GRIN - Fuller (Single Review)

Release Date: July 24th 2026. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records. Formats: DD

Fuller - Tracklist

Fuller

Lineup

S. Oberg – Bass Guitar

J. Oberg – Drums, Vocals

Review

Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metallers GRIN return with this cool heavy little new number called Fuller. This track features a heavier and distorted sound from GRIN that has a murkier Industrial presence compared to their acclaimed 2025 album Acid Gods. The song still keeps with GRIN’s trademark style of broken melodies and beat-up grooves that merge the heavier Stoner Metal themes with great precision.

There’s a slight Punk Rock sound that develops in the backgrounds with Sabine’s bass guitar having an experimental presence whilst Jan’s vocals and drumming having a more aggressive drive which makes for superb beautiful carnage when they fully join creative focus together. There’s some frantic instrumental sludgy solos forming along the way which shows quite a different Post-Metal dynamic that GRIN have applied before.

Even the sonic and psychedelic movements that appeared on GRIN’s previous releases have been kept to a bare minimum and only make an appearance towards the end of the song. It’s good to see GRIN trying new things with their music and with the promise of a new album in 2027 then we know the band are fully cooking on gas in delivering some finely tuned and pissed off Sludge Metal sounds of the highest order.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

GRIN - Incantation (7 inch Single Review)

Release Date: August 29th 2025. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Incantation - Tracklisting

1.Incantation 03:54

2.The Color Of Ghosts 04:22

3.Echoes In The Static (Bonus Track) 04:24

Members

S. Oberg – Bass Guitar

J. Oberg – Drums, Vocals

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers GRIN return in spectacular fashion with their blazing new 7 inch single which features three tracks that could easily have fit within any of their brilliant albums especially their latest record Acid Gods that was released a few months ago. The sound is full of Slusge Metal aggression with GRIN’s trademark style of Distorted Psychedelics and slight Industrial based melodies that soon goes into Stoner Metal dynamics.

The opening title track Incantation has a nightmarish FUZZ METAL attitude that has a trippy HORROR based vibe that manifests into a surreal Industrial Rock/Metal element built around Jan’s outstanding vocals that is perhaps his scariest and most demonic sounding to date. Sabine’s bass have a devastating and apocalyptic quality to them which allows Jan’s drums to fully hold everything together. There’s a twisted sense of melody appearing which GRIN are absolute masters at. This is one powerful trip into the darker side of GRIN’s creative outlook.

Second track The Color Of Ghosts feels like GRIN are channelling their other projects such as Earth Ship and Slowshine with its sense of twisted Doom-Pop melodies and Sludge Rock aggression. The clean vocals are superb and allow GRIN to play a subdued style of music compared to the opening track. GRIN are at their creative best on this track as it shows a different side to them with a more hopeful based track that fans of FLOOR and TORCHE will love. The final stages sees GRIN return to the heavy Sludge Metal environment they’ve made their names with.

The final track Echoes In The Static is a fast-paced number with a Punk Rock attitude with the music being slightly chaotic with DIY production values that once again shows a different side to GRIN. The song definitely has a “LESS IS MORE” approach but still makes up for thrilling and bombastic beats with Jan’s drumming being quite erratic and unpredictable at times. I mean that as a huge compliment. Sabine’s bass has a dominant and direct vibe that makes it my favourite part of the whole track. The warped Psychedelic sound effects have a soaring and gloomy energy that allows GRIN to end this record in highly spectacular fashion.

Incantation is another epic release from GRIN that once again proves why they’re one of the finest and most hard working Sludge/Stoner Metal bands to emerge from the German underground scene. 

Yeah, I absolutely loved this twisted slice of HEAVY MUSIC and even though it’s only on for around thirteen minutes, this is an essential record to own. Outstanding once again from GRIN!!!

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy Incantation now on Digital Download and Vinyl from The Lasting Dose Records.

Links

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GRIN - Acid Gods (Album Review)

Release Date: May 30th 2025. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Acid Gods - Tracklisting

1.Black Dye

2.Nocturno 

3.Drag Me Down 

4.Beneath The Altar

5.Crystals

6.Unshut 

7.Slivers

8.Wild Eyes

9.Nebulas

10.Heavy Dew

Members

S. Oberg – Bass Guitar

J. Oberg – Drums, Vocals

Review

Acid Gods is the latest entry from Psych/Sludge/Stoner Metallers GRIN where the band explore a heavier and primal sound compared to their 2024 album HUSH. This record feels more closely aligned to EARTH SHIP, the other band that Jan and Sabine are part of. With a heavier Sludge Metal backdrop and less Spaced Out attitude, Acid Gods feels like GRIN have stripped out the heavier progressive tendencies they built up over the last few records that allows the band to have a desperate rough and ready delivery where the SLUDGE aspect of their music to fully flourish with intense delivery and aggression.

The vocals from Jan are the most violent I’ve heard from him in a very long time with a mighty PISSED OFF attitude being felt from every vocal arrangement he delivers throughout the whole album. Jan’s vocals remind me of his early days with the mighty EARTH SHIP which is very good to hear and allows Acid Gods to be quite different to GRIN’s other records.

With GRIN operating with a Bass and Drums setup, the music is way more chaotic but still allows the band to deliver a stylish and industrial style of music that’s violent, aggressive and wholly melodic. Bone-crunching grooves and heavy electronic beats converge for a demented style of music with apocalyptic storytelling to match forming on tracks such as Black Dye, Nocturno, Beneath The Altar, Unshut, Nebulas and Heavy Dew. 

The record has elements of classic sounding Industrial Metal, Post-Metal and Psychedelic Doom sounds that will no doubt appeal to fans of RELAPSE RECORDS generation when they had bands such as MASTODON, GENGHIS TRON and BARONESS on their roster. Acid Gods achieves that highly experimental sound that become quite popular within the late 2000’s and early 2010’s of HEAVY MUSIC. 

There is a cinematic Psychedelic and Sonic attitude lurking within the background of Acid Gods which is perhaps personified by Sabine’s intense, intricate and superbly clever BASS guitar. Jan’s once again excels on drumming duties and putting another shift on producing, mixing and mastering duties. Well, this is THE LASTING DOSE RECORDS release and I expect Jan to be in complete control on the production side of things.

Acid Gods allows GRIN to tap into their heaviest, scariest and most Primal creative instincts for a record that dares to be quite different and still allows longtime fans of the band to experience another thrilling and groove laden brilliantly entertaining album from the band. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Against PR and GRIN for the promo.

ACID GODS is due out on CD/DD/Vinyl formats via The Lasting Dose Records from Friday May 30th 2025.

Links

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Exclusive Video Premiere For Sludge/Stoner Metallers GRIN New Song BENEATH THE ALTAR

With "Acid Gods", heavy psych-doom duo GRIN push their raw and hypnotic sound to new extremes. Stripping things down to just fuzzed-out bass, pounding drums and vocals, Jan (drums, vocals) and Sabine Oberg (bass) prove once again that less can hit a lot harder. Picking up where the "Black Nothingness" EP left off, they dive deeper into lo-fi heaviness and textured sludge, with zero interest in following trends or softening the blow.

"Acid Gods" is all grit, weight and conviction. Tracks like Beneath the Altar and Unshut hit hard with thick grooves and a sludgy stomp reminiscent of The Melvins and Eyehategod. Jan’s vocals take center stage more than ever before, shifting between haunting and aggressive as the songs swell and collapse under waves of distorted low-end. Drag Me Down and Crystals push that balance further, with layered vocals cutting through hypnotic bass lines and driving percussion.

"Wild Eyes" shows how much tension GRIN can build with the bare minimum, and "Heavy Dew" closes the album in a tidal wave of fuzz and reverb, dragging the listener under before letting go. There’s a strange beauty in how stripped-down and overwhelming this record feels at the same time.

Recorded at Hidden Planet Studio in Berlin, Acid Gods was produced, mixed, and mastered by Jan Oberg, giving the record a raw but controlled sound. The artwork by Dawid M. Piprek and Caspar Orfgen (DAEVAR) mirrors the album’s dark, trippy vibe, perfectly tying together the music’s oppressive weight and hypnotic atmosphere.

Grin has been building toward this moment since their 2018 debut Revenant, refining their sound across Translucent Blades (2020), Phantom Knocks (2022) and Hush (2024).

With their continuously evolving sound, GRIN are a beacon of boundless creativity in the scene and "Acid Gods" is new testament to their artistry. On "Acid Gods" everything is just more. The intensity of the riffs, the boldness of the vocals, the heaviness of the bass and the detailed crunch of the production. Every GRIN album will have you wondering if this band can get any heavier (or better) and the answer is always YES.

"Acid Gods" will be released on May 30, 2025 via The Lasting Dose Records.

We're excited to premiere the exciting new video for BENEATH THE ALTAR from the upcoming album ACID GODS.

ACID GODS is due out on CD/DD/Vinyl formats via The Lasting Dose Records from Friday May 30th 2025.

Links

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Thanks to Jan at The Lasting Dose Records / GRIN for all of the details.

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers GRIN Announce New Album ACID GODS And Release New Single NOCTURNO

With Acid Gods heavy psych-doom outfit GRIN re-establish their unique position on the intersection between modern sludge and stoner doom metal. The intensity of the riffs, the boldness of the vocals, the heaviness of the bass and the detailed crunch of the production. Every GRIN album will have you wondering if this band can get any heavier (or better) and the answer is always YES!

GRIN have just released their epic new single NOCTURNO from the upcoming new album ACID GODS due out on CD/DD/Vinyl formats via The Lasting Dose Records from Friday May 30th 2025.

Line-Up

S. Oberg – Bass Guitar

J. Oberg – Drums, Vocals

Recording Details

All music written and performed by GRIN

Recorded at HIDDEN PLANET STUDIO / Berlin

Produced, mixed and mastered by J. Oberg

Drawings by Dawid M. Piprek

Design & Layout by Caspar Orfgen (DAEVAR)

GRIN - Hush (Album Review)

Release Date: 16th February 2024. Record Label: The Lasting Dost Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Hush - Tracklisting

1.Hush

2.Calice

3.Gatekeeper

4.Midnight Blue Sorrow

5.Talons

6.Portal

7.Neon Skies

8.Vortex

9.Silver

10.Pyramid

11.Deathbringers

12.Nothingness

13.Venom

14.Eyes Like Daggers

15.The Tempest of Time

16.Torre del Serpe

Members

Jan Oberg

Sabine Oberg

Review

Psych Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal riffsters GRIN return with their fourth full length album Hush with the band employing a more expansive Sonic journey compared to their previous records. Hush runs for around forty minutes across sixteen tracks with GRIN never going past the four minute mark and some of the tracks lasting under two minutes. However, it's what GRIN deliver within the tracks themselves that allow this album to be a real turning point for the band moving forward. The guitars are constantly a barrage of Doom/Sludge Metal heaviness with a Psychedelic Stoner Metal tapestry merging into down-tuned Sonic based Progressive passages with a certain Shoegaze or Doomgaze effect being utilised to great effect.

The vocals are a collection of different styles such as Harsh Growls, Clean Vocals and Gloomy chants which allows GRIN to play areas of heavy distorted and uplifting Post-Stoner grooves they haven't played before. The music is perhaps more Industrial based as well with echoes of sound heard on their previous records being played at different moments of the album. GRIN also employ a dark Lovecraftian story based element to the lyrics and their Spaced Out Post-Metal delivery on tracks such as Hush, Calice, Midnight Blue Sorrow, Talons, Neon Skies, Deathbringers and The Tempest Of Team impressing the most with their bleak cinematic vision.

GRIN's style of dark and despair based Fuzzy Sonic Interludes has a violent and aggressive "Doom-Pop" energy which reminds me of TORCHE and FLOOR in places but all done within GRIN's highly original style. There's quite an uplifting energy to be found within this album even when the harsh vocals take centre stage with the music becoming more Post-Stoner or Post-Doom based. These parts are quite reminiscent of the other band SLOWSHINE that Jan and Sabine are involved with. 

The record allows GRIN to constantly change their vocal movements and melodic tone throughout the majority of the track with a Progressive Post-Metal sound becoming the more dominant force on the later stages of the album. Sixteen tracks is a lot to get through but GRIN deserve credit for allowing every individual song to have their own identity and feel with epic flashes of Psychedelic brilliance that matches the bold lyrics GRIN have written here. The album can be quite experimental with that down-tuned Psychedelic energy which even transforms into areas of Industrial sounding Glitches and Ambient Post-Rock themes. 

Hush once again has excellent and richly observed production values which is all handled yet again by Jan himself like all the other great releases he's been involved with over the last few years. Even with the album's lo-fi delivery and stripped back approach, you can feel every note being played at you like GRIN's lives depended on this. This is an action-packed ride into the dark vortex of Psychedelic Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal with GRIN proving why they're one of the most inventive bands within the underground scene who are masters of their own creative sludgy and spaced out domain.

Hush is AOTY material even this very early on in 2024 and with GRIN perhaps releasing their heaviest, catchiest and most defining work to date.

Words by Steve Howe 

Thanks to GRIN and Against PR for the promo.

Hush will be be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via The Lasting Dose Records from February 16th 2024.

Links

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Psych Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metallers GRIN Releases "PORTAL," the Second Single from Their Upcoming Album "HUSH"

The Heavy Psych-Doom duo GRIN has released "PORTAL," the second single from their forthcoming album "HUSH," set to be released on February 16th, 2024, on TLD Records

You can watch the video for PORTAL below.

"HUSH," GRIN's fourth full-length album, continues the band's journey into psychedelic realms, combining absurd heaviness with DIY ethics. The album promises an unforgettable cinematic experience filled with rich textures, deep grooves, and chilling atmospheres, appealing to fans of Conan, Russian Circles, and Electric Wizard.

Comprising Jan Oberg (drums, guitars, vocals) and Sabine Oberg (bass), GRIN has been crafting their unique brand of heavy psych-doom since their 2018 debut. The duo has evolved their sound, blending the earthy tones of psychedelic rock with the celestial atmospheres of post-metal.

"HUSH" builds on the old school tendencies of their latest EP "Black Nothingness," featuring six tracks that showcase the duo's organic combination of bass and drums.

Upcoming Shows:

28.02. Hamburg, Hafenklang // + Zahn
29.02. Leipzig, Neues Schauspiel // + Zahn
01.03. Berlin, Reset Club // + Piece
02.03. Gera, Hugo // + Dernier Crie
03.03. Dresden, Ostpol // + Zahn

Social Links:

Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify | Instagram

Thanks to Against PR for all of the details. 

You can pre-order HUSH now on CD/DD/Vinyl from The Lasting Dose Records which will be released on February 16th 2024

Psych Sludge/Doomgazers GRIN Announce New Album HUSH And Release Title Track.

Presenting their fourth full-length album, GRIN further unravel the thread of their psychedelic destiny with an extensive exercise in absurd heaviness and DIY production. 

Breaking new ground with alien textures and foreign grooves, these 16 tracks see the Berlin-based power couple crafting other-worldly dunescapes from the sands of time and space, dragging you deeper into their universe of dust bowl mythology and cosmic horror. 

The title track is a prime example of how GRIN have been honing their sound, marrying West Indian rhythms and shakers with old-school black metal type vocals and languid extended bass drones with high-pitched alien noises. A groovy introduction to an incense-shrouded space dive that will leave you both starstruck and delirious.“

Taken from the band’s new album "HUSH“ due out February 16th, 2024 on TLD Records:

https://thelastingdoserecords.bandcamp.com

"HUSH" will be available on Vinyl, CD and Digital formats.

Pre-order now: https://grincult.bandcamp.com/

Written & performed by GRIN Recorded & produced by J. Oberg at Hidden Planet Studio, Berlin

Connect with GRIN: 

https://grincult.bandcamp.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/grincult/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/6X96kXcdENtONVi0NIwNkW?si=1y-W3OInSM6r84lk5X7ckg

Thanks to Jan from GRIN for all of the details. 

Exclusive Premiere Of Psych Doom/Sludge Metallers GRIN New EP BLACK NOTHINGNESS

Shrouded in a haze of hyper amplified bass drones and layers of sepulchral voices, heavy psych-doom outfit GRIN continue to unravel the thread of their psychedelic mythology with a brief exercise in absurd heaviness and DIY ethics.

Consisting of six short compositions, Black Nothingness eschews the duo’s characteristic use of guitar embellishments, instead relying solely on the driving force of their recognisable drum and bass sound. Returning to the essence of their sound, GRIN uncover the source of the ecstatic quality of their music, while inviting you to partake in another bedazzling odyssey through the astral plane and beyond.

The groundwork of GRIN’s trademark heavy drum and bass sound was already laid as early as their 2018 debut album Revenant, which is no surprise, since power couple Jan and Sabine (Earth Ship / Slowshine) have been actively making heavy riff-laden tunes for over ten years. Their second album Translucent Blades (2020) further solidified GRIN’s brand of sludgy psychedelic doom metal with the addition of high pitched guitar drones and eerie soundscapes.

Again recorded in Jan Oberg’s own Hidden Planet Studio, Phantom Knocks (2022) had the same earth-shattering qualities as its predecessors, but is in every way more vivid and more powerful, aptly demonstrating how the Berliners have perfected their chemistry.

I'm pleased to premiere this exclusive premiere of GRIN's new EP in full - Black Nothingness before it's official full release tomorrow on Friday 07th April 2023.

Thanks to Jan at The Lasting Dose Records for the premiere and all of the details

Black Nothingness is available to buy on CD/DD from The Lasting Dose Records on April 07th 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

GRIN - Black Nothingness (EP Review)

Release Date: April 07th 2023. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records. Formats: CD/DD

Black Nothingness: Tracklisting

1.Nothingness 

2.Gatekeeper 

3.Midnight Blue Sorrow

4.The Tempest Of Time

5.Talons

6.Deathbringers

Members

S. Oberg – Bass Guitar

J. Oberg – Drums, Vocals

Review

Psych Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal Duo GRIN return with their new EP Black Nothingness. Coming almost six months after their acclaimed last album Phantom Knocks. This EP feels like it’s from a different band as GRIN ventures into heavier and more violent Sludge Metal environments with the sound being more Crust Punk and Black Metal compared to their last release.

The music is faster, abrasive and more chaotic with GRIN operating with their own Crust Metal environments. The Psychedelic grooves are more bass heavy with a blackened sludgy drive which you can hear, feel and fully experience on the excellent two opening tracks of Nothingness and Gatekeeper. Though, GRIN still play their trademark Psychedelic and Spaced Out sounds, though perhaps kept more in the background of the more crushing music currently taking its place.

This EP also lasts under thirteen minutes but GRIN delivers a lot of bone-crunching moments within this short time. Everything is more concise with flashes of SONIC EXPERIMENTATION being more direct. Maybe the music isn’t melodic as it should be and the vocals are downright nasty in places. However, there’s a great style of heaviness that we haven’t heard from GRIN before. The music is more modern day based with perhaps a mid 2010’s Blackened Doom/Sludge Metal flavour holding everything together.

If you like your music down-tuned and bleak distortion then GRIN are perhaps influenced by bands such as CONAN and EYEHATEGOD on this EP. This is still essentially a GRIN release but given a more extreme makeover and I’ll applaud the band for doing something different.

The production values are more raw-sounding as well that puts the listener at the forefront of the action. Black Nothingness does sound superbly heavy from start to finish and you can tell that is Jan’s (GRIN’s Lead Vocalist and Drummer) handiwork throughout. 

Black Nothingness is an EP that offers the listener a release with BITE and a VICIOUS outlook within the Doom/Sludge Metal scene. This is another sublime release from one of the best creative teams within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal underground scenes.

Words by Steve Howe.

Thanks to Jan at The Lasting Dose Records for the promo.

Black Nothingness is available to buy on CD/DD from The Lasting Dose Records on April 07th 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

GRIN - Phantom Knocks (Album Review)

Date Released: October 14th 2022. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

Phantom Knocks: Tracklisting

Transcendence

Shiver

Aporia

Arcane

Apex

Rivulets

Servants

Spectral

Members

SABINE OBERG – Bass Guitar

JAN OBERG – Drums, Vocals, Guitars, Soundscapes

Additional Musician: RENÉ NOÇON – Hammond Organ on ARCANE

Review

Phantom Knocks is the new album from Psychedelic Sludge/Stoner Metallers GRIN. This is their third full length album and sees the band move further into the Ambient and Psychedelic side of Sludge/Stoner Metal. Perhaps taking some slight cues from Jan and Sabine's other musical project Slowshine but with a heavier and  more dominant style of music that could easily be classed as Post-Metal or Ambient Metal.

Opening song Transcendence is a heavy mix of Tribal Sounds with an eerie Ambient driven Sludge score with the music being driven along by pulsating drums, distorted droned out effects and haunting gloomy vocals. A style of music that GRIN have perfected over their last two albums. The track has the mysterious sonic power of UFOMAMMUT with the wonderfully diverse Post-Rock/Post-Metal imagery of ISIS (Oceanic era).

Second song Shiver carries on the Psychedelic and Distorted rhythms that is quite intense but melodic at the same time. The Post-Metal/Doom vibe is merged supremely well with the STONER grooves that GRIN use fleetingly to bring a more direct sound to the listener. The dual vocals have a great multi-layered effect meaning they're sung directly in front of you and behind as well. The Ambient Noises and Soundscapes are superbly put together allowing GRIN to create a heavier style of music. 

Third song Aporia is a more gloomier and psychedelic affair with perhaps some Middle Eastern based grooves appearing. The vocals are heavier and more intense here. Perhaps the heaviest I've heard from Jan in some long time. GRIN offers a more threatening atmosphere with the gloomy and sinister soundscapes doing their part as well. The Ambient Metal grooves are perhaps considered Post-Doom or Post-Sludge. As the whole tone and nature of the song is bleak and captures GRIN at their gloomiest best. The song does have a certain RELAPSE RECORDS quality to it all but still allowing GRIN to fully be themselves as well.

Fourth song Arcane is one of the more less aggressive tracks on the album and is perhaps the song that would have fitted superbly well on Slowshine's acclaimed debut album. This track is one of the finest meditative Psych/Ambient Metal tracks I've heard in a long time. Quite peaceful that is powered along by a first rate Drone/Sludge/Stoner riff that lasts an age. The lyrics are organic and insightful even if the vocals are buried under a barrage of HEAVY SPACED OUT grooves. One of the standout tracks on the album.

GRIN takes their blend of Tribal/Ambient driven music into heavier levels of Psychedelia and Distortion. Amplifier Riff Worship is perhaps the main key for GRIN on the second half of the album especially on tracks: Apex, Rivulets and Spectral. GRIN becomes a more threatening force of nature on the last few songs with the band merging different styles and creative themes that could be quite peaceful one moment and devastatingly brutal the next. 

Crunching guitars and wonderfully progressive drumming brought back memories of mid-00's BORIS for myself. There is a lot to take in with this album and the record feels so much longer than it's thirty five minute runtime. I mean that as a compliment. GRIN have included so many different themes, ideas and sounds on Phantom Knocks that you will need multiple listens to the album to soak everything in.

The production values are first rate and with Jan behind the production desk, I wouldn't expect anything less. As he's worked his magic on GRIN's previous releases. So be prepared for a LOUD and CRUSHING ALBUM.

GRIN have released another fantastic and beautifully sonic heavy record that's perhaps their strongest effort to date. This is most definitely an Album Of The Year Contender.

This is simply unmissable....

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo.

Phantom Knocks will be available to buy on Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl via The Lasting Dose Records from October 14th 2022.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram