Crumbling Ghost - Four (Album Review)

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: New Heavy Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Four - Tracklist

1.Bows Of London
2.Bill Norrie
3.Valtz Efter Tor Lohne
4.Lovely Joan
5.Gower Wassail
6.Last Of All Sleep
7.The Unquiet Grave

Lineup

John Mosley – Guitar

Donny Hopkins – Guitar

Ruth O’Loughlin – Bass

Katie Harnett – Vocals

Matthew Atkins- Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Rockers Crumbling Ghost return in spectacular fashion with their latest record Four which is obviously their fourth full length record and their first in a decade. This record has a heavier and diverse array of Doom, Stoner, Fuzz and Folk melodies that’s strengthened by the band’s great use of warped psychedelics and space rock attitude. I always feel that the band never got the recognition they truly deserve for helping to establish the modern day UK Stoner Rock sound that’s benefited so many great bands of late. 

This isn’t Crumbing Ghost playing catch up, this is the band solidifying their reputation as one of the true original bands the UK underground rock scene currently has right now. Four offers a refreshing take on that modern Stoner Rock sound with the band applying Folk, Shoegaze, Indie Rock and Pop influences amongst the aggressive Doomed Out sounds that reminds me of Electric Wizard, Windhand and Black Sabbath in equal measure. 

Check out the superb opening tracks of Bows Of London and Bill Norrie that have different musical perspectives to each other but allow Crumbling Ghost to play a distorted style of Doom Metal that harks back to the days of Electric Wizard in places. The lyrics are brilliantly whimsical and heartfelt on Bill Norrie whilst the music itself is just crushing with epic levels of distorted movements that allows that Shoegaze aspect to hit some really emotional highs for the listener to become part of the whole musical journey that the band have created here.

Each track on Four tells a different musical perspective and story where Crumbling Ghost changes into a different musical persona with freakish jazzy and post-rock beats becoming part of the musical perspective whilst still remaining an essential part of the Doom/Stoner Metal universe. The music is played beautifully throughout with Crumbling Ghost laying down some of the best sounds of their music caterer and with the amazing vocals from Katie Harnett being one of standout elements of the whole record.

The instrumental passages are constantly engaging with Crumbling Ghost giving Russian Circles a run for their money on the standout third track Valtz Efter Tor Lohne which is an intense and first class style of Instrumental Post-Rock with flashes of Cinematic themes appearing along the way. 

The second half of the record moves across areas of Folk, Psych and classic Heavy Rock whilst employing a great style of modern day surroundings which appears brilliantly on tracks such as Lovely Joan, Wassail and The Unquiet Grave. The whole record can be classed as a concept album with an emotionally wrought journey told throughout the album which allows the Folk Rock aspect to really shine but there’s more unexpected sonic and fuzzy delights waiting to be heard from Crumbling Ghost when everything is said and done. 

Four is an exquisite, soulful and beautifully made record which instantly commands your attention as Crumbling Ghost may have released their best album to date. 

Outstanding. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

Four is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via New Heavy Sounds.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Manchester Morgue - III (EP Reviews)

Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

III - Tracklisting

1.The Sorcerer 04:58

2.Farewell To Gleann An Ghad 02:50

3.Betrayers! 05:43

Review

III is the debut EP from Manchester Morgue who fuse Doom, Psych, Folk, Sludge and Stoner Rock into their wider cinematic universe of riff-driven melodies. Their debut EP is a concept record of sorts which is explained by the band below:

“III tells three stories, each dedicated to one of the protagonists of our narrative concept: a necromancer brought back to life, an Irish emigrant fleeing his past, and a fallen nobleman consumed by betrayal.”

III does have a multimedia narrative for the most part but this allows Manchester Morgue to be quite creative with their music with the hidden storylines appearing within the individual tracks. The band have also stated their influence is driven by their passion for 19th-century gothic, adventure and horror literature, B-movies, and pulp imagery.

The EP also has a slight video-game influence as well which allows different sounds and textures to appear with Manchester Morgue playing songs that could easily be inspired by the Red Dead Redemption universe but still creating their own haunting identity. The record is a vibrant mix that’s played on each track with some superb Post-Doom and Gothic sound being played on the excellent opening track The Sorcerer. 

Second track Farewell To Gleann An Ghad is a Folk Rock driven number which is more melancholic and dramatic to the other tracks on the album. It’s perhaps my least favourite song on the EP but it shows a different side to Manchester Morgue compared to the hard-rocking sounds of the other tracks. The song is dominated by a historical Irish background which is quite surprising since the band are actually Italian but they pull this off with superb realism.

Third track Betrayers! is a great style of Doom, Stoner and Psych Rock driven track with Manchester Morgue applying a trippy Eastern vibe into the mix. This feels like a completely different band compared to the other tracks with Manchester Morgue delivering the standout track on the EP. The song feels inspired by the likes of Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid, Led Zepp and Green Lung where the song moves into heavier distorted sludgier grooves. 

III is a solid and superbly entertaining record. I’m still not fully sold on the second track but that will change over time. However,  Manchester Morgue has real potential here and you can feel they have the talent to deliver something really special in the near future. Until then, embrace the dark and twisted fantastical vision that Manchester Morgue has delivered with “III”.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

THE MON - Songs Of Abandon (Album Review)

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

Buzzard - Everything Is Not Going To Be Alright (EP Review)

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

Everything Is Not Going To Be Alright - Tracklisting

1. This Land Is Your Land (Until It's Not) (4:24)

2. Doom Folk Fury (5:14)

3. Screaming Into the Void (5:06)

4. Terms and Conditions Apply (3:35)

5. Fever Breaks (3:38)

6. Take the Tyrant Down (4:51)

7. Lunatic Lighthouse Keeper (3:30)

Member

Christopher Thomas Elliott: vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drum programming, dobro, keyboards.

Review

Folk/Doom Metal artist Buzzard returns with another round of superbly timed politically charged statements with his outstanding new EP Everything Is Not Going To Be Alright. This record follows soon after Christopher Thomas Elliott (individual behind Buzzard) released his acclaimed album Mean Bone back in April 2025. I would say this record is more hard-hitting truths taking aim perhaps at the American way of life and the other bad shit currently going on in the world.

Buzzard doesn’t fuck about with this record and gets straight down to business with his own re-imagination of the classic Woody Guthrie anthem This Land Is Your Land but this time it’s called This Land Is Your Land (Until It’s Not). Buzzard puts his own spin on such an anthemic song with perfectly timed lyrics and heavy semi-acoustic instrumental passages with a fine amount of down-tuned Doom Rock melodies giving the Americana / Country genre a hefty kick in the privates at the same time.

Buzzard keeps up the social justice message with the constantly bleak Doom Folk Fury and I have to say there’s some brilliantly and superbly written lyrics that has an element of Pitch Black Comedy to it all whilst remaining frighteningly real at the same time. The music aggressively moves from Doom, Stoner, Sludge, Country and Bluesgrass based themes which shouldn’t really go together but Christopher is becoming quite masterful at this style of music. Imagine Neil Young channelling the creative spirit of WINO and Conny Ochs and how Buzzard sounds like on this track alone and perhaps the whole record.

Third track Screaming Into The Void is the heaviest and angriest I’ve heard musically speaking from Buzzard as the music is full on Doom Rock with an aggressive Sludge Rock urgency. The lyrics take aim at today's toxic masculinity and MAGA culture where I fully agree with what Christopher is saying here. Buzzard takes no prisoners with this track and his poetic hip-hop beats actually make this track one of the standout moments on the whole record. 

One of the main strengths of Everything Is Not Going To Be Alright is it’s bleak insight into the whole world is going to hell but Christopher inspires a whole wave of hopefulness stating things will get better within time but only if we all change. Perhaps a big BOLD statement but I always have hope in humanity like I do with music and Buzzard continues merging those mission statements against each other which is quite an insane style of hope, emotional baggage and one that puts a great take on the overall human condition.

Buzzard aims big both politically and socially on the other excellent tracks such as Terms And Conditions Apply, Fever Breaks and Take The Tyrant Down. We all know who Buzzard is referring to and I’m fully 100% on board with his decision. The music itself once again sees Buzzard inject waves of Acoustic Rock against the heavier passages of Electric Rock which does dominate the creative landscape on the later stages of the record.

Everything Is Not Going To Be Alright is not only a perfectly timed mission statement but it’s a brilliantly observed and  progressively subversive record that's reflecting our current political age. Buzzard may receive a lot of criticism from a certain political crowd who do reside within the Doom/Stoner Rock underground scene. However, you have to admire his courage and superb songwriting skills to sing about what he feels what’s right. And for that alone he will always have my support.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | BlueSky

Exclusive Song/Video Premiere Of Heavy Blues/Stoner Rockers MALKASIAN New Song THE LONG PIG

We're happy to premiere the new song/video THE LONG PIG from Heavy Blues Rockers Malkasian which is from their upcoming new album which you can listen to below:

The Lowdown

Heavy Blues Album Description

FFO - Queens of the Stone Age, Pride and Glory, Clutch “Heavy Blues” is the feeling.

 The genre is a second order issue.

Heavy

1. of great weight; difficult to lift or move

2. of great density; thick or substantial Burdensome

“Heavy Blues” is more despondent and apathetic. Yearning to feel something when you haven’t been able to feel at all.

This record attempts to honor the essence of the blues while embracing grit, chaos, and indifference to conventions like the heavy alternative scene. It was made because it had to be, “just because....” Tropes about “being born under the blood red moon” and other cliches won’t cut it. The words and feelings are for here and now.

It's heavy influenced blues.

The thought with “Heavy Blues” is blues influenced by heavy alternative rock. Emo blues...even if only by intention, not aesthetic. This blues is more overtly dark, lamenting, melancholy, insouciant, frustrated and affected."

Members

Sean Malkasian - guitars and vocals

Jordan Bettner - drums

Sam Rucker - bass

Dave Rosenberg - harmonica

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the details

Dee Calhoun - Angry Old Man (Album Review)

Release Date: July 18th 2025. Record Label: Black Doomba Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Angry Old Man - Tracklisting

1.A Last Cold Kiss 05:04 video

2.Angry Old Man 05:56

3.Voodoo Queen 05:04

4.A Piece From The Shoulder 05:44

5.Rise Up To March 04:15

6.Give Up The Ghost 04:20

7.VVitch (A Chant) 05:24

8.K*ll A M*ther F*cker 05:18

9.The Damned Human Race 08:27

Members

Dee Calhoun - Everything

Review

Dee Calhoun is back with his latest solo album Angry Old Man and for the uninitiated, Dee is considered a bit of a legend within the underground Doom Metal scene thanks to his stints with the legendary band IRON MAN and the excellent Spiral Grave. Dee Calhoun has been focusing upon his solo records for quite some time now blending Americana, Country, Doom, Blues, Stoner and Southern Rock but all told in a highly fashionable Acoustic Rock way.

Dee is also an acclaimed writer over the last few years and he’s got real talent and credibility with how he writes his lyrics that deal with some pretty dark themes even when they branch over into Horror and Fantasy though this record is mostly based on his own observations with the world.

Angry Old Man is quite an in-depth and highly involving record with Dee Calhoun once again used stripped back musical techniques to generate a gloomy and down-trodden atmosphere which some of the most well known figures of the underground scene have used for their own solo material such as WINO and Steve Von Till.

The AMERICANA and DOOMED OUT COUNTRY BLUES is a big aspect on how this album fully moves along at a cracking slow-to-mid pace. The whole record oozes gloomy atmosphere with Dee being quite political throughout but he does offer some superb wry and humorous sly commentary on certain parts of the album.

The music is quite abstract with ghostly sounds and twangy guitars reminding me of Johnny Cash at the best of times especially on tracks such as A Last Cold Kiss, Angry Old Man, Voodoo Queen, Rise Up To The March and K*ll A M*therF*cker. You can detect echoes of other vocalists that have perhaps shaped Dee’s musical knowledge but it’s his forthright confessional style that shows you what a damn fine storyteller Dee has ultimately become. 

Some parts of the album do become DOOM-FOLK obsessed in places but the solitary Americana and Roots based sound keeps things grounded. You can even detect a sense of MONSTER MAGNET gloomy rhymes in certain instrumental melodies that has a slight passing resemblance to the opening intro of SPACE LORD but that could be just me looking way too much into things.

The political message of Angry Old Man runs deep especially with today’s political climate and fucked up turmoil going on in the world and Dee Calhoun becomes more rebellious on the later stages of the record with Dee perhaps taking political cues from Neil Young is no bad thing at all. 

Angry Old Man is another forthright, bleak and outstanding release from Dee Calhoun who is perhaps in the best creative form of his life at the moment and that’s saying something especially with the career that Dee has lived through and ultimately achieved. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Buzzard - Mean Bone (Album Review)

Release Date: April 11th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

Mean Bone  - Tracklisting

1.Darkness Wins 03:35

2.Crushing Burden of Despair 03:03

3.Murder in the White Barn 04:57

4.Primitive 03:54

5.Changeling 04:52

6.Ghost of Orphan James 04:26

7.Twisted Love 03:24

8.Gadarene Swine 05:11

9.Dunwich Farm 03:34

10.Flies, Mosquitoes, Rats, and Sparrows 05:33

11.Conclusions 03:57

12.Plight of the Planet 04:11

13.Ancient Ruins of the 21st Century 04:17

Members

Christopher Thomas Elliott - Everything

Review

Mean Bone is the latest sonic excursion of Doom Folk and Stoner Rock heavy grooves from one-man virtuoso Buzzard aka Christopher Thomas Elliott. The record feels like a protest and an essential call to arms to the crazed times happening within the United States Of America. Buzzard uses the creative weapons of Doom Metal and Stoner Metal at his disposal to get his essential message across which fuses Americana, Psych, Folk, Blues Rock, Grunge, Fuzz and Sludge for a record that feels more important than ever.

Imagine Neil Young fronting the likes of Saint Vitus, Trouble and Black Sabbath where you feel the creative intent that Buzzard ultimately strives for with Mean Bone. The lyrics take aim at the far right side of the political spectrum with real insight and highly articulate intelligence bringing themes such as AI, Religion, Political Ideology and the real evil of this GREED.

Christopher feels like he’s written a political thesis or downbeat political mission statement told through the power of Doom, Stoner and Folk Music. The music is semi-acoustic for the majority of the tracks and it’s quite sombre though Buzzard can be beautifully heavy that reminds me of Across Tundras at times. 

The album has a loner attitude rebelling against the system on tracks such as Darkness Wins, Murder In The White Barn, Changeling and Ghost Of Orphan Jones that allows the first half of the album to quite therapeutic with the sudden transformation of AMERICANA to full on Doom/Stoner Rock rebellion.

The instrumental works are nothing short of technical brilliance with Christopher’s vocals giving a highly important political voice for a lost political generation. Buzzard even delves into Occult Rock imagery and Post-Punk attitude on the later stages of the record with the SHAMANIC attitude of Buzzard being very hard to describe. You can even hear moments of Space Rock and OTT fantasy themes which  allows Mean Bone to be quite trippy and psychedelic as you can imagine.

Other standout tracks to check out are: Twisted Love, Dunwich Farm, “Flies, Mosquitoes, Rats and Sparrows” and Ancient Ruins Of The 21st Century where Buzzard adds a downbeat Apocalyptic attitude to end the album on quite a depressing ending. The music itself is quite revolutionary and forward thinking with Buzzard creating a whole original sound of his own making which could hopefully inspire or influence a whole generation of future musicians for years to come. 

This is mind-blowing stuff and deserves to be heard by the biggest audience possible within the entire HARD ROCK and HEAVY METAL scene. 

  

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | BlueSky

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Mika Häkki's Stunning Solo New Album Mørker

In the darkest of times you have to look at the dark straight to its core and pick apart the strains and see what makes it tick. ”Mørker” continues on the path that ”Vemod” started. Looking back, looking in and forward. Trying to embrace the darkness while finding your place in it.

”Mørker” was recorded at LÜXFÄLLAN Studios, produced by Kristoffer Ragnstam. All songs written by Mika Häkki, but guests on a few songs were Klas-Henrik Hörngren on keys, Krister Selander on bass and Kristoffer Ragnstam on drums and backing vocals. I’ve really found a great way to work in the studio with Kristoffer Ragnstam that is both creative and fun. Bouncing ideas and trying out different solutions on the go.

Thanks to the kind folks over at Majestic Mountain Records we're excited to premiere the whole album ”Mørker” ahead of it's official release this Friday.

Mørker will be available to buy on digital download via Majestic Mountain Records from Friday 11th April 2025.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Mika Häkki - Mørker (Album Review)

Release Date: April 11th 2025. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: DD

Mørker - Tracklisting

1.Take This Light Away 

2.When You're Old

3.Time Stood Still

4.Couch Anthem 

5.Make No Sense

6.Another Reason To Stay

7.Weighted Daze

Members:

Mika Häkki

Review

Mørker is the new album from Mika Häkki better known as the powerhouse bassist from Doom Metal Heavyweights MONOLORD and this is Mika’s second full length album. Mika’s musical style is quite different to his MONOLORD colleagues with a mixture of Heavy Atmospheric sounds and Composed Laidback melodies which showcase a fine style of Classic Rock, Folk, Americana, Country, Psych, Prog and Post-Rock appearing throughout. 

There is a deft touch of Psychedelic and Sonic experimentation within the album with Mika’s superbly Folk-ish vocal style which traverses through the Soft Rock and Hard Rock elements that Mørker expertly handles. The lyrics are quite insightful and hopeful with deep emotional meaning with Mika hitting upon some dark strands of Gloomy based Rock on songs such as Take This Light Away, When You’re Old and Time Stood Still.

Mørker works best when the 1970’s based haunting melodies and experimental Prog Rock sounds merge instances of Americana, Folk and Psych Rock with Mika keeping a sullen guitar sound as his main instrument of choice. It’s to Mika’s credit that everything sounds real and quite organic with a wide range of musical influences being used mostly from the 1970’s and 1980’s Soft Rock scene but there’s still a small murmur of Post-Doom surroundings appearing from time-to-time. 

Mika is joined by the following guest musicians on the record for a few songs: Klas-Henrik Hörngren on keys, Krister Selander on bass and Kristoffer Ragnstam on drums and backing vocals. They all play splendidly especially during the heavier and darker moments of the album with some trippy and heavy hazy sounds that I didn’t expect.

Other standout tracks include: Couch Anthem, Another Reason To Stay and Weighted Daze.

There is a deeper reliance on Progressive sounds especially on Another Reason To Stay and Weighted Daze. Though Mørker has a few hidden surprises throughout with flashes of Distortion and Fuzz being injected into the mix. I’m pretty certain you can hear echoes of Post-Punk and Gothic Rock within Mika’s instrumental delivery at times but that could be an oversight on my behalf, whatever the sound I originally heard, it’s downright original and offers some of the heaviest and freakiest grooves on the album.

Mørker is an absolute delight with Mika firing on all musical cylinders to create an album which is an absolute delight to listen to and showcase a completely different side to his MONOLORD persona. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life and Majestic Mountain Records for the promo.

Mørker will be available to buy on digital download via Majestic Mountain Records from Friday 11th April 2025.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram