Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl.
Near Falll - Tracklisting
1.Vimana Swamp 07:27
2.Black Weed 06:01
3.Ironbound 04:30
Near Fall Credits
Billy Konkel Guitar/Vocals
Brian Ricks Drums
Jerimy McNeil Bass (Black Weed/Ironbound)
Dan Giampietro Bass (Vimana Swamp)
HOT RAM (2026) Line-up
Billy Konkel - Guitar/Vocals
Jerimy McNeil - Bass
Dwayne Jones - Drums
Review
Near Fall is the latest EP from Stoner Metallers HOT RAM which contains a bevy of outstanding grooves from the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal world. There’s a heavy reliance of DOWN-TUNED and FUZZ METAL riffology inspired by the likes of High On Fire, The Melvins, Acid King and Black Sabbath, However, Near Fall has its own distinctive sound with HOT RAM playing a deliberate slow paced sound to maximise the full “VIOLENT” musical energy that only becomes seedier, heavier and more violent with each passing moment.
The EP only lasts for nineteen minutes across three superbly played tracks with HOT RAM even developing a delicious Blues Rock and Classic Hard Rock sound that is played to great levels of distorted melody within the standout opening track of Vimana Swamp. There’s a sudden shift to NOLA and Southern Metal on the later stages especially when Billy Konkel’s vocals adds a gloomy Americana and Post-Punk delivery which reminds me of the legendary Neil Fallon at times.
It’s good to see HOT RAM delivering a different slice of Stoner Metal within each individual track but including the classic WEEDIAN framework within both the lyrics and music that’s contained throughout. There are some moments when the Blues Rock and Psych Rock aspects have a grizzled and distorted effect which allows some classic Acid King / Melvins riff-worship to appear mostly on the tracks Black Weed and Ironbound.
HOT RAM employs a certain Prog Metal style to form behind the scenes with a free flowing style of Sludge Rock overlapping with that seedy Southern Metal landscape on different stages of the record. The music is always aggressive and beautifully LOUD which captures the classic era of Sludge/Stoner Metal down to a fine art.
It’s a shame the EP is only three tracks long as I was completely in my comfort zone before the EP suddenly ends but it’s always best leaving the audience wanting more. Let's hope a more substantial record isn’t too far behind as HOT RAM may have laid down the groundwork for a new exciting chapter of their careers with this EP.
This is first rate stuff. End Of.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo