Palegazer - White Mourning (Album Review)

Release Date: October 30th 2026. Record Label: Octopus Rising. Format: CD/DD

White Mourning - Tracklist 

Imminence - 5:52

Searing Light - 6:52

As What Remains Drifts - 6:12

Ancient Twin - 5:39

White Mourning - 14:07

Members

Francisco Malojo - Guitar and Vocals

Nuno Silva - Drums

Gil Pereira - Bass

Review

White Mourning is the debut album from Atmospheric Sludge Metallers Palegazer and is a crushing mix of Doom, Post-metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal and Ambient Metal for a record that’s viciously dark and emotionally engaging at the same time. The record has different styles of vocals leading the complex narrative with harsh growls that are quite easy to understand and the gloomy ambient themes allows the album to grow naturally. 

There’s a great build of LIGHT vs DARK elements throughout the album with some vibrant strands of Post-Rock that branch out into heavier forces of Post-Metal and Blackened Doom which you experience throughout the stunning opening tracks of Imminence and Searing Light. Palegazer are clearly influenced by the big hitters of the modern day Post-Metal scene but you can hear other great artists such as CONAN, Mastodon and Deafheaven. 

The level of Progressive Metal attitude is what fully sells Palegazer’s music as this allows their music to drift into different areas of music such as Heavy Psych and Cosmic Doom with great lyrics being written to accompany the music. Palegazer have a fine ear for detail where they blend harsh soundscapes against a calmer backdrop of Ambient Post-Rock before returning to that heavy Atmospheric Sludge Metal world they fully build their music upon. 

The songs are superbly technical and highly inventive with Palegazer adding a real emotional core to their music whilst adding some unexpected musical beatdowns and breakdowns on tracks such as Searing Light, As What Remains Drifts and the epic final track White Mourning that runs for fourteen minutes. The production values are handled superbly well with Palegazer demonstrating a fast-paced delivery within their music. Sometimes the band switches things up for a heavier and calmer vibe but it’s still within the rules of modern day Post-Metal. 

White Mourning is a superbly entertaining record that’s emotionally rewarding at the time which is sometimes quite hard to achieve for a debut album such as this. However, Palegazer have delivered a record that demands your undivided attention and offers a great musical experience every time you listen to the album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

White Mourning is available to buy now on CD/DD via Octopus Rising.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Wasteland Sludgers SARAKSH Unleash Relentless Second Single "Confinement: Bottom Deep"!

Following the intense first glimpse offered by "Forlorn", German Wasteland Sludgers SARAKSH have unleashed "Confinement: Bottom Deep", the second single from their upcoming full-length album "Abiram" (out November 20, 2026). Diving even deeper into the record's dark and narrative universe, the new track reinforces the band's signature blend of nerve-crushing riffs and atmospheric depth.

- Listen to "Confinement: Bottom Deep" HERE -

Founded in 2018 by guitarist/vocalist Severin Mäker, the dystopian/sci-fi-influenced project SARAKSH counts three releases so far, with 'Moloch: refactored' (2023) marking a plunge into a more conceptual approach to the themes of SARAKSH. Contrasting its brutalist title track with three concentrated tracks 'Drive', 'R.T.W.Y.A.' and 'Eden in Waste', the quartet delivers by navigating between groove-oozing and nerve-crushing riffs, whilst chaotic outbursts are eerily surrounded by psychotic, then liberating chants, just to be completely resolved in proliferated guitar layers and atmospheric, synth-driven passages.

Being influenced by the likes of Converge, Ulcerate, Totem Skin and Omega Massif, the band keeps their organic, yet tight playing style very closely tied to the aspect of musical storytelling. Thus, the upcoming album "Abiram" picks up right where the grand finale of the title track from the band’s last release left off, in which the wanderer leaves 'Moloch' full of despair and hopelessness.

Tracklist:

01. Scavenger
02. Confinement: Carving Me
03. Confinement: Circles
04. Confinement: Bottom Deep
05. They Come At Night
06. Forlorn
07. Mire
08. Designation

"Abiram" arrives on November 20, self-released by SARAKSH.

SARAKSH are:

Severin Mäker - Guitar, Keys, Programming, Vocals, Production (Editing, Mixing, Mastering)
Christian Busch - Guitar
Max Hönig - Drums

For more info visit:

https://linktr.ee/saraksh
https://www.instagram.com/saraksh_band/
https://www.facebook.com/SarakshBand
https://saraksh.bandcamp.com

Thanks to All Noir PR for the details.

Forest Horse - Botany (Album Review)

Release Date: October 28th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Botany - Tracklist 

A Stirring

Spore Lord

Elixir

The Fallen Limb

Ploughman’s Prayer

Ritual Reckoning

Unspeakable

First Light

Review

Botany is the second full length album by Forest Horse who specialise in a fuzzed up style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal with some scorched earth Desert Rock soundscapes being added into the mix. The record is an interesting take on the standard Sludge/Stoner Metal sound with this project inspired by the likes of SLEEP, KYUSS, Electric Wizard and Truckfighters. The music itself is played at a cool mid pace that allows the amplified heaviness to aim for a commanding performance throughout.

The vocals are mostly clean based but they’re some vicious growls along the way which gives Botany an unexpected area of GLOOM & DOOM to appear. The album is quite riff-centric that branches out into areas of Americana, Psych Rock and Post-Metal on different stages of the album. Forest Horse even applies to some Droned Out surroundings that reminds me of SLEEP before the album takes a darker and vicious turn. 

The later stages of Botany sees Forest Horse create Post-Rock elements that allows the layers of Droned Out Doom to bring a more apocalyptic sound to the whole album. The use of soundclips and certain trippy effects gives Botany a more primal and destructive feeling that really sells that down-tuned level of heaviness to a wider cinematic scope on tracks such as: Spore Lord, Elixir, The Fallen Limb, Ritual Reckoning and First Light. 

There are certain sections that may play it safe against the classic template and folklore of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal but Forest Horse won’t be the first band to apply that creative logic into their music. However, it’s the band’s clever use of violent vocals and intense lyrics that makes the album really standout especially when the FUZZED OUT atmospherics results with some epic instrumental solos appearing out of nowhere and leaving you in a hypnotic trance.

This is an album that relies on BRAINS and BRAWN in equal measure which becomes one of Forest Horse’s greatest strengths to help deliver a record that’s superbly produced and brilliantly put together from start to finish. The WEEDIAN effect on Botany is quite grounded but don’t be surprised when the album does go for that classic “OVER THE TOP” feeling that will definitely appeal to fans of BONGZILLA and WEEDEATER.

Botany is a superb album and one that can easily become a cult favourite within the underground scene. I’m excited to see what comes next from Forest Horse as Botany is a dark, delicious and twisted journey worth taking over and over again.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

https://foresthorse.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/foresthorsemusic

Hempire - Sealed By The Sea (EP Review)

Release Date: October 23rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Sealed By The Sea - Tracklist 

1. Amity (Reprise) (0:40)

2. Indianapolis (4:41)

3. Price To Pay (4:52)

4. Blue Water, White Death (3:58)

5. Death By Secrecy (4:20)

Members

Joey Shaw - Vox, Guitar

Jon Andre - Drums

Jason Watson - Bass

Review

Doom/Stoner/Thrash Metallers Hempire latest EP Sealed By The Sea is a brutally heavy mix of aggressive sounds that have a deceiving psychedelic flavour behind everything with certain ambient grooves to fully form behind the scenes. The vocals are quite vicious at times moving from clean vocals to indecipherable harsh growls that gives Hempire a violent creative persona when they fully transform into a completely different HEAVY METAL BEAST altogether.

Hempire deliver punishing grooves inspired by the likes of HIGH ON FIRE, CONAN and MELVINS but they’re also open to exploring subtle Post-Stoner Metal themes that gives Sealed By The Sea a more humbling and emotionally charged sound. Though, for the most part Hempire deals in fast paced Thrash Metal grooves that have that early HIGH ON FIRE attitude fully realized and deconstructed within their own musical image on tracks such as Indianapolis, Price To Pay and Blue Water, White Death.

The EP has a distinctive DIY PUNK attitude appearing within the production values that allows Sealed By The Sea to have a sublime and seedy aesthetic. The sound is quite stripped back but allows Hempire to put maximum effort into their music with some highly frantic grooves forming a dominant Doom/Thrash melody with screeching Sludge/Stoner Metal surroundings. You can also expect to hear intense Appalachian / Mountain Rock musical structures to appear which isn’t surprising with the band coming from Asheville, North Carolina. 

Sealed By The Sea is fast-paced and sees Hempire offer no apologies for powering through from start to finish and not applying any slowly played uplifting soundscapes or instrumental passages. Hempire are a band on a mission which they fully succeed in delivering an intense and first rate record that’s packed full of great grooves and subtle hooks throughout. It would have been great if there was another song as Hempire is absolutely on fire and then the EP suddenly ends but it's always great leaving the audience wanting more.

Hempire have all the hallmarks of being a band we’ll be talking a lot more about in the years to come if they keep releasing great records such as this.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram |  Spotify | YouTube 

Godzilla In The Kitchen - Termination Sequence (Album Review)

Release Date: October 23rd 2026. Record Label: Tonzonen Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Termination Sequence - Tracklist

1.Nothing For None 04:15

2.Humility 04:54

3.Birdsong 04:59

4.Empty Cribs 05:45

5.Everyday People 05:26

6.No Sign Of Life 03:57.

7.Wonder 06:04

8.Termination Sequence 06:12

Members

Simon Ulm (vocals, bass)

Eric Patzschke (guitar)

Thiago Presto (drums)

Review

Termination Sequence is the latest album from Godzilla In The Kitchen where the band have transformed from an Instrumental Post-Rock/Stoner Rock outfit into a fully fledged destructive Post-Metal unit. This is the band’s most complex, daring and aggressive work to date but there are still moments of Post-Rock and Stoner Rock melodies that appear from time-to-time. Godzilla In The Kitchen even experimented with areas of Post-Punk, Prog Metal, Sludge Rock and Electronic themes for a record that always manages to be quite forward thinking and slightly unconventional throughout.

You can feel influences from the likes of Neurosis, ISIS, TOOL and PELICAN within the heavier moments with the band applying an epic QUIET vs LOUD dynamic for the majority of the tracks. Though, it’s always good to hear Godzilla In The Kitchen touching upon sounds they delivered in their previous albums for Termination Sequence more quieter aspects. 

Another thing that has changed is the band have added vocals for the first time with Simon Ulm taking on the mantle of lead vocalist and it’s a role he absolutely relishes with a commanding performance. There’s a certain Alternative Metal and Post-Metal delivery to Simon’s vocals that allow him to include a sullen Eighties Pop/Rock attitude along the way. 

However, this album is mostly about bringing some troublesome modern day socially aware problems into the mix with Godzilla In The Kitchen never offering any answers either. That’s left upto the listener to fully decide what’s being said and that’s one of the great strengths for this album. As it treats the listener with respect and intelligence to allow them to make up their own mind about what's truly going on in the world.

Sometimes the songs don’t flow naturally as they should the first time you listen to this especially on tracks Nothing For None, Humility and Bird Song which opens up the whole album. However, after a few listens you begin to fully understand everything a bit more within the complex melodies that the band have applied here. The music shifts constantly from different musical tones and intense progressive melodies where the band feel perhaps too closely inspired by the likes of TOOL and DEFTONES.

However, Godzilla In The Kitchen deserves credit for trying something different for their third album which for the most part is an exciting and action packed record that is beautifully dark and expertly aggressive in the best possible moments. The sudden transformation into different musical genres will leave you on the edge of your seat on tracks such as Birdsong, Empty Cribs, Wonder and Termination Sequence. 

Termination Sequence is superbly produced with Godzilla In The Kitchen undergoing a major musical transformation which should serve the band well in the long term. It may take their established fanbase sometime to fully appreciate their heavier sound and musical direction but it’s a risk that’s worth taking as Godzilla in The Kitchen have become a better band because of this superbly bleak album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Godzilla In The Kitchen, Sheltered LIfe PR and Broken Music for the promo.

Termination Sequence is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Tonzonen Records.

Links

https://www.godzillainthekitchen.de
https://linktr.ee/godzillainthekitchen

Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol - Ca$h Grab (Album Review)

Release Date: October 23rd 2026. Record Label: Permanent Teeth. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Ca$h Grab - Tracklist

1.Freakshow 03:22

2.I Doubt It 02:07

3.Peaches 02:14

4.Fate Is 02:33

5.Punisher 02:30

6.Follow Through 03:11

7.Bury Me in Denver 02:24

8.Ca$h Grab 02:46

9.The Disappearing Man 02:16

10.No Juice 02:33

11.Bough Down 02:15

12.Talking To You 02:03

13.Couple Skate 01:59

14.Lush 02:13

Members

Vocals, 8-string guitar: Leo Lydon

Bass, vocals: Aaron Metzdorf

Drums: Sean St. Germain

Review

One of the most originally named bands within the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene who don’t have the name BONG, WIZARD, WITCH or WEED in their name return with their explosive new album Ca$h Grab. I’m talking about Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol who have released their most explosive and personal record to date. This is the band’s fourth album and they have a more serious tone to their music compared to previous albums. However, they still have a great sense of demented fun on this record which is offset against a more progressive, commercial and melodic sound.

The previous records of Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol were inspired by the likes of The Melvins, Primus, Dinosaur Jr and even Pantera. This record has a kooky poppy attitude that reminds me of the WEEER and The Smashing Pumpkins being added to great effect which comes across superbly well within the opening tracks of Freakshow, J Doubt It and Peaches. There’s a manic schizophrenic musical energy being demonstrated which allows the creative glue of the Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves expand into areas of Heavy Psych, Punk, Grunge, Doom and Alt Metal.

The majority of the tracks last around two to three minutes in length but Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol manage to convey a lot of different musical energy within these tracks as the music can be quite disjointed and superbly distorted. The excellent rhythm section of Aaron Metzdorf (Bass) and Sean St. Germain (Drums) form a winning combination where the heaviest sounds appear that allows the massive 8 String Guitar work by Leo Lydon to add a layer of down-tuned heaviness to the party.

There’s a manic DOOM-POP energy that reminds me of TORCHE in certain stages but with a darker fucked-up perspective appearing within the lyrics on tracks such as Fate Is, Punisher, Follow Through, Ca$h Grab, The Disappearing Man and Talking To You being my favourite tracks on the album.

Ca$h Grab is bound to be the album that allows Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol to finally gain some real recognition within the Heavy Rock scene as it’s their most accomplished record to date with some intense and first rate production values allowing the band to achieve this mission. I adore the many big risks that the band have taken with this album as it’s quite different to what has come before it but still retains the great sound the guys are known for.

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol flirts with classic Nineties based Grunge, Alt-Metal and Stoner Metal heaviness whilst still applying that great modern Psychedelic sound that can be quite quirky and off-beat the best of times. This gives Ca$h Grab a wonderfully subversive quality for a record that’s packed full of great sounds that will leave you with a huge smile on your face.

My final thoughts is that Ca$h Grab is brilliantly inventive and showcases why Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol could become your next favourite band to really give a damn about!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to US/THEM PR Group for the promo.

Ca$h Grab is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Permanent Teeth.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Inferous - Mueran Todos (Album Review)

Release Date: October 13th 2026. Record Label: Psycho Records. Format: DD

Mueran Todos - Tracklist 

1.Weed hunter 03:13

2.Al borde del abismo 06:47

3.Espada negra 08:17

4.Ritual ciego 07:41

5.Brutal conciencia 02:39

Members

Belisario Gronda (guitar, vocals)

Seba Castro (drums)

El Bocha (bass)

Review

Mueran Todos is the latest album from Doom/Stoner Metallers inferous where the band blends Doom, Stoner, Fuzz, Psych and other trippy elements of the wider WEEDIAN Heavy Rock scene. With the band originating from Argentina, the vocals are sung in Spanish throughout but they only appear when they’re really needed. Inferous develop a brooding style of slow and down-tuned Fuzzed Out Doom Metal that overlaps with areas of Sludge/Stoner Metal. 

There’s some great amplified and sonic based delivery being added to the band’s music with the album having intense lo-fi sounding moments that’s perfected by a great style of seedy production themes holding everything together. Inferous are influenced by the likes of Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard, Monolord and Dopelord but that doesn’t stop them doing their own thing especially when they let their darker Psychedelic and WEEDIAN creative instincts run free on tracks such as Weed Hunter, Al borde del abisimo and Espada negra.

The band even started adding small elements of distorted electronic sounds along the way with a trippy and violent style of Sludge Rock being quite riff-centric especially on Espada negra and Ritual Ciego. The lo-fi production values allows Inferous to bring a claustrophobic element into play which isn’t surprising since they tracked everything over two days. 

The music is quite cautious but also sees Inferous play a great style of fast-paced grooves and slow-to-mid paced surroundings. The vocals have that classic Doom Metal delivery that’s perfectly inspired by the likes of BLACK SABBATH and SLEEP but with a lean and mean gruff exterior. The album lasts around twenty eight minutes in length but that feels like the perfect length for this record. As Inferous are very straight to the point with their music that allows this be classed as ALL KILLER AND NO FILLER. 

The fuzzed out momentum is one of the best things about the album. As it moves across many different styles of WEEDIAN METAL whilst keeping it’s true DOOMED OUT feeling quite grounded and offering some great distorted and amplified instrumental passages at the same time. 

If you want an album that stays true to the classic core of modern day Doom/Stoner Metal then Mueran Todos is the album for you. Inferous have released a record that showcases another great band to check out from the South American Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene which should allow them to build a loyal dedicated following once more.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

LinkTree | BandCamp | Instagram