Search - Thrones :: Sperm Whale

JOE PRESTON: Guardian of this planet, dispenser of Justice

D. K. Malone | earth | 09/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bassist Joe Preston came from Earth, one of the only bands that ever gave the Melvins a run for their money to take the "heaviest band ever" trophy back in the early 1990s. In 1991, the Melvins invited Joe to leave Earth and join the Melvins. Personally, I believe the Joe Era was the best period of the Melvins' existence. But the Joe Era didn't last long. (barely two years, three records, maybe? Lysol, solo EPs, Night Goat 7") The Melvins kicked Joe out, and then proceeded to go downhill at about 3000 mph. Joe disappeared for a couple of years. Then he began his Thrones project. He's released several singles and one previous album, Alraune.



Sperm Whale is actually two 4 song 12" EPs combined; White Rabbit from a year or two ago, and the brand new Sperm Whale 12". (Ironically, all of the songs on Sperm Whale seem to be about bears. Joe is a self-proclaimed "friend to animals".) The songs are completely intermixed (not remixed, I'm talking about the track order/sequence) in a new order to form a new album. The band Thrones in general basically picks up where the Melvins left off back before they started to suck. Granted, most of this stuff doesn't actually sound like the Melvins... but some of it really does. Some of the vocals sound EXACTLY like Buzz. Man Mountain is a good example. There are a couple of more or less "ambient" tracks that didn't set my pants on fire. But when Thrones are on, they're ON, and they sound nothing like anyone but Thrones. Bass, drum machines, samples, and vocoders. The opening song, Oso Malo (Spanish for "Bad Bear") just ROCKS as hard as a song can rock, and the last track, Obolus, is absolutely beautiful. Vocoders and ultra-overdriven electric bass never sounded so dreamlike and nightmarish. And thank God Joe recorded his live-favorite, Django, a Spaghetti Western theme song. As a whole I find this to be leaps and bounds better than the already great Alraune, and I can't wait to see what Joe does next."

Holy crap is this a great album

lilaholland | san francisco | 06/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i love it when music that seems like it should be scary becomes total bliss."

Play "Nuts and Berries" for grandma and watch her die.

A. Cordray | California | 05/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's seriously that heavy and scary, folks. This album is so balls out massive at points that you can't help but wonder what could have been had Joe gotten along better with the Melvins... or you might agree with me that getting kicked out of that band might have been the best thing for Preston, and for us.I can't put this album down. It snakes its way back into heavy rotation no matter what else I get into. Joe's drum programming is not just adequate, it carries it's own irreplacable aesthetic. And what he does on top of those drums is mind blowing. These are the heaviest riffs I've ever heard. Preston doesn't let them drone on excessively like Earth and Sunn))), he keeps them immediate and powerful, taking thick chunks of flesh and bone with every deliberate stroke. His use of vocoders really enhance the experience, taking this album to the left of being a sludge-fest towards some dreamlike uncharted territory. In a lot of ways, Thrones owes much to the Melvins. But as this album testifies, Joe has taken that influence and improved upon it... and also broken some new ground, which is exactly what chanelling influence is all about. I really, really hope he pushes the envelope and puts out another album."