Release Date: May 30th 2025. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Acid Gods - Tracklisting
1.Black Dye
2.Nocturno
3.Drag Me Down
4.Beneath The Altar
5.Crystals
6.Unshut
7.Slivers
8.Wild Eyes
9.Nebulas
10.Heavy Dew
Members
S. Oberg – Bass Guitar
J. Oberg – Drums, Vocals
Review
Acid Gods is the latest entry from Psych/Sludge/Stoner Metallers GRIN where the band explore a heavier and primal sound compared to their 2024 album HUSH. This record feels more closely aligned to EARTH SHIP, the other band that Jan and Sabine are part of. With a heavier Sludge Metal backdrop and less Spaced Out attitude, Acid Gods feels like GRIN have stripped out the heavier progressive tendencies they built up over the last few records that allows the band to have a desperate rough and ready delivery where the SLUDGE aspect of their music to fully flourish with intense delivery and aggression.
The vocals from Jan are the most violent I’ve heard from him in a very long time with a mighty PISSED OFF attitude being felt from every vocal arrangement he delivers throughout the whole album. Jan’s vocals remind me of his early days with the mighty EARTH SHIP which is very good to hear and allows Acid Gods to be quite different to GRIN’s other records.
With GRIN operating with a Bass and Drums setup, the music is way more chaotic but still allows the band to deliver a stylish and industrial style of music that’s violent, aggressive and wholly melodic. Bone-crunching grooves and heavy electronic beats converge for a demented style of music with apocalyptic storytelling to match forming on tracks such as Black Dye, Nocturno, Beneath The Altar, Unshut, Nebulas and Heavy Dew.
The record has elements of classic sounding Industrial Metal, Post-Metal and Psychedelic Doom sounds that will no doubt appeal to fans of RELAPSE RECORDS generation when they had bands such as MASTODON, GENGHIS TRON and BARONESS on their roster. Acid Gods achieves that highly experimental sound that become quite popular within the late 2000’s and early 2010’s of HEAVY MUSIC.
There is a cinematic Psychedelic and Sonic attitude lurking within the background of Acid Gods which is perhaps personified by Sabine’s intense, intricate and superbly clever BASS guitar. Jan’s once again excels on drumming duties and putting another shift on producing, mixing and mastering duties. Well, this is THE LASTING DOSE RECORDS release and I expect Jan to be in complete control on the production side of things.
Acid Gods allows GRIN to tap into their heaviest, scariest and most Primal creative instincts for a record that dares to be quite different and still allows longtime fans of the band to experience another thrilling and groove laden brilliantly entertaining album from the band.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Against PR and GRIN for the promo.
