Ealdor Bealu - Graves Of The Silent Plain (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Graves Of The Silent Plain - Tracklist

1.Ponderay 

2.Abandonded to Decay

3.Erosion

4.Gold Mountain

5.Buried at Boot Hill 

Members

Carson Russell: Guitars, Vocals

Rylie Collingwood: Bass, Vocals

Travis Abbott: Guitars, Vocals

Cameron Elgart: Drums, Guitar

Review

Graves Of The Silent Plate is the next chapter from Americana/Doom/Psych/Stoner Rockers Ealdor Bealu which allows them to transform into HEAVY DOOMED OUT NOMADS of a scorched Desert Rock landscape. This record allows Ealdor Bealu to move into different Post-Apocalyptic areas of the Doom, Psych and Stoner Metal worlds with a stripped back delivery that gives an unflinching style of music to be delivered from start to finish.

The songs can be quite progressive and brilliantly outlandish but Ealdor Bealu feel like they’re doing something truly original and demonically heavy with their Americana imagery which allows a fast-paced Desert Rock identity to fully form and move into sudden shifts of Drone Rock/Metal. The vocals are perhaps all over the place which I mean as a compliment with Ealdor Bealu having three vocalists to call upon with Carson Russell, Rylie Collingwood and Travis Abbott never feeling the need to outshine each other and perhaps work as one cool sounding collaborative unit.

Cameron Elgart’s understated and epic sense of drumming gives Ealdor Bealu a pure cinematic sound that thrives on a sense of adventure. Carson (Guitars), Rylie (Bass) and Travis (Guitar) take care of the more psychedelic and spaced out destructive grooves that helps the whole journey move into another dimension altogether.

Ealdor Bealu plays music inspired by the likes of EARTH, KYUSS and YAWNING MAN but with a fractured and slightly downbeat MELODIC sound that can be quite offbeat, left-field and sometimes depressing. However, Ealdor Bealu always finds the time and creative sound to develop long drawn out instrumental Desert Rock passages that merge the finer, darker and twisted elements of Folk, Drone, Psych, Sludge and Stoner Metal for something can be beautifully surreal. 

All of the tracks are absolutely stunning and essential to listen to but if I need to choose my favourite aspects then I would say: Ponderay, Abandoned To Decay and Gold Mounting with Ealdor Bealu providing haunting and emotionally charging soundscapes where the lyrics can be downright gut-wrenching to listen to especially when Rylie takes the vocal spotlights mostly on the stunning third track Erosion.

Graves Of The Silent Plain never feels forced with Ealdor Bealu tapping into their Prog Rock, Folk Rock and Americana aspect of their sound for the majority of the album. Though, the band always manages to find ways to deliver epic instrumental soundscapes that become superbly destructive and mind-expanding all at the same time.

Ealdor Bealu thrive on being quite off-beat and highly experimental for this record which ranks as their most forward thinking and superbly creative to date. Graves Of The Silent Plain is a multi-layered and hypnotic audio experience that’s amazingly different with Ealdor Bealu once again proving why they’re an unstoppable force of nature that many bands don’t dare to tread.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

You can buy Graves Of The Silent Plain now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Ealdor Bealu links

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Ken Wohlrob - The Conclusion (Single Review)

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

The Conclusion - Track Listing:

The Conclusion

Members

Ken Wohlrob - Everything 

Review

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

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

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

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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Musician/Solo Artist To Check Out - Jon Watkins

Jon Watkins is a Composer/Guitarist from Montreal, Quebec who creates Ambient/Experimental music that draws in other areas of music such as Drone, Electronica, Psychedelic and Post-Rock especially on his latest superb release You Can' Go Home Anymore. This album is the perfect gateway into Jon's haunting creative vision that he's created on many of his subsequent releases which are held on his BandCamp page.

If you like minimalist music with an experimental and abstract edge than Jon Watkins is a solo artist you should definitely check out. Jon's music conveys so many moods despite the solitary feel of it all and the lack of many instruments doesn't stop Jon for creating a superbly engaging release especially on his latest release. The music can be quite cold and unforgiving in places but it can also be warmhearted and uplifting as well.

Check out Jon's music and you'll be surprised what you hear.

Links

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LowFlyingHawks - FUYU (Album Review)

Release Date: August 27th 2021. Record Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

FUYU - Tracklisting

1.Kuro

2.Subatomic Sphere 

3.Monster

4.Midnight

5.Fuyu

6.Darklands

7.Solar Wind

8.Caustic Wing

9.Winter Star

10.Nightrider

Members

EHA – vocals, guitars

AAL – guitars, backing vocals

Dale Crover – drums

Trevor Dunn – bass

Guest musicians

Violins: Martha Domínguez Henkel, Luis Sergio Hernández

Cellos: Luz del Carmen Pastor y Valentín Mirkov

Opera singer: Martha Domínguez Henkel

Review

Doomgaze Rockers LowFlyingHawks return with their 3rd album FUYU and their first release in two years. EHA and AAL are the creative masterminds behind the band but they are joined again by their regular rhythm section with Dale Crover (The Melvins) on Drums and Trevor Dunn (Mr Bungle) on Bass who have appeared on their previous releases. 

FUYU concludes the musical trilogy they started with Kōfuku back in Feb 2016 and it seems Lowfliyinghawks have come full circle with this release as they bring some of that celebrated album’s dark sound to this record and matching it with the proggier sludgy themes of 2017’s Genkaku. FUYU sees LowFlyingHawks have another musical makeover or reinvention of themselves bringing a “StonerGaze” identity to the centre of the album.

The album is always progressive with it’s dark messages and themes that are told through punishing instances of Drone Metal, Stoner Metal, Sludge Metal, Psych Rock and a twisted “Post-Whatever” narrative. The vocals are a mixture of clean vocals, harsh growls, drone chants and eerie distorted twisted vocals that you hear superbly well on the stunning second track - Subatomic Sphere.

FUYU is best to listen to the album as one continuous heavy journey into the darker side of Sludge/Stoner Metal. The music is a mixture of Light and Dark moments. Sometimes I was feeling that certain sections of the record were too “LIGHT” and when will the heavy moments appear. Shame on me for doing that. As I wasn’t listening to or experiencing what LowFlyingHawks were trying to convey with their music. Third song Monster being a prime example. Though with repeated listens I started to understand the song more and more which led to this song becoming one of my favourite parts of the album. There are heavy moments but it’s a more “upbeat” approach from the band and it’s a glorious style of Sludge/Stoner Metal that taps into the euphoric moments of Post-Metal whilst not being that at all.

I didn’t want to do a “song by song” review that I normally do for this album. As it’s a soulful and truly cinematic experience that should be listened to as one whole record split into individual albums. LowFlyingHawks have everything covered under the Sludge/Stoner Metal umbrella whilst bringing different strands of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. It’s primarily a Doomgaze/Stonergaze sound that the band have perfectly crafted over their past 3 releases.

FUYU is not an easy album to listen to and it’s not meant to be. LowFlyingHawks have always released complex sounding records with dark themes and FUYU is no different. FUYU is perhaps their most accessible release but still retaining that classic LFH element for longtime fans to be fully on board with.

The music as usual is first rate from everyone connected with the record and impresses the most when they bring an orchestral theme, flow and sound to the album. The lyrics are grounded and completely heartbreaking but LowFlyingHawks still retain a positive and upbeat message from start to finish. 

The final part of the album with Caustic Wing, Winter Star and Nightrider is the best part of the album and one of the most exciting pieces of music that LowFlyingHawks have recorded. Everything is played LOUD and QUIET with a sound that goes across the whole Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal spectrum with trippy vocals, grooves and riffs that remain heartbreakingly original and sonically progressive

Standout songs: Monster, Midnight, FUYU, Caustic Wing and Nighrider.

FUYU is another masterclass from LowFlyingHawks and I’m hoping this isn’t the end of the journey for LowFlyingHawks as they’re one of my favourite underground bands. I want to hear more from the band but if FUYU is the end of the line then what an album to end their journey with. As this is my favourite album from them and definitely perhaps of the best records I’ve heard this year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Magnetic Eye Records for the promo.

FUYu will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records from August 27th 2021.

Worldwide: en.merhq.spkr.media/magnetic-eye-records/low-flying-hawks-fuyu.html US/Canada: us.merhq.spkr.media/magnetic-eye-records/low-flying-hawks-fuyu.html

Links:

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codeia - to be elevated beyond the crumbling skies (Album Review)

Release Date: July 31st 2021. Record Label: Narshardaa Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

to be elevated beyond the crumbling skies - Tracklisting

1.mercury feathers 28:27

2.DIGITAL ONLY BONUS TRACK: shrouded in feathers (mercury feathers reconstructed by auvikogue) 29:23

Members

Denis S. (Bass, Vocals)

Timo L. (Drums)

Markus L. (Guitars)

Review

“to be elevated beyond the crumbling skies” is the new release from German Cinematic Post-Rockers/Post-Metallers codeia and this record sees the band branch out from their earlier releases with mature themes and heavier vocal imagery. With their earlier releases, codeia remained firmly on the Post-Rock landscape to build their Ambient based Doom/Sludge progressive sounds but this sees the band come kicking and screaming into the Sludge/Post-Metal arena. With a Neurosis/ISIS/Cult Of Luna approach being the main style of play for the album.

There’s only one epic almost 29 minute song (mercury feathers) and codeia are experimental throughout with the different guises and styles held on the record. Haunting and equally demanding with a dark groove that journeys throughout almost every part of the “Post-Whatever” style of heavy music. The ambient textures and clean vocals bring a Justin Broadrick or Godflesh attitude to the mix.

The second song shrouded in feathers is a digital bonus only song and remixed, sorry I mean reconstructed by auvikogue. It’s a totally different take from the original song. This version is more Drone, Psych, Ambient and Industrial based. There are no heavy grooves at all. This song really has been deconstructed down to the bare elements of codeia’s sound with auvikogue giving an almost upbeat makeover to the darker original. 

“to be elevated beyond the crumbling skies” is a bold, daring and superbly put together release with codeia establishing themselves as one the best upcoming Experimental Post-Metal bands around. 

Words by Steve Howe

“to be elevated beyond the crumbling skies” is available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Narshardaa Records now.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp 

BlackLab - Abyss (Album Review)

Release date: May 8th 2020. Label: New Heavy Sounds. Format: CD/DD/

Abyss – Tracklisting

1.Insanity 08:25

2.Fade And Melt 04:59

3.Weed Dream 04:06

4.Amusement Park Of Terror 02:54

5.Forked Road 03:12

6.Chained 04:39

7.Sleepless Night 05:40

8.Sun 07:17

Members

Guitar/Vox - Yuko Morino

Drums - Chia Shiraishi

Review

Abyss is the 2^nd full length album from Japanese Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal duo BlackLab and follows their acclaimed debut album Under the Strawberry Moon released back in 2018. There heavy bleak and blackened doom outlook on life was a great record showcasing a band who weren’t afraid to create heavy bleak monolithic soundscapes with some epic distorted Doom/Sludge Grooves to match.

Abyss follows where Under The Strawberry Moon left off with heavy distorted bleak Doom based grooves with a menacing flair to then that has direct influences such as Black Sabbath, Sunn 0))) and Electric Wizard being used a point of reference and this is where the fun starts as BlackLab run amok with Psychedelic sounds that move onto the next batch of heavy riffs to demolish your hearing with.

Opening song – Insanity – is a heavy nightmarish experience of aggressive Sludgy guitars and distorted riffs that move along at a not so comfortable place as the talented duo of BlackLab pay homage to Black Sabbath on this song but with a more Drone based sensibility to their music. The vocals are bittersweet and demonic at different stages of the album. As the gloomy atmosphere even allows the band to play moments of Fuzz Rock, Shoegaze and Punk Rock with deeply satisfying gloomy results.

Second song – Fade And Melt – gets straight down to business of seeing the band continue playing their bittersweet/demonic personas with heavy down-tuned doomy guitars and glitchy sound effects to match. The song is dangerously exciting with the guitar and drums of Yuko and Chia respectively having a true Punk Rock sound despite the band belonging in a totally different style of music as well. Yuko’s vocal impressive range is excellent with Yuko being all sweet-natured one moment and then truly demonic the next.

Third song – Weed Dream – a sinister sounding Weedian nightmare with BlackLab embracing a more “Stoner” outlook with their music. As the music is more fast=paced and less doom-centric compared to other songs on the album. The guitars are fast-paced and quite off-key in places but there is a subtle charm and brilliant heaviness that makes everything work.

BlackLab continue with their bewitching style of Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal with the rest of the album. As the album only continues to become more sinister and heavier with BlackLab being confident with the wide range of different musical styles they employ on this album.

Standout songs include: Amusement Park Of Terror, Chained, Sleepless Night and Sun.

BlackLab proved on their debut album that they were a very hard band to categorize and define and ABYSS is no different with the band perhaps playing heavier sounds compared to their debut album. Expect the unexpected with ABYSS. As BlackLab have a few tricks up their sleeves to standout from the crowd and play some truly original Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds of their own.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Simon from For The Lost for the promo. Abyss is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from New Heavy Sounds.

Links:

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Bible Black Tyrant - Encased In Iron (Album Review)

Release date: February 28th 2020. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Encased In Iron - Tracklisting

1.A Snowflake of Death's Denial 05:48

2.Valorous 04:11

3.Panic Inducer 06:57

4.Infinite Stages of Grief 03:01

5.Sickening Thrum 05:50

Members

Aaron D.C. Edge: Guitar / Bass / Cello / Midi / Vocals

Tyler Smith: Drum Kit

Review

Encased In Iron is the 2^nd release from Doom/Sludge Metal Duo – Bible Black Tyrant. A band which features members from bands such as LUMBAR and EAGLE TWIN. So that should tell you the calibre of musicians and bleak heavy grooves on what to expect on this album. Aaron D.C. Edge and Tyler Smith make up this bleak sounding unit and this is a much stronger follow-up than their 2018 debut album which I’m a huge fan of.

The band soon find their mission and rhythm on the excellent opening song – A Snowflake Of Death’s Denial – and it’s a gloomy nightmarish sound that allows Bible Black Tyrant to unleash their blend of Progressive Doom/Sludge/Blackened Post-Metal sounds that do sound eerie familiar to their other bands but with a dangerous vibe to them. Aaron’s vocals are “hellish” in tone and nature with the riffs striking the right balance of bleak sounds with elements of Post-Doom sounds appearing here and there.

Second song – Valorous – takes a more caustic approach to their music whilst retaining the bleak heavy atmosphere heard on the opening song but the band start adding some groovier aspects to their music which sounds quite unsettling at times but also offers a few moments of modern sounding Psychedelic Stoner Metal that also appeared on their debut album. The song adds church bells to mix which I didn’t expect and it was quite unsettling to hear especially in the overall context of the song.

Encased In Iron carry on their bleak and hard-hitting narrative on the rest of the album with pitch-black vocals and grooves leading the way and showcasing why Aaron and Tyler are quite highly thought of within the Doom/Sludge Metal community.

The other standout songs on the album are: Panic Inducer and Sickening Thrum which perhaps bring the most fearful and brutally sounding riffs on the album.

If you’re a fan of Eagle Twin and LUMBAR then Bible Black Tyrant is the place where you need to be and perhaps this album. As it’s a more focused record compared to their debut album with a lot more daring ideas despite it’s 26 minute short running time.

Encased In Iron is a fearless statement of intent from Bible Black Tyrant and takes no prisoners with it’s uncompromising blend of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal.

Awesome stuff….

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Encased In Iron is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records now.

Links:

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STAHV - The Sundowner (EP Review)

Release date: February 21^st 2020. Label: Solid 7 Records. Format: Cassette/DD

The Sundowner - Tracklisting

1.Voyage of the Dawndraper 02:38

2.All-Seeing I 07:30

3.Evhgot 07:31

4.The Sundowner 04:28

Members

Solomon Arye Rosenschein - Everything

Review

Psychedelic Post-Rock/Post-Doom Experimentalists – STAHV are back with their new EP – The Sundowner – which runs for 22 minutes. The EP is a collection of different sounds that takes you on a journey that you wouldn’t expect. STAHV embrace a “weirdo” identity on this release with flashes of 60s Psychedelic Rock. Doom Rock, Noise Rock, Post-Rock with an almost Distorted Drone mentality allowing STAHV to play whatever the FUCK comes to their minds.

The Sundowner is what you would from a band overdosing on the beautiful ideas of legendary cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky. I know that may sound strange STAHV but create LUCID MUSIC that not only seeks to elevate the mind but also one that’s quite soothing in places.

The standout two songs have to be All-Seeing I and Evhgot – as the songs feel inspired by Russian Circles and Pink Floyd with lush strands of Psychedelia turning into heavier and warped Post-Doom grooves that both leave you wanting more.

The Sundowner is perfectly named as the EP has the power to lift your mood to blissful heights but STAHV aren’t afraid to take you back to the more bleaker sides of life but the whole journey is one of discovery and I applaud STAHV for trying a different style of music compared to their previous releases.

If you want something to different to listen to that is quite original and different in it’s own right than STAHV will be waiting for you on this excellent release….

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to STAHV for the promo. The Sundowner will be available to buy on Cassette/DD via Solid 7 Records from Feb 21^st 2020.

Links:

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Green Oracle - GREEN (Album Review) And Exclusive Full Album Premiere

Release date: May 31st 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD

Green - Tracklisting

Please
Do
Hallucinogens

Members

Thomas Santarsiero
Matteo Anguillesi
Vanni Anguillesi
Giulia Mannocci.

Review

Green Oracle debut album is a majestic sounding release that bridges the gap between Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Psych and Drone. The album is a heavy and deeply engaging affair with the band offering different Psychedelic Sounds that leave the listener in a meditative state. The album can be deeply challenging to listen to at times especially when Green Oracle switch from straight-forward Psychedelic Stoner Metal to a harsher style of Doom/Drone Metal.

Opening song – Please – is an eighteen-minute epic that starts rather slowly before the band add heavier strands of Spaced Out sounds with a deeply rich Ambient score that reminds me of Ufomammut in places with traces of KYUSS heavy guitars leading the way. The song never outstays it’s welcome and that’s down to Green Oracle’s highly creative use of different Doom/Stoner Metal riffs that have quite an original feel to them. The vocals appear around the eight-minute mark and the song becomes more emotional as a direct result.

Second song – Do – is the most ambitious song on the album as the band take a different approach to the opening song. The eerie vocals create an intense atmosphere with Green Oracle playing Ambient/Drone based Doom for the first half of the song. This may put some people off if they’re expecting heavy sounding Doom/Stoner Metal riffs. This song is influenced by bands such as EARTH and BONG. The song lasts over twenty minutes and most of that time is dedicated to Green Oracle building an ice-cold drone based atmosphere. However, the band do play a “normal” style of Doom/Stoner Metal towards the end of the song. Maybe the band go over the top on this song but it’s a brilliantly weird and highly experimental song that actually makes sense within the context of the album.

Third song – Hallucinogens – carries on the eerie vocals heard on the previous song. However, Green Oracle play the heavy doomed out sounds from the very start and this allows the band to create the standout song on the album. The song runs yet again for an ambitious nineteen minutes and Green Oracle don’t waste a single second creating spellbinding world-weary Heavy Stoner riffs. The second half of the song starts to become heavier and distorted that allows Green Oracle to play some of the heaviest moments held on the album.

If you join up the titles of the three songs, then you can tell the mindset that Green Oracle had in mind for folks when listening to this album and perhaps when they made the album themselves. This album is Heavy Droned Out Psychedelic Stoner Doom of the highest order.

If you dig bands such as BONG, Ufomammut, Hawkwind and KYUSS then you need to check this album out now.

Words by Steve Howe

You can listen to the album here with this Exclusive Album Premiere. Thanks to Mona at All Noir and Gero at Argonauta Records for the album premiere.

You can buy Green on CD/DD via Argonauta Records now.

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SONANCE - To Possess You Entirely (Album Review)

Release date: November 30th 2018. Label: Truthseeker Music. Format: DD/Vinyl

To Possess You Entirely – Tracklisting

1.MANIPULATION DOMINATION CONTROL 19:00

2.I THIRST 06:56

3.TO POSSESS YOU ENTIRELY 03:17

4.A BEACON OF HOPE IN THIS DESOLATE HOLE 06:15

5.SPIRIT WIFE 04:42

Members

Ben - Guitar

Will - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Moog

Chi - Vocals, Bass, Piano

Dave - Drums

Jamie - Drums

Review

To Possess You Entirely is the new album from Ambient/Post-Doom/Post-Metal collective – SONANCE. The band have released a wide range of different albums since their inception. SONANCE have never released the same album twice as they try their hands at a wide range of different genres and sounds. I have a lot of time for the band and they have have released some of the UK’s most highly emotional, bleak and violent Post-Doom/Post-Metal music of recent years.

That’s no different with their latest album – To Possess You Entirely. The album is quite a cold and highly complex release and features some of the harshest moments I’ve heard from the band. I’m still deciding if that’s a good thing. As the music can be too bleak at times.

There is no denying that this is a superbly produced album that will keep the established SONANCE fan-base extremely happy especially with the epic 19 minute opening song – Manipulation Domination Control. This has all the trademark moments that SONANCE are known for. Bleak progressive sounds combine with a sinister and nightmarish Post-Black Metal sound that soon gives way to Ambient, Drone and Post-Rock noises.

The album carries on this with this style of experimental music for the rest of the album but SONANCE do slow things down for the excellent sounding title track. As they play a more Ambient driven Post-Rock sound. I wish the album had more moments of this style of music but I appreciate that SONANCE perhaps wanted to create a more sinister and bleaker experience that I originally expected or imagined.

You may feel that I don’t have much time for this album and that isn’t the case. I feel this album is perhaps SONANCE most daring album to date. However I feel more attached to their earlier works such as Blackflower and Like Ghosts. Though within time I feel I will appreciate this album a whole lot more. I just need to be in the right mood and mindset to live through the epic 40 minute plus run-time.

Overall, To Possess You Entirely is another reason why SONANCE are perhaps one of the finest Doom/Post-Metal Bands the UK has to offer at the moment. They create music on their own terms and that is a rare thing to fully experience within today’s musical scene.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy To Possess You Entirely on Vinyl via Truthseeker Music now.

Links:

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