Name: Test Patterns Vol. 1
Brand: Monster Magnet

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

GOD089

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

180 Gram Vinyl. Gatefold Sleeve. Acid Blotter Insert

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-11-11

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Cargo

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5024545968019

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Monster Magnet

Genre GB

Metal

Label GB

God Unknown Records

Vinyl variants, bonus material and signed editions exclusively available from Rough Trade.

Established in 2013, God Unknown Records is a subscription label run by a2481133, the bass player of UK psychedelic rock band Mugstar. With extensive connections to the music scene, a2481133 has successfully curated an impressive lineup of bands for his singles series. The label prioritizes its subscribers, ensuring that most copies are reserved for them while also providing opportunities for the featured bands.

Monster Magnet is an American rock band that was formed in 1989 in Red Bank, NJ, United States. The band's current lineup includes Dave Wyndorf on vocals, guitar, and keyboards since 1989, Phil Caivano on guitar since 1998 (with a break from 2005-2008), Bob Pantella on drums since 2004, Garrett Sweeny on guitar since 2010, and Alec Morton on bass since 2020.

Throughout their career, Monster Magnet has seen various changes in their lineup. Some notable past members include Tim Cronin on vocals from 1989-1993, John McBain on guitar from 1989-1992, Joe Calandra on bass from 1989-2003, Jon Kleiman on drums from 1989-2003, Ed Mundell on guitar from 1992-2010, Jim Baglino on bass from 2003-2013, Michael Wildwood on drums in the year of his departure (2004), and Chris Kosnik as the bassist from 2014 to2020.

With over three decades of experience and numerous albums under their belt such as "Powertrip" and "Dopes to Infinity," Monster Magnet continues to captivate audiences with their unique blend of rock music. Their distinctive sound combined with powerful performances have solidified them as one of the most influential bands in the genre.</p

Born from the Red Bank of New Jersey, the early days of Monster Magnet were a cosmos away from the major-label, alternative rock boom that would suck the band into the shiny MTV world of the early to middle 90s. Originally formed by Dave Wyndorf, John McBain and Tim Cronin, Monster Magnet lysergic oozed into the world in 1989 with two demo tapes – ‘Forget About Life, I’m High On Dope’ and ‘I’m Stoned, What Ya Gonna Do About It?’ – making it perfectly clear from the start where they were coming from. This was a band revelling in bad trips and the death of the hippy dream with a Manson Family stare, playing squelchy lo-fi psychedelic music with a rabid punk rock sneer, like The Stooges terrorising Hawkwind at the most unpleasant free festival imaginable. There were tales of entire audiences at their gigs being spiked with LSD. It didn’t matter if this was true or not, it all added to the mystique. This was indeed a satanic drug thing, you wouldn’t understand. Those two demos formed the base of what would become their pivotal Spine Of God album from 1991 and the ’25…Tab’ EP, which featured the mesmerising 32-minute opus itself, ‘Tab’.

Long considered to be the true essence of Magnet’s early psychedelic voyages, ‘Tab’ is finally returning to earth’s stratosphere with the release of Test Patterns: Vol.1, via God Unknown Records on vinyl. Test Patterns: Vol. 1 features a 2021 remix of ‘Tab’ by John McBain, alongside the original demo, recorded in 1988 and then released on the aforementioned ‘Forget About Life, I’m High On Dope’ in 1989.

“When Magnet started, John and I worked in record stores in Red Bank and Dave worked in the comic bookstore and we made a lot of tapes for each other,” recalls Tim Cronin. “A lot of ‘check this shit out’ kind of stuff…Hawkwind, early UFO, Amon Duul, Can, Skullflower, Morgen, Loop, Crystalized Movements, early Alice Cooper, Walking Seeds, Butthole Surfers, Spacemen 3. When we recorded the first demo and got to Tab, we just beat the shit out of it until it became heavy, noisy, weird, mean and either too long or not long enough, depending on your mood. Everything we wanted in a song (at least everything I wanted in a song), punishingly psychedelic. Jersey Shore krautrock.”

Test Patterns Vol. 1

Music GB