German Riff Driven Sludge Metallers Red Stone Chapel Reveal New Single “Evil Seed” Through Renewed Argonauta Alliance

German heavy riff force RED STONE CHAPEL are proud to renew their collaboration with Argonauta Records and unveil their brand new single “Evil Seed”, available now on all digital streaming platforms: https://tidal.com/album/531069855/u

Originally formed in Marburg, Hesse, Germany in 2009, RED STONE CHAPEL have spent years refining their unmistakable blend of Stoner Rock, Southern groove, Sludge and Doom infused heaviness. Following lineup changes and a renewed creative vision solidified in late 2023, the band now emerge darker, heavier and more intense than ever before.

“Evil Seed” perfectly captures this new direction: a crushing and riff driven track built on massive guitar tones, dark atmospheres and emotionally charged vocals. Rooted in the sludgy spirit of the NOLA scene while embracing a broader Heavy Metal identity, the single delivers a relentless sonic impact that showcases the band’s evolution and uncompromising approach.

With influences ranging from Black Sabbath and Crowbar to Cathedral, Pentagram, Down and Danzig, RED STONE CHAPEL continue to push their sound into deeper and more powerful territories, balancing aggression, melancholy and raw energy in equal measure.

The band comments:

“RED STONE CHAPEL are happy to build on their previous partnership with ARGONAUTA RECORDS and that listeners will find sorrow and joy in our new sonic onslaught. In hope that YOU, the listener, are able to tame your own demons, we want to provide the soundtrack for your journey.”

Links

https://www.facebook.com/redstonechapelband
http://www.instagram.com/redstonechapel
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

Thanks to Grand Sounds PR for the details.

Urzah - A Tranquil Void (Album Review)

Release Date: June 05th 2026. Record Label: APF Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

A Tranquil Void - Tracklisting

1.At the Mouth of the Cave 03:28

2.The Call Beneath 04:33

3.Infernal Star I 05:50

4.Infernal Star II 05:24

5.Bark & Branches 03:44

6.In the Mouth of the Wolf 06:26

7.Hunter in the Veil 06:23

8.Entwined, Twisted Roots of Chaos 12:39

Members

 

Ed Fairman - Vocals / Guitar

Tom McElveen - Vocals / Guitar

Dan Bradley - Bass

James Brown – Drums

Review

Progressive Sludge Metallers Urzah return with their sophomore album A Tranquil Void which sees the band strip all the Stoner Metal dynamics that played a major part of their 2024 debut album. Urzah demonstrates an aggressive and violent Post-Metal vibe to their music which travels through the other areas of music that appear on the album that it becomes the dominant theme holding everything together.

There’s a brutal HARDCORE atmosphere allowing Urzah to fully create a highly apocalyptic style of Psych Metal and Ambient themes. The vocals are reminiscent of Neurosis and Mastodon with the band even applying THRASH METAL beatdowns to add a deafening level of metallic aggression into the mix. A Tranquil Void is quite experimental with it’s fractured beats, extended glitches and sonic noises that gives this record an almost industrial feel with Urzah applying a “RELAPSE RECORDS” makeover to their music. 

The instrumental work is superb throughout with Urzah demonstrating a intense Progressive Metal energy compared to their debut album especially on tracks such At The Mouth Of The Cave, The Call Beneath, Infernal Star I, In The Mouth Of The Wolf and Entwined, Twisted Roots of Chaos which all left me feeling breathless at times. 

Urzah excel at injecting classic Post-Metal themes against the modern day Progressive Sludge Metal environment which lets areas of Post-Rock and Ambient Metal to appear from time-to-time. The album does become bleaker, darker and perhaps even violent with the thuggish and brutal sounds emitting from all corners with the excellent rhythm section of Dan Bradley on Bass and James Brown on Drums which keeps everything grounded.

It’s this musical dynamic that allows Ed Fairman (Vocals / Guitar) and Tom McElveen (Vocals / Guitar) to deliver stunning vocals and sublime progressive instrumental passages that have a thrilling cinematic Psychedelic quality to them.

There’s some great moments of classic Hard Rock instrumental solos that should feel out of place for a record such as this but Urzah pulls this off with great originality and musical conviction. A Tranquil Void is a stunning record on every level that’s backed up by first rate production values. If you want a record that moves into multiple areas of Heavy Metal whilst keeping that Post-Metal quality from start to finish then you can’t go wrong with this epic album that pulls no punches and leaves you a shivering wreck when everything is said and done.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

A Tranquil Void is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via APF Records.

Links 

Official | BandCamp

HUFR FEST MILE HIGH RIFFS II "THE SECOND HUFF" RETURNS TO DENVER MAY 14–16, 2027 - First Wave of Bands Announced

HUFR FEST MILE HIGH RIFFS II "THE SECOND HUFF" RETURNS TO DENVER MAY 14–16, 2027 First Wave of Bands Announced for the Second Annual Celebration of the Heavy Underground

DENVER, CO – June 8, 2026 – Today, HUFR FEST Mile High Riffs officially unveils the first seven bands confirmed for HUFR FEST Mile High Riffs II: The Second Huff, returning to Bar 404 in Denver, Colorado, May 14–16, 2027.

Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural festival, organizers are proud to launch the first phase of the 2027 lineup and begin building momentum toward another unforgettable weekend of heavy music in the Region of Doom.

The following artists comprise the first wave of bands announced on June 8, 2026, with additional national and international acts to be revealed in the coming months:

• Florist – Tampa, Florida
• HolyRoller – Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• LungBurner – Atlanta, Georgia
• Crop – Lexington, Kentucky
• Formula 400 – San Diego, California
• Phantom Hound – Oakland, California
• Valiomierda – Denver, Colorado

The inaugural HUFR FEST exceeded expectations, drawing fans and artists from across the United States for three unforgettable days of heavy music, community, and camaraderie. The response from attendees, bands, vendors, and media partners confirmed that HUFR FEST fills an important role in supporting and celebrating the modern heavy underground.

The founders credit the festival's success to the collaborative spirit that exists throughout the heavy underground. That same spirit will continue to guide HUFR FEST as it grows into one of North America's premier gatherings for doom, stoner rock, sludge, heavy psych, and riff-driven music.

The festival's home, Bar 404, has quickly become one of Denver's most respected destinations for live music. Its unique layout creates an intimate connection between artists and fans, allowing attendees to experience every crushing riff, soaring lead, and thunderous groove from just feet away. Combined with a powerful sound system and acoustics that consistently earn praise from musicians and concertgoers alike, Bar 404 is the perfect home for HUFR FEST.

Additional bands will be announced throughout the coming months. Organizers have confirmed that the next lineup announcement will include two international artists, further expanding the festival's global reach and strengthening its reputation as a destination event for underground heavy music fans.

Alongside the next artist announcement, HUFR FEST will launch a limited number of Early Bird Presale Tickets at special introductory pricing. Fans are encouraged to follow festival channels closely, as these discounted passes will be available in limited quantities and are expected to move quickly.

More artist announcements, ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, vendor opportunities, and festival updates will be released in the coming months.

About HUFR FEST Mile High Riffs

Founded by Sean Brooks, Andrea Thomas-Brooks, and Zeth Pedulla, HUFR FEST Mile High Riffs celebrates the best in doom, stoner rock, sludge, heavy psych, and underground heavy music.

Presented in partnership with The Heavy Underground Farm Report, the festival brings together artists and fans from across the globe for a weekend dedicated to community, discovery, and massive riffs.

HUFR FEST Mile High Riffs II: The Second Huff
May 14–16, 2027
Bar 404
Denver, Colorado
Three Days • Seventeen Bands • Infinite Riffs

For festival updates, artist announcements, and future ticket information, visit hufrfest.com.

REDWOOD - Hyperspace (Album Review)

Release Date: June 12th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Hyperspace - Tracklisting

1. HIGHWAY NOVA (6:38)

2. HYPERSPACE (6:59)

3. ANOTHER PLANET (4:35)

4. GOT A FEELING (3:54)

5. LAND OF ANCIENT NOTHING (7:06)

6. OPIUM AND STIMULANTS (4:03)

7. MOTHER EARTH (4:06)

8. ASTEROID (6:03)

9. INVADERS (8:12)

10. FUTURE (11:32)

Review

The Space Rock/Doom/Stoner Metal collective known as REDWOOD wasn’t kidding that they would be back bigger than ever with their next album and they’ve truly proven that point with their latest expedition into the further edges of the COSMOS with HYPERSPACE. Following six months on after their critically acclaimed album Time To Lose, this time round REDWOOD leans further and heavily into the legendary Nineties Stoner Metal scene. 

The MONSTER MAGNET and FU MANCHU influence is there but REDWOOD adds some gloriously OTT soundtrack sensibilities to their music and some heavy use of Progressive Rock storytelling elements to the album. Hyperspace feels like a pure cinematic event and perhaps the perfect soundtrack to a classic video game of the PS2 and XBOX era of gaming. Maybe I’m slightly overselling the album but that’s the feeling I got from listening to the record as REDWOOD fully delves into the folklore of Stoner Metal, Psych Rock and Space Rock with a renowned sense of progressive purpose. 

The opening batch of songs Highway Nova, Hyperspace and Another Planet demonstrates a fine level of intricate FUZZ details that moves into heavier areas of dominant Stoner Metal melodies which does have that deep Monster Magnet influence which appears even within the spaced out guitars that have a certain Ed Mundell quality to them. It’s a great style of music that develops into REDWOOD’s own way of delivering high voltage and action packed Space Rock themes. The lyrics always have that “BIGGER THAN LIFE” attitude with raucous vocals to match.

There is still a sense of gritty realism appearing within the sludgy sounds that appear from time-to-time. The music is always catchy and superbly fast-paced where REDWOOD packs a lot of intense musical movement within the lengthy sixty two minutes the album lasts for. Despite the fantastical elements of the album, Hyperspace is quite a grounded record especially with some of the lyrics and creative messages that's outlined within the whole journey with the emerging threat of “A.I.” posing to the whole of mankind. REDWOOD has found an excellent way to offer their own perspective on this threat but do this through the power of Doom Metal and Stoner Metal.

REDWOOD continues his great use of Ambient and Trippy sound effects heard on his previous albums but this time they’re used in a more distorted manner which just highlights the dangerous effect that “A.I.” could have upon us all. Sometimes the album does feel a bit too long at times with certain songs but the listener does experience some intense SONIC musical passages that moves into heavier Sludge Metal waters with a thrilling Atmospheric delivery appearing when you least expect it.

Other great tracks to check out are: Got A Feeling, Land Of Ancient Nothing, Opium and Stimulants, Asteroid, Invades and the amazing final track Future (which is REDWOOD’s best track they’ve created by a long mile). These tracks contain the most interesting, heaviest and doomed out grooves on the whole record and you can feel REDWOOD’s own thoughts and creative persona being expressed through their music. 

Hyperspace may feel quite long at times but the real reward is the actual destination with REDWOOD finally coming into their own creative existence which could propel them to bigger things within the Stoner Rock/Metal scene. The instrumental work is stellar throughout with a SHIT-TON of epic instrumental passages and wicked guitar solos transporting you back to the classic heyday of Nineties Stoner Metal where the likes of FU MANCHU, SLEEP, KYUSS and MONSTER MAGNET ruled the entire mother-trucking universe. 

REDWOOD have just released their best record to date and this will perhaps be the album I will rank their future records against. This is seriously a grand musical adventure that’s perfectly made for the WEEDIAN generation. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Linktree

Üga Büga - Valley Of The Wolf (Album Review)

Release Date: June 05th 2026. Record Label: Various. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Valley Of The Wolf - Tracklisting

1.Divine Slaughter (Backyard Barbecue Bonanza) 04:27

2.Earthsuckers 05:42

3.Valley Of The Wolf 05:18

4.Ghost in the Diamond Cage 05:01

5.Mötorhog 03:06

6.Nail That Binds 04:51

7.The Sand Witch 04:01

8.Divination 05:37

9.Descent 00:57

10.Revolting Power 08:44

Members

 

Calloway Jones - Guitars, Vocals, Keys

Niko Cvetanovich - Bass, Backing Vocals, Keys

Jimmy Czywczynski - Drums, Backing Vocals

Review

Progressive Stoner Metallers Üga Büga continue enhancing their own highly original and deeply fantastical world that’s powered through a tone of heavy grooves formed from the legendary sounds of Grunge, Doom, Sludge, Psych, Prog and Stoner Metal. Their second album Valley Of The Wolf is way more out there compared to their celebrated debut album Year Of The Hog. The vocals are freakishly outlandish which fully sells the fantastical element of Üga Büga’s overall storyline and heavy pulsating beats their music brilliantly contains.

Influenced by the likes of Mastodon, High On Fire, Soundgarden and The Mars Volta once more, the band are masters of their own craft with thrilling tales of fantasy and science fiction set against the backdrop of modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal. The music is also more DOOM & GLOOM obsessive with the harsh realities of Atmospheric Sludge Metal appearing very early on that’s set against the primal neanderthal grooves that the band lay down within the opening tracks of Divine Slaughter (Backyard Barbecue Bonanza) and Earthsuckers. 

There’s a lot of different switching around of musical tempos on how everything is delivered. You can detect slight variations of bands such as IRON MAIDEN and BEYOND THE COLOUR AND ME starting to emerge with the scorched and desolate themes of the storyline fully starting to take charge. The music can be quite abstract and solitary but with Üga Büga relying on Jazz Metal and Prog Metal techniques which allows their music to be more free-form and experimental when compared to their debut album.

Some of the vocals are quite extreme but they’re easy to understand as Üga Büga demonstrate a complex style of different musical techniques whilst becoming quite obsessed with Classic Hard Rock and Grunge dynamics on other tracks contained on the album. You can feel, hear and detect a massive Devin Townsend vibe appearing within some of the vocal changes and sublime humour appearing within the lyrics. 

There is a lot to cover and unpack on Valley Of The Wolf as Üga Büga throws everything into the creative blender and just lets the MAGIC happen. The record may not be for everyone but that’s their loss as this album is brilliantly entertaining from start to finish where Üga Büga avoids the dreaded sophomore curse with flying colours. 

Other standout tracks on the album include Ghost In The Diamond Cage, Motorhog, Divination and Revolting Power. These tracks contain the most outrageous and straight-forward riff-centric melodies that will have you headbanging to your hearts content in no time at all. Plus you’ll be amazed by the technical ability that Üga Büga possesses and play on these tracks alone. As the band play different styles of HEAVY METAL at the same time which will have you thinking - HOW THE FUCK IS THIS PHYSCIALLY POSSIBLE. 

It’s these moments that allow Üga Büga to be one of the most technically impressive and musically brilliant bands that have emerged from the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal underground scene within the last decade or so. 

Valley Of The Wolf is completely surreal, outlandish, bat-shit crazy and brilliantly entertaining. It is also one of the most crazed musical experiences I’ve had this year alone with it’s neverending supply of hard hitting grooves that never misses the target. 

Outstanding. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Üga Büga and US/THEM PR Group for the promo.

Links 

ugabugaband.com
instagram.com/ugabugaband
facebook.com/ugabugaband

https://ugabuga.bandcamp.com/album/valley-of-the-wolf

Doom/Sludge Metallers DREAD WITCH to release new album on October 31st 2026. Reveal New Artwork For Upcoming New Album.

Danish doom band DREAD WITCH are pleased to announce that their new album "CULT" will be released on LP, CD and digital on October 31st 2026.

Produced, mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen, "CULT" is a journey through dark landscapes of monumental bone shattering riffs, unnerving lyrics and haunting vocals - be prepared!

The LP will be released through Dutch label DHU Records, while DREAD WITCH will release the CD themselves through their own label Bottomless Pit. Gateway Music will handle the digital distribution.

DREAD WITCH will drop a music video for the title track later in June

Feast your eyes on the amazing and psychedelic art by Deliriavision!

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

L.M.I. - V (EP Review)

Release Date: June 19th 2026. Record Label: HPGD Productions. Formats: DD

V - Tracklisting

1.Feelin' Tired 

2.Wings of Misery

3.Strangling a Broken Dream

4.Living Fear

5.Fever Dream in a Golden Cage

Review

V is the latest EP from Sludge/Punk/Stoner Metal upstarts L.M.I. and is the first release I’ve actually listened to in over five years since I last featured them on the blog. Since that time the band have released a full length album which didn’t really fully connect with me but their latest record V I have a lot of time for. As they bring a certain Death Metal charge to their music that can also be quite grindcore based which you’ll fully experience within the brutal opening song of Feelin’ Tried.

The song has a collection of brutal beatdowns, thuggish drums, sludgy guitars and abstract psychedelic passages which feels like a million light years away from their earlier Doom/Stoner Rock orientated records. This is perhaps down to the band maturing over the years and touring with heavy hitters such as Ken Mode, Whores, Full Of Hell, Cancer Bats and Necrot. That's a dazzling mix of great names which feels like it’s moved into their creative outlook for this record alone.

L.M.I. display a varying sense of Industrial Metal throughout the EP which comes fully into focus on tracks such as Wings Of Misery, Strangling A Broken Dream and Fever Dreams In A Golden Cage all allowing the band to play their subversive blend of Hardcore Punk, Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal melodies. The whole thing is vicious with an utter distrust and disdain for modern life and authority. The production values whilst not the most perfect environment, they still get the job down of allowing L.M.I. to sound fucking sublime within the most aggressive and violent aspects of the whole EP. 

There are moments where L.M.I. show flashes of their old creative identity with some classic High On Fire riffing methodology in the most straight forward sounds contained within the EP. V has a lot of different musical Doomed Out mechanics holding everything together which showcases the fine musical evolution that L.M.I. have experienced over the last decade or so.

This is their most violent and ultimately rewarding record they have released to date with a NO FUCKS GIVEN attitude that should allow L.M.I. to perhaps gain a greater following within the underground scene and perhaps even reward them with a bigger following within the Extreme Metal scene at the same time.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram