SUCH HAWKS SUCH HOUNDS

Documentary. DVD. Long Song Pictures 2008
The documentary I've been waiting for; the story of American underground hard rock from 1970 and onward. One really can't ask for more. You get Sunn O))), Sleep, Om, High on Fire, Pentagram, The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, Kyuss, Earthless, Brant Bjork, Thrones and so on, and so on. Of course, I would have loved to see more of the Melvins, although Joe Preston's story about the band in the bonus section kind of makes up for it. Another high point, also placed in the bonus section is Wino's tale about how he got clean. No one is more rock n' roll than him.
    
We get valuable lessons in heavy riffs, and why you sometimes want to hear a great riff over and over again. Sometimes for 52 minutes. There's also focus on the album artwork. Great artwork is for me synonymous with this genre. Interviews with Arik Roper (Sleep – Dopesmoker, Bongzilla – Amerijuanican, High on Fire – Death is This Communion) and the Malleus collective (too many gig posters to mention) makes this documentary even more complete.

What's great about "Such Hawks Such Hounds" is that we're not getting showered with nostalgia here. This is a scene that is still going on, and is probably more popular than ever. Usually with these types of documentaries, it's about a scene that is regarded as over by most people. Like "American Hardcore" for instance. If you claim to like rock music and you haven't heard of the bands mentioned above, you should drop everything right now and watch this DVD. Bonus points goes out for recommending the Flower Travellin' Band album "Satori" in the "Further Listening" section.