Classic Rock 238 Items

Six volumes worth of licensed tracks released in just three years: doing the Dark Lord’s work isn’t an easy job, but somebody’s gotta do it, so here is Brown Acid - The Sixth Trip, with more lined up. The heads just can’t get enough obscure hard rock, heavy psych, and proto-metal from the late‘60s and ‘70s!

This time around Riding Easy present ten deep cuts from across the continental USA and one from the neighbors up North. This trip kicks off with an outrageous number from Gold out of San Francisco circa 1970. The band used to open their sets with this over-the-top frantic jammer which is absolutely mind-blowing! Delving deeper into the depths, Canadians continue to prove that they could bang heads with the best of ‘em! Heat Exchange from Toronto released the rollicking ripper “Inferno” on the Yorkville label way back in 1968 and it’s still thumping almost fifty years later.

Some more examples of the mind-melting tracks on this platter: Missouri isn’t a state that brought us a lot of heavy 45s, but there are a handful of outstanding tracks, one of which is the funk-laced anthem “Give Me Time” by Backwood Memory from Kansas City. Youngstown, Ohio, meanwhile, might have been the Hard Rock Mecca back in the day. Travis is yet another Youngstown group that aimed to get asses out of seats and out in the streets. Truth & Janey had their incredible proto-metal masterpiece 1976 album No Rest For The Wicked; released four years earlier, “Midnight Horseman” was a 45-only track, included here!

Those are just some of the fruits of months worth of record digging and detective work included on this latest installment. This is the stuff that makes life worth living, at least until the next Trip…

Spiny Normen were an incredible mid-’70s Houston hard rock, progressive, psychedelic rock band that featured mellotron, Vox Jaguar, crunchy, heavy guitars, flute with echo effects, and lots more. A totally lost relic, this self-titled album was recorded at a community college and never released. The recording is very English, dark, mysterious and proggy, but also very acid-drenched.

Solar Project don´t try to impress with technical craftsmanship, fast licks or complex passages, but concentrate with a Pink Floyd-like overall sound. This overall picture is filled with excellent keyboard and guitar parts, various singing voices, mysterious sound effects and nice solos. The fact that Solar Project are heavily influenced by Pink Floyd only contributes to the overall idea. On Here I am, you hear that Solar Project do have a sound of their own. The core of the band is formed by keyboardist Robert Valet and guitarist Peter Terhoeven, two German musicians with a progressive heart of gold. They are assisted by several guest musicians, who are the backing band for Solar Project. Complex art rock, sometimes heavy, sometimes floydian-style filigrane, sometimes psychedelic, this perfectly describes the musical spectrum.

EU reissue.

The releases comes in a fold out cover.

In 1995, Zao released their first album, "All Else Failed," on Steadfast Records. Never a band to repeat a past success and always searching for new boundaries to push within their own music, "The Well-Intentioned Virus" finds Zao utilizing just as many familiar touchstones from their catalog as introducting new ones. Dense and clastrophobic one moment, beautiful and spacious the next. Vinyl version includes digital download.

Signed cover! Stuffed corner. Original inner sleeve. Vinyl is close to NM.

Wytch Hazel’s stellar 2016 debut Prelude confirmed these Lancastrian apprentice wizards to be Britain’s most promising new hard rock band. Two years on, that promise comes to abundant fruition on II: Sojourn, an album that moves Wytch Hazel on from the innocence and exuberance of the debut to a darker, more profound and complex place, carefully wrought into optimum shape by the band’s singer, guitarist, songwriter and mastermind Colin Hendra. “I’m really into the idea of an album,” notes Colin. “I don’t do mix-tapes, I don’t listen to singles, I’m interested in albums. I want to make a good, listenable, cohesive work, that is the whole thing.” Asked what inspirations were brought to bear this time, Colin has good news, and even better taste: “I was listening to plenty of Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and Wishbone Ash last year,” remarks the frontman. “This seems to be more of a hard rock album, where the last one was more rock-folk. It’s definitely more rock than folk!” The most crucial influence fully expresses itself via Les Paul guitars in sweet twin harmony through cranked Super Lead Marshalls - “Exactly the same type of amp that Thin Lizzy would have used,” beams Colin - a benefit of working in James Atkinson’s Hand Of Law Studio, a converted gaolhouse in Leeds. “We knew there would be a lot more great gear, more amps, more options,” enthuses Colin of this productive new work environment. “We were more prepared, we planned better. I had a lot more vocals to record on this album, pretty much every song has at least three harmonies, but James is a really chilled out guy, he made it easy for us. I had a very clear idea of how I wanted each song to sound, I thought about every single aspect. I probably over-prepared for this album, and it paid off!” Wytch Hazel’s proud, avowed Protestant Christianity continues to set them apart from the occult hocus-pocus of their peers, and the very title Sojourn has a Biblical inspiration: “It’s used a lot in the Old Testament, people would travel somewhere to stay for a short period of time,” explains Colin, comparing the idea to Wytch Hazel’s development since Prelude. “We’re going to reside here with this sound for a while, and the next album might not sound the same. Come and have a listen to this aspect of Wytch Hazel - it’s a temporary stay. We’ll be here for a while, then there will be something else. I’m always writing, it’s a constant stream, but I’m always trying to raise the bar, because I don’t want the next album to be not as good as the other ones!”

La Candela del Río is the debut album by Paris-based Venezuelan quartet Insólito UniVerso. In the space of 8 tracks, the band fuses traditional Venezuelan styles, such as joropo, merengue caraqueño, or tambores de San Millán with psych, chanson, and contemporary electronics. Co-produced by The Heliocentrics' Malcolm Catto, the record shows two distinct sides; on the one hand there's euphoric music that begs to be danced to, while on the other there's melancholy, mystery and devotion. Originally released back in 2018, the record's initial run of 500 copies has been long sold out and is presented here in a new edition of 300 including the original artwork and printed lyrics insert

Limited edition for Record Store Day 2018!

Back in 2012, the Jess and the Ancient Ones debut album was an essential part of what was known as the occult rock revival. The band's progress has since then ventured beyond such sub-genres, but the debut remains a cult classic, with its triple guitar NWOBHM-influenced melodies and furious vocal delivery. On this album, the band's lyrical concept is based upon the personal occult experiences of the writers. Combined with music it creates a strong mystical atmosphere.

With the vocal talent Jess as their frontwoman and three guitars in the lineup, Jatao draws inspiration from heavy metal and rock groups of the classic era, such as Mercyful Fate, Roky Erickson, Iron Maiden and Abba. The album was recorded in December 2011 by Necromorbus Studio, known for their previous work with bands such as Watain. The result of these sessions is the eponymous album, a 53-minute moonlight ride into the nether regions of progressive occult heavy rock.

Svart Records releases the new edition of this modern classic on 25 October 2024 as a part of the record label’s 15th anniversary. Jess and the Ancient Ones’ self-titled debut album will be out on CD, black and transparent lime/black marble vinyl. Moreover, Svart Records’ webstore has a limited edition of 150 copies package of green/red/purple marble vinyl version of the self-titled debut album, limited edition of Astral Sabbath mini album with a special slip mat – all of these are packaged in a unique Jess & The Ancient Ones tote bag.

White/Black vinyl seems unplayed. Tiny wear. Limited edition.

Purple vinyl!

Limited edition for Record Store Day 2018!

Cosmic acid-psych-soul-funk-prog extravaganza from Spain, 1971! A delirious concept album about the solar system and its planets, fuelled by fuzz-wah guitars, powerful and crazy vocals, bizarre electronic effects, Hammond organ, soulful horns and funky drums. This reissue also includes the previously unreleased 'Proyecto B' recordings from 1974, which were meant for the (unissued) second Proyecto A album.
This material features founder Frank Dubé backed by the famous Spanish prog band Iceberg and sax/flute player Juan Mena (ex-Maquina and Eddie Lee Mattison Band). A must for fans of Latin-psych-funk and library/cinematic sounds! The 8-page insert offers rare photos and detailed liner notes in Catalan, Spanish and English.

Tiny wear. Few scuffs.

Colosseum was one of England's prime rock-jazz outfits. Valentyne Suite takes the band out of their bluesy comfort zone into something closer to prog rock. The album is generally seen as their best album and still extremely enjoyable.