Danish Sludge/Doom force DYING HYDRA signs with Argonauta Records

Argonauta Records is proud to announce the signing of Copenhagen based sludge/doom trio DYING HYDRA for the release of the band’s upcoming new material.

Says the band: “We are sincerely grateful for being a part of Argonauta Records. It has always been a goal for us to grow and develop our music further and better, so this is a great opportunity for us to do this. We are looking forward to what will come and will enjoy it all the way.”

Emerging from the Danish underground with crushing heaviness and a ritualistic approach to sound, DYING HYDRA have forged a distinctive identity built on massive low end, abrasive distortion and hypnotic atmosphere. Blending raw aggression with emotional depth, the band delivers immersive compositions that move across sludge, doom, stoner and heavy psych territories with remarkable intensity.

Formed in 2018, the trio features Lars Pontoppidan on guitar and vocals, Patrick Fragtrup on guitar and vocals, and Tejs Kyhl on drums. Through relentless live activity, DYING HYDRA have become a respected presence within the Scandinavian heavy scene, performing at events such as Copenhagen Metal Fest, Colossal Weekend, Sonic Ritual and Blacksworks Tattoo Convention, while sharing the stage with acts including Bongripper, Primitive Man and Konvent.

Their critically acclaimed albums “Of Lowly Origin” and “Strange and Beautiful Things” established the band as one of the most compelling emerging names in contemporary sludge and doom, combining monolithic riffs, haunting atmospheres and destructive sonic weight into a sound both punishing and deeply immersive.

For fans of YOB, Neurosis, Mastodon, High on Fire, Conan, Dopelord and Dopethrone.

More details about the collaboration and upcoming album will be revealed soon.

https://dyinghydra.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dyinghydra
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details

Goodnight Sky - Magnum Opiate (EP Review)

Release Date: May 27th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Magnum Opiate - Tracklisting

1.Shiva 02:43

2.Sex Marks The Spot 03:01

3.Revenge Ritual 04:56

4.Miracles Are Lies 03:12

5.Apocalypse Now 03:48

6.Glue 04:00

7.End Of Days 03:15

8.Shame 06:49

Members

 

Ted Levin - Vocals, guitars

Bill Peluso - Drums

Stas Poletaev - Bass

Review

Magnum Opiate is the latest record from Psych/Grunge/Sludge/Stoner Rockers Goodnight Sky with the band treading a fine line between Doomed Out grooves powered by the likes of Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Restless Spirit and King Buffalo. The grunge attitude of Goodnight Sky’s music gives them a grounded feeling which allows their music to off-shoot into heavier directions. There’s a sense of psychedelic melody that holds everything together with gloomy soundscapes being used at the right moment which allows the record to be more direct.

The songs can be considered quite commercial in places but in the best possible way as the sound is quite clean allowing the record to be considered expertly produced from all creative angles. The record is very multi-layered with the different styles of music that Goodnight Sky have at their disposal. Magnum Opiate works best when Goodnight Sky ventures into the murky depths of Sludge Rock and when the lyrics take a darker turn than you initially expect.

The vocals from Ted Levin are delivered expertly well with elements of Grunge, Doom and Post-Stoner surroundings allowing him to have a deeply engaging persona on this record alone. There’s something soothing and trusting behind Ted’s delivery but there’s also a dangerous side to Ted’s vocals which comes to life on standout tracks such as Sex Marks The Spot, Revenge Ritual, Glue and Shame.

The other members of the band also excel bringing their atmospheric presence to the record with Bill Peluso on Drums and Stas Poletaev on Bass providing a thrilling backline where the heavy Doomed Out and Trippy Psychedelic movements come into play. Ted’s sludgy guitars move from the backdrops of classic Grunge and inject a gloomy modern day psychedelic energy with Bill’s epic drumming and Stas’s intricate bass playing allowing Goodnight Sky to become a formidable power trio in their own right.

Magnus Opiate runs for a tight and compact thirty minutes but actually feels longer which is one of the main strengths of the record. As Goodnight Sky don’t fuck around with overplayed and overlong Progressive instrumental beats where they get straight down into playing a thrilling style of modern day Psych Stoner Metal.

This is a superb EP which is full of great songs from a band that I’m hoping becomes more well known within the underground scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

INDIANA STONER ROCKERS FAERIE RING DELIVER SONIC REBIRTH THROUGH KING VOLUME RECORDS IN SELF-TITLED ALBUM

INDIANA STONER ROCKERS FAERIE RING DELIVER SONIC REBIRTH THROUGH KING VOLUME RECORDS IN SELF-TITLED ALBUM MASTERED BY TORCHE’S JONATHAN NUÑEZ, OUT AUGUST 21, 2026

“Faerie Ring” Unlocks New Emotional Depth With Tighter Songwriting Inspired By Personal & Global Conflict And Powered By Revised Band Lineup; FFO Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator, Monolord, Torche

EVANSVILLE, IN - Faerie Ring, the hard-rocking, retro-tinged stoner rock band out of Evansville, IN, has announced their third album: a self-titled effort through King Volume Records that marks the band’s sonic rebirth—one that emphasizes tighter songwriting, blistering hooks, and a new emotional depth that was assisted through the mastering process by Torche guitarist Jonathan Nuñez.

“Our last album, Weary Traveler, was happy-go-lucky,” says band guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter James Wallwork. “But so much has happened since that came out in 2023, both in our personal lives and in the rest of the world. Songs like “Lost Boy” reflect the furious, “I don’t even care” attitude I felt after my divorce, while “Gargoyle” is a doomed-out perspective of realizing you’ll grow old alone. “No Surrender,” meanwhile, was inspired by the latest Israel-Palestine conflict, and it’s written from the perspective of someone living in Gaza during the war. Ultimately, Faerie Ring is a cathartic album that acknowledges that death is real, but so is love. This is an album about love and triumph in a time of existential dread.”

One of the biggest influences behind the band’s revitalized sound was the addition of multi-instrumentalist songwriter and new Faerie Ring drummer Matt McGuyer. “With Matt on drums, it’s almost like a completely new band,” says guitarist Kyle Hulgus. “Matt cracked our sound wide open. He’s such a talented musician. He’s a guitarist, he’s a vocalist, and, obviously, he’s an incredible drummer. His input was so valuable, and he helped us spread our wings.”

Once again, the band returned to Postal Recording in Indianapolis to record and engineer their third album in full analog. As essential as owners Alex Kercheval and Tyler Watkins were to capturing the band’s evolving sound, they were also critical to shaping it. “Alex played an underlying synth on many of the songs to help beef up the tracks,” says Wallwork, “but he also cooked up the sounds on ‘Fattest Witch.’”

Adding Torche guitarist Jonathan Nuñez to the mastering process proved equally impactful. “I’ve been a lifelong fan of Torche,” says Wallwork, “so having him involved is insane to me. He drastically changed this record. It’s much more akin to how we present ourselves live.” Huglus agrees: “Listening to his mastering was like hearing the album for the first time. We loved the original version of the record, but he completely changed it for the better.”

Like much of Faerie Ring’s work, their self-titled album is difficult to pigeonhole, with equal influences from stoner rock, doom, punk, blues, and other genres. “We didn’t want to limit ourselves to a single sound,” Hulgus says. “We let go of all creative limitations for this one, and this new record is a sound only Faerie Ring can create. You’ll hear influences from bands like Boris, The Scorpions, Torche, Thin Lizzy, and Crowbar, but this is a Faerie Ring album at the end of the day.”

That renewed creative freedom is reflected in the tongue-in-cheek album artwork by Ricardo Diseño, an artist hand-picked by Hulgus. “Yes,” Wallwork says, “it looks like a classic underground metal album cover at first glance, with themes of sex and drug use, but it’s a metaphor for the toxic love in our lives. The guy in the picture loves being boiled alive, but once his head goes under the water, that’s it.” Hulgus adds: “We’re all the guy in the cauldron. We torture ourselves all week at our blue-collar jobs so we can play music. This self-titled album is another labor of love.”

To learn more, follow Faerie Ring on social media (Facebook, Instagram) or check out King Volume Records (website, Instagram).

Album Details

Album Release Date: August 21, 2026

Album Personnel

Band:

James Wallwork - Guitars, Vocals
Kyle Hulgus - Guitars
Alex Wallwork - Bass, Vocals
Matt McGuyer - Drums

Guests:

Alex Kercheval - Keyboards, Synth
Vincent Yetsko - Harmonica

Mastering: 

Jonathan Nuñez

Recording: 

Alex Kercheval
Tyler Watkins

Engineering:

Morgan Satterfield

Label:

King Volume Records

Thanks to Pat at Poetica Marketing for the details.

Stoner metal trio 10,000 YEARS to release new album "Esox Lucifer" on Ripple Music this summer; new video "Two Million Stones" available!

Swedish stoner metal berserkers 10,000 YEARS return with their new album "Esox Lucifer" on Ripple Music this August 7th, and present the rip-roaring first track "Two Million Stones" today.

Watch new 10,000 Years video Two Million Stones below and stream the single on Bandcamp

10,000 Years return with their eagerly awaited new album to once again pummel the world into oblivion! Delving deep into existential dread and dark lore, Esox Lucifer drifts through deep space with the same sci-fi, horror, and fantasy obsessions that have always fueled the band.

 
Esox Lucifer delivers the riff-centric, melodic stoner metal that 10,000 Years has become known for, all driven by Erik Palm’s guitar wizardry and searing solos, the thunderous anchor of Alvin Risberg’s drums, and Alex Risberg’s fuzzed-out bass and fire-driven howls. The result is the band’s most ambitious work to date — one that will easily win over fans of Torche, High On Fire, The Sword and Kylesa!

It was produced by the band themselves with Erik Palm engineering, recorded in four months at their own Pine Hill Studios (drums cut at Studio Fluff in Västerås by Andreas Morén), mixed by Robert Lamu of Skraeckoedlan, and mastered by Magnus "Devo" Andersson at Endarker Studio.

10,000 YEARS "Esox Lucifer" - Out August 7th on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

TRACKLIST:

1. Beasts Of The Northern Wild
2. Pursuit Special
3. Fleur de Sledgehammer
4. Church Of The Red Museum
5. Alien Tactics
6. Two Million Stones
7. Paranoidium
8. Esox Lucifer

Formed in the plague year of 2020, 10,000 Years has wasted no time forging their signature brand of skull-crushing stoner metal. Across three records in as many years — including II, which earned them a nomination for Best Metal at the Swedish Independent Grammys (Manifest) — the band has proven relentless.

Their 2024 release, All Quiet On The Final Frontier, saw the Riff still reigning supreme, but with a newly melodic edge described as "an experience that’s as heavy as it is spiritual" by The Sleeping Shaman and "the psychedelic-stoner embodiment of science fiction" by Ghost Cult Magazine. The album marked their debut on Californian label Ripple Music, introduced powerhouse drummer Alvin Risberg on wax, and locked into perfect symmetry with Erik Palm's guitar wizardry and Alex Risberg's thundering bass and howling vocals. A massive leap forward into new and hugely exciting territory, which will be sealed with their upcoming album Esox Lucifer, coming in the summer of 2026.

10,000 Years lineup

Erik Palm – Guitars
Alex Risberg – Bass/Vocals
Alvin Risberg - Drums

10,000 Years links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Ripple Music links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details. 

Risin Sabotage - Revived (Single Review)

Release Date: May 28th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Revived - Tracklisting

Revived

Review

Revived is the latest single from Ukrainian Psych Stoner Rockers Risin Sabotage which was meant to be included on their excellent 2017 full length album The Planet Dies. The track has remained unreleased since then but the guys have decided to release int 2026 and it couldn’t fit more perfectly within the Post-Stoner Rock landscape dominated by the likes of ELDER, WEEDPECKER, HOWLING GIANT and KING BUFFALO. Risin Sabotage adds a gloomy Post-Doom sound  to the track with subtle flashes of Grunge and Fuzz before the track moves fully into the Doom Metal stratosphere.

The song is heavily reliant on a distorted and slightly amplified presence that adds a cautionary sound which could even shine a light within the horrible situation going on in the Ukraine. As this song has a haunting socially aware message showing within the lyrics and the emotionally charged vocals add a powerful and cautionary tone to the whole track.

Risin Sabotage have been one of Ukraine's leading Psych/Stoner Rock bands for over the past decade and they’ve demonstrated their true worth to the actual underground scene by powering through troubling times and still releasing great music such as this. This maybe an unreleased track but this has a timeless feel and musical aura that leaves you wanting to hear more. The subtle flashes of Space Rock sounds and Classic Hard Rock grooves that appear at the end adds another layer of quality to the whole experience.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Exclusive Premiere Of Noise Rock/Sludge Metallers BLEETH Stunning New EP Lázara

Drive through the neighborhoods of Southwest Miami and you’ll see him: San Lázaro, standing in a glass enclosure among the manicured lawns and palm fronds. Eerily positioned between the divine and the mundane, he is a constant, quiet fixture of the city.

For us, the origin of this EP traces back to one of those statues in particular. While we were writing in a cramped side room, a human-sized San Lázaro stared back at us. At first, it was just a joke—a creepy visitor crashed our sessions. But over time, the image of Lazarus became a sort of talisman, a presence that wove itself into the fabric of these songs.

That shift didn't happen in a vacuum. With the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community feeling more precarious by the day, these sessions became a necessary outlet for our collective rage. We needed a way to process the uncertainty and the weight of the current political landscape.

In that pressure cooker, Lazarus took on a new meaning. Through a queer lens, he became a figure marked and cast aside, only to be brought back to life. That tension between collapse and renewal, death and resurrection, is the heartbeat of Lázara.

This set of songs is a new beginning for us. After a period of turbulence that could have easily ended the band, we came out the other side with the heaviest, most eclectic music we’ve ever made.

You can here the blistering new EP Lázara below thanks to the cool folks over at Good Boy PR.

Lázara - Tracklisting

1.Pretty on the Inside 02:44

2.Porcelain 03:46

3.Bent 02:15

Members

 

Lauren Palma (vox,guitar)

Ryan Rivas (vox,bass)

Hector Mojeno (drums)

Links

Official | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Good Boy PR for all of the details.

Bleeth - Lázara (EP Review)

Release Date: May 29th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Lázara - Tracklisting

1.Pretty on the Inside 02:44

2.Porcelain 03:46

3.Bent 02:15

Members

 

Lauren Palma (vox,guitar)

Ryan Rivas (vox,bass)

Hector Mojeno (drums)

Review

Miami-based queer Sludge Metal/Noise Rock band Bleeth latest EP Lázara is meant to be a rebirth for the band after a period of tough challenges and experiences they’ve faced or currently facing within this hostile world. Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community and what they're currently going through allows Bleeth to re-invent their music with a new found style of aggression and maturity which is quite refreshing from their 2025 album Marionette. 

Lázara opens with a blistering and brutal cover of the HOLE classic Pretty On The Inside with the original’s Punk and Alt-Rock energy being replaced by a primal mix of Noise Rock, Sludge Metal and Harsh melodies. The stripped back sound of the original track is still there but it’s a stripped back style of crushing sludgy guitars with a ferocious Post-Punk sound allowing Bleeth to fully move into an Industrial and Experimental direction.

The EP does contain two original tracks of Porcelain and Bent which offers six minutes of abstract Sludge Metal and Noise Rock melodies with raw sounding production values. Bleeth are quite rightly pissed off on this EP with the whole creative flow surrounded by intricate Post-Punk and industrial beats. The lyrics hit pretty hard with a solitary and emotionally wrought experience hidden behind them. Bleeth inject that legendary brutal MIAMI underground vibe into their music throughout both of these tracks that remind me of CAVITY and FLOOR.

Lázara maybe on the short side but it gets shit done by allowing the LGBTQIA+ community to have a unique voice within the scene where we usually pride in saying “everyone is welcome” but sadly that isn’t always the case. Lázaras is a genuine gut-wrenching, pissed off and brilliantly heavy EP that allows Bleeth to have a real voice within the underground Sludge Metal scene. 

If this is the new musical direction that Bleeth will be taking then I can’t wait to experience what they have in store for future releases.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo..

Lázara  is available to buy now on Digital Formats from all good stockists. 

Links

Official | BandCamp | Instagram

Monolord - Neverending (Album Review)

Release Date: May 29th 2026. Record Label: Relapse Records. Formats: CD/DD/Tape/Vinyl

Neverending - Tracklisting

1.Iodine

2.You Bastard 

3.Inside a Collider

4.Crystal Bridge

5.Oozing Wound

6.The Masque

7.Invisible

8.It's Neverending 

Members

 

Thomas Jäger - Guitar/Vocals

Esben Willems - Drums

Mika Häkka - Bass

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Monolord return with Neverending which is their first album in five years and their first new music since 2023’s EP It’s All The Same. This record sees Monolord go under a slight creative transformation which is perhaps down to the band working with legendary producer Sylvia Massy (TOOL, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, JOHNNY CASH and THE MELVINS). This record has a more reflective and personal feel that is quite different to the tone of their previous record. 

The music is more up front relying on stylish Classic Rock and Heavy Metal surroundings than ever before and I love to hear Monolord further exploring their Seventies Hard Rock influences especially when they channel the likes of THIN LIZZY, BLACK SABBATH, BUDGIE and LED ZEPP unlike ever before. However, this is still a quintessentially a MONOLORD record through and through where the band continue to develop their trademark AMPLIFIER and DISTORTED heavy sound with a modern Psychedelic and Melodic energy coming through.

The opening batch of tracks of Iodine, You Bastard and Inside A Collider allows Monolord to explore their own musical legacy whilst stripping back certain elements for a modern Post-Doom and Post-Stoner sound with that huge sounding LOW & SLOW attitude which embraces wickedly sonic and spaced out themes with Esben’s drums leading the aggressive charge. Thomas on Guitars and Mika on Bass opening up the Doom Metal vortex for a world weary style of melody and highly precise musical focus to hold everything together. 

Monolord allow themselves to move away from the Doom Metal landscape their contemporaries such as Electric Wizard, SLEEP and YOB usually reside and venture into musical grounds that KING BUFFALO and ELDER are known especially within the more slow paced and and psychedelic tracks that appear on the album. Monolord have been adapting and changing their music for the better ever since their 2017 acclaimed record RUST (which is still my favourite album of theirs). However, under Sylvia’s teachings and guidance, the band feel like they’ve been part of the Post-Stoner and Post-Doom scenes for a very long time.

Though, Monolord never forget what made them musical TITANS of the scene as they still play heavier, aggressive and fast-paced slabs of modern day Doom/Stoner Metal with that threatening style of AMPLIFIER DISTORTION on tracks such as Crystal Bridge, Oozing Wound and The Masque and Invisible. The second half of the album does see that classic THIN LIZZY vibe appear more and more with Thomas’s vocals being quite warm and superbly real. The heartwarming lyrics are emotionally charged and superbly uplifting with a real human quality appearing within the darkest moments of the album.

Neverending is a record that is never afraid to combine the trademark LOW & SLOW surroundings that Monolord first made themselves known with against a style of modern day Psychedelic Doom Metal energy that pushes the record further into other areas of the Psychedelic Metal scene that fans may not expect. There’s some wicked SONIC and SPACE ROCK experimentation spliced throughout the whole album that allows Neverending to be quite Spaced Out without the need for certain medicinal WEEDIAN compounds. 

One of the most surprising aspects of the album appears on the final track It’s Neverending. This track features former Entombed bassist Jörgen Sandström, (also of Grave, Domedagen and Firespawn) which turns into the heaviest and most ferocious sounding track that MONOLORD have released to date. This was a great decision to let Jörgen appear as this track has a more desperate and violent DEATH CHARGED element which is my favourite track on the album. Monolord play perhaps their most classic sounding song that could easily appear on their first two albums.

It’s Neverending is an absolutely outstanding album that ranks as one of Monolord’s best. The album is a ton of mighty throwback elements you can instantly lose yourself in and continue to rock out like there’s no tomorrow. However, this is also perhaps Monolord’s most daring and modern sounding record to date. The POWER OF THE RIFF compels you once more to journey into Monolord’s brilliantly heavy, vast and unique musical world that stands as one of the best Doom/Stoner Metal records of the year.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Organic Green Monster Machine - The Swords Of Sorrow (EP Review)

Release Date: May 25th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

The Swords Of Sorrow - Tracklisting

1.The Raven Prince 06:06

2.Blade 06:21

3.The Highway Song 08:45

Review

Heavy Psych/Stoner Rockers Organic Green Monster Machine (OGMM) return with their new EP The Swords Of Sorrow which sees the band explore their journey further into SONIC experimentation which they’ve already proven with their earlier records. This EP perhaps has a more direct roots driven energy which allows OGMM to move within a heavier and progressive atmosphere. OGMM borrows sounds from other musical acts such as Soundgarden, KYUSS, FU MANCHU, Black Sabbath and King Buffalo but with a free flowing Space Rock flow that allows them to have their own great take within the Heavy Psychedelic scene.

OGMM have stated that opening track The Raven Prince “serves as the continuation of the story first introduced in the earlier release “Dark Kings Curse from 2023” So you may need to head back to that release if you want to understand the whole creative theme of the story. Though, you can easily enjoy this as a standalone piece with OGMM delivering a finely played slice of modern day Heavy Psych that blends Blues, Americana and Stoner Rock into a winning fusion of subtle melodies. The song is constantly heavy whilst not being overly aggressive that allows OGMM to build up a steady rhythm of epic cinematic soundscapes.

Second track Blade is a more laid back song with a solitary Psychedelic instrumental passage being the standout aspect of the track. The vocals are superbly delivered but it did take me a few listens to fully warm up to them. The song does move between areas of Post-Rock, Blues Rock, Post-Grunge and lush sounding Psych Rock instrumental passages. There’s a hint of Ambient Rock developing behind the scenes and the deliberately slow paced nature of the track is perhaps what make this my favourite track on the whole EP.

Third track The Highway Song feels like a combination of the previous tracks with OGMM combining semi-acoustic soundscapes within the first half of the record before branching out into heavier Psych Stoner Rock passages. OGMM are once again cautiously slow bringing the heavier elements into play but once everything is fully aligned then the EP is finally cooking with the heaviest and aggressive sounds on the EP.

There’s a lot of wicked SONIC interplay being used on this track OGMM which I cannot fault the band for. However, the track never reaches the heavy levels of Psychedelic Stoner Rock I expect from the band and that’s my only minor criticism for that is otherwise an excellent record throughout.

OGMM are slowly carving out a reputation of being one of Australia’s most unique and original Heavy Psychedelic Stoner Rock bands currently out there. I’m excited to hear what they’ll be releasing next as I am a fan of their music and what they bring to the table. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Argonauta Records Launches New “Digital Split Collaborations” Series Connecting Artists Across The Label Roster

Argonauta Records proudly unveils the first chapter of its brand new “Digital Split Collaborations” series, an initiative created to connect artists from the label’s roster through exclusive releases built around artistic exchange and underground spirit.

Kicking off the series are Italy’s Sonic Wolves and Swedish collective Ockra, joining forces for the release of The Path, a unique digital split EP set available on all major streaming platforms.

Listen here: https://tidal.com/album/518573489/u

Far from being a simple split release, The Path captures two distinct creative visions converging into a single immersive experience shaped by hypnotic atmospheres, expansive songwriting and a shared passion for sonic exploration.

Representing the Italian side of the project, Sonic Wolves deliver four powerful tracks recorded in July 2025 at Trai Studio in Inzago, Italy, with production, mixing and mastering handled by Fabio Intraina. The release includes the multi part epic “The Drowned Phoenix Parts I, II and III” together with the instrumental trip “When Mama Was a Hippie”.

Formed in Alessandria, Italy in 2014, Sonic Wolves features drummer Vita, formerly of Ufomammut, bassist and vocalist Kayt Vigil, known for her work with Pentagram, The Hounds of Hasselvander and …Of The Horizon, alongside guitarist Marco Grassano. On this release, guitars are performed by Alberto Catasso.

Balancing the release with a more introspective and dreamlike approach, Ockra contribute two deeply personal tracks born from sessions that initially remained outside the scope of the band’s latest album. The collaboration ultimately became the catalyst that gave those songs new life and meaning.

The band comments:

“We had these songs, which were kind of special and didn’t fit onto our last album. When we got the chance to make a split EP with Sonic Wolves, we finally got the spirit to put some more love into these songs and we are very happy with the result. It was a great pleasure and privilege to work with other musicians and like minded folks such as Sonic Wolves. Thanks Gero and Argonauta Records for this opportunity. We hope you enjoy this EP. Take care, Erik, Jonas and Alex, OCKRA.”

With the launch of the “Digital Split Collaborations” series, Argonauta Records further reinforces its commitment to fostering meaningful artistic connections between bands from different countries, backgrounds and creative approaches, offering listeners exclusive releases available only in digital format.

This first installment stands as a meeting point between two visionary acts from the Argonauta family, opening the doors to future collaborations still to be unveiled.

Tracklist

The Drowned Phoenix Pt.1 – Sonic Wolves
The Drowned Phoenix Pt.2 – Sonic Wolves
The Drowned Phoenix Pt.3 – Sonic Wolves
When Mama Was a Hippie – Sonic Wolves
Silhouettes – Ockra
The Path of Least Resistance – Ockra

Links

Cover art courtesy of: https://www.facebook.com/SoaresArtwork
Sonic Wolves: https://www.facebook.com/SonicWolves
Ockra: https://www.facebook.com/ockraband/
Argonauta Records: https://www.argonautarecords.com/

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the detiails.

ELDER - Through Zero (Album Review)

Release Date: May 29th 2026. Record Label: Various. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Through Zero - Tracklisting

1.Sigil To Ruin

2.Capture/Release 

3.Through Zero 

4.Strata

5.Sight Unseen

6.Blighted Age

Members

Nicholas DiSalvo - Guitar, vocals, synthesizer

Jack Donovan - Bass guitar

Michael Risberg - Guitar, Rhodes piano, slide guitar

Georg Edert - Drums, percussion

Review

Elder are celebrating their twentieth anniversary as a band this year and finally perhaps cemented their place and reputation as the premier Heavy Psychedelic Stoner Rock band the scene currently has right now. The band have released multiple critically acclaimed albums since then and some are considered classics of the scene. Elder may still get their usual round of critics saying they prefer the heavier Doom Metal sound they delivered on their earlier records but the band have soldiered onto bigger and better things with each subsequent release.

Through Zero is their seventh album and it’s another masterclass of everything that came before it with Elder rewriting their own musical legacy with a record that manages to be brilliantly heavy and laid back at the same time. This record feels like ELDER has discovered the lost art of storytelling with the way they open up with each individual track that includes emotionally charged lyrics that make you sit up and take notice.

This album is perhaps Elder’s most sonically diverse release yet with the band moving areas into Post-Rock, Shoegaze, Electronica and Progressive elements unlike ever before. There’s even some creative callbacks to their classic 2007 debut album Dead Roots Stirring along the way. Elder leaves no creative stone unturned or untouched with Nick’s stunning work on Synths and Michael’s haunting Rhodes Piano instrumental passages allowing Georg on Drums and Jack Donovan on Bass to form a superbly intelligent rhythm section which holds everything together.

The record is full of passionate musical surroundings with Elder creating a Space Rock landscape to build their musical ideas upon especially within the epic opening track Sigil To Ruin. The track runs for over ten minutes that sees Elder relive past musical glories and modernise them for a new found audience discovering this great band for the first time. Elder effortlessly blends areas  Psych, Post-Rock, Doom, Stoner and Prog Rock into music of such rich musical depth you can’t help but fall in love with what's being played. There is a wonderful “orchestral” and “classical” feel that is being teased and developed on this track that’s used throughout the rest of the album.

Sigil To Ruin is just the doorway to expand the listener’s mind into ELDER’s increasingly hopeful and brilliantly musical quest. The other tracks allows Elder to breathe new life into the whole Heavy Psychedelic scene with different levels of musical heaviness bringing a sense of calm and distorted awareness which fully sells the whole Space Rock vibe whilst being superbly grounded at the same time. 

There are some parts of the album where Elder veer into Post-Metal territory and perhaps challenging the likes of PELICAN and RUSSIAN CIRCLES of developing some of the most sublime Post-Rock/Post-Metal sounds I’ve heard in a very long time on tracks such as Capture/Release, Through Zero and Strata. Though, it’s the ethereal soundscapes that keeps the record firmly within the Heavy Psych and Stoner Rock environments. 

The music is beautifully played with everyone putting in truly magnificent performances with Nick’s vocals once again showing a wealth of knowledge and maturity way beyond his years. Though, it’s the complete musical package that Through Zero takes the listener upon with a never-ending array of uplifting Ambient sounds and forward thinking progressive melodies that’s backed up by first rate production values that make this a real grand musical adventure.

I remember reviewing Dead Roots Stirring for a defunct webzine back in 2008 and I never thought I would be doing the same thing almost two decades later with another new record from them. Fast forward and ELDER have released seven full length albums, four EP’s and two live albums.

The music may have changed directions slightly but they have always remained the same band with a level of warmth and uplifting quality that remains virtually unmatched in today’s scene. Through Zero is a testament to that fact and how Elder proves once again why they’re masters of their musical craft that other bands can’t even come close to fully matching or even surpassing. 

Elder may have just released the finest Heavy Psychedelic / Stoner Rock album of the year for me. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to All Noir for the promo..

Through Zero is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Stickman Records, in North America through Blues Funeral Recordings and Bird’s Robe in Australia.

Links

https://beholdtheelder.com
https://www.facebook.com/elderofficial
https://www.instagram.com/elderband
https://elder.bigcartel.com
https://www.stickman-records.com
https://www.bluesfuneral.com