Supergroup Sun Dont Shine (formerly Eye Am) features members of Crowbar and Type O Negative, and considering the creative forces behind the project, there’s warranted hype for their recorded output.
So far, they’ve released four singles, and “Coming Down” might be the best of the bunch: surging stoner-grunge bliss with impressive Chris Cornell-esque vocals performed by singer-guitarist Kenny Hickey (Type O Negative). Crowbar’s Kirk Windstein is also behind the guitar work, so you know the tones are colossal and full of low-end — though we’d slot this closer to the melodic space rock of Failure as opposed to Crowbar’s sludge or Type O’s goth metal.
“This song started as an acoustic strum thing,” said Hickey via a press release. “I only had the main vocal hook and chords when I brought it to the guys. It grew from there. The lyrical imagery tries to capture the outer-body feeling I get while meditating—particularly the feeling of falling through the earth.”
Honorable Mentions:
Appalooza – “Tarantula”
French trio Appalooza employ the repetitive, sludgy guitars and head-nodding riffs typically associated with stoner metal, but the band’s music is far more conceptual and heady. That can mostly be attributed to the use of tribal percussive blasts and the epic vocals of singer Wild Horse. These elements add an air of theater and fantasy, as heard on the new single “Tarantula.” Innovating under the banner of stoner metal isn’t easy, but Appalooza are actively doing so.
Crypt Sermon – “Only Ash and Dust”
Crypt Sermon are one of the metal underground’s biggest movers and shakers in recent years, and it’s easy to see why they cast such a wide appeal. A song like “Only Ash & Dust” checks so many boxes: doom, shred, power metal, and even a bit of gothic pomp. The versatility of vocalist Brooks Wilson allows the band implement these various sub-genres in a mostly doom context, as he can seamlessly shift between clean highs or a more grizzled delivery based on the demands of the music.
Incite – ”Lies”
Phoenix band Incite are fronted by Richie Cavalera, stepson of Max Cavalera, and the band’s new single “Lies” is very much in the vein of a his stepdad’s Chaos A.D.-era Sepultura with its political message and grinding groove-thrash sound. Richie also has a nice bark on him, and he applies just enough enunciation to make his words clear, just like the raspy-throated thrash singers of yore. The band’s new album Savage New Times is out on August 15th.
