Jupiter Zeus-On Earth

Magnetic Eye Records
2014

First known as Nebula (under which they released one 1994 demo, "Born Deformed", and the full-length, 1995 album, "Sadness Vs Madness") and originally wowing audiences with their own take on groove-infused death metal before transferring their collective consciousness (guitarist/vocalists Simon Staltari, bass guitarist Jeremy Graham, guitarist Michael Lawson and drummer Aidrian Vudrug) into the art-form that stands before us now, Perth, Western Australia-based Jupiter Zeus are something refreshingly different and yet oddly familiar. Short and sweet this is prime and proper (hypnotic) psychedelic rock. Only here we find a album like "On Earth" awash with heavy grooves (no doubt the one carry-over aspect from Nebula), flashes of melodic sensibility ("Cosmic Rays", "Waiting In Line"), some space rock weirdness (ala Hawkwind), splinters of garage rock and mighty mighty riffs that (on occasion mind you) bear resemblance to something that you'd expect to find from your local (college-age no doubt) stoner rock (hipster) collective and not a potential (radio rock) hit-making crew like this. And that's the real clincher here. As HEAVY as this band is on the rock front (listen to opener "Waves" and then simply follow the flame to "Over" and go from there!) and (even more so with) the psychedelic/groove tendencies there's more then meets the eye with this bunch seeing as Jupiter Zeus are strong contenders on the "pop" side of things. Sure, it's more akin to the craftiness of college rock/alternative rock of old ("Talkback Caller", "Waiting In Line"), but the fact remains that this four-piece (punctuated by the hypnotic performance of Simon Staltari) know how to write music that is catchy and sticks with you for a long time afterwards! No fears though as "On Earth" is still a sick enough slab of stone-cold riffs (see "Psychotic Seeds") so as to offer more then enough material to appeal to followers of all things stoner rock! That's especially true as the HEAVY groove-lines offer a nice little one-two to your eardrums (dig the fat riffs of "Co-Creators"!). Now, as to how this Western Australia bunch has managed to elude stardom so far remains any one's guess? The band's previous release (the well-received EP "Green Mosquito") did set the stage, but now it's time for Jupiter Zeus to actually take to the stage and just let it rip. But they can't do it alone. People need to perk up and listen as well! "On Earth" offers itself as a (sublime) alternative to the daily grind that is (repetitive) rock and/or metal so all you need to do is reach out and take hold of the flame. Easy enough right?

https://magneticeyerecords.bandcamp.com/album/on-earth 

Reaper's Riddle-"Drop" Single

Self-Release/Interdependent
2013

I'm pleading ignorance when it comes to Perth-based Reaper's Riddle. Until this morning I had never heard of this heavy rock/heavy metal band. Thanks to the cool folks over at Killshot PR, who actually dropped the music video for "Drop" onto my lap, that's all changed. I now have another up-and-coming band to keep an eye out/ear out for. After checking out their new single "Drop", which mark's their first foreign into the world of music videos, there was no question at all that I'd be adding them onto my radar. There was one other question though. Does a band that's been at it for 5 years now actually count as a up-and-coming act? Maybe or maybe not. If that's the only issue I walk away with after checking out "Drop" then this band must be doing something right! Formed in 2009, with their self-titled demo LP dropping the very same year, the band has slowly been building up a loyal fan-base in their home country thanks to some solid studio-releases and, what is said to be, highly energetic live performances. Reportedly the band's first record-release party  resulted in a packed venue that was completely sold out of alcohol by 11pm! There's no doubt in my mind that the people who did manage to gain entry into the group's "record-breaking debut launch" worked up quite a thirst thanks to the band's early working-class style of hard rock. I know as much thanks to the fact that (after listening to "Drop" a few times) I went and picked up their back-catalog on iTunes! Having done so I can honestly say that this is one group that has improved with each new release. So, besides being described as a beast when it comes to playing live, Reaper's Riddle do know their way around a studio. It's easy to hear the group's musical progression with all things eventually converging on "Drop" and (subsequently) their upcoming concept album "The Ballad Of Tristan Daye" (expected for release sometime in mid-2014). With a strong front-man like Clayton Mitchell standing front and center the band's future does look promising. He's got just the right kind of pipes for this sort of heavy rock/heavy metal band and while he stays busy on the mic there are two guitarists on board who do more then just throw out  bunch of random riffs. Michael Willis and Dan Bishop help to keep things moving along with some solid hard rock solos. That makes sense as this band knows a thing or two about good hard rock bands and great hard rock hooks! Classic acts like Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Kiss, Metallica, AC/DC, The Four Horsemen, Dio and Megadeth have no doubt crept through the tiny cracks and influenced this bunch. Then again we're also talking about a group that "likes" newer acts such as Rob Zombie and Disturbed and has probably picked up a few pointers along the way from bands like Godsmack, Pantera, Dark New Day and Avenged Sevenfold. If all of that leaves your head spinning then just stop, sit down, take a deep breath and plug into "Drop". It will all make more sense then. From the vocals to the guitars and yes, even all the way down to the rhythm section (featuring bassist Jason Edwards and drummer Wayne Frodyma) Reaper's Riddle has the right kind of line-up and the right kind style and sound to make it. Heavy rock like this is really the best of both worlds as you could imagine this single played on FM radio just as you could easily as you could picture these guys hitting the road with a heavyweight act like Motörhead. Heck, I could easily see "Drop" getting the Lemmy seal of approval! Reaper's Riddle are just that kind of band and one worth keeping an eye and ear out for.




Music video for "Drop"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdVwbQtVec8