High on Fire: Live at the Contamination Fest (Relapse)
Relapse stoner-metal stars High on Fire are known for a pummeling live set. Live at the Contamination Fest chronicles the band's sonic aggression from the 2003 Relapse Contamination Festival, proving that speed picking, hard beats, and raspy growls don't go out of style in just five years.
In addition to seven originals, this album includes a cover of "Witching Hour" by English thrash-metal group Venom.
High on Fire: "Eyes and Teeth"
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The Gourds: Haymaker! (Yep Roc)
Rootsy country quintet The Gourds returns with a follow-up from Noble Creatures, released just a year and a half earlier on Yep Roc. Haymaker! maintains the group's heterogeneous approach, throwing in splashes of zydeco, bluegrass, classic rock, and more.
The Gourds: "Fossil Contender"
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Wroom: North of Forty-Five (Arena Rock Recording Co.) [LP + free CD]
Now available as a double-gatefold LP with a free CD, North of Forty-Five is the newest work from ambient duo Wroom. The album's material is a series of soft, sprawling numbers, often taking minutes just to establish a presence.
Once in gear, however, Wroom uses guitars, effects, and loops to create long-form beauty that is great for relaxation.
Chatham County Line: s/t (Yep Roc) [reissue]
Originally released in June of 2003, this self-titled debut from Chatham County Line gets a re-release via Yep Roc. The group's traditional bluegrass instrumentation has since expanded a bit with touches of slide guitar, but at their heart, these offerings are just the same — built on the modern crooning of singer/songwriter Dave Wilson.
