Howling Giant

This is a fun one. Fuzz rock with the kinetics of a bikini-babe monster flick and the high drama of a mid-70's Marvel comic book. But if you're expecting surf or punk rock with horror-themed lyrics, think again. There's an underlying current of power metal in some places or some thread of late 80's metal here. Howling Giant are at their best here when they stretch out their legs in a longer composition, the six minute "Camel Crusher" is arguably their finest hour, allowing the fuzz to do the legwork. This band is the spiritual cousin of Wolfmen of Mars and new band Corman, but forge their own identity and don't come out much for family outings. This EP is catching on fairly quickly. It's always a surprising mystery what will catch on and what seems to lag behind. One of the reasons it's catching is that it's a PAY-WHAT-YOU-WANT download and ultimately, quite good. - You May Be Dead And Dreaming

Even though Nashville, Tennessee is usually known for a completely different kind of music. They do produce some damn fine ruckus as well and loads of garage and stoner albums have been mastered or recorded there in recent times. But sometimes, the music is born right there and then. In someone’s bedroom filled with stinky sport socks, weird posters, books, comics, records and dubious crusty towels. As is the case with Howling Giant. Three compadres that delivered their first self-titled EP a couple of months ago. Three self-proclaimed nerds with a penchant for space travel, doomed seafarers and a sentient android hell-bent for a camel killing death crusade. Now here are some guys we can relate to for sure! Especially since besides those cheat sheet lyrics they bring out the big guns when they turn to riffing, tempos and rhythms. And let’s not forget about those damn fine three piece vocals as well. Howling, haunting and stirring! Nice touches of organ in first song Husk and third song Doug and as battleships go last track on the EP entitled Camel Crusher is a righteous one. A big motherfucker that starts its brooding tempo and has you on the edge of your seat for what’s about to happen. And it all seems to happening right there and then. This is a trio we need to keep track of; cause they seem to be destined for huge things! - Stoner Hive

Awaken the Giant

Recorded in one of the band member's bedroom (are you kidding me??) , this monstrous slab of soaring vocal harmonies, spectacular riffing, and an explosive groove crush and destroy everything in it's path. The spine-tingling bass line of "Whale Lord" is forever embedded. This may be one of the best EPs these ears have ever heard. Listen to this loud as fuck! - Heavy Planet

Howling Giant is a rock trio from Nashville, Tennessee and they've just released their self titled EP. It clocks in around 19 minutes and goes way too fast but I can't get over how well written it is and the production is very good for a DIY EP. Recorded in a bedroom? Check. You would never know, sounds so sweet cranked up!

Of the four songs, the first track 'Husk' has hard hitting riffs that groove along with nice clean melodic vocals. There's a little layer of organ to go along with the crashing drums; great opening track. 'Whale Lord' (killer name for a band, I might steal it, haha) has very cool chord progression, and the rythm section is screaming here with those dual vocals. The guitar solo at the end fits perfectly and sounds great; over all a great tune. 'Doug' is a little more sporadic sounding with a rougher edge; the drums are showcased here - crunchy, catchy riffs galore. 'Camel Crusher' is the longest tune on the EP and has a heavier, doomier feel than the rest starting off slow and low. There's more of a spoken word element to the vocal style here and this song really shows the versatility of the band with a little nastiness thrown in. Very good ending to an exceptional first EP.

Hopefully many more good things come out of the Howling Giant camp in the near future. Head over to Bandcamp and give support. It's a name your price! Cheers! - Wonderock

Howling Giant swept our most recent Artist of the Month poll, emerging easy victors with 59% of the vote. Of course, they had a bunch of newly converted fans to rally support from, thanks their new EP released just this January. Who could not like a band that "plays self-indulgent, drop-tuned, fuzzed out riffs that could curdle milk?" Check out the epic "Whale Lord" to hear what they're talking about. - The Deli

Today, CONVERSE Inc. unveils the selection of aspiring artists chosen for the new Converse Rubber Tracks global program, offering free recording time at 12 legendary recording studios around the world. Throughout the registration period, over 9,000 up-and-coming international artists applied for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and a total of 84 acts - representing 28 countries - will record at participating studios and become part of music history. Starting Monday, September 14, studios including Converse Rubber Tracks in Brooklyn, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts; Abbey Road Studios in London, England; Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, California; and Tuff Gong in Kingston, Jamaica, will host chosen artists throughout a two-week period.

As part of the Converse Rubber Tracks studio takeover, selected acts will record alongside a team of experienced producers and sound engineers during 1-2 day sessions. Upon completion of their studio time, each act will retain all the rights to their music. Demonstrating the global reach of the program, the selected artists represent the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brasil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Renowned studios featured within the program include Abbey Road Studios in London, England; Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, California; Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin, Germany; Tuff Gong in Kingston, Jamaica; Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavik, Iceland; The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, Canada; Avast Recording Co. in Seattle, Washington; Stankonia in Atlanta, Georgia; Studios 301 in Sydney, Australia; Toca do Bandido in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; the original brick-and-mortar Converse Rubber Tracks studio in Brooklyn, New York, and the newly unveiled permanent Converse Rubber Tracks studio in Boston, Massachusetts at Lovejoy Wharf.

“This Converse Rubber Tracks studio takeover is the biggest thing we've done for the platform to date, and we’re thrilled to have reached so many local music communities worldwide in just the registration period alone,” said Jed Lewis, Converse Global Music Marketing Director. “We received an incredible response from such a vast pool of talent, and we look forward to providing this unique platform to new, diverse acts from all over the globe within these twelve iconic studios."

The 84 emerging acts chosen for the Converse Rubber Tracks global studio takeover are as follows:

白举纲 - Chengdu, China

Lume – Chicago, Illinois, USA

A.J. Crew – Los Angeles, California, USA

Magaly Fields – Santiago, Chile

A2 – London, England, UK

Mental Bend – Berlin, Germany

Abreact – Melbourne, Australia

Motor City Madness – Porto Alegre, Brasil

Arima Ederra – Inglewood, California, USA

murmur – Hong Kong

AZEKEL – London, England, UK

NOAH SLEE – Berlin, Germany

Aziz the Shake – Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

Noise Nebula – Madrid, Spain

Baco Krisi and Nasty Lime – Milano, Italy

Noonwraith – Moscow, Russia

Barf Troop – Colonial Heights, Virginia, USA

Paperwhite – Brooklyn, New York, USA

Beach Youth – Caen, France

Phobophobes – London, England, UK

BESTiE – Vancouver, Canada

Planta Carnívora – Santiago, Chile

Big Eyes – Long Beach, New York, USA

Prateek Kuhad – New Delhi, India

Cândido, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Pumpkins 小南瓜乐队 – Xinxiang City, China

ChaCha / in3 – Shanghai / Beijing, China

Reptiles - Melbourne, Australia

Chico Unicornio – Lima, Peru

Ring of Gyges – Reykjavík, Iceland

coconuts 椰子 – New Taipei City, Taiwan

Shandy Mandies – Berlin, Germany

Coldworm – Bry Sur Marne, France

Smash Boom Pow – Vancouver, Canada

Coro Mc – Fortaleza, Brasil

Smokey Brights – Seattle, Washington, USA

DAP – Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Sound Bullet – Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

dBURNZ & The FlashMob – Kingston, Jamaica

Sparhawks – Hudson, Massachusetts, USA

Denai Moore – London, England, UK

Stxnga – St. Elizabeth, Jamaica

Diamond Thug – Cape Town, South Africa

The Attics – Melbourne, Australia

Down and Outlaws – San Francisco, California, USA

The Belle Game – Vancouver, Canada

Dreamr Digital – Marietta, Georgia, USA

The Bluffs – Costa Mesa, California, USA

Dude York – Seattle, Washington USA

The Extraordinaires – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Fever Charm – Oakland, California, USA

The Lytics – Winnipeg, Canada

Flame – Santiago, Chile

The Magic Gang – Brighton, United Kingdom

Frida – Gravataí, Brasil

THE MAKONNEN SOUL – Bogota, Colombia

Gemini – Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The Plastics – Cape Town, South Africa

Glass Tunnels – Seattle, Washington, USA

the superglasses ska ensemble – Samut Prakan, Thailand

Grand Prize Winners From Last Year – Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The Veggers – Uiwang, South Korea

Gurr – Berlin, Germany

The Wizard – Toluca, Mexico

Heat Mark 热斑 – Beijing, China

Toneron – Vogar, Iceland

Heroes For Sale – Auckland, New Zealand

Vaya Futuro – Mexico City, Mexico

Howling Giant – Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Via Audio – Los Angeles, California, USA

Indische Party – Jakarta, Indonesia

VIGILANTES – Sydney, Australia

Indiscipline – Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Von Spar – Cologne, Germany

Jermaine Blake and The One Drop Routz – Kingston, Jamaica

Water Rats – São Paulo, Brasil

JÓGA – Będzin, Poland

Whiskey Bitches – Brooklyn, New York, USA

jONNY CALiFORNiA – Los Angeles, California, USA

WILDE – Toronto, Canada

Les Passagers – Montreal, Canada

Worshipper – Boston, Massachusetts, USA

los tiros – Quilmes, Argentina

Zanillya – Almere, Netherlands - Converse Music