Damndest - What Did We Expect? (Album Review)

Release Date: January 15th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

What Did We Expect? - Tracklisting

Intro

Noise Means Nothing

Games

Realism

Home (FB)

Capsaicin Sea

Escapism

Force of Habit

Anytime, Anyplace

Many Yous

Members

Tim O’Keefe

Michael Taggart

Review

What Did We Expect? is the debut album from Post-Punk/New Wave/Shoegaze Rockers Damndest and it’s slightly different from our usual scheduled underground Doom/Stoner based programming. However, I’ve gotten back into the whole Shoegaze scene quite a bit over the last eighteen months or so and I was majorly impressed by what Damndest have achieved here for their debut album. 

The whole record is one of reflection, moody surroundings and emotionally charged soundscapes that delves into areas of dark thematic themes. However the record can be superbly uplifting throughout the whole cinematic journey that Damndest takes the listener upon. The record does move into areas of Alt Rock, Indie Rock and even Psych Rock in places. Though, for the most part, Damndest takes influences from the likes of New Order, HUM, Slowdive, NOTHING and The Cure. The music is deeply rooted in the eighties and nineties Shoegaze environment with a Post-Punk attitude being projected through the lyrics and stunning vocals that accompany the music.

What Did We Expect? starts off in an exceptional way with the opening tracks of Intro, Noise Means Nothing and Games outlining Damndest’s main creative themes. Everything is played very low-key with Damndest keeping close to their Shoegaze narrative with the music not being overtly heavy but still demonstrating a wealth of Alt Rock and Shoegaze melodies.

There’s a Post-Rock element that starts to develop within the stunning tracks Games and Realism which gives the album a real grounded dimension that can be quite reflective especially when Damndest start experimenting with Ambient Sounds and trippy themes. This style of music becomes more part of the action as Damndest feels inspired by the likes of The Cure, HUM and REM on tracks such as HOME (FB) and Capsaicin Sea. 

There is a sudden shift to gloomy atmospherics for the later stages of the record which allows that sullen and emotionally charged style of Post-Punk and Shoegaze to combine for some of the most engaging sounds on the whole record. Most of the tracks run under four minutes in length with Damndest staying away from the Prog Rock world for the whole record. This allows the music to be ALL KILLER and NO FILLER with Damndest superbly using every single second to their advantage in delivering a haunting musical experience. 

Some folks may think some heavier dynamics are required but What Did We Expect? perfectly captures Damndest’s wicked sense of LO-FI blend of sonic exploration which shows a different side of Shoegaze. Sure, it doesn’t reach the dazzling and heavier heights of recent Shoegaze records from SOM and SLOW CRUSH but the musical impact is just the same. As this record is a first rate release for Shoegaze fans to fully get behind and truly get excited about.

Words by Steve Howe

What Did We Expect? will be available to buy digitally on all digital platforms from Thursday 15th January 2026.

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Hrmülja - Dream Horizons (EP Review)

Release Date: January 09th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Dream Horizons - Tracklisting

Dream Horizons

Disturbance

If You Allow

Moonlight Solar

Members

Baja – Vocals and Bass

Kukec – Rhythm Guitar

Iggy – Lead Guitar

Kekez – Drums

Review

Croatian Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers Hrmülja make a welcome return after a seven year absence with their latest EP  - Dream Horizons. I remember listening to Hrmülja’s self titled debut album back in 2019 and being majorly impressed by their great style of Psych Stoner Metal that was inspired by the likes of SLEEP, King Buffalo, ELDER and Monolord. Though, what impressed me the most was Hrmülja’s great use of Progressive Rock/Metal themes that give their music a more destructive quality and for the most part Dream Horizons keeps with a similar style of music heard on their debut album.

However, Dream Horizons has a more mature Post-Metal sound with TOOL-esque cinematic soundscapes, burgeoning sludgy atmospherics and a harsh GRUNGE aspect that calls upon the likes of Alice In Chains and Soundgarden within the bombastic opening tracks of Dream Horizons and Disturbance. The whole record is moody, unflinching and the Doomed Out instrumental passages having a destructive quality with Hrmülja writing hard-hitting lyrics to keep everything real with the Psychedelic environment being quite trippy and fantastical at times.

The vocals from Baja are predominantly inspired by the Doom, Grunge and Sludge Rock worlds with his vocals tapping into the best aspects of each genre and delivering a brilliant and wholly committed performance. Dream Horizons works best when Hrmülja moves into areas of Post-Rock, Shoegaze and Post-Doom as the music is more intricate and emotionally engaging. There feels like a never-ending supply of trippy modern instrumental sounds that have the power to do some actual good in the real world.

The final two tracks If You Allow and Moonlight Solar offer more musical and sonic exploration with Hrmülja channelling the likes of YOB, Mastodon and Pallbearer that results with some of the best melodies and heavy riffs on the whole EP. 

Dream Horizons lasts for around nineteen minutes but feels longer and that’s a great thing as Hrmülja leaves you fully satisfied with every repeated listen. This is a great record for Hrmülja to come back with and I’m hoping we don’t have another long wait for their next release. As Hrmülja are onto something special with this highly magnificent release. Plain and Simple.

Words by Steve Howe

Dream Horizons  will be available to buy digitally on all digital platforms from Friday 09th January 2026.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Cosmic Heavy Rock Champions KAL-EL announce new album "Astral Voyager Vol. 2" on Majestic Mountain Records & Blues Funeral Recordings

Norway's cosmic heavy rock powerhouse KAL-EL returns with their anticipated new album "Astral Voyager Vol. 2" this spring on Majestic Mountain Records and Blues Funeral Recordings and blast the debut single and video for "Juno" today.

Watch Kal-El's epic new video "Juno" below:

KAL-EL return with "Astral Voyager Vol. 2", the sequel to the most critically-acclaimed and eminently listenable album in their catalog. The continuation of a multi-dimensional journey, "Astral Voyager Vol. 2" picks up with interstellar bounty hunter Mica evading pursuit by The Nine as she traverses time and space to bring in her marks. An infectious blast of sci-fi metal and soaring desert anthems, this is a record about the dangers of manipulation and struggling for individuality against the unseen powers who try to keep us compliant and controlled.

Metal Hammer Magazine called "Astral Voyager Vol. 1" “a six-track sermon of fuzzed-out gravity” while Witching Buzz said, “Kal-El don't just gaze at the stars; they chart them” and Slightly Fuzzed proclaimed the album “a must-hear for stoner rock disciples and cosmic doom wanderers alike”.

On the heels of their first full US tour, KAL-EL welcome us back to the Astral Voyager universe with "Astral Voyager Vol. 2", the second half of their epic riff-exploration to the farthest reaches of the galaxy!

New album "Astral Voyager Vol. 2" - Out March 23rd 2026 from the links below:

Majestic Mountain Records (EU/UK)

Blues Funeral Recordings (North America)

Formed in Stavanger, Norway in 2012, KAL-EL established as a unique force in the international stoner and doom metal community by blending hard rock, heavy metal, psychedelic, and doom elements with science fiction themes. Their journey began with the release of "Dark Moon Voyage" EP in 2013, quickly gaining recognition as the top new rock act on NRK Urørt, Norway's platform for emerging music.

The band's evolution has seen them release multiple acclaimed albums through various labels, including their debut "Pakal" (2014, Wormhole Death Records), "Ecosphere" (2015, Setalight Records), "Astrodoomeda" (2017, Argonauta Records), and the breakthrough "Witches of Mars" (2019). 2021's "Dark Majesty" through Majestic Mountain Records marked a significant milestone in their cosmic journey, followed by 2023's "Moon People" EP.

KAL-EL's signature sound, characterized by bass-heavy grooves, downtuned guitars, and mind-expanding lyrics, is deeply rooted in the sci-fi narratives penned by vocalist "The Captain" himself. Having toured extensively across Europe and the United States, they continue to push genre boundaries while maintaining their commitment to vintage sci-fi aesthetics and thundering stoner metal. Stamped with their rocket-fueled scandi-stoner power, their latest album "Astral Voyager Vol.1" is six tracks of pure sci-fi stoner fuzz and a must-hear for fans of Dozer, Lowrider, Truckfighters, Domkraft!

KAL-EL links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN RECORDS links

Website | Facebook  | Bandcamp  | Instagram

BLUES FUNERAL RECORDINGS links

Website | Facebook  | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

TarLung - Axis Mundi (Album Review)

Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Axis Mundi - Tracklisting

1.Static Noise 

2.The Valley Of Nowhere

3.Burning Out

4.Sea Of Drowned Souls

5.Swans

6.Full Circle

7.Between Earth And Moon

8.Axis Mundi

Members

Rotten – guitars

Philipp Seiler – guitars & vocals

Marian Waibl – drums

Review

Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metallers TARLUNG return after a four year absence with Axis Mundi which sees the band develop a thuggish, heavier and progressive style of music compared to their 2021 debut album Architect. With the backing of Italian Powerhouse label Argonauta Records fully behind for this release, TARLUNG have included new areas of music such as Post-Metal, Prog and Psychedelic mystery for a sound that promises high amounts of mysterious Sludgy surroundings. TARLUNG still play their familiar blend of Doom, Thrash, Sludge and Stoner Metal grooves that was contained within Architect but this time round the album has a more violent and free-flowing attitude.

You can hear influences from the likes of HIGH ON FIRE, MASTODON, YOB and WEEDEATER on the album which allows TARLUNG to move away from the GRIME and FILTH ridden worlds they originally made their names with. The opening two tracks of Static Noise and The Valley Of Nowhere is business as usual for the band with bleak sounding passages and those downbeat Groove Metal melodies that’s intertwined with Philipp Seiler’s harsh grunts, gruffs and growls. TARLUNG demonstrates brief glimpses of their new found delivery of SONIC EXPERIMENTATION which comes fully into play within the next track that is perhaps one of the most outstanding tracks on the record.

Third track Burning Out sees TARLUNG settle for a YOB-esque melodic delivery with the music perhaps moving fully closer to the Post-Doom and Post-Stoner environments which you can see influences ranging from ACID KING, KING BUFFALO and UFOMAMMUT developing. However, this new-found uplifting change only lasts for a short period of time as the violent Doom/Sludge Metal undercurrents of the record take centre stage and deliver some of the most exciting sounds on the whole album. However, there are still plenty of surprises to be had on this track and the rest of the album when the Psychedelic Rock and Post-Whatever creative flow suddenly appears.

TARLUNG have weaved a superb record showcasing the different sides of the HARSH and MELLOW sides of the Psychedelic Metal underground scene. Axis Mundi is jam-packed with first rate musical solos that allows Phillip (Guitars) Rotten (Guitars) and Marian (Drums) to show off their superb technical ability and creative vision on the whole record.

The band continue developing their new style of Psychedelic and Progressive heaviness throughout tracks such as Sea Of Drowned Souls, Swans, Full Circle and Axis Mundi being the other highlights of the album. TARLUNG combine brutal vocal passages and an eerie Folk influence into their main storyline of the record which does take a few moments to get used to. However, the THUGGISH and PROGRESSIVE attitude of TARLUNG keeps everything moving along at a great pace that creates a ton of genuinely exciting moments to make themselves more known with.

Axis Mundi is a much better and superbly constructed record compared to their debut album as TARLUNG always allow themselves the perfect time and opportunity to branch out into new areas to destroy the musical landscape with. This has the perfect combination of violent Sludge Metal passages and modern sounding Psychedelic passages with TARLUNG showcasing what a great FUCKING BAND they are in their own right.

TARLUNG have delivered one of the first truly memorable, heaviest and unmissable albums to own this year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

Axis Mundi is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records.

Links 

https://www.facebook.com/tarlungband
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

https://tarlung.bandcamp.com/track/static-noise-2

Kaleikia - Makali (Album Review)

Release Date: December 25th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Makali - Tracklisting

1.Foxos 02:27

2.Ons 04:58

3.Makali 07:23

4.Klopeiner See 02:46

5.Es Vedrá 06:34

6.Zagreb 06:02

7.Toyama 07:41

Members

Pilar Fdez Yuste: Piano & Celtic Arp.

Manuel Kölmel Rodríguez: Drums.

Pablo Senra: Bass.

Manu Méndez: Guitars.

Review

Experimental Rock collective Kaleikia releases their latest record Makali and it’s a stunning fusion of Post-Rock, Psych, Stoner, Prog and Alt Rock that’s played through the creative lens of Instrumental Rock. The sound is quite operatic and superbly haunting with Kaleikia’s delicate use of orchestral instruments and songwriting dynamic which comes through superbly well within the excellent opening track Foxos. This track gives you a brief glimpse on what to expect throughout the album.

Kaleikia do perhaps operate with a Post-Rock/Jazz Rock perspective for the main part of this record but there’s some wicked Post-Stoner melodies bursting out of the seams that gives Makali its HEAVY creative heartbeat. The sound can be quite STOP/START in places but there’s some deep philosophical movements going within the record and that’s told primarily through the excellent instrumental work by Pilar Fdez Yuste who plays Piano and Celtic Harp. This allows the freedom for other members of the bandManuel Kölmel Rodríguez (Drums), Pablo Senra (Bass) and Manu Méndez (Guitars) to focus on the heavier Stoner Rock melodies that do pack quite the meaningful PUNCH that allows the music to drift over into heavier waters such as Doom and Shoegaze.

Makali can be quite thoughtful and melancholic with its reliance on classical music and ethereal strands of Post-Rock appearing on tracks such as Makali, Es Vedrá, Zagreb and Toyama being some of the most original and heaviest compositions written for the whole album. Kaleikia plays an almost free-form and cinematic style of Post-Stoner Rock which is quite grounded and original at the same time.

The album dares you to let yourself go and just enjoy the beautiful music that Kaleikia has written here. The band takes influences from a wide range of different musical artists which will ultimately surprise you. There’s a lot of haunting musical landscapes and ambient soundscapes that delve into emotionally troubled waters that always ends up in a more hopeful and uplifting place before everything is said and done.

Makali is a deeply engaging record and one that offers a more subversive style of Instrumental Rock you may be currently used to. However, give this record a try and this is a superb listen from start to finish that’s filled with highly original instrumental passages that demand your full attention.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

BandCamp | Instagram

LORD ELEPHANT - Ultra Soul (Album Review)

Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Ultra Soul - Tracklisting

1.Electric Dunes

2.Gigantia

3.Smoke Tower

4.Black River Blues

5.Astral Crypt

6.MindNight

7.Leave This World With Me

Members

Leandro Gaccione – Guitar

Edoardo De Nardi – Bass

Tommaso Urzino – Drums

Review

Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metallers LORD ELEPHANT made a huge impression with their acclaimed 2022 debut album Cosmic Awakening. The band return with ULTRA SOUL and this continues  their Doomed Out Blend of Instrumental WEEDIAN and PSYCHEDELIC bliss that further develops the sonically mind inducing grooves first heard on their debut release. This time round LORD ELEPHANT plays with a heavier, richer and fuller sound that’s packed with melodic focus and COSMIC aggression which also sees a subtle style of Sludge, Prog, Ambient and Shoegaze energy.

The music can be quite forceful and solitary in places which LORD ELEPHANT develops superbly throughout the whole record with the opening songs of Electric Dunes and Gigantia playing similar strands of music to the likes of fellow instrumental doomsters BELZEBONG. The stunning mix of Sludge Metal soundscapes merging with Ambient Rock that brings a thunderous sound to the record that makes you feel you’re listening to music that’s opening the portal or gateway into a different dimension.

LORD ELEPHANT has an expert delivery by creating Post-Rock / Ambient Rock themes before expanding this into a more thrilling way of creative storytelling on tracks such as Smoke Tower, Black River Blues and Astral Crypt. The music feels more grounded and even quite fantastical at the same time with the band taking minor instrumental influences from the likes of SLEEP, HIGH ON FIRE and MASTODON but allowing themselves the opportunity to play their own highly original sound. 

Strands of eerie Post-Rock and Shoegaze appear momentarily with the subtle shadows of Psychedelic Rock and Space Rock holding everything together. The second half of ULTRA SOUL is where Lord Elephant become more daring with their music and even CINEMATIC as the whole atmosphere is moody, catchy and brilliantly EPIC on the final two tracks of MindNight and Leave This World With Me. With a sudden appearance of DRONE and DISTORTED surroundings, Lord Elephant really pulls out all of the stops within the final stages of the whole record.

With a neverending supply of FUZZED OUT AMPLIFIERS, LORD ELEPHANT, have released an album that’s better in every department compared to their debut album. Ultra Soul is everything you want, fully deserve and could possibly wish for an Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal album that will no doubt go down a storm within the underground community and allow LORD ELEPHANT the opportunity to play on some of the most prestigious FESTIVAL slots within the scene.

Mind-blowing. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Ultra Soul is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Holy Slumber - Holy Slumber (Single Release)

Release Date: December 23rd 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Holy Slumber - Tracklisting

1.Holy Slumber 03:39

2.Where Demons Crawl 04:43

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Holy Slumber release their self-titled debut single and it’s a glorious mix of Doom, Stoner and Heavy Metal with the band firing on all cylinders from the very start. The song has a certain CLASSIC HARD ROCK approach which soon moves into areas of pure HEAVY METAL EXCESS. It’s not the most original of sounds but Holy Slumber creates some fantastic grooves inspired by the likes of SAINT VITUS and The Obsessed with a dash of NWOBHM outlandish melodies holding everything together.

Holy Slumber really finds their own identity on the excellent and standout bonus track Where Demons Crawl as they opt for a heavier and more thrilling OCCULT sound. The whole mood is quite seedy, violent and brilliantly over the top. The vocals are great to hear which only fully sells the OCCULT ROCK and DOOM METAL energy of the whole release. Sure, everything becomes way OVER THE TOP but the grooves are intense and deliver with real passion.

The production values offer a “LESS IS MORE” approach with Holy Slumber showcasing a great band to check out from the excellent Philippines Underground Heavy Metal scene. I would have loved to hear a couple of more tracks to see how HOLY SLUMBER develop their music within a longer release but maybe within their next release as I’m genuinely interested to hear what the guys will release next.

Check this out. As this is a great release from a band who deserve some much notice within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

BandCamp