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Release Date: June 19th 2026. Record Label: Argounata Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Vol II - Tracklisting
Vol II
Blu Bus feat. Sergio Ch.
Ritualism feat. Dome La Muerte
Liquid Brain
Kairot
La Muerte feat. Dome La Muerte
Amanita
Karpura
Members
Izio Orsini
Special Guests & Contributors
Dome La Muerte, Sergio Ch. (Los Natas), Marco Gambicorti (Rancho Bizzarro), Toto Barbato (The Cage, Snaporaz), Omar Tognotti, Giacomo Cerri (Vesta), Rosy Ninivaggi (Profanal), Valentina Erre, Jacopo Pannokkia, Filippo Del Bimbo (Supernaughty), Andrea Appino (Zen Circus), Mattia Cominotto (Green Fog Studio), Giacomo Vaccai.
Review
Psych/Desert Rock/Stoner Rock collective Bantoriak returns after an eleven year absence with their second imaginatively titled album “Vol II”. The record has a spectacular roster of guest musicians to help Izio Orsini, the creative mastermind behind Bantoriak, fully come to life. The album has a wonderfully rich and meaningful Space Rock and Cosmic attitude that acts as the main launchpad for Bantoriak to create music that spreads the vast Desert Rock sounds that come right at you from the very start.
Vol II has a free flowing narrative where the majority of the tracks follow their own creative path which isn’t surprising with the wide range of guest musicians contributing to the album. If you’re a fan of KYUSS, Yawning Man, Monster Magnet, Karma To Burn and Monkey3 then this album will have you fully covered with its trance induced extended instrumental jams. There is a deep Eastern mythology and folklore within the music which gives this record a very unique sound especially within the Ambient and Post-Rock elements that appear within the quieter stages of the record.
Bantoriak does play fast and loose with the rules of Heavy Psych and Stoner Rock with certain songs not following a straight forward narrative as such. However, this is one of the albums main strengths with the non-stop SONIC experimentation reminding me of the classic Monster Magnet record TAB. There’s similarities between TAB and VOL II with warped psychedelics and distorted Space Rock environments combining for a minor battle of SONIC WARFARE within the heaviest moments on the album.
There’s a layer of Prog Rock that allows the listener to immerse themselves even further as Bantoriak starts using Progressive themes and gloomy Droned Out melodies which is also deeply rooted in Seventies Psychedelic Rock surroundings. Sometimes the record can feel a bit overloaded but Bantoriak wisely takes a break to play a more stripped back style of Heavy Psych and Ambient Rock.
Standout tracks on the record for me are: Vol II, Blu Bus, Ritualism, Liquid Brain, Amanita and Karpura. As these tracks are the most focused with heaviest, trippiest and riff-centric on the whole album. Obviously SONIC EXPERIMENTATION and Psychedelic Distortion are the key elements that make this record really standout. There are vocals along the way and they only appear when they’re really needed. When they do appear, they’re mostly based on shamanic chants but it does give an air of mystery to the whole journey of Vol II.
Vol II does have a neverending supply of superb instrumental spaced out jams from start to finish which overlaps with other areas of the whole Desert Rock/Stoner Rock scene. There is a certain Tribal and Ritual presence which makes the whole journey richly rewarding and when Bantoriak is in his creative element then Vol II is in a league of it’s own especially when the sludgy guitars fully take control for brief moments of the album.
It may have been a long wait for Bantoriak to return with Vol II but this album has definitely been worth the wait which will no doubt go down a storm with the wider Stoner Rock community. This is another contender for Album Of The Year especially if you like your music that takes you on a massive journey across the COSMOS!!!
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.
Vol II is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records.
Links
https://www.facebook.com/bantoriakDoom
https://www.instagram.com/bantoriak.ii/
Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Kicks - Tracklisting
1.Snakedriver 05:28
2.Cod'ine 05:28
3.The Future 04:51
4.Kicks 08:06
Members
Chi Lameo - Everything
Review
Kicks is the debut EP from Drone/Doom/Stoner Rock collective snakedrivers which is the new creative project from Spider Kitten’s very own Chi Lemeo. This time round Chi is focusing on playing upon a stylish blend of Drone, Blues, Psych and Stoner Rock and adding a sludgy shoegaze twist to this release.
The features contains four tracks with the first three of them being actual covers with snakedrivers performing Snakedriver by The Jesus & Mary Chain, Cod'ine Cod'ine by Buffy Sainte-Marie and The Future by Leonard Cohen. The songs have been slowed right down and put through a DOOM-POP makeover with Chi adding trippy Shoegaze and Psychedelic effects which adds a level of Space Rock heaviness to the party. The vocals are quite different from what I’ve heard from Chi’s work with Spider Kitten but still offering a sense of seedy realism into the mix with shades of Grunge appearing.
The standout covers are most definitely Snakedrive and The Future. I wasn’t too familiar with Cod’ine but that’s still a wicked interpretation with snakedrivers playing a distorted and droned out Blues Rock sound with echoes of Grunge and Sludgy surroundings which gives a different flavour compared to the original. The same goes for Snakedriver and The Future but you can still hear slight resemblances to the original version.
I was more impressed by the final title track Kicks as it showcases what snakedrivers are really all about. The sound is played at a cautiously slow-to-mid pace with thunderous guitars guiding the listener into a darker Post-Punk and slightly industrial sound. The echoes of Blues Rock allows this track to have similar themes that Spider Kitten have played in the past but the sudden rush of Sludge/Stoner Rock passages aligns the music closer to acts such as Alice In Chains, QOTSA, FLOOR, HUM and TORCHE.
Kicks is a great EP for snakedrivers to release as their debut release. As it showcases a great style of Droned Out Stoner Rock that can easily allow snakedrivers to build up a loyal and dedicated following within the underground scene. I’m hoping Chi has more plans for snakedrivers and release more original music such as Kicks as that’s the standout track contained here.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
LinkTree | BandCamp | Instagram
Release Date: November 07th 2025. Record Label: Supernatural Cat. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Songs Of Abandon - Tracklisting
1.Smiling Dog 02:18
2.Two Stones 03:54
3.The Hidden Ghost 05:08
4.Hourglass 03:22
5.The Moon And The Devil 03:25
6.Mayhem 03:22
7.Little Bird 03:33
8.The Fluorescent Sand 02:31
9.Beautiful Star 04:10
10.Your Eyes 03:26
Lineup
Urlo - Everything
Review
Drone/Doom/Ambient artist THE MON is back with their new album Songs Of Abandon which is the first part of "Embrace The Abandon" which is a two-chapter journey that explores loss and rebirth. For folks not in the know, THE MON is the solo project of Urlo (Bass/Vocals) from the legendary Doom Metallers UFOMAMMUT. This project is about as far as you can possibly get from UFOMAMMUT with Urlo exploring musical genres such as Drone, Ambient, Americana, Folk, Electronica and Alternative Sounds.
Songs Of Abandon is a gloomy experience with THE MON creating a minimal and solitary experience that’s full of emotional wonder with Urlo’s tender vocals set against his Post-Doom instrumental surroundings and subtle Ambient effects. There is a lovely and affectionate style of melody that develops very early on from the opening tracks of Smiling Dog and Two Stones which can be quite carefree and influenced by the dark sounds of the Sixties and Seventies rock scene.
This is quite a different affair compared to THE MON’s 2023 critically acclaimed album THE EYE as Urlo is doing everything himself here where THE EYE had major guest contributions from the likes of Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Colin H. Van Eeckhout (Amenra),Sarah Pendleton (Subrosa, The Otolith) and David W. (White Hills). Songs Of Abandon allows THE MON to go back closer to their earlier releases but still maintaining a similar style heard on THE EYE.
The music is quite experimental and brilliantly therapeutic especially within the standout third track The Hidden Ghost which has a grounded Country/Americana approach whilst adding Post-Doom and Drone based movements within the darker aspects of the track. Urlo’s vocals are earnest and superbly real that offer a stark contrast to his work with UFOMAMMUT. The song works best when the Drone aspect takes charge in the later stages as this album ventures briefly into the domain of Psych Rock and Space Rock soundscapes.
The haunting fourth track Hourglass explores that Space Rock angle for the first few seconds before settling upon an excellent style of Acoustic Doom groove with Urlo’s vocals being its most daring and remarkably honest with some experimental background vocals giving it an outlandish quality. The subtle flashes of semi-acoustic Psychedelic sounds once again twists the creative narrative where you begin to notice the smaller things being played in the background. As this is a superbly realized multi-layered track that will surprise you of how it ultimately plays out and changes the course for the rest of the album.
Songs Of Abandon flirts with a vivid assortment of different musical styles that are constantly evolving which makes this one of the most unique and engaging solo albums I’ve heard in quite some time and THE MON keeps on delivering songs of real beauty and quality especially on tracks such as The Moon And The Devil, Mayhem and Little Bird. However, THE MON still offers moments of intense DOOM & GLOOM quality which gives an unsettling feeling at times but the sheer cinematic and emotional scope that Urlo fully commits himself to is a joy to behold.
The songwriting on the album is simply magnificent and so is Urlo’s musical abilities which once again showcases a different side to his work on UFOMAMMUT. The album becomes quite adventurous with flashes of Post-Rock and Gothic Doom that surprised me in many different ways which appear on tracks Mayhem and Little Bird developing into hazy areas of trippy psychedelics that left me wanting more.
Songs Of Abandon is an absolutely exquisite record that shows how THE MON are at the top of their game with their most deeply rewarding and brilliantly engaging record to date. I can’t wait to hear part two to see where this extraordinary journey takes me. Until then, Songs Of Abandon is a record you all need to experience as soon as possible.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to THE MON for the promo.
Songs Of Abandon is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Supernatural Cat.
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
Release Date: October 21st 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Dystopia - Tracklisting
1.Little Fingers 08:00
2.Black Rains 04:39
3.Above and Below 08:52
4.Regrets 04:28
5.Flying to Nowhere 04:40
6.Falling Down 08:05
7.Rise to the Surface 05:43
8.Dystopia 02:57
Lineup
Music played and recorded by Néstor Ayala Cortés
Review
Dystopia is the latest sonic adventure from Some Pills For Ayala which is the solo project from Néstor Ayala Cortés better known for his work with the Chilean Doom/Fuzz/Stoner Metal band At Devil Dirt. The record should appeal to fans of Brant Bjork, KYUSS, QOTSA and Yawning Man. The record is given a freakish and fuzzed up makeover with an escapist Southern American underground flavour that allows Some Pills For Ayala to move into areas of Drone, Psych, Space and Electronica which is quite potent to hear from the very offset.
Some Pills For Ayala offer a more mind-expanding and lysergic experience which taps quite heavily into the SONIC and FREAKOUT surroundings of Stoner Rock/Metal that feels like Néstor is tapping into multiple worlds and dimension for some of the music he conjures up here.
The mood is quite laid-back for the most part within the opening track Little Fingers where there’s a deep BRANT BJORK energy resonating from the vocals and lyrics before a seedy aggressive burst of Fuzzed Up Stoner Metal taps into heavier influences but still allowing Some Pills For Ayala to generate their own style of epic music of their own making. The trippy and middle eastern beats appear minimally but make a massive impact and impression which becomes quite a common theme throughout the album.
Second track Black Rains is a soulful slice of Space Rock with a great style of Grunge, Stoner Metal and Alt-Metal forming with influences such as Monster Magnet and Alice In Chains beginning to emerge. The whole mood does feel inspired by Alice In Chains especially with the vocals, lyrics and musical tempo changes which makes this such a great track to listen to repeatedly before moving onto the next track on the album. You can expect to hear more SONIC and AMPLIFIER DISTORTION which allows the Sludge Rock aspect of the track to take complete control.
Third track Above and Below sees Some Pills For Ayala to change musical direction yet again with an abstract style of Grunge, Desert Rock and Fuzz Rock with the soulful Stoner based melody having a long distance approach. The song does take time to fully come together but when it does then you’re treated to one of the standout tracks on the album. Levels of synths appear which add a cool sounding ELECTRONIC vibe to the hallucinogenic journey that becomes heavier, faster and aggressive as time passes by. With a rich sounding Post-Rock narrative slowly transforming into finely played strands of Experimental Rock that becomes a majestic Post-Stoner and Space Rock sound before the song beautifully fades into the distance.
Fourth track Regrets is a sullen Ambient/Post-Rock number with brooding vocal passages set against a bleak Psychedelic tunnel which isn’t heaviest but contains some of the most interesting musical arrangements on the whole album.
Fifth track Flying To Nowhere is the most experimental track held on the album with Some Pills For Ayala playing with distorted feedback loops, warped electronics and vocals from another dimension. You can expect to experience areas of sonic experimentation and upbeat space rock grooves. The song is filtered through levels of twisted amounts of DRONED OUT electronics which leave you quite unsettled in places.
For the final three tracks of the album (Falling Down, Rise to the surface and Dystopia) Some Pills For Ayala continues with their warped sense of melody and sonic distortion amongst the world of Heavy Psychedelics and intense Stoner Rock/Metal energy with some of the best grooves appearing on this part of the album. The whole musical dynamic is quite offbeat but also paying loving respect to the Nineties Stoner Metal scene. Vocals are excellent yet again from Néstor with some great lyrics allowing him to demonstrate what a great vocalist he actually is.
Dystopia is quite a challenging and highly unusual record but it’s one that offers a wealth of classic sounding Grunge, Psych, Space Rock, Fuzz Rock and Stoner Metal instrumental passages which is such a dangerously addictive record to fully experience.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Release Date: October 31st 2025. Record Label: Self Released.. Formats: DD
Book I - Tracklisting
1.Commandment I 08:05
2.Commandment II 07:45
3.Commandment III 11:11
Members
Pug - Bass
Rog - Guitar
Terry - Drums
Review
Book I is the debut EP from Instrumental Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Sonic Command who bring a stripped back and dirty energy to their music. The production values are quite LO-FI in places but Sonic Command excel at playing distorted AMPLIFIER melodies with violent levels of FUZZ METAL that’s injected into the final mix.
Sonic Command aren’t re-inventing the scene but they’re playing good old-fashioned Instrumental Doom Metal that does have some exciting mid-tempo changes along the way. As for the most part of Commandment I they play a subtle slow-to-mid pace sound that a certain SLEEP and BLACK SABBATH energy trying to burst out. However, towards the end of this track, Sonic Command become a more thrilling and exciting prospect when they switch to a meaner, heavier and faster style of music which sees an epic slice of HIGH ON FIRE, MASTODON and BLACK TUSK based influence emerging that becomes one of the strongest parts of the whole EP.
The LO-FI surroundings become more welcoming with Sonic Command playing that aggressive and melodic style of Doomed Out Sludge with distorted FUZZ ROCK movements being wholly progressive on the final two tracks of Commandment II and Commandment III.
With a heavy reliance of SONIC DISTORTION and AMPLIFIER FEEDBACK which offers a heavy reverb flow emerging within these two tracks alone. There’s a sudden outburst of Psychedelic rhythms appearing when you least expect it which allows Book I to be a superbly entertaining record with the band making a damn fine impression throughout.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.
All Shadows Stretched will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records) from Friday 18th April 2025.
Links
Release Date: April 18th 2025. Record Label: Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records). Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
All Shadows Stretched - Tracklisting
To Plough the Waves (6:41)
The Depths (7:04)
Amygdala (8:49)
Vacuum Dancer (6:46)
Oval Night (9:08)
Agartha (5:27)
Members:
Francesco Marcolini (guitars, synths, vocals)
Tommaso Faraci (drums, theremin, vocals)
Review
All Shadows Stretched is the second full length album from Experimental Psychedelic Rockers Folwark who draw the listener into a complex style of Psych, Drone, Doom and Stoner rhythms that has a certain Space Rock flavour appearing. The use of Prog Rock imagery only adds a mysterious creative aura to Folwark with a haunting mix of synths, electronics and other experimental beats that gives All Shadows Stretched quite an original sound.
With an abstract Stoner Rock structure appearing within the opening track To Plough The Waves, you can hear influences such as EARTH, UFOAMMAUT and even Alice In Chains appearing. Whilst not exactly part of the METAL world, Folwark demonstrate their own style of unique heaviness which is subtle, calm, aggressive, understated and wildly unpredictable which they fully build upon throughout the album.
The vocals from both Francesco and Tommaso have a certain melancholic quality to them with a sludgy attitude appearing within the heavier moments. The added use of Electronics and Synths adds a level of Doomgaze and Sludge Rock heaviness to the record especially within the excellent second track of The Depths. Folwark plays with a measured sense of calm even when the record drifts into Experimental / Drone territory. The absence of the bass guitar is perhaps noticeable in places but one that doesn’t stop the enjoyment of the album with The Depths becoming one of the standout tracks of the album.
Folwark becomes even heavier and daring on the next part of the album with tracks such as Amygdala, Vacuum Dancer and Oval Night with the Space Rock vibes becoming quite dominant. The eerie Psychedelic beats, noises and glitches start lightning up the dark environments that Folwark projects within the longer instrumental movements and soundscapes that reign supreme throughout. The music can be described as a style of Cinematic Post-Rock with the Electronic beats transforming into moments of Shoegaze.
The sense of experimentation that Folwark creates here is quite bold and vivid in equal measure. The sound does bring a scope of Alternative Metal at times with the lyrics adding a sense of Post-Doom and Gloomy surroundings to All Shadows Stretched.
Folwark impresses the most when they decide to focus constantly more on melody and psychedelic sounds which gives a more straightforward style of riff-centric mechanics to fully emerge within the later stages of the record. Though, the band never fell into the trap of “PLAYING IT SAFE” with each individual track sounding wholly different to each other.
The stripped back production values and recording techniques used for the album is superbly handled which allows Folwark to deliver a record that never outstayed its welcome. This a highly adventurous and intelligent record with Folwark playing a continuous stream of intense melodies and progressive sounds that you can’t help but lose yourself in.
Overall, All Shadows Stretched is a welcome addition to the Experimental Psych Rock scene that will surprise you with the many different sounds, genres and creative ideas that are contained within.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.
All Shadows Stretched will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records) from Friday 18th April 2025.
Links