The Spacelords - Uranus Omnibus Sanctus (Album Review)

Release Date: September 18th 2026. Record Label: Tonzonen Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Uranus Omnibus Sanctus - Tracklist

1.Uranus Omnibus Sanctus 09:56

2.Survive To Win

3.Whales

4.On The Verge Of Delirium

Members

Matthias “HAZI” Wettstein on guitar,

Marcus “MUDGE” Schnitzler on drums and

Ekhard “AKEE” Kazmaier on bass

Review

Legendary Psych/Space/Stoner Rockers The Spacelords return with their ninth album Uranus Omnibus Sanctus and it’s gloriously trippy and progressive as their previous albums. The Spacelords explore aquatic themes amongst their spaced out musical adventures with a precise technical level of prog rock running throughout the album. The organs and synths have a life of their own set against the thunderous Stoner Rock melodies which oozes vivid Seventies Rock creativity which you can hear from the very onset of the stunning opening title track.

The Spacelords add deft touches of Ambient Rock and Post-Rock into their music which gives their sound quite a spicy mix of aggression. The music flows at its own pace with sudden outbursts of sludgy melodies and classic rock structures developing with a great storytelling narrative leading the way once more. Uranus Omnibus Sanctus feels like that The Spacelords have been reborn in some both musically and creatively speaking as this is the most confident and heaviest I’ve heard from them in quite some time.

Second track Survive To Win opens with a stripped back low-key sound which is very abstract and flirts between Seventies Rock and Eighties Synth driven scores which does offer quite a cinematic based energy.The music settles down for that classic sound The Spacelords are known for with Blues Rock and Space Rock themes combining for a mammoth instrumental jamming session where the band only offer the listener a few seconds here and there to catch their breath. The song is quite jagged on the later stages with some small areas of distorted grooves transforming into a complex maze of Stoner Rock passages.

Uranus Omnibus Sanctus allows The Spacelords to include elements of Eastern Soundscapes into their music which makes the whole thing even psychedelic with a great laid back atmosphere appearing when you least expect this. The jazzy interludes allow The Spacelords to showcase their awesome  technical ability which you can’t help be amazed by.

The final two tracks Whales and On The Verge Of Delirium are some of the best music that The Spacelords have written in years with some of freshest jams, intense and heaviest psychedelic surroundings you’ll hear this year. The record brings in a gloomy Drone and Doomed Out Post-Rock direction within the opening stages on Whales which slowly builds up that eerie aquatic atmosphere before exploring the different levels of Psychedelics before exploding into different strands of Heavy Rock. 

Uranus Omnibus Sanctus is a masterclass of modern day psychedelic music and is about as close to perfection you can possibly get if you’re a die-hard follower of the Space Rock scene and The Spacelord themselves. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for the promo.

Uranus Omnibus Sanctus is available to buy now via Tonzonen Records on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links

Official: https://thespacelords.de
Bandcamp: https://thespacelords1.bandcamp.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TheSpacelords1
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thespacelordsgermany
Facebook: https://facebook.com/the.spacelords

Psychedelic Space Rock Legends The Spacelords Announce New Album Uranus Omnibus Sanctus. First Video Single Streaming.

German psychedelic space rock trio The Spacelords announce new album Uranus Omnibus Sanctus, for release on September 18th via Tonzonen Records.

Check out the new music video fo tritle track Uranus Omnibus Sanctus here: https://youtu.be/l9hmvlPuyKY

One should – no, one MUST never give up – and rarely has this fundamental piece of wisdom been expressed more powerfully – and with such musical intensity! – as a timeless truth than on the 9th studio album Uranus Omnibus Sanctus by the now legendary, Europe-wide acclaimed and highly decorated The Spacelords.

The journey to completing this richly resonant production took the band through a veritable asteroid belt of personal setbacks and technical near-disasters, which the core crew of the stoner orbiter – comprising

Matthias “HAZI” Wettstein on guitar,
Marcus “MUDGE” Schnitzler on drums and
Ekhard “AKEE” Kazmaier on bass

—and yet, thanks to the motto set out at the outset, it became yet another milestone on the journey towards the perfected, unmistakable The Spacelords sound – nirvana.

The song Survive To Win is the musical embodiment of this timeless principle, which has enabled those who unconditionally align their lives with it to achieve the goals they have set for themselves since the dawn of time – and The Spacelords are certainly among them.

This trio, so closely bonded both personally and creatively, is complemented and accompanied by tried-and-tested, like-minded collaborators such as Didi Holzner, who lets his unmistakable organ veils and swathes drift and waft over the ethereally grooving The Spacelords soundscapes – or the masterful work of Eroc, who has co-authored a new chapter in high fidelity within The Spacelords Stoner Sound Bible!

New album Uranus Omnibus Sanctus is due for release on LP, CD and digitally on 18 September 2026 via Tonzonen Records, distributed by Cargo Records Germany – get ready for a sonic journey through highs and lows to astral wisdom and deep-sea-worthy hypnotic grooves!

Pre-order The Spacelords Uranus Omnibus Sanctus on CD, digital and limited edition vinyl formats here: https://www.tonzonen.de/shop

Tracklist

1. Uranus Omnibus Sanctus
2. Survive To Win
3. Whales
4. On The Verge Of Delirium

Links

Official: https://thespacelords.de
Bandcamp: https://thespacelords1.bandcamp.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TheSpacelords1
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thespacelordsgermany
Facebook: https://facebook.com/the.spacelords
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/2RINKqSOf3krAEp1kRxSXd
Label: https://tonzonen.de

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for the details.

KALAMATA - ZENOSYNE (Album Review)

Release Date: June 26th 2026. Record Label: Copper Feast Recordings / Made Of Stone Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

ZENOSYNE  - Tracklisting

1.THERE

2.IS

3.NO

4.COMING 

5.BACK

Members

 

Guitars - Peter Jaun

Bass - Niki Hosseinian-Sereshki

Drums - Olly Opitz

Review

Psychedelic Stoner Rockers KALAMATA return from a lengthy nine year absence to release their long awaited third album ZENOSYNE. I’m a huge fan and admirer of their previous two albums so I was very excited when I received this album to listen to. KALAMATA have redefined their music since their 2017 album with further emphasis on progression which puts their music into the land of Post-Rock and Post-Metal though still keeping their classic Stoner Rock instincts intact.

The album is split into five tracks under the banner of “THERE IS NO COMING BACK” which allows KALAMATA to create a different musical persona for the record. The sound is dense, heavy, thick and superbly melodic which shows the band exploring different musical avenues with some epic SONIC melodies and sludgy distortions coming from the stunning guitar work of Peter Jaun. Sometimes the band feels inspired by the likes of Karma To Burn, Yawning Man, Monkey3 and Earthless whilst for the heavier parts you can hear echoes of Russian Circles and Pelican which adds a whole level of atmospheric dominance.

Everything is wonderfully melodic and gloriously cinematic which allows the music to be described as “FULL BLOWN TECHNICOLOUR” which is down to the great use of Desert Rock, Ambient Rock and Spaced Out environments where it can be grounded and totally outrageous at the same time.

This also feels like KALAMATA’s most personal record to date with an emotionally engaging core developing on the majority of the tracks. My favourite tracks are THERE, NO and BACK which sees KALAMATA in a more reflective mood which not only challenges the listener but also sees the band playing some of the heaviest and most daring music of their career. The band do seem to have taken influence from classic soundtracks and different cultures for the making of this album as it can be quite trippy, surreal and totally left-field for an Instrumental Rock album.

The stunning rhythm section of Niki Hosseinian-Sereshki (Bass) and Olly Opitz (Drums) provide a clinical backdrop of grounded grooves for Peter to work his psychedelic guitars upon. Niki, Olly and Peter are quite forward thinking with how to deliver their music when weaving Post-Rock themes into the wider picture that ZENOSYNE fully represents. 

ZENOSYNE is an instrumental album that has it all which makes this such a brilliantly engaging and warm-hearted record. The journey has the same importance as the destination the record fully takes the listener upon. With a free spirited direction, ZENOSYNE does have some great “JAM” based moments where KALAMATA plays fast and loose with the rules of Instrumental Rock/Metal. 

The album has superbly realised production values which gives this a highly atmospheric and subversive sound especially when the Ambient sound effects linger in the background which leaves you on the edge of your seat thinking where this great album will take you next. 

KALAMATA may have been gone a long time but on the evidence with ZENOSYNE they’ve been sorely missed and will surely be wanting to make up for valuable lost time. They have delivered an outstanding album that will no doubt be considered one of the year’s best instrumental rock albums before the year is out.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR and KALAMATA for the promo.

ZENOSYNE is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Copper Feast Records and Made Of Stone Recordings.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Psychedelic Stoner Rock Trio KALAMATA Announces New Album Zenosyne. First Single Streaming.

With Zenosyne, German psychedelic stoner rock trio Kalamata returns after years of change, upheaval and relentless touring — and simultaneously sets out toward something entirely new. Released June 26th via Copper Feast Records (London/ Amsterdam) and Made of Stone Recordings (Thessaloniki), the album marks the band’s most personal, atmospheric and daring work to date.

Today Kalamata is sharing the first single Coming from the new album.

Stream Coming here: https://kalamata.bandcamp.com/album/zenosyne

The band tells us about the track: "Coming is the pure essence of Kalamata. Heavy, hypnotic drive with moments of quiet vulnerability.“

The title Zenosyne — the sensation that time seems to accelerate as we grow older — forms the conceptual frame for a record that refuses to dictate a single meaning. The five track titles There / Is / No / Coming / Back open a space in which every listener can find their own story: slowing down, appreciating moments, valuing people, using the time we have, or confronting the inevitability of change.

Much has happened since the last album. Kalamata have toured across Europe, endured lineup changes, navigated personal crises and lived through heavy chapters — yet never lost faith in their music. Zenosyne is the distilled essence of these years: a fragment of lived life, captured in sound.

Recorded in late 2025 with renowned producer Ingo Bednarek at his studio in Hannover, Germany, the album represents a shift in approach. While the first two records were raw, direct and recorded live, this time the band focused intensely on detail, texture and sonic experimentation. Fuzz collides with fragile melodies, heavy riffs dissolve into shimmering effects, hypnotic repetition expands into cinematic vastness. The mastering by Role Wiegner (Tonmeisterei, Oldenburg, Germany) adds depth, warmth and a sense of physical presence.

The artwork draws from an old legend of Kalamata’s hometown Hildesheim: the tale of the Hildesheim Maiden who, after finding her fiancé struck dead by lightning, wanders lost through the dark forest until a distant evening bell guides her back to life. The tower from which that bell rang is still known today as the Kehrwiederturm — the “Come Back Tower.”

This story of loss, disorientation and the call to return resonates with the emotional tension of the album, without illustrating it literally. Zenosyne is not a concept album, but a work full of echo chambers.

Musically, Kalamata build on their signature strengths — hypnotic depth, massive bass foundations, trance-like guitar arcs, dynamic drumming — and push them further. Where earlier reviews praised “massive stoner riffs,” “psychedelic soundscapes,” “hypnotic epics” and “a pull you can’t escape,” Zenosyne reveals a band that not only masters these elements but rearranges them with newfound maturity, intensity and vulnerability.

Zenosyne is not just a third album. 

It is a turning point.

A reflection and a departure.

A work about time, change and the things that remain when everything else moves.

The new single Coming is out now, stream it here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/38vbHT9MpukiTuWVmbHzr0?si=FNhz2hlwSc27wEeY3w1YVQ

Zenosyne, the new album from Kalamata is out June 26th, pre-orders with limited edtion vinyl are live here:

Webstore: https://copperfeastrecords.com/products/kalamata-zenosyne-vinyl

Copper Feast Records Bandcamp (incl. single Coming):

https://copperfeastrecords.bandcamp.com/album/zenosyne

Kalamata Bandcamp (Incl. single Coming):

https://kalamata.bandcamp.com/album/zenosyne

Tracklist

1. There
2. Is

3. No
4. Coming
5. Back

Album details

All songs written and performed by KALAMATA
Guitars Peter Jaun • Bass Niki Hosseinian-Sereshki • Drums Olly Opitz
Produced, recorded and mixed by Ingo Bednarek
Mastered by Role Wiegner / Die Tonmeisterei
Photo Hubert Pawkin
Artwork Flora Karger
Copper Feast Records & Made of Stone Recordings

Links

Bandcamp: https://kalamata.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kalamata_band
Facebook: https://facebook.com/Kalamataband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/0fPJpK7HMars0TTr5ljc5j
Label: https://copperfeastrecords.com
Label: https://madeofstone.gr

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for the details.

HUM - Three (Album Review)

Release Date: December 12th 2025. Record Label: Tonzonen Records / Cargo Records. Formats: DD

three - Tracklisting

1.threetoone 03:59

2.freaks of nature 04:08

3.burning air 03:47

4.first contact 02:14

5.humans 05:49

6.march of the lost souls 02:27

7.underground 03:38

8.ashes to ashes 03:57

9.it's up to you 04:08

10.this means war 04:24

11.the HUM 02:23

Lineup

Harri Gottschalk

Martin Kraus

Florian Schnaith

Review

I will admit I was very excited when I received the news that HUM were releasing a new album as I thought this was for the legendary Space Rock Band and not the Psychedelic Stoner Rock band I’m reviewing today. Though, to be fair, this HUM are quite damn good at creating Progressive sounds of their very own with a certain Psychedelic and Space Rock flair. The music is quite freaky and jazzy in places with influences diverse as TOOL, KYUSS, YES and King Crimson. They have also just released their third full length album originally titled “THREE”.

The album spans across eleven tracks with a forty one minute runtime with HUM playing a heavy assortment of Stoner Rock/Metal passages with different time loops and fragmented synths leaning the music into a more fantastical direction. The record opens quite confidently with the excellent opening tracks Threetoone and Freaks Of Nature that does feel very TOOL-esque in places with a witty STONER ROCK approach that has echoes of KYUSS but with HUM doing their own experimental thing. There’s a sudden left-field turn with areas of Surf Rock appearing which gives a very cool sideline in hazy psychedelics and great vocals to match. 

THREE never goes the way you expect with HUM fully exploiting their Prog Rock attitude that brings a more adventurous rhythm to their music on other tracks such as Burning Air, Humans, Underground and This Means War being my favourite parts of the record.

One of the albums main strengths is HUM’s willingness to experiment with different instruments and musical themes that gives the record a highly sophisticated sound even when distorted sounds and freaky passages collaborate with a trippy Spaced Out experience. There is a heavy reliance on Shoegaze, Post-Rock and even Grunge which allows HUM to keep the record remarkably fresh and sometimes unique. 

The production values are excellent whilst offering a minimal aspect for HUM to deliver their music upon and allows the record to be quite cinematic especially within the heaviest moments of the record which there’s a lot of. HUM have delivered the goods with THREE and this is one record worth experiencing time and time again.

 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for the promo.

THREE is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Tonzonen Records / Cargo Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Turtle Skull - Being Here (Album Review)

Release Date: May 23rd 2025. Record Label: Art As Catharsis / Copper Feast Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Being Here - Tracklisting

1.Being Here

2.Apathy 0

3.Into The Sun

4.Bourgeoisie

5.It Starts With Me 

6.Heavy As Hell 

7.Modern Mess

8.Moon & Tide

Members

Julian Frese - Bass guitar

Ally Gradon - Vocals, synths

Charlie Gradon - Vocals, drums

Dean McLeod - Vocals, guitars

Review

Aussie Psych Rockers Turtle Skull latest expedition into Neo-Psychedelic territory with their latest record Being Here is quite muted where the Doom/Stoner Metal aspect compared to their acclaimed 2020 record Monoliths. The band have lost two members since then and have gained Ally Gradon on Vocals and Synth duties. Being Here is still a glorious celebration of Heavy Psychedelic and Sonic based passages with a subtle Sludge Rock environment being stripped back that reminds me of Church Of The Cosmic Skull, Hawkwind and King Gizzard & The Lizzard Wizzard throughout.

Don’t forget the fuzzed up AMPLIFIER attitude of BLACK SABBATH with modern core Doom-Pop sound developing from the very start. The record is quite ethereal and slightly trippy over into Noise Rock, Indie Rock, Grunge and Pop surroundings which builds superbly from the sublime opening tracks of Being Here, Apathy and Into The Sun. 

There’s a dark and gloomy vibe appearing within the lyrics which counterbalances the soulful “POP” vocals from Ally Gradon, Charlie Gradon and Dean McLeod who sometimes all challenge for the position of lead vocalist. It’s quite a breathtaking and refreshing style of vocals to hear with the sludgy and stoner based grooves that remains true to Turtle Skull’s Neo Psychedelic creative vision.

With echoes of distorted amplifiers, sound loops and fuzzy reverb capturing a twisted style of Sixties and Seventies Psych Rock which never loses its sweet natured sounds, themes and uplifting identity despite the seedy and gritty underbelly that develops within the longer instrumental passages on the album. 

One of the main strengths of Being Here is Turtle Skull’s fearless attitude of experimenting with distorted areas of Fuzz, Doom, Prog, Psych, Stoner and Sludge based dynamics. This is quite a subversive record with Turtle Skull being quite philosophical on tracks such as Into The Sun, Bourgeoisie, It Starts With Me, Heavy As Hell and Moon & Tide.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy on Being Here with it’s delicious, addictive and highly aggressive energy which resonates a very HIP and COOL environment especially with the stripped back production values and recording techniques used for the entire album.

Turtle Skull have once again released an album that can easily be described as RETRO, OLD SCHOOL and brilliantly modern at the same time. With a bold, jagged and direct experimental sound that fully delivers within the riffs, thrills, spills and grooves department. If you dig your Heavy Psychedelic music with extra SPICE and AGGRESSION well Turtle Skull would like to have a word with you. 

Being Here is a masterclass of Heavy Psych based Doom/Stoner Rock that feels like a record for the ages….

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for the promo.

Being Here is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via the links below

Art As Catharsis

Copper Feast Records

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Rulaman - Death Whistle (Album Review)

Release Date: April 11th 2025. Record Label: Tonzonen Records / Cargo. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Death Whistle - Tracklisting

1.Death Whistle 08:21

2.Simple Offerings 05:48

3.Valley Part II 06:03

4.Goblin Liver King 09:18

5.We Can't Be 05:40

6.Run Your River Dry 05:44

Members:

Felix Berns - Vox, Guitar

Nils Kunze - Drums, Perc

Joel Büttner - Bass, Keys

Review

Death Whistle is the new album from Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers Rulaman who impress from the onset with their earthy and organic heavy instrumental passages which has quite a gloomy and solitary flow throughout. However, Rulaman adds a classic Proto Doom and Occult vibe to their music which allows them to have a haunting FOLK based persona appearing from the excellent vocals. 

Nothing is what it seems with Rulaman as they move into heavier Psychedelic passages without notice before transforming into a sullen Psych/Post-Rock sound which they demonstrate superbly on the excellent opening title track of Death Whistle. There are traces of bands such as Green Lung and Uncle Acid appearing within the lyrics but when Rulaman add a Shamanic quality they veer closer to heavier bands with an uncompromising style of Prog Metal. 

There’s some epic ambient beats and  soundscapes starting to appear that is perhaps the creative backbone of the album with Rulaman demonstrating superbly instrumental solos that become quite riff-centric. You can hear other influences such as King Buffalo and All Them Witches but with that complex gloomy melody that Rulaman ultimately excels at.

Death Whistle can be confusing at times with Rulaman exploring a slightly jazzy Psychedelic journey on tracks such as: Simple Offerings, Valley Part II and Goblin Liver King being my favourite parts of the record. Everything is beautifully melodic with a sense of creative chaos being delivered just for the sheer hell of it all. The vocals from Felix Berns are daring, different and superbly delivered when he’s maneuvering through the trappings and rules of Prog Rock, Psych Rock and Stoner Metal where he puts his own personality into the mix. 

The final two tracks of We Can’t Be and Run Your River Dry are perhaps not as strong as the other tracks. However, Rulaman still delivers where it counts and that’s with stylish and highly original grooves of their own making especially on the superbly realized final track of Run Your River Dry.

If you’re looking for a different and daring style of Psych Stoner Metal with some wicked excursions into Doom Rock territory then Rulaman will take you upon a grand musical adventure with their highly superb new album Death Whistle.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Creative Eclipse for the promo.

Death Whistle is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Tonzonen Records / Cargo.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Neo-Psych/Doom Rockers TURTLE SKULL Announce New Album Being Here. New Single Into The Sun Streaming.

Art As Catharsis and Copper Feast Records are proud to announce Turtle Skull’s upcoming record, Being Here, a lush and gritty exploration of neo-psych with indie and alt-pop sensibility, out May 23, 2025.

With Being Here, Turtle Skull have evolved. A new lineup. A fresh approach. A leap forward. While the album builds on the sonic foundations of 2020’s Monoliths, it’s a different beast. Still hefty and considered but more immediate. Made for the moment. A record that values gut instinct over perfection.

Tracked live at NoWave in Mullumbimby, with a paired-back approach to studio tweaking, Being Here captures that ‘lightning in a bottle’ energy that happens when a band fully locks in. New member Ally Gradon’s synths inject fresh energy, swirling around meaty riffs and driving rhythms. It’s expansive yet raw, drawing from the likes of Black Moth Super Rainbow, Idles and Cause Sui with a nod to the cinematic sprawl of Spiritualized and The Flaming Lips. A heavy, heady blend of melody and atmosphere.

The new single from the release, Into the Sun, exemplifies this new ethos, centering poignant musings amid a shimmering wash of synth and surging guitar.

"Into the Sun was a collection of riffs I had from years ago that Ally had always favoured", tells drummer Charlie Gradon. "We brought it to the group and it quickly fleshed itself out. The lyrics came after a particularly rowdy yet fulfilling wedding that some of us went to. It’s about being stuck and needing to be with your people. The day to day mundane vs the hyper connected and profound, and how both are equally important.

Listen + share: https://art-as.org/into-the-sun

"Being Here was much more about good songs that we had freshly written being captured live in the moment" says Gradon. "No click, no excessive layering, no studio trickery. The only thing that wasn’t captured live was the vocals. Choosing to self-produce and mix the album gave us the chance to preserve our initial vision, even if it nearly did kill me."

The album puts a spotlight on songwriting, covering weighty subject matter, from the life-force drain of social media to the relentless march of time. But it does so with a call to stay connected, empathetic and grounded. In this way, Being Here isn’t just an album title. It’s a philosophy. A mantra. A demand to be fully present, to embrace the chaos, the beauty, the weight of it all.

No strangers to sold-out headline shows across Sydney and Melbourne, Turtle Skull have a reputation for epic live performances. They’ve graced festival stages at Camp A Low Hum (NZ), The Gumball (NSW), Vivid (NSW) and Ninchfest (VIC) and supported the likes of Frankie and the Witch Fingers (USA), Earthless (USA) and Stonefield.

With Being Here set for release, the band is gearing up for another wave of touring, kicking off with a 7 March show at the Bergy Bandroom in Melbourne as part of the Brunswick Music Festival ahead of rumoured festival appearances later in the year. Keep your eyes peeled for gig announcements and make sure to catch one of Australia’s most electrifying live acts.

Turtle Skull’s new record, Being Here, is out on Art As Catharsis (AUS/NZ) and Copper Feast Records (UK/EU) on 23 May 2025.

Pre-order is live here, for both the AUS/ NZ edition as well as UK/ EU edition: 

https://turtleskullmusic.bandcamp.com 

In UK/ EU also directly available from the label: 

http://copperfeastrecords.com/shop

Links

Official: https://turtleskull.com

Bandcamp: https://turtleskullmusic.bandcamp.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/turtleskullmusic

Facebook: https://facebook.com/turtleskullmusic

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TurtleSkullMusic

Art As Catharsis: http://www.artascatharsis.com

Copper Feast Records: https://copperfeastrecords.com

Astral Kompakt - Goldader (Album Review)

 

Release Date: November 22nd 2024. Record Label: Tonzonen Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Goldader - Track Listing:

1.Pirsch 06:24

2.Goldader 07:41

3.Welwitschie 05:14

4.Batavische Träne I 05:04

5.Batavische Träne II 05:11

6.Ruin 04:48

7.Levitas 06:19

Members

Marc - Bass

Julian - Drums

Roniel - Guitar

Review

Instrumental Stoner Rock outfit Astral Kompakt weave their own sense of creative sensibility for their highly inventive debut album Goldader which sees the band add layers of Psychedelic Fuzz with the cosmic style of Stoner Rock/Metal the band have at their disposal. There’s a jagged Progressive movement that appears within their music that’s quite jarring to hear when you first listen to the album, though this becomes one of the most powerful aspects of the record.

With a flamboyant style of Post-Rock and Ambient Rock appearing from time to time which allows the more mellow and quieter parts of the album to truly shine which comes into great effect on the exquisite opening track of Pirsch. The sound can be described firmly as Sludgy Space Rock at the best of times with Astral Kompakt adding a massive weight of trippy Instrumental sounds that gives the band quite a dynamic flair which sets the scene for the rest of the album.

Second track Goldader is quite a left-field track with the band employing a fusion of Jazz, Psych, Post-Rock and Desert Rock sounds for a more smoother style of music which only lasts for a few moments before Astral Kompakt return to their dominant Psych Stoner Metal sound. There’s a hidden FUZZ ROCK agenda lurking in the background which gives an extra crunch of HEAVY VOLUME even within the quieter moments. 

One of my favourite underground producers and performers Jan Oberg (EARTHSHIP and GRIN) adds his  masterful production and recording talents by producing, mixing and recording the whole thing. This adds another level of heaviness to the mix which makes the record sound even better especially within the more experimental and dynamic passages that Astral Kompakt play on the later stages of the record.

Third track Welwitschie is pure Cosmic and Space Rock chaos with Astral Kompakt once again playing their own blend of trippy Psychedelic movements with intricate Prog Rock beats that’s spliced with a thrilling Sludge Metal dynamic. This allows this to be one of the standout tracks on the album with the band excelling mostly on the slower parts of the song which brings a muscular drive to the whole album.

For the next two tracks Astral Kompakt offer a heavy two part musical opus entitled Batavische Träne I and Batavische Träne II that sees a more straightforward  style of Doom/Stoner Rock appear with the band still allowing themselves the time to develop some well executed experimental Progressive moments along the way. The abstract Sludge Rock swagger once again is kept very low key and only appears when the time calls for it. The Post-Rock sensibilities of the album sees the band play a subtle style of Jam based Instrumental Rock/Metal with superb Cosmic Rock grooves throughout.

The final two tracks of Ruin and Levitas once again sees Astral Kompakt play with a intriguing stop/start approach with moments of Cosmic fluidity having a slightly Post-Doom and Post-Rock perseverance which is perhaps the heaviest parts of the whole album especially on the sublime final track of Levitas. 

Goldader is a wonderfully poetic record with flashes of true originality appearing throughout whilst remaining true to the core sounds of the underground Instrumental Stoner Rock/Metal scene. I’m going to have to say this is my favourite instrumental album I’ve heard this year and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Give this album a chance and you’ll no doubt be surprised by what you hear.

Awesome. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for the promo.

Goldader is now available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Tonzonen Records.

Links

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/astralkompakt
Bandcamp: https://astralkompakt.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/astralkompakt
Facebook: https://facebook.com/astralkompakt
Label: https://www.tonzonen.de