Tetsuwan - YONDER(trail,betrayal,trial) (EP Review)

Release Date: October 02nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

YONDER(trail,betrayal,trial) - Tracklist

YONDER(trail,betrayal,trial)

Members

Ross Curry – Vocals & Guitar

Misha Voeykov – Bass

Stephan van der Meyden – Drums

Review

YONDER(trail,betrayal,trial) is the latest epic single from Psych/Doom/Stoner Metallers Tetsuwan who released a superb debut album ASUNDER back in November 2025. This record helped Tetsuwan establish a different kind of Psychedelic Doom Metal sound that relied upon a fantastic style of Seventies Hard Rock attitude with modern Progressive techniques throughout. 

Tetsuwan continues that great style of music with this fantastic track that runs for over seventeen minutes in length. The song is split into areas of Heavy Psych, Ambient Rock, Doom Metal, Classic Rock, Prog Rock and that aggressive Stoner Metal sound that matters when it’s really needed the most. The song does operate with a looser style of Post-Metal that reminds me of Pelican and Russian Circles before transferring over to a haunting Doomed Out Sound.

The vocals from Ross Curry feel like they’ve been transported from a long lost era of Seventies Hard Rock with the emotionally charged delivery. The music becomes fully consumed by a crushing level of psychedelic heaviness that weaves a dark cloud of Hazy and Sludge Rock melodies that leave in a complete trance.

Tetsuwan adds deft touches of screeching guitars, warped amplifiers and distorted instruments that become quite subdued when the band switch to a clearer style of Post-Rock and Post-Doom surroundings.

YONDER(trail,betrayal,trial) is very multi-layered with its three part cinematic structure that Tetsuwan employs for this track and it works wonderfully well with a song that demands your full attention but one that treats you with respect even when things become slightly crazy along the way.

This is another great release from Tetsuwan who may establish themselves as serious players if they continue to release great records such as this.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Danish Doom Metal Quintet SONIC MOON shares new single off upcoming "In Lack Of Clarity" album, out November 6th on Ripple Music.

Denmark-based melodic doom metal merchants SONIC MOON present the second excerpt off their upcoming sophomore full-length "In Lack Of Clarity", to be issued on November 6th on US independent label Ripple Music.

Check out Sonic Moon's new single Beneath You

Denmark's up-and-coming heavy doom merchants Sonic Moon are set to return with their sophomore effort and Ripple Music debut: In Lack of Clarity. The new material pushes toward heavier and darker territory — menacing stoner doom riffs wrapped in hazy psychedelia, cathedral-sized grooves and soaring vocals. Like their 2023 debut album, it was recorded and produced by the band in their own studio, with mixing and mastering by Haldor Grunberg at Satanic Audio (Behemoth, Weedpecker, Dopelord). 

About the album, the band says, "We felt inspired to explore the heavier side of the genre on this album, and it certainly has a doom-feel to it. We spent a lot of time experimenting in the studio and tried out a lot of ideas, making it DIY in our own way. With our combined creativity and, at times, ingenuity we have created an album that resembles us as individuals all while diving head first into the deep end of doom." Don't miss the album's debut single Weightlessness!

SONIC MOON "In Lack Of Clarity" - Out November 6th on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

Formed in the fall of 2016 in the suburbs of Aarhus, Denmark, Sonic Moon came together around a shared love for heavy, hypnotic rock. The original lineup spent their early days writing in a cold, rundown house, drawing from the likes of Electric Wizard, Kyuss, All Them Witches or Colour Haze. In 2021, new bassist Niclas Fritz Sørensen joined the band, rounding out the current lineup.

After several EPs and a steady run of live shows, the band honed their sound in their own studio and issued their debut full-length Return Without Any Memory in 2023 via Olde Magick Records. The album found its audience in the stoner and doom underground, picking up favorable reviews from major scene tastemakers such as The Obelisk or Doomed & Stoned, while reaching #7 on the monthly Doom Charts and appearing on multiple year-end lists. Described by The Sleeping Shaman as “incredibly difficult to pigeonhole”, the record leaned into fuzz-heavy guitars, slow-burning grooves, and a melancholic, psychedelic atmosphere.

To support the album, Sonic Moon played shows across Denmark with acts like Weedpecker and 1000mods, and took their first trip outside the country in the spring of 2024 for dates in Germany and the Netherlands. Since then, the band has been writing and recording their sophomore effort, In Lack of Clarity, marking their debut release on Ripple Music, the California-based label known for work with The Obsessed, Hermano, Wo Fat, Colour Haze and countless stoner and doom acts of the international scene.

Sonic Moon is

Oliver Lyngkilde - Vocals
Jeppe Rasmussen - Guitar
Emil Damgaard Andersen - Guitar
Niclas Fritz Sørensen - Bass
Emil Gam Klinkby - Drums

Sonic Moon links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Ripple Music links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

It's All About Mary - Exploring The Brane (Album Review)

Release Date: October 01st 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Exploring The Brane - Tracklist

1.Psynker 04:55

2.Space Cakes At Dawn 05:24

3.Two Minute Window 11:04

4.Never Look Back 04:00

5.Plight of Ursa... 09:25

6.C Side Be 07:06

7.Hemlock 07:07

8.Farewell... 05:51

Members

Steve Zaniac Richards - Drums

Dave Bear Evans - Bass

Spring - Keyboards

Tony Lewis - Guitars

Review

Exploring The Brane is the debut album from Instrumental Stoner Metallers It’s All About Mary which was recorded and never released before the band went on a decade long hiatus. The band are now reformed and have decided to release their debut album and it’s one that embraces the classic era of Instrumental Stoner Metal with some cool modern Progressive based elements. 

It’s All About Mary are influenced by the likes of CLUTCH, KARMA TO BURN and TOOL though the band aren’t adverse to venture into areas of experimental rock. This is quite an in-depth and highly involving record lasting around fifty minutes in length as It’s All About Mary navigates around the world of Desert Rock, Doom and Psych Rock just for good measure.

There is a lot to digest here but It’s All About Mary is never boring nor do they play the same type of song twice. Everything is played meticulously and highly calculated with that epic TOOL influence allowing the band to create highly expressive different styles of Instrumental Stoner Rock/Metal on tracks such as Psynker, Space Cakes At Dawn and Two Minute Window. You can hear some freaky PRIMUS funk rock melodies forming amongst the gritty Stoner Metal surrounding landscapes with some cool sounding keyboards played by Spring. 

Exploring The Brane impresses the most within the epic longer tracks as It’s All About Mary has more time and space to create different styles of Heavy Rock which allows an aggressive Blues Rock and Alt-Metal vibe to fully form. The sounds are more varied with real intelligence behind the instrumental playing and with the added use of different Ambient themes and delicate Post-Rock vibes. 

You begin to appreciate how refreshingly different the album really is. If this was released back when the band were originally active, this could be considered a forward thinking record. Well, that’s the experience I encountered when listening to the album on tracks Two Minute Window, Plight Of Ursa…, C Side Be and Hemlock. The music drifts further into a Prog Metal abyss than the standard Stoner Rock/Metal sound within the shorter tracks.

There’s a lot of different musical variety from It’s All About Mary though their core Doom, Desert Rock and Stoner Rock grooves are never too far away with that style of music being the main order of business. The instrumental playing is first rate with It’s All About Mary proving what damn fine musicians they really are.

This is a different type of Instrumental Rock Album with it’s moody progressive textures but one that has a warm hearted “riff” driven approach as well which you feel mostly on the sublime tracks of Space Cakes At Dawn, Never Look Back, Hemlock and Farewell. There’s something for everyone here and with It’s All About Mary never playing by the rules, this is quite a bold and highly expressive record which will surprise a lot of people who give this the time and dedication the album richly deserves.

Exploring The Brane has all the hallmarks of a true cult album and should allow It’s All About Mary to become more well known within the underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | LinkTree | BandCamp | Instagram

BLACK SPACE RIDERS – Release New Video for second single "Algorythms (Mind Control)“ From Upcoming New Album "Die 8"

The new BLACK SPACE RIDERS album, "Die 8," is set for release on November 13th!

After presenting the first single, "Party Is Over (The Last Curfew)", a few weeks ago, the band has now released the second single, "Algorythms (Mind Control)":Watch the atmospheric video here: 

"Algorythms (Mind Control)" is the 2nd single from the upcoming album "Die 8" by alternative psychedelic rockers BLACK SPACE RIDERS (out Nov 13).

 
Driven by heavy riffs, a pronounced rhythm, and an urgent danceability, the track stages a paranoid state of cyber-surveillance, capturing the individual’s critical whisper in the merciless torrent of algorithmic control. A powerful, driving alternative rock song establishing the tension between digital networks and isolation.

“Die 8” is available for pre-order here: https://linktr.ee/BlackSpaceRiders

"Die 8“ Tracklist:

1. Algorythms (Mind Control)
2. War Inside (Infinite Internal Friction)
3. Party Is Over (The Last Curfew)
4. Celebr8 (We Salute You)
5. Solar Mantra
6. Deep Space Isolation (Alone, So Far, So Cold)
7. 8 Minutes To Midnight (Run!)
8. The Gr8 Dict8or (Lost In Time)
9. People (8 Billion Voices)
10. Weite (The Edge Of The Beginning)
11. The End Of Time

"Die 8“ Record Release Show:

21.11.2026 Münster (D) / Rare Guitar

"Die 8" is available for pre-order starting now: LINK (Linktree)

BLACK SPACE RIDERS Online:

Linktree BSR online

Thanks to Anger Management PR for the details.

Portuguese Atmospheric Sludge/Post-metal trio Palegazer reveal full details of "White Mourning"

Portuguese atmospheric sludge/post-metal trio Palegazer have revealed the full details of "White Mourning," their debut album for Octopus Rising, set for release on October 30, 2026 on CD and digital formats.

Following the recent release of "Imminence", the band now unveils the complete five-track album, an intense exploration of human fragility, loss, vulnerability and the process of letting go.

"White Mourning" reflects on the narratives we create to understand our experiences and the way our perceptions shape the realities around us. The album's title embodies this duality, suggesting both mourning and liberation, with loss becoming a path towards rebirth and self-discovery.

Musically, Palegazer moves between immersive melancholy and crushing heaviness, combining atmospheric post-metal with the weight of sludge and doom. Drawing inspiration from YOB, Russian Circles, REZN, Deafheaven, Conan, Bölzer, Mastodon, Ahab and Bell Witch, the trio create a sound built on contrasts, moving from fragile melodic passages to towering riffs and intense vocal dynamics.

"White Mourning" was recorded at the band's own studio and mixed and mastered by Diogo Santana of Noise Portrait Recordings.

PALEGAZER - "WHITE MOURNING"

October 30, 2026 | Octopus Rising​ | ​CD + Digital

Tracklist

Imminence - 5:52
Searing Light - 6:52
As What Remains Drifts - 6:12
Ancient Twin - 5:39
White Mourning - 14:07

For more info:

​https://www.instagram.com/palegazer/​
​https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords​

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.

Sludge/Stoner Metallers Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol Release Final Track "Follow Through" From Upcoming New Album - "Ca$h Grab"

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol further the sarcastic tone of their previous album’s title Big Dumb Riffs to double down with Ca$h Grab. The irony here — and perhaps the point — is that Ca$h Grab is the band’s most introspective and lyrically vulnerable songwriting to date.

Of course, the band still bludgeons with thunderous 8-string guitar, growling bass chords and pummeling drums throughout. But these songs are as bassist Aaron Metzdorf explains,“more pop song forward, while still in the idiom of heavy music.”

The album finds the trio — vocalist/guitarist Leo Lydon, drummer Sean St. Germain and bassist/vocalist Metzdorf — expanding their mastery of heavy, hook-filled riffs and rhythms couched in earworm melody that would make Green Album era Weezer jealous. Following the Spartan Primus-meets-Pantera rhythmic ruction in 2 minutes or less of Big Dumb Riffs, the band lets melodies lead the battlefront this time around. In so doing, the lyrics are more personal and revealing, juxtaposed with twisting notes that nod to influences from Built To Spill and Sugar style indie pop to early 90s-era Rush.

“The heavier parts are even heavier, but more fleshed out. And the heaviness is not just in a guitar riff, but heavy lyrics, heavy melody,” Metzdorf says. “Some of the heaviest parts of the whole album are Leo's vocals. While the poppier stuff has a more prominent role on this one.”

Ca$h Grab kicks off where the last album left off: The slow burn quiet/loud dynamic of “Freakshow”, seemingly the end result of the quasi-psychotic conceit of the previous disc’s “In a Jar,” both of which are sung by Metzdorf, who sings lead on 5 of the album’s 14 tracks. Vocalist/guitarist Leo Lydon really showcases the versatility in his singing, belting out high notes like never before on songs like “Fate Is”, “Peaches” and the title track. And while his vocals soar, Lydon’s 8-string guitar rumbles with menacing low end while intertwined with Metzdorf’s thick, heavily distorted bass chords. The band’s secret weapon, St. Germain pulls it all together with his innovative beat substitutions and explosive, syncopated hooks delivered with an effortless groove and fun loving smile.

In the two years since Big Dumb Riffs, the band toured relentlessly, both as a headliner and supporting The Sword, Death From Above 1979, Pigs x9, King Buffalo and more. Their meticulously curated annual Big Dumb Fest in Austin and headlining dates continue to sell out and the band’s ever growing rabid fanbase proves that RBBP’s iconic reign has just begun.

Ca$h Grab will be available on LP, CD, cassette and download on October 23rd, 2026 via Permanent Teeth / RBBP.

RICKSHAW BILLIE’S BURGER PATROL - LIVE 2026:

10/23 Austin, TX - Mohawk Austin (Album Release Show)
11/28 Silverado, CA - Silverado Festival
12/04 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
12/05 Tyler, TX - Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ
12/06 Memphis, TN - Hernando’s Hideaway
12/09 Indianapolis, IN - Black Circle
12/10 Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
12/11 Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
12/12 Asheville, NC - Eulogy
12/14 Orlando, FL - Will’s Pub
12/15 Tampa, FL - New World Brewery
12/16 St. Augustine, FL - Cafe Eleven
12/17 Pensacola, FL - The Handlebar
12/18 New Orleans, LA - Siberia
12/19 Houston, TX - Bad Astronaut

Album Details

Artist: Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol
Album: Ca$h Grab
Record label: RBBP / Permanent Teeth
Release Date: October 23, 2026

Tracklist

01. Freakshow
02. I Doubt It
03. Peaches
04. Fate Is
05. Punisher
06. Follow Through
07. Bury Me in Denver
08. Ca$h Grab
09. The Disappearing Man
10. No Juice
11. Bough Down
12. Talking To You
13. Couple Skate
14. Lush

Links:

www.rickshawbilliesburgerpatrol.com
https://linktr.ee/rickshawbilliesburgerpatrol

https://rickshawbilliesburgerpatrol.myshopify.com

Thanks to US/THEM PR Group for the details.

Valley Of The Sun - The Blacklight Sessions (Album Review)

Release Date: October 02nd 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Blacklight Sessions - Tracklist

1.The Whiskey Elf 04:43
2.Low Not Slow 05:03
3.The Long Song
4.A Greater Meaning
5.Mountain
6.No Hope

Members

Ryan Ferrier - Guitar / Vocals
Chris Sweeney - Bass
Johnny Kathman - Drums

Review

Psych Stoner Rockers Valley Of The Sun return with their sixth album The Blacklight Sessions and their first for legendary Heavy Psych Sounds record label. The music is highly energetic with the band playing a faster and heavier style of music that leans further into the Heavy Psychedelic scene than ever before. The songs are insanely melodic with some great moments of Doom, Space Rock and Sludge Rock sounds moving throughout the album.

The opening track The Whiskey Elf is an instrumental number with Valley Of The Sun playing to their main strengths which has a more direct energy compared to their previous albums. This is a great track to open the album with as it allows the listener to get accustomed to the band’s new found Psychedelic delivery but still keeping their classic sound fully intact. Sometimes this song feels like the band are paying homage to the legendary Nineties Stoner Rock/Metal scene with cues from the likes of KYUSS, Monster Magnet and FU MANCHU that can be heard along the way.

Second track Low Not Slow is one of the standout tracks with a slight detour into Fuzz Rock and Blues Rock soundscapes with a thrilling backdrop of classic Hard Rock melodies that Valley Of The Sun are known for. The vocals from Ryan Ferrier have a great style of Stadium Rock energy appearing as he provides one of his best vocal performances in years. This is highly energetic Stoner Rock/Metal of the highest order as the song provides some of the best sounds on the whole album especially if you’re a fan of good old fashioned Desert Rock / Stoner Metal.

Third track The Long Song is aptly named, running over ten minutes in length with Valley Of The Son operating with a classic Post-Rock and Post-Stoner delivery that reminds me of Yawning Man and ELDER in places. The song does incorporate some cool sounding Ambient and Sonic flourishes for the first few moments before Valley Of The Sun offset this against a backdrop of Fuzzed Out grooves with a dynamic Stoner Rock/Metal delivery holding everything together. This allows the band to move into areas of pure Amplified Heaviness which may be one of the heaviest and loudest tracks we’ve experienced from the band. There’s some great sounding Progressive jam based passages that have you rocking out until the very end.

The second half continues with that great style of Fuzz, Psych, Space Rock and Stoner Metal goodness but with an epic grounded approach being created on tracks such as A Greater Meaning, Mountain and No Hope. Valley Of The Sun start to reinvent their core sound for the better especially on A Greater Meaning and Mountain.

The music is highly addictive once more with the band exploring new musical themes that result within some droned out moments which was highly unexpected. Though, Valley Of The Sun still offer their own great style of music they’ve created and maintained over their acclaimed career but with this being their sixth album, this feels like a major rebirth for the band. The songwriting is super tight with a fresh perspective that feels fully fleshed out compared to their last record.

The Blacklight Sessions is a masterful collection of great tracks that once again solidifies Valley Of The Sun as one of most essential Stoner Rock/Metal acts we currently have right now. Long may that continue. Add this to your collection right now. It’s seriously that great!!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo..

The Blacklight Sessions is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

The Machine - Another Sun (Album Review)

Release Date: October 02nd 2026. Record Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Another Sun - Tracklist

1.Drop/See 

2.Evolver

3.In Search of Yellow

4.Swallow the Sun 

5.Echo Through

Members

David Eering : Guitars, vocals, sitar, synthesizers, theremin, percussion

Chris Both : Bass guitar

Klaas Dijkstra : Drums, percussion

Review

Another Sun is the eighth full length album from Psych/Space/Stoner Rock legends The Machine who have been creating their own unique style of sonic grooves for the best part of two decades. The Machine have perfected their own blend of Heavy Psychedelic music that’s seen them considered one of the leading lights of the European Stoner Rock/Metal scene. This record does have an aggressive and frenzied approach which allows the band to be less in control of their music compared to their previous albums.

That frantic, screeching edge pulls them into murky sludge territory, plunging the record into heavy metal waters without ever abandoning its expansive psychedelic core. Fans of heavy progressive acts like Elder and King Buffalo will find plenty to love, though The Machine carves out their own lane with a shadowy, progressive methodology.

Opening tracks "Drop/See" and "Evolver" set the stage by pairing soaring space-rock textures with an uplifting post-rock/post-doom drive. The narrative moves briskly through prog, desert rock, and full-blown cosmic jams, anchored by David Eering’s vocals and several surprisingly anthemic, stadium-sized hooks that carry an infectious accessibility.

The Machine once again provides epic soundscapes that allows some wonderful sonic experimentation to fully develop with an abstract Ambient Rock melody appearing on tracks In Search Of Yellow, Swallow The Sun and Echo Through. Some of the song structures are centred around a straightforward style of “RIFF CENTRIC” passages and catchy progressive beats that the epic rhythm section of Chris Both (Bass guitar) and Klaas Dijkstra (Drums, percussion) provide for David Eering create out of this world Spaced Out sounds.

By the latter half, Another Sun layers in thick fuzz and classic grunge bite, played with urgent, high-decibel energy. The Machine has maintained an enviable track record over the years, and Another Sun keeps that great record unbroken with a superbly produced, heavy psych journey that proves exactly why they remain legends of the underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo..

Another Sun is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via the band's own imprint Awe Records (Europe) as well as Blues Funeral Recordings (UK and North America).

Links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Awe Records

Doom Metal Legend DEE CALHOUN (Screaming Mad Dee) Signs To Combat Records

Stop the press: I’m officially part of the Combat Records family!

Somehow, the stars aligned and landed a strummer and slummer on a roster that has included legends like Megadeth, Mercyful Fate, Savatage, Exodus, and many more. I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb, and I plan to own every second of it.

We’re gearing up for my first Combat release in early 2027, with a wave of big announcements rolling out over the next few weeks and months.

A huge, heartfelt shoutout to the incredible team making this happen:

- Robert Dujmusic & Alex Stojak at Combat Records for believing in the noise.
- Christian Lawrence at Mindsnap Music.
- Doug Benson at Commodore Recording Studio for his brilliant mastering.
- The fans across the pond who made enough noise at just the right time to get the right ears listening.
- My wife, April - my rock, my cheerleader, and my love. I couldn't do any of this without you, darlin'.

Most of all, thank YOU. What started as a happy accident has become my forever home as a solo artist, and I’m beyond grateful to have you in my corner.

We’re just getting started—stay tuned!#

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Doom Metal Legends CARDINALS FOLLY Release New Music Video For The Title Track From Upcoming Seventh Album "Let the Posers Fall!"

Cover artwork by Pedro Ruotsalainen

Finnish doom / heavy metal legends CARDINALS FOLLY have released a music video for the title track of their upcoming seventh full-length album "Let the Posers Fall!".

Marking a bold new chapter with the debut of a new guitarist, the album showcases a powerful shift toward traditional, riff-driven heavy metal songwriting while retaining the band's signature heavy footprint. Lyrically, “Let the Posers Fall!” delves deep into the macabre, drawing grim inspiration from notorious serial killers ("I Am The Zodiac"), the cosmic horror literature of H.P. Lovecraft ("Providence"), and vintage cult horror/exploitation cinema ("New York Ripper", “Hitch-Hike").

The band issued the following defiant statement regarding the upcoming release: "In a world where trends come and go and authenticity is drowning in depravity, CARDINALS FOLLY still rides the cultist highway, declaring the downfall of posers until the end. The Stallions Are Burning!"

"Let the Posers Fall!" is scheduled for October 9th 2026 via Cruz Del Sur Music.

Tracklist:

01. House of the Lords (Intro)
02. Hitch-Hike
03. Let The Posers Fall!
04. New York Ripper >>> Music Video: https://youtu.be/uH2rcs7Hics
05. I Am The Zodiac
06. Luchador
07. Your Stallions Are Burning
08. Cultist Highway
09. Chiusura Invernale
10. Providence

Line-up:

Mikko "Count Karnstein" Kääriäinen - Bass / Vocals
Tuomo "Cosmic Doom" Kosonen – Guitar
Joni "Jonan the Barbarian" Takkunen – Drums

Cruz Del Sur Music Links

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com

https://www.facebook.com/cruzdelsurmusic 

https://www.instagram.com/cruzdelsurmusic 

Cardinals Folly Links

https://www.facebook.com/cardinalsfolly 

https://www.instagram.com/cardinalsfolly 

https://cardinalsfolly.bandcamp.com

Thanks to Sure Shot Worx for the details.

MOLARBEAR - War Porn (Single Review)

Release Date: October 01st 2026. Record Label Self Released. Format: DD

War Porn - Tracklist

War Porn

Members

Rowan Morrey
Andy Morrison
Adi Henderson
Dara Monaghan
Dave Boyd

Review

Northern Irish Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal destroyers MOLARBEAR return with their latest single WAR PORN which is their first new material since their last release Cognitive Dissident that was released back in March 2026. The song continues the band’s vicious blend of Noise Rock that’s wrapped around an aggressive style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal.

MOLARBEAR are perhaps consumed on the Noise Rock and Sludge Metal dynamics of their music for this track which comments upon the bad things that Social and Modern media brings to the world. This is quite a cautionary song with something real to say as the band add a jagged Psychedelic sound into the mix with the music feeling inspired by the likes of MELVINS, WHORES, NIN and FAITH NO MORE along the way.

The music is quite violent in places but MOLARBEAR do add levels of warped melody into their music which sees the band add some classic Eighties Heavy Metal guitar shredding when you least expect this. WAR PORN feels quite short at four minutes in length where I feel an extra couple of minutes could have fleshed out the overall message that MOLARBEAR are trying to convey here.

However, this is a relentless song that has a lot of violent energy that’s brilliantly ferocious with harsh commentary that does indeed make you take notice of what the band are saying here.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter | Instagram

Mushroom Beard - Mushroom Beard (Album Review)

Release Date: October 03rd 2026. Record Label: Pale Wizard Records. Format: CD/DD

Mushroom Beard - Tracklist

1.March of the Shroom Elephant 

2.Elden Beard

3.Bringer

4.Speech of Leaf and Beard

5.Fungal Haze

6.Khala-Shai

Members

Stig Chell – Guitar, Vocals

Gareth Harding – Bass

Norbert Hussey – Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner metallers Mushroom Beard share a lot of common ground with the amazing Sergeant Thunderhoof. They play a similar style of music, and the band is even signed to the same label. You even have Dan Flitcroft (lead vocals) from the HOOF providing guest vocals on the track "Speech Of Leaf And Beard." Band members are also part of stoner rock/metal collective Quiet The Thief, just to prove how much these guys mean business.

Mushroom Beard also shares creative ground with the likes of The Brothers Keg, delivering thunderous, fuzzed-out heaviness reminiscent of Sleep and High on Fire. The music is heavily Weedian-dominated, with a smoked-out influence giving the record a creepy blues-rock energy compounded by aggressive slabs of amplified heaviness. However, that only tells half the story—Mushroom Beard employs generous levels of psychedelia, post-doom, ambient textures, and sludge metal grooves throughout the album.

The first couple of tracks, "March Of The Shroom Elephant" and "Elden Beard," introduce a grounded yet fantastical element where lead vocalist Stig Chell sounds like he’s read plenty of classic sci-fi and fantasy along the way. That’s one of the strongest points of the album: it’s never afraid to embrace its over-the-top, otherworldly roots, delivering catchy psychedelic grooves and sludge metal melodies with a subtle progressive edge.

The production feels nicely stripped-back, placing Mushroom Beard firmly within the vibrant underground sludge/stoner metal scene. Still, you quickly appreciate the band’s hunger for something bigger, especially when channeling the catchy flow of King Buffalo and Howling Giant on tracks like Elden Beard, Bringer and Fungal Haze.

As stated previously, Dan Flitcroft makes a welcome appearance on the more grounded "Speech Of Leaf And Beard." While it feels like a Sergeant Thunderhoof track at times, Mushroom Beard injects a seedier, psychedelic quality that is entirely their own. The lyrics take that classic herbal approach the stoner metal world thrives on, but the band never wastes an opportunity to put their own creative spin on things, even as the music drifts further into space-rock territory.

Mushroom Beard makes great use of fuzz, resulting in finely tuned levels of distortion that build an atmospheric vibe bound to sound massive in a live setting.

The final two tracks, Fungal Haze and Shala-Shai are the clear standouts. Here, Mushroom Beard explores a spaced-out, heavy dominance that never feels overly flashy, yet hits hard enough to leave you on a high. The instrumental closer, Shala-Shai lets Stig Chell (guitar/vocals), Gareth Harding (bass), and Norbert Hussey (drums) lock into a dynamic back-and-forth clashing and coalescing into a destructive slice of modern doom/stoner metal that pulls the listener right into the journey.

Mushroom Beard’s debut is a superb release that makes an immediate statement, bound to be one of the underground’s favorite discoveries this year. Jam-packed with heavy grooves, it’s sure to impress heavy music fans and earn Mushroom Beard spots on prominent festival stages sooner rather than later.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mushroom Beard and Pale Wizard Records for the promo.

Mushroom Beard is available to buy now on CD/DD via Pale Wizard Records.

Links

Facebook: Facebook
Instagram: Instagram
Bandcamp: Music | Mushroom Beard
Spotify: Spotify
Website: mushroombeard.com

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Instrumental Post Rockers IN THE PONDS New Album CHTHONIC LAYER

With three previously released EPs, San Jose-based instrumental post-rock duo IN THE PONDS will release their first full-length album, Chthonic Layer this coming October. 

IN THE PONDS started during the pandemic lockdowns and California wildfires of 2020, with the newly wed duo staring out their windows at soot-filled skies wondering, “what the hell now?” They’ve kept to instrumental rock, mainly to give themselves (and their listeners) a breather from the barrage of concepts always trying to elbow into their headspace. 

The best ideas live in a place beyond words, so they try to flood that place with as much light as possible. The Chthonic Layer is a realm beneath the surface where deities and demons live. There are lots of ways to get there, but music is the safest bet. It lets you explore dangerous places without getting stranded. This album is our way of diving into the abyss to meet its shadier characters, while staying tethered to terra firma. 

Chthonic Layer was recorded and co-produced by guitarist David Perez and Dan Padilla. 

The album was mixed by Art Bertik. The front cover artwork was created by bassist Jennifer Gigantino. 

We're excited to premiere the new album in full thanks to the awesome IN THE PONDS which you can listen to below:

 

In The Ponds · Chthonic Layer

Thanks to In The Ponds for the promo.

Chthonic Layer is available to buy now on CD/Digital Download via Entelodon Records

Links

https://intheponds.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/inthepondsmusic

https://www.facebook.com/inthepondsmusic/

https://x.com/inthepondsmusic

Exclusive Song/Video Premiere For Psych/Folk/Indie Rock Artist JULIEN PRAS New Song NO AUTHORITY From Upcoming New Album "MINOR FALL"

Julien Pras, the singer/guitarist of French Heavy Psych powerhouse Mars Red Sky.

Julien goes full singer-songwriter mode with his solo project, and returns after 9 years with a new album, Minor Fall, out on October 30th. There he reconnects with his folk-rock and indie-psych-pop roots (FFO: Elliott Smith, Sean Lennon, Arthur Satàn, Neil Young...), yet you can still feel a sense of heaviness in this. 

This is a refreshing change of pace from Julien compared to this amazing work with Mars Red Sky and we're excited to premiere the new song "No Authority" which you can watch below:

JULIEN PRAS new album 'Minor Fall' Out October 30th 2026 on LP, CD and Digital via Les Disques Du Paradis & Mrs Red Sound. 

Thanks to Vous Connaissez PR for the details.

In The Ponds - Chthonic Layer (Album Review)

Release Date: October 02nd 2026. Record Label: Entelodon Records. Format: CD/DD

Chthonic Layer - Tracklist

1.Tornado Alley 

2.Last Rat Standing 

3.Barnacles 

4.Her Eyes Burn with Unholy Light

5.Old Shuck

6.The Young Falcon

7.Blackwood Sugar

8.Empty Victory

9.Sunset Waltz

Members

David Perez – guitar

Jennifer Gigantino – bass / mandolin

Review

Instrumental Post-Rockers In The Ponds awaken from a three year slumber with their spellbinding and superbly captivating debut album Chthonic Layer. In The Ponds have a more expressive and emotionally charged attitude appearing within their music as they blend Prog Rock themes against a backdrop of gloomy Instrumental Rock sounds that float cautiously into the Stoner Rock abyss. The band’s musical weapon of choice is Post-Rock and Ambient Rock which remains essentially grounded with a stripped back delivery that you can hear from within the excellent opening track Tornado Alley.

David Perez (Guitar) and Jennifer Gigantion (Bass/Mandolin) form a great musical partnership where they feel beautifully in sync with each other but still allow themselves the opportunity to do their own thing when the time calls for this. I was quite surprised at how aggressive In The Ponds have become compared to their previous releases with some fantastic sludgy grooves appearing within the bombastic second track Last Rat Standing. They’ve played strands of Heavy Rock before but with a certain Garage Rock angle but this has a more subtle Doomed Out quality with flashes of Nineties Grunge and Stoner Rock.

In The Ponds have always been a band willing to experiment and move their music along to something different that’s come before it. You appreciate the delicate Electronic sounds, beats, glitches and loops that appear within the onset of their sublime Prog Rock delivery. The album is purely instrumental with In The Ponds letting their music weave interesting stories that instantly draw you in especially when the mood is played at a gloomy slow-to-mid pace with a deceiving Post-Rock vibe once more moves into unexpected areas of Heavy Rock on tracks such as Barnacles, Her Eyes Burn With Unholy Light, The Young Falcon and Empty Victory being my favourite parts of the whole album.

There’s a lot of doom and gloom trickery emerging from these songs with In The Ponds combining elements of Drone, Shoegaze and Space Rock surroundings that almost give a cold sense of PARANOIA within the album. You can feel some great musical influences from the likes of EARTH, OM, Pelican and Russian Circles as In The Ponds create music that can easily be classed as Experimental Rock and Art Rock whilst having a great Stoner Rock movement to them.

In The Ponds are not the type of band to play fast-paced melodies as their music is cautiously slow but with steel cold determination that’s very hard to ignore even when they prefer a classical style of Post-Rock to do all the talking. Nothing is what it seems with Chthonic Layer as the record is quite bleak with minimal moments of uplifting sounds which gives this album quite a dangerous feeling when you least expect this.

The music is wonderfully played by David and Jennifer who once again exceed all expectations with this record alone. I once described In The Ponds as “one of the best Post-Rock bands currently out there” and I stand by that description. They more than prove that on this album which offers a haunting and emotionally rewarding experience that not many bands can provide especially for their debut album.

In The Ponds are the type of band within the underground scene you want to branch onto bigger and better things so as many people can experience what a great band they truly are. The way they blend different musical genres into something refreshing and wholly unique is a joy to listen to. There’s even some surprising developments within the album when In The Ponds add levels of Surf Rock and Cinematic Rock elements for a wholly different perspective to emerge on repeated listens.

This is an album with brains as well as brawn that makes it such an outstanding success on every level possible.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to In The Ponds for the promo.

Chthonic Layer is available to buy now on CD/Digital Download via Entelodon Records

Links

https://intheponds.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/inthepondsmusic

https://www.facebook.com/inthepondsmusic/

https://x.com/inthepondsmusic