INSOMNIAC - Om Moksha Ritam (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Om Moksha Ritam - Tracklisting

1. Meditation

2. Mountain

3. Snow and Ice

4. Forest

5. Sea

6. Desert

7. Awakening

Members

Alex Avedissian - Guitar

Van Bassman - Vocals

Juan Garcia - Bass

Mike Morris - Guitar, Vocals

Amos Rifkin - Percussion, Vocals

Review

Om Moksha Ritam is the debut album from Post-Doom/Psych/Ambient/Stoner Metal Collective INSOMNIAC who are made up of members of Zoroaster, Deceased and Avedissian Pickups. The record lies heavily into the actual band name with INSOMNIAC or lack of sleeping being the main creative theme for the album or from the actual words of the band themselves:

“You’ve got it all wrong. The Insomniac isn’t unable to sleep, the Insomniac chooses to evade sleep. We all fall down at some point, but between the waking world and our dreams exists the surreal." 

This record is a journey into the meditative or transcendental side of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal with flashes of Americana, Shoegaze, Sludge and Prog Rock with INSOMNIAC blazing a creative path of their own making. 

Take the opening song of Meditation where the band feel like their channelling the likes of LOU REED, KING BUFFALO, PELICAN, KYUSS and YAWNING MAN with a backdrop of scorched Desert Rock sounds that has gone through a NUCLEAR DESTRUCTIVE makeover with sludgy guitars keeping the grounded reality from escaping the musical masses. The vocals from Van Bassman are simply trippy with a Prophet like quality to them telling folks about the end of the world whilst keeping with a pure Psych Stoner Rock energy.

Second song Mountain sees INSOMNIAC awaken slightly for a heavier an straight forward style of Doom/Stoner Rock which has a slight KYUSS / FU MANCHU drive appearing before the riff-centric energy of early-era QOTSA before the murky Post-Doom heaviness of the excellent guitars from Alex Avedissian and Mike Morris keep the mood slightly aggressive but supremely melodic.

The surroundings of Post-Post and Meditative Metal soon appear with intense melodic guitars and stunning work from INSOMNIAC’s epic rhythm section of Amos Rifkin (Drums) and Juan Garcia (Bass) sees the record move into modern day Prog Sludge territory. The whole song becomes quite thrilling and therapeutic within the final stages reminding of ZOROASTER, BARONESS and MASTODON in equal measure but it’s INSOMNIAC’s willingness to keep themselves within the Psychedelic realms that makes this song a breath of fresh air.

Third track Snow And Ice is a lengthy ten minute opus with INSOMNIAC drawing upon Post-Rock themes, ideas and ice-cold melodies for a song that has a chameleon like effect with the Post-Punk and Gothic Rock tendencies that may take some listeners time to fully get used to.

However, the great use of Psychedelic loops and gloomy feedback loops allows the band to create a haunting and challenging slice of gloomy Americana and Post-Doom heaviness. The vocals are quite unique with a SHAMANIC sound emitting from the speakers. Everything becomes a soothing journey of complex melodies and surreal instrumental and dreamlike soundscapes building up for one intense journey into the unknown.

Fourth song Forest is an Alternative/Shoegaze number with the band changing musical direction yet again but it’s quite a soulful and gloomy offbeat number with the dark undercurrent of the lyrics putting this album into more of the theatre of Sludge Metal. Heavy screeching guitars allows INSOMNIAC to generate some of the most heaviest and aggressive sounds on the album right here. The vocals are sung and placed at the right pitch with them being one of the highlights of the whole record.

The final section of the record allows INSOMNIAC to push back the creative envelope and reinvent themselves once again with a resonating THE VELVET UNDERGROUND influence appearing within tracks Sea, Desert and Awakening whilst exploring heavier musical boundaries with long drawn out instrumental passages and reflective lyrics having quite a profound positive impact.

Well, personally speaking for me especially on Sea and Awakening. I found this style of music beautifully therapeutic and even quite rebellious which is a hard thing to pull for a band’s debut album but INSOMNIAC pull this off with great vision and awareness that makes Om Moksha Ritam one of the most breathtaking and brilliantly surreal pieces of music I’ve heard in a very long time.

Om Moksha Ritam is a record you don’t come across that often and INSOMNIAC deserve credit for delivering a highly unusual but superbly original record to the underground masses.

This record is a loving and fitting tribute to Mike Morris (Guitar/Vocals) who sadly passed away earlier this year. Condolences to Mike's family and friends at this sad time.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Om Moksha Ritam is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings.

INSOMNIAC links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

Carrion Sky - As Our Hearts Devour Us (Album Review)

Release Date: August 01st 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

As Our Hearts Devour Us - Tracklisting

1.The distance within 08:22

2.I seek protectrion 07:05

3.Watch me drown 08:37

4.Dredge the wound 09:48

5.Lost among ourselves 08:37

Members

Marcin Skarzyński - Bass/Synth/Vox

Paweł Zmarlak - Drums/Synth

Dave Killoran - Guitars

Review

As Our Hearts Devour Us is the debut full length album Carrion Sky which is a musical project featuring ex-members from MAJOR KONG and BLACK TUNDRA. This project is dominated by a harsh Post-Metal landscape with Progressive, Ambient and Drone landscapes holding everything together. Carrion Sky rely quite heavily on dramatic synths which gives the record quite an eerie feeling when the band aren’t playing destructive Post-Metal grooves. 

The record is quite soulful with Carrion Sky inspired by the likes Of Pelican, NEUROSIS, ISIS and SUMAC but with a resonating Shoegaze and Alt Metal energy that also has a Cinematic feeling especially on the excellent second track of I Seek Protection Though, the opening track The Distance Within feels like it’s from a different band with Carrion Sky playing a brutal tour-de-force style of Atmospheric Sludge Metal fuelled by destructive harsh vocals from Marcin Skarzyński that brings a nightmarish approach to this part of the album.

Though, for the most part Carrion Sky pushes their way through an avalanche of different Post-Metal themes and haunting Ambient Drone melodies becoming the main way for the band to dictate their music to. The record is dramatically bleak and opaque with the sullen instrumental passages having a gloomy Experimental quality to them with twinges of Industrial Metal and Electronica emerging. 

Third song Watch Me Drown returns to the Post-Metal vortex of the opening track with Carrion Sky injecting moments of long drawn out Post-Doom and Drone Metal effects. There’s a level of despair being played within the music here which has echoes of Neurosis and Cult Of Luna at times. The sound does become Post-Black Metal at times but it’s a thrilling experience to actually listen to.

Carrion Sky continues to experiment with the themes of Ambient Metal, Drone and Post-Metal for the final two tracks Dredge The Wound and Lost Among Ourselves with a deeply fascinating experimental vibe being displayed throughout both tracks. The vocals are intense yet again but it’s the epic music of Marcin, Pawel and Dave that impresses the most. The guys have really done their homework here by studying the complexities and history of the Post-Metal scene to deliver a record that showcases the best parts of the entire scene and still leave room to put their own highly authoritative stamp along the way.

As Our Hearts Devour Us is a stunning record with Carrion Sky showcasing a more primal and brutal sound to emerge from the highly influential Polish underground scene. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Bloodwood - Dark Simulator (Album Review)

Release Date: June 13th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Dark Simulator - Tracklisting

1.Empty Cities 06:43

2.Atomise 02:15

3.The Docks 05:08

4.Phantoms 06:09

5.Airburst 05:24

6.You Won't Hear It When It Happens 04:29

7.From The Inside 04:39

8.Ruliad 05:16

Review

Dark Simulator is the debut album from Aussie Ambient Metallers Bloodwood who express a highly melodic style of Prog Metal with Psychedelic visions that also includes moments of Grunge, Doom, Sludge, Stoner and Alt Metal grooves. The record is quite vast with its multiple styles of haunting Ambient themed Doom and Stoner Metal that sees Bloodwood use similar themes to bands such as ISIS, Mastodon, King Buffalo, Deftones and HUM. The heavy Prog Sludge melodies are quite forward thinking with a brooding atmosphere developing within the overlapping Post-Stoner and Post-Doom landscapes which have an air of SONIC aggression behind them.

The record is constantly melodic with Bloodwood not afraid of diluting the record with strands of Post-Rock attitude which gives Dark Simulator a sense of unexpected calm amongst the trippy Sludge Metal surroundings that have a slight resemblance to ISIS and Mastodon at times. Though, Bloodwood keeps things interesting with their Grunge aspects shining through.

The vocals are mostly clean based with small amounts of HARSH delivery coming through. Bloodwood aren’t afraid to change their creative stance from one of destruction to a slightly hopeful style of redemption in places which gives Dark Simulator a highly unexpected quality with the overall Doomedelic and Ambient tone that fills the whole environment.

Bloodwood cover a lot of musical ground within the albums forty minute runtime with some tracks feeling slightly longer than they actually but that’s a good things with the band including multiple different styles of music that have a cinematic edge to them especially on tracks such as  Empty Cities, The Docks, Phantoms, Airburst and Ruliad.

There’s a lot of sonic experimentation and Ambient interplay with the different musical soundscapes and haunting Post-Rock backdrops that has a deep methodical attitude which can easily the band draw comparisons to bands from the Seventies Prog Rock scene at times but everything becomes modern based when the band inject that violent Sludge Rock/Metal attitude within the opening passages of the excellent opening track Empty Cities.

The production values on Dark Simulator are immense and superbly realised with Bloodwood delivering a highly memorable experience which demands your undivided attention. This is a record of outstanding quality with Bloodwood firing on all cylinders throughout that will leave you wholly satisfied. If you want a similar underground fix to the likes of DOMKRAFT then this is the place to be. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Drifter - Grigori (Album Review)

Release Date: May 23rd 2025. Record Label: Thoughtcrime Records. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD

Grigori - Tracklisting

1.[INTERVAL> Grigori] 02:13

2.Catalyst Tongues 08:43

3.The Tide 07:34

4.Hunger and Haunt 05:05

5.[INTERVAL> Abrezta] 01:46

6.Dead Sea Teeth 08:05

7.The Silence That Follows 07:54

8.The Flood 09:16

9.[INTERVAL> Carenta] 02:46

Members

Brodie Belt - Guitars, Pedalboard, Aux Percussion

Joel Denton - Drums, Percussion

Dean Edington - Bass, Vocals, Junk Rig, Electric Cello

Review

Grigori is the debut full length album from Progressive Sludge/Doom/Post-Metal collective Drifter which takes the best elements of the underground scene where the band superbly craft in their own image which oozes style, melody, dynamics and supreme heaviness throughout. The record starts off slowly with moments of intricate Post-Rock, Noise, Psych and Ambient sounds that undergo a slightly Post-Metal transformation within the opening tracks of [INTERVAL> Grigori] and Catalyst Tongues. 

Drifter takes similar themes and messages from bands such as Mastodon, ISIS, Neurosis, Shrinebuilder, Pelican and Russian Circles whilst still being completely different at the same time. It’s hard to explain until you hear the full album with Drifter performing uplifting and soulful Post-Metal melodies in places but they offset this balance with disturbing and sometimes nihilistic lyrics which comes through Dean Edington’s commanding vocals.

The added use of Post-Rock / Post-Metal interludes that slow the mood and melody right down sees haunting soundclips being added which adds another apocalyptic theme to the mix. Drifter directly taps into the bleak subconsciousness of Progressive Sludge Metal that NEUROSIS created the entire Post-Metal scene with back in the 1990’s with albums such as Through Silver In Blood. 

Drifter add levels of twisted psychedelics which cause a sense of gloomy paranoia which becomes quite aggressive when a distorted level of Post-Doom optics appear. The sudden arrival of tribal sound effects within the outstanding third track The Tide pushes Grigori into a forgotten cinematic style of Post-Metal which reminded me of TOOL and ISIS with its slow-paced and foreboding melodies.

The lyrics once again are quite subversive especially with its “NO HOLDS BARRED” approach with the music forming a destructive Atmospherics Sludge landscape for DRIFTER to unleash HELL ON EARTH with. The music is once again aggressive but with a certain level of Psychedelic melodies giving the record a sense of divine purpose once everything is said and done.

The aquatic themes and destructive way of the whole planet's ecosystem sounds become more apparent as the record moves through sublime tracks such as Hunger And Haunt, Dead Sea Truth, The Silence That Follows and The Flood. Drifter showcase a wide array of haunting complex Post-Rock / Post–Metal rhythms which fully transforms into a heavier, thicker and brutal style of Atmospheric Sludge where the “thuggish” grooves allows Grigori to be quite technically brilliant and forward thinking at the same time.

Drifter have a formidable reputation within their hometown of Lawrence, Kansas where they have performed with Godflesh, Pallbearer, Glassing, John Garcia of Kyuss. Grigori could easily see the band gain wider and prominent recognition within the Heavy Metal scene as this album is an absolute MONSTER that reaches an epic and action packed conclusion with the final moments leaving the listener fully satisfied on all levels possible.

Grigori is a record you need to fully experience right now as this could be a game-changer for the band and has the makings of a future classic in the making.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Mountain Of Misery - Shades Of The Ashes (Album Review)

Release Date: April 04th 2025. Record Label: Electric Witch Mountain Recordings. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Shades Of The Ashes - Tracklisting

Thornado

Follow The Sun

Mystify

Speed Kig

From Fall To Rise

Interlude

Lightness At The End

Blow

Members:

Kamil Ziółkowski - Everything

Review

Shades Of The Ashes is the new album from Psych Stoner Metal collective Mountain Of Misery and this is the band or creative project that is helmed by Kamil Ziółkowski from the mighty SPACESLUG. This is Mountain Of Misery’s third full length album with Kamil operating with a heavier sound compared to the previous albums released under this guise. The sound combines different elements of Post-Rock, Sludge Rock, Doom Metal and Stoner Metal with a distorted atmosphere being used more prominently with the music also having an aggressive and jagged appeal which lasts throughout the whole album.

The Scorched DESERT ROCK vibe is undeniable with Mountain Of Misery using levels of Drone and Distortion that results in a heavy atmospheric sound which closely resembles SPACESLUG at times but with Kamil writing some uplifting lyrics and being more experimental with his intense melodies. The opening batch of tracks Thornado, Follow The Sun and Mystify are some of the heaviest and progressive sounds that Mountain Of Misery have delivered but with a thrilling modern Post-Doom and Post-Stoner landscape with a delicate APOCALYPTIC FUZZ movement being quite forceful and superbly powerful at the same time.

The level of detail that Kamil applies to the record is astonishing especially when the different styles of Psych, Space and Cosmic passages that elevate the record onto greater meditative heights. Kamil’s vocals are exquisite yet again and fans of SPACESLUG will recognize them right away. There’s a sense of urgency to the vocals which gives the record an unpredictable energy especially when matched against the Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves that never feel out of place.

Shades Of The Ashes is quite vivid but with a soulful outlook especially on tracks Follow The Sun, Speed Kig,  From Fall To Rise and Blow. Kamil has tapped into the arena of CINEMATIC based music which allows him greater creativity and flexibility that he may not fully experience with SPACESLUG.

I love the deft sonic experimentation that Kamil has created and played with the different instruments that appear on this record. With some wonderful free-flowing AMBIENT and POST-ROCK movements, Mountain Of Misery has the “LOUD vs QUIET” dynamics nailed down to a fine art. This does feel like one of the best albums that SPACESLUG have never released but still allowing Kamil the opportunity to explore a different side to his musical persona which can be brilliantly HEAVY but with a subtle Sludge Rock vibe keeping everything grounded. 

Shades Of The Ashes is my favourite Mountain Of Misery record to date and if you’re a fan of SPACESLUG and the other projects that Kamil is a part of then be prepared to be blown away. As this is another must have record from Mountain Of Misery who is fast becoming one of my favourite bands/solo projects to emerge from the underground scene. 

Add this to your record collection now. You won’t be sorry.

 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mountain Of Misery for the promo.

Shades Of The Ashes will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Electric Witch Mountain Recordings from Friday 04th April 2025.

Credits

Recorded at Electric Witch Mountain Recordings by Kamil Ziółkowski (January/February 2025) MIxed and Mastered by Haldor Grunberg (Satanic Audio) Produced by Kamil Ziółkowski & Haldor Grunberg All music and lyrics by Mountain Of Misery Cover artwork by Łukasz Puzdrowski LP Layout by Artur Rolik LP version in 2 colors (splatter and solid) available at Bandcamp site. mountainofmisery.bandcamp.com

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Wyatt E. - Zamāru Ultu Qereb Ziqquratu - Part 1 (Album Review)

Release Date: January 10th 2025. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD

Zamāru Ultu Qereb Ziqquratu - Part 1  - Track Listing:

01 Qaqqari la târi Part I

02 Kerretu Mahrû

03 Im Lelya

04 The diviner's Prayer to the Gods of the night

05 Ahanu Ersetum

Members

Sébastien von Landau - Guitars / Bass / Synth / Saz / Vocals

Stéphane Rondia - Guitars / Bass / Synth / Vocals

Jonas Sanders - Drums

Gil Chevigné - Drums

Review

Drone/Doom Specialists Wyatt E. new album Zamāru Ultu Qereb Ziqquratu Part 1 is a mystical journey that features a wide range of different sounding Drone/Doom based soundscapes with some unique instrumental passages being conjured up throughout. The record lies heavily on the experimental front with the addition of two drummers for a more dynamic effect. Wyatt E. employs digital and analog elements to their music which is the best of both worlds for a record that creates a highly original Spaced Out and Drone based sound.

There’s a wealth of different soundbytes, ambient sounds, and trippy movements with echoes of Middle Eastern beats with guest appearances from Nina Saeidi who lends her ethereal voice to "The Diviner's Prayer to the Gods of the Night," whilst  Jerusalem’s choir conductor, Tomer Damsky delivers a stunning performance of Im Lelya in Aramaic. There’s a deep Prog Rock sensibility to this record which allows Wyatt E. to adapt outlandish ideas to the album without feeling the need to be fully OTT.

The musical composition is a work of genius throughout with the music being multilayered and with a real “world-building” style based narrative within the quieter moments of the record. Though, Wyatt E. are primarily a Doom Metal band with a haunting Drone sense of Spirituality within their creative philosophy and this allows the band to play a heavy style of Doom Metal with a level of Ambient heaviness that cuts right to the bone on tracks such as Qaqqari la târi Part I, Kerretu Mahrû and The diviner's Prayer to the Gods of the night.

With Wyatt E. drawing upon the divine influence and creative spirit of bands such as SUNN 0))), BONG and EARTH in places, the record is superbly original in its own right. The record is played a lush slow-to-mid place with small moments of Industrial/Electronica beats which gives an every layer of SPICE to the whole sound.

I was surprised to see famed underground label Heavy Psych Sounds releasing this. As it’s a totally different release we haven’t seen from HPS before and I applaud Gabe (HPS Owner) releasing something different and thinking outside of the box. However, this is really Wyatt E.’s time to shine with an outlandish and masterful collection of Drone/Doom based tracks that brings an air of Spirituality we haven’t heard in a very long time.

The production values are exquisite that allows everyone who participated on this record the perfect opportunity to prove what wonderful musicians they really are. Zamāru Ultu Qereb Ziqquratu - Part 1 is truly a work of art with the added bonus of Drone/Doom based soundscapes that bring a classic style of heaviness to ultimately lose yourselves in. 

Add this to your collection now. It’s that simple…

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR and Wyatt E. for the promo.

Zamāru Ultu Qereb Ziqquratu - Part 1 will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from Friday 10th January 2025.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp