ASTRODEATH - Vol. II (Album Review)

Release Date: May 12th 2023. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds/Tuff Cuff Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Vol. II: Tracklisting

Permafrost

Leviathan Rising

Red Weed

Ceremonial Blood

Neo Nephilim

Golden Death Machine

Invasion

The End

Members

Tim Lancken - Vocals/Guitar

Yoshi Hauser - Drums

Review

Aussie Sludge/Stoner Metallers Astrodeath new album Vol. II is a major leap forward from the band. As they explore the heavier style of Sludge/Stoner Metal drawing influences from bands such as Black Cobra, High On Fire, Mastodon and Kylesa. The music has a distinctive Aussie Hard Rock Quality whilst still having that WEEDIAN style we all know and love. Throw in a buoyant Punk Rock and Classic Heavy Metal energy and this hard-hitting duo know how to create heavy aggressive grooves they play with a sense of destruction on this album.

Opening song Permafrost is a turbo-charged affair taking mid-noughties Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds and bringing a modern Psych Metal flavour to the part. The song is catchy and has a slight AMPLIFIER DISTORTION to it all but with a turbo-charged pace leaving you quite breathless at times. The song does have some small elements of Hardcore and Metallic qualities but Astrodeath remain firmly in the lane of Sludge/Stoner Metal with a song that has a muscular edge. The vocals are top-notch and they have a certain LEMMY influence to them. A great way to open the album with.

Second song Leviathan Rising takes on a slightly Progressive attitude with the band going into more fantastical territory with their lyrics but the band pull this off with style thanks to the fast-paced Psychedelic Sludgy grooves that lead Astrodeath onto bigger, better and heavier moments. The music is melodic and sligthly chaotic but the modern day sounds and clean vocals showcases another great track from the band which is perhaps one of the best tracks on the album.

Third track Red Weed is a sludgy and fuzzy tale with Astrodeath providing a more WEEDIAN style track. The vocals and music are constantly engaging yet again. Subtle Stoner moments bring moments of uplifting Psych Rock/Metal though the bleak lyrics keeps everything real and grounded. There's a lot of guitar reverb and feedback which almost drowns everything out but the drums feel like they have a battering ram being played on top of them. The song is at it's best when Astrodeath plays a less aggressive style of music. As you can soak everything in and be impressed by the multiple different styles of grooves and riffs this track actually has.

Fourth song Ceremonial Blood ventures into a more Doom based area that opens with a Post-Doom or Post-Psych melodic and solitary guitar. Though, a demonic voice changes all that with Astordeath returning to their bombastic style of gloomy Sludge/Stoner Metal. The song has an early High On Fire quality with flashes of Electric Wizard imagery contained within the lyrics. The vocals are mostly clean based with some harsh moments appearing. Astrodeath come into their own creative vision on the second half of the track with impressive guitar sounds and aggressive drumming leading the way. 

The second half of the album sees Astrodeath lean further into their musical influences with perhaps some of the heaviest and most addictive parts of the album. Standout tracks here include Neo Nephilim, Golden Death Machine and The End. There's a lot of different guitar shredding here which makes the album its very own thing. Astrodeath include bleak lyrics and harsh vocals on the second half but still find the time to include a wide array of different WEEDIAN moments. 

For a duo, Astrodeath are constantly LOUD and never rest on their laurels. They always aim to bring a refreshing style of modern sounding HEAVINESS. There's a lot to admire on this album which allows Astrodeath being one of the best bands I've heard from the Aussie Sludge/Stoner Metal underground scene in quite some time. 

With the backing of Heavy Psych Sounds co-releasing this album along with Tuff Cuff Records then I can see Astrodeath making a huge impression with the underground scene. The album sounds intense and earth-shaking violent thanks to the stunning production values contained on the album.

Vol. II is a wonderfully aggressive Sludge/Stoner Metal album to pulverise and destroy the senses with.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Vol. II will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds and Tuff Cuff Records from Friday 12th May 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Sydney sludge punk duo ASTRODEATH to release new album "VOL.2" this spring on Heavy Psych Sounds; watch "Ceremonial Blood" video!

Sydney sludge and stoner punk metallers ASTRODEATH share the fun and #NSFW video for "Ceremonial Blood", the first single taken from their sophomore album "VOL.2" to be issued on May 12th through Heavy Psych Sounds!

ASTRODEATH's debut albulm “VOL.2" is looming and will be available through Tuff Cuff Records in Australia and Heavy Psych Sounds Records in Europe. Astrodeath will tour nationally in support of the release, leaving no stone unturned on their quest to bring sonic mayhem to audiences all over Australia.

About the video: “Ceremonial blood is a sacrificial offering of RIFF to our reptilian overlords, Cut from our sophomore LP Vol.2 and released worldwide through Heavy Psych Sounds and Tuff Cuff records in Australia. It is potentially our heaviest slab, Written as a soundtrack to our second Comic book (Illustrated by Glenno Smith), Ceremonial Blood will flow deep for fans of Sci-fi, Horror and Head banging. In the accompanying music video (Produced by John Flaws) I butcher my neighbour with a samurai sword in Yoshi’s bathtub and eat his leg….you’ll just have to watch it.. We are both HEAVILY PSYCHED to be sending Ceremonial Blood out worldwide! Horns Up!”

Watch the new video for Ceremonial Blood

VOL. 2" continues a mountainous sound borne of madness and revelation, ASTRODEATH report back from the precipice, bringing us haunting visions of a blind and indifferent universe and the hideous, mindless creations that lie in wait, insatiable in their desire to dominate and devour. Hailing from Cadigal Land in the Eora Nation (otherwise known as Sydney), singer/guitarist Tim Lancken and drummer Yoshi Hausler weave an otherworldly musical alchemy that belies their earthly origins and underpins the ritualistic hypnosis of Astrodeath's furious and intimidating sound, a titanic reverberation that far exceeds the sum of its twin parts.

Debut album "Astrodeath"

Out May 12th on Heavy Psych Sounds - PREORDER

Since 2018, Astrodeath have brought this musical mesmerism to audiences all across Australia, showing an uncanny ability to fit alongside bands from the stoner/doom, punk, hard rock and extreme metal scenes, effortlessly floating between genres. Their formidable work ethic has seen them sharing the stage with such luminaries as 1000 Mods, Nick Oliveri (QOTSA), Svetlanas, Beastwars, King Parrot, Revocation, Neptune Power Federation, Lo!, and Black Rheno. In 2022, Astrodeath headlined Thrashville Festival and delivered a legendary performance at Blacken Open Air in Alice Springs, culminating in dozens of rabid fans joining the band onstage. Astrodeath's sophomore album builds on the mythic lore and hypnotising sonic spells infamously cast on their debut self-titled album.

ASTRODEATH is:

Tim Lancken - Guitar & Vocals
Yoshi Hausler - Drums

ASTRODEATH links

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HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

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