US Heavy Rock Trio VALLEY OF THE SUN shares new track off "The Blacklight Sessions" album, out October 2nd on Heavy Psych Sounds

Ohio-based heavy rockers VALLEY OF THE SUN present a second track taken from their forthcoming new studio album "The Blacklight Session", to be issued this October 2nd on Heavy Psych Sounds Records.

Stream new single "Low Not Slow" below

Valley of the Sun’s sixth studio album The Blacklight Sessions, is a deep dive into the sonic roots of the band who continues to defy genre norms. With tracks ranging from blues jam to psychedelic desert trip to driving stoner riffage, the band continues to demonstrate that their music knows no bounds, nor should it. Their previous single The Whiskey Elf encapsulates this perfectly, channeling the spirit of Ten Years After and Grand Funk Railroad while retaining the modern heavy groove that has become the band's signature.

Following the 2024 release of the acclaimed self-released Quintessence, their new album The Blacklight Sessions sees the band consisting of Ryan Ferrier (guitar, vocals), Chris Sweeney (bass) and Johnny Kathman (drums) embarking on a new chapter. This release marks their first for Heavy Psych Sounds and arrives as the band is fully locked into their powerful power-trio format and ready to spread the gospel of their high-octane riff-rock across Europe this fall.

The Blacklight Sessions Tour 2026

02/10 Tabernas Desert Rock Fest
13/10 Morlenbach, DE Weiher
14/10 Osnabrück, DE Bastard Club
15/10 Jena, DE Kuba Jena
16/10 Dresden, DE Heavy Psych Sounds
17/10 Berlin, DE Heavy Psych Sounds
18/10 Warszawa, PL Chmury Club
19/10 Kraków, PL Klub Gwarek
21/10 Wien, AT Verein Forum Wien
22/10 Bratislava, SK Pink Whale
23/10 Pássau, DE Zauberberg
24/10 München, DE Backstage Klub
25/10 Freiburg im Breisgau, DE Artik
27/10 Annecy, FR La Coloc
29/10 Paris, FR Backstage by the Mill
30/10 Wasquehal, FR The Black Lab
31/10 Bruxelles, BE Temple Studios
01/11 Eindhoven, NL The Jack
02/11 Breda, NL Mezz
03/11 Düsseldorf, DE Pitcher
04/11 Münster, DE Rare Guitar
05/11 Köln, DE Club Volta
06/11 Hanau, DE KultK1
07/11 Aachen, DE Musik Bunker
08/11 Kiel, DE Schaubude
10/11 Hamburg, DE Knust
11/11 Copenhagen, DK Stengade
12/11 Aalborg, DK 1000Fryd
13/11 Oslo, NO Vaterland Bar & Scene
14/11 Stockholm, SE Fuzztival

VALLEY OF THE SUN "The Blacklight Sessions" - Out October 2nd on Heavy Psych Sounds

TRACKLIST:

1. The Whiskey Elf
2. Low Not Slow
3. The Long Song
4. A Greater Meaning
5. Mountain
6. No Hope

Formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2010, Valley of the Sun has become one of the most respected names in modern heavy rock, combining thunderous, groove-driven riffs with soaring vocals and emotionally charged songwriting. Drawing inspiration from classic hard rock, desert rock, and grunge, the band has built an international following through relentless touring across North America and Europe, critically acclaimed releases, and a reputation for delivering powerful, high-energy live performances. Their catalog includes The Sayings of the Seers, Electric Talons of the Thunderhawk, Volume Rock, Old Gods, The Chariot, and the acclaimed 2024 release Quintessence, showcasing a band that continues to evolve while remaining true to its signature sound.

Today, Valley of the Sun is a three-piece consisting of Ryan Ferrier (guitar, lead vocals), the band’s founder and sole remaining original member (2010–present); Chris Sweeney (bass), who joined in 2018; and Johnny Kathman (drums), who joined during the band’s transition back to a power trio for the Quintessence era in 2023. Together, the trio continues to push the band’s sound forward with crushing riffs, dynamic musicianship, and an ever-changing tonality that continues to challenge the norms of the genre, while maintaining the unmistakeable sound of the band.

VALLEY OF THE SUN is

Ryan Ferrier - Guitar / Vocals
Chris Sweeney - Bass
Johnny Kathman - Drums

VALLEY OF THE SUN links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Heavy Psych Sounds Links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE reveal music video 'Clutching at Straws' taken from new album "In Between Strides"

BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE reveal the music video 'Clutching at Straws' – and it is their very own sizzling song and not a cover of the MARILLION classic. This track has been selected as an advance single from the German shoegaze rockers' upcoming fourth album "In Between Strides", which is scheduled for release on September 18, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records.

Pre-orders are available HERE

Watch the video for 'Clutching at Straws' here:

BEES MADE HONEY comment: "I wrote the main riffs for 'Clutching at Straws' on acoustic guitar while composing another of my own songs", frontman Simon Weinrich writes. "When we hit a creative slump, I simply suggested playing those riffs during a band rehearsal. Once effects were added, they immediately took on a different energy. Lyrically, this song revolves around a restless and exhausting journey that expresses an inner restlessness and sense of being driven. It's certainly a state of mind that we are all familiar with at times."

Credit - Filmed & produced by Felix Keltsch & Konrad Kobiela

Tracklist:

1. Departure
2. Respite
3. Clutching at Straws
4. Elisa
5. Return, Precipice

When German four-piece BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE began to find their bearings on where to go next from the success of their previous full-length, "Aion" (2023), the core idea for the fourth album, "In Between Strides", was to take a more melodic approach. All else, they would leave to the creative process and somewhat to chance.

Recording one song at a time without knowing what the next would sound like, the track 'Elisa' was the first step forward and became the binding link between the previous and new albums. 'Elisa' came into being as a jam captured on the last day of recording during the "Aion" sessions, which was later heavily condensed and augmented with added instrumentation to create more structure and depth.

BEES MADE HONEY recorded every other song on "In Between Strides" in various settings that were available to them at the time of creation: a cavernous cellar, a concert stage, an indoor balcony, a living room, their rehearsal space, even returning to the studio where their first album "Medicine" was tracked.

Through this spontaneous and shifting approach, BEES MADE HONEY began to move texturally and stylistically from ambient and drone toward shoegaze along with more acoustic elements. According to their original plan, "In Between Strides" stepped into more melodic territory, with each song representing a different aspect of the band's musical vocabulary.

Lyrically, "In Between Strides" portrays a journey of uncertain outcomes, a departure, and a search for something not yet defined. Although this mirrors the experience of BEES MADE HONEY in finding new creative paths and ways of expression, the lyrics paint a broader picture that is not limited to the German's personal experiences or life-circumstances.

BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE originate from the Swabian capital and German city of Stuttgart. All four members grew up together, eventually forming the band in 2014. Their musical template of ambient psychedelic doom was established with the debut album "Medicine" in 2017, and their sound has continued to evolve ever since.

With their sophomore full-length "Grandmother" (2019), their sonic scope expanded through lower tunings, densely layered effects, faster passages, and harsher vocals. The Swabians began performing live, both at home and abroad, in front of continuously growing audiences. This development physically manifested in the recording and release of "Harvestmen (live)" in 2022.

BEES MADE HONEY took a leap forward with third full-length "Aion", which was widely praised by audiences and critics alike. This album features spacious, dynamic compositions that move from drifting tranquility to raging power in a constant tidal movement of spaced-out guitars, pounding basslines, and dripping drum fills.

While "Aion" easily transcended BEES MADE HONEY's psychedelic doom label into something deeper and more resonant, "In Between Strides" roams faster and further.

With "In Between Strides", BEES MADE HONEY have turned rage into reflection by developing a more organic and spontaneous approach to their songs, opening up wide spaces and letting the melodies flow freely. This musical honey tastes simply delicious.

Line-up

Simon Weinrich – guitar, vocals, Rhodes piano
Marc Dreher – drums, vocals, Rhodes piano
Lucas Dreher – guitar
Christopher Popowitsch – bass

Guest musicians

Luis Deffner (JAMHED) – piano on 'Elisa'

Recorded by Ralv Milberg at Zentrum Zinsholz, Ostfildern (DE)
Mixed by Ralv Milberg & Simon Weinrich at Milberg Studios, Stuttgart (DE)
Mastered by Ralv Milberg at Milberg Studios, Stuttgart (DE)

Artwork & layout by Christopher Popowitsch

Links

https://beesmadehoneyintheveintree.com
www.facebook.com/beesmadehoneyintheveintree
www.instagram.com/beesmadehoneyintheveintree

Thanks to All Noir and Magnetic Eye Records for the details.

Doom Metallers KAVRILA announce new album "Transcend“ (out November 6th 2026) / Video for single "Exhume“ and pre-order online!

KAVRILA have always referred to their sound as doom punk. On “Transcend”, that foundation remains intact while expanding far beyond its original boundaries. New textures, broader dynamics, and influences from across the heavy music spectrum turn the band's signature sound into its most ambitious and complete form to date, while remaining rooted in the raw intensity and emotional honesty that define the band.

“Transcend” is an album that tears you apart, gently puts you back together, and leaves you forever changed, a journey through pain, resilience, and hope.

You can watch the video fort he first single "Exhume“ now:

Furthermore the pre-order for the album has started now:

https://linktr.ee/kavrila

Rooted in themes of kinship, loss, self-destruction, healing, and rebirth, “Transcend”explores what happens when life strips everything away. It is about betrayal, grief, and confronting the darkest corners of yourself without looking away.

It is about smashing the walls around your heart and still choosing love over bitterness, honesty over comfort, and connection over isolation.

This album doesn't offer an escape from pain, it transforms through it. Because even in the deepest abyss, something new can emerge.

If you're looking for easy hits, you can fuck off. If you're just looking for background music to kill some time, you can fuck off. If you're afraid to dive all the way in, well, we're sorry to tell you: you can still fuck off.

But if life has thrown rocks at you, if the people you trusted stabbed you in the back, if the universe kept asking for more than you thought you could give, and you're still capable of taking a sledgehammer to the walls around your heart instead of building them even higher, then welcome.

Grab a drink. Get beautifully lost. Raise a shot with what Carl Jung would have called your shadow. Turn the volume up and join KAVRILA on a journey of liberation, as they burn down the walls surrounding the darkest, and purest parts of your soul.

"Transcend“ Tracklist:

1. Kinship
2. Domino
3. Heavy Breathing
4. Exhume
5. Defaced
6. Tenacity
7. Sway
8. Detention
9. The River
10. Cleansing
11. A Friend
Playing Time 42:33

KAVRILA Online:

https://kavrila.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kavrilaband/
https://www.instagram.com/kavrila_ritual

Sauros - Offense (Album Review)

Release Date: September 04th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Offense - Tracklist

1.C2O 

2.Offense

3.The Doomsayers Are Right 

4.In The End

5.Grey Ignorance

6.A New Ego In Nihilism

7.Misanthropic Freedom

8.Unnatural Selection In The Age Of Crisis 

9.Nostalgic Anxiety

Members

Doc - Vocals

Nobbe - Guitar

Seb - Bass

Frank - Drums

Review

Doom Metallers Sauros debut album Offense is a great collection of slow-paced Doom/Sludge Metal. The music is played at a very cool slow pace which allows the band to create a highly atmospheric and destructive DOOMED OUT environment to play their music against. The vocals have that classic HEAVY METAL gruff exterior which brings the muscular lyrics to life which you can hear superbly well on the opening tracks of C2O, Offense and The Doomsayers Are Right.

Offense often plays it straight with Sauros never wandering into Prog Metal territory which makes this record feel more authentic. There are moments of Psychedelic and Alt-Metal themes that develop with hidden outbursts of Post-Doom and Atmospheric Sludge surroundings. Sometimes Sauros feels like they’re using bands such as Metallica and Type O Negative for certain sections of the record. There’s a gloomy Thrash based delivery which is quite noticeable especially with the sullen guitar tones and excellent vocals from Doc. 

The vocals remain clean throughout with some harsh tones being injected into the mix only when they’re really needed. The slowcore aspect of Sauros’s music is what makes it really standout as they never play fast-paced melodies which may perhaps disturb the equilibrium of what the band are trying to deliver with Offense. 

Everything is quite bleak with socially aware lyrics helping Sauros’s message in spreading much doom and gloom on this record that’s actually possible on tracks such as The Doomsayers Are Right, In The End, Grey Ignorance, A New Ego In Nihilism and Unnatural Selection In The Age Of Crisis. These songs show Sauros in complete control deploying their own nihilistic style of Doom Metal which feel more unsettling and violent with the epic LOW & SLOW delivery that surrounds everything being played on the whole album.

The album is superbly aggressive in the volume department even with the stripped back production values that’s been applied here. However, this all adds to the gloomy and solitary audio experience that’s being played throughout your speakers of choice. The instrumental work is outstanding with Sauros playing each note, riff and melody with supreme confidence. 

Offense is quite a subversive record where the bleak and moody songs offer a dramatic chilling experience that even has a few nods to classic ELECTRIC WIZARD amplifier distortion which only adds a more menacing quality to the whole experience. 

Sauros really deliver on all fronts with Offense which I’m hoping allows them to become more well known within the underground Doom/Sludge Metal scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Heavy Rockers CARBELLION Break the Cage w/ new "I Don’t Want to Be Your Dog" music video & single

Southeastern Wisconsin heavy rock veterans Carbellion have officially unleashed their intense new music video for “I Don't Want To Be Your Dog”, directed by Kenny Boufadene of Studio Meltdown. Filmed on location at the Dogs 2 Dog Tags charity training facility in Plymouth, Wisconsin, the video delivers a striking visual metaphor for personal liberation, transformation, and breaking away from destructive habits. 

The song examines the exhaustion that comes with performing for others at the expense of self-respect. Kellenberger confronts the performative expectations often tied to the rock lifestyle, highlighting the exact moment an artist chooses self-preservation over cheap, reckless entertainment. “I Don’t Want to Be Your Dog” is the first of three music videos from the band’s upcoming full-length album This Is Our Style, which will be released on November 13, 2026 via rock and metal record label Eclipse Records.

Watch their “I Don’t Want to Be Your Dog” music video below:

Formed in 2004, Carbellion has built a durable legacy across the American underground through relentless touring, clearly raising them to the caliber of legendary acts like Corrosion of Conformity, Monster Magnet, and Clutch. Fresh off the heels of their 2023 album Weapons of Choice (also released via Eclipse Records), this new visual project reinforces why the Wisconsin quintet remains a vital, uncompromising force in modern heavy music.

"We felt that choosing this song as the first single was a great way to introduce the new album to everyone with our up-tempo rock n’ roll style and high energy delivery.” explains vocalist Cameron Kellenberger. "We’ve always liked the training facility at Dogs 2 Dog Tags as it’s a big room with a giant American flag displayed where they train rescued and donated dogs, giving them to veterans diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety. As most know, we herald our self-defined style as American Heavy Rock so it just felt right to be standing directly in front of a giant American flag. 

Also, filming myself in a manic state inside a dog cage serves as a visual nod to several themes that have long been part of the band's identity, while also tying metaphorically to the song itself. At a high level, the lyrics explore the idea of outgrowing the need to be the center of attention and entertainment for others through reckless, self-destructive behavior. To reinforce those themes visually, we used dramatic lighting to create deep shadows throughout many of the shots. Kenny from Studio Meltdown then applied heavy, dirt-style filters during the editing process, giving the video a gritty, raw atmosphere that perfectly complements the song's message and sound.”

This Is Our Style is the highly-anticipated new full-length album by Southeastern Wisconsin heavy rock veterans Carbellion, and it is set to drop on November 13, 2026. This massive eleven-track collection marks a bold new chapter for the band, delivering their signature blend of desert rock, stoner sludge, and traditional heavy rock. Following up on their acclaimed 2023 release Weapons of Choice through Eclipse Records, the group has spent over two decades forging an original path in the American underground music scene. The album structure consists of ten hard-hitting original compositions alongside a compelling cover of the classic track "Open Up Your Eyes" by alternative rock band Tonic. 

The first major standout is "I Don't Want to Be Your Dog," an introspective track that examines the dark side of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. The thunderous title track, "This Is Our Style," serves as an absolute sonic mission statement for the Wisconsin quintet, defining the core identity of the band, celebrating their mutual love for fast hot rods, loud amplification, and the adrenaline rush that comes from pushing both elements to the absolute limit. 

Finally, the aggressive track "Get Down" acts as a thematic spiritual successor to the song "Barfight" from their previous album, Weapons of Choice (2023, Eclipse Records). This Is Our Style was produced by Carbellion and Chris Djuricic (Nonpoint, Soil, Jungle Rot) at Belle City Sound, and mastered by Andy VanDette (Beastie Boys, Porcupine Tree, Rush) at Evolve Mastering, and the album cover art was created by Chris Schultz. It is scheduled for release on November 13, 2026.

Pre-Save or Pre-Order This Is Our Style at this location.

This Is Our Style track listing

01. I Don't Want To Be Your Dog
02. What You Want
03. This Is Our Style
04. Open Up Your Eyes
05. Get Down
06. Doom Cult
07. Seaworthy
08. Currency In Agony
09. Pound For Pound
10. Westerns
11. Dire Wolf Straights

About CARBELLION:

Carbellion is a heavy rock band hailing from Southeastern Wisconsin. Formed in 2004, the group performs a high-octane heavy rock sound that blends elements of heavy rock and desert stoner sludge metal into a distinct, radio-ready identity. 

Carbellion Lineup

Brandon Bauer (guitar)

Cameron Kellenberger (vocals)

Brent Nimz (drums)

Jamie Damrow (lead guitar)

Steve Sheppard (bass guitar)

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Eclipse Records for the details.

Louse - Buyer's Remorse (Album Review)

Release Date: August 14th 2026. Record Label: Riot Season Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Buyer’s Remorse - Tracklist

1.Best Laid Plans 03:44

2.Buyer's Remorse 02:39

3.Rags And Tatters 03:38

4.The Wastepipe Ripper 02:29

5.Comfort 03:43

6.Legal Loophole 03:01

7.Wheel 02:32

8.Meatslide 03:48

9.The Deer Caller 04:24

10.Potato Diet 03:20

Members

The Captain - Vocals

Septic Pete - Guitar

The King of Sting - Guitar

Uncle Brutus - Guitar

Mister P. - Drums

Dieta Di Patate - Slide Bass

Review

Buyer’s Remorse is the sophomore album from Noise/Sludge/Doom/Stoner Rockers LOUSE who call their music SCUM ROCK and they’re a band I haven’t come across before which is quite surprising since they are from my hometown of Newcastle Upon Tyne. The record itself is a Noise Rock offering with LOUSE adding filthy and highly mean strands of Sludge, Doom, Alt Rock, Psych and Stoner Rock melodies.

Louse do remind me of their fellow Geordie Noisemakers - PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS - though this record has a more warped and abstract Punk Rock energy which feels inspired by the likes of The Melvins and The Hives in the early stages of the record. There’s a gloomy Garage Rock sound that emerges from the seedy catacombs that have echoes of The Stooges, MC5 and even At The Drive-In being felt on tracks such as Best Laid Plans, Buyer’s Remorse and Rags And Tatters.

The sludgy and stripped back sounds have a grim “Kitchen Sink” effect especially with The Captain’s vocals battling against the epic rhythm section from Mister P on Drums and Dieta Di Patate on Slide Bass. Mister P and Dieta Di Patate have a great understanding amongst each other by building up the filthy rhythms from the ground up with the excellent guitar work played by Septic Pete, The King Of Sting and Uncle Brutus. 

As you can tell by their band names, LOUSE don’t take themselves too seriously and have a ton of fun especially with the bleakly charged lyrics which have some extra bite between them. Sometimes the record can go leftfield with disjointed grooves, fractured vocal passages and gloomy experimental noise effects allowing that subtle Noise Rock and Sludge Rock energy to have a killer Punk Rock swagger. 

Other great tracks to check out are: The Wastepipe Ripper, Legal Loophole, Meatslide and The Deer Caller which allows LOUSE to spread their filth ridden and downbeat message to even greater heights with that lo-fi energy allowing screeching guitars to reach massive levels of distorted volume. Buyer’s Remorse is seriously fucked up but you can’t help be swayed and mightly impressed by the sheer filth ridden danger that Louse will put you through. There is some great riffs to fully lose yourself in with that MELVINS influence being put to great use towards the end of the album.

Buyer’s Remorse is perhaps described as a “CULT ODDITY” which manages to fit alongside some of the more impressive Sludge/Noise/Doom Rock bands currently making a name for themselves. I seriously enjoyed this album and it becomes better with each repeated listen. Louse are a great band to discover for yourselves if you like something way more grimy and experimental with that dominant NOISE ROCK theme that will drive you absolutely insane at the same time.

Yeah, Buyer’s Remorse is an absolute slice of RIOTOUS FUN!!!

Superb. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Riot Season Records for the promo.

Buyer’s Remorse is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Riot Season Records.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Exclusive Premiere Of Sludge/Stoner Metallers FIREBREATHER New Song/Video For "SHRINES" From Forthcoming New Album

Firebreather formed in Gothenburg in 2016, rooted in crushing, sludge-doused doom from the very beginning. Never wavering from that commitment across all three of their incendiary full-length releases, the trio has pursued weight with purpose, not as spectacle, nor as an exercise in excess, but as the only language broad enough to hold the emotional reach and sonic heft of their sound.

The music arrives in a way that writes itself with no distance between the words and the sound; they rise from the same cursed ground, and that honesty has become the band's defining force.

Firebreather is a band that never postures or asks to be admired for their heaviness- and to see them live is to experience exactly why. Their weight takes on another life entirely. The band’s towering tone and consuming grit don't fill a room so much as alter it. Volume presses against the body before the first lyric lands and riffs arrive like shifting earth. The drums don't drive the songs forward; they anchor them while the line between sound and physical force begins to disappear. Years spent crossing Europe and North America have only sharpened that purpose, and a decade on with a fourth album on the way via the notorious Heavy Psych Sounds Records, Firebreather remains exactly where it belongs.

Head down. Volume up.

Thanks to the great folks over at Heavy Psych Sounds and Purple Sage PR, we're happy to premiere the new song/video for SHRINES which is from their forthcoming new album - Blood That I Spill Turns to Fire" out October 16 on Heavy Psych Sounds 

The Lowdown

With the writing and recording of ”Blood That I Spill Turns To Fire”, the aim was to keep it raw, heavy and groovy. Expanding our musical trajectory. Adding a lil more melody to vocals as well. We recorded with Joona in Studio Underjord and we told him right away that we want to keep it raw and dirty.

For this record we brought in Tommy Hanning on drums, he was in FIREBREATHER at the time of the recording of our first album so we knew he was capable.

We were in between drummers when it was time to hit the studio for our fourth album and he was kind enough to learn the songs from his home, he lives way up north in Sweden. He flew down to jam with us for one weekend and after that we hit the studio. All in all we think we came out with a raw, heavy and to us, moving record.

We hope it'll move other people too."

Line Up

Mattias Nööjd - Vox / guitar

Jacob Madetoja - Bass

Joakim Olsson - Drums

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Blood That I Spill Turns to Fire" is now available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.