If These Trees Could Talk - The Hidden Hand (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Metal Blade Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Hidden Hand - Tracklist

1 Archons

2 Moon Machine

3 Sea Of Glass

4 Blurry Creatures

5 Silence Between Mountains, Pt. 1

6 Silence Between Mountains, Pt. 2

7 Metanoia

8 Flim

9 Endlessly Connected

Lineup

Tom Fihe – bass guitar

Jeff Kalal – guitar

Cody Kelly – guitar

Mike Socrates – guitar

Zack Kelly – drums

Review

If These Trees Could Talk from Akron, OH, were on frequent rotation in my home with 'Red Forest' back in 2016 but then they fell off the radar. Don't know the reason why but with the exception of the single 'Trail of Whispering Giants' in 2024 the band released nothing in 10 years. Thankfully the long wait is over with the arrival of 'The Hidden Hand', and what an album it is! 

'Archons' is a short mystical yet mesmerizing opener which sets the tone perfectly for the entire album. It blends elegantly into 'Moon Machine' where the intense guitars soars above the slowish but crushing rhythm section. Drops back as vivid transcendent images are created...only to pick up again. After a beautiful delicate start 'Sea Of Glass' leads into some intense shredding only to fall back again. Eventually the band goes wide open taking it away. 'Blurry Creatures' builds up gradually turning screws tighter until a beautiful mid-section appears. Mellow and trippy it moves the song to amazing heights.

'Silence Between Mountains, Pt 1' is sparse, elegant and dreamy as it leads into 'Silence Between Mountains, Pt 2'. It follows along with Part 1 but with a hint of darker undertones. This helps to project the majestic traits of mountains. If These Trees Could Talk comes on strong with the guitars initially on 'Metanoia'. Drops back only to build up in that captivating way this band does it. 'Flim' is light, airy, positive and almost sacral in its approach and it's a highly uplifting composition at that. 'Endlessly Connected' picks up where 'Flim' left off but is even more elaborate.

Few bands can handle instrumental music the way If These Trees Could Talk do. It requires a high level of musicianship as well as compositional skills to create that style of music which reels you in and holds you captivated throughout. And this Akron quintet are masters at it as 'The Hidden Hand' is evidence of. Very good, indeed!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp

Plaindrifter - Gestalt (Album Review)

Release Date: June 19th 2026. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Gestalt - Tracklisting

1. Moth Murmuration
2. Eternal Season
3. Hyborian Age
4. Respite
5. In Anima
6. Debaser

Members

André Tinibel - bass guitar
Nils Stecker - guitar
Marcel "Uwe" Kloß - drms, vocals
Ryan Garney – vocals on ‘In Anima'

Review

This trio from Gelsenkirchen, Germany has moved in my periphery for a few years but for some reason I never paid close attention...until now, that is. They have just released their second full-length, 'Gestalt', the first for Ripple Music and they completely blew my mind! What these guys bring to the table is ethereal, headtripping and mind bending music. Unrestrained with no boundaries, Plaindrifter simply let the music flow. The end result is them playing on a whole different level. Excellent, indeed.

'Moth Murmuration' is dreamy like what I imagine floating in a super nova is like. It does erupt once the singing begins and when the brilliant guitar solo takes off the band mix that dreamlike state with crushing parts like no one else. Then, about halfway through they drop back to gliding through outer space. 'Eternal Season' retains the feel of its predecessor but is slightly more heavy. It brings to mind a blend of Elder and Howling Giant and it builds up gradually, something Plaindrifter are experts at. 'Hyborian Age' is mid-tempo burrowing into the mind letting you free. Kind of repetitive in the best possible way which enhances the band's transcendental traits.

'Respite' is a short, soft and beautiful instrumental segue which offers a breather in between Plaindrifter's mind bending brilliance. 'In Anima' sees the band crush at first. Drops back once Ryan Garney from High Desert Queen joins in. The floodgates open again after the verse allowing for a great solo. About halfway through the bass guitar takes over and leads us through a trippy segment. Eventually everything erupts taking the song to a brilliant ending. 'Debaser' is the longest and is the perfect closer to Plaindrifter's sophomore album. After a heavier mid-tempo beginning the band switch path with some off-the-wall spaced out playing. Gradually builds up while offering some disjointed guitar playing before the singing enters the fold and the space floating Plaindrifter are so great at conjuring takes over again.

Hoping not repeat myself but I do love it when a band appears basically out of nowhere and completely floors me. And that's exactly what Plaindrifter has done, and then some. 'Gestalt' is one of those recordings I keep on constant repeat for different reasons. One because it is so damned good; another high quality is the calming effect the album has on me. And that's very rare these days. Put it on, get the headphones in place and close your eyes. You won't regret it, in fact your life will be better, trust me.

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Gestalt is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Axe Dragger - Axe Dragger (Album Review)

Release Date: March 08th 2026. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl.

Axe Dragger - Tracklisting

1. Axe Dragger

2. Give You The Rope

3. Fight Another Day

4. Iron Rider

5. Eat Me From The Inside

6. Shock 'Em Dead

7. El Toro

8. The Damned Will Cry

9. Fire In The Madhouse

10. Death Is Calling My Name

Members

Terry Glaze - vocals

Bob Balch - guitars

Fredrik Isaksson - bass guitar

Pete Campbell - drums

Review

Calling a new band a super group is always a tricky proposition. Bringing established and renowned musicians together for a project disappoints much more often than it excites. Too many ideas and strong wills throws a wrench in the proceedings. That is not the case with the super group Axe Dragger however, quite the opposite in fact. Consisting of Terry Glaze (Pantera), Bob Balch (Fu Manchu, Big Scenic Nowhere), Fredrik Isaksson (Dark Funeral, Grave, Therion) and Pete Campbell (Pentagram, In-Graved, Place Of Skulls) Axe Dragger really came together and forged one hell of an album full of brilliant old school heavy metal but recorded with modern technology. Thus making it so rich and full in sound!

The title track, 'Axe Dragger' opens up the proceedings and unleashes a tight, razor sharp guitar and a crushing rhythm section. The band goes for weight instead of speed something which works great. 'Give You The Rope' follows and is full tilt heavy metal as the band goes for the jugular. Great guitar solo. Dropping in pace a little, 'Fight Another Day' is dark and lurking and chock-full of bad-ass riffs...great song, indeed! 'Iron Rider'  is like 70's blues-influenced Whitesnake mixed with Iron Maiden with some Dio thrown into the cauldron. Doesn't get much better than this! Keeping it slow and punishing 'Eat Me From The Inside' is also sinister and claustrophobic and works wonderfully well. 

Everything flows so well in 'Shock 'Em Dead' which gets an immediate grip and won't let up...again, listen to those riffs! 'El Toro' definitely lives up to its name by unleashing a total onslaught like a raging bull. Beware because Axe Dragger will pulverize you. 'The Danbed Will Cry' is gripping right from the start. Again the band goes for weight instead of speed something which is their trademark in lack of better words. Axe Dragger ups the pace on 'Fire In The Madhouse' with these razor sharp riffs leading the way. Controlled chaos which suits this neckbreaker perfectly. This excelent debut ends with 'Death Is Calling My Name'. It's eerie with a strong sense of impending doom hanging over it as the band takes it away.

This international quartet put the bar very high with this brilliant debut. It's such a relief when seasoned players continue to create music that is great and matters.  Personally it means music is truly well and alive and keeps pushing boundaries. 'Axe Dragger' is an album which be in every record collection out there, don't miss out!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Axe Dragger is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Desert Storm - Buried Under The Weight Of Reason (Album Review)

Release Date: March 06th 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Buried Under The Weight Of Reason - Tracklisting

1. Newfound Respect

2. Shamanic Echoes

3. Woodsman

4. Cut Your Teeth

5. Rot To Ruin

6. Carry The Weight

7. Dripback

8. Law Unto Myself

9. Twelve Seasons

Members

Matthew Ryan - vocals

Ryan Cole - guitars

Elliot Cole - drums

Andrew Keyzor - bass guitar

Special guest:

Chris White - guitar

Review

English heavy hitters Desert Storm are back and I couldn't be happier. I've followed the band for some time now and it's been a pleasure watching them go from strength to strength. They've always delivered the goods with their fantastic blend of doom, stoner, heavy metal and sludge. And nothing has changed on their new album 'Buried Under The Weight Of Reason', well actually two things have occurred. One, the songs are better than ever and second, Desert Storm have dialled down on the sludge part. At least to my ears they have but I could be very wrong. Regardless, the new album is bloody brilliant, and then some!

The album begins with 'Newfound Respect' and it's bottom heavy, slow, lurking and no nonsense. Add Matthew Ryan's brilliant raspy voice to the equation and the song is right in your face. All this before they hit the stratosphere in the second half. 'Shamanic Echoes' follows  and moves within the same sphere as its predecessor but is more hypnotic and transcendent in all its heaviness. 'Woodsman' is ethereal, mind-expanding and spacey for the most part until bone-breaking sections are infused perfectly. Mid-tempo yet crushing 'Cut Your Teeth' is relentless in its approach but at the same time mesmerising. 'Rot To Ruin' comes on sinister, eerie and trippy. A strange but alluring mid-section allows the band to go full tilt and from then on they move back and forth. 

'Carry The Weight' is a soft, short instrumental guitar-driven beauty where the guitars are wonderfully layered. Acts as the perfect segue in to the much faster second half which kick-starts with 'Dripback'. It is one of the fastest songs on the album as the band holds nothing back adding punk flavour into the mix. Bloody fantastic! 'Law Unto Myself' picks up right where 'Dripback' left off tempo-wise but is more metal and with great guitar harmonies almost akin to Thin Lizzy...another great composition. Pounding almost tribal-like drums leads the way until the chorus, that is. Spacey vocal harmonies take over in those parts before reverting back to the heaviness.

Throughout this powerful and brilliant album Desert Storm utilizes gradual build-up within their songs to great aplomb. In doing so, they create great visuals and emotions which in turn enhances the sound immensely and it was already great prior. As a listener and a fan it is so rewarding to hear a band who constantly evolves without losing themselves. And that's what Desert Storm does with each new album. Brilliant stuff, gents!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Buried Under The Weight Of Reason is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links 

Linktree | BandCamp

The Vintage Caravan - Portals (Album Review)

Release Date: September 26th 2025. Record Label: Napalm Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Portals - Tracklisting

1. Philosopher

2. Portal I

3. Days Go By

4. Portal II

5. Here You Come Again

6. Current

7. Give And Take

8. Portal III

9. Crossroads

10. Alone

11. Portal IV

12. Freedom

13. Riot

14. Electrified

15. Portal V

16. My Aurora

17. This Road

Member

Oskar Logi Agustsson - electric guitars, vocals, acoustic guitars, flute

Alexander Örn Numason - bass guitar, backing vocals, synth, farfisa

Stefan Ari Stefansson - drums, backing vocals, percussion

Guests:

Mikael Åkerfeldt - vocals 'Philosopher'

Eybor Ingi Gunnlaugsson - vocals 'Crossroads'

Tomas Jonsson - hammond organ 'Days Go By', 'Portal II', 'Give And Take' and 'Alone'.

Valdis Eiriksdottir - backing vocals 'Riot', 'Give And Take' and 'Alone'.

Review

Everything has it's time and place and everything happens for a reason as is the case of The Vintage Caravan. This Icelandic trio has been around for a while now and have kept busy in the process but for yours truly they have moved in my periphery and have been elusive. That is until their new album 'Portals' came out at the tail-end of September. From the moment 'Portals' emanated from the speakers for the first time The Vintage Caravan had me hook, line and sinker.

There are 5 shorter compositions, all under a minute each, called 'Portals I-V' spread throughout the album acting like chapters, if you like. Don't know if I'm reading too much into it but I feel that The Vintage Caravan tells of journey through life especially regarding the different stages of a relationship.

It all begins with opener 'Philosopher' to initialize this story and it's a brilliant full-on expansive ode to 70's heavy rock with noneother than Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocals. The first portal brings on 'Days Gone By' which rocks even harder than it's predecessor. A wonderfully great song. The second portal features 'Here You Come Again', Current' and 'Give And Take' and moves mainly between excellent heavy rock, electric folk and electric blues.

The vocal harmonies are captivating as are the progressive touches. A new relationship is blooming and the two protagonists are feeling each other out until they decide to give it their all. In the third portal time has moved forward and our couple have reached a point of decision making, continue or step out and move on? 'Crossroads' and 'Alone'bring trippy elements along with contemplative and reflective influx which highlighted by that wonderful vocal harmonizing and sharp hook-laden riffs.

'Portal III' sees the band not holding back through the songs 'Freedom', 'Riot' and 'Electrified'. The tempos do shift somewhat although the ferocity doesn't. The Vintage Caravan are absolutely phenomenal in this section where our protagonists are going through a very rough spell. The last ”chapter” 'Portal V' begins with the wonderfully acoustic-driven 'My Aurora'. An ode from one of the protagonists to the other about the great times they had but no longer do. 'This Road' is shockful of modernized 70's heavy rock and the perfect way to end this excellent album. Going their separate ways a new journey lies ahead of the couple. 

Like I mentioned above I might have read too much into 'Portals' but the compositions speak to me this way. Regardless, The Vintage Caravan show their true class and brilliance with this fantastic recording. And I urge you all to check this band and their music out. You won't be disappointed, on the contrary!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

BEASTWARS - The Ship // The Sea (Album Review)

Release Date: November 07th 2025. Record Label: Destroy Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

The Ship // The Sea - Tracklisting

1. We Don't Say Fear

2. Guardian Of Fear

3. Levitate

4. The Storm

5. Rust

6. Blood Will Flow

7. The Howling

8. You Know They're Burning The Land

9. The Devil

10. Lights Lead The Way

Members

Matt Hyde - vocals

Christian Pearce - guitars

James Woods - bass guitar

Nathan Hickey – drums

Review

Beastwars from Wellington, New Zealand, have been around since 2007. During this time they have amassed 5 full-lengths, 1 live album, 5 singles and a split and now they are back with opus 6, 'The Ship// The Sea'. Already a force to be reckoned with from the very beginning Beastwars have transitioned so perfectly and seamlessly throughout the years which leads to their latest creation.

On this brilliant recording the music weaves back and forth between tempos, mainly mid to slowish all while steamrolling the listeners throughout all the songs. What this allows is for the songs to go in circles creating perfect individual stories as well as keeping them cohesive and simply one of a kind.

'We Don't Say Fear' is an unrelenting lead-heavy beast which represents the album wholly as does the intense and hypnotic crusher 'The Howling'. Other standout compositions are the captivating annihilator 'The Storm', the unforgiving 'You Know They're Burning The Land' and the mercilessly slow and heavy 'The Devil'. And let's not forget 'Levitate' which comes across as early-days Killing Joke playing stoned heavy-ass sludge...brilliant!

Beastwars never disappoint with 'The Ship// The Sea' being a perfect example of. They go from strength to strength with each new release making them a band that stands above the rest. Not budging in what they're doing and believe in while always going their own way is the way to go when creating ever-lasting brilliant music!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Sheltered Life for the promo.

The Ship // The Sea is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl from www.beastwarsband.com

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Twitter