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 

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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 

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The Wyldewood Green - Tales of The Wyldewood Green (Album Review)

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Tales of The Wyldewood Green - Tracklist

1.Spires

2.The Mindsplitter 03:11

3.Carnaby Nights 02:18

4.Smith & Strange

5.Souvenirs

6.Maldedo

7.Tangerine Whiskey

8.The Queenmaker

9.Rude Britannia

10.Cadoi

11.Murder In The Electric Cathedral

Lineup

Marco Scarsone: Hammond A-100, Mini Farfisa, piano, guitar, bass, tambourine, maracas and shakers

Jonathan Yang: Drums

Mike Davis: Congas and bongos

Review

Tales Of The Wyldewood Green is the debut album of Heavy Psych Instrumental Rockers The Wyldewood Green and it’s one of the freakiest, psychedelic and far-out records I’ve had the pleasure to listen to this year. This record fully explores the legendary sounds of the Sixties and Seventies Rock scene where the band play music built upon the rhythms of Surf Rock, Heavy Psych, Funk, Punk Rock, Garage Rock, Blues Rock, Classic Rock, Proto-Rock and shades of Stoner Rock.

The Wyldewood Green music is driven by a funk driven Hammond and Organ instrumental score which allows the other areas of Heavy Psych to perfectly drift into your subconscious where the mood even transforms into pure JAZZ ROCK and LIZARD LOUNGE music. Though, the real musical weapon of choice that The Wyldewood Green band explores is classic movie soundtracks. As this record has a classic hipster sound with the jazzy beats and cool intricate psychedelic melodies that wouldn’t go amiss from a Sixties Heist Movie or even a kitschy rom-com. Though, the record does show it’s more dangerous side by employing a Classic Hard Rock style inspired by the likes of The Who, Deep Purple, The Doors and The Byrds. 

With some distorted Stoner-ish guitars appearing along the way, it’s good to see The Wyldewood Green are still keen to add small snippets of modern Stoner Rock soundwaves which gives Tales Of The Wyldewood Green a heightened sense of trippy realism. The album may not be for everyone but if you’re in the mood for some great Heavy Psychedelic beats and sounds that will leave your mind feeling the effects of one of the most glorious LCD trips you’ll ever take without the need for taking that powerful hallucinogenic drug.

The songs are brilliantly written with their own highly individual identity which adds a dreamlike effect on the later stages of the record with The Wyldewood Green even deploying into calmer and soulful Post-Rock swagger. The songwriting is on another level even for an instrumental record as this album does do something different with the whole Instrumental Rock template.

Standout tracks on the album are: Spires, The Mindsplitter, Carnaby Nights, Maldedo, Tangerine Whiskey, The Queenmaker and Murder In The Electric Cathedral. These are the tracks that I found the most engaging on a personal level and which impressed how daringly heavy the record becomes despite this being quite a laid back album for the most part.

Tales Of The Wyldewood Green is an absolute revelation from start to finish with the band creating and playing sounds that shouldn’t really work so well. However, here we are with a debut album that has a great MAVERICK attitude where you can really say that The Wyldewood are true originals which their debut album proves time and time again.

Words by Steve Howe

Tales Of The Wyldewood Green is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl

Links 

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Nominal Anomaly - Swamp (Album Review)

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

Swamp - Tracklist

1.Headcold 03:08

2.BULLfrog 03:19

3.BTW 03:42

4.Crowded 03:05

5.Carnated 03:01

6.Night Sweats 04:07

7.Oblique Mass of Foundation 03:10

8.Sleepwalker 03:54

9.Soulless Shoe Sale 03:45

10.Suits 03:56

11.Therapy 03:48

12.Andone 03:16

Lineup

All music, vocals, visuals, art are done by Nominal Anomaly (NO AI)

Review

Swamp is the debut album from Punk/Grunge/Metal solo artist Nominal Anomaly who play a schizophrenic type of Heavy Rock with a distorted and frenzied underground element holding everything together. The record is most definitely a product of living through the Nineties Rock/Metal scene. The best way to describe what’s in store for you on this record is to read the recent “Introduce Yourselves” feature the band kindly contributed to.

This is quite a hard record to describe but from the Introduce Yourselves article the band state the following how to describe their music.

“The genre is difficult to pinpoint. Best I could offer is Grunge Metal, as their is some of that old 90's song structure with blues / rock influence.  Some songs blend more into Punk Metal.  I'm a conglomeration of the 90's mostly.”

The overall sound is one of pure mayhem and fucked off carnage with Nominal Anomaly inspired by the likes of PRIMUS and FAITH NO MORE as the record does go into multiple different directions. However, there’s some excellent Post-Grunge and Alt-Rock sounds along the way which reminds me of The Melvins jamming with The Pixies. The vocals are quite hardcore based with outbursts of manic punk energy which could easily be considered as the perfect soundtrack trying to escape from a mental asylum.

However, this brilliantly works with Nominal Anomaly even allowing brutal outbursts ofExtreme Metal and Grind Metal grooves to appear. One moment you’re treated to a vicious blast of Hardcore Punk spliced with Sludge, Thrash and Grind passages before the record transforms into a subtle Heavy Psychedelic and spiky Grunge Rock attitude.

Swamp does feel a bit too long at times but the sheer fun and outrageous creative momentum that’s played here on this record does have a warped sense of humour developing from the very start. The lyrics are completely off the wall and brilliantly surreal which matches the madcap energy the Nineties Metal scene used to throw at an unsuspecting audience back in the day.

The Funk Rock and Prog Metal aspects that appear on the record does become a bit overbearing in places but that won’t stop your enjoyment of this weird, wonderful and violently wacky journey that Nominal Anomaly takes you upon. You could consider an experimental record and there are moments even I don’t know what the fuck is happening but I couldn’t stop listening to this especially on tracks: Headcold, BULLfrog, Carnated, Night Sweats, Oblique Mass Of Foundation, Suits and Therapy.

These tracks are the ones I found the most enjoyment from as Nominal Anomaly does play their heart out on this release and they’re a fantastically talented individual where the music is just so bat-shit crazy and brilliantly original at the same time.

Swamp won’t appeal to everyone but if you’re a fan of the Nineties Rock/Metal scene and not adverse for this album to take you into some pretty unexpected areas of HEAVY METAL then NOMINAL ANOMALY will speak volumes to you.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

www.nominalanomaly.com
https://www.facebook.com/NominalAnomaly
Nominalanomaly.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/thenominalanomaly/
https://mastodon.social/@NominalAnomaly

Hämnd - Bortom (Album Review)

Release Date: July 17th 2026. Record Label: Superlord Recordings. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Bortom - Tracklist

1.Mörk Vind 09:13

2.Faller och Förvittrar 09:33

3.Orkan 12:14

4.Bortom 05:34

Lineup

Craig Murphy - Vocals

Marcelo Varge - Guitars

Sebastian Sparr - Bass

Jason Hodgkins - Drums

Review

Bortom is the second full length album Post-Metallers Hämnd which sometimes operates with an instrumental sound as its main creative drive. There are great vocals that appear when only they’re really needed as Hämnd demonstrate their own hard-hitting style of emotionally cruising Post-Metal sounds that mixes the technical merits of Progressive Metal with elements of Ambient based Post-Rock. The record does have an “Ice-cold” vibe that all great Post-Metal records continuously strive for where you can hear influences from the likes of NEUROSIS, PELICAN, ISIS and CULT OF LUNA.

There is an element of surprise with Hämnd as they ultimately turn off the heavy Post-Metal grooves when you least expect it and transform into a meditative style of Post-Doom and Post-Rock which you fully experience within the epic opening track of Mörk Vind. The vocals continuously hold your attention even whilst they’re sung in the band’s native tongue. Though, it’s the music that’s the main attraction here with Hämnd developing an aggressive journey of different Post-Rock and Post-Metal themes throughout the album.

Hämnd plays perfectly constructed and very lengthy instrumental passages which becomes more emotionally charged with each passing track as that thrilling Sludge Metal mentality allows Hämnd to become even more brutal with their music especially on tracks such as Faller och Förvittrar and Orkan. These tracks alone allows the band to add levels of cinematic “DOOM & GLOOM” into their music whilst once again transforming their music into that classic style of instrumental Post-Metal which does remind me of Russian Circles and Pelican at the peak of their creative powers. 

Sometimes there’s an undeniable “APOCALYPTIC” or “END OF THE WORLD” presence that’s holding everything together where Hämnd do offer brief moments of hope before returning to their highly destructive and brutal style of Post-Metal. The “HARDCORE” vocals become more demanding and quite unforgiving which makes the later stages of the album truly stand out.

The added use of clever sonic experimentation which delves into further areas of Ambient Sounds and Psychedelic textures gives Borton a vivid and destructive atmosphere which allows the listener to be emotionally involved with the whole musical journey that Hämnd has created here. To make the album even more part of the Post-Metal world, the whole thing was mastered by the legendary Magnus Lindberg (CULT OF LUNA) which is only a small winning part of why this record sounds incredible from start to finish.

Hämnd have delivered a truly exceptional record which no self-respecting Post-Metal fan should be without. This album pays homage to the legendary sounds first played by the great bands of the era whilst allowing Hämnd the perfect opportunity to create highly original Sludge/Post-Metal sounds of their own making.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Bandcamp: https://hamndband.bandcamp.com/album/bortom
Youtube full album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXFAzuekAJg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5UAYC8EJi7OZ84qIz7sxNZ?si=sqbctwX2R3mltHlCpVMe2Q
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hamndband
Instagram.com https://www.instagram.com/hamndofficial

If These Trees Could Talk - The Hidden Hand (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Metal Blade Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Hidden Hand - Tracklist

1 Archons

2 Moon Machine

3 Sea Of Glass

4 Blurry Creatures

5 Silence Between Mountains, Pt. 1

6 Silence Between Mountains, Pt. 2

7 Metanoia

8 Flim

9 Endlessly Connected

Lineup

Tom Fihe – bass guitar

Jeff Kalal – guitar

Cody Kelly – guitar

Mike Socrates – guitar

Zack Kelly – drums

Review

If These Trees Could Talk from Akron, OH, were on frequent rotation in my home with 'Red Forest' back in 2016 but then they fell off the radar. Don't know the reason why but with the exception of the single 'Trail of Whispering Giants' in 2024 the band released nothing in 10 years. Thankfully the long wait is over with the arrival of 'The Hidden Hand', and what an album it is! 

'Archons' is a short mystical yet mesmerizing opener which sets the tone perfectly for the entire album. It blends elegantly into 'Moon Machine' where the intense guitars soars above the slowish but crushing rhythm section. Drops back as vivid transcendent images are created...only to pick up again. After a beautiful delicate start 'Sea Of Glass' leads into some intense shredding only to fall back again. Eventually the band goes wide open taking it away. 'Blurry Creatures' builds up gradually turning screws tighter until a beautiful mid-section appears. Mellow and trippy it moves the song to amazing heights.

'Silence Between Mountains, Pt 1' is sparse, elegant and dreamy as it leads into 'Silence Between Mountains, Pt 2'. It follows along with Part 1 but with a hint of darker undertones. This helps to project the majestic traits of mountains. If These Trees Could Talk comes on strong with the guitars initially on 'Metanoia'. Drops back only to build up in that captivating way this band does it. 'Flim' is light, airy, positive and almost sacral in its approach and it's a highly uplifting composition at that. 'Endlessly Connected' picks up where 'Flim' left off but is even more elaborate.

Few bands can handle instrumental music the way If These Trees Could Talk do. It requires a high level of musicianship as well as compositional skills to create that style of music which reels you in and holds you captivated throughout. And this Akron quintet are masters at it as 'The Hidden Hand' is evidence of. Very good, indeed!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Links 

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Undertong - UNDERTONG (Album Review)

Release Date: June 25th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

UNDERTONG - Tracklist

1.God's Gaze 06:00

2.Black Mass 04:50

3.Lost in Neverland 06:09

4.Rosetta 05:20

5.Cosmic King 06:47

6.Under the Tongue 06:34

7.Spaceship Crashing 08:32

Lineup

Marek Holeček - Vocals

Jakub Adamčík - Guitars

Daniel Chorouš - Bass

Piettro Torchio - Drums

Review

Undertong is a Psychedelic Stoner Metal band from Prague, Czechia. They explore the heavy Psychedelic elements of the Space Rock domain as the band also deliver fine amounts of Grunge, Sludge and Doom Rock within their self-titled album. The record has massive amounts of Cosmic Doom that flirts with a modern day aspect of Psychedelic Stoner Rock with grungy soundscapes allowing Undertong to develop a heavier fuzzed out sound.

With a great fusion of Truckfighters and FU MANCHU fuzz rock grooves and some classic Soundgarden vibes appearing within the early stages of the record. Undertone are onto a real winner from the excellent opening track of God’s Gaze with the lyrics being quite grounded and slightly fantastical when the need calls for it. The vocals from Marek Holeček have their own distinctive style that moves along the lines of Stoner Rock, Hard Rock and full on DOOM within the heavier moments. They’re not overly produced either with Marek’s delivery being quite Punk Rock sounding which gives Undertong’s music a subdued creative vibe to them. 

You can hear flows of Ambient Post-Rock within the quieter moments with the sludgy guitars keeping up the appearances of that Cosmic Doom flavour which moves to different levels of AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and drowning in FUZZY REVERB on tracks such as Black Mass, Lost In Neverland, Rosetta, Cosmic King and Spaceship Crashing being the real highlights of the album. However, all the tracks are superb with their own distinctive spiced out flavour. Undertone are fully committed in delivering their own great take of this Heavy Psychedelic journey with outbursts of Stoner Metal aggression with slight detours into Post-Rock, Shoegaze and mellow Grunge soundscapes. 

The instrumental work is deeply rich in variety with areas of Prog Metal developing in the later stages of the album but still keeping of the overall mission of delivering CLASSIC SOUNDING sounds of the Nineties Heavy Rock/Metal scene whilst not afraid to add modern Stoner Rock home comforts along the way. The whole record does have a stripped back production process which allows Undertong to project their true creative selves to whoever listens to this great album.

There is some wicked SONIC creativity being used here where Undertong use levels of gloomy distortion as a weapon of choice to entice listeners with. This gives the album a proper Sludge Rock and Cosmic Doom atmosphere that reaches fever pitch within the brilliant final two tracks of Under The Tongue and Spaceship Crashing that adds a pure cinematic energy to the whole journey.

Undertong’s debut album is superb as the band deliver a thrilling Space Rock odyssey that will surprise, delight and brilliantly entertain you in equal measure. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Stay Dead - Beneath The Weight Of Worlds (Album Review)

Release Date: July 24th 2026. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Beneath The Weight Of Worlds - Tracklist

1. Empty Pages

2. White Noise (feat. Troy Sanders)

3. Electric Mistress (feat. Matt Pike)

4. Chrysalis (feat. Eryka Fir and Aiwass)

5. What Happened To Rock N' Roll

6. Fever Dog (Original cover)

Lineup

Ryan Garney – Vocals

Rusty Miller – Lead guitar

Blake Carrera – Guitars & synths

Christopher Borrelli – Bass

Kenny Shillingburg – Drums

Review

Stay Dead is the latest supergroup to emerge from the Heavy Underground scene who are made up of members from High Desert Queen, Hollow Light and Fear The Victor, However, that only tells half the story with guest appearances from legends such as Matt Pike and Troy Sanders. You also have appearances from Eryka Fir (Coma Hole) and AIWASS along for the ride. Stay Dead’s debut album Beneath The Weight Of Worlds is quite a complex, brooding, philosophical and emotionally charged statement of the human condition.

The record blends levels of Doom, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Prog Metal and Psychedelic elements with some detours into areas of Post-Rock, Thrash, Space Rock and Groove. This is a very multi-layered record from the very start with influences ranging from Mastodon, High On Fire, ELDER and NEUROSIS with also the band’s members ever present musical projects. Lead vocalist Ryan Garney seems to be everywhere these days and that’s a good thing where he can shine a light to his incredible vocals once more. 

Ryan leaves the musical heavy lifting to his colleagues and famous friends where they all brilliantly succeed in laying down pummelling grooves that will give your body a tough physical challenge whilst rewarding your mental wellbeing when everything is said and done. The whole record relies on hard-hitting lyrics and intense vocals which come alive through tracks such as Empty Pages, White Noises, Electric Mistress and Chrysalis. 

Beneath The Weight Of Worlds does have a grimy and sludgy exterior where the Post-Doom and Post-Stoner thematics work amazingly well with the intense gloomy melodic moments. The most hard-hitting track has to be the excellent second track White Noise which really does touch upon some tough themes which gives Stay Dead a more vindictive appearance than you initially realise until you hear the actual song which leaves you on a more hopeful message.

The flashes of Post-Whatever and Psychedelic melodies is a great way for Stay Dead to introduce a natural way of creative storytelling with the guest appearances of their friends to find common ground to play great music with. The majority of the album is emotionally wrought with complex grooves allowing Stay Dead to align themselves more closely to the likes of Pallbearer and YOB but with a distinctive Hard Rock quality keeping everything grounded.

However, I will say my favourite aspect or track of the album is Stay Dead’s insane and gloriously entertaining cover of the classic track Fever Dog. Fever Dog is from the classic movie Almost Famous. A classic movie directed by Cameron Crowe which was inspired by his early days in the Seventies working for Rolling Stone Magazine and being shown the seedier side of the Heavy Rock scene from the legendary bands of the day. If you haven’t seen the movie then I implore you to watch it now. Watch both versions, the theatrical cut and the even better director’s cut.

Within that movie, there’s a fictional band called Stillwater whose “famous” track “Fever Dog” is played throughout the movie. That song was written by Nancy Wilson of the band Heart and film director Cameron Crowe. This track is pure Seventies HARD ROCK excess but Stay Dead give this a slamming modern day Sludge Rock/Stoner Rock makeover which stays true to the original. (Apologies for the slight historical lesson there. Almost Famous is one of my all-time favourite movies).

Beneath The Weight Of Worlds is how a “supergroup” should deliver their debut album with its fearless attitude and non-stop supply of impactful grooves from start to finish. The legendary record label Ripple Music is releasing this album so you know this is going to sound great. As Ripple Music never put out a bad record within their entire lifetime. 

As we say sometimes in the United Kingdom, Beneath The Weight Of Worlds is the “MUTTS NUTS” or “DOGS BOLLOCKS”  which means outstanding, top-quality, or one of the absolute best things out there. Well, you get the picture!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Beneath The Weight Of Worlds is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music. 

Links

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Heavy On The Ride - Heavy On The Ride (Album Review)

Release Date: July 24th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

Heavy On The Ride - Tracklist

On Deaf Ears

Red Walls

Somewhere In Between

Chef’s Kiss

Cheshire Cat Grin

Interludes

Almost Alive

Sunseeker

I Owe You Nothing

Catharsis

Album personnel

Jordan Huxtable - Guitars / Vocals

Michael Bale - Bass / Vocals

Jason Young - Drums

Heavy on the Ride current line up

Jordan Huxtable - Guitar / Vocals

Michael Bale - Bass / Vocals

Sam Wood - Drums

Ryan Williams - Guitar

Review

I still find it hard to believe that Heavy On The Ride have been going as a band since 2009 and they’re just getting round to releasing their self-titled debut album. The band have released various releases over the years and have shared the bill and stages with the likes Mondo Generator, B’Last, Avon, Alain Johannes, Star & Dagger, Hippie Death Cult, Black Moth, Green Lung, Sky Valley Mistress, Goat Major and more.

Their debut album is a mixture of classic grooves and super tight anthems inspired by the likes of Melvins, Baroness, Mastodon, BORIS, Torche, The Sword, Monster Magnet and QOTSA. That doesn’t tell half the story as Heavy On The Ride deliver a deliciously daring POP sound behind the scenes with melodic vocals and super-tight DOOM-POP melodies which have a certain Space Rock element to them. However, Heavy On The Ride aren’t afraid to explore some classic Alt Rock and mainstream elements whilst keeping close to a vibrant Sludge Rock attitude.

This is Sludge Rock and Stoner Metal with a danceable energy to it which comes on from the very start with sublime riff structures and some kick-ass Indie Rock sounds. The band always feel like they’re always one step ahead of the competition with the sudden appearance of Stadium Rock movements throughout the album but it’s when the pure metallic energy fully takes centre stage with a sudden influx of Space Rock soundscapes that makes this such a great album to fully explore.

With classic influences from the likes of TORCHE and QOTSA giving Heavy On The Ride a hip and happening sound of their own making. The songs vary in different styles of Sludgy Aggression with freaky amounts of Psychedelic flavours on different sections of the album. Songs such as On Deaf Ears, Red Walls, Somewhere In Between and Cheshire Cat Grin are the standout tracks within the first half of the record that allows Heavy On The Ride to set the whole scene on where the action packed second half that contains the best songs, sounds and experiences on the whole album.

As that’s where the band really find their creative rhythm where they deliver the heaviest and spaced out songs that actually become quite progressive on the likes of Interludes, Sunseeker, I Owe You Nothing and the amazing final track Catharsis that offers a sludgy instrumental of the highest order.

Heavy On The Ride can be quite experimental with perhaps that heavy MELVINS of areas of overlapping distortion and massive slabs of sludge rock hysteria allowing the vocals becoming quite freakish along the way. The sound can be quite abstract and zoned out but in the best possible way. Thanks to the great work by Joe Garcia and Jordan Huxtable on recording duties, Dave Tidmarsh on mixing duties and the legendary Brad Boatright on mastering duties. This is a powerful combination of gritty underground attitude which propels Heavy On The Ride’s debut album as one of the strongest and brilliantly entertaining debut albums I’ve had the pleasure to listen to this year.

Heavy On The Ride have delivered a record with massive potential that should only enhance their musical reputation onto bigger and better things.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram