Trails Of The Mare - Chapter III (Album Review)

Release Date: June 22nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Chapter III - Tracklist

1.War Cries on Horseback 04:22

2.Sundowner 04:09

3.Creature 06:00

4.Sonney Daze 04:21

5.Arise 04:13

6.Cryptid Canyon 04:41

7.Blood in the Water 04:50

8.Minerva 07:17

9.Nephilim 03:45

Members

Jane: Lead Vocals

Michael: Guitar

Arson: Bass

Donovan: Drums

Review

Chapter III is the debut album from Grunge/Psych/Stoner Rockers Trails Of The Mare who bring a gritty Mountain Rock and Blues Rock sound to this record. The record has been recorded and engineered by the legendary Scott Reeder which gives Trails Of The Mare real credibility for the underground scene to fully check them out. The album itself is a great mix of different styles with the band focusing upon the main areas of Grunge, Psych and Stoner Rock sounds..

There’s a fuzzy sound made up by a fast-paced Mountain Rock sound that does split off into areas of Classic Hard Rock and Doom along the way. The soaring vocals from Jane are delivered superbly well with a Grunge influence being the main thing I can hear from Jane’s excellent vocal range that appears throughout the album. Imagine if Stevie Nicks or Beth Gibbons were fronting a Heavy Psych and Stoner Rock band then this is the closest you'll ever experience. Though, Jane's soulful Blues Rock tones do provide a few chilling and emotionally charged moments along the way.

The songs themselves are inspired by the likes of KYUSS, Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains being the most dominant but you’ll experience a wide range of different musical sounds on the album, with Trails Of The Mare adding a cool swirling mix of Heavy Psych and Fuzz Rock.

Chapter III does have a songbook structure for how Trails Of The Mare deliver their emotionally charged lyrics set against a backdrop of grounded Nineties melodies. The record can be cautiously slow at times but for the most part Trails Of The Mare embrace a vivid and fast-paced energy that moves their music into more emotionally charged areas of Heavy Rock you least expect.

The “Mountain Rock” sound is laid on pretty thick which gives Chapter III a grounded and superbly organic feel with the production values never being too overproduced or overly dramatic. Some of the songs can be too long at times but it’s a good job that Trails Of The Mare have a ton of epic cinematic sounds, grooves and instrumental jams to impress listeners with.

Standout tracks on the album include: War Cries On Horseback, Creature, Sonney Daze, Cryptid Canyon and Minerva. These tracks are the ones that grabbed my interest the most with soothing vocals, soaring riffs and psychedelic poetry emerging from almost every corner. The vocals from Jane always continue to impress with the different vocal methods that are applied on the record. Credit must also goto Michael (Guitar), Arson (Bass) and Donavan (Drums) for bringing some massive Stoner Rock musical energy on this record where they never over do things such as bringing Prog Rock/Metal sensibilities onto the album.

Chapter III may not be the most modern sounding of records but when the band are playing music influenced by one of the most important eras of the Grunge and Stoner Rock scene whilst also creating their own great style of music to impress listeners with then PLEASE ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTE. As TRAILS OF THE MARE are the real deal. They have the songs and talent to make a real impression within the Heavy Psych, Grunge and Stoner Rock underground scenes.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

Witchsorrow - The Devil And All His Works (Album Review)

Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Devil And All His Works - Tracklist

1.Omnia Finiuntur

2.Bacchus 06:30

3.Hades Chains 06:27

4.Altar

5.In Triumph We Rot!!!

6.Lamentation

7.A Quintessence Of Dust

Members

Nick Ruskell - guitar/vocals

Emily Ruskell - bass

Scott Taylor - drums

David Wilbraham - drums (on album)

Review

Doom Metal legends Witchsorrow with their fifth album The Devil And All His Works which marks their first album in over eight years. Witchsorrow still preaches the work of the Dark Overlords Of Doom Metal with shades of Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus and Electric Wizard appearing but with Witchsorrow crafting their own thrilling down-tuned blend of soulful misery. The record has a dark occult and satanic vibe which isn’t surprising since the whole theme  is taken from an occult book by legendary author Dennis Wheatley.

Witchsorrow never forget the powerful SABBATHIAN amplified sounds that is a classic mark of the entire DOOM METAL scene but it’s how the band include other areas of music to weave into their dark nightmarish sound such as Thrash, Heavy Metal, Psych and massive amounts of bone crushing FUZZ. The songs all have a powerful level of distorted melodies which embraces the dark creative themes that lead vocalist Nick Ruskell aka NECROSKULL gleefully and happily sings about. 

There is an abstract level of progressive pitch-black distortion being delivered within the epic opening track Omnia Finiuntur with the undeniable bass line of Emily Ruskell once again terrorizing the atmosphere with violently played sounds that provide a dark contrast to Nick’s gloomy guitars and David Wilbraham’s epic drumming. This is David’s final involvement with Witchsorrow and this album is an epic swansong to end his time with the band. 

The rest of the album follows the dark, gloomy and distorted path of the opening track but Witchsorrow allows themselves to play around with straight-forward riff-centric deliveries. The band still keeps themselves closely aligned to the land of Occult Doom Metal with surprising musical developments happening that breathes new life into the Witchsorrow legend especially on tracks Bacchus, Hades Chains, Altar and A Quintessence Of Dust.

The record sees some very cool guest stars appear on tracks Hades Chains featuring Serena Cherry of Svalbard/Noctule) and A Quintessence Of Dust featuring Employed To Serve’s Sammy Urwin. It’s on these tracks alone that features the heaviest, brutal and violent sounds to appear on the record. This shows how Witchsorrow are quite open to move their music into heavier genres they’re not widely associated with but still incorporating their own classic style of Doom Metal. 

The Devil And All His Works is a masterclass of Doom Metal where Witchsorrow adapts all the different levels that legendary genre fully contains. However, they embrace all styles of HEAVY METAL for this album alone which gives The Devil And All His Works a highly unpredictable sound that’s dominated by a band who are at the peak of their creative powers. 

This is DOOM METAL of the highest order and one record you can simply describe as purely unmissable!!!

Thanks to Church Road Records for the promo.

The Devil And All His Works is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Church Road Records.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

LinkTree | BandCamp | Instagram

Heavy Psych-Prog Rockers MR.BISON to release new album "The Garden of Forgotten Dreams" on Heavy Psych Sounds this fall; first track streaming!

Italian heavy psychedelic and progressive rock goldsmiths MR BISON announce the release of their new studio album "The Garden of Forgotten Dreams" this September 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds Records, and present the first single "Cosmic Tide" today.

The Garden: a magical place where lost dreams don't fade, but grow like silent flowers. Each petal holds an unfulfilled wish, each scent a memory left behind. In this garden, those who enter rediscover parts of themselves they thought lost and understand that nothing should be forgotten if it has touched their heart.

About the album theme, the band comments: "The garden is the image that recurs most frequently throughout the album. We chose it as a metaphor for a refuge, a place where we can nurture our natural inclinations, let them grow and blossom, and where we can also keep our shadows and lights hidden. Where our secrets, our most authentic truths, our aspirations and our dreams, can therefore remain guarded until we are ready to reveal them to those who can contain and appreciate them."

Stream new MR BISON single "Cosmic Tide" below:

About this first track, they add: “A dreamy cosmic journey through stars, waves, and infinite space. Blending celestial imagery with themes of freedom, belonging, and self-discovery, the song invites the listener to drift beyond reality and embrace the endless rhythm of the universe. This track represents this new album's sonic range, sailing between progressive rides, psychedelia and 70's acoustic parts.”

The album will be issued on September 25th, with LP and CD preorders available now through Heavy Psych Sounds Records.


MR BISON "The Garden of Forgotten Dreams"
Out September 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds

TRACKLIST:

1. Cosmic Tide
2. The Garden of Forgotten Dreams
3. Bright Shadow
4. Astray
5. Turn to Stone
6. The Sunrise
7. River Moan
8. Old Hue

MR BISON is a rock band that melds heavy psychedelic sounds with progressive elements and evocative soundscapes. Formed in a small coastal town in Tuscany, Italy, the band has reinvented their sound over the course of four albums from stoner rock to heavy psychedelic and progressive sounds, firmly establishing themselves in 2018 with the acclaimed Holy Oak and the great concept album Seaward in the 2020, which suddenly brought them touring around Europe and US many times, attending the best festivals on the scene. The foursome released Echoes From the Universe in February 2024 via Heavy Psych Sounds, reaching many international Best Albums lists — including a top spot on the prestigious Doom Charts — and followed by touring across Europe, the US West Coast Tour and the UK and numerous festival appearances.

Their new concept album The Garden of Forgotten Dreams was produced and recorded by guitarist Matteo Barsacchi, mixed by Richard Behrens (Elder, Kadavar) at Big Snuff Studio in Berlin, and mastered by Carl Saff in Chicago and Adam Ayan (Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam) in Portland. The band has already been confirmed to play Stoned From The Underground, Blackdoor Fest and other summer festivals, and will be touring Europe and the UK again in the fall of 2026.

MR.BISON is

Matteo Barsacchi - Guitar / Synth
Matteo Sciocchetto - Voice / Bass
Davide Salvadori - Guitar / Synth
Lorenzo Salvadori - Drums

MR.BISON links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Ritual Smoke - Black Sabbathory (EP Review)

Release Date: June 27th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Black Sabbathory - Tracklist

1.Hasheeshian Tomb 09:19

2.Black Sabbathory 02:51

3.Streets Of The Damned 09:34

4.Creeper In The Crypt 04:12

Members

Adam Asquith - Vocals

Jimmy Long - Bass

Luke Thelin - Drums

Tom Clements - Guitar

Review

Black Sabbathory is the debut release from Doom/Stoner Metallers Ritual Smoke who are made up of members of the bands ORME and MORAG TONG. The band are creative descendents of bands such as Electric Wizard, Sleep and Black Wizard with a sludgier and distorted fuzzier sound developing from the epic opening track Hasheeshian Tomb. The vocals are clean based but lead vocalist Adam Asquith offers a style that moves between gritty delivery and a full on aggressive CAVEMAN style that gives the whole record a deep meaningful presence.

The music moves along at a fast pace with Ritual Smoke playing a genuine and turbo charged style of AMPLIFIED HEAVINESS that does have raw production sounds keeping things grounded. The music does have a vicious Psychedelic environment that’s compounded by that sludgy WEEDIAN groove that throws Ritual Smoke into long drawn out progressive melodies. The record is inspired mostly by the Nineties and Noughties underground scene with the lyrics being what you expect from a record such as this.

Second track Black Sabbathory is a shorter track with slowly played drones and space rock sounds tapping into the Seventies Doom landscape with a freakish and stripped back jazzy atmosphere. The song is wonderfully helped along by an eerie soundclip from the classic 1982 animated fantasy film The Flight Of Dragons. I thought it was Conan The Barbarian at first but I was way off. The song is quite Prog Rock based with Ritual Smoke breaking the song down into different musical structures with SONIC experimentation allowing the music to be quite heavy and powerful whilst keeping a low-key delivery compared to the other tracks on the record.

Third track Streets Of The Damned is pure ELECTRIC WIZARD riff-worship and that’s no bad thing especially when Ritual Smoke adds  violent Occult and Horror themes into the mix. The music is played at a deliberate LOW & SLOW musical charge with the bone crunching rhythm section allowing this to be the heaviest, violent and most surreal tracks on the record. The DRONE aspect is another highlight which only adds to the creepy surroundings that Ritual Smoke thrust upon the listener. The song works best when Ritual Smoke fully go all in with their OVER THE TOP theatrical style that feels like what UNCLE ACID and ELECTRIC WIZARD would sound like if they ever collaborated together. 

The final song Creeper In The Crypt is an Ambient/Instrumental track that delivers a more restrained experience with Ritual Smoke performing more of a song that feels left out from a classic horror movie soundtrack. The echoes of Occult, Doom, Psych and Electronica puts this track closely to the likes of GOBLIN and JOHN CARPENTER with its gloomy psychedelic and cathartic undertone.

Black Sabbathory is a highly intriguing and well executed record that should allow Ritual Smoke gain some much needed momentum within the underground scene. With superb production values, Black Sabbathory is different style of Doom/Stoner Metal that pulls off a lot of different musical surprises along the way that ultimately leave you wanting more.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Ealdor Bealu - Graves Of The Silent Plain (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Graves Of The Silent Plain - Tracklist

1.Ponderay 

2.Abandonded to Decay

3.Erosion

4.Gold Mountain

5.Buried at Boot Hill 

Members

Carson Russell: Guitars, Vocals

Rylie Collingwood: Bass, Vocals

Travis Abbott: Guitars, Vocals

Cameron Elgart: Drums, Guitar

Review

Graves Of The Silent Plate is the next chapter from Americana/Doom/Psych/Stoner Rockers Ealdor Bealu which allows them to transform into HEAVY DOOMED OUT NOMADS of a scorched Desert Rock landscape. This record allows Ealdor Bealu to move into different Post-Apocalyptic areas of the Doom, Psych and Stoner Metal worlds with a stripped back delivery that gives an unflinching style of music to be delivered from start to finish.

The songs can be quite progressive and brilliantly outlandish but Ealdor Bealu feel like they’re doing something truly original and demonically heavy with their Americana imagery which allows a fast-paced Desert Rock identity to fully form and move into sudden shifts of Drone Rock/Metal. The vocals are perhaps all over the place which I mean as a compliment with Ealdor Bealu having three vocalists to call upon with Carson Russell, Rylie Collingwood and Travis Abbott never feeling the need to outshine each other and perhaps work as one cool sounding collaborative unit.

Cameron Elgart’s understated and epic sense of drumming gives Ealdor Bealu a pure cinematic sound that thrives on a sense of adventure. Carson (Guitars), Rylie (Bass) and Travis (Guitar) take care of the more psychedelic and spaced out destructive grooves that helps the whole journey move into another dimension altogether.

Ealdor Bealu plays music inspired by the likes of EARTH, KYUSS and YAWNING MAN but with a fractured and slightly downbeat MELODIC sound that can be quite offbeat, left-field and sometimes depressing. However, Ealdor Bealu always finds the time and creative sound to develop long drawn out instrumental Desert Rock passages that merge the finer, darker and twisted elements of Folk, Drone, Psych, Sludge and Stoner Metal for something can be beautifully surreal. 

All of the tracks are absolutely stunning and essential to listen to but if I need to choose my favourite aspects then I would say: Ponderay, Abandoned To Decay and Gold Mounting with Ealdor Bealu providing haunting and emotionally charging soundscapes where the lyrics can be downright gut-wrenching to listen to especially when Rylie takes the vocal spotlights mostly on the stunning third track Erosion.

Graves Of The Silent Plain never feels forced with Ealdor Bealu tapping into their Prog Rock, Folk Rock and Americana aspect of their sound for the majority of the album. Though, the band always manages to find ways to deliver epic instrumental soundscapes that become superbly destructive and mind-expanding all at the same time.

Ealdor Bealu thrive on being quite off-beat and highly experimental for this record which ranks as their most forward thinking and superbly creative to date. Graves Of The Silent Plain is a multi-layered and hypnotic audio experience that’s amazingly different with Ealdor Bealu once again proving why they’re an unstoppable force of nature that many bands don’t dare to tread.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

You can buy Graves Of The Silent Plain now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Ealdor Bealu links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Heavy Psych Metallers Book Of Wyrms Release New Single “Slime Fever”, First Taste Of Upcoming Album

US heavy metal psych outfit Book of Wyrms return today with their new single “Slime Fever”, offering the first glimpse into their forthcoming new album, with further details to be revealed soon.

Formed in 2014 out of a shared devotion to Hawkwind and ZZ Top, Book of Wyrms describe themselves as a four piece heavy metal psych band with extensive experience jamming in outer space, steadily building a reputation in the US underground through their blend of heavy riffs, psychedelic textures and driving energy.

“Slime Fever” captures a clear shift in momentum for the band. The addition of drummer Brian Wiltz has injected a new level of intensity and directness into the songwriting, with a more aggressive and straightforward approach that still leaves space for dynamics, restraint and unexpected turns. Wiltz’s background outside of traditional heavy music also brings a broader rhythmic perspective, knowing when to support the song and when to push it into more explosive territory.

For the first time, the band also worked with a dedicated mixer. Rob Wrong (Wrong Way Recording, Witch Mountain) handled the mix, opening up a new sonic dimension for Book of Wyrms and helping shape a sound that feels both sharper and more expansive than ever before. His approach aligned naturally with the band’s vision, drawing on reference points such as Dio’s Last in Line and Judas Priest’s Turbo, while still allowing space for unexpected creative directions in the mix.

Stylistically, the band continues to evolve while staying rooted in their core influences. Alongside their enduring love for Rainbow, Hawkwind and Monster Magnet, Book of Wyrms found themselves drawing inspiration from 80s Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Scorpions, Queen and Motörhead, aiming to create music built for movement and intensity. The result is a collection of songs shaped with a strict approach to composition, where anything that did not “hit” with full impact was left behind.

“Slime Fever” stands as the first transmission from this new era: faster, dirtier and more focused, setting the tone for what is to come from the forthcoming album.

“Slime Fever” is available now here: https://tidal.com/track/533950428/u

For more info:

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

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.

Manchester Morgue - III (EP Reviews)

Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

III - Tracklisting

1.The Sorcerer 04:58

2.Farewell To Gleann An Ghad 02:50

3.Betrayers! 05:43

Review

III is the debut EP from Manchester Morgue who fuse Doom, Psych, Folk, Sludge and Stoner Rock into their wider cinematic universe of riff-driven melodies. Their debut EP is a concept record of sorts which is explained by the band below:

“III tells three stories, each dedicated to one of the protagonists of our narrative concept: a necromancer brought back to life, an Irish emigrant fleeing his past, and a fallen nobleman consumed by betrayal.”

III does have a multimedia narrative for the most part but this allows Manchester Morgue to be quite creative with their music with the hidden storylines appearing within the individual tracks. The band have also stated their influence is driven by their passion for 19th-century gothic, adventure and horror literature, B-movies, and pulp imagery.

The EP also has a slight video-game influence as well which allows different sounds and textures to appear with Manchester Morgue playing songs that could easily be inspired by the Red Dead Redemption universe but still creating their own haunting identity. The record is a vibrant mix that’s played on each track with some superb Post-Doom and Gothic sound being played on the excellent opening track The Sorcerer. 

Second track Farewell To Gleann An Ghad is a Folk Rock driven number which is more melancholic and dramatic to the other tracks on the album. It’s perhaps my least favourite song on the EP but it shows a different side to Manchester Morgue compared to the hard-rocking sounds of the other tracks. The song is dominated by a historical Irish background which is quite surprising since the band are actually Italian but they pull this off with superb realism.

Third track Betrayers! is a great style of Doom, Stoner and Psych Rock driven track with Manchester Morgue applying a trippy Eastern vibe into the mix. This feels like a completely different band compared to the other tracks with Manchester Morgue delivering the standout track on the EP. The song feels inspired by the likes of Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid, Led Zepp and Green Lung where the song moves into heavier distorted sludgier grooves. 

III is a solid and superbly entertaining record. I’m still not fully sold on the second track but that will change over time. However,  Manchester Morgue has real potential here and you can feel they have the talent to deliver something really special in the near future. Until then, embrace the dark and twisted fantastical vision that Manchester Morgue has delivered with “III”.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram