Heathen Tongues - Neurogenesis (EP Review)

Release Date: July 22nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Neurogenesis - Tracklist

1. Revelation (3:42)

2. Firefight (6:42)

Members

Devin Mendoza - Guitar

Shane Falkenhart - Drums

Review

Neurogeneisis is the debut EP from Progressive Sludge Metallers Heathen Tongues who add a Crust Punk attitude amongst the Grunge, Doom, Post-Metal and Stoner Metal surroundings which changes aggressive attitude throughout the short eleven minutes runtime of the EP. The band have the legendary talents of Brad Boatright on mastering duties and Matt Bayles on mixing duties who have perhaps both help to build and shape the modern day Sludge/Post-Metal scene over the last twenty five years.

This serves Heathen Tongues brilliantly well who forge close sonic alliances to the likes of Pelican, YOB, SLEEP and Red Fang. The EP is purely instrumental with both tracks of Revelation and Firefight having a wide assortment of Crust Punk and Post-Metal grooves with that biting Progressive Sludge Metal environment bringing surprising elements of Psych, Grunge and Stoner Rock into the foray. 

Each song has a great metallic narrative which allows this hugely talented two piece sound like a bigger band with more members than the core duo of Devin Mendoza (Guitar) and Shane Falkenhart (Drums). The gloomy use of the speech from the classic Charlie Chaplin film The Dictator gives a harsh and unsettling reality which comes mostly into focus on Firelight. 

Neurogenesis is one of the strongest debut EP’s I’ve heard in quite some time with Heathen Tongues having some great things to say and without the use of vocals makes it even more emotionally powerful. If you’re here for the grooves and bleak melodies then Heathen Tongues have you covered but only for eleven minutes but it does keep you wanting to hear more and that’ only a good thing.

Heathen Tongues will be releasing their debut album in February 2027 in which both of these tracks will appear and I can’t wait to hear the complete narrative of what they form. As these guys have real potential to release something special and definitely a band to really look out for next year.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Observers - The Emerald (Album Review)

Release Date: August 13th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Emerald - Tracklist

1.The Emerald 04:56

2.The Eye Tree 03:05 

3.Forest of Doom 05:57

4.Asterophora 03:07

5.The Word for Forest is World 01:42

6.Predestination 05:40

7.Boreal World 05:27

8.Voices Within 06:11

9.After Us 01:21

10.The Door (Outtake) 03:21

Members

Martin Kennedy - guitars, synths & soundscapes.

Chris Bohm - drums.

Rich Gray - Bass

Additional musicians: Joao Corceiro, Martin Arroyou, German Maldonado

Review

Instrumental Doom/Post-Metal collective Observers return with their second album The Emerald which continues the great work laid down on their acclaimed debut album The Age Of The Machine Entities. The record is an effortless blend of Doom, Post-Metal, Heavy Metal, Prog Metal, Ambient Metal and Stoner Metal for a journey that has complex cinematic quality throughout. Observers channel “Video Game” narrative for this record but allow the true Heavy Metal dynamics to do their thing with surreal moments of intense Post-Metal quality.

The whole sound aligns more closely to a grounded level compared to the COSMIC surroundings of their debut album. The music is more frantic and action packed with Observers delving into a frenzied style Prog Metal with an intense Heavy Metal presence emerging from the stunning opening tracks of The Emerald, The Eye Tree and Forest Of Doom. Sometimes the mood can be too flashy but it works for the overall story of the album.

The instrumental work is dominated by a great “DOOM & GLOOM” atmosphere with flashes of Ambient Metal allowing Observers to bring in other areas of the ROCK/METAL spectrum. Adding small pockets of Folk Rock and Post-Rock gives a more emotional sound especially within the haunting third track of Forest Of Doom that has elements of OPETH and Animal As Leaders transforming the Post-Metal energy quite suddenly.

The Emerald relies heavily on synths and dramatic soundscapes which expertly builds up the tension but also allows the record to breathe and grow naturally for the story to move onto its highly dramatic conclusion. Observers hit upon every corner of the Doom, Post-Rock and Post-Metal landscape throughout the album with gloomy passages having a deeply emotional core when moving the different time frames of Eighties Heavy Metal and modern day instrumental music.

Other standout tracks on the album to check out are: Asterophora, Predestination, Boreal World and Voices Within which contain the heaviest, gloomiest and epic guitar shredding moments on the entire record.  

Observers have released another standout collection of tracks that does something wholly original and superbly cinematic with the Instrumental Doom Metal scene. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.

The Emerald is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Doom Metallers OBSERVERS New Album THE EMERALD

The Emerald is the second album from Martin Kennedy's instrumental metal project, Observers. The Emerald's instrumental post-metal was inspired by the primeval forests and hidden portals of the cover art by visionary art pioneer Gilbert Williams, one of Kennedy's favourite artists. Once again mixed by Joe Haley of Australia's Psycroptic, the album is equal parts crushing guitars and atmospheric soundscapes, reminiscent of Kennedy's ambient rock project All India Radio.

Observers' debut earned widespread acclaim, including selection on NPR's New Music Friday, a Wild One pick on ABC TV's Rage, and praise from critics around the world. Prog magazine hailed it as a "glorious instrumental reimagining of 2001: A Space Odyssey," while Distorted Sound called it "a sprawling space-metal epic." Steve Kilbey of The Church simply declared it "sounds brilliant," and Sea of Tranquility "Spacey and doomy" 3 stars.

Thanks to the amazing folks over at Good Boy PR you can hear the album in full with this exclusive album premiere.

The Emerald is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

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

Boarzoy - The Great Fires (Album Review)

Release Date: June 12th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

The Great Fires - Tracklisting

1.Even in the Rain 05:44

2.A Hundred Pitchers of Honey 03:56

3.Wartime Softshoe 05:02

4.Agency (Is Necessary) 04:19

5.Bib and Bottle 02:45

6.Your New Hands 03:48

7.David 04:35

8.Something Beautiful 01:36

9.The Great Fires 06:12

Members

 

Riley Senne- Bass

Taylor Winterhalder- Drums

Rennie Boyd- Vocals

Jake Sklodowski- Guitars

Review

Groove/Sludge Metallers Boarzoy second album The Great Fire offers more complex and dazzling progressive melodies compared to their excellent debut album. There’s an intense eclectic creative energy to Boarzoy with the band employing different musical styles with influences such as Mastodon, The Mars Volta, The Melvins, Devin Townend, Lamb Of God and Machine Head which you can feel throughout the album.

There’s instances of Grunge, Doom and Stoner Metal based madness lurking in the background with Boarzoy aiming for bigger and better things with this album which they richly deserve.

The Great Fire sees Boarzoy power through a mix of progressive beat-downs and sludgy powerful beats that have a Punk Rock aesthetic with the scattered DIY approach the record ultimately thrives upon. There is a slight outlandish attitude appearing from the band on tracks such as Even In The Rain, A Hundred Pitchers Of Honey, Bib And Bottle, Your New Hands, David and The Great Fires being my favourite tracks on the album. Though, all the tracks have this intense and outrageous manic energy that leaves you fully satisfied. 

Boarzoy are sometimes very hard to describe with their music being quite schizophrenic in nature where they just sound like they have a “FUCK IT” kind of attitude where they play exactly what they want. However, there are massive amounts of great melodic sounds emerging when you least expect it. The jazzy grooves work best when the band play a standard style of Progressive Sludge Metal before Rennie Boyd’s superb vocals just thrust you back into their warped HEAVY METAL world.

The album fully relies on the outlandish sensibilities of Eighties and Nineties Heavy Metal where experimentation was perhaps that little bit different back during those days. However, here's a huge modern day sound that keeps everything grounded despite the crazed music being played throughout. You can even detect a sudden influence of the likes of QUEEN within some of the music and vocals used on the awesome third track Wartime Softshoe. 

The one thing you can call The Great Fires is ORIGINAL. You just don’t come across albums such as this as it feels like an all out assault on your senses. BOARZOY is the real deal if you like your music that is a little bit more AVANT-GARDE with the band always thinking outside the box. This record is an exhilarating mix of different Heavy Metal themes that will leave you completely speechless.

Mind-Blowing. End Of.

 

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Urzah - A Tranquil Void (Album Review)

Release Date: June 05th 2026. Record Label: APF Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

A Tranquil Void - Tracklisting

1.At the Mouth of the Cave 03:28

2.The Call Beneath 04:33

3.Infernal Star I 05:50

4.Infernal Star II 05:24

5.Bark & Branches 03:44

6.In the Mouth of the Wolf 06:26

7.Hunter in the Veil 06:23

8.Entwined, Twisted Roots of Chaos 12:39

Members

 

Ed Fairman - Vocals / Guitar

Tom McElveen - Vocals / Guitar

Dan Bradley - Bass

James Brown – Drums

Review

Progressive Sludge Metallers Urzah return with their sophomore album A Tranquil Void which sees the band strip all the Stoner Metal dynamics that played a major part of their 2024 debut album. Urzah demonstrates an aggressive and violent Post-Metal vibe to their music which travels through the other areas of music that appear on the album that it becomes the dominant theme holding everything together.

There’s a brutal HARDCORE atmosphere allowing Urzah to fully create a highly apocalyptic style of Psych Metal and Ambient themes. The vocals are reminiscent of Neurosis and Mastodon with the band even applying THRASH METAL beatdowns to add a deafening level of metallic aggression into the mix. A Tranquil Void is quite experimental with it’s fractured beats, extended glitches and sonic noises that gives this record an almost industrial feel with Urzah applying a “RELAPSE RECORDS” makeover to their music. 

The instrumental work is superb throughout with Urzah demonstrating a intense Progressive Metal energy compared to their debut album especially on tracks such At The Mouth Of The Cave, The Call Beneath, Infernal Star I, In The Mouth Of The Wolf and Entwined, Twisted Roots of Chaos which all left me feeling breathless at times. 

Urzah excel at injecting classic Post-Metal themes against the modern day Progressive Sludge Metal environment which lets areas of Post-Rock and Ambient Metal to appear from time-to-time. The album does become bleaker, darker and perhaps even violent with the thuggish and brutal sounds emitting from all corners with the excellent rhythm section of Dan Bradley on Bass and James Brown on Drums which keeps everything grounded.

It’s this musical dynamic that allows Ed Fairman (Vocals / Guitar) and Tom McElveen (Vocals / Guitar) to deliver stunning vocals and sublime progressive instrumental passages that have a thrilling cinematic Psychedelic quality to them.

There’s some great moments of classic Hard Rock instrumental solos that should feel out of place for a record such as this but Urzah pulls this off with great originality and musical conviction. A Tranquil Void is a stunning record on every level that’s backed up by first rate production values. If you want a record that moves into multiple areas of Heavy Metal whilst keeping that Post-Metal quality from start to finish then you can’t go wrong with this epic album that pulls no punches and leaves you a shivering wreck when everything is said and done.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

A Tranquil Void is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via APF Records.

Links 

Official | BandCamp

Bristol’s Progressive Sludge Quartet URZAH share 3rd single 'The Call Beneath' on APF Records (Mastiff, Video Nasties, Swamp Coffin)

‘A Tranquil Void’ Cover Art (Credit: Putra Satria Nugraha)

Formed in 2020, just before the pandemic hit, Urzah’s intensely collaborative and productive writing process was immediately evident, leading to the quick release of self-titled EPs ‘I’ (2020) and ‘II’ (2022). These laid the foundation for Urzah’s unique brand of ‘progressive sludge’. Inviting comparisons to Neurosis, DVNE, Mastodon and Elder, their forward-looking sound combines the abrasive elements of punk and post-hardcore with atmospheric post-metal passages and soaring melodies.

Urzah’s vision of ‘Earthen Heaviness’, combining oppressive darkness with moments of transcendence and cosmic awe, was realised on their critically acclaimed debut LP ‘The Scorching Gaze’ (2024, APF Records). The band’s sonic world draws on both the intensely personal – rage, loss, grief and self-doubt – and a profound awe and vulnerability in the face of the celestial and natural worlds, framing visceral human struggle within vast cycles of death, decay and rebirth.

 
Since their debut, Urzah has refined their live shows across the UK, playing festivals and headline shows, and sharing stages with a diverse roster of heavy bands including Bongzilla, Tuskar, Mastiff, Greenleaf, OHHMS and Dopelord, as well as progressive atmospheric bands such as Hidden Mothers, Underdark and Nadja, demonstrating their strong cross-genre appeal.

The band recently announced that they are set to release new LP ‘A Tranquil Void on 5th June 2026 via APF Records. The record marks a defining moment for the band, following up their critically acclaimed debut ‘A Scorching Gaze’ (2024, APF) with an even more assured, mature and ambitious full-length. Conceptually, ‘The Scorching Gaze’ and ‘A Tranquil Void’ function as a visual, musical and thematic diptych; where their debut burned brightly with the rage and destruction of an erupting volcano, their new LP captures the cathartic, contemplative still that follows.

Tom McElveen (vocals/guitar) comments on 3rd single "The Call Beneath”, “this track is about dealing with grief for the first time, and letting yourself be pulled into its depths so the earlier version of yourself can die and a new one can be reborn and ‘rise to the surface’. This process can only happen when you stop resisting it. We play with dynamics and moving time signatures to build and rebuild tension, taking us through to the final cathartic stage of rebirth at the pinnacle.”

Listen now: https://lnkfi.re/91RJX1aJ / https://youtu.be/RNRSz6cDeOQ

Across 8 tracks, ‘A Tranquil Void’ pushes Urzah’s sound even further, combining brutal riffs, complicated meter and searing guitar tone with deeper explorations of space, dynamics and atmosphere, incorporating folk influences and drones built from cello and guitar. 13-minute album closer ‘Entwined, Twisted Roots of Chaos’ sees Urzah at their most ambitious; across multiple interlocking sections, enriched by guest vocals from friends in the Bristol scene, the song builds from a haunting whisper to a planet-obliterating roar.

ALBUM TRACK LIST

1. At the Mouth of the Cave
2. The Call Beneath
3. Infernal Star I
4. Infernal Star II
5. Bark & Branches
6. In the Mouth of the Wolf
7. Hunter in the Veil
8. Entwined, Twisted Roots of Chaos

Recorded at Stage 2 Studios, Bath, in November 2025, the LP was produced, mixed and mastered by Josh Gallop. Cello was provided by Luke Clemenger, with additional vocals from Dave Cook (Empire of Dust), Chris Wilson (Row of Ashes) and Victoria Bourne (The Spark’s Desire). The album artwork was created by Indonesian artist Putra Satria Nugraha.

ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY, EXCHANGE BRISTOL – 25th July 2026

To celebrate the release of their new album, Urzah are hosting a launch party at Exchange Bristol (main room) on Saturday 25th July with special guests HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN, MOUNTAINSCAPE and DEAD SPACE CHAMBER MUSIC.

Urzah are proud to be part of Bristol’s thriving and diverse music scene, so this specially curated line-up is intended to showcase the best cutting-edge, genre-defying and progressive heavy music.

This immersive, atmospheric and crushingly heavy night will feature experimental gothic doom from Dead Space Chamber Music (Bristol), soaring cinematic post-metal from Mountainscape (Reading), crushing atmospheric post-metal from Hundred Year Old Man (Leeds), and brand-new material from Urzah’s long-awaited sophomore album ‘A Tranquil Void’.

LIMITED EDITION ‘SUPERNOVA’ VINYL VARIANT – https://apfrecords.co.uk/albums/a-tranquil-void

To celebrate Urzah’s new album, APF Records will be offering a limited-edition vinyl. The ‘Supernova’ variant features a blue and white burst, evoking the celestial vortex of the LP artwork.

URZAH LIVE:

Saturday 23rd May - Bristol, Loco Klub (Temple of Doom festival)
Friday 29th May - Bath, The Bell
Wednesday 10th June - Portsmouth, Edge of the Wedge
Thursday 11th June - Brighton, The Pipeline
Friday 12th June - Kent, Poco Loco, Chatham
Saturday 13th June - London, The Devonshire Arms, Camden
Friday June 26th - Newport, McCann's Rock N Ale Bar
Sunday June 28th - Torquay, Arena
Saturday 25th July - Bristol Album Launch Party, Exchange
Saturday 1st August - Chelmsford - Bay Days Festival

URZAH ARE:

Ed Fairman - Vocals / Guitar
Tom McElveen - Vocals / Guitar
Dan Bradley - Bass
James Brown – Drums

Links

Urzah website and socials
APF band profile

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the details.

Bristol’s Progressive Sludge Quartet URZAH announce Sophomore Album ‘A Tranquil Void’. Released 5th June 2026 on APF Records

‘A Tranquil Void’ Cover Art (Credit: Putra Satria Nugraha)

Formed in 2020, just before the pandemic hit, Urzah’s intensely collaborative and productive writing process was immediately evident, leading to the quick release of self-titled EPs ‘I’ (2020) and ‘II’ (2022). These laid the foundation for Urzah’s unique brand of ‘progressive sludge’. Inviting comparisons to Neurosis, DVNE, Mastodon and Elder, their forward-looking sound combines the abrasive elements of punk and post-hardcore with atmospheric post-metal passages and soaring melodies.

Urzah’s vision of ‘Earthen Heaviness’, combining oppressive darkness with moments of transcendence and cosmic awe, was realised on their critically acclaimed debut LP ‘The Scorching Gaze’ (2024, APF Records). The band’s sonic world draws on both the intensely personal – rage, loss, grief and self-doubt – and a profound awe and vulnerability in the face of the celestial and natural worlds, framing visceral human struggle within vast cycles of death, decay and rebirth.

Since their debut, Urzah has refined their live shows across the UK, playing festivals and headline shows, and sharing stages with a diverse roster of heavy bands including Bongzilla, Tuskar, Mastiff, Greenleaf, OHHMS and Dopelord, as well as progressive atmospheric bands such as Hidden Mothers, Underdark and Nadja, demonstrating their strong cross-genre appeal.

Now the band are set to release new LP ‘A Tranquil Void on 5th June 2026 via APF Records. The record marks a defining moment for the band, following up their critically acclaimed debut ‘A Scorching Gaze’ (2024, APF) with an even more assured, mature and ambitious full-length. Conceptually, ‘The Scorching Gaze’ and ‘A Tranquil Void’ function as a visual, musical and thematic diptych; where their debut burned brightly with the rage and destruction of an erupting volcano, their new LP captures the cathartic, contemplative still that follows.

‘A Tranquil Void’ draws inspiration from both personal introspection and awe in the face of the vast cosmos. Lead single ‘Infernal Star I’ reflects on the power of memory and connection to cast light in the darkness of a vast and uncharted universe. Listen to the track now:

https://lnkfi.re/teVrV8bO or below

‘In the Mouth of the Wolf’ examines forgiveness and personal healing, while ‘Hunter in the Veil’ explores cycles of death and renewal through grand elemental imagery, while other tracks grapple with overcoming grief (‘The Call Beneath’), rejecting apathy for aspiration (‘At the Mouth of the Cave’) and creating art and meaning in spite of adversity (‘Bark & Branches’).

Across 8 tracks, ‘A Tranquil Void’ pushes Urzah’s sound even further, combining brutal riffs, complicated meter and searing guitar tone with deeper explorations of space, dynamics and atmosphere, incorporating folk influences and drones built from cello and guitar. 13-minute album closer ‘Entwined, Twisted Roots of Chaos’ sees Urzah at their most ambitious; across multiple interlocking sections, enriched by guest vocals from friends in the Bristol scene, the song builds from a haunting whisper to a planet-obliterating roar.

Credit Naomi Jane Photography

ALBUM TRACK LIST

1. At the Mouth of the Cave
2. The Call Beneath
3. Infernal Star I [Lead single]
4. Infernal Star II
5. Bark & Branches
6. In the Mouth of the Wolf
7. Hunter in the Veil [2nd single]
8. Entwined, Twisted Roots of Chaos

Recorded at Stage 2 Studios, Bath, in November 2025, the LP was produced, mixed and mastered by Josh Gallop. Cello was provided by Luke Clemenger, with additional vocals from Dave Cook (Empire of Dust), Chris Wilson (Row of Ashes) and Victoria Bourne (The Spark’s Desire). The album artwork was created by Indonesian artist Putra Satria Nugraha.

ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY, EXCHANGE BRISTOL – 25th July 2026

To celebrate the release of their new album, Urzah are hosting a launch party at Exchange Bristol (main room) on Saturday 25th July with special guests HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN, MOUNTAINSCAPE and DEAD SPACE CHAMBER MUSIC.

Urzah are proud to be part of Bristol’s thriving and diverse music scene, so this specially curated line-up is intended to showcase the best cutting-edge, genre-defying and progressive heavy music.

This immersive, atmospheric and crushingly heavy night will feature experimental gothic doom from Dead Space Chamber Music (Bristol), soaring cinematic post-metal from Mountainscape (Reading), crushing atmospheric post-metal from Hundred Year Old Man (Leeds), and brand-new material from Urzah’s long-awaited sophomore album ‘A Tranquil Void’.

LIMITED EDITION ‘SUPERNOVA’ VINYL VARIANT – https://apfrecords.co.uk/albums/a-tranquil-void

To celebrate Urzah’s new album, APF Records will be offering a limited-edition vinyl. The ‘Supernova’ variant features a blue and white burst, evoking the celestial vortex of the LP artwork.

Please note: Pre-orders from 3rd March via the APF Records website and from 6th March via Bandcamp.

URZAH LIVE:

Saturday 28th March - Hitchin, Club 85
Saturday 23rd May - Bristol, Loco Klub (Temple of Doom festival)
Friday 29th May - Bath, The Bell
Wednesday 10th June - Portsmouth, Edge of the Wedge
Thursday 11th June - Brighton, The Pipeline
Friday 12th June - Kent, Poco Loco, Chatham
Saturday 13th June - London, The Devonshire Arms, Camden
Friday June 26th - Newport, McCann's Rock N Ale Bar
Sunday June 28th - Torquay, Arena
Saturday 25th July - Bristol Album Launch Party, Exchange
Saturday 1st August - Chelmsford - Bay Days Festival

URZAH ARE:

Ed Fairman - Vocals / Guitar
Tom McElveen - Vocals / Guitar
Dan Bradley - Bass
James Brown – Drums

Links

Urzah website and socials
APF band profile

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the details.

Struck/Down - Queue For The Cure (Album Review)

Release Date: February 20th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Queue For The Cure - Tracklisting

1. "One Last Drag"

2. "Keep Your Chin Held Why"

3. "The Slog"

4. "Don't Be Like That"

5. "A Queue for the Cure"

6. "This Tall to Ride"

7. "Who Stole The Sun?"

8. "Low"

9. "Leach"

10. "Eat the Fear, Drink The Worry"

Members

Linden Twyman: vocals

Pete McLarney: lead guitar

Ian Spurrett: rhythm guitar

Will Mihr: bass

Tommy Rogers: drums

Review

Queue For The Cure is the second full length album from Groove/Stoner/Thrash Metallers Struck/Down who fuse modern sounding metallic elements against a classic style of Thrash and Groove Metal. The band are influenced by the likes of Mastodon, Metallica, Lamb Of God and GOJIRA though there’s some Grunge based movements appearing amongst the HEAVY METAL carnage. The album still finds the time to lay down the STONER METAL groundwork with epic flash beats and thrash grooves that soon transform into areas of Progressive Metal and Classic Hard Rock.

With the band emerging from the UK Underground scene there’s some added extra levels of “STEEL” and “PURE GRIT” that develops within the opening tracks of One Last Drag, Keep Your Chin Held Why and The Slog which aims for maximum HEAVY METAL DEDICATION. The vocals from Linden Twyman feel inspired by the classic style of metal vocalists with nods to James Hetfield being the most common place. However, there’s some vocal changes channelling areas of the Alt-Metal and Southern Metal scenes. This may be myself going way off base but I'm sure I detected even a COHEED & CAMBRIA vibe developing within the more dramatic parts of the record and if I’m completely wrong then I apologise to the band for that oversight.

The record is quite punishing with how fast Struck/Down actually play with the ferocious beat-downs and thrash grooves that’s heard throughout Queue For The Cure. However, they excel the most within the progressive sounding aspects which allows the band to play even more technical musical passages which leads up to some of the stunning and barnstorming melodies and rhythms the record has to offer.

Queue For The Cure has an excellent and highly welcoming style of “OLD SCHOOL METAL” whilst allowing Struck/Down to further embrace their modern sounding influences on tracks such as Don’t Be Like That, A Queue For The Cure, Who Stole The Sun and “Eat The Fear, Drink The Worry”. Struck/Down show a fine eye for musical detail when they start using Psychedelic and Post-Whatever musical effects which was a welcome surprise. 

This isn’t perhaps the most original “HEAVY METAL” album you’ll likely hear but Struck/Down know what works for them and they deliver a record that should be considered every “HEADBANGER’S” dream album with almost every style of Groove, Thrash, Stoner and Prog Metal aspect wonderfully covered throughout. The album is superbly intense with an epic style of melody which will have you rocking out to in full agreement. 

Overall, Struck/Down have released a superbly produced record that allows them to play to their absolute musical strengths whilst punishing the listener with an intense musical workout. 

Words by Steve Howe

Queue For The Cure is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now.

Links 

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify

Polish Stoner/Groove Metallers MUDSLINGER releases brand new song and video for "WAY DOWN"

MUDSLINGER is a breath of fresh air on the Polish metal scene. The group was formed by the Sacharczuk brothers (Cezary – vocals/guitar, Jakub – drums) based in the Warmian-Masurian town of Susz. The duo was completed by Michał Kwaśniak (guitar) and Łukasz Kleszczyński (bass). From the very beginning, the band had a clear goal: powerful sound, honest songs, and playing live without regard for current trends. They combine massive riffs, expressive rhythm, and uncompromising energy, creating music that works equally well on stage and in speakers.

Cezary "Czarol" Sacharczuk is an endorser of the Fryta Guitars brand, while Michał "Kwahu" Kwaśniak collaborates with Merlinka Pickups.

Following the release of the EP "Rogue" (2024), the singles "Wide Awake" and "Bleed," the band confidently enters 2026, presenting another powerful hit in the form of the single "Way Down". Łukasz "Dzvon" Cyndzer (Truism, ex-Acid Drinkers) produced the track, showcasing a more mature, heavier, and even more conscious side of the band. An atmospheric music video inspired by the raw aesthetic of Polish gangster cinema from the early 2000s—in the vein of films by Maciej Ślesicki and Olaf Lubaszenko—was produced by Adrian "Klama" Meissner (IT Follows, Shadohm, Patriarkh).

The band comments new song: "Way Down is our new beginning. A new lineup, a new sound, higher quality – and the start of a story we want to tell until the end. The music video for the new composition will open our second EP consisting of four songs. But it's more than just music. We want you to not only listen, but also soak in the atmosphere of our story. Each clip is a new chapter – dark, dense, and sultry, like a good Netflix crime drama that you binge in one go… and suddenly you realize it's 3 a.m. 'Way Down' is episode one. There are three more to come".

Watch the new single for Way Down below:

Links

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify | WWW

Thanks to Solid Rock PR for the details.

Verminthrone - Feast Of The Serpent (EP Review)

Release Date: December 19th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Feast Of The Serpent  - Tracklisting

Pallor

Swab

When It Rains, It Pours

Bloodletting

Event Horizon

Review

Crossover/Groove/Thrash Metallers Verminthrone return with their latest EP - Feast Of The Serpent. The EP offers five tracks running for around twenty six minutes in length. This is a similar vibe to their celebrated 2024 debut album The Cull with its great mix of fast-paced and brutally filthy sounds. The music is once again very fast-paced with a certain modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal pedigree shining through with Verminthrone keeping true to their core Thrash/Groove based melodies. The vocals are quite intense with a vicious Death Growl being used for the most part.

The opening song of Pallor leaves you gasping for breath with the multitude of different beatdowns and breakdowns Verminthrone delivers with supreme confidence. The sound is uplifted or amplified by a sudden rush of Crust Punk and Hardcore metallic elements which is used quite sparingly at first before the band decides to throw a TON of muscular weight for that particular sound being one of the most dominant themes on the whole EP.

The next batch of tracks of Swab and When It Rains, It Pours continues with the Crossover movement with an epic sideline of HIGH ON FIRE, METALLICA and MOTORHEAD delivered musical moments that allows Verminthrone to operate with a clearer and riff-driven mandate. The mood is still BLEAK and aggressively violent but at least there’s some demented THRASH paced fun to be had along the way. You can hear shades of Classic Heavy Metal guitar shredding being delivered with both tracks that’s played at breakneck speed. 

Feast Of The Serpent never loses its monumental style of extreme heaviness with Verminthrone perhaps delivering darker and heavier moments of Sludge Metal grooves with great vocals and some epic lyrics selling the whole package right through to the very end. The final two songs of Bloodletting and Event Horizon both offer a more daring and violent creative theme with Verminthrone playing the heaviest and gloomiest sounds on the whole EP.

Verminthrone never waiver from delivering an action packed and violent style of filth driven Sludge Metal sounds. There are brief moments of Post-Doom and Psych Stoner Metal surroundings appearing on the later stages but the band still true to their HEAVY METAL beliefs that results in another standout release from Verminthrone to enhance their reputation with. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Linktree | BandCamp