FANE - Armageddon Scars (Album Review)

Release Date: August 28th 2026. Record Label: Octopus Rising. Formats: DD

Armageddon Scars - Tracklist

1.Flatline

2.Dead Shepherd 

3.Poisoned Crown

4.The Mariner

5.Passages 

Members

Ryan Ashmore - Vocals

Trey Porche - Instruments, Programming

Review

Doom/Sludge Metal duo FANE debut album Armageddon Scars creates a brutal and emotionally engaging style of music that ventures into similar waters of bands such as THOU, Primitive Man, YOB and Neurosis. The brooding atmospherics has plenty of heavy progressive weight that powers the DRONED OUT dimension that is added at different stages of the record. There are hidden traces of Punk, Black Metal and some small instances of Death Metal which gives Armageddon Scars quite a violent and hypnotic sound from the very start.

The opening track Flatline allows FANE to demonstrate some subversive levels of Doom Metal that allows the listener to fully lose themselves within the Sludge Metal textures that become more accustomed to the Post-Metal world. The vocals from Ryan Ashmore are delivered with a grim extreme and menacing style that has a solid HARSH and THUGGISH energy to them. FANE are never afraid to explore the dominant Black Metal environments which offer crushing, violent and destructive instrumental grooves that last the course and where any uplifting soundscapes are wisely banished from existence here.

Second track Dead Shepherd only solidifies the eternal DOOM & GLOOM message that FANE project throughout the album with punishing Post-Metal sounds and some brief Psychedelic interludes that offer a dramatic feeling to emerge from the darkness. Trey Porche has his work cut out providing all the Instrumental and Programming aspect for FANE to devour everyone’s soul with. This is a great counterbalance with Ryan’s vocals, perhaps opening the gateway for that brutal and monolithic style of music to explore the darkest corners of the whole album.

Third track Poisoned Crown follows a similar path to the previous track but operates with a simpler riff based structure without compromising the violent progressive sounds that have already been set out from the start. FANE delivers the most straightforward grooves that have that classic YOB influence behind them. The extra layer of Psych Metal just pushes the album into different sonic based arenas whilst keeping that Blackened Post-Metal atmosphere fully intact.

The final two tracks The Mariner and Passages bring a different aura of darkness from FANE with that Progressive sound adding abstract soundscapes and Ambient sound effects for perhaps the best part of the album. FANE feel more determined to forge their own identity with these two tracks with tighter vocals and better instrumental control whilst punishing the listeners yet again with an intense blast of pure Doom/Sludge Metal brutality. 

Armageddon Scars is quite subversive and superbly inventive with the Ambient Sounds and Psych Metal effects which allows FANE to never lose focus on releasing an epic sounding debut album that will leave you an emotional shivering wreck when everything is said and done.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

Armageddon Scars is available to buy now on DD via Octopus Rising.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Thunderchief - With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star... (EP Review)

Release Date: July 01st 2026. Record Label: ASR Records. Formats: CD/DD

With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star… - Tracklist

Malaise

Chintzy

Catch My Fall

Entrance of the Devil (Zior)

Lie Nation

Slurpee

Members

Rik Surly - Vocals/Guitar/Bass

Erik Larson - Drums

Review

Doom/Sludge Metallers Thunderchief offer their new EP With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star... onto an unsuspecting audience. The record is driven by a black metal approach and down-tuned style of music where the band play some of the fastest and nastiest grooves of their career  within the excellent opening track of Malaise. Thunderchief plays a more violent slab of Punk Metal you’ll encounter in some time. The music is played against long drawn out Doom/Sludge Metal soundscapes that have echoes of SLEEP running throughout. 

You can hear elements of HIGH ON FIRE and  MOTORHEAD running violently free against the backdrop of nightmarish Drone Metal themes and distorted Blackened Sludge Metal firmly settling down for a fast-paced journey into the vast darkness of the underground on the brutal second offering Chintzy. The vocals are violent and way over the top that are delivered by Rik Surly who is on highly inspired devilish form.

The music adapts itself to more modern day Crust Punk surroundings that allows Thunderchief to firmly remain in MOTORHEAD territory on the remainder of the record. Thunderchief splice out lo-fi carvings of the Extreme Metal scene at times before merging within their Punk Metal delivery on tracks such as: Catch My Fall, Entrance of the Devil (Zior), Lie Nation and Slurpee which remain the some of the heaviest, seediest and dirtiest parts of the record. 

Thunderchief are never afraid to offer the listener a seedy, unapologetic and in some cases deeply flawed production values on the EP. As With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star… ultimately provides a thrilling picture of the brutal Doom/Sludge Metal underground scene you rarely witness.

Thunderchief channels some epic SUNN 0))) vibes with the aspects of Drone Metal reaching crazy levels of pure heaviness but the music is still riff heavy where the band never disappoints especially with the excellent drumming from Erik Larson being my favourite aspect of the EP. Erik’s fully committed or perhaps possessed by the POWER OF SATAN which allows Rik to deliver some mammoth sounding instrumental passages of his very own.

With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star… is a little short running around twenty two minutes in length but it provides an action-packed ride that’s fun, filthy and brutally entertaining that leaves you wanting more. 

Excellent and Highly Recomemnded.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

www.thethunderchief.com

https://www.facebook.com/thunderchiefrva/

https://www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial/

https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com/music

GHOROT - Obsidian (Album Review)

Release Date: April 10th 2026. Record Label: Lay Bare Recordings / King Of The Monsters Records. Formats: CD/DD/Tape/Vinyl

Obsidian - Tracklisting

1.Void Drinker

2.Lascaux

3.A Seeping Infinitude

4.Beneath the Soil

5.Lafayette

6.Deluge

Members

Carson Russell - Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

Brandon Walker - Drums, Vocals

Chad Remains - Electric Guitar, Amplifiers, Vocals

Review

Blackened Doom/Sludge Metallers Ghorot return with their impressive third album Obsidian which is perhaps their most daring, heaviest and darkest record to date. The band go all in with their Blackened Doom Metal vision which goes into slight Post-Metal territory with its Progressive themes making an early appearance within the outstanding opening track Void Drinker, The vocals are a mixture of harsh growls, death chants and some clean vocals which are quite easy to understand even when they’re all singing over each other. 

Though, that only tells half of the story as Ghorot brings a wicked Stoner Metal influence which allows the band to play some truly epic instrumental solos with a fresh modern day Psychedelic element despite the apocalyptic surroundings and filth ridden chaos happening for the majority of the album.

There’s a grizzled and determined commitment from Ghorot to provide some of the heaviest and filthiest extreme sounds on the record but they still bring a wonderful sense of rhythm and melody to the listener. You feel this sense of musical wonder on tracks such as Void Drinker, Lascaux and A Seeping Infinitude with that violent EXTREME energy being played through every angle.

The album does become ever more creepy and violent with each passing moment with Ghorot venturing into abrasive SONIC METAL landscapes on the later stages of the album. The vocals are quite challenging at times with each band member having their own individual chance to take the spotlight from each other but it works superbly well as you’re giving a unique perspective when they all suddenly appear or change at will.

If you ever wonder what HIGH ON FIRE would sound like if they added elements of BLACK METAL into their music then I urge you all to listen to the standout tracks of Lascaux, Beneath The Soil and Deluge though that’s my own thoughts and impressions. You can also hear bands such as THOU, NEUROSIS, MASTODON and PRIMITIVE MAN but Ghorot always keep to their own musical vision and create their own great blend of music which will have you coming back for more punishment long after the record has finished.

Obsidian is perhaps the album that allows Ghorot to be truly considered as a force to be reckoned with. As this is their most impressive record to date on all counts. This is an exciting blend of crushing grooves and punishing beat downs that can be quite complex at the same time. Ghorot never shy away from touching upon hard-hitting subjects whilst putting the listener through a pulsating and brutal workout of EXTREME levels of DOOMED OUT HEAVINESS. 

This is a masterclass of Blackened Doom/Sludge Metal. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to GHOROT for the promo.

Obsidian is available to buy now on CD/DD/Tape/Vinyl via Lay Bare Recordings, King of the Monsters Records, and GHOROT.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Blackened Doom/Sludge Metallers GHOROT New Album OBSIDIAN Available For Pre-Order via LAY BARE RECORDINGS and KING OF THE MONSTERS RECORDS

From the depths of Boise’s blackened doom comes OBSIDIAN, the third full-length from GHOROT (US).

PRE-ORDERS are live now via Lay Bare Recordings, King of the Monsters Records, and GHOROT.

Following the critical acclaim of Loss of Light (2021) and Wound (2023), GHOROT returns with their most crushing and atmospheric work to date. Forged in the depths of blackened doom, OBSIDIAN continues the band’s descent into bleak sonic territory.

Limited pressings:

125× heavyweight Oxblood vinyl
125× heavyweight Black vinyl

Cassette and CD available in the USA via King of the Monsters & GHOROT. 

New GHOROT T-shirt and long sleeve designs will surface alongside the OBSIDIAN pre-orders.

PREPARE THYSELVES.

GHOROT Members

Carson Russell - Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

Brandon Walker - Drums, Vocals

Chad Remains - Electric Guitar, Amplifiers, Vocals

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

TEMPLE OF THE FUZZ WITCH / SEUM - Conjuring (Split Album Review)

Release Date: February 21st 2025. Record Label: Black Throne Productions. Formats: DD/Vinyl

CONJURING - SIDE A: TEMPLE OF THE FUZZ WITCH

1- EFFIGY 

2- ETERNAL LAMENTATION - 

3- FOUL OF SHADES

CONJURING - SIDE B: SEUM

4 - DEAD EAR

5 - PROBLEMS

6 - EFRIT

Temple Of The Fuzz Witch Members

Noah Bruner - Vocals/Guitar

Joe Peet - Bass

Taylor Christian - Drums

SEUM Members

Fred - Drums

Gaspard - Vocals

Piotr - Bass

Review

US Blackened Doom Metallers Temple Of The Fuzz Witch team up with Canadian Sludge/Stoner Metallers SEUM for this bleak addictive split album release CONJURING which allows both bands to stamp their own musical authority. The record is powerfully addictive with Temple Of The Fuzz Witch appearing first offering three tracks that expands their Blackened Doom/Sludge Mentality into a heavy area of depressing FUZZ and all of the debauchery that goes with playing that epic style of music. 

Temple Of The Fuzz Witch are more riff-orientated on this split record with an ELECTRIC WIZARD and EYEHATEGOD appetite appearing within the vocals and lyrics on each of the individual tracks with some surprising melodic Blackened Sludge Metal movement appearing on EFFIGY and FOUL OF SHADES. The final track of FOUL OF SHADES is where the magic happens creatively speaking for Temple Of The Witch being some of the best material they’ve written to date.

SUEM offer their usual blend of Sludge/Stoner Metal with small amounts of gloomy effects appearing which allows their “BASS” only sound decimate the FUCKING landscape with low and slow pounding grooves before a layer of distorted sounds destroys your hearing throughout. The opening track DEAD EAR by Seum is quite chaotic and has an hallucinogenic quality with despairing HARSH vocals creating a desolate landscape of punishing and experimental sounds that fits superbly well into the heavier sounds that Temple Of The Fuzz Witch are known for.

The other two tracks of PROBLEMS and EFRIT continues the DESTRUCTIVE and SONIC bombardment of downtuned filthy grooves with Piotr’s epic bass guitar punching holes into the musical atmosphere that could rival DOPETHRONE at times. The sound is completely dense and unforgiving with Fred’s drums and Gaspard’s vocals keeping the mood downright mean and nasty.

Conjuring is a damn fine split from TEMPLE OF THE WITCH and SEUM that should endear them to the wider hordes and legions of underground Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal fans.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Conjuring is available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Black Throne Productions now.

SEUM Links

Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Temple Of The Fuzz Witch Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram