UK Festival News - Revenge Of The End Of The World Festival Announce Full Line-Up

End Of The World festival in Plymouth is in their third year, showcasing some of the best stoner, psych, doom and sludge metal bands in the UK. This year they've expanded to include Dead Witches, featuring the legendary Mark Greening (ex-Electric Wizard). 

These are exclusive South-West shows for many of these acts; the event typically showcases the South-West scene but has expanded to include Manchester's Ritual King, Welsh alt-stoner act Heavy on the Ride and London-based blues-doom outfit Oak. In their third outing, they're stronger than ever and hoping for their best turnout yet.

The event takes place between The Underground and The Junction in Plymouth on 06.07.19.

The bands playing are:

Mother Vulture
Oak
Heavy on the Ride
Victus
Gandalf the Green
Greenhorn
Ritual King
Beggar
Lacertilia
Tuskar
Cybernetic Witch Cult
Elephant Tree
Mother Vulture

Tickets are £15 in advance or £17 OTD

Ticket link:

https://cyberneticwitchcult.bigcartel.com/product/end-of-the-world-festival-2019-ticket

Facebook event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/2306912209531667/

Lesbian Wallet - Date Animals (Album Review)

Release date: June 9th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Date Animals – Tracklisting

1.Date Animals 03:19

2.Stones for Teeth 04:07

3.Names and Faces 02:06

4.Margherita Hack 07:31

5.Mugshot 04:40

6.1947, Plea (Golden Worms pt.I) 03:29

7.Invocación (Golden Worms pt.II) 03:10

8.2082, Kings (Golden Worms pt.III) 04:32

Members

Guitar & Vocals/Lyrics: Francesco Bordoni

Bass: Francesco Mastellone

Drums: Simone Romagnoli

Additional personnel:

Guitar solo on track 5: Simone Giacomucci (Il Gigante)

Synths on track(s) 5, 6, 8: Davide Costarelli

Inspiration on track(s) 1–8: Arnold S.

Review

Well this must be the weirdest album I’ve heard this year. Date Animals is the new album from Italian Punk/Sludge/Stoner Metallers – Lesbian Wallet. These guys are very hard to describe with the band drawing influences from The Melvins, High On Fire, Mastodon, QOTSA and The Jesus Lizard.

Everything about this album doesn’t make sense. It’s noisy, raucous, angry, loud and messy as hell. However, it’s also extremely addictive and contains some furious heavy riffs that Sludge/Stoner Metal fans will embrace with violent glee. I think only Lesbian Wallet themselves fully understand what is going on behind the frantic guitar sounds and maybe that’s the whole point with Date Animals.

The album is quite uncompromising in places with it’s insane lyrics and vocal delivery from Francesco. Lesbian Wallet won’t be for everyone and even I struggled with the album at first. However, the band won me round eventually and that’s mainly down to the epic riffs Lesbian Wallet play throughout the album.

Date Animals fully comes alive when Lesbian Wallet decide to play conventional Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs against the Punk Rock/Noise Rock carnage that holds everything together. The whole feel of the album has quite a LO-FI and EXPERIMENTAL sound from the start. So it’s not the best produced album. However, it’s so LOUD and the whole thing leaves you wanting more.

My favourite songs on the album are: Date Animals, Stone For Teeth, Names and Faces, Mugshot and the brilliant Golden Worms trilogy of songs.

As I stated before, this album won’t be for everyone. However, if you’re looking for something different from the Sludge/Stoner Metal world and a band that’s not afraid to play by the rules then LESBIAN WALLET are the band for you.

Take your time listening to this album as you’ll be surprised at how good this album actually is. Even if it is a FUCKED UP and NIGHTMARISH take on everything Sludge/Stoner Metal.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Dendrites - Grow (Album Review)

Release date: June 9th 2019. Label: DistroKid Records (Digital) / Ikaros Records (Vinyl). Format: DD/Vinyl

GROW – Tracklisting

1.Get the Fuck 02:46

2.Bullet Dodger 04:49

3.Throwing Rocks 06:40

4.Dreamhouse Pt.1 02:13

5.Dreamhouse Pt.2 06:02

6.Leave Me Behind 04:22

7.One Hell of a Ride 05:37

8.River 04:29

9.Snake Oil Merchant 06:21

10.I 'm Gonna Fly 04:17

Members

Thanasis Timplalexis - Vocals, Guitar

Giorgos Alexiou - Guitar

Alekos Papathanasiou - Bass

Dimitris Amvrazis - Drums

Ioannis Valiakos - Creative Member & Wild Card

Guest Musicians:

Fanis Panagiotopoulos - Saxophone on "I 'm Gonna Fly".

Review

Truth be told I’m not the biggest fan of Southern Rock/Metal nowadays. Though I was back in my younger years where I was discovering bands across the musical spectrum left, right and centre. So I was a little bit worried listening to Dendrites debut album – Grow.

As the Greek heavy rockers play mostly Southern Rock/Metal on their debut album. However, the band add elements of Desert Rock, Grunge, Psych and Stoner Metal to give their album a richer and more varied sound. The most interesting part of this album to me for this album was the actual Southern Rock/Metal riffs the band play on this album. As Dendrites have a cool and exciting sound that may take influence from PANTERA in parts but sounding very much like their own thing.

Grow is a fast-paced and exciting collection of varied songs that sees the band play a simple style of music but one that’s packed with the right amount of groove and aggression. One moment you could be rocking along and the next you’re catching your breath as the band switch gears for a more violent and heavier sound.

The album has it fair share of NOLA based riffs on certain parts of the album and it’s quite exciting to hear at times. The songwriting is excellent throughout with the band writing wildly addictive and spiky lyrics throughout the album.

The vocals from Thanasis are soulful and honest from the start and he puts in a superb performance for the majority of the songs. There are few moments where his vocals are drowned out by the heavy riffs but that shouldn’t stop your enjoyment of this album.

The production is another major highlight with Grow sounding excellent from the start. The whole tone and sound of the album is EPIC and sounds super fresh. This is a brilliantly sounding album and that’s down to the fantastic production held on the album.

Standout songs are: Get The Fuck, Throwing Rocks, Dreamhouse Pt 2, One Hell Of A Ride and Snake Oil Merchant.

If you’re a fan of Black Label Society, DOWN, CLUTCH and PANTERA then this is the place to be. Grow is everything you want from a Southern Rock/Metal album. Though, as I stated before, the band offer a few surprises along the way when they add different genres to their overall sound.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy the vinyl here from Ikaros Records

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

LowFlyingHawks - Anxious Ghosts (EP Reveiw)

Release date: June 28th 2019. Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Anxious Ghost – Tracklisting

1.Night Flight

2.Somewhere (Part 1)

3.Somewhere (Part 2)

4.Hollow Grasp 06:59

5.Doors To Nowhere

Members

Dale Crover - Drums

Trevor Dunn - Bass

AAL - Guitars, Vocals

EHA - Guitars, Lead Vocals

Review

Lowflyinghawks return with their new EP – Anxious Ghosts – and it’s another round of bleak sounding passages that has elements of Drone, Doom, Sludge and Psych Rock that the band have used on their previously two acclaimed albums.

This EP sees Lowflyinghawks offering a subdued sound compared to their previous releases. Anxious Ghosts still has moments of full-on heaviness which merges Drone, Doom and Sludge Metal to maximum effect. Though the opening song - Night Flight – is a semi-acoustic song with elements of Drone and Ambient based Post Rock grooves with the vocals having an Alternative Rock/Indie Rock feel to them.

Lowflyinghawks return to their normal style of music with the excellent two-part song Somewhere Part I and Somewhere Part II.

Somewhere Part I sees Lowflyinghawks playing a highly atmospheric blend of Ambient Rock/Metal with haunting vocals appearing and disappearing in quick succession. The Post-Rock/Post-Metal interludes slowly build upto a heavier and unsettling style of music.

Somewhere Part II is the first appearance of Lowflyinghawks trademark Doom/Sludge Metal sound with a bleak and world weary vibe holding everything together. The vocals are quite reflective in places with the music being superbly heavy from the start. The Doom/Drone/Sludge Metal grooves have a real presence to them and leave you wanting more.

Hollow Grasp and Doors To Nowhere – carries on the experimental and droned out heavy sounds that Lowflyinghawks that can be classed as their trademark sound. As the band are three records into their career and you can tell without a doubt that this is Lowflyinghawks territory. The music moves from heavy down-tuned sounds too fast-paced Doom/Sludge Metal riffs that keeps the Post-Rock/Post-Metal grooves moving along at a frantic pace.

As with previous Lowflyinghawks releases, the band are helped on this EP with contributions from their famous friends The Melvins alumni Dale Crover and Trevor Dunn making appearance on Drums and Bass respectively. Dale and Trevor bring their legendary talents to Lowflyinghawks world and make everything sound quite dark and sombre but also glorious on the more psychedelic sounding parts of the EP.

Anxious Ghosts is a different sounding release compared to Lowflyinghawks previous albums. However, it drives the message home that Lowflyinghawks are one of the best kept secrets within the Doom/Sludge Metal community and this EP proves that Lowflyinghawks are more than happy to stay under the radar and release music on their own terms.

Overall, this EP is one that takes time to fully understand and admire. The EP can be quite unforgiving in places but that what makes it so good. Lowflyinghawks are a band with a unique voice within the scene and they let their music do all the talking and offer no apologies for creating a different style of Doom/Sludge Metal.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead PR for the promo. Anxious Ghosts will be available to buy on Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl via MagneticEye Records from June 28th 2019.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Festival News - Riff Fest and APF Records presents Riff Fest 2019

Riff Fest and APF Records presents Riff Fest 2019, the sixth annual North West of England festival of all things heavy. Headlined by Canadian slutch monoliths Dopethrone. The bill also features Corrupt Moral Altar and Gets Worse as special guests; APF Records artists Widows, Barbarian Hermit, Mastiff and Under, plus Wolfbastardand Dead Moon Lizard Kings.

Over the last six years Riff Fest has become the North West of England’s premier one-day festival for sludge, stoner, doom, grind and raucously heavy rock & metal. Event founder Adam Swarbrick has booked many bands who have gone on to be stalwarts of the genres: including Raging Speedhorn, Conjurer, Conan, Boss Keloid, Elephant Tree, Desert Storm, Slabdragger, Chubby Thunderous Bad Kush Masters and Kurokuma among others.

On 31^st August 2019 Manchester gets a riff sermon. Tickets are on sale now.

SOCIAL MEDIA & WEB LINKS:

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/433811234033622/
Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/470148

TALBOT Release New Video For Their Song - INFRA

Members

Magnus Andre - bass guitar, synths, vocals
Eugene Mikhaylov - drums & vocals

The Lowdown

Estonian Sludge/Stoner Metallers TALBOT have released a cool new video for their new song INFRA which appeared on their epic 2018 album - Magnetism.

You can read my review here

Here's the video for INFRA:

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Black Pistol Announce New Album - SINS OF THE FATHER - And New Video For CALL TO ARMS

Formed in 2014, Cape Town based hard rock degenerates Black Pistol have released the video for their second single Call to Arms, a riff heavy ode to the rock n roll lifestyle. Taken from their debut full-length album Sins Of The Father which is set for release on the 12th July 2019.

Call to Arms is about having a good time and losing yourself to the music. There are no rules when it comes to enjoying rock and roll. You shouldn't care about anything when you're under Rock 'n Roll's spell, except being yourself and living in that blissful, musical moment. Bang your head ‘till you break your neck.” Stiaan Bruwer, vocals

The video was shot during the band’s first trip to Blue Room Studios in the Klein-Karoo town of Ladismith where they recorded the album with producer and studio owner Jo Ellis. Filmed by Jurie Neethling (Vetman) who also designed the bands logo, icon & artworks for their singles Preacher and Call to Arms.

“The idea of the video was to capture the energy & feel we experienced during our recording sessions and making of the album.” Roan Mustang, guitars.

Watch the video below

Sins Of The Father releases on all digital platforms on the 12^th July 2019

Links

Facebook

Wizard Rifle - S/T (Album Review)

Release date: August 30th 2019. Label: Svart Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Wizard Rifle – S/T – Tracklisting

Rocket To Hell

Caveman Waltz

Beneath The Spider

Funeral Of The Sun

V

Members

Sam Ford, Max Dameron

Review

Greetings All,

There are times when you listen to a record and you love it and then when you step back and try to put into words the reasons why you love it, the words can escape you. The third full length from Portland, Oregon’s Wizard Rifle is one of those records. The simplest thing to say is that this record fucking rules! Some of the difficulty in describing the record is that it is wickedly hard to categorize the duo’s sound. Noise rock, metal, sludge, you wouldn't be wrong with any, but you wouldn't necessarily be right either.. What is amazing is the tremendous array of sounds that the duo delivers. The five songs on this record are long, intense, multi faceted, challenging and utterly satisfying.

The overall theme of the record seems very dark and pessimistic, much like the general climate in the States these days. Perhaps, the duo was being prophetic and/or writing the soundtrack for the world these days. The record opens with the amazing Rocket To Hell that brings with it a massive riff, a ton of punk infused drive and the band’s trademark double sung/screamed vocals questioning “Can’t you see I’m blind” and a chorus of “Gotta feeling nobody is gonna save us”.

The eclectic Caveman Waltz comes next with another killer riff carrying this guitar driven track and featuring some well placed handclaps and a massive uptempo breakdown along with almost detached vocals delivering the lament of “The modern world is a trap. The modern world no going back.” The intensity carries on with the march heavy Beneath The Spider. The intense mix of drums and cymbals with angular guitar noise and distortion mixed with blackened metal screams give the song an unsettling feel. The band brings forth their “inner-Tool” on the amazing

Funeral Of The Sun. The duo mixes metal heaviness with massive drums and more blackened screams but veers off into space inflected, almost ethereal moments. The album closes with the frantic noise rock of V. The bands double vocals mixes with the heavy guitars and drums and at times takes an almost new wave feel.

Wizard Rifle’s self titled third record is an amazing display of raw, angular power that shows that even the darkest of subject matter can hit all the right nerves. The overall feel and sound of the record will appeal to fans of any of the genres I had mentioned earlier. These sonic titans have delivered the goods on this one. Dig heavy on this one!

- Todd S - Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Wizard Rifle new album be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Svart Records from August 30th 2019.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Mammoth Storm - Alruna (Album Review)

Release date: June 28th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Alruna – Tracklisting

1. Giants

2. Alruna

3. Shores of the Dead

4. Raven Void

5. Atra Mors

Members

Daniel Arvidsson - Bass, Vocals

Christer Ström - Guitars

Emil Ahlman - Drums, Organ

Review

Mammoth Storm new album Alruna sees the Swedish riffsters return with a progressive and heavier psychedelic sound. The music is more grounded compared to previous releases as the band create a gloomier and heavier atmosphere.

First song – Giants – is a gloomy song that opens with a straight forward Doom/Stoner Metal riff before exploding into a full-on Sludge Metal groove with elements of Post-Metal based sounds with a Psychedelic Rock/Metal grizzled vibe settles everything down. The vocals from Daniel have a Hardcore feel to them but they’re easy to understand and sung with complete conviction. The music feels inspired by CONAN in places but Mammoth Storm operate by their own heavy destructive rules and this song ends up being a compelling and exciting journey from start to finish.

Second song – Alruna – starts off very quietly and slowly with Mammoth Storm playing a subdued Post-Doom/Post-Rock style of music before allowing the heavy atmospheric guitars take the lead and offer a more commanding presence. The psychedelic and heavy post-metallic sounds fully come alive when Daniel’s vocals appear and Mammoth Storm play a thunderous style of Sludge, Doom and Stoner Metal for one of the standout songs on the album. The lyrics are superb and allows the band to tell an intense and powerful story that matches the music perfectly well.

Third song – Shores Of The Dead – is a deeply unflinching slice of Doom/Stoner/Sludge Metal spliced with a world weary cosmic/psychedelic sound. The vocals and lyrics feel more personal compared to the other songs held on the album. This is perhaps the heaviest song contained on Alruna and that’s down to Mammoth Storm fully embracing their Doom Metal persona on this song. The band leave no stone unturned in creating a deeply emotional song.

The final two songs - Raven Void and Atra Mors – sees Mammoth Storm playing almost eighteen minutes of heavy Post-Doom/Stoner Metal grooves with the band focusing more on their Psychedelic riffs than ever before. Though, that’s my humble opinion. Others may think differently. I enjoyed the different styles of music that Mammoth Storm play on these final songs. As it’s quite different to the earlier songs. The vocals are quite majestic and ferocious at the same time especially on Raven Void.

The instrumental work is an absolute joy to hear. The whole atmosphere of the album is quite eerie and challenging to listen to as Mammoth Storm never shy away from playing brutal and highly atmospheric sounds. The production is first rate and this allows Mammoth Storm to play some of the heaviest music of their career so far.

Mammoth Storm have taken a lot of creative risks with this album and the results are glorious and allows this album to be ranked as one of the best Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal albums of the year.

It’s seriously that good.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Alruna will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via ArgonautaRecords from June 28^th 2019.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Burning Gloom - Amygdala (Album Review)

Release date: June 14^th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Amygdala – Tracklisting

1.The Tower I 02:48

2.The Tower II 04:25

3.Eremite 06:57

4.Modern Prometheus 06:44

5.Nightmares feat. Mona Miluski (High Fighter) 06:02

6.Warden 07:49

7.Beyond the Wall 05:44

8.Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 08:15

Members

voice: Laura Mancini

Guitar: Marco Bertucci

Bass Guitar: Giovanni Mastrapasqua

Drum: Marcello Modica

Review

Burning Gloom used to be known as MY HOME OH TREES in their previous life. The band have changed their name and returned with a slightly heavier sound and a more progressive Doom based sound. Their new album Amygdala is a weird and intoxicating mix of Doom Metal, Psych, Stoner Metal and Blues Rock. There were elements of these genres heard on their previous albums. However, they weren’t as powerful as they are on Burning Gloom.

Amygdala is all about soulful grooves and gloomy atmospheres which allows the band to move from one trippy level to the next. One of the first things that standout is Laura’s lead vocals which are influenced by the legendary vocalists of the 60s/70s Classic Hard Rock Scene. However, there is something troubling and slightly demonic hiding behind Laura’s cool sounding vocals that surprised myself in a huge way. As Laura starts singing a more harsher and violent style of vocals especially on the second song – The Tower II.

The first two songs – The Tower I and The Tower II – are your standard Blues inspired Doom/Stoner Rock song with the band laying down the groundwork for the rest of the album to follow. It’s a hazy mix of different sounds but Burning Gloom wisely start adding strands of Doom Metal to show their true heavy metal credentials.

The album fully comes alive with epic third song – Eremite – as Burning Gloom leave the Blues Rock world behind and play a highly atmospheric style of Psychedelic Doom Metal. If you ever wondered what Fleetwood Mac would sound like jamming with Black Sabbath then this song is your best possible answer. It may seem a strange combination however Burning Gloom make this work and that’s down to the punishing riffs and fantastic sounding vocals from Laura yet again. The song never feels forced and has quite a grounded reality feel to it.

Fourth song – Modern Prometheus – is one of the weakest songs on the album. It’s still a good song just not as great as the other songs on the album. As the song doesn’t sound as good and some of the creative decisions don’t work as well as they should.

Fifth song – Nightmares – sees the band return to winning ways and they have one of my dearest friends from the Sludge/Stoner Metal scene providing guest vocals on this song. Step forward Mona Miluski of High Fighter fame. This song has a more delicate sounding classic “Grunge” sound merged with nightmarish vocals from Mona. Laura once again excels on lead vocals with Mona offering a more devilish style of vocals. The music is a mixture of 90s sounding Doom, Stoner Metal, Psych and Grunge. Perhaps one of the standout songs on the album.

The final 3 songs on the album – Warden, Beyond The Wall and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder carries on the wonderful and weird sounding Doom/Sludge/Psych/Stoner Metal riffs for over 20 minutes and the band impress for the majority of the songs with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder being the main highlight of the final 3 songs.

The production is great for the most part. There’s a few moments where the guitars aren’t as clear as they should be. However, Burning Gloom should be mighty proud of this album. As it’s an exciting chapter and a mighty step forward for band not only musically but also on a creative level.

Amygdala is a stunning record and one that deserves to be heard by the biggest audience possible.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Amygdala is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Devil Flower Mantis - S/T (EP Review)

Release date: June 09th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Devil Flower Mantis – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Beyond Borders 05:47

2.The Voidwalker 06:27

3.Back on the Hunt 04:30

4.Black Fever 09:03

Members

Nikolas K. (vocals and FX)

Dimitris Karakatsanis (drums)

Verbal Kid (bass)

Nikos Zairis (guitar)

Vaggelis Keramidas (guitar)

Review

The Greek Stoner Rock/Metal scene has came on leaps and bounds over the last 10 years or so with a wide range of different bands starting to gain some International Attention. Though the scene is also providing new emerging talent to take notice of such as Devil Flower Mantis.

The band play a mixture of Blues Rock, Psych Rock, Doom Metal, Desert Rock and Stoner Metal. The band are perhaps influenced by KYUSS, Black Sabbath and CLUTCH the most. Devil Flower Mantis have their own demented and confident swagger to standout from the crowd.

Their debut EP offers over 25 minutes of fast-paced heavy psychedelic sounds that create a warped and heavy version of Desert/Stoner Rock grooves. The EP is expertly produced and offers a CRISP and LOUD EXPERIENCE that I didn’t expect for a debut release such as this. The music is played with extreme confidence and the band have a few cool ideas of their own to impress listeners with.

The standout songs are: Beyond Borders and Black Fever. As Devil Flower Mantis play some of the most DOOMED OUT and PSYCHEDELIC riffs contained on the EP. The other two songs on the EP are very good as well. Just not as convincing as Beyond Borders and Black Fever.

Devil Flower Mantis show a lot of promise on this EP and I want to hear more from the band in the future. I especially enjoyed how the band add trippy noises and F/X to their overall sound and that gives this EP a more SPACED OUT feel.

Overall, Devil Flower Mantis is a welcome addition not only to the Greek Stoner Rock/Metal scene but the worldwide Stoner Rock/Metal scene as well. This is an EP that should get people talking of what great bands to lookout for in the future.

Devil Flower Mantis are the real deal and this EP proves that time and time again.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Dead Sacraments - Celestial Throne (Album Review)

Release date: May 11^th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: DD/Vinyl

Celestial Throne – Tracklisting

1.VOID SUMMONING 09:03

2.MEN, NOW LORDS 10:06

3.CRACKING THE CELESTIAL THRONE 09:38

4.STARS FALL, STARS RISE 12:26

Members

Brendan, Mark, Nader, Ryan

Review

Celestial Throne is the debut album from Doom/Stoner Metallers – Dead Sacraments – and it’s a gloriously heavy duty DOOMED OUT EXPERIENCE.

The first thing that drew me to this album was the fantastic album cover which perfectly outlines what to expect on this album. If you’re a fan of Progressive Doom Metal merged with heavy amounts of Psychedelic Stoner Metal then Dead Sacraments have you covered on all fronts. The album is fantastically heavy from the start with an OTT theatrical edge which allows the band to create a dark and gloomy atmosphere.

The four songs contained on the album run between 10 to 12 minutes each and the band play a mixture of different sounding Doom/Stoner Metal riffs that have a definitive modern sound. The opening song – Void Summoning – has a deep Sabbathian influence running throughout and the band add levels of Drone, Doom, Psych and Stoner Metal for a deeply rich and varied sound. The vocals are quite intense and very much at the centre of Dead Sacrament’s overall sound.

The gloomy lyrics are quite insightful at times especially when matched against the dark progressive sounds the album holds from start to finish. The production is good though the vocals can be lost at times amongst the heavy distorted guitar riffs that appear on the later stages of the album.

The other three songs match the intensity and deep progressive themes contained on the opening song with “Men, Now Words” and “Stars Fall, Stars Rise” being the standout songs on the album.

Celestial Throne is a haunting and deeply moving album that has the perfect balance between Progressive Doom Metal and Psychedelic Stoner Metal. If you’re a fan of YOB, Black Sabbath and Mastodon then Dead Sacraments is a band who will speak volumes to you.

I bought this album on a whim and I’m glad that I did. As this is an epic sounding album that will surprise you in ways that you don’t actually expect.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp