Thursday, 4 June 2026

We Follow The Earth - Foamdrinker (Album Review)

Release Date: May 12th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

Foamdrinker - Tracklisting

1.Foamdrinker 06:45

2.Maelstrom 08:42

3.Aeons 03:57

4.Black Lamp 06:23

5.On Violent Waves 07:17

6.Sirens 09:07

7.The Still Blue 06:42

8.Weight of the Stars 07:49


Members

 

Matthew Crotts - Vocals/Guitars

Josh Burton - Guitars

Jason "Buddha" Myers - Bass

Matthew Pickard - Drums


Review


Doom/Sludge Metallers We Follow The Earth return with their new album Foamdrinker which continues their bleak destructive path laid down on their excellent 2024 album Extinct. The sound is perhaps more grounded with the band venturing into subtle areas of Prog Metal, Stoner Metal and some Hardcore tendencies appearing. The record is delivered cautiously slowly which allows We Follow The Earth to create a dense psychedelic sound with them taking influence from the likes of CONAN, SLOMATICS, HIGH ON FIRE and MONOLORD.


Speaking of Monolord, Esben Willems from that great band has mastered the album from his famed Studio Berserk headquarters. The record is helped by the excellent recording and engineering duties carried out by Jacob Beeson. Everything is brutally LOUD with the band perfecting their own style of LOW & SLOW musical punishment being played throughout. We Follow The Earth have added a gloomy cinematic storytelling aspect to their music which gives Foamdrinker a truly apocalyptic energy with distorted Psychedelic sounds controlling the HEAVY METAL narrative of the whole album.


Some parts of the album are have moments of contained Post-Rock and Shoegaze landscapes which sees the record transform into a mainstay of modern day Post-Metall on tracks such as Foamdrinker, Maelstrom, Black Lamp, On Violent Waves, Sirens and Weight Of The Stars. These tracks are quite lengthy and highly involving with the band aligning themselves more closely to the likes of NEUROSIS and ISIS but with a richer underground aspect allowing them to create their own great style of music.


Though, the shortest track of Aeons contains some of the heaviest and fastest grooves on the whole album which shows you how the band can deliver a fast-paced and pissed off style of music which High On Fire would be proud to call their own.


The riffs may feel quite drawn out and not moving in any particular directions at times but this allows We Follow The Earth to be quite creative with their music. As the Ambient and Post-Rock themes ultimately add more nuance to the lyrics the band have written for the entire record. There is a gritty Thrash Metal sound appearing from time-to-time which injects some classic headbanging action for listeners to be part of.


Foamdrinker is an absolute blast of destructive rhythms and progressive soundscapes that deserves to be heard on the biggest, loudest and heaviest SPEAKER SYSTEM you have at your disposal. The record has the perfect balance of the bleak optimism needed for We Follow The Earth to be considered as one of the brightest lights of the Doom, Sludge and Post-Metal underground scenes. However, they have a free-flowing Stoner Metal identity that includes some highly addictive WEEDIAN movements along the way.


Add this record to your collection now!!!


Words by Steve Howe


Links 


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram


Cosmic Doom/Stoner Metal Collective REDWOOD Releases New Song FUTURE From Upcoming New Album HYPERSPACE


California's institution of one-man heavy psych and space rock returns with epic new album "HYPERSPACE", cranking up the out-of-this world vibes and delivering ten tracks as only REDWOOD can.

Single "FUTURE" leads the charge with an 11 minute space odyssey, out now and streaming everywhere.

In the band's own words:

The single “FUTURE” dives into the unfortunate reality that we might not be in control of our future as a species, no matter how determined we are to make the world a better place, no matter how much we try to live in the moment, no matter how much progress we make in our society. There are times in life where I feel like the future is a sentient creature, and no matter what we do, it will do what it wants. It rules us like a dictator, and any evolutionary step forward we make in the world, feels futile at times. This song is written from the eyes of the sentient creature that we call “FUTURE”.

“I am the future
I killed the past
I am the future
and you will never last
All hail the future”


With "HYPERSPACE", this newest chapter of REDWOOD is easily my personal favorite so far, and I’ve been hard at work since the moment I finished the album “TIME TO LOSE”.

As a completely self-taught solo project, every album has been an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve through persistence and hard work.

At 10 songs, this is my longest release to date, bringing together many of my favorite elements from everything I've created so far, as well as re-recordings of songs from my previous solo project “Bloodshot Buffalo”. I don't do this for money or recognition—I do it to create something that might outlast me. If there's one REDWOOD album I'd recommend listening to, it's this one. I sincerely hope you enjoy it.


REDWOOD - HYPERSPACE

Out June 12th, 2026 (Digital)
Self-released
Northern California
Album art by Mirkow Gastow

Tracklist:

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)

Links

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.


Exclusive Album Premiere Of Doom/Stoner Metallers ALUNAH / SAMAVAYO Split Album EMBERS OF BELIEF


ALUNAH and SAMAVAYO team up for the epic split album release EMBERS OF BELIEF that allows both bands to show why they're so highly regarded within the Doom Metal and Stoner Metal scenes. The album which is being released on the heavyweight record label Heavy Psych Sounds on Friday June 05th 2026 can be heard below with this exclusive album premiere thanks to the amazing folks over at Purple Sage PR and Heavy Psych Sounds.


Alunah says of the album:

"Embers of Belief" features the first Alunah recordings with vocalist Daisy Savage and continues our long-standing relationship with Heavy Psych Sounds Records. We are both excited and proud to present our contribution to this split release - two brand new studio tracks that give a glimpse into where this new chemistry as a band is taking us creatively, alongside two live recordings which document and acknowledge the incredible job Daisy did in stepping up to tour and promote our previous full-length.

This significant release is part of our “VINGT” celebrations, marking 20 years of Alunah with both new music and festival appearances, including Bloodstock Open Air and Desertfest London. To everyone who’s stood by Birmingham, heavy rock, and doom through the years...this one’s for you!

Samavayo says of the album:

Creativity ... it burns deep inside, demanding to be heard and when it wants out, ist has to get out. So here we are!

Longing, recklessness and hope—three themes that couldn’t be more human or more relevant right now.

Samavayo present three exceptional tracks on their split release with Alunah:

BAVAR is a crushing heavy piece built on the Fibonacci sequence, featuring Persian lyrics inspired by a poem from Siavash Kasraie. It stands as a defiant cry against grief and mortality—the narrator refuses to accept the death of loved ones, clinging instead to love, shared tears, and the breath of life as proof that loss can neither truly be believed nor surrendered to.

Mottainai, the 2nd song takes aim at a reckless, consumption-driven mindset—the relentless pursuit of instant gratification and shortcuts. The song warns that this culture of excess and selfishness will ultimately leave a devastating legacy for future generations.

California Sky is a psychedelic, acoustic ode to Samavayo’s 2025 US tour, captures a paradoxical longing for the American desert landscape. It evokes a sense of spiritual belonging in the vast emptiness of Joshua Tree, while reflecting a deep yet helpless emotional connection to the United States and all its contradictions.

Tracklisting

Alunah - On Blacklow Hill
Alunah - La Pucelle
Alunah - Hazy Jane (Alive '25)
Alunah - Violet Hour/Hunt (Alive '25)
Samavayo - Bavar
Samavayo - Mottainai
Samavayo - California Sky

Alunah Lineup


Daisy Savage - Vocals
Matt Noble - Guitar
Dan Burchmore - Bass
Jake Mason - Drums

Alunah Info

Made In Birmingham, Played Worldwide

"Heavy Rock on their own terms, NO compromise". Alunah have always been very clear on this message over their 20 year history.

Winter 2024 saw vocalist Daisy Savage enter the fold in time for a year of touring and building new dynamics as the band joined the Heavy Psych Sounds Festival across Italy, Switzerland, Greece & the UK alongside playing further headline shows.

Having signed to HPS in 2019 Alunah have continued to evolve and were listed by Metal Hammer in July 2025 as one of the ten most important bands to come out of Birmingham. They have toured with the likes of Paradise Lost, The Obsessed, Nick Oliveri's Mondo Generator and been regulars on the European festival circuit.

"The Brummies may be celebrating 20 years in the business but they still sound as fresh as ever" Devolution Magazine

"The doom metal mainstays have continued the course" Metal Hammer 's Top 10 greatest metal bands from Birmingham

"This iteration of the band has found something special in their chemistry" Red Death Media

Links


Samavayo Lineup


Behrang Alavi - Vocals / Guitar
Arno Voland - Drums / Vocals / Didgeridoo / Percussions
Andreas Voland - Bass / Guitar / Vocals / Moog

Samavayo Info

All three band members of Samavayo grew up in East-Berlin, in the neighbourhoods Lichtenberg and Friedrichshain. As a 10 year old kid, the singer fled as a political refugee from his home country of Iran to Berlin, Germany. The brothers Andreas and Stephan grew up in East-Berlin.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the city was open, letting in cultural influences from any foreign country. The capital city became a multi-cultural melting pot where a singer from Teheran and two brothers from Berlin started making music. 600 live shows in Europe and overseas followed, including gigs in Brazil, Albania, Greece, Croatia and France.

Links


Embers Of Belief is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

Wednesday, 3 June 2026

Stoner Metallers BESVÄRJELSEN unveil video single 'Didn't Come to Party' & details of new album "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem"


Swedish forest rockers BESVÄRJELSEN drop the first advance single from their third album "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" (Swedish and Latin for: "Into Oblivion"), accompanied by a slightly disturbing music video 'Didn't Come to Party' about that guy, the one nobody ever wants at their social gathering.

"Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" is scheduled for release on August 28, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records. The album is available for pre-order here: https://spkr.store/collections/besvarjelsen


BESVÄRJELSEN comment: "There's a scene in the Titanic movie that has always stayed with me, when the musicians keep playing as everything falls apart around them", vocalist Lea Amling Alazam muses. "This is one of my all-time favorite moments in cinema, because it captures something important about music: the devotion, the need to create, and to hold onto something beautiful, even in the face of disaster. Like, we're literally going under, but hey, let's play. Dance to the sirens. In this day and age, it's hard not to be affected by the chaos of the world. 'Didn't Come to Party' is not a political statement but rather a cry of frustration. We're living on this incredible planet, so why are we destroying it? Why war, why poverty, why harm the most vulnerable, when we have the resources to make life better for everyone? This quite reminds me of people who show up to parties just to ruin it for everyone else. Why is there such a drive to hurt, to dominate, to tear things apart in the pursuit of power? It's senseless."


Tracklist

01. The Greatest Sin
02. Accelerating Hearts
03. Battles
04. Counting Flies
05. Drifters on a Quiet Stream
06. The Mountain
07. Pulse
08. Interlude
09. Didn't Come to Party
10. Black Wave
11. Oblivion

Swedes are supposed to be cool, and musically, BESVÄRJELSEN sure live up to that stereotype in the best possible way. What the self-proclaimed forest rockers deliver on their third full-length "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" is so cool, in fact, that it's a hot early candidate for rock album of the year.

The 'forest rock' moniker is the Swedes' tongue-in-cheek answer to the term 'desert rock', which stylistically provides a great starting point to describe their particular musical brand. Being surrounded not by an abundance of sand but trees in their home province of Dalarna, it was also an obvious choice. On "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem", BESVÄRJELSEN keep a profound punk-infused attitude, but have broadened their sound with a wide variety of sonic colours including blues, ska, metal, jazz and everything around and in between as long as it fits the mood of the song.


Add exceptional vocalist Lea Amling Alazam, who developed her passion for punk and stoner rock at the local skate park when she was just 13 years old, to the band's plethora of riveting hooks and riffs, and you get an album that feels fresh and ready to deliver surprises for months if not years to come. If there is any justice, "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" should make BESVÄRJELSEN as famous as the iconic wooden Dala horses that every tourist who visits the country takes home to put on their shelves.

That BESVÄRJELSEN were on the road to greatness became apparent on their previous album, "Atlas" (2022). This record received the prestigious Swedish Manifestgalan Award for "Metal Album of the Year" by the Swedish Independent Music Producers and partners, which crowned a string of excellent reviews around the globe.

BESVÄRJELSEN were co-founded by guitarists and vocalists Andreas Bajer and Staffan Vinrot in 2014. Their musical vision was based on the idea to channel the spirit and traditions of the vast Dalarna forests into a contemporary urban context. On this ancient crossroads of Norse and Finnish cultures, the echoes of runes and gods, shamans and spirits still linger. While drawing heavy inspiration from local lore, mysticism, and the dark, old musical traditions of their homeland, the band name was found in the old Swedish word for "conjuring": BESVÄRJELSEN.

While the band's story has its roots in the past of the land, the present came boldly knocking to demand its due. With the discovery of Lea Amling Alazam and her captivating vocals, the plot took a fascinating twist: She had grown up with her feet in more than one world. Accordingly, the charismatic singer added a fresh approach by embracing melodies and phrases of the grunge and emo sounds that defined her youth as well as African and Middle Eastern music with characteristic bluesy undertones.

In 2015, BESVÄRJELSEN released their debut EP "Villfarelser", followed by the "Exil" EP in 2016. At the time, former DOZER and GREENLEAF drummer Erik Bäckwall joined the line-up as a permanent member. Although both EPs were self-financed and released with minimal promotion, they ended up well-received, and even got airplay on Swedish national radio.

The Swedes' debut full-length "Vallmo" (2018) merged crushing riffs and storming drums with increasingly sophisticated melodies and thoughtful themes, even earning the band a festival slot opening for DEEP PURPLE. This paved the way for BESVÄRJELSEN to record their sophomore album "Atlas" with producer and drummer Karl Daniel Lidén (GREENLEAF, DOZER, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX) in 2021.

With "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem", BESVÄRJELSEN have conjured 'Into Oblivion' twice, in both Swedish and Latin, but the spellbinding five-piece also deliver a cathartic rock album that will rank among the finest heavy releases of the genre and beyond in 2026

Line-up

Lea Amling Alazam – vocals
Staffan Vinrot – guitars, vocals (& accordion, violin, keys, keyed fiddle)
Andreas Bajer – guitars, vocals
Erik Bäckwall – drums
Marcus Lindqvist – bass

Guest musicians

Fred Burman (SATAN TAKES A HOLIDAY) – lead & backing vocals on 'Accelerating Hearts' & backing vocals on 'Didn't Come to Party'

Pelle Andersson (LOWRIDER) – organ on 'Black Wave'

Recorded by Andreas Baier & Marcus Lindqvist at Glashuset, Ludvika (SE)
Mix & mastering by Karl Daniel Lidén at Tri-Lamb Audio Studios, Solna (SE)

Cover art by Björn Olars
Layout by Erik Bäckwall

Links


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

Heavy Rock Festival RIPPLEFEST TEXAS reveals full lineup for September 2026 edition with Yob, Khemmis, Greenleaf and more; day tickets available!


Premium US stoner, doom, and heavy rock festival RIPPLEFEST TEXAS returns to Austin, Texas with 25+ international acts hitting the Far Out Lounge and Sagebrush stages this September 17-20th. Weekend and day tickets are available now!

This fall, RippleFest Texas returns for its most ambitious edition yet, boasting over 25 international acts, zero overlapping sets, and a vibe that founder Ryan Garney describes as "a family reunion for heavy heads."

Headlining the 2026 edition are three titans of the underground: Oregon-based doom pioneers YOB, whose transcendent live show has become the stuff of legend, Denver's melodic heavy metal standard-bearers Khemmis, Swedish heavy rock lords Greenleaf, and Canadian sludge-dealing juggernaut Dopethrone. But the depth of this year's roster is where RippleFest truly shines, as the full 28-band lineup stands as a who's who of the international heavy rock scene. This year, US independent powerhouses Ripple Music and Magnetic Eye Records will each host a special label showcase, bookending the weekend lineup in excellence.

Founder Ryan Garney of Lick of My Spoon Productions says: "I could not be more proud of this year's lineup. Just the way it all came together and how it is curated for each night will make it a very special festival. There is not one single band anyone should miss, and luckily, you won't have to because there is absolutely no band overlap at RippleFest Texas! The Ripple Music Showcase and the Magnetic Eye Showcase will no doubt sell out the indoor venue The Sagebrush on Thursday and Sunday nights. The stacked 2-stage lineups at The Far Out Lounge will have some of the biggest names you won't want to miss, and all 4 days will have the best light show in the business by The Mad Alchemist Liquid Light Show. September can't get here soon enough!"


RIPPLEFEST TEXAS 2026 - September 17-20 - The Far Out Lounge & Sagebrush - Austin, Texas
 
Weekend & day tickets available at this location

Ripple Music is the passion-driven imprint that leading metal magazine Decibel Magazine declared "has made a splash in heavy rock and metal,” and Alternative Control labeled "powerhouse tastemaker". The independent Californian label is known and revered worldwide for unearthing the finest bands in heavy rock and metal and being home to leading acts such as The Obsessed, Hermano, Scott "Wino" Weinrich, Poobah, Wo Fat or Colour Haze. Dubbing their festival series "Ripplefest", the record label has been organizing showcase events in cities such as Austin, San Francisco, London, Stockholm, Cologne and Berlin over the years, bringing together a vast and passionate community of fans from across the globe.

RIPPLEFEST TEXAS links

Facebook | Instagram

RIPPLE MUSIC links


Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Exclusive Video Premiere Of Doom/Sludge Metallers RED QUIET New Song - “Xenomorphism”


Biography: Red Quiet. Post. Noise. Sludge.

This is how the riff infused power trio from the South West of France introduce themselves to the crowd starting each gig.

Formed by three veterans of the Toulouse rock and metal scene, Red Quiet started in the summer of 2025 after the break-up of Voidozer, in which both Baptiste (drums) and Matt (guitars) used to play. Quickly joined by long time friend Sebastien on bass and singing duties, they forged their sonic identity around an elaborated and yet straight forward formula:

- Noise rock influenced riffs.
- Post metal melodies.
- Post Black / Post hardcore harshed vocals.
- Massive and explosive drum parts.
- A lot of feedback from gain stacking.
- And a bit of sludge dissonances, odd rhythmic accents and time signatures.

Their lyrics and visual universe is based around their passion for horror movies as these fictions turn out to be less dark than the reality surrounding us. Musical influences include: Mantar, Red Fang, Slift, the Melvins, Amenra, Bruit, Yob, etc.

Their first single, “Xenomorphism” - recorded by Yves De Roeck at Les Productions du Chauve (a staple of South West France independent stoner and doom recording) - is an ode to the 1979 cult classic Alien, as it depicts the Human as the real villain and apex predator of our world. The music video, directed by long time friend and collaborator Jo Tempie, emphasizes the four states of the Alien lifecycle.

The egg in black and white, the facehugger has strangers enter the scene, the chestbuster characterised by the blood red color and finally, the xenomorph, hiding in the dark corners, represented by this discrete and warm light of the song’s melodic finale.

After a few shows in their local area, the band is ready to explore new territories in 2026 and plans to record their debut album later this year.


Links:

Past shows:

07 Feb 2026 @Le Local (Toulouse) w/ Hannako Loves
28 Mar 2026 @Le Little O’ Clock (Toulouse) w/ Echoes From Earth & Supernoisiest
23 May 2026 @L’ Engrenage (Toulouse) w/ Kaalbaar & Chihuas From Depths
27 May 2026 @Black Cat (Bordeaux) w/ Maniard & Tsiolkovski 

Upcoming Shows:

03 Jul 2026 @L’ Engrenage (Toulouse) w/ Springtime on Venus & No Faith in Medicine
14 Nov 2026 @Le Celtic Pub (Tarbes) w/ Greyborn
15 Nov 2026 @L’Autan (Toulouse) w/ Greyborn


Thanks to RED QUIET for the details.

Tuesday, 2 June 2026

Stoner Rock and Doom Festival HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST LONDON shares first acts for November 16-17th edition; tickets available now!


European stoner, doom and psychedelic rock festival Heavy Psych Sounds Fest returns to London grounds this fall and reveals the first batch of bands to hit the Signature Brew Blackhorse Road stage on November 13-14th. Tickets on sale now!

Leading the charge are Italian fuzz pillars Black Rainbows, whose explosive blend of garage psych and stoner rock fury has made them cult heroes across the underground, alongside Greece's doom worshippers Acid Mammoth, who summon crushing, incense-heavy riffs from the deepest abyss. Scotland's cosmic travellers The Cosmic Dead will bring their sprawling space odysseys, while UK desert rockers Psychlona are set to channel sun-scorched grooves and trance-inducing melodies with their distinctively British swagger. Sweden's Firebreather are all about modern sludge-doom at its most volcanic, all monstrous tone and wildfire energy, and Italy's own psychedelic power trio Mr.Bison round out the ritual with raw, 70s-soaked heavy psych that stomps, swirls, and hypnotises from first riff to last.

Prepare for a full weekend of fuzz and mind-expanding riffs at the Signature Brew Blackhorse Road venue — tickets are on sale now at this location!

Heavy Psych Sounds Fest London - November 13-14th at Signature Brew Blackhorse Road - TICKETS 

Black Rainbows
Acid Mammoth
The Cosmic Dead
Psychlona
Firebreather
Mr.Bison


About Heavy Psych Sounds

Headquartered in Rome, Heavy Psych Sounds Records is one of Europe's leading stoner, doom and heavy rock labels and the home to some of the most revered artists in the scene, such as Brant Bjork, Nick Oliveri, Pentagram, Witchcraft, Conan, Bongzilla, Yawning Man or Black Rainbows.

The underground cult label is not only a place for all heavy rock record collectors, but also an essential part of the live scene with its mini-festival series Heavy Psych Sounds Fest, gathering heavy music fans worldwide. Since its inception in 2015, the festival has taken over all major European cities, from London and Berlin to Paris, while also spreading its wings across the United States with events in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Baltimore.

The festival has hosted some of the biggest names in the scene, consistently presenting an electric blend of HPS bands alongside top-tier acts from the international heavy scene such as High On Fire, Red Fang, Elder, Monolord, 1000mods, Messa, and many more over the years.

Heavy Psych Sounds links


Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details