Release Date: September 18th 2026. Record Label: Suwereen Records. Format: DD
Celestial Haze - Tracklist
1.The Ruin 11:50
2.The Mending 11:46
Members
Darek Luja - Everything
Review
Celestial Haze debut EP is a twenty four minute release spread over two epic musical compositions which draws influences from the likes of ELDER and WEEDPECKER. However, Celestial Haze relies on a grounded Spaced Out attitude with a sludgy and bass heavy Progressive sound that allows everything to form within the Stoner Rock landscape.
The sound is quite vivid with its stripped back recording methods that have been applied to this EP. The vocals are slightly reminiscent of ELDER’s Nick DiSalvo in places with a deeply committed performance from Darek Luja. Derek started this project as a one-man project back in his home country of Finland before he relocated to Austria and now Celestial Haze is in the process of becoming a fully formed band.
There’s a lovely sense of warmth and belonging emitting from the speakers with Celestial Haze creating a great style of Post-Rock, Space Rock, Heavy Psych and Stoner Rock surroundings with sublime deft touches of Ambient themes that appear throughout the whole record. The record could have done with one more song just to develop the eerie mood that appears on the later stages of both songs.
However, Celestial Haze are fully committed in creating heavy monolithic soundscapes with plenty of Sludge Rock aggression when it’s needed most especially within the standout opening track The Ruin. The sound is quite raw and superbly honest which feels like this is how Celestial Haze would sound like in the real world.
If you miss the early days of ELDER (ELDER and Dead Roots Stirring) then Celestial Haze are the closest thing to reach that level but adding their own great sound into the mix which they apply on the excellent final track of The Mending. The sweeping Sludge Rock landscapes that develop transform into massive waves of Classic Rock, Desert Rock and Prog Rock grooves. The song can be calm and melodic but also unruly disruptive which gives Celestial Haze a rebellious edge that should serve them well if the guys are in this for the long haul.
I know it’s early days but I’m feeling within time that Celestial Haze will explore other creative avenues within the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Rock scene which will make them a force to be reckoned with. I have it on good authority the band are already working hard on their next chapter and I’m absolutely excited to hear what Celestial Haze come up with next as this is an unmissable release.
Words by Steve Howe
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