Exclusive Album Premiere Of MEXICOMA New Album KALPA From Majestic Mountain Records

Mexicoma's first release since 2014, the desert toned, riff based, Heavy stoner rockers from Umea and their return brings the searing power of new singer Aron Anderson. 

The vocals might have changed, but the riffs and songwriting are as stellar as you're used to. 

This is a righteously stomping, high energy, three guitar, burly shred-fest with more riffs than you can shake a clenched fist at.

You can hear the album fully below with this cool album premiere 

‘Kalpa’ comes in a killer turquoise with black splatter variant.

Limited to 300 copies worldwide.
-180-gram heavyweight vinyl
-Single sleeve with 3mm spine
-Black poly-lined inner sleeve
-Protective plastic sleeve
-33 rpm heaviness

Tracklisting:

Side A:

Heavy Hand
Zombie Barricade
Dead City Lights
Through the Halls of Sleep

Side B

0°
Earth Mother
99 Eyes
Follow the Crow

Mexicoma is:

Aron Andersson : Vocals
Olle Sjölund : Guitar
Peter Norstedt : Guitar
Nicklas Viberg : Guitar
Beppe Starbrink : Bass
Oskar Melander : Drums + Backing Vocals

All songs by Mexicoma
Recorded and mixed by Stefan Johansson
Mastered by Esben Willems at Studio Berserk
Artwork by Marc UA (@marc.u.a)

Get your wax here:

https://majesticmountainrecords.bigcartel.com/.../mexicom.

For our CD fans, digipak is available over on the band’s Bandcamp page:

https://mexicoma.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to Vesper at Majestic Mountain Records for all of the details L. 

Exclusive Premiere Of VEILCASTE / TUSK Split Album. Released via Wise Blood Records.

Wise Blood Records are releasing the outstanding heavy as hell split release from Doom/Post-Metallers TUSK and Doom/Sludge Metallers VEILCASTE.

Both bands offer two original tracks of their own with a cover of classic tracks from Cannibal Corpse and The Misfits. bands. TUSK cover Cannibal Corpse classic Festering In The Crypt and VEILCASTE cover The Misfits classic Return Of The Fly.

Jesse Curtis (vocalist/guitarist of Tusk) says this about the split release:

“It had been awhile since we had released any music, so when the opportunity came up to release a couple of tracks with our friends in Veilcaste the decision was a no-brainer! They told us they were doing a cover and wanted us to do one as well. After a long deliberation we decided on one of our favorite Cannibal Corpse songs, and took advantage of being friends with one of the best death metal vocalists in Brandon Howe (Mother of Graves) to lay down a guest spot on our half of the split.”

Jon Rau of Veilcaste says this about the split release:

“We are so excited to release this split with our friends in Tusk. It’s a fun way to release some new songs and give everyone a taste of our new full length coming out this fall. We chose to cover “Return of the Fly” by Misfits, because it’s one of the few Misfits songs that hasn’t been covered to death, it’s a little more obscure, and we felt we could really make it our own.”

Both bands offer DOOM based levels of PURE Heaviness and you can hear the full release with this premiere courtesy of Wise Blood Records.

Tracklist

1.VEILCASTE - Dust & Bone

2.VEILCASTE - Mirrors

3.VEILCASTE - Return Of The Fly

4.TUSK - Disquiet

5.TUSK - Entering The Flesh Again

6.TUSK - Festering In The Crypt

TUSK Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Veilcaste Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Veilcaste | Tusk split release will be released on CD/DD/Cassette via Wise Blood Records on July 1st 2022.

Thanks to Sean at Wise Blood Records for all of the info.

Doom Rockers MaMa Doom Premiere New Video INDIGO From Their Last Album Ash Bone Skin N Stone

Occult/Horror/Doomed Out Rockers MaMa Doom released their wonderfully entertaining current album Ash Bone Skin N Bone back in July 2021.

The band have just released a new video for one of the standout songs from the album Indigo which you can watch below.

The album is available to buy on CD/DD through BandCamp now. The Vinyl is long sold out which was released by ace record label Majestic Mountain Records.

Thanks to Vesper at Majestic Mountain Records for all of the info.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Behold The Monolith - From The Fathomless Deep (Album Review)

Release Date: July 15th 2022. Record Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

From The Fathomless Deep - Tracklisting

Crown The Immeasurable Void

Psychlopean Dread

Spirit Taker

This Wailing Bride

The Seams Of Pangaea

Stormbreaker Suite

Members

Matt Price - Electric, acoustic and slide guitars

Menno Verbaten - Bass, Vocals and Cello

Chase Manhattan - Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Gong

Review

From The Fathomless Deep is the new album from Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metallers Behold The Monolith. A few things have changed for the band since their last album was released seven years ago. Firstly the band has a different vocalist with Menno Varbaten adding Bass/Cello duties. They have now signed to Ripple Music for this album. The most striking change is the band adapting a more Blackened Metal approach to the music. Well, perhaps Blackened Doom with striking features of Modern Day Sludge/Stoner Metal.

The album is a dark, nightmarish and twisted result that harks back to the early days of the mighty Mastodon. Behold The Monolith still offer their trademark Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds they've honed to perfection over the last thirteen years or so. Add pitch black atmospheric vibes which you can hear from the start on the excellent opening song Crown The Immeasurable Void. 

This song allows Behold The Monolith to move further into the Post-Rock stratosphere with Ambient and Psych based Post-Whatever sounds whilst still playing a ferocious style of heavy grooves. Menno adds a menacing approach to his vocal performance which are easy to understand despite the growl-ish nature of it all. I loved the Post-Rock/Post-Metal flavour contained on the later stages of the track.

Second song Pyschlopan Dread opens with eerie Psychedelic noises before devilish and twisted guitars are added for that classic Behold The Monolith punishing AMPLIFIER & DISTORTED vibe is played at a deliberate slow pace for a more action packed Progressive feel. The vocals are slightly distorted and delve into the Blackened Atmosphere of the gloomier side of the album. Add classic sounding down-tuned Doomed Out Sludge/Stoner Metal guitars sees the band firing on all cylinders especially Matt Price and Chase Manhattan on Guitars and Drums respectively. I loved the Thin Lizzy style guitar solos that appear towards the end of the song.

Behold The Monolith carry on immersing themselves to the harsher and heavier dynamics of the Blackened Metal sound that's the "creative glue" holding this album together. The band even playing elements of Thrash Metal and Speed Metal for Spirit Taker that remains one of the standout tracks of the album. Progressive Metal in nature that sees the band go all out for the Ambient Trippy sounds that accompany this song. Once Menno's sublime vocals appear, the song takes a different meaning with the dark lyrical content offering one of the bleakest parts of the album.

The remaining three songs on the album: This Wailing Bride, The Seams Of Pangaea and Stormbreaker Suite sees Behold The Monolith go even further with their more extreme style of Sludge/Stoner Metal. With the final two songs The Seams Of Pangaea and Stormbreaker Suite having the heaviest and most creative aspects of the entire album.

Stunning production values are part of the course with every album released by Ripple Music and From The Fathomless Deep sounds dynamically powerful and is perhaps the best sounding release to date from Behold The Monolith.

From The Fathomless Deep is a brilliant and musically diverse release from Behold The Monolith that could see these guys enhance their reputation even further outside the underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo

From The Fathomless Deep will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music from July 15th 2022.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

SABOTØR - Skyggekæmper (Album Review)

Release Date: June 10th 2022. Record Label: HQ REC/Pudsige Herrer Musik Aps. Format: DD

Skyggekæmper - Tracklisting

1.Robot 04:27

2.Ro På, Danmark! 03:56

3.King Diamond 03:29

4.Arbejde Gør Fri 05:00

5.Oprør! 05:12

6.2040-Planen 06:40

7.Sabbatår 05:24

8.Edderkoppemor 07:08

9.Skyggekæmper 08:13

Members

M.B. Fjeldvig

K.B. Wellsandt

J.R. Kappel

Review

Skyggekæmper (meaning Shadow Giants) is the new album from Danish Stoner Rockers SABOTØR and this is a turbo-charged album with the vocals sung in their native language. This isn’t your typical Stoner Rock album with SABOTØR having an experimental drive to their overall sound. The album is quite fast-paced and aggressive with a slight Alt Rock and Punk Rock sound.

This isn’t going to be for everyone and if you’re not convinced by the opening song Robot then it maybe best to look elsewhere. However, SABOTØR brings a wonderful style of eccentricity to the album with the trippy noises and ambient based glitches that all merge together for an almost “Party Rock” style atmosphere. The vocals are all over the place but in a good way with a buoyant performance from lead vocalist J.R.

Second song Ro På, Danmark! Is a funk rock driven number with SABOTØR perhaps drawing on influences as diverse as Red Hot Chili Peppers on this track. Fast-paced grooves and Punk Rock sounds merge surprisingly well with the Stoner based elements heard on this track. 

Third song King Diamond is perhaps the most straightforward track on the album with SABOTØR focusing primarily with one style of music and that’s Stoner Rock through and through. The instrumental work is loud and downright catchy. J.R.’s vocals continue with their wild showman attitude especially when the loud shrieks appear. Though, it’s the music that wins the day with SABOTØR playing some of the best sounds on the album. Check out the excellent guitar solos towards the end of the song.

Other standout songs include: Arbejde Gør Fri, Oprør! and Skyggekæmper

The album keeps up with its unpredictable nature as SABOTØR bring heavier grooves and creative themes to the second half of the album especially on the final two tracks of Edderkoppemor and Skyggekæmper.

I’m glad I’ve listened to SABOTØR. As this did put me out of my comfort zone at times even with this being a Stoner Rock album. The album can be quite hard to listen to at times but the album's upbeat nature can be infectious in places. Just be prepared for an experimental style of Stoner Rock fused with different sounds that you wouldn’t expect for a Stoner Rock album.

Overall, Skyggekæmper is a highly confident affair that offers a superbly different slice of Stoner Rock based madness.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Iron & Stone - Mountains And Waters (EP Review)

Release Date: June 17th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD/Vinyl

Mountains & Waters - Tracklisting

1.Cosmic Eye 04:33

2.Loose The Day 04:50

3.Vultures 04:47

4.Unbroken 04:26

Review

Mountains & Wizards is the new EP from Doomed Out Desert/Stoner Rockers Iron & Stone and is the first release of a three part series of EP’s where the band redefine and recreate their sound. The EP is a wickedly entertaining release with Iron & Stone calling upon the legendary Californian Desert/Stoner Rock scene with gloomy atmospherics leading the way.

First song Cosmic Eve has a distinctive DIY/LO-FI sound with the band playing a mixture of classic nineties sounding Desert/Stoner Rock but with a Psych Doom vibe that brings new levels of heaviness from the band. The song has an aggressive style of FUZZ ROCK with the Desert/Stoner Rock grooves being played at a ferocious fast pace. The vocals are excellent and fit the music superbly well.

Second song Loose The Day has a slight KYUSS influence with the Psychedelic sounds moving further into the realm of Stoner Metal. The song is LOUD and AGGRESSIVE with Iron & Stone playing a gloomier style of music. The music is downright catchy and melodic in places and I dig this sound from the band. As it flirts between Desert/Stoner Rock, Psych Rock and Grunge in places. Perhaps the standout track on the EP.

The final two songs Vultures and Unbroken follow the same pattern as the opening two songs with perhaps offering the heaviest and far-out sounds on the EP especially on the excellent third track Vultures. 

Iron & Stone are off to a winning start with Mountains & Waters and with the EP allowing the band to try their hand at something different compared to their previous releases. Backed up by superb production values, this is a thrilling and adventurous release that makes me excited for the future releases from the band.

Excellent & Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Path Of Doom Radio: Doomed for Ukraine: how the doom scene is raising money for families near the frontline

Doomed for Ukraine: how the doom scene is raising money for families near the frontline

Over 100 international doom and stoner bands have donated their songs to a bandcamp compilation which is being sold in aid of young families with small children who were forced to flee their homes due to the war. The project is the brainchild of Ukrainian national Eugene Voron, founder of Path of Doom Radio.

Sales of the compilation - which has no minimum price - are put towards items like baby food, nappies, and other essentials which are distributed to families who have taken shelter in the city of Dnipro, where Eugene lives. He documents the items he has distributed to families in a photo-blog.

Dnipro is not far, an hour or two by car, from Mariupol, Kharkov, Severodonetsk - areas where the conflict has taken its heaviest tolls. Approximately 300,000 refugees have taken shelter in Dnipro since the invasion, of which 80,000 are children.

Eugene says: “In my country, there is a strong and well-known doom metal scene. Bands like Stoned Jesus, 1914, and more recently Noyde and Mental Torment have made great contributions to the genre.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of music. My journey began with Black Sabbath and Dio. More recently, I began listening to online radio, but I wasn’t satisfied with the selection and felt I could do something to highlight the music and bands I loved.”

In 2017, Eugene founded Path of Doom Radio, which broadcast daily from evening till midnight.

The station and accompanying website shines a spotlight on eclectic, international doom and stoner metal. It also promotes the Ukrainian scene as well as female fronted doom bands - the latter with an annual vote, which attracted hundreds of contributor groups and thousands of voters.

However, in early 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and Path of Doom fell temporarily silent. Unable to broadcast to the world, Eugene instead called upon the scene to help young children suffering from war with humanitarian aid via bandcamp sales. Over 100 international bands heard the call - including Panheist, Iron Void, and Paralyzed, and more add their names each week.

“Bright, interesting representatives of the scene from all over the world have joined this compilation and I’m grateful to all of them,” says Eugene. “I urge any fans of Doom and stoner to come listen, pay what you can, and help my people and its families get through this terrible conflict.”

Buy the collection.
Visit Path of Doom Radio.
Path of Doom Radio in Facebook

Mystery Dudes - Exit Through The Wormhole (Album Review)

Release Date: June 24th 2022. Record Label: Electric Valley Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Exit Through The Wormhole - Tracklisting

Mountain Of Cult

Exit Blood

Ghost Train

Punk

Nebula

Mondo Hopeless

Witch's Stare

Mexican Stand Up

Members

Bjørnar Lien Roset - Guitars / vocals

Ola Jørgen Kyrkjeeide - Drums

Rolf Karstein Bang - Bass

Review

Psych/Punk/Stoner Rock upstarts Mystery Dudes come out firing on all cylinders with their debut album Exit Through The Wormhole. With the band taking a Spacier and Rebellious style of Psych/Stoner Rock with a Punk Rock attitude that allows the band to have a more streetwise sound in places.

The album's Punk Vibe allows Mystery Dudes to have a more "In your face" sound compared to other Psych/Stoner Rock albums which you can hear on the excellent opening songs of Mountain Of Chill, Evil Blood and Ghost Train. These songs you can feel Mystery Dudes Punk Rock spirit that sounds uncannily like The Ramones actually doing a nineties based Stoner Rock/Metal album. The Spaced Out Psychedelic sounds work surprisingly well with the Punk manic energy on the album. The vocals can take some time to get used to.

However, when this album "DOOMS" then it most definitely does "DOOMS" with the fantastic OCCULT based lyrics the band have written for this album. Black Sabbath could be classed as a major influence with the whole gloomy and classic Doom aspects the album ultimately has. However, the vintage sound of the album Mystery Dudes is absolutely frantic and most importantly superb. This could help Mystery Dudes to appeal to multiple areas of the Underground Heavy Rock scene.

The instrumental work can be hap-hazard in places but it's fitting for this type of album. Excellent Punk based LO-FI grooves move onto different areas of Punk Rock, Psych Rock and Stoner Rock with relevant ease. This makes for a more engaging listen especially on tracks such as: Punk, Nebula, Mondo Hopeless and Mexican Stand Up.

Nebula is the standout track on the album as they leave the Punk Rock elements behind and focus more on the Psych Stoner Rock parts of their music. The song starts off with a long instrumental passage which could be considered Post-Stoner Rock with some damn fine Psych Rock and Classic Hard Rock riffs showing what great musicians Mystery Dudes actually are.

Exit Through The Wormhole is a very multi-layered album in places and Mystery Dudes do deserve credit for creating their own particular blend of Psych Stoner Rock with manic outbursts of Punk Rock aggression. I would even consider KYUSS and Red Fang as major influences especially on the heavier WEEDIAN parts of the album.

The atmosphere maybe frantic but Mystery Dudes are having a blast by playing fast-paced streetwise grooves and you will too. There's an infectious energy that could see Mystery Dudes become one of your favourite new bands over the summer months. 

Exit Through The Wormhole is first rate entertainment from start to finish. If you're looking for an album with a FUCK YOU attitude then Mystery Dudes are your band.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo

Exit Through The Wormhole will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Electric Valley Records from June 24th 2022.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp 

BongBongBeerWizards - Ampire (Album Review)

Release Date: June 24th 2022. Record Label: Electric Valley Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Ampire - Tracklisting

Choirs & Masses

Unison

Slumber

Members

Reib Asnah - Bass, Flute, Vocals

Chill Collins - Drums, Vocals

Bong Travolta - Guitars, Synthesisers, Saxophone

Review

Ampire is the new album from Drone/Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal collective BongBongBeerWizards and it's the second album from these Drone based Sonic Riff Wizards. The album is my first venture with BongBongBeerWizards and I'm mightily impressed with their Drone based Amplifier and Down-Tuned grooves that have plenty of distorted aggression and volume behind it all.

Opening song Choirs & Masses runs past the twenty three minutes mark with the band drawing attention from influential acts such as CONAN, Slomatics and Ufomammut with a dash of SLEEP and BLACK SABBATH but still remaining original in its own right. The music is down-tuned groovy sludgy drone based madness with a gloomy Drone/Psych Metal effect. The vocal chants are impressive with a seedy OCCULT ROCK presence. The distorted guitars have a claustrophobic feeling. BongBongBeerWizards do break this song into individual chapters in places where the music becomes slightly different with areas of almost downbeat Post-Rock themes appearing. The instrumental work is sublime with BongBongBeerWizards showing many different creative sides to their music.

Second song Unison lasts over fourteen minutes and carries the same creative delivery as the Choirs & Masses with perhaps BongBongBeerWizards playing sludgier style of music. Distortion is key yet again for this song with the grizzled Psychedelic grooves allowing the band to play a riff-centric style of music. The excellent clean sounding vocals add eerie suspense to the album. The song is steeped in Stoner Metal mythology and reminds me of the legendary DOPESMOKER in places. The end of the song has a more reflecting and uplifting YOB-esque vision that leaves this song on a more hopeful edge.

Third song Slumber is where BongBongBeerWizards bring more Sonic and Ambient noises to the album with a slow-pounding gloomy atmosphere allowing the band to start creating creepy music that is remarkably different to the previous song. This is the song where BongBongBeerWizards show their most menacing approach. The song may not be the heaviest but it has the most aggressive sounding grooves on the album. Down-tuned Drone guitars lead the way to more sinister underground heavy riffs. The long DRONED out guitars become faster towards the middle of the song with a devilish attitude rising when the superb vocals appear yet again. However, it's the brilliant distorted music that wins the show yet again for BongBongBeerWizards.

Ampire is boosted by first rate production values that still has an authentic underground and DIY feel. BongBongBeerWizards may not have the original sounding name but their music is downright genius from start to finish.

BongBongBeerWizards are one of my favourite discoveries of the year with Ampire being another Album Of The Year Contender for the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal underground to contend with.

Awesome. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo

Ampire will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Electric Valley Records from June 24th 2022.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp    

Hundred Year Old Man - Sleep In Light (Album Review)

Release Date: June 17th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Sleep In Light  Tracklisting

1.A New Terror 11:08

2.Sleep In Light 09:50

3.I Caught a Glimpse of Myself on Fire 16:48

4.Seldom 04:49

5.Honne 08:01

6.Stone Sail 09:13

7.Monoamine 07:33

8.Livyatan 13:00

Members

Owen Pegg  Guitar

Tom Wright  Guitar

David Ashley Duxbury  Vocals

Andy Baron  Drums

Mark Howes  Synths and Vocals

Helen Tytherleigh  Bass

Review

Sleep In Light is the new album from UK Post-Metallers Hundred Year Old Man (HYOM). Drifting further into the Post-Black Metal Abyss compared to their debut album Breaching. The album allows HYOM to take influences and cues from such luminaries as Cult Of Luna, Neurosis and ISIS with the band bringing a more Progressive and Sci-Fi focus to the storytelling with this album.

A ferocious onslaught of Pitch-Black Progressive Sounds allows HYOM to bring a more violent approach to their own style of Drone based Doom/Post-Metal. The haunting Ambient Soundscapes are used wisely on opening song A New Terror with the heavy Post-Black Metal atmospherics still maintaining a world-weary presence. The vocals move from Death based growls to a more Hardcore style vocal delivery but it’s the music that is the real standout here. Moving from ethereal based Post-Metal to the more threatening Drone/Blackened Sludgy sounds. The final part of the song is just pure CINEMATIC ECSTASY with the sludgy guitars having a volatile DRONE METAL sound that ranks as some of HYOM’s finest work to date.

Second song Sleep In Light continues with the mellow and heavy sonic journey from the previous track but with a more distorted and carefree sound. This reminds myself of early era ISIS in many ways. Sure, the vocals are heavier and music perhaps gloomier but the whole musical imagery has the creative essence of that legendary band but HYOM still create their own definitive sound on this track. The song moves between the cracks of Doom Metal and Sludge Metal with HYOM playing different strands of heavy distorted sounds that leave little to the imagination. The vocals yet again add a powerful and menacing touch to proceedings with the gut wrenching lyrics doing their job brilliantly well.

Other standout songs include: I Caught A Glimpse Of Myself On Fire, Honne, Stone Sail and Livyatan

As these songs prove why HYOM are perhaps the finest Post-Metal band the UK scene has to offer. The way the band fuses the quieter Ambient Post-Rock parts within the heavier and emotionally charged Sludge/Post-Metal sounds is nothing short of groundbreaking. The instrumental work is first rate with each member putting in amazing performances across the board.

The album may have some folks complaining about the excessive length of it all. As the album runs near the seventy nine minutes mark. However, HYOM go all out on this release and they succeed in playing some of the heaviest and finest Post-Metal grooves you’re likely to hear all year. 

Sleep In Light is a daring work of art from Hundred Year Old Man and is perhaps one of the defining Post-Metal albums of this year or any other year for that matter.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Twitter

THUNDERCHIEF Announce 12 Date Summer Fling Starting July 20th 2022

THUNDERCHIEF will be traveling with its usual 2-piece assault crew Avail drummer/Alabama Thunderpussy founder Erik Larson, and underground crony Rik Surly, who together comprise a fierce series of unrelenting song and volume.

Photo by Chris Boarts Larson

Tour Dates Below for Thunderchief's Upcoming Tour

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp