THRONES is Joe Preston. If you're a regular visitor of this site and that name still doesn't ring a bell, just browse through your record collection for EARTH, MELVINS or SUNN0))), because he was in all of them. Currently he's a member of HIGH ON FIRE but he's also got his own one-man band called THRONES. Not exactly the most productive outfit, since this is their first release since 2000. "Day Late, Dollar Short" is a compilation of tracks taken from 7"s, cassettes, compilations, collaborations with other bands as well as some previously unreleased stuff.

It's hard to put into words what exactly is going on on this album. There's 19 tracks in total, among them cover versions of songs by the likes of ULTRAVOX, THE RESIDENTS, RUSH, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT and THE WHO. There's a very eerie kind of folk song which according to the liner notes is a ‘traditional'. There are instrumental pieces that sound like outtakes from horror movie soundtracks (one song actually is from the soundtrack to an unreleased film). And let's not forget there's the heavier tracks which make up the majority of the album. And they're truly some of the craziest sludge/metal/punk/noise ever created, combining walls of ultra-heavy guitar, programmed drums, eerie voices, weird samples and more noise into something beyond compare. In short, it's complete and utter insanity.

Still, I can't say this is a very inaccessible record. While it won't win them any grammies or awards for subtlety, you don't necessarily have to be a fan of the MELVINS or SUNN0))) to enjoy this album. Sure, being submerged somewhat already in heavy music helps to appreciate it, because "Day Late, Dollar Short" is certainly heavy, even very heavy at certain points, but it's also a lot of fun. There's so much happening on this record that it makes you wanna play it over and over again, and it just never gets boring. So while technically speaking this is a compilation it's also one of the year's better releases. I am already anxiously awaiting the next THRONES-release in 2010.

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: http://killrockstars.com/bands/thrones/

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Young Savage

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