Margarita Witch Cult - Strung Out In Hell (Album Review)

 

Release Date: July 18th 2025. Record Label:Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Strung Out In Hell - Tracklisting

1.Crawl Home To Your Coffin

2.Scream Bloody Murder 

3.Conqueror Worm

4.Witches Candle 

5.White Wedding (Billy Idol cover)

6.Mars Rover

7.Dig Your Way Out

8.The Fool

9.Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm

Members

Scott Abbott - Vocals & Guitars

James Brown - Bass, Vocals, Synth, Mellotron, Guitars

George Caswell - Drums & Vocals

Review

Well, Margarita Witch Cult actually did it. They actually FUCKING did it. They’ve released an absolute unmissable record with their second album Strung Out In Hell. They may have actually made a deal with SATAN himself. This record flat out rocks with its spectacular use of Fuzz, Doom, Psych, Sludge and Stoner Metal surroundings. Throw in a contemporary style of Heavy Metal with a seedy level of fun that allows the band to grow out of the shadows from their musical heroes in creating their own style of Distorted Fuzz Metal with a sense of Psychedelic danger lurking in the midst.

Margarita Witch Cult received some great acclaim with their 2023 self titled record but the band aim for BIGGER, HEAVIER and FUZZIER movements that delivers with a sense of classic NWOBHM and PROTO METAL throwback energy whilst keeping with a seedy modern flow. The record opens with Crawl Home To Your Coffin, Scream Bloody Murder and Conqueror Worm which sees a dark POPPY effect being added whilst adding some much needed classic HARD ROCK grit with a sense of SATANIC quality appearing with the vocals and lyrics. 

The record is downright mean in places but all done in the best possible DEVIL ROCK taste with a classic style of AMPLIFIER HEAVINESS paying homage to the likes of Saint Vitus, Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard. With Uncle Acid sadly missing in action recently, Margarita Witch Cult are more than capable of taking their place with the standout tracks of Conqueror Worm and WItches Candle conjuring up a shit-ton of demonic based grooves down your spine.

Though, I’m going to say one of my favourite tracks on the album is a brilliant cover of the Billy Idol classic track White Wedding. Sure, this song has been covered multiple times before but this is one of the best versions I’ve heard of that track. As Margarita Witch Cult make it their own by adding multiple layers of GLOOMY feedback with that SATANIC presence whilst keeping the core essence of the original track. The screeching guitars and kick-ass vocals is PURE DYNAMITE.

The second half of the album does become quite spaced out with SYNTHS and MELLOTRON appearing out of nowhere which does add a true WTF crazed energy to the whole album though Margarita Witch Cult keep on the right side of Doom/Stoner Metal credibility. Songs such as Mars Rover, Dig Your Way Out and Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm generate a ton of seedy instrumental passages and highly energetic aggressive melodies that crackle with violent FUZZ ROCK attitude for the underground masses to fully appreciate.

Strung Out In Hell is the type of record that could elevate Margarita Witch Cult to greater heights against fellow Occult Doom Rockers GREEN LUNG in the next twelve months or so. The band are working with the amazing Heavy Psych Sounds again and it’s a perfect fit with this album being expertly produced with the right amount of Doomed Out coming for you at all angles for a record that’s on course to be considered on of the best underground albums of the year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Strung Out In Hell is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

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Asura Airavata by MITSURU TABATA + MIKE VEST + NICK RAYBOULD (Album Review)

Release Date: June 27th 2025. Record Label: Echodelick Records / Riot Season Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Asura Airavata - Tracklisting

1.Acquisitions 04:12

2.Remover Of Obstacles 04:17

3.Destructional Wisdom 08:38

4.Galacta 06:29

5.Sustain Of The Vajira 06:41

6.Seth's Protection 07:20

Members

Mitsuru Tabata - Guitars, Vocals & Synths

Mike Vest - Bass, Guitars & Mix

Nick Raybould - Drums, Art & Design

Review

Asura Airavata is the new collaborative effort from underground sonic maestros Mitsuru Tabata, Mike Vest and Nick Raybould which takes another fearless approach into the realm of Psych Rock, Noise. Fuzz, Garage and Extra Dimensional SONIC passages. There’s an expressive Heavy Psychedelic sound that merges a Punk Rock aesthetic into the creative fabric of free-forming Japanese Psychedelic music, dominant guitars and world destroying synths.

Mike Vest on Bass and Guitars adds the grounded sense of heavy realism with a dynamite performance which echoes Sixties and Seventies Classic Heavy Rock aggression. Nick Raybould’s aggressive and jazzy based drumming is the glue that holds everything together allowing Mike and Mitsuru to go off into multiple creative directions to do their thing.

Even with the crazed Space Rock sounds, Asura Airavata is a grounded record with the overlapping dimensions of Space Rock slowly weaving into real life throughout the excellent opening tracks of Acquisitions, Remover Of Obstacles and Destructional Wisdom. The band injects a surreal blend of different vocals and glitchy Electronic noises at times though within its purest and experimental form. 

The album really comes alive when they play a straightforward style of music that pays homage to the likes of CAN, Black Sabbath, Hawkwind, Jimi Hendrix, Monster Magnet, Acid Mothers Temple and Mainliner whilst still developing their own impressive sound. There is a sense of frenzied urgency with this musical project compared to the other bands that Mitsuru, Mike and Nick have been part of over the years. 

All three worked together previously on Artifacts & Uranium with Mitsuru Tabata. (2023 Album - Phase IV). Mitsuru and Mike have also worked together previously on MODOKI whilst Mike and Nick have worked together previously on Pascere Lamia. 

The music can be extremely challenging and dreamlike within the more quieter melodies and Post-Rock interludes that appear along the way. It’s quite a departure into Jazz and Krautrock surroundings on the second half of the record appearing within the subtle fourth track Galacta that does feel out of place compared to the frenzied and heavier offerings of the record. Though, I admire the subtle change of pace that appears within this track.

Once again, Monster Magnet legend John McBain helps out on mastering duties for the vinyl release with Mike Vest arranging and mixing the whole album. Asura Airavata is one of the loudest, abrasive and catchiest slices of Psych Rock that I’ve heard this year with Mitsuru Tabata, Mike Vest and Nick Raybould forming a highly formidable unit which should keep their established fan base superbly entertained for a long time to come.

Words by Steve Howe

Asura Airavata by MITSURU TABATA / MIKE VEST / NICK RAYBOULD is available to buy from the links below:

Riot Season Records / Echodelick Records

Links

Riot Season BandCamp | Mike Vest BandCamp

Unbelievable Lake - I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream (Album Review)

Release Date: June 13th 2025. Record Label: Cursed Monk Records. Formats: CD/DD

I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream - Tracklisting

1.I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream 41:22

Review

I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream is the latest sonic expedition from Heavy Psych Sludge Rockers Unbelievable Lake who are a new band for me. Their blend of Psych, Prog, Drone, Sludge, Post-Rock, Krautrock, Ambient and Soundtrack scores allows the band to fully sell their highly original sound to an unexpected audience such as myself. 

The record starts slow and draws you in with slowly played instrumental passages, electronica sounds and glitchy beats which allows Unbelievable Lake to play moments of beautiful Psych Rock movements before playing a heavier destructive Sludge Rock force that comes out of nowhere.

Inspired by the likes of OM, Pink Floyd, SLEEP, Hawkwind, Neurosis, CAN and SWANS can be heard through this epic singular forty one minute track with the excellent Drone Rock vocal delivery that drifts into existence when the need calls for it. There is a stripped back atmosphere that can be heard within the recording techniques used for the album which gives I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream a truly haunting and organic sound where they cross over into the Space Rock vortex with a real force of Sludge Rock magnitude on different parts of the album.

I started to wonder why Cursed Monk Records released this album as it doesn’t feel like their usual style of music. As that great label normally releases heavier, seedier and filthier records compared to I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream but after experiencing this great album for the past few weeks now I can understand why they released this great record.

Some folks will probably walk away from this great album without fully experiencing for themselves as the HEAVIER and AGGRESSIVE moments take time to fully form and appear. However, it’s the quieter and more outlandish soundscapes that Unbelievable Lake impressed me the most. The album takes a more thoughtful and daring creative approach with nuanced ambient sounds and chill out Post-Rock / Krautrock environments for the majority part of the album.

Everything goes BAT-SHIT crazy with fucked up SLUDGE METAL grooves appearing around the twenty five minutes mark. There’s the SWANS aspect coming into play which firmly pushes I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream into Experimental Rock/Metal territory.

Overall, I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream offers a deliciously heavy, aggressive and brilliantly FRENZIED experience which is perhaps better suited to the more experienced fan of Avant Garde and Experimental music with some thrilling moments of Doom and Sludge metal being played along the way.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Organic Destruction - Prophets Of Cthulhu (Album Review)

Release Date: June 27th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Prophets Of Cthulhu - Tracklisting

1.Prophets of Cthulhu 03:50

2.Supergroup 05:43

3.Dark Waters 05:18

4.Eternity of Evil 03:44

5.Marching the Shores 05:43

6.Bite of the T 03:47

7.III MARK VIII 05:44

8.Droned & Confuzzed 03:26

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Organic Destruction return with their latest album Prophets Of Cthulhu demonstrate a classic style of storytelling into their music with great sounds that have a certain NOLA and Southern Metal pedigree to them. Everything played on the record has that MASSIVE style of heaviness coming from every angle which allows the band to introduce some trippy laid back moments along the way. The vocals even have some wicked TYPE O NEGATIVE influence to them which come shining through on the excellent batch of opening tracks Prophets Of Cthulhu, Supergroup and Dark Waters.

However, Organic Destruction never loses their DOOM & GLOOM creative identity with a neverending supply of LOW & SLOW and full on GUITAR REVERB instrumental sludgy landscapes which change into some exquisite Post-Stoner melodies along the way. There is a Post-Chill atmosphere which I never expected for a Doom/Stoner Metal album such as this but Organic Destruction show some real genuine promise of their own making which allows Supergroup to be one of the standout tracks on the album. The Shamanic based Vocals and Chants adds another mysterious touch that can be quite refreshing whilst keeping with that creepy energy a modern day Doom/Stoner Metal record ultimately requires.

Prophets Of Cthulhu draws you into it’s dark, majestic and beautifully heavy world with the great use of Ambient and Post-Rock themes which allows Organic Destruction perhaps transform into a first rate Doomgaze band with a sudden influx of classic GRUNGE guitars within the tracks of Dark Waters, Marching The Shores, Bite Of The T and III MARK III being the other tracks impressing me the most. 

Whoever thought an H.P. Lovecraft inspired album can offer so many uplifting Post-Rock and Post-Stoner melodies with a touch of Atmospheric Doom holding everything together. Organic Destruction are one of those bands that should be more wider known within the underground Doom/Stoner Metal scene. As this is an EPIC record in every sense of the world. They cover a wide range of creative ground within the record’s tight thirty eight minutes runtime. There’s something for everyone to admire. This is a Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal album that dares to be different and fully succeeds on every level.

Prophets Of Cthulhu is an absolute joy and is a brilliantly addictive record from start to finish. Check this great album when you can. You won’t be sorry…. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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BELZEBITCH - Serpent Moon (EP Review)

Release Date: June 27th 2025. Record Label: Violence In The Veins / Quebranta Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Serpent Moon - Tracklisting

1.My Dear Lucifer 04:41

2.Satanic Vision 06:26

3.The Serpent Whisper 05:09

4.Black Magic And Weed Bongs 06:13

Members

Migui Albatross……Vocals

Pablo Mouzo……Guitars

Review

Serpent Moon is the debut EP from Spanish Doom/Stoner Metallers BELZEBITCH which creates a seedy, fuzzy and down tuned gloomy atmosphere inspired by the likes of SLEEP, MONOLORD and ELECTRIC WIZARD. There’s a sudden emergence of Grunge attitude appearing within the sublime opening track My Dear Lucifer if ever populated by those dense Proto-Metal grooves which adds a layer of distorted heaviness. The sound  can be quite intoxicating to hear especially when the band go full-on CLASSIC HARD ROCK excess with the deep reliance on Eighties Hard Rock Guitar shredding.

BELZEBITCH are a duo with Migui Albatross on Vocals and Pablo Mouo on Guitars with help from Isidro Femenía and Lior Izhaki on bass and drums respectively. Everyone plays their part by creating a wicked and gloomy atmosphere which does become more Doom Metal obsessed on the second track Satanic Vision  There is a classic Seventies Proto-Doom attitude appearing mostly through Migui’s superb vocals which have a touch of DEMONIC attitude behind them with shades of Electric Wizard and Uncle Acid.

Pablo Mouzo’s guitars take upon a more menacing SLUDGE rock demeanour with flashes of Trippy Psychedelic passages being quite distinctive when they become more riff-centric that make the most impressive sounds throughout the whole EP. You start to feel the MONOLORD influence starting to pull through with extended moments of Psych Doom landscapes slowly start to move at the forefront of BELZEBITCH’s music which gives this an unexpected level of vicious atmospherics.

BELZEBITCH tap into the classic WEEDIAN stratosphere for the final two tracks of The Serpent Whisper and Black Magic And Weed Bongs which slows the mood right down for certain sections of both tracks with the band playing a mixture of Classic Hard Rock and Grunge which gives Serpent Moon quite an unfiltered approach without losing that gloomy style of heaviness.

Serpent Moon is a highly captivating and extremely confident debut EP from BELZEBITCH where we could hearing a lot more from this highly talented duo in the years to come.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

BandCamp | Instagram