COLISEUM
No Salvation
(Relapse)

TERHEN
Eyes Unfolded
(Firebox)

OXBOW
The Narcotic Story
(Hydra Head)

THESE ARE:
Scare Tactics
(Hold True)

TOMAHAWK
Anonymous
(Ipecac)

CAPITAL
Homefront 

(Revelation)

GET BACK UP
Weathering the Storm

(Organized Crime)

MORE REVIEWS

Holy shit. Where does this come from? It rules. “Tears” sounds like an airplane. Or like the dense sounds from a psychedelic band who is playing in an airplane cabin while the motors are running and getting revved up just because the pilot is an asshole and he hates fucked up rock music. Literally, there is no space left here. One more instrument, even if it’s a ukulele, and Message From Oarfish may self-destruct.  “Tears” builds for like four minutes to unbelievable crescendos before peeking and flat out rocking via warping guitars, fuzzy tones, octopuss drumming, layers and layers of what not and the every man tepid voice of Ken Matsutani.  This is fun. Fucked up multi color fun. Like the type of fun I used to have back in college, until that damn horrible night my traveling companion just couldn’t take it and ruined psychedelics for the whole damn family, for our whole damn lives.

This is so fucked up and wonderful (because there really isn’t a more fitting word that describes this record than wonderful) that I am not surprised Marble Sheep hail from Japan. Yes, Japan; that wonderful place in the orient that is cradle to some of the most adventurous rock and roll bands in history. Along with the way good, way underrated but never undeterred Acid Mothers Temple, Marble Sheep are apparently headers of the psychedelic rock movement in their country. In the beginning, Marble Sheep, started up playing more in the vibe of a Velvet Underground, but apparently got quickly seduced by the energy and the rambunctious mess of the MC5 and The Stooges. And I couldn’t thanks Rob Tyner and the Asheton brothers more; Marble Sheep place the guitar up front and the attitude as front bumper sticker. Don’t think there is anything mellow or relaxing about this recording, Message From Oarfish, is violent, energetic, warm, incandescent, fast-paced and all around relentless. Simply jaw dropping. The world needs more records like this.

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