US Doom Royalty THE OBSESSED announces Bob Pantella (Monster Magnet, The Atomic Bitchwax) as new drummer; fall European tour announced!

Iconic architects of American doom metal THE OBSESSED announce a seismic shift behind the kit as drummer Brian Costantino steps away, passing the torch to none other than Bob Pantella—the powerhouse percussionist known for his crushing work with Monster Magnet and The Atomic Bitchwax. The band will embark on an extensive European tour including several festival appearances this fall.

As the band bids farewell to one brother in arms, they welcome heavy rock titan Bob Pantella, whose explosive energy and veteran prowess promise to ignite The Obsessed’s signature sound with fresh, primal fire. Says frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich: “After The Obsessed drummer Brian Costantino recently stepped away from the band due to personal reasons, we are very happy to welcome Bob Pantella into The Obsessed. I have known Bob for many years and have always admired his skills behind the drums, and after our initial jam together, we are inspired and ready to rock. You may already know him from his other excellent bands The Atomic Bitchwax, Monster Magnet and Raging Slab. We are proud to welcome Bob into The Obsessed.“

The Obsessed returned last year after a seven-year absence with their acclaimed new album "Gilded Sorrow" on independent Californian label Ripple Music. Lauded as a "must-listen for fans of the genre and a compelling entry point for newer voyagers into the world of doom" by Metal Hammer and "the best the band has ever sounded" by Ghost Cult Magazine, "Gilded Sorrow" is a defiantly abrasive, crushing and straightforward album that has already left an indelible mark on the heavy music landscape. The newly forged lineup will storm Europe this fall to perform their 1994 cornerstone album "The Church Within" in its entirety, including appearances at Desertfest, Up In Smoke and Keep It Low festivals.

The Obsessed European tour 2025:

01.10.25 DE Wiesbaden - Schlachthof
02.10.25 DE Ulm - Roxy
03.10.25 DE Würzburg - Keep It True Festival
04.10.25 DE Karlsruhe - Stadtmitte
05.10.25 CH Pratteln - Up In Smoke Festival
06.10.25 IT Milano - Legend
08.10.25 AT Vienna - Arena
09.10.25 AT Innsbruck - P.M.K.
10.10.25 CRO Zagreb - Mochvara
11.10.25 DE Munich - Keep It Low Festival
12.10.25 DE Leipzig - Ut Connewitz
13.10.25 DE Berlin - Zukunft
15.10.25 DE Cologne - Volta
16.10.25 DE Bielefeld - Forum
17.10.25 BE Antwerpen - Desertfest Belgium
18.10.25 NL Deventer - Burgerweeshuis
20.10.25 UK Bradford - The Underground
21.10.25 UK Manchester - Star & Garter
22.10.25 UK Milton Keynes - The Craufurd Arms
23.10.25 UK London - The Dome
24.10.25 NL Rotterdam - Grounds
25.10.25 DE Hamburg - Lazy Bones Festival

 

Scott “Wino” Weinrich is a living legend. In a way, he is the American version of Lemmy and shares many traits with the late, much-beloved metal icon. He’s always been a rebel, loner and an outsider in an outsider scene, pursuing his music without regard for popularity or acceptance. In the process, he came to be considered one of the early pioneers of American doom. All of this began when he founded THE OBSESSED back in the 70s, then pursued through his many other outfits such as Saint Vitus or Spirit Caravan. As a key part of the 80s Washington/Maryland music scene, his music earned the respect of metal, punk and crossover fans alike while often being dubbed doom metal. Looking back, it was just gritty, street-wise American metal with a cynical bent and psychedelic flair, and this is what made him the unique and timeless heavy music icon he is today.

THE OBSESSED was formed in the late 1970s in Potomac, Maryland by legendary guitarist Scott “Wino” Weinrich (Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan). The band spawned in the realm of musicians/artists such as Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa, The Dictators, and The Stooges. The earliest lineup consisted of Wino, bassist Mark Laue, guitarist John Reese, and drummer Dave Flood. In 1983, Wino took over vocal duties and the band became a three-piece to record the Sodden Jackal EP. The band broke up in the late 80s after Wino moved to California to join Saint Vitus. At that time, a German label, Hellhound Records, and the booking agency that had signed Saint Vitus, released The Obsessed, originally recorded in 1985, prompting Wino to reform THE OBSESSED. After multiple lineup changes, the band signed to Columbia Records in 1994 to release their third and final album, The Church Within. Despite highly acclaimed reviews, they would break up following the release, seeing Wino forming Spirit Caravan (then Shine) and other projects.

In September 2011, THE OBSESSED returned to the stage at Roadburn Festival with The Church Within‘s legendary lineup of Wino, Greg Rogers, and Guy Pinhas. The band played a few more reunion shows over the next couple of years, including Hellfest Open Air in 2012 and Maryland Deathfest XI in May 2013 with bassist Reid Raley. Wino announced the full-time return of the band iin March 2016 and the band’s official signing to Relapse Records to record the follow-up to The Church Within. The new lineup originally consisted of Spirit Caravan bassist Dave Sherman and Wino’s longtime friend and former road crew member Brian Costantino (drums). On October 31st, 2016, Wino announced a new lineup change, including Bruce Falkinburg (bass) and Seraphim (guitar), making it the first time the band had been a four-piece in over thirty-five years.

In 2017, THE OBSESSED unleashed Sacred, the band’s first studio album in over twenty years, further pushing the band into the annals of heavy metal history. After a few years on the road, the lineup stabilized around Brian Costantino on drums, Chris Angleberger on bass, Jason Taylor on guitar, and Scott "Wino" Weinrich at the helm. In the winter of 2024, the iconic foursome embraced the new decade in doom with the release of their awaited fifth album "Gilded Sorrow" as part of their collaboration with Californian label Ripple Music and their return to the stage forefront through several North American and European tours and festival appearances.

THE OBSESSED links

Bandcamp - Facebook - Instagram - Spotify

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

WENCHES - Stupid Sick (Album Review)

Release Date: July 11th 2025. Record Label: Various. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

STUPID SICK - Tracklisting

1.Haulin' Ass Fault 04:08

2.Buzzkiller 03:25 

3.Boneless 03:55

4.When I Died 04:20

5.Kick It Down (feat. Chad Price) 03:16

6.Throw Me to the Wolves 03:04

7.Dearly Departed 04:27

8.Like Lightnin' (feat. Jonathon Newby) 04:48

Members

Jarod (guitar), James (vocals), Mike (bass), and Brad (drums)

Review

Post-Punk/Heavy Metal troublemakers WENCHES return with their second album Stupid Sick and it’s a whole load of rebellious fun with the band being influenced by the likes of MC5, MOTORHEAD, The Stooges and even Classic Hard Rock icons such as The Who and The Rolling Stones. The record is quite in your face with its turbo-charged Punk Rock sounds but really comes alive when WENCHES transform into HEAVY METAL riff maestros with a subtle Post-Punk energy holding everything together.

There’s no Progressive or Complex rhythms around on Stupid Sick as WENCHES are a first rate RAWK & ROLL band in every sense of the word. The songs are catchy and absolutely full with Streetwise attitude with Jamie’s vocals combining Garage Rock grit and the flamboyant attitude of Heavy Metal especially within the excellent batch of opening tracks of Haulin’ Ass Fault, Buzzkiller and Boneless. There’s a great style of NWOBHM themes merging with the classic Detroit Rock City scene on the sublime second track of Buzzkiller. 

It’s so refreshing to hear a band that just wants to rock out and get straight down to business in good old fashioned Rock and Metal music. There’s a ton of great instrumental solos performed by everyone within the band and when the Speed Metal attitude appears, WENCHES become a drastically different band where they have an air of excitement and danger to their whole creative outlook.

Stupid Sick merges sounds from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties era of Heavy Rock with a refreshing modern day aesthetic which is helped by the excellent work carried out by Carl Byers (Idiot, Graveripper, Usurp Synapse) who recorded the album and Don Fury (Quicksand, Helmet, Sick of It All) who mastered the record. So the band has some pretty big talent helping along with their creative journey.

WENCHES have also called upon the talents of Chad Price (vocalist of ALL, Drag the River, A Vulture Wake) on Kick It Down and Jonathan Newby (Brazil, JC Autobody and heavy supergroup Fixation Arc) on Like Lightnin’ who bring their own stamp of Rock & Roll authority within two of the finest tracks on the record.

The lyrics contained within Stupid Sick are very straight to the point but they match the outrageous mood of the whole album and it’s absolutely refreshing to hear even when they’re being way too playful and over the top at times. 

Stupid Sick is keeping the the true spirit of ROCK & ROLL alive with an unapologetic style of music that we don’t come across at all these days and WENCHES deserve all the critical plaudits coming their way. This is ROCK & ROLL the way it’s meant to be delivered. 

Outstanding. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to WENCHES for the promo.

Stupid Sick is available to buy from the links below:

The Ghost is Clear Records (CD) / Already Dead Tapes (CS) /  Master Kontrol Audio (Vinyl). 

Links

Official | BandCamp

Exclusive Album Premiere of Psych Stoner Rockers ATOM JUICE Brilliant Self Titled New Album

Formed by ex-Weedpecker, Makiwara and Clockmaid members, the quintet crafts a warm multi-dimensional sound that heartily takes its cue from Pink Floyd, The Allman Brothers Band, The Beatles, Pond or Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band. Recorded entirely in their rehearsal space, "Atom Juice" forms an aural rainbow of lush guitar layers, dreamy and alluring vocal harmonies and spacey effects, all exquisitely melding into magical landscapes and otherworldly daydreams that turn into reality as soon as you hit play. Dive in...

Recorded entirely in their rehearsal space, the album features layered guitars, rich vocal harmonies, and spacey effects — all crafted with great attention to detail.

“We poured everything we had into this record over the years it took to create it. We hope you enjoy the listen.”

We're excited to premiere the new album in full below thanks to the great folks over at Purple Sage PR and Heavy Psych Sounds.

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Atom Juice is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Alternative Metal Duo Sisters announce cult concept album Wings of Deliverance out August 29th on Spartan Records

Sisters have been carving out their own heavy, melodic world since the release of their debut album Leecheater in 2023 — a record that laid the foundation for their signature sound: raw, riff-driven rock with an unflinching honesty. Now, the duo Jason Blackmore (vocals / guitar / bass / keyboards ) and Mario Quintero (vocals / drums / guitar / keyboards), return with Wings of Deliverance, a darker, more experimental follow-up that examines Blackmore’s fascination with cults, religion, and power structures led through a conceptual exploration of the Jonestown Massacre.

The premise of the record comes to life in title track and opener “Wings of Deliverance” out now. As Blackmore divulges:

“The beginning. After preaching and holding healing revivals for two years at the Laurel Street Tabernacle Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church, Jim Jones leaves in 1955 and starts his own church.”

The track boasts a noise punk meets industrial electronic sound, setting off with an unhinged scream into a persuasive vocal delivery. The lo-fi video for the song mixes trippy graphics with imagery of Jim Jones and his followers, try not to get brainwashed. You can watch the video HERE and the track will hit streaming services tomorrow.

Wings of Deliverance will release on August 29th through Spartan Records and is available for preorder now.

Both Jason Blackmore and Mario Quintero have a wealth of experience that feeds into Sisters’ unique approach. Blackmore, a founding member of Molly McGuire, a band known for its heavy, emotionally-charged sound, brings years of songwriting experience to the table. Quintero, best known as the guitarist and vocalist for Spotlights, has contributed his technical prowess and musical vision to a band that’s been recognized for its atmospheric, heavy tones. Together, their combined experience in crafting songs for bands with distinct and powerful sounds has shaped Sisters into what it is today.

Wings Of Deliverance tells a chilling narrative about the cult of personality and the horrors of Jim Jones and the Jonestown tragedy. The record explores the devastating consequences of blind faith and how easily minds can be swayed by egomaniacal leaders. Sonically it enacts the floaty heart of Deftones with the experimental energy of Nine Inch Nails, boasting through a combination of alternative metal, industrial, and noise rock. Recorded in Quintero’s basement, the production is raw and exclusive. The album packs depth in both sound and concept, digging deep into the darker corners of the human psyche and delivering Sisters most true to form body of work yet.

Wings Of Deliverance Tracklist:

1. Wings of Deliverance
2. Home Is Where The Heart Is
3. Peoples Temple
4. The Angels of Violence
5. Golden Sunbeams
6. The Planning Commission
7. White Night
8. Death Is A Friend

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Acidsloth - ACIDSLOTH (Album Review)

Release Date: July 11th 2025. Record Label: Interstellar Smoke Records / Three Moon Records. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD

ACIDSLOTH - Tracklisting

1.Float 05:43

2.Hole 08:58

3.Free 05:31

4.Sin 09:39

5.Puke 06:28

6.Satan 08:09

Members

- Drums: Adam Gajeski (*Hyad*) 

- Bass: Wiktor Kozak (*Moonstone*, *Minor God*) 

- Guitar: Patryk Kozera (*Cosmic Carnage*) 

- Vocals: Julia Markiewicz (*Float*), Jan Gajewski (*Hole*), Radosław Bury (*Free*, *Puke*), Mateusz Zborowski (*Satan*), Patryk Kozera (*Sin*)

Review

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Acidsloth release their new album ACIDSLOTH which sees the band move firmly away from their Psych Stoner Rock sound they delivered on their previous records. This time round the band have adapted into a heavier and primal creative unit with a firm reliance on Post-Metal that allows a destructive COSMIC energy to breathe new life into the band.

Acidsloth take similar DOOM themes from bands such as Electric Wizard, CONAN, EYEHATEGOD and UFOMAMMUT for a mind expanding style of brutality which comes across with the five different vocalists that appear throughout the album. The majority of these vocals are harsh and quite extreme with the music being primarily the COSMIC and PSYCHEDELIC force which is one of the best parts of the record. As Acidsloth blend mind-expanding grooves and subtle changes into a straightforward style of Stoner Rock/Metal in the more mellow parts of the record.

There’s a lot to take in with this album as Acidsloth uses different creative methods and vocal methods for each track that makes it feel quite disjointed in places. However, everything works superbly well with Acidsloth constructing a different type of modern day underground Sludge/Stoner Metal record. Standout tracks for me are Float, Hole, Free and Sin with the band showcasing a great style of musical styles that pays to the likes of PELICAN, ISIS and NEUROSIS when the band move briefly into the Post-Metal stratosphere. However, everything still sounds highly original especially when the extended instrumental passages take complete control.

The use of different vocalists for the tracks is an inspired choice especially with all of them projecting HARSH/SCREAM based vocals. This may put some folks off but this gives the album a truly exciting vibe as you don’t know what to expect next. Some of the songs are perhaps a bit too long but Acidsloth always conjures up a GIGANTIC groove or riff where you can’t help but HEADBANG or ROCK OUT fully too.

ACIDSLOTH is a demanding, brooding and brilliantly aggressive record with flashes of top-notch COSMIC DOOM and DOOMGAZE energy shining throughout. If you want to experience a different style of Sludge/Stoner Metal from the famed Polish Underground Scene then Acidsloth are the band for you. 

This is top-notch stuff from start to finish.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

HIbernaut - Obsidian Eye (Album Review)

Release Date: July 11th 2025. Record Label: Olde Magick Records. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

Obsidian Eye - Tracklisting

1.Engorge Behemoth 07:56

2.Venatic Rite 07:54

3.Pestiferous 06:54

4.Obsidian Eye 08:10

5.Revenants 08:33

6.Beset 07:51

Members

Dave Jones - Guitar and Vocals

Zach Hatsis - Drums

Josh Dupree - Bass

Matt Miller - Guitar

Review

Psych Sludge/Stoner Metallers Hibernaut return with their sophomore album Obsidian Eye which is a concept album of sorts with the band explaining about the whole concept below:

“Obsidian Eye tells a harrowing tale of infection, resurrection, and the unknowable will of an alien intelligence. Set in a pre-industrial world teetering on the edge of understanding, the album explores the question: Who decides when to die?”

Hibernate constructs a decaying style of Progressive Metal to build their creative landscape upon with moments of Psych, Sludge, Doom and Stoner Metal roaming free to play an unforgiving style of music. The sound is quite apocalyptic with flashes of fast paced Progressive Sludge grooves that hide a haunting Post-Doom and Post-Metal quality. Hibernaut channels the likes of Neurosis, GOJIRA, Mastodon, Black Sabbath, YOB and Cult Of Luna through this sordid and nightmarish world that has a downbeat attitude especially with the lyrics written for the album.

The vocals from Dave Jones are perfectly pitched for an album about the END OF THE WORLD with a despairing and NO FUCKS GIVEN attitude hidden behind his frontman persona. The progressive melodies and harsh Post-Metal environments lead into some intense musical tempos and instrumental passages with a sudden shift to different types of METAL such as Groove, Thrash and Industrial can be heard especially within the highly destructive tracks of Engorge Behemoth and Venatic Rice. 

HIbernaut operate with a fast and loose approach that gives the record a more honest vibe where the music becomes more destructive and aggressively violent as a result but still holding a quite an earnest melodic quality. The FUZZED up sounds lend a helping hand of keeping things quite grounded when the story of the album becomes slightly CHAOTIC and downright CINEMATIC on tracks such as Pestiferous, Obsidian Eye and Revenants. The songs are quite long with Hibernaut playing through a TON of different genres but everything is played with great originality and the songs are constructed superbly well to hold the listeners attention throughout.

This is the type of album that the RELAPSE RECORDS crowd would have loved around fifteen to twenty years ago when they were the go to Sludge/Stoner Metal label to be signed to back in the day. So if you miss those good old days when Relapse Records had High On Fire, Mastodon, Baroness, Black Tusk and Neurosis signed to their label then Obsidian Eye is perhaps the closest record you’ll hear to capture that legendary era of music.

Obsidian Eye is played at such a fast and breakneck speed that the forty nine minute run-time just flies by with Hibernaut playing huge classic riffs over, over and over again. The album can be quite unforgiving and bleak with its whole APOCALYPTIC theme holding everything together but that only adds to the overall effect of the musical journey that Hibernaut takes you upon.

Hibernaut have released another exciting and unmissable record with Obsidian Eye with superb production values to match. Add this one to your collection and embrace the perfect Sludge/Stoner Metal soundtrack to the end of the world.

Words by Steve Howe

Obsidian Eye is available to buy on Cassette, Digital, CD and Vinyl

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Dallas Heavy Rock Trio TEMPTRESS Signs To Blues Funeral Recordings

US independent heavy powerhouse Blues Funeral Recordings is proud to welcome Dallas, Texas heavy tripolar noisemakers TEMPTRESS to their roster for the release of the band's sophomore album in early 2026.

Temptress is a heavy trio founded in Dallas, Texas who fuse drone, doom, post-rock, noise, grunge and classic metal into an unexpected blend that sounds at times like each of these yet is also entirely unique. Comprised of veteran touring musicians Andi Cuba (drums/vocals), Kelsey Wilson (guitar/vocals) and Christian Wright (bass/vocals), Temptress began their musical journey in 2019. Within just five months, these experienced players went from jamming for fun to writing and recording their first potent songs, self-releasing the self-titled "Temptress" EP that year and immediately launching into live performances.

Recording their first full-length album "SEE" with Kent Stump (Wo Fat) at Crystal Clear Sound Studio and releasing the record in 2023 through Metal Assault Records, Temptress toured extensively, leveraging the members’ vast onstage experience to present their hybrid heaviness in the most natural and impactful setting. In their relatively short tenure, Temptress has played 200+ shows across the USA and Canada, sharing stages with bands like Khemmis, Royal Thunder, Eyehategod and Black Tusk, and performing at events like Ripplefest Texas, Grim Reefer Fest in Baltimore, Atlanta Doom Fest and the early days of Austin’s Gravitoyd Doom Fest.

Signing to Blues Funeral Recordings with plans to release their second album in early 2026, Temptress is ready to harness their relentless work ethic and explosive live presence to incinerate new stages and make instant new fans with their ambitious, genre-warping heaviness worldwide. "We are ecstatic to join forces with the mighty Blues Funeral for the release of our upcoming album, and are equally thankful to be included alongside such a diverse talented roster of visionary artists and labelmates. We can't wait to see what the future has in store, " bassist and vocalist Christian Wright enthuses.

Guitarist and vocalist Kelsey Wilson adds: "We as a group put much of our heart and soul into our recording and expressing our individuality through our songs. I'm happy to be partnered with a label that shares in that enthusiasm, grateful to be part of this community, and look forward to the future of our next release and the upcoming years."

Stay tuned for more Temptress news and tunes coming soon on Blues Funeral Recordings!

Temptress is

Andi Cuba – Drums & Vocals
Kelsey Wilson – Guitar & Vocals
Christian Wright – Bass & Vocals

Temptress links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

Blues Funeral Recordings links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | YouTube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.