Rise to Thunder release full length album slagnoramus on Negatropolis Records November 2008. This is Negatropolis's first release, a 4 track album, around 35 minutes in length.

Housed in a half size DVD case with a printed CDR and colour/black and white cover. Price UK £5, overseas £6.

Order your copy today via our online store.

Here's a neat three song mini-album that I just picked up from Future Noise when we ordered some of their new Lazarus Blackstar EP; what caught my attention when I was cruising around onthe British label's website was the great review that this disc received from none other than Julian Cope, who referenced both legendary dope-metallers Sleep and Neil Young's longtime backup band Crazy Horse in his glowing assessment of Master Of Infinite Wisdom. That piqued my interest, and a cursory earscan across the band's Myspace page revealed that, yep, these guys are pretty rad, playing a heavily drugged form of instrumental psych-sludge that manages to evoke massive Sabbathian riffage not far removed from Matt Pike's winding chuggery on Sleep's Holy Mountain, some great space rock electronic splooge that is tastefully splattered across a couple of the tracks, and a penchant to wander off on some really extended soloing and hypno-riff workouts. The middle track "The Walk" gets down with some amazing exploratory blooze jamming over an epic riff laced with pockets of emotive tremelo shredding, and it seems to last far more than the mere eight minutes that my stereo is showing me. I could easily have stood for another hour or two of that one. The third track "Bulbou Trichome/Summoning" is the one where the band does stretch it's feet out a bit more, using the tracks thirteen minutes to take shape with some faster paced riffing that sounds like something from one of Kyuss' more hardcore-inspired moments, and then evolves into a fuzzsoaked, distorted Sleep style riff that's played over and over until the jam finally turns into a wash of creepy ambient feedback and Hawkwind space effects over which the guitarist plunks out a simple, ominous little riff, and everything drifts off on a buzzing cloud of rumbling drone. This is a fine little slab of garagey psych-sludge that nicely balances the heavier doomed riffing with the spacier psych jams, one that fans of anyone from 5ive to Electric Wizard to heavy psych rockers like Mammatus and Earthless will dig. This is a limited run disc that comes in a black plastic snapcase with full color sleeve, hand-numbered out of 100 copies.

Next, and seemingly out of nowhere this month comes the debut EP from Stoke's mighty Rise To Thunder, a quartet who've undertaken the heroic task of driving the horned riffing of SLEEP'S HOLY MOUNTAIN up an entirely different road to the one that Al, Chris & Matt chose for themselves.

The 13-minute 'Bulbous Trichome/Summoning' is as epic and grudgeful as a wounded giant straight out of the Norse Myths, manifesting the kind of vast eternity of sound that fulfils its covenant with the listener fairly early on, then just sustains its ritual intensity way beyond what's necessary (always the best kind of high magic I reckon) in a burning comet tail out worthy of Neil Young at his most obstinately electric and C. Horse-y. Find this monster on Future Noise Recordings or look 'em up on good ole Myspace.

Instrumental stoner rock with attitude from Stoke-On-Trent, from some of the creators of Charger and Shallow, these three tracks are the end result of plenty of herbs and the consequent musical chemistry between the members that followed. Bong on! 8/10

Stoke's instrumental four piece Rise To Thunder have been honing their psychedelic stoner style since Christmas day 2001 and have previously issued a live album as a trio in 2004. Recorded at The Lizard Lounge and the brilliantly monickered Psychedelic Batcave, theses names alone already hint at what's in store on this EP.

Opener 'Eye of the Pyramid' immediately evokes a peyote induced desert in the mind, chilled out chords build up to the song's main riff, that's fleshed out with some brilliant lead and picking. Second track 'The Walk' is a lengthier affair; the opening acoustically played riff becomes instantly ingrained on the listener's consciousness during the atmospheric build up and is one of those riffs that are so good it won't leave the mind for quite some time. The song progresses into a psychedelic space-jam and just before the three minute mark the riff proper is laid down, serving to instigate true slow-motion hazy head-banging. Closing epic 'Bulbous Trichome/Summoning' features a more up-tempo side to the band and is the sludgier of the tracks. The second section of the track is in stark contrast to the previous music and is a minimalist descent into a bad trip.

The EP's progression actually mirrors the band's name to a degree, initially ascending before delving into a thunderous rumble. This 27 minute voyage will definitely appeal to fans of the genre as well as the legendary Kyuss and fellow voiceless UK stoners Mothertrucker.

Master of Infinite Wisdom is three stunning, heavy, trippy instrumental, two tracks recorded at the Lizard Lounge and one at the psychedelic batcave the term 'All Valves & No Voice' says it all. (Featuring ex and current members of Charger, Shallow and The Last Drop).

Based in Stoke-on-Trent, UK, Rise To Thunder deliver tripped out and heavy instrumental grooves with a real free flowing jam feel. They've been around since 2002 and although have rarely played outside their native Stoke, that is now set to change. With a place on the Future Noise PR roster, a new CD out late last year entitled 'Master Of Infinite Wisdom', which has already scored some excellent reviews from the likes of Rocksound and Stonerrock.com and a new found fan in the form of Julian Cope / Head Heritage, 2008 could be the year the Rise of the Thunder is heard throughout the underground. Read on to see what guitarist Al had to say when I fired over a few questions for him.

Read the full interview>>>