Doom/Psych/Stoner Rockers FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS announce extensive tours in the United States & Europe!

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS have delivered one of the finest alternative/heavy rock albums of 2025 with their latest full length "BEAR", which was released on October 10, 2025, via Magnetic Eye Records (get the album HERE).

These outstanding American musicians have just announced the first concerts of their highly anticipated 2026 tours in support of the new album with a first leg in the US starting this winter and European dates for late spring into early summer. Please see below for a list of all currently confirmed shows.

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS comment on both tours: "We’ve been working toward the goal of making it to Europe for years now; and we're ecstatic that the time has finally come!", vocalist Buick Audra writes on behalf of the duo. "We can hardly wait to see the community over there, to bring what we do to those stages, and to take in the music and culture of all the places we're touring through. We believe that music is a conversation, and we're thrilled to be engaging with new voices. See you very soon, friends! May it be the first time of many. Of course, we're very much looking forward to seeing folks at our upcoming US dates throughout February, March, and April as well! Spines will vibrate; it's our guarantee!"

US TOUR 2026

08 FEB 2026 Houston, TX (US) Black Magic Social Club
19 FEB 2026 Baton Rouge, LA (US) Mid City Ballroom
20 FEB 2026 New Orleans, LA (US) Siberia
21 FEB 2026 Mobile, AL (US) Alabama Music Box
22 FEB 2026 Gainesville, FL (US) The Atlantic
24 FEB 2026 Tampa, FL (US) Deviant Libation
25 FEB 2026 Miami, FL (US) Las Rosas
26 FEB 2026 Orlando, FL (US) Will's Pub
27 FEB 2026 Jacksonville, FL (US) Hard Love
28 FEB 2026 Savannah, GA (US) Totally Awesome Bar
01 MAR 2026 Athens, GA (US) The World Famous
03 MAR 2026 Atlanta, GA (US) Boggs Social
04 MAR 2026 Asheville, NC (US) The Odd
05 MAR 2026 Richmond, VA (US) Cobra Cabana
06 MAR 2026 Durham, NC (US) Pinhook
07 MAR 2026 Charlotte, NC (US) Snug Harbor
08 MAR 2026 Chattanooga, TN (US) JJ's Bohemia
04 APR 2026 Nashville, TN (US) TN Brew Works
10 APR 2026 Chicago, IL (US) Reggie’s Music Joint

EUROPEAN TOUR 2026

16 MAY 2026 Coevorden (NL) MFC
19 MAY 2026 Barberaz (FR) Le Brin de Zinc
23 MAY 2026 Cottbus (DE) Galerie Fango
25 MAY 2026 Bratislava (SK) Koncerty na Garážach
27 MAY 2026 Radebeul (DE) Barnyard Club
28 MAY 2026 Münster (DE) Rare Guitar
29 MAY 2026 Hagen (DE) Werkhof Hohenlimburg
30 MAY 2026 Asendorf (DE) Kulturhaus B.O.
02 JUN 2026 Hamburg (DE) Hafenklang
03 JUN 2026 Hildesheim (DE) Club VEB
06 JUN 2026 Esch-Alzette (LU) MK Bar

The Lowdown

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS are not just any band within the wider musical cosmos of heavy rock and stoner metal. Artistic excellence, reflected in the two Grammy wins of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Buick Audra as well as the status of drummer and bass player Jerry Roe as one of the most sought after studio percussionists, paired with outstanding lyrical intelligence have once again flown together organically to shape their forthcoming album "BEAR".

"BEAR" was written around the realisation that Buick Audra had essentially been kicked out of womanhood. This album is a documentation of her awareness also while cataloguing other areas of human connection: art, outsider culture, and dark rock venues – all places where empathy and creativity grow wild. Audra and Jerry Roe arranged and performed the fourth full-length of FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERSalbum to have two sides to it, musically: heavy and light, salt and sugar, fire and air, and lost and found.

Although hailing from Nashville, Tennessee these denizens of the 'Music City' kindly beg to differ. FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS' sound draws from sludge, doom, heavy metal, and grunge with roots in punk and hardcore, among other guitar driven styles.

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS were originally conceived as a side project by the two industry veterans Buick Audra and Jerry Roe, whose accolades have already been mentioned above. When the duo found common ground, they were able to bring all their combined musical excellence, perspectives, precision, and power to their new band.

Their early works, the EPs "GARFIELD" (2015) and "JUNEBUG" (2017) as well as the debut full-length "AVE" (2016) were all self-recorded as well as self-produced in their own studio, Fort Knockout, and supported live with regional tours.

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS' sophomore album 'BILL' (2018) was co-produced by the band with Steve Albini and engineered at his Chicago studio, Electrical Audio. Working with Albini proved a pivotal experience for the duo, both personally and professionally. "BILL" reached a notably larger audience and allowed national touring. Following Albini's passing in 2024, the band released his original analogue mixes of the project, "BILL- The Steve Albini Mixes".

Although the duo's members maintained other ventures, FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS had developed into a focal endeavour for them both. Their again self-produced 2020 EP, "HOLD ON TO YOURSELF", was the beginning of their by now years-long collaboration with Kurt Ballou, who mixed the record. He also mixed their self-produced pandemic-era singles "STONECHILD/ YOUR REIGN IS OVER" (2020), "ALTAR / LAND OF MEN" (2021), and "AND IF MY BODY" (2022). These were later compiled on a limited vinyl release entitled "RELEASE OF THE REST" (2022). The singles also marked a departure from the duo's previous punk and hardcore leanings while introducing a heavier, sludgier sensibility.

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS recorded and co-produced their third album "MASS" again with Ballou at his GodCity Studio in Salem, MA. Audra recorded and produced her vocals at her Nashville studio, and Ballou then mixed the tracks. With "MASS" (2023), a concept album about memory, language, and the state of Massachusetts, the duo took the important next step of reaching a global audience.

"BEAR" was again co-produced by band members Buick Audra and Jerry Roe. The duo returned to Salem to work along once more with their longtime collaborator, Kurt Ballou, who also tracked the instrumental performances and mixed the record. As a result, the songs with a huge range of musical ideas and expressions are unified in sound as well as in theme, which runs throughout the record in various ways: the ever-elusive idea of belonging, where it occurs, and where it absolutely does not.

With "BEAR", FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS present a rare sparkling gem of an album, heavy yet captivating, shiny yet dark, and songs that brim with important meaning. "BEAR" is easy to get into, but beware, this album will draw its listeners into fascinating and thought-provoking depths!

Tracklist:

1. KEEPING SCORE
2. DRAIN
3. DRIPPING SILVER
4. MELT
5. NEW
6. X
7. MIDHEAVEN
8. IMPERFECT
9. FOUND
10. DEAD & DISCARDED GIRLS

Line-up

Buick Audra – songs, guitar, vocals, co-producer
Jerry Roe – drums, percussion, bass, synths, co-producer

Links

https://www.friendshipcommandersband.com
https://www.facebook.com/friendshipcommanders
https://www.instagram.com/friendshipcommanders

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

Blazoner - Sonic Chambers (EP Review)

Release Date: February 13th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Sonic Chambers - Tracklisting

Jumpin' Jack Flash

I'm In Love With My Car 

In The Beginning 

Copache  

Travellin' In The Dark

Members

Andy Murray — drums and vocals

Brian Carnes — bass and vocals

Stephen Sullivan — guitar and vocals

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers Blazoner return with a covers EP called Sonic Chambers where they play a selection of their favourite tracks they’ve even played live over the years. This is the selection of tracks they’ve included on the release.

Jumpin' Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones)

I'm In Love With My Car (Queen)

In The Beginning (Genesis)

Copache (Melvins)

Travellin' In The Dark (Mountain)

You can’t say that Blazoner have played it safe here as they absolutely haven't with some classic tracks throughout the last sixty years of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Each track is giving a fresh perspective with a Punk Rock spirit forming whilst staying true to the original. These versions maybe slightly faster and chaotic than their original versions and that’s no bad thing especially on Jumpin’ Jack Fash, I’m In Love With My Car and Travellin’ In The Dark being the prime examples.

Musically speaking, Blazoner are on fire putting in a spectacular performance throughout with a sudden Psychedelic Stoner Metal urgency being played within the classic rock sounds of The Rolling Stones, Queen and Genesis really standing out. The vocals are bombastic and brilliantly outrageous when they’re really needed. Each band member provides vocals throughout and I have to say the standout vocal performances are on I’m In Love With My Car, Copache and Travellin’ In The Dark.

The standout cover has to be the cover of the Melvins track - Copache. As I believe this is the track that struggled with the most in the studio despite playing it countless times live. You wouldn’t be able to notice from this great cover. As it has a fearless quality that doesn’t stray from the original. What makes Sonic Chambers such a great EP is that it ultimately still feels like an actual BLAZONER release. As what made their 2023 debut album such a standout with spiky vocals, insane grooves and action packed melodies that aims straight for the jugular is kept intact right here. 

Sonic Chambers is an absolute riot with BLAZONER showing why they're at the top of their game and actually delivering a record that’s outrageously addictive and actually leaves you wanting more. I’m hoping a new full length album isn’t too far behind.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to C Squared Music for the promo.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Heavy Psych/Stoner Rockers ABISSI New Album PARAMAGIA

Italian psychedelic heavy rockers ABISSI reveal the full details of their new album Paramagia, set for release on January 30th 2026 in CD and digital formats via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records. To celebrate, the band shares the second single Madama Cristina, now available on all digital platforms.

With Paramagia, ABISSI return with a record that feels like a sonic altar, where the weight of rock collides with liquid visions, occult tensions, and melodies sharp as glass. The guitars pull the listener into a hypnotic state, shaping a sound that is heavy, ritualistic, alive. Born in Milan, Paramagia channels the urban intensity and creative flow of the city, presenting the band’s own idea of what rock should be: physical, visionary, vibrant.

We're excited to premiere the whole album in full below thanks to the amazing folks over at Argonauta Records and Grand Sounds Promotion.

The Lowdown

ABISSI formed in 2018 in Milan. The project was shaped by Francesco Menghi (former frontman of Veracrash), Luca Ibba (ex-ODE), and Agostino Marino (Little Pig). The lineup later welcomed bassist Alessandro Stranieri, whose new wave and goth background helped refine the group’s evolving identity. Their music, sung in Italian, blends psychedelic heavy rock with influences that move through stoner, doom, alternative, grunge, noise and new wave.

The band first introduced their world with the single Interzona in 2020. Their debut album, Oltre, followed in 2022. In 2025, ABISSI released the single Pizzo, offering the first glimpse into this new chapter. Now, with Madama Cristina, they open the gates wider, inviting listeners deeper into Paramagia.

Tracklist - Paramagia

1 Funerale in Messico 3:20
2 Pizzo 2:01
3 Le Chiese 3:59
4 Grabovoi 3:52
5 Sequenze 2:35
6 Cemento 3:43
7 Madama Cristina 3:07
8 3424 3:37

Links

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

https://abissimusic.bandcamp.com/

MOTSUS - Atlas (Album Review)

Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: POLDERRECORDS. Formats: CD/DD

Atlas - Tracklisting

1.Intro (El Toro de Fuego)

2.Driver

3.Duna

4.Exploder, Pt. II

5.Short Notice

6.Turboslak

Members

Tom Maene (guitar)

Wouter Verhelst (bass)

Wouter Velle (drums).

Review

Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metallers MOTSUS return from the heavy rock wilderness to deliver their second album Atlas and it’s been eight years since the band released their debut album. Atlas is quite a heavy progressive and psychedelic affair whilst keeping close musical and creative ties to the likes of Karma To Burn, Pelican, Yawning Man and ROTOR. Though, you have the unexpected melodies of LOWRIDER and KYUSS for a record that’s deeply rooted within the Doom, Stoner and Post-Metal scenes. 

With the help of the legendary Karl Daniel Lidén (Dozer, Greenleaf, A Swarm Of The Sun) on mixing and mastering duties, MOTSUS don’t hold anything back within the VOLUME department as Atlas is quite aggressive and beautifully multi-layered which you can hear from the very opening tracks of Intro (El Toro de Fuego) and Driver. The mood is quite ice-cold with MOTSUS developing a style of Post-Rock, Post-Doom, Stoner Metal and Spaced Out rhythms that easily solidifies a deft atmospheric sound holding everything together.

There’s also a major part of the album where everything is contained within an aspect of Cosmic Doom and Space Rock attitudes which allows the heavy cinematic soundscapes to move into other areas of music. The frequent ambient soundscapes offer a cool sounding LUSH environment with MOTSUS once again taking a real progressive stand that includes little Middle Eastern noises and shoegaze surroundings that appear from the haunting third track of Duna. 

MOTSUS provide an interesting style of deliberately slow played melodies that offers a stripped back approach in the more sombre elements of the record. They could have easily went over the top with this type of music on Duna but this gives their music more depth and extra weight in how the music is played and brilliantly delivered within a fractured Droned Out atmosphere.

MOTSUS keep changing things around with their music for an album that drifts into the heavier depths and wilderness of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal based landscapes with perhaps the standout track of Exploder Pt II being my favourite track on the whole album. As it takes the listener through a superbly interesting journey which has a beginning, middle and end. It’s this style of creativity that makes ATLAS such a highly rewarding and emotionally charged experience. 

The final two tracks Short Notice and Turboslak allows MOTSUS every opportunity to continue playing their highly dominant style of HEAVY ROCK with an engaging Progressive premise that once again delivers intense grooves with some mighty slabs of POST-METAL and POST-DOOM that’s even spliced with the classic sounds of the Instrumental Stoner Metal underground scene.

When this album truly SOARS then there is no stopping MOTSUS delivering an exhilarating record that feels like a real breath of fresh air into the underground scene. It’s hard to believe there’s been a wide range of first class Instrumental Rock/Metal albums already being released this year and ATLAS continues that great run for a record that deserves to be played from the LOUDEST SPEAKERS possible!!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to POLDERRECORDS for the promo. 

Atlas is available to buy now on CD/DD from POLDERRECORDS.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Stoner Rockers FUZZING NATION Release New Song/Video For BURNING ROADS From Upcoming New Album

Greek Heavy Rock Trio Fuzzing Nation have officially joined our parallel label Octopus Rising, and are unveiling their first single under the label, "Burning Roads", accompanied by an explosive official music video which you can watch below:

Formed in late 2022 in Athens, Fuzzing Nation emerged from a spontaneous studio jam between three seasoned musicians, Angel Ioannidis (Vocals, Guitar), Steve Giannakos (Bass) and Terry Moros (Drums) quickly evolving into a full-fledged powerhouse of fuzz-heavy riffs, desert-driven grooves and raw heavy rock energy.

Drawing influence from the heat-baked sound of Kyuss, Fu Manchu’s groove-laden drive and the spirit of the early Palm Desert scene, the band has carved a niche with their warm, gritty, and riff-focused stoner rock, perfect for open roads and endless horizons. Their earlier releases, the self-titled EP (2023) and “Into the Desert” (2024), showcased both raw intensity and growing songwriting sophistication, earning accolades including an 8/10 from the Greek edition of Metal Hammer.

"Burning Roads" marks a new chapter for Fuzzing Nation, highlighting their signature desert-fuzz sound while paving the way for the upcoming worldwide release of their concept album “Mothertruck”. The track’s official video captures the relentless energy and hypnotic groove that have become synonymous with the band’s live performances.

With a growing fanbase of dedicated “Mothertruckers” and a packed live schedule across Greece and Europe, Fuzzing Nation are ready to ride further into the global stoner rock scene, armed with heavier riffs, louder amps, and a sound drenched in desert dust.

More details on the album will be revealed soon.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion and FUZZING NATION for the details.

Hidas - A Sense Of Impending Doom (Album Review)

Release Date: January 23rd 2026. Record Label: Tonzonen Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

A Sense Of Impending Doom - Tracklisting

1.Dynger 08:19

2.Splint 03:44

3.ASOID 09:15

4.Vakuum 11:35

5.Cisza 03:24

6.The Riddle 05:09

Members

Richard Noyn - Bass

Christoph Mühlbauer - Drums

Flo Bätz - Guitars

Review

A Sense Of Impending Doom is the second album from Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metallers Hidas which sees the band offer a more diverse Psychedelic sound compared to their 2023 debut album. The record remains quite grounded with Hidas exploring different areas of the Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal scene with an aggressive sludgy sound that develops very early in the record. There’s some gloomy soundscapes that develop into themes of Prog Metal and Post-Metal which gives the band quite an apocalyptic theme running throughout the album.

Hidas remind me of Clouds Taste Satanic and MODDER with that brooding style of Doom Metal having a certain fast-paced sound which soon sees the band develop a more chaotic style of Distorted grooves with that punishing Sludge Metal energy being played within the early stages of the record on tracks such as Dynger, Splint and ASOID. These tracks allow the listener to become part of Hidas’s riff fuelled journey with some mammoth sounding jams inspired by the likes of PELICAN, MASTODON and MONOLORD but still retaining their own gloomy essence. 

The album does become rather DARK and extremely volatile when Hidas start playing strands of Thrash and pure Heavy Metal within different sections of the record. This allows the record to become part of the “DOOM METAL” scene before everything is said and done with Hidas superbly playing long drawn out instrumental passages that have a sense of pure evil lurking in the background.

The sense of distorted melodies and harsh droned textures become the main weapon of choice for Hidas to dominate the musical landscape with especially on the standout tracks of ASOID, Vakuum and The Riddle. Hidas starts to experiment with Psychedelic sounds and Post-Rock themes which gives the record a true “GOTHIC” feeling along the way. The instrumental work from Flo (Guitars), Christoph (Drums) and Richard (Bass) is superbly impressive throughout as Hidas navigates their way through a ton of intense and emotionally charged grooves of their own making.

The band are helped on their journey with the help of the legendary Brad Boatright on mastering duties for the record and the album absolutely kills it within the volume department with great work provided by Flo (Guitars) who handles recording and mixing duties as well. So top marks to how the album brilliantly sounds with Hidas firing on all cylinders from start to finish.

A Sense Of Impending Doom is an outstanding slice of Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal that should allow the band to enhance their name and reputations within the underground scene and maybe allow them to play on some of the more famous stages and festival slots the scene has to offer.

Words by Steve Howe

A Sense Of Impending Doom is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Tonzonen Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

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