Mount Palatine - Wormholy World (Album Review)

Release Date: February 06th 2026. Record Label: Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records). Formats: CD/DD

Wormholy World - Tracklisting

1.The Sands 

2.Whispers of the Holy Land

3.The Dreaming

4.Panther Eyes

5.Ethereal

6.Newborn Sun

Members

Jean the Baron (guitar & vocals)

Count Boogie (bass)

Lord of the Groove (drums)

Review

Heavy Psych/Stoner Metallers Mount Palatine release their sophomore album Wormholy World and to make matters slightly confusing, the guys actually released their debut album Cockroach Conquest back in 2024 under their original name of The Paladin. This time round the band offer a more vibrant, progressive and surreal Psychedelic journey compared to their celebrated debut album. The echoes of that band still remain slightly with Mount Palatine playing areas of Psych Stoner Metal influenced by the likes of Mars Red Sky, Alice In Chains, King Buffalo and ELDER.

Wormholy World allows Mount Palatine to draw upon influences from the likes of YOB, UFOMAMMUT, OM and Mastodon with the music being more mature with explosive melodic themes traversing with heavy sludgier grooves which comes across the epic opening track of The Sands. Cockroach Conquest had a surreal sense of humour running within the main storyline but the band played everything seriously with the lyrics, vocals and instrumental passages offering a more grown-up creative theme. The vocals change from chants, harsh vocals and to a grizzled clean vocal delivery which adds a sense of gritty realism to Mount Palatine. With elements of Grunge, Doom and Space Rock attitude appearing towards the end of the song, this gives Wormholy World a truly cinematic and adventurous environment throughout.

Second song Whispers Of The Holy Land offers Meditative Doom movements and sludgy surroundings for a song that has an abstract Ambient and Post-Rock quality. The song is quite slow at first with the moody instrumental sounds giving time to breathe and expand into a heavier MASTODON-ian vibe with a haunting Cosmic Rock flavour never dominating the musical landscape. The vocals can be quite raw-sounding in places within the reflective parts of the song. Lead vocalist Jean The Baron moves between areas of Grunge, Psych and Stoner Metal dynamics which can be quite considered as SHAMANIC in places. Mount Palatine are quite philosophical with their lyrics that offer an endearing and highly engaging vibe into the record.

Third track The Dreaming sees Mount Palatine move into a chaotic style of Heavy Psych with flashes of distorted Progressive passages and experimental themes which do take time to fully settle down within the thrilling Post-Doom backdrop pushing the album further down the Space Rock vortex. There’s some heavy Ambient and Sonic distortion that can be slightly disjointed and fractured from reality but this is one of the standout tracks of the record. As Mount Palatine chop and change their musical direction with real dramatic flair that allows the PROG METAL flow to fully take control for the rest of the song. 

For the second half of the album, Mount Palatine pays homage to the likes of TOOL, SOUNDGARDEN and LOWFLYINGHAWKS where the record fully sees the band hit their creative and cinematic stride where everything becomes heavier, bolder, grander and more adventurous. The final three tracks of Panther Eyes, Ethereal and Newborn Son easily matches to the genuine of Psychedelic excitement and bombastic heaviness the first half of the album achieved with perhaps even more outlandish melodies and highly intense grooves that leave you wanting more throughout.

Wormholy World perhaps feels like the “real” or “true” debut album from Mount Palatine as this record is on another level compared to their previous album. With better production values and a brilliantly fleshed out vision, this album is an unmissable experience that will leave you breathless. This will easily be considered one of the year’s best albums when the year is finally over.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mount Palatine and Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

Wormholy World is available to buy now on CD/DD via Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records).

Links:

https://mountpalatine.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mountpalatine/
https://www.youtube.com/@mountpalatine
https://mountpalatine.com
https://linktr.ee/mountpalatine

A new chapter begins for Ruff Majik with the release of latest single Can Of Wyrms

South African heavy rock outfit Ruff Majik return with Can Of Wyrms, a stark and emotionally unguarded single that confronts suicide from the perspective of those left behind.

Rather than romanticizing loss or framing it through spectacle, Can Of Wyrms documents grief as an ongoing presence — unresolved, heavy, and communal. The song was written years ago, but only now finds its moment, arriving as the band re-emerge after a period marked by silence, distance, and personal reckoning.

Frontman Johni Holiday has previously spoken openly about PTSD, agoraphobia, and cycles of dependency formed while touring — struggles that ultimately led to Ruff Majik stepping away before the weight became fatal. That pause, and the clarity it forced, directly informs the song’s restraint. Can Of Wyrms does not seek answers. It acknowledges absence, as well as the battle waged by those in the thick of it.

Musically, the track balances Ruff Majik’s stoner-punk urgency with a raw yet anthemic vulnerability. Gang vocals — recorded with friends and members of the South African underground music community — form the emotional core of the song, reinforcing its central idea: this grief is shared, not isolated.

The single also features guest vocals by Ben from Slomosa, adding a further layer of communal voice and international solidarity to a deeply personal release.

All proceeds from Can Of Wyrms, including associated merchandise, will be directed toward mental-health support initiatives.

Buy / Stream Can Of Wyrms on BandCamp

The release coincides with Ruff Majik’s first live performance (31 January, Pretoria, South Africa) , since their hiatus — not framed as a victory lap, but as a statement of intent. In the band's own words: "There is work to be done."

 

Can Of Wyrms is not a eulogy. It is a warning, a remembrance, and a refusal to buckle under the pressures of the world.

This single is currently available on BandCamp only, and will be released on all other platforms on 16 January 2026. The band will take no requests for press until the first phase is complete.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Thanks to Plug Music Agency for the details.

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST ITALY announces first wave of bands for May 2-3 edition in Torino and Bologna; tickets on sale now!

European stoner, doom and psych rock festival series Heavy Psych Sounds Fest reveals the first bands to play their Italian edition, taking place on May 2-3 at El Barrio in Torino and TPO in Bologna. Tickets are on sale now!

Get ready for another seismic weekend of riffs and fuzz as Heavy Psych Sounds Fest once again brings the heat to Bologna and Torino this May 2nd and 3rd, with another colossal lineup that will make both cities tremble! At the top of the bill, two forces of nature from the opposite ends of the heavy rock spectrum are ready to melt all faces in equal ways: time to soak in the sun-drenched, hypnotic jams of Greece’s hard psych-prog rock pillars Naxatras, and get instantly crushed by the smoked-out sludgy spells of Polish weed metal heroes Belzebong.

Coming straight from the United States, The Lords of Altamont will unleash their high-octane garage-punk fury, while -(16)- will trample upon all ears with their abrasive brand of sludge metal. Haunting as ever, psychedelic doom newcomers Litania will unfurl their entrancing spells in the most cathartic of ways, as Finnish stoner rock stalwarts Monsternaut will return to the stages for another demonstration of pure fuzzy power. Don't miss this dual-city celebration of all things stoner, doom and psych, and grab your weekend tickets while you can!

Heavy Psych Sounds Fest Italy - Bologna @ TPO // Torino @ El Barrio
- May 2nd and 3rd, 2026 - Bologna tickets / Torino tickets 

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

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Utah’s stoner juggernauts Hibernaut and Arizona’s grinding death-dealers Face Pulp to release split LP March 6th

In Spring 2026, out of the American West rises a two-headed beast of riffs and rage. Joining forces for a split LP, Utah’s stoner juggernauts Hibernaut and Arizona’s grinding death-dealers Face Pulp join forces to release an album made of noise and nasty intentions

Following up Hibernaut’s lauded “Obsidian Eye” and Face Pulp’s split with AZ native grind thrashers DogsThrowSpears, the two outfits deliver a collection of 9 tracks from their respective dark corners of the heavy underground, captured on vinyl through Colorado Springs’ What’s Left Records.

Hibernaut

Hibernaut is a doom/sludge/stoner metal band from Salt Lake City, Utah, known for their crushing riffs, psychedelic edges, and progressive heaviness. Formed in 2021 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Jones (Subrosa, Dwellers) and drummer Zach Hatsis (Subrosa, Dwellers), the lineup solidified with bassist Josh Dupree and lead guitarist Matt Miller (Thunderfist, Oldtimer). Their debut album “Ingress” (2023) earned strong acclaim and reached #15 on The Doom Charts.

Their follow-up, “Obsidian Eye”, was released on July 11, 2025, and immediately landed at #7 on that month’s Doom Charts—marking a major leap forward for the band. With towering riffs, immersive dynamics, and deep underground roots, Hibernaut continue to carve their own path in modern doom.

Hibernaut will also be playing the first annual HUFR Fest in Denver, Colorado on April 24th at bar 404 and are working on their 3rd full length studio album.

Face Pulp

Face Pulp started (officially) in October of 2021. Prior to that, guitarist MT and drummer Randy had tried to start the band back in 2019. When the epidemic hit, they took a year and a half away from it, and by October 2021 they had their first full band practice as Face Pulp. In 2023 they released their full length "Eye Grabbing Detail," played a series of regional shows in the southwest including a 10 day SW tour, and were pivotal in booking the "Burning Pines" festival in Flagstaff, AZ in an attempt to bring some of their favorite near by bands together all under one roof from every corner, reservation, and major city in Arizona.

In 2024, reaching for higher ambitions they released a split 7" with their friends in DogsThrowSpears from Fort Defiance, AZ, and in Sept/Oct Landyn (from DogsThrowSpears) joined the band. Throughout 2025 they have been playing consistently all over the region, ran another southwest tour, and had the opportunity to open up for acts like Gatecreeper, Soulfly, and Go Ahead and Die. With big tour plans for 2026 in the midwest and Europe, the release of this split LP, and recording for a full length, who knows what will come next. Face Pulp mixes genres of hardcore punk, grindcore, thrash, and hints of OSDM.

Hibernaut / Face Pulp Split

Album out March 6th, 2026
Vinyl on What’s Left Records
Also on CD, Cassette, & Digital

Hibernaut Info

Salt Lake City, Utah
FFO: High On Fire, Conan, YOB, Mastodon, SLEEP, Neurosis

Dave Jones - Guitar, Vocals
Zach Hatsis - Drums
Josh Dupree - Bass
Matt Miller - Lead Guitar

Face Pulp 

Flagstaff, Arizona
FFO: Pig Destroyer, Insect Warfare, Iron Buddha, Knoll, Dripping Decay, Undergang

Steve - Vocals
MT - Guitar
Landyn - Bass
Randy - Drums

Hibernaut Links:

Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Linktree

Face Pulp Links:

Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify

Thanks to Good Boy PR For The Details.

Covenaut - Harbinger (EP Review)

Release Date: December 30th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Harbinger - Tracklisting

1.December Sun 06:25

2.Harbinger 04:59

3.My Time Has Come 05:48

4.Eternal Seeker 07:48

Members

Jan - Guitars and Vocals

Jassik - Drums

Zimbo - Bass

Review

Harbinger is the latest EP from Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Covenaut and it’s their first release in almost a decade with the band offering a tighter, groovier and sludgier sound compared to their 2016 record Doomed To Live. The sound is dominated by an aggressive Garage, Grunge and Punk Rock environment which gives the band a trippy Psychedelic sound which allows their cool sounding melodies to be quite vibrant, uplifting and melodic despite Jan’s gruff vocals adding a fine metallic sound.

Opening song December Sun allows Covenaut to play a riff-centric sound with Jan’s vocals setting up the scene for a thrilling modern day sound that adds a level of gritty realism into the mix. Though, the main strength for this track and the EP is Covenaut’s expert Psychedelic delivery which aligns them closer to the likes of Howling Giant and King Buffalo in places but with a heavier Groove/Sludge Rock sound that develops constantly throughout the track. If you’re a fan of HARK, KYLESA and HIGH ON FIRE then this track will seriously impress the hell out of you.

Second track Harbinger operates with a more ice-cold Doom Metal flavour with small flashes of fuzzed up and aggressive leaning Sludge/Stoner Metal attitude. This song takes time to fully find its momentum with Jan’s vocals once again aiming for a harsh and gruff delivery. Covenaut moves between slow-to-mid played melodies to a heavier pissed off sound. Covenaut adds layers of distorted AMPLIFIER FEEDBACK with a menacing Doomed Out Atmosphere which sometimes crosses over to the extreme side of things with Jan’s vocals becoming extra violent along the way.

Third song My Time Has Come continues with that violent Doomed Out attitude with a WEEDEATER and ELECTRIC WIZARD influence appearing with Covenaut still adding slightly mellow WEEDIAN grooves behind the scene. The song may not be the most original but Covenaut plays with great technical ability and shows small amounts of intense Psychedelic and Fuzzed Out delivery. 

The final track Eternal Seeker allows Covenaut to add a certain level of gloomy surroundings into the music which can be quite dramatic and over the top. However, the sound is quite grounded with lots of fuzzy manipulation with the LOW & SLOW melodies that appear within the earliest stages of the track. Jan’s vocals are superbly efficient by adding areas of HARSH textures with Jassik (Drums) and Zimbo (Bass) creating a formidable rhythm section for Jan’s guitars to destroy everything in their wake.

It’s to Covenaut’s credit they show a great style of violent melody which holds a few hidden surprises along the way. A great musical solo is never too far behind to impress listeners with. Harbinger is a great EP for Covenaut to announce their return to the underground scene with. Hopefully there won’t be a long wait for their next release as I want to see what the guys release next.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Bronco Forte share 1st single from upcoming album (All Hail the Yeti, Batillus); 90s Stoner Rock a la Kyuss, Alice In Chains, Man's Ruin label

After so many iterations of heavy, desert-inspired doom rock over past decades, it seems the essence of purely driving riffs, earworm harmonies and strong songwriting that defined a genre has been forsaken. Bronco Forte are a return to the stark blast that made bands like Kyuss, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden legends.

After years of creative toil and preparation, Los Angeles quartet Bronco Forte is stepping into the spotlight as a fully-formed heavy rock phenomenon, with roots in the classic heavy music of the 1970s, seasoned with a deeply modern sensibility and sonic approach. The songs on their debut full-length album, Lightning Scars, chronicle the uncertain lives of ordinary people in the cities and wildernesses of California and beyond, as the characters they depict strive to maintain their integrity in the face of a rapidly-changing world.

The band’s lyrics balance literary style and kitchen-sink realism. Their riffs are deep and dirty, conjuring up the kinds of swinging grooves that cause involuntary head-nodding. The song structures are clever without being cluttered, and the band’s judicious use of vocal harmonies brings a powerful pop sweetness that cuts like a ray of light through the deep swampy stomp of their songs. It all adds up to a fresh yet familiar take on hard rock for a new era, as they draw inspiration and energy from their musical ancestors while casting aside the weary genre cliches of the past.

On Lightning Scars, guitarist and vocalist Chris Klepac’s focused songwriting and poignant lyrics meld seamlessly with guitarist Sako Injaian’s (All Hail the Yeti) energetic riffs to create a sonic tapestry that is somehow as catchy as it is heavy. Together, bassist Jen Glomboski (White Forest) and drummer Geoff Summers (Batillus, A Storm of Light) lay down a rhythmic foundation that is as solid and unwavering as the endless expanses of concrete and asphalt that blanket the band’s home of southern California.

Lightning Scars was tracked and mixed by engineer Kevin McCombs (Linkin Park, Story of the Year) at legendary North Hollywood studio The Steakhouse – the same studio where Queens of the Stone Age recorded Era Vulgaris. From there, the band took the audio to heavy rock mastering wizard Nick Townsend (Alice in Chains, Frankie and the Witch Fingers), who cut the resulting album to lacquer on his own personal lathe. Album art from Kevin “fetusK” Bernier (Prosthetic Records, Intronaut) completes the package.

Lightning Scars will be available on LP, CD and download on April 3rd, 2026. Pre-orders are available HERE.

BRONCO FORTE - LIVE 2026:

02/27 Los Angeles, CA - Permanent Records Roadhouse

Artist: Bronco Forte
Album: Lightning Scars
Label: self-released
Release Date: April 3, 2026

Tracklist

01. Emberwalker
02. Cultist Canyon
03. Goat Church
04. Towers
05. Hellascope
06. Scuffed Up
07. Dust Jacket
08. Lightning Scar
09. Obvious Alias
10. Sixteen Lanes

Links

linktr.ee/broncoforte
instagram.com/broncoforte
broncoforte.com
broncoforte.bandcamp.com

SNAKEDRIVERS - Kicks (EP Review)

Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Kicks - Tracklisting

1.Snakedriver 05:28

2.Cod'ine 05:28

3.The Future 04:51

4.Kicks 08:06

Members

Chi Lameo - Everything

Review

Kicks is the debut EP from Drone/Doom/Stoner Rock collective snakedrivers which is the new creative project from Spider Kitten’s very own Chi Lemeo. This time round Chi is focusing on playing upon a stylish blend of Drone, Blues, Psych and Stoner Rock and adding a sludgy shoegaze twist to this release. 

The features contains four tracks with the first three of them being actual covers with snakedrivers performing Snakedriver by The Jesus & Mary Chain, Cod'ine Cod'ine by Buffy Sainte-Marie and The Future by Leonard Cohen. The songs have been slowed right down and put through a DOOM-POP makeover with Chi adding trippy Shoegaze and Psychedelic effects which adds a level of Space Rock heaviness to the party. The vocals are quite different from what I’ve heard from Chi’s work with Spider Kitten but still offering a sense of seedy realism into the mix with shades of Grunge appearing.

The standout covers are most definitely Snakedrive and The Future. I wasn’t too familiar with Cod’ine but that’s still a wicked interpretation with snakedrivers playing a distorted and droned out Blues Rock sound with echoes of Grunge and Sludgy surroundings which gives a different flavour compared to the original. The same goes for Snakedriver and The Future but you can still hear slight resemblances to the original version.

I was more impressed by the final title track Kicks as it showcases what snakedrivers are really all about. The sound is played at a cautiously slow-to-mid pace with thunderous guitars guiding the listener into a darker Post-Punk and slightly industrial sound. The echoes of Blues Rock allows this track to have similar themes that Spider Kitten have played in the past but the sudden rush of Sludge/Stoner Rock passages aligns the music closer to acts such as Alice In Chains, QOTSA, FLOOR, HUM and TORCHE.

Kicks is a great EP for snakedrivers to release as their debut release. As it showcases a great style of Droned Out Stoner Rock that can easily allow snakedrivers to build up a loyal and dedicated following within the underground scene. I’m hoping Chi has more plans for snakedrivers and release more original music such as Kicks as that’s the standout track contained here. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

LinkTree | BandCamp | Instagram