which is available from Stereogum definitely sounds promising.

On their new album, which is recorded by Pete Lyman, known for his work with Mars Volta andNo Age, they also get a little help from their friends, such as David Scott Stone (Melvins, Unwound, Slug) and Sera Timms (Black Math Horsemen).

"Of Sound Mind" is due 10/06 on Tee Pee, but already up for pre-order from Norman Records