Exclusive Album Premiere Of Instrumental Post Rockers IN THE PONDS New Album CHTHONIC LAYER

With three previously released EPs, San Jose-based instrumental post-rock duo IN THE PONDS will release their first full-length album, Chthonic Layer this coming October. 

IN THE PONDS started during the pandemic lockdowns and California wildfires of 2020, with the newly wed duo staring out their windows at soot-filled skies wondering, “what the hell now?” They’ve kept to instrumental rock, mainly to give themselves (and their listeners) a breather from the barrage of concepts always trying to elbow into their headspace. 

The best ideas live in a place beyond words, so they try to flood that place with as much light as possible. The Chthonic Layer is a realm beneath the surface where deities and demons live. There are lots of ways to get there, but music is the safest bet. It lets you explore dangerous places without getting stranded. This album is our way of diving into the abyss to meet its shadier characters, while staying tethered to terra firma. 

Chthonic Layer was recorded and co-produced by guitarist David Perez and Dan Padilla. 

The album was mixed by Art Bertik. The front cover artwork was created by bassist Jennifer Gigantino. 

We're excited to premiere the new album in full thanks to the awesome IN THE PONDS which you can listen to below:

 

In The Ponds · Chthonic Layer

Thanks to In The Ponds for the promo.

Chthonic Layer is available to buy now on CD/Digital Download via Entelodon Records

Links

https://intheponds.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/inthepondsmusic

https://www.facebook.com/inthepondsmusic/

https://x.com/inthepondsmusic

In The Ponds - Chthonic Layer (Album Review)

Release Date: October 02nd 2026. Record Label: Entelodon Records. Format: CD/DD

Chthonic Layer - Tracklist

1.Tornado Alley 

2.Last Rat Standing 

3.Barnacles 

4.Her Eyes Burn with Unholy Light

5.Old Shuck

6.The Young Falcon

7.Blackwood Sugar

8.Empty Victory

9.Sunset Waltz

Members

David Perez – guitar

Jennifer Gigantino – bass / mandolin

Review

Instrumental Post-Rockers In The Ponds awaken from a three year slumber with their spellbinding and superbly captivating debut album Chthonic Layer. In The Ponds have a more expressive and emotionally charged attitude appearing within their music as they blend Prog Rock themes against a backdrop of gloomy Instrumental Rock sounds that float cautiously into the Stoner Rock abyss. The band’s musical weapon of choice is Post-Rock and Ambient Rock which remains essentially grounded with a stripped back delivery that you can hear from within the excellent opening track Tornado Alley.

David Perez (Guitar) and Jennifer Gigantion (Bass/Mandolin) form a great musical partnership where they feel beautifully in sync with each other but still allow themselves the opportunity to do their own thing when the time calls for this. I was quite surprised at how aggressive In The Ponds have become compared to their previous releases with some fantastic sludgy grooves appearing within the bombastic second track Last Rat Standing. They’ve played strands of Heavy Rock before but with a certain Garage Rock angle but this has a more subtle Doomed Out quality with flashes of Nineties Grunge and Stoner Rock.

In The Ponds have always been a band willing to experiment and move their music along to something different that’s come before it. You appreciate the delicate Electronic sounds, beats, glitches and loops that appear within the onset of their sublime Prog Rock delivery. The album is purely instrumental with In The Ponds letting their music weave interesting stories that instantly draw you in especially when the mood is played at a gloomy slow-to-mid pace with a deceiving Post-Rock vibe once more moves into unexpected areas of Heavy Rock on tracks such as Barnacles, Her Eyes Burn With Unholy Light, The Young Falcon and Empty Victory being my favourite parts of the whole album.

There’s a lot of doom and gloom trickery emerging from these songs with In The Ponds combining elements of Drone, Shoegaze and Space Rock surroundings that almost give a cold sense of PARANOIA within the album. You can feel some great musical influences from the likes of EARTH, OM, Pelican and Russian Circles as In The Ponds create music that can easily be classed as Experimental Rock and Art Rock whilst having a great Stoner Rock movement to them.

In The Ponds are not the type of band to play fast-paced melodies as their music is cautiously slow but with steel cold determination that’s very hard to ignore even when they prefer a classical style of Post-Rock to do all the talking. Nothing is what it seems with Chthonic Layer as the record is quite bleak with minimal moments of uplifting sounds which gives this album quite a dangerous feeling when you least expect this.

The music is wonderfully played by David and Jennifer who once again exceed all expectations with this record alone. I once described In The Ponds as “one of the best Post-Rock bands currently out there” and I stand by that description. They more than prove that on this album which offers a haunting and emotionally rewarding experience that not many bands can provide especially for their debut album.

In The Ponds are the type of band within the underground scene you want to branch onto bigger and better things so as many people can experience what a great band they truly are. The way they blend different musical genres into something refreshing and wholly unique is a joy to listen to. There’s even some surprising developments within the album when In The Ponds add levels of Surf Rock and Cinematic Rock elements for a wholly different perspective to emerge on repeated listens.

This is an album with brains as well as brawn that makes it such an outstanding success on every level possible.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to In The Ponds for the promo.

Chthonic Layer is available to buy now on CD/Digital Download via Entelodon Records

Links

https://intheponds.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/inthepondsmusic

https://www.facebook.com/inthepondsmusic/

https://x.com/inthepondsmusic

Could Seed - French Prog-Rock Collective Unveil Live Video For New Track "Orion"

French instrumental progressive post-rock quartet COULD SEED have unveiled a new live video for “Orion,” another track taken from their forthcoming second album, Terminal, due out October 23 via Klonosphere Records.

Captured live at Studio de la Fuie, the performance showcases the band at their most dynamic, moving between delicate, atmospheric passages and towering crescendos while highlighting the dynamic interplay at the heart of their sound.

Following the previously released “Druids,” “Orion” offers another window into the powerful sonic world of Terminal, an album where progressive rock, post-rock and psychedelia collide with cinematic atmosphere and moments of crushing intensity.

After their critically acclaimed debut The Drop Crisis, Could Seed push their instrumental language further on Terminal, drawing from the cinematic grandeur of Pink Floyd and the progressive psychedelia of Elder to the emotional intensity of Caspian and Russian Circles.

Recorded and mixed by guitarist Jordan Jupin at Studio de la Fuie and mastered by Thibault Chaumont at Deviant Lab, Terminal captures the band's dynamic chemistry with remarkable warmth, depth, and clarity. The evocative artwork by Ana Mady Sun and photography by Régine Cadillac further enrich the album's visual identity.

Terminal will be released on October 23, pre-orders are available at this location.

Links:

https://linktr.ee/couldseed
http://www.klonosphere.com
https://www.facebook.com/KLONOSPHEREPR

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the details.

Apodemus - Radar (Album Review)

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

Radar - Tracklist

1.Ohm 00:44

2.Dynamic 07:19

3.Radar 10:50

4.Station 06:47

5.Wave / Valve 13:01

Review

Radar is the latest album from Heavy Psych Stoner Rockers Apodemus who have established themselves a loyal cult following within the underground scene due to the great records they’ve released over the years. Their music is a heavy mix of extended instrumental jams and superb freak outs that’s laced with some standout DOOM ROCK movements. The record is quite a fast-paced affair with Apodemus exploring a more adventurous and progressive style of Heavy Psychedelic music. 

Taking cues from the likes of Earthless, Yawning Man and Karma To Burn but with a glorious “HIP” rhythm from their own making. The drums are quite hard-hitting with the rest of the band shaping up the musical landscape. There’s a great use of Post-Rock dynamics with a subtle change in mood and melodies within the quieter and refined parts of the album. However, a heavy instrumental melody is never too far behind especially on the lengthier tracks of Dynamic, Radar and Wave / Valve. 

Apodemus adds themes of Doom Metal and Stoner Metal throughout the album which brings a fresh Space Rock perspective on the majority of the tracks. The scope of the record is quite straightforward but one that offers many different heavy levels of Instrumental Rock/Metal for listeners to immerse themselves in. 

Radar is quite an aggressive record with flashes of uplifting Ambient sounds hidden behind the thundering guitars and thumping rhythm section that appears quite dominantly on the standout tracks of Radar and Wave / Valve. The whole record is a beautifully orchestrated journey of highly exquisite musical passages that move across the Spaced Out spectrum of Heavy Psychedelic music.

There is some gloomy optimism and ambient methodology exploring into areas of deep sonic experimentation that can be quite meditative but Apodemus do keep close to the rules of classic Instrumental Stoner Rock/Metal that KARMA TO BURN mastered back in the day. 

Apodemus have delivered the goods with this album and it’s one that I can’t recommend highly enough. Check this out at your earliest opportunity!!!

 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Hostile Tides - Dead Man Talking (EP Review)

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

Dead Man Talking - Tracklist

1.Sands 02:34

2.Rumour 03:06

3.Adrift 03:08

4.Pyramids 03:51

5.Peaks 05:06

 

Members

Marf - Guitars

Mafro - Guitars

Luke - Bass

Matt - Drums

Review

Dead Man Talking is the debut EP from Post-Rock/Stoner Rock instrumentalists Hostile Tides where the band are influenced by the likes of QOTSA, Long Distance Calling and Russian Circles which gives this band a whole lot of different attitude throughout their debut EP. The music is action packed and superbly played throughout with Hostile Tides developing a classic bouncy Stoner Rock sound that’s levelled out by a solid Progressive Post-Rock theme.

There’s even shades of KYUSS developing within the heavier and fast-paced surroundings of the superb opening track of Sands. This is a very short little number but it moves along at a great speed with the band laying down their creative building blocks very early on with the music having the right amount of Post-Rock aggression with even subtle moments of jazzy movements.

Second song Rumour feels like a stripped back Post-Rock track with little shades of Desert/Stoner Rock melodies bursting from the seams. There’s some Punk-ish sounds that develop within the later stages of the track and off-beat chants appearing along the way. This is quite an experimental song in many ways but it contains an intriguing way of playing a solid Instrumental sound that moves quietly and confidently throughout the Stoner Rock and Post-Rock passages that appear here.

Third track Adrift allows Hostile Tides to drift further into the Alt-Rock persona with dreamy passages of intricate Psychedelic Rock emerging with the song having a sludgy bassline courtesy of Luke’s great bass playing. The ambient delivery is razor sharp without being heavy but the band once again wander into different shades of Heavy Stoner Rock with that heavy jazzy sound appearing once more. The song is perhaps the most daring that’s contained on the EP.

The final two tracks of Pyramids and Peaks offer the most experimental and progressive moments on the record with Hostile Tides showcasing a great way of playing through the “QUIET vs HEAVY” and “SLOW vs FAST” dynamics of their music. The song is actually quite fun despite the gloomy Post-Rock pretence that holds things together.

Peaks is the longest track which allows Hostile Tides to let out all their freaky aggression for the standout track on the EP which taps right into the QOTSA influence right from the very start where you can feel a soundtrack quality emerging from the catacombs which I would like to hear more of in future releases from the band.

Dead Man Talking is a great introduction from Hostile Tides to introduce themselves to the underground heavy rock scene with. There’s some great sonic creativity at play here and the stripped back production values are handled expertly well with some heavy outbursts of Stoner Rock/Metal developing when you least expect it.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

The Wyldewood Green - Tales of The Wyldewood Green (Album Review)

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

Tales of The Wyldewood Green - Tracklist

1.Spires

2.The Mindsplitter 03:11

3.Carnaby Nights 02:18

4.Smith & Strange

5.Souvenirs

6.Maldedo

7.Tangerine Whiskey

8.The Queenmaker

9.Rude Britannia

10.Cadoi

11.Murder In The Electric Cathedral

Lineup

Marco Scarsone: Hammond A-100, Mini Farfisa, piano, guitar, bass, tambourine, maracas and shakers

Jonathan Yang: Drums

Mike Davis: Congas and bongos

Review

Tales Of The Wyldewood Green is the debut album of Heavy Psych Instrumental Rockers The Wyldewood Green and it’s one of the freakiest, psychedelic and far-out records I’ve had the pleasure to listen to this year. This record fully explores the legendary sounds of the Sixties and Seventies Rock scene where the band play music built upon the rhythms of Surf Rock, Heavy Psych, Funk, Punk Rock, Garage Rock, Blues Rock, Classic Rock, Proto-Rock and shades of Stoner Rock.

The Wyldewood Green music is driven by a funk driven Hammond and Organ instrumental score which allows the other areas of Heavy Psych to perfectly drift into your subconscious where the mood even transforms into pure JAZZ ROCK and LIZARD LOUNGE music. Though, the real musical weapon of choice that The Wyldewood Green band explores is classic movie soundtracks. As this record has a classic hipster sound with the jazzy beats and cool intricate psychedelic melodies that wouldn’t go amiss from a Sixties Heist Movie or even a kitschy rom-com. Though, the record does show it’s more dangerous side by employing a Classic Hard Rock style inspired by the likes of The Who, Deep Purple, The Doors and The Byrds. 

With some distorted Stoner-ish guitars appearing along the way, it’s good to see The Wyldewood Green are still keen to add small snippets of modern Stoner Rock soundwaves which gives Tales Of The Wyldewood Green a heightened sense of trippy realism. The album may not be for everyone but if you’re in the mood for some great Heavy Psychedelic beats and sounds that will leave your mind feeling the effects of one of the most glorious LCD trips you’ll ever take without the need for taking that powerful hallucinogenic drug.

The songs are brilliantly written with their own highly individual identity which adds a dreamlike effect on the later stages of the record with The Wyldewood Green even deploying into calmer and soulful Post-Rock swagger. The songwriting is on another level even for an instrumental record as this album does do something different with the whole Instrumental Rock template.

Standout tracks on the album are: Spires, The Mindsplitter, Carnaby Nights, Maldedo, Tangerine Whiskey, The Queenmaker and Murder In The Electric Cathedral. These are the tracks that I found the most engaging on a personal level and which impressed how daringly heavy the record becomes despite this being quite a laid back album for the most part.

Tales Of The Wyldewood Green is an absolute revelation from start to finish with the band creating and playing sounds that shouldn’t really work so well. However, here we are with a debut album that has a great MAVERICK attitude where you can really say that The Wyldewood are true originals which their debut album proves time and time again.

Words by Steve Howe

Tales Of The Wyldewood Green is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

If These Trees Could Talk - The Hidden Hand (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Metal Blade Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Hidden Hand - Tracklist

1 Archons

2 Moon Machine

3 Sea Of Glass

4 Blurry Creatures

5 Silence Between Mountains, Pt. 1

6 Silence Between Mountains, Pt. 2

7 Metanoia

8 Flim

9 Endlessly Connected

Lineup

Tom Fihe – bass guitar

Jeff Kalal – guitar

Cody Kelly – guitar

Mike Socrates – guitar

Zack Kelly – drums

Review

If These Trees Could Talk from Akron, OH, were on frequent rotation in my home with 'Red Forest' back in 2016 but then they fell off the radar. Don't know the reason why but with the exception of the single 'Trail of Whispering Giants' in 2024 the band released nothing in 10 years. Thankfully the long wait is over with the arrival of 'The Hidden Hand', and what an album it is! 

'Archons' is a short mystical yet mesmerizing opener which sets the tone perfectly for the entire album. It blends elegantly into 'Moon Machine' where the intense guitars soars above the slowish but crushing rhythm section. Drops back as vivid transcendent images are created...only to pick up again. After a beautiful delicate start 'Sea Of Glass' leads into some intense shredding only to fall back again. Eventually the band goes wide open taking it away. 'Blurry Creatures' builds up gradually turning screws tighter until a beautiful mid-section appears. Mellow and trippy it moves the song to amazing heights.

'Silence Between Mountains, Pt 1' is sparse, elegant and dreamy as it leads into 'Silence Between Mountains, Pt 2'. It follows along with Part 1 but with a hint of darker undertones. This helps to project the majestic traits of mountains. If These Trees Could Talk comes on strong with the guitars initially on 'Metanoia'. Drops back only to build up in that captivating way this band does it. 'Flim' is light, airy, positive and almost sacral in its approach and it's a highly uplifting composition at that. 'Endlessly Connected' picks up where 'Flim' left off but is even more elaborate.

Few bands can handle instrumental music the way If These Trees Could Talk do. It requires a high level of musicianship as well as compositional skills to create that style of music which reels you in and holds you captivated throughout. And this Akron quintet are masters at it as 'The Hidden Hand' is evidence of. Very good, indeed!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp

KALAMATA - ZENOSYNE (Album Review)

Release Date: June 26th 2026. Record Label: Copper Feast Recordings / Made Of Stone Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

ZENOSYNE  - Tracklisting

1.THERE

2.IS

3.NO

4.COMING 

5.BACK

Members

 

Guitars - Peter Jaun

Bass - Niki Hosseinian-Sereshki

Drums - Olly Opitz

Review

Psychedelic Stoner Rockers KALAMATA return from a lengthy nine year absence to release their long awaited third album ZENOSYNE. I’m a huge fan and admirer of their previous two albums so I was very excited when I received this album to listen to. KALAMATA have redefined their music since their 2017 album with further emphasis on progression which puts their music into the land of Post-Rock and Post-Metal though still keeping their classic Stoner Rock instincts intact.

The album is split into five tracks under the banner of “THERE IS NO COMING BACK” which allows KALAMATA to create a different musical persona for the record. The sound is dense, heavy, thick and superbly melodic which shows the band exploring different musical avenues with some epic SONIC melodies and sludgy distortions coming from the stunning guitar work of Peter Jaun. Sometimes the band feels inspired by the likes of Karma To Burn, Yawning Man, Monkey3 and Earthless whilst for the heavier parts you can hear echoes of Russian Circles and Pelican which adds a whole level of atmospheric dominance.

Everything is wonderfully melodic and gloriously cinematic which allows the music to be described as “FULL BLOWN TECHNICOLOUR” which is down to the great use of Desert Rock, Ambient Rock and Spaced Out environments where it can be grounded and totally outrageous at the same time.

This also feels like KALAMATA’s most personal record to date with an emotionally engaging core developing on the majority of the tracks. My favourite tracks are THERE, NO and BACK which sees KALAMATA in a more reflective mood which not only challenges the listener but also sees the band playing some of the heaviest and most daring music of their career. The band do seem to have taken influence from classic soundtracks and different cultures for the making of this album as it can be quite trippy, surreal and totally left-field for an Instrumental Rock album.

The stunning rhythm section of Niki Hosseinian-Sereshki (Bass) and Olly Opitz (Drums) provide a clinical backdrop of grounded grooves for Peter to work his psychedelic guitars upon. Niki, Olly and Peter are quite forward thinking with how to deliver their music when weaving Post-Rock themes into the wider picture that ZENOSYNE fully represents. 

ZENOSYNE is an instrumental album that has it all which makes this such a brilliantly engaging and warm-hearted record. The journey has the same importance as the destination the record fully takes the listener upon. With a free spirited direction, ZENOSYNE does have some great “JAM” based moments where KALAMATA plays fast and loose with the rules of Instrumental Rock/Metal. 

The album has superbly realised production values which gives this a highly atmospheric and subversive sound especially when the Ambient sound effects linger in the background which leaves you on the edge of your seat thinking where this great album will take you next. 

KALAMATA may have been gone a long time but on the evidence with ZENOSYNE they’ve been sorely missed and will surely be wanting to make up for valuable lost time. They have delivered an outstanding album that will no doubt be considered one of the year’s best instrumental rock albums before the year is out.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR and KALAMATA for the promo.

ZENOSYNE is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Copper Feast Records and Made Of Stone Recordings.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Willy Kuma - Willy Kuma Vol. 1 (Album Review)

Release Date: June 12th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Willy Kuma Vol. 1  - Tracklisting

1.Intro 02:07

2.Cactus Drop 06:26

3.Horizon 05:25

4.Iguana Bro

5.Before the Storm

6.Last Drop

7.Desert Vibes

8.Quiet Sand

Members

 

Guglielmo Allegro - Everything

Review

Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Guglielmo Allegro has taken some time away from his main creative projects of Void Sinker and Nightscape. Guglielmo has formed a new solo instrumental venture called Willy Kuma which focuses upon the legendary sounds of the Californian Desert/Stoner Rock scenes. Guglielmo states this project has been influenced by the works of Brant Bjork and Tommy Guerrero. His debut release under this new project is called Willy Kuma: Volume 1 and it’s a light hearted affair with some slightly jazzy interludes along the way.

Truth be told I was expecting something heavier which touches upon the likes of KYUSS and FU MANCHU but I would say whilst there are still some great heavy moments along the way that Willy Kuma is more closely aligned to the quieter works of Brant Bjork and Yawning Man. There’s some cool sounding Funk Rock movements which are a million miles away from the Drone, Sludge and Stoner Metal surroundings of both Void Sinker and Nightscape.

This is a refreshing change of pace with Guglielmo showing a softer side to his creative identity with elements of Post-Rock appearing on different parts of the album. There are massive amounts of WAH WAH guitar effects which gives a cool solitary and shamanic vibe to the album which is part of almost every track with a subdued musical performance from Guglielmo.

This project allows Guglielmo to be completely zoned into the Californian Bohemian lifestyle the legendary Desert/Stoner Rock scene is known for. You can hear moments of Drone Rock in the background which is masquerading as long drawn out Psych and Space Rock passages which is a great way of how the music is fully delivered and implemented right to the listener.

Standout tracks on the album to check out are: Cactus Drop, Iguana Bro, Before The Storm, Last Drop and Quiet Sand. Guglielmo brings a progressive and cinematic quality to these tracks which has an easy going attitude that can easily be classified as CHILL OUT music for the STONER GENERATION. This isn’t the fastest music that Guglielmo has written but it’s great to hear his own perspective on the whole Californian Desert/Stoner Rock scene.

You can hear a fine amount of Seventies Funk music that gives the album such a refreshing change of musical attitude on the later stages of the record. Some of the tracks are perhaps a bit too long but it’s good to see Guglielmo outside of his comfort zone and trying something new, bold and superbly real from start to finish. 

Overall, Willy Kuma Vol. 1 is a richly observed and superbly entertaining record which may even become Guglielmo’s most popular project if he keeps making great records such as this.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp