STOMACH - Low Demon (Album Review)

Release Date: July 18th 2025. Record Label: Hibernation Release. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Low Demon - Tracklisting

1. Dredged - 04:25

2. Bastard Scum - 08:33

3. Get Through Winter - 08:21

4. Oscillate - 04:48

5. Shivers // Drafts - 17:17

Members

John Hoffman - Drums/Vocals

Adam Tomlinson - Guitars

Review

The brutal Doom/Sludge Metal unit known as STOMACH are back with their new album Low Demon and it’s an expertly created exercise in punishing landscapes and violent grooves that will pummel you into submission from the very start. The band is made up of John Hoffman (Weekend Nachos) and Adam Tomlinson (Sea Of Shit and Sick/Tired) where they continue the nightmarish trajectory they created on their outstanding 2023 debut album Parasite. 

For the most part STOMACH play long draw out  Doom/Sludge Metal sounds that retain a horrifying storytelling aspect to them There’s echoes of Weekend Nachos and Sick/Tired heard within their music though the fast-paced aspects has been replaced by a long drawn out style of DRONE which is powerful enough to cause moments of sheer uncomfortable NOISE throughout the album. 

Low Demon is best described as PURE SONIC WARFARE with it’s neverending style of filth and industrial beats with a slight Progressive energy appearing on the longer tracks of Bastard Scum, Decaying Winter and Shivers // Drifts. The album is made up of two shorter tracks of Dredged and Oscillate which are just as bleak and violently heavy as their larger counterparts. 

The vocals from John Hoffman are violent, harsh and quite extreme which does make it hard to understand the lyrics at first but after a few listens I started to understand them more clearly though I wish I didn’t. As STOMACH touch upon some pretty hard hitting subjects with a NO HOLDS BARRED approach which could easily be the perfect nihilistic soundtrack for current worldwide events. 

I wasn’t prepared for how Low Demon would affect me emotionally and musically as this album has haunted me for the last few weeks. The last time I felt like this was for Primitive Man’s classic 2013 album Scorn and STOMACH have a similar creative energy and vibe to that great band. STOMACH’s music maybe more Drone and Sonic based but the use of extreme music is the same with both bands delivering the same results of highly destructive EXTREME DOOM / SLUDGE METAL to great effect.

The standout tracks for me are Oscillate and Shivers // Drifts which sees STOMACH adding elements of Grind and Prog Metal into the mix. These two tracks make up about twenty two minutes of the album’s forty three minutes run time. STOMACH perhaps experimented the most on this part of the album with overlapping layers of distorted feedback with those harsh aspects of Extreme Metal bringing one final blast of decaying filth that will live on in my dreams and nightmares for a long time to come.

Overall, Low Demon is a masterclass of Extreme Metal that gives the modern day Doom/Sludge Metal scene a great sense of twisted Dystopian Paranoia you rarely nowadays fully experience. 

WOW - is all I can say. I’m going to take a well deserved rest after listening to this album. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.

Low Demon is available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Hibernation Release

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

We As A Company - First Summer (Album Review)

Release Date: July 04th 2025. Record Label: MiaCameretta Records. Formats: CD/DD

First Summer - Tracklisting

1.Outcast 04:44

2.A God 04:44 

3.Kill Spider-man (In the Steppes of Central Asia - A. Borodin) 07:57 

4.Flowers Gone 06:48

5.Tears Away 05:25

6.First Summer 06:38 

7.Saved 05:39

Members

V. – voice, guitar, synths

F. – drums

D. – bass

Review

First Summer is the debut album from Italian Psych/Alt/Stoner Rockers We As A Company and the record has a messy and chaotic style of storytelling to the record that actually makes it standout. We As A Company have a loose structure where they blend Doom, Noise, Grunge and Shoegaze into the mix with the record being a constantly heavy affair. It can be a bit all over the place with the Punk Rock production values applied throughout the whole album but it sounds remarkably hip and fresh as well.

The instrumental melodies can be quite Sludge Rock aggressive with We As A Company hitting upon similar aspects to bands such as RED FANG, WHORES and TORCHE in places. The album gets straight down to business of of playing subtle Doomed Out grooves with a touch of Garage Rock snarling arrogance to them on tracks such as Outcast, God and Kill Spider-man (In the Steppes of Central Asia - A. Borodin). The vocals are clean based and have a subtle Indie Rock / Alt Rock flow which works surprisingly well with the rebellious Stoner Rock passages and intricate Fuzzed Up Psychedelic sounds that acts as a fine counterbalance to the Space Rock aesthetics that suddenly start to emerge.

We As A Company focus on GIGANTIC sounding riffs on this record that feels like they should be played on the biggest stage possible but still retaining that vital underground energy which allows the band to keep experimenting until the final stages of the album. The band aren’t afraid to strip back the Stoner Rock / Sludge Rock aspects of their music and replace them with a Indie Rock and Brit-Pop momentum with the highly emotionally charged Kill Spider-man (In the Steppes of Central Asia - A. Borodin). 

The sound does become more of a Post-Rock anthem for the first half of the track before We As A Company add moments of uplifting Doomgaze and Grunge energy for one of the most unconventional and standout tracks on the album. The vocal harmonies and superb lyrics have a real “ WAVE YOUR LIGHTER / MOBILE IN THE AIR” kind of effect. The second half then transports that atmosphere to a heavier Sludge Metal playground whilst still being hopefully uplifting and destructive at the same time. 

Fourth track Flowers Gone opts for a Gothic/Occult vibe with an enthusiastic Eighties Rock score developing in the background. There’s a minimal Post-Punk and Post-Doom drive constantly driving the music forward with haunting synths and a stubborn Indie Rock that keeps things nicely grounded. This isn’t the heaviest track on the record but We As A Company surround themselves with BIG, BOLD and BRASH ideas to keep the atmosphere highly interesting and superbly original.

Fifth song Tears Away is a mixture of FOO FIGHTERS, QOTSA and TORCHE based melodies with a thumping instrumental score and Pop based vocals that is quite playful and thuggish with the superbly THRASH & PUNK grooves that could have easily made a killer impact on commercial radio over thirty years ago. We As A Company excel with their unusual musical ideas and creative themes that result in highly memorable riffs to make them stand out from the crowd.

The final two tracks of First Summer and Saved sees We As A Company apply unconventional musical structures and ideas to form a backdrop of leftfield based Sludge/Stoner Rock soundscapes with a dreamlike quality before transforming into a heavier and cohesive musical journey. The Shoegaze from the band’s creative perspective offers some life affirming lyrics especially on First Summer. 

We As A Company return to the Doom-Pop atmosphere on the excellent final track Saved which once again sees the band delve into the uplifting Psych Rock arena that leaves the record on quite an emotional finish. The record does lose focus at times but you can’t deny the unquestionable energy from We As A Company and that’s one of their greatest strengths which they never lose sight of.

First Summer is an excellent debut record that may see the band gain a loyal and dedicated following within the underground scene. Check this out when you can.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Metaversus PR for the promo.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Msytic/Spiritual/Doom/Stoner Rockers ETHEREAL RIFFIAN Release New Song / Video For Entering the City of Light

Mystic rock band from Ukraine, releases the music video for the track "Entering the City of Light". It was shot in 4 countries, 7 temples, and took 11 filming days. "I’ve always had the feeling that something is fundamentally wrong with the world humans have created. I had a vision of a better place, and I kept searching for it. I could feel glimpses of it in Jacque Fresco's ideas, in the ashrams of Sri Aurobindo and Sadguru, in the sincerity of morning rituals in Varanasi, in the spirit of freedom in the air of Singapore, and in how they masterfully blend technology with nature. It was inspiring, but still, it was bits and pieces, and I couldn't find the exact place. I have come to terms with the fact that it simply doesn't exist on this planet. "Entering the City of Light" is a very sincere sentiment and an attempt to recreate a feeling of this place. Where wars and tyrants are in history books, and the progress of spirit and technology happens simultaneously. Welcome to the City of Light," comments Val Kornev. The new single complements last year's video for "Eternal Home" and is the second release of the band as a duo.

Credits:

• Director: Val Kornev
• Shoot by Wild Ether and ខ្មែរយូនិក Khmer Unique
• Edited by Wild Ether
• aMusic composed, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ethereal Riffian

Filmed during May-December 2024

Ethereal Riffian is: Val Kornev - guitar/vocal Max Yuhimenko - guitar ===LINKS=== Ethereal Riffian on Facebook:   / etherealriffian   Ethereal Riffian on bandcamp: https://etherealriffian.bandcamp.com/ Ethereal Riffian on Instagram:   / etherealriffian   Ethereal Riffian on Youtube:    / @etherealriffian   Wild Ether on instagram:   / wild_ether   Robustfellow on Patreon:   / robustfellow   Robustfellow on Facebook:   / robustfellowprods   Robustfellow on bandcamp: http://www.robustfellow.bandcamp.com Robustfellow on twitter:   / robust_fellow   Robustfellow on Instagram:   / robustfellow_prods   Robustfellow on Telegram: https://t.me/robustfellow

Thanks to RobustFellow Prods for all of the info.

CTRL+Z: Psychedelic Stoner Metal from Poland with debut single ‘Cockroach’ announces first album via Interstellar Smoke Records

CTRL+Z plays psychedelic stoner rock that grows not from the Californian sands, but from the pavements of the polish city of Łódź – post-industrial greyness, chaos and city dust instead of a desert scenery. Their roots lie in jam sessions – psychedelic improvisations that give rise to the first sketches of songs. Compositions are shaped intuitively before they go to the studio for mixing and mastering.

‘Cockroach’ is the first single from CTRL+Z, announcing their debut album “We Are Social Creatures”, which will be released in September 25th 2025. via Interstellar Smoke Records.

Cockroach Streaming Link: https://tinyurl.com/3xp47pen

‘Cockroach’ is a disturbing portrait of an urban outsider – a figure born in the city yards of Łódź, among the collapsing buildings and eternal twilight. This is a creature with a fat forehead, a wandering gaze and sudden, thoughtless movements, whose daily life is a constant, chaotic flight. In the final run, he loses his flight pigeon feathers.

CTRL+Z:

Paweł Leszczyński - drums
Mateusz Ulański - guitar
Karol Bukowski - guitar
Martyn Gill - bass

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/ctrlz_band
https://www.facebook.com/ctrlzpl
https://www.youtube.com/@pleasepressctrlz
https://ctrlplusz.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6odBPxkELtx1BfO0AboHMR?si=LngyqqIOSHGJav0hSCAgdQ
https://interstellarsmokerecords1.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to Interstellar Smoke Records for all of the details.

Mosara - Rumour Of A Funeral (Album Review)

Release Date: July 11th 2025. Record Label: Remorseless Records. Formats: CD/DD

Rumour Of A Funeral - Tracklisting

1.Rumour of a Funeral

2.Djinn

3.Somewhere

4.Rivers of Blood

Members

Tony - Vocals/Guitars

Nikos - Guitars

Chris - Bass/Vocals

John - Drums/Vocals

Review

Rumour Of A Funeral is the third  album from Doom/Sludge Metallers Mosara with the band being quite productive over the last four years since they’ve released their debut self-titled album. You know how this type of album works with Mosara playing a classic style of slow pounding Doom and Sludge Metal with Prog Metal tendencies shining through. With sounds inspired by the likes of Electric Wizard, Neurosis, Kowloon Walled City and Monolord with the band projecting a nightmarish level of down-tuned attitude with a sullen Psychedelic atmosphere being quite dark and vicious when the time calls for this.

Opening song Rumour Of A Funeral is a dirge ridden Sludge Metal experience with the music is played at a creepy slow-to-mid pace which sees an eerie SUNN-0))) inspired Drone Metal aspect appearing with the band paying homage within the band logon. The vocals from Tony, Chris and John appear at different intervals with them ranging from clean vocals, harsh growls, demonic chants and even shamanic chants. Mosara conjures up devil-sh gloomy Progressive rhythms and noise based rhythms which drift almost into Industrial/Noise Rock surroundings. However, Mosara keeps within the ranks of modern day and haunting Doom/Sludge Metal which has echoes of Doomgaze starting to creep into the mix.

Second song Djinn continues with the epic and cinematic landscape with a mammoth runtime of fourteen mins with Mosara taking their time blending different rhythms and sludgy textures. The song flirts between a serious level of Post-Rock and Post-Doom sounds. It does take for the song to fully get going and find its rhythm but that’s Mosara conjuring up the ingredients for a non-stop blast of thrilling Doom/Sludge Metal sound throughout the track. The Post-Industrial beats allow the vocals to become more depressing and quite affirmative at the same time. There is a menacing EYEHATEGOD creative influence starting to emerge within the lyrics with this album most definitely not being for the faint hearted. 

The whole record is full of brutal Post-Metal atmospherics. With an increasing reliance on Droned Out Sonic experimentation which makes long drawn out notes being stretched out into the next millennium which is one of my favourite aspects of the whole album. The second track Djinn allows Mosara to experiment and play a crazed riff-centric style of music which becomes part of the action for the remaining two tracks on the album. Though, you’ll still experience nightmarish vocal harmonies and distorted instrumental passages before this great album is finally finished.

The final two tracks of Somewhere and Rivers of Blood allows Mosara to expand their nihilistic and down-tuned Sludge Metal sound with the gloomy Post-Doom passages being quite distorted along the way. Frenzied vocals and intense instrumental sounds never get in the way of Mosara telling an intriguing concept with lyrics and the overall creative journey that Rumour Of A Funeral takes the listener upon. 

There are echoes of screeching guitars that made my hearing give up in anger at times but that’s perhaps my advancing years and not down to the album itself. Though, that should only add to Mosara’s credibility of playing THICK, HEAVY, and BRUTAL music from start to finish. Rumour Of A Funeral brings a refreshing slow-paced take on the modern day Doom/Sludge Metal sound with moments of AUDIO based violence that will pummel you into submission in this lifetime and beyond.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Margarita Witch Cult - Strung Out In Hell (Album Review)

 

Release Date: July 18th 2025. Record Label:Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Strung Out In Hell - Tracklisting

1.Crawl Home To Your Coffin

2.Scream Bloody Murder 

3.Conqueror Worm

4.Witches Candle 

5.White Wedding (Billy Idol cover)

6.Mars Rover

7.Dig Your Way Out

8.The Fool

9.Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm

Members

Scott Abbott - Vocals & Guitars

James Brown - Bass, Vocals, Synth, Mellotron, Guitars

George Caswell - Drums & Vocals

Review

Well, Margarita Witch Cult actually did it. They actually FUCKING did it. They’ve released an absolute unmissable record with their second album Strung Out In Hell. They may have actually made a deal with SATAN himself. This record flat out rocks with its spectacular use of Fuzz, Doom, Psych, Sludge and Stoner Metal surroundings. Throw in a contemporary style of Heavy Metal with a seedy level of fun that allows the band to grow out of the shadows from their musical heroes in creating their own style of Distorted Fuzz Metal with a sense of Psychedelic danger lurking in the midst.

Margarita Witch Cult received some great acclaim with their 2023 self titled record but the band aim for BIGGER, HEAVIER and FUZZIER movements that delivers with a sense of classic NWOBHM and PROTO METAL throwback energy whilst keeping with a seedy modern flow. The record opens with Crawl Home To Your Coffin, Scream Bloody Murder and Conqueror Worm which sees a dark POPPY effect being added whilst adding some much needed classic HARD ROCK grit with a sense of SATANIC quality appearing with the vocals and lyrics. 

The record is downright mean in places but all done in the best possible DEVIL ROCK taste with a classic style of AMPLIFIER HEAVINESS paying homage to the likes of Saint Vitus, Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard. With Uncle Acid sadly missing in action recently, Margarita Witch Cult are more than capable of taking their place with the standout tracks of Conqueror Worm and WItches Candle conjuring up a shit-ton of demonic based grooves down your spine.

Though, I’m going to say one of my favourite tracks on the album is a brilliant cover of the Billy Idol classic track White Wedding. Sure, this song has been covered multiple times before but this is one of the best versions I’ve heard of that track. As Margarita Witch Cult make it their own by adding multiple layers of GLOOMY feedback with that SATANIC presence whilst keeping the core essence of the original track. The screeching guitars and kick-ass vocals is PURE DYNAMITE.

The second half of the album does become quite spaced out with SYNTHS and MELLOTRON appearing out of nowhere which does add a true WTF crazed energy to the whole album though Margarita Witch Cult keep on the right side of Doom/Stoner Metal credibility. Songs such as Mars Rover, Dig Your Way Out and Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm generate a ton of seedy instrumental passages and highly energetic aggressive melodies that crackle with violent FUZZ ROCK attitude for the underground masses to fully appreciate.

Strung Out In Hell is the type of record that could elevate Margarita Witch Cult to greater heights against fellow Occult Doom Rockers GREEN LUNG in the next twelve months or so. The band are working with the amazing Heavy Psych Sounds again and it’s a perfect fit with this album being expertly produced with the right amount of Doomed Out coming for you at all angles for a record that’s on course to be considered on of the best underground albums of the year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Strung Out In Hell is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram