Sea Bastard - Cyclopan (Album Review)

Release Date: October 30th 2026. Record Label: Road to Masochist Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Cyclopean - Tracklist 

1.Dark Altar 22:24

2.Entombed with the Pharoah 12:14

3.Prophet of the People 16:13

4.Nameless Purgatory 24:46

Members

George Leaver - Drums

Steve Patton - Bass

Oliver Irongiant - Guitar

Ian "Monty" Montgomery - Vocals

Review

Doom/Sludge Metallers Sea Bastard release their first album in thirteen years with Cyclopean which runs for a massive seventy two minutes across four lengthy tracks. This album feels more like an endurance exercise with Sea Bastard playing many different levels of Drone, Doom, Sludge, Psych, Noise, Black Metal and Post-Metal based grooves throughout. There is a bleak, down-tuned and filth ridden experience that manages to be quite a different sounding SEA BASTARD compared to their early records. 

The band initially went on hiatus back in 2016 but returned to active duty in 2021 but it’s taken five years to get a new album from the guys but it’s most definitely been worth the weight. There’s a deeper Blackened Doom approach within this album with a decaying sense of morality being heard within the twisted vocals of Ian “Monty” Montgomery. The lyrics are violently real that’s brutally offset against a harsh Drone/Noise atmosphere that allows the music to be played at an aggressive fast-paced though the music is cautiously slow to begin with. 

Opening track Dark Altar is a frenzied musical attack on the senses with Sea Bastard exploring a new found style of Distorted Drone and Experimental Noise Metal which can be quite challenging to hear. Though, there’s also a great sense of twisted melody that emerges within the later stages of the song as the band finally find their “groove” which sees different styles of COSMIC energy to emerge from the distorted FUZZED out surroundings.

Second track Entombed with the Pharoah is another slice of Extreme Metal that’s been down-tuned to pure Doom/Sludge Metal perfection with Ian’s twisted vocals once again allowing the listener to fully become part of Sea Bastard’s dark world. The music is brutally soulful with a fucked up Industrial and Grind sound that becomes quite riff-centric even when the music once again become pure nightmare quality of the highest order. The despairing grooves are superbly played and quite long with sonic soundscapes having a demonic energy to them. 

The rest of the band (George Leaver - Drums, Steve Patton - Bass and Oliver Irongiant - Guitar) deserve credit for creating such a true apocalyptic sandbox that sees many different styles of Extreme Metal and Heavy Metal emerge that is always thought provoking and quite violent until the very end.

The final two tracks of Prophet Of The People and Nameless Purgatory explore the huge Lovecraft influence that I feel resides within the lyrics with the music once again never settling down for a standard style of Doom/Sludge Metal. Everything is always constantly changing with Sea Bastard revisiting sounds they’ve created on their earlier albums especially within the standout third track Prophet Of The People.

The second half of the album is perhaps more riff heavy but it’s still quite Drone obsessive with Ian’s vocals impressing yet again. The sudden influx of distorted themes and violent apocalyptic melodies is perhaps too violent for the casual music fan but it will be absolute heaven for Sea Bastard’s established fanbase and perhaps within the wider Extreme Metal community.

The end result is quite nihilistic which Sea Bastard offer no apologies for and nor should they. As Cyclopean is a masterful album with Sea Bastard releasing their best record and most uncompromising vision to date. 

Don’t say that I didn’t warn you!!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Cyclopean is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Road To Masochist

Links

LinkTree | BandCamp

Dread Witch - CULT (Album Review)

Release Date: October 31st 2026. Record Label: Various. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

CULT - Tracklist 

1.Born Again 01:53

2.Cult 04:56

3.The Summoning 05:39

4.Cyclops 02:21

5.Altar 06:44

6.Marrow 04:20

7.Vesexuff 02:18

8.Omen of Oblivion 08:18

Members

Mikael Rise - vocals and rhythm guitar

Dennis Larsen - drums

Jesper Kragh - lead and rhythm guitars

Leifur Nielsen - bass and backing vocals

Andreas Cadaver - rhythm and lead guitars

Review

Doom/Sludge Metallers Dread Witch return with their second album CULT which builds upon the foundations created within their celebrated 2023 debut album Tower Of The Severed Serpent. That record allowed Dread Witch to include a heavy style of extreme metal such as Death Metal and Thrash Metal into the mix whilst keeping a gloomy Occult Metal element into the overall sound. 

CULT is perhaps more heavier and violent compared to their debut album with Dread Witch fully selling their fucked up OCCULT METAL imagery to the underground masses. The record is super DOOM METAL obsessive which makes it the perfect album to listen to within the upcoming gloomy winter months. Dread Witch develops a thrilling backdrop of COSMIC soundscapes and stripped back psychedelic passages that remind me of YOB and UFOMAMMUT. 

The record lasts around thirty six minutes across eight tracks with the right amount of ferocious delivery being played within each of the tracks that sees Dread Witch perfectly balance the EXTREME and NON-EXTREME metallic parts of the whole record. The album can be quite down-tuned and violently intense at the best of times with the harsh vocals and guttural screams adding an uneasy atmosphere into the whole experience.

The music is a mixture of slow-to-mid paced grooves, fast-paced Thrash Metal beats and multiple breakdowns which adds an almost CRUST PUNK/METAL flow to the album. There are some great Prog Metal sounds and themes appearing out of nowhere that never feels out of place even when DREAD WITCH return to their Occult Metal roots. 

Dread Witch have three members playing guitars and that’s what gives CULT such a great mix of highly atmospheric Doom/Sludge Metal sounds that always feel grounded and completely over the top which sees the album become quite cinematic on tracks such as Cult, The Summoning, Altar, Marrow and Omen Of Oblivion. It’s within these tracks you begin to experience Dread Witch delivering their most intense rhythms and musical passages on the whole album with an unstoppable Punk Rock attitude forming. 

Dread Witch’s debut album feels quite pale in comparison when compared to CULT. This record is more fully fleshed out with stunning COSMIC musical passages allowing the band to explore musical themes and ideas that were only hinted briefly on their debut record. I’m still a huge fan of Tower Of The Severed Serpent but CULT is a different beast altogether where nothing feels off limits and DREAD WITCH are finally showing the world their true selves. 

The production contained and explored within CULT is simply masterful with massive amounts of VOLUME being played from every corner possible. The song can be quite nuanced even within the heavier moments which allows Dread Witch to play to their absolute strengths from start to finish.

CULT is an absolute marvel of an album and should be considered one of the year’s best EXTREME records you’ll hear this year.

Words by Steve Howe

"CULT" is available to buy now on LP via DHU Records, CD via Bottomless Pit and digital via Gateway Music.

Links

LinkTree | BandCamp

SARAKSH - Abiram (Album Review)

Release Date: November 20th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD/Vinyl

Scream Into The Camera - Tracklist 

01. Scavenger

02. Confinement: Carving Me

03. Confinement: Circles

04. Confinement: Bottom Deep

05. They Come At Night

06. Forlorn

07. Mire

08. Designation

Members

Severin Mäker - Guitar, Keys, Programming, Vocals, Production (Editing, Mixing, Mastering)

Christian Busch - Guitar

Max Hönig - Drums

Review

Sludge Metallers SARAKSH debut album Abiram brings a highly volatile mix of Doom, Prog Metal, Post-Metal, Psych Metal and Tech Metal endeavors throughout. The record is quite forward thinking with SARAKSH employing different levels of EXTREME METAL within the familiar sounding Progressive Sludge Metal structures with some aggressive Death Metal and Crust Punk themes being played from the very start.

Opening track Scavenger allows SARAKSH to lay down the creative foundations of the whole album with an aggressive and violent attitude that draws upon the likes of CONVERGE, MASTODON, GOJIRA and even CHAT PILE with the band moving into different areas of the music. The vocals are quite challenging to listen to and fully appreciate with them moving between areas of clean vocals, harsh growls and death metal screams but at least everything is quite easy to understand. 

The record does transform into different styles of modern day melodies with a frantic Post-Metal and Prog Metal attitude with some of the lyrical themes, musical complexities and vocal arrangements reminding me of Devin Townsend and Mike Patton which is no bad thing. However, SARAKSH keep themselves mostly contained within the Progressive Sludge Metal environment whilst experimenting with the wider Extreme Metal scene that both play so brilliantly alongside each other within the epic three part track opus: Confinement: Carving Me, Confinement: Circles and Confinement: Bottom Deep. 

SARAKSH added some fantastic video game soundtrack mechanics into the mix of this album which does give Abiram a slightly fantastical quality which it fully earns by being quite outlandish, real and superbly grounded at the same time. There is a fearless Operatic and Prog Rock delivery that appears along the way that never feels forced with SARAKSH delivering intense fast-paced grooves that move across the whole Sludge Metal, Death Metal and Thrash Metal spectrum.

The later stages of the record take a more reflective attitude whilst keeping with its deeply methodical and experimental sound on tracks such as: They Came At Night, Forlorn and Mire. The dominant synths and keyboards are always a welcome addition and distraction as it moves the record to a heavier and clearer Psychedelic sound which is where my most favourite parts of the album appear.

Abiram is a surreal and nightmarish take on the modern Progressive Sludge Metal sound that dares to be different. There are too many great cinematic instrumental passages to mention but SARAKSH proves time and time again what  a highly original band they truly are. This may take you a few listens to fully understand what the fuck is actually going on but it’s an album worth investing your time in as the rewards are HUGE. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to All Noir PR for the promo.

Abiram will be available to buy Digitally and Vinyl soon.

Links

https://linktr.ee/saraksh
https://www.instagram.com/saraksh_band/
https://www.facebook.com/SarakshBand
https://saraksh.bandcamp.com

Laser Dracul - Hin Håle Blues (Album Review)

Release Date: October 30th 2026. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Hin Håle Blues - Tracklist 

1.Our King is Forever

2.Bringer of Light

3.Walking the Left Hand Path 

4.The End of Time

5.Hornæus

6.Come to me Witches 

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Laser Dracul return after a six year absence with their second album Hin Håle Blues which sees the band offer a heavier, darker and menacing sound compared to their acclaimed 2020 debut album. The band have aligned themselves more closely to the likes of Electric Wizard with their bleakly distorted vision having a classic OCCULT DOOM METAL energy appearing within the lyrics and music written for the album.

Hin Håle Blues means “The Devil’s Blues” in English, well according to GOOGLE but I’m happy to be corrected on that score. Laser Dracul employs a seedy Seventies Metal delivery within the early stages of the record that branches out into areas of Fuzz, Psych Rock and Stoner Metal with a record that never feels OLD or completely out of fashion. The songs are wonderfully constructed with Laser Dracul adding some classic OCCULT and HALLOWEEN themes into their music with a grizzled sludgy atmosphere allowing the music to perhaps be more modern within tracks Our King Is Forever and Bringer Of Light. 

The pounding rhythm section has that classic SABBATHIAN energy that emits a ton of amplified distortion that lurks silently in the background before aiming for a complete control within the heaviest sounds of the album. Laser Dracul never play over the top, flashy or progressive grooves as they fully commit themselves into developing a great style of vintage Doom/Stoner Metal with superb modern psychedelic touches adding a real sense of urgency to everything. 

The lyrics are superbly rooted within the Doom Metal and Occult folklore but offer a grounded take that allows Laser Dracul to deliver some violent harsh growls on certain stages of the record. The majority of the vocals are clean based but be prepared for a certain Blackened Doom approach to develop. 

The main bulk of the music is powered through a gloomy mix of distorted sounds and down-tuned instrumental passages that can be quite isolated and solitary on tracks such as Bringer Of Light, Walking The Left Hand Path and Hornæus being my favourite tracks on the album. The level of Blues Rock/Metal is another highlight of Hin Håle Blues with the whole musical atmosphere dripping in menacing Blues Rock that allows the SLOW-TO-MID played music develop naturally but still with a menacing presence.

The sound can be quite deafening at times which surprised me greatly as Laser Dracul aren’t afraid to play some violently LOUD rhythms, melodies and occult soundscapes that left me turning the volume down on my designated player at times. I mean that as a compliment and not showing my advancing years of reviewing music.

Hin Håle Blues is a delightfully sinister record with Laser Dracul firing on all cylinders throughout and perhaps releasing one of the best Occult Doom Metal albums I’ve heard this year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Hin Håle Blues is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Palegazer - White Mourning (Album Review)

Release Date: October 30th 2026. Record Label: Octopus Rising. Format: CD/DD

White Mourning - Tracklist 

Imminence - 5:52

Searing Light - 6:52

As What Remains Drifts - 6:12

Ancient Twin - 5:39

White Mourning - 14:07

Members

Francisco Malojo - Guitar and Vocals

Nuno Silva - Drums

Gil Pereira - Bass

Review

White Mourning is the debut album from Atmospheric Sludge Metallers Palegazer and is a crushing mix of Doom, Post-metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal and Ambient Metal for a record that’s viciously dark and emotionally engaging at the same time. The record has different styles of vocals leading the complex narrative with harsh growls that are quite easy to understand and the gloomy ambient themes allows the album to grow naturally. 

There’s a great build of LIGHT vs DARK elements throughout the album with some vibrant strands of Post-Rock that branch out into heavier forces of Post-Metal and Blackened Doom which you experience throughout the stunning opening tracks of Imminence and Searing Light. Palegazer are clearly influenced by the big hitters of the modern day Post-Metal scene but you can hear other great artists such as CONAN, Mastodon and Deafheaven. 

The level of Progressive Metal attitude is what fully sells Palegazer’s music as this allows their music to drift into different areas of music such as Heavy Psych and Cosmic Doom with great lyrics being written to accompany the music. Palegazer have a fine ear for detail where they blend harsh soundscapes against a calmer backdrop of Ambient Post-Rock before returning to that heavy Atmospheric Sludge Metal world they fully build their music upon. 

The songs are superbly technical and highly inventive with Palegazer adding a real emotional core to their music whilst adding some unexpected musical beatdowns and breakdowns on tracks such as Searing Light, As What Remains Drifts and the epic final track White Mourning that runs for fourteen minutes. The production values are handled superbly well with Palegazer demonstrating a fast-paced delivery within their music. Sometimes the band switches things up for a heavier and calmer vibe but it’s still within the rules of modern day Post-Metal. 

White Mourning is a superbly entertaining record that’s emotionally rewarding at the time which is sometimes quite hard to achieve for a debut album such as this. However, Palegazer have delivered a record that demands your undivided attention and offers a great musical experience every time you listen to the album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

White Mourning is available to buy now on CD/DD via Octopus Rising.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Forest Horse - Botany (Album Review)

Release Date: October 28th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Botany - Tracklist 

A Stirring

Spore Lord

Elixir

The Fallen Limb

Ploughman’s Prayer

Ritual Reckoning

Unspeakable

First Light

Review

Botany is the second full length album by Forest Horse who specialise in a fuzzed up style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal with some scorched earth Desert Rock soundscapes being added into the mix. The record is an interesting take on the standard Sludge/Stoner Metal sound with this project inspired by the likes of SLEEP, KYUSS, Electric Wizard and Truckfighters. The music itself is played at a cool mid pace that allows the amplified heaviness to aim for a commanding performance throughout.

The vocals are mostly clean based but they’re some vicious growls along the way which gives Botany an unexpected area of GLOOM & DOOM to appear. The album is quite riff-centric that branches out into areas of Americana, Psych Rock and Post-Metal on different stages of the album. Forest Horse even applies to some Droned Out surroundings that reminds me of SLEEP before the album takes a darker and vicious turn. 

The later stages of Botany sees Forest Horse create Post-Rock elements that allows the layers of Droned Out Doom to bring a more apocalyptic sound to the whole album. The use of soundclips and certain trippy effects gives Botany a more primal and destructive feeling that really sells that down-tuned level of heaviness to a wider cinematic scope on tracks such as: Spore Lord, Elixir, The Fallen Limb, Ritual Reckoning and First Light. 

There are certain sections that may play it safe against the classic template and folklore of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal but Forest Horse won’t be the first band to apply that creative logic into their music. However, it’s the band’s clever use of violent vocals and intense lyrics that makes the album really standout especially when the FUZZED OUT atmospherics results with some epic instrumental solos appearing out of nowhere and leaving you in a hypnotic trance.

This is an album that relies on BRAINS and BRAWN in equal measure which becomes one of Forest Horse’s greatest strengths to help deliver a record that’s superbly produced and brilliantly put together from start to finish. The WEEDIAN effect on Botany is quite grounded but don’t be surprised when the album does go for that classic “OVER THE TOP” feeling that will definitely appeal to fans of BONGZILLA and WEEDEATER.

Botany is a superb album and one that can easily become a cult favourite within the underground scene. I’m excited to see what comes next from Forest Horse as Botany is a dark, delicious and twisted journey worth taking over and over again.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

https://foresthorse.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/foresthorsemusic

Godzilla In The Kitchen - Termination Sequence (Album Review)

Release Date: October 23rd 2026. Record Label: Tonzonen Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Termination Sequence - Tracklist

1.Nothing For None 04:15

2.Humility 04:54

3.Birdsong 04:59

4.Empty Cribs 05:45

5.Everyday People 05:26

6.No Sign Of Life 03:57.

7.Wonder 06:04

8.Termination Sequence 06:12

Members

Simon Ulm (vocals, bass)

Eric Patzschke (guitar)

Thiago Presto (drums)

Review

Termination Sequence is the latest album from Godzilla In The Kitchen where the band have transformed from an Instrumental Post-Rock/Stoner Rock outfit into a fully fledged destructive Post-Metal unit. This is the band’s most complex, daring and aggressive work to date but there are still moments of Post-Rock and Stoner Rock melodies that appear from time-to-time. Godzilla In The Kitchen even experimented with areas of Post-Punk, Prog Metal, Sludge Rock and Electronic themes for a record that always manages to be quite forward thinking and slightly unconventional throughout.

You can feel influences from the likes of Neurosis, ISIS, TOOL and PELICAN within the heavier moments with the band applying an epic QUIET vs LOUD dynamic for the majority of the tracks. Though, it’s always good to hear Godzilla In The Kitchen touching upon sounds they delivered in their previous albums for Termination Sequence more quieter aspects. 

Another thing that has changed is the band have added vocals for the first time with Simon Ulm taking on the mantle of lead vocalist and it’s a role he absolutely relishes with a commanding performance. There’s a certain Alternative Metal and Post-Metal delivery to Simon’s vocals that allow him to include a sullen Eighties Pop/Rock attitude along the way. 

However, this album is mostly about bringing some troublesome modern day socially aware problems into the mix with Godzilla In The Kitchen never offering any answers either. That’s left upto the listener to fully decide what’s being said and that’s one of the great strengths for this album. As it treats the listener with respect and intelligence to allow them to make up their own mind about what's truly going on in the world.

Sometimes the songs don’t flow naturally as they should the first time you listen to this especially on tracks Nothing For None, Humility and Bird Song which opens up the whole album. However, after a few listens you begin to fully understand everything a bit more within the complex melodies that the band have applied here. The music shifts constantly from different musical tones and intense progressive melodies where the band feel perhaps too closely inspired by the likes of TOOL and DEFTONES.

However, Godzilla In The Kitchen deserves credit for trying something different for their third album which for the most part is an exciting and action packed record that is beautifully dark and expertly aggressive in the best possible moments. The sudden transformation into different musical genres will leave you on the edge of your seat on tracks such as Birdsong, Empty Cribs, Wonder and Termination Sequence. 

Termination Sequence is superbly produced with Godzilla In The Kitchen undergoing a major musical transformation which should serve the band well in the long term. It may take their established fanbase sometime to fully appreciate their heavier sound and musical direction but it’s a risk that’s worth taking as Godzilla in The Kitchen have become a better band because of this superbly bleak album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Godzilla In The Kitchen, Sheltered LIfe PR and Broken Music for the promo.

Termination Sequence is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Tonzonen Records.

Links

https://www.godzillainthekitchen.de
https://linktr.ee/godzillainthekitchen

Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol - Ca$h Grab (Album Review)

Release Date: October 23rd 2026. Record Label: Permanent Teeth. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Ca$h Grab - Tracklist

1.Freakshow 03:22

2.I Doubt It 02:07

3.Peaches 02:14

4.Fate Is 02:33

5.Punisher 02:30

6.Follow Through 03:11

7.Bury Me in Denver 02:24

8.Ca$h Grab 02:46

9.The Disappearing Man 02:16

10.No Juice 02:33

11.Bough Down 02:15

12.Talking To You 02:03

13.Couple Skate 01:59

14.Lush 02:13

Members

Vocals, 8-string guitar: Leo Lydon

Bass, vocals: Aaron Metzdorf

Drums: Sean St. Germain

Review

One of the most originally named bands within the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene who don’t have the name BONG, WIZARD, WITCH or WEED in their name return with their explosive new album Ca$h Grab. I’m talking about Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol who have released their most explosive and personal record to date. This is the band’s fourth album and they have a more serious tone to their music compared to previous albums. However, they still have a great sense of demented fun on this record which is offset against a more progressive, commercial and melodic sound.

The previous records of Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol were inspired by the likes of The Melvins, Primus, Dinosaur Jr and even Pantera. This record has a kooky poppy attitude that reminds me of the WEEER and The Smashing Pumpkins being added to great effect which comes across superbly well within the opening tracks of Freakshow, J Doubt It and Peaches. There’s a manic schizophrenic musical energy being demonstrated which allows the creative glue of the Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves expand into areas of Heavy Psych, Punk, Grunge, Doom and Alt Metal.

The majority of the tracks last around two to three minutes in length but Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol manage to convey a lot of different musical energy within these tracks as the music can be quite disjointed and superbly distorted. The excellent rhythm section of Aaron Metzdorf (Bass) and Sean St. Germain (Drums) form a winning combination where the heaviest sounds appear that allows the massive 8 String Guitar work by Leo Lydon to add a layer of down-tuned heaviness to the party.

There’s a manic DOOM-POP energy that reminds me of TORCHE in certain stages but with a darker fucked-up perspective appearing within the lyrics on tracks such as Fate Is, Punisher, Follow Through, Ca$h Grab, The Disappearing Man and Talking To You being my favourite tracks on the album.

Ca$h Grab is bound to be the album that allows Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol to finally gain some real recognition within the Heavy Rock scene as it’s their most accomplished record to date with some intense and first rate production values allowing the band to achieve this mission. I adore the many big risks that the band have taken with this album as it’s quite different to what has come before it but still retains the great sound the guys are known for.

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol flirts with classic Nineties based Grunge, Alt-Metal and Stoner Metal heaviness whilst still applying that great modern Psychedelic sound that can be quite quirky and off-beat the best of times. This gives Ca$h Grab a wonderfully subversive quality for a record that’s packed full of great sounds that will leave you with a huge smile on your face.

My final thoughts is that Ca$h Grab is brilliantly inventive and showcases why Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol could become your next favourite band to really give a damn about!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to US/THEM PR Group for the promo.

Ca$h Grab is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Permanent Teeth.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram