MOTHERTOMB SIGN WITH RIPPLE MUSIC, ANNOUNCE 2027 VINYL RELEASE OF DYING TO LIVE

Northern Michigan Doom Collective Secure Label Deal, With Debut Album Vinyl Mastered by Pentagram's Tony Reed and a Sophomore Album Already in the Works

Northern Michigan doom metal collective Mothertomb have officially signed with Ripple Music , opening an exciting new chapter for the rising underground band. Alongside the announcement, the band has confirmed that its debut full-length album, Dying to Live , will receive a vinyl release through the label in 2027, with a sophomore album also in development for release through Ripple Music.

Mothertomb shared the news directly with fans through their Bandcamp announcement, celebrating the achievement as the result of hard work, persistence, and determination.

The upcoming vinyl edition of Dying to Live has already been mastered by Tony Reed of Pentagram , with production now underway. The band will announce preorder information when it becomes available.

The signing arrives as Mothertomb continue building momentum in the underground metal scene, where their distinctive blend of traditional doom, hypnotic stoner grooves, heavy psychedelia, sludge, gothic atmosphere, and progressive songwriting has earned attention from a growing list of independent publications and music outlets.

For a band whose debut was created entirely through an independent DIY process, the partnership marks a significant milestone and an opportunity to bring their music to a wider international audience.

DYING TO LIVE : FIVE TRACKS OF DOOM, DARKNESS, AND TRANSFORMATION

Released independently, Dying to Live introduced listeners to Mothertomb's immersive musical world, balancing crushing heaviness with haunting melodies, psychedelic textures, and atmospheric passages.

Across five expansive compositions, the album explores suffering, transformation, transcendence, and the eternal struggle between darkness and light. Inspired by Welsh folklore and the shadowed depths of the human psyche, the record takes listeners through allegorical landscapes inhabited by ancient spirits, inner demons, and unseen forces shaping the human condition.

The band's name emerged from a particularly difficult chapter in Northern Michigan's history. During the devastating ice storm of April 2025, more than 145,000 residents lost power amid freezing temperatures. Forests became entombed in thick layers of ice, creating a striking contrast between breathtaking natural beauty and destruction. That imagery helped inspire Mothertomb's identity and the emotional duality running throughout their music.

Created entirely as an independent DIY effort, Dying to Live was written, recorded, produced, and artistically directed by the band. Recorded at Death Box Records in Charlevoix, Michigan, the album was produced by Alton Minor alongside the band, with mixing and mastering also handled by Minor. Vocalist Alice Gawlinski illustrated and designed the haunting album artwork.

The forthcoming Ripple Music vinyl edition will introduce the debut to a new physical format, with Tony Reed's mastering work adding another significant milestone to the album's journey.

UNDERGROUND RECOGNITION AND WHAT COMES NEXT

Mothertomb have already attracted attention from respected underground publications and heavy music outlets, including Outlaws of the Sun, Playgroundz Rocks, La Habitación 235, Doomed Nation, Progressive Rock Journal, Weedian, Stoner World Blog, Female Fronted Power, Monuments in Ruin, La Capsule Stoner, TRAIL of SMOKE, Hour of the Riff , and Sunday's Heavy Tunes .

The band's singles "Beware" and "Mountain Hag" helped establish their presence, earning praise for their immersive atmosphere, crushing heaviness, and potential within the underground doom scene.

Steve Howe of Outlaws of the Sun previously praised "Beware" as an intriguing and superbly executed release, while subsequent coverage of "Mountain Hag" further reinforced the publication's enthusiasm for the band's development.

Now, with Ripple Music officially on board, Mothertomb are preparing to build on the foundation established by their debut.

The band has confirmed that songwriting for its sophomore full-length album is already underway, with the next record also scheduled for release through Ripple Music. While details about the new material remain under wraps, the announcement confirms that the band's partnership with the label will extend beyond the upcoming vinyl edition.

Mothertomb expressed their gratitude to the family, friends, and fans who have supported them throughout their journey, celebrating the signing as an important achievement after years of hard work and persistence.

With a vinyl edition of Dying to Live expected in 2027 and a new album taking shape, Mothertomb are entering their next chapter with plenty of heavy music still to come.

DYING TO LIVE ALBUM DETAILS

Artist: Mothertomb
Album: Dying to Live
Label: Ripple Music
Vinyl Release: Expected in 2027
Vinyl Mastering: Tony Reed of Pentagram
Sophomore Album: In development for release through Ripple Music

LISTEN TO DYING TO LIVE

Spotify and Streaming: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mothertomb/dying-to-live

Bandcamp: https://mothertomb.bandcamp.com/album/dying-to-live

FOR FANS OF: Black Sabbath, Windhand, Pentagram, Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, and Acid King.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | DistroKid

Thanks to Metal Devastation Radio PR for the details.

Uragh - Tempest / Wisp (EP Review)

Release Date: July 31st 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Tempest / Wisp - Tracklist

Tempest

Wisp

Lineup

Craig Murphy - Vocals

Marcelo Varge - Guitars

Sebastian Sparr - Bass

Jason Hodgkins - Drums

Review

Uragh are a Progressive Metal band who blend Groove, Metalcore, Alt Metal and Sludge Metal into a highly destructive style of music with their thrilling two track EP - Tempest / Wisp - being my first exposure to the band. The sound is melodic with its highly intricate style of Post-Metal and Thrash beats which allows the listener to be pulled into multiple different directions. The music does have some funkier moments with some great slow paced beatdowns before Uragh focuses on a more aggressive and metallic attitude especially on the thumping opening track Tempest.

The vocals from Craig Murphy have an intense quality and delivery to them with some fantastic hardcore and extreme passages shining through. The rest of the band lay down some fast-paced Heavy Metal sounds that are quintessentially modern throughout. Though, there’s a touch of classical music that appears through the sublime appearance of Anaïs Chareyre-Méjan of Belfast band Domhain who provides a chilling and emotionally charged CELLO performance.

The second track Wisp is a gloomy Post-Rock offering with shades of Gothic and Occult themes with the song mostly being a semi-acoustic track with Anaïs Chareyre-Méjan’s intense cello changing the course of the whole EP and the sultry vocals are just the icing on the cake. This is perhaps suited to fans of Chelsea Wolfe compared to the bombastic and violent opening track but it’s good to see Uragh offering different styles of music with the song ending on a Doom & Gloom note with ambient sounds leading the way.

Tempest / Wisp is a great record for Uragh to broaden their musical and creative horizons with. This may take their fanbase a few moments to fully get accustomed to but it shows that the band are aiming for a different sound for future releases whilst keeping to their core original sound at the same time.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Doom/Stoner Metallers MOTHERTOMB Stunning New Album DYING TO LIVE

Mothertomb emerged from the deep woods of Northern Michigan in 2025, forging a sound that is equal parts crushing weight and haunting atmosphere. Rooted in traditional doom metal yet unbound by convention, the band's sound explores a broad spectrum of influences, from the hypnotic haze of heavy psych and stoner metal to the aggression of sludge metal and the dynamic complexity of progressive and groove metal.

Why "Mothertomb"? Although the band had been together for the better part of the year, we still struggled in finding our name to identify our sound and image. In April 2025, Northern Michigan was hit with one of the worst ice storms recorded in the last 100 years — so much so, that it destroyed all power grids in the region and left 145,000 people (including us) without power in below freezing temperatures for several weeks, resulting in a national state of emergency.

In witnessing this natural self-destruction of our forests, trees, and wildlife, we saw the polarization of beauty and despair intertwined and encased in inches of ice. It was both mystical and horrifying. It felt like Mother Nature had created her own tomb. And thus, with that thought came the name… Mothertomb - a duality of the light and dark that represents the human condition and inspires our sound.

Set for release on July 14, 2026, Dying to Live is Mothertomb's debut full-length album. Across its five tracks, the record explores themes of transformation, suffering, transcendence, and the timeless struggle between darkness and light. Drawing inspiration from Welsh folklore and the shadowed corners of the human psyche, the songs traverse landscapes inhabited by ancient spirits, inner demons, and the forces that shape the human condition.

We're beyond excited to premiere the album Dying To Live thanks to the great folks over at Good Boy PR which you can listen to below:

The album unfolds through layers of metaphor, allegory, and introspection, inviting listeners into a world where darkness and illumination coexist. From brutal heaviness to moments of eerie beauty, Dying to Live is a journey through the depths of the human experience.

Created entirely as an independent DIY effort, the album was written, recorded, produced, and artistically directed by the band itself. Dying to Live stands as a testament to that labor of love, and we are honored to share it with the world.

Mothertomb - Dying to Live

Album out July 14th, 2026
Self-released (Digital, CD Cassette)
Northern Michigan, US
Cover art by Alice Gawlinski

Recorded in Charlevoix, MI at Death Box Records (2026).
Music written by: Mothertomb
Produced by: Alton Minor and Mothertomb
Lyrics written by: Alice Gawlinski
Miixed and mastered by: Alton Minor
Recording engineer: Alton Minor and Mike Benitez
Artwork Design and Illustration by: Alice Gawlinski

Mothertomb is:

Alice Gawlinski - Vocals
Chance Gawlinski - Guitar
Alton Minor - Bass
Mike Benitez - Percussion

Tracklist:

1. The Summoning (3:47)
2. Cythraul (10:00)

3. Beware (6:53)
4. Mountain Hag (9:42)
5. Dying to Live (9:35)

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | DistroKid

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.

Mothertomb - Dying To Live (Album Review)

 

Release Date: July 14th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Tape

Dying To Live - Tracklist

1. The Summoning (3:47)

2. Cythraul (10:00)

3. Beware (6:53)

4. Mountain Hag (9:42)

5. Dying to Live (9:35)

Members

Alice Gawlinski - Vocals

Chance Gawlinski - Guitar

Alton Minor - Bass

Mike Benitez - Percussion

Review

Dying To Live is the debut album from Gothic/Doom/Stoner Rockers Mothertomb who blend sultry Occult Rock tones with a gritty Appalachian flavour being added into their music. There’s an essence of Grunge, Psych and Shoegaze which gives Mothertomb quite a contemporary and heavy rock sound which is why you can see the comparisons to bands such as Acid King and Windhand have been made recently but that only tells half the story. As the album unfolds in great storytelling fashion with haunting melodies, spooky Psychedelic grooves and Ambient Post-Rock structures that are quite emotionally daring when Mothertomb fully take flight within the aggressive Doom/Stoner Metal persona.

The record does start off in quite understated fashion with the excellent opening track The Summoning which mixes Drone Rock passages and the exquisite vocals/chants of lead vocalist Alice Gawlinski. Alice’s vocals may feel quite restrained at first but wait until you experience the rest of the album as Alice can really sing. The music is quite restrictive but that’s too get the listener into the Gothic and Occult Rock vibe the album takes you upon.

Second track Cythraul transforms slightly to a Proto-Metal delivery which allows Mothertomb fully move over to the modern day Doom/Stoner Metal arena with thumping sludgy guitars creating a Post-Doom vortex for those massive stadium sized riffs to appear. Alice’s vocals are the biggest change when some brutal harsh screams come out of nowhere. Where’s the calm, reserved and measured vocals from the early stages of the record. Just be prepared for a symphony of different Doomed Out movements that each have their own emotionally charged style of intense musical passages with Mothertomb wisely tapping into some classic Eighties Gothic Metal delivery. However, the band still finds the time to transport the listener back to the modern day era of melodic Doom/Stoner Metal.

Dying To Live is quite a progressive album with the majority of the tracks running between seven to ten minutes in length. There’s a lot to take in with this record especially on tracks such as Cythraul, Mountain Hag and Dying To Live. There’s riffs galore here with Mothertomb superbly moving from slow played atmospheric sounds to a faster and heavier style of Psych Stoner Metal with flashes of some grounded spirituality appearing within the lyrics.

Mothertomb are quite vivid with how they blend groove orientated metal against the classic strands of Gothic Rock, Occult Rock, Proto-Metal and good old fashioned Hard Rock whilst opening the door to other modern based themes.

My favourite track has to be Mountain Hag which I reviewed earlier this year and I’m going to include a brief passage from that review. Yeah, it might be lazy but I’m still happy how I described that track back then.

“Mountain Hag is nothing short of a revelation with Mothertomb continuing their progression in perhaps becoming one of the best upcoming acts the underground scene currently needs right now”

I stand by that review and I feel Mothertomb have proven that point I’ve made completely with Dying To Live which combines classic levels of intense storytelling with superb forward thinking Doom/Stoner Metal music that will leave you emotionally drained and even fully refreshed after listening to the whole album. 

With WINDHAND taking an absolute age releasing their next album then MOTHERTOMB are here to satisfy that craving but bringing their own unique take to the party and perhaps opening the door to a highly rewarding career that will no doubt stretch past the far reaches of the heavy underground scene. Dying To Live is an absolute delightfully heavy and thrilling record that will become one of the standout records to own and devour before the year is out.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Dying To Live is available to buy now on CD/DD/Tape.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | DistroKid

Mothertomb announce debut album of ethereal, crushing doom "Dying to Live" out July 14th 2026

Mothertomb emerged from the deep woods of Northern Michigan in 2025, forging a sound that is equal parts crushing weight and haunting atmosphere. Rooted in traditional doom metal yet unbound by convention, the band's sound explores a broad spectrum of influences, from the hypnotic haze of heavy psych and stoner metal to the aggression of sludge metal and the dynamic complexity of progressive and groove metal.

Why "Mothertomb"? Although the band had been together for the better part of the year, we still struggled in finding our name to identify our sound and image. In April 2025, Northern Michigan was hit with one of the worst ice storms recorded in the last 100 years — so much so, that it destroyed all power grids in the region and left 145,000 people (including us) without power in below freezing temperatures for several weeks, resulting in a national state of emergency.

In witnessing this natural self-destruction of our forests, trees, and wildlife, we saw the polarization of beauty and despair intertwined and encased in inches of ice. It was both mystical and horrifying. It felt like Mother Nature had created her own tomb. And thus, with that thought came the name… Mothertomb - a duality of the light and dark that represents the human condition and inspires our sound.

Set for release on July 14, 2026, Dying to Live is Mothertomb's debut full-length album. Across its five tracks, the record explores themes of transformation, suffering, transcendence, and the timeless struggle between darkness and light. Drawing inspiration from Welsh folklore and the shadowed corners of the human psyche, the songs traverse landscapes inhabited by ancient spirits, inner demons, and the forces that shape the human condition.

The album unfolds through layers of metaphor, allegory, and introspection, inviting listeners into a world where darkness and illumination coexist. From brutal heaviness to moments of eerie beauty, Dying to Live is a journey through the depths of the human experience.

Created entirely as an independent DIY effort, the album was written, recorded, produced, and artistically directed by the band itself. Dying to Live stands as a testament to that labor of love, and we are honored to share it with the world.

PRAISE FOR "MOUNTAIN HAG" & "BEWARE":

"Mountain Hag is nothing short of a revelation with Mothertomb continuing their progression in perhaps becoming one of the best upcoming acts the underground scene currently needs right now." - Steve Howe, Outlaws of the Sun

“a doom-laden ritual where Sabbath-sized riffs meet prog-tinged menace and pure occult weight." - Mel Lie, Sunday's Heavy Tunes

“one of the bands that could emerge as a new revelation in the coming years." - Rubén Herrera, La Habitación 235

Mothertomb - Dying to Live

Album out July 14th, 2026
Self-released (Digital, CD Cassette)
Northern Michigan, US
Cover art by Alice Gawlinski

Recorded in Charlevoix, MI at Death Box Records (2026).
Music written by: Mothertomb
Produced by: Alton Minor and Mothertomb
Lyrics written by: Alice Gawlinski
Miixed and mastered by: Alton Minor
Recording engineer: Alton Minor and Mike Benitez
Artwork Design and Illustration by: Alice Gawlinski

Mothertomb is:

Alice Gawlinski - Vocals
Chance Gawlinski - Guitar
Alton Minor - Bass
Mike Benitez - Percussion

Tracklist:

1. The Summoning (3:47)
2. Cythraul (10:00)

3. Beware (6:53)
4. Mountain Hag (9:42)
5. Dying to Live (9:35)

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | DistroKid

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.

Mothertomb - Mountain Hag (Single Review)

Release Date: January 06th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Mountain Hag - Tracklisting

Mountain Hag

Members

Alice Gawlinski: Vocals

Chance Gawlinski: Guitar

Alton Minor: Bass

Mike Benitez: Percussion

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Mothertomb return with their latest single Mountain Hag which takes a similar journey to their acclaimed debut single Beware. Though, this time there is more focus on a more Psychedelic and Progressive sound emitting from all corners. The grooves have a Blues Tinged atmosphere to them with flashes of good old fashioned Classic Rock appearing within the first few moments of the track. There’s also a bewitching “OCCULT” and “TRIBAL” energy allowing Mountain Hag to have a certain Folk or Appalachian aspect to the whole song.

Alice Gawlinski’s vocals impress yet again with a subversive and highly engaging style being delivered throughout the whole track. They can be quite outlandish at times but that’s the charm of the overall song with Mothertomb even stripping back their “HEAVY METAL” themes of the song for a stunning Post-Doom and Post-Stoner atmosphere within the quieter moments of the song.

The instrumental passages once again provided by Chance Gawlinski (Guitar), Alton Minor (Bass) and Mike Benitez (Percussion) have a more multi-faceted dimension to them with a heavier Progressive sound which allows Mothertomb to fully transform into spellbinding storytellers of their own making. This “minor” transformation compared to their debut song “Beware” has me even more excited to hear their upcoming debut album due for release later this year. 

Mountain Hag is nothing short of a revelation with Mothertomb continuing their progression in perhaps becoming one of the best upcoming acts the underground scene currently needs right now.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | DistroKid

Mothertomb - Beware (Single Review)

Release Date: October 01st 2025. Record Label: Self Released: Formats: Digital

Beware - Tracklisting

Beware

Lineup

Alice Gawlinski: Vocals

Chance Gawlinski: Guitar

Alton Minor: Bass

Mike Benitez: Percussion

Review

Mothertomb is a Doom Metal Band who have recently released their debut single BEWARE from their forthcoming debut album that will be released in 2026. Fronted by the impressive vocal talents of Alice Gawlinski who brings an emotionally charged performance on the BEWARE. You could say the most dominant influence for the band is WINDHAND but Mothertomb add a gloomy Shoegaze and Grunge sound to their music. There’s the increasing appearance of Psychedelic, Doom and Stoner Metal surroundings within BEWARE though it does take for the band to add these elements of music into the song.

The song is quite deceptive with the heavy melodies as they open the track with a slow-to-mid paced Shoegaze aspect before fully exploding into a Psychedelic Doomed Out Force Of Nature with stripped back recording techniques that gives a more vibrant and ethereal vibe to the whole track. Mothertomb add areas of the OCCULT and GOTHIC sensibilities within the later stages of Beware with little outbursts of Thrash and Groove Metal just for the sheer hell of it.

Beware is an intriguing and superbly executed proposition from MOTHERTOMB which has me excited to hear more from their upcoming debut album in 2026. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | DistroKid

IN COVERT - Bleak Machinery (Album Review)

Release Date: May 09th 2025. Record Label: Dune Altar. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Bleak Machinery - Tracklisting

1.Blood Moon Rises (Intro) 01:02

2.Blood Moon 04:02

3.Nowhere to Turn 03:39

4.Shivers Down the Spine 03:43

5.The Truth Is Out There 00:48

6.Night Captivity 03:36

7.Dead Weight 03:43 

8.Gates of He// 00:32

9.Darkfields 02:43 

10.Ominous Dreams 00:40

11.Death Embers 03:18 video

12.Cemetery Nights 04:40

Members

Wes Lopez - Guitars/Synth

Kris Balocca - Vocals

Oscar Ruvalcaba - Drums

Victor Guitierrez - Bass

Review

Bleak Machinery is the debut album from Industrial/Punk/Noise Rock/Metal Sonic Terrorists IN COVERT where they cover almost every corner of the Punk, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal spectrum. There’s moments of Death Rock, Doom Metal, Sludge Rock, Post-Punk, Ambient and A;t Metal all appearing at dark and despairing times of the record. All I can say this is a band with a unique vision and highly original sound of their own. 

The record shows glimpses of the past, present and future of HEAVY METAL with it’s classic Post-Punk and Gothic themes allowing the modern sounding Electronica and Synth Driven themes creating a nightmarish landscape that could easily be classed as a critique on modern day world current events. The music itself is inspired by the likes of The Cure, Killing Joke, NIN, Ministry, Neurosis, Celtic Frost and even Motorhead.

Bleach Machinery excels the most when In Covert dive right into the harsh Industrial and Sonic landscapes with a Post-Doom and Post-Black Metal sound transforms into a Synth driven Sludge Metal juggernaut which you’ll encounter within the brilliant standout tracks of Blood Moon and Nowhere To Turn. The vocals are from the classic era of Post-Punk and Post-Goth which allows the record to have a 1980’s Alt Rock/Metal dynamic which is where the lyrics thrive the most. 

There’s a hallucinogenic and apocalyptic imagery appearing from the dystopian science fiction narrative that IN COVERT have injected to every fibre and being of the album. Distorted loops, psychedelic noises and electronic glitches allows IN COVERT to project a loud wall of NOISE and constant waves of DARK PARANOIA which NIN and MINISTRY were masters at back in the day. The record does feel like a distant relation to the landmark GODFLESH record Streetcleaner but with IN COVERT being perhaps more Doom Metal/Post-Punk based though the similarities are there.

IN COVERT do offer moments of sublime instrumental passages where riffs and proggy grooves begin to form but all kept under the vortex of that dark brooding Industrial and Post-Punk beats. I even loved the song Night Captivity as it offers a brief moment of uplifting Psych Rock sounds which is perhaps described as the best song “THE CURE never released”. The sound of Night Captivity is soon given a bleak APOCALPYTIC makeover with lush sounding vocals and twisted Doom-Pop melodies.

The later parts of the record sees IN COVERT experiment further with despairing feedback loops, industrial sounds and heavy monolithic instrumental passages that throw the odd curveball here and there with tracks such as Dead Weight, Darkfields, Death Embers and Cemetery Nights allowing IN COVERT to end things on a bleak and brilliant creative high.

Bleak Machinery is a one of a kind record you don’t come across or experience that much. With intense production values, IN COVERT have the potential to make a name for themselves in the wider Heavy Metal scene. 

Words by Steve Howe

Bleak Machinery is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Dune Altar.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Introduce Yourselves: Devilsome

What is the name of your band?

Devilsome

What is the genre of music that you play?

Devilsome play heavy metal/goth metal with a punk influence.

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

Devilsome is:

Garth Kidd bass and vocals
Joe McGuigan Guitars
John McSherry Guitars

Devilsome was formed in late 2019 in Newry, Northern Ireland by vocalist/bassist Garth Kidd and Guitarist Joe McGuigan(Joe is a founding member of Irish thrash band Gama bomb) and later recruited guitarist John Mc Sherry in 2023 We released a demo called Hellfire hymns in 2021 followed by a single and music video called 'Lilith' in the same year.

Production has just finished on our debut EP and we are aiming for a late summer release for it.

We have several guest appearances on the EP Chris Williams(Shrapnel,Gama bomb)on drums. Kevy Canavan on keyboards and former Cradle of filth Guitarist Richard Shaw appears on a track.

What can people expect from your music?

People can expect horror and occult laden tracks filled with fist pumping melodies, atmospheric verses and sing along choruses. Song themes about devil girls, battle angels, witchcraft, love, loss and anger.

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

We would recommend people check our the single Lilith and for the full effect checkout the music video to go with it also keep an eye our for our EP

Where can people find you on Social Media?

https://linktr.ee/devilsomeband

You can watch the video for Lilith below

An Interview With Otto Kinzel From DUST PROPHET To Discuss Their New Album ONE LAST LOOK UPON THE SKY

2023 is almost upon us and today's guests DUST PROPHET will be releasing one of the first and essential Doom/Stoner Metal albums to listen and fully own with their debut album One Last Look Upon The Sky. 

A gothic tinged trip into the murkier sides of the WEEDIAN atmosphere. Progressive with a DARK TWIST that packed full of highly original and organic Stoner based grooves.

I caught up with Otto Kinzel (Guitars/Vocals) from the band where we discussed the making of the album, formation of the band and the struggles they went through just to release this outstanding album.

So Read On For More Info....

Hi there. How’s it going? Thanks for doing the interview.

Thank you for having me! I’m very appreciative of the opportunity.

For folks not in the know, can you give a brief history of the band and where it is today?

We are based in Manchester, NH (Manch-Vegas as the locals like to refer to it). Sarah Wappler (bass/keyboards) & I started Dust Prophet in 2018 but it took a little while to get everything going. It wasn’t until COVID lockdown that we found Tyler MacPherson (drums) and finally got some momentum. Once Tyler was on board, we had a consistent line-up and started writing & recording. As of today, we have released several singles & are gearing up for the release of our debut album, One Last Look Upon the Sky, which will be January 27th, 2023.

How would you describe your music in your own words?

We play Stoner/Doom Metal but have a big psychedelic/progressive rock influence that we try to let fly whenever possible. We all love “riff” focused music, and Sarah is our in-house Queen of the Riff, as she writes a huge chunk of the music. We’re equal parts inspired by Clutch, Acid King and Kyuss as we are Opeth and All Them Witches.

Why did you call the band - Dust Prophet? Any specific meaning?

We just thought it was a cool name ha ha. We wanted to find a name that conjured a specific image related to the genre of Stoner/Doom Metal. We had a few preliminary ideas that eventually evolved into Dust Prophet.

We’re here to talk about your upcoming new album One Last Look Upon the Sky. What can people expect for this album?

First off, hopefully people don’t think it sucks! We have a lot of longer songs, in the 7,8 and even 9-minute range. So, a lot of epic compositions that we hope will take the listener on a hypnotic journey. We want the album to be something you can put on and go track by track with a specific ebb & flow.

What is the record all about and why did you call the album that?

The title of the album is taken from one of the lyrics I wrote, in our single Hourglass. Sarah pointed it out and we all liked the idea behind it, and the imagery it inspired.

What were the recording sessions like for the new album? Was this a hard album to write and record for?

I wouldn’t say it was hard but it was challenging…but in a good way! We wanted to layer lots of drums with additional percussion; guitars with organ and synth. We wanted to create an album that would be ideal for headphone listening & give the listener a real mind f*ck, with lots of melodies and even noise. The goal was lots of dynamics within each song.

I read within the PR Notes that this album took you 4 years to make when you were beset by roadblocks along the way. Was this a troubling process for you all and would you change anything about the whole experience about making this album?

There were times where we didn’t think the music would ever be released, and times Sarah and I thought we should just give up and try a different genre or band altogether. We were on the verge of doing that until we found Tyler. He injected new life into the band and gave us our mojo back. Once we had him on board, we focused on moving forward 100% but between previous members quitting abruptly, family struggles with health issues, Covid, and the day-to-day challenges of having a working career outside of music with all of us having families of our own, there were days where we felt like it was never going to happen. But yes, it was all worth it. Because if we hadn’t been through those challenges, I don’t think the three of us would’ve appreciated where we are today.

I love your new album and I admire how the album can be quite gothic and apocalyptic in places which isn’t surprising since you're including a wealth of different gothic writers and even biblical references within your lyrics but still being a proper WEEDIAN based album. Was that an easy decision to make to include themes such as those within your music?

Good question. For me, when it comes to the lyrical subjects it was a natural fit. I take inspiration from so many places, as you mentioned. The things I find interesting I just put to paper and work into the music. Sometimes I have to check with Tyler & Sarah to make sure they’re comfortable with some of the subject matter but so far so good

What is the creative process or setup within the band? Do you all write the music together or do certain people within the band do that?

Typically, one or two of us will have some riffs pre-written and will “bring them” so to speak to the rest of the band. Sarah is a huge part of the writing process and she is responsible for writing probably 90% of the riffs on the album. She will bring a riff to practice, and she might have some additional parts and/or changes. We will jam on it and all three of us will craft and form those parts into a complete song. Although while 1 individual might be the source of the song writing, all 3 of us are involved when it comes to the completed version as its recorded. For the lyrics however, those are all me. I write all of the lyrics.

Who influenced you all musically for the new album?

We all have very different influences, and at the same time we all have similar influences. Sarah is hugely influenced by Frank Zappa and Prog-Rock for example; Tyler is influenced by NIN, Tool and other 90’s artists; I’m influenced by Ministry and lots of Industrial-Metal. But we all love Clutch and The Sword; We all like Rush. So, there’s all these different aspects that go into how we as individuals write and perform, yet also these OTHER influences that tie us all together. I hope that comes across in the music.

I love the different vocal styles on the album. Quite experimental in places. Was it challenging recording the different vocals on this album or did it all come naturally.

Thank you! And the majority of it comes naturally to me. But having said that, it was a challenge because I’m always trying to push myself. I want to always present different styles and voices for each song. Most of them I worked out in practice before tracking, but once I’m in the studio and have the chance to multi-track it gets my creative wheels going. I love coming up with different layers. Its something I’m pushing to experiment with even more on the new music we’re writing. As we develop musically as a band, I want the vocal layering & experimenting to develop as well.

Who designed the excellent artwork for the new album?

The one and only Mirko Masala! They’re an artist based in Germany and we LOVE their work. You can see more of what Mirko does at www.behance.net/mirkowgastow

Who is releasing the album and what formats it’s being released on?

We are releasing the album ourselves. It will be available in digital and physical format through our Bandcamp page. For physical product we will have CDs and will also be getting the album pressed on Vinyl, for the summer time. WE also are working on a potential distribution deal with a well-known indie label in the Stoner/Doom genre, but I’m not at liberty to elaborate on that at the moment.

How did you get involved with music? Was it a particular album, group or artist that made you want to write and play your own music?

I started playing guitar around the age of 12. It was when Nevermind was released, and I fell in love with Nirvana. That was the album that made me want to learn the instrument. A few years later I got into heavier bands & discovered industrial music. I love bands like Ministry and KMFDM and that pushed me to learn more about drum machines, sequencers and studio engineering. I just kept going deeper down the rabbit hole as I got into more types of metal and different underground artists. In many ways I still feel like that 12-year-old kid who thinks the sky is the limit when it comes to be creative and finding new influences.

What is the current state of the Manchester, New Hampshire Rock/Metal scene? Do you perform gigs on a regular basis and do you have a local scene that you're actively involved with?

Its slowly coming back to what it was in the mid-2000s. We used to have lots of venues that catered to live music, and in particular heavier bands. Over the last 10 years various venues have either shutdown, or decided to no longer book heavier bands (and some no longer book any bands at all, regardless of genre). And Covid contributed to the demise of several of these venues. But in the last year there have been more and more new venues popping up that are really supporting live music, so that’s been fun to see. There’s a LONG way to go but it’s heading in the right direction.

Will you be touring this album heavily in the future? If so, any plans you can share with us at this moment in time?

Oh yes! We plan on playing out a ton to support this album. We already have several shows for the early part of 2023 booked, and we’ve been confirmed to return to Maryland in June for the 2023 Maryland Doom Festival. There will be a lot more stuff getting booked as we continue to fill our 2023 schedule

Thanks for doing this interview. Before you go, do you have anything to say to your fans currently out there?

Thank you for believing in us and giving us this opportunity. We hope you enjoy the album and hope to see you at a show in 2023. Hopefully, it doesn’t suck lol

Words by Steve Howe and Otto Kinzel

Thanks to Curtis at C Squared Music for arranging the interview.

One Last Look Upon The Sky will be available to buy on CD/DD from January 27th 2023 with a Vinyl Release scheduled for next year.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Twitter