FROGLORD UNVEIL MYSTERY BONUS SINGLE AHEAD OF THE MYSTIC TOAD VINYL REPRESS

Swamp doom favourites Froglord begin the next chapter of their ever expanding amphibious universe with the reveal of a mystery bonus single, set to feature on the long awaited vinyl repress of The Mystic Toad, released via Black Throne Productions.

This news teases an unnamed addition to the reissue, the mystery single will also arrive as a standalone release on 3 June. The release follows the momentum of the band’s sixth album Lower & Slower, continuing to deepen their immersive world of sludge heavy grooves, psychedelic doom, and swamp soaked mythology rooted in The Tale of The Froglord.

Emerging from Bristol’s underground, Froglord have carved out a distinctive identity through dense, fuzz driven riffs and conceptual storytelling. With this new release, that world expands further, not only as a new piece of music, but as part of a wider creative collaboration.

Reuniting with the team behind the cult horror film Frogman, the band contribute to the soundtrack of its upcoming sequel Frogman Returns. The film follows Dallas Kyle as he continues his investigation into the amphibian cryptid of Loveland, Ohio. Froglord’s murky, submerged sound sits naturally within the film’s found footage aesthetic, adding a layer of tension that bridges the gap between doom and cinematic unease.

The inclusion of the track on The Mystic Toad repress marks a significant moment for the band, bringing renewed focus to one of their most sought after releases while expanding its place within the wider Froglord universe.

To support the release, Froglord will take their live show across the UK this July, joining Bat Sabbath (the Black Sabbath tribute project featuring members of Cancer Bats) for a two week run. Alongside the tour, the band are set for key festival appearances including a return to Bloodstock Open Air and their debut at Stoomfest London.

With new material, a growing presence in film, and a packed summer schedule ahead, Froglord continue to establish themselves as one of the UK underground’s most distinctive and imaginative voices in doom.

Links

LinkTree | BandCamp | BigCartel

Thanks to Neon Leopard Promotions for the details.

Swedish Sludge Metal quartet MOLOKEN announces new self titled album and shares first single and video

MOLOKEN - Photo by Marcus Norman

Swedish four-piece Moloken have spent nearly two decades forging a sound where doom, death, sludge, black and post-metal converge into something singular and immersive. The result is a unique blend of dark, moody and menacing music that manages to be both cerebral and crushingly heavy.

Today, Moloken announces their self-titled fifth album for a September 25th release via Discouraged Records. The album marks a powerful return after six years of silence - a dark, introspective journey through themes of consciousness, death, and eternity - and with the album announcement, the first single and video ‘A Night Vision Revealed (Asterion Pt. I)’ is released.

As an entry point to the album, ‘A Night Vision Revealed (Asterion Pt. I)’ sets the tone for what lies ahead: a deeper exploration of contrast, where light and darkness coexist, and where Moloken’s evolving identity takes shape in its most human form yet. The song offers a glimpse into a new dimension of Moloken’s sound. Marking the band’s first use of clean vocals, the track reveals a more exposed and vulnerable side without sacrificing the weight and intensity that defines them.

'A Night Vision Revealed (Asterion Pt. I)' is a retelling of a classic story about the Minotaur of Crete, hiding in his labyrinthine palace. On surface level it is a story regarding profound loneliness, the loss of innocence and holding out hope for some kind of redemption but it is also a personal reflection on feeling stuck, the loss of self, life's dreariness and routine finally coming to a head.

Filmed in a single unbroken take in Holmsund, outside Umeå, the video captures the night sky in real time — a conceptual “slow video” where drifting clouds and the subtle movements of nature become the only visual counterpart to the music’s unfolding atmosphere.

Moloken will play two May shows in Sweden and Norway, with more shows to be announced in the months to come.

MOLOKEN Live 2026:

09.05.26 - Umeå, Stallet (SE)
15.05.26 - Vadsø, Valo Rock Festival (NO)

Watch the video for ‘A Night Vision Revealed (Asterion Pt. I)’

Doom, death, black, sludge or post - few metal subgenres escape Moloken's gravitational pull. Since forming in 2007, the four-piece from Umeå, Sweden has consistently pushed the boundaries of their sound, carving out new musical terrain with each release.

Moloken’s music moves like a shifting legend. For nearly two decades it has passed from listener to listener, changing shape along the way and leaving behind a lingering aura of mystique. Pinning the band down to a single genre is nearly impossible - but their uncompromising weight and precision as a live act are undeniable. At its core, Moloken is an experience: something to be felt rather than explained, reaching its full force on stage.

After six years of silence, the album marks a powerful return. Moloken reconnects with a more primal, doom-laden foundation while expanding their sonic palette: clean vocals, acoustic passages, and subtle traces of Nordic folk music are woven into the whole. Since ‘Unveillance of Dark Matter’ (2020), the band has undergone significant changes shaped by loss, hardship, and transformation - all of which resonate throughout the new material.

The band’s fifth album revolves around the burden of consciousness, death, and eternity. It unfolds as a journey through a Nordic mythscape, drawing the listener deep into a dense forest. Lush melancholy intertwines with a creeping unease; what first feels inviting gradually becomes disorienting. When the illusion breaks, you find yourself alone in the dark, surrounded by your own thoughts - with only a faint light somewhere beyond the fear.

MOLOKEN - ‘A Night Vision Revealed (Asterion Pt. I)’
Single artwork by Akrar

Online

https://moloken.net
https://www.facebook.com/Molokenofficial
https://www.instagram.com/molokenofficial
https://www.youtube.com/@molokenofficial

LEASH - SIT (EP Revivew)

Release Date: 01st May 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

SIT - Tracklisting

1.Leash 04:21

2.HHYB? 04:03

3.Meanie 02:55

4.Mellotrauma 03:41

Review

LEASH is the new band from Hudu Akil's Zac Crye which sees this project play a similar style of music of that great band but focusing upon a more Psychedelic, Punk Rock and Desert Rock attitude. The music is perhaps more riff-centric compared to Hudu Akil and will impress fans of bands such as DOZER, KYUSS and MONSTER MAGNET. There’s a highly energetic attitude to LEASH’s music which you can feel on their debut EP - SIT. The record is full of catchy Desert Rock sounds that quickly transform into a wave of Psychedelic and Space Rock soundscapes that have an eerie Blues Rock familiarity to them.

Shades of early-era QOTSA can be heard throughout the EP with opening tracks as Leash and HHYB? allowing  LEASH the time to slow things right before thinking of their next strategic move with their music. The Punk Rock atmosphere can mostly be heard within the production values and sludgy guitars that make a more commanding presence within the quieter parts of the record. 

LEASH even allow themselves the creative opportunity to add a spicy “GRUNGE” aspect to the record which adds a level of Nineties Alt-Rock sensibility which demonstrates a low-key Droned Out and Fuzz based effect. SIT does have a dominant DIY recording ethic that’s been used to great effect that gives LEASH a gritty and less polished sound which is what you need for a great debut release to grab audiences attention with. 

The final two tracks of Meanie and Mellotrauma are the most rebellious and aggressive tracks on the record with similar sounds from HUDU AKIL appearing along the way. There’s some cool sounding QOTSA based Desert/Stoner Rock with LEASH exploring their musical influences with great love and affection whilst also doing their own thing. This is a great riff-fuelled musical quest with LEASH impressing yet again. 

SIT is a superbly entertaining EP which should allow LEASH to introduce themselves to the underground Stoner Rock/Metal scene in a great way and I’m hoping to hear more from LEASH with perhaps a longer release next time. As my only complaint is the EP is too damn short. However, that shouldn’t stop you for adding this to your record collection at the earliest opportunity.

Excellent and Highly Recommended. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

Beneath The Skin - Beneath The Skin (Album Review)

Release Date: 18th April 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Beneath The Skin - Tracklisting

1.People 04:45

2.Internal 04:37

3.Rivalry 04:25

4.So Strange 03:59

5.Fade Away 04:58

6.Sunshine Of Your Love (Cream Cover) 04:21

7.Rearranged 05:21

8.Lies and Politics 06:34

Members

Mike Riley - Vocals

Russell Conner - GuitarT

Josh Bowles - Bass

Jimmy York - Drums

Review

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Beneath The Skin self titled debut album taps right into the murky underbelly of the NOLA scene whilst still keeping themselves closely to the wider underground scene with flashes of influences from the likes of SLEEP, Electric Wizard and The Melvins. The record itself is a mixture of different styles that does take time for everything to fully gel together. 

The recording techniques used for the album are quite stripped back with that sudden “LIVE GIG” feeling appearing throughout the majority of the album. That’s one of the albums main strengths with Beneath The Skin not being bogged down by flashy progressive gimmicks and just playing some mean sounding NOLA grooves with a reflective DOWN influence being used to great effect.

The songs that appear on the record can be wholly aggressive and even superbly riff-driven; that was all the range in the heyday of NOLA and Southern Metal. The record works best when the band merge certain Stoner Metal structures to an ever-increasing gloomy atmosphere which adds a level of slight creepiness along the way.

The lyrics are quite understated which taps into the area of the nineties and early-millennial era of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. The sudden shift into Grunge dynamics brings small movements of Alice In Chains musical delivery with Beneath The Skin creating their own great blend of Doom & Gloom heaviness into the mix especially on tracks such as: People, Rivalry, So Strange, Fade Away and Lies And Politics. 

Beneath The Skin may add some realistic situations into their lyrics which have an emotional quality and experience to them which makes the music even more powerful. The band creates a superb mid-to-slow instrumental flow where everything is played with real muscular precision that only adds real weight into everything that’s being played on the whole album.

There’s an excellent cover of the CREAM classic track Sunshine Of Your Love which doesn’t stray too far from the original. However, Beneath The Skin adds that unforgiving and seedy style of NOLA heaviness which gives it quite an uneasy and gloomy sound compared to the original. The raw melodies and sinister vocal delivery make this a great cover through and through as the song becomes possessed by a DOOMED OUT and BLUES ROCK spirit especially within the epic instrumental solos that we all know and love.

Beneath The Skin is packed full of great tunes and they bring a sense of world weariness to the party that allows their album to have a cool outsider effect which should hopefully go down a storm with the Sludge/Stoner Metal community.

If you require evidence why it’s always great to be part of the actual heavy metal underground scene and not the mainstream then it’s thanks to great bands such as Beneath The Skin releasing outstanding albums such as this the mainstream scene can never offer!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Doom/Sludge Metallers VEILCASTE Announce New Album HELLWARD And Release New Single EMBEDDED

VEILCASTE: a doomed and sludgy metal institution from the center of the American Midwaste; a rusted-out ashtray of post-industrial rot known as Indianapolis.

With a long-standing reputation for heavy hook-laden riffs, cathartic vocal eruptions, and spacey, psychedelic undertones, Veilcaste have embarked on a new chapter that doesn’t so much trudge as groove- with cranium-cracking force. As they approach the release of their fourth album, “Hellward”, they humbly submit the first single “Embedded”:

“Embedded is about embracing what makes us human as an act of defiance. We are not luddites by any stretch, but we are actively reckoning with the insidious presence of technology in practically every aspect of our lives. The song presents sex as transcendence and a rejection of both the false connections of social media and the race-to-the-bottom of AI.”

Youtube: https://youtu.be/RaVSgmUKmnA?si=xSugQUJmN8xlhn4e
Bandcamp: https://veilcaste.bandcamp.com/track/embedded-2

Early listeners have said it pairs well with Crowbar, Chat Pile, or Old Man Gloom, but VEILCASTE were 90s alterna-teens before they found Neurosis, and still worship Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and White Zombie so you might catch a whiff of those in there as well.

Members of the band founded and served time in such bands as Demiricous (Metal Blade) and Coffinworm (Profound Lore).

“Hellward” will be dropping on vinyl/CD/cassette in August via Third House Communications.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Norwegian heavy blues pillars THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES sign to Ripple Music, unleash new single + announce full European tour!

After years of relentless touring across Europe, Norway's premium heavy blues unit The Devil And The Almighty Blues finally unveils new material — marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter as the band recently inked a worldwide deal with Californian label Ripple Music.

Ripple Music founder Todd Severin enthuses: "I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome the monstrous Devil and the Almighty Blues to the Ripple Family. I saw them headline the second day of the Planet Desert Rock Weekend in Las Vegas, and they were completely mesmerizing — the entire audience was under their spell. I can't wait to help get their music to a wider audience!"

Stream new single "Lied To" at this location ️

Lurking at the darker edges of heavy blues, their new single “Lied To” is the first of three singles set to arrive throughout 2026, leading up to their highly anticipated new album and Ripple Music debut in the spring of 2027. Driven by a slow, heavy groove and elevated by a powerful melodic chorus, the track stays true to The Devil And The Almighty Blues’ unmistakable sound while pushing into new sonic territory. With the addition of guitarist Markus Berntzen to the lineup, a fresh dynamic emerges, expanding their signature heavy blues foundation.

The release also marks the kickoff of their "Tour Of The Seasons" run, covering spring and autumn 2026 across Europe. This fall, the band will be joined by Skyjoggers, adding an extra layer of psychedelic intensity to the tour package.

Upcoming spring shows

Apr 27 – Hamburg (DE) – Knust
Apr 28 – Wuppertal (DE) – Live Club Barmen
Apr 29 – Münster (DE) – Rare Guitar Bar
Apr 30 – Eindhoven (NL) – Effenaar
May 01 – Deventer (NL) – Burgerweeshuis
May 02 – Izegem (BE) – De Leest
May 03 – Aachen (DE) – Musikbunker
May 04 – Neunkirchen (DE) – Stummsche Reithalle
May 05 – Stuttgart (DE) – Goldmark’s
May 06 – Wiesbaden (DE) – Schlachthof
May 07 – Jena (DE) – KuBa
May 08 – Dresden (DE) – Beatpol
May 09 – Siegen (DE) – Vortex Surfer Musikclub

Fall European tour

Sep 26 – Leeuwarden (NL) – Into The Void Festival
Oct 01 – Paris (FR) – Backstage by The Mill *
Oct 02 – Lille (FR) – La Bulle Café *
Oct 03 – Karlsruhe (DE) – Alter Schlachthof *
Oct 04 – Pratteln (CH) – Z7 *
Oct 05 – Cologne (DE) – Club Volta *
Oct 06 – Bielefeld (DE) – Forum *
Oct 07 – Hannover (DE) – Café Glocksee *
Oct 08 – Leipzig (DE) – Hellraiser *
Oct 09 – Erlangen (DE) – E-Werk *
Oct 10 – Munich (DE) – Backstage *
w/ Skyjoggers *

The Devil And The Almighty Blues links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Ripple Music links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR and Sound Of Liberation for the details.

Red Beard Wall - FTW (EP Review)

Release Date: June 05th 2026. Record Label: Snake Piss Records. Formats: DD

FTW - Tracklisting

W.A.N.T.S.

FTW

Members

Drums: Red Beard Wall

Guitar: Red Beard Wall

Vocals: Red Beard Wall

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers Red Beard Wall return after a five year absence and I thought the band had called it quits ages ago as things have been fairly quiet from the band. However, the band are back with this two track EP called FTW which sees Aaron flying solo this time and venting his pissed off aggression at the current state of the world and perhaps with their most politically charged and pissed off release to date. FTW only contains two tracks but there’;s a mixture of pounding Sludge, Doom, Stoner, Noise and Noise Rock sounds that Red Beard Wall made their name with.

There’s a sudden influx of Hardcore passages with their trademark streetlevel “DOOM-POP” sound being kept to a minimum that’s set against harsh realistic lyrics with Aaron venting out against the world mostly within the track W.A.N.T.S. That track still has a certain TORCHE based influence towards the end of the song but most of the time Red Beard Wall plays a highly volatile mix of down-tuned Fuzz/Sludge instrumental surroundings with socially aware lyrics to make this track an extra spicy level of pure heaviness.

The remaining track FTW is pure Red Bead Wall through and through with a stripped back Psych/Punk Rock groove exploding into a wall of heavy PISSED OFF noise which takes aim at more the dreaded enemy of Artificial Intelligence which sees Aaron taking aim at the perhaps the most dangerous threat known to man at this moment in time. The stripped back production values is obviously free of any A.I/ involvement with Aaron playing a more grounded style of Noise, Punk, Psych and Stoner Metal carnage with down-tuned Sludge Metal riffs that destroys everything within sight.

FTW is quite short running under ten minutes but it’s always great to have new material from Red Beard Wall and I’m hoping there’s a longer release in the long term. As this proves that the world of Sludge/Stoner Metal need RED BEARD WALL more than ever!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp