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.
​
​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

Indica Blues - Universal Heat Death (Album Review)

 

Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: CD/DD

Universal Heat Death - Tracklisting

1. Universal Heat Death
2. The Raven
3. Bloodsands Pt I
4. The Slow Descent into Hell
5. Debt Ridden Blues
6. Bloodsands Pt II
7. So Low

Members

Tom Pilsworth – Guitar, Vocals

Lewis Batten – Guitar

Andrew Haines-Villalta – Bass

Rich Walker – Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Indica Blues return after a five year absence with their new album Universal Heat Death and they’ve gone under a major transformation with their music. As they play a darker, heavier and progressive style of music compared to their previous records. There’s a more moodier atmosphere which draws a stunning SLEEP and HOWLING GIANT energy to their music. Last time round they were more closely associated with the likes of FU MANCHU and KYUSS which is still intact here but Indica Blues are quite adept at drawing up sonic passages fuelled by Sludge, Grunge and Post-Doom aggression which you can feel very early on within the opening tracks of Universal Heat Death and The Raven.

The music has a certain DOOM & GLOOM energy with a bleak stripped down atmosphere being played against Tom Pilsworth vocals. The band are joined by a new guitarist Lewis Batten for this release and he brings a different style of music on this record with a sullen and moody performance which adds to the nightmarish Blues Rock sound that cautiously develops on tracks such as Bloodsands Pt 1 and The Slow Descents Into Hell. With a gloomy message being contained within the whole album it’s good to hear Indica Blues developing a thrilling and distorted style of Heavy Psych and Post-Stoner energy which gives another level of heaviness to the record.

It can be wickedly dark and quite deceiving with the deft touches of Cinematic Rock appearing which transforms into a classic aura of Desert Rock, Fuzz and Stoner Metal with the excellent rhythm section of Rich Walker (Drums) and Andrew Haines-Villalta (Bass) once again combining forces for a wholly destructive mission.

The shift to Post-Metal dynamics was another great surprise with Indica Blues that reminded me of heavier artists in places but one that doesn't sacrifice their STONED OUT identity. However, when you have a record touching upon themes of war and revenge which perfectly matches the FUCKED UP feeling currently going on in the world then you can expect moments of darkness from time-to-time.

The final two tracks of Bloodsands Pt II and So Low is where the most hard-hitting, heaviest and socially aware messages appear with Indica Blues leaning heavily into the Post-Whatever environment the record beautifully contains with extended landscapes and trippy soundscapes you can’t but help lose yourself in. 

Indica Blues have transformed into real storytellers with Universal Heat Death with the album offering a record with a cautionary musical vision whilst delivering some epic Doomed Out Stoner Metal grooves of the highest order. This is a sublime and superbly produced album throughout that’s topped off by a first rate musical performance from everyone involved.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Universal Heat Death is available to buy now on CD/DD via Majestic Mountain Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Doom/Stoner Metallers WITCH RIPPER unveil video single 'The Portal' & details of forthcoming new album "Through the Hourglass"

WITCH RIPPER are back and so is the dark story these US metal innovators present to all those ready to listen. Their new music video 'The Portal' offers a glimpse of a sinister cult and serves as the first advance single from their forthcoming third album "Through the Hourglass", which will be revealed on April 10, 2026.

WITCH RIPPER comment on 'The Portal': "We really wanted to set the tone of Through the Hourglass with a bang", vocalist and guitarist Curtis Parker writes. "A pummeling drum intro, knuckle-dragger riffs and highlighting more evil melodies on the guitar. 'The Portal' kicks off an album with darker themes of loss, confusion, and dread while maintaining our love of big hooks and catchy riffs. Our story's main character asks: 'What have I woken up to?' – and we're all about to find out!"

Tracklist

1. Odyssey in Retrograde
2. The Portal
3. Symmetry of the Hourglass
4. Echoes and Dust
5. The Clock Queen
6. Proxima Centuari
7. The Spiral Eye

On their third full-length, "Through the Hourglass", WITCH RIPPER unleash the full potential of their stunning ability to deliver captivating melodies, catchy riffs, and merciless hooks in sheer droves.

The US metal band perfectly combines melodic heaviness with pinches of progressive, sludge, and other styles with seeming ease. WITCH RIPPER can be generally located within the wider sonic realm that is inhabited by MASTODON, BARONESS, and HIGH ON FIRE, yet they also continue to channel the rock bombast of QUEEN and DAVID BOWIE as well as the modern prog of COHEED AND CAMBRIA and MUSE.

While WITCH RIPPER's songwriting has climbed to a new peak, they continue with their loving pastiche of the legendary pulp science fiction stories of old. "Through the Hourglass" extends the story that began on their sophomore full-length, "The Flight after the Fall" (2023), in which the central character's search for peace in death by flying into a black hole proved futile. As "Through the Hourglass" begins, he awakens to a world without time and a familiar dark presence from his past...

Conceived in 2012 in the city of grey skies, lush vegetation and loud rock, Seattle, Washington's WITCH RIPPER garnered critical acclaim and a strong buzz in the underground scene with their sludgy self-titled EP (2012) and debut full-length "Homestead" (2018). The second album, "The Flight after the Fall", made the band's name on a global scale, as the band dramatically expanded the range of their sound in ways both catchy and progressive.

On stage, WITCH RIPPER have performed alongside heavy rock outfits such as MONOLORD, CONAN, and CASTLE RAT as well as modern metal acts including SLIPKNOT, GOJIRA, and KHEMMIS among many others.

WITCH RIPPER are already at work planning for tour across the United States once more and hope for a first voyage to Europe in support of releasing "Through the Hourglass". Metal is anything but dead, and this album is living proof of its vibrant present.

P.S.: Music aficionados will find a revelation hiding in the key of each song.

Line-up

Chad Fox – guitar, vocals
Brian Kim – bass, vocals
Curtis Parker – guitar, vocals
Joe Eck – drums

Guest musician

Irene Barber – vocals on 'The Spiral Eye'

Recording by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho & EXES Audio, Seattle, WA (US)
Mix by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho, Seattle, WA (US)
Mastering by Brad Boatright at Audio Siege Studios, Portland, OR (US)

Cover art by Chris Panatier
Layout by Łukasz Jaszak

Links

www.facebook.com/witchripper
www.instagram.com/witch_ripper

Shop

https://spkr.store/collections/witch-ripper

Available formats

"Through the Hourglass" is available as a ltd. splatter transparent yellow & black vinyl LP, and as Digi-sleeve CD.

Thanks to All Noir PR and Magnetic Eye Records for the details.