The Heavy Eyes - Focus (Album Review)

Release Date: June 12th 2026. Record Label: Magnetic Eye Records / Kozmik Artifactz. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Focus  - Tracklisting

1.That Cold Goliath

2.Concrete Halloween

3.It's All Simone

4.Sarissa

5.Corporal Upham

6.Troublesome Priest

7.Focus

8.Greener

9.Words

10.That Cold Goliath (Might Return)

11.Holy Envy

Members

Tripp Shumake - guitar/vocals

Matthew Qualls - guitar

Wally Anderson - bass

Eric Garcia - drums

Review

Heavy Blues Rockers The Heavy Eyes make a welcome return after a six year absence with their latest album Focus which is superbly named as this is perhaps their most focused, biggest and boldest album yet. However, there’s a sense of retrospection that appears within the album as the band write some emotionally engaging lyrics for this record. The record does start off quite low-key with the excellent slow-paced track of That Cold Goliath that blends Classic Rock and a sullen Blues Rock sound then all hell breaks loose after this song finishes.

The Heavy Eyes go all guns blazing with a mighty new found “SONIC” energy in their creative step with the stunning second track Concrete Halloween where there’s a glorious Garage Rock, Punk Rock and Stoner Rock delivery appearing on different stages of the track. There’s a thrilling Seventies Hard Rock identity that’s always bursting to get out from the seams with a distorted Fuzz Rock swagger that comes the band’s main weapon of choice to deliver those delicious heavy grooves. 

The majority of the tracks only last around three minutes and four minutes in length so there’s not many progressive sounding moments which gives this record a classic “ALL KILLER & NO FILLER” approach. The record is filled with a ton of never-ending instrumental solos that feels likes The Heavy Eyes have been studying the legendary artists that influenced them and put their own great spin especially on tracks such as It’s All Simone, Sarissa, Corporal Upham, Focus, Words and That Cold Goliath (Might Return).

As stated previously earlier in the review, The Heavy Eyes have a new found heavy reliance on Psychedelic and Sonic melodies which is perhaps the creative glue that holds everything together. Though, the classic sound they’ve delivered on earlier records is still fully intact here. However, the sound has a more magnificent Psych Rock flow which allows the record to be quite heavy than you initially expect. The stripped back production values aligns the band more closely to the likes of The Who and The Rolling Stones with that impressive musical delivery that transports you back to the great days of the Classic Hard Rock scene.

There is a distinctive Doom Rock and Proto-Metal vibe that does appear when you least expect this with sludgy, dirty and fuzzy guitars becoming the more dominant sound on the later stages of the record. The Heavy Eyes have always been one of those bands always willing to experiment with their sound with every album they’ve released to date and this is no different. There’s a rich storytelling aspect appearing within this album that allows every track to tell its own distinctive story. 

Focus is pure blockbuster entertainment with grooves of the highest order and proves why The Heavy Eyes are one of the most important Heavy Blues Rock bands the scene currently has right now.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

You can buy FOCUS On CD/DD/Vinyl via the links below:

KOZMIK ARTIFACTZ and MAGNETIC EYE RECORDS

The Heavy Eyes links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Argentinian Cult Doom Trio MEPHISTOFELES to release "Live in Europe" double live album on August 7th via Heavy Psych Sounds Records!

Argentina’s cult doom trio announce the release of their first-ever double live album "Live in Europe" — twenty tracks of pure occult madness to be unleashed this August 7th on Heavy Psych Sounds Records.

Recorded during the band’s European tour in 2025, the Live in Europe double album captures twenty tracks of crushing, ritualistic heaviness performed in Barcelona (Spain) and Arnhem (Netherlands). With a sound drenched in sleaze and psychedelia, the Argentinian trio's notoriety was cemented when Electric Wizard’s Jus Oborn championed their album I’m Heroin as a personal favorite. In the summer of 2025, Mephistofeles signed to European label Heavy Psych Sounds Records for the long-awaited reissue of their entire catalog, opening their music to a new generation of fans. The doom from the deep south is rising. The band just announced the special reissue of their fourth full-length Violent Theatre on new LP and CD editions this August 7th, with pre-orders available at this location.


MEPHISTOFELES "Live In Europe" 2xLP - Out August 7th on Heavy Psych Sounds - Pre-order

TRACKLIST:

Disc 1 – Barcelona

SIDE 1

Satan Sex Ceremonies
Whore
Black Sunday
Buried In Worms
Profanation

SIDE 2

The Meaning Of All Evil
Curse Of The Knife
Lucky Spin
Evil Beauty

Disc 2 – Arnhem

SIDE 3

Satan Sex Ceremonies
Frustrated
Trash Lord
Whore
Black Sunday
Buried In Worms

SIDE 4

Profanation
The Meaning Of All Evil
Curse Of The Knife
Lucky Spin
Evil Beauty

Emerging from the fertile underworld of the Argentine stoner doom scene, Mephistofeles has forged a reputation as one of the genre's most visceral and uncompromising acts. Their sound—a sleazy, psychedelic brew of filthy riffage and hypnotic distortion—has cultivated a dedicated worldwide cult following, drawn to their raw and unapologetic sonic rituals.

Their ascent was meteoric. Their 2016 debut, Whore, quickly became an underground staple. They solidified their status with 2017’s I’m Heroin, an album so potent it earned the ultimate seal of approval: Electric Wizard’s Jus Oborn named it a favorite, praising its “great filthy guitar sound and creepy lyrics” and calling it “dirty and sleazy heavy psychedelic doom.” Demonstrating relentless drive, Mephistofeles continued their ascent with the self-produced Satan Sex Ceremonies (2019) and the gritty Violent Theatre (2022). Now, energized by a powerful new line-up featuring drummer Luca Frizza, the band is ready for a new era.

MEPHISTOFELES is

Gabriel Ravera - Guitar / Vocals
Ismael Dimenza - Bass
Luca Frizza - Drums

MEPHISTOFELES links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Heavy Psychedelic Rock Explorers PELEGRIN to release new album "The Curse of Nephtar" on Ripple Music this fall; first single "Eons" streaming now!

France's up-and-coming heavy psychedelic rockers PELEGRIN present an entrancing first single taken from their forthcoming third studio album "The Curse of Nephtar", to be issued on September 4th through Ripple Music.

Listen to new Pelegrin's entrancing new single Eons + watch the official lyric video at this location

After two critically-acclaimed LPs that earned them comparisons with Elder, King Buffalo and Slift, French heavy psych explorers Pelegrin are back with their most ambitious work to date, The Curse of Nephtar, to be released on Ripple Music (Hermano, 1000Mods, Wo Fat, The Obsessed) this fall.

Their signature sound, built around rich melodies, nuanced dynamics, and a dash of Arabian spices, has taken some steps towards a catchier and heavier direction. Razor-sharp riffs and powerful hooks are to be expected, amid Pelegrin’s typical backdrop of proggy, ambient songwriting.

"The album depicts the tale of Nephtar, a powerful black orb that comes to life in the depths of prehistoric ocean Tethys, which used to stand above the current Middle East. Ignored for eons, it eventually uses its manipulative powers to join the surface and subdue all living things. While for a brief moment, it is hoped that using Nephtar will create an era of plenty for all, humans come to realize that the price to pay is exceedingly heavy and start fighting to break the curse," the band explains.

With The Curse of Nephtar, Pelegrin has created a powerful allegory of fossil fuels and their tragic influence on modern-day events, in the Middle East and beyond. The album draws inspiration from the ‘resource curse’ theory, which observes that oil-rich nations are paradoxically less peaceful, developed, and democratic than comparable countries with no such resources. Told through sound design, spoken word and incisive lyrics, the Nephtar story provides a perfect soundtrack for the chaotic times we live in.

The album was recorded by Arthur Lauth at Brown Bear Recording, mixed by François Roze at Majortone, and mastered by Kent Stump at Crystal Clear Sound. Album artwork was designed by Jo Riou.

PELEGRIN "The Curse of Nephtar" - Out September 4th on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

  

TRACKLIST:

1. Eons
2. Sun and Blood
3. In the Company of Stars
4. Drawn to Nephtar
5. Plenty
6. The Price to Pay
7.Break the Omen

“This is psychedelic stoner rock of the highest order.” - Outlaws of the Sun

“Plenty of evocative and cinematic images through a blend of dynamic surges.” - Powerplay Magazine

“Songs are forever shifting with moments of ethereal beauty, bitter angst, overwhelming cheer and undying optimism.” - Astral Noize

For the typically discrete and camera-shy Pelegrin, it’s perhaps natural to let others do the talking. Located between Nantes and Paris, the band has been earning a solid reputation as a hidden gem of the heavy rock underground. After self-releasing their first two albums Al-Mahruqa (2019) and Ways of Avicenna (2023) to great critical acclaim, they caught the eye of California’s very own Ripple Music – a leading label known for discovering young talents, as well as harboring some of the world’s best heavy rock acts (Hermano, 1000Mods, Wo Fat, The Obsessed…)

Largely a studio project for their first years, Pelegrin are now also emerging as a powerful live act that has shared stages with some of the genre’s top bands (Naxatras, Ufomammut, Hippie Death Cult, Deaf Radio). Their third album The Curse of Nephtar (released September 4th, 2026 by Ripple Music) is bound to delight old fans and seduce new ones.

Pelegrin is

François Roze - guitar, vocals
Jason Recoing - studio bass
Nacim Virieux - live bass
Antoine Ebel - drums, percussions

Pelegrin links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Ripple Music links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Exclusive Song/Video Premiere For CHILD's Stunning New Single I TRIED From Upcoming New Album REBIRTH

REBIRTH is the brand new album of the Australian hard rock band CHILD

With the release of their fourth full-length album, Rebirth, CHILD marks a definitive shift in their creative trajectory.

Moving beyond their established sound, the band showcases a refined focus on songwriting—stripping back the noise to reveal the heart of their message.

The record serves as an unfiltered dialogue with the self, confronting the obstacles that block our evolution and demanding the strength to overcome them. It is a gritty, honest document of survival and the messy beauty of becoming who you are meant to be.

Dedicated to David Paul of Orpheus Pickups and The Guitar Hospital. We don't know what we would have done without you. R.I.P

We're excited to premiere the stunning new track I TRIED from their forthcoming new album thanks to the amazing folks over at Purple Sage PR and Heavy Psych Sounds.

The Lowdown

Combine the heavy emotion of the blues, the tone and raw power of hard rock, the finesse of soul and a twist of 60’s psychedelia. It will give you a visceral musical experience that plays directly to your being. That is CHILD. Living for their art, the pubs, the booze, the endless highways and the blues is what makes this band who they are. Child are a must see for those who are worshippers at “the electric church”. The freedom and power of a live performance is important to CHILD in their approach to music, endeavouring to never perform the same way twice. They look forward to once again bringing this to the world on their continued search for sonic paradise.

Since the release of their runaway self-titled debut in 2014, Child have continued to develop their unique brand of heavy blues through constant writing and extensive national/international touring. The band released the follow-up ‘Blueside’ in December 2016, which builds on this foundation to deliver a disc of pure sonic expression whilst following in the long tradition of the blues. 2018 saw the release of Child’s first EP, simply titled ‘I’. Recorded live to tape, ‘I’ is a glimpse into the boundless directions that could be taken on upcoming releases.

Now the band will release a brand new album via Heavy Psych Sounds Records in June 2026.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Rebirth is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Green Desert Water - Eerie Meadows (Album Review)

Release Date: June 19th 2026. Record Label: Small Stone Co Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Eerie Meadows - Tracklisting

1. Northern Lights - 6:08

2. The Blacksmith - 3:51

3. Eerie Meadows - 5:42

4. Woodcutter - 4:07

5. Holy Ground - 5:27

6. Wolfhound - 3:38

7. Bos Primigenius - 3:31

8. Meteora - 5:28

Members

 

Juan Arias García: bass guitar

Dani Barcena: drums and percussion

Kike Sanchís: guitars and vocals

Review

Heavy Psych Rockers Green Desert Water with Eerie Meadows which is their first album in five years. The band have a fresher and highly energetic sound compared to their last album Black Harvest which sees the band lean quite heavily into the Nineties Grunge and Stoner Rock scene without compromising their Seventies Heavy Rock vision. With flashes of KYUSS and PEARL JAM inspired melodies set against the classic rock scene, Green Desert Water add elements of Thin Lizzy, The Who, Cactus and Led Zepp into their music.

The vocals from Kike Sanchis are quite grounded, gritty and that’s held by a highly melodic approach. The songs are expertly paced throughout with the band not wasting a single second on flashy gimmicks of progressive themes which gives this album a true Hard Rock approach. There is a heavy Doom Rock essence that comes into play that fans of The Sword will truly appreciate especially on the outstanding title track of Eerie Meadows.

The song is quite gloomy with a deeply Doomed Out approach appearing within the music and Kike’s vocals being more Proto-Doom obsessed. However, before that great track, Green Desert Water open up with the opening tracks of Northern Lights and The Blacksmith sees Classic Hard Rock, Psych Rock and Stoner Rock grooves combining for a damn good time with superbly written musical structures and sublime lyrics making this one of the strongest openings to an album you can possibly experience.

Though, Eerie Meadows changes the creative landscape for the band as they lean quite heavily into the Doom Rock/Metal side of life which breathes a new level of heaviness for the album. The guitars are perfectly timed with the epic rhythm section having a fine ear for detail. Green Desert Water adds seedy levels of Fuzz, Psych and Grunge which develops into some of the most interesting sounds on the whole album.

From this moment on Green Desert Water are ON FIRE by developing their music even further into a sandstorm of fuzzy melodies, gritty vocals and extended musical passages with layers of Fuzz Rock allowing the band to put those AMPS all the way past ELEVEN. There seems to be a sense of trouble brewing behind the scenes as the album becomes ever more rebellious on tracks such as Woodcutter, Holy Ground, Wolfhound and Meteora.

Eerie Meadows lasts for around thirty seven minutes in length and even though I wish there was another song to push this past the forty minute mark, it’s still an action packed record full of superbly observed moments that allows Green Desert Water to establish themselves once more as one of the premier Power Trio’s the Stoner Rock scene currently has right now.

Production values are another highlight with Green Desert Water never sounding better and perhaps finding their true sound with an intense musical performance that’s their most mature record to date. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.

Eerie Meadows is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Co Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Cornucopia - Songs For Unfortunate Times (Album Review)

Release Date: June 05th 2026. Record Label: L'Ordalie Noire Records. Formats: CD/DD

Songs For Unfortunate Times - Tracklisting

1.Spellbound 05:24

2.Troubled Soul 03:36

3.Live For Today 07:23

4.Clean All My Beliefs 04:53

5.Eternity Screams 06:12

6.The Obscure Side Of Time 04:08

7.Desperation Streets 05:13

8.The End To Come 05:42

Members

 

Pierre - Guitar

Jean-Guillaume - Guitar / Vocals

Benjamin - Drums

Mathieu - Bass

Review

Songs For Unfortunate Times is the debut album from Doom/Stoner Metallers Cornucopia who bring a Proto-Metal perspective to their music with also areas of an almost Thrash Metal backdrop which gives their record a very harsh environment to operate from. The main influences can be drawn to the likes of Saint Vitus, The Obsessed and Pentagram but with a ferocious Heavy Metal appetite giving Cornucopia a heavier malevolent presence throughout the album.

The record also flirts between Classic Heavy Metal surroundings and modern day  atmospherics with that bombastic Thrash Metal attitude allowing the listener to know that Cornucopia are not afraid to move further away from their Doom/Stoner Metal roots. The songs are superbly played throughout with the band even using the classic outlandish Heavy Metal tropes and themes to their great advantage especially within the longer tracks of the album such as Live For Today, Eternity Screams and Desperation Streets. 

Cornucopia offers serious lyrics within the darker moments of the album which touch upon hard hitting subjects with a slightly emotionally charged journey appearing when you least expect this. The whole thing does have a deeply organic and rich creative approach where the band take loving care with the classic foundations of Doom Metal whilst applying some layers of modern day visibility when the Heavy Psych and Stoner Metal melodies fully appear.

The record is aggressively heavy with Cornucopia relying on actual musical technical ability with everyone putting in a superb performance throughout with the heaviest and interesting sounds appearing once again within the longer tracks on the record. Though, the shorter tracks are equally as good with Cornucopia creating some highly atmospheric Doom Metal grooves which have a menacing vibe lurking in the background. 

Songs For Unfortunate Times is a highly accomplished and superbly realized debut album from a band who really mean business which they prove from time and time again. If you want a Doom/Stoner Metal album that isn’t afraid to venture into the golden era of Heavy Metal and apply some epic modern day cinematic soundscapes then Cornucopia are the perfect band that brilliantly bridges that gap.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Songs For Unfortunate Times is available to buy now on CD/DD via L'Ordalie Noire Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

TIR - Window (EP Review)

 

Release Date: May 31st 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Window - Tracklisting

1.Pocket Meat 06:31

2.Voyager 07:58

3.Anwar 11:38

Members

 

Kane Barker // Guitar and Vocals

David Edwards // Guitar and Vocals

Luke Proudman // Drums and Vocals

Chris West // Bass and Vocals

Adam Wrench // Keyboards and Vocals

Review

Window is the debut EP from Post-Metal/Stoner Metallers TIR who are made up of members from legendary bands of the UK and Welsh underground scenes. The band consists of Kane Barker (ex Tradish, ex Kong Lives) ,Luke Proudman (ex Tradish, ex Kong Lives), Dai Edwards (ex Desalvo, ex Kong Lives), Adam Wrench (Haast)  and Chris West (Spider Kitten, ex Taint, ex Made of Teeth). So with that musical pedigree within their ranks TIR play a similar style of music of the bands mentioned above but also standing on their own creative merits.

Their sound is a mixture of Ambient Metal, Post-Metal, Psych Rock, Post-Rock and Stoner Metal with a cautionary and alternative sound that appears from the very start. All of the band members each contribute vocals on this EP and I don’t know who is considered the actual lead vocalist as there’s overlapping vocals throughout which gives TIR a gloomy cautious presence. However, it’s one that’s also highly volatile and fully committed to the musical cause when the time calls for that particle style of action.

There’s a thrilling Space Rock and Cosmic vibe appearing within the EP with opening song Pocket Meat allowing TIR to demonstrate a violent style of Shoegaze, Psych and Post-Metal surroundings. If you ever wondered what ELEPHANT TREE would sound like they channelled the aggression of NEUROSIS, ISIS and PELICAN then this is the closest you’ll ever get to that.

There’s some highly unsettling and highly atmospheric keyboards being played by Adam Wrench who keeps the Psychedelic sounds played at a superb pace with the other members keeping TIR’s music fully grounded. The added use of Ambient and Post-Rock effects merged within the subtle flashes of Post-Metal imagery takes Window into a heavier domain within the excellent second track of Voyager. This track can be quite hallucogenic in places and deeply disturbing at the same time. As TIR moves into dreamlike musical scenarios before thrusting the listener into a vortex of nightmarish and progressive musical energy.

The final track Anwar is a lengthy composition lasting around twelve minutes with TIR demonstrating a wealth of different Post-Rock and Post-Metal soundscapes with the right mixture of “LOUD vs QUIET” dynamics appearing. The vocals demonstrate some different and highly effective ways of bringing the lyrics superbly to life.

Window is an excellent introduction to TIR’s dark and highly melodic Post-Metal world that may allow the band to gain a loyal and dedicated following within the underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp