MOURN THE LIGHT Announce New Album Sorrow Feeds the Silence + Reveal First Single “The Fading Light”

Argonauta Records is proud to announce the return of Connecticut heavy metal force MOURN THE LIGHT with their highly anticipated sophomore album Sorrow Feeds the Silence, due out November 14th on Deluxe Colored Vinyl, CD and Digital formats.

The album spans 9 tracks across 52 minutes, delivering a powerful blend of doom, power and traditional heavy metal, enriched by progressive elements and the band’s signature emotional depth. Mixed and mastered by Jack Kosto (Seven Spires) and featuring stunning cover art by John Gianelli (Haunt), Sorrow Feeds the Silence stands as Mourn the Light’s boldest and most dynamic work to date.

To mark the announcement, the band has unveiled the first single “The Fading Light”, now streaming on YouTube: 

“The Fading Light was the first song written for the new album and it's about how life can defeat you at times, leaving you questioning everything.”

Formed in Connecticut, Mourn the Light first rose to international attention with their 2021 debut Suffer, Then We’re Gone (Argonauta Records), a critically acclaimed release followed by the praised EPs Stare into the Face of Death and The Magic is Calling. Their latest chapter introduced fans to new vocalist Andy Small (Spellmaster, Olyphant), bringing fresh intensity to the band’s evolving sound.

With Sorrow Feeds the Silence, Mourn the Light push beyond their traditional doom foundations, embracing heavy and classic metal influences while exploring more progressive territories.

“Sorrow Feeds the Silence is a full-length album that carries on in our tradition of singing about life’s struggles and connecting with everyone who feels the same way. We are all human with different stories, but we share the pain that comes with all of it.”

Mourn the Light have built a strong reputation through extensive touring in the US and Canada, leaving their mark on festivals such as Stormbringer Metal Festival, Legions of Metal, New England Stoner and Doom Metal Festival, SXSW Stoner Jam ’19, and sharing the stage with iconic acts including Anvil, Artillery, Haunt, Seven Sisters, Satan, Liege Lord, Cloven Hoof, Lich King and more.

Sorrow Feeds the Silence Tracklist:

1. Empty and Hollow
2. The Truth (Was a Lie)
3. The Fading Light
4. Doomed to Fall Forever
5. Sorrow Feeds the Silence
6. In the Shadows (CD Bonus Track)
7. When Dreams Die
8. We Don’t Belong (feat. Stephanie Lussier)
9. Forever Hollow

Stay tuned for pre-order details coming soon!

For more info:

https://linktr.ee/MournTheLight
https://www.argonautarecords.com/

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.

GOATMILKER - GOATMILKER (Album Review)

Release Date: September 16th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

GOATMILKER - Tracklisting

Mission Log 1601

Devils On My Tail

Drawing Near

Tearing Apart

Black Grass

Mountains

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

Storm

Members

Lars Godal – Guitar

Mathias Lieberknecht– Bass/Vocals

Petter Ramberg – Drums

Vegard Lindtveit – Guitar/Lead Vocals

Review.

GOATMILKER’s self-titled debut album is an interesting mix of Doom, Sludge, Stoner and Prog Metal that’s topped off with a level of Psychedelic weirdness that leads into some unexpected chaos along the way. The band are inspired by the likes of Mastodon, Black Sabbath, Cave In, Kvelertak and Slayer in which the listener is treated to within certain aspects throughout the album. 

You have to admire the band’s dedication of not playing safe at all with the different style of Rock and Metal that GOATMILKER have at their disposal. Even the vocals from lead vocalist Vegard Lindtveit can be quite operatic and way over the top but all done in the best possible way. You’re treated to a whole sense of creative madness and warped melodies on the excellent opening track Mission Log 1601. 

The song delves into full on Prog Metal territory before interacting with other HEAVY ROCK genres for a sound that’s quite complex and technical from the start. Imagine Cave In jamming with Mastodon before going absolutely bat-shit MATHCORE crazy and then settling on a dynamic Sludge Rock sound. GOATMILKER continues with that style of music for the remainder of the album but still adding different ideas, grooves and flashy instrumental passages to keep everything surreal that only adds to the magic of the whole album.

The second track Devils On My Tail offers a more dramatic flair with GOATMILKER perhaps being a bit subdued compared to the opening track. As this allows the band to push the creative envelope even further with jagged rhythms and progressive melodies having a certain JAZZ based approach to them. Fans of Between The Buried And Me may recognise certain musical structures here and there but GOATMILKER are always thinking ahead of how to put their own identity into the record which they do to great effect.

GOATMILKER then really go way over the top on tracks such as Tearing Apart, Black Glass, Mountains and Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) with the band fully leaning into a heavier and fantastical style of HEAVY METAL with elements of Thrash, Speed Metal and Groove Metal dominate the musical landscape.

However, the music is so damn catchy and highly addictive which is where I can definitely see the KVELERTAK influence finally starting to emerge. The lyrics are great for the most part but with perhaps a few instances where they don’t match the atmosphere of the intense fast paced grooves.

This is most definitely an EXPERIMENTAL record with GOATMILKER throwing everything into a melting pot with flashes of classic TWIN GUITARS based action making an appearance. This record manages to perfectly capture the more offbeat side of HEAVY METAL from almost every sub-genre possible but giving it a modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal twist.

I will admit it did take me a few listens to fully appreciate the record as it goes into many different directions with each individual song. However, it’s GOATMILKER’s highly engaging vocal performances and bloody sheer determination to play through as many as different genres possible that make this record such a resounding success.

The whole of GOATMILKER deserve credit as they bring their “A” game to this album which makes this an offbeat and brilliantly surreal record that’s full of absolute bangers from start to finish.

This is a must have record. Add it to your collection. You won’t be sorry!!!

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy the album here - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/goatmilker/goatmilker

 

Links

Facebook | Instagram

Gnarwhal - Circuits (Single Review)

Release Date: September 10th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Circuits - Tracklisting

Circuits

Members

Mark Kilbride (vocals)

Benji Straker (guitar and vocals)

Jeremy Straker (bass and vocals)

Layne Rybchinski (drums and percussion)

Review.

Circuits is the latest single from powerhouse Sludge/Stoner Metallers Gnarwhal that is from their upcoming new album due for release in March 2026. The record is a decidedly more progressive song compared to their previous releases. This song is boosted by epic Progressive Sludge sounds with air of Post-Stoner heaviness with the added layers of trippy Psychedelic melodies. Gnarwhal fuses Post-Rock, Doomgaze and Ambient vibes into the backdrop of distorted FUZZY passages. 

There are elements of bands such as BARONESS, MASTODON and YOB spliced into the mix but GNARWHAL still conjure up their own highly powerful and wonderfully polished sound. The vocals are EPIC with a clean, clear and crisp performance by lead vocalist Mark Kilbride. There’s a haunting Alt Metal presence within Mark’s vocals with the rest of the band conjuring up intense Sludge/Stoner grooves that have a subtle riff-centric approach.

On this evidence alone, Gnarwhal have genuinely made me excited to hear their upcoming full length album which could endear them even further to the Sludge/Stoner Metal underground community.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

http://gnarwhalband.com

http://facebook.com/gnarmusic
http://instagram.com/gnarwhalsounds
https://gnarwhalband.bandcamp.com

Cosmic Reaper - Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned (Album Review)

Release Date: September 26th 2025. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned - Tracklisting

1. Hammer

2. Bloodfeather

3. Pot Of Gold

4. Parasites

5. Dwelling

6. Perfect Organism

7. Bones

8. Waiting by the Gallows

Members

Thad Collis - Vocals / Guitar

Peter Snasdell - Guitar

Garrett Garlington - Bass

Jeremy Grobsmith - Drums

Review.

Doom/Stoner Metallers Cosmic Reaper return with their latest album Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned which sees the band become master practitioners of the Proto-Metal world with their sound playing homage to the likes of Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Candlemass and Pentagram. What makes Cosmic Reaper standout is their foray into areas of Psych, Space and Cosmic pastures with certain elements of Alt Metal and Grunge to give their sound quite a destructive and distinctive quality.

This time round Cosmic Reaper performs with a mature storytelling aspect compared to their celebrated debut album with tales of horror and science fiction that allows the album to be quite fantastical and horror obsessive at the best possible moments. The lyrics have a real blood curling effect with Thad Collis vocals settling firmly into the role of Ringmaster and master storyteller all in one go.

The music itself is destructively heavy and downright gloomy with flashes of aggressive melodies with flashes of MONOLORD-esque FUZZY heaviness injected within the Proto-Doom surroundings of the superbly played opening tracks of Hammer, Bloodfeather and Pot Of Gold. Sludgy guitars can be felt more than ever that allows the excellent rhythm section of Garrett Garlington (Bass) and Jeremy Grobsmith (Drums) generate a pounding and intense Doom Metal ENGINE that really makes Cosmic Reaper actually tick and perform to the best of their musical abilities.

Thad also handles guitar duties along with newest member Peter Snasdell which gives the band a holier than thou METALLIC quality with down-tuned and suitably paced melodies combining for a record that’s ultimately perfect for the upcoming HALLOWEEN season. Cosmic Reaper have found a great balance of NWOBHM based vibes and influences on the other parts of the record that pushes the whole experience into one of SONIC and AUDIO manipulation with FUZZY and VIOLENT amplifier riffage dominating the musical journey on other standout tracks such as Parasites, Dwelling, Bones and Waiting By The Gallows. 

Cosmic Reaper always have an authentic creative energy to their music which allows the band to merge classic sounds of Seventies Heavy Metal  against Nineties Alt Metal/Stoner Metal that always leads to places you don’t initially expect. There’s excursions into areas of Blues Rock which adds a gritty undertone that fully transforms the backdrop of Cosmic/Spaced Out Doom into something with real human emotion.

Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned is an emotionally satisfying, thrilling and emotionally charged experience with dangerous LEVELS of FUZZ and GLOOMY instrumental passages that leaves a lasting impression long after the record has finished. 

Cosmic Reaper will no doubt make a bigger name for themselves with this truly outstanding record.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

The Dukes Of Hades - Oracle Of The Dead (EP Review)

Release Date: August 29th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Oracle Of The Dead  - Tracklisting

1.Seeds Of Oblivion 05:09

2.Last Rites 03:44

3.Pigs 05:14

4.Constant Grief 04:02

5.Tomahawk 08:00

6.Death Defying Heights 02:52

Members

Gareth Brunsdon - Drums,

Steve Lynch - Sub Octave Guitar/Vocals

Review.

Oracle Of The Dead is the debut EP from Sludge/Stoner Metallers The Dukes Of Hades that featuresGareth Brunsdon (Eternal - pre Electric Wizard), Spirmyard, Sludgefeast) and Steve Lynch (The Electric Shakes, Teaspoonriverneck, Burg & The Vagabond Choir) performing a heavy FUZZED up duo with subtle distorted overtones dictating the melodies and subtle grooves that appear throughout the EP. Helping along their creative journey is Sam Grant (PIGS X7) who helped with studio engineering duties.

This EP is influenced by the 90’s early Sludge and Stoner Metal scenes with aspects of Death ‘N’ Roll appearing in the background. The low & slow attitude of the band really comes to life very early on with influences wide across the musical globe appearing that allows The Dukes Of Hades to have a vibrant, brash, aggressive and wholly addictive sound that should appeal to fans of Electric Wizard, SOURVIEN, WEEDEATER and BONGZILLA. Add the likes of FU MANCHU and KYUSS then Oracle Of The Dead is full of subtle extended sludgy melodies and cool vocals delivered by Steve Lynch.

The six tracks that make up the EP captures the gritty undertone of the UK Sludge/Stoner Metal scene with the fast-paced aspects of the Swedish Doom Metal scene in certain aspects on tracks such as Seeds Of Oblivion, Pigs, Constant Grief and Tomahawk. The Dukes of Hades add a twinge of Blues Metal in different parts of the EP which gives the record a faster and heavier sound that makes you feel there are more members in the band other than Gareth and Steve. 

With a no-nonsense vibe to the production values, Oracle Of The Dead is quite a stacked EP with plenty of different Sludge/Stoner melodic passages which taps right into the classic UNDERGROUND vibe especially within the quieter parts of the EP. This allows The Dukes Of Hades to play a more intriguing style of music with perhaps Pigs and Tomahawk being the standout tracks on the EP.

You can easily see The Dukes Of Hades playing some cool musical festivals such as Desertfest and Stoomfest and whipping the audience into a frenzied state which is the whole vibe of the EP which does remind me of Orange Goblin back in the day.

Oracle Of The Dead is superbly entertaining that lasts under thirty minutes and ultimately leaves you wanting to hear more. The Dukes Of Hades have delivered a high amount of great riffs and sounds in such a compact release that I can’t recommend this EP highly enough. Do yourself a favour and check this great band out now. You won’t regret it!!!

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Black Moon Cult - Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Black Doomba Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig)  - Tracklisting

1.Moonchild Ritual 06:07

2.Supernova 05:12

3.Ophidian Future 08:06 video

4.Sunfish 04:40

5.At The Mountains of Madness 05:43

6.Stoned Ape 08:41

Members

Kaleb M. Riser - Vocals, Guitar, Synth, Electric Sitar

Kevin Lewis - Vocals, Bass, Keyboard, Pipe Organ

Jeff Vandebussche - Vocals, Drums, Percussion

Review

Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) is the latest record from Black Moon Cult who throw every groove, sound, rhythm and melody from the Psych/Stoner Metal movement with this album running for over thirty eight minutes in length. However, the album feels twice as long with Black Moon Cult playing a wide array of different style of melodies with fantastical creative insight. That creative vision is brought to life even further with Prog Rock/Metal techniques being added throughout the album.

With a multitude of different instruments played by the three core members to almost pure perfection especially on the experimental parts of the record where things like Electric Sitar and Pipe Organ make an appearance. However, it’s also the traditional instrumental sounds that make up the majority of the heavy based melodies with intense grooves being overplayed against areas of destructive Fuzz, Cosmic Rock and Space Rock for a sound you don’t really come across that much.

The vocals are EPIC but also wonderfully WEIRD which sees all three members branch out into louder areas of Heavy Metal at the drop of a hat. To confuse matters is Black Moon Cult’s dramatic use of Middle Eastern Trippy Sound Effects which sees this record having a weird “KrautRock” attitude before switching into other areas of Mystical Heavy Metal.

With influences ranging from Black Sabbath, Monster Magnet, Hawkwind, Pink Floyd and KYUSS this never deters Black Moon Cult being their own band where they play their own highly original style of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal with intense lyrics to match. There is a sense of weirdness appearing for all of the tracks but you can’t help be impressed by the band’s storytelling skills and the whole narrative of the record being completely BONKERS but also quite grounded at the same time on tracks such as: Moonchild Ritual, Supernova, Ophidian Future and Stoned Ape. 

Those tracks were the main standouts for myself as that’s where Black Moon Cult impress the most with their fearless playing and intense sludgy melodies that even had a “NO FUCKS GIVEN” attitude being added just for the sheer hell of it. Some may complain that Black Moon Cult are trying too hard here with the multitude of different styles that appear on the record and perhaps maybe play it safer. I’m grateful that Black Moon Cult feel brave and bold to release a wonderfully weird record like this for their debut album.

The band are aiming BIG with Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) and it really does have a gigantic CINEMATIC quality which taps right into the classic heyday of 1970’s Hard Rock EXCESS but delivers this with a free-flowing modern day attitude which is where the REAL MAGIC happens. 

Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) is delightfully weird and absolutely bonkers at the same time. However, it’s also a brilliantly entertaining record with Black Moon Cult delivering a highly anthemic and original sound of their own making.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Metal Devastation Radio PR for the promo.

Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Black Doomba Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

At War With The Sun - Remembrance (EP Review)

Release Date: September 12th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Remembrance - Tracklisting

Remembrance

Become The Void

Members

Karl Bicknell - Bass

Alex Keen - Drums

Jon Weatherill - Guitar/Vocals

Review

Doom/Sludge Metallers At War With The Sun return with their new EP - Remembrance. This is a brutally heavy and slow paced affair with the band creating deliberate Droned Out passages which has a hidden Ambient underscore within the gloomy psychedelic movements the band conjure up throughout the two lengthy tracks that make up the record. This is bleak music with a purpose where At War With The Sun focus upon building up their musical surroundings with echoes of decaying filth and down-tuned grooves for the majority of the EP.

Imagine THOU and BONGRIPPER jamming with SUNN 0))) with the opening track of Remembrance having an excellent melodic aspect at times within the Psychedelic and Post-Doom aspects of the band’s music. At War With The Sun experiment with their Post-Metal aspect of their sound that evolves into an almost Post-Rock creative flow but there’s a sense of hidden darkness always emerging from the shadows. The harsh vocals from Jon Weatherill appear only when they’re needed but with a style that’s always violent, harsh and aggressive but delivered with real purpose.

Some folks may feel that not a lot happens within the seventeen minute plus runtime of Remembrance but this is a journey worth taking as At War With The Sun fully succeeds in portraying a bleak and aggressive track that’s full of emotional sorrow at the same time. The final five minutes of the track is where the band fully bring their riff-centric sound to the Doom/Sludge Metal vortex with long drawn out notes with a flash of Psychedelic Heaviness and Down Tuned Distorted beats being some of the best parts of the whole EP.

Second track Become The Void has a slight Ambient Post-Rock / Post-Doom opening which allows At War With The Sun to conjure up highly destructive Droned Out Doom sounds merged with a highly cautious style of Atmospheric Sludge. Once again, the band takes a less-is-more approach with the music being played at a very slow pace which only allows the listener to soak up the violent melodies once more.

The level of DISTORTED FUZZ is slightly more powerful compared to the opening track but the name of the game for this EP is “LOW & SLOW” which At War With The Sun pulls off with flying colours. Jon’s vocals once again provide a punishing ritual of SATANIC GROWLS that easily fits in with the Drone Metal surroundings that Alex Keen (Drums) and Karl Bicknall (Bass) create by providing a formidable rhythm section.

Remembrance is a startling and brutal EP to punish your senses throughout. This perhaps marks a turning point for At War With The Sun with this being their standout release to date which could even see them gain quite a considerable and loyal following within the UK Underground Metal Scene.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Diaries Of Doom for the promo.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Old Deer deliver scathing mathcore, sludge & more on new album "Someone in the House", out November 7th

Following their crushing 2024 debut EP of sludge, noise, and mathcore “Something in the Water”, Colorado quartet Old Deer return with a vengeance, pushing their sound to new extremities with first full-length “Someone in the House”.

As the title suggests, there is danger within Old Deer’s latest work. An unpredictability of what new sonic violence lurks around the corner, be it the piercing saxophone hidden with “The Hatch”, or the pit-inducing madness and crush of “Take it All”.

Drawing from a wide swath of heavy sounds, the corners of “Someone in the House” hold notes of sludge, doom, and post-metal, woven into foundations of blistering mathcore, noise rock, and post-hardcore.

Chameleon vocalist Matt Conlee delivers harrowing, ear-shredding screams, weaponizing his vocal cords for visceral impact one moment before laying down deep, melodic cleans the next.

In similarly shape-shifting fashion, the guitars and drums reel between brutal hardcore pummel and dizzying, spidery progressions owing as much to jazz as to math and noise.

Old Deer have concocted a heady, frightening brew of dangerous sonics and ill intent on “Someone in the House”, and dare listeners to take refuge within. The LP drops November 7th, and first single “Maelstrom” will storm the gates on September 19th.

Old Deer - Someone in the House

Album out November 7th, 2025 Self-released (Digital, CD)
Denver, Colorado
FFO: Botch, Chat Pile, Kowloon Walled City, Zao

Tracklist:

1. 2eizure 2alad (0:19)
2. The Hatch (5:00)
3. Still so Still (2:35)
4. Take it All (2:40)
5. Astrid (0:49)
6. Someone in the House (8:10)
7. Maelstrom (3:36)
8. 4507 (12:40)

Old Deer is:

Matt - Guitar, Vocals
Josh - Bass
Tyler - Guitar

Adam - Drums

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.