Cult Of Chaga - Ego Death Safari (Album Review)

Release Date: September 23rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Ego Death Safari - Tracklist 

1.Not Interested Anymore 08:10

2.Caracal 05:41

3.Go with The Fool (La Noche de Los Búhos) 08:00

4.Godzilla 12:22

Members

Andrea Cima: guitars

Mirko Ciccone: vocals & synth

Fabrizio Paduch: drums and backing vocals

Nico Irace: bass and echoes

Review

Ego Death Safari is the debut album from Psych Stoner Rockers Cult Of Chaga who bring a world weary and supernatural tone to the creative outline to the album which explained by the band themselves below:

“Ego Death Safari” is a shamanic journey into the unconscious of the post-modern man, structured around four ritual stages, each associated with a track. Four animal entities — the Black Devil Fish, the Caracal, the Owl and the Lizard — embody four divine forces that take possession of man on a healing journey through the four human spheres — emotional, material, intellectual and creative/sexual — and the four elements associated with them, in the order of water, earth, air and fire.”

As you can see the record is quite spiritual, ritualistic and quite there but with that aside, Cult Of Chaga have created a thoroughly modern Psychedelic experience that taps into the legendary Stoner Rock scene with some groove orientated Doom Rock and Fuzz Rock passages. There are some great Progressive based elements which delve into the freak-out side of Psychedelic Rock and Classic Rock.

The vocals from Mirk Ciccone are quite hard-hitting with a determined delivery with flashes of Hard Rock independence being his main scope which gives Ego Death Safari a truly aggressive tone. He’s superbly backed up by Fabrizio Paduch who also provides excellent drums along this journey. The record is quite ritualistic with its gloomy synths and shamanic storyline allowing the band to become almost Occult Rock obsessed but still bearing the Stoner Rock/Metal framework. The sound does become slightly off-balance within the tracks Not Interested Anymore and Caracal but it only adds to the great musical experience that Cult Of Chaga brings to the party.

There are great sonic instrumental passages throughout the album that fully develops and explains the out-there story that resides within the album. The record does have a classic sound residing within the production side of things which gives the album such a vibrant and urgent delivery which becomes fully realized within the final two tracks of Go with The Fool (La Noche de Los Búhos) and Godzilla. 

The later stages of the record feels inspired by the likes of KYUSS, FU MANCHU and The Obsessed but also superbly different at the same time. Each track offers an exciting different chapter for the story to fully develop. The eerie Cosmic surroundings add a sense of danger into the music which Cult Of Chaga fully taps into and delivers some of the best and most interesting sounds on the whole album.

This isn’t your typical Psychedelic Stoner Rock album but it’s good to see a band like Cult Of Chaga go with an interesting premise for this album. As it’s quite a surreal and out of body experience at times but it’s the thrilling grounded melodies, grooves and sounds that make this album most definitely worth your time.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | LinkTree

Take The Tides - All Damned Switches (Album Review)

Release Date: November 02nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

All Damned Switches - Tracklist 

1.Switch: Low Tide 00:55

2.Sunken 04:29

3.Resurfaced 01:39

4.Lünar Dünes (Slight Return) 06:11

5.Atacama Witchdance 07:35

6.Switch Ezzorah 04:28

7.Escapism 06:08

8.Oannes 06:33

9.Switch: High Tide 03:11

Members

Dominik Kavur - Bass

Nikola Kekez - Drums

Hrvoje Kreč - Guitars

Review

All Damned Switches is the debut album from Take The Tides who play a varied style of Instrumental Rock that explores areas of Psych, Stoner Rock, Desert Rock, Post-Rock and Ambient Rock. The band seem to have every corner and aspect covered of the Instrumental Rock scene. The album is quite solitary in places but soon becomes more warm-hearted and deeply engaging with Take The Tides developing a heavier style of music that could easily be considered Stoner Metal or Post-Metal which comes across superbly well within the tracks Sunken, Lunar Dunes (Slight Return) and Atacama Witchdance.

There are times when the tracks suddenly move suddenly into the next track especially within Sunken and Resurfaced. This is a great tactic which gives the listener an unexpected level of surprise whilst keeping with its core Ambient and Post-Rock delivery that allows Take The Tides to branch out into heavier instrumental waters.

There’s plenty of trippy sound effects spliced throughout the album which can be quite Post-Doom based which was a great surprise as Take The Tides offer a challenging and unique style of Heavy Instrumental music. You can hear influences from the likes of Pelican, Russian Circles, Earthless, Karma To Burn, Monkey3 and ROTOR in places but Take The Tides standout on their own creative ground thanks to their great use of sublime AQUATIC themes heard within their music.

The record is quite progressive and forward thinking when Take The Tides combine different elements of Psychedelic soundscapes which even become fused with Jazz Rock and Space Rock atmospherics. Though, it’s the great use of classic Stoner Rock/Metal templates that makes All Damned Switches such a refreshing experience where a heavier musical presence allows the listener to fully lose themselves and perhaps immerse with the album even more.

Sonic experimentation is another highlight with this record as Take The Tides offer a deep dive into the finer details of Instrumental Stoner Rock on tracks such as Lunar Dives ISlight Return), Atacama Witchdance, Escapism and Oannes. The instrumental passages become more commanding especially when Take The Tides a heavier approach with their music whilst still delivering plenty of soulful Ambient based Post-Rock sounds.

Though, for most of the time, Take The Tides fully reside within the realm of Heavy Psychedelic grooves that can be quite dreamlike and superbly aggressive at the same time. All Damned Switches is such a refreshing and highly original record that left me utterly mesmerized by the intense and superbly played music played from beginning to end. 

The production values are excellent and superbly realized that allows Take The Tides to put in a commanding performance throughout whilst also developing some highly original musical sounds of their own making especially within the later stages of the record.

All Damned Switches is a masterful record that every committed follower of the Instrumental Rock scene needs to add to their collection right now.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Sergeant Thunderhoof - Hoof play the Hits!! The covers album you never wanted, but you're getting it anyway!

Well, hello there, you lovely bunch of Hoof enthusiasts.

We're absolutely stoked to announce that we've got something rather special coming your way this December. The perfect stocking filler for that special someone in your life. You know the one. The person you love more than anyone else. Yourself.

Hot Hits, Heavy Hooves! sees Sergeant Thunderhoof putting our own questionable stamp on some of the songs that have soundtracked our lives, with music from the likes of Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Rush, Pink Floyd and plenty more.

11 songs. Almost 80 minutes. Absolutely none of which we wrote ourselves.

All freshly mixed and mastered by the wonderful Josh Gallop, and delivered just in time for the big day.

It's a little something we've put together as a thank you for all the continued love and support you've shown us over the years. We thought it'd be a fun little stop-gap to tide you over while we disappear back into the studio to finish the next album. Think of it as an appetiser before the main course. A musical amuse-bouche, if you will.

Pre-order now on CD & Digital via the link below.

Out 11th December 2026 through Pale Wizard Records.

And before anyone starts sharpening their pitchforks, we've anticipated a few questions...

FAQ's

Q1: "This sucks maaaaan! We wanted new music and you're wasting your time recording covers. What gives, dude?"

A: Chill out, bro. We're literally recording the new album right now. It's due out next summer (assuming we don't all get distracted by something shiny). We just thought this would be a fun little release to keep you lovely people suitably moist until then. You're welcome.

Q2: "Not cool, dude. Where's the vinyl?"

A: We'd love to do vinyl, honestly. Unfortunately, pressing almost 80 minutes of music would mean a double LP, and we're not quite at the stage where we can finance that using loose change found down the back of the sofa. We're keeping our pennies aside for something else. See Q1. It's a very good answer.

Q3: "This blows. Why would I want to hear my favourite songs ruined by a bunch of useless idiots from Somerset?"

A: First of all, rude. Secondly, don't panic. The originals still exist. They're not going anywhere. We haven't stolen them, deleted them or replaced them with inferior Somerset versions. This release probably isn't for you, and that's absolutely fine. There are plenty of other things to be angry about.

Got any more questions?

Fire away! We'll endeavour to answer them in the most condescending and unnecessarily British manner possible.

Much love, and thanks again for sticking with us. You lot are bloody brilliant.

SERGEANT THUNDERHOOF x

CLICK HERE

Links

Website: https://sergeantthunderhoof.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sergeantthunderhoof
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sergeantthunderhoof/

KING BUFFALO Unleash New Single "Ether on the Dark Side" From Upcoming Album Doomsayer

[Photo credit: Mitch Kline]

Psychedelic heavy rock trio KING BUFFALO has unleashed their brand-new single, "Ether on the Dark Side," offering another taste of their upcoming album, Doomsayer. Known for their hypnotic grooves, atmospheric soundscapes, and powerful riffs, the band is gearing up for the release of their highly anticipated seventh studio album.

Doomsayer will arrive on December 4th, 2026, as a self-release in North America and through Stickman Records in Europe. Preorders are available via http://kingbuffalo.bigcartel.com and https://www.stickman-records.com.

"Ether on the Dark Side" is now streaming here:

Four years on from Regenerator, King Buffalo returns with a record shaped by years of international touring and a deepening confidence in their own sound. Recorded in the new studio the band built themselves, Doomsayer finds the trio continuing to reach into the unknown, while bringing a greater sense of focus and intention to their sound. The experience they have gained on the road is evident throughout the album, both in the poise of the material and the confidence of their delivery. Like the pandemic trilogy that preceded it, Doomsayer was made at home, but the band’s new surroundings have given them the freedom to continue exploring and finding new ground, with a maturity they have earned one stage at a time.

“Doomsayer originated in early 2026 out of many hours of jam sessions in our new studio space, playing around and seeing where it took us,” explains guitarist/vocalist Sean Roa, who also produced and mixed the album. “We didn’t really have an end goal in mind of what we were going for. We were simply exploring ideas and seeing what ended up speaking to us the most. So much has happened, both as a band and in our personal lives since our last record, that ended up becoming the inspiration to many of the lyrics on Doomsayer. I think as a result, this is some of our most upfront, direct and riff-driven work to date. We are incredibly proud of it and can’t wait for it to get out into the world.”

[Cover artwork by See Machine]

Doomsayer Tracklist:

1. Battling The Mystagogues
2. The Slick and the Dead
3. Vagabond
4. Hell or High Water
5. Into the Foundry
6. Ether on the Dark Side
7. Doomsayer

The band is currently touring North America with support from L.A. Witch (Oct. 29 to Nov. 21, except Los Angeles), Doom Gong (Dec. 3 to 5 and Dec. 18), and Handsome Jack (Dec. 8 to 12), followed by a European trek in early 2027 with Spirit Mother opening on all dates. Ticket links are available at Kingbuffalo.com/tour.

North American Tour 2026

06.11.26 San Francisco (US), The Independent
07.11.26 Los Angeles (US), Lodge Room
09.11.26 Solana Beach (US), Belly Up
10.11.26 Phoenix (US), Crescent Ballroom
11.11.26 Albuquerque (US), Sister
13.11.26 Dallas (US), AM/FM
14.11.26 Austin (US), Mohawk
17.11.26 Houston (US), Bad Astronaut
19.11.26 Nashville (US), Basement East
20.11.26 Asheville (US), The Grey Eagle
21.11.26 Cincinnati (US), Woodward Theatre
03.12.26 Detroit (US), El Club
04.12.26 Chicago (US), Thalia Hall
05.12.26 Cleveland (US), The Roxy
08.12.26 Toronto (CA), The Mod Club
09.12.26 Montreal (CA), Theatre Fairmount
10.12.26 Boston (US), Brighton Music Hall
11.12.26 New York (US), Le Poisson Rouge
12.12.26 Philadelphia (US), Underground Arts
15.12.26 Richmond (US), The Broadberry
16.12.26 Durham (US), Motorco
17.12.26 Washington (US), Black Cat
18.12.26 Columbus (US), Skully’s

European Tour 2027 with special guests SPIRIT MOTHER

02.03.27 Hamburg (DE), Grunspan
03.03.27 Antwerp (BE), Trix
04.03.27 Haarlem (NL), Patronaat
06.03.27 London (UK), Scala
07.03.27 Manchester (UK), Gorilla
09.03.27 Bristol (UK), Electric Bristol
11.03.27 Paris (FR), Petit Bain
12.03.27 Essen (DE), Zeche Carl
13.03.27 Cologne (DE), Kantine
14.03.27 Stuttgart (DE), Wizeman
15.03.27 Munich (DE), Backstage Halle
17.03.27 Berlin (DE), Festsaal
19.03.27 Copenhagen (DK), Pumpehuset
20.03.27 Gothenburg (SE), Monument
21.03.27 Oslo (NO), John Dee
21.03.27 Stockholm (SE), Debaser Nova
22.03 - Stockholm, SE Debaser Nova

King Buffalo is:

Sean Roa - Guitar, Synth & Vocals
Dan Reynolds - Bass & Synth
Scott Donaldson - Drums & Percussion

Connect with King Buffalo:

http://kingbuffalo.com
http://kingbuffalo.bigcartel.com
For Socials: @kingbuffaloband

Thanks to All Noir PR for the details.

Swedish Heavy Metal Unit BAND OF SPICE to release new album "Fathers in the Sky" on Ripple Music this winter; first single streaming now!

Swedish heavy metallers BAND OF SPICE have signed to Ripple Music for the release of their new album "Fathers in the Sky" on January 22nd, and deliver the first single "Weak And Dangerous" today.

Stream new Band Of Spice single Weak And Dangerous + watch the official video at this location

Band of Spice is back with a new album that promises to take listeners on a journey through the cosmos and straight into the dark alleys of the human psyche. Blending the ferocity of classic heavy metal with the raw, unpolished energy of alternative grit, their new album Fathers in the Sky is a thunderous clash of sound. Lyrically, the album explores a fascinating duality, weaving together themes of extraterrestrial existence and the gritty reality of everyday life. "We explore the strange behavior of humanity," the band explains.

The opening and closing tracks serve as bookends to this theme, dealing with the possibility that we are not alone in the universe, and perhaps never have been. Between these cosmic pillars, Fathers in the Sky dives deep into the strange, often contradictory behavior of humanity, touching on subjects ranging from war and hate to hopes and dreams. Prepare for a sonic collision of interstellar proportions!

New album "Fathers in the Sky" - Out January 22nd on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

Guitarist and singer Christian “Spice” Sjöstrand has been writing songs and recording music since the 1980s. He first played locally with the band Aeon in his hometown of Värnamo, Sweden, and from 1993 to 2001 he was a member of the Halmstad-based Spiritual Beggars together with Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass). The successful album Ad Astra led to international tours and major festival appearances alongside bands such as Slayer, Pantera, and Queens of the Stone Age. When Iron Maiden made their triumphant comeback in 2000, Spiritual Beggars, together with Entombed, were invited to join them as support on the subsequent European tour. Since then, Spice has also released albums and toured with The Mushroom River Band, Kayser, and My Regime.

In 2006, Spice formed the solo group Spice and the RJ Band, later renamed Band of Spice, which has since become his longest-running project. The music spans a wide spectrum of rock, both heavier and softer, and no two albums sound alike. Attentive ears may pick up influences from artists as diverse as Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, John Frusciante, Dire Straits, and Monster Magnet. Now back in Värnamo, where it all once began, Spice has recruited an experienced lineup of musicians to back him up for the release of their upcoming new album, to be issued this winter on Ripple Music.

BAND OF SPICE is

Ronnie Nielsen – guitars
Robert Petersson – drums
Alexander Sekulovski – bass

BAND OF SPICE links

Facebook | Instagram | Youtube

RIPPLE MUSIC links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Serial Hawk - White Sands (Album Review)

Release Date: November 06th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

White Sands - Tracklist 

1.Mirage

2.Pretending

3.White Sands

4.Abandoned Memory

5.Floating In

Members

Will Bassin, Adam Holbrook and Karter Rosner

Review

White Sands is the fourth full length album from Doom/Sludge Metallers Serial Hawk which is a calmer experience compared to their 2025 album Psychic Pain. This does have massive amounts of Sludge/Post-Metal energy and aggression but it’s told through a sense of Shoegaze, Post-Doom and Post-Rock qualities. Serial Hawk are perhaps channeling the likes of YOB and ISIS even within the uplifting cycles that the band bring to the table.

Opening song Mirage offers over ten minutes of Ambient Post-Metal with Serial Hawk creating meditative movements that can be heard and experienced for every part of the song. With moody lyrics and refreshing vocals that has a certain Doomgaze / Shoegaze posture from start to finish. The echoes of Post-Rock always flirt with Psychedelic heaviness but Serial Hawk adds levels of Prog Rock/Metal prosperity before it slowly fades out into the darkness.

Second song Pretending is another epic song with Serial Hawk exploring that new found meditative momentum with eerie vocals lurking in the background. The slow-to-mid paced Post-Rock melodies always hint that something darker and heavier is on it’s way which Serial Hawk fully commit themselves to within the middle section of the track. The first section allows those subtle Ambient and Cinematic themes to allow sudden Atmospheric Sludge sounds to try for complete domination. 

The vocals fade in and out of existence with that thrilling “LESS IS MORE” way of musical delivery being deliberately slow-paced. The song is one of those great examples where it’s destructively heavy whilst also being quite restrained at the same time. You begin to notice how Serial Hawk adds small instances of what made their last album Psychic Pain such a standout but White sands always allows the uplifting Post-Doom and Post-Metal surroundings to fully remain in complete creative control.

Third track White Sands has an optimistic Post-Stoner Rock delivery which reminds me of ELDER and KING BUFFALO at first with the Post-Rock explorations being quite euphoric once more. Though, the music still has that unexpected level of Post-Metal urgency emitting from the speakers. This song allows Serial Hawk to develop and play sounds they perhaps became known for when they first started out. The Drone / Sludge Rock elements offer a thrilling backdrop of distorted environments which are quite grounded and superbly riff orientated. 

The final two tracks Abandoned Memory and Floating In allows Serial Hawk to perfectly move around the Post-Rock and Post-Metal landscapes with distinctive flavours of Ambient Metal, Sludge Rock and Post-Doom being created, broken down and rebuilt from the ground up with superbly played vocals reminding me of Trent Reznor and Aaron Turner along the way. There are chilling instrumental passages which remind beautifully authentic to the absolute core of what Serial Hawk achieved with White Sands. 

Serial Hawk feel at the height of their creative abilities with White Sands and perhaps with their last album Psychic Pain. I’m hoping they continue to explore this type of music for some time to come. However, I also adore their heavier and violent energy they created on Psychic Pain but it’s always good to know that Serial Pain always have options to tease, entice and reward their fanbase with. 

White Sands is an emotionally charged and beautifully heartfelt record that deserves your undivided attention. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Sea Of Flame - Fumes (EP Review)

Release Date: October 16th 2026. Record Label: Golden Robot Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Fumes - Tracklist 

1.And I 03:00

2.Varnish 05:04

3.Giants 04:30

4.Banshee 03:53

5.Broken and Burnt 04:14

Members

Drums - James Cook

Bass - Ben Gregory

Guitars and Vocals - Miles Skoog

Guitars - Jason "Heavy" Easker

Review

Fumes is the latest record from Stoner Rockers Sea Of Flame that injects a hard rock approach into their music with some spiky Punk Rock vibes that almost venture out into Southern Rock melodies. The EP has an unforgiving quality with Sea Of Flame demonstrating an almost HEAVY METALLIC sound which does have a certain Alt Metal delivery which gives everything a cool sounding mid-2000’s swagger especially within the opening tracks of And I and Varnish.

The vocals are quite spiky and highly melodic when the EP naturally progresses through each stunning track. Sea Of Flame feels inspired by the likes of CLUTCH and EVERY TIME I DIE in places but this is very much the band doing their own thing with a more melodic style with an outlandish style of Stoner Rock/Metal appearing throughout.

Songs such as Varnish, Giants and Banshee is where the band truly excels at with aggressive rhythms and sublime melodies leading the way. There’s some stunning Psychedelic sounds that merge with an intense Sludge Rock swagger with the music being quite abrasive and melodic in equal measure.

There’s some cool sounding Post-Doom touches that begins to appear in small doses of the record that gives Fumes a slightly atmospheric sound but Sea Of Flame continuously switch to that heavier Southern Rock/Stoner Metal delivery that lasts through the dying seconds of Broken and Burnt.

Fumes is an excellent record that lasts a little over twenty minutes which is packed full of intense grooves and riffs to impress even the most jaded Heavy Rock fans. 

Check this out when you can. This is an absolute thrilling slice of modern day Stoner Rock with streetwise attitude to match.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram