HOT RAM - Near Fall (EP Review)

Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl.

Near Falll - Tracklisting

1.Vimana Swamp 07:27

2.Black Weed 06:01

3.Ironbound 04:30

Near Fall Credits

Billy Konkel Guitar/Vocals

Brian Ricks Drums

Jerimy McNeil Bass (Black Weed/Ironbound)

Dan Giampietro Bass (Vimana Swamp)

HOT RAM (2026) Line-up

Billy Konkel - Guitar/Vocals

Jerimy McNeil - Bass

Dwayne Jones - Drums

Review

Near Fall is the latest EP from Stoner Metallers HOT RAM which contains a bevy of outstanding grooves from the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal world. There’s a heavy reliance of DOWN-TUNED and FUZZ METAL riffology inspired by the likes of High On Fire, The Melvins, Acid King and Black Sabbath, However, Near Fall has its own distinctive sound with HOT RAM playing a deliberate slow paced sound to maximise the full “VIOLENT” musical energy that only becomes seedier, heavier and more violent with each passing moment. 

The EP only lasts for nineteen minutes across three superbly played tracks with HOT RAM even developing a delicious Blues Rock and Classic Hard Rock sound that is played to great levels of distorted melody within the standout opening track of Vimana Swamp. There’s a sudden shift to NOLA and Southern Metal on the later stages especially when Billy Konkel’s vocals adds a gloomy Americana and Post-Punk delivery which reminds me of the legendary Neil Fallon at times.

It’s good to see HOT RAM delivering a different slice of Stoner Metal within each individual track but including the classic WEEDIAN framework within both the lyrics and music that’s contained throughout. There are some moments when the Blues Rock and Psych Rock aspects have a grizzled and distorted effect which allows some classic Acid King / Melvins riff-worship to appear mostly on the tracks Black Weed and Ironbound. 

HOT RAM employs a certain Prog Metal style to form behind the scenes with a free flowing style of Sludge Rock overlapping with that seedy Southern Metal landscape on different stages of the record. The music is always aggressive and beautifully LOUD which captures the classic era of Sludge/Stoner Metal down to a fine art. 

It’s a shame the EP is only three tracks long as I was completely in my comfort zone before the EP suddenly ends but it’s always best leaving the audience wanting more. Let's hope a more substantial record isn’t too far behind as HOT RAM may have laid down the groundwork for a new exciting chapter of their careers with this EP.

This is first rate stuff. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo

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Sludge/Stoner Metallers HOT RAM Release New Song BLACK WEED From Upcoming New EP NEAR FALL

HOT RAM is an Atlanta based Stoner Metal band formed in 2016. It was during this time that Billy Konkel, HOT RAM founder, while working as a sound man in local Atlanta’s clubs, realized that he needed to be on the other side of the microphones and that he had a lot of music to write. Konkel enlisted Gordon White (Tetsu Nakasaka a local bassist/guitar player to play drums. Gordon brought along Dee Flores on bass and together they recorded 2017’s E.P. “Leave A Beautiful Corpse”, 2018’s “Where Light Goes to Die”, and 2021’s “Electric Medicine”.

In 2020, Covid did a number on the band as Gordon White moved to Japan, and Flores left the band to take care of his ailing father, just as “Electric Medicine” finished production and was released in 2021. Konkel played on with different drummers and bass players until settling with the current line up of Dwayne Jones on drums (Sourvein/Order of the Owl/Royal Thunder) and Jerimy McNeil on bass (Dayglo Mourning/Decibel Guitar Company).

HOT RAM has played shows with The Maryland Doom Fest 22 & 23, Snowblind Fest, Crowbar, Slomosa, Conan, Black Tusk, Howling Giant, and Heavy Temple while simultaneously working on a new album. Konkel was dealing with some personal issues during this time, with the loss of his grandmother in 2021 followed soon afterwards by his mother’s diagnosis of cancer and eventual passing, making 2021 through 2024 difficult but fruitful years.

Billy Konkel and HOT RAM powered through all life’s obstacles and delivered 2026’s new E.P. “Near Fall”, (self-released on their home imprint Second Down Records) The album’s title was inspired by watching copious amounts of pro wrestling with his wrestling obsessed wife. “Near Fall” epitomizes and accurately describes the last few years that Konkel and HOT RAM were pinned to the mat for a 2 count (a “Near Fall”) and always getting back up to live another day….

“Near Fall” began recording in 2022, tracking drums at Leadbelly Studios and the rest of the album was recorded and mixed by Konkel at “Dark Overlord Studio” an over 100 year old warehouse/punk house. 

The opener “Vimana Swamp” is an about an ancient spaceship that crashed into a southern
swamp and hidden in obscurity waiting for a return trip home. 

“Black Weed” Is about the smoking of the green: getting high and then Netflix and chilling with Lucifer himself from these self proclaimed “ High Priests of Dank Majik”. 

Lastly “Ironbound” lays up huge slabs of riffage —enough to tranquilize an elephant, lyrically forged with the hammer and brimstone of the Crusades.

HOT RAM’s “Near Fall” E.P. is for anyone that’s been on the ropes with little hope, but digs deep and finds the passion for dusting yourself off and not giving up!

February 2026 is the 10th anniversary of HOT RAM, and they look for it to be their brightest and loudest year yet. They start off the New Year opening for “High on Fire” in January, following it up with a couple of still un-announced festival dates this spring and summer to build some tour runs around what is expected to be a busy year.

FFO: Melvins, High on Fire, Clutch, Black Sabbath, Acid King

Near Fall Credits:

Billy Konkel Guitar/Vocals
Brian Ricks Drums
Jerimy McNeil Bass (Black Weed/Ironbound)
Dan Giampietro Bass (Vimana Swamp)
Drums recorded @ Leadbelly Studio-Matt Washburn
Guitars/Bass/Vocals/Mixed @ Dark Overlord Studio-Billy Konkel
Mastered @ Sound Artillery Studio-Jonathan Nunez (Torche)

HOT RAM 2026:

Billy Konkel - Guitar/Vocals
Jerimy McNeil - Bass
Dwayne Jones - Drums

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for all of the details.

Near Fall is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from January 30th 2026.