Indy Shome (guitar/vocals), Andrew Chu (drums), Ben Gagnon (Bass)
Etkilendikleri
Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Karma to Burn, Acid Bath, High On Fire, Kyuss, Opeth, Protest the Hero, Pelican, Meshuggah, Deftones, Fear Before the March of Flames, Into the Moat, Tool, Black Sabbath, Fu Manchu, Fatso Jetson, Melvins, Clutch, Boris, YOB, Isis, Queens of the Stone Age, Electric Wizard, Sgt. Sunshine, Celtic Frost, Orange Goblin, Metallica, Guns n Roses
Neye Benziyor?
Gods at the charging preclimax of interstellar fornication.
Bio:
Molten Lava Death Massage (Hong Kongs best band name according the citys premier English paper, the South China Morning Post) are a shotgun of heavy rock, playing out like a jukebox full of different influences and inspirations channeled through a consistent and focused tunnel of sludge.
The vibe of Eye of Ra hits marks from instrumental stonerrock grooves to thrash charges, danceable jams, and doom ballads, covering a range of heavy dimensions. Its somewhere between a Mustang drive through the desert and a starless tornado night fistfight. The album is a frenzy, with a riff rarely ever repeated within a song. Constantly in the red, abrasive production and forceful tunes really push the threshold.
Indy Shome's fuzzy crackling riffs feel like theyre barely contained in the speakers, with occasional vocals roaring through behind them. Andrew Chu's drums constantly pulsate with the mix of double-kicker core technique and hard-riding head-banging beats, glued together and bounced out by Ben Gagnon's bass.
Uniquely, the band also produced and arranged the effort completely on their own. Shome, the youngest member of the band, was responsible for recording, mixing, and mastering the effort, and Gagnon put together most of the designing based on artwork by Adrian Dexter.
Reviews: Laermbelaestigung Zine - February 2007:
Rough translation:
"Quite an unusual name, but the music is surprisingly cool and unconventional. The trio’s delivering a mixture of Stoner Rock and Doom Metal , enriched with a lot of groove and underground Rock. But these are just clues to describe what these Asians are all about, cause overall they are way too complex and independent in their sound. Exempt from the title track “Eye Of Ra” they avoid to lengthen the songs unnecessarily but get straight to the point. Additional there are broad instrumental-parts and a great diversity. The guitars are raw and heavy, the drums pound and the harsh vocals are a conclusive plus as well. I also like the production of the record. It was recorded in the band’s rehearsal room, but nevertheless they managed to mix a decent sound, which persuades with it’s comforting and raw character. We are not dealing with cheap rehearsal sound here – so, if you want to search beyond common paths, this band from Hongkong is a safe bet."
Junto Magazine - December 2006:
A band that has made a distinct mark in the local scene. “Eye of Ra” is a triumph...
Hellride Music - November 18 2006:
These guys are pretty young to be this good. Youthful exuberance can make for a pretty fucking heavy effort when energies like these are focused.
There are a few rough edges here and there, but this is still worth listening to. This sounds at times like Sleep or early High on Fire, without the tendency to jam on an idea for an hour.
These songs each take a fuzzy, heavy riff and build a concise song around it. A truly solid heavy rock/stoner CD from three talented guys that I hope to hear more from.
It will be interesting to listen to their growth and see which direction their talents will take them in considering the excellent feel they have for traditional metal. MLDM is young enough and talented enough to provide a new perspective and different interpretation of the metal foundations they build on.
Rocknworld.com - Thrashpit - September 2006:
7.0
The songs on Eye of Ra all have that buzzing, half-thrash vibe to him. Like Mastodon, Molten Lava Death Massage love to throw out psychedelic grooves that seem much faster than what they really are; yes, it is gnarly and killer...
"Tecumseh and the Prophet" has an almost danceable din to it, and tracks like the ferocious "Nandeska" and the siege of "Axe of the Occult" inhabit a world of churning stoner-thrash hard rock. I can see the massive yet funky "Adam's Fieldtrip to Hell" appearing on Boris, the cult legends of Japan's mighty drone-metal scene, and the closing "The Eye of Ra" is a mini-epic full of all sorts of trance-inducing frolics through madness.
Though some spots contain a brutal poignancy, this band is obviously just finding its sea-legs so to speak and isn't totally ready to leave shore. With this in mind, it is highly apparent Molten Lava Death Massage have potential to bloom into a real class act, especially in the increasingly solid Asian metal microcosm. Keep an Eye on this one.
BC Magazine - September 14 2006:
Mammoth, unremitting, and, most importantly, groovy, is how lead singer Indy Shome describes his band Molten Lava Death Massages first album, Eye of Ra. And thats a fair description. Molten Lava Death Massage are three private school boys on a mission to blow your ear drums with screaming power chords, pulsating drumming and an improbably mature growl from 17-year-old whizz kid Shome. Ben Gagnon (bass) and Andrew Chu (drums) join Shome to form a trio that produces the noise and energy of a five-piece. Shome says the most satisfying thing about the album was just putting something out for people to hear, and picks the title track The Eye of Ra as his favourite because its the slowest and therefore, I feel, the most foreboding of the songs and I love the ending!
Stonerrock.com - September 11 2006:
I believe the children are our future. Treat them poorly and they'll come up with something like Molten Lava Death Massage. It's a necessary evil, because if this allegedly still-in-high-school three-piece was treated well, they'd probably come up with some saccharine sounding crap.
Instead, they wrote the nine-song Eye of Ra. Death Is Never Sated, the lead track, starts off on a misleading mellow note, but after its one-minute running time, the band bursts out the gate with Bayonet. Like the remaining songs on Eye of Ra, Bayonet hovers between sludge, hardcore, and straightforward metal (with the occasional nod to stoner rock, as on the instrumental Adam's Field Trip to Hell). The album sounds like it was recorded live, which gives it a raw, punchy feel. I get the feeling that had they spent some more time recording, it wouldn't have such an immediate sound.
That Let's just fucking knock this thing out mentality of Eye of Ra occasionally works against it, as some of the drumming seems off. Nothing major, just moments where I got the feeling a second take wouldn't have been a bad idea. But the band compensates for that with stellar tracks like Tecumseh and the Prophet and the title song, which ends the album on a brutal note.
The best thing about Molten Lava Death Massage is their age. That they came out of the gate this strong is promising as hell, and I'd like to hear what they come up with next.
CD Baby - September 7 2006:
5 of 5 stars
"Maybe you interpret the classification "Stoner Rock" to mean "Metal for Dummies." Maybe you couldn't care less about sludge filled bass riffs that barrel forward like they're going to crawl out of your speakers and kick you in the back of the head. Maybe you honestly can't fathom that a song called "Adam's Field Trip To Hell" could possibly have any musical merit, let alone be frighteningly abstract enough to be overtly melodic. Maybe you're in utter disbelief that 3 teenagers from Hong Kong are responsible for ravaging their amps to create this ooze of doom that even throws some math rock in for good measure. Maybe you think Molten Lava Death Massage isn't a really sweet name for a band. Maybe checking out this CD will change your mind."
HK Magazine - September 1 2006:
"It's half Rage Against the Machine, half Mastodon, with some great guitar hooks, relentless drumming, and the occassional melodic interval..."
Trent Ramseyer, Whores of Tijuana - August 30 2006:
"Due to the recent destruction of my inner ears due to MLDM's riffage you will soon receive a letter from our lawyers."
NineHertz.co.uk - August 30 2006:
"After numerous spins of this record, I can safely say it's (in my opinion) one of the best recordings to come out of Hong Kong in the past 10 years. I say that on good authority, having lived there myself for 13 years and releasing records there too. The DIY nature of the recording is present, yet a cohesive studio-savvy is what this record delivers. The band self-produced this effort and the results are top notch.
Musically the band wear their influences on their sleeves but also execute the songs in a way that gathers the influences, shuffles em' like a deck of cards and spits them back in a woven-tapestry of riff rock, doom, stoner, psych, metal in many interesting ways. There's a bit of everything here, Karma to Burn, Pelican, Sons of Otis, Earthride to name a few.
The age of the band members belies their craft. Not even out of High School, yet these kids can certainly riff n' roll. Singer/guitarist Indrayudh Shome's vocals are a highlight, incorporating death metal growls with more held back melodic delivery that serves more as an added instrument rather than a method of delivering cohesive clear vocal lines. This works to great effect, accompanying the brutal rhythms and converging guitar lines.
The record opens with 'Death is Never Sated', a Pelican-esque guitar intro and booms into 'Bayonet' which has it's Karma to Burn riff-stylings dirging away, complete with brutal gruff vocals that explode you into the first verse.
Largely instrumental, this record uses vocals minimally and allows the guitars and bass to interact with fierce beats to derive a fist-in-the-air sorta vibe that sits incredibly well with a reefer and a big bottle of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Trust me.
'Axe of the Occult' is one of the heaviest tracks on here and the rabid-strained vocals sit nicely in the mix behind double-kick-drum patterns and thrash riffing the ends with a memorable pained-scream of singer Indy.
The title track, is really indicative of all the elements I have used to describe this band, and is a good introduction to these guys if you haven't already heard them. Clocking in at 8 minutes it represents the sound and mixing of styles that these guys are so good at doing.
Best massage I ever got sent thru the post."
Booking/Information contact: Indy Shome at storm_420-at-hotmail.com
I have decided to dedicate the majority of my time to recording and selling albums. Currently I am on a Cassette kick, and everything that I am self releasing, or releasing on the label I own and operate (Kapustin Yar Records) is now on Tape. Prices will remain as low as possible on said products, because Tapes are for die hard collectors or Cassette enthusiasts only these days. The majority of albums I release on other labels, which is a larger and larger number month by month, are still being released on CD. That being said, I have recently recorded for The Persona Series (albums for individuals, named after their purchaser, with the owner retaining all rights and receiving 2 mini posters for $10 postage paid), which has been very successful. I have recorded a 90 minute Cassette, High Above The Horizon, which is available for $4 postage paid, and The Blood Album Part 2 for $4 postage paid. Please help me to continue pumping out these and other albums by ordering these crazy Tapes today!!!
Hey Molten Lava Death Massage, It ROCKS to have you as a new friend! You have a very cool page, I’ll be sure to check back soon! Stop by my page and feel free to leave a comment anytime! I’m always open to new friend requests so if anyone wants to add me just hit me up!! KEEP ROCKIN’
Hey guys! We just wanted to let YOU know that a heavy metal band :– ORDNANCE 軍械所 (Beijing, China, http://www. myspace. com/ordnanceband) @ Warehouse, 116 Aberdeen Main Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong with local bands :- Tie Shu Lan鐵樹蘭, Adversary & Protoss this Saturday 29th Nov 2008.
Hey Molten Lava Death Massage! This is LiXu formerly of UK metal band Balance of Silence. I moved over to Hong Kong, stole the old BoS profile and now have a new Rock & Roll / Metal supergroup based in Hong Kong by the name of Gong Wu! You once commented on our old band and hopefully it was a positive comment you left! Our new music is very different but we are rapidly gaining ground over here in Asia. It will only be a matter of time before we will be going worldwide. Please come and check out our last demo we completed last month. If you like what you hear please help support in any way you can as we need your help! Tell your gran, auntie, whatever, every little helps eh? Anyway we will be back in the studio in May to record a Professional record which will wipe the floor with our mega rushed promo tracks. Thanks for taking the time to read my rant and once again hope you like our new band Gong Wu! Li
Hong Kong/New York/Ontario band Ape Ray's new album is up and available for download! Featuring members of Queen Elephantine! Tell a friend! Tell an enemy!
Sonatrope Film Festival 17 - 25 August 2007 KLUUBB 14/F, Foo Tak Building 367 Hennessy Rd, Wanchai $30 per screening, at the door *Limited seating available*
Opening Event Friday, 17 August 2007 9pm, $40 at the door Screening: Squatterpunk (Director: Khavn, 2007, Philippines) Music: Spermatic Chord, ST, Elle Est ChiNOISE, New Pony, Kawaki
Sonatrope is an independent film festival featuring recent films related to musical genres driven by youth. The festival seeks to highlight the significant communities that are formed around the love of music in an increasingly globalized era, revealing the influence, interpretation, and critical re-imagining of commercial culture. From underground cultures to commercialized ethos, the featured films explore aspects of hip-hop, punk, riot grrrl, electro, and noise pop.
For more information on films and screening times, please visit http://sonatrope.com
