Goat Major - Death Comes Twice (Album Review)

Release Date: October 23rd 2026. Record Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Death Comes Twice - Tracklist

1.Voyage of Cetus

2.Firewalk

3.Death Comes Twice 

4.Under the Moonlight 

5.Wheels of Gold

6.Sirens

7.The Sin Eater

8.Negative Church

9.Detached

Members

Jammie Arnold - guitar

Simon Bonwick - drums

Tom Shortt - bass & vocals

Review

Death Comes Twice is the second album from Doom/Stoner Rockers Goat Major which builds upon the great Occult vibes and sounds from their acclaimed 2024 debut album Ritual. This time round Goat Major add a certain Sludge Rock swagger into their music with a more powerful sound being played from the very start. There is an aggressive melody that’s quite different to ritual with an emphatic FUZZED OUT atmosphere having a clean, crisp and concise delivery which is perfectly delivered throughout the whole album.

The excellent opening track of Voyage Of Cetus is a gloomy instrumental song that touches upon the fringes of Psych, Doom, Stoner and even Ambient Rock for a style of music that feels quintessentially vintage and thoroughly modern at the same time. This wasn’t the type of track I was expecting for Goat Major to open the album with. However, it’s one of my favourite tracks on the album.

Second track Firewalk runs for over eight minutes as Goat Major play against  a seedy backdrop of Seventies based Proto-Doom and elements of modern day Fuzz, Psych and Stoner Rock/Metal delivery. This allows Goat Major to develop an intense style of pure amplified heaviness with a cool sideline in SHOCK ROCK tactics. Some parts of the song are quite progressive with some cool sounding “POPPIER” passages developing along the way. Though, the OCCULT ROCK/METAL obsessed lyrics keeps Goat Major firmly within the DOOM METAL world. 

Third track Death Comes Twice offers a seedy underbelly of distorted Fuzz Metal and harsh amplified sounds transforming into a great style of modern sludgy based heaviness that sees that classic style of ELECTRIC WIZARD surroundings appear but Goat Major adding their own unique spain. The vocals from Tom Shortt have a manic appeal to them which fully sells the OCCULT DOOM cinematic theme that’s a huge part of the band’s musical arsenal. 

Goat Major starts to develop a commanding distorted presence which moves further into the depths of Sludge Rock and sees some vibrant groove rock solos starting to emerge on tracks such as Under The Moonlight, Wheels Of Gold, Sirens, The Sin Eater and Negative Church. The sound is always grounded but still sees Goat Major include some glorious OVER THE TOP ideas into their music whilst playing an intense style of classic Doom Metal energy. 

Death Comes Twice is superbly fast paced with an excellent story driven narrative which reminds me of Alice Cooper in places which gives the album another wonderful offbeat atmosphere to develop within the later stages of the record. Goat Major even started to experiment with modern Psych/Stoner Rock grooves on the album that gives the whole record a refreshing modern day vibe whilst keeping their core “OCCULT DOOM” vibe fully intact.

Goat Major have delivered another masterful record with Death Comes Twice that’s bound to become one of the standout records to listen to before the end of the year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Death Comes Twice is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Planet Fatale - Psychostasia (Single Review)

Release Date: October 23rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Psychostasia - Tracklist

Psychostasia

Members

Hels Johnson – Vocals

Simon Murden – Guitar

Chris Delay - Guitar

James Miller - Bass

Ollie Wallace – Drums

Review

Psychostasia is the latest single from Doom/Stoner Rockers Planet Fatale from their

forthcoming second album, recorded with Mike Exeter (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest) due for release next year. The song is a great mix of Doom, Grunge, Psych and Stoner Rock with some grounded atmospherics that allows Planet Fatale to develop a classic Nineties Alt/Rock vibe on certain sections of the song.

The music can be quite frenzied but delivered with a determined approach especially when the thunderous grooves transform into a classic style of Heavy Metal that dominates the musical landscape. The excellent vocals from Hels Johnson are quite aggressive, domineering and heartfelt which constantly holds the listener’s attention.

Planet Fatale are influenced by the likes of Black Sabbath, CLUTCH and QOTSA but that’s just a small part to the whole musical story the band project on this track alone. As they do include a sublime Blues Rock and Proto-Metal dimension into their music with a song that delivers great music and creative energy from the very start. This is my first experience with the band and if the rest of the album lives up to the great potential of Psychostasia then they could have something special on their hands.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Blood Of The Earth - Beneath A Sky That Breaks (EP Review)

Release Date: October 23rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Beneath A Sky That Breaks - Tracklist

Beneath A Sky That Breaks - 5:12

The Constellation - 3:55

Barren Oasis - 3:22

Petrichor - 4:03

Filth Pig [Bonus] - 4:10

Members

Jeff Golden

Katie Golden

J. Costa

Review

Beneath A Sky That Breaks is the latest EP from Doom/Sludge Metallers Blood Of The Earth who combine Post-Metal heaviness with a crushing nihilistic vision which draws upon the likes of Neurosis, ISIS, SUMAC and CROWBAR that helps the band create their own brutal style of music. The EP is highly volatile and equally violent with massive outbursts of industrial based Doom/Sludge Metal instrumental sounds with the vocals being quite harsh throughout. 

There’s a great use of different electronic and ambient noises being played amongst the downbeat Post-Metal grooves that adds different layers of decaying filth within every track that’s contained within the record. The whole thing is wonderfully solitary which offers no easy answers with the brutal vocals from J Costa being quite contemporary at the same time. Katie Golden offers a more emotionally charged appearance within the haunting and brilliantly violent second track of The Constellation.

There are guest appearances from Afzaal Nasiruddeen (Crisis, Masters Ashes) and Adam Phillips (ex-Pro-Pain) on the record which allows Blood Of The Earth to offer a more interesting dynamic compared to their previous records. This allows Beneath A Sky That Breaks to have a more experimental feel with a punishing narrative developing on the standout tracks of Beneath A Sky That Breaks, The Constellation and Petrichor.

Despite the harsh Post-metal surroundings that the band align themselves with, there’s a huge groove orientated and highly melodic style of riffs that appear throughout the record that surprised me. As there are parts of the EP that I found myself headbanging to even against the offset of crushing Industrial and Post-Metal beats. 

The added use of distorted feedback and amplified measures only allows the grime and filth of Blood Of The Earth’s overall sound to be fully dominant within the closing stages of the excellent cover FILTH PIG by the legendary MINISTRY.

Beneath A Sky That Breaks is an intense and highly unforgettable experience that left me wanting to hear more. I’m hoping there’s more SONIC WARFARE from Blood Of The Earth in the near future as this is simply mesmerising from start to finish.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Secret Service Publicity PR for the promo.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Portland Doom Warriors Viral Tyrant announce live album "Live At Hallowed Halls" out November 13th via Ripple Music

Sludgy, blackened, thoroughly doomed Portland riff masters Viral Tyrant are set to release live album “Live At Hallowed Halls”, recorded at the titular recording studio.

Capturing the four piece in their live natural habitat, Viral Tyrant lay down five brutal slabs of heavy from their 2023 debut album “Vultures Like You”. The release kicks off a short run of Bay Area shows in November alongside San Jose rippers Reptilian Arms.

IN THE BAND'S OWN WORDS:

Says Dylan Fields (Guitar):

“This live EP represents a transition point for us - it’s a celebration of our debut record as well as a turning toward what’s next. These songs will always be part of our catalogue and we love playing them live, but this record is very much a send off to the “Vultures Like You” era as we look toward the release of our new album next year, again in conjunction with Ripple Music.

We wanted to represent ourselves in a raw state - playing live is important to us and we want to be known as a band who puts out energy on stage and makes live performance meaningful for the audience, because it means a lot to us.”

Eric Wallace (Guitar/Vocals):

“This live record is raw and unfiltered. The energy we channel live was captured with honesty and power at Hallowed Halls - saturated and visceral, baking in the summer heat. From the shredded vocal chords to the blasting wall of guitars and the oppressive percussion of the drums, this live set represents an end of one era and the birth of another.”

Mitch Meidinger, Drums:

"For me it was an awesome show and exactly what I signed up for when I decided to dedicate my life to drumming. This show is as pure as music and Viral Tyrant can get, it's awesome we decided to do a live recording and I hope it's not our last!"

Casey Martin, Bass/Vocals:

"This is our band progressing from our first to our second record in real time. Even now, we are tighter and heavier than before. Live At Hallowed Halls is a bridge between our first and second albums; it’s a natural progression into MUCH heavier territory."

Viral Tyrant - Live At Hallowed Halls

Live album out November 13th, 2026
Ripple Music (Digital)
Portland, Oregon, US
FFO: High On Fire • Khemmis • Monolord • Crowbar
Cover Art “King Vulturah” by Richard Miller, Calyx Design

Credits:

- Recorded live at The Bomber at Hallowed Halls Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon
- Mastered by Rob Wrong (Witch Mountain) at Wrong Way Recording in Portland Oregon
- Tracks Edited By Seanen McCollough at Helvete Studios in Portland, Oregon
- Live Photos by Eddie Brnabic
- Band Photos by Brittany Rose Hardcastle

Viral Tyrant is:

Dylan Fields - Guitar
Eric Wallace - Guitar, Vocals
Mitch Meidinger - Drums
Casey Martin - Bass, Vocals

Tracklist:

1. The Felling of the Doom Tree (10:44)
2. Beacon Omega (7:12)
3. Blunt Force and Sheer Ignorance (7:52)
4. A Savage, Ensnared (8:02)
5. Vosturan (7:42)

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Linktree

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.

Peacepipe - Emerald Flood (Album Review)

 

Release Date: October 13th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Emerald Flood - Tracklist

1.Emerald Flood 05:07

2.Kids on Drugs 02:33

3.Final Croak 03:11

4.Me & Mary Jane 01:49

5.High Ride 04:13

6.D.E.A. 03:45

7.Cum in Peace 04:26

8.Holy Ascension 04:13

9.Midnight Reefer 02:32

10.Hairy Houdini 03:11

Members

Vocals: Billy Huse

Drums: Connor Fleming

Bass: Conner "Red" Altwein

Guitar: Jusep Cruz

Review

Emerald Flood is the debut album from Doom/Stoner Metallers Peacepipe which follows their excellent 2023 debut release with the band bringing a heavier and sludgier dimension into their music. The music is perhaps even more Southern Metal / NOLA influenced as well with Peacepipe branching out into different levels of WEEDIAN metal. 

You can feel influences from the likes of Weedeater, Bongzilla, DOWN, Crowbar, Red Fang, Black Sabbath and KYUSS with Peacepipe showing a lot of great love and respect to those legendary bands whilst keeping within their own creative lane for heavy distorted sludgy movements from start to finish.

There’s a great sense of humour appearing within the lyrics and the song titles contained on the album with Peacepipe demonstrating a great style of Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Fuzz and Sludge Metal. However, Peacepipe can also be very serious in the most hard hitting parts of the album which comes through the grizzled and determined vocals by Billy Huse. Even though the vocals are mostly gruff and clean based, Billy demonstrates a vicious aggressive style that can burst into sudden harsh growls if he wanted to go down that route. It’s that kind of threat which leaves the listener completely on edge to fully expect that kind of violent vocal delivery to fully appear.

The music performed by Connor Fleming (Drums), Connor “Red” Altwein (Bass) and Jusep Cruz (Guitar) is superbly played with a gritty atmosphere that develops into a classic style of NOLA delivery with outbursts of FUZZ and SLUDGE sounds being heavily distorted throughout. The production values are quite raw and demonstrate a great style of grimy atmospherics which fully leans into the WEEDIAN aspect of Peacepipe’s music.

The murky psychedelic grooves appear when you least expect it and gives Emerald Flood some massive amounts of amplifier distortion, fuzzy reverb and insane amounts of feedback within the later stages of the album. The majority of the tracks have a similar sound to each other but the message contained within them are quite different with Peacepipe wisely adapting different strands of STONER folklore into their lyrics with some grounded realism being added along the way. 

Standout tracks to check out are: Emerald Flood, Final Croak, Me & Mary Jane, High Ride, Cum In Peace and Hairy Houdini. As these tracks are full of the best sounds on the record and features lyrics that are highly unapologetic which Peacepipe just runs amok with. Though, everything is played quite seriously with Peacepipe fully dedicated to the music they create and you can feel that throughout the album. 

Emerald Flood is an outstanding debut album from Peacepipe which is the type of album you want the whole “underground” metal scene to actually listen to and prove what a damn great band these guys really are. 

Superb. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Sundowner - Cesspool (Album Review)

Release Date: October 16th 2026. Record Label: Disdain Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Cesspool - Tracklist

1.The Deep 05:21

2.Golden Skinned Gods 03:45

3.Grave Wax 03:50

4.Intoxication Blues 03:23

5.Bleach Sniffer 05:02

6.7 Shades Of Shit 04:08

7.Complete And Utter Ruin 01:58

8.Unwilling Subjects 04:54

9.Water Torture 02:56

10.Pond Scum 05:36

Review

Aussie Sludge/Stoner Metallers Sundowner bring another twisted style of filth and debauchery into their music with their third album Cesspool. Taking that legendary NOLA sound and applying areas of Blues Metal, Fuzz Metal and Amplified Feedback where the band still add that classic Australian grimy HEAVY METAL attitude into the mix . This allows Sundowner once again to create a heavily poisoned and filth ridden style of Sludge/Stoner Metal that’s quite violent to hear the best of times especially when the grooves are amplified to fucking hell. 

Taking influences from the likes of EYEHATEGOD, DOWN, IRON MONKEY and CHURCH OF MISERY it’s the nihilistic lyrics and depressing WEEDIAN afterthoughts that Sundowner have applied to this record makes them a great band in their own right. The use of extreme and difficult vocals gives Cesspool another great reason to consider Sundowner one of Australia’s heaviest Sludge/Stoner Metal bands as they leave no stone unturned in delivering some of the filthiest and violent grooves to emerge from DOWN UNDER.

However, Sundowner never forgot to play some outstanding instrumental sounds that are filled with superb LOW & SLOW and AMPLIFIED DISTORTION passages that are violently melodic throughout the album. The level of filth, grime and distorted textures sometimes align themselves to a CRUST PUNK way of life with some great EXTREME METAL sounds developing when you least expect this.

Cesspool is perfectly named with Sundowner never offering or playing clean uplifting instrumental moments. As the band fully revel in the pain and tortuous sounds they create and expertly play on the entire album. The mixture of down-tuned elements and fast-paced grooves all appear at the right time that allows Sundowner to inflict maximum damage to the actual speakers whoever listens to the album.

Standout tracks to punish yourself with include: The Deep, Gold Skinned Gods, Intoxication Blues, Bleach Sniffer, 7 Shades Of Shit, Unwilling Suspects and Pond Scum. As these tracks are consistently the most violent, heavy and aggressive songs on the whole album but you can still rock the fuck out to.

Cesspool is an epic assault on the senses with Sundowner never apologizing for their massive style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal that destroys everything in their way.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Cesspool is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Disdain Records.

Links

https://sundownersludge.bandcamp.com
https://instagram.com/sundownersludge
https://facebook.com/sundownersludge

Hash thrashers Hempire announce EP "Sealed By The Sea" out October 24th; Documentary film "Count Your Days" out now

Hempire will self-release Sealed By The Sea on October 24th, an EP recorded in Asheville at Roundtable Studios by Reilly Appert (Fliora).

Sealed By The Sea offers a progressive take on stoner rock with elements of hardcore, thrash, and death metal following their debut release The Weight (2025). Inspired by historical tragedy, Sealed By The Sea is an empirical and intense elaboration of the previous album’s themes of life and death.

Accompanying Sealed By The Sea is the short documentary Count Your Days, filmed by the band and including behind the scenes footage on the recording process & tour, band member interviews, and more.

Hempire has been a part of the DIY music scene in the southern Appalachian region since 2022, opening for Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, Whores, and Bongripper, along with repeat appearances at Lily’s Snack Bar’s Doomerang Fest and Kentucky’s Holler of Doom.

FALL 26 /WINTER 27 TOUR:

Hempire will be hitting the road this Fall/Winter with fellow North Carolina heavies Mean Green in October/December and Broadslab in January.

Hempire - Sealed By The Sea

EP out October 24th, 2026
Self-released (Digital, CD)
Asheville, North Carolina, US
FFO: High on Fire • Melvins • CoC • Howling Giant • Conan
Recorded in Asheville at
Roundtable Studios by Reilly Appert (Fliora)

Hempire is:

Joey Shaw - Vox, Guitar
Jon Andre - Drums
Jason Watson - Bass

Tracklist:

1. Indianapolis (4:41)
2. Price To Pay (4:52)
3. Blue Water, White Death (3:58)
4. Death By Secrecy (4:20)

Links:

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram |  Spotify | YouTube 

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.