Exclusive Song/Video Premiere For GOAT MAJOR's Stunning New Title Track DEATH COMES TWICE From Upcoming New Album

Welsh doom metal trio GOAT MAJOR is set to return with their sophomore full-length "Death Comes Twice" this October 23rd on Ripple Music and unleash the title track from the outstanding new album today! 

Thanks to the cool folks over at Purple Sage PR and Ripple Music we're excited to premiere the new song/video for Death Comes Twice from their upcoming new album of the same name.

Welsh heavy trio Goat Major are set to return with their crushing sophomore album, Death Comes Twice, the follow-up to their 2024 debut Ritual. The songwriting process ignited immediately after the last record, with guitarist Jammie Arnold channeling a relentless flow of riff demos that provided the foundation for Simon Bonwick (drums) and Tom Shortt (vocals/bass) to build upon. They comment, "When the three of us gathered in the jam room, that’s where the true magic happened. We threw ourselves into every riff, every groove, with no detail too small or too grand. This new record reveals a deeper, more melodic side of us, all the while remaining heavy and intense. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it!"

Recording once again with engineer Tom Chaloner in rural Pembrokeshire, the band captured the raw energy of their live chemistry by tracking together in a room without click tracks. The result is a record that delves deeper into melody while maintaining their signature heaviness, augmented by experimental layers of percussion, harmonies, and progressive synthesis soundscapes.

Lyrically, Death Comes Twice navigates the dark narrow passageways of belief, tradition, and existential crisis. Continuing the occult and cosmic themes of their debut, the album shifts between dark fantasy and internal turmoil, exploring themes of persecution under dogmatic rule, the spiritual toll of ancient rituals, and the clash between divine creation and modern technology.

About the new single "Wheels of Gold", the band says: "Wheels of Gold brings imagery of the biblical depictions of angels. Imagining them into our new technological age and asking if they would still serve their elemental ancient god, or revolt and destroy that god in order to serve new artificial machines of creation."

New album "Death Comes Twice" - Out October 23rd on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

Emerging from the mystic landscapes of Pembrokeshire, Wales, Goat Major formed in 2020 as a strict DIY power trio. Drawing from the heaviness of Electric Wizard and the raw fury of Motörhead, their sound is a fuzz-drenched, controlled chaos that's both primal and profound. They shattered expectations with their 2024 debut Ritual via Ripple Music, a gothic romp through ancient secrets and dark whispers. Arnold's riffs swing between sludgy weight and punk urgency, Bonwick's drumming is relentless and dynamic, while Shortt's growling bass underpins hauntingly melodic vocals that push atmosphere and ambition without losing their doom-ridden core.

The band tore across the UK, sharing stages with Conan, Thunder Horse and many more, while leaving their doomy mark at Desertfest London and Stoomfest. Their blend of infectious melody and sinister atmosphere struck a deep chord, cementing them as one of the underground's most promising emerging forces. Now in 2026, they reunite with Ripple Music for their eagerly awaited second opus, Death Comes Twice. Digging deeper than Ritual, the new album weaves potent melodies and razor-sharp hooks through themes of death, medieval rituals, religious persecution, and generational hexes. It's a masterclass in inventive darkness—haunting, powerful, and daring you to climb in.

GOAT MAJOR is

Jammie Arnold - guitar
Simon Bonwick - drums
Tom Shortt - bass & vocals

GOAT MAJOR links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

RIPPLE MUSIC links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

DEATHCHANT - KOVA (Album Review)

Release Date: September 25th 2026. Record Label: RidingEasy Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

KOVAc - Tracklist

1.Enemy 

2.Red Sun

3.Funeral Pyre

4.Reverie

5.Worshipper

6.Ruin

7.KOVA

8.Forgiveness

9.Requiem

Members

Thomas J Lemieux - Guitars, vocals, keys, bass, additional sounds & loops

Doug Stuckey - Guitars, vocals

Quinn-George Camacho - Bass

Nick "Joose" Mcdonnell - Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers DEATHCHANT return with their most personal and reflective record to date with KOVA which is named after their late friend Davey Kova. The record contains all the great musical ingredients that made DEATHCHANT’s previous albums fully stand out. KOVA allows Deathchant to offer a more personal experience for listeners to immerse themselves with the band with emotionally changed lyrics, fast-paced melodies and deft Classic Rock touches that forces a challenging “LIGHT vs DARK” progression into the mix.

The sound has that classic TWIN GUITAR energy that reminds me of the likes of THIN LIZZY, WISHBONE ASH, BARONESS and MASTODON which the band are quite known for. With an aggressive backdrop of Psychedelic and Doom-Pop surroundings making a commanding appearance on tracks Enemy, Red Sun and Funeral Pyre which makes me reminisce when the mighty BARONESS made music as good as this within their classic RED and BLUE period.

However, DEATHCHANT stand on their own creative ground with epic POST-DOOM and PSYCH ROCK themes that manifest into epic stadium sized Sludge Rock grooves with the excellent vocals telling an emotionally rewarding story despite some of the tough bleak themes currently being played out.

DEATHCHANT experiment with Ambient, Space Rock and Cosmic chasms on this record which brings a forceful atmospheric drive whilst keeping that Classic Rock delivery with a distinctive Blues Rock and Doomed Out persuasion forming behind the scenes on tracks Funeral Pyre, Reverie and Worshipper closing the first half of the album in great fashion.

The music is unapologetically fast paced with DEATHCHANT playing some of the heaviest sounds of their career. There’s a lot of amplifier distortion and sludgy reverb appearing when you least expect this which adds a gloomy sense of realism and gritty determination into the mix. 

KOVA offers the perfect balance between “LIGHT vs DARK” movements as DEATHCHANT never shy away from using their real life personal experiences into this record which makes this 100% authentic within the Heavy Rock world. The second half of the record is equally as stunning as the first half with DEATHCHANT diving right into a diverse style of Prog Rock melodies that branches out into areas of Heavy Psychedelics which transforms into a hallucinogenic style of Doom/Stoner Metal sounds with some eerie soundclips being added along the way.

Other standout tracks on the record are: Ruin, KOVA, Forgiveness and Requiem though that’s the whole second half of the album I’ve just mentioned. I should say all of the tracks are great as each other with KOVA allowing each song having their own personal story to tell whilst adding some different sounding grooves to settle the deal. The second half perhaps relies more on Post-Doom and Post-Stoner soundscapes with an uplifting Heavy Psychedelic core.

KOVA is a resounding success on every level and is DEATHCHANT’s most masterful and awe-inspiring record to date. With rich sounding and superbly realized production values, DEATHCHANT have released another sublime album that should solidify them as one of the most electrifying and grounded Doom/Stoner Metal bands currently around today.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to RidingEasy Records for the promo.

KOVA is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via RidingEasy Records.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Instrumental Doom/Post-Metal outfit SHAKHTYOR unleashes crushing first single "Das Sechste Siegel" off upcoming album "Simulacron"!

German heavy instrumental Doom/Post-Metal outfit SHAKHTYOR has unveiled "Das Sechste Siegel", the crushing first single taken from the band’s forthcoming studio album "Simulacron", set for release on November 6 via Moment of Collapse Records.

Listen to "Das Sechste Siegel" HERE

When SHAKHTYOR were formed in Hamburg in 2009, the direction initially seemed clear: instrumental doom. It soon became apparent, however, that the trio would not be content to stay within those confines. Doom and sludge collide with black and death metal eruptions, psychedelic jam passages, hypnotic grooves and spacey synthesizer textures. For SHAKHTYOR, genre boundaries are material to work with rather than limitations.

"Simulacron" is now the Hamburg trio’s third album, following their self-titled debut and its successor "Tunguska". Once again recorded at Tonmeisterei, the album sounds anything but stagnant despite the band’s long history. Quite the opposite: the songwriting has become more concise and focused, while their musical boundaries have been pushed even further. Songs longer than 10 minutes are no exception.

The guitars remain the crushing foundation. Riff walls flatten everything in their path before the songs drift into psychedelic passages or are swept away by eruptive black/death metal assaults. Particularly effective are the long, stoic grooves that burrow almost hypnotically into your skull. SHAKHTYOR create pressure not through constant speed, but through dynamics, repetition and carefully constructed tension.

Samples and electronic soundscapes are far more than mere decoration. They give the songs a dark, at times almost cosmic atmosphere, making "Simulacron" feel like the soundtrack to some seriously twisted trip inside your head.

Tracklist:

01. Simulacron
02. Das Sechste Siegel
03. Alone
04. Wolfmannsgehau
05. Letzte Schleuse
06. Electric H

Seventeen years after their formation, SHAKHTYOR remain difficult to categorize. "Simulacron" combines crushing riff power with psychedelic depth and atmospheric finesse. A heavy, idiosyncratic beast - and precisely for that reason, one hell of an intriguing album.

"Simulacron" will be out November 6 on Moment of Collapse Records and is available for pre-order HERE.

SHAKHTYOR are:

Christian Müller
Nils Langbehn
Christian Herzog

For more info visit:

https://www.facebook.com/shakhtyorband/
https://www.instagram.com/shakhtyor.band/
https://shakhtyor.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse/

Thanks to All Noir PR for the details.

Exclusive Song Premiere And Review Of Instrumental Psych/Space/Stoner Rock Collective ASTRAL CONSTRUCT New Single CRIMSON From Upcoming New Album

Release Date: 25th September 2026. Label: Echodelick Records. Format. Digital Download

Crimson - Traciklist

Crimson

Members

Astral Construct - Everything

Review

Crimson is an eight minute plus epic that sees Astral Construct aim for a heavier Post-Metal sound that touches upon the fringes of Drone Metal whilst keeping with his own great style of Psych Rock, Space Rock and Stoner Rock sounds. There's an almost "soundtrack" quality to crimson which acts as a good indicator of the direction of the upcoming album The Exoplanetary Diversions is heading upon.

There's a lot of frenzied sludgy guitars and fuzzed out melodies forming on top of each other which feels slightly chaotic but superbly quite restrained at the same time. Astral Construct weaves a level of progressive Doomed Out melodies which are quite aggressive one moment and transform into a sullen Post-Rock dynamic. 

There is a beginning, middle and end with this track as Crimson offers a diverse selection of intricate musical passages that all feel quite different to each other. However, when fully joined up, this allows the song to be quite an epic journey of self discovery well at least for Astral Construct.

This is a great track to announce the upcoming new album as it's quite an action packed and surreal experience which has got me quite excited for what lies ahead.

Words by Steve Howe

Exclusive Song Premiere

Instrumental Psych/Space/Stoner Rock artist Astral Construct are releasing the first epic single "Crimson" from their forthcoming new album The Exoplanetary Diversions which you can hear below thanks to this exclusive song premiere.

Astral Construct say this about "Crimson" and gives a great description about the upcoming album itself:

“Crimson is the centerpiece on the third Astral Construct album, The Exoplanetary Diversions, which is slated for release in November of 2026. The album will be Astral Construct’s first with Echodelick Records. Crimson features psychedelic passages, heavy sections and a surprise middle section that invokes moody, ethereal movements. The song fits perfectly with the Astral Construct mission of drawing the listener into the journey and takes them back to the age when albums were consumed in its entirety, rather than pieces cobbled into streaming playlists.”

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Astral Construct for all of the details

Heavy Rockers MOON DESTROYS (w/ current and ex-Torche, Abrams, Royal Thunder) kick off US tour with Melt-Banana; fall shows with The Sword announced!

Atlanta's heavy powerhouse MOON DESTROYS (with current and former members of Torche, Abrams and Royal Thunder) are hitting the road for a run of West Coast shows alongside Japanese noise rock sensation Melt-Banana and have just added three fall shows with US heavy rock legends The Sword, all in support of their new album "OMNI" on Blues Funeral Recordings.

Spearheading the thunderous heavy unit are founding members Juan Montoya (ex-Torche) and Evan Diprima (Gold Pyramid, ex-Royal Thunder), with lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Zach Amster (Abrams) rounding out the front. After successfully completing a 3-week co-headline run with The Well, the band officially welcomed Taylor Iversen (Abrams) on bass as their fourth member to lock in their thunderous foundation.

Fresh off the release of their acclaimed new album "OMNI" on Blues Funeral Recordings, MOON DESTROYS are fully ready to enter their next chapter, bringing their shimmering, hard-hitting blend of post-grunge, riff-doom and driving psych to the masses. They kick off the fall with two runs of shows supporting Japanese noise rockers Melt-Banana and US stoner metal heroes The Sword.

September shows with Melt-Banana:

Sept 22 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
Sept 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Rebel Lounge
Sept 25 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
Sept 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
Sept 27 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall

October shows with The Sword:

Oct 29 - Louisville KY - Mercury Ballroom
Oct 30 - Cleveland OH - Grog Shop
Oct 31 - Pittsburgh PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre

New album "OMNI" - Available now on Blues Funeral Recordings
Watch latest videos Flowers / Missing Wish / My Eyes / Invasion

“A sound that feels both molten and weightless.” Decibel Magazine
“Highly atmospheric sounds, upbeat melodies and stirring vocals.” Outlaws of the Sun
“A great balance between ambitious energy and atmospheric grace.” Metal Hammer Magazine
“Nothing short of mesmerizing, Omni is one of the year’s enduring best.” Doomed & Stoned

Formed by legendary guitarist Juan Montoya (a founding member of Torche) and drummer Evan Diprima (Gold Pyramid, Royal Thunder), MOON DESTROYS released their first EP Maiden Voyage in 2020. The 5-song debut featured contributions from Troy Sanders (Mastodon) and Bryan Richie (The Sword) and laid a foundation that would come fully into focus in April 2025, when the band was thrust into the limelight supporting Elder just as they were self-releasing their debut full-length She Walks By Moonlight. This shimmering blend of post-rock, riff-doom and shoegazy psychedelia stood as a cinematic and otherworldly journey from a band who breeze into the environs of My Bloody Valentine, The Cult, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Ride. Fresh off a breakout 2025 year that saw them tour with Elder, Dozer and The Sword, Juan Montoya and Evan Diprima ushered in 2026 by welcoming Abrams frontman Zach Amster on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, leading to the release of their new studio album "OMNI" on Blues Funeral Recordings in September 2026.

MOON DESTROYS is

Juan Montoya - Lead Guitar
Evan Diprima - Drums
Zachary Amster - Vocals & Rhythms Guitar
Taylor Iversen - Bass

MOON DESTROYS links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

BLUES FUNERAL RECORDINGS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Post-Metal Legends NEUROSIS Announce Latest Tour Dates

Photo Credit: Scott Evans

Exactly two seasons have passed since we declared An Undying Love for a Burning World. It has been an incredibly rewarding time for us and we are humbled by your love and support.

With our first two shows behind us, we are now working hard to be ready for the upcoming sets. We respectfully ask you to join us at one of these upcoming gatherings.

TICKETS

Neurosis Tour Dates

10/16/2026 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA w/ Terry Gross [SOLD OUT]
10/17/2026 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA w/ Kowloon Walled City [SOLD OUT]
10/30/2026 Warsaw – Brooklyn, NY w/ Uniform [Tickets]
10/31/2026 Warsaw – Brooklyn, NY w/ Primitive Man [Tickets]
11/21/2026 Metro – Chicago, IL w/ Mr. Phylzzz [Tickets]
11/22/2026 Metro – Chicago, IL w/ Primitive Man [Tickets]
11/27/2026 Revolution Hall – Portland, OR w/ special guests TBA, Great Falls [Tickets]
11/28/2026 Revolution Hall – Portland, OR w/ special guests TBA, Trigger Object [Tickets]
11/29/2026 Showbox SODO – Seattle, WA w/ special guests TBA, Great Falls [Tickets]
12/12/2026 Converge's Saddest Day @ Roadrunner – Boston, MA w/ Converge, and more [Tickets]
1/02/2027 The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA w/ Special Guests TBA [Tickets]
4/17/2027 Roadburn Festival – Tilburg, NL (Neurosis will play two sets) [Tickets]

Links

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BANDCAMP

Thanks to Neurot Recordings for the details.

Mehïga - Mehïga (Album Review)

Release Date: September 18th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Mehïga - Tracklist

1.Load Up 01:04

2.Smoke 04:31

3.Don't Look Down 05:16

4.Go Where You Go 01:58

5.Disco 06:43

6.Vacant 03:39

7.Space Witch 05:45

8.Mehïga 08:29

9.Exit Ship 03:19

Review

Psych/Desert/Stoner Rockers Mehïga have been playing as a band for over a decade now and are finally releasing their self-titled album. The record is a mixture of sounds influenced by the likes of Truckfighters, Slomosa, DOZER and FU MANCHU with some gritty rock attitude of their own making. It also helps that the band is quite experimental at how they deliver their various musical compositions that draws in sounds from the Shoegaze, Ambient, Sludge Rock and Prog Rock environments.

Mehïga play around with different song structures and disjointed elements of Heavy Psychedelic music which comes across surprisingly well within the opening tracks of Load Up, Smoke and Don’t Look Down with the sound being quite precise and surprisingly disjointed at the same time. The music is constantly fuzzy and moves around the Stoner Rock atmosphere with relevant ease as Mehïga develops some wonderfully awkward Sludge Rock dimensions into the mix. You can feel some cool sounding TRUCKFIGHTERS and SLOMOSA melodies emerging behind the scenes with Mehïga applying their own warped and warm identity into their music.

However, that doesn’t stop Mehïga adding some dark strands of Sludge, Doom and Drone grooves into the darkest and heaviest corners of the album that gives the record a wild and unpredictable nature on tracks such as Don’t Look Down, Disco, Space Witch and their epic title track MEHIGA. The whole thing sounds extremely dangerous and aggressive when the intense doomed out guitars show you how SLOMOSA would sound like if they ever ventured into the Sludge Rock arena.

Mehïga also injected some Alt Rock and Indie Rock sensibility into the album just to make things slightly dramatic but also quite endearing at the same time. The record has an off-kilter creative attitude but it’s this great style of musical delivery that allows Mehïga to create unexpected outbursts of Sludge/Stoner Metal instrumental passages that slowly merge into some grounded Heavy Psychedelic sounds with sublime vocals to match.

The production values are quite raw but gives Mehïga a gritty and determined attitude to play the best of their musical abilities that makes this album such a genuine pleasure to listen to. Mehïga never plays it safe and they may take some listeners out of their comfort zone especially on the later stages of the album. However, the music is absolutely thrilling to listen to with Mehïga finally demonstrating their own great original style of Heavy Psychedelic music that should allow the band to gain a bigger following within the underground heavy rock scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | LinkTree | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Nephila - Huldra (Album Review)

Release Date: August 28th 2026. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Huldra - Tracklist

1 Mother Of The Woods

2 In Her Hands

3 The Hidden Folk

4 Ash Their Bones

5 Capercailles Hymn

6 Huldra

7 Solar Eclipse

8 The Living Grave

9 F.I.N.N

Members

Josephine Asker – vocals

Linn Edlund – vocals

Anton Athley – guitar

Jacob Hellenrud – guitar

Johan Larsson – organ & keyboards

Charlie Andersson Vistbacka – bass guitar

Johan Lööf – drums

Review

Swedish septet Nephila has been around for a few years and are now unveiling their sophomore album, the excellent 'Huldra'. These Swedes champions transcendent and psychedelic 70's heavy rock with a sharp, clear yet organic sound. Add impeccable musicianship and songwriting skills and you have Nephila. Rarely has an album title befitted a band's music as much as 'Huldra' does. A huldra for the uninitiated is a forest nymph or a forest spirit and that's what Nephila brings forth, as if their music was conjured by a forest deity. Regardless, this is a brilliant album whichever way you look at it! 

This wonderful music journey begins with 'Mother Of The Woods'. Mid-tempo, mesmerizing and seductive with a gradual buid-up before going all out. There are 9 compositions in all where 'F.I.N.N' ends it all and what a closer it is. A bluesy backbone blended with excellent organ-fueled heavy rock weaves  back and forth as if you're on a magic carpet ride. In between Nephila brings 70's psychedelic rock mixed with early Deep Purple and Jethro Tull in the brilliant 'Ash Their Bones' and in the title track 'Huldra' as well. 'Capercailles Hymn' moves in within the same vein where the duelling guitars and the organ in this instrumental beauty.

The band throws down the gauntlet in the bluesy 70's heavy rocker 'The Living Grave' where they go full tilt like their lives depended on it as the verses creates the atmosphere and the chorus erupts. 'Solar Eclipse' brings soft and delicate vocals and sparse instrumentation and it creates a spectacular realm to move within. 'The Hidden Folk' has such a nice groove moving parallel with excellent riffs and when the vocals enters the fray this already brilliant song is elevated even further. Nephila reels you in with 'In Her Hands' which offers captivating and hook-laden chorus and brilliant solos.

Nephila are such a revelation! Blending psychedelia, heavy 70's rock with a great sound and a modern touch has me hooked right from the start. Add Josephine and Linn's amazing vocals and you have this outstanding band. Not boxed in nor shackled they do what they want and how they want it and this freedom is so apparent in their music. Miss Nephila at your peril because they are far too good to be ignored!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Huldra is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Psych Stoner Rockers MISTER EARTHBOUND Release New EP MABON Today

Richmond, Virginia based swamp rockers Mister Earthbound have announced their new EP, »Mabon«, scheduled for release on September 22nd, 2026 as the third part of their seasonal »Endless Man« series.

Tracklist:

01. The Fire That Knows Your Name
02. Decay In Bloom
03. Gone

The Lowdown

Following their release of »Litha«, Mister Earthbound present their newest 3-song seasonal release, »Mabon«. Featuring gloomy instrumentation, melancholic harmonies, and driving percussion, »Mabon« is a heavy, bluesy, psychedelic exploration of the autumnal. For fans of Danzig, QOTSA, Alice In Chains.

With the lush, warm sounds of »Ostara« (Spring) and firey blues of »Litha« (Summer) behind them, Mister Earthbound slow things down to a sinister, smoldering burn on »Mabon«.

»Mabon« is the third in an ambitious new series of EPs in 2026. Each is set to launch on a seasonal solstice or equinox, with the bound collection being released as Mister Earthbound’s sophomore full-length, »Endless Man«.

You can listen to the new EP - Mabon - in full below:

The brainchild of guitarist Walter Gray, Mister Earthbound originally emerged after its founder returned to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia in 2016 armed with a pocket full of riffs and a drive to hit the road with a new project. Named as a homage to Napoleon Hill’s book »Outwit The Devil«, the quartet rapidly established themselves in their region and beyond as pioneers of a new breed of swamp rock, and have been captivating a diverse and growing fanbase ever since.

Building on the foundations laid by influences from the trippy tones of the 13th Floor Elevators and the raucous early days of Pentagram to the eerie blues of Robert Johnson with a psychedelic, doom-tinged approach, Mister Earthbound’s signature blend of searing riffs, haunting vocals, and driving rhythms transports audiences to the depths of the swamp both through their studio recordings and their electric live shows alongside sonic titans like Dead Meadow, Kadavar, Weedeater, YOB, and Black Mountain.

With a host of achievements already under their belt, including the release of their debut record »Shadow Work« via Kozmik Artifactz and a feature in Embassy Skateboards’ »Winter Warriors«, Mister Earthbound’s momentum is at an all-time high as they dive into their biggest undertaking yet with the »Endless Man« series of EPs.

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.

Links 

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree

SLEEP - Hempispheres (Album Review)

Release Date: September 03rd 2026. Record Label: Third Man Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Hempispheres - Tracklist

1.Have Spacesuit Will Travel 07:22

2.The Morrisist 04:42

3.Hempispheres 07:57

4.Arrival Of The Industry Ships 11:11

5.Whole Wheat Mountain / Well Baked 06:52

Members

Al Cisneros - Bass / Vocals

Bubba Dupree - Guitar

Dale Crover - Drums

Review

I’m not sure if the dust has settled on how SLEEP’s new album is busy upsetting their fanbase and even some critics. As this isn’t the SLEEP we’re used to. There’s no Matt Pike or Jason Roeder who have been replaced by Bubba Dupree and Dale Crover respectively on their new album Hempispheres. Though, here we are. I will admit I was sceptical before the album was released about how I won’t enjoy this at all. At first I didn’t enjoy anything that I listened to as everything felt too muted and too safe compared to the spaced out ferocity of the classic album THE SCIENCES.

Now a few weeks after the album’s initial release I’m actually in love with the record. It’s different to what has come before, that's mainly down to the change in personnel. I get folks complaining how this shouldn’t be called a SLEEP record and I partially agree to that extent as well. However, I want to review the album as I’m a mega fan of SLEEP. They’re one of my all time favourite bands.

Hempispheres is a superbly created Heavy Psychedelic record that obviously is missing the legendary destructive Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds played by Matt Pike. However, Bubba Dupree is one hell of a guitarist in his own right and perfectly suits this new low-key and spaced out version of SLEEP. The mood is quite abstract and drone based with the music perhaps closer to OM and Shrinebuilder with Dale’s clever drum beats adding a calm sense of momentum that works superbly well with Al’s dynamite bass playing.

The opening track Have Spacesuit Will Travel is SLEEP in a cautious mood creating diverse Space Rock melodies with a distorted sludgy musical environment which has small instances of Ambient and Drone passages forming. As I stated before, it’s quite low-key compared to SLEEP’s previous bombastic records but that’s no bad thing. As this track has plenty of groove and progressive movement that still feels like SLEEP through and through.

Second track The Mirrorist opts for a denser and hypnotic sound with an ice-cold glacial cosmic sound. The song does feel made up of intricate Middle Eastern moments but Al’s in inspired form throughout. The production can be quite fuzzy and not as clean as I would like but doesn’t deter from the great storytelling aspect that SLEEP have been known for. It’s not the fastest song that SLEEP have created here but the journey is worth taking for a mellow and highly aggressive number towards the later stages of the track.

Third track Hempispheres offers brief glimpses of old-school SLEEP with distorted sludgy guitars and a punishing bass line that may feel repetitive in places but the music is constantly addictive with that subtle lo-fi energy winning the day. The cosmic and psychedelic sound effects adds a layer of SPACE ROCK heaviness with a surprising level of distortion and Blues Rock surroundings towards the end of the song. One of my favourite songs from the whole album as it does make me want to rock out every time I listen to it.

A major criticism I’ve seen about the album is the muddled production values and whilst they’re different to previous albums, the record does sound quite vibrant, seedy and fully realized if you appreciate the “LESS IS MORE” feeling of the whole album.

The final two tracks Arrival Of The Industry Ships and Whole Wheat Mountain / Well Baked are the best parts of the album with SLEEP delving into heavier and quieter sonic based territories where the riffs feel more fully fleshed out from start to finish. The sonic surroundings feel fully fleshed out with a level of progressive delivery that allows the music to be quite more riff-centric and complex spaced out rhythms left me wanting more.

Everyone brings their “A” game to Hempispheres and I love this record for what it is. It’s not the SLEEP we expect and some longtime fans will never consider this a SLEEP record at all. I respect their opinions but I’m glad to make my mind up with this record and even though I have some issues with the record, I still adore the hell out of HEMPISPHERES. If you would have told me at the start of 2026 that we would have new albums by Mastodon, Neurosis and SLEEP then I would have said NO WAY but here we are and some folks are still complaining!!!

My final thoughts is Hempispheres is another outstanding record from SLEEP. Though, it may have received a better reception if it was released under a different name but I consider this an absolute win!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

King Buffalo Announces Pre-Order Details For Seventh Full Length Album DOOMSAYER And USA/European Tour Details

King Buffalo is proud to announce our 7th Full-Length Record to be self-released on 12/4/2026 throughout North America and see European issue via Stickman Records.

Listen to the 'The Slick and the Dead' here!

Doomsayer finds that which is most essential in King Buffalo’s sound and pushes it to the forefront, whether that’s Roa’s expansive tone, vocal melodies and growing role as producer/engineer, Reynolds’ warm low end groove or the character in Donaldson’s fills and flows, in songs that capture the dynamic chemistry between the three of them at its most vibrant, breathtaking and viscerally heavy. – JJ Koczan, Sept. 2026

PREORDERS

Doomsayer Test Presses - Available this Friday at 12pm EST. Limited to 50, hand numbered, and ship immediately! They include a download code, poly bag, a signed "thank you" from the band, a hand numbered insert, and an exclusive alt art poster.

Doomsayer Deluxe Edition - Limited to 750 units and pressed to an emerald translucent and marbled vinyl. The Deluxe Edition includes a hand numbered insert, polybag and a download code.

Doomsayer Standard Edition - Limited to 1750 units and pressed to Opaque Purple Vinyl. They include a polybag and download code.

Doomsayer CD - King Buffalo's 7th Full Length Record on CD.

VINYL & CD PREORDERS

TOUR DATES

European Dates on sale THIS FRIDAY at 10am BST!

02.03 Hamburg, DE - Grunspan
03.03 Antwerp, BE - Trix
04.03 Haarlem, NL - Patronaat
06.03 London, UK - Scala
07.03 Manchester, UK - Gorilla
09.03 Bristol, UK - Electric Bristol
11.03 Paris, FR - Petit Bain
12.03 Essen, DE - Zeche Carl
13.03 Cologne, DE - Kantine
14.03 Stuttgart, DE - Wizeman
15.03 Munich, DE - Backstage Halle
17.03 Berlin, DE - Festsaal
19.03 Copenhagen, DK - Pumpehuset
20.03 Gothenburg, SE - Monument
21.03 Oslo, NO - John Dee
22.03 - Stockholm, SE Debaser Nova





USA Tour Dates

10/29 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
10/30 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre - LOW TIX
10/31 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
11/2 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre - LOW TIX
11/3 Vancouver, BC - The Pearl - LOW TIX
11/4 Seattle, WA - Neumos
11/6 San Francisco, CA - The Independent - LOW TIX
11/7 Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room
11/9 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up
11/10 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom
11/11 Albuquerque, NM - Sister
11/13 Dallas, TX - AM/FM
11/14 Austin, TX - Mohawk
11/17 Houston, TX - Bad Astronaut
11/19 Nashville, TN - Basement East
11/20 Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle - LOW TIX
11/21 Cincinnati, OH - Woodward Theatre
12/3 Detroit, MI - El Club
12/4 Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
12/5 Cleveland, OH - The Roxy
12/8 Toronto, ON - The Mod Club - LOW TIX
12/9 Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount - LOW TIX
12/10 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall - LOW TIX
12/11 New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge - LOW TIX
12/12 Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
12/15 Richmond, VA - The Broadberry
12/16 Durham, NC - Motorco
12/17 Washington, DC - Black Cat
12/18 Columbus, OH - Skully’s

BUY TICKETS

EUROPEAN PREORDERS

Doomsayer will be released outside of North America via Stickman Records. Preorders start on Friday!

DOOMSAYER EURO PREORDER