Druidess - Trip Meadow (Album Review)

Release Date: June 26th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Meadow - Tracklisting

1.The Hermit of Druid's Temple

2.Trip Meadow

3.Knightingales 

4.Mandragora

5.Descended from Giants

6.A Witches' Sabbath

7.The Forest Witch's Daughter

Members

Daniel Downing - Guitars, Saxophone

Shonagh Brown - Vocals / Bass

James Hill - Keyboards

Sam Armstrong - Drums

Review

Druidess have already built a fearsome and well deserved reputation supporting the likes of Castle Rat, Slomatics, Dopethrone, Margarita Witch Cult, Josiah and Saint Karloff over the years. They released their debut EP Hermits and Mandrakes back in 2024 which I rated quite highly. Fast forward to 2026 and Druidess have completely reworked their debut EP which makes up the crux of their album. However, this is no mere cash grab with Druidess re-working almost every aspect into a completely different sound with a clearer creative vision and heavier grooves being applied for the album.

Trip Meadow which only expands their heavy blend of Psychedelic, Doom and Stoner Metal. Druidess play areas of Blues Rock, Occult Rock, Proto-Metal and Prog Rock into their music with a slight Sludge Rock undercurrent coming from the excellent guitars supplied by Daniel Downing.

Front and centre of all the action is the highly talented and extremely versatile lead vocalist Shonagh Brown who brings a classic style of Doom Rock merged with a soulful Blues Rock attitude. The vocals are at the forefront of the record for the majority of the record with the rest of Druidess building an epic Doomed Out platform for Shonagh to perform on. The band play closely to the likes of Black Sabbath, Windhand, Hippie Death Cult, The Doors, Green Lung and Monolord. 

Druidess aren’t afraid to go for an OVER THE TOP sound that allows other great instrumental sounds to appear such as Organs, Keyboards and Saxophone. I’ve said before but I’m not the biggest fan of Saxophones being included within Doom and Stoner Metal music. but Daniel Downing puts in a great performance which even I admired leaving me wanting to hear more.

Trip Meadow can be quite TRIPPY and SPACE ROCK heavy where Druidess leave their “Retro Rock” surroundings for a heavier modern day sound with that gloomy Post-Doom sound holding everything together. Though, the sounds of Seventies Proto-Doom and Hard Rock is never too far behind which allows the record to be so damn original throughout. 

Shonagh also provides Bass which she puts in a commanding and aggressive performance with Sam Armstrong helping out on drumming duties where they combine for a massive rhythm section for Druidess to fully operate from. James Hill on keyboards feels like he’s been fed a steady diet of Seventies Prog Rock and Proto Doom albums with the amount of different directions his keyboards actually move into. 

The lyrics have a great classic theme which fully sells the DOOMED OUT aspect of the record especially on tracks such as The Hermit Of Druid’s Temple, Trip Meadow, Knightingales and Witches Sabbath being the main highlights. With a neverending supply of gloomy sound effects and superbly played organs, Druidess have delivered a record that should easily allow them to receive widespread attention that the mighty Green Lung achieved with their first couple of albums.

Trip Meadow is a quality sounding album that is not afraid to move into the darker depths of Classic Doom and modern day Stoner Metal that will leave you completely satisfied when everything is said and done.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Palmer Turner Overdrive  PR for the promo.

Trip Meadow is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Green Desert Water - Eerie Meadows (Album Review)

Release Date: June 19th 2026. Record Label: Small Stone Co Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Eerie Meadows - Tracklisting

1. Northern Lights - 6:08

2. The Blacksmith - 3:51

3. Eerie Meadows - 5:42

4. Woodcutter - 4:07

5. Holy Ground - 5:27

6. Wolfhound - 3:38

7. Bos Primigenius - 3:31

8. Meteora - 5:28

Members

 

Juan Arias García: bass guitar

Dani Barcena: drums and percussion

Kike Sanchís: guitars and vocals

Review

Heavy Psych Rockers Green Desert Water with Eerie Meadows which is their first album in five years. The band have a fresher and highly energetic sound compared to their last album Black Harvest which sees the band lean quite heavily into the Nineties Grunge and Stoner Rock scene without compromising their Seventies Heavy Rock vision. With flashes of KYUSS and PEARL JAM inspired melodies set against the classic rock scene, Green Desert Water add elements of Thin Lizzy, The Who, Cactus and Led Zepp into their music.

The vocals from Kike Sanchis are quite grounded, gritty and that’s held by a highly melodic approach. The songs are expertly paced throughout with the band not wasting a single second on flashy gimmicks of progressive themes which gives this album a true Hard Rock approach. There is a heavy Doom Rock essence that comes into play that fans of The Sword will truly appreciate especially on the outstanding title track of Eerie Meadows.

The song is quite gloomy with a deeply Doomed Out approach appearing within the music and Kike’s vocals being more Proto-Doom obsessed. However, before that great track, Green Desert Water open up with the opening tracks of Northern Lights and The Blacksmith sees Classic Hard Rock, Psych Rock and Stoner Rock grooves combining for a damn good time with superbly written musical structures and sublime lyrics making this one of the strongest openings to an album you can possibly experience.

Though, Eerie Meadows changes the creative landscape for the band as they lean quite heavily into the Doom Rock/Metal side of life which breathes a new level of heaviness for the album. The guitars are perfectly timed with the epic rhythm section having a fine ear for detail. Green Desert Water adds seedy levels of Fuzz, Psych and Grunge which develops into some of the most interesting sounds on the whole album.

From this moment on Green Desert Water are ON FIRE by developing their music even further into a sandstorm of fuzzy melodies, gritty vocals and extended musical passages with layers of Fuzz Rock allowing the band to put those AMPS all the way past ELEVEN. There seems to be a sense of trouble brewing behind the scenes as the album becomes ever more rebellious on tracks such as Woodcutter, Holy Ground, Wolfhound and Meteora.

Eerie Meadows lasts for around thirty seven minutes in length and even though I wish there was another song to push this past the forty minute mark, it’s still an action packed record full of superbly observed moments that allows Green Desert Water to establish themselves once more as one of the premier Power Trio’s the Stoner Rock scene currently has right now.

Production values are another highlight with Green Desert Water never sounding better and perhaps finding their true sound with an intense musical performance that’s their most mature record to date. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.

Eerie Meadows is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Co Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Doom/Heavy/Stoner Metallers PATRIARCHS IN BLACK Release New Song "LEFT BEHIND"

Doom/Heavy/Stoner Metallers PATRIARCHS IN BLACK (Patriarchsinblack) return with their powerful new single “Left Behind”, a dark and deeply reflective track exploring loss, acceptance, and the fragile nature of human existence. Blending personal tragedy with mystical and cosmic imagery, the song reminds us that life is finite - and that what truly matters is the legacy we leave behind.

Singer Daniel Soren explains that the lyrics reflect on real-life hardships and the balance of entropy, growth, and evolution that defines both the universe and human life. “Left Behind” urges listeners not to waste the time they have, but to create meaning while they are still alive.

Watch the official video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlHY4NpA0IQ

The track features a powerhouse line-up:

Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE) – drums
Dan Lorenzo (HADES/NON-FICTION) – guitar & bass
Daniel Soren – guest vocals

Side note: A brand-new PATRIARCHS IN BLACK covers album, “Completely Covered In Black”, is scheduled for release on February 13, 2026.

The new album features stunning covers of bands like Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Peter Gabriel, Twisted Sister, and more. The album also features guest vocals from Mark Sunshine (Unida), Karl Agell (ex-Corrosion of Conformity), Kyle Thomas (Exhorder), Rob Dukes (Exodus), and Bobby Jensen (Hairball). 

Completely Covered in Black features 11 cuts, as well as a vinyl bonus track of a Patriarchs in Black original song titled, "Show Them Your Power."  The CD features 2 bonus cuts including a stunning version of “Kashmir” (Led Zeppelin) and a Patriarchs in Black original titled "Dead and Dying."

Perhaps the best way to understand the point of this album is to read the words of guitarist Dan Lorenzo himself: 

"Johnny and I both love recording cover songs. If you haven’t noticed we REALLY love Kiss. As I write this, it’s only been a week since the death of Ace Frehley. Like a lot of musicians my age, I started playing guitar because of Kiss. On New Year’s Eve, 1978, I had yet to pick up a guitar. My friends and I wanted to play “air guitar” to Kiss Alive! I immediately said, “I want to be Ace.” My other three friends said that was OK for the first song, but we should “switch out” after each song. “No. My house, my rules! I’m going to be Ace for EVERY song.” 

Three months later and I started playing guitar. It would have been nice if SOMEBODY told me Kiss tuned to Eb! Anyway, I then got into Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, and then Judas Priest, Slayer etc. It was Johnny’s idea to do the Peter Gabriel track. A bunch of people flipped over our version of “Games”...maybe thanks to Mark Sunshine’s ridiculous vocal performance..." -Dan Lorenzo, October 23, 2025

Check out this killer new sample of the upcoming release: 

The vinyl is pressed on heavyweight opaque orange vinyl and includes a 12" x 12" insert with photos, liner notes and credits. The CD is housed in a jewel case with an 8-page booklet.  Only 200 vinyl copies will be pressed. Don't miss your chance to own this incredible album from Patriarchs in Black!

Release Date is February 13, 2026 and pre orders are live now!

www.nolifetilmetalrecords.com

TRACK LISTING:

1.     Supertzar (Black Sabbath)

2.     Strange Ways (Kiss)

3.    Destroyer (Twisted Sister)

4.    Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)

5.    Hotter Than Hell (Kiss)

6.    The Chase (Motorhead)

7.    Snowblind (Black Sabbath)

8.    Dragon Attack (Queen)

9.    The Ocean (Led Zeppelin)

10.  Almost Human (Kiss)

11.  Games Without Frontiers (Peter Gabriel)

12.  VINYL ONLY BONUS TRACK: Show Them Your Power (Patriarchs in Black)

13.  CD ONLY BONUS TRACK: Kashmir (Led Zeppelin)

14.  CD ONLY BONUS TRACK: Dead or Dying (Patriarchs in Black)

Links:

www.instagram.com/patriarchsinblack
www.facebook.com/people/Patriarchsinblack/61559097640883
www.danlorenzo.net

Groove/Doom/Stoner Metallers PATRIARCHS IN BLACK release new digital single and lyric video I'm Coming Home

PATRIARCHS IN BLACK release new digital single and lyric video I'm Coming Home.

Dan Lorenzo (Guitars) from the band said the following about the track:

"When Johnny Kelly and I handed in our 4th original album (HOME) to MetalVille Records we had to cut a few songs out of the 17 we handed in. 

We chose to hold off on the track I'm Coming Home because we already had a bluesy track with Frankie Diaz on vocals.

The track which also features former Andrew Dice Clay bassist Sal Iuvara and Dave Seubert from Ten Ton Mojo on harmonica is out now EVERYWHERE digitally as well as a lyric video.

I wrote the song and played guitar and of course Johnny is on drums."

Links

www.instagram.com/patriarchsinblack
www.facebook.com/people/Patriarchsinblack/61559097640883
www.danlorenzo.net

Patriarchs In Black - Home (Album Review)

Release Date: August 15th 2025. Record Label: Metalville. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Home - Tracklisting

Hymns for the Heretic

The Call

Burn Through Time

Frisson

Kaos

Storm King

Celestial Yard

Where You Think You're Going

Beline

Pointed Fire

Enough Of You

Ready To Die

Shadows Grasp

Sweet Blood

Members

Johnny Kelly - Drummer

Dan Lorenzo - Guitar

List Of All Guest Musicians Appearing On The Album

Review

Heavy Rockers Patriarchs In Black return with their latest record Home and like their previous album Visioning it's full of superb collaborations of musicians from the Heavy Rock scene and beyond. Look at the epic guest list for each of the fourteen tracks by looking at the link here. It’s way too many to list here but you have the likes of Kyle Thomas, Karl Angel, Mark Sunshine, DMC, Kelly Abe, Iron Lou Strachan and Dewey Bragg all contributing for this record.

Home is quite action packed with the main members of Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE / DANZIG) and Dan Lorenzo (HADES / NON FICTION) being the constant members playing on every track but they allow their special guests to take the majority of the creative limelight which makes this record such a splendid album to listen to. There’s fourteen tracks with Patriarchs In Black exploring areas of music such as Blues, Doom, Stoner, Funk, Folk, Southern Rock, Rap, Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.

With each song having a different sound, Home is quite consistent with its hard-rocking melodies and soulful energy which is also perhaps the band’s most impressive record to date. The standout tracks on the first half of the album for me personally are: Hymns For The Heretic, The Call, Burn Through Time and Celestial Yard.

As the music effortlessly transitions from HEAVY METAL to CLASSIC ROCK with each guest vocalist bringing their own great style of music to the party. The record can be quite soulful and therapeutic within the quieter and sombre moments. The mood perhaps captures the heavy rock scene from the 1980 to the mid 2000’s which is no bad thing. 

With Johnny Kelly and Dan Lorenzo being the main creative masterminds behind the band, they play their signature style of music with sheer enthusiasm with the neverending roster of guest musicians. There’s some inspired musical instruments on this record with viola, strings, violin and flute making appearances throughout which gives Home an unexpected quality whilst still retaining it’s sense of HEAVY METAL.

I wish I could do a song-by-song review but there’s too many tracks to fully detail here but everyone is an absolute BANGER of the highest order with Patriarchs In Black having every aspect of the HEAVY ROCK and HEAVY METAL scene covered and then some. Other standout tracks include: Where You Think You’re Going, Pointed Fire, Enough Of You, Ready To Die and Sweet Blood.

Any HEAVY RAWK record that has HIP HOP and RAP Legend DMC appearing again deserves multiple listens which you may need for this record alone. As HOME takes so many different turns that you don’t expect whilst offering quite a refreshing take on what you can describe as ROCK MUSIC.

Patriarchs In Black have pulled out all the stops here with HOME and created a record that has a timeless quality to it all. The album is topped off with excellent production values that allows everyone the time and space to impress throughout but the real star is Johnny and Dan themselves. Long may their creative and collaborative partnership continue to thrive so we get great albums such as this.

Words by Steve Howe

Home is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Metalville

Links

www.instagram.com/patriarchsinblack
www.facebook.com/people/Patriarchsinblack/61559097640883
www.danlorenzo.net

Babsovet - Portents In Blood (EP Review)

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

Portents In Blood - Track Listing:

1.Conqueror 03:40

2.Border Reivers 03:24

3.Dagon 05:30

4.Anchorite 04:51

5.Pyromancer 04:29

6.Babsovet 05:24

Review

Portents In Blood is the debut EP from Manchester, UK, Proto-Doom/Stoner Metallers Babsovet who conjure up themes and grooves inspired by the likes of TROUBLE, Pentagram, Witchfinder General and Saint Vitus. There’s an over the top HEAVY METAL sound appearing within Babsovet’s vocals and lyrics which is pure NWOBHM at it’s creative core. The aggressive energy and outlandish sounds remind me of VALIENT THORR jamming with IRON MAIDEN at times especially on the superb opening tracks of Conqueror and Border Reivers.

Babsovet are simply having fun with these tracks and it’s hard not to join in as it’s so wonderfully addictive and completely outrageous at the same time. The music moves along at an exciting fast pace with a sublime CLASSIC HARD ROCK sound allowing the band to play intense grooves that these guys are hugely talented and totally serious about what they do.

The EP does become slightly more serious on the standout third track Dagon which changes the mood drastically for the EP. With a gloomy soundclip opening the track and foreboding vocals allowing the music to become more dominant and violent at the same time. This is Babsovet fully aligning themselves to the true world of HEAVY METAL with their music having a slightly BATTLE METAL complex at times with an excellent use of Psychedelic textures. 

The second half of the EP allows Babsovet to embrace themselves further into the world of Battle Doom and Proto-Metal with moments of Psych Rock, Stoner Metal and Classic Hard Rock perhaps becoming quite thoughtful at times on tracks such as Anchorite, and Babsovet. The final track of Babsovet is the other standout track on the EP with the band once again showing a wealth of Proto-Doom creativity that could allow these guys to have quite the career within the underground scene.

Production values are aggressively raw and minimal which allows Babsovet plenty of opportunity to wreak HAVOC and play a non-stop style of splendid and thrilling grooves that never outstay their welcome. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Scorpion Child to Release New LP, 'I Saw The End as it Passed Right Through Me', February 14 2025

Austin, Texas band, Scorpion Child, plays dark rock and roll that blends haunting themes and atmospheric melodies; a unique fusion of post-punk, hard rock, and brooding aesthetic. The band has returned in 2024, galvanized with a fortified lineup and renewed dedication. Scorpion Child will release its new album, 'I Saw the End as it Passed Right Through Me', on February 14, 2025 via Noize in the Attic Records. The LP is the long-awaited follow up to the band's 2016 full-length LP, 'Acid Roulette' (Nuclear Blast Records), a release hailed as "mesmerizing" by Metal Hammer. Pre-order/save Scorpion Child's 'I Saw the End as it Passed Right Through Me' at this location.

The first taste of what 'I Saw the End as it Passed Right Through Me' delivers lies in wait with the new single, "Outliers", a powerful punch of a song, filled with introspective lyrics, that perfectly encapsulates the band's distinct style. "Outliers" was recorded at Austin's Point West Recording with Charles Godfrey (Black Angels, The Mountain Goats). Stream Scorpion Child's "Outliers" video below

"Outliers" deep dives into the organizational use of fear tactics and the related, unknown forces that we are supposed to run from, or conform to," offers Scorpion Child vocalist Aryn Jonathan Black. "The song is a look into the thought that "they" are always watching us and that we should play the same game from our POV in the shadows."

Scorpion Child just completed a successful autumn European tour which launched on October 3 and included spotlight festival appearances as part of Switzerland's Up In Smoke Festival (w/ Monster Magnet, Slomosa), the Netherlands' Into The Void Festival (w/ Black Tusk, Greenleaf), Germany's Keep It Low Festival (w/ Russian Circles, Inter Arma), Belgium's Desertfest (w/ Conan, Monolord). The tour included a special live set on legendary German music television show, Rockpalast, which has hosted scores of A-level artists such as The Afghan Whigs, Black Pumas, The Cult, and Thin Lizzy, and saw Scorpion Child lauded for its "raw energy" (review here).

Scorpion Child (photo: H. Love)

"'I Saw the End as it Passed Right Through Me' is a quite intense and rather moody record," Black continues. "I wrote these songs from the pits of a deep depression after going through a really rough patch in life where my mental health was very poor. Don't think of it as all gloomy, though, because in our sadness there are always euphoric times of extreme happiness and nirvana. It's truly an honest record, and we are excited to perform it live."

The track listing for Scorpion Child's 'I Saw the End as it Passed Right Through Me', is as follows:

1.) Be the Snake
2.) Actress
3.) Outliers (stream VIDEO)
4.) See the Shine
5.) The Starker
6.) Wired Corpse
7.) Godskin
8.) Hanging Sun

Pre-order/save 'I Saw the End as it Passed Right Through Me' at this location. Exclusive vinyl and physical variants are available for pre-order via Bandcamp.

Scorpion Child is Aryn Jonathan Black (vocals), Asa Allen Savage (guitar), Adrian Arostone (guitar), Garth Condit (bass), and Ryan Henderson (drums). Follow Scorpion Child on Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X for breaking news and updates.

About Scorpion Child:

Scorpion Child wields a sound that hearkens back to when guitar rock ruled the airwaves and going to concerts was the ultimate main event. The Austin, TX quintet released its self-titled debut in 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. 

The album landed at #26 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and #99 on the Billboard Hard Music Albums chart. Following its premiere by Eddie Trunk, iTunes named “Polygon Of Eyes” its “Single of the Week,” and Scorpion Child earned a nomination for “Best New Band” at the Classic Rock Magazine presented “Classic Rock Awards.” 

The group's second album, 2016's 'Acid Roulette' was recorded with GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith [Meat Puppets, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead], and featured the fan-favorite tracks “Reaper’s Danse”, and "My Woman in Black". The band's new album, 'I Saw The End as it Passed Right Through Me', is set for release on February 14 2025.

Thanks to Action PR for all of the details.

Patriarchs In Black - Visioning (Album Review)

Release Date: July 19th 2024. Record Label: Metaville. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Visioning: Tracklisting

1. Entry

2. What Do They Know? for the champions)

3. Before I Go

4. Heart Of Spite

5. Low Price

6. Welcome To Hell Again

7. Whiskey On My Mind

8. Empty Cup

9. Curse My Name

10. A Few Good Men

11. Birth

12. Visioning 

Members

Johnny Kelly - drums

Dan Lorenzo - guitars

Review

Heavy Metallers Patriarchs In Black return with their third album Visioning and sees the band continue their quest in forging many different musical alliances outside the Doom Metal, Southern Rock and Stoner Metal circles they normally venture into. The album has the following guest appearances who appear on the record: Dave Neabore (Dog Eat Dog), Karl Agell (Corrosion Of Conformity), Eric Morgan (A Pale Horse Named Death), Mark Sunshine (Unida), Jason McMaster (Watchtower), Kyle Thomas (Exhorder) and many more.

Some of those guests appeared within their last album My Veneration which was a spellbinding mix of Heavy Grooves and Southern Rock vibes with a KICK-ASS classic sounding Hard Rock sensibility and Visioning continues that familiar vibe with a few great surprises along the way. The record can be quite contemporary and has moments of Post-Doom and Gothic Doom into the mix on tracks such as Entry, What Do They Know? for the champions) and Before I Go. The vocals are quite soulful which have a lasting impact for the majority of the album.

There’s an intense Type-O-Negative influence on this record which is more prominent compared to their previous albums. However, Patriarchs In Black are now starting to find their own voice with their best album yet. The record can be awkwardly melodic one moment and the next the band go into full on rebellious MOOD which screams 1980’s HEAVY METAL EXCESS.

The lyrics can be quite dramatic and hard-hitting which really pulls no punches and other tracks' lyrical content matches the rebellious attitude that I mentioned previously. With echoes of Grunge, Folk Rock, Psych Rock and even Blues Rock appearing but that isn’t the biggest surprise of the record. As Patriarchs In Black include a track Welcome To Hell which fuses Heavy Metal, RAP and HIP-HOP into an exciting mix. This isn’t NU-METAL but isn’t too far off and if you ever wanted to hear a Doom/Stoner Metal track that branches out into HIP-HOP then explore this track to your heart’s content.

Other standout tracks include: Low Price, Whiskey On My Mind,  Empty Cup, A Few Good Men and Visioning which sees Patriarchs In Black excel the most with the most head-banging and heart-thumping moments of the whole album.

Visioning is quite an original Hard Rock and Heavy Metal album that utilizes other musical genres and sees Patriarchs In Black give everything such a fresh spin on things. This is perhaps also down to the multitude of their friends who make guest appearances throughout the album. You can’t argue with the end results as Visioning is bloody brilliant first rate entertainment.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Patriarchs In Black and Metaville for the promo.

Visioning will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Metaville from all good stockists on Friday July 19th 2024.

Links

www.instagram.com/patriarchsinblack
www.danlorenzo.net
www.metalville.de
www.facebook.com/metalville