The Wyldewood Green - Tales of The Wyldewood Green (Album Review)

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Tales of The Wyldewood Green - Tracklist

1.Spires

2.The Mindsplitter 03:11

3.Carnaby Nights 02:18

4.Smith & Strange

5.Souvenirs

6.Maldedo

7.Tangerine Whiskey

8.The Queenmaker

9.Rude Britannia

10.Cadoi

11.Murder In The Electric Cathedral

Lineup

Marco Scarsone: Hammond A-100, Mini Farfisa, piano, guitar, bass, tambourine, maracas and shakers

Jonathan Yang: Drums

Mike Davis: Congas and bongos

Review

Tales Of The Wyldewood Green is the debut album of Heavy Psych Instrumental Rockers The Wyldewood Green and it’s one of the freakiest, psychedelic and far-out records I’ve had the pleasure to listen to this year. This record fully explores the legendary sounds of the Sixties and Seventies Rock scene where the band play music built upon the rhythms of Surf Rock, Heavy Psych, Funk, Punk Rock, Garage Rock, Blues Rock, Classic Rock, Proto-Rock and shades of Stoner Rock.

The Wyldewood Green music is driven by a funk driven Hammond and Organ instrumental score which allows the other areas of Heavy Psych to perfectly drift into your subconscious where the mood even transforms into pure JAZZ ROCK and LIZARD LOUNGE music. Though, the real musical weapon of choice that The Wyldewood Green band explores is classic movie soundtracks. As this record has a classic hipster sound with the jazzy beats and cool intricate psychedelic melodies that wouldn’t go amiss from a Sixties Heist Movie or even a kitschy rom-com. Though, the record does show it’s more dangerous side by employing a Classic Hard Rock style inspired by the likes of The Who, Deep Purple, The Doors and The Byrds. 

With some distorted Stoner-ish guitars appearing along the way, it’s good to see The Wyldewood Green are still keen to add small snippets of modern Stoner Rock soundwaves which gives Tales Of The Wyldewood Green a heightened sense of trippy realism. The album may not be for everyone but if you’re in the mood for some great Heavy Psychedelic beats and sounds that will leave your mind feeling the effects of one of the most glorious LCD trips you’ll ever take without the need for taking that powerful hallucinogenic drug.

The songs are brilliantly written with their own highly individual identity which adds a dreamlike effect on the later stages of the record with The Wyldewood Green even deploying into calmer and soulful Post-Rock swagger. The songwriting is on another level even for an instrumental record as this album does do something different with the whole Instrumental Rock template.

Standout tracks on the album are: Spires, The Mindsplitter, Carnaby Nights, Maldedo, Tangerine Whiskey, The Queenmaker and Murder In The Electric Cathedral. These are the tracks that I found the most engaging on a personal level and which impressed how daringly heavy the record becomes despite this being quite a laid back album for the most part.

Tales Of The Wyldewood Green is an absolute revelation from start to finish with the band creating and playing sounds that shouldn’t really work so well. However, here we are with a debut album that has a great MAVERICK attitude where you can really say that The Wyldewood are true originals which their debut album proves time and time again.

Words by Steve Howe

Tales Of The Wyldewood Green is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl

Links 

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Pharm - Proton Blizzard (Single Review)

Release Date: July 17th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Proton Blizzard - Tracklist

Proton Blizzard

Review

Experimental Stoner Rockers Pharm release their latest single Proton Blizzard which is a fusion of Psych Rock, Sludge Rock, Punk Rock, Doom and Alternative Metal. Imagine PRIMUS decided to solely focus on weird Sludge, Stoner and Doom Metal anthems with a slight skittish Mutoid Man influence lurking behind the scenes. Well, that’s what you get with Proton Blizzard and it's a great song that lives upto to it’s GONZO delivery with freakish beats and a massive Funk Rock attitude. 

Pharm have been on the blog before when I reviewed their previous releases and it’s always good to have them back on here as they always deliver a manic slice of crazy heaviness. The four minutes on offer here veers into different areas of Heavy Rock with a fast-paced narrative that’s delivered through off-kilter melodic vocals, warped lyrics and some thrilling bass lines holding everything together.

The song does feel like it’s been left off a Mutoid Man record but Pharm add their own great style of humour with some subversive moments being played along the way. It’s not the easiest track to fully understand what’s going on but with multiple listens Pharm offers brief glimpses into what is actually going on with this track. Adding some intense Psychedelic beats also thrusts the song into full blown over the top theatrics especially when they change their musical style to a frenzied Thrash Metal delivery towards the end of the track. 

For the uninitiated, Pharm is a breath of fresh air and a creative force of nature where everything goes and a whole lot of things don't make complete sense. If you’re already part of the PHARM program then be prepared for a wild and manic ride that shows brief glimpses where their future releases may be heading!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

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Introduce Yourselves: RRRAGS

What is the name of your band?

RRRAGS

What is the genre of music that you play?

Heavy psychedelic rock would probably cover it, although it does vary a bit.

Can you give a brief history of the band of how it came together and where it is today?

The three of us started out with a jam session in 2017 and felt like we hit it off right away. Four months later we recorded an EP, which we presented at Roadburn, followed by a second album in 2020. 

Our music back then was very traditional sounding: soulful, seventies-styled rock with some funk here and a bit of garage and space rock there, with influences from bands like Grand Funk Railroad, Hawkwind and Stooges.

Two months ago we released a double album, which has a more experimental and distinctively spacey sound.

Photo by Maaike

What can people expect from your music?

Our music is rooted in the tradition of the power trio, keeping the balance between melodic songs and extensive, vibey jamming. At times we’re into heavy riffing, other times we like to space out Motorik-style.

What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?

Our new double album RRRAGS MUNDI shows the complete range of what we have in store. It’s our most diverse and adventurous release by far, so we definitely recommend that one.

Where can people find you on Social Media?

Instagram and Facebook, don’t hesitate to drop us a line if you dig what we do our have any questions! Cheers!

Links

https://rrrags.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/rrrags/
https://www.facebook.com/rrragspower

Thanks to Warren at Plug Music Agency for all of the details.

Almost Honest - The Hex Of Penns Woods (Album Review)

Release Date: November 24th 2023. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Hex Of Penns Woods - Tracklisting

Mortician Magician

Laughter Of The Deer Owl

Alien Spiders

Eyeless Herd

Where The Quakers Dwell

Amish Hex

Haunted Hunter

Colony Of Fire

Ballad Of A Mayfly

Goliaths Lamp

William Penn

Members

Shayne Reed - Vocals/Guitar

Garrett Spangler - Bass

Quinten Spangler - Drums

Davud Kopp - Guitar

Review

Doom/Stoner Rockers Almost Honest return with their new album The Hex of Penns Woods which is based upon folklore, history and culture of Pennsylvania where the band are actually from. Almost Honest also use their own personal experiences on this album as well. So there's quite a lot of different creative elements to this album which draws upon the Occult and various creative themes told through an exciting style of Proto-Doom/Stoner Rock. Almost Honest blend that mysticism with Funk Rock, Punk Rock, Garage Rock and Psychedelic attitudes which they've used within previous releases but none so more convincingly here.

The album has a vintage Garage Rock/Street Doom sound with a seedy Blues Rock flourish where you can detect influences such as Monster Magnet, Fu Manchu, Blue Cheer and Black Sabbath to name but a few especially within the opening tracks of Mortician Magician and Laughter Of The Deer Owl. The mood is quite upbeat despite some of the gloomy subject matter Almost Honest use for the main stories of these banging and kick-ass tracks. The instrumental work is flowing with 1970's Proto-Doom and Punk Rock energy with a sublime 1990's Grunge/Stoner Metal rhythm appearing on the heavier moments. Shades of Post-Stoner grooves elevate from the background and to the forefront of the music before changing into a loud BLUES ROCK explosion. You also have the added bonus of CROBOT's very own Bradley Yeagley sing vocals on the within Laughter Of The Deer Owl

Even though this album draws upon well-known folklore from Pennsylvania it's good to see Almost Honest using their own creative inspirations on tracks such as Laughter Of The Deer Owl and Alien Spiders which perhaps offer the most fun times with this album with a sense of freaky driven music which keeps the mood flowing between Classic Hard Rock and modern day Stoner Rock/Metal. The guitars are plentiful with a pure sense of Hard Rock excess with the reliance of OTT wicked guitar solos.

Fourth track Eyeless Herd does have a distinct early-era RHCP movement to it and it's quite a personal record according to the Press Release that came with the promo. You can tell that through the vocals and intense lyrics that accompany the track. Flashes of fast-paced and aggressive leaning Stoner grooves once again draws upon that FUNK ROCK element. The song does become more DOOM & GLOOM based which allows a more volatile Sludge Rock to appear and take full control of the whole song.

Almost Honest continue to expand within their own personal experiences and the Pennsylvanian landscape with the remainder of the album with more outlandish styles of Funk driven Doom/Stoner Rock with the album even adding Trumpets into the mix on Where The Quakers Dwell. I thought I was listening to a SKA PUNK song at one point but the heavy 90's Funk, Alt-Rock and Stoner Metal sounds keep things on course with the band still playing with a fearless attitude which brings some of the heaviest moments on the album.

The next two tracks Amish Hex and Haunted Hunter have the potential to be future classics for Almost Honest to make themselves known with. As both songs go into many different directions storywise with Almost Honest using tales of the OCCULT within the main inspiration for both songs. These tracks alone offer the most interesting sounds and extended instrumental parts of the album with a subtle Blues Rock flow becoming more DOOM based with flashes of Classic Hard Rock guitars. 

The final section of the album continues the same creative and spiritual journey but with Almost Honest trying a more experimental style when the mood calls for this. The standout tracks here have to be Colony Of Fire and Goliath's Lamp for myself. As they have the most interesting ideas especially how the music plays out. The album doesn't go the journey you expect but lLmost Honest remain true to their creative beliefs and lay down some of the funkiest, freshest and freakiest Stoner based sounds you'll hear this year.

The Hex Of Penns Woods is an unexpected and crazy delight with Almost Honest delivering one of the weirdest and adventurous Stoner Rock albums you'll hear this year. Throw in the epic sounding production values that allows The Hex Of Penns Woods to have quite a contemporary and classic sound that demands your full undivided attention.

This album is the REAL DEAL and could propel Almost Honest onto greater things within the Doom/Stoner Rock scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotions for the promo.

The Hex Of Penns Woods will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records from November 24th 2023.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Psych Punk Rockers WE KILL COWBOYS Release New Live Video For EARTH DEMON

We Kill Cowboys is raw energy. We Kill Cowboys is having a good time. We Kill Cowboys is about flipping the bird to conformity while sipping on some ice-cold Lemonade...

 

We Kill Cowboys is a Cape Town based, four-piece, psychedelic punk rock band, the brainchild of tattoo artist and singer-songwriter, Alex Muller.

The initial project was born out of the 3-month lockdown of 2020 when Alex had the time to rediscover her musical roots and put together a collection of songs for her first solo EP, entitled Let it Burn. The EP was recorded by long-time friend and fellow musician (and legend in the Cape Town underground scene) Jon Shaban at Atomic studio CT (formerly STFD Studio). A record deal with STFD and Just Music swiftly followed and, with lockdown restrictions easing, thoughts soon turned to turning the EP into a live prospect.

While the EP had reflected the more melancholic isolation of the lockdown experience – sparse arrangements, built around acoustic guitar and Alex’s plaintive voice, a gut feeling was compelling her to seek a bigger, more electric sound.

Approaches were made to good friends from years gone by in the scene and soon enough, the group gathered in the live room at the label office to spin some shapes. Things exploded from there with the band drawing on their varied influences, spanning Metal, Punk, Rock n Roll, Country, Western Classical, Indian Raga, Folk, Blues, and a host of other genres. The result was the recently released DIRTY BUSINESS EP.

With the heavier direction the band are heading in with their new material the decision was made to move to Mongrel Records, the rock and metal imprint owned by Just Music. Today’s sees the release of the video for their live in studio performance of new track Earth Demon which will form part of the upcoming studio release set to drop later this year.

 

Lyrically, Alex delivers a raw, uncompromising, and anti-establishment polemic, drawing directly from her lived experiences in the music scene and the world at large.

“Earth Demon, quite simply, is about narcissism. It’s about being in a relationship with a narcissist, being raised by a narcissistic parent and then it’s also a metaphor for society. It’s when the veil is lifted and you’re able to take a step back and see the truth of the situation, how toxic it is and realise it for what it is…We call them Earth Demons. And this song was written for them all.” – Alex Muller

Thanks to Warren at Plug Music Agency for the details.

Links

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Boisterous psych-prog act GONDHAWA to deliver peppy new video today; new EP "Mäanthagorī" out now via Stolen Body Records

Boisterous psych-prog act GONDHAWA to deliver peppy new video today; new EP "Mäanthagorī" out now via Stolen Body Records

Photo Matthias Eyer.

Amazing ethnic and futuristic psych-prog trio GONDHAWA open the doors to their boundless imagination by sharing their wacky and endearing new video. The footage reveals the two tracks of their new EP "Mäanthagorī" - out today through Stolen Body Records. Embark now on a journey to the planet Gondhawa, heading to "Go ! Go! Sinay" and "Toko Mieko"!

French psych-prog three-piece GONDHAWA are an eclectic sonic tumult that ignore geographical and genre limitations. Their imagination ends where the impossible begins! Straddling the line between psychedelic and progressive rock, they write songs in their very own language: Gondhawii. Lulled by science-fiction literature, Gondhawa's luminous and high-spirited universe rubs shoulders with afrobeat, oriental rhythms and the rock'n'roll frenzy. They unveil their new EP 'Mäanthagorī' in full thanks to an off-the-wall astounding new video directed by Matthias Eyer.

GONDHAWA's new EP 'Mäanthagorī' is a successful synthesis of revisited folk music and space rock. Hypnotic loops a la Moon Duo tickle with exuberant and futuristic ethnic elements. The two-track EP was recorded and mixed by Elliot & Stew at La Cuve studio (Angers, France) and mastered by Thibault Chaumont of Deviant Lab. Artwork by Léo Zedinn. The EP is coming out today.

Artwork by Leo Zedinn

GONDHAWA were born in 2018, following the musical wanderings of their three members who met a year before. Evolving in a garage rock direction until then, the three musicians from Angers, France, decided to break out of the mould and set off on a hallucinatory journey inspired by science fiction literature. From psychedelia to oriental music, passing through afrobeat and progressive rock, Gondhawa draw inspiration from all over the World. All of this converge towards an eclectic and singular musical universe, with lyrics written in their very own language : Gondhawii.

On stage, the power trio takes on a whole new dimension by introducing traditional Chinese instruments (sanxian), Malian instruments (n'goni) or a micro-tonal guitar, always seeking to expand their sound spectrum. Their performances are peppered with improvisations, immersing the audience into unique journeys around this rich blend of influences.

Gondhawa's debut album 'Käampâla' was released on October 2021 on Bristol-based record label Stolen Body (Yo No Se, Slift, Karkara, Bad Pelican). Through the micro-tonal groove of "Raba Dishka", the afrobeat stoner power of "Käampâla", or the softness of "Djoliko" - a beautiful ballad lulled by the melancholy of acoustic strings from all around the World - Gondhawa deliver the soundtrack of an interstellar road-movie. Six tracks of electric tornado with a bunch of rhythms and textures.
Gondhawa's new EP 'Mäanthagorī' arrives on November 25th 2022 through Stolen Body Records.

LINE-UP:

Idriss Besselievre: vocals, guitar, sanxian
Paul Adamczuk: bass
Clément Pineau: drums

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Stolen Body Records

Brant Bjork - Jacoozzi (Album Review)

Release date: April 05th 2019. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Jacoozzi – Tracklisting

1. Can’t Out Run The Sun

2. Guerrilla Funk

3. Mexico City Blues

4. Five Hundred Thousand Dollars

5. Black & White Wonderland

6. Oui

7. Mixed Nuts

8. Lost In Race

9. Polarized

10. Do You Love Your World?

Review

Jacoozzi is the "long lost" album by Desert Rock legend - Brant Bjork. This is an album I've been looking forward to hearing for the best part of five years now. When I've interviewed Brant over the years, I always asked him what's happening with Jacoozzi and he always advised that's he's still working on the album and that it will be released when it's ready.

Well the time is now and it's a different album from Brant that we've heard recently. This album is more of a laid-back Jazz influenced album. The album has elements of Funk, Blues, Classic Rock and Desert Rock. Some people maybe surprised with the direction that Brant has took with this album as it's very laidback compared to his recent studio output. This is a good record to hear from Brant and once again this proves why he's one of the best musicians within the Desert/Stoner Rock scene. The album flows at its own pace and is never in a hurry to get from A to B.

Opening song - Can't Out Run The Sun - is a trippy jazz based number with hazy Desert Rock Guitars and Progressive Drums that allows Brant to try a different style of music. The song is one of the best songs contained on the album and offers the perfect glimpse on what to expect for the rest of the album. Sure it's a challenging listen at times but it's equally addictive with Brant's personality shining all the way through.

Jacoozzi has quite a warm fuzzy feeling that allows the majority of the songs leaving you in a daze. Standout songs have to be Guerrilla Funk, Mexico City Blues, Black & White Wonderland, Polarized and Do You Love The World. As this is where Brant has the most fun and creates a wild array of different sounds. The album is never boring and will leave you guessing where the album will take you next.

Brant only sings vocals on the excellent final song - Do You Love Your World. However, Jacoozzi is primarily an Instrumental Rock album that fuses a wide range of different musical elements over the last fifty years or so. The album has its fair share of heavy distorted sounds that I didn't expect at all.

The production is superb throughout and I wouldn't expect anything less from a Brant Bjork record and Heavy Psych Sounds who are releasing the album. Overall, Jacoozzi is another standout album from Brant Bjork. The album may not be for everyone but give this a try and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR, Mona at All Noir PR and Carl at Action PR for the promo. Jacoozzi will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from April 05^th 2019.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp