Indica Blues - Universal Heat Death (Album Review)

 

Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: CD/DD

Universal Heat Death - Tracklisting

1. Universal Heat Death
2. The Raven
3. Bloodsands Pt I
4. The Slow Descent into Hell
5. Debt Ridden Blues
6. Bloodsands Pt II
7. So Low

Members

Tom Pilsworth – Guitar, Vocals

Lewis Batten – Guitar

Andrew Haines-Villalta – Bass

Rich Walker – Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Indica Blues return after a five year absence with their new album Universal Heat Death and they’ve gone under a major transformation with their music. As they play a darker, heavier and progressive style of music compared to their previous records. There’s a more moodier atmosphere which draws a stunning SLEEP and HOWLING GIANT energy to their music. Last time round they were more closely associated with the likes of FU MANCHU and KYUSS which is still intact here but Indica Blues are quite adept at drawing up sonic passages fuelled by Sludge, Grunge and Post-Doom aggression which you can feel very early on within the opening tracks of Universal Heat Death and The Raven.

The music has a certain DOOM & GLOOM energy with a bleak stripped down atmosphere being played against Tom Pilsworth vocals. The band are joined by a new guitarist Lewis Batten for this release and he brings a different style of music on this record with a sullen and moody performance which adds to the nightmarish Blues Rock sound that cautiously develops on tracks such as Bloodsands Pt 1 and The Slow Descents Into Hell. With a gloomy message being contained within the whole album it’s good to hear Indica Blues developing a thrilling and distorted style of Heavy Psych and Post-Stoner energy which gives another level of heaviness to the record.

It can be wickedly dark and quite deceiving with the deft touches of Cinematic Rock appearing which transforms into a classic aura of Desert Rock, Fuzz and Stoner Metal with the excellent rhythm section of Rich Walker (Drums) and Andrew Haines-Villalta (Bass) once again combining forces for a wholly destructive mission.

The shift to Post-Metal dynamics was another great surprise with Indica Blues that reminded me of heavier artists in places but one that doesn't sacrifice their STONED OUT identity. However, when you have a record touching upon themes of war and revenge which perfectly matches the FUCKED UP feeling currently going on in the world then you can expect moments of darkness from time-to-time.

The final two tracks of Bloodsands Pt II and So Low is where the most hard-hitting, heaviest and socially aware messages appear with Indica Blues leaning heavily into the Post-Whatever environment the record beautifully contains with extended landscapes and trippy soundscapes you can’t but help lose yourself in. 

Indica Blues have transformed into real storytellers with Universal Heat Death with the album offering a record with a cautionary musical vision whilst delivering some epic Doomed Out Stoner Metal grooves of the highest order. This is a sublime and superbly produced album throughout that’s topped off by a first rate musical performance from everyone involved.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Universal Heat Death is available to buy now on CD/DD via Majestic Mountain Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Doom/Stoner Metallers WITCH RIPPER unveil video single 'The Portal' & details of forthcoming new album "Through the Hourglass"

WITCH RIPPER are back and so is the dark story these US metal innovators present to all those ready to listen. Their new music video 'The Portal' offers a glimpse of a sinister cult and serves as the first advance single from their forthcoming third album "Through the Hourglass", which will be revealed on April 10, 2026.

WITCH RIPPER comment on 'The Portal': "We really wanted to set the tone of Through the Hourglass with a bang", vocalist and guitarist Curtis Parker writes. "A pummeling drum intro, knuckle-dragger riffs and highlighting more evil melodies on the guitar. 'The Portal' kicks off an album with darker themes of loss, confusion, and dread while maintaining our love of big hooks and catchy riffs. Our story's main character asks: 'What have I woken up to?' – and we're all about to find out!"

Tracklist

1. Odyssey in Retrograde
2. The Portal
3. Symmetry of the Hourglass
4. Echoes and Dust
5. The Clock Queen
6. Proxima Centuari
7. The Spiral Eye

On their third full-length, "Through the Hourglass", WITCH RIPPER unleash the full potential of their stunning ability to deliver captivating melodies, catchy riffs, and merciless hooks in sheer droves.

The US metal band perfectly combines melodic heaviness with pinches of progressive, sludge, and other styles with seeming ease. WITCH RIPPER can be generally located within the wider sonic realm that is inhabited by MASTODON, BARONESS, and HIGH ON FIRE, yet they also continue to channel the rock bombast of QUEEN and DAVID BOWIE as well as the modern prog of COHEED AND CAMBRIA and MUSE.

While WITCH RIPPER's songwriting has climbed to a new peak, they continue with their loving pastiche of the legendary pulp science fiction stories of old. "Through the Hourglass" extends the story that began on their sophomore full-length, "The Flight after the Fall" (2023), in which the central character's search for peace in death by flying into a black hole proved futile. As "Through the Hourglass" begins, he awakens to a world without time and a familiar dark presence from his past...

Conceived in 2012 in the city of grey skies, lush vegetation and loud rock, Seattle, Washington's WITCH RIPPER garnered critical acclaim and a strong buzz in the underground scene with their sludgy self-titled EP (2012) and debut full-length "Homestead" (2018). The second album, "The Flight after the Fall", made the band's name on a global scale, as the band dramatically expanded the range of their sound in ways both catchy and progressive.

On stage, WITCH RIPPER have performed alongside heavy rock outfits such as MONOLORD, CONAN, and CASTLE RAT as well as modern metal acts including SLIPKNOT, GOJIRA, and KHEMMIS among many others.

WITCH RIPPER are already at work planning for tour across the United States once more and hope for a first voyage to Europe in support of releasing "Through the Hourglass". Metal is anything but dead, and this album is living proof of its vibrant present.

P.S.: Music aficionados will find a revelation hiding in the key of each song.

Line-up

Chad Fox – guitar, vocals
Brian Kim – bass, vocals
Curtis Parker – guitar, vocals
Joe Eck – drums

Guest musician

Irene Barber – vocals on 'The Spiral Eye'

Recording by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho & EXES Audio, Seattle, WA (US)
Mix by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho, Seattle, WA (US)
Mastering by Brad Boatright at Audio Siege Studios, Portland, OR (US)

Cover art by Chris Panatier
Layout by Łukasz Jaszak

Links

www.facebook.com/witchripper
www.instagram.com/witch_ripper

Shop

https://spkr.store/collections/witch-ripper

Available formats

"Through the Hourglass" is available as a ltd. splatter transparent yellow & black vinyl LP, and as Digi-sleeve CD.

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

Accabadora - Mazzolu (EP Review)

Release Date: February 01st 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Mazzolu- Tracklisting

Grasp The Light

Monstrous God

Wrath

Members

Maurice de jong - Bass/Vocals

Raoul Dumas - Guitar

Nico Beemster - Drums

Review

Mazzolu is the debut EP from Doom Metallers Accabadora and is the new project featuring Maurice de jong from the mighty GNAW THEIR TONGUES. The band is named after the following:

“Accabadora is a Dutch doom band formed in 2024, drawing its name from Sardinian mythology as a metaphor for suffering, release and death.”

Inspired by the likes of CONAN, Primitive Man and Amenra, the band take a no hold barred and uncompromising style of Doom Metal which takes a very sludgy and nihilistic turn very much like GNAW THEIR TONGUES. There’s also a brutal sense of melody appearing throughout the whole EP with the opening track Grasp The Light allowing Accabadora to demonstrate a wealth of bleak distortion amongst the pounding grooves that go straight for the jugular.

The sense of death and misery is never too far behind with the harsh growls and pummelling beats that move brutally onwards into the other tracks of Monstrous God and Wrath. The music is a mixture of fast-paced violent thuggish riffs and slow-to-mid paced CAVEMAN DOOM-esque surroundings which amps the VOLUME to a very violent level indeed.

The lyrics superbly match the bleak musical aesthetic with bone-crunching guitars from Raoul Dumas and Nico Beemster’s evil pounding drums opening up the GATES TO HELL themselves. This EP isn’t for the faint hearted and Accabadora thrive on that aspect which allows their debut EP to matter where it counts and unleash HELL ON EARTH.

 

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | BandCamp | Instagram

Suede Aces - Envy (Single Review)

Release Date: February 06th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Envy- Tracklisting

Envy

Members

Lily Slix - Vocals

Darrin Bell - Guitar

Tommy Bell - Drums

Gareth “Gort” Odendaal - Bass

Review

Envy is the debut single from Blues Rock/Hard Rockers Suede Aces who are inspired by the likes of Led Zepp, Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin. I suppose you could add Blues Pills to that mix with their own great and honest style of Blues Rock fully coming through on Envy. There’s an essence of Aerosmith with the groovy melodies played by the band. There’s a lot of SOUL within Suede Aces music and has an edgy “RETRO ROCK” sound. 

 

However, there’s an earnest and gritty attitude contained with Lily Slix’s vocals appearing throughout with some great lyrics to match. This is a powerhouse performance from everyone involved and if you’re a fan of good old fashioned Seventies Hard Rock then Suede Aces deliver the goods. 

The band have already earned a great reputation within their local scene which their EP advises -  “opening for Steven Adler of Guns N’ Roses and Slaughter at the iconic Starland Ballroom, shared the stage with Rachel Bolan of Skid Row at The Stone Pony - a standout moment that added fuel to the band's momentum”.

Not bad for a band who haven’t released their debut album with "Suede Aces - Vol. 1" being set for release in March 2026. If the rest of the album sounds as great as Envy then Suede Aces could be at the start of a very exciting and highly rewarding career indeed. The production values are great with the band putting in a super tight performance. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Website: https://suedeaces.com/home
Instagram: instagram.com/suedeaces
Facebook: facebook.com/suedeacesband
YouTube: youtube.com/@suedeaces
TikTok: tiktok.com/@suedeaces

Instrumental Stoner Metallers MOTSUS Announce Details For New Album ATLAS Released By POLDERRECORDS

West-Flemish instrumental stoner trio MOTSUS return with their highly anticipated sophomore album “Atlas” - a bold evolution that pushes the Oudenburg trio deeper into doom and atmospheric territory than ever before.

Recorded at Dunk!Studio’s in Zottegem and mixed & mastered by legendary producer Karl Daniel Lidén (Dozer, Greenleaf, A Swarm Of The Sun, ..), Atlas delivers five tracks of crushing instrumental polder rock.

The album spans from the hypnotic seven-minute journey “Driver” to the nearly ten-minute epic “Exploder Pt. II” with the razor-sharp “Short Notice” (a long-time live staple finally captured on record) clocking in at just over two minutes.

ATLAS drops Friday, January 30th, 2026, via Polderrecords, followed by an album release show on Saturday, January 31st at Muziekclub 4AD in Diksmuide with support from Ghent riff masters Idealus Maximus.

PRE-ORDER “ATLAS” now! - ORDER HERE

West-Flemish instrumental stoner trio MOTSUS have been carving their path through the heavy underground since 2012. Hailing from the poldercity of Oudenburg, this three-piece delivers instrumental polder rock—dead slow and heavy, sometimes razor fast, but foremost persistent, like a fully loaded freight train with no intention of stopping.

Their sound blends crushing stoner riffs, contemporary sludge metal, and old-school doom into something raw, sinister, and hypnotic. No vocals. No compromises. Just three guys making music that sounds like tectonic plates shifting in slow motion.

Following two raw demos (2014/2015) and their debut album “Oumuamua” (2018, Polderrecords), MOTSUS have built a reputation for visceral live performances at festivals like Gentse Feesten and Alcatraz, sharing stages with Brutus, Fire Down Below, Briqueville, and frequent collaborators Idealus Maximus.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to POLDERRECORDS for the details.

OREYEON - The Grotesque Within (Album Review)

Release Date: February 13th 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Grotesque Within- Tracklisting

1.Echoes Of Old Nightmares 04:24

2.Nothing But Impurities pt.1

3.Nothing But Impurities pt.2

4.The Grotesque Within

5.Something Over There

6.I'm Your Mistake 04:25

7.Dead Puppet Eyes

Members

Pietro Virgilio - Drums

Richard Silvaggio - Bass / Vocals

Andrea Ricci - Guitar

Matteo Signanini - Guitar

Review

Psych/Space/Stoner Rockers OREYEON return with their fourth full length album The Grotesque Within which sees the band move away slightly from their Spaced Out and Cosmic roots for a more grounded Grunge makeover. You can hear a certain Alice In Chains and Soundgarden swagger behind the fuzzy sonic passages which has served the band superbly well over the last decade or so. This is perhaps the sound that OREYEON have been building upto ever since their 2016 debut album Builders Of Cosmos. Though, OREYEON are still part of the Spaced Out sound with that delicious and trippy levels of Fuzzed Out Doom still built upon from start to finish.

The first opening batch of tracks Echoes Of Old Nightmares, Nothing But Impurities Pt 1 and Nothing But Impurities Pt 2 allows OREYEON to expertly build waves of musical passages that forges a solid union of Doom, Psych, Sludge and Stoner melodies with that sudden shift to Grunge landscapes. The interplay of Space Rock moving throughout the classic era of Doomed Out underground scene with movements of trippy soundbytes and haunting Post-Stoner soundscapes becomes ever more heavier and aggressive which OREYEON use to their full advantage.

The lead vocals from Richard Silvaggio feel like he’s experienced that life has thrown at him and still comes out winning from the other side with his expertly driven vocals that can be ice cold as hell one moment and full of uplifting passion the next. When OREYEON decide to transform into a Sludge Rock Powerhouse then they’re really COOKING and playing some of the standout sounds contained on the first half of the record. The lyrics are perfectly captured or influenced from the Nineties era when the Grunge, Sludge and Stoner Metal scenes once reigned supreme. 

The Grotesque Within is OREYEON’s most mature and grown up record to date with the band exploring new areas of music that feels fresh and highly original on tracks such as The Grotesque Within, Something Over There and the brilliant final track Dead Puppet Eyes. The lyrics do become slightly depressing at times but OREYEON inject this against a ton of first rate Post-Stoner and Heavy Psychedelic melodies which sees them reach the same dazzling heights laid down by the likes of LOWRIDER, HOWLING GIANT and KING BUFFALO have made their names with. I can easily see OREYEON being classed as the same level as those great bands with this album alone.

The instrumental work is just immense from everyone involved and you have to give credit to Pietro Virgilio (Drums), Richard Silvaggio (Bass / Vocals), Andrea Ricci (Guitar) and Matteo Signanini (Guitar) for not only expanding on their great sound but injecting a new great style of SONIC and GRUNGE transformation into the mix that is quite refreshing and brilliantly exciting to hear. 

OREYEON have once again delivered a record of real quality that stands the test of time and will no doubt perhaps be considered one of the standout Heavy Psych / Stoner Metal albums of the year. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

The Grotesque Within is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

OREYEON links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Aeon Temple - Resurfaced (Album Review)

Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Broken Music. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Resurfaced - Tracklisting

Grapes And Wine

Children Of Dirt

Tireless Machine

Blumulu

Golden Veils

Members

Claus - Vocals/Guitar

Filzi - Bass

Ruhrbert - Drums

Review

Resurfaced is the debut album from Psych/Blues/Stoner Rockers Aeon Temple who bring a stunning and mystical Heavy Metal presence to their music. Their sound is ultimately captivating with soulful vocals, hypnotic Proto-Metal energy where they allow the classical Heavy Metal element to run completely free and unafraid to take big bold risks with their music. Aeon Temple fuses Prog Rock/Metal and Doom Rock mythology into a modern setting which you can fully experience throughout the epic opening track Grapes Of Wine.

With a sudden shift into sludgy and fuzzed up melodies where a deliberate Garage Rock sound emerges behind the darkened blues rock catacombs that Aeon Temple fully builds their whole vision upon. There is an outlandish Seventies Heavy Rock drive for the most part of the record which can be dominated by Prog Rock and Folk Rock themes but it’s the jagged Heavy Metal sound that fully wins the war of epic noise fuelled soundscapes which is projected even further into the other tracks contained on the album.

You’ll be surprised when Aeon Temple venture into Post-Rock surroundings and distorted grooves that draws them closer to heavier Sludge Rock dominated artists but with a freaking sounding Stoner Rock, Grunge and Shoegaze developing on tracks such as Children Of Dirt, Tireless Machine and Blumulu. Sometimes it’s quite hard to actually categorise the style of music that Aeon Temple actually play but it’s absolutely thrilling and quite dangerous especially when they play with a fearless turbo charged energy where the AMPS and INSTRUMENTS are possessed by a destructive FUZZ METAL energy.

There are echoes of Post-Rock and Post-Stoner atmospheres that are equally as thrilling which allows Aeon Temple to slow the mood right down before venturing back into the seedy world of HEAVY METAL and grounded Psych Stoner Metal for even more intense instrumental solos to slay you with. You feel that Aeon Temple has more members in their ranks other than the core power trio that make up this hugely talented band. Aeon Temple can be absolutely ferocious where they offer no apologies especially on the final two tracks on the album with Blumulu and Golden Veils being the standouts on the whole album.

Resurfaced is a record that’s refreshingly “RETRO” and superbly modern at the same time with Aeon Temple expertly delivering some highly original music of their own making but still paying homage to the legendary bands and artists that have influenced their whole creative vision. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Broken Music for the promo.

Resurfaced is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Broken Music.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram