Austin Heavy Rock Trio DEMONS MY FRIENDS share new video "The Isolate". New album coming early 2026 on Ripple Music!

Austin-based heavy rock trio DEMONS MY FRIENDS have recently signed to Ripple Music for the release of their new album in early 2026, and present a brand new track with "The Isolate" today!

“The Isolate” is the result of a very personal exploration for the band members, who focused on trying to reflect through this song the high anxiety that they experienced as socially awkward teenagers many years ago. This song also seeks to introduce the audience to the thematic grounding that will be the foundation for their soon-to-be-announced sophomore release.

️ Watch Demons My Friends new video The Isolate ️

About the song, guitarist and vocalist Pablo Anton says, "Demons My Friends continues to be a therapeutic effort for all of us, and with this new song we wanted to shine a light on our teen years. One of the best things from growing up is getting some perspective on the dramas from our past, and looking back at events in our lives that were really overwhelming in the moment, but later mean absolutely nothing. It reflects how much of the dramas in our lives can be mostly invented by our own minds, by our own demons, and live only inside us but they don’t exist in the real world and other people can’t even perceive them."

New single "The Isolate" out now via Ripple Music. Listen on all streaming services

“The surreal, apocalyptic imagery matches the dark and downbeat vibe of the sludgy track. Think fuzz. Think riffs. Think drop-tuned heaviness.” — Decibel Magazine

“Alternative doom is not a new thing, although I think it’s yet to truly mature, and this group definitely has the chops to carry the genre further.” – Invisible Oranges

Demons My Friends is a Mexican band that blends elements of rock, post-punk, and doom. The power trio embarked on their creative endeavor via an impromptu recording session at the SXSW music festival in Austin, TX in 2022 and have consummated their relationship with their debut full-length titled "Demons Seem to Gather", which was produced and mixed by Jeff Henson (Duel, Greenbeard, Spirit Adrift, Clutch) and mastered by Alberto de Icaza. They have also provided direct tour support for artists like Bruce Dickinson and Graveyard.

Their approach is typically described as both emotionally charged and sonically adventurous, mixing raw power with a sense of reflective moodiness while their thematic focus often deals with personal struggles, societal themes, and the complexities of human experience with a touch of existential or philosophical contemplation.

DEMONS MY FRIENDS is

Pablo Anton – Guitars and vocals
Lu Salinas – Bass and vocals
Tarro Martinez – Drums

DEMONS MY FRIENDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

RIPPLE MUSIC links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR and Gravitoyd Heavy Music for the details.

Stone Nomads - Beyond The Gates (EP Review)

Release Date: June 10th 2024. Record Label: Gravitoyd Heavy Music. Formats: DD

Beyond The Gates: Tracklisting

1.Witch 04:37

2.The Tempter 06:23

3.Sorrow 02:14

4.Overlords (2024 Remix) 06:03

Members

Jon Cosky - Guitar/Vocals

Jude Sisk - Bass/Vocals

Esben Willems - Drums

Kyle Thomas - guest vocals on "the Tempter"

Review

Beyond The Gates is the new EP from Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal Wrecking Crew STONE NOMADS and it continues the same style of music they developed and delivered with 2023’s well received album …At The Gates Of Solitude.

The EP is best described by the band themselves from the description below:

“Beyond the Gates”, a follow-up and exclamation point to book-end last year’s full-length LP “…At the Gates of Solitude”. The release features 2 new songs, a remixed bonus track from the LP, and a new version of the classic “Trouble” doom track “The Tempter” (stream above) featuring collaboration with metal vocalist extraordinaire Kyle Thomas (Exhorder,Trouble) along with the return lineup of guitarist/vocalist Jon Cosky, drummer Esben Willems (Monolord, Slower), and bassist/vocalist Jude Sisk.

The band are in full DOOM METAL mode with their music paying homage to bands such as TROUBLE, Saint Vitus and even some bands from the legendary NOLA scene. There’s the classic TEXAS metal sound that appears within the instrumental sounds with a slight diversion via Sweden with MONOLORD’s very own Esben Willems returning yet again.

The first new track Witch is more Heavy Metal dominated with the sludgy grooves adding an ice-cold DOOM METAL feel with flashes of Hard Rock excess especially within some of the classic 80’s guitar shredding that never feels out of place with the slow-paced Post-Doom rhythms. It can be pure EXCESS and OVER INDULGENT at times but all done in the best possible way.  If you want music that just gets straight the point of delivering Classic Heavy Metal tracks with the essence of thrilling Doom/Sludge Metal passages then Witch impresses from start to finish. 

The cover of TROUBLE classic The Tempter with Kyle Thomas appearing no doubt was heard within their last album but is a new version. I couldn’t tell much difference apart from being quite clearer and heavier in places. This is still a stunning rendition of a classic track with Stone Nomads not straying to far from the original but still adding perhaps a more menacing sludgier makeover. 

Third song Sorrow is the other new track and it’s a semi-acoustic number filled with gloomy soundscapes and abstract psychedelic tones which matches the bleak surroundings of the freakish guitars towards the end of the track. It’s a very cool track to listen to and superbly played but it takes some of the excitement from the record.

The final track Overlords (2024) remix brings the excitement back in a big way with a more aggressive take on the original track. The guitars and vocals are more “in-your-face” and completely outrageous with a subtle Alt-Rock/Alt-Metal makeover that feels inspired by FAITH NO MORE. I definitely prefer this version to the original as Stone Nomads deliver this goods on this track alone. A great way to end the EP with.

Beyond The Gates is another excellent release from Stone Nomads who may have shown brief glimpses on what to expect with their future releases. Until then, Beyond The Gates is a great sounding EP to add to your record collection right now…

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Gravitoyd announce ‘CHAPTER 1: THE GATHERING’ a Split Vinyl with Stone Nomads and Demons My Friends!

Gravitoyd announce ‘CHAPTER 1: THE GATHERING’ a Split Vinyl with Stone Nomads and Demons My Friends!

Limited edition Split LP with Demons My Friends on one side and Stone Nomads on the other side. Chapter 1: the Gathering is the first in a series of split LP's from Gravitoyd Heavy Music. Includes select tracks from "Demons Seem to Gather" and "Fields of Doom"

Pre-order Chapter 1: The Gathering here. 

Gravitoyd Heavy Music is proud to announce the release of it’s first in a series of Vinyl Split LP releases – “CHAPTER 1: THE GATHERING” Featuring Gravitoyd artists DEMONS MY FRIENDS and STONE NOMADS. 

Each release will be a limited edition available in Vinyl LP format only. Visit our bandcamp page for more details (see link above)

“Chapter 1: The Gathering is a celebration of 2 of our most coveted releases here at Gravitoyd Heavy Music. The album is a collection of tracks from STONE NOMAD’s “Fields of Doom” and DEMONS MY FRIENDS “Demons Seem to Gather”, each of which were featured albums of the year in 2022 and 2023 respectively. We are excited to hear these songs on vinyl for the first time!”

About The Bands

Demons My Friends is an unlikely collaboration between members of Mexican alt-metal band QBO and Washington, DC desert rockers Fellowcraft. The stoner/doom metal trio—Lu Salinas (bass/vocals), Tarro Martinez (drums), Pablo Anton (guitar/vocals)—embarked on their creative endeavor via an impromptu recording session at the SXSW music festival in Austin, TX in 2022.

Stone Nomads is an American Metal power trio based in Houston TX. The band, formed by Jon Cosky (Guitar/Vocals) and Jude Sisk (Bass/Vocals) in 2021, incorporates the sounds of early Doom Metal, modern Sludge Metal and all things heavy. Conceptually, the band explores the journey of life and death through the heavier and darker side of things, delivered via sludged-out, powerful riff-based sonics.

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for all of the details.

Stone Nomads - ...At The Gates Of Solitude (Album Review)

Release Date: October 19th 2023. Record Label: Gravitoyd Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl.

...At The Gates Of Solitude - Tracklisting

Post Apocalyptic Winds

Frigid

Blackened Paradise

The Tempter

Premonition

Upon The Hands Of Gods

Rumination

The Void That Remains

Overlords

Members

Jon Cosky - Guitar/Vocals

Jude Sisk - Bass/Vocals

Esben Willems - Drums

Kyle Thomas - Guest Vocals on The Tempter

Review

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Stone Nomads have really aimed big for their second album "...At The Gates Of Solitude" with the band employing a more monolithic and thick Doom Metal sound. I was surprised to see MONOLORD's drummer and destroyer of worlds Esben Willems join their ranks for this album and he brings his usual "A" game to Stone Nomads sound. However, Jon Cosky (Guitar/Vocals) and Jude Sisk (Bass/Vocals) still remain within the band and they bring a sense of gritty realism to their Heavy Doom/Stoner Metal sound that's boosted buy a fitting seedy Sludge Metal attitude.

The opening two songs of Post Apocalyptic Winds and Frigid offer a subtle style of Doom Metal with that modern Atmospheric Stoner/Sludge groove with flashes of Classic Heavy Metal that allows the band to play full on Thrash Metal solos with a hint of eerie Psych Rock. The songs remain an objective style of Occult Rock with a despairing level of gloominess with Stone Nomads playing with a more theatrical outlook especially within the lyrics they've written for this track.

Third track Blackened Paradise does offer a more Pitch Blackened Doom/Sludge Metal creative approach with the vocals having a slightly Demonic presence to them with a vibrant 1980's Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal attitude. The guitar solos are plentiful yet again with the elements of Proto-Doom starting to appear with flashes of Harsh Stoner Rock/Metal themes. Esben's undeniable drumming adds an unsettling cold-hearted sound to Stone Nomads with Jon's superb guitar sounds and Jude's shattering bass all cumulating with one of the heaviest standout tracks on the album.The later stages of the track does see Stone Nomads move over into Prog Metal and Post-Whatever domains with the band never losing their core creative focus.

Fourth track is a sublime cover of TROUBLE iconic classic track The Tempter with another very special guest Kyle Thomas providing vocals. Kyle Thomas even popped up providing a couple of tracks on the recenlty released new album Man In The Arena by UK Doom/Stoner Metallers The Sound Of Origin. So it's great to hear Kyle's undeniable vocals yet again with a barnstorming cover which doesn't stray too much from the original but is perhaps slower with a more deeper atmospheric edge. However, the song is wonderfully LOUD and AGGRESSIVE that sees Stone Nomads bridge the gap between the Proto-Doom Metal world of TROUBLE with their own modern day Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal sound.

Fifth track Premonition is a solitary Blues Rock/Acoustic Rock number which has a sense of gloomy Doomed Out Blues to it all. This is a different change of pace from Stone Nomads and it featues some epic Jazzy solos within its short running time. 

The second half of the album kicks off in winning style with another one of the albums standout tracks with Upon The Hands Of Gods with Stone Nomads playing styles of Classic Hard Rock, Doom Metal and Stoner Metal that feels inspired by bands such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy but with a more ferocious Sludgy attitude. The song allows Stone Nomads to play their wickedly entertaining style of non-stop guitar solos with that OTT theatrical edge appearing within the vocals with a fast-paced and highly energetic attitude being more intense when the Thrash Metal sounds appear.

The final three tracks Rumination, The Void That Remains and Overlords becomes more ice-cold and slightly more Doom Metal based with it's cold-hearted and cynical sound appearing within the excellent sounding instrumental seventh track Rumination. The track does have moments of pure Heavy Metal excess but Stone Nomads deliver this with absolute menacing relish which moves straight into The Void That Remains.

The Void That Remains and Overlords is where Stone Nomads become more menacing with the whole themes of the album. The lyrics are pure Heavy Metal theatre but the sludgy guitars and thrilling rhythm section brings a more nuanced feeling to the album which allows the final song Overlords to become the perfect combination of Classic Heavy Metal and Modern Day Doom/Stoner Metal with the right amount of punishing Sludge Metal grooves. The Psychedelic flavours that are added little by little allows Stone Nomads to play a more unsettling sound throughout.

"...At The Gates Of Solitude" is another welcome and sublime release for the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal community to fully embrace. The record is expertly produced with the album allowing Stone Nomads the perfect opportunity the Heavy Metal world what they can deliver and this is a classic sounding Heavy Metal album in every sense of the word.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy ...At The Gates Of Solitude now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Gravitoyd Records.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Demons My Friends - Demons Seem To Gather (Album Review)

Release Date: September 08th 2023. Record Label: Gravitoyd Heavy Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Demons Seem To Gather: Tracklisting

The Tower Falls

Bring The Night

Inner Slay

Ghosts Of You

Make Them Pay

Fire Mountain

Your Bones

We Are The Resistance

Review:

Demons Seem To Gather is the debut album from Doom/Stoner Metallers Demons My Friends and it's quite an accomplished debut from a band who have only been going since 2022. Taking the Sludge/Stoner Metal melodies of bands such as High On Fire, Mastodon and Torche but with the Psychedelic textures of King Buffalo and All Them Witches. There's also a bombastic style of Grunge that allows the album to have a more cautionary and classic sound which you can fully experience early on the outstanding opening song The Tower Falls.

The Tower Falls has a vibrant and highly melodic style of Sludge/Stoner Rock/Metal with a heavy down-tuned Doom based approach. The vocals remind me of Baroness and Mastodon with an Alternative edge appearing within the lyrics. The sound is always bang on point with a FUZZ and AMPLIFIER based attitude appearing within the production values throughout the album.

Second song Bring The Night is more restrained in places for the early stages of the song with the sludgy grooves before moving into heavier areas of the Sludge/Stoner Metal creative template Demons My Friends employ here. The track fuses Post-Metallic energy with deft touches of Hardcore aggression to add extra bite within the heavier parts of the track. The second half sees Demon My Friends play a more Progressive style of music with the drone-ish vocals working surprisingly well with the first rate guitars.

Third song Inner Slay has a heavier and darker presence compared to the other tracks on the album within both the music and lyrics that offers some of the heaviest grooves on the album. Demons My Friends play a slower style of music but it adds a more eerie and chilling atmosphere especially when the mood becomes more THRASH based which will delight fans of High On Fire. The Psychedelic and Fuzzier sounds wisely adapts to a more LOW & SLOW approach on the later stages of the track.

Fourth song Ghosts Of You sees the band change their vocal styles for a more melancholic and indie rock delivery but the music always remains Sludgy with Psychedelic gloomy textures which build upto a killer style of Post-Stoner based instrumental jams. The album does become more volatile on this track alone with the AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and Guitar Reverb allowing Demons My Friends to become aggressively LOUD and quite punishing at times. This is one of the standout tracks on the album.

The second half of the album sees Demon My Friends continue with their highly creative style of Sludge/Stoner Metal with areas of Classic Hard Rock and Grunge taking centre stage more on tracks such as: Make Them Pay, Fire Mountain and We Are The Resistance. Demons My Friends do try different things with their music on this part of the album with screeching vocals and experimental sounds being played just for the hell of it. However, there's always a fine amount of intense grooves and sublime vocals to leave you wanting to hear more great music such as this.

Demons Seem To Gather is a highly captivating and first rate release from Demons My Friends that offers genuine thrills and spills within the LOUD VOLUME department. The Doom/Stoner Metal scene has another wonderful band to fully get behind and get truly excited about. As this album delivers on all fronts.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to US/THEM PR for the promo.

Demons Seem To Gather will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Gravitoyd Heavy Music from September 08th 2023.

Links:

Linktree | BandCamp

DEMONS MY FRIENDS announce new album ‘DEMONS SEEM TO GATHER’ out Sept 8th on GRAVITOYD HEAVY MUSIC!

Demons Seem to Gather was recorded, mixed and produced by Jeff Henson at Red Nova Ranch, Austin, TX. It was mastered by Alberto de Icaza. It’s set for release on September 8 on vinyl, CD and digitally via Gravitoyd Heavy Music. In the meantime you can stream the band's new song Make Them Pay below.

Demons My Friends is an unlikely collaboration between members of Mexican alt-metal band QBO and Washington, DC desert rockers Fellowcraft. The stoner/doom metal trio—Lu Salinas (bass/vocals), Tarro Martinez (drums), Pablo Anton (guitar/vocals)—embarked on their creative endeavor via an impromptu recording session at the SXSW music festival in Austin, TX in 2022 and have consummated the relationship with an upcoming full-length titled Demons Seem to Gather.

Shows coming up for Demons My Friends:

October 20th at Valhalla (Austin TX)
October 21st at Black Magic Social Club (Houston TX)

Demons My Friends is:

Pablo Anton - guitar/vox
Lu Salinas - Bass/vox
Tarro - Drums

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for all of the details.