GOBLINSMOKER - The King's Eternal Throne (Album Review)

Release Date: July 25th 2025. Record Label: APF Records. Formats: Cassette/DD/Vinyl

The King’s Eternal Throne - Tracklisting

1.Shamanic Rites

2.Burn Him

3.The King's Eternal Throne

4.Toad King (Forest Synth Offering)

Members

Adam Kennedy - vocals, guitar, bass

Michael Guthrie - drums

Review

Doom/Sludge Metallers GOBLINSMOKER finally return after a five year absence with The King’s Eternal Throne which is the final part of The Toad King Trilogy which started with 2018’s Toad King and continued with 2020’s A Throne in Haze, a World Ablaze. The band has supported the likes of Venom, Eyehategod, Goatwhore, Bongzilla, Slomatics, Belzebong, Discharge and Mastiff. This has allowed them to become one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the UK Doom/Sludge Metal scene.

These experiences may have shaped the sound of The King’s Eternal Throne with deeply rich and complex storytelling themes being heard throughout the album. The monolithic and downtuned Sludge Metal sound is played at a perfect slow-to-mid decaying pace within the opening track of Shamanic Rites. With a grizzled and aggressive ELECTRIC WIZARD influence shining through with a slight detour into CONAN territory with GOBLINSMOKER still creating their own highly original slice of DISTORTED DOOM with extra levels of destructive fuzz. Adam Kennedy’s harsh vocals are projected by a bleak Sludge Metal atmosphere which feels inspired by the NOLA scene in certain aspects. 

GOBLINSMOKER are never in a hurry to get to their next destination allowing the whole journey to play with an ice-cold focus with levels of Frozen Ambient sounds being played on the final stages of the opening track which does appear on other parts of the record.

Second track Burn Him is another slow-to-mid played track with GOBLINSMOKER transforming the mythical storyline of the album to greater narrative pastures. The sound is bleak, cold and demonic but the music is wonderfully OVER THE TOP on a grand scale with some of the best grooves appearing on this track alone. 

The music does become slightly faster with Michael Guthrie’s drumming being the real catalyst for Adam’s intense sludgy guitars destroying everything in its wake. The use of dramatic Psychedelic and Trippy effects brings an air of the classic 1980’s SWORD & SORCERY films into the album. Though, the record still has a serious tone throughout with the epic track. Levels of down-tuned distortion can be quite deafening at times but GOBLINSMOKER are having way too much FUN to perhaps even care about that aspect of their music.

Third track The King’s Eternal Throne uses a Psychedelic and Ambient score which fans of BELZEBONG will find absolutely thrilling with GOBLINSMOKER quickly playing that demonic style of Doomed Out Sludge/Stoner Metal with that dangerous AMPLIFIER swagger having a certain Progressive energy appearing. This is perhaps the most riffiest track on the record with GOBLINSMOKER laying down the heaviest and superbly played moments of the record. With that decaying FUZZED OUT sound generating in fine amounts of destructive energy that’s some of the most interesting sounds that the band have released to date.

The final track of Toad King (Forest Synth Offering) is an Ambient Instrumental based track which closes the album in the best way possible. It allows GOBLINSMOKER to close their celebrated trilogy in great fashion. It maybe a bit subdued but it brings a refreshing and gloomy finish to an outstanding record.

The King’s Eternal Throne is a masterclass of modern day Doom/Sludge Metal that allows GOBLINSMOKER to claim their place and cement their reputation as one of the most exciting bands the UK underground scene has to offer at the moment.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to APF Records for the promo.

The King’s Eternal Throne is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from APF Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Goblinsmoker - A World In Haze, A World Ablaze (EP Review)

Release date: February 7^th 2020. Label: Sludgelord Records. Format: Cassette/DD

A World In Haze, A World Ablaze - Tracklisting

1.Smoked in Darkness

2.Let Them Rot

3.The Forest Mourns

Members

A - Guitars, vocals

M - Bass

C - Drums

Review

Goblinsmoker return with their latest EP – A World In Haze, A World Ablaze – and it carries on their distorted, trippy and down-tuned Sludge/Doom/Stoner hybrid sound. The EP is actually quite a clever release with it’s progressive sound and interesting song titles that all add up for a more disturbing taste of WEEDIAN inspired sounds.

The EP has three songs and runs for about twenty six minutes in length but this record feels like a full-length record as the band use their time wisely to create a rich and highly fulfilling album that’s got so many dark great riffs to it.

Opening song – Smoked In Darkness – is nine minutes of heavily played down-tuned Sludge grooves that have a slight NOLA feel to them with the band carefully plotting an intricate style of Doom/Sludge Metal that is thick and brutally heavy from the start. The vocals are used sparingly but are excellent when they appear. The music always drowns out the vocals on this song but lead vocalist “A” holds his own against the pounding riffs that the band have included on this record. I feel the band are inspired by early-era THOU on this release but still maintaining a slightly distorted Stoner Metal vibe that is quite refreshing to hear.

Second song – Let Them Rot – another long round of aggressive Doom/Sludge Metal which the band make no apologies for. The dark psychedelic vibe lurks in the background with the band slowly playing a trippy blend of Post-Doom atmospherics before the bleak and nihilistic Sludge Metal riffs appear. Goblinsmoker take their time with song and it builds upto a nightmarish atmosphere that leaves you wanting more. This is perhaps the standout song on the EP with Goblinsmoker making no apologies for their deliberately slow paced style of Doom/Sludge Metal which oozes menace at each passing second.

Third song – The Forest Mourns – is the final song with the band continuing their blend of progressive bleak riffs and dark lyrical content that makes you think what is being said in the overall context of the song. This song is more “riff-centric” compared to the other two songs on the EP. As the band play a more familiar style of Doom/Sludge Metal with a deep thumping bass leading the way. The song continues with the overall bleak theme of the EP but the band don’t feel as aggressive but this song still allows the EP to finish on a high.

A World In Haze, A World Ablaze allows Goblinsmoker to develop their sound even further compared to their previous EP and makes you realize that we need a full length album from these guys as soon as possible. This is a quality release from a band that I want to hear more from. If you’re looking for your next addictive fix of bleak and progressive Doom/Sludge Metal, then please look no further. Goblinsmoker are that band.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. A World In Haze, A World Ablaze will be available to buy on from Sludgelord Records from 7^th Feb 2020.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp