Groom The Giant - Old Toby (EP Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Old Toby - Tracklisting

1.Old Toby 04:24

2.Megawatts 07:11

3.Wyrms 04:23

4.Pissjazz 07:30

Review.

Old Toby is the latest EP from Psych/Grunge/Stoner Rockers Groom The Giant. I remember listening to the band’s excellent debut EP Culhwch which focused on Celtric folklore and heavy myths with a deep fantastical sense of wonderful mystery. The band keep with that theme on their excellent new EP where they advise the record is about: 

“Celtic heritage and magical fiction into a format of loud, danceable grunge; with songs inspired by the plagues of King Lludd (from where the Welsh flag gets its iconic red dragon) and explorations of omnipotence, to tributes to Gandalf's favourite tobacco.”

What makes Groom The Giant stand out is their grounded sound that’s boosted by elements of Grunge and Sludge with a heavy pounding Psychedelic effort. This highly polished and aggressive sound is perfectly captured through the stunning opening track Old Toby. Though, this is offset by fantastical lyrics with a huge WEEDIAN influence especially if writing songs about Gandalf’s favourite tobacco. 

The music is always quite aggressive with catchy instrumental passages which moves from 1990’s Grunge/Stoner Rock surroundings to the more modern day Psychedelic Rock fused with heavy Sludgy Rock grooves.

The music can be quite dark in places with levels of distorted FUZZ and scorched Desert Earth melodies which fully come along within the second standout track of Megawatts which is perhaps a slight homage to Back To The Future. The song opens with a long drawn out Post-Stoner / Post-Grunge sound that develops into a Psychedelic/Fuzz/Doomgaze landscape which feels inspired by TRUCKFIGHTERS in all the right places. The song is played at a superbly realized slow-to-mid pace with Groom The Giant adding more levels of distorted FUZZ and Psychedelic energy which fully crosses over into Doom Metal pastures. 

Third track Wyrms turns the EP on its head with a weird Piano instrumental beat that pushes the record into Soft Rock/Jazz territories which does show a deep love and respect for FAITH NO MORE. If you ever wanted to hear FAITH NO MORE become a Doom/Stoner Rock obsessed band then this is the best way to describe that track. It’s wonderfully surreal that shouldn’t really work but Groom The Giant add an unexpected Doomed Out twist to the final stages of the track.

The final track of Pissjazz is back to the long drawn out instrumental surroundings of the second track but with some wickedly dark humour being injected into the overall mix of someone actually having a “PISS”. I kid you not before Groom The Giant fully settle back into their heavy FUZZED OUT and STONED AGE creative world. They merge Jazzy soundscapes yet again but it’s the Psychedelic Weeidan flavours washed out by classic Grunge riffs that make this another standout track of the record.

Old Toby is completely off-beat, brilliantly surreal and has a wonderful MONTY PYTHON based madness to it all. If that sounds like it’s the EP for you then I can’t highly recommend this outrageous EP enough. 

Superb. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Linktree

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers APPALOOZA Stunning New Album THE EMPIRE OF LOSS

French heavy rock powerhouse Appalooza release their epic new album "The Emperor of Loss" on September 12th via Ripple Music and we have the exclusive album premiere thanks to the amazing folks over at Purple Sage PR and Ripple Music.

The Lowdown

"The Emperor of Loss" is a wall of sound that raucously fuses stoner rock, grunge rock, metal and tribalism, all propelled by magnetic baritone vocals (as seen in their latest Magnolia video). This gut-wrenching concept album explores the psychological depths of emotional captivity, domestic violence, and the mourning of one's identity. It portrays the torturous journey of a woman grappling with Stockholm Syndrome, caught in the grip of her persecutor, a figure both tyrannical and deeply internal. A fire-driven rock journey and their darkest album to date."

APPALOOZA links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

RIPPLE MUSIC links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Pre-order: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-emperor-of-loss

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO - Sideral Voivod (Album Review)

Release Date: September 19th 2025. Record Label:  Octopus Risings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Sideral Voivod - Tracklisting

Interstellar Greyhound

Icarus

Sideral Voivod

Sasquatch's Eyes

Ouija Witch

Telekinetic Thunder Yeti

King Bong

Prelude

Whale

Space Leech

Worship the Middle

Stomp

Summer in the Void

Members

Sara de Luca

Nicola Viola

Alessandro “Camu” Camurati 

Review

Sideral Voivod is the latest SONIC expedition from GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO. The record is a sludgy mix of Psych, Fuzz, Grunge, Noise and Stoner Metal with a subtle nineties Alt-Metal charge leading into some unexpected levels of distorted heaviness. The band adds an abrasive and sonic inducing level of raw aggression into the overall feel and sound of the record which leads into some catchy and fucked up heavy grooves.

The influences of L7, The Melvins, FU MANCHU and Acid King can most definitely be felt and heard with GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO applying their own blend of GONZO and HIPSTER based melodies throughout the album. The end result can be quite experimental in the most unexpected of places but doesn’t stop the band playing superbly interesting grooves with that Garage Rock attitude being played very early on within tracks such as Interstellar Greyhound, Icarus and Sideral Voivod. Sometimes the levels of distorted FUZZ Rock drown out the excellent vocals but maybe that’s the point to keep up with the “DESTROY TOKYO” aspect of the band’s name with a violent musical effect developing for the majority of the album.

The album transforms into one of Cosmic Doom landscapes merged with Psych Sludge Rock passages that allows the band to have some wicked fun within the whole album. There’s some freakish extended instrumental passages that have a wicked deviance into JAM Based rock soundscapes with that classic Noise / Grunge aesthetic creating the heaviest and most riff-centric parts of the whole album.

The LO-FI and SEEDY delivery of the record is demonstrated even further on tracks such as Telekinetic Yeti Thunder, King Bong, Space Leech, Worship The Middle and Summer In The Void with elements of MONSTER MAGNET appearing quite suddenly but with GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO providing their own creative stamp of PSYCHEDELIC HEAVINESS and OUT OF THIS WORLD WEIRDNESS.

Sideral Voivod does allow the band to perform a wide array of different Sludge/Stoner Rock styles throughout the thirteen tracks contained on the album but told with a mesmerizing down-tuned and amplifier distorted approach. If you love where the AMPS are played at dangerous levels with the band never losing their Psychedelic and Cosmic attitude then this is the place to be. Truth be told, Sideral Voivod has a nightmarish element when the band plays a faster and more violent style of music which may leave you gasping for breath in places.

The record is never boring with GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO adding a fresh and unique perspective within their hybrid style of HEAVY RAWK that not only reaches for the STARS but absolutely destroys everything within its wake.

SIderal Voivod is FUCKING AWESOME. Plain and Simple!!! 

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

Sideral Voivod is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records Imprint).

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Electric Jaguar Baby: Clair-Obscur (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label:  Majestic Mountain Records. Formats:DD/Vinyl

Clair-Obscur - Tracklisting

1.Heroine (feat Chris of Acid Mammoth) 04:34

2.Bring Me Down (feat. Patrón) 03:33

3.Stray from the path 05:00

4.My Way 03:04

5.Goin thru the blu part.II 05:18

6.Nightmare 02:30

7.The Fastest Ride 04:28

8.Anything 04:52

9.Winterholidays VS Fuzzroutine 04:12

10.Hownow 03:41

11.The Oswlad Cobblepot complex 05:02

12.Bonus track - Rock n Roll Queen (The Subways cover) 03:32

Members

Franck (drums/vocals)

Tony (guitar/vocals)

Review

Clair-Obscur is the latest album from Psych/Fuzz/Stoner Rockers Electric Jaguar Baby and they fully lean into the modern day sound that QOTSA have developed over the last decade or so but with more catchy rhythms, grooves and a shit-ton of streetwise attitude as well. With a free-flowing style of Garage Rock, Acid and Punk Rock overtones, the band have a playful and highly energetic attitude to their music which does see the band play multiple styles of music with that Acid Rock tinged vibe serving the band superbly well.

Starting off this crazed journey is the excellent opening track Heroine which features Chris of Acid Mammoth fame providing guest vocals with a song that’s refreshingly hip and rebellious from the very start with a murky sludgy grooves being quite flamboyant in places. The song is superbly heavy with a seedy sideline in FUZZY sounds which sees Electric Jaguar Baby align themselves closely to the likes of TRUCKFIGHTERS and FU MANCHU with the Fuzz Rock aspect.

Second track Bring Me Down has a slight departure into Grunge and Alt Rock attitudes with the sound being FUNK ROCK in places with a dynamic mid nineties Stoner Rock presence appearing within the vocals and heavy guitars. The sound once again flirts between QOTSA catchy grooves and the full-on Psych Stoner Rock attitude of today’s modern scene. The vocals are superb yet again with guest musician Patrón appearing along the way which gives this track a cool sense of unpredictability.

Third track Stray From The Path is full of Desert/Stoner Rock heaviness that has a sense of seediness with the subtle flashes of Noise, Grunge and Acid Rock melodies that develop. With a confident stride into aggressive Post-Rock and Noise Rock surroundings, Electric Jaguar Baby really start to find their own voice on this record especially when a distinctive Droned / Shoegaze melody appears within the instrumental movements. 

Fourth track My Way is a song that moves away quite heavily from the Psych/Stoner Rock path the previous tracks contained. This is more dominated by Fuzz Rock sounds with catchy Garage Rock riffs and Punk Rock attitude which is quite refreshing to hear but isn’t the most exciting track to hear but I give Electric Jaguar Baby credit for doing something different on this album and this is the first real sign of things changing quite dramatically for the rest of the album.

I can’t review every track on the album as it’s quite a highly involving record with the band offering twelve tracks that allows them the perfect opportunity to craft a different musical style for the majority of the tracks with even more weird and wonderful stories developing from the Fuzz/Garage/Stoner Rock creative template they have at their own disposal.

Electric Jaguar Baby always allow themselves the perfect opportunity to develop themselves further within other areas of Hard Rock with a fearless attitude that may not always work but they still develop a vast collection of outstanding tracks that will appeal to many different factions of the Indie Rock, Mainstream Rock and Underground Rock scenes. That is a very hard thing to pull off but Clair-Obscur is a superbly entertaining record with tracks such as Goin thru the blu part II,  The Fastest Ride, Anything, Winterholidays VS Fuzzroutine and The Oswlad Cobblepot complex.

If you’re a fan of the previous albums by Electric Jaguar Baby then you’re going to be in your element here with twelve tracks of superb sounding quality and their excellent cover of Rock n Roll Queen by The Subways makes it all worthwhile. 

Overall, Clair-Obscur is a superbly produced record that focuses upon the classic sounds of the Nineties Heavy Rock Scene and gives it a cool modern-day atmosphere and wise-cracking attitude to match.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Clair-Obscur is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records.

 

Links

Electric Jaguar Baby Links

http://electricjaguarbaby.band
https://electricjaguarbaby.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/ElectricJaguarBaby
https://www.instagram.com/electricjaguarbaby

Syncolima - Move Mountains (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

Move Mountains - Tracklisting

1.Gluten Free Toast 03:18

2.Mistakes Were Made 05:34

3.Shipwrecked 05:31

4.Black Dog And The Bleak Sky 05:25

5.Kill All The Billionaires 04:42

6.Ouroborus 04:35

7.Move Mountains 04:17

8.The House We Build 05:08

Members

Chris Daughton - Bass

Joshua Morgan - Vocals/Guitar

Harry Redfern - Drums

Review

Heavy Metal/Stoner Metallers Syncolima return in a big way with their hard-hitting new album Move Mountains and it’s a record that has huge ideas throughout that’s delivered with supreme confidence that could allow the band to be the natural successors to the mighty Orange Goblin who have sadly called it a day.

Syncolima are their own band with their own creative ideas, themes and seedy grooves but they operate within the same heavy Stoner Rock/Metal territory where they fuse elements of other areas of Heavy Rock such as Grunge, Desert Rock, Psych, Sludge and certain Ambient vibes.

Move Mountains has a contemporary and social vibe hidden within the lyrics as the band provides a sly commentary on the modern world. The whole record flows along at a great pace but it gives you a lot to think about within tracks such as Gluten Free Toast, Mistakes Were Made, Kill All The Billionaires, Move Mountains and The House We Build.

This is most definitely an “ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT” record with some of the powerful statements included by Syncolima. However, if you’re not here for the political and social commentary then you’ll be treated to a wide assortment of epic sounds forged by the likes of KYUSS, Orange Goblin, Clutch, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath and King Buffalo when the band play surreal Psychedelic Spaced Out melodies.

The album is constantly evolving and moving forward compared to Syncolima’s previous two records with the help of outbursts of aggressive Thrash and Speed Metal beats that appear from time to time. This melodic change allows Syncolima to demonstrate their technical ability by moving from a certain Post-Doom/Post-Stoner attitude to the classic era of Heavy Metal which means there’s never a shortage of kick-ass riffs.

I was surprised by the distorted and trippy instrumental effects that appear on the record where everything quite Spaced Out with some thrilling guitar solos to match. The vocals from Joshua are excellent as he delivers with a passionate and emotional quality which fully sells the overall message of the album. Chris and Harry provide a superb rhythm section which can be quite NOLA and BLUES ROCK obsessive at times. Joshua provides guitars which are quite dynamic and equally aggressive with the other band members' performance on Move Mountains.

Move Mountains is the album where Syncolima “come of age” and finally become a great “KICK-ASS” Stoner Rock/Metal band in their own right that should see them playing some of the biggest and most well known stages within the Heavy Rock Scene. Ignore this record at your peril. As it’s simply superb and needs added to your record collection now.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Sickset Media for the promo.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Heidrún - Entropía (Album Review)

Release Date: August 29th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Entropía - Tracklisting

1.Intro 02:06

2.Dalila 03:54

3.Dominograma 04:46

4.Disania 04:34

5.Solar 03:35

6.Artemisa 03:46

7.Hormigralia 03:27

8.Galeón Negro 02:51

9.Gravitar 02:49

10.Karnak (Ft. Fátima) 04:03

Members

Omar Cabrera - Voice

Diego Cruz - Guitar

Bruno Díaz - Bass

Alejandro Arenas - Drums

Review

Entropía is the debut full length album from Heidrún where the band play a noisy filled style of Grunge, Psych, Doom, Fuzz, Sludge and Stoner Metal surroundings. The band are from Mexico who have provided many great bands to the underground scene over the years. Heidrún are quite different in places with their loud, brash and highly destructive creative energy that allows their Sludge Rock/Metal dynamic to build up solitary levels of pissed off FUZZ ROCK carnage.

There are influences from the likes of KYUSS, Red Fang, Orange Goblin, FU MANCHU, Soundgarden and Monster Magnet that can be heard throughout the album but Heidrún are more obsessed with a distorted Punk Rock energy appearing on the opening batch of tracks such as Intro, Dalila and Dominograma. The production is raw and stripped back but this allows Heidrún to keep with their playing their destructive melodies with flashes of SONIC and SPACE ROCK surroundings. With a deep level of respect for the Nineties Grunge, Alt-Rock and Stoner Rock scenes, Heidrún add their own subtle style of Groove Rock dynamics. 

Heidrún play some mighty fine style of Classic Hard Rock sounds that feel inspired by the likes of VAN HALEN in places which can be quite flashy in places however, the band keep everything grounded with their gritty determination and keen sense of great musical style. The vocals from Omar Cabrera have a distinctive grizzled charm that almost transforms into Hardcore Punk and Heavy Metal styles when the mood calls for it.

I would love to comment on the lyrics written for the album but Heidrún sing in their own language but that doesn’t stop Entropía being such an action-packed and superbly realized album with different styles of Psychedelic Distortion to impress the underground masses with especially on some of the standout tracks of Disania, Solar, Galeón Negro and Karnak (Ft. Fátima). It’s perhaps where the band find their real creative momentum on these tracks as the album becomes more chaotic, aggressive and focusing upon Psychedelic destructive passages than ever before.

Entropía is a well executed and expertly constructed album that should allow Heidrún to gain a cult following within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Dusted Angel - This Side Of The Dirt (Album Review)

Release Date: September 19th 2025. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

This Side Of The Dirt - Tracklisting

1. Plastic People

2. Death Crushes Hope

3. Redman

4. This Side Of The Dirt

5. Kiss O Shame

6. Little Lizzy

7. The Thorn

8. Seeking The Dawn

Members

Elliot Young - Bass

Eric Fieber - Guitars

Clifford Dinsmore - Vocals

Steve Ilse - Drums

Eddie Gregor - Guitars

Review

This Side Of The Dust is the next chapter from Doom/Stoner Metallers DUSTED ANGEL who last released an album back in 2010 and I who thought they split up years ago. However, here we are with DUSTED ANGEL firing on all cylinders with their latest album. DUSTED ANGEL haven’t lost the verve, swagger and gritty eagerness that made their debut album such an exhilarating experience. 

If you’re new to DUSTED ANGEL’s world then look at the lineup the band contains as it features Clifford Dinsmore on vocals (Bl'ast!, Seized Up, Spaceboy), Ed Gregor on guitar (Hedgehog, No Use For A Name), Eric "Dog" Fieber on guitar (Mock, Creature, Fire Sermon) Steve Ilse on drums (Creature, Herbert, Automatic Animal) and Eliot Young (Lost in Line, Seance) on bass.

This record has a grittier and aggressive flavour with DUSTED ANGEL definitely inspired by the modern day underground HEAVY RAWK scene and for a band going since 2008, the hunger is still there which you can fully experience on the catchy as hell opening track of Plastic People. This track allows DUSTED ANGEL to perfect their Punk Rock heavily inspired take of Doom and Stoner Metal with a meaty NOISE ROCK attitude being played throughout. The bombastic and no fucks given vocals from Clifford Dinsmore allows him to bridge the gap between the Hardcore, Punk and Stoner Metal scenes with demented relish. 

The instrumental sounds are a cross between FU MANCHU, KYUSS, Monster Magnet, Bl’ast, Whores, The Melvins and Kowloon Walled City which makes up for a highly interesting style of music to fully develop on tracks such as Death Crushes Hope, Redman and This Side Of The Dirt.

ANGEL DUST have a bone-thumping melody to their overall sound that only fully sells their gritty and realistic sound to the highest level. With sneaky visits to areas of Psych Rock, Doom Metal and Desert Rock, this record never plays out the way you expect. The shamanic vocals from Clifford have a shamanic and out of control poet approach which reminds me of Desert Rock outlaw Sean Wheeler, especially the way he delivers intriguing stories through pulsating musical passages and intense melodies.

The rest of the band - Eric, Steve, Eddie and Elliot all play their epic part moving through the multiple styles of HEAVY RAWK being transmitted through your nearest speakers with a glorious sense of rebellion holding everything together.

DUSTED ANGEL have gone through a lot of physical and emotional battles over the years that perhaps shaping the whole creative outcome of This Side Of The Dirt. However, it’s a testament to the band’s talent and personal strength they’ve released an album full of action packed tracks that always offers an exciting style of music with a lot of heart and pissed off grooves showing you a damn good time.

The second half of the album never falters either with DUSTED ANGEL going even further delivering seedier and heavier BLAZING riffs with a distorted WEEDIAN PUNK ROCK flavour coming superbly through on tracks such as: Kiss O Shame, Little Lizzy and Seeking The Dawn. After listening to this album multiple times I started to notice themes of music I originally missed like a sweeping Proto-Metal attitude appearing which most definitely brings a classic Seventies Doomed Out aesthetic to the party. So expect a record that pulls no punches with its non-stop style of aggressive STONER METAL of the highest order.

With the power of HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS backing DUSTED ANGEL then you have the ingredients for a MONSTER SUCCESS on every level possible. Yeah, this record is something else and I have a feeling this could be the start of a career resurgence for DUSTED ANGEL. As it’s simply that good!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

This Side Of The Dirt is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify