GNARWHAL - Lucid Machines (Album Review)

Release Date: March 19th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Lucid Machines. - Tracklisting

1.Wherewithal 

2.Lucid Machines

3.Hollow Frames

4.Ancient Veins

5.Circuits

6.Binary Dreams

7.Left To Mend

8.Static

9.Fleeting Currents

10.Mimic

Members

Mark Kilbride (vocals)

Benji Straker (guitar and vocals)

Jeremy Straker (bass and vocals)

Layne Rybchinski (drums and percussion)

Review

Lucid Machines is the latest album from Sludge/Stoner Rockers Gnarwhal who embrace an Eighties heavy New Age sensibility within their music which gives the record a whole contemporary sound. Though the thrilling Sludge Rock aspect allows Gnarwhal to keep within the modern day Psych/Post-Stoner movement that’s perhaps the most popular sound within the underground scene. Adding ice-cold Post-Rock themes against a dominant gloomy atmosphere which really comes alive thanks to the epic rhythm section laid down by Jeremy Straker (Bass) and Layne Rybchinski (Drums / Percussion).

 This allows Benji Straker’s guitars to operate through a maze of Prog Rock/Metal sounds with an epic cinematic Sludge Rock score reminiscent of the likes of WEEDPECKER, HOWLING GIANT and KING BUFFALO with shades of YOB appearing just for good measure. The vocals are impressive throughout with lead vocalist Mark Kilbride being helped along the way by great work by Jeremy and Benji providing back up vocals.

Lucid Machines works best when Gnarwhal start thinking outside of the box and start developing areas of music such as Doom, Shoegaze, Alt Metal, Post-Punk and Noise Rock leaving you fully immersed with the excellent melodies that are formed throughout the album.

Just to make this record more offbeat I detected other influences as diverse from The Cure, HUM and even Duran Duran. Though, that may just be me thinking too much of what’s going on with the whole album especially on the standout tracks of Wherewithal, Lucid Machines, Hollow Frames and Circuits which make up my favourite parts of the whole album though the second half is equally as good.

Gnarwhal always feel they’re on the cutting edge of developing a highly original sound of their own with intricate Ambient sounds, Electronica Beats and distorted levels of FUZZ.

The lyrics are wonderfully insightful, telling the dangers of technology and the resistance that we all must become part of and the global emerging threat of A.I. Though, if fans are just here for the music then the record fully delivers on that score with a ferocious Sludge Rock/Metal sound starting to become more dominant with heavy moments of Doom, Stoner Rock and Psych Rock vying for complete control.

Other great tracks to check out are: Binary Dreams, Left To Music and Fleeting Currents that sees Gnarwhal once more fuse highly atmospheric landscapes with that bombastic style of Heavy Psych and Sludge Rock they captured perfectly at the very start of the album. Lucid Machines never plays out the way you expect with this being quite a forward thinking and riff-fuelled musical adventure. 

Gnarwhal have released an outstanding record that will no doubt become a major favourite with almost everyone who listens to the album. It’s simply that great.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Gnarwhal and Small Fry Music for the promo.

You can buy Lucid Machines now on Digital and Vinyl from this link, 

Links 

http://gnarwhalband.com

http://facebook.com/gnarmusic
http://instagram.com/gnarwhalsounds
https://gnarwhalband.bandcamp.com

Psych/Doom/Stoner Metallers GNARWHAL Release New Song/Video For ANCIENT VEINS From Upcoming New Album LUCID MACHINES

Doom/Stoner Metallers GNARWHAL release their stunning new single ANCIENT VEINS from their brilliant upcoming new album LUCID MACHINES due for release on March 19th 2026.

You can watch the video below for the song.

The band say this about the song:

"Ancient Veins hits with sharpened teeth—faster, meaner, and wired with defiance. Gnarwhal injects their sludge-heavy sound with a punk urgency, tearing through themes of decay, control, and digital erasure. It’s a tightly coiled anthem of resistance, where blistering riffs and the repeated vow “I won’t die in machinery” cut through the static like a blade. A jolt of raw energy that proves Gnarwhal can burn just as fast as they crush."

You can pre-order Lucid Machines now on Digital and Vinyl from this link, 

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Gnarwhal - Circuits (Single Review)

Release Date: September 10th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Circuits - Tracklisting

Circuits

Members

Mark Kilbride (vocals)

Benji Straker (guitar and vocals)

Jeremy Straker (bass and vocals)

Layne Rybchinski (drums and percussion)

Review.

Circuits is the latest single from powerhouse Sludge/Stoner Metallers Gnarwhal that is from their upcoming new album due for release in March 2026. The record is a decidedly more progressive song compared to their previous releases. This song is boosted by epic Progressive Sludge sounds with air of Post-Stoner heaviness with the added layers of trippy Psychedelic melodies. Gnarwhal fuses Post-Rock, Doomgaze and Ambient vibes into the backdrop of distorted FUZZY passages. 

There are elements of bands such as BARONESS, MASTODON and YOB spliced into the mix but GNARWHAL still conjure up their own highly powerful and wonderfully polished sound. The vocals are EPIC with a clean, clear and crisp performance by lead vocalist Mark Kilbride. There’s a haunting Alt Metal presence within Mark’s vocals with the rest of the band conjuring up intense Sludge/Stoner grooves that have a subtle riff-centric approach.

On this evidence alone, Gnarwhal have genuinely made me excited to hear their upcoming full length album which could endear them even further to the Sludge/Stoner Metal underground community.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

http://gnarwhalband.com

http://facebook.com/gnarmusic
http://instagram.com/gnarwhalsounds
https://gnarwhalband.bandcamp.com

Gnarwhal - Altered States (EP Review)

Release Date: May 24th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Altered States: Tracklisting

1.Tides 03:31

2.The War / Nothing More 06:36

3.From Her Hands 03:46

4.Altered States 03:19

Review

Canadian Sludge/Stoner Rockers Gnarwhal return with their new EP Altered States which fis quite different to their excellent 2023 debut album which has a more Punk Rock and Psychedelic based sound which comes surprisingly early on the stunning opening track of Tides.

Tides has a rough and ready Progressive sound with a subtle Sludge Rock swagger and trippy Psychedelic sounds. The vocals are quite raw with a classic Heavy Metal energy to them. There’s slight influences to bands such as The Sword and Mastodon on this track with Gnarwhal still developing their own sound with a subtle Alt Rock flow being added to standout from the crowd.

Second track The War / Nothing More sees Gnarwhal drift into Psych Rock territory with the band using familiar sonic trajectories used by bands such as King Buffalo and Howling Giant which allows the band to slowly become part of the Post-Stoner world. There is a haunting Doom Rock attitude that appears on the later stages of the track with Gnarwhal’s usual blend of Sludge/Stoner Rock dominance leading upto heavy pounding sounds. The final moments of the track slowly builds up to an exciting and aggressive climax which can only be described as Mastodon playing Punk Rock heavy jams.

The final two tracks of From Her Hands and Altered States are where Gnarwhal bring the Sludge Metal identity of their music to the forefront with some of the heaviest and freshest grooves on the entire EP. The record is still bound by that vibrant Punk Rock influence with the band adding more layers of Sludge/Stoner Metal aggression.

I have to say for an EP, Altered States is a different beast compared to Gnarwhal’s debut album. This one sees the band take more bolder and braver creative choices with their music that pays off handsomely for Gnarwhal with Altered States being a much better record. I’m hoping to hear more of this style of music from Gnarwhal on future releases.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Asher Media for the promo.

Altered States is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Yellowknife's GNARWHAL Get Ready For A Stoner Sludge "War / Nothing More" With Latest Single Off Upcoming EP “Altered States” Out May 2024

From the far reaches of the Canadian North in the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife's award-winning (Best New Single at the 2022 Music NWT Awards) Gnarwhal are bringing forth their doomy stoner sludge rock sound to the masses with their forthcoming EP "Altered States" due out on May 24th, 2024.

Unveiling singles "Tides" and the EP's title tracks over the last few weeks, the quartet is getting ready with their latest peek at the release with "The War/Nothing More", which is actually two songs that the band wrote at completely different times and thought they would work well stitched together.

Guitarist Benji Straker comments:

"I wrote The War shortly after we finished recording our first album. At that same time, I was writing music for my Hughes project EP so lyrically and thematically it fit right in line with that. Once I finished it, I actually released it as an acoustic solo version on the EP, Here I Am. The Nothing More demo was written shortly after and musically it was inspired by my classic post-hardcore/punk influences. I think Refused would be the main driver of the rhythm on this track."

Vocalist Mark Kilbride adds:

"In Nothing More, I am fond of the lyric: “Shed your skin to make it”. This part relates to putting in the work day in and day out, wanting something so bad you are willing to do anything just to grasp it. Pushing your own boundaries, knowing you put the time and effort into your vision. “Whole again you can’t fake it”: Being authentic. To be whole this character has to believe in this process and be present in his delivery of the songs."

Listen to "The War / Nothing More" at https://youtu.be/IOTBEVpGFlE

​

The band's sophomore record, “Altered States” promises to deliver a diverse and introspective musical journey in which the band artfully navigates the realms of heavy alternative fuzz rock and progressive metal, creating a sound that is uniquely their own.

"We hope our progression as a band and as songwriters appeals to our fans and listeners. The Altered States EP is a bit darker and maybe heavier than our first one. Conceptually and thematically, the songs on the EP fit together better as a package and we hope this is conducive to a front-to-back experience for listeners." says Srtaker.
​
Recommended for fans of Kyuss, Mastodon, and Elder, “Altered States” is due out on May 24, 2024, and available for pre-order at https://gnarwhalband.bandcamp.com​

Previous singles

Lyric Video - “Altered States” - https://youtu.be/yLtXbxLuFrY​

Lyric Video - “Tides” - https://youtu.be/ix726UB1FKU​

Track Listing:​
1. Tides (3:37)
2. The War / Nothing More (6:36)
3. From Her Hands (3:46)
4. Altered States (3:19)

More info: Gnarwhalband.com | Facebook.com/gnarmusic | Instagram.com/gnarwhalsounds

Thanks to Asher Media for all of the info.

Yellowknife's GNARWHAL Look Inwards With Provocative Title Track From Upcoming EP “Altered States” Out May 2024

Gnarwhal, the genre-bending rock phenomenon hailing from the remote northern Canadian city of Yellowknife, continues to captivate audiences with the release of their latest single, the title track from their upcoming album “Altered States”. The single is out now and the remainder of the fuzzy, doomy album is being released on May 24, 2024. The emotionally charged track offers a profound exploration of resilience and memory, weaving together intricate melodies and haunting lyrics that resonate with listeners on a deep and personal level. The band comments on the creation of the track:

“Altered States is interesting because when we went into the studio we hadn’t even fleshed the song out and it wasn’t near complete. Mark hadn’t finalized the vocal melody or lyrics and structurally the song wasn’t making a lot of sense. We were actually a bit tentative about including this in our studio time and having it on the EP. It was the last song we tracked. Once Layne laid down the drum tracks and we started working on bass and guitar, we knew we were onto something a bit different and cool.”

“Altered States” delves into themes of personal transformation and the enduring power of memory. The track serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of embracing our past experiences, even as we navigate the uncertainties of the present. The upcoming EP promises to deliver a diverse and introspective musical journey in which the band artfully navigates the realms of heavy alternative fuzz rock and progressive metal, creating a sound that is uniquely their own.

Powerful and personal, the single “Altered States” invites the listener to look inward. It is recommended for fans of Kyuss, Mastodon, and Elder.

Listen to the lyric video for the EP's title track “Altered States” via its premiere on Outlaws of The Sun HERE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLtXbxLuFrY or below:

​

“Altered States” is due out on May 24, 2024, and available for pre-order at https://gnarwhalband.bandcamp.com

​

Previous single - “Tides” - https://youtu.be/o6TqlRt_D4Q

Track Listing:​

1. Tides (3:37)
2. The War / Nothing More (6:36)
3. From Her Hands (3:46)
4. Altered States (3:19)

More info: Gnarwhalband.com | Facebook.com/gnarmusic | Instagram.com/gnarwhalsounds

Thanks to Asher Media Relations for all of the info.​

Gnarwhal - Gnarwhal (Album Review)

Release Date: April 14th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Gnarwhal - Gnarwhal: Tracklisting

1.Faultline 03:01

2.Shadows Fading 03:21

3.The Outlier - Album Version 02:48

4.Sleepwalkers 03:42

5.Let It Out 02:31

6.Untethered and Weightless 03:51

7.Deep Spaced - Album Version 03:01

8.Burden of Proof 03:41

9.Ember Sky Ash 05:23

Review

Gnarwhal self-titled debut album is one that moves along at its own Fuzzed Out Stoner pace with its style of Hard Rock and slightly Doom tinged grooves. Taking cues from bands such as Mastodon, The Sword, Elder and King Buffalo, these guys walk a fine line between Classic and Modern day Stoner sensibilities especially with the Proggy Spaced out vibes.

The album is quite compact, running around thirty one minutes and the band are quite adept at playing fast-paced Psych Tinged grooves that have a high amount of FUZZ based heaviness lurking in the backgrounds. The music is refreshing and wholly addictive with Gnarwhal playing a fast paced style of music which is used to great effect on the opening tracks Faultline, Shadows Fading and The Outliner. The songs are quite melodic with a slight dark Stoner/Fuzz edge which comes into play mostly on Shadows Fading. However, these three songs showcase how the band have a deep understanding for the Fuzz/Doom/Stoner based scenes.

The vocals are quite refreshing to hear even when they move from clean based vocals to harsher growls which was a cool surprise. There’s a HEAVY METAL beast waiting to escape from the cleaner grooves that Gnarwhal plays here and when it does escape from its cage then Gnarwhal becomes a more exciting creative unit.

There’s also a subtle Alternative Rock/Metal approach on certain parts of this album with the band taking a slightly different direction or diversion on certain parts of the album. However, the album is mostly a first rate Fuzz/Doom/Stoner Metal adventure with elements of Heavy Psychedelics and Gloomy Rock.

The lyrics are first rate which has a great storytelling vibe to the album which takes me back to the classic era of 1990’s Grunge, Stoner and Alt Rock scenes. When hearing the album you can tell that Gnarwhal have put a lot of creative effort, time and thought on this album, which allows this to be a richer listening experience. The album is full of wicked grooves and riffs which move ever slightly further into the areas of  “Post-Doom” or “Post-Stoner” on tracks such as Sleepwalkers, Untethered And Weightless, Burden Of Proof and my favourite track Ember Sky Ash.

Sure, the album could have included a couple more songs to make it last that little bit longer. However, that doesn’t stop Gnarwhal being a highly impressive listen from start to finish that offers some highly original sounds along the way. 

The record also benefits from super-fresh production values that makes it wonderfully modern and allows the music to be quite powerful for Gnarwhal to impress the underground scene with. Gnarwhal have released a first-rate album here and I’m excited to see what the band will release next. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram