Atragon
I, Necromancer
Self Released
Release: 9th June 2017

Ewen Cameron and his band of reprobates finally release something after five years of spunking their money on amps, drugs and every other kind of bad life decision. The Edinburgh quartet deliver seven impossibly heavy stoner doom metal monsters which bristle and buzz and moan with considerable abandon. The riffs are deep, the extended guitar solos soaked in wah wah pedal action, and over it all Jan Gardner wails with the pain only living in Scotland and being in this band can bring. Fourteen minute epic "Jesus Wept" is the highlight, with its galloping rhythm and colossal ending. A solid 8/10.

Ex People
Bird
New Heavy Sounds
Release: 17th May 2017

Ex People is my perfect band. Here's why:
The guitars are filthy, nasty, dirty, grungy, downtuned things of beauty. Amped to the point of ridiculousness. The tone they create on "Crested" (the album's highlight) is pure aural porn.
The riffs are catchy as fuck. There are so many earworms on this album. You'll be humming opening song "Complainer" for days.
Laura's vocals are pure 90s grunge, with an added dose of all things Camden. Think L7, Hole, Babes In Toyland, Nymphs.
Ten songs, all top drawer. 43 minutes long and doesn't even get close to outstaying its welcome.
Best mastering of an album I've heard in ages. It sounds fucking enormous.
If they can pull these songs off live, and New Heavy Sounds throws a few quid at them, they should be out of the London basements and into Academy size venues within a couple of years.
Bird is something quite special.
An easy 9/10