Deeper Graves - Pull Me Toward The Dark (Album Review)

Release Date: February 27th 2026. Record Label: Disorder Recordings. Formats: DD

Pull Me Toward The Dark - Tracklisting

1.MISUNDERSTOOD

2.NO TIME FOR LOVE

3.OVER MY SHOULDER 

4.ALL THESE YEARS

5.WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE 

6.THE TRUTH

7.PULL ME TOWARD THE DARK

Members

Jeff WIlson - Everything

Review

Post-Punk/Post-Rock/Ambient/Shoegaze collective Deeper Graves return with their third album Pull Me Toward The Dark and it’s a sensational mix of gloomy interludes and fast-paced Post-Doom surroundings. This is the project set up by the visionary Jeff Wilson also of Chrome Waves, Contrition, formerly of Nachtmystium and Wolvhammer, and owner of Disorder Recordings. The album is an unsettling and beautifully understated release with the album creating similar sounds to the likes of BEASTMILK, THE CURE and TYPE O NEGATIVE.

This is a collection of songs that perfectly taps into the Eighties Alt Rock and Gothic era with Jeff not afraid expanding his musical horizons with glimpses of modern day Psychedelic dreamscapes and Progressive Doom Rock attitude. The music is constantly therapeutic whilst shining a light on some tough subject matter with the Shoegaze flow allowing everything to be quite hopeful.

Jeff’s vocals have a distinctive “LESS IS MORE” attitude and delivery which are beautifully understated with a rough exterior when the mood calls for this. The opening few songs Misunderstood, No Time For Love and Over My Shoulder allows Deeper Grooves to create a slow burning mix of Industrial Rock, Post-Doom and sullen Shoegaze vibes that forms across different levels of psychedelic soundscapes. The ambient landscapes can be beautifully uplifting with majestic lyrics soulfully tapping into the Shoegaze and Post-Punk lifestyle.

The second half of the record becomes more daring and experimental with Deeper Graves playing with areas of Industrial Rock that reminds me of Killing Joke and Nine Inch Nails on tracks such as All These Tears, Where Do We Go From Here and Pull Me Toward The Dark. The most exciting and truly cinematic moments come within the final stages of the album as Jeff unleashes a wave of Euphoric sounding Post-Doom melodies that left me on the edge of my seat. 

Pull Me Toward The Dark is unapollogetically slow moving but that’s intentional with Deeper Graves creating music with real meaning throughout every aspect of the whole album. The production values are off the scale with Jeff handling everything here behind the scenes. He also handled the cover art and photography of the whole album. Jeff deserves credit for taking upon such a massive task. 

Another highlight of the album is how the most simply played notes and melodies sound absolutely huge with repeated listens. This album feels like a work of art at times which makes this such a highly unforgettable album to merge from the Post-Punk/Shoegaze scene in a very long time. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.

Pull Me Toward The Dark is available to buy now digitally via Disorder Recordings.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Iron Head - Fundamental (Album Review)

Release Date: January 20th 2026. Record Label: Skullism Records. Formats: DD

Fundamental - Tracklisting

1.Fundamental 11:18

2.Nafas 03:14

3.War Has Begun 08:15

4.Ballad of the Thrills 07:51

5.Pitam Ft. Gusten 05:20

6.Raga 07:02

7.Rock Stoned 10:37

Members

Ricky - Bass

Mardangga - Drums

Gunggus - Guitars

Raidimas - Guitars

Jiva - Vocals

Review

Fundamental is the debut album from Indonesian Doom/Stoner Metallers Iron Head who I remember from releasing their excellent debut EP My Own War back in 2019. The band have taken a heavier and distorted cosmic route for this record with multiple waves of Spaced Out Doom merged with moments of Sludgy soundscapes. There’s also a wicked style of Sabbathian and Electric Wizard sounding AMPLIFIER based FUZZ moulding into areas of Psychedelic warfare and that’s all within the first few moments of the standout opening track of Fundamental. 

The vocals from Jiva consist of growls, shamanic chants and violent gruffs which are all easily understandable when everything is said and done. The music itself is inspired by the likes of Monster Magnet, UFOMAMMUT, Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath and Church Of Misery. Though, Iron Head weaves their own wicked style of Progressive heaviness throughout the whole album. There’s a great use of trippy reverb effects, distorted movements and surreal cosmic drone passages that make this an absolutely thrilling Space Rock adventure and the first song hasn’t even finished yet.

The second track Nafas is a good old fashioned Doom/Stoner Metal number with Iron Head playing a classic style of Heavy Metal with a dose of speed metal to allow the music to be played at a great pace. The shamanic vocals once again feel like they’re trying to open the gateway to a parallel universe with the music using the classic CHURCH OF MISERY fuzzed up template with eerie instances of freaky psychedelic and spaced out laser beams coming out of nowhere. The song allows Iron Head to play a more direct style of music whilst keeping in line with their slightly OUT THERE attitude.

Third track War Has Begun is more closely aligned to the title track with a slight reliance on psychedelic and sonic manipulation with the slow-to-mid paced energy of the Doom/Stoner Metal surroundings allowing Iron Head to play a great style of different sounding musical passages. There’s a massive “OUT THERE” attitude forming within this track thanks to the outlandish vocals which makes you wonder what the song is really about. Though, my advice is to just go for the ride. As there’s a seedy style of Seventies Proto-Doom merging within the modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal aesthetic. 

Fourth track Ballad Of The Thrills is where they start adding levels of Punk Rock and Garage Rock into the mix with the music having a sort of stripped back energy. The atmosphere isn’t as dynamic or action packed as the previous tracks but it does allow Iron Head to try different things with their music. Everything is played fast and loose with the Psych/Space Rock elements being mostly in the background but the added use of soundclips and frenzied Sludge Metal allows this perhaps to be the most menacing track on the album. There is also an excellent pitch black comedic humour arriving from time to time. 

 The second half of the album is just as outlandish and brilliantly surreal as the first half with Iron Head going into deeper and dangerous levels of FUZZED OUT insanity with the stripped back production values allowing Fundamental to have an essential quality of the underground scene. The vocals maybe an acquired taste at times but they match the seedy and grindhouse aesthetic that Iron Head fully aim for on tracks such as Pitam, Raga and Rock Stoned which is another one of the most surreal and standout tracks on the album.

Iron Head never plays it safe with Fundamental being quite straightforward and fucking off the scale in equal measure. However, when the music is this good you won’t really care. As Iron Head have delivered an absolutely outstanding debut album that has everything you want in a Doom/Stoner Metal album if you’re a dedicated follower of the scene.

There’s tons of LOW & SLOW and DISTORTED instrumental solos throughout the album with Iron Head using the Psychedelic and WEEDIAN grooves to the best of their own musical ability. And that’s one of the main reasons that make this such an unmissable record.

This is the type of album the underground Doom/Stoner Metal community needs to go absolutely crazy for. It’s seriously that good.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

LinkTree | BandCamp | Skullism Records BandCamp

DESERTFEST BERLIN announces new band names for 2026 and adds TOUNDRA, CAUSA SUI, GREENLEAF and GUMM!

Desertfest Berlin has added four more heavyweights to its eclectic 2026 line-up! Newly confirmed are Toundra, Causa Sui, Greenleaf and Gumm.

Returning after a well-earned hiatus, Madrid’s instrumental torchbearers Toundra are back. Known for monumental riffs, intricate melodies and an emotional pull that hits hard without words, they return to the stage exactly where they belong. From Denmark, psychedelic explorers Causa Sui bring their ever-evolving instrumental soundscapes. A slow-burning surge of kraut, heavy psych and cosmic rock, rooted in decades of amplified history and built for deep immersion. 

Sweden’s Greenleaf stand as a true stoner rock institution. Hypnotic grooves, fuzz-soaked riffs and a strong sense of soul define their sound; heavy, grounded and unmistakably connected to the desert rock tradition. Rounding things out, Gumm arrive straight from Chattanooga, Tennessee, delivering raw hardcore punk energy, no frills, no mercy. Fast, furious and ready to level the room!

These additions further shape a line-up that already includes Red Fang, Russian Circles, Hermano feat. John Garcia, The Sword, King Buffalo, Acid King, Truckfighters, Crippled Black Phoenix, Nebula, Earthless, Rotor, Blackwater Holylight, Pelican, Fuzz Sagrado (ex Samsara Blues Experiment), Zerre, The Dharma Chain, among many more!

Desertfest Berlin 2026 takes place from May 14–16, 2026 at Columbiahalle and Columbia Theater in Berlin. Tickets, day splits and venue sleep-over options are available at: www.desertfest-tickets.de

[Artwork by Kuba Sokolski Illustration]

For More Info Visit:

https://www.desertfest.de
https://desertfest-tickets.de/produkte
https://www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2135415456871801

Thanks to All Noir PR for the details.

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers RESTLESS SPIRIT reveal video single 'The Burning Need' & details of self-titled new album "Restless Spirit"

RESTLESS SPIRIT return with a self-titled album as honest and unpretentious as it gets. These headbangers deliver straightforward American heavy metal with a dash of stoner rock, tons of catchy tunes, frying guitars, and raw energy in expertly crafted songs.

The first advance single and music video, 'The Burning Need', perfectly exemplifies the Long Island, NY band's core values and sets the tone for great things to come.

"Restless Spirit" is slated for release on May 8, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records and the album is available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION

RESTLESS SPIRIT comment: "With our first advance single, 'The Burning Need', we present Restless Spirit at our most clear and focused", vocalist and guitarist Paul Aloisio writes. "We took everything we learned from the last decade and put together a track that gets straight to the point while staying interesting and heavy. The lyrics revolve around the theme of resilience, and this song ranks among our most personal to date."

Tracklist

1. The Burning Need
2. Hallowed
3. Red in Tooth and Claw
4. Desire Lines
5. Desolation's Wake
6. Ember
7. Time and Distance
8. Phantom Pain

With their self-titled full-length, RESTLESS SPIRIT have reached a point in their career where the band of friends from Long Island, New York knows exactly who they are and where they stand. As the eight tracks on "Restless Spirit" are the most distilled version of what the trio is about, they saw no need for further explanation in the title.

So, what are RESTLESS SPIRIT about? Pure metal, no more, no less. Born from the steel mills of Birmingham this musical style has deep English working class roots that the East Coast outfit translates into an American sonic slang with elements from desert and stoner metal and even the occasional progressive flourish. As a result, they seamlessly merge classic heavy solos with roaring guitars and a pinch of psychedelic fuzz.

RESTLESS SPIRIT also share a down to earth outlook with the British pioneers that values honesty and a no-nonsense approach to songwriting and lyrics. "Restless Spirit" mainly deals with the idea of perseverance through hardship, of pushing through and starting over when everything seems bleak. This makes the album a companion piece to its predecessor "Afterimage", which revolved around descending into and giving in to growing despair.

RESTLESS SPIRIT grew out of childhood friendship. Frontman Paul Aloisio and bass player Marc Morello first met back in the summer before Kindergarten and grew up discovering music together. Influenced by such greats as BLACK SABBATH, TYPE O NEGATIVE, and THE SWORD, RESTLESS SPIRIT officially started out in 2019 when their album debut "Lord of the New Depression" was released. At the time, their sound fit equally well into the stoner, doom, and sludge moulds. On the following "Blood of the Old Gods" (2021), the three-piece evolved stylistically into a more varied, melodic approach with added complexities.

With the stated mission of never wanting to sound exactly like before, RESTLESS SPIRIT resorted to shorter, sharpened shocks that hit straight home on their acclaimed third album, "Afterimage", in 2024. This album was driven by tragedy and personal loss with singer and guitarist Paul Aloisio putting his heart and soul into it.

In hindsight, the massive punch to the gut delivered by "Afterimage" set the trio onto a course that led directly to "Restless Spirit". Trimming away all sonic fat, focusing on the essentials, and refining their sound and songwriting down to its heaviest core has yielded a record that promises to be timeless.

RESTLESS SPIRIT are throwing out a rescue rope to all headbangers and particularly those dealing with all the cruelty that life can bring. "Restless Spirit" is a call to persevere in the face of others not understanding or even outright rejection. This album is about living on one's own terms, which was and is the essence of metal.

Line-up

Paul Aloisio – guitar, vocals
Jon Gusman – drums
Marc Morello – bass

Recorded by John Forrestal at The Animal Farm, New Jersey (US)
Mixed by John Forrestal at The Animal Farm, New Jersey (US)
Mastering by Jon Markson at The Animal Farm, New Jersey (US)

Cover art & layout by Solomacello

Links

www.facebook.com/restlessspiritny
www.instagram.com/restlessspirit_

Shop - https://spkr.store/collections/restless-spirit

Available formats

"Restless Spirit" is available as a ltd. transparent with black & blue splatter vinyl LP, as a ltd. opaque orange vinyl LP, and as Digi-sleeve CD.

Thanks to All Noir PR and Magnetic Eye Records for the details.

Suplecs - Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky (Album Review)

Release Date: February 20th 2026. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky - Tracklisting

1.Got Nothing

2.Pentacle Star

3.I See You 

4.Forest of Fire

5.Blackwater Rising

6.Old Spanish Trail

7.Damn These Pills 

8.Mountain

9.$6 Man

10.Heartless Bodies

11.No Apologies

12.La Ti Da

Members

Danny Nick - Bass, Vocals

Durel Yates - Guitars, Vocals

Andrew Preen - Drums, Percussion

Review

Stoner Metal heavyweights Suplecs return after a fifteen year absence with their new album Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky and the band haven’t lost their distinctive “STREETWISE” sound. As this album sees the band blaze through a ton of epic sounding tracks that forges sounds from the Doom, Fuzz, Sludge, Stoner and Punk musical scenes. You’ll be surprised to hear Suplecs taking influence from the likes of IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH, BLACK FLAG, MOTORHEAD, FU MANCHU and other great legendary artists that allows the band to tap into a wealth of heavy rock grooves. 

The lyrics are brutally intense in places with a bleak NOLA quality telling stories of life, addiction and suicide along the way. This is what I would expect to hear from an EYEHATEGOD record with Suplecs laying on the depressing slices of real life but this works to Suplecs advantage with a gloomy atmosphere that builds upto to heavy DOOMED OUT BLUES METAL throughout tracks such as Got Nothing, Pentacle Star and I See You. 

The first three opening tracks allow Suplecs to inject a world weary Stoner Metal attitude into their NOLA musical upbringing. Everything is stripped back to the bare minimum with the grimy attitude of the album creating areas of filth infested Sludge/Stoner Metal with a cool sideline in Psychedelic and Fuzzed Out surroundings. That doesn’t stop Suplecs experimenting with their music by adapting a Jazz Metal approach within the excellent fourth track Forest Of Fire before exploring a violent Hardcore/Sludge/Punk based climax. 

That unflinching approach from Suplecs is used brilliantly well throughout the rest of the album with other areas of crazed and dirge filled instrumental sludgy metal passages starting to dominate the whole record. The vocals from Danny Nick and Durel Yates work superbly well on the whole album with the uncompromising tone allowing Suplecs being slightly closer to the likes of KOWLOON WALLED CITY on the later stages of the record.

An even more aggressive MOTORHEAD influence rears its ugly head to put this album firmly into Sludge/Stoner Metal territory with a bevy of sublime NOLA instrumental solos on the second half of the album. Though, be prepared for Suplecs to focus solely playing the BLUES on stunning sixth track Old Blood Trail which has a cautionary and emotionally charged musical atmosphere at its main core. 

Other standout tracks to freak out and lose yourself to are: Damn These Pills, Mountain, Heartless Bodies and No Apologies with Suplecs offering no apologies for the sinister and riff-fuelled musical adventure they will take the listener upon. 

Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky is perhaps the best album for Suplecs to comeback with. They could have easily gone for a more polished sound and user friendlier album but that’s not Suplecs style. They’ve stuck true to their creative beliefs and deliver one of their best albums to date. Fifteen years is a long time to wait for an album but Suplecs have released an album of real emotional depth, heart and perhaps one of the most truthful Stoner Metal albums we’ve heard in a very long time.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

UK Sludge Metallers UK Blunt Knife Castration release new single "Play Victim" from upcoming new album "Blood & Oil" out February 27th

Blunt Knife Castration is the sludge metal project led by Simon Bryant based out of Kent in the UK. Drawing influence from the sleaze and general smut of the horror movies and video nasties of the 70s/80s together with the underground extreme music of the 90s and 00s, BKC blends aspects of metal, noise rock, doom, and crust punk, and drowns them all in sludge.

Wasting no time to keep BKC’s pipeline of filthy riffs flowing, LP “Blood & Oil” follows 2025 debut album “Live Fast Die Slow”.

Says Simon, “I consider ‘Blood & Oil’ to be the next evolution of the BKC sound, going into a slightly more noisier and darker side while still being undeniably sludge metal, and based on elements of crust punk, doom and groove metal throughout. These 11 new tracks feature lyrical themes of mental illness, isolation and general misanthropy.”

Two singles Lead single “Guilt Pig”  and “Play Victim” are both playing below:

Guilt Pig

Play Victim

The band is also currently in the process of getting more members on board to be able to bring BKC out on the road for live shows in the very near future. Kent and UK neighbors of a more delicate sonic persuasion beware, these riffs won’t come out in the wash.

Blunt Knife Castration - "Blood & Oil"

Album out February 27th, 2026
CD (Remorseless Records), Digital
Kent, UK
FFO: Today Is The Day, Dystopia, Eyehategod, Swans, Buzzov.en, Leechmilk, Chat Pile, Meatjack and Idiot Child
Artwork by Paul Van Trigt

Tracklist:

1. Miasma (1:48)
2. Gunshot Selfie (3:43)
3. Degeneration (4:05)
4. Lone (3:22)
5. Guilt Pig (4:39)
6. Swallow (6:00)
7. Play Victim (5:21)
8. Blood & Oil (3:39)
9. Menial Mutt (4:01)
10. Coward (3:05)
11. Skinny Fingers (7:54)

Links:

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.

SHADE - The Exploitation Tapes (EP Review)

Release Date: January 23rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

The Exploitation Tapes - Tracklisting

1.The Exploitation Tapes 01:15

2.S.G.K. 03:37

3.Surge 03:37

4.Bloodbath Boogie 04:00

5.What the River Took 04:56

6.Forbidden Snack 04:39

Members

Ahmed Ben Ayed - Guitar

Wahid Walter Rehouma - Bass

Mehdi Beltaief - Vocals

Aziz El Ghoul - Drums/Vocals

Mehdi Haouet - Guitar/Vocals

Review

The Exploitation Tapes is the latest release from Stoner Metallers SHADE who have introduced a novel concept for this EP. As they blend themes and soundbytes that take influence from the world of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror and Grindhouse cinema for imaginary films for each individual track. It’s a quite a cool record with SHADE adapting a sleazy and stripped back element to the record especially with how the EP sounds and plays out.

The tracks are quite PUNK ROCK driven with sometimes a seedy vibe holding everything together especially when SHADE play music with a subtle “NO FUCKS GIVEN” attitude which allows areas of Fuzz, Alt Rock and Grunge to suddenly appear especially within the opening tracks of The Exploitation Tapes, S.G.K. and Surge. The main vocals are provided by Mehdi Beltaief and he takes influence from mostly the Americana, Punk, Fuzz and Grunge musical scenes. There’s an OUTLAW and DESERT aspect to the vocals littered throughout the EP. 

This is quite similar and vastly different to SHADE’s acclaimed 2025 debut release Distant Suns. The record is dominated by SHADE’s love for “B” movies and all the mythology that comes with that genre of cinema with the music being constantly refreshing and highly energetic in places. You can easily tap into the creative themes that SHADE delivers for each track especially on the second half part of the EP which is where I had the most enjoyment on tracks such as Bloodbath Boogie, What The River Took and Forbidden Snack. 

The Exploitation Tapes is a short, concise and action packed release that doesn’t outstay its welcome. I wish there were a couple more tracks as the EP suddenly ends when things are becoming more interesting. However, it’s best to leave the audience wanting more and SHADE ultimately deliver on that front. 

If you've ever wondered what a QUENTIN TARANTINO or ROBERT RODRIGUEZ film would sound like with an underground Stoner Rock soundtrack then this is the closest you're ever likely to get.

Excellent and Highly Recommended. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

LinkTree | BandCamp