Stone Nomads - Empires Of Stone (Album Review)

Release Date: November 21st 2025. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Empires Of Stone - Tracklisting

1.Lost in the Storm 06:03

2.Eyehatesociety 05:24

3.Valley of Souls 01:01

4.Empires of Stone 06:37

5.Mount Aras 05:18

6.Desolate Sands 06:58

7.Death Adder 03:51

8.The Devil Lives in Texas 05:40

Lineup

Jon Cosky - Guitar/Vocals

Jude Sisk - Bass/Vocals

Ben Wozniak - Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Stone Nomads return with their triumphant third full length album Empires Of Stone which continues the same creative journey heard on their 2024 EP - Beyond The Gates. I would say the band have moved even further into the Groove, NOLA and Thrash Metal arena especially when you hear the dark and grimy tone of the excellent opening tracks of Lost In The Storm and Eyehatesociety.

The music is brutally dark with some classic shades of Heavy Metal intertwined with their brooding Doom and Stoner Metal framework. Everything is played at a ridiculously fast pace with Stone Nomads adding great musical instrumental solos along the way that screams EIGHTIES HEAVY METAL RIFF-FEST.

Though, expect moments of music inspired by the likes of Thin Lizzy, The Obsessed, Saint Vitus and Motorhead. There’s some sudden flashes of OCCULT METAL imagery appearing with certain sound effects appearing throughout which gives this record a gloomier sound. Stone Nomads impress the most when they venture fully into the NOLA and SWAMPEDELIC sound as a vast Psychedelic awareness appears. 

The vocals from Jon Cosky and Jude SIsk offer a similar contrast to each other but own delivering their great melodic style. With a vast array of different vocal styles that feels inspired by Phil Anselmo the best of time. Stone Nomads have developed into first-rate storytellers by adding some great lyrics into their mix that manages to avoid the usual cliches of Doom and Stoner Metal with some hard-hitting themes being drawn into the mix.

Empires Of Stone may have an aggressive and muscular delivery but Stone Nomads aren’t afraid to show delicate moments of instrumental music with the excellent third track Valley Of Souls being an instrumental number lasting around one minute with a cool sounding semi-acoustic Doomed out track. 

The band return to their usual HEAVY METAL guise with the thundering fourth track Empires Of Stone which combines Post-Doom and Post-Stoner exploration with good old fashioned HEAVY METAL grooves forming at the very heart of the song. There’s a deceptive identity to this song with Stone Nomads showing outbursts of Groove, Thrash and Sludge Metal for one of the catchiest and standout tracks on the album.

Stone Nomads continue their creative journey with even more thrilling and warped moments of Psychedelic insanity merged with heavier instances of Doom, Sludge, Groove and Classic Rock with other standout moments appearing on tracks such as Mount Aras, Desolate Sands and The Devil Lies In Texas. 

The second half of the album proves without a doubt how masterful Stone Nomads have become making first-rate modern day Doom/Stoner Metal sounds of the highest order with great songwriting skills to match. The album offers the perfect balance of classic HEAVY METAL sounds that are matched against a brilliant modern day Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal landscape. 

Yeah, I absolutely adored this record and I can see this only enhancing Stone Nomads reputation even further within the global Doom/Stoner Metal scene. With the power and backing of the mighty Ripple Music behind them, Stone Nomads deserve all the plaudits an rewards hopefully coming their way.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR and Stone Nomads for the promo.

Empires Of Stone is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

MOUNT PALATINE Announce Full Album Details and New Single with Videoclip

Finnish heavy psych metal trio Mount Palatine reveal full details of their upcoming album Wormholy World, to be released on February 6th 2026 through Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records on CD and digital formats. Preorders will follow soon. Along with the announcement, the band presents their new single and official videoclip Newborn Sun.

“Newborn Sun is the closing song of Wormholy World. This massive hypnotic piece is more than ten minutes long and is living proof of how creativity can strike at the perfect moment. By spring 2024 the recording date for the rhythm tracks was already set, yet one song was still missing. In the middle of a jamming session, the missing piece appeared almost naturally, and two songs took shape. Newborn Sun flowed out nearly in the same form it appears on the album. The lyrics came just as effortlessly with the chorus calling for mantra like channelling. At its core, Newborn Sun proclaims a universal vision of the eternal cycle of life while carrying a deeply personal resonance.”

Founded in Helsinki, Mount Palatine grew from long term musical chemistry and years of playing together. What started as casual jamming in 2020 soon evolved into a powerful creative force driven by improvisation and instinct. The trio features Jean the Baron on guitar and vocals, Count Boogie on bass, and Lord of the Groove on drums. Their sound moves from crushing sludge charged riffs to hypnotic psychedelic atmospheres, from fierce screams to ethereal clean passages. Every song becomes an immersive journey shaped by groove, weight and transcendental moods.

Drawing inspiration from doom, stoner, sludge, progressive metal and psychedelic rock, Mount Palatine create a signature blend that is intense yet fluid, spiritual yet grounded. Operating first under the name The Paladin, they released their debut album Cockroach Crusade in 2024. As their identity grew clearer, the band embraced their new name as a symbol of expansion and artistic rebirth.

Lyrically and thematically, Wormholy World explores cosmic and spiritual domains, reflecting on existence, creation, decay and the mysteries of the universe. Their music resonates on visceral and contemplative levels, inviting listeners to drift between the physical and the infinite. Fans of Elder, Stoned Jesus, Mastodon and Down may find familiar elements, though the band remain unmistakably their own.

The band says:

“Wormholy World is an ultimate trip through destruction and recreation, the chaos of life and the universe itself. Musically, the album builds on the psychedelic heavy jams that define our sound. Through years of ensemble playing we have developed our own style of heavy psych metal, combining doom, stoner, sludge, psychedelic rock and progressive metal. These chaotic trips form a cosmic dance where fragile melodies break under crushing riffs only to reform into triumphant harmony. The vocals shift from ethereal choirs to harsh growls.

Like our debut Cockroach Crusade, the album was born from intense jam sessions. All songs were created and arranged through continuous riffs and live interplay in our own rehearsal space and home studio at Saarni Music. After the main tracks were captured, we added many layers of guitars, synths, effects and vocals until the songs reached their final cosmic form. The final touch came from Mactus the Magemaster at Saarni Music, bringing clarity and life to the recordings. While the debut explored many influences, this album brings a stronger sense of cohesion and focuses clearly on the artistic vision we want to pursue.”

Mount Palatine, with their combination of visionary songwriting, cosmic heaviness and raw energy, are now ready to open the next chapter of their journey and invite listeners into the depths of Wormholy World.

Tracklist

1 The Sands 10:32
2 Whispers of the Holy Land 07:59
3 The Dreaming 08:40
4 Panther Eyes 06:08
5 Ethereal 09:28
6 Newborn Sun 10:38

Links

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

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion and MOUNT PALATINE for the details.

Skogskult - Skogskult (Album Review)

Release Date: December 05th 2025. Record Label: Bonebag Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Skogskult - Tracklisting

1.Lyktans Låga

2.Turs

3.Jag Ger Mig Av

4.Pakten

5.Sol

6.Snöblind

Lineup

Samuel Nordström - Guitar

Albin Kroon - Bass

Simon Rosengrim - Vocals

Alexander Söderlund - Drums

Review

Swedish Doom/Stoner Metallers Skogskult debut album offers quite a different musical adventure compared to other albums currently out there but it also has a familiar creative attitude inspired by the likes of SLEEP, Acid King, Monolord and Electric Wizard. The album is produced by Cavern Deep’s Max Malmer and owner of Bonebag Records who are releasing this album. What makes this record stand out is the band’s willingness to sing all their vocals in Swedish and focus upon Nordic folklore and Swedish Nature.

I don’t understand Swedish at all but I understand the creative vision that Skogskult are ultimately aiming for and it’s quite a deeply personal and spiritual journey told through the realm of Doom/Stoner Metal. The music is quite soulful with harsh melodies that explore the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal landscapes with a haunting psychedelic sound being added throughout. The LOW & SLOW vibrations allows Skogskult to add a grounded and fantastical effect within the stunning opening track Lyktans Låga.

The opening track has some folk-ish elements appearing within the lyrics and vocals but the music is full-on Doomed Out aggression with Skogskult tapping into the murkier depths of the underground Stoner scene. There’s a level of  Progressive energy appearing from time-to-time that even allows the music to become quite extreme in places with lead vocalist’s outlandish vocals appearing on the later stages of the record.

The next batch of tracks of Turs, Jag Ger Mig Av and Pakten sees Skogskult explore the musical legacies of Electric Wizard and SLEEP but add that classic Swedish WEEDIAN flavour into the mix with trippy guitars and spaced out melodies that navigates around a FUCK-TON of heavy reverb and overlapping sludgy instrumental passages. The standout tracks on the album for me have to be Turs and Pakten with Skogskult going for a true OVER THE TOP journey but once again keep everything grounded that’s bursting within intense solos that adds a forceful level of volume to the record.

Skogskult do show deft touches of Post-Doom and Post-Stoner surroundings which gives the album a sense of romanticism but it’s the gruff, aggressive and muscular exterior that impresses the most which Skogskult carry out with supreme efficiency on the final two songs on the album with Sol and Snöblind. This perhaps the heaviest, gloomiest and darkest parts of the record where Skogskult leave no stone unturned with their highly original style of destructive Doom/Stoner Metal that leaves a lasting impression. 

This is another great band releasing another ALBUM OF THE YEAR contender even at this late stage of the game. The record can be downright experimental and outrageous but Skogskult have delivered the goods with this album that will no doubt pave the way for them to gain a loyal following within the underground scene and perhaps perform at some of the most prestigious stages and festivals the scene has to offer. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the promo.

Skogskult’s self-titled debut album is available to buy now (Out December 05th 2025) on DD/Vinyl via Bonebag Records. 

Links

 

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Polish Heavy Psych Rockers WEEDPECKER to release new album "V" on February 27th via Heavy Psych Sounds; stream first track "Fading Whispers"!

Poland's heavy psychedelic rock pillars WEEDPECKER announce the release of their highly anticipated fifth studio album "V" on February 27th via Heavy Psych Sounds Records, and present its mesmerizing debut single "Fading Whispers".

The wait is over. Weedpecker is proud to announce their monumental fifth studio album "V", a profound and immersive journey that stands as their most personal and refined work to date.

Stream Weedpecker's breathtaking new track Fading Whispers 

Forged in a crucible of personal change and existential reflection, "V" is the sound of stability crumbling and beauty rising from the fragments. About the album's emotional core, guitarist and vocalist Piotr Dobry comments: "I started writing the songs for V at the beginning of 2023. While creating this material, I kept returning to one thought: everything we take for granted is, in reality, incredibly fragile. Nothing lasts forever, and the sense of things slipping away can hit much sooner than we expect. I tried to translate those feelings into sound."

This thematic weight became a creative catalyst. After a year of meticulous solo writing and demoing, the project evolved into a collective labor of love. Recorded across several studios over many months, this patient, detail-oriented approach has resulted in a rich and expansive sonic tapestry. From sprawling, psychedelic soundscapes to moments of crushing heaviness and soaring melody, "V" is a testament to the Weedpecker's unwavering commitment to their craft.

"V" is an open door to a transformative period in the band's life, as Dobry explains: "This album is something deeply personal. It’s an act of opening up to anyone who chooses to listen — a glimpse into things I can’t fully describe with words, into what I felt and who I became during that period. I’m incredibly happy that together with my friends, we’ve created another record. What comes next... time will tell."

WEEDPECKER "V" - Out Feburary 27th on Heavy Psych Sounds (LP/CD/digital)

TRACKLIST:

1. Intro
2. Fading Whispers
3. Ash
4. In the Dark We Shine
5. Mirrors
6. The Last Summer of Youth

Forged in Warsaw, Poland in 2012, Weedpecker emerged from the creative union of brothers Piotr and Bartek Dobry. Their mission was to weave dreamy, expansive psychedelic rock with the raw gravity of stoner and grunge. Throughout the decade, the band solidified its reputation with three critically acclaimed albums, delivering some of the most revered heavy psych anthems the scene has witnessed.

After the powerful release of “III” in 2018, the band entered a new chapter as longtime members Bartek Dobry, Robert Kulakowski, and Grzegorz Pawlowski moved on. Weedpecker re-emerged in 2020 with a revitalized lineup, welcoming members of Dopelord and Major Kong. This new incarnation debuted not only fresh faces but also an expanded sonic palette, introducing keyboards to their live performances.

Their latest chapter, “IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts” (2021), fully unveils this evolved identity. The album effortlessly flows from mellow psychedelia to blistering rock explosions, all anchored by their signature melodic heavy riffage. Through transformation and growth, Weedpecker continues to affirm its place as one of Europe's most essential and exciting psychedelic acts. In 2025, they signed a worldwide deal with Heavy Psych Sounds Records for the release of their anticipated fifth album "V" in the winter of 2026.

Weedpecker is

Piotr Dobry — Guitars / Vocals / Synths
Zbigniew Promiński — Drums
Piotr Kuks — Bass
Piotr Sadza — Synths
Tomasz Walczak — Synths

Weedpecker links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Hexjakt - Blessing Of The Damned (Album Review)

Release Date: December 01st 2025. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records / Burning Skull. Formats: Cassette/DD/Vinyl

Blessing Of The Damned - Tracklisting

1.10,000 Crows

2.Black Circle

3.Void Throne

4.Wyrd

5.The Act of Dying 

6.Don't Talk to Strangers

7.Monolith

8.Cathedrals

Lineup

Hampus Henningsson - Guitar/Vocals

Toni Åkerman - Bass/Vocals

Dan Nordin - Drums

Review

Hexjakt return with their debut full length album Blessing Of The Damned and it has all the classic hallmarks for a spectacular record from the world famous Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal scene. The mood can be mean and nasty with Hexjakt forging a muscular and murky battlefield to play their music upon. Everything has an aggressive presence with Hexjakt taking influence from the mainstays of the Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal scene and further beyond with acts such as HIGH ON FIRE and CONAN making a mighty presence along the way. 

There is a sudden influx of Psychedelic surroundings and Classic Heavy Metal melodies with a Thrash based outlook which all appear within the first few moments of the epic opening track 10,000 Crows. The music is mightily thick and bursting with an almighty confidence with the excellent vocals from Hampus Henningsson and Toni Åkerman joining forces that becomes a mighty formative defence to unleash a dominating musical presence. Hexjakt captures a sublime sludgy presence on the later stages of the song that projects a huge WALL OF NOISE that’s played at a mighty fine pace. 

Second track Black Circle could have easily arrived from their acclaimed 2025 self-titled debut EP with it’s downbeat Thrash and Sludge based sound with the band navigating around a backdrop of thick and highly powerful WEEDIAN melodies. The atmosphere is quite stripped back with Hexjakt having an intense physical AURA within their music. With a sudden rush of NOLA based grooves appearing, Hexjakt plays with sonic fuelled Psychedelic and Spaced Out passages with an ice cold level of distortion appearing. The lyrics go slightly into fantastical realm but not too much with this record have quite a grounded creative vibe throughout. The music is always demanding your full attention and Hexjakt are always happy to provide the listener with an onslaught of epic grooves that even have a hint of Post-Stoner, Ambient and Post-Rock surroundings within them. 

Third song Void Throne sees Hexjakt once again keep with the Prog Metal theme within their music for another epic song running past the eight minutes mark. The song has quite a calculated presence with Hexjakt forging areas of Doom Metal, Sludge Metal and Stoner Metal where the likes of Mastodon, CONAN and High On Fire reign supreme. Though, the band makes its own destructive world with bombastic vocals from Toni and Hampus combining once more. The sound is quite deceptive when a more riff-driven methodology is added to the mix with Hexjakt showing their technical prowess amongst a thrilling cinematic atmosphere that ultimately becomes one of the standout tracks on the whole album.

Fourth track Wyrd is pure DOOM METAL theatre with droned out vocals appearing setting the scene which may have a slightly slower delivery than the other tracks for the most part. However, Hexjakt delivers faster THRASH paced beats out of nowhere before returning to their slow-to-mid paced Doomed Out environment. Around the third minute mark, the song becomes more aware of it’s Psychedelic and Stoner Metal surroundings which allows Hexjakt once more to fully take flight with Ambient textures and dominant riff-centric landscapes taking you closer to “INTER-DIMENSIONAL SPIRIT ANIMAL” territory. 

The second half of the record sees Hexjakt become more DOOM METAL obsessed with darker moments of lyrical content and exploring Post-Metal themes whilst keeping in line with their core Doom and Stoner Metal beliefs on tracks such as The Act Of Dying, Don’t Talk To Strangers, Monolith and the epic final track Cathedrals that runs for an almost mind-expanding fourteen minutes. 

Hexjakt appears more confident within the second half of the track by exploring more daring themes and heavier soundscapes though the distorted and down-tuned melodies of tracks such as The Act Of Dying and Monolith are real head-banging epics. The band show their true creative and technical MIGHT within the final track of Cathedrals where they everything into the blender and conjure up a masterclass of modern day Doom/Stoner Metal that still offers a few surprises along the way especially if you’re a fan of the more Progressive side of underground music.

Blessing Of The Damned is a stunning and highly evolved slice of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal that will impress you with its complex and challenging sounds that will leave you on the edge of your seat throughout. Hexjakt already feel they’re at the top of their game and for a debut album that's something very hard to achieve. This is one of those rare debut albums that you simply cannot ignore.

Unmissable. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Hexjakt, Viral Propaganda PR and Metal Devastation PR for the promo.

Blessing For The Damned is available to buy now on Cassette/DD/Vinyl from the links below:

Cassette - https://hexjaktband.com/product/cassette-blessing-for-the-damned/

Vinyl – Blessing for the Damned – Wine Queen Edition

Vinyl - Blessing for the Damned – The Joker Edition

Vinyl - Majestic Mountain Records

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

TARMAK - Delete To Proceed (Album Review)

Release Date: November 07th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Delete To Proceed - Tracklisting

1.Delete to Proceed 07:19

2.Careless CRISPR 06:02 

3.Ark of Nowhere 09:58 

4.Gene Roulette 09:10

5.Wörtrilg 07:16

6.Blue Renewed 09:07 

Lineup

Sander - Guitar, chants, concept & visuals

Geert - Bass

Simon - Drums, artwork

Review

Delete To Proceed is the debut full length album of instrumental Post-Metal collective TARMAK who take a cerebral and cinematic approach with their music. As the band a contemporary storytelling theme into the music with areas of Science Fiction combining grounded Post-Rock themes and subtle sound effects which is ultimately quite a thought provoking and progressive sounding record.

TARMAK never play by the rules with a highly intelligent delivery forming throughout every individual track that could be dominated by Post-Metal grooves one moment and the next it’s being dictated by Ambient Post-Rock melodies. Whichever creative turn TARMAK takes, the end result is a complex dark vision with the band successfully avoiding the negative pitfalls of releasing an album such as this. The record does a great job of focusing on a stylish atmospheric narrative which fully sells the overall tension of the album especially within the opening tracks of Delete To Proceed and Careless CRISPR.

TARMAK are perhaps more closely aligned to the likes of RUSSIAN CIRCLES, MOGWAI, THIS WILL DESTROY YOU and MONO instead of the heavier sludgy sounds of PELICAN. TARMAK create songs with a strong Post-Rock energy before slowly transforming into a powerful Post-Metal entity of their own making. There’s a lot more Progressive experimentation which becomes one of the main creative focus for the band on tracks such as Careless CRISPR,  Ark Of Nowhere, Gene Roulette and Blue Renewed.

Though, the best way to approach this album is to see it as one extended instrumental song broken down into individual chapters telling the next exciting parts of the story. As some times TARMAK branches out into areas of Drone, Doom, Stoner Rock and Shoegaze along the way with some intriguing chants being added on the later stages of the record.

Delete To Proceed is a highly involving and deeply emotional album that offers HUGE rewards if you last the soulful and gloomy journey. The technical abilities of Sander, Geert and Simon are simply superb as they put their hearts and soul into this record. The mood can be quite abstract along the way but it moves the album such a brooding and emotionally charged edge when TARMAK experiment with their music by adopting elements you would least expect.

TARMAK are another exciting and highly original Instrumental Rock/Metal band from the Belgian underground scene following the likes of MODDER in delivering their own unique take on the Post-Rock/Post-Metal sound.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Bandcamp – tarmaktheband.bandcamp.com

Spotify – open.spotify.com/artist/2o8cOt4C225g0kRezd9Svx

YouTube – youtube.com/@tarmakband

Facebook – facebook.com/tarmakbelgium

Instagram – instagram.com/tarmak_gent

Website – https://vi.be/platform/tarmak9000 

King Cruel - Sky Eater (EP Review)

Release Date: December 05th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Sky Eater - Tracklisting

Haunting Time

Diamond Darya

Sky Eater

Review

Psych Doom/Stoner Metallers King Cruel return with their latest EP - Sky Eater and one that follows their 2023 debut EP Creeper. That EP allowed King Cruel to play a stylish mix of Doom, Psych, Stoner, Proto-Metal and Occult Rock themes. The band still play that sound within Sky Eater but they’ve added an unforgiving style of Grunge and Post-Stoner grittiness to their music which I can hear within the excellent opening track of Haunting Time. This is where the band develops a highly melodic sense with emotionally engaging lyrics to match.

The vocals are delivered with a sense of gloomy optimism and eternal dread which keeps in with the Post-Doom and Occult Rock aspect of their previous EP Creeper. The musical landscapes are quite progressive and leans quite heavily into some intense moments of flashy Hard Rock solos along the way.

Second track Diamond Darya is a stirring mix of Eighties Hard Rock excess with a burgeoning modern Psych Rock and Stoner Metal with King Cruel offering bombastic lyrics and over the top themes that still feel remarkably grounded thanks to the excellent vocals and superb musical solos that each band member provides. The Post-Stoner attitude fully takes over towards the end of the song with King Cruel offering some of the standout melodies within the whole EP.

The final track Sky Eater is where King Cruel makes everything count with a classic Grunge attitude forming behind the scenes and you can hear influences as diverse as Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and Velvet Revolver with the sound still being quite DOOM & GLOOM obsessive in the best possible way. This allows King Cruel to fully develop their own intriguing style of music where the RIFF IS KING.

My only complaint is that I would have enjoyed another track to finish off the EP as it’s quite short, running around thirteen minutes in length. However, it’s always best to leave the audience wanting more and King Cruel has succeeded on every level with Sky Eater. I'm hoping King Cruel has more great music to impress us with in the near future as Sky Eater is an absolute joy to listen to from start to finish.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

LinkTree | BandCamp | Instagram