December 4th 2010 i went to Montreal to watch the UK doom metal band Pagan Altar headline at what would initially be the first ever official doom metal festival in Montreal!! I have to say the 14 hour or so ride on the train to Montreal was well worth it.The show Pagan Altar played that night was of megalithic proportions the most epic show i have ever had the chance to see.Pagan Altar played two sets lasting over 2 hours the first set consisting mostly of the newer material and the second set they played 90% of the Vol. I/Judgment of the Dead album.They also did this set with candles,skulls and black cloaks!The amount of people that showed up was intense and when Pagan Altar went up on stage the crowd instantly stopped and kept their hypnotic gaze on the band.Everyone was instantly mystified by the presence of England's most chivalric bands in heavy metal history!
The newest slab from Pentagram is now out on Metal Blade records and is available on both cd and vinyl.Time to place your orders and pay for your sins.This album will have many Ramsters crawling back for more after each listen.The remakes of old Stonebunny/Bedemon era songs like "Call the Man" "Into The Ground" "Windmills and Chimes" and "Nothing Left" really bring back the nostalgia in a respective way.Victor Griffin's mammoth guitar sounds from the relentless days is back and sounding meaner than ever.With Pentagram lined up as headliners for Roadburn this April it's gonna be an eventful summer for the band and the legion of doomed fans out there!!!
PENTAGRAM - LAST RITES - 2011
1. Treat Me Right 2. Call the Man 3. Into the Ground 4. 8 5. Everything's Turning to Night 6. Windmills and Chimes 7. American Dream 8. Walk in the Blue Light 9. Horseman 10. Death in 1st Person 11. Nothing Left 12. All Your Sins - Reprise
Canadian 70's heavy prog band Warpig came from Woodstock, Ontario.Surprisingly enough they didn't sound like any of the typical 70's Canadian bands at the time like April Wine,Rush etc. The sound they had was much more British sounding.Very much along the lines of Black Sabbath,Deep Purple and Uriah Heep.The self-titled Warpig album originally came out in Spring of 1973 and was re-issued in 2006 on cd & 12" vinyl fully re-mastered with extended liner notes! Here we are now 30 plus years later and the songs still keep their unique flavor of 70's hard psych proto-metal.Warpig has also been busy since the re-issue of their album making the long awaited second album entitled "that pillar of fire".With that being said anyone interested in reading more on the band you can visit the official website http://www.warpig.ca/index.php
The great Canadian rock band Offenbach are one of my faves!! i really dig the early 70's stuff they did.This documentary had come to my attention sometime in around 1996 and i had only glimpsed at a few parts and had never seen the whole presentation! I recently found it on youtube and finally got to see every bit of it.Well i guess i should start off by saying if you are not french you probably wont understand a word being said in this film.But it still shouldn't stop you from enjoying this documentary on rock music! from the beginning of the movie it starts off with the band rocking out and not much talking goes on in the first part of the film.The whole thing is basically just them having a party smoking hash and drinking beer being loud at all times even when off the stage.It seems even without instruments they would always find ways of making music with just their mouths and banging on stuff,setting cars on fire and not giving a damn.Overall this is a very good 70's documentary that will make you laugh and cry and maybe even shit your pants.Either way its worth seeing at least one time if you are french and were into the band! one thing for sure the band sure knew how to party!!!
The story of Fable is a enigmatic tale that still hasn't been heard by many.The three piece power trio started as Hellhound in the late 60's early 70's in Victoria B.C. Canada.They then changed the name to Fable.One of the members was quoted saying "We felt that our music was telling stories, that it was taking you on journeys just like fables do."
In 1975 Get the "L" outta here was released.On this album you hear influences from Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, Robin Trower, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Sir Lord Baltimore.The recording quality is very good and the songs are catchy,The guitar work on the album this is phenomenal.When members were asked what would describe their sound? They answered "Loud, heavy and aggressive but filled with positive energy and melody." This answer is very much dead on,for an album that came out so early in the 70's there is a surprisingly abundant early 80's NWOBHM feel in some of the songs.Overall this is a very nostalgic sounding record for anyone who feels they might have missed out or overlooked this obscure gem.It definitely brings back similar feelings as discovering vintage Pentagram did or Necromandus.Nearly 30 years later the album resurfaced on cd and is a great piece of rock history to have!
FABLE - GET THE "L" OUTTA HERE - 1975
1.Intro (late again) 2.Kacheena 3.Why is it me? 4.We'll find a way 5.Here me calling 6.Without asking 7.Lady of the night 8.Believe in me 9.Cue Stick 10.Battle of the neon knights 11.And this day 12.The Tramp 13.No way out 14.Kacheena(radio edit version)
In 2010 Rise Above Relics released "AX - You've Been So Bad" a limited edition 10" ep of 600 copies.This obscure 70's Canadian hard psych band from Kitchener,Ontario were around since the late 60's early 70's.Members John Frederiksen, Jack Smith, Gary Gross and Brian Shearer.After 36 long years finally get to have their awe inspiring Sabbath style synchronicities to be heard by all!! And what an amazing tone this ep has, if you liked Warpig,Deep Purple and Uriah Heep you will definitely dig this stuff.Great blues style guitar and vocals that could be compared to a very young Ozzy in his early prime with B. Sabbath.Overall this is most definitely some of the rarest 70's proto metal ever, since this is the first time the songs have been released officially on a label! let's trust Rise Above Records and hope there might be some more rare recordings from AX to be issued in the near future.
AX -YOU'VE BEEN SO BAD / Rise Above Relics 2010
10'' ep
Side A 1.You've Been So Bad 2.It Can Make You Happy
Well i decided to give the blogging thing another try.So i am bringing back the Dimensions of Doom and will link everything that goes on in my life regarding the doom metal community! Also will link up my online radio show to this and will post the times that i will be airing the program.But in general i will try to post more news on the bands that i follow most for example: Pagan Altar,Orodruin,Cathedral,Pentagram and whole multitude of 70's obscure psych and folk rock,NWOBHM & early 80's power trash bands.
