By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
Every year-end, the digital magazine Doomed and Stoned Latin America He makes an incredible effort and publishes a 100-song compilation on Bandcamp, in which he presents, in his own way, the reality of the heaviest psychedelic music scene, full of dense, slow-speed riffs, on the continent. Yes, you read that right, 100 songs, many of them exceed 6, 7, 8, 10 minutes in duration. This is material that should carry a warning label, indicating that this is a record to be avoided. the easily frightened, the ultra-religious, the elderly maidens, the perverted priests, the ultranationalists, Those who believe in the fears reflected in afternoon television series for housewives, those who think anything is a distortion, etc., etc., etc. Dear reader, we recommend that you listen to the many hours contained in this title, but it is all at your own risk. We do not recommend listening to this material at Christmas Eve dinner, unless you want to see your nonagenarian grandmother's body involuntarily shake, or your mother hurling insults at the roast turkey she spent so much time preparing.
Since you decided to continue with that note, Let us guide you through the complicated world of music labels, More specifically, those related to this music scene. With the help of ChatGPT, here are the descriptions of each genre:
1. Doom / Doom Metal
Main features: Extremely slow and heavy tempos. Deep, dark riffs, influenced by Black Sabbath. Lyrics that explore somber themes such as despair, death, and the mystical. Deep vocals, which can be clean or guttural (depending on specific subgenres such as funeral doom).
Instrumentation: Prominent use of distorted guitars and thick bass. Slow, martial drumming.
Example of bands: Candlemass, Electric Wizard, Saint Vitus.
2. Post-Metal
Main features: A fusion of metal with atmospheric and experimental elements. Long songs with gradual and dynamic build-ups that range from soft to intense. Dense and melancholic soundscapes. Introspective and abstract lyrics.
Instrumentation: Extensive use of sonic textures, reverberating guitars, and layers of distortion. Less focused on classic metal riffs, more oriented towards atmosphere.
Example of bands: Isis, Neurosis, Cult of Luna.
3. Psychedelic / Psychedelic Rock
Main features: Sounds that evoke psychedelic or dreamlike experiences. Surreal or introspective lyrics, often inspired by philosophical, spiritual, or psychotropic themes. Less conventional song structures, with extended improvisations.
Instrumentation: Effects such as delay, reverb, phaser, and wah-wah on guitars. Use of vintage keyboards such as the Hammond organ or the Mellotron.
Example of bands: Pink Floyd (early years), Jefferson Airplane, The Doors.
4. Sludge
Main features: A combination of doom metal and hardcore punk. Raw and heavy sounds, with a harsh and dirty tone. Lyrics that explore nihilism, personal suffering, and social criticism. Varied tempos: may include slow doom parts and fast punk sections.
Instrumentation: Extremely distorted guitars, often tuned to low pitches. Raspy or guttural vocals.
Example of bands: Eyehategod, Crowbar, Acid Bath.
5. Stoner Rock
Main features: Influences of 70s hard rock combined with doom and psychedelia. Heavy, repetitive riffs with a noticeable groove. Lyrics related to escapism, nature, and recreational use (such as cannabis). A relaxed yet intense atmosphere.
Instrumentation: Fuzzy guitars, warm tones, and prominent bass. Clean or slightly raspy vocals.
Example of bands: Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age (early works), Fu Manchu.
Well, Now let's get to the album itself. We reviewed last year's compilation and, given the high sonic and qualitative value we place on the previous experience, We feel that in 2024 there has been a more exquisite curation work. This time we have material originating from Mexico (the parent company of Doomed and Stoned), Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama (And Colombia? Doesn't Colombian doom exist? Right here? There must be some explanation.) Among the most noteworthy is the Brazilian band White Canyon & The 5th Dimension, a classic of this style, the Chilean group Yajaira, This group, whose dense melodies and elaborate guitar work have been touring the world for over twenty years, is a force to be reckoned with. To the trans-Andean delegation, we can add two names that deserve greater attention from international fans: Bagual y Some pills for Ayala. From Mexico, we must highlight the work of Desert Mantra (an impeccable voice, with influences from the most hallucinogenic seventies), as well as that of Satanic Pandemonium (extended screams surrounded by very particular distortions). We also have the Peruvians. The Boss, with a very strident display of strings, reminiscent of the magic of Josh Homme (QOTSA), who showcase themselves with a song called Dry Dog, one of the best on the album. Argentina is not far behind with good examples: you have to listen to Sunflower Blues, Poseidotic (already reviewed several times on Zonagirante.com), and Sargent Comet, psychedelic rock at high speed.
In short, there's so much to listen to. If you're feeling brave, patient, and extremely thirsty for block sound, You can lock yourself in your headphones and listen to many hours of aggressive resonance. Likewise, you can also do it in small doses. There's no need to choke. There are many hidden gems here waiting to be discovered by people like you and other weirdos (like us) We'd much rather hear this at full volume than any auditory torture in the form of Christmas carols. Anyway, as a final experiment, play... Nothing, from the Mexican band Sunset images, next to the Virgin in the manger of his house, to see if at some point she moves and smiles. That would be a true miracle.
