Besvärjelsen - Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem (Album Review)

Release Date: August 28th 2026. Record Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem - Tracklist

1.The Greatest Sin

2.Accelerating Hearts

3.Battles

4.Counting Flies

5.Drifters on a Quiet Stream 

6.The Mountain

7.Pulse

8.Interlude

9.Didn't Come to Party 

10.Black Wave

11.Oblivion

Members

Lea Amling Alazam – vocals

Staffan Vinrot – guitars, vocals (& accordion, violin, keys, keyed fiddle)

Andreas Bajer – guitars, vocals

Erik Bäckwall – drums

Marcus Lindqvist – bass

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Besvärjelsen return with their third full length album Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem and the band are on FIRE exploring their own great style of Forest Rock. A great take on the standard Desert Rock sound but Besvärjelsen add a grounded Mountain Rock vibe into their music. It’s not exactly Appalachian based but it’s fuelled by NORDIC passion. 

Besvärjelsen transform their music into a heavier dimension which comes across very early on within the excellent batch of opening tracks of THe Greatest Sin, Accelerating Hearts and Battles which is one of the strongest collections of tracks I’ve heard to open an album within a very long time. As Besvärjelsen fully set the scene for the album with massive stadium sized grooves and heartfelt vocals to match. The real standout from the very start is the emotional delivery from Lea Amling Alazam who has never been better with excellent support from Staffan Vinrot and Andreas Bajer along the way. 

The album does have a gloomy Grunge and Sludge based aspect which remains grounded and brilliantly heavy with flashes of Psychedelic Doom showing you that Besvärjelsen mean business with levels of that intense “Forest Rock” transforming into a great style of Meditative Doom Metal with echoes of Classic Blues Rock and vintage Hard Rock giving way into a subtle Heavy Metal presence. 

There’s levels of great distortion and amplified feedback with instances of pure soul that develops into wonderful sounding instrumental sounds that even bring a foreboding style of Prog Metal into the mix that channels the likes of Mastodon and Baroness along the way. One of the other main things that stands out on the record is the exquisite and emotionally charged lyrics which pull no punches throughout the album perhaps on tracks The Greatest Sin, Battles, Drifters On A Quiet Stream, The Mountain, Didn’t Come To Party and Oblivion. 

Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem is everything you want and wholly expect for a modern day Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal record. As on this form alone, Besvärjelsen can easily aim for the same great heights that King Buffalo and Howling Giant have achieved recently. This record has that similar type of emotionally charged and uplifting energy those bands are known for. 

Besvärjelsen are continuously finding new ways of developing their own great blend of Heavy Psychedelic music with some detours into Sludge Rock, Shoegaze and Occult Metal which gives this album a highly unexpected and sometimes slightly unorthodox style. This is one of my favourite things about the whole album as you don’t know what to expect with certain individual sections of the record. 

I’m ashamed to say this is my first time reviewing Besvärjelsen on the blog and I have no excuse for missing their other two superb records as they’re bloody brilliant in their own right as well. However, Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem is the record that sealed the deal for me. This record has a fearless attitude that allows the band to deliver one of the best Heavy Psychedelic records of the year. 

Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem is an absolute joy to fully experience with it’s non-stop style of classic tracks throughout. Besvärjelsen have delivered the goods with this album and I recommend to everyone to add this to your record collection at the very earliest opportunity. 

Awesome. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

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

Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records.

Links

www.facebook.com/besvarjelsen
www.instagram.com/besvarjelsen

https://besvarjelsen.bandcamp.com/

Doom/Stoner Metallers DEATHCHANT Announce New Album KOVA And Premiere New Song/Video For ENEMY. Album To Be Released Via RIDINGEASY RECORDS

We are all at the unforgiving whim of life’s extremes. For every moment of overwhelming sorrow, there’s another of indescribable bliss. For every death, there’s a birth. For all of the darkness, there’s just as much light.

Deathchant have never shied away from extremes. Their sound seamlessly oscillates from high-octane rubber-burning riffs and gravelly chants to purring feedback and melodies as expansive as the desert at night. After gathering millions of streams, earning enthusiastic acclaim, and an endless string of packed shows, the Los Angeles, CA quartet—Thomas J Lemieux a.k.a. TJ [guitar, vocals, keys, bass], Doug Stuckey [guitar, vocals], Quinn-George Camacho [bass], and Nick “Joose” Mcdonnell [drums]—explore life’s highs, lows, and everything in between on their fourth full-length LP, KOVA [RidingEasy Records].

Named after their late friend Davey Kova, it’s simultaneously a raucous send-off worthy of a Viking, an introspective look at manhood, and a dyed-in-the-wool badass barnstorming hard rock record.

“To me, Deathchant means very intense brotherhood and friendship,” observes TJ. “I have a truly safe place to express every facet of myself. Even though we’re really heavy, this is also a vehicle for me to explore softer sides of music and wear my heart on my sleeve. For the last nine years, it’s allowed me to be a raw nerve. It was often brutal, because we lived our lives in the world of motorcycle culture, drugs, and partying. At the same time, I always had space for reflection. We implicitly trust one another. It’s rare for a friendship—let alone a four-way working relationship. I recently became a new dad, went through a divorce, and experienced serious loss. All of these massive shifts fed into the music, making it angrier, but more revealing and intimate.”

Back in 2018, Deathchant began to make noise on the West Coast. The group captivated a cult-like audience with the self-titled Deathchant [2019], Waste [2021], and Thrones [2023]. They landed looks from CBS News, Angry Metal Guy, and It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine who marveled at their “combination of rumbling noise, chiming guitar melodies, bluesy boogie, NWOBHM thrash, and punk fury.” Plus, they ignited the YouTube channel Jam In The Van with a fiery performance and canvased the globe on tour, playing at festivals such as Psycho Las Vegas, Desertfest Belgium, Keep It Low Festival, and SonicBlast Festival.

While writing KOVA, they said goodbye to its namesake.

“My best friend Davey Kova was a dude who white-knuckled life, treated each day like it was his last, took chances, rode fast, and partied hard, but he was the sweetest guy you could ever meet,” sighs TJ. “It’s a weird way to live, yet it’s beautiful. He passed away during the writing process. The record seemed to finish itself after that. The album is a eulogy to not just Davey, but countless friends we’ve lost in the last couple of years.”

TJ helmed the album as producer and sent it off to Kurt Ballou’s legendary God City Studio in Salem, MA where Zach Weeks mixed it. Sonically, it maintained the edge that fans have come to know and expect with some slight tweaks.

“KOVA is different,” affirms the frontman. “I expounded on the lyrics more than I usually would’ve, because the subject matter is so personal. The vocals are also bit dryer and more intentional. You really feel it.”

The opener and first single “Enemy” definitely sets the tone. Feedback groans until a melodic lick pushes the song into overdrive. It culminates on an ominous refrain, “You’re the enemy…Keep the enemy close.” Fret-burning leads entwine at a breakneck pace, bleeding into a screeching solo drenched in wah and echo.

“It’s lyrically related to ‘Mirror’ from Thrones,” he reveals. “You’re ultimately realizing that you are your own worst enemy. So, you’re drowning the ego and being real with yourself about who you are. It’s aligned with the overall concept.”

Then, there’s the two-part title track “Kova (Crawl) Intro” and “Kova (Crawl).” On “Crawl,” acoustic strumming creaks beneath a soulful tear-soaked verse as he laments, “I heard that little boy go quiet, with heavy hearts we said goodbye.” Its heavier companion stomps forward on a swinging rhythm and chugging groove. Offering up a coronation over power chords, the hook booms with bravado, “Call him the king of wild hearts.”

“I was initially writing the song with a vague character in mind,” TJ goes on. “Davey died, and it became clear that the song was fully about him. That’s really when the chorus came to fruition. You’re watching someone slowly kill themselves in a tragic way. The acoustic and heavy versions are equally important. The two parts resemble the ripple effect Davey’s two sides had on people—the dark and the light sides.”

Then, there’s “Worshipper.” A fiery riff smolders in the foreground, giving way to a sample of Shannon Lay above distant gothic strings. “It’s dark as fuck,” he sighs. “I was dwelling in a really pessimistic place with a negative world view. I was depressed and drinking a lot. I had a few people around me who were leaning into Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, religion, and therapy. All of those things may be wonderful. However, they can also give a narcissist an artillery of weapons to use against others. ‘Worshipper’ embodies the weaponization of spirituality by a fake person on a soapbox. You’re worshipping a false prophet.”

“Forgiveness” hinges on bluesy guitar transmissions and a dusty vocal. TJ muses, “Truth is a chamber of bullets and echoes of friends.” Flanked by wailing six-string cries, he accepts, “The curtain keeps closing, but it’s too late to leave now. Goddamn.”

“The lyrics lined up with everything else,” he says. “It’s the human existence of battling addiction and living life to the fullest.”

Ultimately, this is the soundtrack for waking up and going full throttle in pursuit of whatever drives you.

“We’re lucky to be able to tell stories of a legend who’s not with us anymore,” TJ leaves off. “When you have good friends and bandmates around you though, the phoenix rises, and something beautiful comes out of that loss. Life is tough, incredible, and gnarly. Go ahead, embrace who you are, and keep going.”

KOVA is available for pre-order now on CD/DD/Vinyl and will be released by RidingEasy Records from September 25th 2026.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to RidingEasy Records for the details.

Destroy My Brains - Wilt (Album Review)

Release Date: August 14th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

Wilt - Tracklist

1.OCI (obsessive compulsive imploder) 

2.Burn the Virgin

3.Decontribute 

4.Avulsion

5.Downgrade 

6.Spill

7.Wilt

 

Members

Jarret - Guitar, Vocals

Jadan - Drums, Samples

Chase - Guitar

Rob - Bass

Review

Wilt is the final chapter of music from Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Destroy My Brains that started the journey way back in 2018 with their astonishing record Worthless. The band followed this release with the following albums InsignifiCan't, Lifeless and Tormented. When you join the first initial of those albums it spells WILT. So, this is the end of the journey of a five planned saga for Destroy My Brains where they punish the listener with brutal Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal sounds inspired by the likes of DOWN, CROWBAR, GRIEF and ACID BATH with some intense sonic interplay being added throughout.

The record does touch upon some hard-hitting and emotionally charged themes just like the previous albums and as before Destroy My Brains offer no easy answers but just their own personal experiences which you can feel every intense sudden thrash and sludge beat knocking you out senseless. Though, the record is sometimes brilliantly melodic despite the dark creative energy being played throughout this album. The vocals from Jarret once again portray a tortured soul coming to terms with their own existence but also learning from their own mistakes. 

Destroy My Brains records have always been quite forward thinking in how they deliver their music though told through bleak and nihilistic tales which actually show there's light at the end of the tunnel no matter how badly things actually become. The progressive sounds have a realistic approach to them especially with the thumping rhythm section (Jadon on Drums/Samples and Rob on Bass) that moves between areas of Thrash Metal and Extreme Metal that allows Jarret and Chase on Guitars to solidify the modern Doom/Sludge Metal sound to continue to be played naturally.

The great use of different samples, vocals and psychedelic beats from Jadon adds a horrifying true life vibe along the way which makes the record even more daring and wholly uncomfortable. However, Destroy My Brains play a non-stop amount of outstanding riffs and instrumental passages you’ll instantly rock the fuck out to.

The majority of the songs held on WILT are simply epic in their own right that all offer different musical perspectives of real human emotion with small amounts of uplifting Psych Doomed Out melodies appearing along this violent journey. 

If I have to pick out standout tracks from the album then I would choose: Burn The Virgin, Decontribute, Downgrade and WILT as I can hear other daring musical influences such as NEUROSIS, Mastodon and YOB but with a more depressing outlook on the world. It’s the music that continues to impress with the band exploring a bolder style of Prog Metal and Stoner Metal that reminds me of the mighty ANCIIENTS. They may have different styles but they both have the same creative outlook by blending extreme metal sounds with a modern day Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal aesthetic. 

WILT is the perfect end to a massive and sprawling five part album saga which may allow Destroy My Brains to try different musical avenues in the future. You gotta say the guys ultimately deserve that. As they’ve spent a long time bleeding their emotions dry for their “ART” and providing their dedicated fan base with records of amazing quality which will leave you broken down, beaten, physically and mentally exhausted. 

However, you’ll be glad you’ve listened, survived and experienced a brutal audio experience such as this. As Destroy My Brains have solidified their status as one of the best bands to emerge from the Canadian Heavy Metal underground scene of recent years. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Asher Media for the details.

WILT is available to buy now on CD/Digital Download.

Links

LinkTree | BandCamp

Faerie Ring - Faerie Ring (Album Review)

Release Date: August 21st 2026. Record Label: King Volume Records. Formats: CD/DD/Tape/Vinyl

Faerie Ring - Tracklist

1.NEW GODS

2.FATTEST WITCH

3.BIGGIEST HIT

4.LOST BOY

5.FLAIL

6.DRAGGIN

7.HOWLING AT THE MISTY MOON

8.GARGOYLE

9.NO SURRENDER

10.CHAMPION

Members

James Wallwork - Electric Guitar/Vocals

Kyle Hulgus - Electric Guitar

Alex Wallwork - Electric Bass Guitar/Vocals

Matt McGuyer - Drums & Cymbals

Review

Faerie Ring made quite a name for themselves with their first two records which showed the band had a mighty promise for all things Doom, Sludge and Stoner Rock that was lovingly wrapped in a cocoon of distorted slice of psychedelic heaviness. However, it feels the band have gone back to basics for their third album and went straight back to the drawing board. For a start, this is a self-titled album which opens a new chapter for the band. They’ve stripped their music down to the bare essentials and you’re left with a quintessential vintage sounding record that’s main creative strengths lies within its great use of modern day technicolour melodies and cinematic flair.

The album sees Faerie Ring use elements of Seventies Hard Rock, Proto-Doom and Heavy Metal whilst adding a backdrop of modern day Prog Metal, Sludge Rock, Stoner Rock and Fuzz Rock grooves. There’s a wicked style of Garage Rock ferocity that’s used for the creepy level of distortion that’s hidden in the background and pulling all the strings for when the heavy sounds fully appear.

Taking cues from the likes of The Sword, Mastodon, Thin Lizzy, The Obsessed, King Buffalo and ELDER whilst creating an album solely in your own image is no small feat but Faerie Ring pulls this off magnificently. The band opens up with the stunning opening tracks of New Gods and Fattest Witch which allows them to lay down their new found creative credentials with a massive melting pot of WEEDIAN SMOKE buried amongst those vintage burning amps and distorted sludge metal surroundings. 

They add a great fantastical style of storytelling into their lyrics which is epic in scale with massive amounts of OVER THE TOP themes just allowing the listener to fully go along with the whole record. Faerie Ring slowly start changing their music through every track with a stubborn musical energy being played that makes them simply unbeatable on the day on tracks such as Biggest Hit, Flail, Draggin, Howling At The Misty Moon, Champion and No Surrender.

Faerie Ring aligned themselves more to the burgeoning modern day Psych Stoner Rock scene championed by the likes of ELDER, King Buffalo and Howling Giant on the later stages of the record. However, I also noticed instances of TORCHE based Doom Pop atmospherics which isn’t surprising with Jonathan Nunez on mastering duties on this record which I only discovered until very recently. 

This is the type of album that I wanted The Sword to continue making to this day instead of some of the more mainstream efforts they actually released. This record is going to be a game changer as it’s heartfelt when it matters and DOOM AS HELL when that heavy slab of DOOMED OUT aggression is needed. 

As I stated previously in this review, this record has a core Seventies Heavy Rock aesthetic embedded within its whole DNA and the way how the music is played and wholly delivered, this record feels like it was recorded over fifty years ago but finally being discovered in the modern age for the very first time. The album has that huge vintage feeling but with a superb modern based delivery at the same time.

Faerie Ring’s self-titled album is an absolute breathtaking record from beginning to end and one that’s packed full of classic sounding tracks throughout. This could actually be a game changer for the band and even elevate them to the same status as King Buffalo and Howling Giant in the next eighteen months or so. 

This is another ALBUM OF THE YEAR contender. Add this record to your collection now. END OF!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Pat at Poetica Marketing for the promo.

Faerie Ring is available to buy now on CD/DD/Tape/Vinyl.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Mean Green - Castle (Album Review)

Release Date: August 14th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Castle - Tracklist

1. Castle (3:45)

2. Sludge Puppy (4:33)

3. Employee Of The Month (6:23)

4. Wild Bill (4:30)

5. Slack Jaw (5:26)

6. Cyclone (5:01)

7. Wasteland (5:16)

Members

Jake Helms - Guitar, Vocals

Alex Wierback - Bass

James Matthews - Drums

Review

Castle is the sophomore album of WEEDIAN Metallers Mean Green and sees the band expand their heavy filthy hallucinogenic sound even further compared to their acclaimed 2023 self-titled debut album. Mean Green have always leaned more heavily into the Sludge Metal camp with sludgy passages influenced by the likes of HIGH ON FIRE, WEEDEATER and BONGZILLA. 

The added layers of Doomed Out FUZZ allows a slight Electric Wizard and Church Of Misery vibe to slowly creep in. Mean Green allows some trippy SONIC experimentation flow through their music with shades of Classic Rock Legends such as Cactus, Blue Cheer and Saint Vitus spliced throughout this vicious sounding record. The LOW & SLOW grooves have a calculated and methodical delivery to them which sees some of the heaviest AMPLIFIED surrounding melodies developing on the album thanks to tracks such as Castle, Sludge Puppy, Employee Of The Month and Cyclone.

Mean Green have really improved their technical ability in handling their Psychedelic and Space Rock creative themes as this record is more definitely more drugged out with trippier sonic passages emerging from the down tuned catacombs that the band expertly construct. With a thrilling progressive sound allowing Mean Green to move into the Southern Metal arena with epic outbursts of NOLA aggression changing the album into a faster style of delivery which is where the real magic happens. 

The vocals from Jake Helms haven’t changed much from the band’s acclaimed debut album but they have grown up with a violent delivery that oozes confidence from start to finish. Jake feels more comfortable here and he fully owns the demented front-man role he plays with absolute demented relish here. Add his intense guitar performance which allows Alex Wierback on Bass and James Matthews on Drums to fully commit to their violent rhythm section for some of the meanest, thickest and violent sounds that they brilliantly deliver.

Castle becomes a more violent Sludge Metal based journey with continuous levels of filth keeping everything brutally real with some of the thickest sonic passages you ever want to lose yourself in. The lyrics show a real violent flair which are quite close to the likes of WEEDZILLA and CHURCH OF MISERY but it fully sells the twisted vision of Castle that even allows Mean Green to indulge some mighty fine Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal musical solos along the way that would make MASTODON green with envy!!!

Mean Green have expertly avoided the dreaded sophomore / second album curse with Castle. As this record alone feels like a statement of intent from the band that they mean business and they’re going to be around for a very long time to come. With a non-stop supply of WEEDIAN grooves to drown your hearing with, Mean Green have come of age with this outstanding record. Accept no substitute, these guys are the real fucking deal.  

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Castle is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl.

Links

Facebook | Instagram | BandCamp

Heavy Prog Rockers MR.BISON share new single "Bright Shadow" from upcoming new album "The Garden of Forgotten Dreams" out September 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds

Italian heavy prog goldsmiths MR.BISON present their haunting new single "Bright Shadow", taken from their upcoming studio album "The Garden of Forgotten Dreams" to be issued this September 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds Records.

Watch new video "Bright Shadow" below + listen to the single on all streaming services

"A haunting and dreamlike song about lost memories, unrealized possibilities, and the echoes of the past. Set within a mysterious garden of light and shadow, it explores regret, longing, and the fragile boundary between dreams and reality...”

The Garden: a magical place where lost dreams don't fade, but grow like silent flowers. Each petal holds an unfulfilled wish, each scent a memory left behind. In this garden, those who enter rediscover parts of themselves they thought lost and understand that nothing should be forgotten if it has touched their heart.

Sprawling psychedelia collides with prog precision on MR.BISON's new album "The Garden of Forgotten Dreams", all propelled by swirling melodic scales that ascend into the stratosphere and dynamics that breathe with volcanic intensity. This sixth studio album is undoubtedly their most epic and immersive album yet, one that will win over fans of Elder, King Buffalo, Weedpecker, Naxatras.

About the main album theme, the band comments: "The garden is the image that recurs most frequently throughout the album. We chose it as a metaphor for a refuge, a place where we can nurture our natural inclinations, let them grow and blossom, and where we can also keep our shadows and lights hidden. Where our secrets, our most authentic truths, our aspirations and our dreams, can therefore remain guarded until we are ready to reveal them to those who can contain and appreciate them." Check out the album's debut single Cosmic Tide!

MR.BISON "The Garden of Forgotten Dreams" - Out September 25th on Heavy Psych Sounds

TRACKLIST:

1. Cosmic Tide
2. The Garden of Forgotten Dreams
3. Bright Shadow
4. Astray
5. Turn to Stone
6. The Sunrise
7. River Moan
8. Old Hue

MR BISON is a rock band that melds heavy psychedelic sounds with progressive elements and evocative soundscapes. Formed in a small coastal town in Tuscany, Italy, the band has reinvented their sound over the course of four albums from stoner rock to heavy psychedelic and progressive sounds, firmly establishing themselves in 2018 with the acclaimed Holy Oak and the great concept album Seaward in the 2020, which suddenly brought them touring around Europe and US many times, attending the best festivals on the scene. The foursome released Echoes From the Universe in February 2024 via Heavy Psych Sounds, reaching many international Best Albums lists — including a top spot on the prestigious Doom Charts — and followed by touring across Europe, the US West Coast Tour and the UK and numerous festival appearances.

Their new concept album The Garden of Forgotten Dreams was produced and recorded by guitarist Matteo Barsacchi, mixed by Richard Behrens (Elder, Kadavar) at Big Snuff Studio in Berlin, and mastered by Carl Saff in Chicago and Adam Ayan (Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam) in Portland. The band has already been confirmed to play Stoned From The Underground, Blackdoor Fest and other summer festivals, and will be touring Europe and the UK again in the fall of 2026.

MR.BISON is

Matteo Barsacchi - Guitar / Synth
Matteo Sciocchetto - Voice / Bass
Davide Salvadori - Guitar / Synth
Lorenzo Salvadori - Drums

MR.BISON links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Holystone - Accepting Omega (Album Review)

Release Date: July 17th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Accepting Omega - Tracklist

1.The Prophecy (Jaws of Victory) 04:10

2.Brave Design 02:51

3.Guided by Stones 05:01

4.Procession 06:32

5.Sleepwalker 03:50

6.The Accomplice Pt.I (The Offer) 01:42

7.The Accomplice Pt.II (Father's Funeral) 05:38

8.Cavitation 05:34

9.The Oracle Speaks 04:21

Members

Drums - Jonny Pickvance

Bass - Jack Bratt

Extra bass - Madi Morris

Guitar - Wolfe Peterson

Vocals - Madison Morris & Wolfe Peterson

Review

Doom/Grunge/Stoner Metallers Holystone return with a heavier and spacier sound compared to their 2024 debut album East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Their second record Accepting Omega operates in the same vicinity of the likes of TORCHE and FLOOR with a sludgy melodic soundscape developing from very early stages. However, there are still familiar musical steps of Grunge, Psych and Doom Metal that were first laid down on their excellent debut album.

There’s a deeper scope on melody, aggression and spaced out surroundings that feel more fully fleshed out which is perhaps down to the inclusion of new band member Madison Morris who is now on Bass and Vocal duties though I think previous bassist Jack Bratt lends a hand here on some of the tracks. Accepting Omega is a sludgier excursion in darker, deeper and heavier territory whilst keeping an epic style of modern “Doom-Pop” landscapes. 

You can feel influences such as Soundgarden, The Melvins and HUM lending a creative hand which still allows Holystone to still sound downright original in their own right. The DOOM & GLOOM aspect does give way to more melodic passages that gives Madison a great chance to shine on the emotionally charged vocal passages that appear from time-to-time. With some screeching guitars and levels of distorted feedback giving an uneasy feeling at times, Holystone aren’t afraid to to develop a heavier and threatening style of Space Rock and Cosmic Doom with some intense instrumental passages moving into the DRONE stratosphere.

The lyrics can be quite “POPPY” and “INDIE” based with the surrounding Post-Whatever elements transforming into a faster style of music where different psychedelic vibes transform into ethereal extended instrumental jams that will sure delight fans of the mighty MELVINS and SOUNDGARDEN.

Sometimes the album does sound like it has two different approaches with how the music is fully delivered which isn’t surprising since half of the album was recorded by Jack Endino (Tracks - 1, 2, 4, and 8) and Dave Catching (Tracks - 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9). However, this works to the album’s favour as this record keeps you on your toes as you don’t know what to expect next. Holystone has delivered an actual record that feels like the actual elements are battling against each other but in an amazing “QUIET vs LOUD” or “HEAVY vs CALM” dynamic. 

This is about the third time I’ve written a review for this album and previous versions focused on track-by-track analysis which I wasn’t fully happy with. All I can say is to go into this record and expect a journey that takes many unexpected twists and turns throughout the whole Grunge, Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal dynamic. Accepting Omega feels like a record broken down into individual chapters where the parts don’t necessarily fit the way you expect and you have to make your own conclusions. Though, the end result is a journey that’s absolutely hypnotic and superbly breathtaking to listen to with Holystone delivering classic RIFFS through every track going.

The vocals are superbly delivered throughout with Madison and Wolfe Petersen working brilliantly well together but also sometimes against each other in the most adventurous moments of the whole album. This record has a completely destructive cinematic feel which allows Holystone to be absolutely fearless with their music especially on tracks such as: The Prophecy (Jaws Of Victory), Brave Design, Procession, The Accomplice II (Father’s Funeral) and The Oracle Speaks.

Accepting Omega is an absolute joy to listen with Holystone blending those intense gloomy aesthetics to a non-stop energy of modern day Doom/Stoner Metal that ultimately dares to be completely different.

This is a record you seriously need to listen to right now. As Holystone may be primed to become one of the next breakout acts to emerge from the underground scene. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Accepting Omega is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Crumbling Ghost - Four (Album Review)

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: New Heavy Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Four - Tracklist

1.Bows Of London
2.Bill Norrie
3.Valtz Efter Tor Lohne
4.Lovely Joan
5.Gower Wassail
6.Last Of All Sleep
7.The Unquiet Grave

Lineup

John Mosley – Guitar

Donny Hopkins – Guitar

Ruth O’Loughlin – Bass

Katie Harnett – Vocals

Matthew Atkins- Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Rockers Crumbling Ghost return in spectacular fashion with their latest record Four which is obviously their fourth full length record and their first in a decade. This record has a heavier and diverse array of Doom, Stoner, Fuzz and Folk melodies that’s strengthened by the band’s great use of warped psychedelics and space rock attitude. I always feel that the band never got the recognition they truly deserve for helping to establish the modern day UK Stoner Rock sound that’s benefited so many great bands of late. 

This isn’t Crumbing Ghost playing catch up, this is the band solidifying their reputation as one of the true original bands the UK underground rock scene currently has right now. Four offers a refreshing take on that modern Stoner Rock sound with the band applying Folk, Shoegaze, Indie Rock and Pop influences amongst the aggressive Doomed Out sounds that reminds me of Electric Wizard, Windhand and Black Sabbath in equal measure. 

Check out the superb opening tracks of Bows Of London and Bill Norrie that have different musical perspectives to each other but allow Crumbling Ghost to play a distorted style of Doom Metal that harks back to the days of Electric Wizard in places. The lyrics are brilliantly whimsical and heartfelt on Bill Norrie whilst the music itself is just crushing with epic levels of distorted movements that allows that Shoegaze aspect to hit some really emotional highs for the listener to become part of the whole musical journey that the band have created here.

Each track on Four tells a different musical perspective and story where Crumbling Ghost changes into a different musical persona with freakish jazzy and post-rock beats becoming part of the musical perspective whilst still remaining an essential part of the Doom/Stoner Metal universe. The music is played beautifully throughout with Crumbling Ghost laying down some of the best sounds of their music caterer and with the amazing vocals from Katie Harnett being one of standout elements of the whole record.

The instrumental passages are constantly engaging with Crumbling Ghost giving Russian Circles a run for their money on the standout third track Valtz Efter Tor Lohne which is an intense and first class style of Instrumental Post-Rock with flashes of Cinematic themes appearing along the way. 

The second half of the record moves across areas of Folk, Psych and classic Heavy Rock whilst employing a great style of modern day surroundings which appears brilliantly on tracks such as Lovely Joan, Wassail and The Unquiet Grave. The whole record can be classed as a concept album with an emotionally wrought journey told throughout the album which allows the Folk Rock aspect to really shine but there’s more unexpected sonic and fuzzy delights waiting to be heard from Crumbling Ghost when everything is said and done. 

Four is an exquisite, soulful and beautifully made record which instantly commands your attention as Crumbling Ghost may have released their best album to date. 

Outstanding. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

Four is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via New Heavy Sounds.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Luna and the Aether - Metanoia (Album Review)

Release Date: July 31st 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Metanoia - Tracklist

1.Mirage 04:48

2.Back To Bliss 06:42

3.Magnolia 05:51

4.Haven 03:52

5.Sojourn 05:32

6.Fermenting 05:46

7.Godsend 06:50

Lineup

Vocals and Guitar - Martina Steffert-Cubillana
Bass - Evan Oijordsbakken
Drums - David van Eerden

Review

Metanoia is the debut album from Alternative/Gothic/Doom Rockers Luna and the Aether who show a whole style of cinematic world-building with this record. As this album has really strong characterizations throughout the whole thing with the band creating their own great style of DOOM & GLOOM music with a great use of Shoegaze, Stoner Rock and Post-Rock sounds being played from the very start. The band have a similar style of musical delivery by the likes of HUM, Slow Crush, Windhand and Faetooth but with a haunting Nineties based Alt Rock presence that comes mostly through the exquisite vocals of vocalist Martina Steffert-Cubillana.

Martina’s vocals have an emotionally charged aspect to them but also one full of innocence at the same time which fully sells the whole Shoegaze or Doomgaze aspect that the band ultimately achieve. The Gothic sound is quite grounded and allows Luna and the Aether to develop into heavier areas of dense music with a level of poetic imagery behind everything. The music is cautiously slow to deliver the heavy grooves but knows when to do this for maximum effect and the levels can be beautifully deafening as well. 

There is great use of classic Grunge sensibility within the deepest and heaviest themes on Metanoia which comes across quite powerful on tracks such as Mirage, Back To Bliss, Magnolia, Fermenting and Godsend though the whole record is exquisite to listen to. Luna and the Aether also deliver some great work in expanding their distorted environment on other parts of the record that gives everything so much destructive volume and when this is paired up against Martina’s soulful vocals then be prepared for this album to tug at your heart strings. 

I’m not ashamed to admit that this record really got to me which made me think of long lost family and friends that even became quite therapeutic for me which I can only thank Luna and the Aether for.  It’s perhaps the second half of the record where Luna and the Aether really come into their own by combining slightly operatic themes with a grounded Doom Rock and Post-Rock approach that should appeal to fans of Windhand and Chelsea Wolfe. The instrumental delivery can be quite “Sludge Rock” obsessive which gives another whole musical delivery for Luna and the Aether to impress listeners with.

Luna and The Aether hail from New Zealand and I’m a huge fan of their Hard Rock/Heavy Metal scene especially with the mighty BEASTWARS coming from that great country. This band offer a different style of music from the non-stop great Sludge/Stoner Metal bands that have arrived from New Zealand, though Luna and the Aether have delivered a record that has huge potential to launch them onto greater things within the global Heavy Rock scene. 

Metanoia is an absolute must have record and this may perhaps introduce you to your new favourite band.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram