Din Of Celestial Birds - Takeoffs & Landings (Album Review)

 

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: Various. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Takeoffs & Landings - Tracklist

1.Takeoffs & Landings [3:11]

2. Marmoris [5:21]

3. From This Summit We Can See The Heavens & Stars [5:33]

4. When Suddenly... [5:48]

5. You Are My Temple [5:42]

6. Migratory Patterns [3:58]

7. I Hope That Road Leads You Somewhere Beautiful, Somewhere You Belong [4:13]

8. Second Star To The Right, And Straight On 'Til Morning [6:41]

Lineup

Andie Gill - Guitar / Synths

Chris Core - Guitar

Tom Hazlehurst - Guitar

Matt Benatan - Bass / Synths

Vince Knight-Schrijver - Drums

Review

Instrumental Post-Rock/Post-Metal collective Din Of Celestial Birds follow up their acclaimed debut album The Night Is For Dreamers with their more expansive and bolder second album Takeoffs & Landings. Taking a more Alt Rock and Cinematic Rock approach to their music which allows the band to add new levels of emotional intensity to their music. This new creative approach allows the band to be closer to the likes of Pelican and Russian Circles whilst thinking outside the box with subtle Psych Rock melodies being quite forward thinking especially within the highly intricate synths that dominate the quieter Ambient moments.

Takeoffs & Landings starts quite emotional and superbly uplifting within the excellent opening tracks Takeoffs & Landings, Marmoris and From This Summit We Can See The Heavens & Stars. The sound is quite progressive with a lush spaced out energy appearing from the glorious synths but Din Of Celestial Birds always deploy an aggressive Post-Metal sound that brings a ferocious Atmospheric Sludge based energy to the record. The music is brilliantly fast and unapologetically intense which makes up some of the album's standout moments.

Din Of Celestial Birds spend a great amount of time developing the “Cinematic” score that’s the underlying power of this record which allows the band to move into many different arenas of Instrumental Rock with an unexpected Shoegaze delivery appearing when you least expect this. The powerful Post-Metal instrumental grooves do have that vibrant “underground” energy which transforms into something with wider commercial appeal and that’s no bad thing at all.

Din Of Celestial Birds aim for their biggest and heaviest sounds possible on tracks such as From This Summit We Can See The Heavens & Stars, When Suddenly, You Are My Temple, I Hope That Road Leads You Somewhere Beautiful, Somewhere You Belong and Second Star To The Right, And Straight On 'Til Morning.

There’s also a wicked Electronic score that can be heard within the background of the record which once again taps into the haunting blend of Cinematic Post-Rock or even “Soundtrack” based material. Whatever, you want to call this, bloody intense, emotionally charged, grounded and brilliantly real by a group of amazingly talented musicians. 

Takeoffs & Landings is a highly adventurous and superbly real album which can be quite challenging to listen to at times but it’s emotional rewards are HUGE with Din Of Celestial Birds proving why they’re fastly becoming one of the most promising and celebrated Post-Rock/Post-Metal bands the UK scene currently has right now.

These guys are simply unstoppable on this release where you feel genuinely part of the action. This is a type of an album that you never want to end and with first rate production values heard throughout then this is the complete package for devoted followers of the Post-Rock/Post-Metal scene can simply do without. 

Awesome. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Frenchie PR Trail for the promo.

Takeoffs & Landings Four is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from the links below:

BIG SCARY MONSTERS (UK/EU) // A THOUSAND ARMS (US) // TOMATO (CHINA)

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Pleb - Grease Trap (EP Review)

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: Human Worth. Formats: Cassette/DD

Grease Trap - Tracklist

1.CLODS OF SHIT AND BONE

2.THE BRUISES MEAN IT'S ON THE WAY OUT

3.THE EYES MELT FIRST

4.PUT IT BACK

5.EVOLUTIONARY ROADBLOCK

6.THE STREETS AREN'T RELIABLE IN THE SLIGHTEST

7.YOU AND ME BABY AIN'T NOTHING BUT CANNIBALS 02:11

8.BELLY UP

Lineup

Delia Fraser - Guitar / Feedback Hell

Steve Myles - Drums / Sqwaks and Grunts 

Review

Grease Trap is the debut EP from Punk/Grind/Doom/Sludge Metallers Pleb and it’s a brutal exercise in pure filth and sonic distortion with a manic Punk Metal sound at its main core. The music is violently intense and it revels in delivering a pure grimy experience from beginning to end. Pleb operate in a no holds barred world where the production values are quite lo-fi which gives them such a NO FUCKS GIVEN attitude with their music. However, it brilliantly works as PLEB manages to combine areas of Grind, Sludge, Doom, Punk, Thrash and even small amounts of Psychedelic beats into a cohesive style of music that pulls no punches.

The vocals are shouted with extreme confidence that it gives the the whole EP a bombastic attitude that develops into violent levels of twisted Sludge Metal carnage on tracks such as Clods Of Shit And Bone, The Bruises Mean It’s On The Way Out, Put It Back and Evolutionary Roadblock being the most threatening, aggressive, seedy and superbly entertaining tracks on the EP. This is where PLEB show their real selves especially with Delia Fraser’s sublime guitars and twisted feedback skills that puts the amplifiers through their fucking destructive paces. 

Steve Myles also excels on vocal duties and drums which gives the EP it’s whole grindcore spirit but everything staying true to the Doom/Sludge Metal world but with a more abstract filth ridden PUNK METAL spirit which Grease Trap delivers right to the very end. 

The EP lasts under fifteen minutes but that’s more than enough time for Pleb to get shit done and leave the audience in a violent and catatonic state where they once again offer no apologies.

The whole thing is brilliantly seedy and the lo-fi production values make this an unpredictable force of nature. I would have liked a couple of more songs on the EP as the whole thing suddenly ends when things start getting truly exciting. However, it’s always best leaving the audience wanting more and that’s what Pleb has fully achieved with this great slice of extreme metal the underground scene will go absolutely crazy for.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

Chameleon Death Eruption - The Decay (EP Review)

 

Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats:DD

The Decay - Tracklist

1.Hardly Dare to Hope 03:56

2.Dance or Die 03:53

3.1000 Cranes 03:58

4.I Grieve 04:12

Lineup

Baer - Songwriting, Lyrics, Guitars, Vocals

Holle - Recording, Mixing, Production, Drums

Minzer - Bass

Review

The Decay is the second EP from Grunge/Stoner Rockers Chameleon Death Eruption that follows on from last year’s debut EP - The Death. The record is a sludgy mix of distorted Grungy momentum with the band delving into the fuzzier depths of Doom and Noise Rock. The whole sound is quite abrasive with a classic Nineties Metal energy with influences such as TAD, Soundgarden and The Melvins appearing with the gloomy sludgy surroundings of Alice In Chains.

The vocals have a demanding Post-Punk vibe which aren’t the most polished but they get the job done thanks to the excellent delivery by lead vocalist Baer who also doubles down on guitar duties, songwriting and lyrics as well. This is a very fast paced record with an aggressive amount of Fuzz Rock attitude solidifying against that rebellious Noise Rock swagger on tracks such as Hardly Dare To Hope, Dance Or Die and I Grieve.

Chameleon Death Eruption have an excellent DIY Punk Rock ethic which comes across within the stripped back production values The Decay contains. There’s some fantastic slabs of melodic based Sludge Rock appearing which gives the band a more straight forward drive within their overall sound but you can’t help admire the more off-beat Punk Rock and Noise Rock vibes that appear within different stages of the EP.

Chameleon Death Eruption is a superb hard-rocking EP that allows Chameleon Death Eruption to add a new style of Sludge Rock/Metal heaviness compared to their debut EP. 

Check out when you can. As this is so damn good. Highly recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Frenchie PR Trail for the promo.

Takeoffs & Landings Four is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from the links below:

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

Funeral Joke - Funeral Joke (EP Review)

Release Date: July 24th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats:DD

Funeral Joke - Tracklist

1.Funeral Joke 05:06

2.The Veil 05:51

3.Doomwell 05:10

4.Waiting For The Wound 05:42

5.Conscious 06:03

Members

Guitars: Michael Mauvais

Vocals: Nora Marcela Aguirre

Bass Guitar: Adrian Palacios

Drums: Matthew "Monty" Montana

Additional Keys and Synths: Anessa Hernandez

Review

The infamous El Paso, Texas Heavy Rock scene provides another great band for the underground scene to become accustomed with. This time round it’s Funeral Joke to make their appearance known with their great blend of Doom, Alt Metal, Sludge and Shoegaze sounds which they build from the ground up on their excellent debut self-titled EP.

The EP lasts around twenty nine minutes across five tracks where Funeral Joke combines that heavy Doomgaze sound against a Sludge Rock driven score with twisted Fuzzed Out melodies with dark levels of Grunge and Psychedelic Metal appearing. The superb opening title track is highly melodic but with a twisted undercurrent of Sludge, Doom and Fuzz Rock with the gloomy vocals from Nora Marcela Aguirre adding a slightly different Post-Gothic energy to the usual great style of Doomgaze sounds that’s becoming quite popular.

The record is cautiously bleak but that doesn’t stop Funeral Joke aiming for a certain Post-Punk and Post-Doom attitude on this record with small traces of Alt Metal keeping a subtle grounded sound emerging on tracks The Veil and Doomwell. There is an exquisite retro Nineties DOOM & GLOOM aesthetic that allows Funeral Joke to create bewitching melodies which feels that the band are bringing the Halloween Season a few months early with how the record builds up the eerie atmosphere slowly and quite confidently at the same time. 

Funeral Joke aims for a frantic Noise Rock finish on certain sections on the record where the later stages offer the most dramatic and distorted progressive moments on the whole EP. You can hear influences such as The Cult, Windhand, Monolord and Neurosis along the way. Well, that’s what I hear when everything is finished but there’s some wicked Stoner Metal sounds starting to emerge which become quite down-tuned and even transfers over into the LOW & SLOW amplified arena which should keep many folks / devoted followers of the almighty riff happy.

The lyrics are quite bleak but they manage to convey some subtle emotional energy to them which matches the music superbly well that allows Funeral Joke to deliver a highly engaging HEAVY RAWK experience you’ll fall in love with over time the more times you listen to the full emotionally charged experience. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Psychedelic Space Rock Legends The Spacelords Announce New Album Uranus Omnibus Sanctus. First Video Single Streaming.

German psychedelic space rock trio The Spacelords announce new album Uranus Omnibus Sanctus, for release on September 18th via Tonzonen Records.

Check out the new music video fo tritle track Uranus Omnibus Sanctus here: https://youtu.be/l9hmvlPuyKY

One should – no, one MUST never give up – and rarely has this fundamental piece of wisdom been expressed more powerfully – and with such musical intensity! – as a timeless truth than on the 9th studio album Uranus Omnibus Sanctus by the now legendary, Europe-wide acclaimed and highly decorated The Spacelords.

The journey to completing this richly resonant production took the band through a veritable asteroid belt of personal setbacks and technical near-disasters, which the core crew of the stoner orbiter – comprising

Matthias “HAZI” Wettstein on guitar,
Marcus “MUDGE” Schnitzler on drums and
Ekhard “AKEE” Kazmaier on bass

—and yet, thanks to the motto set out at the outset, it became yet another milestone on the journey towards the perfected, unmistakable The Spacelords sound – nirvana.

The song Survive To Win is the musical embodiment of this timeless principle, which has enabled those who unconditionally align their lives with it to achieve the goals they have set for themselves since the dawn of time – and The Spacelords are certainly among them.

This trio, so closely bonded both personally and creatively, is complemented and accompanied by tried-and-tested, like-minded collaborators such as Didi Holzner, who lets his unmistakable organ veils and swathes drift and waft over the ethereally grooving The Spacelords soundscapes – or the masterful work of Eroc, who has co-authored a new chapter in high fidelity within The Spacelords Stoner Sound Bible!

New album Uranus Omnibus Sanctus is due for release on LP, CD and digitally on 18 September 2026 via Tonzonen Records, distributed by Cargo Records Germany – get ready for a sonic journey through highs and lows to astral wisdom and deep-sea-worthy hypnotic grooves!

Pre-order The Spacelords Uranus Omnibus Sanctus on CD, digital and limited edition vinyl formats here: https://www.tonzonen.de/shop

Tracklist

1. Uranus Omnibus Sanctus
2. Survive To Win
3. Whales
4. On The Verge Of Delirium

Links

Official: https://thespacelords.de
Bandcamp: https://thespacelords1.bandcamp.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TheSpacelords1
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thespacelordsgermany
Facebook: https://facebook.com/the.spacelords
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/2RINKqSOf3krAEp1kRxSXd
Label: https://tonzonen.de

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for the details.

November Fire - Doom Blues (Single Review)

Release Date: August 05th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Doom Blues - Tracklist

Doom Blues

Lineup

Terry Aubie: Bass, vocals, lyrics

Dave Hubai: Guitars

Jim Kelley: Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers November Fire return with the second single and title track from their upcoming album Doom Blues due out later this year. This song is quite a progressive and seedy number set amongst the Doomed Out Cosmos with fuzzy guitars perfectly setting the scene for this space rock adventure. If you ever wondered what would happen if Monster Magnet, Danzig and Type O Negative joined creative forces then this is perhaps the best possible outcome. As Doom Blues is a slow paced number with areas of Doom, Fuzz, Grunge and Stoner Rock sounds with a dangerous aura of destructive forces hidden behind the scenes.

The vocals are equally outlandish thanks to the great work of Terry Aubie who projects his maddening “Dave Wyndorf” highly inspired persona whilst offering a true Post-Punk spirit amongst the most surreal moments where the excellent lyrics really come into their own. The music itself has a warped identity of its own and is never afraid to be truly outlandish and outrageous in equal measure especially within the slow-to-mid paced delivery of the whole song.

Though, my favourite aspect of Doom Blues is how November Fire overlaps different areas of Psych, Rock, Drone and Fuzz Rock grooves into a slightly nightmarish Stoner Rock style with that classic Blues Rock element finally starting to break free from the madness of it all. The later stages of the song is where all hell breaks loose where every member of the band (Terry Aubie, Dave Hubai and Jim Kelley) all try to wrestle full control of the band with some epic instrumental solos developing before unity is restored for a highly impressive finish that leaves you fully satisfied.

On the basis of this track alone then I’m quite excited to say that Doom Blues is one of my most anticipated records to listen and review before the year is out. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Crumbling Ghost - Four (Album Review)

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: New Heavy Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Four - Tracklist

1.Bows Of London
2.Bill Norrie
3.Valtz Efter Tor Lohne
4.Lovely Joan
5.Gower Wassail
6.Last Of All Sleep
7.The Unquiet Grave

Lineup

John Mosley – Guitar

Donny Hopkins – Guitar

Ruth O’Loughlin – Bass

Katie Harnett – Vocals

Matthew Atkins- Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Rockers Crumbling Ghost return in spectacular fashion with their latest record Four which is obviously their fourth full length record and their first in a decade. This record has a heavier and diverse array of Doom, Stoner, Fuzz and Folk melodies that’s strengthened by the band’s great use of warped psychedelics and space rock attitude. I always feel that the band never got the recognition they truly deserve for helping to establish the modern day UK Stoner Rock sound that’s benefited so many great bands of late. 

This isn’t Crumbing Ghost playing catch up, this is the band solidifying their reputation as one of the true original bands the UK underground rock scene currently has right now. Four offers a refreshing take on that modern Stoner Rock sound with the band applying Folk, Shoegaze, Indie Rock and Pop influences amongst the aggressive Doomed Out sounds that reminds me of Electric Wizard, Windhand and Black Sabbath in equal measure. 

Check out the superb opening tracks of Bows Of London and Bill Norrie that have different musical perspectives to each other but allow Crumbling Ghost to play a distorted style of Doom Metal that harks back to the days of Electric Wizard in places. The lyrics are brilliantly whimsical and heartfelt on Bill Norrie whilst the music itself is just crushing with epic levels of distorted movements that allows that Shoegaze aspect to hit some really emotional highs for the listener to become part of the whole musical journey that the band have created here.

Each track on Four tells a different musical perspective and story where Crumbling Ghost changes into a different musical persona with freakish jazzy and post-rock beats becoming part of the musical perspective whilst still remaining an essential part of the Doom/Stoner Metal universe. The music is played beautifully throughout with Crumbling Ghost laying down some of the best sounds of their music caterer and with the amazing vocals from Katie Harnett being one of standout elements of the whole record.

The instrumental passages are constantly engaging with Crumbling Ghost giving Russian Circles a run for their money on the standout third track Valtz Efter Tor Lohne which is an intense and first class style of Instrumental Post-Rock with flashes of Cinematic themes appearing along the way. 

The second half of the record moves across areas of Folk, Psych and classic Heavy Rock whilst employing a great style of modern day surroundings which appears brilliantly on tracks such as Lovely Joan, Wassail and The Unquiet Grave. The whole record can be classed as a concept album with an emotionally wrought journey told throughout the album which allows the Folk Rock aspect to really shine but there’s more unexpected sonic and fuzzy delights waiting to be heard from Crumbling Ghost when everything is said and done. 

Four is an exquisite, soulful and beautifully made record which instantly commands your attention as Crumbling Ghost may have released their best album to date. 

Outstanding. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

Four is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via New Heavy Sounds.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram