Wednesday, 17 September 2025

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Sludge/Stoner Metallers GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO New Album SIDERAL VOIVOD


Born in 2022 in the small Ligurian village of Calice Ligure, Godzilla Was Too Drunk To Destroy Tokyo are an Italian heavy psych trio blending raw stoner grooves, acid-drenched fuzz, and chaotic sci-fi storytelling into a sound that’s both unhinged and hypnotic.

Fronted by Sara de Luca – bass destroyer and sonic instigator known as The Evil Lord – alongside octopus-armed drum wizard Nicola Viola and riff-crafting guitar builder Alessandro “Camu” Camurati, the band channels the primal grit of L7, the sludge-soaked weight of Melvins, and a kaleidoscopic dose of cosmic weirdness all their own.

From the very start, Godzilla’s mission has been to push the boundaries of fuzz-driven rock, crafting songs that feel like a cross between a garage jam from another planet and the soundtrack to a lost 70s sci-fi cult film. Their high-voltage live shows – equal parts sonic assault and theatrical chaos – have already taken them across Europe and Japan, leaving a trail of crushed stages and blown minds.

Following the underground buzz of their 2023 releases Atomic Spitfire and Evil Lord, the band returns in 2025 with their most ambitious work to date: Sideral Voivod. Out September 19 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records, the album is a hallucinatory ride through doom, psych, sludge, and space rock, cementing Godzilla Was Too Drunk To Destroy Tokyo as one of the most distinctive forces in the European underground scene.

Whether they’re channeling swaggering desert grooves, monolithic riffs, or paranoid interstellar narratives, Godzilla Was Too Drunk To Destroy Tokyo remain unapologetically wild – a sonic beast best experienced loud, live, and unrestrained.

We're excited to premiere their absolutely brilliant new album thanks to the great folks over Grand Sounds Promotion and Argonauta Records.


Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.


Sideral Voivod is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records Imprint).


Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Old Animals - Old Animals (Album Review)

Release Date: August 29th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Old Animals - Tracklisting

1.Blüd 07:42

2.Happy Drone 04:02

3.Until the Bitter End 06:24

4.Undeserving Favor 07:10

5.Waster 07:37

6.Monument 06:08

7.A Chance to Escape 07:38

8.Tongue of Snake 04:43


Members


Jonathan Portnoy – Bass & Moog Synth.

Jason Kowalski – Drums & Vox.

Zachary Stauber – Guitars & Leads.

Tanner Crace – Guitars, Vocals & Synths.


Review



Old Animals emerges from the Sludge/Post-Metal spectrum where they fully harness their primal sound with a multitude of different sounds and progressive passages. The record is composed of Shoegaze, Psych, Drone, Noise and is full of Blackened elements with a certain experimental quality to them.


Old Animals feels inspired by the likes of Mastodon, Neurosis, ISIS and TOOL. It’s quite an expansive album with Old Animals employing different styles of Sludge Metal. There is a level of aggression and psychedelic energy which sees the “LOUD vs QUIET” dynamic of the record screaming out for complete creative control at times.


The use of synths is a very cool touch with Old Animals adding a Trippy and Post-Rock quality to their music with flashes of Thrash and Classic Hard Rock along the way. With this being a very multi-layered and progressive album not everything lands as it should first time round but with each passing listen, you begin to understand what Old Animals are striving to achieve on songs such as Blüd, Happy Drone and Undeserving Favour within the first half. The record is highly technical with Old Animals excelling playing different styles of music.


With the vocals switching between Harsh Growls and Clean Vocals which adds a level of real ferocity to the mix but there’s a cool switch into Post-Doom and Psych Metal surroundings which showcases a level of maturity within the creative framework from Old Animals. There’s an Alt Metal vibe emerging with the switching of vocals that becomes part of the norm and should delight fans of Mastodon and Neurosis.


The second half of the album is where everything becomes clearer with Old Animals making the listener more comfortable with their surroundings as the music is more dynamic and showcasing a heavier and riff-centric energy. The extra added use of certain ambient noises and trippy effects adds a “COSMIC” vibe that makes the music even more mysterious especially on the standout tracks of Waster, Monument and A Chance To Escape.


Old Animals have the “big guns” helping behind the scenes with mixing duties handled by Matt Bayles and Brad Boatright on mastering duties. Two legendary folks who’ve been involved with a ton of classic records over the years and they allow Old Animals to do their thing and release an album of real quality that’s also quite grounded at the same time.


If you want a Sludge Metal/Post-Metal record that ventures into the classic era of the genres but one that fully expresses its modern day identity then Old Animals is the band for you. As this is a superbly realized and brutally heavy sonic assault on the senses.


Excellent and Highly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe

 

Links


LinkTree | BandCamp


Tuesday, 16 September 2025

SANDRIDER premiere video single of NINE INCH NAILS rendition 'March of the Pigs' from forthcoming tribute album "The Downward Spiral Redux"


Following a record breaking Redux Kickstarter campaign, the first single taken from the forthcoming MER Redux Series release "The Downward Spiral Redux" is ready to be unleashed: Seattle, WA grunge metal trio SANDRIDER present their hard-hitting take on the NINE INCH NAILS classic 'March of the Pigs'. This highly anticipated new Redux Series installment is scheduled for release on November 28, 2025. 

Available for pre-order here: https://spkr.store/collections/redux-classic-album-re-imagined

Parallel to "The Downward Spiral Redux", Magnetic Eye Records will release their customar companion album entitled "Best of Nine Inch Nails Redux" that contains 13 cover renditions of deep cuts and all-time classics from across NINE INCH NAILS' catalogue recorded by some of the heavy underground's most exciting artists.

Watch the video for 'March of the Pigs' below:


SANDRIDER comment: "Our choice for a tribute track, 'March of the Pigs', is a song that hits so hard", vocalist and guitarist Jon Weisnewski writes. "It did when it first came out, it still does now, and it'll be just as brutal in another 30 years. Trying to harness that beast and make sure that it still had the timeless impact, we all expect it to have, was a humbling challenge."

Credits

Video footage by Sandrider. Edited by Ritual Video (IG: @ritual_video)

SANRIDER hail from Seattle, Washington and, true to their place of origin, embraced grunge as the creative base to which they gave their own spin by adding a hard and sharp metal edge. The trio was formed in 2008 and currently consists of the two former AKIMBO members - vocalist and guitarist Jon Weisnewski and Nat Damm on drums - with bass player and vocalist Jesse Roberts from THE RUBY DOE as the third comrade-in-heaviness. SANRIDER have released four acclaimed albums with "Enveletration" (2023) being their latest.


Tracklist "The Downward Spiral Redux"

1. BLACK TUSK 'Mr. Self Destruct'
2. THIEF 'Piggy'
3. GRIN 'Heresy'
4. SANDRIDER 'March of the Pigs'
5. DAEVAR 'Closer'
6. HIGH TONE SON OF A BITCH 'Ruiner'
7. DREADNOUGHT 'The Becoming'
8. JOHN FRYER WITH STELLA SOLEIL 'I Do Not Want This'
9. JOHN CXNNOR FEAT. HEXA 'Big Man with a Gun'
10. IAH 'A Warm Place'
11. ABRAMS 'Eraser'
12. AUTHOR & PUNISHER 'Reptile'
13. PALEHORSE PALERIDER 'The Downward Spiral'
14. BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME 'Hurt'

At this moment, the world's reliance on machines, algorithms, and artificial intelligence has never been greater. This makes now the perfect time to reflect on the emergence of a musical force whose blend of mechanized instrumentation and raw emotion was singular and revolutionary.

NINE INCH NAILS were formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988. They arrived around the same time as grunge when Generation X was developing an awareness of itself, but while there was cross-appeal, the sound they created was clearly and intentionally something very different.

The skepticism of that era came through in the music, with artists from RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE to NIRVANA pushing back against what were acceptable words and actions in our society, and everything from the ideals of what major musicians should do with their fame to what people and corporations stood for were fair targets.

NINE INCH NAILS were at least twice as cynical as everyone else and reflected the singular, driven musical expression of mastermind Trent Reznor. The music he made as NIN has always ranged from infectious, furious, delicate, and sexual to transgressive, uplifting, cautionary, and hopeless. While Reznor did not always make broad, blunt statements about politics, materialism or repression (though he definitely did at times), there was a consistently restless quality to his music. His frustration at the veneer of normalcy and acceptability that characterized modern popular music was palpable, and he seemed to search endlessly for seams to peel back and rip loose to expose what was underneath.

Of NINE INCH NAILS' seminal breakthrough album, Spin magazine respectfully had this to say in 2024: "As The Downward Spiral turns 30 this year, it still stands as an act of artistic transgression against the limits of popular music. Pushing the boundaries of creative censorship, it is still considered Nine Inch Nails' most daring and uncompromising album."

Join us in paying homage to one of rock's most ambitious innovators and angriest Gen X voices railing against the status quo, as we present our latest Redux Series installment "The Downward Spiral Redux", along with the traditional companion album "Best of Nine Inch Nails Redux". The two double album collections together comprise 27 re-imagined renditions by some of today's coolest and heaviest artists taking on NINE INCH NAILS classics and deep cuts.

The Magnetic Eye Redux Series features hand-picked classic albums from across the history of rock and metal re-imagined in their entirety from start to finish. Artists we love from within and outside the heavy rock landscape choose tracks to make their own, bringing these milestone records into the new millennium with crushing heaviness and searing energy. To date, we've produced Redux editions of PINK FLOYD's "The Wall", HELMET's "Meantime", BLACK SABBATH's "Vol. 4", JIMI HENDRIX's "Electric Ladyland", ALICE IN CHAINS' "Dirt", AC/DC's "Back in Black", SOUNDGARDEN's "Superunknown", JETHRO TULL's "Aqualung", and RAMONES' self-titled debut, which have included artists like RED FANG, THE SWORD, MATT PIKE, PALLBEARER, THE MELVINS, ALL THEM WITCHES, KHEMMIS, ASG, SUPERSUCKERS, ZAKK WYLDE, MARK LANEGAN, VOIVOD, and many more amazing artists.

Join us for our tenth foray into Redux territory as we pay proper respect to the US industrial rock legends NINE INCH NAILS!


Thanks to All Noir PR and Magnetic Eye Records for all of the details.

Stoned Jesus - Songs To Sun (Album Review)

Release Date: September 19th 2025. Record Label: Season Of Mist. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Songs To Sun - Tracklisting


1. New Dawn (8:53)

2. Shadowland (4:38) 

3. Lost in the Rain (7:49)

4. Low (4:09) 

5. See You on the Road (5:45)

6. Quicksand (9:52)


Members


Igor Sydorenko - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards

Andrew Rodin - Bass, Backing Vocals

Yurii Ciel - Drums, Backing Vocals


Review.



Stoned Jesus creates a highly melodic blend of Psych, Doom, Stoner Rock, Prog Rock and Grunge on their new album Songs To Sun. The whole album sees Stoned Jesus travel across the whole Heavy Metal landscape where they re-invent and redefine their whole musical legacy with music that’s uplifting, bleak and superbly powerful. 

The record does feel like it’s been shaped by the real life events the band have gone through over the last few years or perhaps even longer. There is a sense of real struggle appearing within the lyrics especially within the closing moments. However, there’s a level of uplifting optimism which sees lead vocalist and creative mastermind Igor Sydorenko adapting his musical persona and performance to one of Post-Rock and Post-Metal surroundings.

 There are flashes of Post-Grunge attitude influenced by Alice In Chains on the excellent opening track New Dawn. The song is cautiously slow with Stoned Jesus biding their time to unleash a torrent of heavy Stoner Rock/Metal melodies which they achieve through determined grit with a sense of human warmth and emotion. Stoned Jesus keeps up with that level of Progressive storytelling within the sublime second track Shadowland which has a gritty slow-to-mid pace with classic Grunge guitars being quite daring especially when the song moves into areas of Prog Rock and Psych Rock sensibilities.

With an eerie level of Ambient Rock developing and slight orchestral movements, Stoned Jesus are absolutely on fire with the stunning backing vocals of Andrew Rodin and Yurii Ciel appearing at the most correct time that allows Songs To Sun become quite experimental. With a haunting Folk presence emerging from the stunning third track Lost In The Rain which has some heavy “OPETH” vibes whilst keeping within Stoned Jesus’s epic Post-Doom creative charge. Heavy instrumental passages and subtle Folk Rock energy pushes the record into the world of Orchestral Rock with a superb “LESS IS MORE” approach that brings another level of bleak heartbreak to the album.

The fourth track Low is full on Doom/Stoner Metal that is boosted by an epic Prog Metal style dictating the whole action which should make MASTODON fans quite happy indeed. The technical beats from Igor, Andrew and Yurii are outstanding with some of the heaviest and catchiest moments appearing on this song alone. This feels like STONED JESUS of yesteryear and the whole record becomes more rewarding and fulfilling for that alone.

The final two songs of See You On The Road and Quicksand are full of Doom/Stoner Metal madness with mighty throwbacks to the era of Nineties Grunge/Stoner Rock scene with Stoned Jesus still allowing themselves the time and freedom to experiment and play with their overall sound. 

Igor’s vocals remind me of Trent Reznor in his prime with a sense of maturity that makes you feel every pounding note being projected at you from all directions. The instrumental passages are heavy, thrilling and sometimes brilliantly unique with Songs To Sun proving why Stoned To Jesus can easily be considered “LEGENDS” of the whole Stoner Rock/Metal movement. 

This is an outstanding record from a band who are simply at THE TOP OF THEIR GAME and who deserve all the plaudits fully coming their way. 

Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Season Of Mist for the promo.


Songs To Sun is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Season Of Mist.

 

Links


LinkTree | BandCamp


70s Hard Rock Specialists ELECTRIC CITIZEN share "Static Vision" video off new album on Heavy Psych Sounds; US fall tour announced!


Ohio-based 70s heavy and psych rock purveyors ELECTRIC CITIZEN have released a new video taken from their fourth studio album "EC4", released this summer on Heavy Psych Sounds. The band recently announced a full US tour in support of the album, including shows alongside High On Fire, Kadabra and Earth Tongue.

"A ‘70s-style hard rock hammer down on an acid-soaked heavy-psych anvil." Bandcamp Daily
"Their renaissance after a seven-year hiatus is huge." Rock Hard Magazine
"Immersive, thought-provoking, and undeniably electric.” Prog Rock Journal
“Entrancing, absorbing, and spellbinding.” Maximum Volume Music
“A triumphant return.” Doom Charts

Watch Electric Citizen's new video Static Vision


"Static Vision" is a descent into screen-fueled catatonia and bucolic escapism. Director Jane Elizabeth Slater channels the early '90s with plenty of VHS grit, postmodern decor, and visuals inspired by Neil Krug’s cover art for the band’s newest album. Edited and shot using a mix of vintage camcorder and DSLR by Slater herself, "Static Vision" is a wistful homage to an era before digital dependence.

Electric Citizen's prodigious fourth album will take you on a weird, fun and unwaveringly electrifying journey filled with head-bobbing, riff-driven magic and eerie rite-worthy daydreams. Fearlessly sailing between proto-doom stompers and searing 70s prog propelled by organ cascades, these goldsmiths of golden-era heavy led by the unique voice of Laura Dolan sit firmly in that time machine between Uriah Heep, Coven, Deep Purple and Blood Ceremony.

Electric Citizen US fall shows:

Oct 10: The Ship – Kansas City, MO
Oct 11: HQ – Denver, CO
Oct 12: The DLC – Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 13: Shrine Social Club – Boise, ID
Oct 14: Cafe Colonial – Sacramento, CA
Oct 15: The Ritz – San Jose, CA
Oct 16: Kilowatt Bar – San Fran, CA *
Oct 17: Permanent Records Roadhouse – Los Angeles, CA
Oct 18: Jacumba Breakdown, Jacumba Hot Springs, CA + *
Oct 19: Yucca Tap Room – Tempe, AZ
Oct 20: Sister – Albuquerque, NM
Oct 22: Resonant Head – Oklahoma City, OK
Oct 23: Reverb Lounge – Omaha, NE
Oct 24: Reggies – Chicago, IL
Oct 25: The Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI
Dec 12: Rain City Doom Fest – Seattle, WA °
Dec 13: Kingsway – Vancouver, BC °
Dec 14: Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR °
+With High on Fire °With Kadabra *No Earth Tongue

New album "EC4" - Available now on Heavy Psych Sounds


Since forming in 2012, Cincinnati-based rockers Electric Citizen have carved out a distinct sound, blending vintage psychedelia with heavy rock 'n' roll. With three acclaimed albums under their belt, Electric Citizen has toured extensively, sharing stages with acts like The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Pentagram and Fu Manchu. Now signed to Heavy Psych Sounds, Electric Citizen is ready to unleash their most potent work yet: a fusion of hypnotic grooves, searing guitars, and Laura Dolan's mesmerizing vocals. "EC4" is both a homecoming and a rebirth.

Seven years after their last album "Helltown", Electric Citizen returns with their fourth full-length "EC4" — a powerful statement of renewal and raw energy. Written by Ross Dolan with contributions from the full band, the album was meticulously crafted over several years and recorded with Mike Montgomery and John Hoffman at Candyland Studio in Dayton, KY. It was mixed by Collin Dupuis (Lana Del Rey, The Black Keys) in Detroit and mastered by JJ Golden (Ty Segall, Calexico) at Golden Mastering in California. The album art was created by Neil Krug (Lana Del Rey, Tame Impala, Weyes Blood), who worked on their debut album "Sateen".

ELECTRIC CITIZEN is

Ross Dolan - Guitar
Laura Dolan - Vocals
Nick Vogelpohl - Bass
Nate Wagner - Drums
Owen Lee - Keyboards

ELECTRIC CITIZEN links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links


Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Monkeys On Mars - Monkeys On Mars (EP Review)

Release Date: October 17th 2025. Record Label: MRS Red Sound. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Monkeys On Mars - Tracklisting


1. Seasonal Pyres

2. Hear The Call

3. Seasonal Pyres (Tiny Flames Edit)


Members


Julien Pras: vocals, guitar (Mars Red Sky)

Boris De Piante: guitar (Monkey3)

Jimmy Kinast: bass (Mars Red Sky)

Jalil Perrenoud: bass (Monkey3)

Mathieu Gazeau: drums (Mars Red Sky)

Walter Albrecht: drums (Monkey3)

Guillaume Desboeufs "dB":  keys & sounds (Monkey3)


Review.


When I first heard of this collaboration, I was immediately excited. I mean the super spacey and lead guitar frenzy of Monkey3 mixed with the down tuned stoner psych of Mars Red Sky sounded like a match made in the celestial heavens. I initially thought there were going to be a few members from both bands, but after doing some research it’s both bands combined. That’s right, two guitarists, two bassists, two drummers, plus keyboards, and vocals. A full-on partnership of both bands, a true supergroup of epic proportions within the heavy underground, the band known as Monkeys On Mars! 


Pulsating Sci-Fi sounds of a control panel fill the air, a subtle metallic ‘ting’ of cymbals build in the tiny tin cabin. Just before the two-minute mark the rest of the band(s) kick in on Seasonal Pyres, the first track of the Monkeys On Mars EP. If you’re a fan of the band then you already know that Mars Red Sky’s frontman Julien has one of the most recognizable and unique voices you may ever hear, his haunting pitch and falsetto cutting thoroughly through the mix. Crazy enough I wasn’t the biggest fan when I first heard them over ten years ago. It took some coaxing, but coaxed I was, resulting in MRS becoming one of my favorite bands. 


Another big factor on this track is the synth/key work of dB from Monkey3, while used as a backing instrument it may be more in the back but gives that extra layer and ‘fullness’ and ‘cosmic-ness’ to the song. Of course, those familiar with Monkey3 know of lead guitarist Boris and his sonic onslaught of the six-string. His guitar work helps elevate the spacey feel of Seasonal Pyres. Instead of a full-on assault, he uses the space between, weaving in soloistic highs that pierce reality while complementing the bass and other instruments. At five minutes in we reach a bridge of sorts which strips back down to the drums and bass with an almost tribal-like tom-fill. As the bass joins in you can feel the slow build up as the vocals join back in. It all comes crashing back into the addictive chorus with additional lead parts and an absolutely gripping escalation and conclusion. You can add this track to both bands’ repertoire as being one of their best and certainly one of the best collaborations of the year! 


Beating out Seasonal Pyres in time by a few minutes is the thirteen minute long Hear the Call. As the floating capsule is in autopilot, maintaining its fuel, the track itself is a slow burner at its inception, filled with heavy psych and the wonder of the expanse that surrounds. Being an instrumental there are highs and lows that Monkeys On Mars traverse that a traditional song might otherwise not take. It also plays into Monkey3’s expertise and the lead guitarist is finally let loose to destroy guitar solos in his typical fashion. With the absence of vocals, you can hyper-focus on any piece, any instrument and feel the energy being released. 


There’s a somber mood across the track, and it plays into the title. The calling of despair, the calling out into nothingness, the lost feeling of no one there to answer, longing for someone, anyone to Hear the Call. While there are only two tracks (there are also two edited versions of Seasonal Pyres) the EP contains just under twenty-five minutes of material combining the two worlds of two amazing long-lasting bands. 


Obviously, if you’re a fan of either or both, it’s a no-brainer to pick up. And if you love super spacey, heavy psych, and music that can elevate you to distant, other worldly places then this is likewise for you. Let us hope that more comes out of this transcendent collaboration, but in the meantime mark your calendars for Oct. 17th when Monkeys On Mars deliver a stellar strike to the heavy underground with their self-titled EP. 


Words by Jon McGough


Thanks to Shake Promotion for the promo.


Monkeys On Mars is out to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from 'Out October 17th 2025 on Mrs Red Sound - PRE-ORDER

 

Links


Monday, 15 September 2025

Pink Fuzz - Resolution (Album Review)

Release Date: September 18th 2025. Record Label: Permanent Teeth. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Resolution- Tracklisting


01. Trigger

02. Long Gone

03. Coming For Me

04. No Sympathy

05. Worst Enemy

06. So Sad

07. Resolution

08. Cycles

09. Am I Happy?

10. Animal


Members


LuLu Demitro - Vocals, Bass, Keys

John Demitro - Vocals, Baritone Guitar, Acoustic, Keys

Forrest Raup - Drums, Percussion

Nick Joswick - Keys

Hannie - Hammer


Review.



Resolution is the latest offering from Psych/Stoner Rockers Pink Fuzz which is their first album in over seven years though the band did release a superb EP (Vitals) back in 2019. If you’re new to Pink Fuzz’s fast-paced and highly melodic world then you’re in for a treat with the band focusing upon playing sounds inspired by early-era QOTSA, Slomosa, FU MANCHU and Truckfighters. However, Pink Fuzz stand out when they branch out into areas of Doom, Fuzz and classic Shoegaze which injects a world building energy into their music.

The music is catchy and captures the best moments of the Nineties Alt-Rock/Stoner Rock scene especially when the music draws upon the likes of Mazzy Star with a thrilling Doomgaze melody being added throughout the whole album. The sound is quite “FIESTY” and “HEARTFELT” thanks to the excellent vocals from brother/sister duo of LuLu Demitro and John Demitro that perfectly taps into the Shoegaze vibe and the poppy upbeat sounds which become quite aggressive when the subtle Punk Rock / Sludge Rock grooves appear on the early stages of the album.

Resolution works best when Pink Fuzz thinks outside of the box with classic Stoner Rock passages that have a certain highly confident swagger on tracks such as Trigger, Long Gone and Coming For Me perfectly set the scene. There’s a hint of “Post-Doom” developing that merges with that boisterous QOTSA based sound which manages to offer a playful and full on aggressive attitude. The “POPPIER” elements soon transform into a delicious blend of Fuzz Rock with a twinge of Doom Rock suddenly appearing for a more refined “METAL” sound. 

You’ll be surprised by the different HEAVY RAWK genres that Pink Fuzz manage to include out of thin air for the freshest, heaviest and hippest sounds on the whole album. Resolution allows Pink Fuzz to play recklessly but in the best possible way that manifests into sublime tracks full of great Psychedelic grooves on tracks such as: No Sympathy, Worst Enemy, Resolution, Am I Happy and Animal.

With excellent production values being applied thanks to great work by Kevin Mckeown on Production Duties and the legendary Alain Johannes who mixed the record. Resolution is one of the unexpected delights I’ve heard from the Stoner Rock scene I’ve heard this year. As Pink Fuzz are brilliantly inventive combining classic Stoner Rock against areas of Shoegaze, Alt Rock and Indie Rock for a record that’s bound to become a firm favourite within the underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to US / THEM Group for the promo.


Resolution is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Relentless Teeth.

 

Links


LinkTree | BandCamp | Instagram


Exciting space rock collective MONKEYS ON MARS to unveil interstellar extract off forthcoming EP: "Seasonal Pyres".

Photo credit: Liss Eulenhertz.

Thrilling heavy psych/prog outfit MONKEYS ON MARS are made up of Swiss quartet Monkey3 and French trio Mars Red Sky. The band unleash a first track taken from their eponymous debut EP, out this October 17th 2025 on Mrs Red Sound. "Seasonal Pyres [Tiny Flames Edit]" comes with its vintage dreamy lyrics video.

MONKEYS ON MARS is more than a simple collaboration, it is a bold fusion of two heavy psych/prog forces. Self-titled EP delivers two expansive space-prog journeys, clocking in at 11 and 13 minutes. The music perfectly blends their dreamlike yet dark soundscapes. Monkey3 bring kraut-infused effects and convincing heavy riffs to Mars Red Sky's tortured melodies. All carried by a pachydermic rhythm section: two drums, two basses. “Seasonal Pyres” showcases the crystalline voice of Mars Red Sky's frontman Julien Pras while “Hear The Call” is entirely instrumental.

MONKEYS ON MARS release “Seasonal Pyres [Tiny Flames Edit]”, a distilled version of the original track. The video was directed by Sébastien Antoine.


MONKEYS ON MARS - "Seasonal Pyres [Tiny Flames Edit]" official music video

'Monkeys On Mars' was recorded by Guillaume Desboeufs (Monkey3) at The Missing Link Studio (Lausanne, Switzerland) and Benjamin Mandeau (recording and mix) at Cryogene Prod Studio (Bègles, France). Mastering by Alexis Bardinet at Globe Audio Studio in Bordeaux, France. The record is dropping on October 17th 2025 through Mrs Red Sound at the following formats: vinyl, CD, digital.

MONKEYS ON MARS debut EP 'Monkeys On Mars'
Out October 17th 2025 on Mrs Red Sound
Vinyl, CD, digital: PRE-ORDER

Artwork: Johrice

MONKEYS ON MARS will perform a series of special shows thanks to Doomstar Bookings and 3C Tour to present their forthcoming EP in full. A big 2026 tour announcement is planed by the end of September.

Info & tickets

17.10.2025 SELESTAT [FR] Rock Your Brain
18.10.2025 ANTWERP [BE] DesertFest Belgium
19.10.2025 DUISBURG [DE] Bora
31.10.2025 VALLET [FR] Westill Festival
16.08.2026 CARHAIX [FR] Motocultor Festival

MONKEYS ON MARS ARE:

Julien Pras: vocals, guitar (Mars Red Sky)
Boris De Piante: guitar (Monkey3)
Jimmy Kinast: bass, vocals (Mars Red Sky)
Jalil Perrenoud: bass (Monkey3)
Mathieu Gazeau: drums, vocals (Mars Red Sky)
Walter Albrecht: drums (Monkey3)
Guillaume Desboeufs "dB": keys & sounds (Monkey3)


Links



Thanks to Shake Promotion for the details.

An Interview With Daz Rowlands From Cosmic/Doom/Stoner Metallers SPACE WITCH


Psych/Doom/Stoner Metallers SPACE WITCH return with their first album in over eight years with MOUNTAINS OF NEPTUNE. The band opt for an Instrumental record compared to their previous albums. The record is also a singular track lasting for thirty eight minutes with the band focusing upon some of the heaviest and spaced out grooves of their career.

With the stunning artwork by COSMIC EVE, this record will be unleashed on HALLOWEEN and it's a mind blowing epic where my review will feature sometime next month.

I caught with Daz Rowlands (Guitars / FX) from the band to discuss the evolution of the band's music and the making of this gloriously heavy new album.

So strap in and read on for a very cool inteview.

Hi guys, Thanks for doing this interview. How are things with you today? It's been a long time since we last spoke. Over eight years in fact. What have you guys been up to since then as I originally thought you guys split up a long time ago.

Hi Steve, we are good thanks and just last night we played a show at the Wheatsheaf Banbury which we enjoyed immensely! Wow eight years?! Has it really been that long?! And in that time a lot has happened and changed in the Space Witch camp. Let’s start from the end of our last albums cycle Arcanum. we played some awesome shows together the last being HRH Doom Vs Stoner all dayer at the O2 Sheffield where we headlined the 2nd stage. Arcanum was well received and we were on a progressive path in terms of where the band was going and the shows we were doing as well as starting to write the next album.

Then COVID happened and that completely derailed us to be honest obviously there was a time we couldn’t even rehearse but we tried to meet online once week and progress demo recordings of new material. Around middle of 2021 we went on hiatus but there was always the view to picking things back up in the future. Unfortunately that didn’t happen for a number of reasons and ultimately we parted ways. A couple of years passed and Tom our bass player got in touch, we met, where we both expressed an interest in taking the band forward again. Having a couple of years off had re-ignited our passion for the band and Tom and I both had the same vision from a musical perspective. We’d had the time to recharge our batteries and had a clear direction for the band going forward.

Going back to basics was in order, Tom and I were clear we wanted to keep this iteration as a 3 piece, so I took on the electronics side of things as well as guitar, but we needed a new drummer, someone that shared our love for playing music and shared our vision for the band. It just so happened I’d recently met Matt Bowyer, as he’d tried out for another band of mine (Hand of Omega), so having discussed it with Tom we invited Matt down to work with us. That was February 2023 and we focused on resurrecting songs off our albums Space Witch and Arcanum as well as newer material that we worked on during COVID. We started gigging in the summer 2023 and we haven’t looked back since.

I was quite surprised and mega excited when you sent me your new album “Mountains Of Neptune” to review. Great album BTW. What can people expect from this album?

Mountains of Neptune is a continuation of where we left off from Arcanum, but going back to the basic formulae of an instrumental 3 piece playing over a pre recorded (analogue) electronic backdrop. In my opinion, people can expect a return to form with a single 37+ minute song of heavy stoner doom pysch, heavier than anything we have done previously and more down-tuned, various time signatures and tempos, pysch melodies and heavy riffs… I recorded, mixed and mastered the album so don’t expect a highly produced production, but we are happy with the result.

What are the underlying themes of the album?

The main theme of the album is a human female astronaut (the Space Witch!) travels to the distant planet of Neptune and starts to suffocate (due to the atmosphere), set to a backdrop of mountains and alien terrain. It is a direct correlation to what happened to the band during COVID and to the band ultimately surviving. As you can see the Space Witch is not dead, but suffocating struggling to breath.

What influenced you when writing and recording the album?

70s & 80s SCI-FI, gaming, heavy/spacey bands and soundscapes. One thing I was keen on this time round was to include some slower and heavier riffs, something we struggled with in previous lineups. But at the same time being progressive with groove infused riffs and scratchy melodic leads. I purchased 2 analogue synth pedals and pre recorded a 40 minute electronics soundscape. Utilising these pedals give us a backdrop to play to and one that was very HORROR SCI-FI influenced.

Why did you call the album “Mountains Of Neptune”?

Tom our bass player after we demoed the album came up with the name and we ran with it building the story and concept for the album and the artwork. It just so happened that the name and the concept perfectly fitted the music we had written. I must admit in recent years I’ve been listening a lot to Hawkwind and older stoner doom as well older demo tapes I had picked up along the way. But it was important to me and the guys that we went beyond this and I think result has achieved this both sonically and visually.

When did you decide to release a full instrumental album? As your previous albums had vocals. Was this an easy decision to make to not include vocals?

That was agreed early on when we started the process of rehearsing again. There were a few things that dictated this. Firstly, we wanted to keep it to the 3 of us. Secondly, I think we lost a few people along the way that enjoyed the instrumental nature of our music namely with the release of Arcanum, so it was a return to that, that formulae that seemed to work for people who wanted to drop out of life and got lost in the music. And finally, we’d lost Pete who performed vocal duties and it wasn’t something that any of us could have realistically picked up.

When we wrote Arcanum it was really an experiment to see what it would make us sound like and although it did work in my opinion it was something we didn’t want to continue with. I think vocals kind of makes things more accessible and that isn’t something we wanted with Mountains of Neptune. It was as I’ve already said an opportunity to go back to basics.

You’re releasing the album on Halloween. Any specific reason why you’re releasing the album on Halloween. As it’s a full on COSMIC DOOM/SPACE METAL album in my eyes and nothing to do with the OCCULT or HALLOWEEN in general. Or is this an homage to ALIEN that I completely missed.

Sometimes its easier to target dates that have other interlinked meanings and is an easy date to remember than October 10th for example. But we are named Space WITCH so I think there is an inherent link there. But everything you have mentioned e.g. cosmic doom/space metal and homage to alien also applies to its meaning. I’d say this album is more of a HORROR space metal album than anything else.

What formats is the album being released upon?

So this time round we are doing it a bit differently as we will be making it freely downloadable from our bandcamp and soundcloud websites, as well as it being available on all major streaming platforms. In addition, we are releasing the album DIY style on Digipak CD, Cassette and lathe cut clear vinyl limited to 50 copies each. We aren’t out to make money on this so the vinyls for example are what they actual cost us to produce. We’d sooner get this album into peoples hands (as many as possible).

Did any record labels offer to release the album?

No. After our experience with our last label we decided to do it ourselves as we never seemed to get what we signed up for. So we didn’t approach any labels, that’s not to say we won’t in future though, if we find the right label with the right ethics and practice then never say never...

Will you be touring this record heavily or will it just be individual, one-off shows such as festival appearances.

We hope to do a small tour definitely UK and possible some in the EU. We would be open to festival appearances assuming we could work round our day jobs.



We have to talk about the amazing artwork for Mountains Of Neptune which was designed by the hugely talented Cosmic Eve aka Stephaine V. Cantu. How did Stephaine get involved with designing the artwork?

I’ve known Steph for a while now and back in 2015 we collaborated on one of her solo songs “Electric Nightmare”. In the fall last year I’d seen she’d been advertising her design services and I thought why not give Steph a go… Needless to say it worked out absolutely amazing and we are really pleased with the way she interrupted our vision.

Did you give Stephanie a bunch of ideas or did you let her imagination run wild. I loved how she put herself into the design of the album cover. Who's idea was that. As it fully sells the creative tone and vision of the album.

Working with Steph was really easy, I sent her a brief i.e. the concept of a female astronaut (the Space Witch) suffocating on Neptune with mountains as a backdrop. She supplied a number of different concepts some of which we will be using as t shirt designs, but when I saw the artwork you see today I was like that’s it, that’s the one! I just knew it was perfect…

I think its a coincidence that the Space Witch looks like Steph it certainly wasn’t the brief I gave but I think the character brief did resemble her so I think its all worked out perfectly.

What have your high points and low points with Space Witch or your musical career in general.

High points were playing a number of shows in Manchester over years, HRH Doom vs Stoner at the O2 Sheffield and playing Oslo which was pretty awesome! Getting our albums on vinyl and them selling out. Reading the masses of positive reviews of our albums.

Low points the hiatus during COVID that led to the band parting ways but that’s pretty much it.

I believe you guys should be more well known within the scene as Space Witch are on the UK Doom/Stoner Metal scene’s best kept secrets and you’ve been going since 2007. Are you happy with your standing within the UK underground scene? Looking back on your musical career so far, is there anything that you would change.

We are happy with where the band currently is and its getting back to levels before the hiatus during COVID. In terms of would we change anything? The answer is yes, I think we will produce more music more often than we have done typically, especially now we have the means to self record. We’d also like to tour EU and think this line up could do that and push the band further a field.

Before you go, do you have anything to say to your fans?

Thanks to everyone that has either been to one of our gigs, or purchased our music and merch. We REALLY appreciate the continued support for what we do.

Words by Steve Howe and Daz Rowlands

Mountains Of Neptune will be available for free download from spacewitch.bandcamp.com and on all 
major streaming platforms.