Exclusive Song Premiere And Review Of Instrumental Psych/Space/Stoner Rock Collective ASTRAL CONSTRUCT New Single CRIMSON From Upcoming New Album

Release Date: 25th September 2026. Label: Echodelick Records. Format. Digital Download

Crimson - Traciklist

Crimson

Members

Astral Construct - Everything

Review

Crimson is an eight minute plus epic that sees Astral Construct aim for a heavier Post-Metal sound that touches upon the fringes of Drone Metal whilst keeping with his own great style of Psych Rock, Space Rock and Stoner Rock sounds. There's an almost "soundtrack" quality to crimson which acts as a good indicator of the direction of the upcoming album The Exoplanetary Diversions is heading upon.

There's a lot of frenzied sludgy guitars and fuzzed out melodies forming on top of each other which feels slightly chaotic but superbly quite restrained at the same time. Astral Construct weaves a level of progressive Doomed Out melodies which are quite aggressive one moment and transform into a sullen Post-Rock dynamic. 

There is a beginning, middle and end with this track as Crimson offers a diverse selection of intricate musical passages that all feel quite different to each other. However, when fully joined up, this allows the song to be quite an epic journey of self discovery well at least for Astral Construct.

This is a great track to announce the upcoming new album as it's quite an action packed and surreal experience which has got me quite excited for what lies ahead.

Words by Steve Howe

Exclusive Song Premiere

Instrumental Psych/Space/Stoner Rock artist Astral Construct are releasing the first epic single "Crimson" from their forthcoming new album The Exoplanetary Diversions which you can hear below thanks to this exclusive song premiere.

Astral Construct say this about "Crimson" and gives a great description about the upcoming album itself:

“Crimson is the centerpiece on the third Astral Construct album, The Exoplanetary Diversions, which is slated for release in November of 2026. The album will be Astral Construct’s first with Echodelick Records. Crimson features psychedelic passages, heavy sections and a surprise middle section that invokes moody, ethereal movements. The song fits perfectly with the Astral Construct mission of drawing the listener into the journey and takes them back to the age when albums were consumed in its entirety, rather than pieces cobbled into streaming playlists.”

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Astral Construct for all of the details

Heavy Rockers MOON DESTROYS (w/ current and ex-Torche, Abrams, Royal Thunder) kick off US tour with Melt-Banana; fall shows with The Sword announced!

Atlanta's heavy powerhouse MOON DESTROYS (with current and former members of Torche, Abrams and Royal Thunder) are hitting the road for a run of West Coast shows alongside Japanese noise rock sensation Melt-Banana and have just added three fall shows with US heavy rock legends The Sword, all in support of their new album "OMNI" on Blues Funeral Recordings.

Spearheading the thunderous heavy unit are founding members Juan Montoya (ex-Torche) and Evan Diprima (Gold Pyramid, ex-Royal Thunder), with lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Zach Amster (Abrams) rounding out the front. After successfully completing a 3-week co-headline run with The Well, the band officially welcomed Taylor Iversen (Abrams) on bass as their fourth member to lock in their thunderous foundation.

Fresh off the release of their acclaimed new album "OMNI" on Blues Funeral Recordings, MOON DESTROYS are fully ready to enter their next chapter, bringing their shimmering, hard-hitting blend of post-grunge, riff-doom and driving psych to the masses. They kick off the fall with two runs of shows supporting Japanese noise rockers Melt-Banana and US stoner metal heroes The Sword.

September shows with Melt-Banana:

Sept 22 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
Sept 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Rebel Lounge
Sept 25 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
Sept 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
Sept 27 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall

October shows with The Sword:

Oct 29 - Louisville KY - Mercury Ballroom
Oct 30 - Cleveland OH - Grog Shop
Oct 31 - Pittsburgh PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre

New album "OMNI" - Available now on Blues Funeral Recordings
Watch latest videos Flowers / Missing Wish / My Eyes / Invasion

“A sound that feels both molten and weightless.” Decibel Magazine
“Highly atmospheric sounds, upbeat melodies and stirring vocals.” Outlaws of the Sun
“A great balance between ambitious energy and atmospheric grace.” Metal Hammer Magazine
“Nothing short of mesmerizing, Omni is one of the year’s enduring best.” Doomed & Stoned

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. Fresh off a breakout 2025 year that saw them tour with Elder, Dozer and The Sword, Juan Montoya and Evan Diprima ushered in 2026 by welcoming Abrams frontman Zach Amster on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, leading to the release of their new studio album "OMNI" on Blues Funeral Recordings in September 2026.

MOON DESTROYS is

Juan Montoya - Lead Guitar
Evan Diprima - Drums
Zachary Amster - Vocals & Rhythms Guitar
Taylor Iversen - Bass

MOON DESTROYS links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

BLUES FUNERAL RECORDINGS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Post-Metal Legends NEUROSIS Announce Latest Tour Dates

Photo Credit: Scott Evans

Exactly two seasons have passed since we declared An Undying Love for a Burning World. It has been an incredibly rewarding time for us and we are humbled by your love and support.

With our first two shows behind us, we are now working hard to be ready for the upcoming sets. We respectfully ask you to join us at one of these upcoming gatherings.

TICKETS

Neurosis Tour Dates

10/16/2026 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA w/ Terry Gross [SOLD OUT]
10/17/2026 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA w/ Kowloon Walled City [SOLD OUT]
10/30/2026 Warsaw – Brooklyn, NY w/ Uniform [Tickets]
10/31/2026 Warsaw – Brooklyn, NY w/ Primitive Man [Tickets]
11/21/2026 Metro – Chicago, IL w/ Mr. Phylzzz [Tickets]
11/22/2026 Metro – Chicago, IL w/ Primitive Man [Tickets]
11/27/2026 Revolution Hall – Portland, OR w/ special guests TBA, Great Falls [Tickets]
11/28/2026 Revolution Hall – Portland, OR w/ special guests TBA, Trigger Object [Tickets]
11/29/2026 Showbox SODO – Seattle, WA w/ special guests TBA, Great Falls [Tickets]
12/12/2026 Converge's Saddest Day @ Roadrunner – Boston, MA w/ Converge, and more [Tickets]
1/02/2027 The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA w/ Special Guests TBA [Tickets]
4/17/2027 Roadburn Festival – Tilburg, NL (Neurosis will play two sets) [Tickets]

Links

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BANDCAMP

Thanks to Neurot Recordings for the details.

Mehïga - Mehïga (Album Review)

Release Date: September 18th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Mehïga - Tracklist

1.Load Up 01:04

2.Smoke 04:31

3.Don't Look Down 05:16

4.Go Where You Go 01:58

5.Disco 06:43

6.Vacant 03:39

7.Space Witch 05:45

8.Mehïga 08:29

9.Exit Ship 03:19

Review

Psych/Desert/Stoner Rockers Mehïga have been playing as a band for over a decade now and are finally releasing their self-titled album. The record is a mixture of sounds influenced by the likes of Truckfighters, Slomosa, DOZER and FU MANCHU with some gritty rock attitude of their own making. It also helps that the band is quite experimental at how they deliver their various musical compositions that draws in sounds from the Shoegaze, Ambient, Sludge Rock and Prog Rock environments.

Mehïga play around with different song structures and disjointed elements of Heavy Psychedelic music which comes across surprisingly well within the opening tracks of Load Up, Smoke and Don’t Look Down with the sound being quite precise and surprisingly disjointed at the same time. The music is constantly fuzzy and moves around the Stoner Rock atmosphere with relevant ease as Mehïga develops some wonderfully awkward Sludge Rock dimensions into the mix. You can feel some cool sounding TRUCKFIGHTERS and SLOMOSA melodies emerging behind the scenes with Mehïga applying their own warped and warm identity into their music.

However, that doesn’t stop Mehïga adding some dark strands of Sludge, Doom and Drone grooves into the darkest and heaviest corners of the album that gives the record a wild and unpredictable nature on tracks such as Don’t Look Down, Disco, Space Witch and their epic title track MEHIGA. The whole thing sounds extremely dangerous and aggressive when the intense doomed out guitars show you how SLOMOSA would sound like if they ever ventured into the Sludge Rock arena.

Mehïga also injected some Alt Rock and Indie Rock sensibility into the album just to make things slightly dramatic but also quite endearing at the same time. The record has an off-kilter creative attitude but it’s this great style of musical delivery that allows Mehïga to create unexpected outbursts of Sludge/Stoner Metal instrumental passages that slowly merge into some grounded Heavy Psychedelic sounds with sublime vocals to match.

The production values are quite raw but gives Mehïga a gritty and determined attitude to play the best of their musical abilities that makes this album such a genuine pleasure to listen to. Mehïga never plays it safe and they may take some listeners out of their comfort zone especially on the later stages of the album. However, the music is absolutely thrilling to listen to with Mehïga finally demonstrating their own great original style of Heavy Psychedelic music that should allow the band to gain a bigger following within the underground heavy rock scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | LinkTree | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Nephila - Huldra (Album Review)

Release Date: August 28th 2026. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Huldra - Tracklist

1 Mother Of The Woods

2 In Her Hands

3 The Hidden Folk

4 Ash Their Bones

5 Capercailles Hymn

6 Huldra

7 Solar Eclipse

8 The Living Grave

9 F.I.N.N

Members

Josephine Asker – vocals

Linn Edlund – vocals

Anton Athley – guitar

Jacob Hellenrud – guitar

Johan Larsson – organ & keyboards

Charlie Andersson Vistbacka – bass guitar

Johan Lööf – drums

Review

Swedish septet Nephila has been around for a few years and are now unveiling their sophomore album, the excellent 'Huldra'. These Swedes champions transcendent and psychedelic 70's heavy rock with a sharp, clear yet organic sound. Add impeccable musicianship and songwriting skills and you have Nephila. Rarely has an album title befitted a band's music as much as 'Huldra' does. A huldra for the uninitiated is a forest nymph or a forest spirit and that's what Nephila brings forth, as if their music was conjured by a forest deity. Regardless, this is a brilliant album whichever way you look at it! 

This wonderful music journey begins with 'Mother Of The Woods'. Mid-tempo, mesmerizing and seductive with a gradual buid-up before going all out. There are 9 compositions in all where 'F.I.N.N' ends it all and what a closer it is. A bluesy backbone blended with excellent organ-fueled heavy rock weaves  back and forth as if you're on a magic carpet ride. In between Nephila brings 70's psychedelic rock mixed with early Deep Purple and Jethro Tull in the brilliant 'Ash Their Bones' and in the title track 'Huldra' as well. 'Capercailles Hymn' moves in within the same vein where the duelling guitars and the organ in this instrumental beauty.

The band throws down the gauntlet in the bluesy 70's heavy rocker 'The Living Grave' where they go full tilt like their lives depended on it as the verses creates the atmosphere and the chorus erupts. 'Solar Eclipse' brings soft and delicate vocals and sparse instrumentation and it creates a spectacular realm to move within. 'The Hidden Folk' has such a nice groove moving parallel with excellent riffs and when the vocals enters the fray this already brilliant song is elevated even further. Nephila reels you in with 'In Her Hands' which offers captivating and hook-laden chorus and brilliant solos.

Nephila are such a revelation! Blending psychedelia, heavy 70's rock with a great sound and a modern touch has me hooked right from the start. Add Josephine and Linn's amazing vocals and you have this outstanding band. Not boxed in nor shackled they do what they want and how they want it and this freedom is so apparent in their music. Miss Nephila at your peril because they are far too good to be ignored!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Huldra is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Psych Stoner Rockers MISTER EARTHBOUND Release New EP MABON Today

Richmond, Virginia based swamp rockers Mister Earthbound have announced their new EP, »Mabon«, scheduled for release on September 22nd, 2026 as the third part of their seasonal »Endless Man« series.

Tracklist:

01. The Fire That Knows Your Name
02. Decay In Bloom
03. Gone

The Lowdown

Following their release of »Litha«, Mister Earthbound present their newest 3-song seasonal release, »Mabon«. Featuring gloomy instrumentation, melancholic harmonies, and driving percussion, »Mabon« is a heavy, bluesy, psychedelic exploration of the autumnal. For fans of Danzig, QOTSA, Alice In Chains.

With the lush, warm sounds of »Ostara« (Spring) and firey blues of »Litha« (Summer) behind them, Mister Earthbound slow things down to a sinister, smoldering burn on »Mabon«.

»Mabon« is the third in an ambitious new series of EPs in 2026. Each is set to launch on a seasonal solstice or equinox, with the bound collection being released as Mister Earthbound’s sophomore full-length, »Endless Man«.

You can listen to the new EP - Mabon - in full below:

The brainchild of guitarist Walter Gray, Mister Earthbound originally emerged after its founder returned to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia in 2016 armed with a pocket full of riffs and a drive to hit the road with a new project. Named as a homage to Napoleon Hill’s book »Outwit The Devil«, the quartet rapidly established themselves in their region and beyond as pioneers of a new breed of swamp rock, and have been captivating a diverse and growing fanbase ever since.

Building on the foundations laid by influences from the trippy tones of the 13th Floor Elevators and the raucous early days of Pentagram to the eerie blues of Robert Johnson with a psychedelic, doom-tinged approach, Mister Earthbound’s signature blend of searing riffs, haunting vocals, and driving rhythms transports audiences to the depths of the swamp both through their studio recordings and their electric live shows alongside sonic titans like Dead Meadow, Kadavar, Weedeater, YOB, and Black Mountain.

With a host of achievements already under their belt, including the release of their debut record »Shadow Work« via Kozmik Artifactz and a feature in Embassy Skateboards’ »Winter Warriors«, Mister Earthbound’s momentum is at an all-time high as they dive into their biggest undertaking yet with the »Endless Man« series of EPs.

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.

Links 

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree

SLEEP - Hempispheres (Album Review)

Release Date: September 03rd 2026. Record Label: Third Man Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Hempispheres - Tracklist

1.Have Spacesuit Will Travel 07:22

2.The Morrisist 04:42

3.Hempispheres 07:57

4.Arrival Of The Industry Ships 11:11

5.Whole Wheat Mountain / Well Baked 06:52

Members

Al Cisneros - Bass / Vocals

Bubba Dupree - Guitar

Dale Crover - Drums

Review

I’m not sure if the dust has settled on how SLEEP’s new album is busy upsetting their fanbase and even some critics. As this isn’t the SLEEP we’re used to. There’s no Matt Pike or Jason Roeder who have been replaced by Bubba Dupree and Dale Crover respectively on their new album Hempispheres. Though, here we are. I will admit I was sceptical before the album was released about how I won’t enjoy this at all. At first I didn’t enjoy anything that I listened to as everything felt too muted and too safe compared to the spaced out ferocity of the classic album THE SCIENCES.

Now a few weeks after the album’s initial release I’m actually in love with the record. It’s different to what has come before, that's mainly down to the change in personnel. I get folks complaining how this shouldn’t be called a SLEEP record and I partially agree to that extent as well. However, I want to review the album as I’m a mega fan of SLEEP. They’re one of my all time favourite bands.

Hempispheres is a superbly created Heavy Psychedelic record that obviously is missing the legendary destructive Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds played by Matt Pike. However, Bubba Dupree is one hell of a guitarist in his own right and perfectly suits this new low-key and spaced out version of SLEEP. The mood is quite abstract and drone based with the music perhaps closer to OM and Shrinebuilder with Dale’s clever drum beats adding a calm sense of momentum that works superbly well with Al’s dynamite bass playing.

The opening track Have Spacesuit Will Travel is SLEEP in a cautious mood creating diverse Space Rock melodies with a distorted sludgy musical environment which has small instances of Ambient and Drone passages forming. As I stated before, it’s quite low-key compared to SLEEP’s previous bombastic records but that’s no bad thing. As this track has plenty of groove and progressive movement that still feels like SLEEP through and through.

Second track The Mirrorist opts for a denser and hypnotic sound with an ice-cold glacial cosmic sound. The song does feel made up of intricate Middle Eastern moments but Al’s in inspired form throughout. The production can be quite fuzzy and not as clean as I would like but doesn’t deter from the great storytelling aspect that SLEEP have been known for. It’s not the fastest song that SLEEP have created here but the journey is worth taking for a mellow and highly aggressive number towards the later stages of the track.

Third track Hempispheres offers brief glimpses of old-school SLEEP with distorted sludgy guitars and a punishing bass line that may feel repetitive in places but the music is constantly addictive with that subtle lo-fi energy winning the day. The cosmic and psychedelic sound effects adds a layer of SPACE ROCK heaviness with a surprising level of distortion and Blues Rock surroundings towards the end of the song. One of my favourite songs from the whole album as it does make me want to rock out every time I listen to it.

A major criticism I’ve seen about the album is the muddled production values and whilst they’re different to previous albums, the record does sound quite vibrant, seedy and fully realized if you appreciate the “LESS IS MORE” feeling of the whole album.

The final two tracks Arrival Of The Industry Ships and Whole Wheat Mountain / Well Baked are the best parts of the album with SLEEP delving into heavier and quieter sonic based territories where the riffs feel more fully fleshed out from start to finish. The sonic surroundings feel fully fleshed out with a level of progressive delivery that allows the music to be quite more riff-centric and complex spaced out rhythms left me wanting more.

Everyone brings their “A” game to Hempispheres and I love this record for what it is. It’s not the SLEEP we expect and some longtime fans will never consider this a SLEEP record at all. I respect their opinions but I’m glad to make my mind up with this record and even though I have some issues with the record, I still adore the hell out of HEMPISPHERES. If you would have told me at the start of 2026 that we would have new albums by Mastodon, Neurosis and SLEEP then I would have said NO WAY but here we are and some folks are still complaining!!!

My final thoughts is Hempispheres is another outstanding record from SLEEP. Though, it may have received a better reception if it was released under a different name but I consider this an absolute win!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram