Saturday, 14 February 2026

Matador - Above, Below And So (Album Review)

Release Date: February 27th 2026. Record Label: Church Road Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Above, Below And So - Tracklisting

1. The House Always Wins

2. Glitter Skin

3. The Flood

4. O Suna

5. A Virus

6. Hooks


Members


Scott Stronach - Drums

James Kirk - Guitar/Vox

Mark Ainsworth - Bass


Review


Above, Below and So is the third album from Post-Metal/Atmospheric Doom Metallers Matador and sees the band move away from their Stoner Metal influences heard on their previous albums. As the band move themselves more closely to the Psych Metal and Post-Metal scenes than ever before for a record that’s emotionally engaging throughout. The album is influenced by the likes of Cult Of Luna, Mastodon, ISIS, YOB and NEUROSIS with Matador creating their own hard-hitting blend of Progressive Metal.


This record has a lot of different musical elements to really stand out from the crowd with Matador exploring different creative themes with multiple beatdowns, breakdowns, psychedelic loops and other riffs based trickery that adds a real aura of mystery to their music. Sometimes the band mould Post-Rock mechanics against Nu-Metal based surroundings for an aggressive and surreal musical energy that’s very hard to define which is put to great effect within the excellent opening tracks of The House Always Wins and Glitter Skin. 


The vocals are a mixture of harsh and clean sounds which can be quite emotional and brutally ferocious from lead vocalist/guitarist James Kirk who has a transcendent tribal energy that appears inside the quieter and reflective moments. The lyrics are another highlight that do remind me of TOOL and YOB in many different ways with Matador combining them against truly WTF musical passages that harness the power of Post-Rock, Ambient Metal and Psychedelic Sludge Metal to their fullest potential.


Matador uses a lot of sonic manipulation and psychedelic experimentation to their full advantage which adds a classic style of Alt Metal into the mix. The music really comes alive when they play a beautiful Post-Rock passage before destroying this momentum and playing a destructive Post-Metal/Sludge Metal melody with flashes of Psychedelic swagger into the mix. 


When all these items join forces then Matador is a force to be reckoned with. It does take some time for these moments to fully come together and take complete control especially from the stunning third track The Flood which sees Matador let fly with the heaviest, trippiest and grooviest parts of the whole album. The whole mood does become more euphoric and quite hazy with Matador moving from Post-Rock, Post-Metal and even Groove Metal in places. It seems the band are always changing their sound but still keeping closely to their Doom Metal/Post-Metal roots.


Above, Below and So does become more Post-Metal and Prog Metal obsessive on the later stages of the album but Matador still continues to develop their own great style of Progressive energy into the mix on tracks such as A Virus and Hooks. There’s a brooding and mysterious storytelling element hidden within their music that makes you question everything happening around you. You have to give Matador credit for creating a highly provoking and deeply subversive record whilst still creating a record full of brilliant sounding music from start to finish.


This is an absolute BEAST of an album which I've been listening to constantly for the past month. It's seriously that great and should propel Matador to bigger and better things as the album has real potential to become one of the standout Psych/Doom/Sludge Metal albums to listen to this year.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Church Road Records for the promo.


Above, Below and So is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from Church Road Records.


Links


LinkTree | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
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Burnt Witch - Dopelich (EP Review)

Release Date: February 13th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Dopelich - Tracklisting

1.Dopelich 05:57

2.Bastard 05:24

3.Glass Eye 09:57

4.Witchcult 75 09:11


Members


Dustin Morgan - Vocals and guitar

Matt Page - Vocals and Guitar

James Castellaw - Bass and Lyrics

Myk Robinson - Drums


Review


Dopelich is the debut EP from Doom/Stoner Metallers Burnt Witch who inject a rebellious strand of Southern Metal grooves into their WEEDIAN sound. The whole EP is full of NOLA based hallucinogenics and sounds where you can hear bands such as DOWN and CROWBAR regularly with Burnt Witch weaving their own great style of Doomed Out flavour along the way.


The EP is quite sadistic with harsh vocals and eerie instrumental passages which sees Burnt Witch tap into other areas of HEAVY METAL and apply a violent Sludge Metal makeover to them especially on the tracks Dopelich, Bastard and Witchcult. This sounds like the after effects of coming down from a very bad WEEDIAN trip where you’re faced by the grim reality of your actual living situation. Though, there’s something very powerful and deeply engaging about it all with Burnt Witch developing a real destructive style of intense melody and epic down-tuned grooves which are delivered with real primal fury.


Another highlight of the record is Burnt Witch exploring areas of Proto-Metal, Classic Heavy Metal and Psych Metal whilst keeping with their violent interplay of AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and LOW & SLOW based sludgy soundscapes with that smoky WEEDIAN atmosphere. Burnt Witch also takes the listener  into unexpected areas of Classic Rock and Blues Rock that suddenly appear out of nowhere. 


The two standout tracks on the EP have to be the final tracks of Glass Eye and Witchcult where Burnt Witch use every Stoner Metal trick in the book to provide a thrilling style of music that has epic moments of NOLA heaviness with flashes of drugged out vocals and sublime lyrics to match. You can even detect small traces of classic Grunge behind the scenes with Burnt Witch not finishing adding other genres of music into the final mix which makes this quite an addictive record from start to finish.


Burnt Witch have released an absolutely stunning debut EP which I can’t recommend highly enough. For a debut EP, this is about as great as it gets especially if you’re a long time follower of the Doom/Stoner/Sludge Metal scene. I’m genuinely excited to hear where Burnt Witch go next as these guys are the real deals and I can only see these guys becoming an essential part of the underground scene if they keep releasing great records such as this.

WOW!!! - Add this to your collection now.


Words by Steve Howe


Links 


Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
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Friday, 13 February 2026

Fuzz/Stoner Rockers Solar Mantra Return With New Single “A Brand New Grave” Out Now


Argonauta Records proudly announces the return of Italian stoner rockers Solar Mantra with their brand new single “A Brand New Grave,” available now on all digital platforms: https://song.link/solarmantra_bng

After the release of their acclaimed debut album “Away” in 2021, Solar Mantra step back into the spotlight with a track that marks a powerful new chapter in their sonic evolution. “A Brand New Grave” blends thick desert grooves, gritty grunge tension and hard rock drive into a darker, heavier and more focused creative milestone.

Known for merging evocative stoner atmospheres with muscular riffing and strong melodic sensibility, Solar Mantra draw influences from bands such as Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Clutch, The Sword, Greenleaf, Dozer and Danzig, shaping a sound that is both raw and cinematic. The new single pushes their identity further, delivering massive low end, hypnotic grooves and an aggressive edge that reflects the band’s growth since their debut.

Formed in Rome, Solar Mantra started as a desert psych instrumental project before evolving into a full band with a strong vocal driven approach. Their debut full length “Away,” released by Argonauta Records in 2021, introduced them to a wider international audience thanks to its balance of fuzz, atmosphere and songwriting depth.


In 2025 Solar Mantra returned to the studio to record their second full length album, “State of Joyful Lightness,” focusing on a heavier approach while keeping the melodic traits that defined their earlier work. The sessions saw the band collaborating with Danilo Silvestri as co producer and sound engineer, pushing their sound toward a more massive and modern dimension.

The band comment: “We’re thrilled to continue working with Argonauta Records. Gero helped us get our first album, ‘Away,’ out there beyond our expectations, and we hope to do even better with our new album’”

“A Brand New Grave” is the first glimpse into this new era.

More details about the upcoming album will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/SolarMantraStoner
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.
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London Heavy Stoner Rockers OKAY YOU WIN sign to Blues Funeral Recordings


Blues Funeral Recordings are pleased to welcome London heavy rock quartet OKAY YOU WIN to their roster, with their debut album set for release later this year.

Four-piece heavy rock band Okay You Win came together in London in 2023. Over three years, the band has built a solid reputation on the UK underground heavy rock scene, bringing a double hit of heavy riffs and soaring vocals.

Rooted in influences from Seattle grunge, Californian desert rock, 90s alt-rock and classic British heavy metal, OKYW blends psychedelic stoner rock and doomy breakdowns with driving rock riffs. The band has just recorded its debut full-length album at The Nave in Leeds with producer Andy Hawkins (Psychlona, Grave Lines, The Damned) and mastered by Alain Johannes.

Okay You Win have had a stellar 2025, playing shows across the UK and a short run in Northern Spain, with a Desertfest London appearance confirmed for May 15th, 2026, and further UK and European dates to be announced shortly.

About signing to Blues Funeral Recordings, they state: "Our recent signing with Blues Funeral marks a major step forward for us, and in our journey together as a band. To be releasing our debut album on such a well-respected label, and alongside such an exceptional roster of heavy bands – bands we have literally ‘looked up to’ from the pit - is something we are extremely proud of. We hope that this album, and these songs, will help us to earn our own rightful place in the international heavy community."

Okay You Win links

Blues Funeral Recordings links



Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.
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Dark Rock/Post-Rockers ABRASIVE TREES Join Argonauta Records and Unleash New Single and Video “Carved Skull”


Argonauta Records is proud to welcome UK experimental rock outfit Abrasive Trees to its roster. The band celebrate the signing with the release of their brand new single and video “Carved Skull”, the first official chapter from the upcoming debut album Light Remaining, out Spring 2026 via Argonauta Records.

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gySpxL-54cs


Known for their darkly immersive blend of experimental rock, post rock and psychedelic tension, Abrasive Trees shape powerful sonic landscapes driven by reverb soaked guitars, hypnotic rhythms and emotionally charged dynamics. “Carved Skull” strikes with cinematic weight, shifting between restraint and explosion and sets the tone for what promises to be the band’s most focused and ambitious statement so far.

Says the band:

“Finding a label that truly shares your energy and belief in the work is rare, and Argonauta Records are passionate about everything they do. When they told us they wanted to work with us, we were genuinely thrilled. Releasing Light Remaining through them feels hugely exciting and completely right. This album has taken an enormous amount of time and creative energy to produce, so partnering with Argonauta is the perfect match.”
Matthew Rochford, Abrasive Trees

Formed in 2018 and fronted by Matthew Rochford (Silver Moth, Rothko) with Jay Newton and Will Tyler, Abrasive Trees operate in the shadows between experimental rock and post rock, merging cryptic lyricism with towering crescendos and hypnotic atmospheres. Praised by BBC Introducing, Louder Than War, MusoMuso, The Big Takeover and Aural Aggravation, the band have steadily built a reputation for intensity, depth and fearless creativity.

With Argonauta Records behind them, Abrasive Trees are now ready to push their vision further than ever on Light Remaining, arriving in Spring 2026.For more info:

Links

https://abrasivetrees.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.
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Exclusive Song/Video Premiere Of Heavy Rock/Stoner Rockers MASHEENA New Song GOING TO THE MOUNTAIN From Upcoming New Album


From the land of midnight sun comes a new force of nature: Masheena. Recorded amidst the sun-scorched landscapes of Austin's Hill Country with renowned producer Machine (Clutch, Lamb Of God, King Crimson), the follow-up to their 2023 debut "West Coast Hard Rock" is heavier, more versatile and packed with soulful, vocal-driven hooks. Marrying the melodic-centered vision of Scandinavian hard rock with a bluesy, southern-crisp flavor and a healthy slab of fuzz, "Let The Spiders In" is a distilled shot of pure stadium-tailored heavy rock. Ten tracks poised to break hearts and rattle cages that should win over fans of Spiritual Beggars, The Parlor Mob, Rival Sons, Orchid and Dozer.

It will be co-released on April 10th by Majestic Mountain Records (Europe) and Ripple Music (North America and world).

Thanks to the amazing folks over at Purple Sage PR, we're excited premiere the new song and video for GOING TO THE MOUNTAIN from the upcoming new album LET THE SPIDERS IN.


TRACKLIST:

1. Been Waiting
2. Going To The Mountain
3. One Eye
4. A Game You Don't Want To Lose
5. Life Is But A Sin
6. Sara Lost Her Way
7. In Her Eyes
8. Don't Tell Her
9. Riffy
10. You Owe Me

The Lowdown

Hailing from Bergen, Norway, the powerhouse quartet MASHEENA blends four decades of hard rock heritage into a fresh, electrifying sound. Their debut album "West Coast Hard Rock" was a game-changer: produced by Iver Sandøy and mixed/mastered by Machine, it hit #6 on the Doom Charts, earned global acclaim, and surpassed 100K streams in its first year.

With a revitalized lineup featuring multi-instrumentalists Martin Holmes (Popium, Sylvia Wane) and Heine A. Heggernes (Lost At Last) joining Luis Salomon and Tarjei A. Heggernes, MASHEENA is back stronger than ever with their sophomore album "Let The Spiders In", to be issued on Majestic Mountain Records and Ripple Music in the spring of 2026.

Masheena UK Tour Dates

10.04.26 - Bergen - Kulturhuset (NO)
11.04.26 - Oslo - Last Train (NO)
26.04.26 - London - Helgi's (UK)
27.04.26 - Glasgow - Audio (UK)
28.04.26 - Edinburgh - Bannermans (UK)
29.04.26 - Bristol - The Gryphon (UK)
30.04.26 - Oxford - The Wheatsheaf (UK)
01.05.26 - Nottingham - The Angel (UK)
02.05.26 - Bournemouth - Bear Cave (UK)

Masheena is

Luis-Alberto Salomon — Guitars & Vocals
Tarjei A Heggernes — Bass
Bård Heavy Nordvik — Drums and percussion

Masheena links: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Ripple Music links: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
Majestic Mountain Records links: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.
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Thursday, 12 February 2026

Gjenferd - The Thrill (Single Review)

Release Date: February 13th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

The Thrill - Tracklisting


Crimson Rain


Members


Jakob Særvoll – Keyboard and vocals

Vegard Bachmann Strand – Guitar and vocals

Samuel Robson Gardner – Bass

Sivert Kleiven Larsen - Drums and vocals


Review


Doom/Stoner Rockers Gjenferd return with another high octane slice of Rock and Roll that follows the same path as their previous single Crimson Rain with the band adding a Classic Rock touch. The previous single touched upon areas of Proto-Metal and Seventies Hard Rock, this time round there are progressive flourishes with the band sounding they take influence from the likes of Orchid, Black Sabbath and The Who.


The song has a very cool slow paced contemporary sound which allows the excellent vocals firmly leave a mark set against the gloomy Occult sounding synths. Gjenferd offer a more confident and aggressive song compared to Crimson Rain with the Doom/Stoner Rock elements fully taking control even when the band play a mammoth style of Classic Rock instrumental sounds especially with the groovy guitars.


The Thrill is a much more riff-centric offering which bodes well for the band’s upcoming new album Black Smoke Rising. If you want a Proto-Metal/Stoner Rock band that gets straight down to business and doesn’t waste any time in delivering the good stuff then GJENFERD are the band for you.


Excellent and Highly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe


You can pre-order Black Smoke Rising now on CD/DD/Vinyl.


Links 


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
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L'IRA DEL BACCANO - The Praise Of Folly (Album Review)

Release Date: February 20th 2026. Record Label: Subsound Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Praise Of Folly - Tracklisting

1.The Praise of Folly (Part 1) 

2.The Praise of Folly (Part 2)

3.Stigma

4.Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead


Members


Alessandro Santori - Guitars, Loops, Synths

Roberto Maldera - Guitars, Fx, Slide Guit, Synths

Gabriele Montemara'- Bass

Gianluca Giannasso - Drums


Review


Instrumental Doomsters L’IRA DEL BACCANO  return after a three year absence with The Praise Of Folly which is another huge sounding SONIC and SPACED OUT expedition into the vast COSMOS. The record is perhaps L’IRA DEL BACCANO’s (LDB) most grounded album to date with the band adding strands of Shoegaze and Post-Rock into the music. They still offer their trademark Space Rock and Doomed Out sound that’s been inspired by the likes of Black Sabbath, Hawkwind and Pink Floyd. L’IRA DEL BACCANO play with a real sense of urgency to this album which allows them to play some of the most direct and fast-paced sounds of their musical career.


The album opens up with the two part title track for The Praise Of Folly Part 1 / Part with doomedelic melodies developing into a great mix of synths, ambient sounds, post-rock dynamics and a haunting cinematic score that’s hidden behind a scorching Stoner Rock/Metal rhythm. Echoes of the band’s musical past and creative legacy feels like it’s being reevaluated and reinvented for a modern audience. 


As I can hear brief moments from their previous records being given a more soulful and heavier purpose with L’IRA DEL BACCANO moving ever so closely to their Psych and Space Rock roots. The welcome use of Shoegaze and Post-Rock textures is another wonderful touch with the music having a real dramatic edge with L’IRA DEL BACCANO still delivering a thrilling aspect of Instrumental Rock/Metal. 


L’IRA DEL BACCANO play a fantastic “QUIET vs HEAVY” and “LIGHT vs DARK” aspect into their music where you can hear influences as diverse as PELICAN and RUSSIAN CIRCLES within the quieter moments with some epic KRAUTROCK moments being delivered throughout the whole album. 


The other two tracks of Stigma and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead allow L’IRA DEL BACCANO to add a cinematic and psychedelic Storytelling edge into their music whilst creating sublime instrumental soundscapes that are equally progressive and uplifting at the same time. The second half of the album has a more aggressive sludgier tone to add a level of grittiness whilst keeping in line with L’IRA DEL BACCANO’s highly creative and majestic vision. The backdrop is filled with hallucinogenic melodies and surreal soundscapes that will blow your entire mind. 


The production values are brilliantly realised with the album having a slight “LIVE RECORDING” aspect which is quite ironic since their 2007 classic debut album Si Non Sedes Is - Live MMVII from 2007 was an actual live album which introduced me to this amazing band. You’ll be surprised by the musical journey that L’IRA DEL BACCANO will take you upon with The Praise Of Folly. 


The Praise Of Folly is another masterful record from L’IRA DEL BACCANO and might be my favourite album of theirs yet. This album will no doubt firmly establish the guys as perhaps one of the finest Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal bands from the underground scene of the modern day age.



Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to NRV Promotion for the promo.


The Praise Of Folly is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Subsound Records.
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Californian Sludge Veterans -(16)- to release "Forgeries Vol 1, (1972-1984)" cover album on Heavy Psych Sounds this May. Stream crushing Bee Gees cover now!


Santa Ana, California sludge metal veterans -(16)- take over the finest classics from Sabbath, Bee Gees, Black Flag to Scorpions on their upcoming 11th album "Forgeries Vol 1, 1972-1984", to be released on May 1st via Heavy Psych Sounds.

 Hear their crushing cover of the Bee Gees with new single Tragedy 


There comes a point in every band’s life when originality stops being a virtue and honesty takes the wheel. On their 11th long-playing record: Forgeries 1972-1984, -(16)- return to the impulse that first dragged them into loud rooms and bad ideas: the urge to steal what we love and make it semi-unrecognizable through devotion. "We have partnered with Heavy Psych Sounds Records to release a collection of covers that function less as homage and more as a possession to be given away," says the band. The artwork, rendered by the ever-amazing Marald van Haasteren, completes the ritual, iconic, unsettling, and unafraid.

"We’ve always believed that a great cover is not mimicry but revelation. It’s finding a song that's already lived inside you since youth and letting it crawl out, bruised and changed." From the early ’90s onward, -(16)- have treated covers as translations rather than as replicas, acts of tribute and emulation, filtered through distortion, fatigue, and lived experience. "These are songs that taught us how to stand, how to fall, and how to keep going," they add. "In our collective head, this album exists because these songs demanded it. Because they screamed copy me, and we listened. In the end, Forgeries 1972-1984 stands as both a thank you note and a theft, a reminder that all music worth a damn is borrowed, broken, and passed on between friends."

The selections on Forgeries 1972-1984 span eras and attitudes, unified not by genre but by necessity. Each track is a document of obsession, of influence absorbed and re-expressed without permission. The first volume will be issued on LP, CD and digital on May 1st, with preorders available via Heavy Psych Sounds.

New album "Forgeries Vol 1, 1972 - 1984"
Out May 1st on Heavy Psych Sounds - Pre-order


TRACKLIST:

1. Can't Get Enough – Scorpions
2. Nausea – X
3. Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll – Blue Öyster Cult
4. Rotten to the Core – Rudimentary Peni
5. Mother Mary – UFO
6. Tragedy – Bee Gees
7. Bloodstains – Agent Orange
8. Beat My Head Against the Wall – Black Flag
9. St. Vitus Dance – Black Sabbath
10. Foreign Policy – Fear

Formed in 1991 in Santa Ana, California, 16 stylized as -(16)- emerged from the Southern California skate scene. The original lineup featured Bobby Ferry (guitar), Cris Jerue (vocals), Ben Clark (bass), and Jason Corley (drums). Initially called *15*, the band quickly rebranded after discovering another group with the same name. Drawing influence from 7 Seconds, Bad Brains, Metallica, and the Amphetamine Reptile roster, -(16)- developed a sound that helped define both their early years and the sludge subgenre itself.

Their 1993 debut, Curves That Kick, arrived on Pushead’s Bacteria Sour and was followed by a Japanese tour and shows with Slayer. Drop Out (1996) and Blaze of Incompetence (1997) followed, with Phil Vera joining on guitar. After a 1998 U.S. tour with Grief and the 2002 release Zoloft Smile, the band toured the U.S., U.K., and Japan before entering a hiatus in 2004 amid personal struggles.

Reforming in 2007, -(16)- signed to Relapse Records for Bridges to Burn (2009), followed by Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds (2012). With Bobby Ferry now on vocals, the San Diego–based lineup of Alex Shuster (lead guitar), Barney Firks (bass), Dion Thurman (drums) released Lifespan of a Moth (2016), Dream Squasher (2020) and Into Dust (2022) to critical acclaim. Heavy touring across the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, plus major festival slots, cemented their reputation for intense, connecting live performances.

In 2025, -(16)- released Guides for the Misguided on Relapse Records, which was named one of Decibel Magazine’s Top 40 Albums of the Year. That same year, the band headlined a three-week European tour and later performed select shows in California with Acid Bath, High on Fire and Fu Manchu.

In 2026, the band partnered with Heavy Psych Sounds to release Forgeries 1972–1984, a covers album spanning influences from Black Flag to the Bee Gees. That May, they return to Europe for a tour that includes Desertfest Oslo and London, as well as the Italian and Swiss Heavy Psych Sounds Festivals. With a legacy built on resilience and constant reinvention, -(16)- continue to evolve and captivate audiences, affirming their lasting relevance in heavy music.

-(16)- is

Bobby Ferry - Guitars / Vocals
Alex Shuster - Lead Guitar
Barney Firks - Bass
Dion Thurman - Drums / Percussion

-(16)- links

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.
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Exclusive Album Premiere Of Psych/Alt/Stoner Rockers KYOTE RADIO New Album HABITATS


Kyote Radio is a New Mexico based rock band with roots in the West Texas ghost town of Terlingua, a remote desert outpost where frontman Micah Paredes was born and raised before landing in Austin, where the band was founded in 2013. Paredes leads Kyote Radio on electric guitar and vocals, delivering sharp songwriting backed by a band that features collaborators Nick Smith, Wesley Riddle, Russ Connell, Nick Blossom and Ray Heilman - who anchor the band with a thundering rhythm section and provide listeners with a full dose of heavy riffs and fuzzy guitar solos.

Following the release of their 2018 debut EP, Mouth of the Cave, Kyote Radio teamed up with renowned Austin-based producer, Frenchie Smith, for their first full length LP, Real Crime which was released in 2021. The band has continued to release singles in the years since, including Habitats track “The Crown” featuring Kyle Shutt of The Sword, which was featured as Song of the Day on Austin's KUTX radio. In 2024 Kyote Radio shifted headquarters to Taos, NM where they are set to release their 2nd LP “Habitats” on February 13th, 2026.

Before that we're excited to share this exclusive album premiere of HABITATS thanks to Kyle over at Good Boy PR.


The band have also released a new video for their song BETWEEN THE OCEANS from their superbly heavy new album.


Thanks to Good Boy PR for all of the details.


Habitats is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl.


Links 


Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

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Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Mother Crone - Embrace The Death (Album Review)

Release Date: March 04th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Embrace The Death - Tracklisting

01 - Unseen Way - 8:10

02 - Fever Stone - 7:05

03 - Embrace The Death - 7:12

04 - Unto the Dawn - 4:20

05 - Eye Of Providence - 6:59

06 - Inner Keep - 11:09

07 - Celestial Light - 3:59

    

Members


Preston Wilson (bass)

Charlie Romano (drums)

Edoardo Curatolo (guitar)

Joe Frothingham (guitar/vocals)


Review


Doom/Stoner/Sludge/Thrash Metallers Mother Crone return with their second album Embrace The Death which is their first album in over eleven years. The band have sharpened their THRASH metal instincts with a great style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal arriving to add a level of metallic clarity to their music compared to their 2015 debut album. You can hear the band taking influence from the likes of Baroness, Mastodon, Shrinebuilder and High On Fire though the band do explore other musical avenues such as 

Grunge and Psychedelic Metal.


Mother Crone do rely on some classic sounding Progressive and Thrash Metal riffage to hammer home the heavy melodies throughout the album which remains constantly grounded. Though expect some Post-Doom and Classic Hard Rock delivery which fans of THIN LIZZY will adore within the early stages of the record on the opening tracks of Unseen Way and Fever Stone.


There is still a great style of modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal exploration with some Thrash Metal vocals aligning themselves to Mother Crone’s stellar Pitch Black vision that’s contained within lyrics. Embrace The Death becomes quite aggressive and superbly violent when Mother Crone starts playing a highly volatile Thrash Metal sound with a twinge of Hardcore and NOLA melodies. 


The band never rests on their creative laurels as they maximize their full musical potential by drawing upon the likes of Alice In Chains and Soundgarden within the grungier aspects of the record that appears in different stages. With a Post-Doom / Post-Rock narrative suddenly appearing within the quieter and emotionally engaging melodies of the album, this allows the whole mood to be quite dramatic on tracks such Embrace The Death, Unto The Dawn and Inner Keep. However, the majority of the album relies on Mother Crone to deliver a neverending style of punishing grooves and intense soundscapes which delivers the knockout punch to ultimately lose yourself in.


This is the type of record that I wish BARONESS would make today as I’ve been so disappointed with their most recent albums but Mother Crone are their own band and it’s their willingness to experiment with different Psychedelic textures and Progressive landscapes that makes this such a thrilling experience throughout. There’s a multitude of different styles that’s being played at you but Mother Crone never forget to unleash “HELL ON EARTH” when the heavy Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds fully take complete control.


The album itself is quite stripped back with Mother Crone offering a raw aesthetic into the mix which is perhaps down to the excellent production values that captures the band in an almost “LIVE GIG” setting. The sound can be ugly in places but it adds to the overall experience of this EPIC sounding album. 


Embrace The Death is everything you want to hear and fully experience from the underground Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene. This is an unmissable album and you should add this to your collection at the earliest opportunity. You won’t regret it!!!


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.


Links 
at