...of the horizon

About thirty miles off the coast of Los Angeles, there is a small working class harbor city called San Pedro. This small coastal city is virtually unknown, compared to it's neighboring city Long Beach, yet in the 1940's it stationed off it's coastal docks, the United States battleship naval fleet that went off to battle and eventually defeat one of histories most brutal warring factions of the axis powers, the Japanese. This small city docked off its waters some major HEAVY FIRE POWER! Some decades later this small unknown city stations one of thee heaviest, rawest, and loudest bands in the Los Angeles heavy music scene. What band is that?, you may ask. Well my dear readers, that band is called ...Of The Horizon.

...Of The Horizon consists of three heavy orientated disciples of cement. If you're unfamiliar with the term cement, then let me define it for you. Cement is raw, heavy, and my favorite LOUD!!! Let me emphasize that they are indeed LOUD AND HEAVY, but yet they capture a very soulful melodic groove that takes you on a headbanging rollercoaster ride in an amusement park of horrors. Picture Roger Waters' Floyd harmonies with a thundering sledgehammer Sabbath/Hell Hammer thrust in your face. To top it off, their sonic deafening MC5/ Motorhead inspired onslaught on your hearing means loud.

The band originated two years ago as a two piece, which consisted of Mike Hanne (guitars, vocals) and Shig (drums), and until recently added the final missing link on their sonic blitzkreig attack Bill Lanham (bass). As is common in the Los Angeles so called music scene these monsters of real heavy rock have been virtually unknown and under appreciated. Yet, they have gathered a small loyal following calling themselves "the legion" which supports them at whatever venue or club will tolerate their loudness. When asked as to why they are so loud, Mike Hanne replied "we've evolved from our punk rock roots, and because our drummer pounds on the drums so ferociously I had to get more speakers." Which I can corroborate since I have witnessed the barbaric pounding and banging of Shig. When asked if he graduated from the Keith Moon, John Bonham, and Bill Ward school of drumming, he very graciously smirks and whispers "yes, absolutely"

Adding to that is the Mothra like monstrosity deafening bass support sound of Big Willy, whose devastating bass licks go hand in hand with Shigs drumming. Picture a six foot Geddy Lee/ Geezer Butler on a rampage to destroy your hearing and force you to make your head bang unwillingly, but also adds to the band a very unique hard edge support network that compliment the bands earth shattering sledge hammer effect very nicely. As Willy stated, "music is a language and we all communicate through our music collectively while we play."

Just recently the three piece were the supporting act for Southern Lord recording artists Black Cobra here in Los Angeles. They were very succesful in capturing everyone in attendance attention and admiration, including Rick Kosick (Jackass photographer) who unanimously titled them Los Angeles' best new band. They relentlessly bashed out their tunes entitled "Summit Priest", "Suns Align", "Caravan" and my personal favorite "Hall of the Drunken King"

The band has recorded with legendary Kyuss bass player turned producer Scott Reeder and are planning to return to the studio to follow up and record more tracks for release. If you like your music loud, heavy, and real do yourselves a favor and check out San Pedros/ Los Angeles' best kept secret ...Of The Horizon. This band I am positive is destined for great things to come.

Jimmy Cabbs - Bulldozer Magazine