Release Date: July 25th 2025. Record Label: APF Records. Formats: Cassette/DD/Vinyl
The King’s Eternal Throne - Tracklisting
1.Shamanic Rites
2.Burn Him
3.The King's Eternal Throne
4.Toad King (Forest Synth Offering)
Members
Adam Kennedy - vocals, guitar, bass
Michael Guthrie - drums
Review
Doom/Sludge Metallers GOBLINSMOKER finally return after a five year absence with The King’s Eternal Throne which is the final part of The Toad King Trilogy which started with 2018’s Toad King and continued with 2020’s A Throne in Haze, a World Ablaze. The band has supported the likes of Venom, Eyehategod, Goatwhore, Bongzilla, Slomatics, Belzebong, Discharge and Mastiff. This has allowed them to become one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the UK Doom/Sludge Metal scene.
These experiences may have shaped the sound of The King’s Eternal Throne with deeply rich and complex storytelling themes being heard throughout the album. The monolithic and downtuned Sludge Metal sound is played at a perfect slow-to-mid decaying pace within the opening track of Shamanic Rites. With a grizzled and aggressive ELECTRIC WIZARD influence shining through with a slight detour into CONAN territory with GOBLINSMOKER still creating their own highly original slice of DISTORTED DOOM with extra levels of destructive fuzz. Adam Kennedy’s harsh vocals are projected by a bleak Sludge Metal atmosphere which feels inspired by the NOLA scene in certain aspects.
GOBLINSMOKER are never in a hurry to get to their next destination allowing the whole journey to play with an ice-cold focus with levels of Frozen Ambient sounds being played on the final stages of the opening track which does appear on other parts of the record.
Second track Burn Him is another slow-to-mid played track with GOBLINSMOKER transforming the mythical storyline of the album to greater narrative pastures. The sound is bleak, cold and demonic but the music is wonderfully OVER THE TOP on a grand scale with some of the best grooves appearing on this track alone.
The music does become slightly faster with Michael Guthrie’s drumming being the real catalyst for Adam’s intense sludgy guitars destroying everything in its wake. The use of dramatic Psychedelic and Trippy effects brings an air of the classic 1980’s SWORD & SORCERY films into the album. Though, the record still has a serious tone throughout with the epic track. Levels of down-tuned distortion can be quite deafening at times but GOBLINSMOKER are having way too much FUN to perhaps even care about that aspect of their music.
Third track The King’s Eternal Throne uses a Psychedelic and Ambient score which fans of BELZEBONG will find absolutely thrilling with GOBLINSMOKER quickly playing that demonic style of Doomed Out Sludge/Stoner Metal with that dangerous AMPLIFIER swagger having a certain Progressive energy appearing. This is perhaps the most riffiest track on the record with GOBLINSMOKER laying down the heaviest and superbly played moments of the record. With that decaying FUZZED OUT sound generating in fine amounts of destructive energy that’s some of the most interesting sounds that the band have released to date.
The final track of Toad King (Forest Synth Offering) is an Ambient Instrumental based track which closes the album in the best way possible. It allows GOBLINSMOKER to close their celebrated trilogy in great fashion. It maybe a bit subdued but it brings a refreshing and gloomy finish to an outstanding record.
The King’s Eternal Throne is a masterclass of modern day Doom/Sludge Metal that allows GOBLINSMOKER to claim their place and cement their reputation as one of the most exciting bands the UK underground scene has to offer at the moment.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to APF Records for the promo.
The King’s Eternal Throne is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from APF Records.
Links
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