US Doom Metal Giants THE OBSESSED sign to Heavy Psych Sounds!

American doom metal icons THE OBSESSED have inked a worldwide deal with Heavy Psych Sounds Records for the release of their new studio album in 2027.

The Obsessed is a rock band. A fucking HARD rock band. Since their formation in 1978, they have become known around the world for their influential contribution to the origins and continued legacy of the doom metal and underground hard rock genres. The distinctive vocals and guitar wizardry of founder and driving force Scott “Wino” Weinrich has left a mark on the world of heavy music that continues to inspire.

The Obsessed gained momentum in the Baltimore/DC area of the USA in the early to mid 1980’s during the height of the hardcore punk movement. Often cited as the band that bridged heavy metal and punk together, the band gained the respect of punk heavyweight contemporaries Black Flag, The Bad Brains, and Minor Threat, to name a few. The attitude and spirit of The Obsessed have led many to regard them as “America’s Motorhead”.

Wino went on to join the doom metal giants Saint Vitus as lead singer on seminal albums including 1986’s Born Too Late. In 1990, The Obsessed came back with their eponymous debut album, The Obsessed. This album was quickly followed by 1991’s Lunar Womb and 1994’s The Church Within. All three of these albums shaped and paved the way for future heavy rock bands and the doom scene as it’s known today. Wino’s gift for prose and his never-ending search for truth and meaning allow his words to hit as heavy as the riffs he plays.

Although The Obsessed went on a hiatus after The Church Within’s release on Columbia Records, Wino’s sheer passion and prolific nature led him to pursue many other critically acclaimed projects such as Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand, Shrinebuilder and various acoustic releases. Long-time fan Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) specifically asked Wino to perform on his all-star Probot album, released in 2004. In 2012, Wino rejoined Saint Vitus until the worldwide cry for The Obsessed could no longer be denied, and in 2016, he reunited the band once and for all and has been kicking ass and taking names ever since. Drummer Brian “Dawg” Costantino joined the band at this time. The band signed to Relapse Records and recorded 2017’s Sacred, an album showing The Obsessed back with pure vengeance, bringing the band back to venues and festival stages around the world.

In 2022, the band became a four-piece with the addition of Chris Angleberger on bass and Jason Taylor on guitar. They have been touring heavily since and have been seen on USA and European festival stages such as Hellfest, Freak Valley Festival, Snowblind Festival and Desertfest. The band’s latest record, Gilded Sorrow, was released in early 2024 on Ripple Music and lauded as a "must-listen for fans of the genre and a compelling entry point for newer voyagers into the world of doom" by Metal Hammer and "the best the band has ever sounded" by Ghost Cult Magazine.

The Obsessed welcomed heavy rock titan Bob Pantella (also Monster Magnet) to the lineup as their new drummer in 2025, marking a new chapter in their legacy. Now, in 2026, the band has signed to Heavy Psych Sounds and is working on their new album, which release date is yet to be announced. The Obsessed are here to stay. "IF IT AIN’T HEAVY… IT AIN’T SHIT!!!"

Frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich declares: "We are very happy to announce The Obsessed signing with the premier hard rock label Heavy Psych Sounds! The Obsessed is currently finishing the next full-length record, which will be released with HPS. Stay tuned, and thanks to all who believe."

THE OBSESSED is

Scott "Wino" Weinrich — Guitar, Vocals
Jason Taylor — Guitar
Chris Angleberger — Bass
Bob Pantella — Drums

THE OBSESSED Links:

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Temple King - Temple King (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Released. Formats: DD

Temple King - Tracklist

1.Necromancer 05:54

2.When Darkness Comes 04:28

3.The Sleeper Awakens 05:10

4.Goeita 08:54

5.Morgwar 03:20

6.War Messiah 05:56

7.Temple King 04:23

8.Barsoom 14:56

Members

LWV: Vocals, Guitar, and Synth

Samhain: Vocals, Guitar, and Bass

Ozzy (Oscar Clitheroe): Drums and Backing Vocals

Review

Temple King are a fairly new band who only formed back in January 2026 and they’ve already decided to release their debut album. Temple King plays a sludgy mix of Doom, Psych, Stoner, Heavy Metal and a vicious Desert Rock sound. The album has a lo-fi and stripped back flow appearing within the production and recording process the record ultimately contains. There’s a frenzied and distorted attitude that appears very early on within the record with opening tracks Necromancer and When Darkness Comes. 

The songs are perhaps more Doom/Sludge Metal with small outbursts of Stoner Rock/Metal attitude appearing but Temple King becomes more part of the WEEDIAN culture when everything is finished. It’s not the best sounding record but this allows Temple King to rely on pure BRUTE FORCE to get their music across with influences such as CONAN, ELECTRIC WIZARD and HIGH ON FIRE being used to great effect.

The LOW & SLOW and DISTORTED musical surroundings can be quite long drawn out with a slow-paced delivery that only adds to the menacing attitude of Temple King especially with the gruff, grizzled and muscular vocals that are provided by LWV, Samhain and Ozzy along the way. The music is a different story with Temple King drawing a wide range of different musical styles that will satisfy the most jaded of underground metal fans. Things can be quite grimy, seedy and with the amplified heaviness being too much to listen to at times which proves how Temple King knows how to write, form, play and deliver a violent FUZZY groove when you least expect it.

It’s also great to hear Temple King playing classic Heavy Metal and Doomed Out themes which adds a gloomy sense of scorched earth heaviness on tracks such as: The Sleeper Awakens, Goeita, War Messiah and the epic standout track of Barsoom. These tracks allow Temple King to forge new sounds powered by a great style of Prog Metal with a MASTODON element fully taking charge. You can still expect to hear some classic Heavy Metal and Stoner Metal sounds which results in some epic instrumental solos being played from everyone involved.

The rough and ready approach from Temple King gives this a highly undeniable charm which could come from the underground Rock/Metal scene. Temple King even adds some cool sounding Post-Doom and Synth heavy soundscapes amongst the frenzied atmospherics that fully sells their own great story from start to finish. 

This is a deliriously warped and fuzzed up musical adventure with Temple King never being afraid of being absolutely outrageous on certain sections of the record whilst also conjuring up superb riffs that you can’t help but violently head-bang to in absolute full agreement.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

MOON DESTROYS (with current and ex-members of Torche, Abrams, Royal Thunder) share "Missing Wish" video; new album out September 4th on Blues Funeral Recordings

US heavy rock trio MOON DESTROYS — featuring current and former members of Torche, Abrams and Royal Thunder present their thunderous new video "Missing Wish" exclusively today. Their new album "OMNI" will be released on September 4th via Blues Funeral Recordings.

MOON DESTROYS are set to return with their new album OMNI, a shimmering blend of post-grunge, riff-doom and driving psychedelia that encapsulates the expansive soundscapes of their previous album She Walks by Moonlight into more focused and immediate cuts, delivering the breadth of the band's genre-pushing abilities in hook-driven, quickfire fashion. "OMNI is a universe built upon constantly shifting sands, written by three souls who still believe heavy rock can save this damned world," says guitarist Juan Montoya.

W️atch New Video "MISSING WISH" below:

Fresh off a breakout year that saw them tour with Elder, Dozer and The Sword, founding members Juan Montoya (ex-Torche) and Evan Diprima (Gold Pyramid, ex-Royal Thunder) ushered in 2026 by welcoming Zach Amster (Abrams) on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Energized and hungry, the thunderous trio is now ready to enter their new chapter and fully unleash their infectious brand of heaviness upon the world, as demonstrated through their catchy latest single Flowers.

About the song "Missing Wish", guitarist and vocalist Zach Amster says, “We needed a couple more tracks to round out the record, so Evan dug into his archives and sent over the instrumental for what became 'Missing Wish'. Even though the demo was a few years old, I was instantly hooked by its sheer heaviness and the open space it left for vocals. Vocally, I wanted to push my boundaries by blending raw grit with accessible melodies. Lyrically, 'Missing Wish' dives straight into the heavy pain of fractured trust and the ghost of a potential that can never exist.”

New album "OMNI" - Out September 4th on Blues Funeral Recordings

LP/CD/digital available at this location

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.

Capping off 2025, MOON DESTROYS was invited to support Swedish icons Dozer on their long-awaited US tour, while Blues Funeral Recordings gave She Walks By Moonlight a proper worldwide reissue in October, just in time for a coveted run of dates with The Sword. Their next full-length will be released in September 2026, with touring in the US and overseas to follow.

US summer tour with The Well

Aug 19 - Dan Electros - Houston TX
Aug 20 - Siberia - New Orleans LA
Aug 21 - The EARL - Atlanta GA
Aug 22 - The Wormhole - Savannah GA
Aug 23 - The Pour House - Raleigh NC
Aug 25 - MilkBoy - Philadelphia PA
Aug 26 - The Wood Shop - Brooklyn NY
Aug 27 - Space Ballroom - Hamden CT
Aug 28 - Taffeta Music Hall - Lowell MA
Aug 29 - Bug Jar - Rochester NY
Sept 1 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland OH
Sept 2 - Small’s - Hamtramck MI
Sept 3 - Black Circle - Indianapolis IN
Sept 4 - The 58 @ Eastside Bowl - Nashville TN (release party)
Sept 5 - Fairborn Phoenix - Fairborn OH
Sept 6 - Sleeping Village - Chicago IL
Sept 7 - X-Ray Arcade - Cudahy WI
Sept 8 - Sk8bar - Kansas City MO
Sept 10 - Hi-Dive - Denver CO (headline show)

MOON DESTROYS is

Juan Montoya - Guitar
Evan Diprima - Drums/Bass/Synth
Zachary Amster - Vocals/Guitar

MOON DESTROYS links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

BLUES FUNERAL RECORDINGS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Psych/Noise/Space Rock Collective Dead Sea Apes Announce New Album 'Psychic Tension' - Immersive Title Track Unveiled

Photo by Lee Edwards

Manchester’s heavy psych cosmonauts Dead Sea Apes return on the 18th September 2026 with their new album, Psychic Tension. A sprawling cosmic journey, the record arrives via a transatlantic partnership between Cardinal Fuzz and Feeding Tube Records.

Immerse yourself in the first transmission with the title track on The Sleeping Shaman

Artist: Dead Sea Apes
Title: Psychic Tension
Label: Cardinal Fuzz / Feeding Tube Records
Release Date: 18 September 2026
Format: Vinyl / CD / DL

Dead Sea Apes are back with a fierce new album Psychic Tension – an urgent soundtrack for the nerve-shredding times we live in. Our collective psyche is under attack, reeling from the chaos of a modern world under siege: from war, death, destruction and climate catastrophe to political decay, media manipulation, growing inequality and the rank depravity of the so-called elite. Do we overload ourselves with anxiety, vent our frustration at others, make token gestures to ease our conscience, or just try to carry on regardless? Dead Sea Apes have wrestled these dilemmas – this Psychic Tension – into sonic/musical form, creating catharsis from the chaos.

Psychic Tension picks up where the previous album Rewilding left off, carrying forward the momentum of massive riffs, juggernaut rhythms and squalling sonic overload. Noise-rock, Japanese psych, minimal dub and Electric-era Miles are all part of the mix: each member of Dead Sea Apes brings decades of musical exploration to bear on the music. The iterative repetition of Can meets the telepathic mind-meld of the power trio; the deceptive simplicity of Crazy Horse is pulled through the sonics of PSF Records; the live-in-the-practice-room energy is bolstered by layered landscapes of sound - from ethereal echoes to feedback drones to transistor-torturing lead lines.

Dead Sea Apes have always followed their own path, the music instinctively wired into the world around them. On Psychic Tension, they have once again cooked up a sound that is wholly their own, speaking directly to the turmoil within us and surrounding us in these wild times.

Biography

Dead Sea Apes are a Manchester-based three-piece psych-noise band. Taking influences from across the full spectrum of psychedelic rock, noise-rock, krautrock, Japanese psych, dub, and elsewhere, they create a sound that is wholly their own. A vital fixture of the UK rock underground, Dead Sea Apes have shared stages with seminal acts such as The Heads, Part Chimp, Carlton Melton, and Acid Mothers Temple.

Formed in 2009, the band have become a cornerstone of the independent scene, releasing over 10 albums – including collaborations with artists such as The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol and Black Tempest. Much of their catalogue has found a home on the widely celebrated UK psychedelic label Cardinal Fuzz, alongside stateside partnerships with the legendary Feeding Tube Records.

Psychic Tension Tracklist:

01. Damn Your Eyes
02. Psychic Tension
03. Severance
04. Ursa Minor
05. Deathless

Dead Sea Apes is:

Brett Savage - Guitars
Jack Toker - Bass, Guitars
Chris Hardman - Drums

Live Dates:

17/07/2026 - Outpost, Liverpool w/ Mugstar, Shoun Shoun [Info]
09/08/2026 - Kozfest, Penmaenau Farm, Builth Wells [Info]
13/09/2026 - Golden Lion, Todmorden [Album Release Party]

Dead Sea Apes new album Psychic Tension releases 18th September 2026. Pre-sales will start imminently via Cardinal Fuzz in the UK and Feeding Tube Records in the USA.

Links

Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook

Thanks tot Lee Edwards at Shamedia for the details

The Salt Pale Collective - ...and God Said Nothing (Album Review)

Release Date: July 24th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

…and God Said Nothing - Tracklist

1.Raised aloft upon the horns of the celestial bull

2....and God said nothing

3.Our pale Madonna

4.Litany for a dying son

5.Ahoy! The black caskets

6.The stars fade and reel in confusion

Members

Alex

Dan

Dave

Review

…and God Said Nothing is the colossal second chapter from Doom/Sludge/Post-Metal collective The Salt Pale Collective. The record merges elements of Drone, Doom, Sludge, Post-Metal, Post-Rock, Ambient, Hardcore and Alt Metal. The vocals sometimes feel they’re forged in the underbelly of Death Metal with other different types of vocal progressions being played throughout the album. The heavy reliance of Electronica sounds reminds the listener of NEUROSIS and CULT OF LUNA with the band forging new creative ideas of their own as this album fully sells its deeply haunting themes.

The Salt Pale Collective conjure up gloomy Post-Metal and Prog Metal melodies with a dangerous style of Ambient Metal which aims for pure destruction. The death metal vocals are the most dominant but it’s good to see different styles overlapping from time to time mostly within the excellent second title track. There’s an epic cinematic style of Alt Metal developing that bridges the gap between the Blackened Doom grooves and depth defying Psychedelic beats that the band put to great use.

…and God Said Nothing can be undeniably bleak that left me feeling anxious and left me looking over my shoulder during the heaviest and brutal based beat downs the band applied to their music. The level of sonic brutality is one of the albums main strengths which is put to maximum use on tracks such as Raised aloft upon the horns of the celestial bull, Our pale Madonna, Litany For A Dying Son and Ahoy! The Black Caskets. These tracks alone show the full weight, heaviness, melodic and violent intensity that the band ultimately thrive upon. There is a sense of emotional despair behind the lyrics that can be even quite therapeutic within the mellow Post-Rock and Alternative based moments. 

Sometimes it sounds like there’s two different bands at play here. One is the brutal Doom/Post-Metal band who take no prisoners and unleash a torrent of brutal grooves that demolishes everything in their wake. The other, is a beautifully engaging Ambient Post-Rock band that cares more about the human spirit than the total chaos and destruction being raged around them. However, when both these worlds fully collide then it’s a dangerous mix of epic proportions with The Salt Pale Collective allowing the listener to experience something real and superbly creative at the same time.

There’s some wonderful orchestral arrangements on this record that gives it an almost Classical Metal feel that reminds me of OPETH in many ways. The later stages of the album taps into influences such as The Ocean and Blood Incantation for a record that offers no easy answers whilst leaving you a shivering wreck with its non-stop style of intense Progressive and Post-Metal changes.

…and God Said Nothing is an experimental powerhouse with The Salt Pale Collective bridging the gap between conventional Doom, \Sludge and Post-Metal themes whilst adding a layer of complex Death Metal energy that you don’t really hear such as this. This isn’t a record for the faint hearted and you may perhaps need to be a fan of Experimental Metal and Extreme Music to get the full enjoyment but if you’re willing to stay the course then you’ll be treated to a thrilling and possibly future classic album in the making.

I need to take a long lie down after listening to this masterful album. I’m exhausted just from listening to the album as this feels like an intense endurance course. And I mean that in the best way possible!!!

Words by Steve Howe

...and God Said Nothing is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links 

LinkTree | BandCamp

Svjetlost - The Forever Silent (Album Review)

Release Date: July 24th 2026. Record Label: Shadow Of Sorrow Records. Released. Formats: DD

The Forever Silent - Tracklist

1.Above the Mountains

2.Lands of Suffering 

3.The Golden Lilies

4.Between the Peaks

Members

All instruments and vocals by Jamie Kobić

Review

The Forever Silent is the debut album from Sludge/Doom/Stoner/Post-Metal entity Svjetlost which is the creative project from Jamie Kobić who also happens to be the lead vocalist/drummer for Doom/Post-Metallers Garvan. This project takes a slightly different route to Garvan as Svjetlost is primarily inspired by a form of music called Sevdah. Sevdah is the traditional music of Bosnia with minimal, slow and folk based rhythms which transform into different atmospherics and progressive chords. 

Svjetlost adds a heavy and pulsating style of Doom, Drone, Sludge and Stoner Metal for this record which spans across four individual tracks running for almost fifty six minutes in length. Each track tells a different story to each other where the dominant Sludge/Stoner Metal sound delivers the dense instrumental passages to crush your hearing with. However, Jamie uses a lush style of Ambient Rock, Drone and Post-Rock where that more restrained style of melody becomes the dominant factor. 

This record is inspired by the likes of SLEEP, OM, Shrinebuilder and High On Fire but given a unique Folk Rock sound which allows elements of acts such as Neurosis, Russian Circles and Pelican to give The Forever Silent a fever-pitch experimental energy. Though, the music is brilliantly riff-centric with opening track Above The Mountains traversing the finer realms of Space Rock and Cosmic Doom with that grounded Folk Rock relevance appearing within the vocals and sudden shift to amplifier distorted Post-Metal delivery. 

The lyrics are completely off the charts with some cool strands of weirdness appearing but Jaime does write some deeply meaningful reasons behind them that touch upon his own heritage and close links to Bosnia and Herzegovina in general. Svjetlost works best when the music drifts into Ambient Post-Rock and tranquil Shoegaze movements which gives a sense of calm before the record explodes in a loud aggressive Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal stance.

There’s a great use of different sound effects and trippy themes that feel inspired by the classic Post-Rock/Post-Metal scene especially on tracks Lands Of Suffering and Golden Lillies. These parts can be quite melancholic with a brooding self imposed style of reflection before the mood changes dramatically for an intense onslaught of Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves. The Forever Silent isn’t always about the heavy destructive journey and even though that’s some of my favourite aspects of the record, you have to experience the lovely therapeutic Post-Rock surroundings that transport you to another time and place.

The vocals are absolutely exquisite and quite heartbreaking in places especially within the quieter moments. Jamie does a wide range of different vocal styles that matches the mood the music brings throughout each individual track’s massive run time. The sound can be quite abstract with a classic “LESS IS MORE” presence before transforming into a commanding Sludge Metal delivery when you least expect this. 

The later stages of The Forever Silent starts merging the early tone of the record with perhaps a bleak and sombre message that results in some epic long drawn out grooves formed by the Atmospheric Sludge and Psychedelic Stoner Metal domains within the standout tracks of The Golden Lillies and Between The Peaks.

Svjetlost have crafted a rich and brilliantly original style of underground music that easily allows the record to be considered as one of the best debut albums to be released this year. The trippy and ambient effects become even more powerful with every repeated listen that leaves The Forever Silent a breathless and unforgettable AUDIO experience.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

The Forever Silent is available to buy digitally now from all good digital stockists.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

FUZZING NATION ANNOUNCE "OPERATION MOTHERTRUCK: DRONES OVER GERMANY TOUR 2026" WITH LAST BØLT CEREMONY

Greek heavy rock trio Fuzzing Nation are proud to announce their first German live appearances with OPERATION MOTHERTRUCK: DRONES OVER GERMANY TOUR 2026, a five-date co-headline run with Germany's Last Bølt Ceremony.

Following the release of their debut full-length album Mothertruck via Argonauta Records, Fuzzing Nation will bring their heavy, groove-driven sound to Germany for the first time, taking their signature blend of massive riffs, fuzz-drenched guitars and desert rock attitude to five stages across Solingen, Münster, Köln, Oberhausen and Bremen.

Formed in Athens, Greece, Fuzzing Nation have quickly built an international presence within the heavy rock scene, receiving attention from the European underground press and expanding their audience beyond their home country. With Mothertruck, the band continues their journey of delivering powerful live performances inspired by the timeless spirit of heavy rock.

Joining them for the entire tour are Last Bølt Ceremony, a Dortmund-based trio bringing their own distinctive mix of stoner, grunge and alternative rock. Known for their energetic live shows and raw sound, the band have established themselves within Germany's heavy underground, including their recent appearance at the renowned Stoned

From The Underground Festival.

OPERATION MOTHERTRUCK: DRONES OVER GERMANY TOUR 2026

TOUR DATES

08 Dec — Solingen

09 Dec — Münster

10 Dec — Köln

11 Dec — Oberhausen

12 Dec — Bremen

FUZZING NATION // LAST BØLT CEREMONY

Fuzzing Nation Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram