Peacepipe - Emerald Green (Album Review)

Release Date: October 13th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Emerald Flood - Tracklist

1.Emerald Flood 05:07

2.Kids on Drugs 02:33

3.Final Croak 03:11

4.Me & Mary Jane 01:49

5.High Ride 04:13

6.D.E.A. 03:45

7.Cum in Peace 04:26

8.Holy Ascension 04:13

9.Midnight Reefer 02:32

10.Hairy Houdini 03:11

Members

Vocals: Billy Huse

Drums: Connor Fleming

Bass: Conner "Red" Altwein

Guitar: Jusep Cruz

Review

Emerald Flood is the debut album from Doom/Stoner Metallers Peacepipe which follows their excellent 2023 debut release with the band bringing a heavier and sludgier dimension into their music. The music is perhaps even more Southern Metal / NOLA influenced as well with Peacepipe branching out into different levels of WEEDIAN metal. 

You can feel influences from the likes of Weedeater, Bongzilla, DOWN, Crowbar, Red Fang, Black Sabbath and KYUSS with Peacepipe showing a lot of great love and respect to those legendary bands whilst keeping within their own creative lane for heavy distorted sludgy movements from start to finish.

There’s a great sense of humour appearing within the lyrics and the song titles contained on the album with Peacepipe demonstrating a great style of Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Fuzz and Sludge Metal. However, Peacepipe can also be very serious in the most hard hitting parts of the album which comes through the grizzled and determined vocals by Billy Huse. Even though the vocals are mostly gruff and clean based, Billy demonstrates a vicious aggressive style that can burst into sudden harsh growls if he wanted to go down that route. It’s that kind of threat which leaves the listener completely on edge to fully expect that kind of violent vocal delivery to fully appear.

The music performed by Connor Fleming (Drums), Connor “Red” Altwein (Bass) and Jusep Cruz (Guitar) is superbly played with a gritty atmosphere that develops into a classic style of NOLA delivery with outbursts of FUZZ and SLUDGE sounds being heavily distorted throughout. The production values are quite raw and demonstrate a great style of grimy atmospherics which fully leans into the WEEDIAN aspect of Peacepipe’s music.

The murky psychedelic grooves appear when you least expect it and gives Emerald Flood some massive amounts of amplifier distortion, fuzzy reverb and insane amounts of feedback within the later stages of the album. The majority of the tracks have a similar sound to each other but the message contained within them are quite different with Peacepipe wisely adapting different strands of STONER folklore into their lyrics with some grounded realism being added along the way. 

Standout tracks to check out are: Emerald Flood, Final Croak, Me & Mary Jane, High Ride, Cum In Peace and Hairy Houdini. As these tracks are full of the best sounds on the record and features lyrics that are highly unapologetic which Peacepipe just runs amok with. Though, everything is played quite seriously with Peacepipe fully dedicated to the music they create and you can feel that throughout the album. 

Emerald Green is an outstanding debut album from Peacepipe which is the type of album you want the whole “underground” metal scene to actually listen to and prove what a damn great band these guys really are. 

Superb. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Sundowner - Cesspool (Album Review)

Release Date: October 16th 2026. Record Label: Disdain Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Cesspool - Tracklist

1.The Deep 05:21

2.Golden Skinned Gods 03:45

3.Grave Wax 03:50

4.Intoxication Blues 03:23

5.Bleach Sniffer 05:02

6.7 Shades Of Shit 04:08

7.Complete And Utter Ruin 01:58

8.Unwilling Subjects 04:54

9.Water Torture 02:56

10.Pond Scum 05:36

Review

Aussie Sludge/Stoner Metallers Sundowner bring another twisted style of filth and debauchery into their music with their third album Cesspool. Taking that legendary NOLA sound and applying areas of Blues Metal, Fuzz Metal and Amplified Feedback where the band still add that classic Australian grimy HEAVY METAL attitude into the mix . This allows Sundowner once again to create a heavily poisoned and filth ridden style of Sludge/Stoner Metal that’s quite violent to hear the best of times especially when the grooves are amplified to fucking hell. 

Taking influences from the likes of EYEHATEGOD, DOWN, IRON MONKEY and CHURCH OF MISERY it’s the nihilistic lyrics and depressing WEEDIAN afterthoughts that Sundowner have applied to this record makes them a great band in their own right. The use of extreme and difficult vocals gives Cesspool another great reason to consider Sundowner one of Australia’s heaviest Sludge/Stoner Metal bands as they leave no stone unturned in delivering some of the filthiest and violent grooves to emerge from DOWN UNDER.

However, Sundowner never forgot to play some outstanding instrumental sounds that are filled with superb LOW & SLOW and AMPLIFIED DISTORTION passages that are violently melodic throughout the album. The level of filth, grime and distorted textures sometimes align themselves to a CRUST PUNK way of life with some great EXTREME METAL sounds developing when you least expect this.

Cesspool is perfectly named with Sundowner never offering or playing clean uplifting instrumental moments. As the band fully revel in the pain and tortuous sounds they create and expertly play on the entire album. The mixture of down-tuned elements and fast-paced grooves all appear at the right time that allows Sundowner to inflict maximum damage to the actual speakers whoever listens to the album.

Standout tracks to punish yourself with include: The Deep, Gold Skinned Gods, Intoxication Blues, Bleach Sniffer, 7 Shades Of Shit, Unwilling Suspects and Pond Scum. As these tracks are consistently the most violent, heavy and aggressive songs on the whole album but you can still rock the fuck out to.

Cesspool is an epic assault on the senses with Sundowner never apologizing for their massive style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal that destroys everything in their way.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Cesspool is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Disdain Records.

Links

https://sundownersludge.bandcamp.com
https://instagram.com/sundownersludge
https://facebook.com/sundownersludge

Hash thrashers Hempire announce EP "Sealed By The Sea" out October 24th; Documentary film "Count Your Days" out now

Hempire will self-release Sealed By The Sea on October 24th, an EP recorded in Asheville at Roundtable Studios by Reilly Appert (Fliora).

Sealed By The Sea offers a progressive take on stoner rock with elements of hardcore, thrash, and death metal following their debut release The Weight (2025). Inspired by historical tragedy, Sealed By The Sea is an empirical and intense elaboration of the previous album’s themes of life and death.

Accompanying Sealed By The Sea is the short documentary Count Your Days, filmed by the band and including behind the scenes footage on the recording process & tour, band member interviews, and more.

Hempire has been a part of the DIY music scene in the southern Appalachian region since 2022, opening for Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, Whores, and Bongripper, along with repeat appearances at Lily’s Snack Bar’s Doomerang Fest and Kentucky’s Holler of Doom.

FALL 26 /WINTER 27 TOUR:

Hempire will be hitting the road this Fall/Winter with fellow North Carolina heavies Mean Green in October/December and Broadslab in January.

Hempire - Sealed By The Sea

EP out October 24th, 2026
Self-released (Digital, CD)
Asheville, North Carolina, US
FFO: High on Fire • Melvins • CoC • Howling Giant • Conan
Recorded in Asheville at
Roundtable Studios by Reilly Appert (Fliora)

Hempire is:

Joey Shaw - Vox, Guitar
Jon Andre - Drums
Jason Watson - Bass

Tracklist:

1. Indianapolis (4:41)
2. Price To Pay (4:52)
3. Blue Water, White Death (3:58)
4. Death By Secrecy (4:20)

Links:

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram |  Spotify | YouTube 

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.

DOOM SHALL RISE: A TRIBUTE TO SAINT VITUS OUT NOVEMBER 27 2026.

Cover art by Captain Maoos

Witching Buzz Records brings together six bands from five countries for Doom Shall Rise: A Tribute to Saint Vitus, a digital release celebrating one of doom metal’s most influential acts. Arriving November 27, 2026, the compilation pays tribute to a band that helped shape American doom metal in the 1980s, when slow, downtuned riffs and a raw, uncompromising sound stood apart from the faster metal dominating the scene. Alongside contemporaries such as Pentagram and Trouble, Saint Vitus helped lay the groundwork for generations of doom and sludge bands that followed.

Tracklist:

1. Epic Down (Germany) - Born Too Late
2. Our Earth Is a Tomb (USA) - Clear Windowpane
3. Cruzeiro (Spain) - Children of Doom
4. Poste 942 (France) - Hour Glass
5. Dee Calhoun featuring April on South (USA) - When Emotion Dies
6. Bantoriak (Italy) - I Bleed Black

Links

​https://witchingbuzz.bandcamp.com/​
​https://www.witchingbuzz.ovh/​

URAKEN SURVIVORS - Area 420 (EP Review)

Release Date: September 30th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Area 420 - Tracklist

1.Bad Crab 04:46

2.Fungus 03:24

3.Area 420 04:37

4.The Plot 04:12

5.Desert Mule 05:46

Members

Thomas Dino - Vocals/Lead Guitar

Noam - Bass

Thomas Johnny - Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals

Piero - Drums/Backing Vocals

Review

Stoner Rockers URAKEN SURVIVORS are a band from France who bring a frantic and fast-paced energy to their latest release Area 420. The EP has a turbo-charged attitude that’s inspired by the likes of RED FANG, KYUSS, ORANGE GOBLIN and MOTORHEAD which isn’t a bad place to be. There are pockets of Grunge and Desert Rock bursting from the seams as URAKEN SURVIVORS have a classic Stoner Rock mentality injected into their overall sound.

The songs are quite addictive with a thrilling Psychedelic aspect emerging from the Classic Rock delivery that the band play throughout the record. The vocals have a spiky Punk Rock and Hard Rock delivery to them which plays fast and loose with the rules of modern day Stoner Rock. The EP sounds very real and quite stripped back with a great DIY ethic being applied to how everything was actually recorded for Area 420.

This isn’t the most original thing you’ll ever hear but URAKEN SURVIVORS add some great sounding Thrash grooves along the way which gives everything a heavier vibe throughout the EP. The lyrics are quite rebellious and have a great sense of fun within them especially on tracks Rad Crab, Area 420 and The Plot. 

The later stages of Area 420 is where I found the most enjoyment as URAKEN SURVIVORS start developing some distorted Psychedelic passages which can be quite freaky and spaced out at times. You can hear echoes of bands such as Metallica and Alice In Chains which gives this EP a highly devious style of Heavy Metal that made me start to enjoy the record a whole lot more. This made me listen to the EP continuously more and more which is always a great sign. 

Area 420 is a great record that’s packed full of sublime heavy sounds that URAKEN SURVIVORS deserve credit for trying something quite different with their music especially on the second half. 

URAKEN SURVIVORS are a very cool band that folks within the underground scene should fully check out now. You won’t be disappointed. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Oscillotron - Axiom (Album Review)

Release Date: October 16th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Axiom - Tracklist

1.Epoch 01:16

2.Prime Neuron Disintegration 12:24

3.Nullification Sequence 09:32

4.Autogenic Kernel 02:54

5.Colossal Suspended Tensor Nexus 20:21

6.Archaic Cognitive Unit 11:14

7.Axiom 03:01

8.Miasma (2024 Demo - Bandcamp exclusive bonus track) 19:36

Members

D.A. Johansson - Everything

Review

Axiom is the latest release from Ambient/Doom/Drone Metal project Oscillotron which is the creative project from D.A. Johansson, who is also the main creative force behind the mighty Sludge Metal powerhouse known as KONGH. Oscillotron is a completely different beast to KONGH where the music is delivered through slowly played Distorted elements of Ambient, Doom, Drone, Psych and Industrial sounds. 

The record is quite mechanical and ice-cold with a wide arrangement of different sounds and gloomy textures being played against an electronic based environment. Oscillotron is quite cinematic and heavily soundtrack driven which you can appreciate throughout tracks such as Prime Neuron Disintegration and Nullification Sequence. 

The cautious and highly methodical sounds become quite spaced out when the music becomes more Ambient determined. The early stages of Axiom reminds me of films made by John Carpenter and James Cameron with the gloomy synths and electronic elements providing a cautionary style of delivery.

Axiom does feel heavily inspired by classic films of the early Eighties which I may be looking far too much into. Oscillotron is a surreal experience but once that’s quite grounded with that slow paced narrative adding that fractured Drone / Doom aspect that feels inspired by the likes of SUNN 0))), NIN and Author & Punisher but with that massive Electronic and Industrial theme bringing a sense of highly original mystery to the party.

The album lasts for around an hour with each track offering a different style of Eighties based paranoia into the mix. Oscillotron even starts to develop some excellent “video game” narratives into the record which fully sells that soundtrack narrative I mentioned earlier. It’s great to hear David bring some intense slabs of heavy distorted doom into the mix which gives the album a whole destructive energy with vicious electronic beats becoming quite central to how the album fully plays out.

The Progressive Musical environment is wonderfully subversive with David showcasing a wealth of different Electronic and Ambient Metal styles on tracks such as Autogenic Kernel, Colossal Suspended Tensor Nexus and Archaic Cognitive Unit. Axiom is quite forward thinking and superbly dystopian which is quite hard to pull off especially for an instrumental album such as this. However, Oscillotron prove they have a great creative insight by blending different areas of Ambient and Electronic based music that tells a truly captivating story.

Axiom is an absolute masterclass of Ambient Doom Metal and Instrumental Music. Everything is played amazingly throughout and I wanted to hear more when everything was said and done. It’s also quite cool that David has included the 2024 Demo Bonus track of Miasma which is where the idea for this album originally started from.

If you’re up for a challenging and highly experimental style of instrumental music then you’re going to have your mind blown with Axiom. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | BandCamp

American guitarist Jason Walker to issue Jason Walker's Gravity Amplifiers debut album (featuring Nick Oliveri and Mucho Drums) on Ripple Music this fall!

American heavy metal guitarist Jason Walker signs to Ripple Music for the release of his debut solo project JASON WALKER'S GRAVITY AMPLIFIERS — featuring drummer Mucho Drums and bassist Nick Oliveri — on November 20th, and presents the debut track today!

Stream debut single The Powerful Lie (featuring Nick Oliveri) 

Jason Walker has spent years channeling a singular obsession into sound: the unwavering belief that we are not alone in the universe. Long before the New York Times forced the Pentagon's UFO programs into the public eye in 2017, Walker was already a witness, and his debut solo album Disclosure Vol. 1 is his testimony.

Backed by Mucho Drums (El Perro, Great Electric Quest) and featuring guest bassist Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator) on half the record, Walker builds a heavy, layered guitar album that works on two levels. On the surface, these are songs about an incident, about humanity, about contact. Beneath it, they're work as allegories about a kid who never felt like he belonged, about instinct, about the strange isolation of seeing something the rest of the world wasn't ready to see. Equal parts riff-centric heavy metal and deeply personal reckoning, Disclosure Vol. 1 is a powerful concept release and a sonic statement all at once.

Debut album "Jason Walker's Gravity Amplifiers" 

Out November 20th on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital) - PRE-ORDER

Jason Walker's musical journey began unusually early, with his first instrument being a makeshift drum kit built from coffee cans and welding rods. His first concert — Crosby, Stills and Nash — solidified his path toward guitar, and he began learning on his father's 12-string acoustic. By age 14, he was already being paid to play, armed with a late-'70s Marshall JMP and a Les Paul Standard. Walker joined the Gene Simmons Band after being recommended by drummer Brian Tichy and passing an audition. He has since toured extensively and established a strong on-stage presence throughout countless shows across North America.

Jason Walker's Gravity Amplifiers is:

Jason Walker — guitar & vocals
Mucho Drums — drums
Nick Oliveri — bass

Ripple Music links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.