THE MON - Songs Of Abandon (Album Review)

Release Date: November 07th 2025. Record Label: Supernatural Cat. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Songs Of Abandon - Tracklisting

1.Smiling Dog 02:18

2.Two Stones 03:54

3.The Hidden Ghost 05:08

4.Hourglass 03:22

5.The Moon And The Devil 03:25

6.Mayhem 03:22

7.Little Bird 03:33

8.The Fluorescent Sand 02:31

9.Beautiful Star 04:10

10.Your Eyes 03:26

Lineup

Urlo - Everything

Review

Drone/Doom/Ambient artist THE MON is back with their new album Songs Of Abandon which is the first part of "Embrace The Abandon" which is a two-chapter journey that explores loss and rebirth. For folks not in the know, THE MON is the solo project of Urlo (Bass/Vocals) from the legendary Doom Metallers UFOMAMMUT. This project is about as far as you can possibly get from UFOMAMMUT with Urlo exploring musical genres such as Drone, Ambient, Americana, Folk, Electronica and Alternative Sounds.

Songs Of Abandon is a gloomy experience with THE MON creating a minimal and solitary experience that’s full of emotional wonder with Urlo’s tender vocals set against his Post-Doom instrumental surroundings and subtle Ambient effects. There is a lovely and affectionate style of melody that develops very early on from the opening tracks of Smiling Dog and Two Stones which can be quite carefree and influenced by the dark sounds of the Sixties and Seventies rock scene.

This is quite a different affair compared to THE MON’s 2023 critically acclaimed album THE EYE as Urlo is doing everything himself here where THE EYE had major guest contributions from the likes of Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Colin H. Van Eeckhout (Amenra),Sarah Pendleton (Subrosa, The Otolith) and David W. (White Hills). Songs Of Abandon allows THE MON to go back closer to their earlier releases but still maintaining a similar style heard on THE EYE.

The music is quite experimental and brilliantly therapeutic especially within the standout third track The Hidden Ghost which has a grounded Country/Americana approach whilst adding Post-Doom and Drone based movements within the darker aspects of the track. Urlo’s vocals are earnest and superbly real that offer a stark contrast to his work with UFOMAMMUT. The song works best when the Drone aspect takes charge in the later stages as this album ventures briefly into the domain of Psych Rock and Space Rock soundscapes.

The haunting fourth track Hourglass explores that Space Rock angle for the first few seconds before settling upon an excellent style of Acoustic Doom groove with Urlo’s vocals being its most daring and remarkably honest with some experimental background vocals giving it an outlandish quality. The subtle flashes of semi-acoustic Psychedelic sounds once again twists the creative narrative where you begin to notice the smaller things being played in the background. As this is a superbly realized multi-layered track that will surprise you of how it ultimately plays out and changes the course for the rest of the album.

Songs Of Abandon flirts with a vivid assortment of different musical styles that are constantly evolving which makes this one of the most unique and engaging solo albums I’ve heard in quite some time and THE MON keeps on delivering songs of real beauty and quality especially on tracks such as The Moon And The Devil, Mayhem and Little Bird. However, THE MON still offers moments of intense DOOM & GLOOM quality which gives an unsettling feeling at times but the sheer cinematic and emotional scope that Urlo fully commits himself to is a joy to behold.

The songwriting on the album is simply magnificent and so is Urlo’s musical abilities which once again showcases a different side to his work on UFOMAMMUT. The album becomes quite adventurous with flashes of Post-Rock and Gothic Doom that surprised me in many different ways which appear on tracks Mayhem and Little Bird developing into hazy areas of trippy psychedelics that left me wanting more.

Songs Of Abandon is an absolutely exquisite record that shows how THE MON are at the top of their game with their most deeply rewarding and brilliantly engaging record to date. I can’t wait to hear part two to see where this extraordinary journey takes me. Until then, Songs Of Abandon is a record you all need to experience as soon as possible.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to THE MON for the promo.

Songs Of Abandon is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Supernatural Cat.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Doomherre - Plaguelords (Album Review)

Release Date: November 25th 2025. Record Label: Skatbo Recoreds / Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Plagurelords - Tracklisting

1.Serpent Shrine 04:18

2.Stormfather 03:37

3.Wrath of a Mountain God 03:52

4.Hymn for Helios 04:57

5.Blodregn (Sabbatsberg II) 03:26

6.Dark Hand 04:21

7.Dead Ship Bay 05:29

8.Plaguelords 05:13

9.This Burning Guilt 06:23

Lineup

Max Coljin - Bass

Daniel Strachal - Drums

Victor Takala - Vocals/Guitar 

Review

Traditional Doom/Stoner Metallers Doomherre return with their second album Plaguelords which sets the scene for a record of epic grooves branching out into areas of Classic Doom Metal and modern day Stoner Metal. The record is inspired by the likes of Trouble, Candlemass, Saint Vitus and The Obsessed but with a great style of modern sounds keeping everything moving along at a sublime fast pace. Plaguelords also has an incredible reliance on NWOBHM and classic HEAVY METAL themes which makes this album never afraid to go way OVER THE TOP and still feel incredibly grounded at the same time.

With the excellent vocals from Victor Takala tapping right into the top tier of classic Hard Rock showmanship throughout, Doomherre are dead serious about their musical craft which has elements of fantasy appearing within their lyrics. Each song has a different story to tell but still having similar musical themes that allows Doomherre to fully explore their DOOM METAL surroundings to the best of their technical and musical ability which results into some intense melodic passages being performed from the very start.

Plaguelords is mostly delivered with Classic Doom and Proto-Metal efficiency but the record still relies on a ton of modern Stoner Metal grooves that fans of ORANGE GOBLIN and THE SWORD can wholly appreciate on tracks such as Serpent Shrine, Stormfather and Hymn For Helios. With Doomherre being a Swedish band, they’re never afraid to move behind a WALL of classic HEAVY METAL themes and tropes that sound re-imagined for today’s musical generation. The music can be stripped back at times which is perhaps down to the excellent production values that Plaguelords contains. 

Other standout tracks on the album includes: Blodregn (Sabbatsberg II), Dark Hand, Plaguelords and This Burning Guilt. I could be completely wrong with this assumption but I believe the record leans quite heavily into NORDIC folklore for certain aspects that gives this a more fantastical quality where Doomherre deliver some of the heaviest and freshest melodies on the whole album. There’s some wicked interplay between classic NWOBHM and Post-Doom elements that appear out of nowhere. 

Plaguelords never plays out that you initially expect so you can easily put this album under the banner “EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED”. The album is packed full of wonderful cinematic themes and incredible musical passages that Victor, Max and Daniel brilliantly deliver from start to finish. 

Doomherre are a band that everyone within the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene should know about right now. It’s as simple as that!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Plaguelords is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Skatbo Records and Majestic Mountain Records.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

TEKARRA - Great Divide (Album Review)

Release Date: November 20th 2025. Record Label: Psychedelic Salad Records / Interstellar Smoke Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Great Divide - Tracklisting

1.Great Divide 19:26

2.Endless Winter 16:09

Review

Drone/Doom Metal collective TEKARRA return with their third full length album Great Divide which continues their grand sonic excursion into the heavier depths of AMPLIFIER WORSHIP and LOW & SLOW musical passages. This is the same type of attitude they created on their previous two albums but this time the sound is more desolate, aggressive and emotionally detached from reality with a sense of sludge metal mechanics appearing.

The music is deliberately and purposely slow-paced with echoes of SUNN O))) appearing for an ice-cold Progressive style of melody and warped effects allowing the psychedelic kinetic energy fusing to the bleakest parts of the album. The album contains two tracks with a final running time near thirty six minutes in length. TEKARRA wisely take their time building up a LOUD VOLUME of noise for the opening epic title track of The Great Divide.

There are vocals within the record but they only appear when they’re fully needed and they’re brutally harsh and minimal but one full of profound aggression that moves the record further into Post-Black Metal territory. There are shades of BORIS experimentation on the title track but TEKARRA keep everything close to their chests that gives The Great Divide a highly mysterious quality even when the most violent moments appear to FUCK UP your peaceful and tranquil state of mind.

The second track Endless Winter is less abrasive and aggressive compared to the opening track but one that never turns away from its Post-Black Metal surroundings. Perhaps more Ambient and Drone driven which shows a different side to TEKARRA. The mood is still full of violent promise with a sense of distorted melody being delivered from all corners of the DRONE METAL spectrum.

Another cool aspect of the record to admire is TEKARRA’s wicked interpretation and deconstruction of the LOW & SLOW and AMPLIFIER DISTORTION themes that feels quite different. As they create their own unique take on that part of the Drone/Doom Metal movement. This record isn’t going to be for everyone but if you’re a fan of music where playing SLOW MUSIC is key then you’ll find this album very hard to beat.

Great Divide is another mind-expanding journey from one of the best Doom/Drone Metal bands that the Canadian underground scene has offered recently. I recommend you check this masterful release at earliest opportunity and be prepared for a first-rate DRONED OUT release of the highest order.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Stone Nomads - Empires Of Stone (Album Review)

Release Date: November 21st 2025. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Empires Of Stone - Tracklisting

1.Lost in the Storm 06:03

2.Eyehatesociety 05:24

3.Valley of Souls 01:01

4.Empires of Stone 06:37

5.Mount Aras 05:18

6.Desolate Sands 06:58

7.Death Adder 03:51

8.The Devil Lives in Texas 05:40

Lineup

Jon Cosky - Guitar/Vocals

Jude Sisk - Bass/Vocals

Ben Wozniak - Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Stone Nomads return with their triumphant third full length album Empires Of Stone which continues the same creative journey heard on their 2024 EP - Beyond The Gates. I would say the band have moved even further into the Groove, NOLA and Thrash Metal arena especially when you hear the dark and grimy tone of the excellent opening tracks of Lost In The Storm and Eyehatesociety.

The music is brutally dark with some classic shades of Heavy Metal intertwined with their brooding Doom and Stoner Metal framework. Everything is played at a ridiculously fast pace with Stone Nomads adding great musical instrumental solos along the way that screams EIGHTIES HEAVY METAL RIFF-FEST.

Though, expect moments of music inspired by the likes of Thin Lizzy, The Obsessed, Saint Vitus and Motorhead. There’s some sudden flashes of OCCULT METAL imagery appearing with certain sound effects appearing throughout which gives this record a gloomier sound. Stone Nomads impress the most when they venture fully into the NOLA and SWAMPEDELIC sound as a vast Psychedelic awareness appears. 

The vocals from Jon Cosky and Jude SIsk offer a similar contrast to each other but own delivering their great melodic style. With a vast array of different vocal styles that feels inspired by Phil Anselmo the best of time. Stone Nomads have developed into first-rate storytellers by adding some great lyrics into their mix that manages to avoid the usual cliches of Doom and Stoner Metal with some hard-hitting themes being drawn into the mix.

Empires Of Stone may have an aggressive and muscular delivery but Stone Nomads aren’t afraid to show delicate moments of instrumental music with the excellent third track Valley Of Souls being an instrumental number lasting around one minute with a cool sounding semi-acoustic Doomed out track. 

The band return to their usual HEAVY METAL guise with the thundering fourth track Empires Of Stone which combines Post-Doom and Post-Stoner exploration with good old fashioned HEAVY METAL grooves forming at the very heart of the song. There’s a deceptive identity to this song with Stone Nomads showing outbursts of Groove, Thrash and Sludge Metal for one of the catchiest and standout tracks on the album.

Stone Nomads continue their creative journey with even more thrilling and warped moments of Psychedelic insanity merged with heavier instances of Doom, Sludge, Groove and Classic Rock with other standout moments appearing on tracks such as Mount Aras, Desolate Sands and The Devil Lies In Texas. 

The second half of the album proves without a doubt how masterful Stone Nomads have become making first-rate modern day Doom/Stoner Metal sounds of the highest order with great songwriting skills to match. The album offers the perfect balance of classic HEAVY METAL sounds that are matched against a brilliant modern day Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal landscape. 

Yeah, I absolutely adored this record and I can see this only enhancing Stone Nomads reputation even further within the global Doom/Stoner Metal scene. With the power and backing of the mighty Ripple Music behind them, Stone Nomads deserve all the plaudits an rewards hopefully coming their way.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR and Stone Nomads for the promo.

Empires Of Stone is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

MOUNT PALATINE Announce Full Album Details and New Single with Videoclip

Finnish heavy psych metal trio Mount Palatine reveal full details of their upcoming album Wormholy World, to be released on February 6th 2026 through Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records on CD and digital formats. Preorders will follow soon. Along with the announcement, the band presents their new single and official videoclip Newborn Sun.

“Newborn Sun is the closing song of Wormholy World. This massive hypnotic piece is more than ten minutes long and is living proof of how creativity can strike at the perfect moment. By spring 2024 the recording date for the rhythm tracks was already set, yet one song was still missing. In the middle of a jamming session, the missing piece appeared almost naturally, and two songs took shape. Newborn Sun flowed out nearly in the same form it appears on the album. The lyrics came just as effortlessly with the chorus calling for mantra like channelling. At its core, Newborn Sun proclaims a universal vision of the eternal cycle of life while carrying a deeply personal resonance.”

Founded in Helsinki, Mount Palatine grew from long term musical chemistry and years of playing together. What started as casual jamming in 2020 soon evolved into a powerful creative force driven by improvisation and instinct. The trio features Jean the Baron on guitar and vocals, Count Boogie on bass, and Lord of the Groove on drums. Their sound moves from crushing sludge charged riffs to hypnotic psychedelic atmospheres, from fierce screams to ethereal clean passages. Every song becomes an immersive journey shaped by groove, weight and transcendental moods.

Drawing inspiration from doom, stoner, sludge, progressive metal and psychedelic rock, Mount Palatine create a signature blend that is intense yet fluid, spiritual yet grounded. Operating first under the name The Paladin, they released their debut album Cockroach Crusade in 2024. As their identity grew clearer, the band embraced their new name as a symbol of expansion and artistic rebirth.

Lyrically and thematically, Wormholy World explores cosmic and spiritual domains, reflecting on existence, creation, decay and the mysteries of the universe. Their music resonates on visceral and contemplative levels, inviting listeners to drift between the physical and the infinite. Fans of Elder, Stoned Jesus, Mastodon and Down may find familiar elements, though the band remain unmistakably their own.

The band says:

“Wormholy World is an ultimate trip through destruction and recreation, the chaos of life and the universe itself. Musically, the album builds on the psychedelic heavy jams that define our sound. Through years of ensemble playing we have developed our own style of heavy psych metal, combining doom, stoner, sludge, psychedelic rock and progressive metal. These chaotic trips form a cosmic dance where fragile melodies break under crushing riffs only to reform into triumphant harmony. The vocals shift from ethereal choirs to harsh growls.

Like our debut Cockroach Crusade, the album was born from intense jam sessions. All songs were created and arranged through continuous riffs and live interplay in our own rehearsal space and home studio at Saarni Music. After the main tracks were captured, we added many layers of guitars, synths, effects and vocals until the songs reached their final cosmic form. The final touch came from Mactus the Magemaster at Saarni Music, bringing clarity and life to the recordings. While the debut explored many influences, this album brings a stronger sense of cohesion and focuses clearly on the artistic vision we want to pursue.”

Mount Palatine, with their combination of visionary songwriting, cosmic heaviness and raw energy, are now ready to open the next chapter of their journey and invite listeners into the depths of Wormholy World.

Tracklist

1 The Sands 10:32
2 Whispers of the Holy Land 07:59
3 The Dreaming 08:40
4 Panther Eyes 06:08
5 Ethereal 09:28
6 Newborn Sun 10:38

Links

https://mountpalatine.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mountpalatine/
https://www.youtube.com/@mountpalatine
https://mountpalatine.com
https://linktr.ee/mountpalatine

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion and MOUNT PALATINE for the details.

Skogskult - Skogskult (Album Review)

Release Date: December 05th 2025. Record Label: Bonebag Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Skogskult - Tracklisting

1.Lyktans Låga

2.Turs

3.Jag Ger Mig Av

4.Pakten

5.Sol

6.Snöblind

Lineup

Samuel Nordström - Guitar

Albin Kroon - Bass

Simon Rosengrim - Vocals

Alexander Söderlund - Drums

Review

Swedish Doom/Stoner Metallers Skogskult debut album offers quite a different musical adventure compared to other albums currently out there but it also has a familiar creative attitude inspired by the likes of SLEEP, Acid King, Monolord and Electric Wizard. The album is produced by Cavern Deep’s Max Malmer and owner of Bonebag Records who are releasing this album. What makes this record stand out is the band’s willingness to sing all their vocals in Swedish and focus upon Nordic folklore and Swedish Nature.

I don’t understand Swedish at all but I understand the creative vision that Skogskult are ultimately aiming for and it’s quite a deeply personal and spiritual journey told through the realm of Doom/Stoner Metal. The music is quite soulful with harsh melodies that explore the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal landscapes with a haunting psychedelic sound being added throughout. The LOW & SLOW vibrations allows Skogskult to add a grounded and fantastical effect within the stunning opening track Lyktans Låga.

The opening track has some folk-ish elements appearing within the lyrics and vocals but the music is full-on Doomed Out aggression with Skogskult tapping into the murkier depths of the underground Stoner scene. There’s a level of  Progressive energy appearing from time-to-time that even allows the music to become quite extreme in places with lead vocalist’s outlandish vocals appearing on the later stages of the record.

The next batch of tracks of Turs, Jag Ger Mig Av and Pakten sees Skogskult explore the musical legacies of Electric Wizard and SLEEP but add that classic Swedish WEEDIAN flavour into the mix with trippy guitars and spaced out melodies that navigates around a FUCK-TON of heavy reverb and overlapping sludgy instrumental passages. The standout tracks on the album for me have to be Turs and Pakten with Skogskult going for a true OVER THE TOP journey but once again keep everything grounded that’s bursting within intense solos that adds a forceful level of volume to the record.

Skogskult do show deft touches of Post-Doom and Post-Stoner surroundings which gives the album a sense of romanticism but it’s the gruff, aggressive and muscular exterior that impresses the most which Skogskult carry out with supreme efficiency on the final two songs on the album with Sol and Snöblind. This perhaps the heaviest, gloomiest and darkest parts of the record where Skogskult leave no stone unturned with their highly original style of destructive Doom/Stoner Metal that leaves a lasting impression. 

This is another great band releasing another ALBUM OF THE YEAR contender even at this late stage of the game. The record can be downright experimental and outrageous but Skogskult have delivered the goods with this album that will no doubt pave the way for them to gain a loyal following within the underground scene and perhaps perform at some of the most prestigious stages and festivals the scene has to offer. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the promo.

Skogskult’s self-titled debut album is available to buy now (Out December 05th 2025) on DD/Vinyl via Bonebag Records. 

Links

 

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Polish Heavy Psych Rockers WEEDPECKER to release new album "V" on February 27th via Heavy Psych Sounds; stream first track "Fading Whispers"!

Poland's heavy psychedelic rock pillars WEEDPECKER announce the release of their highly anticipated fifth studio album "V" on February 27th via Heavy Psych Sounds Records, and present its mesmerizing debut single "Fading Whispers".

The wait is over. Weedpecker is proud to announce their monumental fifth studio album "V", a profound and immersive journey that stands as their most personal and refined work to date.

Stream Weedpecker's breathtaking new track Fading Whispers 

Forged in a crucible of personal change and existential reflection, "V" is the sound of stability crumbling and beauty rising from the fragments. About the album's emotional core, guitarist and vocalist Piotr Dobry comments: "I started writing the songs for V at the beginning of 2023. While creating this material, I kept returning to one thought: everything we take for granted is, in reality, incredibly fragile. Nothing lasts forever, and the sense of things slipping away can hit much sooner than we expect. I tried to translate those feelings into sound."

This thematic weight became a creative catalyst. After a year of meticulous solo writing and demoing, the project evolved into a collective labor of love. Recorded across several studios over many months, this patient, detail-oriented approach has resulted in a rich and expansive sonic tapestry. From sprawling, psychedelic soundscapes to moments of crushing heaviness and soaring melody, "V" is a testament to the Weedpecker's unwavering commitment to their craft.

"V" is an open door to a transformative period in the band's life, as Dobry explains: "This album is something deeply personal. It’s an act of opening up to anyone who chooses to listen — a glimpse into things I can’t fully describe with words, into what I felt and who I became during that period. I’m incredibly happy that together with my friends, we’ve created another record. What comes next... time will tell."

WEEDPECKER "V" - Out Feburary 27th on Heavy Psych Sounds (LP/CD/digital)

TRACKLIST:

1. Intro
2. Fading Whispers
3. Ash
4. In the Dark We Shine
5. Mirrors
6. The Last Summer of Youth

Forged in Warsaw, Poland in 2012, Weedpecker emerged from the creative union of brothers Piotr and Bartek Dobry. Their mission was to weave dreamy, expansive psychedelic rock with the raw gravity of stoner and grunge. Throughout the decade, the band solidified its reputation with three critically acclaimed albums, delivering some of the most revered heavy psych anthems the scene has witnessed.

After the powerful release of “III” in 2018, the band entered a new chapter as longtime members Bartek Dobry, Robert Kulakowski, and Grzegorz Pawlowski moved on. Weedpecker re-emerged in 2020 with a revitalized lineup, welcoming members of Dopelord and Major Kong. This new incarnation debuted not only fresh faces but also an expanded sonic palette, introducing keyboards to their live performances.

Their latest chapter, “IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts” (2021), fully unveils this evolved identity. The album effortlessly flows from mellow psychedelia to blistering rock explosions, all anchored by their signature melodic heavy riffage. Through transformation and growth, Weedpecker continues to affirm its place as one of Europe's most essential and exciting psychedelic acts. In 2025, they signed a worldwide deal with Heavy Psych Sounds Records for the release of their anticipated fifth album "V" in the winter of 2026.

Weedpecker is

Piotr Dobry — Guitars / Vocals / Synths
Zbigniew Promiński — Drums
Piotr Kuks — Bass
Piotr Sadza — Synths
Tomasz Walczak — Synths

Weedpecker links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.