Nxmad - The Second Fall (Album Review)

Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: APF Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Second Fall - Tracklist

1.Men's Rea

2.Amber 04:37

3.Domicide

4.Vertigo 04:36

5.Bridge Burner

6.Transmissions

7.Actus Reus

Members

Drian Nash - vocals

Lewis Atkinson - guitar

John Carberry - bass

Liam MacBeath - drums

Taz Corona-Brown - guest vocals on Actus Reus 

Review

Doom/Hardcore/Sludge Metallers Nxmad return with their first album since reforming back in 2021 where they were originally known as Nomad. The band have dropped their Stoner Metal sound that appeared on their earlier records for a heavier style of Hardcore to level out the playing field. There’s also a heavy reliance on Thrash Metal and Speed Metal which you can feel from the opening stages of the excellent record The Second Fall.

Nxmad offer some solid classic hard rock and heavy metal hooks which compliments the dirty Doomed out sounds throughout the album. The band feel influenced by the likes of Motorhead, Metallica, Hatebreed, Crowbar and Kingdom Of Sorrow on this record but with that heart-thumping Hardcore edge giving this album a real modern “METALLIC” vibe.

Nxmad waste no time “FUCKING AROUND” by getting straight down to business of playing this THRASH METAL beatdowns throughout the stunning array of opening tracks Mens Rea, Amber and Domicide. The vocals from Drain Nash are always welcome to hear as he has a pummelling and violent aura to his whole performance. Drain Nash does channel his inner Punk Metaller for this record which works superbly well with the groove metal sounds that dominate the first half of the record.

The Second Fall isn’t over-produced with Nxmad projecting the right balance of modern day aggression and underground seediness which adds to the overall HEAVY METAL effect on the album within the massive thrash beats and sludgy grooves that continue to aim for maximum damage. There is a level of Post-Doom and Psychedelic awareness that develops on this record though mostly hidden in the background which come into play within the final stages of the record.

Nxmad continue to develop a harsh, unforgiving and abrasive energy where the Thrash Metal and Speed Metal aspects of their music fully collide with superb results on tracks Domicide, Vertigo and Bridge Burner. The raw atmosphere does feel like it’s been conjured from a long gone era of Hardcore, Groove and Sludge Metal but Nxmad know how to inject modern based atmospheres into the final mix. 

The standout track on the album has to be the final song Actus Reus which calls upon the amazing vocal talents of Taz Corona-Brown (Coma Smile and Undersmile). I’ve been a huge fan of Taz for years and it feels like it’s been an absolute age since I’ve heard her superb vocals where she really delivers here. The song allows Nxmad to delve into creative surroundings such as Post-Rock, Shoegaze and Post-Doom. The song works best when the quieter parts appear but you need those epic THRASH, DOOM and SLUDGE METAL elements to appear so Nxmad can close the album on an almighty finish.

The Second Fall is a superb record with Nxmad delivering some of their most interesting music yet which should leave the listener ultimately fulfilled with its non-stop amount of punishing sounds that will leave you a shivering wreck before everything is finished.

Words by Steve Howe

The Second Fall is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via APF Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Cobra Czar - Moral Corruption (EP Review)

Release Date: May 29th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Moral Corruption - Tracklisting

1.Stomper 03:00

2.To Oblivion 03:38

3.Stab 04:24

Members

 

Mike Fisketti — vocals

Tim Sieler — guitar

Mike Van Heel — guitar

Chris Lyons — bass

Timothy Java — drums

Review

Moral Corruption is the latest EP from Death/Groove/Sludge Metal destroyers Cobra Czar which serves as an opening gateway to their upcoming debut full length album Blinded By Power. This EP is a fucked up and brilliantly heavy use of different Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal passages that’s held together by a brutal use of Death Metal and Grooved Metal mechanics. There’s some warped Psychedelic and Cosmic sounds being used in the background. 

You can hear influences from the likes of GOJIRA, Mastodon, Lamb Of God, VOIVOD and Metallica but Cobra Czar is not afraid by injecting that great use of Doom Metal and Stoner Metal melodies along the way. The music is brutally exhausting both physically and mentally which is thanks to the brilliant opening track Stomper putting the listener through their HEAVY METAL paces from start to finish.

Cobra Czar makes a great use of beat downs, thrash beats and slamming instrumental jams on this EP which sees their music moving between Old School Heavy Metal and Modern Day Ideas that is wonderfully subversive at the same time. The vocals from Mike Fisketti are superb, ranging from Death Metal, Hardcore and Extreme Metal which manage to stay superbly understandable even with my advancing years listening to heavy metal.

The other two tracks Oblivion and Stab allow Cobra Czar to fully explore their extreme style of Heavy Metal to great effect with the band covering almost every aspect of the underground scene with a great sense of creativity and riff-driven brutality that leaves you wanting more. The sheer level of VOLUME that Cobra Czar achieves within each individual track whilst playing some massive sound Progressive Metal energy makes them a real force to be truly reckoned with.

If you like your Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal played with a NO FUCKS GIVEN attitude then Cobra Czar are the band for you and I can’t wait to hear their upcoming debut album. These guys are the real deal!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Exclusive Premiere Of Doom/Sludge Metallers BORN OF PLAGUES New Single & Video For "ANGELS OF FIRE" From Upcoming New Album

Playing a brand of chaotic, cathartic death-doom that is at once familiar and all their own, Born of Plagues is a four-piece metal band focused more on crushing heaviness than genre conventions. This group of Baltimore punk/hardcore/doom veterans has pedigree across scenes and styles and doesn’t back away from letting any of their influences bleed through, as long as the result is brash and heavy.

We're beyond to excited to premiere new song and video for Angels On Fire that you can watch below:

ABOUT THE ALBUM

Written over a nearly five-year period, “Dead Endings” is a collection of complaints and commiserations that takes aim at social ills and personal woes through a lens of gothic horror and unrepentant riffage. Melding influences from Winter and Hooded Menace to Black Sabbath and Motörhead into a mix of dirge-like plodding, breakneck thrashing, and classic metallic grooves, this brute of an album never sits still for long. Its eight tracks and 55-minute runtime will feed your need for all things heavy and leave you eager for more.

WHAT'S NEXT:

Born of Plagues continues writing new songs, with plans for another full length in the next year or two. The band has several fall/winter shows planned, including the “Dead Endings” release show in Baltimore in Nov/Dec. In addition, they are in the process of booking a summer 2026 tour, focused on the US east coast.

Born of Plagues - Dead Endings

Album out November 21st, 2025
Self-released (Digital)
Baltimore, Maryland, US

Tracklist:

1. Mausoleums (9:10)
2. Silver Light (5:32)
3. Inheritance (8:05)
4. Tithe (6:50)
5. Within The Mist (1:52)
6. What Dreadful Music (7:44)
7. Of Wisdom And War (7:18)
8. Angels On Fire (7:39)

Born of Plagues is:

Austin Lunn - guitars, vocal
Mike Knauer - guitars
Tim Sheils - bass
Matt Maben - drums

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Good Boy PR for all of the details.

Doom/Sludge Metallers BORN OF PLAGUES Release New Song SILVER LIGHT From Upcoming New Album

Playing a brand of chaotic, cathartic death-doom that is at once familiar and all their own, Born of Plagues is a four-piece metal band focused more on crushing heaviness than genre conventions. This group of Baltimore punk/hardcore/doom veterans has pedigree across scenes and styles and doesn’t back away from letting any of their influences bleed through, as long as the result is brash and heavy.

ABOUT THE ALBUM:

Written over a nearly five-year period, “Dead Endings” is a collection of complaints and commiserations that takes aim at social ills and personal woes through a lens of gothic horror and unrepentant riffage. Melding influences from Winter and Hooded Menace to Black Sabbath and Motörhead into a mix of dirge-like plodding, breakneck thrashing, and classic metallic grooves, this brute of an album never sits still for long. Its eight tracks and 55-minute runtime will feed your need for all things heavy and leave you eager for more.

WHAT'S NEXT:

Born of Plagues continues writing new songs, with plans for another full length in the next year or two. The band has several fall/winter shows planned, including the “Dead Endings” release show in Baltimore in Nov/Dec. In addition, they are in the process of booking a summer 2026 tour, focused on the US east coast.

You can hear their blistering new single Silver Light from their upcoming new album.

Born of Plagues - Dead Endings

Album out November 21st, 2025
Self-released (Digital)
Baltimore, Maryland, US

Tracklist:

1. Mausoleums (9:10)
2. Silver Light (5:32)
3. Inheritance (8:05)
4. Tithe (6:50)
5. Within The Mist (1:52)
6. What Dreadful Music (7:44)
7. Of Wisdom And War (7:18)
8. Angels On Fire (7:39)

Born of Plagues is:

Austin Lunn - guitars, vocal
Mike Knauer - guitars
Tim Sheils - bass
Matt Maben - drums

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Good Boy PR for all of the details.

Doom & Sludge crushers Born of Plagues to release new album "Dead Endings" November 21st; lead single "Silver Light" out October 17th

Playing a brand of chaotic, cathartic death-doom that is at once familiar and all their own, Born of Plagues is a four-piece metal band focused more on crushing heaviness than genre conventions. This group of Baltimore punk/hardcore/doom veterans has pedigree across scenes and styles and doesn’t back away from letting any of their influences bleed through, as long as the result is brash and heavy.

ABOUT THE ALBUM:

Written over a nearly five-year period, “Dead Endings” is a collection of complaints and commiserations that takes aim at social ills and personal woes through a lens of gothic horror and unrepentant riffage. Melding influences from Winter and Hooded Menace to Black Sabbath and Motörhead into a mix of dirge-like plodding, breakneck thrashing, and classic metallic grooves, this brute of an album never sits still for long. Its eight tracks and 55-minute runtime will feed your need for all things heavy and leave you eager for more.

WHAT'S NEXT:

Born of Plagues continues writing new songs, with plans for another full length in the next year or two. The band has several fall/winter shows planned, including the “Dead Endings” release show in Baltimore in Nov/Dec. In addition, they are in the process of booking a summer 2026 tour, focused on the US east coast.

Born of Plagues - Dead Endings

Album out November 21st, 2025
Self-released (Digital)
Baltimore, Maryland, US

Tracklist:

1. Mausoleums (9:10)
2. Silver Light (5:32)
3. Inheritance (8:05)
4. Tithe (6:50)
5. Within The Mist (1:52)
6. What Dreadful Music (7:44)
7. Of Wisdom And War (7:18)
8. Angels On Fire (7:39)

Born of Plagues is:

Austin Lunn - guitars, vocal
Mike Knauer - guitars
Tim Sheils - bass
Matt Maben - drums

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Good Boy PR for all of the details.

Swedish Sludge/Doom/Hardcore outfit Circle of Nerves' second single "Funeral Mind" out May 24

Forged in the cauldron of rage and hate, Circle of Nerves is a beast like no other. The new Swedish group draw from the trappings of sludge, doom, and hardcore, but strangle the sounds into something truly evil, and white-hot in its fury. Touches of industrial and death metal lurk in the jarring low end and throat-shredding vocals, and it all combines into a seething, lumbering mass of bad intentions. Only annihilation awaits.

Following their debut single and music video "Pain is my drug", mixed and mastered by Esben Willems, Circle of Nerves flip the groove switch with second single "Funeral Mind". Blast beats are traded for thick and murky low end nod, as the bass throbs through the band's descent into the doomier corners of sludge metal.

Still caustic and unrelenting in their extremity, the four-piece slow the pace and dig into righteous grooves on their second slab of sonic madness. Bringing to mind the likes of Buzzoven and Weedeater, Circle of Nerves prove on "Funeral Mind" that theirs is a deep arsenal of cruel and bloodied tools, wielded with murderous intent in their siege on the heavy underground.

IN THE BAND'S OWN WORDS:

“Circle of Nerves is a metal band hailing from Stockholm and Gothenburg and has been active since 2023. Our music blends elements of doom, sludge, and hardcore, with lyrics delving into spirituality, death, and serial killers.

Our second single is titled 'Funeral Mind,' and is slated for release on May 24, 2024. We will continue to record new music and collaborate with Esben Willems again in August 2024.

When you hear our music for the first time, you'll understand that rage and hate is a dark art".

Single out May 24, 2024 (Digital) - Self-released - Stockholm, Sweden

Circle of Nerves is:

Gc - Vocals

Marko Broström - Guitar

Anton Melin - Drums

Erick Torres - Bass

Track:

Funeral Mind (5:27)

Mixed and Mastered by Esben Willems

Links:

Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify
TikTok

Pre-save "Funeral Mind": Distrokid

Live: - Debut at Klubb Fredagsmangel

Thanks to Good Boy PR for all of the info.

Hardcore/Punk/Sludge Metallers Silverburn (ex-Taint & Hark) announce UK tour with High on Fire

Photo Credits by Chris Treseder

SILVERBURN, the new solo project by James ‘Jimbob’ Isaac (Hark & Taint) released their debut album Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation via MSH Group Music in August last year.

Welsh metal visionary Jimbob Isaac, known from his previous bands Taint and Hark, recorded the album during lockdown in 2020. He handled all vocals, guitar, bass and drums himself. With this album, Jimbob has meticulously crafted a wholly uncompromising solo offering in the truest sense. It has been said that extreme conditions demand extreme responses, and Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation ('SITA') began as an elemental response to the almighty global gut-punch that surrounded it’s creation.

From the world-ending double-kick maelstrom of opening track “Annihilation” to the cinematic, discordant chug and release of “Etheric Crush” this album draws from Isaac’s beloved eras of 90’s metal and 00’s metallic hardcore, noisecore, space and sludge metal and bands like Botch, Mastodon, Knut, Converge, Keelhaul, Crowbar, Sepultura, Neurosis and Helmet.

Now following shows with Crowbar and a slot at ArcTanGent festival, SILVERBURN, will tour the UK in June this year with High on Fire. Jimbob comments,

"Silverburn are pumped for this tour. I've made artwork for High on Fire in the past, and have known Jeff (Matz) for many years. These will be some intense shows, so prepare for maximum pummel”.

SILVERBURN tour w/ High on Fire

June 14th – Islington Assembly Hall, London, England
June 15th – Rebellion - Manchester, England
June 16th – Slay - Glasgow, Scotland
June 17th – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, England
June 18th – Thekla, Bristol, England

Tickets are on sale now - https://linktr.ee/highonfireband

SILVERBURN are also set to perform at Desertfest London on 19th May.

The band recently announced that their debut album, originally only available on CD and digitally, will now be released on limited edition vinyl on 20th May.

Order the album now - https://silverburnmusic.bandcamp.com/album/self-induced-transcendental-annihilation

Silverburn online: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Thanks to For The Lost PR for all of the details.

Exclusive Premiere Of New Split Single Featuring DEAD + Defektro / Skullfork

Djaara Country, Castlemaine, Australian DIY heavy duo DEAD preview the first split singles from their ambitious “pop” record, Burn Us Clean throughout December, 2023.

Along with the 9 original A-Side tracks, DEAD have enlisted a plethora of their favourite bands to record B-sides for the project. The result is a compilation of raw and exciting sounds from across the extreme music world.

DEAD are releasing the first three singles and their B-sides throughout December in digital and physical form, featuring Norway’s MoE, Gay Witch Abortion from Minnesota and tracks from Japan’s Defektro and brutal locals Skullfork.

Each 7” is released in an edition of 150 with sleeves hand printed the band. A box set version featuring all nine singles in an edition of 50 has already sold out. Dead will release a second, more modest box set for those who missed out. All singles will be available in digital format.

When it comes to the Burn Us Clean project, the band explain that “like most things DEAD does it started with “Hey wouldn’t it be fun if…” And for us “fun” usually means biting off more than we can chew and pissing off someone in the process.”

We’ve never been a radio band but insist our songs are full of melody – not our fault people are too lazy to find it. So, after recording Raving Drooling (our version of a metal album) we decided to write a pop record; a whole album of singles that could, in theory, be played on the radio.

But how do you make a simple idea like that overly complicated? What if we released each single as a split 7”? And made a box set version as well? Sounds suitably stupid.

But hang on why is this only coming out now? Well…we started this record pre pandemic, with much hope in our hearts. We worked again with Toshi Kasai to track it and laughed till it hurt. And then everything went dark. We couldn’t do what we loved most, we lost people dear to us. And all of a sudden pop songs didn’t feel right. We released a noise record, a live album and the long form instrumental The Laughing Shadow.

And now Burn Us Clean; A series of nine singles that is also an album and also a showcase of some of our very favourite bands active right now. An embracing of the short attention span that permeates our music culture more and more every day. Yes we can write singles!”

Information about the first 3 B-Side Bands:

Vol I - MoE (Norway):

We’ve had the privilege of touring with MoE across continents. They are simply one of the most phenomenally heavy live bands you’ll ever see. A relentless work ethic, an insatiable desire for capsaicin and a refusal to land inside any genre.

Vol II - Gay Witch Abortion (USA):

We met these delightful fellas on our first US tour and they instantly became the most played band in the tour van. Their musicianship is awe inspiring and they write damn good tunes to boot. We just love what they do and how they go about doing it.

Vol III - Defektro and Skullfork (Japan/Aus):

Defektro makes noise music in a way that is absolutely unique to him. Builds his own instruments and pedals and plays with fire on stage; literally, not metaphorically.

Skullfork is unlike any other band we’ve ever come across. The world is better for having their music in it. Sam (Guitarist of Duckeye) somehow steers this unruly ship and we’re so grateful that he does.

DEAD BURN US CLEAN SPLIT 1 with MoE and SPLIT II with Gay Witch Abortion are both out now via BandCamp

You can now listen to the next exciting chapter from DEAD with Defektro / Skullfork performing their own intense blend of Hardcore/Punk/Metal Grooves with a FUCKED UP sense of aggressive and ferociousness that will leave you breathless.

You can buy all of the Split Singles now featuring MoE, Gay Witch Abortion and Defektro / Skullfork

Thanks to Hearts & Minds Agency & We Empty Rooms for all of the details.

Links

Bandcamp
Facebook
Website
Instagram

BETRAYERS - Weapons For Killing Cattle (EP Review)

Release Date: August 04th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Weapons For Killing Cattle: Tracklisting

Cut The Head Off The Snake

Knives In A Line

Bring Me In From The Sunlight

Darkside Of The Mountain

Angela Landsbury vs Nicholas Cage

Alters

Laura Gray

Members

Jon Williams-Meyer: Guitar

Jake Brewer: Bass

Greg Cummings: Drums

Lee Baggott: Vocals

Review:

Weapons For Killing Cattle is the debut EP from Doom/Sludge/Grind Metallers BETRAYERS and sees the band really focus upon the "GRIND" aspect to their music for an unsettling blend of music that is downright ugly and violent to hear. Luckily BETRAYERS bring a Doom/Sludge Metal aesthetic to their sound that I enjoyed the most. Though, I will admit the use of Grindcore is quite impressive on a technical level. As the band play some of the heaviest, filthiest and fastest grooves I've heard this year especially on the superb opening tracks Cut The Head Off The Snake and Knives In A Line.

As these two tracks are shorter and BETRAYERS focus mostly on playing short sharp shocks to the system where the riffs are concerned. The vocals are death based growls which I kind of understood after a few listens. There's some clever lyrics buried within the chaos that allows BETRAYERS to have a socially aware conscience in places.

From this moment on BETRAYERS play music that I was fully behind as the Doom/Sludge aspects come into play more and a thrilling Death Metal atmosphere works superbly well with the Grindcore themes of the EP. The vocals become a mixture of Clean vocals and pissed of Death Chants. The band even find the time to play slightly chaotic grooves that are considered more regular Doom/Sludge Metal fare which appears mostly on the tracks Bring Me In From The Sunlight and Darkside Of The Mountain. The sound of the EP from this moment on could be classed as more Progressive especially compared to the opening tracks of the EP.

I always feel challenged writing reviews for bands that take me out of my comfort zone and BETRAYERS did just that. I do admire Grindcore bands from a technical aspect but I haven't listened religiously to that style of music since my early to mid twenties. This was a refreshing change and I started to enjoy time more with BETRAYERS as they blend Doom/Sludge Metal sounds with the unpredictable nature of Grindcore that may perhaps limit some folks enjoyment of this EP for the more dedicated follower of EXTREME METAL.

Fifth track Anegla Landsbury vs Nicolas Cage is pure brilliance and absolute demented carnage at the same time. Opening with a line for the John Woo classic action movie FACE/OFF. The sound is bombastically grindcore with ugly vocals to match. Perhaps my favourite track on the EP.

The final two tracks of Alters and Laura Gray, returns to the Doomed Out world of the middle section of the EP with BETRAYERS playing their own take on the "LOW & SLOW" style on the early stages of Altars before returning to their natural Grindcore habitat. Laura Gray follows the same destructive path with BETRAYERS leaving no stone unturned with their sense of BRUTALITY leaving me a shivering wreck.

The production values are very LO-FI and DIY based but it's perhaps the best production techniques BETRAYERS could have used for this type of release. Weapons For Killing Cattle pulls no punches and it's a violent musical adventure from the UK underground scene.

Listen if you're feeling brave enough.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to BETRAYERS for the promo.

Weapons For Killing Cattle will be available to buy on Digital Download from August 04th 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Silverburn - Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation (Album Review)

Release Date: August 11th 2023. Record Label: MSH Music Group. Formats: CD/DD/Cassette

Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation: Tracklisting

1.Annihilation 02:22

2.Formless Atomization of Omniscient Particulate 03:52

3.Vita Potentia Animus

4.Pain Body (Torn From Auric Field)

5.Simulacreality

6.The Unrelenting Will of Boundless Immortality

7.Etheric Crush

8.Bathe In Fire

Members

Jimbob Isaac - Everything

Review:

Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation is the debut album from Sludge/Hardcore/Doom/Thrashers Silverburn otherwise known as the new project from Welsh Legend Jimbob Issac of TAINT and HARK fame. This album is quite a different beast compared to TAINT and HARK with Jimbob operating with a more Thrash/Hardcore aggressive sound. The album is very fast-paced with the onslaught of Thrash/Sludge Metal grooves. There's an epic sense of adventure from Silverburn despite the short thirty minute runtime of the album.

Jimbob does cover a lot of creative ground on this album with harsh vocals throughout and it's an almost different vocal style from Jimbob when he unleashes a more sinister presence to his vocal styles compared to his previous bands. The music is mostly Hardcore/Thrash based with Jimbob's trademark Sludge/Stoner/Doom quickfire grooves being there for everyone to hear. The music is more abrasive here and if TAINT were around to this day then I can see this being the type of band they would ultimately become. The songs are superbly constructed that allows Jimbob to play an wicked array of different gloomier riffs with bleak sounding Psychedelic textures.

The album contains a wealth of first rate lyrics and heavy Progressive sludgy jams especially on tracks such as Annihilation, Formless Atomization Of Omniscient Particulate and Vita Potentia Animus. Silverburn moves along at such a violent and breakneck speed you can easily be forgiven for wanting to take a rest with this album. However, Jimbob's ferocious and breathtaking performance throughout the album will keep you along for the ride. The music is more real when the grooves become heavier and progressive on tracks such as Vita Potentis Animus, Pain Body (Torn From Auric Field) and Sulacreality.

The later stages is where Jimbob lets fly with some epic CAVE-IN and MASTODON inspired Progressive Sludge Metal sounds whilst still offering his own refreshing style of music that remains highly original and absolutely essential in its own right. With a neverending arsenal of different grooves, Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation has allowed Jimbob to rediscover his musical creative zest that he showed with both TAINT and HARK for an album that makes him an essential part of the Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal scene that he's served brilliantly over the last 30 years. 

Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation is an absolute RAGER in every sense of the word. Silverburn could be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come especially with the band now performing live gigs in the near future. They have the songs to pulverise anything that stands in their way and release an album that could become one of the most essential albums you need to listen to this year. This is a must have album and I'm glad to have Jimbob Isaac back making great albums such as this.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation will be available to buy on CD/DD/Cassette via MSH Music Group from August 11th 2023.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Norwegian stonercore unit HÅNDGEMENG shares fierce new single "The Astronomer"; debut album "Ultraritual" out March 10th on Ripple Music!

Norwegian stonercore geniuses HÅNDGEMENG unleash a rip-roaring first single taken from their debut album "Ultraritual", to be released on March 10th through Ripple Music. Get at full force by the insane grooves of "The Astronomer" now!

"If you're looking for a particularly spacey brand of hardcore, then you need more Håndgemeng in your life." - Metal Injection

This is high-octane doom'n'roll straight from the Norwegian tundra. A little bit of classic rock inspired by the riff masters of the 70s brewed together with the band's hardcore roots and the fuzzed-laden wizardry of modern stoner doom... Out of the cauldron rises HÅNDGEMENG. Riff after riff, banger after banger, Håndgemeng will take you from the depths of hell to the farthest reaches of space in a blink of an eye. Fasten your seatbelts!

Embrace the stonercore fury of "The Astronomer"

HÅNDGEMENG was formed in Oslo in 2017 by brothers Martin and Filip Wennberg on vocals and bass, Charlie Ytterli on guitar and Ola Holseth on drums. They had played together in various hardcore and punk bands in the early days, but the puzzle pieces didn’t come together until Håndgemeng was formed and the riffs got slower, and the amps got louder. In 2019 they released their first EP “Motorcycle Death Cult” followed by the “Grim Riffer” EP. Playing shows constantly, they became a band to take notice of in the Oslo underground scene. After parting ways with bassist Filip, longtime friend Kim Grannes took over as groovemeister in the band.

Just when they started making their debut album, society collapsed, and the world went into a global lockdown. Coincidence? We think not… Still, from that darkness, the band wrote and recorded "Ultraritual", eight songs that will take you on a forceful, hard-hitting and definitely spacey heavy rock journey over millions of years, that should enthuse fans of Mantar, Kvelertak or Domkraft. 

"Ultraritual" will be issued in various colored vinyl formats, black vinyl, CD and digital on March 10th through Ripple Music. 

New album "Ultraritual"
Out March 10th on Ripple Music
US preorder - European preorder - Bandcamp

TRACKLIST:

1. The Astronomer
2. Cro-Magnon Vs Neanderthal
3. Visions In Fire
4. Temple Of Toke
5. Ultraritual
6. Tales From The Thundra
7. Occulation Of Mars

HÅNDGEMENG is:

Martin Wennberg aka Hellvis Presley - chants and rituals
Charlie Ytterli aka Abuse Springsteen - riffs and mischief
Kim Grannes aka Jeans Simmons - bass lines and coke lines
Ola Holseth aka Motörola - pots and pans

HÅNDGEMENG links

Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram⎪Spotify

RIPPLE MUSIC links

Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram