French Heavy Rock Trio GREYBORN sign with Mrs Red Sound for the release of their debut album ‘Insoluble’ this Fall

Photo credit: Florent Pinsault.

GREYBORN's cold, disillusioned heavy rock is being released as a full-length album for the very first time! Following two brilliant EPs, the band have signed to Mrs Red Sound and announced the release of their debut album ‘Insoluble’ on November 20th 2026. First video excerpt Cold Metal Bowels is available to watch now.

As a major milestone in GREYBORN’s history, the new album ‘Insoluble’ marks a lineup change: drummer-vocalist Théo Jude has swapped his drums for a guitar. The project takes on a whole new depth and seems to reveal far greater potential. GREYBORN’s new album ‘Insoluble’ skilfully straddles the boundary between different styles without ever wavering or veering into nonsense. The solid heavy foundation – at times doom, at times psychedelic, and even metal – is enhanced by clean vocals in a 90' style. ‘Insoluble’ has struck the right balance between simplicity and complexity, between impact and atmosphere. Themes of the ego, of abandoning oneself and others, of disappearance and fading away, feature prominently throughout the album.

'Insoluble' was recorded by Théo Jude and Guillaume Barrou, assisted by Thomas Marchand and Alexis Bardet, and mixed by Théo Jude. The mastering was handled by Thibault Chaumont of Deviant Lab.

Much like the album it represents, GREYBORN’s new track “Cold Metal Bowels” straddles genres, featuring clear, pop-rock, 90-inspired vocals, yet with instrumentation that sounds purely stoner, doom and metal. The disenchantment is obvious and reflected in the meticulous crafting of atmospheres and themes, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. The apparent coherence is never quite what it seems.

Guitarist and singer Théo Jude explains: “In Greyborn, we aim to find our balance between pop and ‘metal’, between simplicity and complexity, between efficiency and atmosphere, melody and rhythm. Instinctively, the theme that emerged for “Cold Metal Bowels” is the concept of emptiness. Like many people, I feel trapped in a society and a system that I don’t understand but of which I am inevitably a part. To try and portray this lack of faith, this disillusionment, this feeling of being trapped with no possible escape, Seb and I decided to depict lonely characters, lost in everyday settings that have been rendered empty and strange.”

The music video was directed by Seb Antoine. Stream the single and presave the album on the plateformes at this location.

GREYBORN new album 'Insoluble' - Out November 20th 2026 via Mrs Red Sound and F2M Planet.
Formats: LP, CD, digital.

Artwork: Saiden Burden.

TRACK LISTING

1. Lonely Promises
2. Insoluble
3. Daffodils & Aftermaths
4. Silk Parade
5. Cold Metal Bowels
6. Sulfur Seeding
7. Ghost Pelt

GREYBORN emerged in 2021 from that space between light and darkness, somewhere amidst the damp, mineral-like chill of Limoges. Led at the time by a drummer-vocalist, the band forged its own balance, shaping its raw materials: crushing heaviness, contemplative violence, epic melodies, and hypnotic atmospheres that were by turns sombre and radiant.

‘Leeches’, their debut EP released in 2022, saw them play around thirty gigs in France alongside Mondo Generator, Nebula, My Diligence, Pogo Car Crash Control… ‘Leeches’ was followed by a second EP in March 2024, ‘Scars’. From ‘Leeches’ to ‘Scars’, these releases weave a chronology and a causal link between the themes of the two EPs. Matthieu Giordano of The Heavy Chronicles listened to ‘Scars’ and wrote that “the trio’s music intensifies with this second EP, which boasts a massive, raw sound. Full of heaviness and rage, more disjointed and yet just as refined, it’s the gifted and carefree little brother to ‘Leeches’. Grittier and far more confident in its spontaneity and stoner roots, this second effort pushes all the knobs into the red.”

In 2025, drummer-vocalist Théo Jude became guitarist-vocalist and, after a few gigs that cemented the new line-up, GREYBORN recorded their debut album. Retaining the influences of their previous EPs, ‘Insoluble’ also reveals a darker, more melancholic and aggressive face. It comes out on November 20th 2026, on Mrs Red Sound (vinyl, digital) and F2M Planet (CD).

STUDIO LINE-UP

Théo Jude: guitar, drums, vocals
Guillaume Barrou: bass, backing vocals

LIVE LINE-UP

Théo Jude: guitar vocals
Guillaume Barrou: bass, backing vocals
Thomas Marchand: drums, alternately, depending on the dates
Florian Olives-Demerson: drums, alternately, depending on the dates

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Shake Promotion for the details.

Mississippi Bones - Maladroit Blues For The Colorblind (Album Review)

Release Date: September 08th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Maladroit Blues for the Colorblind - Tracklist

1.Elvis Stressly: The King Of Rock And Woe

2.If Failure Is A Learning Experience, I Should Be A Genius 03:50

3.The Owls Asked Me, “Who?”

4.Hornswaggled By Consumer Culture, Again

5.Void, Holy Night

6.A Penny For My Thoughts, And Other Common Investment Blunders

7.Thoughts On The Finer Points Of Lesser Things

8.The Feral Philosophers

9.Is That A Wunderkammer In Your Foyer, Or Are You Just Haughty To See Me?

10.Expect Disappointment And I’ll Never Let You Down

11.This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Members

Jared Collins

Dusty Donley

Review

Blues/Doom/Stoner Rockers Mississippi Bones return with their eighth album Maladroit Blues For The Colorbllind and it sees the band return to their creative roots whilst forging an exciting chapter for themselves at the same time. The record has a stripped back attitude with Mississippi Bones going back to basics with how the music has been produced, recorded and ultimately delivered here on the final product. 

The end result is a high voltage and hard rocking affair where the guys play a great style of Delta Blues, Grunge, Southern Rock, Psych, Doom and Stoner Rock passion which has a deceptive Americana quality way of life appearing within the lyrics. This is Mississippi Bones at their most daring and brutally honest than we’ve ever heard them. However, they’re also brilliantly funny with some laugh out lyrics appearing to lighten the mood. Look at the song titles which has always been one of the great things the band have shown over the extent of their impressive career.

The songs have a great organic sound and energy to them with a murky Grunge vibe being quite deceiving where the music suddenly changes from full on Heavy Rock to Semi Acoustic instrumental passages. Sometimes this feels like Mississippi Bones have been listening to the records they grew up with and this is perhaps why you can hear influences such as Johnny Cash, Alice In Chains Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, KISS, Clutch, Cactus and Led Zepp but I could be overthinking things there. 

You’ll be surprised at how freaky, fuzzy, psychedelic and distorted that Maladroit Blues For The Colorblind can actually be as Mississippi Bones play different styles of Heavy Rock/Metal and Delta Blues for different songs contained on the album. Though, each played with the same level of great talent throughout. Sure, it can be way over the top but that doesn’t stop Mississippi Bones allowing the listener to have such a damn good time where they play some Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal sounds that will have you headbanging in time at all.

I wanted to do a song-by-song review for this album but there’s a lot to cover with this record and I would have been here for days on end. If you want a record that goes through multiple and different genres of the Heavy Rock spectrum whilst keeping that core “Blues Rock” sound that can be even full on Doom Rock then transforming into a sullen Country Rock number then Maladroit Blues For The Colorblind is the album for you.

The lyrics are constantly engaging which shows the band’s emotional thoughts and playful humour with that masterful storytelling element that’s only become one of the best things to fully emerge from Mississippi Bones over the last few albums of late. 

Here are my favourite tracks from the album: Elvis Stressly: The King Of Rock And Woe, ‘If Failure Is A Learning Experience, I Should Be A Genius’, ‘Hornswaggled By Consumer Culture, Again’, ‘Void, Holy Night’, The Feral Philosophers and Expect Disappointment And I’ll Never Let You Down.

Yeah, the song titles can be a mouthful at times but each one tells you the type of track what to expect but it’s the epic creativity that’s hidden behind the song titles that make the journey so highly unexpected. The musical playing is first rate with Mississippi Bones playing instrumental passages with a real “whirlwind” / “tornado” quality. It’s quite hard to explain but you’ll fully understand when you listen to the whole album.

Maladroit Blues For The Colorblind is a superbly entertaining record that you can listen to all day long and still find something new you missed the first time round.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Maldaroit Blues For The Colorblind is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

US Heavy Rock Trio VALLEY OF THE SUN shares new track off "The Blacklight Sessions" album, out October 2nd on Heavy Psych Sounds

Ohio-based heavy rockers VALLEY OF THE SUN present a second track taken from their forthcoming new studio album "The Blacklight Session", to be issued this October 2nd on Heavy Psych Sounds Records.

Stream new single "Low Not Slow" below

Valley of the Sun’s sixth studio album The Blacklight Sessions, is a deep dive into the sonic roots of the band who continues to defy genre norms. With tracks ranging from blues jam to psychedelic desert trip to driving stoner riffage, the band continues to demonstrate that their music knows no bounds, nor should it. Their previous single The Whiskey Elf encapsulates this perfectly, channeling the spirit of Ten Years After and Grand Funk Railroad while retaining the modern heavy groove that has become the band's signature.

Following the 2024 release of the acclaimed self-released Quintessence, their new album The Blacklight Sessions sees the band consisting of Ryan Ferrier (guitar, vocals), Chris Sweeney (bass) and Johnny Kathman (drums) embarking on a new chapter. This release marks their first for Heavy Psych Sounds and arrives as the band is fully locked into their powerful power-trio format and ready to spread the gospel of their high-octane riff-rock across Europe this fall.

The Blacklight Sessions Tour 2026

02/10 Tabernas Desert Rock Fest
13/10 Morlenbach, DE Weiher
14/10 Osnabrück, DE Bastard Club
15/10 Jena, DE Kuba Jena
16/10 Dresden, DE Heavy Psych Sounds
17/10 Berlin, DE Heavy Psych Sounds
18/10 Warszawa, PL Chmury Club
19/10 Kraków, PL Klub Gwarek
21/10 Wien, AT Verein Forum Wien
22/10 Bratislava, SK Pink Whale
23/10 Pássau, DE Zauberberg
24/10 München, DE Backstage Klub
25/10 Freiburg im Breisgau, DE Artik
27/10 Annecy, FR La Coloc
29/10 Paris, FR Backstage by the Mill
30/10 Wasquehal, FR The Black Lab
31/10 Bruxelles, BE Temple Studios
01/11 Eindhoven, NL The Jack
02/11 Breda, NL Mezz
03/11 Düsseldorf, DE Pitcher
04/11 Münster, DE Rare Guitar
05/11 Köln, DE Club Volta
06/11 Hanau, DE KultK1
07/11 Aachen, DE Musik Bunker
08/11 Kiel, DE Schaubude
10/11 Hamburg, DE Knust
11/11 Copenhagen, DK Stengade
12/11 Aalborg, DK 1000Fryd
13/11 Oslo, NO Vaterland Bar & Scene
14/11 Stockholm, SE Fuzztival

VALLEY OF THE SUN "The Blacklight Sessions" - Out October 2nd on Heavy Psych Sounds

TRACKLIST:

1. The Whiskey Elf
2. Low Not Slow
3. The Long Song
4. A Greater Meaning
5. Mountain
6. No Hope

Formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2010, Valley of the Sun has become one of the most respected names in modern heavy rock, combining thunderous, groove-driven riffs with soaring vocals and emotionally charged songwriting. Drawing inspiration from classic hard rock, desert rock, and grunge, the band has built an international following through relentless touring across North America and Europe, critically acclaimed releases, and a reputation for delivering powerful, high-energy live performances. Their catalog includes The Sayings of the Seers, Electric Talons of the Thunderhawk, Volume Rock, Old Gods, The Chariot, and the acclaimed 2024 release Quintessence, showcasing a band that continues to evolve while remaining true to its signature sound.

Today, Valley of the Sun is a three-piece consisting of Ryan Ferrier (guitar, lead vocals), the band’s founder and sole remaining original member (2010–present); Chris Sweeney (bass), who joined in 2018; and Johnny Kathman (drums), who joined during the band’s transition back to a power trio for the Quintessence era in 2023. Together, the trio continues to push the band’s sound forward with crushing riffs, dynamic musicianship, and an ever-changing tonality that continues to challenge the norms of the genre, while maintaining the unmistakeable sound of the band.

VALLEY OF THE SUN is

Ryan Ferrier - Guitar / Vocals
Chris Sweeney - Bass
Johnny Kathman - Drums

VALLEY OF THE SUN links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Heavy Psych Sounds Links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Italian Heavy Rockers SBARCO Unveil New Single and Video “The Divorce”

Italian heavy rockers SBARCO continue the journey toward their highly anticipated second studio album with the release of their powerful new single and official video, “The Divorce.”
​
Watch the official video below: 

Following the release of “Get to Know Me,” the new track further showcases the band's renewed artistic direction, blending heavy rock intensity with emotionally charged songwriting and the expressive power of their dual vocal approach.
​
“The Divorce” is an intense introspective journey through loss, vulnerability, and rebirth. The song portrays a protagonist facing a profound existential crisis, where every certainty begins to collapse and identity itself seems to dissolve. Images of lost skin and a shattered shield reflect the fragility of confronting pain without defenses, while the narrative gradually evolves into one of transformation and hope.
​
Speaking about the song, the band comments:

​“The Divorce is about finding the strength to rebuild after everything seems lost. From the deepest darkness comes the possibility of change, and faith becomes the force that allows us to trust ourselves, the people we love, and the future. It is ultimately a song about healing, resilience, and embracing a new beginning.”​
​
Currently working on their sophomore album with producer Simone “L'Architetto” Colombo, SBARCO continue to refine a sound that combines crushing heavy rock with deeply personal and introspective storytelling, setting the stage for what promises to be their most mature and compelling work to date.

For more info:

​https://www.facebook.com/sbarcomusic​
​https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.​

Introduce Yourselves: Nominal Anomaly

What Is the Name of Your Band?

The band is Nominal Anomaly, a single individual passion project

What Is the genre of music you play?

The genre is difficult to pinpoint. Best I could offer is Grunge Metal, as their is some of that old 90's song structure with blues / rock influence. Some songs blend more into Punk Metal. I'm a conglomeration of the 90's mostly.

Can you give a brief history of the band of how it came together and where it is today?

A buddy and myself had a band of 2 back in the late 90's early 2000s called Ark of Kaos. Never made much more than a demo tape, and ended there as people do. I quit drinking about 3 years ago, got bored with the typical drinking hobbies, and picked the guitar back up after a near 20 year hiatus. Started recording about a year later, and releasing music soon thereafter. Early 2026, released the first full album Swamp after several EP's and singles. Currently working on next year's album. Mostly just studio stuff, but a long term dream would be to play live with a band.

What can people expect from your music?

I try to write the songs with catchy rhythms, grooves, or melodies. It's fun in a metal type of way. The lyrical content is a bit here and there, building an odd background of weird lore, but mostly metaphoric to point at reality and be critical or bring emphasis to something. Swamp itself was built during a time of transition personally, so leans deeper into mental health

What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?

The album Swamp. BTW, Oblique, Therapy are a couple tracks from Swamp as a personal favorite

Where can people find you on Social Media?

www.nominalanomaly.com
https://www.facebook.com/NominalAnomaly
Nominalanomaly.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/thenominalanomaly/
https://mastodon.social/@NominalAnomaly

Nominal Anomaly - Swamp (Album Review)

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

Swamp - Tracklist

1.Headcold 03:08

2.BULLfrog 03:19

3.BTW 03:42

4.Crowded 03:05

5.Carnated 03:01

6.Night Sweats 04:07

7.Oblique Mass of Foundation 03:10

8.Sleepwalker 03:54

9.Soulless Shoe Sale 03:45

10.Suits 03:56

11.Therapy 03:48

12.Andone 03:16

Lineup

All music, vocals, visuals, art are done by Nominal Anomaly (NO AI)

Review

Swamp is the debut album from Punk/Grunge/Metal solo artist Nominal Anomaly who play a schizophrenic type of Heavy Rock with a distorted and frenzied underground element holding everything together. The record is most definitely a product of living through the Nineties Rock/Metal scene. The best way to describe what’s in store for you on this record is to read the recent “Introduce Yourselves” feature the band kindly contributed to.

This is quite a hard record to describe but from the Introduce Yourselves article the band state the following how to describe their music.

“The genre is difficult to pinpoint. Best I could offer is Grunge Metal, as their is some of that old 90's song structure with blues / rock influence.  Some songs blend more into Punk Metal.  I'm a conglomeration of the 90's mostly.”

The overall sound is one of pure mayhem and fucked off carnage with Nominal Anomaly inspired by the likes of PRIMUS and FAITH NO MORE as the record does go into multiple different directions. However, there’s some excellent Post-Grunge and Alt-Rock sounds along the way which reminds me of The Melvins jamming with The Pixies. The vocals are quite hardcore based with outbursts of manic punk energy which could easily be considered as the perfect soundtrack trying to escape from a mental asylum.

However, this brilliantly works with Nominal Anomaly even allowing brutal outbursts ofExtreme Metal and Grind Metal grooves to appear. One moment you’re treated to a vicious blast of Hardcore Punk spliced with Sludge, Thrash and Grind passages before the record transforms into a subtle Heavy Psychedelic and spiky Grunge Rock attitude.

Swamp does feel a bit too long at times but the sheer fun and outrageous creative momentum that’s played here on this record does have a warped sense of humour developing from the very start. The lyrics are completely off the wall and brilliantly surreal which matches the madcap energy the Nineties Metal scene used to throw at an unsuspecting audience back in the day.

The Funk Rock and Prog Metal aspects that appear on the record does become a bit overbearing in places but that won’t stop your enjoyment of this weird, wonderful and violently wacky journey that Nominal Anomaly takes you upon. You could consider an experimental record and there are moments even I don’t know what the fuck is happening but I couldn’t stop listening to this especially on tracks: Headcold, BULLfrog, Carnated, Night Sweats, Oblique Mass Of Foundation, Suits and Therapy.

These tracks are the ones I found the most enjoyment from as Nominal Anomaly does play their heart out on this release and they’re a fantastically talented individual where the music is just so bat-shit crazy and brilliantly original at the same time.

Swamp won’t appeal to everyone but if you’re a fan of the Nineties Rock/Metal scene and not adverse for this album to take you into some pretty unexpected areas of HEAVY METAL then NOMINAL ANOMALY will speak volumes to you.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

www.nominalanomaly.com
https://www.facebook.com/NominalAnomaly
Nominalanomaly.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/thenominalanomaly/
https://mastodon.social/@NominalAnomaly

LA Heavy Rock Outfit GALE FORCES Returns With New Single and Video “Diviner” on August 5

Los Angeles-based heavy rock outfit GALE FORCES returns Wednesday, August 5 with its powerful new single, “Diviner,” accompanied by an official music video directed by Arturo Baston.

Dark, searching, and intensely physical, “Diviner” pays homage to the energy of self-reckoning and reflection while acknowledging that profound personal change often requires wisdom and guidance from outside ourselves. Its lyrics express an opening of the heart and a return to one’s true, childlike self, while the music wails and groans as GALE FORCES continues to explore the heavier reaches of its sound.

“This song was inspired by my partner asking me to open my heart and become more vulnerable in our relationship, which was a scary but liberating experience that has allowed for a fuller expression of feelings and fears,” explains frontman Jade Devitt. “One can observe from personal experience the need for this on a wider human scale. The world needs more heart right now.”

“Diviner” is the band’s first release to feature new drummer Dylan Howard, who replaces former drummer Isaac Carpenter (Guns N’ Roses). Howard makes an immediate impact, bringing a forceful and dynamic presence to a track driven by pummeling percussion, distorted guitars, and an atmosphere that shifts between confrontation and catharsis.

The accompanying video, directed by Arturo Baston, blends otherworldly animation and symbolism with the band’s live performance, captured by Los Angeles videographer Manny Valenzuela. The visual stars Sara Veilleux as the dancer-diviner at the center of the song’s journey toward openness and transformation.

Fronted by singer and songwriter Jade Devitt, GALE FORCES has developed a sound rooted in the raw power of ’90s alternative rock while drawing from post-punk, shoegaze, hardcore, and heavy psychedelic music. “Diviner” pushes those influences into an even more visceral space, balancing punishing weight with a hopeful belief in renewal.

What others have said:

“Gale Forces continues to mine the spirit of ’90s Seattle underground while seeking out a modern edge which never lets go of heavy elements.” — Wildfire Music + News

“Gale Forces will connect with those who favor heavy alternative rock that lives on the edges of hardcore punk. Bursting with pummeling percussion, stinging riffs, distortion-soaked breakdowns and thick bass, the songs give Devitt’s vocals a cry-into-the-void quality, with his lyrics aspiring to a certain grandiosity as they range from doomy to hopeful.” — Buzzbands.LA

“Delivers post-punky angular rhythms, lush shoegaze textures, muscular stoner rock riffs, anthemic choruses, and the type of guttural power seen in punk cryptids like Iggy Pop.” — RockNLoad

“Diviner” arrives Wednesday, August 5 on all digital platforms.

Pre-Save “Diviner”: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/galeforces1/diviner

GALE FORCES Online

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galeforces/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063781082359

Gale Forces is:

Jade Devitt- vocals, rhythm guitar
Gabe Van Benschoten - lead guitar
Peter Forslund- bass
Dylan Howard - drums

Trails Of The Mare - Chapter III (Album Review)

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

Chapter III - Tracklist

1.War Cries on Horseback 04:22

2.Sundowner 04:09

3.Creature 06:00

4.Sonney Daze 04:21

5.Arise 04:13

6.Cryptid Canyon 04:41

7.Blood in the Water 04:50

8.Minerva 07:17

9.Nephilim 03:45

Members

Jane: Lead Vocals

Michael: Guitar

Arson: Bass

Donovan: Drums

Review

Chapter III is the debut album from Grunge/Psych/Stoner Rockers Trails Of The Mare who bring a gritty Mountain Rock and Blues Rock sound to this record. The record has been recorded and engineered by the legendary Scott Reeder which gives Trails Of The Mare real credibility for the underground scene to fully check them out. The album itself is a great mix of different styles with the band focusing upon the main areas of Grunge, Psych and Stoner Rock sounds..

There’s a fuzzy sound made up by a fast-paced Mountain Rock sound that does split off into areas of Classic Hard Rock and Doom along the way. The soaring vocals from Jane are delivered superbly well with a Grunge influence being the main thing I can hear from Jane’s excellent vocal range that appears throughout the album. Imagine if Stevie Nicks or Beth Gibbons were fronting a Heavy Psych and Stoner Rock band then this is the closest you'll ever experience. Though, Jane's soulful Blues Rock tones do provide a few chilling and emotionally charged moments along the way.

The songs themselves are inspired by the likes of KYUSS, Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains being the most dominant but you’ll experience a wide range of different musical sounds on the album, with Trails Of The Mare adding a cool swirling mix of Heavy Psych and Fuzz Rock.

Chapter III does have a songbook structure for how Trails Of The Mare deliver their emotionally charged lyrics set against a backdrop of grounded Nineties melodies. The record can be cautiously slow at times but for the most part Trails Of The Mare embrace a vivid and fast-paced energy that moves their music into more emotionally charged areas of Heavy Rock you least expect.

The “Mountain Rock” sound is laid on pretty thick which gives Chapter III a grounded and superbly organic feel with the production values never being too overproduced or overly dramatic. Some of the songs can be too long at times but it’s a good job that Trails Of The Mare have a ton of epic cinematic sounds, grooves and instrumental jams to impress listeners with.

Standout tracks on the album include: War Cries On Horseback, Creature, Sonney Daze, Cryptid Canyon and Minerva. These tracks are the ones that grabbed my interest the most with soothing vocals, soaring riffs and psychedelic poetry emerging from almost every corner. The vocals from Jane always continue to impress with the different vocal methods that are applied on the record. Credit must also goto Michael (Guitar), Arson (Bass) and Donavan (Drums) for bringing some massive Stoner Rock musical energy on this record where they never over do things such as bringing Prog Rock/Metal sensibilities onto the album.

Chapter III may not be the most modern sounding of records but when the band are playing music influenced by one of the most important eras of the Grunge and Stoner Rock scene whilst also creating their own great style of music to impress listeners with then PLEASE ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTE. As TRAILS OF THE MARE are the real deal. They have the songs and talent to make a real impression within the Heavy Psych, Grunge and Stoner Rock underground scenes.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

Okay You Win - End Of Days (Album Review)

Release Date: June 26th 2026. Record Label: Blues Funeral Recordings.Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

End Of Days - Tracklisting

1.Smoke 

2.Beat Me Down 

3.The Greatest Lie

4.This Damned Place

5.End of Days

6.Red Flag

7.Ten Year Trip

8.Own It

Members

Rodrigo Barradas – Bass

David Kirk – Vocals

Ryan O'Hare – Guitar

Antonio Peci – Drums 

Review

Grunge/Psych/Stobner Rockers Okay You Win feel primed for great things with the release of their highly anticipated debut album End Of Days. This is a record powered by the glory days of the Nineties musical scene where Grunge, Psych, and Stoner Metal reigned supreme the musical world for a brief moment of time. However, Okay You WIn still manage to capture a sense of modern aggressiveness in their music with the music having a gritty determined attitude running throughout.

Okay You Win have a similar musical energy to fellow UK Stoner Metallers Sergeant Thunderhoof but with this record having that classic SEATTLE and GRUNGE sound to set them both apart from each other. Lead vocalist Dave Kirk does have a similar vocal delivery to The Hoof’s very own Dan Flitcroft but once again having slight differences at the same time. 

Anyway, back to the album itself, the band are fuelled by a determined Grunge aesthetic which allows the band to move further into the Heavy Psychedelic arena with flashes of gritty Doom Rock and Stoner based melodies. There’s also a thrilling aspect of gloomy soundscapes and progressive surroundings which are developed very early on the record on tracks such as Smoke, Beat Me Down and The Greatest Lie which make up the core exciting elements of the first half of the record. Okay You Win writes lyrics that are quite deceiving in places which also allows them to play heavier aggressive melodies with that destructive aura of FUZZ which results in some epic electrifying grooves coming from the speakers.

The musical hooks are always massive and can be quite dramatic but when the music is this good you accept nothing less with Okay You Win slowly carving up their own great sound and creative identity within the landscape of the UK Stoner Metal scene alone and we're not even in the second half of the album yet. Though, Okay You Win continue to deliver and create sublime strands of Stoner Rock/Metal that feel like a mighty throwback to the likes of KYUSS, SOUNDGARDEN and FU MANCHU whilst allowing themselves loads of ground for real creative growth on tracks such as End Of Days, Red Flag and Own It. 

End Of Days sometimes feels like an album that was recorded decades ago but one that’s being discovered for the very time today but still having a refreshing and highly original modern day sound. This is made possible by the outstanding production values that End Of Days contains. The album is superbly heavy with Okay You Win delivering a record that’s absolutely stacked with multiple and potential classic songs from start to finish.

Okay You Win feel like they already have the potential to become major players within the UK Stoner Metal scene with this album alone. They’re already starting to make a name for themselves and it’s not hard to see why with them delivering a record of real outstanding quality. They have the power of Blues Funeral Recordings helping out for their debut album and that is really saying something. 

This is an outstanding debut album that every serious follower within the Stoner Metal community should have in their record collection right now. It’s really that simple!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

End Of Days is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

BONG VOYAGE - Hedonistic Hard Rock (Album Review)

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

Hedonistic Hard Rock - Tracklisting

1. Saturday Rite Special

2. Large and In Charge

3. UFOria

4. One Hundred Million Billion Beers

5. Escape Prison Planet Earth

6. Outer Space Freebase

7. Enabler

8. Wizard of Ozlo

9. In Possession

Members

Charlie Ytterli = Vocals

Simen Andersen = Guitar

Kim Grannes = Guitar

Tobias Paulsen = Drums

Asbjørn Halsten = Bass

Review

Hedonistic Hard Rock is the debut album from BONG VOYAGE, a supergroup of sorts made up of members from the likes of Håndgemeng, Suncraft, and Buskas. The end result is a devilishly twisted collection of tracks fused by the legendary sounds of the Seventies Hard Rock and Heavy Metal scene. The band add a certain WEEDIAN and STONER METAL energy into the part for a record that’s inspired by the likes of KISS, BLACK SABBATH, THIN LIZZY, QUEEN, KVELERTAK, THE OBSESSED and even ELTON JOHN.

Yeah, I know that sounds like a crazy concoction but here we are with BONG VOYAGE raiding their parents vinyl collection and giving it a thrilling SATANIC ROCK makeover where the key elements are to ENTERTAIN and PARTY ON throughout the whole album. The album still manages to find the time to touch upon areas of Melodic Hard Rock, NWOBHM, Punk Rock and Psych Rock where you can’t help but fall in love with.

Take the superb opening track Saturday Rite Special which sees BONG VOYAGE channel KISS, KVELERTAK and ELTON JOHN for a song that has a real SATANIC attitude but with a loving embrace to the Seventies Hard Rock lifestyle whilst keeping with the Doomed Out and Stoner Rock melodies that the band lovingly build their music upon. The spiky lyrics and turbo charged vocals just add a real party going atmosphere which makes this one of the albums main strengths that carries through tracks such as Large And In Charge, UFOria and One Hundred Million Billion Beers. 

I would advise to look at lyrics rather closely where BONG VOYAGE live upto the “HEDONISTIC” element of the album’s name with some mature lyrics being written and sung against the party-going classic rock melodies. The sound is always warm-hearted and quite engaging but look further beyond this aspect and you’re treated to a more demonic and sadistic energy which sees the record become more HEAVY METAL obsessive.

There is still tons of GROWN UP fun to be had with the edgy lyrics that the band have written here. The never-ending waves and levels of Psych Rock attitude move BONG VOYAGE closer to the modern mainstream with some epic instrumental soundscapes developing against the classic hard rock delivery that should keep THIN LIZZY fans happy for a long time to come.

Another standout part of the album is how BONG VOYAGE have captured the tone and energy of the Seventies and Eighties Heavy Metal scene where “EXCESS” was a big thing of the actual scene. The band apply this twisted energy into their music with spectacular results which is downright hilarious throughout on other tracks such as One Hundred Million Billion Beers, Escape Prison Planet Earth, Outer Space Free Base and Wizard Of Ozlo being my favourite tracks on the album. There’s a lot of clever wordplay spliced throughout the album which makes this record quite deep and meaningful when you least expect it. 

The subtle shift to Post-Stoner based structures is perhaps the creative glue that holds everything together within the later stages of the record that perhaps comes more from Håndgemeng the most for me. Though, as a whole, BONG VOYAGE are a great band in their own right where you can see why the great Ripple Music signed them to their always amazing roster. 

Hedonistic Hard Rock is one of the most highly unapologetic and brilliantly entertaining debut albums I’ve heard in such a long time that I instantly fell in love with the album on the very first listen. The album is packed full of great songs, great melodies, brilliant musical solos and a whole lot of heart even if BONG VOYAGE are doing the work of SATAN himself.

This is a rip-roaring success on every level which will leave you with a huge smile on your face from beginning to end. Yeah, I love this album a lot. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Hedonistic Hard Rock is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

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