TARMAK - Delete To Proceed (Album Review)

Release Date: November 07th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Delete To Proceed - Tracklisting

1.Delete to Proceed 07:19

2.Careless CRISPR 06:02 

3.Ark of Nowhere 09:58 

4.Gene Roulette 09:10

5.Wörtrilg 07:16

6.Blue Renewed 09:07 

Lineup

Sander - Guitar, chants, concept & visuals

Geert - Bass

Simon - Drums, artwork

Review

Delete To Proceed is the debut full length album of instrumental Post-Metal collective TARMAK who take a cerebral and cinematic approach with their music. As the band a contemporary storytelling theme into the music with areas of Science Fiction combining grounded Post-Rock themes and subtle sound effects which is ultimately quite a thought provoking and progressive sounding record.

TARMAK never play by the rules with a highly intelligent delivery forming throughout every individual track that could be dominated by Post-Metal grooves one moment and the next it’s being dictated by Ambient Post-Rock melodies. Whichever creative turn TARMAK takes, the end result is a complex dark vision with the band successfully avoiding the negative pitfalls of releasing an album such as this. The record does a great job of focusing on a stylish atmospheric narrative which fully sells the overall tension of the album especially within the opening tracks of Delete To Proceed and Careless CRISPR.

TARMAK are perhaps more closely aligned to the likes of RUSSIAN CIRCLES, MOGWAI, THIS WILL DESTROY YOU and MONO instead of the heavier sludgy sounds of PELICAN. TARMAK create songs with a strong Post-Rock energy before slowly transforming into a powerful Post-Metal entity of their own making. There’s a lot more Progressive experimentation which becomes one of the main creative focus for the band on tracks such as Careless CRISPR,  Ark Of Nowhere, Gene Roulette and Blue Renewed.

Though, the best way to approach this album is to see it as one extended instrumental song broken down into individual chapters telling the next exciting parts of the story. As some times TARMAK branches out into areas of Drone, Doom, Stoner Rock and Shoegaze along the way with some intriguing chants being added on the later stages of the record.

Delete To Proceed is a highly involving and deeply emotional album that offers HUGE rewards if you last the soulful and gloomy journey. The technical abilities of Sander, Geert and Simon are simply superb as they put their hearts and soul into this record. The mood can be quite abstract along the way but it moves the album such a brooding and emotionally charged edge when TARMAK experiment with their music by adopting elements you would least expect.

TARMAK are another exciting and highly original Instrumental Rock/Metal band from the Belgian underground scene following the likes of MODDER in delivering their own unique take on the Post-Rock/Post-Metal sound.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Bandcamp – tarmaktheband.bandcamp.com

Spotify – open.spotify.com/artist/2o8cOt4C225g0kRezd9Svx

YouTube – youtube.com/@tarmakband

Facebook – facebook.com/tarmakbelgium

Instagram – instagram.com/tarmak_gent

Website – https://vi.be/platform/tarmak9000 

Ken Wohlrob - The Conclusion (Single Review)

Release Date: February 14th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

The Conclusion - Track Listing:

The Conclusion

Members

Ken Wohlrob - Everything 

Review

The Conclusion is the new song from Ken Wohlrob who is better known for his work with Northern Heretic and End Of Hope. This is Ken moving away from his Sludge, Doom and Stoner Metal persona by playing a style of Ambient, Drone and Post-Rock which is delivered by a haunting cinematic theme. The song is deliberately slow but you expect this style as it’s firmly rooted within the realm of Drone music.

Ken calls this music “Soundcape” and it’s a very cool description. This song is more about mood and melody than relying on riffs. The song does remind me of the classic film Blade Runner as it has a retro-futurist outlook in places especially towards the end of the track. The Conclusion won’t be for everyone but if you’re looking for Chillout music then The Conclusion is the track for you. It can be quite gloomy in places with a subtle Post-Doom sound appearing from certain angles. 

There’s a lot to enjoy here and I’m looking forward to hearing more from Ken’s solo work in the future. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

BandCamp

Aeternal Chambers - Aeternal Chambers (EP Review)

Release Date: October 14th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD.

Aeternal Chambers - Track Listing:

Husk Of Mortal Despair

Drive Me To Ruin

Paved With Gold

Glitch In The Mist

Members

Alex Nervo - Bass, Keys, F/X

Neil Dawson - Drums & Percussion

Raf Reutt - Guitars, Keys, F/X

Review

Aeternal Chambers is an Instrumental Doom/Post-Metal Band from the band drawing upon a diverse style of Prog Rock, Ambient and Shoegaze which allows their self titled debut EP to be quite cinematic in scope and how the music is delivered throughout. The band is also an off-shoot from the acclaimed Doom/Stoner Metal band OBIAT though are totally different to each other which allows Aeternal Chambers to be its own highly evolved creative entity.

Drawing upon sounds from acts such as Pallbearer, Pelican and Russian Circles, the music is also quite Industrial based with areas of sublime Electronica appearing with magnificent F/X sounds appearing on different parts of the record. Aeternal Chambers can be quite dramatic on how they deliver their music but it’s superbly played throughout which comes into play on the epic opening track of Husk Of Mortal Despair.

The song sees the band play a daring style of Instrumental Doom/Post-Metal for the most part but the “MAGIC” really happens towards the end of the song where the music is way more intense and a progressive attitude appears that gives the record a subtle destructive flow. The Electronica and F/X sounds are superbly constructed and delivered with real purpose that gives an air of intelligence to the band’s music.

Second track Drive Me To Ruin blends Post-Rock world building and a vengeful Prog Metal attitude which I see brief resemblances to OBIAT and MASTODON appearing for short bursts of aggression. The music continues with that classic Shoegaze or Doomgaze style even when the Progressive Sludgy guitars remain and thrilling drums that is the glue that holds everything together. Ambient sounds and textures veers into Psych Rock movements with the band once again changing their musical style for the better.

The final two tracks of Paved With Gold and Glitch In The Mist are where Aeternal Chambers delve into the heavier and bleakest themes of the whole record. As the sound becomes more DOOM & GLOOM obsessed with murky Industrial beats which take time to fully get going especially with Paved WIth Gold which is perhaps my favourite track on the EP.

Though, Glitch In The Mist is the track that will resonate with people the most. As it has a familiar Post-Metal tone and sound that people will recognise but still allows Aeternal Chambers to put their own spin on the Instrumental Rock/Metal sound. 

Overall, Aeternal Chambers is quite a thought provoking and superbly produced release with a lot to say that is told through the power of beautifully played instrumental music from start to finish. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Aeternal Chambers for the promo.

The EP will be available to buy digitally from Monday October 14th 2024. Physical formats will follow at a later date.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

METY HEAVAL - Hyperdrive Of Delusion (EP Review)

Release Date: May 21st 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Altered States: Tracklisting

1. Hyperdrive of Delusion 15:03

Band Members

Florian Dannenberg - guitars, vocals, organ

Markus Hanft - drums

Thorben Vehling - bass

Gregor Ziensky - guitars

Review

Hyperdrive Of Delusion is the debut release from German Doom/Stoner Rock band METY HEAVAL who focus upon a more cerebral style of storytelling that weaves Prog Rock, Doom Metal and Stoner Metal influences with the sounds of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s Hard Rock movement. The singular track runs for around fifteen minutes in length but is actually five tracks joined up as one epic track.

The EP is broken down into the following individual chapters:

a: 0.03 - thrust

b: 3.00 - misdirected missile

c: 6.23 - like a diamond

d: 8.44 - rising on the morning

e: 12.23 - open space

METY HEAVAL play different styles of Psychedelic Doom which has a slightly destructive Stoner Metal energy with a free-flowing Prog Metal narrative appearing within the lyrics and the excellent vocals from Florian that are never too outlandish or over the top. Florian’s vocals have a timeless quality to them and sound like they could have fit right in from any era from the Heavy Metal world from over the last fifty years or so even when they become more abrasive along the way.

The actual track itself is quite bold and deeply adventurous especially when METY HEAVAL goes off course and develops into a more experimental Prog Metal or Doom Metal sound. The atmosphere is quite LO-FI with a real DIY creative energy appearing on the later stages of the track. 

Hyperdrive Of Delusion is a startlingly original track which shows many different sides to METY HEAVAL and I feel that we still have only heard a small glimpse into the bands surreal world which will perhaps be told further on future releases that their BandCamp page mentions:

“METY HEAVAL "Hyperdrive of Delusion", "To Insanity and Beyond", "Off the Universe" are concept records in episodic format that feature compositions spanning around 15 minutes. Songs made up of songs. Songs that create the feeling of putting on a record while you're on the road.”

On this evidence alone from Hyperdrive Of Delusion I’m quite excited to hear what METY HEAVAL has in store for future releases. Their debut release is a fantastic EP that should impress the Doom/Stoner Rock community within time and perhaps allow the band to build up a loyal and dedicated following.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Psychedelic/Stoner Rockers SCHUBMODUL Share New Single Silent Echoes from Forthcoming Album.

After the self-released debut album Modul I (2022), the second album titled Lost In Kelp Forest will be released on February 23rd, 2024 on Tonzonen Records. Today the trio shares the first single Silent Echoes!

Lost In Kelp Forest is a concept album that doesn't take place in the vastness of space like its predecessor, but rather in an underwater world. The six mainly instrumental pieces are accompanied by narrator voices, which reveal a coherent fictional story on a dense atmospheric carpet of sound. The voices were professionally recorded by Alma Chomel from France and Shane Wilson from the USA.

As a foundation, the triumvirate, formed by a classic line-up of guitar, bass and drums, thunders a mix of space, stoner and progressive rock onto the stage, which is occasionally supplemented by synthesizers, sound and voice samples. Dreamy, atmospheric passages combined with colossal riffs will often lead to an epic melodic zenith of voluminous, warm sounds, over which gentle to fast guitar solos are released.

The compositions use a large modal palette and versatile harmonies that are intended to continually surprise the listener and at the same time follow a driving, natural and catchy rhythm. Lost In Kelp Forest has a very high level of attention to detail and should remain exciting even after repeated listening.

The band's inspiration for this album was genre-typical greats like Elder, King Buffalo, more progressive bands like Dream Theaternand elements from Hans Zimmer's film music. The idea using a spoken word on top of the music was inspired by the albums Eyes Like The Sky and Murderer Of The Universe by King Gizzard & Lizard Wizard. Lost In Kelp Forest was recorded in August 2023 in the legendary Tonmeisterei in Oldenburg, Germany. 

The entire album was recorded in just six long days. The band was housed in the studio for the entire recording process, which created a unique atmosphere during the recording process. The first tracks (Emerald Maze and Silent Echoes) were written shortly after the release of the first album in spring 2022 and set the basic mood of the album. The remaining pieces were completed by summer 2023.

Pre-order the album here: https://www.tonzonen.de/shop/p/schubmodul-lost-in-kelp-forest-pre-sale-140124

Tracklist

1. Voyage
2. Emerald Maze
3. Renegade One
4. Silent Echoes
5. Ascension
6. Revelations

Links

Linktree: https://schubmodul.bfan.link/silent-echoes
Instagram: https://instagram.com/schubmodul
Facebook: https://facebook.com/Schubmodul
Bandcamp: https://schubmodul.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/1u62KEB6O6vjuxKaNgYHoX?si=WGDmYz8hRO-uYSF5eBvfYw&nd=1&dlsi=f6fcc2854fd64e2b
Label: https://www.tonzonen.de

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for all of the details.

San Jose Instrumental Post-rock Duo to Release The Last Stop Ranch EP Via Entelodon Records in September

On the heels of their second EP Fever Canyon, San Jose-based instrumental post-rock duo IN THE PONDS will release their third EP, The Last Stop Ranch this coming September.

Photo credit: Marissa’s Garden / @marissas.garden

The Last Stop Ranch works with a classic rock tone palette—sizzly SG humbuckers and wobbly delays, to name a few primary colors. For the band, discovering the tracks was like stumbling across the mouth of a cave; something about it makes you crane your neck towards the dark. This is the music they imagine you’d hear from a dried-up well if you lowered yourself down and listened to what the walls had to say.

The Last Stop Ranch was recorded by guitarist David Perez and mixed by Art Bertik. The front cover artwork was created by bassist Jennifer Gigantino.

The Last Stop Ranch Track Listing:

1.You Can Kill Me Anytime (But You Won’t)
2.Playing with Matches
3.Hide and Seek

IN THE PONDS is a poet and a filmmaker getting married and starting an instrumental post-rock duo during pandemic lockdowns and California wildfires. It’s a honeymoon spent in quarantine, staring at soot-filled skies wondering how to capture feelings of isolation, dread, and love without using words. Their music pays homage to classic rock while experimenting with atmospheric textures for a sound that’s both familiar and otherworldly.

IN THE PONDS is:

David Perez – Guitar

Jennifer Gigantino – Bass

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter | Instagram

Sons Of Arrakis - Volume 1 (Album Review)

Release Date: July 15th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD/Vinyl

Volume 1 - Tracklisting

1.Shai-Hulud 01:33

2.The Black Mirror 03:43

3.Complete Obliteration 04:01

4.Temple of the Desert 04:26

5.Omniscient Messiah 04:12

6.Lonesome Preacher 05:13

7.Abomination 04:37

8.Shai-Hulud (Sequel) 02:19

Members

Rhythm Guitar and Vocals - Frédéric Couture

Lead Guitar & Keys - Francis Duchesne

Bass Guitar - Vick Trigger

Drum - Eliot Landry

Review

Volume 1 is the debut full length album from Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers Sons Of Arrakis and is inspired by the legendary works of Frank Herbert and the world of DUNE. These guys aren’t the first band to release music inspired by DUNE. There’s been countless other bands from the Stoner Rock/Metal field. However, Sons Of Arrakis are the one of the most intriguing by playing a classic and style of Californian based Desert/Stoner Rock.

The album does have its fair share of Spaced Out elements within the lyrics and Psychedelic textures heard on the record. Merging 90’s Desert/Stoner Rock passages and the bleak sci-fi imagery of DUNE, the music is a more Progressive style of WEEDIAN sounds. The vocals are perhaps too upbeat for certain elements of the DUNE story though this allows Sons Of Arrakis to tap into the classical vocal structures of the Stoner Rock/Metal movement and bring a more accessible way of delivering the classic SCI-FI based story.

Sons Of Arrakis also offer a gloomy DOOM based landscape on earlier tracks such as: Shai-Hulud, The Black Mirror and Temple Of The Desert. This album has an addictive DOOM-POP flavour with Sons Of Arrakis singing gloriously uplifting vocal harmonies with the music keeping the Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal spirit alive and well with thrilling guitar solos that evoke memories of bands such as Black Sabbath, QUEEN and Thin Lizzy.

Sons Of Arrakis inject some Coheed And Cambria world-building into the mix on the later stages of the album with wonderfully written lyrics leading the way. 

The second half or the album does have a more cinematic scope with the band trying to include as many themes and ideas from DUNE on the final few songs on the album. The band may miss mark ever so slightly with the overall story, the music is a different story altogether. With Sons Of Arrakis perhaps playing more Progressive Stoner Metal sounds compared to the album's earlier free-flowing and adventurous Desert Rock groove. This is still an exciting blend of different styles from the Doom/Stoner Metal underground that ultimately leaves you wanting to hear more.

Volume I is perhaps described as “The Best Album The Sword Never Released”. 

Sons Of Arrakis have delivered a superbly entertaining ride that all you serious self proclaimed followers of “KANGAROO MOUSES” can fully get behind. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Yawning Sons - Sky Island (Album Review)

Release date: March 26th 2021. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Sky Island – Tracklisting

1.Adrenaline Rush
2.Low in the Valley
3.Cigarette Footsteps
4.Passport Beyond the Tides
5.Shadows and Echoes
6.Digital Spirit
7.Gravity Underwater
8.Limitless Artifact

Members

Gary Arce — guitars
Marlon King — guitars/vocals
Nick Hannon — bass
Stevie B — drums
Kyle Hanson — drums
Blake — effects

'Sky Island' vocalists:

Marlon King on "Adrenaline Rush"
Dandy Brown on "Low in the Valley", "Gravity Underwater"
Mario Lalli on "Cigarette Footsteps"
Wendy Rae Fowler on "Shadows and Echoes"
Scott Reeder on "Digital Spirit"

Review

Yawning Sons is the collaborative project between Desert Rock Legends Yawning Man and UK Cinematic Prog Rockers – Sons Of Alpha Centauri. The band last released a full length album back in 2009 with Ceremony To The Sunset. Which remains a personal favourite album of mine to this very day.

The band return with their new album Sky Island and it’s an even better follow up with Yawning Sons releasing a more mature and focused offering. Yawning Sons have a range of fantastic guest vocalists on this album and it’s a who’s who of Desert and Stoner Rock with appearances by Dandy Brown, Scott Reeder, Wendy Rae Fowler and Scott Reeder.

Sky Island is a pleasing audio experience that embraces a darker style of Desert Rock that you would expect. The album has it’s fair share of upbeat progressive Desert/Stoner Rock grooves though the album impresses the most when Yawning Sons play a more daring style of music which they show in the excellent two opening songs – Adrenaline Rush and Low In The Valley.

Adrenaline Rush has a classic “Yawning Man” melodic guitars leading the charge with the almost “true-to-life” cinematic and post-rock backdrop allowing the band to focus as one complete unit. The lyrics are quite outlandish in places but you can’t stop help singing along to them. The progressive Desert Rock grooves are simply hypnotic.

Second song – Low In The Valley – sees Dandy Brown join the party and offer his own take on all things Desert/Stoner Rock. The vocals are quite earnest in places with the lyrics are almost too real but there’s a hidden beauty to it all especially when the Psychedelic moments appear. This builds up for one of the standout songs on the album.

Third song – Cigarette Footsteps – sees Mario Lalli join his fellow “Yawning Man” partner Gary Acre on this song and you know what to expect when Mario appears. A slightly laid-back performance that becomes ever more commanding as the 8 minute run time passes by. The music ventures between Psych Rock, Desert Rock and Post-Rock based vibes. Yawning Sons are fully in their creative stride with this song and the second half offers pure Desert Rock bliss.

Fourth song – Passport Beyond The Tides – is an instrumental song that sees Yawning Sons in more reflective mood but still manage to find the time to play some heavier music on the second half of the song.

The second half of the album continues with the Psychedelic blend of Cinematic Post Rock and Desert Rock with “Shadows And Echoes” and Digital Spirit being the main highlights. The vocals on both of these tracks are superb with Wendy Rae Fowler impressing the most on Shadows And Echoes.

Scott Reeder also excels on Digital Spirit that is perhaps the most far-out song on the album with it’s mixture of 60s Psych Rock and swirling Desert Rock trippy moments that will leave you in such a happy mood.

Sky Island is a wonderful album that offers something different, fresh and unique within the realms of Desert/Stoner Rock. The production is fantastic and with Ripple Music releasing this album, you expect to hear a top-notch release such as this.

Overall, Sky Island delivers on all fronts and Yawning Sons may have just released one of the most outstanding Desert Rock albums you’ll hear this year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo. Sky Island will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music from March 26th 2021.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Kylver - The Plague Tapes (Album Review)

Release date: February 05th 2021. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

The Plague Tapes – Tracklisting

1.The Mountain Has Ghosts - Live 14:11
2.Hy-Brasil - Live 05:13
3.Allghoi - Live 13:04 

4.The Great Storm of 1703 - Live 14:01
5.Monolith - Live 11:28
6.The Dance of the Mountain Ghost - Live 06:13
7.The Frozen Sands - Live 12:51

Members

Jonny Scott (Guitar)
Barry Micherson (Drums)
James Bowmaker (Bass)
James Hill (Keys)

Review

It’s been 4 years since UK, Post-Rock/Post-Metallers Kylver released their last album back in October 2016 with The Island. Kylver are from my home-town of Newcastle Upon Tyne and I’ve seen them a few times over the years and always have time for their blend of Post-Rock/Post-Metal which fuses other areas of music such as Psych Rock, Prog Rock and Cinematic Rock.

The band have just released The Plague Tapes. The Plague Tapes is described below:

Kylver present ‘The Plague Tapes’, a collection of live recordings encompassing music from the bands two previously released studio albums, ‘The Mountain Ghost’ and ‘The Island’ as well as two new unreleased tracks: 'Allghoi' and 'The Frozen Sands'.

This “LIVE” performance was recorded in the iconic North East venue – The Cluny – back in August 2020 and sees the band play through a collection of the best tracks from the bands 1st two albums as well as including two new songs – Allghoi and The Frozen Sands.

This album is a great representation on how Kylver actually sound on the LIVE stage. The band’s Progressive Post-Rock/Post-Metal sound does take time to fully get going as there lots of different textures and themes to get accustomed to. Though, if you’re a fan of bands such as PELICAN, RUSSIAN CIRCLES and WE LOST THE SEA then you’ll soon be right at home.

The live performance itself is superbly recorded and is perhaps the perfect introduction for first-time listeners to become aware of this great band. The album is quite progressive with the many different styles of music the band play on each song.

The real bonus of the live album is to hear the 2 new tracks Kylver have included within the set with Allghoi and The Frozen Sands offering 26 minutes of new material from the band. Allghoi and The Frozen Sands are most definitely the standout moments for myself. Both songs offering a bleaker and doomier narrative compared to other things that Kylver have written previously.

The Frozen Sands is perhaps the best song from the new collection with Kylver showing they have changed their creative style in places and I adored the “Eastern” vibes heard on the song whilst retaining their classic Post-Rock/Post-Metal identity.

The band were going to record their 3rd album in 2020 but as they said recently: “Restricted access to rehearsal space, studio time and everything else the pandemic brought with it forced the band to rethink their plans, use what resources were available to them.”

The Plague Tapes is a thrilling Live Album that showcases the true talent and relentless nature of Kylver with a powerful performance that everyone should listen to.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp 

YAWNING SONS (w/ Yawning Man and Sons Of Alpha Centauri members) to release new album 'Sky Island' on March 26th via Ripple Music

YAWNING SONS, the transatlantic collaboration between instrumental desert legends Yawning Man and UK trance rock cultists Sons of Alpha Centauri, share the details and artwork for their upcoming sophomore album 'Sky Island', to be released on March 26th and available to preorder today through Ripple Music. Stream first single "Shadows and Echoes" exclusively on Brooklyn Vegan!

For 'Sky Island', the original YAWNING SONS line up that delivered the 'Ceremony to the Sunset' debut in 2009 returned, once again including exclusive performances from Mario Lalli, Scott Reeder and Wendy Rae Fowler. However, this desert rock heritage line up now includes highly respected desert rock stalwart Dandy Brown (Hermano, Orquesta del Desierto), also joining the band by performing on several tracks.

New single "Shadows and Echoes" is a golden ticket to the Yawning Sons sound, with Wendy Rae Fowler's compelling vocals softly gliding atop Gary Arce and Marlon King's reverb-laden riffs and the sky-gazing drive of Nick Hannon on bass and Kyle Hanson on drums.

Stream new single "Shadows and Echoes" on Brooklyn Vegan

Bassist Nick Hannon about "Shadows and Echoes": "The music of Shadows and Echoes and the mesmerising vocal performance from Wendy captures the pure essence of what we feel Yawning Sons is about. When we hit the studio together we wanted to ensure that our concepts remained true and the way Gary and Marlon play off each other is completely unique and organic. This track is open and direct!"

Mastered by John McBain (Desert Sessions, Monster Magnet), 'Sky Island' will see a March 26th release through Ripple Music and can be preordered now in the following formats:

- LTD edition vinyl (white and sea blue color with green splatter)
- Black vinyl
- Limited edition digipack CD
- Digital

YAWNING SONS New album 'Sky Island'. 

Out March 26th on Ripple Music: European preorder - US preorder

"Look at that moon: we're really in the desert now." — Gary Arce, Desert Sky Studios 2018.

And with those words, the recording session of the second YAWNING SONS album concluded. Recorded live in the deepest part of Joshua Tree, 'Sky Island' reinforces Yawning Sons as a collaborative phenomenon firmly adjoining desert rock heritage with progressive instrumentation.

Before they gathered in Joshua Tree, the YAWNING SONS story started in 2008 when, during the pre-production of their then second album, Sons of Alpha Centauri invited Gary Arce from Yawning Man over to the UK to work with them to develop and record some of the material. From the very first initial session, it was evident that something unique and special had been born. Drenched in reverb and swirling in ambience, the band YAWNING SONS had taken flight. The band, a portmanteau of the two respective collaborative bands, was joined by fellow Yawning Man founder Mario Lalli (Fatso Jetson, Desert Sessions), Scott Reeder (Kyuss, The Obsessed) and Wendy Rae Fowler (Queens of the Stone Age, earthlings?) on vocals. Their debut album 'Ceremony to the Sunset' was released in 2009 to near universal critical acclaim, and within five years was re-released on vinyl, heralded as a "desert classic" and Yawning Sons had progressed to cult status.

In 2020, the band joined the respected ranks of leading Californian independent powerhouse Ripple Music for the release of their sophomore studio album 'Sky Island', to be issued on March 26th, 2021.

YAWNING SONS is:

Gary Arce — guitars
Marlon King — guitars/vocals
Nick Hannon — bass
Stevie B — drums
Kyle Hanson — drums
Blake — effects

'Sky Island' vocalists: 

Marlon King on "Adrenaline Rush"
Dandy Brown on "Low in the Valley", "Gravity Underwater"
Mario Lalli on "Cigarette Footsteps"
Wendy Rae Fowler on "Shadows and Echoes"
Scott Reeder on "Digital Spirit"

RIPPLE MUSIC LINKS: Website ⎪ Facebook ⎪ Bandcamp ⎪ Instagram ⎪ Youtube

YAWNING SONS LINKS: Website ⎪ Facebook ⎪ Bandcamp