His Masters Voice - The Devils Blues

"...His Master’s Voice opened with some very clever 70’s tinged psych-rock. Their reputation had proceeded the band and they didn’t disappoint. They started with a (relatively) new song – a three section instrumental called HMV, that really showed off the skills and energy this four piece are capable of. Dripping in layers of pedal distortion the band then launched into tracks from their outstanding album The Devil’s Blues mixed with earlier material from their impressive back catalogue..."
"...Once again, thanks have to go to His Master’s Voice for not only lending the gear but putting on a phenomenal opener. They saved the show, no doubt about it..." - www.ambientlightblog.com

"Underbart Bluesigt sväng från Nya Zeeland, och vilket bandnamn sedan. Woman är en EP som är rakt igen bra. Som jag förstår det har man skapat tre EP samanlagt, så det klanske är dags för en fullängdare snart? För jag vill höra mer, mycket mer. Förresten, sade jag att det svänger, svänger som satan?" - http://spaderess.blogspot.com/

"...No His Masters Voice set is the same, other than high octane energy interspersed with one or two soulful ballads. Friday night’s set was no different, but those JAMS!! Often instrumental jam sessions can get lost on a crowd, unless you have someone like Slash, on stage with you but tonight they were channeling all the lost greats - Hendrix, Lemmy, Jon Bonham and Jessie's vocals were almost tear inducing (I can’t even think of one person who comes close to his vocals - there have been many great singers lost but Jessie's voice is his own). I spent this entire set up the front, other than filming their introductory jam session which was out of this world. His Masters Voice needs bigger stages, bigger crowds, bigger production, bigger and more - they are a band that once the right people hear it are going to take the world by storm..." - muzic.net.nz

"...
His Masters Voice loaded their bluesy and ballsy sound on our senses, and it's not just with sound they exude this onslaught, but also the hairy tattooed wonder of their presence is formidable, they had us in an aural and visual trance and we were mesmerised and pleasured in equal measure. Jesse Sorensen was almost completely hidden under a wave of flowing hair, but he never faulted on dispensing smooth and cutting vocals and wonderfully rhythmic guitar, and the occasional cool lead breaks. When a mega bluesy guitar solo is required then Az Burns is your man, on song as always, he ripped out his broad and melodic sound that grew in intensity with each pluck and pull. All this bluesy madness was held together like a sticky date with formidable Bass from Brandon Bott and Rene Harvey crunching on the drums. At times they rocked it out and then funnelled it down, where you would end up swaying in a trance, and just when you thought you might be lost to reality they amped up the beat and you broke off and rocked out. You are the Masters and we are the apprentices..." - Muzic.net.nz

"...If you have not heard of His Masters Voice then you need to reassess your life goals. Taking the best of the blues, rock and just the slightest threads from the bottom of metals universal black jumper and His Masters Voice have really created something quite special... ...There are no stand out tracks because every track is a winner when it comes to His Masters Voice, a bold statement, yes but having been listening to these guys for a number of years it’s a statement I stand by wholeheartedly... ...while ‘Possession’ and ‘Don’t Trust Myself’ especially just make you want to bear your soul to the world as you completely let the music take you over. I am one of those guys that prefers to just stand in the crowd and do the old co-ordinated head and foot bang; yet His Masters Voice make me want to just go nuts on the dance floor. I really hope to see these guys in a few more International support slots because God knows they are more than worthy of it..." - ambientlightblog.com

"...There is a hype around them but not the self-promoting social media hype. This is old school word of mouth. Being in a bar, talking music and people asking if you have seen them yet? No? You really should! It's a cliche but some people are born to do one thing. The four people in His Masters Voice should not be doing anything else..." - muzic.net.nz

"...While already rather well known on the Auckland circuit, with tonight’s exceptional performance they cemented their rightful place on the list of must see New Zealand acts. With a swagger that harnesses the spirits of the legendary rock and blues gods of days gone by while simultaneously remaining relevant through clever lyricism and raw integrity; His Masters Voice owned the stage as if it was already their second home... ...From the undulating fierceness of ‘Don’t Trust Myself’ right through to the tumbling jaunt of their final song ‘Lonely Road’, each and every track is a masterpiece of both lyrical and sonic wonderment. With their third EP simply entitled Woman released just this month, His Master’s Voice are a more than worthy edition to the playlist of any discerning music lover..." - ambientlightblog.com

"...Hot on the heels of their newly released EP “Woman”, His Masters Voice opened up the evening, and I’m not afraid to say it that I think they stole the show ... ...hitting the biggest stage of their career couldn’t have come at a better time to widen the audience of what I think is one of New Zealand’s best-kept secrets. Whilst the diminutive looking Jesse Sorensen (vocals/guitar) conjures forth the voice of a blackened angel (most likely via some dark magick voodoo), the quartet has it all – Az Burns’ (guitar) long dreadlocks drape easily over his guitar as solos and riffs go flying, to the solid driving backline of Brandön Bött (bass) and Rene Black (drums) – you’ve got a complete package of audio and visual mystique..." - heavymag.com.au

"...Here was Led Zeppelin swagger, Black Sabbath proto-doom, swampy Delta Blues and shades of stoner rock. I immediately forgave them for being so widely derivative, because they pulled it off with such enormous joy and panache. This wasn’t mere copy-pasting, but a set of well known tropes embraced lovingly and with intimate knowledge. His Master’s Voice also have a great grasp on song structure, knowing exactly how to build up to a crescendo, transition into a solo, or bring the main riff thundering back in. I could hear every instrument clearly, including the bass, which is always a point from me in loud guitar bands..." - 13thfloor.co.nz

"It makes you feel like going back in time, where long curly hair still graced my head. Six songs with influences of heavy rock classics rock through my apartment, of course, gradually, with contemporary energy.

Mix blues with Southern Rock and a little stoner, a pinch of the 70s with Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, a touch of the 80s with Black Sabbath and you get HIS MASTERS VOICE!

Musically and playfully, the New Zealanders Jesse Sorensen (vocals and guitar), Az Burns (guitar), Rene Harvey (drums) and Brandon Bott (bass) can fully capture, capture and inspire and infect their music..." - Hellfire Magazine

"...this 4 Track EP is a phenomenal showcase of the raw and powerful musicianship on tap in this band. This is not simply a blues record, nor can it be categorised any other way. It bathes in groove and swagger, whilst wallowing in despair and pain..." - Libel.co.nz

"...Always consistently on form, I have yet to see a poor performance from them. With chugging riffs, punchy drums, and smooth, flying solos, they have mastered that guitar-centric sound that has kept the likes of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin relevant for all these years. Technically astute, Az Burns knows his guitar intimately, and is able to control every aspect of his contribution to the music, controlling the feedback of the effects for added ambience, or through intricate finger work, his skills put the everyday guitarist to shame. Vocalist Jesse Sorensen channels Ozzy Osbourne throughout the performance with a dominant display of vocal melodies and demonstrating crazy-eyes as he stands at the microphone. Apart from a second of feedback on the mic at the end of one track, their performance went off without a hitch. Professional from start to finish..." - muzic.net.nz

"...Take the blues and revive them with dosage of danger. Add filthy southern rock riffs. Swirl in a generous serving of Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. Drop in a few drugs. And then, amidst the swirling haze, you will find you have produced His Master’s Voice.

They play with such a swagger. Whether laying down a doomy groove, or ripping into a fast-paced swing section, the music is saturated with infectious feel..." - willnotfade.com

"...This is a very clever recording with three songs the band already perform live but the crowning glory in this EP is their new song Woman, although that is a VERY hard call to make as the other three songs all invoke the memories in me of the different times I’ve seen His Masters Voice, in Wellington when I accompanied them down on the mammoth road trip down and back in two days, or Hamilton last year when Az blew my mind with some American Music opportunities, New Plymouth at Brutalitee’s Birthday Bash and of course all the times I’ve seen them in Auckland. There’s not a lot of bands I go out of my way to see whenever I can, other than the bands I mange, purely because of time restrictions, but His Masters Voice is different, it is one of those bands I can’t get enough of! No matter how I’m feeling before a performance I come away with my soul refilled and glowing. Now I know this is meant to be a review of their recording not their live shows but THIS is an EP you can close your eyes while listening to and see the band performing in your mind’s eye as the quality of this recording is PERFECT! The levels, sound quality, JESSE’S VOCALS! The warmth, the soul, the energy is all perfectly captured in this EP..." - muzic.net.nz

"...Often an element that is overlooked, the unification of a band both in their music and in their stage presence is one of utter importance. When a band works well together on stage it shows. Ego can kill talent and luckily it is not an emotional state that plagues this band. This can be seen by the way that all four members share the stage and interact with each other, even during solo’s or on stage duels. Each member both compliments and celebrates the talent of the next... ...What followed was an unimaginable display of musical prowess as these four melodic giants delivered ‘His Masters Voice – Parts I, II & III’. To say that His Masters Voice are at the top of their game would be an understatement..." - Ambient Light

"...We are met by what His Masters Voice have come to dub The Devils Blues. A fitting title for their high-octane brand of music. As we stand in the center of the floor the sound surrounds us. A sound fronted by mournful wails reminiscent of the classic American soul. The crash of cymbals and driving bass with facial hair to match puts a giant smile on my face as the rhythm section are only a pair of cheap sunglasses away from ZZ Top’s legendary back row. Giving the rhythm just enough personal flair to give it a contemporary feel while staying true to the roots that took hold in the American South so long ago..."

"...One by one they are summoned to the dance floor by shrieking guitars. Carrying just enough gravel and grit to stand toe to toe with any Metal band that is foolish enough to take the challenge laid out by His Masters Voice..." - MATHIAS HALLBERG

REVIEW

So you love old school proper rock/blues then you will love this lot. Multi talented, diverse and damn right awesome. Imagine if you will Deep Purple, Zeppelin, Black Sabbath cross them with Metallica and Mountain and this is what you get a unique hard hitting rock sound that fans world wide will love. Vocally supreme, Lyrically superb and the music is big time kick ass. Listening to them takes you on a journey like no other, both calming, trippy, hard hitting, fast paced and edgy. A must have in your music collection. - Rock Bandom

“…Full of Led Zeppelin swag, they are smooth and easy on the ears. It's hard not to get swept up in the moment and it’s never easy to fully capture to readers how great of a show they put on. Vocalist, Jesse Sorensen has the blues running through his veins, an old soul in a young man’s body that clearly lives and breathes what he does and it shows. A tight band that sound years above their average ages…” - Muzic.net.nz

Like a smouldering volcano, His Masters Voice have blazed onto Auckland's live music scene - and with just a two-week turn-around from stepping into the studio to the release of their debut EP, 'Possession', it would appear the band are just getting warmed up.
Formed in 2012 by guitarist Az Burns and drummer Rene "Judas" Harvey (formerly of Cripple Mister Onion), the pair quickly found singer and guitarist Jesse Sorenson and bassist Brandon Bott to round out the group.
"The band's growth has been a very natural progression on every level," says Sorensen. Indeed, His Master's Voice eschew the singer-songwriter paradigm and instead opt for a more organic method of creating music, with each member contributing and songs evolving though jamming.
At heart a live band, His Masters Voice have already paid their dues on the road, playing countless gigs since their inception and amassing a dedicated fan base the old-fashioned way - through "blood, sweat and tears" according to Sorensen.
In recording their debut EP, the band set a premium on retaining the dynamism so present in their live performances. "When we went into the studio our main goal was to capture that [live energy]," says Bott. "So we didn't use click tracks, we didn't use overdubs. We just played in a room together."
The group's authentic, back-to-basics aesthetic naturally lent itself to Stebbing Studios where 'Possession' was recorded. "We chose Stebbings Studio because they're one of the last places in the country to still be doing analog reel-to-reel tape recordings," says Harvey.
Described unanimously by the group as "the devil's blues", 'Possession' kicks things off like a behemoth stirring as pendulous riffs thunder through the speakers and evoke the likes of Black Sabbath - yet just as quickly the tempo and time signature shift gears and we get a taste of swaggering blues licks and singer Jesse Sorensen's gritty, whiskey-soaked croon.
With lyrics ranging from introspective to gothic, the thematic material and song structure on 'Possession' never rests too long in any one place - no doubt a testament to the band's diverse musical tastes.
"In part [our sound] is a homage and a tip of the hat to everything that we've been influenced by," says Harvey. "But each song is a different animal... we don't just go for one formula."
Indeed it's the deft blending of influences that mark outs His Master's Voice from the rest of the pack. Clearly unafraid to draw equally upon the classic blues traditions of Buddy Guy or BB King as upon more recent artists such as Graveyard and Orchid, 'Possession' manages to be satisfyingly "heavy" while offering up more than enough surprises to keep the listener hooked in.
WRITTEN BY CLOVIS MCEVOY - NZ Musician Magazine

'Possession’ is the product of the psychedelic melting pot of influences that is His Masters Voice. Hailing from Auckland, the four-piece has carved a loyal following in the two years they have been together, and show no sign of relenting. The EP’s opening title track is as much Black Sabbath as it is blues. Drummer Rene Harvey’s bludgeoning approach on Don’t Trust Myself lifts the energy levels that tease what they are capable of live. Diversity and groove are the keys to the recording’s success and the band’s uniqueness is in their disregard of convention. While His Masters Voice has harvested a classic sound, Follow Me Down dishes up a modern flavour that could comfortably stack up next to modern icons such Black Stone Cherry or Mastodon. Bonus live track Lucid Dream is a weighty eight minute insight into what the band are all about. - New Zealand Musician Magazine

The 13th Floor’s Tove Partington made the scene at Back Beat last night to check out His Master’s Voice and Stone The Crows. Here’s her report:

Everything you ever wanted from the love child of metal and dirty blues has come true with His Master’s Voice. After only five shows, they have already made it to my ‘bands you must see before you die’ list*. This impressive band combines members of long established metal band Cripple Mr Onion with the voice of a blues singer you have never heard before. The music is tight, dirty and makes you want to move…and then Jimmy starts singing, and you can’t believe that he could contain such a voice. With an already established fan base, and a brilliant demo CD, this is a band that will go far. Playing last night at local bar Backbeat, with local band ‘Stone the Crows’ (who were also brilliant, actually bringing to mind a early Neurosis), the space was at capacity. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a demo CD and patch, and the CD has been playing on repeat this morning. Every time you listen, you notice new things, and every time you are blown away. I seriously suggest you check both bands at Facebook, and get to a show asap!

*Please note, this list is long, constantly evolving, and assumes death is imminent, so get to as many gigs as you can. - 13th Floor