70s Hard Rock Specialists ELECTRIC CITIZEN share "Static Vision" video off new album on Heavy Psych Sounds; US fall tour announced!

Ohio-based 70s heavy and psych rock purveyors ELECTRIC CITIZEN have released a new video taken from their fourth studio album "EC4", released this summer on Heavy Psych Sounds. The band recently announced a full US tour in support of the album, including shows alongside High On Fire, Kadabra and Earth Tongue.

"A ‘70s-style hard rock hammer down on an acid-soaked heavy-psych anvil." Bandcamp Daily
"Their renaissance after a seven-year hiatus is huge." Rock Hard Magazine
"Immersive, thought-provoking, and undeniably electric.” Prog Rock Journal
“Entrancing, absorbing, and spellbinding.” Maximum Volume Music
“A triumphant return.” Doom Charts

Watch Electric Citizen's new video Static Vision

"Static Vision" is a descent into screen-fueled catatonia and bucolic escapism. Director Jane Elizabeth Slater channels the early '90s with plenty of VHS grit, postmodern decor, and visuals inspired by Neil Krug’s cover art for the band’s newest album. Edited and shot using a mix of vintage camcorder and DSLR by Slater herself, "Static Vision" is a wistful homage to an era before digital dependence.

Electric Citizen's prodigious fourth album will take you on a weird, fun and unwaveringly electrifying journey filled with head-bobbing, riff-driven magic and eerie rite-worthy daydreams. Fearlessly sailing between proto-doom stompers and searing 70s prog propelled by organ cascades, these goldsmiths of golden-era heavy led by the unique voice of Laura Dolan sit firmly in that time machine between Uriah Heep, Coven, Deep Purple and Blood Ceremony.

Electric Citizen US fall shows:

Oct 10: The Ship – Kansas City, MO
Oct 11: HQ – Denver, CO
Oct 12: The DLC – Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 13: Shrine Social Club – Boise, ID
Oct 14: Cafe Colonial – Sacramento, CA
Oct 15: The Ritz – San Jose, CA
Oct 16: Kilowatt Bar – San Fran, CA *
Oct 17: Permanent Records Roadhouse – Los Angeles, CA
Oct 18: Jacumba Breakdown, Jacumba Hot Springs, CA + *
Oct 19: Yucca Tap Room – Tempe, AZ
Oct 20: Sister – Albuquerque, NM
Oct 22: Resonant Head – Oklahoma City, OK
Oct 23: Reverb Lounge – Omaha, NE
Oct 24: Reggies – Chicago, IL
Oct 25: The Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI
Dec 12: Rain City Doom Fest – Seattle, WA °
Dec 13: Kingsway – Vancouver, BC °
Dec 14: Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR °
+With High on Fire °With Kadabra *No Earth Tongue

New album "EC4" - Available now on Heavy Psych Sounds

Since forming in 2012, Cincinnati-based rockers Electric Citizen have carved out a distinct sound, blending vintage psychedelia with heavy rock 'n' roll. With three acclaimed albums under their belt, Electric Citizen has toured extensively, sharing stages with acts like The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Pentagram and Fu Manchu. Now signed to Heavy Psych Sounds, Electric Citizen is ready to unleash their most potent work yet: a fusion of hypnotic grooves, searing guitars, and Laura Dolan's mesmerizing vocals. "EC4" is both a homecoming and a rebirth.

Seven years after their last album "Helltown", Electric Citizen returns with their fourth full-length "EC4" — a powerful statement of renewal and raw energy. Written by Ross Dolan with contributions from the full band, the album was meticulously crafted over several years and recorded with Mike Montgomery and John Hoffman at Candyland Studio in Dayton, KY. It was mixed by Collin Dupuis (Lana Del Rey, The Black Keys) in Detroit and mastered by JJ Golden (Ty Segall, Calexico) at Golden Mastering in California. The album art was created by Neil Krug (Lana Del Rey, Tame Impala, Weyes Blood), who worked on their debut album "Sateen".

ELECTRIC CITIZEN is

Ross Dolan - Guitar
Laura Dolan - Vocals
Nick Vogelpohl - Bass
Nate Wagner - Drums
Owen Lee - Keyboards

ELECTRIC CITIZEN links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

East Coast Hard Blues Champions BONE CHURCH to release new album "Deliverance" on Ripple Music this October 24th

New Haven, Connecticut's hard blues rockers BONE CHURCH share a raucous first single taken from their sophomore album "Deliverance", to be released on October 24th through Californian label Ripple Music.

Feel the grit and fire of new single Bone Boys Ride Out

Their forthcoming sophomore album "Deliverance" is Bone Church’s boldest step yet into the heart of classic and hard rock: an album built on big hooks, anthemic songcraft, and the kind of radio-ready swagger that would’ve ruled the airwaves in 1977. Written primarily in 2019 and 2020, this record trades their debut's doom-laden expectations for soaring, blues-soaked riffs and sing-along choruses. "You’ll still hear the Sabbath influence, but you’ll also hear ZZ Top, the Allman Brothers, Santana, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, to name a few. These songs are meant to be sung along to," says lead guitarist Dan Sefcik.

Lyrically, Bone Church remains steeped in their signature themes—apocalyptic visions, Luciferian power struggles, and the eternal battle between light and dark—but this time, they balance the weight with raucous tales of life on the road and the pure, uncomplicated joy of rock ‘n’ roll. "We’ve juxtaposed those heavy themes with lighthearted fun as well. We didn’t want this record to be all doom and gloom. Overall, we think it’s our best work yet," he adds.

"Deliverance" is a thunderous exorcism, a Molotov cocktail hurled at the gates of genre. Bone Church never bowed to the rules, and now? They’re torching the rulebook entirely. Crank it. Howl along. This is their reckoning and it's coming this fall on Ripple Music!

BONE CHURCH "Deliverance - Out October 24th via Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

Formed in 2016, Bone Church is primarily influenced by the era when rock was transforming into the earliest form of heavy metal, but still had its feet firmly planted in the blues. Classic bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, and Lynyrd Skynyrd provide the bricks upon which their sonic foundation is built.

Their love for horror, the occult, and folklore is just as apparent as their love for the blues-laced, heavy psychedelia of a bygone era. They have been referred to as Doom, Stoner, Proto-Metal, etc; but in spite of genres or labels, their primary focus above all else is writing great songs. Their first EP “Bone Church” was self-released in 2017 and received stellar reviews, including landing the #2 spot on the Sludgelord’s “Satan’s Dozen: The Best Unearthly Hymns Unearthed in 2017.”

In November 2019, they signed a deal with Ripple Music, and in March 2020, they released their first full-length LP “Acid Communion.” The album again garnered exemplary reviews and was voted #4 on the Doom Charts for March 2020. After the release, they immediately began working on their third album, which is set to be recorded in spring of 2021. Due to high demand, their debut EP was also re-released on vinyl by Ripple Music, with two additional live tracks, and quickly sold out.

Bone Church has been playing steadily throughout the Northeast since early 2018, sharing the stage with juggernauts such as Pentagram, Eyehategod, The Obsessed, and Mothership. In August of 2021, they completed their first tour down to Texas and were a highlight of the first-ever Texas Ripple Fest.

BONE CHURCH is

Jack Rune - Vocals
Dan Sefcik - Lead Guitar
Pat Good - Bass
Nick Firine - Guitar
Rob Sickinger - Drums

BONE CHURCH links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

RIPPLE MUSIC links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Organic Green Monster Machine - Slippery Elm (Single Review)

Release Date: July 25th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Slippery Elm - Tracklisting

Slippery Elm

Members

Scotty Heytch - drums/guitar/bass/synth

Dave James - vox/bass/acoustic guitar

Review

Slippery Elm is the latest single from Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers Organic Green Monster Machine. I reviewed their debut single Long Distant Daze back in October 2023. The band have relessed a couple more tracks since then but I had to review Slippery Elm as it seems they’ve matured into a heavier, soulful and cosmic band with a Prog Rock and Grunge based dynamic.

The song is more Progressive with a subtle Post-Doom and Post-Sludge energy appearing with Organic Green Monster Machine blending 1970’s Hard Rock and 1990’s Grunge with a heavy Sludge/Stoner Metal dynamic taking influence from the likes of KING BUFFALO, SOUNDGARDEN, HOWLING GIANT, KYUSS and BLACK SABBATH. There’s quite an interesting Fuzz Rock dynamic weaving through the finer points of Doom, Prog Rock and Shoegaze elements which gives this track a freakish and space rock attitude.

Organic Green Monster Machine are a duo but the overall sound they create within Slippery Elm feels like this has been written and played by a band with more members. The synths from Scotty Heytch and Dave James’s vocals are my favourite aspects of the whole track. As it’s quite destructive and grounded in equal measure. 

With the band hard at work on their debut EP, Organic Green Monster Machine have got my full undivided attention. As this is a superbly realized track throughout, the production values aren’t the best but it allows the whole thing to be played with real aggressive intent and sludgy distorted melodies of the highest order. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Patriarchs In Black - Home (Album Review)

Release Date: August 15th 2025. Record Label: Metalville. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Home - Tracklisting

Hymns for the Heretic

The Call

Burn Through Time

Frisson

Kaos

Storm King

Celestial Yard

Where You Think You're Going

Beline

Pointed Fire

Enough Of You

Ready To Die

Shadows Grasp

Sweet Blood

Members

Johnny Kelly - Drummer

Dan Lorenzo - Guitar

List Of All Guest Musicians Appearing On The Album

Review

Heavy Rockers Patriarchs In Black return with their latest record Home and like their previous album Visioning it's full of superb collaborations of musicians from the Heavy Rock scene and beyond. Look at the epic guest list for each of the fourteen tracks by looking at the link here. It’s way too many to list here but you have the likes of Kyle Thomas, Karl Angel, Mark Sunshine, DMC, Kelly Abe, Iron Lou Strachan and Dewey Bragg all contributing for this record.

Home is quite action packed with the main members of Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE / DANZIG) and Dan Lorenzo (HADES / NON FICTION) being the constant members playing on every track but they allow their special guests to take the majority of the creative limelight which makes this record such a splendid album to listen to. There’s fourteen tracks with Patriarchs In Black exploring areas of music such as Blues, Doom, Stoner, Funk, Folk, Southern Rock, Rap, Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.

With each song having a different sound, Home is quite consistent with its hard-rocking melodies and soulful energy which is also perhaps the band’s most impressive record to date. The standout tracks on the first half of the album for me personally are: Hymns For The Heretic, The Call, Burn Through Time and Celestial Yard.

As the music effortlessly transitions from HEAVY METAL to CLASSIC ROCK with each guest vocalist bringing their own great style of music to the party. The record can be quite soulful and therapeutic within the quieter and sombre moments. The mood perhaps captures the heavy rock scene from the 1980 to the mid 2000’s which is no bad thing. 

With Johnny Kelly and Dan Lorenzo being the main creative masterminds behind the band, they play their signature style of music with sheer enthusiasm with the neverending roster of guest musicians. There’s some inspired musical instruments on this record with viola, strings, violin and flute making appearances throughout which gives Home an unexpected quality whilst still retaining it’s sense of HEAVY METAL.

I wish I could do a song-by-song review but there’s too many tracks to fully detail here but everyone is an absolute BANGER of the highest order with Patriarchs In Black having every aspect of the HEAVY ROCK and HEAVY METAL scene covered and then some. Other standout tracks include: Where You Think You’re Going, Pointed Fire, Enough Of You, Ready To Die and Sweet Blood.

Any HEAVY RAWK record that has HIP HOP and RAP Legend DMC appearing again deserves multiple listens which you may need for this record alone. As HOME takes so many different turns that you don’t expect whilst offering quite a refreshing take on what you can describe as ROCK MUSIC.

Patriarchs In Black have pulled out all the stops here with HOME and created a record that has a timeless quality to it all. The album is topped off with excellent production values that allows everyone the time and space to impress throughout but the real star is Johnny and Dan themselves. Long may their creative and collaborative partnership continue to thrive so we get great albums such as this.

Words by Steve Howe

Home is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Metalville

Links

www.instagram.com/patriarchsinblack
www.facebook.com/people/Patriarchsinblack/61559097640883
www.danlorenzo.net

The Long Hunt - Natural Order (Album Review)

Release Date: July 18th 2025. Record Label: Hellbender Vinyl. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Natural Order - Tracklisting

1.It Hunts The Shadows 

2.The Cosmic Egg 

3.Assiduous Gnaw

4.Spine of Dusk 

5.Tooth and Claw

6.The Liminal Flow

7.A Narrow Path

8.Pillar of Dawn

Members

Trevor Richards: Guitar

Allison Kacmar Richards: Bass

Mark Lyons: Drums

Review

Natural Order is the latest and fourth record from Instrumental Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers The Long Hunt where the band explore the NUMBER FOUR in multiple and highly original ways on this album. The band explains: 

“In many philosophical and spiritual traditions, the number 4 is associated with the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water, which are seen as foundational to the world and physical nature. It's a number often linked to order, structure, and natural cycles, such as the four seasons and the four phases of the moon.”

So this record is quite conceptual in places which allows The Long Hunt to add a Drone Rock element to their music whilst keeping their trademark use of Psych, Doom and Stoner Rock instrumental sounds. There’s  added levels of Alt Metal and Shoegaze momentum to their music which gives Natural Order quite a modern and forward thinking approach. The sound does become quite Progressive with the band switching to a trippy Stop/Start way of delivering their music which comes across surprisingly well on the opening batch of tracks of It Hurts The Shadows, The Cosmic Egg and Assiduous Gnaw where the Post-Rock melodies are quite soothing, haunting and wonderfully aggressive at the same time.

Taking cues from the likes of Karma To Burn, Colour Haze, Yawning Man and Monomyth but adding their own soulful identity into their musical surroundings. The record becomes dominated slightly by a classic Nineties atmosphere which gives The Long Hunt an unpredictable quality and fearless drive into creating areas of soulful Instrumental Doomed Out Stoner Rock.

An epic slice of Post-Doom aggression appears out of nowhere which allows the stunning rhythm section of Allison Kacmar Richards on Bass and Mark Lyon on Drums to generate an eerie Desert Rock attitude which moulds the musical and creative landscape for Trevor Richards epic guitar work to play some intense grooves along the way. When everything is put together, The Long Hunt are quite unbeatable with their majestic Psychedelic and Spaced Out passages. Throw in some Pink Floyd and ELDER classic sonic exploration on the later stages of the record especially on tracks such as: Spine Of Dusk, The Liminal Flow and A Narrow Path propelling the listener into full on Psychedelic Stoner Rock bliss.

The Long Hunt excels at playing fast-paced sounds and slowly pitched harmonies which constructs quite a gloomy atmosphere with great moments of Classic Hard Rock which sees the band develop a unique style of Instrumental Rock music. Natural Order is quite understated and I wouldn’t blame The Long Hunt to go way OVER THE TOP with epic progressive jams but they keep the whole flow quite soulful, organic and with real warmth emitting from the speakers.

Natural Order is expertly recorded and produced with The Long Hunt demonstrating once again why they’re one of the most essential Instrumental Stoner Rock bands we currently have within the underground scene. If you want an album with haunting poetic Post-Rock moments and full on aggressive Stoner Rock/Metal extended grooves then this is the place to be.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | LinkTree | BandCamp

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo.

Buzzards Of Babylon - Ancient Machine (Single Review)

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

Ancient Machine - Tracklisting

Ancient Machine

Members

Dragonius Maximus - Vocals

Reverend Sludge Skull - Guitar

Breengemeister General - Guitar

Ragnar Thunderbucket - Bass

Ljotulf, Harbinger of Doom - Drums

Review

Ancient Machine is the new single from Scottish Doom/Stoner Rockers Buzzards Of Babylon who play a down and dirty version of good old fashioned Stoner Rock with the emphasis on AGGRESSIVE MUSCULAR RIFFS played by the likes of DOWN, CLUTCH, BLACK SABBATH, KYUSS and SOUNDGARDEN. There’s nothing groundbreaking with the song but Buzzards Of Babylon do their own highly respectable take of that classic and winning formula of Grunge, Southern Rock and Stoner Metal. 

The vocals from Dragonius Maximus are forged from the “BEER SWILLING WASTELANDS” of Scotland though their overall sound has wider underground appeal especially when they play a dirtier and thrasher style of music at the very end. The sound is quite chaotic but the riffs and grooves are plentiful with plenty of distorted FUZZ to show you they mean business. 

This is the second single from Buzzards Of Babylon with Molten Bigfoot being released back in May 2025. I’m hopeful for an EP or full length record being released down the line. As the two tracks they’ve released so far has shown how the band have changed for the better since their 2018 debut album Micrometeoroid Modulation which had some superb THUGGISH bangers throughout. 

If you like your Stoner Rock/Metal with a bit of legendary NOLA attitude then Ancient Machine is the perfect track to get your heartbeat pumping and raise your fists in the air with wild and reckless abandonment.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | LinkTree

ACEVES - Magnus Dopus (Album Review)

Release Date: June 27th 2025. Record Label: I:AND:I Recordings. Formats: DD

Magnum Dopus - Tracklisting

1.The True and Indisputable Meaning of Rock and Roll 03:36

2.Still Aint Dead 03:42

3.Taxi Driver 04:11

4.Love in the Time of Apocalypse 04:21

5.Hail Mary 02:49

6.Just Your Disguise 05:13

7.Daisies 02:36

8.Faithful Man (Lee Fields Cover) 04:23

9.For My Children 02:41

Members

Mark Aceves - Everything

Review

Magnus Dopus is the debut album from ACEVES aka Mark Aceves from Doom/Stoner Rock heavyweights ZED who dedicated this album to his father Jose J Aceves and band mate Sean William Boyles within a year. The record isn’t too far removed from the sound that ZED were known for but with ACEVES injecting a Punk Rock and Classic Stoner Rock sound. The album feels inspired by the likes of MC5, Motorhead, The Stooges, Black Sabbath and KISS.

ACEVES plays with a fast-paced and highly unapologetic in your face sound that plays fast and loose with the rules of Stoner Rock with the record also having a “BACK TO BASICS” approach with the production values used for tone and delivery of the album. The record can be full on PARTY MODE but ACEVES delivers with his own determined charm, warmth and superbly witty lyrics to match. There’s a classic QOTSA vibe appearing within the majority of the tracks with tracks such as The True and Indisputable Meaning of Rock and Roll, Still Ain’t Dead and Taxi Driver making a lasting impression very early on.

Mark adapts an OUTLAWS persona which allows his Punk Rock creative energy allow the record to be played at a highly exciting and fresh pace that even has an old-school Pop-Punk sound developing at times before a thuggish Stoner Rock sound levels things out for the better. The record doesn’t shy away from some tough times that Mark has been through recently on tracks such as Love In The Time Of The Apocalypse, Hail Mary and Daisies. 

ACEVES even finds the time to add elements of Electronic Rock with subtle Trance beats which should appeal to music fans outside of the Stoner Rock spectrum at times. The vocals are intriguing throughout with ACEVES developing and performing multiple different styles which has real warmth and human emotion to them. 

A lot of Stoner Rock musicians have released solo albums recently and usually move away from the music they’re known for, so Mark deserves real credit for sticking to what he knows with Magnum Dopus. Though, that’s not to say he tries new things here which he does but the majority of the music is mostly from the Stoner Rock realm. The later stages sees ACEVES developing a fuzzy and aggressive love affair with the FUZZ which should impress fans of FU MANCHU and CLUTCH and even the mighty ZED of course. 

Magnum Dopus is a grand musical adventure with ACEVES delivering an action packed, catchy and superbly entertaining record. If ZED is currently on long term hiatus then ACEVES could have a long term and exciting future of his own if he keeps releasing great records such as this.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the promo.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp

Hebi Katana - Imperfection (Album Review)

Release Date: July 25th 2025. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Imperfection - Tracklisting

1.Bon Nou

2.Dead Horse Requiem 

3.Praise the Shadows

4.Echoes from Old Tree

5.Blood Spirit Rising

6.Yu gen

7.Yume wa Kareno

Members

Laven - Bass, Vocals

Nobu - Guitars, Vocals

T.T. Goblin - Drums

Review

Japanese Doom/Stoner/Heavy Metallers Hebi Katana new album Imperfection sees the band aiming for bigger and better things with their HEAVIEST and HUGE sounding record to date. With the power of Ripple Music fully behind Hebi Katana, the stage is set for the band to expand their musical horizons as Imperfection is a non-stop collection of grizzled Proto-Metal sounds that the band have superbly developed over the last five years or so.

Imperfection is their fourth full length album and “features lyrics inspired by Matsuo Basho and Tanizaki Junichiro's “wabi sabi” “beauty of imperfection” and “enso" based on the unique Japanese spiritual world.” The record has Hebi Katana’s classic style of Proto Metal energy which is delivered with a wild GONZO energy that pays perfect homage to bands such as Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, The Ramones and cult Japanese Heavy Metal heroes ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK.

There’s a sense of intense Stoner Rock/Metal BRAVADO on Imperfection with thrashy and seedy instrumental sounds capturing Hebi Katana at the top of their game. The vocals from Nobu and Laven feel more energetic with the no-nonsense attitude of Seventies Proto-Metal, Doom and Punk Rock vibes that’s matched against the OVER THE TOP Eighties Hard Rock attitude. It’s good to hear that Hebi Katana haven’t changed their stripped back Garage Rock based sound which allows the production side of Imperfection to have quite an iconic ROUGH and READY appeal which gives the record a more dangerous OUTLAW energy to it all.

The SAMURAI DOOM spirit of Hebi Katana’s runs amok with killer HIGH VOLTAGE grooves on tracks such as Dead Horse Requiem, Praise The Shadows, Echoes From The Old Tree and Yume wa Kareno being the most praiseworthy, thrilling and catchiest songs on the whole album. Hebi Katana do become quite “OCCULT” obsessed on this record which brings a sense of murky FUZZ ROCK heaviness with the outlandish lyrics doing a magnificent job of selling the whole creative vision that the band have for Imperfection. 

Imperfection has a world building Psychedelic attitude which is perhaps down to the surreal Psychedelic vision that inspired the band that I mentioned earlier in the review. If you’re only here for the music then Hebi Katana will no doubt impress you with their fearless playing and vivid expression of pure HEAVY METAL and RAWK & ROLL excess that will no doubt establish the band as major players within the global HEAVY ROCK scene. 

Hebi Katana are on the verge of great things and Imperfection is another outstanding record from one of the best kept secrets from the Japanese Underground Scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Imperfection is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

HEBI KATANA links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify