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

Liquid Pennies - Cope (EP Review)

Release Date: January 22nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Cope - Tracklisting

1.Cope 08:01

2.Floating Mote 07:28

3.Long Fuse 03:59

4.Cope (Single Edit) 06:46

Members

Chas Binns - vocals, guitars, synth, electric piano, engineering

Pierson Whicker - drums

Tysonious Mink - bass

Review

Psych/Shoegaze/Stoner Rockers Liquid Pennies return with their new EP Cope which lasts for twenty minutes spread across three tracks though there’s a shortened and rather nifty single edit of the opening title track. The EP perhaps has a certain Indie Rock/Alt-Rock quality to it compared to their acclaimed 2025 album FORE. However, there are moments of aggressive Stoner Rock sounds which can easily be compared to the likes of QOTSA and FOO FIGHTERS for the more peaceful moments.

Opening track Core is quite an upbeat rocker with a passionate Radio Friendly sound with Liquid Pennies moving closer to the Grunge and Alt Rock platforms. The vocals from Chas Binns have a certain Post-Punk quality to them with a more laid back energy compared to what was delivered on their last record. The second half of the song is the faster sludgy grooves take complete control and you can hear those Mastodon and Baroness highly influenced melodies take this track into a whole new direction before slowing the mood right down before the song closes naturally.

Second track Floating Mote is more of a frenzied Droned Out and Electronic sound with sudden flashes of glitchy Psychedelic beats. This overlaps with a long drawn out experimental Sludge Rock passage which maybe too confusing for some. Though, the sound is quite varied with Liquid Pennies trying some different compared to the previous track. After a few listens I’m beginning to enjoy the track more and more. 

The final track Long Fuse is a gloomy and haunting Electronic/Post-Rock/Post-Doom number with the creative themes of the previous two tracks being heard within the background. This has a certain throwback and influence to the likes of NEW ORDER, DAFT PUNK and NINE INCH NAILS with its cerebral style of Electronica beats. 

Cope may not be as accessible as previous Liquid Pennies releases but if you like the experimental qualities of GENGHIS TRON then there is much to admire and enjoy here. At least Liquid Pennies are always trying something different to stay ahead of the curve.

 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Linktree | BandCamp

BELZEBONG - The End Is High (Album Review)

 

Release Date: 20th February 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The End Is High - Tracklisting

1.Bong & Chain
2.420 Horsemen
3.Hempnotized
4.Reefer Mortis

Members

Sheepy Dude - Bass
Alky Dude - Guitar
Cheesy Dude - Guitar
Hexy Dude - Drums

Review

Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metallers Belzebong return after an eight year absence with their new album The End Is High which offers a more apocalyptic take on their music. There is a foreboding sense of dread that the world is going to end but with the band’s great sense of WEEDIAN humour spliced throughout the album. The whole journey can be quite EVIL at times but Belzebong still apply their intense style of psychedelic heaviness into the mix with masses of distorted sludgy melodies that appear in spectacular fashion within the epic opening track Bong & Chain.

Bong & Chain runs for almost eleven minutes with a fuzzed up and highly aggressive energy which is classic Belzebong through and through. The sound is quite progressive with Belzebong undergoing a slight musical makeover with elements of Sludge Rock and Prog Metal appearing towards the later stages of the song. With a great reliance on LOW & SLOW grooves and the heavier fast-paced melodies, Belzebong offer the best of both worlds where they both collide in spectacular WEEDIAN fashion. With traces of Space Rock and Cosmic Distortion slowly starting to filter through from the background, this is a powerful statement of intent from the band to show that one of the best bands from the Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal scene are ready to take over the world once more.

Second track 420 Horseman sees Belzebong returning to their old creative ways by adding trippy and surreal soundclips into the mix whilst expanding upon with that free-spirited and aggressive STONER energy they’ve originally made their names with. The sound is perhaps more dominated by the FUZZED OUT atmosphere with sudden flashes of Cosmic Doom and Post-Stoner surroundings. The whole thing is played to great effect when the LOUD WALL OF NOISE transcends into different and multiple levels of sludgy distortion. Belzebong play a fast paced style of music where some of the finest grooves appear on the whole record. This is the shortest track on the album running for under six minutes in length but the clever use of Ambient and fractured Psychedelic methods is put to great effect within the closing moments of the whole track.

The final two tracks of Hempnotized and Reefer Mortis offers around nineteen minutes of pure WEEDIAN and STONED OUT chaos with Belzebong injecting trippy counter culture soundclips within Hempnotized and with Reefer Mortis having a slightly more outrageous Science Fiction vibe, However, the music is KING with the band playing some of the gnarliest, trippy and heaviest grooves of their entire career.

The band is perhaps more experimental with their music but still keeping within their overall classic sound. With deeper progressive themes starting to emerge, you really do start to feel the sense of dread about the end of the world but it’s told with great comedic timing and bold humour that you can’t help but cheer on Belzebong succeeding with their overall mission.

The End Is High is a masterclass of Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal from one of the legendary bands of the underground scene. They have been gone for a long time but Belzebong always deliver records that are stone cold classics and this is no different with this perhaps easily becoming another ALBUM OF THE YEAR contender for the band.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

The End Is High is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Belzebong links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram