VOLUME "Requesting Permission To Land"

[FGM]

Man I only wish I could get the opportunity to see these guys live sometime. I expect a full report Kevin!!

[Kevin]

Yeah, I'll most likely be polluting the internet with my words o' wisdom once its over.

And once I've recovered.

Now, if only I could get one of these sites to cover my expenses...heh heh... ;D

[FGM]

do you have to travel far to go to Shod? I am betting that the drug consumption rate per capita will be high that weekend? ;D

[Kevin]

Indeed. I imagine that consumption of all kinds will be at a fearsome level.

I have to travel about 1500 U.S. miles. Something like that, anyway. Last year I was able to drive to Texas (13 hours), but thats out of the question this year. The plane's the thing.

Of course, my traveling will not even be in the same league as Nicster's.

[colossalfreak]

Hey,
I know this borders on spamming, but here are some other reviews you may not have read from other sites. I have a few more Im going to post another day so they're not all shoved down your throats in one sitting!!! My goal is to get Jeb to think its worth it for him to fly us over for a tour-hehehe........

Patrick/VOLUME


This review is from www.bullymag.com
By Ken Wohlrob
Volume
Requesting Permission To Land
High Beam Music
At first listen, Volume's new album sounds as if it was recorded on a boom box in someone's basement. But the lo-fi quality of it gives the band a really dirty sound that fits their hi-energy space rock.
Requesting Permission To Land kicks off with "Habit" that sounds like a lost MC5 track. The track is packed with the same energy and delivery that Monster Magnet has been struggling to regain since signing over to a major label. "Colossal Freak" has that same MC5 live feel to it, as if the song itself is spinning out of control, only to be reeled back from the brink of destruction by a killer groove. In fact, the song reminds me a lot of the Hellacopters' Super Shitty To The Max due to over-the-top aggression and killer lo-fi production. A sound the 'Copters are sorely missing these days.
Volume seems to be doing their best to revive the hard driving, late 60s acid rock of the MC5 and Blue Cheer and do it quite effectively. The cover of Mountain's "Don't Look Around" is pulled off nicely, with balls out drumming by Scott Reeder (Kyuss/Fu Manchu). At the same time, the band has the really atmospheric space-rock bent to them as evidenced by "Makebelieve" with echoed out vocals and soaring guitar riffs. If nothing else, Volume is one of the better bands to capture this lost sound since we heard Novadriver's Void. The EP ends with the low-tempo "Headswim" that runs out a full 19 minutes with caterwauling guitars and an extended drum solo. The spirit of Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida still lives.
Minimalist production, super fuzzed out acid rock, and hi-energy delivery all mixes together nicely on this one.
Volume - Requesting Permission to Land


----------------------------------------------------------------------


Review by: Rob Wrong (StonerRock.com)
High Beam Music
Available: now
Man, it's taking me forever to finally get to check out Volume. Volume's sound is heavy, fuzzed out psychedelic full of thick grooves and tons of balls out guitar.
Requesting Permission to Land reminds me of a lot of things. The guitar tones and wah solos remind me of Grand Magus, Roachpowder, Black Nasa...the overall production of this CD is like a cross between Spine of God and Mammoth Volume's 'Early Years'...the drums have that same sort rumble to them as early Zeppelin.
Musically, this stuff is fuzzed out to the balls at times- grooves that remind me of Nebula or Fu Manchu, but with more 'umph'. The stuff is layered in solos and weird effects that give it a super psychedelic acid feel. The first tune 'Habit' has some serious depth...lots of fuzz and riffs makes this band from the get go.
'Colossal Freak' has a bit more energy- faster paced song with over the top fuzz once again...spacious vocals and over the top changes that really keep your attention. It's all classic rock influenced blues based stuff, but with newer twists. These guys know how to rock for sure.
The rhythm section in Volume is rock solid and well rehearsed. You know that this band tears it up live from this CD- there is no doubt in my mind. If you like the driving fuzz wah rock of bands like Nebula and Fu Manchu, you will appreciate Volume. It's similar to both of those bands, but to me this is a bit more intricate at times, and far more ballsy and psychedelic. These guys sound like something straight out of the late 60's...maybe it's the production or the true psychedelic elements, nonetheless- it's won me over. Get it for the sake of rock. Or get it for the cover of 'Don't Look Around'...great keyboards on that one, one of the best cover tunes I have heard in a while. ROCK!
side note: I did in fact know that the drummer Scott Reeder is in Fu Manchu and did drums on this CD.

[Baz]

Finally picked this up on the weekend. I'm really diggin' all the toons, but feel a bit let down by the lo-fi production. Would definitely be keen to see/hear this band live. Go on, Jeb, bring 'em out!!.

[colossalfreak]

Here is a new review from www.stonerrockchick.com
check it out...........

Band: VOLUME
Album: Requesting Permission to Land
Label: High Beam Music
Release Date: December 2002
Reviewed by: Deanna St.Croix
Posted: Dec 17, 2002

Oh the doomy yet upbeat psychedelica that is Volume! Besides the swirling guitar and other assorted tricks courtesy of the talented Jay, we have some great vocals by Patrick. One riff, just one riff that's all it took. This is spacy goodness. I was hooked immediately.

Volume slayed at the Stoner Hands of Doom 2002 and they have got that feeling captured very well on disc. Unlike sitting in a crowded bar watching from afar, the actual personal listening
experience puts you on an entirely different plane. A much more personal relationship with the music develops. The trippiness of this album, those far off sounding vocals at the end of the first song 'habit' has especially with the rocking beat fest that is 'colossal freak'.

I want to hear this album on 11 and live it! The musicianship is excellent. Jay Christenson's impressive guitar moves are fairly documented here. So many effects you can't help but eat it up. The vocals are great and there is a similar spacey indecipherable vox in places that reminds me of singer Ken Baluke (sons of OTIS). Scott's drums are, as usual, impeccable. This is star quality rock and roll. It's lazy, it's spacey, it's heavily psychdelic. Volume lay down some intricate layers of space rock that manage to burrow themselves straight into the void.

The stand-out track goes to 'Headswim'. An amazing piece of eerie psychedelica with those Scott Reeder drums (FuManchu) and at 15
minutes, an entire trip! Acid rock anyone? If this is not yet a part of your collection, then it should be. This is rock and roll, spaced out groove.

Volume are:
Tom Owsley - drums *
Patrick Brink - Vocals, Guitar
Jay Christenson - Lead Guitar , Bass


* Scott Reeder did all the drum tracks for all songs. Tom will be providing drums on the full-length.

Track Listing:
habit
colossal freak
don't look around
makebelieve
headswim

[Jeb]

Stonerplanet.com
Hopefully someone can read Swedish or point us in the direction of a translator that works.

Volume Requesting Permission to Land
2002 High Beam Music

1. Habit
2. Colossal Freak
3. Don't Look Around
4. Make Beleive
5. Headswin


Till att börja med så är Volume ett grymt rockigt exempel på att man kan skapa otroligt sköna saker när man tänjer på gränserna hos både heavy-psyche och stoner! De är fanatiskt experimentella i ordets sanna bemärkelse, vilket utövas under den nitton minuter långa låten 'Headswin' som kopplas till Alchemysts 'Achievement Song'.
De kan jämföras lite med det Italienska heavy-psyche bandet That's All Folks med gnistrande riff och ett satans trum pump. Mixningen på slagverket anser jag superb eftersom resonansen i pukorna höjer upp stämningen i både 'Habit' och 'Don't Look Around' och helheten färgas av ett garageliknande sound.

'Don't Look Around' är troligen favoriten, dock är det inte deras egna stycke men de gör det jävligt bra och de lyckas verkligen fånga den där 70-tals skrammel känslan man får genom tidiga Deep Purple m.fl. Synd bara att de inte har med en kille på Hammond i bandet..

Detta är en given julklapp för er som gillar Alchemysts!!


Recenserat av: Bille

Betyg:
Bille
4.5

[colossalfreak]

Pils bmailed me a translation here it is.........

`Hi!
Mattias from Souldivider here, here´s a translation to that review...Congrats to a good review.../Mattias(Pils)


"To start with Volume is a rocking example of the fact that you can create suprisingly sweet things when you tend to expand the borders of both heavy-psych and stoner! They are fantastic exprerimental in the true meaning of the word, wich you can hear durning the nineteen minutes long "headswin" some are connected(or similar to?!) with Alchemysts "Achivement song".
Musically they can be compared to the Italian heavy-pshyche band That´s all folks with their blistering riffs a one hell of a drum beat. I consider the mixing of the drums superb since the the resonance in the toms takes the overall feeling in both "habit" and "Don´t look around" and the wholeness coloured bage garagerock kind of sound. "Don´t look around" is my favourite, even though it´s not their own song but they are doing a helluva good job capturing that 70´s sound that you can find in early Deep Purple songs. To bad they don´t have a guy on hammond as well in the band...This is a given x-mas gift for all you that digs Alchemysts!!"

Pils

[colossalfreak]

here is an interesting one..

Smutstrutter posted this on Sleazegrinder
www.sleazegrinder.com/smut_volume.htm

Three, two, one, smoke! Awww! Yet another solar smoking spasm of space rock has launched into atmosphere of aggravated, assault-rape rock. Luckily for me, I have these guys to sit back and watch them burn. Would you like to know what Volume could do to a bunch of rowed, buffed up boneheads? Within one weeze of their distorted, carbon monoxide clogged lungs Volume could huff and puff their brick suburbs to rust. I refuse to watch MTV's Cribs of Linkin Park's home, knowing the only media coverage Volume are getting are within the traffic cameras when caught speeding in their vans. If there lies a purpose in my life other than listening to these distorted ritualizing fuzz busters, it is to seize this hypocrisy. Death to corporate radio!  - Smutstrutter

[colossalfreak]

and another review.............. this ones from tangerinemagazine.com

Blue Cheer inspired heavy, acid drenched rock and roll that sounds like just the right music for a Manson family reunion. Definitely 60's retro in style and approach, with spacey psychedelic guitar solos and studio manipulated vocal distortion. The vocals really do echo Dickie Peterson's howlings and the drum sound mirrors Paul Whaley's furious skin poundings (both original Blue Cheer members), while the fuzzed out guitar ramblings are more early Monster Magnet in structure, kind of stoner without the smoke, full of reverb and far out feedback. A true window pane, purple hazed, blotter of LSDemented, psychedelicious, hallucinosonic satisfaction. Good to the last drop. - Glenn Tillman.

[FGM]

"LSDemented" - gotta love that adjective!

[Jeb]

REVOLVER MAGAZINE(USA)
By Dan Epstein


On it's debut EP, this Southern California trio(with help from Fu Manchu skinsman Scott Reeder) whips up a vicious sandstorm of acid rock, with a serious emphasis on the "bad trip" side of the psychedelic experience. Wah-wah pedals hiss, tortured souls shriek, and the whole thing lurches foward like a creature that normally crawls but desperately wants to walk. Throw in a scum-encrusted cover of Mountain's "Don't Look Around" and you've got the best lo-fi mindfuck since Monster Magnet's Tab...25

[Jeb]

From High Bias website

VOLUME
Requesting Permission to Land
(High Beam)
Requesting Permission to Land is 35-odd minutes of solid, grunge-encrusted, desert-spawned, acid rock freakout music. Hailing from the same general California desert environs as Kyuss, the lads in Volume share certain similar proclivities. Like Josh Homme and the boys, Volume never met a fuzz pedal it didn't like, and they've got record collections packed with late 60s psychedelia and early 70s heavy metal records. "Colossal Freak" and "Habit" come jampacked with shaggy riffs and dynamic grooves; the cover of Mountain's "Don't Look Around" is telling. That said, like Kyuss, these boys have stared at the vast expanse of Death Valley a little too long. "Makebelieve" and "Headswim" pile on the echo, reverb and bad acid trips, sounding like long-lost psychedelic nuggets that couldn't find the right ears in the 60s; the latter is almost 20 minutes long, in the take-another-hit-off-the-bong tradition. Guitarists Patrick Brink and Jay Christenson peel off layers of gunk and scree out of their amps, while guest drummer Scott Reeder (Kyuss, etc.) fills the air with pounding toms and crashing cymbals. Hook up your headphones, take your air guitar out of its case and get ready to crank the Volume. Michael Toland

For fans of: early Nebula, Blue Cheer, Spacemen 3

[Jeb]

From Punknews.Org

Rock and roll is far from deceased, my dear brothrs and sistrs, it survives, snarl intact and prepared to kick some teeth in, all it needs are some volunteers. So who’s coming with me? Who’s ready to get on board the Psychophonic Express and let their ears ring for weeks with honest, raw, self-indulgent rock and roll? Then allow me to introduce your captain, Patrick Brink (vocals, guitar) and his trustworthy crew Jay Christenson (lead guitar, bass) and Tom Owsley (drums), a band of musicians who wish to take you away from the everyday and drop you off into the great unknown. “Requesting Permission to Land” is the latest offering from Volume, a brutal EP that reaches deep within the listener and slingshots your soul to the far places of the universe. These West Coast musicians combine psychedelia with killer musicality and effortlessly blend them into one of the best rock recordings of the last five years.

Armed with great guitar hooks, fantastic drumming, and a voice reminiscent of Roger Daltry, this band rocks and it rocks hard. There must have been a lineup change shortly after this album was completed, for the only active members on this recording are Brink and Christenson. Scott Reeder sits behind the set for all the tunes, and James Scoggins lays down the bass tracks, what happened between Brink and the original members is unknown to me, but I cannot deny Brink’s vision and the performance of those involved with this recording. The loose fuzz and chainsawed percussion of the first song “Habit” is exactly what the world needs now, complete with directionless solos floating above the chaos as Brink patiently delivers the chorus, “Gimme gimme gimme what I want/Gimme gimme gimme what I need.” This is self-indulgent, uncompromising rock and roll, fully capturing and exploiting the moment, and it is magnificent. Immediately following “Habit,” Volume kicks the tempo and flies into “Colossal Freak,” showing off the bottom of the drums and showcasing echoed vocals that would clear any quiet space in the room. Todd Nakamine adds a theramin, sending bizarre effects off into the atmosphere as the band pounds away relentlessly, providing an ambient effect that couldn’t be ignored if you tried. These are the guys that grew up on King Crimson and Blue Oyster Cult, but embraced the slop-rock aesthetic, probably nodding to their influences with a woodblock on the tune “Don’t Look Around” ala “Don’t Fear the Reaper” while using a guitar tone familiar to that of J Mascis. The addition of a hammond organ on “Makebelieve” and the finale “Headswim” further fills out the sound and makes it all the more psychedelic. In fact, “Headswim” begins with a humorous narration from an acid trip, lulling the listener into an uncomfortable easiness just as the drums cut through the static and blast the band through one of its finest moments on the record. The mission of Volume is to take you places you’ve never been before, blending one song into the next, only to leave five minutes of silence at the end, allowing the listener to either come down or take it all in.

The only thing lacking on “Requesting Permission to Land” is more songs, however exhausting that could be, I’m left wanting more of whatever Volume just did to me when this record ends. But I have faith in their decision, for this record, although seemingly sloppy at times, is very deliberate and the musicians involved are too good to sell their music short. Rock and roll is certainly not dead if records like this are still being made, I guess it took off to the underground, and if you’re ready, Volume would like to blast off. Please keep your seats in the upright position, tighten your safety belt, and prepare for one of the best aural ass-kickings you’ve ever had the pleasure of.