Meteor City is a music label that was founded by Todd K Smith as an online store that later expanded into a record label. The label is known for its commitment to its artists and prioritizing quality over quantity. The label gained recognition for its first release, a compilation album called "Welcome to Meteor City," featuring unsigned bands playing the sort of music that Kyuss fans might enjoy. The album included recognizable names such as John Garcia (Kyuss), Ed Mundell (Monster Magnet), and Pete Stahl (Scream, Wool) and their respective new bands. This release helped to establish the label and paved the way for future releases with well-known bands such as Unida and Nebula. The label is known for its focus on heavy riff-rock and has been influential in the new heavy riff-rock scene.
Meteor City has made a name for itself in the heavy riff-rock genre, with a focus on discovering and promoting up-and-coming bands. Their early success with "Welcome to Meteor City" helped to establish the label as a leader in the genre, and they continued to release albums with well-known bands such as Unida and Nebula, as well as discovering new talent.
The label has been praised for its commitment to its artists, and for putting quality over quantity. This has allowed them to create a close relationship with their artists, and to provide them with the support they need to succeed.
In addition to their focus on music, Meteor City has also established a reputation for their unique and visually striking album artwork. This has helped to further establish their brand and to set them apart from other record labels in the industry.
Overall, Meteor City has become a respected and influential player in the heavy riff-rock scene, with a reputation for discovering new talent and prioritizing quality in all of their releases.
Meteor City is a record label that was founded in the late 1990s and has been dedicated to promoting and releasing heavy rock music ever since. The label was initially an online store, but after only six months, they decided to release a compilation of unsigned bands playing music similar to Kyuss, one of the seminal bands in the stoner rock genre. The compilation, called "Welcome to Meteor City," was a success, featuring recognizable names like John Garcia (Kyuss), Ed Mundell (Monster Magnet), and Pete Stahl (Scream, Wool), as well as lesser-known bands like The Atomic Bitchwax, Goatsnake, Sixty Watt Shaman, Natas, Lowrider, Dozer, and Drag Pack.
Thanks to the success of this compilation, Meteor City quickly gained the attention of distributors, new bands, and media outlets, and they were able to secure a deal to release the first recordings from John Garcia's new band Unida. They also had the good fortune of being contacted by Nebula, who wanted to record an EP for the label. These early releases, featuring members of Monster Magnet, Kyuss, and Fu Manchu, helped establish Meteor City as a leading force in the new heavy riff-rock scene.
Meteor City's success in the early days was due in large part to their enthusiasm and energy in pursuing good opportunities. While they may not have had a deep knowledge of the music business, they were in the right place at the right time and were able to make the right choices. In the five years that followed, they continued to release quality heavy rock music and gained a loyal following of fans who appreciated their commitment to promoting and releasing quality music.
Spiritu is the latest release from the band, which was put out under the Meteor City label. This six-track album features Jadd on vocals, a member of the Meteor City family and hailing from New Mexico. The record boasts a full-volume sound that is sure to delight fans of the band and the genre as a whole. The album starts with a wall of feedback before launching into a slow, fuzzed-out, and gargantuan riff, building up to the explosive high gear of "Z (Noonday Demon)." Despite only having been together for a year and a half, the band members' chemistry is impressive. Their debut album starts with a bold 9-minute track that winds, twists, and turns, only to come back mid-track with the powerful line "This is all familiar / I've been here before and will be again." Jadd's seasoned voice is a standout feature of the album, delivering lines like "Riding the rode of excess / Straight to the land of sin" on "Fat Man In Thailand" like a true professional. Guitarist Chav wears his Sabbath influences clearly on his sleeve, matching Iommi note for note and toe to toe. The band's cover of Sir Lord Baltimore's "Woman Tamer" is a mindblower, demonstrating their impressive ability to resurrect an old riff and make it their own. Bassist John's diverse musical background shines through on "Glorywhore," where his influences from jazz to funk take on a very doom-laden turn. Drummer James's thundering beat embraces each groove with a plodding hypnotic pounding. Although he has since been replaced by Kenny, the intro to "Slump" will go down as his signature piece, along with his relentless bongo action. Overall, "Spiritu" is a show-stopper that includes classic lines such as "I got enough left to fuck this city dry."
Orquesta del Desierto is a highly regarded supergroup that boasts some of the most talented and accomplished musicians in the Desert Rock community. Made up of vocalist Pete Stahl from Earthlings?/Goatsnake, drummer Alfredo Hernández from Kyuss/QOTSA/Che, guitarist Mario Lalli from Fatso Jetson, and bassist Dandy Brown from Hermano, this collaboration is a true force to be reckoned with.
Their latest release, which features all songs written by Dandy Brown and Pete Stahl unless otherwise noted, showcases their impressive talent on tracks such as "Shadow Stealing," "Mary Strange," and "Scorned Liver." The use of layered acoustic guitars, harmonica, horn sections, and a laid-back mellowness creates a sound that is more layered than typical Stoner Rock, and at times even evokes an acoustic Cult feel as in "Global Strange."
What stands out the most on this album is the overwhelming presence of acoustic instrumentation, which might not appeal to everyone but certainly showcases their diversity and skill. The Latin vibe of "Smooth Slim" and the folk-like quality of "Make Fun" give the record an almost celebratory atmosphere that takes the listener to a different place. It's no wonder that their press release states that this recording was "written and performed in the heart of the Palm Desert," as the music feels as natural and effortless as the beautiful landscape depicted on the album cover.
While some fans of harder, more aggressive rock might not appreciate the acoustic-driven nature of Orquesta del Desierto's music, there is no denying the talent and artistry behind this record. For those who enjoy this earthy and soulful type of music, there is even more to look forward to as the supergroup is reportedly working on a second album, possibly with some new members, to be released in the spring of 2003.
Nebula, a hard rock band that released two EPs in the late 1990s, which were later combined into a single album called Dos EPs. The first five songs of the album were recorded during the band's first tour in New York City in May of 1998, while the remaining six were recorded in Seattle ten weeks later. Eight of the eleven songs were released on two separate EPs, and later combined to make up Dos EPs. The album includes three new songs, "Rocket," "Long Day," and "Bardo Airways," as well as five remixed versions of old songs. According to the input, the combination of the two EPs provides the listener with a chance to time-travel through Nebula's evolving stages. The three new songs demonstrate the band's growth and maturation from a bar band to a top-notch hard rock band. The metallic riff of "Rocket" and the blues-rock of "Long Day" are particularly noteworthy. The input also mentions some of the standout songs on the album, such as "Fall of Icarus," "Smokin' Woman," "Full Throttle," and "Sun Creatures." Overall, Dos EPs is a must-have for fans of hard rock, particularly those who enjoy listening to the evolution of a band's sound over time.
Eternal Elysium, a Japanese Stoner Rock band, has released their second album, "Share," which features nine tracks of heavy, riff-driven rock. Despite being from Japan, the band has done their homework and delivers a powerful album that pays homage to the genre. The opening track, "Schizy," is a six-minute sludgy ride that smoothly shifts gears, and the rest of the album follows suit. Vocalist/guitarist Yukito Okazaki leads the way with his mountain of metal riffs and wailing solos. The rhythm section of Toshiaki Umemura and Rio Okuya holds down the bottom end with authority. The album has occasional forays into psych territory but always returns to heavy riffing, resulting in a tight package with tons of attitude and bottom-heavy grooves. The only question remains: what's going on in "Fairies Never Sleep?"
Atomic Bitchwax's album "Spit Blood," features Ed Mundell from Monster Magnet. The album is a collection of cover tunes and previously unreleased or alternate versions of older material. The article notes the interesting trend of members of Monster Magnet collaborating with Meteor City for their side projects. The album kicks off with a full-on version of AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" before diving into a patchwork of instrumental and experimental tracks. Some of the songs, such as "Liquor Queen" and "Get Your Gear," are new jams, while others are unreleased songs from as far back as 1996. The article describes "Spit Blood" as a "carnival of doomsey meandering mush," but notes that some of the songs, such as "U Want I Should," grow on the listener with repeated listens. The album also includes a multimedia section with video, interviews, and web links. The article concludes by mentioning that the album comes with a second CD, which is a Meteor City sampler for 2002.