Doom/Stoner Metallers RESTLESS SPIRIT present new video single 'Red in Tooth and Claw' taken from forthcoming self-titled album "Restless Spirit"!

RESTLESS SPIRIT deliver their raw and authentic brand of heaviness with the music video 'Red in Tooth and Claw' as the next advance single from their forthcoming self-titled album. 

"Restless Spirit" is scheduled for release on May 8, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records and is available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION

Watch the video for 'Red in Tooth and Claw' here:

RESTLESS SPIRIT comment: "The track 'Red in Tooth and Claw' is one of the more straightforward songs that we've ever done", vocalist and guitarist Paul Aloisio explains on behalf of the band. "We set out to create a solid rock tune with a heavy groove as the foundation and think that mission was accomplished. The lyrics of 'Red in Tooth and Claw' deal with the violence and cruelty that are seemingly inherent to the human condition, and simply ask what you choose to do about that fact. Ultimately, it's is a choice that can only be made by the individual."

Tracklist

1. The Burning Need
2. Hallowed
3. Red in Tooth and Claw
4. Desire Lines
5. Desolation's Wake
6. Ember
7. Time and Distance
8. Phantom Pain

The Lowdown

With their self-titled full-length, RESTLESS SPIRIT have reached a point in their career where the band of friends from Long Island, New York knows exactly who they are and where they stand. As the eight tracks on "Restless Spirit" are the most distilled version of what the trio is about, they saw no need for further explanation in the title.

So, what are RESTLESS SPIRIT about? Pure metal, no more, no less. Born from the steel mills of Birmingham this musical style has deep English working class roots that the East Coast outfit translates into an American sonic slang with elements from desert and stoner metal and even the occasional progressive flourish. As a result, they seamlessly merge classic heavy solos with roaring guitars and a pinch of psychedelic fuzz.

RESTLESS SPIRIT also share a down to earth outlook with the British pioneers that values honesty and a no-nonsense approach to songwriting and lyrics. "Restless Spirit" mainly deals with the idea of perseverance through hardship, of pushing through and starting over when everything seems bleak. This makes the album a companion piece to its predecessor "Afterimage", which revolved around descending into and giving in to growing despair.

RESTLESS SPIRIT grew out of childhood friendship. Frontman Paul Aloisio and bass player Marc Morello first met back in the summer before Kindergarten and grew up discovering music together. Influenced by such greats as BLACK SABBATH, TYPE O NEGATIVE, and THE SWORD, RESTLESS SPIRIT officially started out in 2019 when their album debut "Lord of the New Depression" was released. At the time, their sound fit equally well into the stoner, doom, and sludge moulds. On the following "Blood of the Old Gods" (2021), the three-piece evolved stylistically into a more varied, melodic approach with added complexities.

With the stated mission of never wanting to sound exactly like before, RESTLESS SPIRIT resorted to shorter, sharpened shocks that hit straight home on their acclaimed third album, "Afterimage", in 2024. This album was driven by tragedy and personal loss with singer and guitarist Paul Aloisio putting his heart and soul into it.

In hindsight, the massive punch to the gut delivered by "Afterimage" set the trio onto a course that led directly to "Restless Spirit". Trimming away all sonic fat, focusing on the essentials, and refining their sound and songwriting down to its heaviest core has yielded a record that promises to be timeless.

RESTLESS SPIRIT are throwing out a rescue rope to all headbangers and particularly those dealing with all the cruelty that life can bring. "Restless Spirit" is a call to persevere in the face of others not understanding or even outright rejection. This album is about living on one's own terms, which was and is the essence of metal.

Album Details

Band: Restless Spirit
Album title: Restless Spirit
Style: US Heavy Metal
Release date: May 8, 2026
Label: Magnetic Eye Records
Review impact date: April 6, 2026

Recorded by John Forrestal at The Animal Farm, New Jersey (US)
Mixed by John Forrestal at The Animal Farm, New Jersey (US)
Mastering by Jon Markson at The Animal Farm, New Jersey (US)

Cover art & layout by Solomacello

Line-up

Paul Aloisio – guitar, vocals
Jon Gusman – drums
Marc Morello – bass

Links

www.facebook.com/restlessspiritny
www.instagram.com/restlessspirit_

https://restlessspirit.bandcamp.com/album/restless-spirit

Mad God - An Age Of Ash (Album Review)

Release Date: March 27th 2026. Record Label: Mongrel Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

An Age Of Ash - Tracklisting

1.Godforsaken (The Pact)

2.Left to Rot 

3.An Age of Ash

4.Chosen

5.The Price

Members

Tim Harbour - Vocals and Guitar

Danny Helsing - Bass

Patrick Stephansen - Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Mad God return with their first new album in almost eight years and the twisted result is An Age Of Ash. The band first made a name for themselves with their deeply psychedelic and cosmic horror leaning first two albums A Tale of A Sightless City (2017) and Grotesque and Inexorable (2018). Mad God weaved Proto Doom, Stoner Metal and Amplified Heaviness with a deep Lovecraftian mythology appearing within the lyrics and main creative outline for both albums. 

This time round Mad God moves closer to more fantastical themes with a deep emphasis on dark vocal and lyrical imagery. The whole atmosphere is violently electric with the band taking influence from the likes of Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus and other great bands who mastered the dark arts of Doom Metal. There’s a sudden influx of trippy Psychedelic melodies and intense Fuzzed Up sludgy guitars that leans into Prog Rock/Metal surroundings. Mad God feel like a totally different band compared to their previous albums which you can feel and brilliantly hear through the stunning opening two tracks of Godforsaken (The Pact) and Left To Rot.

These two songs allow Mad God to form a bleak and desolate style of Doom/Stoner Metal with haunting movements of Proto-Metal, Sludge, Psych and even slightly confusing Post-Rock flourishes especially on Left To Rot. Though, the music is highly unpredictable with a wicked style of feedback, reverb and distorted amps being used as a WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION. The lyrics tell an intriguing concept which is explained further below:

“An Age Of Ash tells the story of a world in collapse: a war-torn kingdom, a young woman’s quest for absolution, and a father’s corrupted journey toward redemption. As humanity forgets ancient evils, darker forces rise in the shadows. Corrupt leadership, demonic betrayal and forgotten gods converge as the balance of existence begins to unravel. What unfolds is a bleak, violent fantasy narrative where hope is scarce and survival is uncertain.”

The story can be quite outlandish but this allows Mad God the perfect opportunity to let their musical imaginations to run amok and play some intense, violent and action packed instrumental passages that leave little to the imagination within the VOLUME department especially on tracks Left To Rot, An Age Of Ash and Chosen. Sometimes, the music can be quite abstract in places with Mad God maneuvering into different musical genres and creative themes that gives this record a highly unapologetic attitude.

All of the tracks are fairly long ranging from six minutes to ten minutes in length with Mad God combining Prog Rock/Metal hooks with a caustic style of underground Doom/Stoner Metal that suddenly taps into a gloomy OCCULT METAL sound. There’s even a sense of violent and mysterious dread forming from the middle part of the album where Mad God taps into that sinister style of Classic Doom Metal that allows the vocals once more to become slightly deranged and violently sinister at the same time.

You'll be surprised at how Mad God suddenly transforms themselves into a band closer to the likes of TOOL within the final stages of the album. This sudden creative shift gives the album a completely new musical direction and you will perhaps have more questions than answers before everything finishes and reaches an emotionally charged climax.

It’s hard to believe that Mad God are from South Africa as they’re more closely linked to the European Doom/Stoner Metal scene but they’ve studied the scene amazingly well to create a well-crafted and superbly written story to match the first rate music they play within An Age Of Ash.

An Age Of Ash is an absolute blast of an album with Mad God creating a truly sinister and riff-fuelled musical adventure that has more than enough CHILLS, THRILLS and SPILLS to keep everyone entertained for a long time to come.

Just add this great album to your record collection whilst you can. This is first rate. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Plug Music Agency for the promo.

Links 

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | BandCamp

Exclusive Song/Video Premiere For Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers TONS Explosive New Song LOST IN PLANTATION

Your favorite weed sludgers are ready to come back with their fourth studio album, the aptly titled "Stoned Villains," out in April on your beloved Heavy Psych Sounds Records. The band's distinctive sound emerges immediately after the first listen: seven tracks of heavy, sulfurous doom-sludge, with influences ranging from the '90s to Turin-inspired hardcore punk, the scene in which our "villains" were formed and raised. Heavy and cutting guitars, a seismic rhythm section, and Gingerzilla's voice barking out ungraceful tales of weed abuse and uncontrolled eating. The song titles perfectly describe Tons: a band that doesn't take itself too seriously and uses irony as its strong point. "Stoned Villains" was recorded and mixed in Turin by Danilo "Dano" Battocchio at Deepest Sea Studio and mastered by James Plotkin. Enjoy!

Thanks to the cool folks over at Purple Sage PR and Heavy Psych Sounds, we're excited to premiere the superb new single LOST IN PLANTATION from the upcoming new album STONED VILLIANS.

TRACKLIST:

1. Shirley Temple Ball
2. Hangover The Top
3. Lost In Plantation
4. Intro (Cabin Fever)
5. The Big Bong Theory
6. Darth Vaper
7. Rollercoaster Diet Bombo

The Lowdown

Forged in 2009 by members of the Turin hardcore scene (The Redrum, Lama Tematica, NoInfo), Tons deliberately traded breakneck speed for a colossus-sized, slow-motion onslaught — sludgy-as-fuck, caustic and laced with wry weed wisdom and local esoteric mystique.

From their 2012 debut, Musineè Doom Session, Volume 1, to the punishing Filthy Flowers of Doom (2018) and the evil and acerbic Hashension (2022), Tons has never taken a single prisoner. The unstoppable foursome has shared stages with iconic acts such as Bongzilla, Unsane, Napalm Death and Church Of Misery, and relentlessly stormed festivals across the continent (Desertfest, Sonic Blast, Frantic Fest, Venezia Hardcore, HPS Fest).

Blasting forth with a new player behind the kit, Tons is ready to crank it up to maximum sludge levels again with their fourth album Stoned Villains, due out in the spring of 2026 and followed by a promotional Japanese tour in May. 

The album was recorded and mixed in Turin by Danilo "Dano" Battocchio at Deepest Sea Studio and mastered by James Plotkin, with artwork and graphics by Steuso.

You can pre-order the album now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds 

Tons is

Gingerzilla - Bass / Voice / Synth
Duncan McCrapper - Lead Guitar / Sampler
Stewart J Tanuki - Rhythm Guitar
Oreste Pennarelli - Drums

Tons links

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

KAL-EL - Astral Voyager Vol. 2 (Album Review)

Release Date: March 20th 2026. Record Label: Blues Funeral Recordings / Majestic Mountain Records.. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Astral Voyager Vol. 2 - Tracklisting

1.Juno 

2.The Nine

3.The Prophecy

4.Juggernaut 

5.Pan

6.Asteroid

Members

Captain - Vocals

Josh - Guitar

Doffy - Guitar

Bjudas - Drums

Knutsen - Bass

Review

Stoner Metal Heavyweights KAL-EL return with the blistering second part to the Astral Voyager saga with a record originally titled Astral Voyager Vol 2. Nothing much has changed since Vol 1 with KAL-EL playing their highly addictive style of Doom, Psych, Space Rock, Sludge and Stoner Metal grooves. The record does allow KAL-EL to inject some mellow Post-Stoner melodies along the way with lead vocalist Captain’s undeniable vocals steadying the ship or SPACESHIP as we say.

There’s an extra level of Desert Rock detail which is more amplified compared to their previous album which comes across quite quickly and most significantly within the excellent opening track Juno. The band are in full on  SPACED OUT ROCK EXPLORER mode with the constant shift moving between Heavy Psych, Cosmic Doom and Stoner Metal soundscapes. You can hear echoes of Grunge forming behind the scenes with KAL-EL taking a cerebral approach with the main storyline of the whole album. 

KAL-EL demonstrate a destructive fuzzed up SLUDGE METAL attitude within the second track of The Nine which pushes the band into heavier waters with surprising results whilst keeping their core STONER sound. The production values are off the scale that easily matches Vol 1 with both albums being the perfect counterbalance to each other. Sometimes the music can be quite slow-paced which allows the listener to take everything as there is a lot going on within the whole musical journey which continues throughout the whole album.

Astral Voyager Vol. 2 is superbly melodic and once again sees KAL-EL demonstrating why they’re such a force to be reckoned with especially on tracks such as The Prophecy, Juggernaut and Asteroid which are my favourite parts of the album. The music is constantly engaging, emotionally satisfying and most importantly, the RIFFS are out of this world. 

The most interesting dynamic is KAL-EL’s great use of trippy sound effects which they’ve used throughout their entire existence but this time round, they have real importance into how the story of the album fully plays out. This keeps the record quite grounded and allows the other members of the band to play some outstanding musical passages of their own making like they did on the previous album.

It was probably a great decision from KAL-EL to release these albums as two separate volumes as they wouldn’t have had the same lasting impact if they were released together. This means you can judge each album on its own merits. The hardest part I have to admit I prefer Astral Voyager Vol. 1 slightly to Vol. 2. However, this is still an outstanding album of the highest order which will no doubt rank as one of the standout Stoner Rock/Metal albums of the year.

KAL-EL are one of the greatest STONER METAL bands the scene currently has now. As every album they’ve released can be considered classics and this will be no different with the whole Astral Voyager saga.

Play this album LOUD when you get the chance. You won’t be disappointed!!!.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Astral Voyager is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via the links below:

Majestic Mountain Records (EU/UK)

Blues Funeral Recordings (North America)

KAL-EL links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

Instrumental Rock Supergroup YAWNING BALCH (with Yawning Man & Fu Manchu members) to issue new album "Volume Four" on Heavy Psych Sounds

Mojave Desert-based instrumental rock goldsmiths YAWNING BALCH (formed by Yawning Man members and Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch) return with their fourth record "Volume Four" on Heavy Psych Sounds on May 29th, and present a first excerpt today!

 Stream a new track with Water Ritual (Part 1)

Yawning Balch is the collaborative and endlessly creative outfit uniting Californian guitarist Bob Balch (Fu Manchu, Big Scenic Nowhere) and desert rock progenitors Yawning Man, incarnated by guitarist Gary Arce, drummer Bill Stinson and legendary bassist Mario Lalli (also Fatso Jetson).

About this new track, Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch recalls: “Water Ritual” is the second jam we did during a five-hour session in Joshua Tree on April 20th, 2024, at Gatos Trail Studios. I had just picked up a new pedal called The Fable, and it’s all over this track. It’s a delay with all kinds of crazy repeat options. When we mixed it, I wanted portions of the song to have a ’70s dub reggae feel. So Dan at Gatos hooked up his Echoplex to the board and nailed that sound. Jamming with the dudes from Yawning Man is always a blast, and I’m stoked they invited me. Thanks, Gary, Bill, and Mario!"

Yawning Balch's dreamy and jam-driven psychedelic rock journey started in 2023 with the release of "Volume One" and "Volume Two", a two-volume set carved out of a five-hour jam between Balch and the trio in the Joshua Tree desert, hailed as "a mesmeric aural experience" by Classic Rock Magazine and "a masterclass in cohesion and dynamism" by Everything Is Noise. Welcoming back desert rock legend Mario Lalli on bass with the 2025 follow-up, "Volume Three", the foursome offered another mesmerizing psychedelic and post-rock instrumental voyage crafted with love.

They will carry on with the sky-opening, riff and groove galore this spring, with the release of their fourth record "Volume Four" on Heavy Psych Sounds.

YAWNING BALCH "Volume Four" (LP/CD/digital) - Out May 29th on Heavy Psych Sounds

About the project's genesis, guitarist Bob Balch says: 

"In November of 2022, I went out to Joshua Tree for a day of jamming with the guys in Yawning Man with the intention of calling it “Yawning Balch”. No riffs were planned. We just plugged in and played. The only discussion beforehand was that Gary Arce and I wanted to mess with tons of guitar pedals. I knew that while we were jamming it sounded great, but it wasn’t until I got home and listened to it all that I realized we had something special. It’s hard to believe that we jammed for five hours and got two full-length LPs and then some out of it. Every player killed it on these recordings and I’m beyond grateful to have my name involved with this legendary band. Fingers crossed they invite me back out annually for more jam sessions. I hope you enjoy these jams and please use responsibly."

YAWNING BALCH is:

Gary Arce – guitar
Bob Balch – guitar
Mario Lalli – bass
Bill Stinson – drums

YAWNING MAN links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

London heavy rockers OKAY YOU WIN unleash first single off debut album "End of Days", out June 26th on Blues Funeral Recordings!

London heavy rock foursome OKAY YOU WIN present the high-octane first single and video off their upcoming debut album "End of Days", to be issued on June 26th through Blues Funeral Recordings and supported by a run of UK shows in the spring and summer.

Watch the new Okay You Win video: Smoke + listen to the single on all streaming services

Deploying a double hit of heavy riffs and soaring vocals, Okay You Win have quickly built a solid reputation in the UK underground, bringing their blend of driving rock with stoned psychedelics and doomy breakdowns to a string of shows and festivals across England and further afield. Drawing heavily on Seattle grunge, California desert rock, 90s alt-rock and classic British metal, the four-piece caught the attention of fellow UK rockers Psychlona, who offered enthusiastic support and guided their friends toward producer Andy Hawkins and The Nave studio in Leeds for the recording of their debut album.

Following a year that saw performances in London, Edinburgh, Norwich, Birmingham, and a short tour around Spain, Okay You Win are ready to unleash End of Days in June 2026 on the heels of a DesertFest London slot, with lots more live appearances to follow this year.

"The album 'End of Days' has been a long time coming, but we’re so excited that it’s all finally kicking off. We started recording this album back at the end of 2024 after road testing the songs far and wide across the UK heavy scene, and with this album, we really think we've captured all of that raw energy and feeling from our first years out on the road," the band comments.

About the first single, they add, "‘Smoke’ has been a real favourite with audiences out on the road, and it’s a great representation of where we've come from and what we're all about. This thing feels like it's still just getting started, but we’re on a roll now, with plenty more fuel in the tank, and plenty more riffs in the bag."

Upcoming UK shows

March 27 - The Wheatsheaf, Banbury
March 28 - Saturnalia Records, Faversham
April 11 - The Sussex Is Doomed III, The Forum Basement, Tunbridge Wells
April 17 - The Chelsea Inn, Bristol
May 9 - Doom By The Sea Vol. 5, Dalton’s, Brighton
May 16 - Desertfest London 2026, The Black Heart, London
May 20 - The Gryphon, Bristol
May 23 - Chesham Fringe Festival, Chesham
June 19 - The Brown Cow, Mansfield
June 20 - The Underground, Bradford
June 21 - Trillians, Newcastle
June 26 - The Metal Monocle, Leicester
August 1 - Bay Days Festival 2026, Chelmsford

OKAY YOU WIN "End of Days" - Out June 26th on Blues Funeral Recordings
Pre-order LP and CD now on Bandcamp

Okay You Win is

Rodrigo Barradas – Bass
David Kirk – Vocals
Ryan O'Hare – Guitar
Antonio Peci – Drums

Okay You Win links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Blues Funeral Recordings links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

MONSTERNAUT - Approaching Doom (Album Review)

Release Date: March 27th 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Approaching Doom - Tracklisting

1.Cold

2.Evicted

3.Approaching Doom 

4.Drain

5.Black Blizzard

6.New Order Of Bliss

7.Humana Stew

8.Demon Strikes

9.Heavy Monday

10.Final Pain

Members

Tuomas Heiskanen - Guitars / Vocals

Perttu Härkönen - Bass

Patrik Kuitunen - Drums

Review

Approaching Doom is the latest sonic excursion into pure Doomed Out Heaviness from the mighty MONSTERNAUT and is their first album in eight years. The band play a similar kind of energy from the likes of DOZER, DOPELORD, FU MANCHU and some NOLA influences appearing on different stages of the record.

The album is quite aggressive with MONSTERNAUT not holding back with their gritty and action packed grooves that have a certain Punk Rock pedigree to them. The sound does edge ever so closer to a streetwise level of Doom/Stoner Metal especially within the opening tracks of Cold, Evicted and Approaching Doom.

The vocals from Tuomas Heiskanen are confident, lean and quite muscular with the whole performance having a classic HARDCORE PUNK aspect to them. The music itself can be dominated by outbursts of Sludge Metal which gives the record quite an unpredictable energy from start to finish. MONSTERNAUT don’t offer cheap PROGRESSIVE gimmicks as they rely on good old fashioned HEAVY METAL dominance that’s offset by small amounts of freakish PSYCHEDELIC melodies. 

The album does move along at a frantic fast pace which only adds to the overall excitement of the whole experience which sees MONSTERNAUT rely on pure ROCK & ROLL fury and genuine STONER METAL chaos on tracks such as Approaching Doom, Drain, New Order Of Bliss, Demon Strikes and Final Rain. MONSTERNAUT develops a subtle style of Stoner Metal that leans heavily into the NOLA / SOUTHERN METAL realm for some of the heaviest and catchiest sounds on the whole album.

Approaching Doom does have a raw sounding atmosphere which is mostly down to the sublime production values that the record contains. The album was recorded entirely on analog tape with no digital editing at all. So this is about as close to the action you’ll ever likely to hear and actually experience from MONSTERNAUT.

The band did have the legendary talents of Finnish producer and sound engineer Anssi Kippo best known for his work with CHILDREN OF BODOM and brings a real level of darkness to the music. Though, still allowing MONSTERNAUT to fully commit themselves to harnessing the power of the ACTUAL RIFF!!!

MONSTERNAUT feels like they are building their own genuine musical legacy which reminds me of fellow Finnish Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers DEMONIC DEATH JUDGE. However, this is MONSTERNAUT to impress with their own uncompromising vision but still showcasing another great band to check out from the Finnish Underground Heavy Metal Scene.

If you dig your Doom/Stoner Metal with an extra sideline of PISSED OFF musical aggression that moves into areas of NOLA Metal then Approaching Doom is the album for you and with the band aligning themselves to the amazing Heavy Psych Sounds, then you know this album is the complete package. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Approaching Doom will be available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

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