Pelican - Ascending (EP Review)

Release Date: January 23rd 2026. Record Label: Run For Cover Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Ascending EP - Tracklisting

1.Ascending 07:47

2.Cascading Crescent (ft. Geoff Rickly) 04:24

3.Adrift 05:47

4.Tending the Embers 04:26

Members

Bryan Herwe

Larry Herwe

Laurent Schroeder-Lebec

Trevor Shelley de Brauw

Review

Ascending is the latest EP from Post-Metal legends PELICAN who released one of the best instrumental albums of the decade with 2025’s Flickering Resonance. This has seen the band gain a whole new level of momentum like ever before and it’s so richly deserved for a band who has done some much for the Instrumental Metal and Post-Metal scenes. Now, the band offer Ascending which is a collection of tracks which the band describe as “repackaged an EP of 4 Flickering Resonance era tracks as a new 12” EP”.

Ascending is the only new track contained here with the other three tracks being released before the official release of Flickering Resonance. Ascending was left off that album and contains similar themes, melodies and progressive textures which easily taps into that record and perhaps their legendary debut album Australasia. Pelican allows the heavy Post-Metal themes to develop at an aggressive fast pace before transforming into a highly distinctive style of Post-Rock which is ultimately therapeutic at the same time. There‘s a deep CINEMATIC flow being added which ties all the other tracks together into a constant state of creative flux.

Second track Cascading Crescent actually featured on their last album but this time round they have the incredible talents of Geoff Rickly (THURSDAY) to provide vocals and it gives this track a completely different vibe of its own compared to the original. One of my favourite tracks from Pelican’s classic 2009 album “What We All Need To Come” was Final Breath with a stunning performance from Allen Epley (SHINER and This Life And Times). The song feels more complete here with a distinctive harsh vocal style giving this version a heavier and sinister edge. More violent but still one of the most essential tracks that PELICAN have written in a long time. The spoken word movements add an intense Political Edge which brings a harsh sense of reality into the mix. Mind-blowing. That’s the only way I can describe this.

The final two tracks of Adrift and Tending The Embers were originally released digitally in 2024 and it’s the same versions. However, they feel more complete here with the same distinctive message that Pelican ultimately conveys throughout the EP. Pulsating Post-Metal and Post-Rock soundscapes combine for uplifting visions of pure classic instrumental movements of the highest order.

Ascending is another essential release from PELICAN who are in my mind one of the finest and most important Instrumental Metal and Post-Metal artists we currently have right now. Their work over the last year only proves this point. 

EPIC. End Of!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Skyofant - Leaves (EP Review) and Red Sun Leaves (Mini Album Review)

Release Date: January 23rd 2026. Record Label: Sycophantastic Records. Formats: DD

Leaves - Tracklisting

1.Roots and Canopy 03:50

2.Mycelium March 02:33

3.Heart of the Woods 16:22

4.Leaves EP (Continuous Mix) 22:47

Members

Emil Moen (guitar, vocals)

Melvin Treider (drums)

Per Semb (guitar)

Sindre Haugen (bass)

Review

Leaves is the next chapter from Prog Rock/Stoner Rock collective Sykofant who released their celebrated debut EP Red Sun in 2025. These two EP’s were meant to be released as one full length album but was split into individual chapters. Just to make this even more confusing, the band have also released the actual full album of both EP’s as one individual album called Red Sun Leaves which you can listen to here and buy on CD, DD and Vinyl.

I’m focusing upon the Leaves EP as I reviewed Red Sun last year. The EP continues the same creative themes heard on that great record but with perhaps more Prog Rock and Ambient experimentation. There’s some deft “Jazz Rock” interplay between all of the three tracks contained on the release with sudden shifts into Post-Rock landscapes which gives this record a richer and fuller sound especially on tracks such as “Roots and Canopy” and Mycelium March. The sound can be quite understated with a classical sense of melody shifting quite suddenly into areas of Prog Rock which have a certain PINK FLOYD twist with echoes of ELDER along the way.

The lyrics flirt between folk rock and art rock sensibility before an aggressive Post-Stoner melody forms throughout the epic sixteen minutes final track of Embers. This is where the real magic happens with strands of Seventies Hard Rock allowing Sykofant to explore the Eighties Hard Rock and Heavy Metal scenes with absolute creative freedom which they play with real zest and musical originality of their own making.

As with the previous release, the final track is a full and continuous version of the whole EP which folks may want to delve into once in a while. 

Leaves is an exquisite release from Sykofant and I maybe cheating not reviewing both EP’s as the full album it’s intended to be. 

Leaves EP

If folks want my overall verdict of the album Red Sun Leaves then here it is:

Red Sun Leaves (Mini Album Review)

“Red Sun Leaves bring two extraordinary EP’s from Sykofant within one glorious package where you can some of the most inventive Prog Rock, Psych and Post-Rock melodies forming under the banner of Stoner Rock. There’s some freak-ish and jazzy musical interludes which sees Sykofant clearing aiming for bigger and better things with some epic storytelling forming within their lyrics and sublime vocal passages. 

WIth superb production values, Sykofant’s debut album shouldn’t be as good as this. I may enjoy the EP’s more as individual releases but at least the band are housing everything together as one complete album that’s a highly sophisticated release when everything is said and done.”

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Red Sun Leaves

Psych/Garage/Stoner Rockers THE LORDS OF ALTAMONT Exclusive Song Premiere For GOT A HOLD ON ME From Upcoming New Albium

The Lords of Altamont’s 8th sacrifice to the rock n roll underworld. 10 tracks to take you on a trip through vice enhanced heights and dive bar depths.

Recorded world wide, this album captures the evolution of the Lords sound, while staying true to the grit and power of their 28 year history. Dope Forever, Forever Loaded.

You can hear the brilliant new single GOT A HOLD ON ME below thanks to the cool folks over at Purple Sage PR and Heavy Psych Sounds from their upcoming new album FOREVER LOADED.

Forever Loaded will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from April 10th 2026.

Forever Loaded Tracklist:

Got A Hold On Me

What's Your Bag

Devil Rides

Rusty Guns

Procession For A Gorehound

Get Out Of My Head

Got You On The Run

Disconnection

I Got Your Number

Twisted Black

Members

Dani Sindaco - Guitars / Vocals

Rob Zimmermann - Bass / Vocals

Jake Cavaliere - Organs / Vocals

Barry van Esbroek - Drums / Vocals

Biography

The Lords of Altamont bring forth raw rock and roll fury birthed from the ultimate end to the era of peace and love. What was billed to be the “Woodstock of the West “, the infamous Altamont Free concert on December 6th, 1969 was highlighted instead by heavy drugs , motorcycle chains and brass knuckles and later punctuated with shoving matches and fist fights. This palpable sense of bawdy foreboding resulted in four births, four deaths and extensive property damage.

While the hippies had been grooving and mellowing out in the Bay Area, the forefathers of the Lords of Altamont were playing high energy rhythms in the beer soaked venues of Detroit and the dingy clubs along LA’s Sunset Strip. Mid-60s London RnB shares equal space with the scruffy 70s NYC Bowery among the influences of The Lords also. They take their other cues from kids banging out primitive riffs on cheap guitars all across the USA in garages alongside chopped bikes and American v-8 muscle, lingering exhaust fumes mixing with sweat to conjure the rare elixir of real rock n roll.

The story of the band who would come to be known as The Lords of Altamont gets a proper start in late 1999. A son of Southern California and a veteran of the SoCal music scene, Jake Cavaliere - with numerous bands and projects from garage to punk dating back to the late 80s under his belt - enlisted fellow motorcycle rider and bandmate of the instro/surf sensation The Bomboras, Johnny DeVilla. Besides holding their first show at the legendary venue The Garage in Hollywood, high points include touring as the support act for their primitive rock n roll idols The Cramps, infamous rock gods The Who as well as counting the late Michael Davis of the MC5 as a past member.

Through personnel changes featuring an incredible roster of talent, and various adventures over the past 22+ years, The Lords of Altamont continue to evolve their sound while staying true to their roots. Jake Cavaliere , along with his assemblage of gritty and talented personalities, continues to captivate audiences with unparalleled hard driven performances the world over.

The Lords Of Altamont Links

Official | Facebook | Instagram

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Redwood - Time To Lose (Album Review)

Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Time To Lose - Tracklisting

1. WORMHOLE (6:29)

2. CONGREGATION (3:27)

3. KING BID (4:36)

4. HIGHWAY IS MY WAY (3:08)

5. TIME TO LOSE (6:42)

6. CONTACT (6:26)

7. TITAN (3:21)

8. BLUE MASS (11:47)

Review

Cosmic Doom/Stoner Rock Entity Redwood returns with their latest sonic excursion into Space with their next chapter - Time To Lose. That seems to be the actual case with Redwood returning quite suddenly after only releasing their last album Cloud Colony in October 2025 to a wave of rave reviews from the underground scene. This time round Redwood drifts into a more aggressive and looser style of music with the melodies becoming thicker and heavier along the way. Redwood taps into the classic MONSTER MAGNET school of psychedelic passages with echoes of MCS and The Stooges being played along the way.

This is quite a varied and cinematic journey with Redwood applying that Psychedelic and Post-Stoner creative logic that made Cloud Colony such a raging success especially on the superb opening tracks of Wormhole, Congregation and King Bid.

There’s a destructive style of Fuzz, Desert and Sludgy sounds colliding for a record that isn’t afraid to step back away from the modern day production vibes for a more realistic and ground appeal. This allows the instrumental parts of the record to become their own thing especially when spliced with areas of Post-Rock, Ambient and Prog Rock just to make the mood extra “SPICED OUT” indeed.

The record fully kicks into gear from perhaps the fourth track with Redwood becoming more SCI-FI and SPACE ROCK obsessed with the music even when the lyrics have a real life “grounded” approach. Redwood’s vocals are absolutely “ON FIRE” throughout with his grizzled “Garage Rock” or “Street level” delivery adding a sense of gritty realism the whole journey. 

Other standout tracks to check out are Time To Lose, Contact and the epic final track Blue Mass which sees Redwood become possessed by an “Intergalactic Being” with the music is constantly evolving into different styles of Post-Doom, Heavy Psych and Stoner Metal grooves that ultimately builds upon the melodies, sounds and messages contained on the last album.

Redwood has delivered the goods yet again with Time To Lose which perhaps confirms we can expect more twisted expeditions into the COSMOS in 2026 that I’m quite excited to hear. If you’re new to Redwood’s world then check this great album out now and check out his excellent previous two records that will transport your whole being into the far reaches of space and beyond.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Linktree

Midnight Whiskey Massacre - Planets Collide (Single Review)

Release Date: January 25th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Planets Collide - Tracklisting

Planets Collide

Review

Doom/Punk/Stoner Metallers Midnight Whiskey Massacre return with their new song Planets Collide that’s from their forthcoming new album and sees the band tone down the outrageous element of their last music in places which focuses on a more snarling Punk Rock attitude. There are still traces of Heavy Metal, Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal surroundings heard on their previous record. It seems the band are aiming for COSMOS with the title of Planets Collide. 

It’s quite surprising with Midnight Whiskey Massacre aiming for a Space Rock environment and adapting their Punk Rock persona for an outlandish premise. The song is perhaps too slow and when it gets going the song suddenly stops with echoes of crying wolves and heavy thunder creeping in.

Overall, it’s a great track with the band adopting a “LESS IS MOR£” creative attitude with that abrupt PUNK energy allowing Midnight Whiskey Massacre to keep with that sense of “OUTLAW” rebellion that made their last album a really great record that sadly didn’t reach much of audience. However,  if a band ever deserves “CULT APPEAL” then Midnight Whiskey Massacre is that band. 

This makes me excited to hear the rest of the album. Sure, it’s going to be all over the place but at least the nihilistic lyrics contained on this track alone means it’s going to be refreshingly different to listen to.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

GJENFERD - Crimson Rain (Single Review)

Release Date: January 23rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Crimson Rain - Tracklisting

Crimson Rain

Members

Jakob Særvoll – Keyboard and vocals

Vegard Bachmann Strand – Guitar and vocals

Samuel Robson Gardner – Bass

Sivert Kleiven Larsen - Drums and vocals

Review

Doom/Stoner Rockers GJENFERD latest single Crimson Rain is the single from their forthcoming album Black Smoke Rising where the band apply a classic Seventies style of Hard Rock, Proto-Metal and Prog Rock. Inspired by the likes of Blue Oyster Cult, Deep Purple and dare I say GHOST at times. There’s a great sense of Blues Rock and Occult Rock vibes with those sublime Organs setting the scene that steals the show by adding a creepy feeling along the way.

You can hear an essence of Black Sabbath along the way but also moments of Eighties Hard Rock and Nineties Stoner Rock attitude. The vocals are provided by multiple members of the band who are all trying for complete vocal control and it works especially within the more melodic Blues Rock dominated movements of the song. 

If you’re looking for a cool slice of superbly played Doom/Stoner Rock that has a quality “VINTAGE” flow with a modern day free-flowing instrumental attitude then Crimson Rain is the track for you. This also wonderfully shows how the rest of the upcoming new album plays out with a few surprises along the way.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Doom/Sludge Metallers AITTALA's Animated Video “Ashes” Brings a Dark Tale of Collapse and Consequence to Life

Lineup – Gary ‘Smith’ Zeus (Drums), Eric Aittala (Guitar/Vox), Dane Taylor (Bass)

AITTALA has released the official music video for “Ashes,” the latest single from their second EP of 2025, "Ill‑Gotten Gains," which arrived this past November through Exitus Stratagem Records. The animated video brings to life one of the EP’s most traditional heavy‑metal‑driven tracks, a song centered on the story of someone who spirals far beyond their limits and drags others down with them. Musically, “Ashes” captures the band’s signature fusion of classic metal grit and modern heaviness, showcasing the dynamic songwriting and emotional weight that define AITTALA’s evolving sound.

​"Ill‑Gotten Gains" continues AITTALA’s long‑standing tradition of blurring genre boundaries, weaving together elements of traditional metal, doom, groove, progressive influences, and hard rock to create a cohesive and immersive listening experience. Lyrically, the EP explores the darker corners of human behavior, focusing on the creation of chaos for personal benefit, the inevitable consequences that follow, and the difficult search for redemption. The EP’s artwork features an updated interpretation of the band’s mascot, Frank, a cartoon pig head in a pentagram originally created in 2014 for the song “Pigs” from the album Effigy. In the world of AITTALA, Frank represents the shady figure who can acquire any “ill‑gotten gains” for the right price, making him the perfect symbol for the EP’s themes.
​
Across the EP, AITTALA delivers a series of songs that reflect both musical evolution and lyrical depth. “Isolation” opens with a doomy, heavy atmosphere that shifts between crushing riffs and clean passages while confronting the consequences of past decisions. The title track, “Ill‑Gotten Gains,” drives forward with a powerful eight‑string riff before descending into a darker, doom‑laden interlude, lyrically exploring the exploitation of chaos for personal advantage. “Blacklisted” counters the themes of the earlier tracks by calling out manipulative personalities with a sludge‑infused groove, while “Ever After” offers a modern metal ballad steeped in internal conflict and the longing for redemption that may never come. The EP culminates with “Ashes,” a traditional heavy‑metal burner that now takes visual form in the band’s newest music video, capturing the emotional descent at the heart of the song.
​
​AITTALA, pronounced EYE‑tah‑la, has long been recognized for a sound that refuses to fit neatly into any single metal subgenre. Their music blends classic heavy metal, doom, progressive elements, power metal, thrash, and hard rock, all tied together by lyrics inspired by the darker side of the human condition. This unique combination has earned the band a reputation for crafting a sound that is distinctly their own, a rare achievement in today’s crowded metal landscape. The band’s origins trace back to 1991 in the Netherlands, where founder Eric Aittala first formed the group with American and Dutch bandmates. Their early EP, "Selling Heaven," gained traction in the European underground scene and led to opening slots for acts such as The Gathering and Sadist before Eric’s return to the United States brought the project to a temporary close.
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​AITTALA was revived in 2008, leading to a prolific run of releases that includes "Bed of Thorns" (2009), "Haunt Your Flesh" (2011), "Effigy" (2014), "American Nightmare" (2016), "False Pretenses" (2019), "Live to Regret" (2022), and "Machines" (EP, 2025). Each release reflects the band’s continued growth while preserving the unmistakable core of the AITTALA sound.

Today, AITTALA is anchored by founder Eric Aittala on guitars and vocals alongside drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith, known for his work with The Fifth and formerly with Mr. Blackwell. The pair continues to write, record, and tour with the goal of delivering AITTALA’s unmistakable brand of metal to audiences everywhere. The band has also expanded its live lineup with the addition of bassist Dane Taylor, whose arrival brings a renewed surge of energy and chemistry to the stage. His presence strengthens the group’s momentum as they push their sound forward while remaining true to the identity that has defined AITTALA from the beginning.

"Ill-Gotten Gains" (released Nov 21, 2025) is available from Exitus Stratagem Records - https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains​

Music Video - “Isolation” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Y_azlkGLg​
Music Video - "Ill-Gotten Gains" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjlP92y_sQg​
Lyric Video - "Ever After" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipo98unZUoQ​

Track Listing:​

1. Isolation - 4:22
2. Ill Gotten Gains - 4:20
3. Black Listed - 3:35
4. Ever After - 4:29
5. Ashes - 3:50

For more info: 

Exsrmusic.com | Aittala.com | Facebook.com/aittalamusic | Instagram.com/aittalamusic

Thanks to Asher Media For All Of The Details