Magnetic Eye Records announce new Redux Series installment "The Downward Spiral Redux" & companion volume "Best of Nine Inch Nails Redux" with a Kickstarter campaign

Magnetic Eye Records reveal the next installment in their acclaimed Redux Series in homage to American industrial rock pioneers NINE INCH NAILS. The release follows the series' established practice of paying tribute to legendary rock classics with a re-imagination of one of the chosen band's milestone albums.

This edition features cover renditions by current artists taking on NINE INCH NAILS' 1994 sophomore album "The Downward Spiral", which sold over 5 million copies worldwide and was nominated for a Grammy award in the category 'Best Alternative Music Performance'.

Following now-established tradition, the label has launched the project with a Kickstarter campaign, which is under way and will continue until September 2 (US) and has already more than tripled its original target. Details located here:

www.kickstarter.com/projects/magneticeye/the-downward-spiral-redux-and-best-of-nine-inch-nails-redux

An impressive list of artists and collaborations has already been announced for "The Downward Spiral Redux" and "Best of Nine Inch Nails Redux" as follows:

BLACK TUSK 'Mr. Self Destruct'
DAEVAR 'Closer'
ABRAMS 'Eraser'
BLUE HERON 'Head Like a Hole'
GRAYCON 'Right Where It Belongs'
IAH 'A Warm Place'
THE OCEAN 'Even Deeper'
BLEAKHEART 'Something I Could Never Have'
SNAKEMOTHER 'The Day the World Went Away / Sin'
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME 'Hurt'
SANDRIDER 'March of the Pigs'
BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE 'Over and Out'
JOHN FRYER with STELLA SOLEIL 'I Do Not Want This'
AUTHOR & PUNISHER 'Reptile'
DREADNOUGHT 'The Becoming'
THIEF 'Piggy'
JOHN CXNNOR feat. HEXA 'Big Man with a Gun'

At this moment in time, the world's reliance on machines, algorithms, and artificial intelligence has never been greater. This means it is also 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 was acceptable to say and do 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 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 deeps 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", HENDRIX's "Electric Ladyland", ALICE IN CHAINS' "Dirt", AC/DC's "Back in Black", SOUNDGARDEN's "Superunknown", JETHRO TULL's "Aqualung", and RAMONES' debut "Ramones" which have included artists like RED FANG, MATT PIKE, PALLBEARER, THE MELVINS, ALL THEM WITCHES, KHEMMIS, ASG, SUPERSUCKERS, ZAKK WYLDE, MARK LANEGAN, RUBY THE HATCHET, 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. More artist announcements to follow!

The NINE INCH NAILS Kickstarter campaign (until September 2):

www.kickstarter.com/projects/magneticeye/the-downward-spiral-redux-and-best-of-nine-inch-nails-redux

Thanks to Magnetic Eye Records for all of the details

Psych/Stoner Rockers PURPLE STRAIN Release New Video Performance Called LIVE FROM NOWHERE

We’re Purple Strain, a fresh Stoner/Psych Rock band from Poland. Earlier this year we recorded a live session and recently put it online:

It’s about 30 minutes of psych / stoner vibes. Somewhere between Sabbath, Weedpecker, and Alice in Chains.

Nothing fancy, just us playing live.

EDITOR'S NOTE - Including this clip as this is a great performance from a very cool band indeed. Check out now!!!!

Links

Facebook | Instagram

Adur - We Fail To Love Ourselves (Album Review)

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

We Fail To Love Ourselves - Tracklisting

1. Arrival

2. Silhouette

3. We Fail to Love Ourselves

4. The Longing

5. Null

6. The One Percent

7. Self Control

8. Nothing Grows

9. Nothing Lives In This Soil

10. Permanence

11. The End Of Us

Members

Review

We Fail To Love Ourselves is the debut album from Post-Metal collective Adur who are made up of members from bands such as Grave Lines, Aerosol Jesus, Johnny Truant, and Sea Bastard. With great talent like that involved then you expect an album of great magnitude and Adur delivers that right across the board. Adur blends Post-Hardcore, Sludge Metal, Doom Metal and a sense of classic METALCORE keeping up the aggressive elements for the band to play the heaviest moments on the record.

Adur will appeal to fans such as BOTCH, CAVE IN, MASTODON, CULT OF LUNA, DEFTONES and CONVERGE. Though, there’s a sense of Pitch-Black mentality which could easily see bands such as THOU and DEAFHEAVEN being added. The record is constantly evolving atmosphere, moods and sheer brutal technical ability with Adur not settling on one straight-forward sound. 

The Post-Metal vibe is quite downbeat, violent and chaotic for the most part but there’s a sense of hopeful melodies that allows a brief sense of happiness and reflection to appear before Adur return to their fucked-up and destructive world. The emotionally charged themes and dark subject matter that Adur have written for this record offers a true reflection of the nasty shit going on in the world with the band telling a captivating story through the power of music.

The length of the track varies from a couple minutes to six minutes in length with frenzied Post-Metal passages appearing throughout. I’m not the biggest METALCORE fan but Adur have that aspect implemented brilliantly well especially on the technically impressive POST-METAL beats of tracks such as Silhouette, We Fail To Love Ourselves, The Longing, The One Percent and Self Control. Though, the shorter tracks that appear show Adur’s more tender Psychedelic, Ambient and Post-Rock side that allows the listener a breather before putting through another round of HARSH SOUNDSCAPES and intense Progressive Sludge Metal melodies.

The record has some huge talent involved behind the scenes with Wayne Adams (Petbrick) producing, proving once again why he’s one of the best producers around. You also have the legendary mastering talents of James Plotkin (Khanate) helping out as well. This helps We Fail To Love Ourselves to sound epic and brutally heavy from start to finish.

Adur have crafted a real punishing slab of Post-Metal that should open a lot of doors within the UK underground Sludge/Post-Metal scene where they can preach their music to the biggest audience possible. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Since Always Press for the promo.

We Fail To Love Ourselves will be available to buy from all good digital stockists from August 29th 2025.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Psych Stoner Metallers SUPERNAUGHTY New Album APOCALYPSO

Psych Stoner Metallers SUPERNAUGHTY return with APOCALYPSO which is their first album with Powerhouse Label RIPPLE MUSIC.

We're excited to premiere the new album in full thanks to the amazing folks over at Purple Sage PR and Ripple Music.

Ripple Music · Supernaughty - Apocalypso

The Lowdown

A sonic testimony of troubled times, "Apocalypso" marks an earth-rumbling turning point in the Tuscany-based foursome's songcraft: louder, heavier, and more metallic than ever before. The album’s title draws a parallel between the myth of nymph Calypso — who held Odysseus captive for years before setting him free — and recent dark chapters in human history. Their molten blend of stoner rock, sludge and hard rock built on colossal, distortion-drenched riffs, spine-grinding grooves and catchy choruses will have you hooked from the get-go!

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Apocalypso is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube | Spotify

BASK - The Turning (Album Review)

Release Date: August 22nd 2025. Record Label: Season Of Mist Records. Formats: CD.DD/Vinyl

The Turning - Tracklisting

1.Chasm

2.In the Heat of the Dying Sun

3.The Traveler 

4.The Cloth

5.Dig My Heels 

6.Unwound

7.Long Lost Light 

8.The Turning

Members

Recording Line-Up:

-Scott Middleton

-Jesse Van Note

-Ray Worth

-Zeb Wright

-Jed Willis

Guest Musicians:

-Clay White - trumpet

-Franklin Keel - cello

-Alex Taub - piano, Hammond b3

Review

The Turning is the eagerly awaited fourth album from Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers BASK which sees the band return after a six year absence with new material. This has been well worth the wait with BASK generating their own style of Progressive leaning Stoner Rock sound that sees their trademark use of Country, Americana, Space Rock and Blues Rock based harmonies being given a heavier Sludge Rock/Metal makeover influenced by the likes of MASTODON and BARONESS.

There’s also a chilling sense of Post-Doom and Post-Metal melodies that develops within the more abrasive and violent sounds that sees BASK venture out for the very first time in some places. Though, the classic early Americana themes that made BASK such a force to be reckoned with are never too far behind. Throw in a subtle mix of Prog Rock, Folk Rock and Cosmic Rock grooves which allows The Turning to be very hard to categorize and define at times.

This is also one of the albums and possibly BASK’s greatest strengths as you’re not sure what to expect with each passing song. Did you ever wonder what Heavy Spaced Out Doom would sound like when merged with Country, Southern Rock and Americana passages. Well, the answer is perfectly captured here on superbly constructed and brilliantly played tracks such as In The Heat Of The Dying Sun, The Traveler, Dig My Heels and Unwound being some of the best material that BASK have written to date.

Their music is constantly evolving but still showing a thrilling and adventurous creative attitude with BASK not afraid to add even more elements of music such as Post-Rock, Ambient Melodies and Shoegaze which is brought to life with their epic use of different instruments throughout the album. The record can be quite ROOTS based with the “TWANGY” instrumental movements but it’s kept within the areas of Sludge/Stoner Metal with BASK never afraid to experiment at the most crucial moment which transfers this record into MONOLITHIC and INTERDIMENSIONAL SPACE GOAT territory. 

With a range of diverse influences such as Mastodon, Baroness, Elder, Hawkwind, All Them Witches and King Buffalo with BASK even forging and creating their unique style of Heavy Psychedelic music of the highest order. What also makes them stand out is how the band brings a classic EVERYMAN level of storytelling into their cinematic adventure. The lyrics are quite hopeful and brilliantly insightful even when the music takes a daring and apocalyptic turn.

The Turning is an emotionally charged record of the highest order with BASK firmly establishing themselves as one of the most unique and original voices within the modern day Psych Stoner Rock/Metal scene. This is a record of REAL QUALITY and can easily be considered one of the best Psychedelic Rock albums of the year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Season Of Mist for the promo.

The Turning is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Season Of Mist.

Links

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/bask/209266263
Bandcamp: https://basknc.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/basknc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baskband/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebandbask

Exclusive Premiere Of Doom Metallers PESTA New Song For THE INQUISITOR, PT 1 From Upcoming New Album THE CRAFT OF PAIN

From the depths of Belo Horizonte’s underground, PESTA rises once again with their new single “The Inquisitor, Pt. I”, the first glimpse of the long-awaited album The Craft of Pain, arriving October 16th, 2025 on all digital platforms.

A deluxe vinyl edition will follow through Glory or Death Records, featuring ultra-limited handmade pressings by Wax Mage Records, scheduled for late October and November.

“The Inquisitor, Pt. I” opens the gates to an album that descends into the darkest horrors of human history. While the lyrics evoke the severity of the Inquisition, they also draw a parallel with current socio-political realities in Brazil, and beyond, where the intertwining of religion, politics, and economic power can awaken the worst in people, leading to the persecution of the different, the suppression of expression, and the imprisonment of minds.

Musically, the track unfolds with a powerful progression, channeling Doom Metal in its rawest, most classic form.

Heavy, deliberate riffs give way to moments flirting with proto-metal and heavy rock, creating a tension between crushing weight and ascending intensity, a sonic ritual that honors the genre’s roots while asserting PESTA’s unique voice.

The Craft of Pain is a plunge into the shadows of the human condition. Each track confronts episodes of violence, greed, and blind devotion that have shaped history, transforming tragedy into monumental sound. Musically, it reaffirms PESTA as a force carrying Doom’s tradition while daring to carve out their own voice, heavy, intense, and firmly rooted in their homeland.

Formed in Belo Horizonte, cradle of countless metal legacies, PESTA earned recognition with Faith Bathed in Blood (2019) and Bring Out Your Dead (2016),

both praised by specialized media in the Doom and Heavy Psych scenes. With these releases and standout singles, the band has surpassed 260,000 streams on Spotify and 30,000 plays on Bandcamp,

reaching listeners across more than 65 countries. Known for a commanding stage presence and ritualistic atmosphere, PESTA translates the weight and density of their albums into live performances at events such as Dopesmoker Fest in northeastern Brazil and BDCP, a festival that drew over 9,000 attendees in Belo Horizonte. A glimpse of this intensity can be seen in their live video for “Witches’ Sabbath”, an over 8-minute track played more than 14,000 times on YouTube, capturing what PESTA is truly about.

“The Inquisitor, Pt. I” is just the first blade of this sonic execution. The full album, The Craft of Pain, arrives this October to carve PESTA’s name even deeper into the global Doom Metal scene.

Social Networks and Streaming:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pestadoom

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pestadoom
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/pestadoom

Bandcamp: https://pestadoom.bandcamp.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/pestadoom

Thanks to Glory Or Death Records for all the details.

Florist - Adrift (EP Review)

Release Date: August 01st 2025. Record Label: Threat Collection Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Adrift - Tracklisting

1.432Hz 03:28

2.Another Moon 06:09

3.Out Of Space 04:13

4.Grow 06:21

5.Adrift (Part A) 04:24

6.Adrift (Part B) 05:04

Members

Frankie Consoli - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Sitar

Kevin Roy - Bass, Backing Vocals

Mike Amador - Drums, Backing Vocals

Jer Dillow - Theremin, Synthesizers, Percussion

Review

Adrift is the latest EP from Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers Florist which shows the band have a deep and meaningful spiritual side showing within this record. Offset this with a daring Cosmic drift and passages of classic Desert Rock energy then Florist creates a sublime take on the Space Rock sound. The record does take time for the massive sounds to appear with Florist creating and playing subversive Trippy Eastern melodies played against a sudden shift into Sludge Rock dynamics within the excellent instrumental opening track of 432Hz.

The track is mostly Ambient based but the final outburst of heavy Post-Doom passages superbly leads the EP into the next exciting chapter that Florist carefully constructs with echoes of bands such as Domkraft, King Buffalo, ELDER and HOWLING GIANT. Second track Another Moon captures similar sounds of those great bands with Florist adding a definitive gritty Hard Rock edge with the killer STADIUM ROCK based vocals telling a focused and quality based narrative being shown within the lyrics. The added trippy sound effects told through the use of multiple different instruments is one of the main highlights here.

Florist continue with their superbly entertaining, thrilling and down-right heavy musical adventure with Psych Rock soundscapes being created further with that focused Cosmic/Space Rock score that allows the record to become more aggressive and melodic developing on tracks such as Out Of Space, Grow and the stunning two part track of Adrift (Part A) and Adrift (Part B). 

The final two tracks for Adrift (Part A) and Adrift (Part B) are easily the standout tracks and most technically accomplished of all the tracks contained here. As they have a cool Progressive theme appearing at the best possible moment which allows Florist to develop a more daring and deeply engaging sound with the heaviest parts appearing here. Though, the fifth track Grow isn’t too far behind either with Florist playing a seedy, murky and fuzz-heavy sound that shows a deep reliance of AMPLIFIER and RIFF DISTORTION feedback that is superbly matched against the far out COSMIC energy that shows Florist are highly confident at.

Adrift is another great slice of modern day Psych Stoner Rock/Metal with flashes of Sludge, Doom, Prog and that SPACE ROCK goodness that leaves you wanting more. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Sludge Metallers SUNNIVA Drop Hypnotic New Track "Valovaltimo" – A Finnish-Language Ode to Death & Unity

Finnish sludge/post-metal act Sunniva have unveiled their latest track, “Valovaltimo”, the latest track from their upcoming debut album Hypostasis, due out September 19 via Svart Records.

Watch the track for Valovaltimo below:

Sung in Finnish and Swedish, “Valovaltimo” (which translates to “Artery of light”) is a deep, hypnotic journey into the band’s signature blend of psychedelic repetition, crushing doom, and heavy atmospherics. The track builds slowly, creating a sense of mounting tension before culminating in a dramatic, almost spiritual conclusion.

The song’s lyrics are inspired by a vivid, unsettling dream experienced by the band’s lyricist: a vision of a massive black hole consuming everything—people, animals, buildings, trees, the very fabric of reality itself. “At first I felt dread as I floated toward it,” the lyricist recalls. “But then I saw animals heading toward it, accepting it without fear. There was a strange sense of calm, and that stayed with me.” The dream ultimately became a meditation on death, unity, and the idea that we are all interconnected, spiraling toward the same end.

The track also features guest vocals and lyrics by Lotta, the lead singer of SVARTA HAVET, who was inspired by the dream’s imagery to create her own contribution, adding a hauntingly ethereal layer to the song’s dramatic finale.

Sunniva was formed in 2016 out of a shared hunger for the raw sonic power of heavy music. The band's name, derived from the Old English Sunngifu, meaning "gift of the sun", hints at the layered darkness and light woven into their sound.

Blurring the lines between death doom, sludge, and post-metal, Sunniva summons the same seismic intensity as titans like Amenra, Neurosis and Dark Buddha Rising. Their past releases – The Holy Mountain (2017), self-titled EP (2020), and the sprawling single This Reality Only Speaks In Blood (2018) – have cemented their reputation for crafting immersive, soul-crushing soundscapes. The band is in its full elements in live shows which you can experience as follows

29.8. Seinäjoki, Bar15
30.8. Oulu, Tukikohta
18.9. Turku, Nirvana
19.9. Tampere, Maanalainen
20.9. Helsinki, Lepakkomies

“Valovaltimo” is out now on all major streaming platforms - https://orcd.co/valovaltimo

New full-length album Hypostasis out on September 19th via Svart Records.

Listen. Witness. Be undone.

19.9.2025 Sunniva: Hypostasis LP/CD (Pre-order)

https://www.svartrecords.com/en/product/sunniva-hypostasis/13399
https://www.facebook.com/sunnivadoom/
https://www.instagram.com/sunnivadoom/
https://sunniva.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to For The Lost PR for all of the details.

MAJOR - MAJOR (Album Review)

Release Date: August 13th 2025. Record Label: Clostridium Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

MAJOR - Tracklisting

1.Time Warp 04:37

2.Venus 03:17

3.Black Madonna 05:04

4.Prayer to the sun 03:43

5.Final Call 03:30

6.Breaking Down 02:35

7.Broken Sky 03:21

8.Gimme some more 04:19

9.Graveyard 03:28

10.Golden Cage 04:37

Review

The debut album from MAJOR is a journey into the areas of Psychedelic Stoner Rock with heavy sounds building up from the areas of Fuzz Rock, Punk Rock and Desert Rock but there’s also a subtle Doom-Pop atmosphere emerging that feels inspired by the likes of TORCHE and ORBITER in places. The record is mostly dominated by a classic Stoner Rock vibe but MAJOR creates delicate POPPY attitudes that could have easily arrived from the Florida underground scene. 

MAJOR demonstrates some COMMERCIAL and STADIUM ROCK grooves throughout the whole album which is shown very early on tracks such as: Time Warp, Venus and Black Madonna. With screeching guitars adding a dense level of heaviness with the Punk Rock/Alt Rock vocals adding a sense of pure ROCK & ROLL rebellion into the mix. The lyrics are superbly written with a certain Nineties Alternative attitude which allows MAJOR to offer a stripped back style of melodies thanks to the superbly handled production values the record contains throughout.

THe TORCHE influence becomes more apparent as time passes by but also sounds from the likes of KYUSS and FU MANCHU within the grizzled Desert/Stoner Rock landscapes contained on the later stages of the record. The album has a superb FEEL GOOD FACTOR with the right level of seediness appearing on the following tracks: Prayer To The Sun, Final Call, Broken Sky, Graveyard and Golden Cage.

MAJOR’s debut album delivers on all levels and If you want a record that captures the early sound of TORCHE  but with KYUSS and FU MANCHU based Desert Rock melodies then you can’t go wrong with this action packed record that delivers on all fronts.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

BandCamp

Exclusive Premiere Of Doom/Grunge/Stoner Rockers FISH HOOK SMILE New Song/Video For RATSTAR

"Ratstar”, the second single from Fish Hook Smile’s upcoming self-titled album, out August 20th via Glory or Death Records

On August 20, Fish Hook Smile returns with their second single, “Ratstar” - a track that refuses to look away from one of the harshest realities of our time: the humanitarian crisis of homelessness.

The single is part of the band’s forthcoming self-titled album, due out on September 5.

“‘Ratstar’ dives into the merciless world of homelessness, told through the eyes of someone society chooses not to see. It's a visceral cry for recognition and connection — a reminder that all of us are only one or two strokes of bad luck away from living the same fate.” - Fish Hook Smile

Built on suffocating atmosphere and unflinching lyrics, “Ratstar” captures the weight of marginalization — the empty pockets, the systemic neglect, the fight to maintain dignity. Sonically, the track delivers sharp distortion, a throbbing low end, and vocals that shift between anguish and restrained fury.

The track paints a bleak, brutally honest portrait of homelessness, told from the eyes of someone long ignored by society. With gritty textures and lyrics that ache with lived experience, “Ratstar” demands empathy - and warns how fragile the line is between stability and collapse.

This is not just a political message. It’s a deeply human one - one that demands to be heard.

Fish Hook Smile emerged from the vibrant alternative scene of St. Louis in the 1990s, blending influences from grunge, punk, and alternative rock with raw, biting lyricism. Known locally for their intense live shows and visceral sound, the band gained underground momentum before dissolving, without ever releasing a full-length record.

Fish Hook Smile was a St. Louis band that was originally formed in 1991 by Jason Busiek, Dan Policarpo(guitar) and Ken McCray(drums). In the Summer of 1991, Misha Avrushenko, Matt Lake and Bryan Pollard joined the band. Although he wasn't originally in the band, Matt Pekny was at damn near every practice and show in the 90’s and was a natural fit for 2nd guitar. These songs were written by Jason Busiek, Matt Lake, Misha Avrushenko, Bryan Pollard and Dan Policarpo. Although Dan is not on the recording, he was a major player in the formation, writing and the overall honing of this sound and we are forever grateful for his contributions

Decades later, members of the original lineup reunited, unearthing unreleased material and channeling the same urgency that defined their early years. Now spread across different cities but still driven by a shared creative fire, Fish Hook Smile returns with renewed purpose and sharpened vision.

This year, 2025, they joined forces with Glory or Death Records to release their long-awaited self-titled debut album digitally. Slated for release on September 5, the record is preceded by two blistering singles: “Shiver” and “Ratstar” - with lyrical manifestos confronting authoritarianism and the brutal realities of social invisibility.

Fish Hook Smile is not just a comeback. It’s a scream that never died.

Listen to the Track Now:

Follow the band:

https://www.instagram.com/fish_hook_smile
https://youtube.com/@fishhooksmile
https://fishhooksmile.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576620613811&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks to Glory Or Death Records for the details.

Desert Stoner Metallers BLUE HERON announce fall European tour and festival appearances; new album out on Blues Funeral Recordings!

New Mexico, US stoner metal merchants BLUE HERON have announced their first-ever European tour in support of their latest album "Everything Fades", released last fall on Blues Funeral Recordings.

Riding high on the success of their 2024 sophomore album "Everything Fades", Blue Heron has announced a string of European tour dates this October, including performances at two key scene festivals. With nine shows alongside the likes of Gnome, Mephistofeles and High Desert Queen, the band will bring their blistering desert rock to stages across Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium for the first time ever.

Along with announcing their first live appearance in Europe, Blue Heron has also been revealed to be taking part in Magnetic Eye Records' latest Redux Series installment, paying homage to industrial rock crossover icons Nine Inch Nails. Magnetic Eye has launched a Kickstarter in support of the project, with other initial artist reveals including Black Tusk, Daevar, Abrams, Grayceon and IAH. More info on the NIN Redux project and Kickstarter can be found at this location.

Blue Heron's "Everything Fades", released last September, landed at #6 on Worship Metal's 50 Best Stoner and Doom Albums of 2024, #8 on The Obelisk's Best of 2024 Year-End Poll, and #13 on the Doom Charts Top 100 Albums of 2024. The record was described as "rooted in the mood and verve of the High Desert" by Doomed & Stoned and "an emotionally charged and truly breathtaking style of down-tuned weedian magic" by Outlaws of the Sun, and the band is anxious and ready to deliver their songs live and in person to European fans of American desert heaviness.

Blue Heron European tour 2025

Oct 10 - Karlsruhe (DE) Alte Hackerei w/ High Desert Queen
Oct 11 - Munich (DE) Keep It Low Festival
Oct 12 - Arnstadt (DE) Rockjungfer
Oct 13 - Bamberg (DE) Live Club w/ Submarin On Mars
Oct 14 - Hagen (DE) Werkhof Hohenlimburg w/ Stargo
Oct 15 - Rotterdam (NL) Roodkapje w/ Mephistofeles, High Desert Queen
Oct 16 - Tilburg (NL) Little Devil w/ Gnome, Tankzilla
Oct 17 - Trier (DE) Rothaus
Oct 19 - Antwerp (BE) Desertfest Belgium

Surrounded by endless horizons, Blue Heron formed in 2018 out of a compulsion to fill the vastness with massive volume, saturating their piece of desert with rolling, thunderous riffs, drums that pummel and swing, deep, thrumming tones and vocals that rip and roar.

Their guitarist and singer were founding members of Spiritu, possibly Albuquerque, New Mexico's first desert rock band, whose brief burn in the early aughts included a Jack Endino-produced LP, a European tour with Clutch, Spiritual Beggars and Dozer, and a compilation appearance alongside Entombed and Mastodon. Their debut LP "Ephemeral" arrived in May of 2022 via Kozmik Artifactz in Europe and Seeing Red Records in the USA. Substantial appreciation in the underground led to performances at Ripplefest Texas and Monolith on the Mesa and opening slots for The Well, Elder, Black Mountain, Ruby the Hatchet, Howling Giant, Heavy Temple and The Obsessed, along with a swath of positive reviews throughout the heavy media.

In May 2023, Blue Heron dropped three new tracks on a split LP with friends and fellow southwestern riff-purveyors High Desert Queen for Ripple Music’s Turned to Stone series, with cover art by award-winning comic and poster artist Johnny Dombrowski. The bands embarked on a short tour in August 2023, before they set to work on their next full-length.

Released in the fall of 2024, "Everything Fades" expands on their unyielding desert sound with a new slab of propulsive, sun-scorched riff-heaviness. Balanced between laid-back, meditative atmospherics and heavier, more aggressive lunges, Blue Heron’s cruising jams and gritty stoner romps call to mind echoes of Kyuss, Clutch and Monster Magnet, as well as modern contemporaries Valley of the Sun and Greenleaf. "Everything Fades" is available now through Blues Funeral Recordings.

BLUE HERON is

Mike Chavez - Guitars
Ricardo Sanchez - Drums
Steve Schmidlapp - Bass
Jadd Shickler - Vocals

Blue Heron links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

Blues Funeral Recordings links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.