Thursday, 7 August 2025

Thorndale - Spiritual Chains (EP Review)

Release Date: September 12th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Spiritual Chains - Tracklisting


1 - Veins of the Phoenix

2 - Battles Fought in Vain

3 - Gods of Pain

4 - Twenty Thousand Souls

5 - Spiritual Chains

6 - Exiles and Masters


Members


Gustavo Valderrama - Vocals

Peter Shannon - Guitars

Maarten Jungschläger - Guitars

Zigor Munoz - Bass


Guest musician: Rob Stone - Drums


Review


Doom/Stoner Metallers Thorndale latest EP Spiritual Chains focuses primarily within the boundaries of modern day Doom/Stoner Metal but that doesn’t stop the band playing areas of Grunge, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal and Speed Metal. The EP is full of groove laden meldoies and subtle NOLA based vocals that should appeal to fans such as DOWN, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and CROWBAR with the odd appearance of Soundgarden and Motorhead at times.


Spiritual Chains doesn’t waste a single second or opportunity for Thorndale showing a riff-fuelled musical adventure where the trappings of Progressive attitudes are kept to a minimum which comes across the opening tracks of Veins Of The Phoenix, Battles Thought In Vain and Gods Of Pain. With a subtle charge of METALLICA thrash based grooves that are never in short supply, Thorndale keeps the atmosphere dominated by classic fast paced guitars and melodic vocals that show the right amount of depth and aggression when the heavier parts appear. 


The switching of psychedelic surroundings allows Thorndale to become part of the vibrant underground scene before venturing straight back to the old school of Classic Heavy Metal which is quite refreshing change of pace at times. The second half of the EP perhaps leans into NOLA and Groove Metal with the lyrics being defined by a certain Doom Metal swagger. The second batch of tracks that Thorndale power through are equally as impressive as the first half with Twenty Thousand Souls and Spiritual Chains being the standout moments with sludgy rhythms and screeching guitars have an ethereal Classic Hard Rock attitude.


The EP isn’t perhaps the most original sounding currently out there but what Thorndale do brilliantly well is amplify that great sound and give it a heavy DOOMED OUT makeover with aggressive Stoner Metal melodies that make a massive and mighty impression where I’m hopeful the next release is a longer record. As twenty two minutes isn’t enough time to spend with this great band.


Excellent and Highly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Clawhammer PR for the promo.


Links


Official | BandCamp


Spaceship Landing: A Tribute to KYUSS – Release Date and Cover Art Unveiled


A Global Homage to the Godfathers of Desert Rock

The legacy of KYUSS – the pioneers of desert rock and the spiritual fathers of stoner metal – echoes endlessly across generations and continents. Now, over two decades after their final ride into the sonic sunset, a legion of underground bands unites to pay respect in a massive, fuzz-drenched tribute.

“Spaceship Landing: A Tribute to KYUSS” will be released October 31, 2025 by Witching Buzz and features 21 bands from across the globe, each offering a thunderous reimagining of a KYUSS classic. This is not just a tribute – it’s a worldwide celebration of riff worship, sand-blasted psych, and raw desert energy. Due to licensing restrictions, the release will be available on all major digital platforms in the USA only, while Bandcamp will offer worldwide access.

Full Tracklist:

Amammoth (Australia) – Son of a Bitch
Mörkekraft (Norway) – Writhe
Sonic Wolves (Italy) – Thumb
Rhino (Italy) – Green Machine
Gurnslinger (Jersey) – Molten Universe
Void Cruiser (Finland) – 50 Million Year Trip (Downside Up)
King Howl (Italy) – Freedom Run
Rainbow Bridge (Italy) – Apothecaries’ Weight
Robots of the Ancient World (USA) – Gardenia
Fuzz Evil (USA) – Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop
3 Wheeler Band (Mexico) – 100°
DoctoR DooM (France) – Space Cadet
Poste 942 (France) – Demon Cleaner
ISAAK (Italy) – Odyssey
Folwark (Italy) – Whitewater
Abel Bl
ood (USA) – Caterpillar March
Epic Down (Germany) – Hurricane
Loose Sutures (Italy) – One Inch Man
Wet Cactus (Spain) – Phototropic
Wolfnaut (Norway) – El Rodeo
Mercure (France) – Size Queen

Cover art by Captain Maoos: Stoner & Co.

Be sure to follow our Bandcamp page to get notified the moment the release drops!

With each band offering their own sonic twist while honoring the spirit of KYUSS, Spaceship Landing is a must-listen for desert dwellers, fuzz fanatics, and anyone who’s ever felt the low-end rumble of the California sandstorms in their soul.

Raise your amps. Board the spaceship. KYUSS lives.

https://www.facebook.com/witchingbuzz
https://witchingbuzz.bandcamp.com/


Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.

Fuzz/Stoner Rockers DUNE AURORA Unveil First Single and Video "Sunless Queen" from Upcoming Debut Album

band pic. courtesy of Luca Maccario

Italian fuzz-heavy rockers DUNE AURORA have released their brand new single and official video, "Sunless Queen", offering the first taste of their highly anticipated debut full-length, due out this Fall via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records.

The track and its haunting visual companion dive deep into the band’s sonic core: slow-paced heaviness, hypnotic atmospheres and monolithic riffing. Speaking about the new single, the band states:

"Sunless Queen is a slow, cadenced song with dark atmospheres that has a monolithic presence in our album, thanks to its rhythmic pattern and repetitive riffs. The song depicts a queen who reigns in her own golden age and relates to a being whose presence darkens the sun, a demon she must embrace in order to be reborn. We think this single captures the essence of the sound of our first upcoming album. We are thrilled to present it today with Octopus Rising/Argonauta Records and share it with you."

The release follows the band’s critically noted trajectory, which began with their debut EP Lonely Town in 2022 and continued through a trilogy of standalone singles (Solar Reward, Sail, and Fire) each supported by distinctive music videos that helped define DUNE AURORA’s strong visual and artistic identity.

A key element in the sonic impact of Sunless Queen, and the entire upcoming album, is the mastering by legendary engineer James Plotkin, known for his work with groundbreaking acts such as ISIS, Pelican and Earth. Plotkin’s signature mastering gives the song an immersive and massive depth, perfectly complementing the band’s fuzz-laden intensity.

Based in Turin, Italy, DUNE AURORA currently features Ginny Wagon (vocals, guitar), Serena Bodratto (drums) and Roberta Finiguerra (bass). Their sound merges raw power and emotional weight, blending fuzzy riffs with dark, introspective moods.

A year after joining the Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records roster, the band is now set to unveil the next chapter in their evolution.

Watch the official music video for "Sunless Queen" now: 



Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.

US Godfather Of Doom Scott "Wino" Weinrich to release new solo album "Create Or Die" on October 24th via Ripple Music; first single available!


US doom and heavy metal icon Scott "Wino" Weinrich — the voice of The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, and Spirit Caravan — rises again with his fiercely anticipated fourth solo album "Create Or Die" this October 24th via Ripple Music, and unleashes the first single "New Terms" today.

"When a friend ended a letter to me with the phrase ‘Create Or Die’, I realized that simple slogan summed up my philosophy completely. Whether it’s making music or art, that’s what I do. It’s what I live for."

Embrace the haunting Celtic vibe of new single New Terms 

Legendary doom metal icon Scott "Wino" Weinrich (The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan) strips it down to the raw essence on his new solo album. What began as an intimate, unplugged journey soon demanded the fiery pulse of drums and electric guitars, resulting in a powerful blend of haunting introspection and unshakable conviction.

These songs are personal, passionate commentaries on life, delivered with Wino’s signature grit and soul. Featuring contributions from close friends and the unwavering support of Ripple Music, this album is a testament to the creed he’s lived by: create or die. He says: "There are songs on this record that are old and new, as sometimes I carry song ideas around for years before I can call them finished. For others, when concept, music, and lyrics come together right then and there, that's what I call the divine inspiration."

About the first single "New Terms", Wino comments: "In my head, I had always heard the Irish bodhrán drum — a traditional instrument I love — on this tune. I mentioned this to my engineer and friend Frank Marchand. It turns out that for years, Frank had been the sound engineer for the enormously successful traditional yet modern Irish folk band We Banjo Three. He suggested sending the track to them and having the brothers lay down the drum and a traditional Irish banjo. They were glad to do it, dug the song, and here it is. I want to thank Frank Marchand, Fergal Scahill, and Enda Scahill for making this song shine!"

"Create Or Die" was produced and engineered by Franck Marchand and Wino. Mastered by Alan Douches. It will be issued on vinyl, CD and digital formats on October 24th, with preorders available now via Ripple Music.

WINO "Create Or Die" - Out October 24th on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital) - PREORDER


Wino formed his first band The Obsessed in 1978, starting the reign of “heavy and slow” decades before doom grew into a flourishing worldwide genre unto itself. A few years later, he moved to California to join Saint Vitus, with whom he released the seminal ‘Born Too Late’ (1986), one of the most powerful statements in doom’s early history, with Wino’s raspy, heartfelt and punk-charged vocals booming loudly above the crowd of howling, gimmicky Ozzy copycats.

Following a reformation of The Obsessed and a brief major-label flirtation in the early 90s, which included a piledriving update of Black Sabbath's "The Wizard" alongside Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Rob Halford, Wino formed yet another influential outfit, Spirit Caravan. The new band fused his trademark sludgy churn with an increased soulfulness, beginning to lay the groundwork for his eventual exploration of acoustic and expansive songwriting. During this time, Dave Grohl also invited Wino to join his all-star Probot project alongside Lemmy Kilmister, King Diamond, Max Cavalera and other notables.

Numerous world tours with his various bands later, the creative source remained inexhaustible as Wino embarked on a new direction with the release of his solo debut, ‘Punctuated Equilibrium’, quickly followed by a second solo LP ‘Adrift’ in 2010, a series of collaborations with German folk songwriter Conny Ochs, and ‘Forever Gone’ in 2020. Wino embarked on extensive European and North American tours as a solo act, continuing to maintain his thriving solo output even with the arrival of a much-heralded and welcomed re-constitution of The Obsessed formed for the third time in 2017. The Obsessed, now a 4-piece, have toured extensively since 2020, and released their latest studio album “Gilded Sorrow” to great acclaim in 2023 on Ripple Music.

Today, Wino is respected over the world as the godfather of doom and one of underground heavy music’s most revered lifers. Worldwide festivals like Roadburn, Hellfest, Psycho Las Vegas, Desertfest, Maryland Deathfest, Rock Hard Fest, Monolith On The Mesa and countless others keep inviting Wino back through his various sonic incarnations year after year.

Scott "Wino" Weinrich links

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Ripple Music links



Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

Tuesday, 5 August 2025

Psych Stoner Rockers HOWLING GIANT release first new single 'Canyons' & and details of forthcoming album "Crucible & Ruin"


HOWLING GIANT drop the gloriously catchy 'Canyons' from the cosmic stoner metal trio's forthcoming album "Crucible & Ruin". The third full-length by the Nashville, Tennessee band is scheduled for release on October 31, 2025, via Magnetic Eye Records.

Listen to 'Canyons' here:


HOWLING GIANT comment: "Our new album's opening track 'Canyons' is a fast paced exploration of a planet abandoned by its celestial origin", guitarist and singer Tom Polzine writes. "To me, this song feels like a transforming adventure unfolding with each riff, from high gain rhythmic passages to the shimmering acoustic outro. We're so stoked to show you guys this first glimpse of our new record, and 'Canyons' is in many ways the perfect gateway to all the ideas and concepts that live within 'Crucible & Ruin'."



Tracklist

01. Canyons
02. Hunter's Mark
03. Archon
04. Lesser Gods
05. Beholder I: Downfall
06. Archivist
07. Scepter and Scythe
08. Melchor's Bones
09. The Observatory
10. Beholder II: Labyrinth

HOWLING GIANT take another huge step on their third full-length "Crucible & Ruin", a collection of sparking ideas, captivating melodies, and heavy riffing close to perfection - quite a feat of on-point songwriting for such a still young band!

This is the band's first album to feature new fourth member Adrian Lee Zambrano. Although the guitarist and synth player arrived somewhat toward the end of the writing process, he was still able to add his mark with cool textures on the record. The extra guitar certainly adds even more punch to HOWLING GIANT's sound, which delivers a slightly more aggressive approach compared with predecessor "Glass Future" (2023).

It also helped the overall feel of "Crucible & Ruin" that this is the band's first album to be entirely recorded in a proper studio setting as opposed to their home studio, "the bunker". HOWLING GIANT even leaned into some raw band live takes to capture the emotion in the room.

Lyrically, "Crucible & Ruin" explores the story of the clash of a novice deity against the forces of primordial chaos as an overarching theme that loosely connects the songs. This is also reflected in the album artwork, which was painted by the mother of guitarist and vocalist Tom Polzine, featuring a unique style of alcohol ink on yupo paper.

HOWLING GIANT hail from Nashville, Tennessee, USA, sidestepping the self-proclaimed Music City's assembly line of modern pop country while taking inspiration from the brilliant songwriters and virtuoso session players that keep the town's musical legacy burning bright. Fertile ground for a preeminent fuzz-psych power trio, now turned quartet, who consciously live in the pocket of that lineage!

Following a trilogy of EPs, "Howling Giant" (2015), "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 1" (2016), and "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2" (2017), HOWLING GIANT struck a chord with critics and fans on their debut full-length "The Space between Worlds" in 2019. "Glass Future" proved a gargantuan leap for the band that now featured Sebastian Baltes, son of legendary ACCEPT bass master Peter Baltes. Released in 2023, "Glass Future" brought their outstanding musicianship and triple vocal attack fully into stride.

HOWLING GIANT storm forward once more in defiant refusal to remain still. Having grown into a four-piece as well as in their prowess as musicians and songwriters, "Crucible & Ruin" is an album at least as big as their name. Don't take our word for it, just give it a spin – or two or three...


Line-up

Tom Polzine – guitar, vocals
Zach Wheeler – drums, vocals
Sebastian Baltes – bass, vocals
Adrian Lee Zambrano – guitars, synthesizers

Guest musicians

Kim Wheeler – additional synths and EWI on 'The Observatory'
Adam Nohe – additional percussion on 'Beholder I: Downfall'

Produced by Neil Tuuri, Kim Wheeler, and James Sanderson
Engineered by Neil Tuuri at Amish Electric Chair Studios, Athens, OH (US)
Additional vocal tracking by Kim Wheeler in Nashville, TN (US)
Mixed by Neil Tuuri at Amish Electric Chair Studios, Athens, OH (US)
Mastering by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Mastering, Portland, OR (US)

Artwork by Susan M. Davies
Layout by Łukasz Jaszak

Links

https://www.facebook.com/howlinggiant
https://www.instagram.com/howlinggiant
https://www.facebook.com/MagneticEyeRecords
https://www.instagram.com/magneticeyerecords

Live

With Brujas del Sol & Horseburner

14 AUG 2025 Lexington, KY (US) Al's Bar
15 AUG 2025 Pittsburgh, PA (US) Squirrel Hill Sports Bar
16 AUG 2025 Columbus, OH (US) Blockout Bash

Festival

30 AUG 2025 Cookeville, TN (US) June Bug Boogie Ranch, Muddy Roots Festival

With Castle Rat

01 OCT 2025 Asheville, NC (US) Eulogy
02 OCT 2025 Raleigh, NC (US) Chapel of Bones
03 OCT 2025 Charlottesville, VA (US) The Southern Cafe and Music Hall



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

INSOMNIAC - Om Moksha Ritam (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Om Moksha Ritam - Tracklisting


1. Meditation

2. Mountain

3. Snow and Ice

4. Forest

5. Sea

6. Desert

7. Awakening


Members


Alex Avedissian - Guitar

Van Bassman - Vocals

Juan Garcia - Bass

Mike Morris - Guitar, Vocals

Amos Rifkin - Percussion, Vocals


Review


Om Moksha Ritam is the debut album from Post-Doom/Psych/Ambient/Stoner Metal Collective INSOMNIAC who are made up of members of Zoroaster, Deceased and Avedissian Pickups. The record lies heavily into the actual band name with INSOMNIAC or lack of sleeping being the main creative theme for the album or from the actual words of the band themselves:


“You’ve got it all wrong. The Insomniac isn’t unable to sleep, the Insomniac chooses to evade sleep. We all fall down at some point, but between the waking world and our dreams exists the surreal." 


This record is a journey into the meditative or transcendental side of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal with flashes of Americana, Shoegaze, Sludge and Prog Rock with INSOMNIAC blazing a creative path of their own making. 


Take the opening song of Meditation where the band feel like their channelling the likes of LOU REED, KING BUFFALO, PELICAN, KYUSS and YAWNING MAN with a backdrop of scorched Desert Rock sounds that has gone through a NUCLEAR DESTRUCTIVE makeover with sludgy guitars keeping the grounded reality from escaping the musical masses. The vocals from Van Bassman are simply trippy with a Prophet like quality to them telling folks about the end of the world whilst keeping with a pure Psych Stoner Rock energy.


Second song Mountain sees INSOMNIAC awaken slightly for a heavier an straight forward style of Doom/Stoner Rock which has a slight KYUSS / FU MANCHU drive appearing before the riff-centric energy of early-era QOTSA before the murky Post-Doom heaviness of the excellent guitars from Alex Avedissian and Mike Morris keep the mood slightly aggressive but supremely melodic.


The surroundings of Post-Post and Meditative Metal soon appear with intense melodic guitars and stunning work from INSOMNIAC’s epic rhythm section of Amos Rifkin (Drums) and Juan Garcia (Bass) sees the record move into modern day Prog Sludge territory. The whole song becomes quite thrilling and therapeutic within the final stages reminding of ZOROASTER, BARONESS and MASTODON in equal measure but it’s INSOMNIAC’s willingness to keep themselves within the Psychedelic realms that makes this song a breath of fresh air.


Third track Snow And Ice is a lengthy ten minute opus with INSOMNIAC drawing upon Post-Rock themes, ideas and ice-cold melodies for a song that has a chameleon like effect with the Post-Punk and Gothic Rock tendencies that may take some listeners time to fully get used to.


However, the great use of Psychedelic loops and gloomy feedback loops allows the band to create a haunting and challenging slice of gloomy Americana and Post-Doom heaviness. The vocals are quite unique with a SHAMANIC sound emitting from the speakers. Everything becomes a soothing journey of complex melodies and surreal instrumental and dreamlike soundscapes building up for one intense journey into the unknown.


Fourth song Forest is an Alternative/Shoegaze number with the band changing musical direction yet again but it’s quite a soulful and gloomy offbeat number with the dark undercurrent of the lyrics putting this album into more of the theatre of Sludge Metal. Heavy screeching guitars allows INSOMNIAC to generate some of the most heaviest and aggressive sounds on the album right here. The vocals are sung and placed at the right pitch with them being one of the highlights of the whole record.


The final section of the record allows INSOMNIAC to push back the creative envelope and reinvent themselves once again with a resonating THE VELVET UNDERGROUND influence appearing within tracks Sea, Desert and Awakening whilst exploring heavier musical boundaries with long drawn out instrumental passages and reflective lyrics having quite a profound positive impact.


Well, personally speaking for me especially on Sea and Awakening. I found this style of music beautifully therapeutic and even quite rebellious which is a hard thing to pull for a band’s debut album but INSOMNIAC pull this off with great vision and awareness that makes Om Moksha Ritam one of the most breathtaking and brilliantly surreal pieces of music I’ve heard in a very long time.


Om Moksha Ritam is a record you don’t come across that often and INSOMNIAC deserve credit for delivering a highly unusual but superbly original record to the underground masses.


This record is a loving and fitting tribute to Mike Morris (Guitar/Vocals) who sadly passed away earlier this year. Condolences to Mike's family and friends at this sad time.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.


Om Moksha Ritam is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings.


INSOMNIAC links

Atlanta alternative psych unit MOON DESTROYS (w/ ex-Torche and Royal Thunder) sign to Blues Funeral Recordings; US tours with Dozer and The Sword coming!


Atlanta alternative psych rock unit MOON DESTROYS have signed to Blues Funeral Recordings for the reissue of their self-released debut "She Walks By Moonlight" as well as their new album release in 2026. The band is ready to embark on their US West Coast tour this week alongside Dozer and Abrams, and will be touring the East Coast with The Sword this fall.

Formed by guitarist Juan Montoya (ex-Torche) and drummer Evan Diprima (ex-Royal Thunder), Moon Destroys released their first EP 'Maiden Voyage' in 2020. The 5-song debut featured contributions from Troy Sanders (Mastodon) and Bryan Richie (The Sword) and laid a foundation that would come fully into focus when vocalist/guitarist Charlie Suárez (MonstrO) and bassist Arnold Nese completed the band in 2024.

April 2025 found Moon Destroys thrust into the limelight, supporting Elder on tour just as they were self-releasing their debut full-length "She Walks By Moonlight" in limited form. Despite hurrying to get the new LP ready in time to take on the road, the album inarguably captured the band’s tremendous evolution beyond the connections to the members’ former outfits.

Gritty and distorted yet hazy and hypnotic, "She Walks By Moonlight" shifts from shimmering post-rock to driving riff-doom and back to shoegazy psychedelia. It's a cinematic and otherworldly journey from a band who breeze easily into the environs of Floor, Mother Love Bone, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Russian Circles and Ride, ultimately collapsing all efforts at categorization into its effervescent, compulsive swirl.

Blues Funeral Recordings is proud to welcome Moon Destroys to the label just in time for a string of US tour dates supporting Swedish icons Dozer alongside labelmates Abrams. The label will bring forth a proper worldwide release of "She Walks By Moonlight" this October as they will hit the stage for a coveted run of dates with The Sword, followed by their next album release and more touring in 2026.

The band says: "We are extremely excited to join forces with Jadd and the Blues Funeral Recordings team to continue the saga of Moon Destroys. It’s an honor to join a roster with great, like-minded artists to keep pushing the heavy underground forward! We will see you out on the West Coast this month supporting fellow label mates and Swedish legends Dozer. After that, we’ll be out supporting our friends and fellow rippers The Sword this October on the East Coast before heading back into the studio to finish a new album. We are looking forward to working hard for the rest of the year to make for an even busier 2026! It’s full steam ahead now with a great team!“

Summer 2025 supporting Dozer w/ Abrams

August 7 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Swan Dive
August 8 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room
August 9 - San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick
August 10 - Palmdale, CA @ Transplants Brewing
August 12 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
August 13 - Eureka, CA @ Savage Henry Comedy Club
August 14 - Eugene, OR @ John Henry’s
August 15 - Portland, OR @ Dante’s
August 16 - Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw
August 17 - Seattle, WA @ Substation

Fall 2025 tour supporting The Sword

October 13 - Boston, MA @ Paradise
October 14 - New York City, NY @ The Bowery Ballroom
October 15 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
October 17 - Buffalo, NY @ Higher Ground
October 18 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
October 19 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
October 22 - Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater
October 23 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
October 24 - Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
October 26 - Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl

"She Walks By Moonlight" reissue - Available October 17, 2025 on Blues Funeral Recordings
Shop on BFR website / Bandcamp / European store


MOON DESTROYS is

Evan Diprima - Drums
Juan Montoya - Guitars
Arnold Nese - Bass
Charlie Suárez - Vocals, Guitars

MOON DESTROYS links


BLUES FUNERAL RECORDINGS links


Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details and you can read my review of the album here: