Titanosaur - A Thousand Suns (Album Review)

Release Date: September 04th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

A Thousand Suns - Tracklist

1.My Destroyer
2.This Hell
3.Holding On To The Light
4.I Remain
5.The Coming
6.A Thousand Suns
7.Colossus
8.Fire In the Hole
9.Static
10.Fires Blazing
11. Hell Bound

Members

All lyrics and music by Geoff Saavedra, except "Fire In The Hole" lyrics by Kerri Rasmussen

All vocals and instruments played by Geoff Saavedra, except "Fire In The Hole" vocals by Kerri Rasmussen.

Review

A Thousand Suns is the seventh full length album from Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal collective Titanosaur which is the creative project from Geoff Saavedra. Geoff has experienced a few tough years recently as he underwent a heart transplant back in 2024. Now, Geoff is on the road to recovery where he’s released his heaviest and most emotionally involved record yet. The end result is a glorious and unapologetic mix of Doom, Sludge, Stoner, Psych, Grunge and Punk with a destructive quality which fully taps into the some cosmic gloomy themes along the way.

Geoff’s vocals and lyrical insight are sharp as ever with a fast-paced narrative forming from the very start as this record has a classic Heavy Metal identity which is mostly used through the production side of things. You can hear influences such as High On Fire, Motorhead, Monster Magnet, Pantera and Metallica. The sludgy grooves come right at you at an astonishing pace which gives Titanosaur a violent riff-fuelled energy which is delivered with such ferocity where you may need a few breaks along the way.

The songs follow a similar structure to each other but you know what you’re getting as Titanosaur feels like they’re exorcising a few personal demons they’ve experienced over the last few years but also with Geoff celebrating and highlighting that he's still around to tell the tale. Despite the rough and ready exterior of the Sludge/Stoner Metal melodies, the album does have some emotionally charged lyrics hidden deep within its muscular delivery on tracks such as: My Destroyer, This Hell, Holding On To The Light and A Thousand Suns being the standout tracks on the first half of the album.

Titanosaur moves between the multiple eras of Classic Hard Rock and modern day Heavy Metal with real precision where the different DOOM & GLOOM atmospherics opens the album into different layers of real heaviness. The record works best when Titanosaur aims for a simpler musical style which forces a heavier Sludge/Stoner Metal to appear which becomes one of the albums main strengths especially on the second half of the album.

A Thousand Suns also has some deft experimental movements which Geoff has spliced throughout the album which allows for a more spaced out environment to develop for some real groove laden “HEAD BANGING” moments.

Other great tracks to check out are: Colossus, Fire In The Hole, Static and Fires Blazing.

Titanosaur once again truly delivers the goods with another superb record that proves why they're one of the most essential “solo” acts we currently have in the underground scene right now.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Bleeding Antlers - Songs Of Praise (Album Review)

Release Date: August 22nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Songs Of Praise - Tracklist

1.The Devil of Mariazell

2.Meet me in the woods at midnight

3.Blue Jeans

4.When the Sun Bursts

5.The ghost of Oliver Reed

6.Fimbulwinter

7.Crooked Lines

Members

Simon Bismarck (Vocals)

Good Luke (Guitar)

Prince Ben (Bass)

Ghost Pete (Drums, BV)

Ren Ashlea (BV, Blue. Jeans)

Review

Songs Of Praise is the second album from Psychedelic Doom Metallers Bleeding Antlers and it’s not what I expected at all with the band adding levels of Stoner Metal, Groove Metal, Sleaze Rock and some unorthodox Alternative melodies into their music. Bleeding Antlers feel inspired mostly by the likes of Candlemass, Pallbearer and Type O Negative but that only tells a brief part of the story they develop throughout the album.

There’s some highly dramatic, over the top and superbly epic that comes across with each individual track that allows Bleeding Antlers to forge a classic Traditional Doom Metal sound before applying modern day soundscapes into the mix. The record is deliciously dark with the lyrics and excellent vocals delivered by Simon Bismarck with great backing vocals appearing from Ghost Pete and Ren Ashlea.

The Post-Gothic dynamics becomes one of the album's main strengths especially within the standout tracks of Meet Me In The Woods At Midnight and Blues Jeans which have an obsessive Folk Rock trajectory dominating almost everything being played. You can hear the Type O Negative influence taking hold as the DOOM & GLOOM sound becomes quite emotional with some sinister lyrics emerging from the darkness. The album is quite leftfield with the gloomy atmospherics and frenzied grooves that can be quite distorted which was another cool surprise when listening to the album.

Bleeding Antlers experiment with their sound once more with traces of Alt Metal, Industrial Rock, Gothic Rock and Post-Punk appearing which just adds a whole layer of SLEAZE on tracks such as: When The Sun Bursts, The Ghost Of Oliver Reed and Crooked Lines. There is also a great style of subversive humour that’s been added to this record despite the serious tone of the record. It's good to see Bleeding Antlers having fun and letting the listener in on the joke especially with the album title.

For folks not in the know. Songs Of Praise is a long running British TV Show which is best described below from Wikipedia:

“A religious programme that presents Christian hymns, worship songs and inspirational performances in churches of varying denominations from around the UK alongside interviews and stories reflecting how Christian faith is lived out.”

However, Bleeding Antlers are quite serious with their music and they deliver some intense and highly majestic Doom Metal melodies that bridges the gap between Classic, Traditional and Modern Day themes with first rate delivery. This allows Songs Of Praise to be a thrilling record that offers a high momentum of great grooves and spellbinding sounds from start to finish. 

Bleeding Antlers are the real deal and this record only proves this point time and time again.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Bleeding Antlers and Metal Devastation Radio PR for the promo.

Songs Of Praise is available to buy now on Digital Download.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Doom/Heavy Metallers EARLY MOODS Announce Third Album READY FOR THE GRAVE. Produced By Toshi Kasai (Melvins, TOOL). Pre-Order Available Now

Elements of the past, present, and future coalesce within the spell cast by Early Moods.
​
The Los Angeles band channel the sludge-born spirits of seminal doom metal and beckon them to attack even faster with a jolt of NWOBHM guitar-craft and a twist of thrash attitude. The quintet—Alberto Alcaraz [vocals, keys], Oscar Hernandez [guitar], Eddie Andrade [guitar], Elix Felciano [bass], and Chris Flores [drums]—transfix with otherworldly transmissions of cosmic and catchy heaviness.
​
After years of meticulously shaping a signature style, they clearly and confidently perfect their vision on 2026’s Ready For The Grave.
​

“Our sound is more honed,” notes Elix. “We’ve found our identity. I think it takes a couple of albums for most bands. This record isn’t too far removed from what we’ve done in the past, but the songwriting has certainly matured. You can hear the chemistry. You can feel the mood changes in specific songs and all of the dynamics. It’s really alive.”
​
During 2026, they recorded Ready For The Grave at Cyan Sound Studio with producer Toshi Kasai [Melvins, Tool]. He invariably inspired them to level up.
​

Pre-order - Early Moods - Ready For The Grave from RidingEasy Records

Listen To Early Moods - Ready For The Grave

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Flamebearer - Igniter (Album Review)

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Igniter - Tracklist

1.Electric Haze 04:56

2.Falling Down 04:10

3.Something Going On 03:50

4.Don't Think (Your Life Away) 05:10

5.Bow Down To Me 04:43

6.Sense Of Freedom 03:27

7.Burning Soul 03:27

8.Whispering Winds 05:21

 

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Flamebearer return with their second album Igniter which continues the past paced sounds first heard on their 2024 debut album Brazen. That record allowed Flamebearer to spread their gospel of Stoner Metal that was full of Hard Rock, Punk, Doom and even Glam Metal. With a sound closer to the likes of Orange Goblin, CLUTCH, KISS, Black Sabbath and KYUSS that even had some FUZZ ROCK appearing to hold everything together.

Igniter sees the band sticking more closely to Orange Goblin and KISS For this record whilst developing their own action packed sound. The sound has a heavier Punk Rock vibe which develops very early on throughout tracks such as Electric Haze, Falling Down and Something Going On where Flamebearer adds a vibrant NOLA and Sludge Rock aspect to their music. The Punk Rock swagger comes mostly through the superb vocals and pissed off lyrics that’s laid down throughout the whole album.

Flamebearer music works best when they throw caution to the wind and embrace that legendary Eighties Heavy Metal spirit that ultimately rules the roost for this album to genuinely thrive which the majority of the album generates the real excitement. However, that doesn’t stop Flamebearer venturing into the Doomed Out water of Stoner Metal with a dangerous melodic attitude forming within other tracks held on the album.

The album does contain looser production values compared to their debut album Brazen but this has a more aggressive sound that gives Igniter a real Heavy Metal attitude with that rebellious Punk Rock spirit appearing on the standout tracks on the album such as Something Going On, Don’t Think (Your Life Away), Sense Of Freedom and Whispering Winds.

These tracks allow Flamebearer to be gloriously OVER THE TOP with how they deliver their music with outlandish vocals to match. There’s a devilish sense of fun being delivered through the mighty walls of AMPLIFIED AGGRESSION that should give your hearing a proper HEAVY METAL workout.

Igniter is a superbly entertaining record. It’s not the most original record you’ll ever hear but Flamebearer have delivered an album that’s packed full of great songs that should get the old-school metalheads headbanging and fists pumping in the air in no time at all.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

https://www.facebook.com/flamebearerband
https://www.instagram.com/flamebearerband/?hl=en
https://flamebearer.bandcamp.com/

Stay Dead - Beneath The Weight Of Worlds (Album Review)

Release Date: July 24th 2026. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Beneath The Weight Of Worlds - Tracklist

1. Empty Pages

2. White Noise (feat. Troy Sanders)

3. Electric Mistress (feat. Matt Pike)

4. Chrysalis (feat. Eryka Fir and Aiwass)

5. What Happened To Rock N' Roll

6. Fever Dog (Original cover)

Lineup

Ryan Garney – Vocals

Rusty Miller – Lead guitar

Blake Carrera – Guitars & synths

Christopher Borrelli – Bass

Kenny Shillingburg – Drums

Review

Stay Dead is the latest supergroup to emerge from the Heavy Underground scene who are made up of members from High Desert Queen, Hollow Light and Fear The Victor, However, that only tells half the story with guest appearances from legends such as Matt Pike and Troy Sanders. You also have appearances from Eryka Fir (Coma Hole) and AIWASS along for the ride. Stay Dead’s debut album Beneath The Weight Of Worlds is quite a complex, brooding, philosophical and emotionally charged statement of the human condition.

The record blends levels of Doom, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Prog Metal and Psychedelic elements with some detours into areas of Post-Rock, Thrash, Space Rock and Groove. This is a very multi-layered record from the very start with influences ranging from Mastodon, High On Fire, ELDER and NEUROSIS with also the band’s members ever present musical projects. Lead vocalist Ryan Garney seems to be everywhere these days and that’s a good thing where he can shine a light to his incredible vocals once more. 

Ryan leaves the musical heavy lifting to his colleagues and famous friends where they all brilliantly succeed in laying down pummelling grooves that will give your body a tough physical challenge whilst rewarding your mental wellbeing when everything is said and done. The whole record relies on hard-hitting lyrics and intense vocals which come alive through tracks such as Empty Pages, White Noises, Electric Mistress and Chrysalis. 

Beneath The Weight Of Worlds does have a grimy and sludgy exterior where the Post-Doom and Post-Stoner thematics work amazingly well with the intense gloomy melodic moments. The most hard-hitting track has to be the excellent second track White Noise which really does touch upon some tough themes which gives Stay Dead a more vindictive appearance than you initially realise until you hear the actual song which leaves you on a more hopeful message.

The flashes of Post-Whatever and Psychedelic melodies is a great way for Stay Dead to introduce a natural way of creative storytelling with the guest appearances of their friends to find common ground to play great music with. The majority of the album is emotionally wrought with complex grooves allowing Stay Dead to align themselves more closely to the likes of Pallbearer and YOB but with a distinctive Hard Rock quality keeping everything grounded.

However, I will say my favourite aspect or track of the album is Stay Dead’s insane and gloriously entertaining cover of the classic track Fever Dog. Fever Dog is from the classic movie Almost Famous. A classic movie directed by Cameron Crowe which was inspired by his early days in the Seventies working for Rolling Stone Magazine and being shown the seedier side of the Heavy Rock scene from the legendary bands of the day. If you haven’t seen the movie then I implore you to watch it now. Watch both versions, the theatrical cut and the even better director’s cut.

Within that movie, there’s a fictional band called Stillwater whose “famous” track “Fever Dog” is played throughout the movie. That song was written by Nancy Wilson of the band Heart and film director Cameron Crowe. This track is pure Seventies HARD ROCK excess but Stay Dead give this a slamming modern day Sludge Rock/Stoner Rock makeover which stays true to the original. (Apologies for the slight historical lesson there. Almost Famous is one of my all-time favourite movies).

Beneath The Weight Of Worlds is how a “supergroup” should deliver their debut album with its fearless attitude and non-stop supply of impactful grooves from start to finish. The legendary record label Ripple Music is releasing this album so you know this is going to sound great. As Ripple Music never put out a bad record within their entire lifetime. 

As we say sometimes in the United Kingdom, Beneath The Weight Of Worlds is the “MUTTS NUTS” or “DOGS BOLLOCKS”  which means outstanding, top-quality, or one of the absolute best things out there. Well, you get the picture!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Beneath The Weight Of Worlds is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music. 

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

US Doom Metal Giants THE OBSESSED sign to Heavy Psych Sounds!

American doom metal icons THE OBSESSED have inked a worldwide deal with Heavy Psych Sounds Records for the release of their new studio album in 2027.

The Obsessed is a rock band. A fucking HARD rock band. Since their formation in 1978, they have become known around the world for their influential contribution to the origins and continued legacy of the doom metal and underground hard rock genres. The distinctive vocals and guitar wizardry of founder and driving force Scott “Wino” Weinrich has left a mark on the world of heavy music that continues to inspire.

The Obsessed gained momentum in the Baltimore/DC area of the USA in the early to mid 1980’s during the height of the hardcore punk movement. Often cited as the band that bridged heavy metal and punk together, the band gained the respect of punk heavyweight contemporaries Black Flag, The Bad Brains, and Minor Threat, to name a few. The attitude and spirit of The Obsessed have led many to regard them as “America’s Motorhead”.

Wino went on to join the doom metal giants Saint Vitus as lead singer on seminal albums including 1986’s Born Too Late. In 1990, The Obsessed came back with their eponymous debut album, The Obsessed. This album was quickly followed by 1991’s Lunar Womb and 1994’s The Church Within. All three of these albums shaped and paved the way for future heavy rock bands and the doom scene as it’s known today. Wino’s gift for prose and his never-ending search for truth and meaning allow his words to hit as heavy as the riffs he plays.

Although The Obsessed went on a hiatus after The Church Within’s release on Columbia Records, Wino’s sheer passion and prolific nature led him to pursue many other critically acclaimed projects such as Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand, Shrinebuilder and various acoustic releases. Long-time fan Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) specifically asked Wino to perform on his all-star Probot album, released in 2004. In 2012, Wino rejoined Saint Vitus until the worldwide cry for The Obsessed could no longer be denied, and in 2016, he reunited the band once and for all and has been kicking ass and taking names ever since. Drummer Brian “Dawg” Costantino joined the band at this time. The band signed to Relapse Records and recorded 2017’s Sacred, an album showing The Obsessed back with pure vengeance, bringing the band back to venues and festival stages around the world.

In 2022, the band became a four-piece with the addition of Chris Angleberger on bass and Jason Taylor on guitar. They have been touring heavily since and have been seen on USA and European festival stages such as Hellfest, Freak Valley Festival, Snowblind Festival and Desertfest. The band’s latest record, Gilded Sorrow, was released in early 2024 on Ripple Music and lauded as a "must-listen for fans of the genre and a compelling entry point for newer voyagers into the world of doom" by Metal Hammer and "the best the band has ever sounded" by Ghost Cult Magazine.

The Obsessed welcomed heavy rock titan Bob Pantella (also Monster Magnet) to the lineup as their new drummer in 2025, marking a new chapter in their legacy. Now, in 2026, the band has signed to Heavy Psych Sounds and is working on their new album, which release date is yet to be announced. The Obsessed are here to stay. "IF IT AIN’T HEAVY… IT AIN’T SHIT!!!"

Frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich declares: "We are very happy to announce The Obsessed signing with the premier hard rock label Heavy Psych Sounds! The Obsessed is currently finishing the next full-length record, which will be released with HPS. Stay tuned, and thanks to all who believe."

THE OBSESSED is

Scott "Wino" Weinrich — Guitar, Vocals
Jason Taylor — Guitar
Chris Angleberger — Bass
Bob Pantella — Drums

THE OBSESSED Links:

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Temple King - Temple King (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Released. Formats: DD

Temple King - Tracklist

1.Necromancer 05:54

2.When Darkness Comes 04:28

3.The Sleeper Awakens 05:10

4.Goeita 08:54

5.Morgwar 03:20

6.War Messiah 05:56

7.Temple King 04:23

8.Barsoom 14:56

Members

LWV: Vocals, Guitar, and Synth

Samhain: Vocals, Guitar, and Bass

Ozzy (Oscar Clitheroe): Drums and Backing Vocals

Review

Temple King are a fairly new band who only formed back in January 2026 and they’ve already decided to release their debut album. Temple King plays a sludgy mix of Doom, Psych, Stoner, Heavy Metal and a vicious Desert Rock sound. The album has a lo-fi and stripped back flow appearing within the production and recording process the record ultimately contains. There’s a frenzied and distorted attitude that appears very early on within the record with opening tracks Necromancer and When Darkness Comes. 

The songs are perhaps more Doom/Sludge Metal with small outbursts of Stoner Rock/Metal attitude appearing but Temple King becomes more part of the WEEDIAN culture when everything is finished. It’s not the best sounding record but this allows Temple King to rely on pure BRUTE FORCE to get their music across with influences such as CONAN, ELECTRIC WIZARD and HIGH ON FIRE being used to great effect.

The LOW & SLOW and DISTORTED musical surroundings can be quite long drawn out with a slow-paced delivery that only adds to the menacing attitude of Temple King especially with the gruff, grizzled and muscular vocals that are provided by LWV, Samhain and Ozzy along the way. The music is a different story with Temple King drawing a wide range of different musical styles that will satisfy the most jaded of underground metal fans. Things can be quite grimy, seedy and with the amplified heaviness being too much to listen to at times which proves how Temple King knows how to write, form, play and deliver a violent FUZZY groove when you least expect it.

It’s also great to hear Temple King playing classic Heavy Metal and Doomed Out themes which adds a gloomy sense of scorched earth heaviness on tracks such as: The Sleeper Awakens, Goeita, War Messiah and the epic standout track of Barsoom. These tracks allow Temple King to forge new sounds powered by a great style of Prog Metal with a MASTODON element fully taking charge. You can still expect to hear some classic Heavy Metal and Stoner Metal sounds which results in some epic instrumental solos being played from everyone involved.

The rough and ready approach from Temple King gives this a highly undeniable charm which could come from the underground Rock/Metal scene. Temple King even adds some cool sounding Post-Doom and Synth heavy soundscapes amongst the frenzied atmospherics that fully sells their own great story from start to finish. 

This is a deliriously warped and fuzzed up musical adventure with Temple King never being afraid of being absolutely outrageous on certain sections of the record whilst also conjuring up superb riffs that you can’t help but violently head-bang to in absolute full agreement.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Darren Ironside - The Nothing (Album Review)

Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

The Nothin - Tracklist

1.Next Stop Hell 00:46

2.The Nothing 03:34

3.Witches Of Essex 02:11

4.Forgotten Dream 03:21

5.Nebula Rising 01:47

6.Overwatch and Control 03:58

7.To The Gallows 04:05

8.Through The Darkness 03:05

9.Planets Collide 03:42

Members

Darren Ironside - Everything

Review

The Nothing is the latest album from Darren Ironside who used to be formally known as MIDNIGHT WHISKEY MASSACRE. It seems that Darren has retired from that project and decided to become a fully fledged solo artist with this highly confident offering. If you’ve heard that great band before then you know what to expect with The Nothing. However, this is way more political than I originally anticipated which you can hear from the very first song Next Stop Hell. 

This record has a deeply subversive political message that’s played out against a backdrop of Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, Doom Metal, Proto-Metal and Stoner Metal sounds. The whole thing is quite gritty with true DIY production values being employed all the way though. Darren Ironside is quite good at writing socially aware lyrics set against a backdrop of HEAVY METAL sounds influenced by the likes of Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and FU MANCHU.

Darren fully taps into that playful and rebellious delivery with this record sounding as if The Sex Pistols or The Clash fully went down the HEAVY METAL route. There’s nothing progressive or flashy about how Darren delivers his music on the record and that’s no bad thing. This album has a “ZERO FUCKS GIVEN” attitude which makes it more enjoyable with grooves that are laced with political attitude and a big UP YOURS message to the establishment. The great use of soundclips from classic TV shows and movies only hammers the message home but it’s the great musical work that Darren employs here that’s the real standout.  As Darren is an excellent musician playing everything on The Nothing. 

Standout tracks include: The Nothing, Witches Of Essex, Forgotten Dream, Overwatch and Control and Planets Collide where Darren shows a quintessential BRITISH attitude but don’t let that put you off. It’s an essential message that can be used in any part of the world in today’s troubling climate. If you’re here for the music that’s fine as well with Darren playing a massive amount of great sounds to fully lose yourself in.

Some of the songs messages don’t fully reach their target but the music is always superb and the great use of dramatic storytelling when Darren uses his abrasive Punk Rock vocals set against gloomy soundbytes. The Nothing is a solid creative work which will perhaps gain a cult following within the underground scene and there’s really a lot to admire here. Though, some of the dark political themes may put some folks off and that’s a shame as there’s some excellent music bursting from the seams.

Check this out when you can as you’ll be in shock and awe in what awaits you!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Slow Goat - Where The Wisest Fear To Tread (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Where The Wisest Fear To Tread - Tracklist

1. Downward (0:57)

2. Fallen Child (4:23)

3. Visions / Fell Ritual (10:52)

4. Love Like Water (4:21)

5. Dark Procession (7:42)

6. Wilting (6:40)

7. Sisyphus (4:43)

8. Under the Glass (6:38)

Members

Rosie Peterson - Vocals

Danel Black - Guitar

Adam Carter - Bass

Eric Bloombaum - Drums

Review

Slow Goat’s debut album Where The Wisest Fear To Tread takes a more revisionist take on the Heavy Psych based Doom/Stoner Metal journey compared to other bands. As they adapt their music to be influenced by different eras of Proto-Metal, Psych, Grunge, Desert Rock and Hard Rock for a more atmospheric sound which is boosted by some sublime Spaced Out landscapes.

The record is mostly dominated by the Nineties Heavy Rock Scene with Slow Goat suddenly shifting into different musical timelines whenever the need calls for this which you can fully experience within the opening tracks of Downward, Fallen Child and Visions / Fell Ritual. The lists of influences are perhaps endless with Slow Goat lovingly borrowing or appreciating musical themes we’ve heard before but moulded in their great way and that’s down to the excellent use of scorched Desert Rock soundscapes.

Slow Goat are quite brooding even within the most reflective and quietest parts of the record with the amazing third track Visions / Fell Ritual that feels like Acid King, King Buffalo, Yawning Man, KYUSS and Windhand playing together in one massive jamming session. The production values are mostly stripped back and that’s down to the excellent work by Eddie Brnabic (Hippie Death Cult) on engineering and mixing duties. You also have the legendary GRUNGE MAESTRO Jack Endino on mastering duties which gives the record quite a vivid seedy appetite especially within the haunting Doomed Out pastures that transform into atmospheric Post-Rock / Desert Rock segments to fry your brain with.

Lead vocalist Rosie Peterson has an immense Blues Rock / Doom / Occult Rock presence throughout this album with some cool sounding Classic Hard Rock and Proto-Metal deliveries which never outstay their welcome. The rest of the band provide fulfilling, catchy and aggressive sonic measures that allow Slow Goat to become quite dirty when the FUZZ ROCK energy appears on tracks such as Visions / Fell Ritual. Love Like Water, Dark Procession, Wilting and Sisyphus.

The lyrics sometimes have a deep fantastical element to them but Slow Goat manage to keep everything grounded and running smoothly with the distorted and grimy Doom, Desert Rock, Psych and Stoner Rock providing plenty of massive sounding amplified jams to fully lose yourself in.

Slow Goat provide the most heaviest and interesting grooves on the record when they focus on providing longer drawn out sounds that even manage to provide an air of mystery into the overall creative theme of the whole journey that the album provides. 

Where The Wisest Fear To Tread is a superbly executed debut album delivered by a hugely talented band that knows how to write a collection of great songs whilst injecting their own creative identity into the mix which will leave you emotionally satisfied and begging for more.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Where The Wisest Fear To Tread is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl

Links 

Facebook |  LinkTree | Instagram | YouTube | BandCamp

Doom/Heavy/Stoner Metallers OCCULT MASTER New Single HEAVY METAL MADNESS Out Now From Forthcoming New Album

Promo picture by Emil Risto

The Finnish Heavy Doom band Occult Master are set to release their self-titled debut album on August 14th 2026 via Inverse Records. The third single and music video 'Heavy Metal Madness' out now on all essential streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/occult-master-heavy-metal-madness

The band comments:

"Fast, dark and heavy, this song is a relentless, raw homage to the origins of technical heavy and trash metal. The track delves into the dark recesses of the mind, the delusions of madness, and the excruciating pain of life’s finiteness. Catchy riffs and technical interludes alternate with a maddening logic. This track will get your head bobbing and your fists pumping! Even the most stoned listener will wake up from their slumber and start singing along to the easily adopted chorus ! The icing on the cake, and a real treat for guitarists, is the modern and complex hero solo. "

BIOGRAPHY:

"Occult Master was founded in 2012 in Oulu, Finland, first starting as a heavy rock/doom band. After a line‑up change in 2020, the musical style turned faster, more rhythmic and more complex. Occult Master’s music is heavy, versatile and full of nuances, ranging from full‑throttle metal blasting to quiet, subtle and beautifully eerie musical landscapes. The band’s roots lie strongly in the classic heavy metal of the 1970s and 1980s. The songs are delivered in a hardy, straightforward and no‑nonsense style. In the dark‑toned music, the lyrics deal with different matters of life and the world in general, and at times even horror stories told with a devilish grin.

LISTEN to the first single 'Island of Leper': https://push.fm/fl/occult-master-island
LISTEN to the second single 'Gnarly Geezer': https://push.fm/fl/occult-master-gnarly-geezer

Occult Master - Occult Master (Album 2026) - Track list:

1. Just Another Nail in the Failier's Coffin
2. Island of Leper
3. Heavy Metal Madness
4. Lucifer's Henchman
5. Ground of the Damned
6. Who Is Our Enemy
7. Sorry Soul
8. Soothing Swamp
9. Gnarly Geezer

Recorded by Jussi Risto
Mixed & mastered by Kimmo Lukkari
Cover art by Jarno Vesa

CD PRE-ORDERS from HERE.

Occult Master are:

Ari Eskola – guitars and vocals
Toni Mäki – bass and backing vocals
Jussi Risto – drums

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/occultmasterband
https://occultmaster.bandcamp.com

Thanks to Inverse Records for the details.

Witchsorrow - The Devil And All His Works (Album Review)

Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Devil And All His Works - Tracklist

1.Omnia Finiuntur

2.Bacchus 06:30

3.Hades Chains 06:27

4.Altar

5.In Triumph We Rot!!!

6.Lamentation

7.A Quintessence Of Dust

Members

Nick Ruskell - guitar/vocals

Emily Ruskell - bass

Scott Taylor - drums

David Wilbraham - drums (on album)

Review

Doom Metal legends Witchsorrow with their fifth album The Devil And All His Works which marks their first album in over eight years. Witchsorrow still preaches the work of the Dark Overlords Of Doom Metal with shades of Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus and Electric Wizard appearing but with Witchsorrow crafting their own thrilling down-tuned blend of soulful misery. The record has a dark occult and satanic vibe which isn’t surprising since the whole theme  is taken from an occult book by legendary author Dennis Wheatley.

Witchsorrow never forget the powerful SABBATHIAN amplified sounds that is a classic mark of the entire DOOM METAL scene but it’s how the band include other areas of music to weave into their dark nightmarish sound such as Thrash, Heavy Metal, Psych and massive amounts of bone crushing FUZZ. The songs all have a powerful level of distorted melodies which embraces the dark creative themes that lead vocalist Nick Ruskell aka NECROSKULL gleefully and happily sings about. 

There is an abstract level of progressive pitch-black distortion being delivered within the epic opening track Omnia Finiuntur with the undeniable bass line of Emily Ruskell once again terrorizing the atmosphere with violently played sounds that provide a dark contrast to Nick’s gloomy guitars and David Wilbraham’s epic drumming. This is David’s final involvement with Witchsorrow and this album is an epic swansong to end his time with the band. 

The rest of the album follows the dark, gloomy and distorted path of the opening track but Witchsorrow allows themselves to play around with straight-forward riff-centric deliveries. The band still keeps themselves closely aligned to the land of Occult Doom Metal with surprising musical developments happening that breathes new life into the Witchsorrow legend especially on tracks Bacchus, Hades Chains, Altar and A Quintessence Of Dust.

The record sees some very cool guest stars appear on tracks Hades Chains featuring Serena Cherry of Svalbard/Noctule) and A Quintessence Of Dust featuring Employed To Serve’s Sammy Urwin. It’s on these tracks alone that features the heaviest, brutal and violent sounds to appear on the record. This shows how Witchsorrow are quite open to move their music into heavier genres they’re not widely associated with but still incorporating their own classic style of Doom Metal. 

The Devil And All His Works is a masterclass of Doom Metal where Witchsorrow adapts all the different levels that legendary genre fully contains. However, they embrace all styles of HEAVY METAL for this album alone which gives The Devil And All His Works a highly unpredictable sound that’s dominated by a band who are at the peak of their creative powers. 

This is DOOM METAL of the highest order and one record you can simply describe as purely unmissable!!!

Thanks to Church Road Records for the promo.

The Devil And All His Works is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Church Road Records.

Words by Steve Howe

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