GRIN - Incantation (7 inch Single Review)

Release Date: August 29th 2025. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Incantation - Tracklisting

1.Incantation 03:54

2.The Color Of Ghosts 04:22

3.Echoes In The Static (Bonus Track) 04:24

Members

S. Oberg – Bass Guitar

J. Oberg – Drums, Vocals

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers GRIN return in spectacular fashion with their blazing new 7 inch single which features three tracks that could easily have fit within any of their brilliant albums especially their latest record Acid Gods that was released a few months ago. The sound is full of Slusge Metal aggression with GRIN’s trademark style of Distorted Psychedelics and slight Industrial based melodies that soon goes into Stoner Metal dynamics.

The opening title track Incantation has a nightmarish FUZZ METAL attitude that has a trippy HORROR based vibe that manifests into a surreal Industrial Rock/Metal element built around Jan’s outstanding vocals that is perhaps his scariest and most demonic sounding to date. Sabine’s bass have a devastating and apocalyptic quality to them which allows Jan’s drums to fully hold everything together. There’s a twisted sense of melody appearing which GRIN are absolute masters at. This is one powerful trip into the darker side of GRIN’s creative outlook.

Second track The Color Of Ghosts feels like GRIN are channelling their other projects such as Earth Ship and Slowshine with its sense of twisted Doom-Pop melodies and Sludge Rock aggression. The clean vocals are superb and allow GRIN to play a subdued style of music compared to the opening track. GRIN are at their creative best on this track as it shows a different side to them with a more hopeful based track that fans of FLOOR and TORCHE will love. The final stages sees GRIN return to the heavy Sludge Metal environment they’ve made their names with.

The final track Echoes In The Static is a fast-paced number with a Punk Rock attitude with the music being slightly chaotic with DIY production values that once again shows a different side to GRIN. The song definitely has a “LESS IS MORE” approach but still makes up for thrilling and bombastic beats with Jan’s drumming being quite erratic and unpredictable at times. I mean that as a huge compliment. Sabine’s bass has a dominant and direct vibe that makes it my favourite part of the whole track. The warped Psychedelic sound effects have a soaring and gloomy energy that allows GRIN to end this record in highly spectacular fashion.

Incantation is another epic release from GRIN that once again proves why they’re one of the finest and most hard working Sludge/Stoner Metal bands to emerge from the German underground scene. 

Yeah, I absolutely loved this twisted slice of HEAVY MUSIC and even though it’s only on for around thirteen minutes, this is an essential record to own. Outstanding once again from GRIN!!!

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy Incantation now on Digital Download and Vinyl from The Lasting Dose Records.

Links

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Sandrider - Aviary/Baleen (7 Inch Single Review)

Release Date: December 15th 2023. Record Label: Alternative Tentacles. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Aviary/Baleen - Tracklisting

1.Aviary 03:56

2.Baleen 03:00

Members

Jon Weisnewski - Guitar/Vocals

Jessed Roberts - Bass/Vocals

Nat Damm - Drums

Review

Famed Seattle Rockers Sandrider return with their blistering and turbo-charged new 7 inch double single of Aviary/Baleen and it’s a mighty fine addition to their 2023 acclaimed album Enveletration. Both tracks offer fast-paced Psych Stoner Grooves that match that legendary Seattle GRUNGE swagger with Sandrider having mighty boisterous PUNK ROCK fun within the opening track Aviary.

There’s a slight At The Drive In sound within this track with Sandrider’s trademark outlandish Doom-esque drive with the Psychedelic and Grunge aspects of the track. Jon’s vocals have a social awareness to them with the lyrics contained on this track which surprised even myself on the hard hitting themes the band touch upon. The music remains constantly upbeat in places despite the socially aware subject matter. This is classic SANDRIDER through and through which sees the band play wicked sounding sludgy guitar solos with a killer sideline in metallic grooves.

Second track Baleen is another rebellious slice of Punk Rock and Grunge sounds with Sandrider playing with an aggressive creative attitude with flashes of Psych Rock melody that has quite a bone-crunching sound within the later stages of the track. The “LESS IS MORE” drive of the track gives way to some of the most epic and technically impressive sounds on the release alone.

Sandrider once again teamed up with the legendary Matt Bayles for this release. Matt has worked with the likes of SOUNDGARDEN, ISIS and MASTODON within his lengthy career and the results are gloriously diverse as ever. 

Aviary/Baleen proves why Sandrider are one of the essential bands you need to know about right now if you’re a fan of the Grunge/Stoner Metal scene. This is another intense and first-rate release from one of the best bands currently out there.

Words by Steve Howe 

Thanks to Alternative Tentacles for the promo.

Aviary/Baleen will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Alternative Tentacles from December 15th 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Blue Heron - Black Blood Of The Earth/A Sunken Place (7 Inch Single Review)

Release Date: December 03rd 2021. Record Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: DD/Vinyl

Black Blood Of The Earth/A Sunken Place - Tracklisting

1.Black Blood of the Earth 07:14

2.A Sunken Place 04:58

Review

Black Blood Of The Earth/A Sunken Place is the debut 7 inch single from Domed Out Desert/Stoner Rockers Blue Heron. A band who focus on their own “authentic” take on Desert Rock as the band members grew up around the desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The band offers 12 minutes of Desert/Stoner Rock with flashes of Gloomy based Doom Rock grooves.

There are swirls of Monster Magnet based noises before a Punk Rock fury settles to an offset of gloomy Psych Desert Rock. The vocals aren’t what you expect from a self proclaimed Desert Rock band at the start with heavy growls being the main order of choice before a Psychedelic and Classic style of vocals appear before moving back to the original harsh growls. Black Blood Of The Earth sees Blue Heron do a grand job of playing the majestic style of Desert based Stoner Rock/Metal with the band playing a slightly Monster Magnet influenced sound with even nods to SLEEP and KYUSS.

Final song A Sunken Place is where the band really take flight as this is a more exciting song with Blue Heron leaving some of the experimental spaced out parts of the first song and focusing more on a straight-forward and hard edged style of Desert Rock/Stoner Metal.

The 7 inch single is an excellent release for Blue Heron to get themselves noticed with. If you’re looking for “AMPLIFIER RIFF DRIVEN AND DISTORTED” Desert/Stoner Metal that even has flashes of Cosmic Spaced Rock then Blue Heron are the band for you.

The band's debut release is one that ticks all the right boxes with it’s exciting atmospheric take on Desert/Stoner Metal.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Red Lead Media for the promo.

Black Blood Of The Earth/A Sunken Place is available to buy on DD and 7 inch vinyl now via Blues Funeral Recordings.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

White Tundra - Honningfella (7 Inch Single Review)

 

Release Date: June 11th 2021. Record Label: All Good Clean Records. Format: DD

Honningfella - Tracklisting

Honningfella - 5:12

One More Place - 6:07

Review

White Tundra are a Norwegian Stoner Rock Band influenced by the likes of Uncle Acid, Orange Goblin, Clutch and Monster Magnet. Well that’s what the PR Sheet stated that came along with the promo that I received for the 7inch single for Honningfella. There is a word of truth to that statement after listening to both Honningfella and One More Place. There is a grizzled psychedelic and knowing streetwise attitude to White Tundra that throws me back to the good old early days of Monster Magnet.

Honningfella is 5 mins plus of Heavy Stoner Metal guitars with a slight Psych Rock twinge. The music is quite intense and angry from the start. The sleazy 70s Hard Rock vibe is fully evident when the guitar solos come out to play. Throw in 90s Stoner Metal (Orange Goblin) attitude and White Tundra offer a real blast of top-notch Stoner Rock/Metal nostalgia whilst remaining firmly modern at the same time. The song has cool heavy Psychedelic Fuzz Rock guitar solos that ultimately steals the show for myself as it also sees the band drift into Progressive Stoner Metal territory.

One More Place offers a similar vibe to Honningfella but feels more focused and the band offer a more reserved style of Classic Hard Rock and Blues Rock with the Stoner Metal guitars keeping things firmly buoyant and highly enjoyable. The vocals are top-notch and I like the grizzled and pissed-off nature used for this song. 

Honningfella is a superb 2nd release from White Tundra and I enjoyed it even more than their debut EP from last year. The band are helped on this release by a Desert/Stoner Rock legend. Recorded in Trondheim, mixed and mastered by Niklas Källgren of Truckfighters and Enigma Experience fame. So if that doesn’t give you the impulse to check this great band out then nothing will.

I hope there is more to come from White Tundra in the future. Another EP or full length album. Until then, Honningfella is an excellent releases from the band and hopefully allows the band to gain more exposure within the Stoner Rock community.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to White Tundra and Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Honningfella will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via All Good Clean Records from June 11th 2021.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

SIBIIR - Swallow & Trap Them (7inch Single Review)

Release date: September 4^th 2015. Label: Disiplin Media. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Swallow & Trap Them - Tracklisting

Swallow & Trap Them

These Rats We Deny

Band Members:

Jimmy Nymoen (lead vocal),

Tobias Gausemel Backe (guitar),

Steffen Grønneberg (guitar),

Kent Nordli (bass) and

Eivind Kjølstad (drums).

Review:

Oslo mob Sibiir deal in bleak metallic hardcore with a furious approach to their music. This is aural battery with raw and pissed off vocals over the top of sheet metal riffs and pounding drums.

The pummeling title track kicks off this two tracker with its swirling hardcore meets black metal riffs, rhythmic drum tattoo and vocalist Jimmy Nyomens anguished howls colliding together with each other that results in a desolate soundscape with Nyomens shouts of "Washing away all my demons" an echo of the chaos and pain contained within the music.

The band follow this up with These Rats We Deny, a punishing workout that ups the chaos contained in Swallow & Trap Them, with even more metallic riffs being cranked out over a disciplined backbeat that reaches an epic crescendo at the end of the track.

Sibiir have a winning formula here with the volition of those blacker than black riffs and their furious hardcore anger with the only problem with Swallow & Trap Them is that is only two tracks but this only whets the listeners appetite for a full length album.

Words by Gavin Brown

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo. Swallow & Trap Them is available to buy now through Disiplin Media on DD/Vinyl now.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp