Psych Post-Metallers Psychonaut share expansive new track 'Stargazer' from upcoming new album World Maker

Belgian psychedelic post-metal collective Psychonaut return with 'Stargazer', a sprawling, emotionally charged new single and video, taken from their forthcoming album World Maker, out 24th October via Pelagic Records. Known for weaving together towering riffs, polyrhythmic precision and deep philosophical themes, the trio now turn inward, navigating the shifting terrain of fatherhood, grief and hope.

Watch the video for 'Stargazer' here: 

Pre-order World Maker and stream 'Stargazer' here: https://orcd.co/psychonaut-worldmaker

Propelled by a hypnotic momentum, 'Stargazer', named after frontman Stefan De Graef’s son, born in the rare and poetic “stargazer” position, marks a bold evolution in Psychonaut’s ever-shifting sound. Marrying delicate, folk-tinged guitar passages with towering, thunderous breakdowns, the track captures the band at their most exploratory and emotionally resonant. Beneath its weight and dynamic scope lies a quiet introspection, asking urgent questions about what lies ahead. As the second track revealed from World Maker, 'Stargazer' offers a glimpse into an album shaped by new life, profound loss and the raw search for meaning in between.

The traditional, three-piece line up of Belgian, psychedelic post-metal collective Psychonaut has long belied the compositional prowess, captivating narrative depth and crushing live presence of a band now operating at the forefront of forward-thinking, contemporary heavy music.

A record born of insurmountable joy and simultaneous profound loss; World Maker marks a time of great change for Psychonaut, both personally and musically, as the band burn away the philosophical narrative complexities of previous offerings with a searing, panoramic clarity that implores us to savour the beauty of the now as a means of leaving a legacy for the future.

The seed of World Maker took shape just as the campaign for previous record Violate Consensus Reality came to a close, with the news that guitarist/vocalist Stefan De Graef was to become a father. This tilting of life’s axis led De Graef, like most fathers-to-be, to re-assess what was really important. As such, the music he was inspired to write felt free of the band’s previous philosophical and spiritual foundations and instead took the form of life lessons for his unborn son, a legacy of love in case something were ever to happen.

This hopeful euphoria shines keenly throughout World Maker as an uncharacteristically optimistic warmth; from the reverberating Rhodes organ on the titular opening track and the meandering, free-jazz inspired guitar solo that introduces ‘Everything Else is Just The Weather’ to elements of world music, electronica and the otherworldly voice of Dutch multi-instrumentalist and old friend Anthe Huybrechts (Anthe/Helion Creek) most notably on tracks like ‘Origins’ which also features tabla, a pair of indian hand drums, as its propulsive heartbeat.

Whilst Psychonaut’s giant riffs, punishing polyrhythms and guttural vocal rage are more resplendent than ever, there is a wider dynamic spectrum to World Maker that sees the band proudly exploring their more delicate, intimate extremes as well as their most aggressive and abrasive. Not long after the birth of De Graef’s son came the devastating news that both his own father and Psychonaut bassist/vocalist Thomas Michiels’ father had been diagnosed with advanced cancers. Living day-to-day and torn between joy and grief, the band found themselves shedding the grand scope and world-shattering agenda of Violate Consensus Reality to focus on the here and now.

Amidst such turbulent times, the band found strength and support within their post-metal community. The album was recorded and produced by the band alongside their long-time collaborator and close friend Chiaran Verheyden (Hippotraktor) with help and advice from Psychonaut’s live engineer Victor, who will no doubt make this album sound just as awesome on stage. Even the artwork for World Maker was a family affair, being designed by close friend Sam Coussens of Belgian cosmic sludge metallers Pothamus.

In the face of life’s soaring highs and desolate lows, World Maker is direct and brave without sacrificing any of Psychonaut’s raw power, creative innovation or inimitable musical depth. Where their previous full-length offerings have charted grand introspective courses through time and space, World Maker is breathtaking in its uncompromising clarity: a father singing to his newborn son as a son bids his own father farewell.

Having sent a shockwave through the post-metal and prog scenes with their three times repressed Pelagic Records debut Unfold The God Man in 2020 before following it up with the transformative metaphysical complexities of 2022’s Violate Consensus Reality, Psychonaut have played prestigious Belgian open-air festivals like Alcatraz, Rock Herk and Boomtown Festival as well as boutique events such as Soulcrusher, Roadburn Redux and A Colossal Weekend whilst sharing stages across Europe with the likes of Amenra, Brutus and Pelagic labelmates The Ocean and PG.Lost.

Psychonaut are:

Stefan de Graef - Guitars/Vocals
Thomas Michiels - Bass/Vocals
Harm Peters – Drums

For more information:

INSTAGRAM • FACEBOOK • SPOTIFY • BANDCAMP • PELAGIC ARTIST PAGE

Thanks to Hold Tight PR for the details.

Icelandic Prog Rockers THE VINTAGE CARAVAN announce studio album & stream single

Icelandic retro prog rock trio THE VINTAGE CARAVAN have announced their return with their sixth studio album, entitled Portals, set for release on 26th September 2025 via Napalm Records. The charismatic band have also released a music video for first album single 'Riot', a track dripping in their trademark sound, rich in bluesy psychedelia infused with modern intensity and irresistible riffs.

Watch the music video for 'Riot' here: 

Pre-order Portals here: https://lnk.to/TheVintageCaravan-Portals/napalmrecords

"We proudly present our sixth studio album, Portals. It’s our most diverse, dynamic, experimental album and in our opinion, our best effort yet," the band state. "Portals was recorded at Arda Recorders in Porto, Portugal in October 2024 with Axel ‘Flexi’ Árnason, with whom we worked on Voyage (2012), Arrival (2015) and the Monuments Tour (2023). This is the first time we recorded on tape and we are so happy with the results. We feel that this time we really managed to capture our live energy.

"The title of the album is a nod to the city of Porto and connecting the songs are a series of interludes which we call “Portals” that set the mood and bring you to the next track. We can’t wait for you to experience the journey that is Portals!"

On the single, singer and guitarist Óskar Logi Águstsson comments: "’Riot’ came to me in a dream. It’s the only time that has happened to me. I woke up around 7am humming the first two riffs and I really liked it and I thought to myself, “I’ll go back to sleep for a bit and then I’ll work on this”. Then I woke up again and I forgot the main riff, which was a bummer and I tried remembering the pattern all day until I gave up and went to bed, right as I was drifting off to sleep it came back to me! Thankfully!

"The track is an energetic and heavy one. The lyrics were inspired by the 2024 riots in England. We were touring the country at the time, it was a very surreal thought to be possibly caught up in a riot and I knew I wouldn’t do very well in that sort of situation, so that’s what inspired me to write the lyrics.

"We hope you enjoy 'Riot' and remember, don’t start a riot, just listen to this tune instead."

Catch the band on the following dates:

25/10/2025 UK Margate - Margate Rock Festival, Margate
26/10/2025 UK London - Camden Assembly
27/10/2025 UK Brighton - Dust
28/10/2025 UK Southampton - The 1865
29/10/2025 UK Bristol - Exchange
30/10/2025 UK Birmingham - Mama Roux
31/10/2025 UK Newcastle - Think Tank
01/11/2025 UK Glasgow - Classic Grand

THE VINTAGE CARAVAN - Riot

Portals is another testament to THE VINTAGE CARAVAN’s endlessly creative, modern take on the psychedelic retro rock sound, cementing the band’s leading position in the scene. The band’s previous studio album, Monuments, hit #21 on the German charts, marking a milestone in their evolution, and the new offering – which also features a stunning guest performance by Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt on the soulful album opener 'Philosopher' – continues to solidify THE VINTAGE CARAVAN’s reputation as torchbearers of contemporary classic rock. 

Aside from their critically acclaimed releases, the band’s electrifying live performances have mesmerized audiences at major festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Hellfest, as well as on international tours both as headliners and as support for the likes of progressive metal giants Opeth. THE VINTAGE CARAVAN will be celebrating the release of Portals with extensive headline tours in mainland Europe and the UK, announced for autumn 2025.

Tracklist

1. Philosopher (ft. Mikael Åkerfeldt)
2. Portal I
3. Days Go By
4. Portal II
5. Here You Come Again
6. Current
7. Give and Take
8. Portal III
9. Crossroads
10. Alone
11. Portal IV
12. Freedom
13. Riot
14. Electrified
15. Portal V
16. My Aurora
17. This Road

THE VINTAGE CARAVAN are:

Stefán Ari Stefánsson - Drums, backing vocals, percussion
Óskar Logi Águstsson - Electric guitars, vocals, acoustic guitars, flute
Alexander Örn Númason - Bass guitars, backing vocals, synthesizers, Farfisa

THE VINTAGE CARAVAN online:

WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
X
YOUTUBE
SPOTIFY
NAPALM RECORDS

Thanks to Hold Tight PR and All Noir PR for all of the details.

Doomgaze quartet Sugar Horse reveal new single 'Office Job Simulator' From Upcoming New Album The Grand Scheme Of Things

UK quartet Sugar Horse tackle power imbalance with brooding single 'Office Job Simulator', taken from their new album Grand Scheme Of Things, to be released 4th October via Pelagic Records. The band have also announced a co-headline UK / EU tour with UK post rock mavericks Pijn and Hippotraktor in October and November.

Watch the video to 'Office Job Simulator' here: https://youtu.be/9vA86Qli06w

Stream the single and pre-order the record here: https://li.sten.to/officejobsimulator

Vocalist / guitarist Ashley Tubb commented on the single: "Now people that know me definitely wouldn’t describe me as a supporter of the British monarchy….however…a few months after the death of my father, The Queen died. First of all I wasn’t bothered by this…then after about two straight days of non-stop press coverage it started really getting to me. Why does this random woman deserve weeks of non-stop press coverage and faux-outpourings of 3rd hand grief, when regular everyday people (like my dad) are more or less ignored. Life carries on as if nothing has happened. It’s kind of disgusting to me in a way. The imbalance of power. Think of this as our comrades call to arms."

'Office Job Simulator' is the third single taken from the upcoming new album, following the release of 'The Shape Of ASMR To Come' and 'New Dead Elvis'.

Catch Sugar Horse, Pijn and Hippotraktor on the following dates:

24/10 Ghent - Wintercircus
25/10 Paris - Glazart
26/10 Maastricht - Samhain Festival (no Hippotraktor)
27/10 Neunkirchen - Stummsche Reihalle
28/10 Jena - Rosenkeller
29/10 Berlin - Neue Zukunft
31/10 London - Downstairs At The Dome
01/11 Damnation Festival (no Pijn)
02/11 Damnation Festival (Pijn only)
02/11 Cardiff - The Moon (no Pijn)

On new album Grand Scheme Of Things, Sugar Horse comment: "This album was intended to be a sideways step. A move away from the kind of thing that is expected of us… if anything is at all. What I mean by that, is the songs are more direct. They take a much shorter amount of time to “get to the point”. We also wanted to make this one noticeably “less Metal”. While we love being a bit boneheaded and confrontational, we definitely wanted to explore the more melodic, song-based side of the band’s sound. Normally you’d see shortened song structures and more singing and think “Oh these guys are going for gold….they wanna get on the radio and make millions of bloodstained pounds.” Well…you’re very much entitled to think that if you wish, but it felt like more of a songwriting challenge than anything else to be honest. We’ve done the whole drawn out, endless Space Rock thing a good few times now and it would’ve been easy to rest on those laurels. Do something we’re comfortable with. Alas, that is not really the point of this band. We’d much prefer to make it difficult and take the long route."

Grand Scheme Of Things follows Sugar Horse's titanic split 7'' with new labelmates LLNN, and previous EP Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico. An epic and ambitious achievement, Truth... is, in signature Sugar Horse style, one single long song: a meditation and exploration of everything the note A has to offer.

Sugar Horse have recently toured with LLNN, and previously with post-rock luminaries 65daysofstatic across Europe, as well as dates with Pianos Become The Teeth, Liturgy, Chat Pile and an appearance at ArcTanGent festival.

A lot of people take the name Sugar Horse to be a drug reference - perhaps fitting for a band that sound like the last moments of a three-day binge. Darting wildly between dark/light, pain/bliss, sacred/profane, Sugar Horse are unpredictable and unrestrained.

Formed in what is now considered to be the utopian dreamscape of 2015, the band grew slowly at first. Far from fully formed, but steadily gaining limbs, heads and vital organs. Finally, 2019’s DRUJ followed swiftly by 2020’s DRUGS saw them hit on a relentless stride of eclectic releases that simultaneously confused and entranced audiences.

2021 saw the band encamp in a former Lutheran church to record their debut album, The Live Long After, releasing it via Brighton’s own Small Pond Records. Publications such as The Quietus describing the record as “shift[ing] dispositions fluidly, taking elements of extreme aggression alongside floaty Post-Metal” and Echoes & Dust calling it “a monumental achievement”. The album took every disparate element that Sugar Horse previously employed and amplified them, while juxtaposing each next to each other, with genuinely unpredictable and exciting consequences.

2022 saw no relent from the band’s fast paced release schedule, as they put out an anthemic shoegaze single in 'Pictures Of Dogs Having Sex', followed swiftly by their collaborative Waterloo Teeth EP. A release that paired Sugar Horse’s terrifying eclecticism with guest appearances from twelve other artists in just four short(ish) songs. Each artist coming from a different area of the modern British music scene, whether that be world conquering post-punk bass lines from IDLES’ Adam Devonshire, heavy titans Conjurer and Pupil Slicer’s throat crippling wails, or a shredding guitar solo from Biffy Clyro/Oceansize axe wielder Mike Vennart. The EP packs in an album’s worth of genre mutilating twists and turns into just 25 minutes of music.

Sugar Horse are:

Ashley Tubb (Vocals/Guitar)
Jake Healy (Baritone Guitar, Keyboards)
Chris Howarth (Bass)
Martin Savage (Drums)

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/sugarhorseruinedmybirthday
https://www.instagram.com/sugarhorse.are.awful
https://twitter.com/sugarhorse666

Track list:

1 The Grand Scheme Of Things

2 The Shape Of ASMR To Come

3 Corpsing

4 Mulletproof

5 Spit Beach

6 New Dead Elvis

7 Jefferson Aeroplane Over The Sea

8 Office Job Simulator

9 Space Tourist

Thanks to Hold Tight PR for all of the info.

SUNNATA - Chasing Shadows (Album Review)

Release Date: May 10th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Chasing Shadows - Tracklisting

1.Chimera

2.Torn

3.At Dusk (Interlude)

4.Wishbone

5.Saviour's Raft

6.Adrift (Reprise)

7.The Tide

8.Hunger

9.Through the Abyss (Interlude)

10.The Sleeper

11.Like cogs in a wheel, we're trapped between waves of distorted time

Review

Chasing Shadows is the fifth full length record from visionary Doom/Stoner Metallers SUNNATA which is also their most complex and longest album to date. Combining their familiar Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal sounds with a mind-expanding COSMIC trajectory with harsh Droned textures elevating their music to greater heights. The mixture of Grunge, Post-Metal, Prog Metal and Ambient rhythms allows SUNNATA to play some of their most powerful sounds they’ve released to date.

The songs are all intricate pieces or chapters of a complex story with SUNNATA drawing upon sludgy progressive grooves and ambient based metal with the complex Psychedelic structures with a seedy Grunge based environment which bursts into life on the exquisite opening track of Chimera. A pulsating eight minute number with shamanic vocals and trippy musical sounds that sees SUNNATA having a more GLOOMIER appetite compared to their 2021 release Burning In Heaven, Melting On Earth which is my favourite SUNNATA album to date with this album a close second. The song is one of the most intelligent slices of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal I’ve heard recently with the ethereal vocals and intense lyrics preparing you for what is to come the whole album.

Second song Torn opts for a classic Grunge aesthetic for the most part before SUNNATA drift into the Post-Rock abyss with swirling Sludgy guitars giving the track extra weight in the volume department on certain stages of the track. The vocals are excellent with different melodic and clean styles appearing which gives a more emotional feel to the whole album. 

Third track At Dusk (Interlude) is an Ambient/Psychedelic instrumental number with moments of solitary guitars and deep meaningful synths which is quite solitary and cautionary at the same time. A song with meaning and purpose that becomes quite haunting within its short two minute runtime. 

Fourth track Wishbone is a more experimental offering from SUNNATA with the Middle Eastern sounds and 80’s Electro tinged guitars that open the song. The vocals have a certain Lou Reed premise to them with SUNNATA exploring a Gothic/Alt-Rock diversion before the obsessive Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds appear and propel this track to become one of the standout songs on the whole album. The GRUNGE atmospherics allows the SEEDY instrumental sounds to become more warped and quite volatile with the jagged moments of the track.

Fifth track Saviours Raft is a trippy and mind-expanding affair with flashes of Post-Rock, Doom and Alt-Metal sounds converging for another one of the albums defining tracks. The music is HEAVY and PROGRESSIVE with a fantastic stop/start instrumental movement being played in the background which allows SUNNATA to subdued and brilliantly heavy at the same time especially when the sludgy extended and droned out riffs appear.

Sixth track Adrift (Reprise) feels like a continuation of the third track At Dusk (Interlude) with added vocals appearing. Taking a stance inspired by TOOL, this is another thrilling short offering from SUNNATA that has fantastic vocals throughout.

The second half of the album sees SUNNATA change musical and creative direction yet again with a Progressive attitude building into extended WEEDIAN rhythms and some intense vocal passages on tracks such as The Tide, Hunger, The Sleeper and Like cogs in a wheel, we're trapped between waves of distorted time. This part of the album is the most emotionally charged with SUNNATA switching between Atmospheric Doom, Psych Stoner Metal and Ambient Post-Rock with the most beautiful sounding parts coming from songs The Tide and Hunger which left me wanting to hear of this great style of music from the band.

Chasing Shadows is quite the trip full of vivid musical energy that we come to expect from SUNNATA. As I said earlier in my review, their previous album is my favourite record of years. However, this is still a first rate album from SUNNATA who are vastly becoming one of the most outstanding creative entities within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Hold Tight PR for the promo.

Chasing Shadows will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Friday 10th May 2024.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

High On Fire - Cometh The Storm (Album Review)

Release Date: April 19th 2024. Record Label: MNRK Heavy. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Cometh The Storm - Tracklisting

1.Lambsbread

2.Burning Down 

3.Trismegistus

4.Cometh the Storm 

5.Karanlık Yol (instrumental)

6.Sol’s Golden Curse

7.The Beating

8.Tough Guy

9.Lighting Beard

10.Hunting Shadows

11.Darker Fleece

Members

 

Matt Pike - Vocals/Guitar

Jeff Matz - Bass

Coady Willis - Drums

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metal Titans High On Fire return after a lengthy six year absence with their ninth album Cometh The Storm. Teaming up once again with famed musician/producer Kurt Ballou, the band also have Coady Willis (Big Business) drumming for them since Des Kensel left back in 2019. Their 2018 album Electric Messiah saw the band reach greater creative heights which resulted in High On Fire winning the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance with their song "Electric Messiah".

Cometh The Storm sees High On Fire explore new musical highs with this record having a Middle Eastern flavour to the album especially within the more subdued and instrumental parts of the album. However, this is High On Fire we’re talking about here and they play their classic style of Thrash based Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves that made them such a well known destructive force within the global Heavy Metal scene.

Drawing upon sounds used on classic albums such as: Blessed Black Wings, Death Is This Communion, Snakes For The Divine and their last record Electric Messiah. There seems to be a more sense of primal urgency to the band’s music with Jeff Matz and Coady Willis forming a brilliantly thrilling relationship for Matt Pike to deliver his epic grooves from.

The band blast their way through an outstanding collection of opening tracks with Lambsbread, Burning Down and Trismegistus having that muscular THRASH METAL drive and Matt’s gravelled vocals being sung at a 100 miles per hour just like the music itself. The whole tone within these tracks is one of pure chaos and destruction with some epic guitar shredding that is built for METALHEADS and played by METALHEADS. The sound has a classic Speed Metal approach but one that allows the more modern sounding aesthetics breathe naturally especially within the more Progressive jams.

The lyrics feel more personal here which fully come into focus on the excellent title track Cometh The Storm with a seedy Sludgy groove that moves into dominant Stoner Metal territory the band have made their names with over their legendary twenty five year career. 

HIgh On Fire start to show their new found Psychedelic and Middle Eastern approach on the superb instrumental track Karanlık Yol (instrumental) which is a sound we haven’t heard before. I would expect to hear this style of music perhaps on a record by OM and not High On Fire. Though, it’s great to see the band trying new things and expanding their musical horizons which they used quite effectively on the later stages of the album. There’s a brooding and mysterious element to High On Fire when they add this style of music to the mix.

Cometh The Storm becomes even heavier within tracks such as Sol’s Golden Curse, The Beating, Tough Guy and Lightning Beard with a Motorhead based energy appearing at various times. This is where High On Fire perhaps play the most heaviest and loudest grooves on the whole album. Echoes of Thrash, Doom, Sludge and Stoner melodies are direct and very straight to the point which builds upto an endless cycle of violent head-banging moments.

The final two tracks of Hunting Shadows and Darker Fleece reminds me of Electric Messiah in many ways with stadium sized riffs being quite effective within the “less is more” style being used within the production side of the album. Darker Fleece is a long drawn out track with High On Fire using different levels of Psychedelic Distortion and Ambient Sounds for a slightly DOOMED out offering with various levels of different sounding vocals.

Cometh The Storm is another masterclass of Thrash/Sludge/Stoner Metal from High On Fire that will appeal to everyone within the global Heavy Metal community and cement their reputation once and for all as true legends of the scene. This will no doubt end becoming one of the definitive Sludge/Stoner Metal albums to own this year. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Hold Tight PR for the promo.

Cometh The Storm will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via MNRK Heavy from April 19th 2024.

High On Fire online:

https://www.facebook.com/highonfire

https://twitter.com/HighonFireBand

https://www.instagram.com/highonfireband

https://mnrkheavy.com

High On Fire release video for new album title track Cometh the Storm album out 19th April via MNRK Heavy

Photo by James Rexroad

Iconic GRAMMY-winning U.S. rock band High on Fire have released a video for the title track of their upcoming full-length Cometh the Storm, due for release on 19th April via MNRK Heavy.

Directed by Phil Mucci for Diabolik Films, watch the video for 'Cometh the Storm' here: 

Pre-order/save Cometh the Storm here.

"'Cometh the Storm' was built from a riff I started playing on bass at practice," explains bassist/guitarist Jeff Matz. "I was noodling around with this melancholic harmonic minor line, just hammering the notes with my left hand, when Matt yelled out “Are we recording this!?” The chorus riff was something Coady and I came up with when we were jamming in LA. Matt then came in and worked up some rough lyrics and came up with the vocal line. For the chorus, I used this fretless bass I’d acquired. The weight of the low frequencies this thing produced was insane - how it blended with the guitars and drums, it was like being hit with a sledgehammer. We knew right away that this was going to be an epically heavy track."

“This was the first time I got to work with the guys on set and we had a blast,” offers Mucci. "High on Fire lyrics can always be interpreted in a number of ways, so I started by trying to define “The Storm”. A huge list of visual ideas got whittled down to the two essential characters at work, The Man and Gaia, representing duel ends of the spectrum — with a very destructive crossover. I always try to keep things light and encourage everyone to come with ideas — like Coady’s burning cymbal idea! No better way to end your High on Fire shoot than with exploding cymbals!”

High on Fire will kick off U.S. headlining tour dates in support of Cometh the Storm on 4th May, then head to the UK / EU. Dates:

Jun 04: CZ Brno Kabinet MUZ
Jun 10: DE Hamburg Bahnhof Pauli
Jun 11: DE Cologne Gebäude 9
Jun 12: NL Nijmegen Doornroosje
Jun 14: UK London Islington Assembly Hall
Jun 15: UK Manchester Rebellion
Jun 16: UK Glasgow Slay
Jun 17: UK Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Jun 18: UK Bristol Thekla
Jun 20: FR Wasquehal The Black Lab
Jun 25: FR Toulouse Le Metronum
Jun 26: ES Bilbao Kafe Antzokia
Jul 02: DE Aschaffenburg Colos Saal
Jul 03: CH Dudingen Bad Bonn
Jul 04: IT Torino Ziggy
Jul 06: AT Vienna Arena

The GRAMMY Award-winning group, celebrating their 25th anniversary, recorded Cometh the Storm at GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts with producer Kurt Ballou. The 11-song effort - the band's ninth studio album - marks the release of the first new High on Fire music since 2018's Electric Messiah and the first to feature drummer Coady Willis (Big Business, Murder City Devils), alongside bassist Jeff Matz, and guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike.

It has been more than five years since the band’s revered Electric Messiah earned High on Fire ‘Best Metal Performance’ at the 2018 GRAMMY Awards, placing the unit among the ranks of groups such as Black Sabbath, Motörhead, and Metallica as winners of the prestigious award. “Being nominated for a Grammy was pretty mind blowing, but winning one was truly surreal,” says bassist Jeff Matz. “A Grammy win was certainly not something we were aiming for, but it’s quite an honor to be recognized in that way, and we are grateful. In terms of how it’s affected us, it has definitely opened some new doors—we’ve gained some new fans and wider recognition, but it hasn’t changed how we approach our craft. We’ve always tried to create uncompromising music that feels good to us, and is in line with what we would want to listen to.”

In the half decade since the band’s Grammy nod, the world has seismically shifted and is a different place. The same can be said for High on Fire. The band’s musical archetype has been modded, morphed, and evolved; its blast radius widened. Bassist Jeff Matz joined Mutoid Man and traveled abroad to study and learn the techniques of Middle Eastern folk music and the plucked string instrument, the bağlama (or saz), Matt Pike formed a solo band, released an LP, and toured the U.S., and world-renowned percussionist, Coady Willis, he of Melvins, Big Business, and Murder City Devils united with Pike and Matz to breathe new life into the group a quarter century into their captivating career.

The lead track on High on Fire’s new album, Cometh the Storm, is the invigorating 'Burning Down', a vigorous barrage which exemplifies the prowess the unification of the three professional musicians owns.

Universally recognised as one of the most potent acts in music today, High on Fire creates dynamic metal that merges primal fury and aggression, hesher bombast and hall of fame heaviness. Described as "a supersonic exercise in conquest by volume," High on Fire has rewritten the hard rock rule book since their formation in 1998, forging a style and sound that is both critically celebrated and unique. The group features vocalist and cult guitar hero Matt Pike (also a founding member of the famed underground band SLEEP) singular bassist Jeff Matz, and powerhouse drummer Coady Willis.

 
High on Fire are:

Matt Pike: guitar, vocals
Jeff Matz: bass, guitar, bağlama, mellotron, percussion
Coady Willis: drums, percussion, vocals

High On Fire online:

https://www.facebook.com/highonfire
https://twitter.com/HighonFireBand
https://www.instagram.com/highonfireband
https://mnrkheavy.com

Track-list:

1. Lambsbread (5:45)
2. Burning Down (6:13)
3. Trismegistus (5:36)
4. Cometh The Storm (6:12)
5. Karanlık Yol (3:46)
6. Sol’s Golden Curse (4:52)
7. The Beating (2:29)
8. Tough Guy (3:44)
9. Lightning Beard (3:33)
10. Hunting Shadows (5:40)
11. Darker Fleece (9:59)

Thanks to Hold Tight PR and Action PR for all of the info.

Polish Doom Band Sunnata release new single 'Wishbone' with live studio session video

Photo by Kamil Parzychowski

Feral wilderness prophets Sunnata, (sanskr. noun emptiness, voidness) have released a new single, 'Wishbone', ahead of their fifth full-length album Chasing Shadows which will be self-released on 10th May. The single is accompanied by a live session video, by Jan Gajewski, of the band performing at Soulstone Gathering in Poland

Check out ‘Wishbone (live session at Soulstone Gathering)’ here: https://youtu.be/goeIu6hL7bs

Pre-order Chasing Shadows here: https://sunnataofficial.bandcamp.com/album/chasing-shadows

Sunnata commented on the new single: "You’re doomed, adrift through life, and have no control. That’s what it’s all about.

"'Wishbone' is the first song written for what later became Chasing Shadows, our new album. Although at the first glimpse it seems to be a simple song, it has a couple of twists hidden in its meanings and technicalities. Let’s start from the fact that in contrary to a popular custom, we think that you won’t have your wish granted and the lyrical theme explores the idea of having very limited control over your life, or insignificance of made choices as the end-result.

"Secondly, when our drummer Robert created this ear-worming groove, he wanted to sneak it in to at least 2 other songs, cause he couldn’t stop playing it. Eventually it also led him to writing the crazy ass middle-eastern drums for another section of the song.

"And last but not least - it’s the first song from Chasing Shadows which we have ever performed live and we decided to drop a video from this performance for the single premiere! The song was quite fresh to us during the recording, but we are proud to reveal yet another piece of the most complex record of ours to date. Preach!"

Hailing from Warsaw, Poland, the four-piece doom metal sorcerers have been forging their own path towards the celestial realms of metal since their debut album Climbing The Colossus in 2014. Their mesmerising second album Zorya in 2016 propelled them further into the spotlight of the European alternative heavy scene, garnering increased momentum. The release of their third album Outlands in 2018 showcased a newfound depth of character, boldly venturing into the realms of progressive doom and exploring melancholic and mind-expanding avenues. Their fourth opus, Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth in 2021, proved to be their most transcendent work yet, seamlessly blending heaviness, intensity, and tenderness into a harmonious and captivating fusion that captivated fans and critics worldwide, demanding recognition and admiration.

With Chasing Shadows, Sunnata ventures into uncharted territory, pushing the boundaries of their sonic landscape to new heights. This album represents their most intricate and multifaceted work yet, delving into the extremes and nuances of their musical essence. Each track on Chasing Shadows weaves an alluring doomscape, filled with timeless and enthralling narratives. Garnering acclaim from both fans and critics alike, Sunnata has now unlocked a boundless realm of creative freedom, poised to explore limitless possibilities in their musical journey

Commenting on the album: "The fifth album for a band like ours is no joke. We are extremely proud on one hand, but also exhausted on the other as the creative process pushed us to the current limits. It’s the most complex and longest Sunnata record to date. Filled with nuances, genre blends and confident expansion of the band’s sound spectrum. Anyone familiar with our discography can easily tell that both change and experimentation are part of our nature, but at the same time - the constant need to push ourselves outside of the comfort zone, go beyond - is what stretches one's limits. Maybe this is why we liked the title so much - we are chasing the uncatchable - shadows, illusions, visions and try to frame them with our musical language."

Watch previous videos for 'Chimera' here and 'Saviour's Raft' here.

Renowned for their emotive and immersive live shows, Sunnata have graced the stages of numerous international festivals and shared billing with esteemed acts such as Mastodon, Paradise Lost, Entombed AD, Rotting Christ, Sleep, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, and The Sword. In celebration of their upcoming album release, Sunnata will embark on a summer tour, captivating audiences on the following dates (see below).

May 10: (PL) Warsaw - Hybrydy - Release Party
May 13: (CZ) Brno, Kabinet Muz
May 14: (HU) Budapest, Robot
May 15: (AT) Salzburg, Rockhouse
May 16: (DE) Jena, Klub Kuba
May 17: (BE) Liege, La Zone
May 18: (UK) London, Desertfest
May 20: (FR) Lille, La Bulle Cafe
May 21: (BE) Brussels, Le Lac
May 22: (NL) Nijmegen, Merelyn
May 23: (DE) Dresden, Ostpol
May 24: (PL) Poznan, 2Progi
May 25: (PL) Cracow, Studio
May 31: (DK) Esbjerg, Fuzztival Esbjerg
Aug 17: (UK) ArcTanGent

Tickets available at: https://www.atonal.agency/tickets

Sunnata are:

Szymon Ewertowski - guitar, vocals
Adrian Gadomski - guitar, vocals
Michal Dobrzanski - bass guitar/synth
Robert Ruszczyk – drums, percussion

For more information, follow the band online:

https://sunnataofficial.com
https://facebook.com/sunnataofficial
https://instagram.com/sunnataofficial
http://sunnataofficial.bandcamp.com/
https://youtube.com/user/sunnataofficial/videos
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6oHuHx6xpW7IfamYXWFfmy?si=_vas1atoRdSL5Qns8xvIUA

Thanks to Hold Tight PR for all of the details.

Mastiff - Deprecipice (Album Review)

Release Date: March 22nd 2024. Record Label: MNRK Heavy. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Deprecipice - Tracklisting

1.Bite Radius

2.Everything is Ending

3.Void 04:07

4.Cut-Throat

5.Skin Stripper

6.Serrated 

7.Worship

8.Pitiful

9.The Shape

10.Thorn Trauma

Members

Vocals - Jim Hodge

Guitar - James Andrew Lee

Guitar - Phil Johnson

Bass - Dan Dolby

Drums - Michael Shepherd

Review

Doom/Hardcore/Sludge Metallers Mastiff opt for an even heavier and uglier sound on their new album Deprecipice that sees the band venture into Post-Metal heaviness with the right amount of violent Progressive melodies lurking within the more melodic parts of the album. Mastiff has a slight Post Hardcore energy within the more subtle parts of the album. Jim Hodge’s lead vocals are consumed by an intense anger but they can also be quite emotional on some of the most hard hitting lyrics the band have written for the album.

Deprecipice is brutally honest with the onslaught of pissed off sludge grooves that have a monolithic and apocalyptic flow to them on tracks such as Bite Radius,  Everything Is Ending and Void allowing Mastiff to capture a destructive void that leads into fast-paced and technically impressive slabs of Doom/Sludge Metal fury. The record is unapologetically nihilistic which is best told through the amount of grindcore blasts and beats which sets Mastiff onto becoming one of the heaviest and most intense bands the UK Sludge Metal scene has right now. 

The production values are off the scale with Mastiff delivering their finest album to date which pulls no punches within the volume department. Deprecipice retains its bleak cinematic vision on more outstanding tracks such as Cut-Throat, Serrated, Worship and Pitiful.

Mastiff delves into the dark arts of Extreme Metal with some first rate vocal experimentation which feels like they’re channelling into another dimension and bringing the true END OF THE WORLD along with them. The vocals range from harsh growls to demonic chants that provide an uneasy feeling especially when matched against distorted noises, grindcore beats and thrashcore breakdowns whilst retaining a Sludge Metal edge.

Mastiff could be compared to bands such as Neurosis, Primitive Man, THOU and Converge on this release as there’s similar creative themes to those amazing bands. However, Mastiff deliver their own blend of Doom/Hardcore/Sludge Metal riffage where they are the Judge, Jury and Executioner for those brave enough wanting to experience this intense album. 

I can see Deprecipice fastly becoming one of the most defining UK Sludge Metal albums of the last decade and one that can easily be described as an absolute masterpiece.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Hold Tight PR for the promo.

Deprecipice will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via MNRK Heavy from Friday 22nd March 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram