Doom/Sludge Metallers BORN OF PLAGUES Release New Song SILVER LIGHT From Upcoming New Album

Playing a brand of chaotic, cathartic death-doom that is at once familiar and all their own, Born of Plagues is a four-piece metal band focused more on crushing heaviness than genre conventions. This group of Baltimore punk/hardcore/doom veterans has pedigree across scenes and styles and doesn’t back away from letting any of their influences bleed through, as long as the result is brash and heavy.

ABOUT THE ALBUM:

Written over a nearly five-year period, “Dead Endings” is a collection of complaints and commiserations that takes aim at social ills and personal woes through a lens of gothic horror and unrepentant riffage. Melding influences from Winter and Hooded Menace to Black Sabbath and Motörhead into a mix of dirge-like plodding, breakneck thrashing, and classic metallic grooves, this brute of an album never sits still for long. Its eight tracks and 55-minute runtime will feed your need for all things heavy and leave you eager for more.

WHAT'S NEXT:

Born of Plagues continues writing new songs, with plans for another full length in the next year or two. The band has several fall/winter shows planned, including the “Dead Endings” release show in Baltimore in Nov/Dec. In addition, they are in the process of booking a summer 2026 tour, focused on the US east coast.

You can hear their blistering new single Silver Light from their upcoming new album.

Born of Plagues - Dead Endings

Album out November 21st, 2025
Self-released (Digital)
Baltimore, Maryland, US

Tracklist:

1. Mausoleums (9:10)
2. Silver Light (5:32)
3. Inheritance (8:05)
4. Tithe (6:50)
5. Within The Mist (1:52)
6. What Dreadful Music (7:44)
7. Of Wisdom And War (7:18)
8. Angels On Fire (7:39)

Born of Plagues is:

Austin Lunn - guitars, vocal
Mike Knauer - guitars
Tim Sheils - bass
Matt Maben - drums

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Good Boy PR for all of the details.

Doom voyagers Vast Pyre reveal full album details for Bleak

Germany’s heaviest travelers into the abyss, VAST PYRE, are set to release their second full-length album, Bleak, on November 28th, 2025 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records, available in CD, colored vinyl, cassette tape and digital formats.

Following their acclaimed 2024 self-titled debut, Bleak marks a monumental evolution in the band’s sonic voyage, darker, heavier and more immersive than ever before. Drawing inspiration from the crushing weight of Conan, the hypnotic haze of Electric Wizard, the colossal density of Slomatics, the droning minimalism of Sunn O))), and the twisted spirit of '70s psychedelia, Bleak pushes the boundaries of modern doom into realms both oppressive and transcendent.

The band says:

"Will the shallow rise with blood? What lies beneath? Azure landscapes exhale the agonies of spirit and flesh, as we float towards the vast abyss of undying nothingness. There, where our senses deceive us, a story waits to be told:

Vibrations mimicking earthquakes bury your well-being in a daze of pulsating eardrums.

A lost soul torn out from its cozy inner cosmos, battles with demons from the outside; visits unthinkable places.

An amplified wall of terror meets the surreal weaponry of battering drums.

Psychedelic chants that lure you from one geyser to another.

Accompany a journey of suffering, of unclarity, of despair. We remain in boiling heat and instinct. We remain BLEAK"

The first and only single “Tenebrosity’s Path” is already out, offering a foreboding glimpse into the void that defines the album. The track is a slow-burning ritual drenched in suffocating atmosphere and unrelenting heaviness.

Listen to “Tenebrosity’s Path” below:

Tracklist – Bleak

Begotten – 11:15
Tenebrosity’s Path – 9:26

Beneath the Surface – 3:53
The Untold – 9:09
Perdition Fatal – 9:46

Total runtime: 43:27

A sonic descent into desolation, Bleak embodies Vast Pyre’s uncompromising vision, minimalist yet monumental, meditative yet punishing. This is doom from beyond, where distortion becomes mantra and time dissolves into the void.

Pre-order link coming soon, stay tuned

Links

https://www.facebook.com/vast.pyre
https://vastpyre.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

Thanks to Grands Sounds Promotion for the details.

A Glimpse Into the Void – MAHA SOHONA Announce A DARK PLACE | Stream New Single ‘VISIONS’

Swedish heavy psych explorers Maha Sohona emerge from the void with ‘Visions’, the first single from their upcoming full-length album A Dark Place, out this November on Bonebag Records.

Across six immersive tracks, A Dark Place channels northern melancholy, desert heaviness, and celestial calm into a sonic journey that will resonate with fans of Elder, Tool, and Alice In Chains. The record finds Maha Sohona expanding their signature blend of stoner, space rock, and heavy psych into bold new territories, merging crushing riffs with hypnotic grooves and vast melodic horizons.

From the northern lights of Umeå, Sweden, Maha Sohona crafts heavy, organic rock laced with psychedelic undertones and cinematic depth and ‘Visions’ encapsulates this evolution. A track both weighty and refined, drenched in cosmic atmosphere and guided by haunting clarity. It marks a new chapter for the Umeå-based trio, whose sound continues to bridge the earthly and the otherworldly.

Known for their dynamic live performances and atmospheric soundscapes, the trio blurs the line between fuzz-driven power and meditative calm. Originally formed in 2012, their self-titled debut was released in 2014 (Nasoni Records) and quietly helped them build a global cult following – particularly following the release of the song ‘Asteroids’, which to date has amassed over half a million Spotify streams.

After a seven-year hiatus, they resurfaced in 2021 with Endless Searcher (Made Of Stone Recordings), which was celebrated for its melodic depth and expansive scope. Since then, the band has completed two European tours, a Greek tour, and made appearances at major festivals including Krökbacken (Sweden) and DesertFest (London).

Maha Sohona’s new single ‘Visions’ is released on 17th October on all major streaming platforms with their album, A Dark Place, following on 21st November via Bonebag Records | Pre-order here

Maha Sohona

Johan Bernhardtson – Guitar, Vocals
Thomas Hedlund – Bass
Erik Andersson – Drums

Album Details

Album: A Dark Place
Artist: Maha Sohona
Release Date: 21/11/2025
Label: Bonebag Records

Formats: Digital/Vinyl

Links

Maha Sohona on Bandcamp | Spotify | Website | Instagram | Facebook
Bonebag Records on Facebook | Instagram | Web

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the details.

Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS sign deal with Magnetic Eye Records

Photo by Dylon Parr

Australian psychedelic stoner doom outfit JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS have signed a multi-album deal with Magnetic Eye Records. The exceptional and unique four-piece from Melbourne, Victoria will release their upcoming fourth full-length via the label early next year.

JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS comment: "We are beyond excited to be jumping on board with Magnetic Eye Records", vocalist and guitarist Tim Coutts-Smith enthuses on behalf of the band. "I discovered the label after buying the 'Electric Ladyland Redux' over a decade ago. and was blown away by how well all the featured bands interpreted Hendrix' sound. I began collecting more of their Redux albums, and never in a million years did I think that our band would ever be featured on one of those tribute compilations, let alone end up signing to the label that releases these beauties! Unreal!"

Jadd Shickler adds: "Jack Harlon's first album 'Hymns' caught my attention immediately for its unique blend of fuzzed-out stoner rock and pummeling doom with this twanging Morricone-esque swerve into old western scores," the Magnetic Eye director explains. "I cannot say, if their music really is the soundtrack of the Australian outback or if I've just made this up in my head because of where they're from. But either way, there's an exotic quality to how they approach massive riffs and dreamy psych, which to me sounds like a blend of Afghan Whigs and Monster Magnet with Church of Misery and Nick Cave. I've already had the pleasure to work with them on a couple of one-off projects, so welcoming them fully onto the Magnetic Eye roster alongside their regular tour-mates Greenleaf is something I've been anxiously pursuing for some time. I can hardly wait to share and elevate their music to every nook and cranny of our beloved scene!"

Quite often, music is thought to be influenced by the terroir from which it originates, much like wine. According to this theory, Norwegian black metal has been shaped by deep dark fjords and frostbitten winters, while desert rock just had to be developed in the Mojave or another arid place. What to make, then, of a band hailing from Melbourne, Victoria at the south-eastern tip of Australia?

Ruling out Tasmania, Antarctica, and the Outback as too far away to constitute a direct influence, it is not easy to fit the unique sound of JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS into this premise. Well, for the sake of a narrative, their eclectic style that explores a wide range of genres and incorporates elements of blues, stoner rock, lo-fi fuzz, spaghetti western scores, and doom metal could be interpreted as a reflection of the city's high level of diversity with many of its inhabitants originating from elsewhere on the globe.

Leaving speculation aside, it is an established fact that JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS started out as a side project by singer Tim Coutts-Smith around the year 2015. Over time, the band developed into a full-fledged performing act.

Since day one, Coutts-Smith centered his lyrics and themes around a fictional western outlaw named Jack Harlon. He would often begin writing about real people and events, before turning them into characters and stories in a science fiction themed western landscape.

JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS are known for their 'DIY' approach as they have produced most of their albums and visual art internally. As a live act, the band has mostly toured and performed in Australia including sharing stages with international acts such as GREENLEAF, SASQUATCH, WO FAT, and WHORES.

So far, JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS have released a self-titled debut EP in 2016, followed by three critically acclaimed albums and continuously growing recognition within the heavy underground: "Hymns" (2018), "The Magnetic Ridge" (2021), and "Hail to the Underground: Interpretations" (2023). The band also appeared on Magnetic Eye Records' "Superunknown Redux" tribute to Soundgarden with their fuzzed-out, hallucinatory rendition of deep cut 'Kickstand'.

JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS are currently preparing to release their new fourth album via Magnetic Eye Records in early 2026.

Band: Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows
Label: Magnetic Eye Records
Style: Psychedelic Stoner Doom

Line-up

Tim Coutts-Smith – vocals, guitar
Jordan Richardson – guitar
Brayden Becher – drums
Liam Barry – bass

Live

18 OCT 2025 Melbourne (AU) Stay Gold
15 NOV 2025 Melbourne (AU) The Evelyn
06 DEC 2025 Melbourne (AU) Cactus Room

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

 

 Thanks to Magnetic Eye Records for all of the details.

Space Witch - Mountains Of Neptune (Album Review)

Release Date: October 31st 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Mountains Of Neptune - Tracklisting

Mountains Of Neptune

Members

Daz Rowlands - guitar, FX

Matt Bowyer - drums

Tomas Cairn - bass guitar

Review

Cult underground Doom/Stoner Metallers SPACE WITCH return after a lengthy eight year absence with their latest album Mountains Of Neptune. The band have regrouped as a mighty POWER TRIO with Matt Bowyer now behind the drums. Daz Rowlands (Guitar/FX) and Tomas Cairn (Bass) are still here with SPACE WITCH transforming into a gloomy Instrumental Metal band for their new album. This record is a COSMIC DOOM/SPACE METAL album in my mind but Daz stated recently it’s a HORROR SPACE METAL album.

The record perhaps pays homage to the likes of the ALIEN franchise and EVENT HORIZON. The amazing artwork fully sets the scene, tone and direction of the record. The artwork is designed by the infamous Stephanie Cantu aka COSMIC EVE who puts herself into the centre of the gloomy and spaced out surroundings of an unknown HORROR that awaits you within the whole creative storyline that SPACE WITCH have superbly drawn up.

I was sceptical about the lack of vocals but SPACE WITCH has transformed into INSTRUMENTAL MASTERS with this album. The album is made up of one lengthy thirty eight minute track that does feel it’s made up of individual chapters each telling a different piece of the story and narrative for this sludgy and F/X heavy ride into the COSMIC unknown.

The effects and trippy noises have a classic Science Fiction element to them with the music being a mixture of long drawn out soundscapes and fast-paced sonic warfare based grooves. Elements of Doom, Sludge, Drone, Psych, Ambient, Stoner and Post-Metal vibes ultimately make their mark with SPACE WITCH drawing upon influences such as ZOROASTER, PELICAN, SLEEP and other great bands from the WEEDIAN scene. Though, SPACE WITCH also draws upon the likes of John Carpenter and Goblin in places. Perhaps not the style of music they're known for but how to keep the audience captivated with a soundtrack level of storytelling throughout the whole album.

Distorted guitar tones and an abstract rhythm section feel like they’re battling unseen forces with some uncompromising moments of down-tuned screeching guitars and bombastic psychedelic effects. Mountains Of Neptune captures a seedy slice of Seventies Horror and Science Fiction which you don’t really experience that much unless by the likes of CLOUDS TASTE SATANIC and BONGRIPPER but SPACE WITCH offers a more cerebral and gritty style. There are a multitude of different sounding riff-centric passages which allows the Ambient and Psychedelic melodies to become more GLOOM & DOOM which fully take over within the final third of the album.

Mountains Of Neptune ends on a triumphant finish with the COSMIC DOOM and SPACE HORROR themes being hammered home convincingly which allows this to be one of the most understated, technically impressive and brilliantly entertaining instrumental records of the year. Dare I say this is without doubt my favourite album from SPACE WITCH yet. And if SPACE WITCH decides to stay as a fully fledged instrumental metal band for future records then they’ll have no complaints from me.

Words by Steve Howe

Mountains Of Neptune will be available for free download on October 31st 2025 from spacewitch.bandcamp.com and on all major streaming platforms. 

This will also be available to buy on limited edition vinyl.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Hardcore Punk/Sludge Metallers PARK+RIOT Release New Video For THE END And Announce UK/German Tour Dates

PARK+RIOT presents the second video from the band's intense live recording session, which was recorded at HoboRec Studios earlier this year. Watch the video for the track ‘The End’ by the MATHCORE/SLUDGE band from Leipzig HERE and share it. Tour dates for the UK and Germany announced!

 

Comments the band: "The track weaves together post-metal textures, spoken word, and black metal influences, revealing a more introspective side of the band. Lyrically, it confronts the emotional cost of staying engaged in a world that rewards apathy."

Park+Riot Share Live Session for "The End". To celebrate the first anniversary of their debut album Wise Words From Well-Fed Mouths, Leipzig’s sludge/mathcore duo Park+Riot have unveiled a live session of their track “The End” — recorded in collaboration with producer Ulf Blomberg (HoboRec).

A departure from Park+Riot's high-energy and chaotic mathcore sound, “The End” dives into darker, more atmospheric territory.

Fittingly the session was captured at The End Studios in Sweden, with Blomberg bringing out the band’s dynamic depth and sonic tension — all created with just two instruments and voices.

UK Dates:

Tues 21 Oct – Oxford | The Wheatsheaf
Wed 22 Oct – Bristol | The Gryphon
Fri 24 Oct – Bournemouth | Anvil
Sat 25 Oct – London | The Dev

German Dates:

14.11.2025 Eberswalde | Exil
15.11.2025 Winterthur | Gisi
16.11.2025 TBA
17.11.2025 Bamberg | Live Club
18.11.2025 Osnabrück | K.A.F.F.
19.11.2025 Köln | Sonic Ballroom
20.11.2025 Oberhausen | Druckluft
21.11.2025 Dannenberg | Raum2
22.11.2025 Kiel | Schaubude

In case you missed it: Watch the First VIdeo for the Track "Lungs Out" From the same Hobo-Rec Live Recording Session Earlier via INVISIBLE ORANGES RIGHT HERE.

"Interspersing bitter melodies and surprisingly intricate vocals with loud, crashing noise and screams, the album whips up a furious storm of discontent." Invisible Oranges

Debut Full-Length "Wise Words From Well-Fed Mouths" Released via THIS CHARMING MAN RECORDS. Make Sure to Check Out This Amazing Duo.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to CZ Promotions for the details.

BEASTWARS - The Ship // The Sea (Album Review)

Release Date: November 07th 2025. Record Label: Destroy Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

The Ship // The Sea - Tracklisting

1. We Don't Say Fear

2. Guardian Of Fear

3. Levitate

4. The Storm

5. Rust

6. Blood Will Flow

7. The Howling

8. You Know They're Burning The Land

9. The Devil

10. Lights Lead The Way

Members

Matt Hyde - vocals

Christian Pearce - guitars

James Woods - bass guitar

Nathan Hickey – drums

Review

Beastwars from Wellington, New Zealand, have been around since 2007. During this time they have amassed 5 full-lengths, 1 live album, 5 singles and a split and now they are back with opus 6, 'The Ship// The Sea'. Already a force to be reckoned with from the very beginning Beastwars have transitioned so perfectly and seamlessly throughout the years which leads to their latest creation.

On this brilliant recording the music weaves back and forth between tempos, mainly mid to slowish all while steamrolling the listeners throughout all the songs. What this allows is for the songs to go in circles creating perfect individual stories as well as keeping them cohesive and simply one of a kind.

'We Don't Say Fear' is an unrelenting lead-heavy beast which represents the album wholly as does the intense and hypnotic crusher 'The Howling'. Other standout compositions are the captivating annihilator 'The Storm', the unforgiving 'You Know They're Burning The Land' and the mercilessly slow and heavy 'The Devil'. And let's not forget 'Levitate' which comes across as early-days Killing Joke playing stoned heavy-ass sludge...brilliant!

Beastwars never disappoint with 'The Ship// The Sea' being a perfect example of. They go from strength to strength with each new release making them a band that stands above the rest. Not budging in what they're doing and believe in while always going their own way is the way to go when creating ever-lasting brilliant music!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Sheltered Life for the promo.

The Ship // The Sea is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl from www.beastwarsband.com

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Twitter