CTRL+Z: Psychedelic Stoner Metal from Poland with debut single ‘Cockroach’ announces first album via Interstellar Smoke Records

CTRL+Z plays psychedelic stoner rock that grows not from the Californian sands, but from the pavements of the polish city of Łódź – post-industrial greyness, chaos and city dust instead of a desert scenery. Their roots lie in jam sessions – psychedelic improvisations that give rise to the first sketches of songs. Compositions are shaped intuitively before they go to the studio for mixing and mastering.

‘Cockroach’ is the first single from CTRL+Z, announcing their debut album “We Are Social Creatures”, which will be released in September 25th 2025. via Interstellar Smoke Records.

Cockroach Streaming Link: https://tinyurl.com/3xp47pen

‘Cockroach’ is a disturbing portrait of an urban outsider – a figure born in the city yards of Łódź, among the collapsing buildings and eternal twilight. This is a creature with a fat forehead, a wandering gaze and sudden, thoughtless movements, whose daily life is a constant, chaotic flight. In the final run, he loses his flight pigeon feathers.

CTRL+Z:

Paweł Leszczyński - drums
Mateusz Ulański - guitar
Karol Bukowski - guitar
Martyn Gill - bass

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/ctrlz_band
https://www.facebook.com/ctrlzpl
https://www.youtube.com/@pleasepressctrlz
https://ctrlplusz.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6odBPxkELtx1BfO0AboHMR?si=LngyqqIOSHGJav0hSCAgdQ
https://interstellarsmokerecords1.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to Interstellar Smoke Records for all of the details.

Void Commander - Alien Queen (Album Review)

Release Date: June 07th 2024. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records / Interstellar Smoke Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Alien Queen: Tracklisting

1. To The Grave (7:46)

2. Sweet Depression (4:54)

3. Dyke Blues (3:22)

4. Bloodred Knight Alright (5:34)

5. Alien Queen (7:13)

6. Jam in C (8:17)

7. The Night Took My Name (5:45)

Band Members

Bobbie - Vocals, Guitar

Jimmy - Drums

Linus - Bass

Review

Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal Power Trio Void Commander return with their third album Alien Queen and it’s a fuzzed Spaced Rock odyssey filled with sludgy guitar tones, classic blues rock sounds and trippy sense of surrealism at times. Moving between the Space Rock sounds of Monster Magnet and bringing a more roots driven style of Stoner Rock this is quite similar to All Them Witches. Though, Void Commander experiments more with their FUZZ PEDAL outlook on this album with tons of sublime reverb and amplifier feedback which comes across superbly well within the early stages of the album on tracks such as To The Grave, Sweet Depression and Dyke Blues. 

The lead vocals from Bobbie have a classic Doom/Stoner Rock feel with Linus providing confident backup vocals when the time calls for it. The album does go for a slight detour into Americana or Southern Rock on the stunning second track Sweet Depression which has a wholesome Blues Rock identity. Some very cool sounding harmonica and laid-back guitars lead the way with Void Commander still playing a great style of Psych Stoner Rock along the way. 

Third track Dyke Blues continues with that style of music with a Seventies Classic Hard Rock identity coming through with the spiky and rebellious lyrics which shows that Void Commander are bringing a LYNYRD SKYNYRD and AEROSMITH style of music to the album. Some fantastic slide guitars bring an aggressive Blues Rock/Fuzz Rock energy to the party.

The next few tracks of Bloodred Knight Alright, Alien Queen and Jam In C returns to the Cosmic/Stoner Rock threshold with a LOW & SLOW environment allowing the sludgy grooves being played all the way past ELEVEN on the AMPS. Waves of distorted Psychedelic Fuzz appear mostly within these tracks but Void Commander still plays that classic sounding Americana/Blues Rock style of music which becomes vastly atmospheric when the catchy harmonica appears within Alien Queen. The vocals are minimal on this part of the album but appear mostly within Jam in C with the band mostly playing their hearts out with their extended Psychedelic instrumental jams. 

The final track The Night Took My Name brings the album to an end in highly dramatic and DOOMED OUT fashion with a killer slow-paced track allowing the band once again to play some epic BLUES ROCK and slightly distorted Cosmic Stoner sounds. The later stages of the track becomes more fast-paced with Void Commander leaving you wanting to hear more from this excellent sonic based journey.

Alien Queen is an excellent album on all levels that should set Void Commander onto the right path into becoming more well known within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene. This is an album full  of outstanding tracks brimming with real imagination and intense energy throughout that is expertly produced and allows Void Commander to bring their own great style of Stoner Metal to the scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Alien Queen will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records and Interstellar Smoke Records from Friday 07th June 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Void Commander wield Blues & Stoner Rock on new LP "Alien Queen" out June 7, single "Sweet Depression" out now

Sweden’s history of top-notch stoner rock is a well known one, and the latest addition to the country’s legacy is trio Void Commander’s new album, “Alien Queen”. Their third album, the band dig ever deeper into their blues and classic rock sound, creating a hazy, cosmic journey that drifts and drawls just right. If Creedence Clearwater Revival time traveled to the future, got their hands on some extra fuzzy pedas, and lit up with All Them Witches, Void Commander would emerge from the smoke, harmonicas held high.

From the throbbing low-end groove of “To The Grave” to the laidback, tasty southern blues of “Sweet Depression”, Void Commander navigate their breadth of sound on “Alien Queen” locked-in and wholly committed to the sonic world they’ve created. 

Retro yet pushing their craft ever further, the band have created an album that oozes an easy confidence and undeniable identity front to back. Void Commander arrive on their flying saucer from the past to plant their flag in the murky stoner of today.

Their latest and final single, “Sweet Depression”, is out streaming May 3, and the full album “Alien Queen” lands June 7.

In the band's own words:

"Inspired by the mystique of space travels intertwined with the enigmatic allure of witchcraft and occultism, Alien Queen is more than just an album; it's an expedition across the sonic universe, designed for those who dare to explore the edges of Stoner Metal and Hard Rock.

Dive into the cosmic depths with Void Commander as we unveil our latest creation, Alien Queen. This stellar journey is brought to you by the combined forces of Majestic Mountain Records and Interstellar Smoke Label, ensuring an otherworldly auditory experience.”

Out June 7, 2024 (Digital, Vinyl) - Majestic Mountain Records & Interstellar Smoke Records

Void Commander is:

Bobbie - Vocals, Guitar

Jimmy - Drums

Linus - Bass

Tracklist:

1. To The Grave (7:46)

2. Sweet Depression (4:54)

3. Dyke Blues (3:22)

4. Bloodred Knight Alright (5:34)

5. Alien Queen (7:13)

6. Jam in C (8:17)

7. The Night Took My Name (5:45)

Void Commander Links:

Void Commander Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify
YouTube
Songwhip

Majestic Mountain Records Links:

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

Vinyl Links:

Majestic Mountain Records
Interstellar Smoke Records

Thanks to Good Boy PR for all of the info. 

Heavy Psych Stoner Rockers JUKE COVE Release New Song/Video For WAIT From Upcoming New Album

Juke Cove, a heavy psychedelic rock trio from Leipzig, Germany, drops an electrifying new single "Wait", offering the first impression of their upcoming album. 

"Wait" is a musical kaleidoscope, blending stoner, desert, and psychedelic rock. The song's narrative explores themes of stagnation and change, unfolding through mellow verses, a psychedelic transition, and fuzzed-out, melodic riffs that capture the emotional turbulence within. 

Watch here or below:

“Wait was inspired by the feeling of getting stuck in monotony, like being in a time loop. It’s how many of us might have felt during COVID times with all the stuff shut down but it’s also inspired by personal experiences of being stuck in a job (or relationship, place etc.) one doesn’t like or feel is right. So, often the initial feeling is to kinda accept the situation and wait. But then the frustration grows…” - says the band.

Juke Cove's unique fusion of psych rock, doom, stoner, grunge, prog rock, and punk has made them a standout in the heavy underground scene since their 2019 debut. Their 2021 album “Remedy” was released in collaboration with Interstellar Smoke Records. Since then, Juke Cove have played multiple shows in Germany and Poland, opening for King Buffalo, Weedpecker, Rotor, Valley of the Sun, Mars Red Sky, and Dopelord among others. Their new album will be released later in 2024 on Interstellar Smoke Records. 

Follow Juke Cove: 

Bandcamp: https://jukecove.bandcamp.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jukecove 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jukecove 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jukecove808 

Art & animation by Doomed Creations: https://linktr.ee/doomedcreations 

Thanks to Juke Cove for all of the information.

Weird Tales - Second Coming, Second Crucifixion (Album Review)

Release Date: September 01st 2023. Record Label: Interstellar Smoke Records. Formats: DD

Second Coming, Second Crucifixion: Tracklisting

 01 - Disgusting & Mean - 3:42

02 - Dead People's Shit - 6:40

03 - Undertaker - 6:26

04 - Krokodil Blues - 3:11

05 - Damned Lovers of the Swampire - 9:17

06 - Acid Lobotomy -9:34

Members

Dima - Guitar/Vocals

Kriss - Bass/Backup Vocals

Smoku - Drums/Backup Vocals

Review:

Polish Doom/Stoner Metallers Weird Tales release their seedy and gloomy new offering Second Coming, Second Crucifixion. An album that takes a more rebellious and edgier approach with their classic blend of Doom/Stoner Metal. The lyrics are quite full-on in places and feel like they’ve been doused in Psychedelic Acid overtones. The sludgy guitars move between classic grooves of Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard and KYUSS but with Weird Tales being perhaps playing a more surreal Acid Rock style.

Opening song Disgusting & Mean has the harsh sounds of the Doom/Stoner Metal underground but with a vastly understated Garage Rock attitude which soon morphs into heavier areas of Psychedelic debauchery and seedy guitars working superbly well with Dima’s Proto-Doom or Proto-Punk based vocals. A strong start to this effortlessly and superbly entertaining album.

Second song Dead People’s Shit carries on with the down-tuned Sabbathian sound with perhaps a unique sounding Noise Rock element appearing. The vocals seem more accustomed to a Post-Punk track than a Doom Metal song. However, the lyrics and warped cinematic grooves allows Weird Tales to remain part of the Doom Metal fraternity with a song that oozes chaotic menace when the more Psychedelic parts of the album appear. The song does allow Weird Tales the opportunity to play a non-stop style of sludgy extended guitar jams which have a classic Stoner theme towards the later stages of the track.

Third song Undertaker opens with a gloomy Speed Punk riff that allows Weird Tales to play a more stripped back style of music. The lyrics have a gloomy, rebellious and menacing creative style which draws the band closer into the Noise Rock and Post-Punk circles yet again but still remain essential Doom Metal quality to their music. Weird Tales are natural born storytellers on this album and this track ultimately proves this with sublime lyrics allowing this track to be one of the bleakest tracks on the album. The instrumental work becomes more daring with its violent and bombastic sound allowing the rhythm section to really stand out. 

Fourth song Krokodil Blues is a straight forward Doom/Stoner Metal number with that classic Punk-Rock attitude allowing the band to draw upon artists such as Alice Cooper and Church Of Misery. The song has echoes of Classic Hard Rock and screeching guitars which still sees Weird Tales still retain a small sense of Punk Rock and Noise Rock realism despite the DOOM & GLOOM theatrics of the whole album.

The final two tracks Damned Lovers Of The Swampfire and Acid Lobotomy is where Weird Tales venture into Prog Rock debauchery with the band playing a warped style of Acid Rock, Stoner Metal and what is perhaps is best described as LUCID FREE FLOWING DOOM Metal. The guitars have a more satanic quality to them especially on Damned Lovers Of The Swampfire. This is the bleakest, intense, heaviest, aggressive and most OUT THERE part of the album with Weird Tales becoming more comfortable with the demented and maddening style of first rate music they play here. 

Second Coming, Second Crucifixion is quite a surreal and nightmarish album where Weird Tales also offer an album where the “RIFF IS KING” and this album has a high amount of sublime riffs, grooves and extended jams which prove why the Polish Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene is so highly thought of. The album may have a raw sounding Garage Rock and Punk Rock attitude but the production values are exquisite that allows this album to be beautifully violent and loud throughout. 

Weird Tales have done themselves proud with this release. As Second Coming, Second Crucifixion deserves all the major praise and plaudits hopefully coming their way. This is an absolute joy to listen to.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Infecting Cells PR for the promo.

Second Coming, Second Crucifixion will be available to buy via Interstellar Smoke Records from Friday September 1st 2023.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weirdtalesband
Bandcamp: https://weird.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1SeaeUUSKSO0J1Y0WGKt5b?si=Okpj8lO7TZus9c__TgrSvQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weirdtales2137/
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@weirdtales2137

Psychedelic Doom Act Weird Tales Unleash New Single - "Krokodil Blues" From Upcoming New Album "Second Coming, Second Crucifixion"

The final single is about drugs, and specifically - opiates. As Lemmy once said: "Heroin must be wonderful, cause lots of my friends died for it". Can you imagine having your arm and leg rotting and falling off, and the only thing you can think of is another dose of the poison that's responsible for it? 

Listen to Lemmy kids - don't touch that shit! Do speed instead!

Listen!

We are the ones who use

Dazed and confused

Purgatory of living fast

All the things you know are already past

And it's hard to explain

And you have to obey

When the drug talks to you

It leaves no choice I’m warning you

Listen!

Flesh rotten down to the bone

Cut it off or you’ll be gone

Vein is running away

Another shot - another day

And it's hard to explain

And you have to obey

When the drug talks to you

It leaves no choice I’m warning you

Listen

Lyrics by Dima
Music by WEIRD TALES
Mixed by Smoku
Produced by WEIRD TALES
Mastered by Nebula Studio

Connect with Weird Tales:

https://weird.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/weirdtalesband/
https://instagram.com/weirdtalesband?igshid=wtwhwxlxhl69
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-38mViA1wQrP2QLPBaZLg

Connect with Interstellar Smoke Records:

https://interstellarsmokerecords1.bandcamp.com/
https://interstellarsmokerecords.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Interstellar-Smoke-Records-101687381255396/
https://instagram.com/interstellar.smoke.label?igshid=n7qwce5lvevs

Cavern Deep: Part II - Breath (Album Review)

Release Date: July 14th 2023. Record Label: Interstellar Smoke Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Part II - Breach: Tracklisting

1.Breach 07:22

2.Primordial Basin (feat. Susie McMullan) 08:05

3.A World Bereaved 08:13

4.Skeletal Wastes (feat. Johannes Behndig) 06:56

5.Sea of Rust 07:06

6.The Pulse (feat. Susie McMullan) 06:05

Review:

Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metallers Cavern Deep return with their new album Part II - Breach is an album that revels within it’s Lovecraftian lore with a more powerful style of Prog Rock that was only hinted briefly on their acclaimed 2021 self titled debut release. This album is more about Psychedelic vibrant energy with a slightly darker style of Mastodon-esque sludgy sounds appearing within the gloomier elements of the record. This is a concept album exploring the Archaeologist's journey who featured on their debut album.

Opening track Breach perhaps takes a Crack The Skye approach but Cavern Deep plays that classic Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal energy that so many great bands have used as well. The music is atmospheric and full of subtle cinematic Psychedelic touches that moves between the finer levels of the Doom/Stoner Metal mythology being played at a great pace. There’s a world-building environment to this album which starts off within this excellent track. Add the epic vocals and Cavern Deep play a subtle style of thrilling Doom/Stoner Metal grooves that retain a haunting energy to them.

Second song Primordial Basin features Susie McMullan of Brume fame who brings an ethereal presence to the album with her delicate vocals that ride the Post-Doom world with touches of Alt Metal imagery behind them. The music from Cavern Deep becomes slightly gothic and more emotional but there’s still epic moments of pure aggressive Doom/Stoner Metal energy even when the music changes into a Post-Metallic sound. 

Third song A World Bereaved opens with Ambient sounds before the fabulous vocals appear allowing Cavern Deep to explore sounds inspired by YOB and Pallbearer. I maybe totally wrong with this one but I can hear a twinge of Type O Negative energy throughout this track. The bleak and nihilistic vision of the lyrics and the stripped back approach of how the music is delivered allows this to be one of the most interesting and standout parts of the album. The music is unapologetically slow and allows the listener to become more aware with the ambient and atmospheric surroundings being played around them. 

Fourth song Skeletal Wastes sees the band team up with Sarcophagus Now member Johannes Behndig for a more theatrical and adventurous ride into the darker realms of Cavern Deep’s creative psyche. The instrumental work is impressive yet again with gloomy guitars and prog metal exploration on the more heavier parts of the track. Things do become more Psychedelic on the second half with Cavern Deep adding trippy glitches and ambient sounds that feels like a different band is playing but allows the band to explore the Cosmic energy further that appeared on their debut release. 

The final two songs Sea Of Rust and The Pulse (feat Susie McMullan) are less theatrical than the other tracks on the album. This time sees Cavern Deep focus upon playing classic sounding Doom Metal grooves with a heavy reliance on Prog Rock/Metal tricks of the trade mostly on Sea Of Rust. I absolutely adored the “QUIET vs LOUD” dynamic of this part of the album. As the band know when to explore the harsher aspects of their music and when to pull things back for a more uplifting and hopeful sound which they do the most on the outstanding final track The Pulse. 

Part II - Breach is a major step-up in quality for Cavern Deep compared to their debut album. As this album has a much deeper and observed creative narrative that allows the band to play haunting and original sounds of their own that brings a fresh adventurous spirit to the Doom/Stoner Metal scene. 

If there is a Part III then it has a lot to live upto. As this album could be Cavern Deep’s most defining release to date. Outstanding. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Cavern Deep for the promo.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Psychedelic Doom Act Weird Tales reveal artwork for upcoming album - "Second Coming, Second Crucifixion"

Like a stab between the eyes, Polish Warsaw trio WEIRD TALES will deliver their outrageous new full length album on September 1st via Interstellar Smoke Records.

"Second Coming, Second Crucifixion" consists of six new tracks - 40 minute riff based dance music for psychopaths.

On their most extraverted work to date, WEIRD TALES are manifesting disappointment in humanity, friendship and love. Hatred from the deepest abyss of the heart is mixed up with the creepshow stories about schizos, drug addicts and slaughter.

Starting as a stoner doom band, they incorporated proto-punk, psychedelic and noise to their music and amplified it with narcotic psychosis. Now they put it to your face straight from hell!

Harsh guitars, rapid, vigorous drums and dirty bass will fall on your head like a storm. Filled with dark psychedelic vocals and filthy lyrics it brings sardonic fun to all fans of heavy music, who are disappointed with life.

WEIRD TALES bio:

Doom power trio from Warsaw, formed in 2015. The Band consists of Dima (guitar, lead vocal), Kriss (bass, back vocal) and Smoku (drums, back vocals).

WEIRD TALES is riff worship driven by narcotic psychosis. Sick compositions and grooves stitching together riff stabs, tectonic-shifting rhythms, hypnotic melodic verses, hazy, acid-soaked interludes and psychoactive guitar soloing that eventually congeal into a Sabbath-worshiping hoe-down.

The band have released 1 Full-Length album and 3 EP’s, with the most recent - “Y'all Motherfuckers Forgot 'Bout Good Ol' Son of a Bitchin' Blues“ and live-in-studio record “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die“ having been released in 2021.

WEIRD TALES is known for varied music presented on each release and raw,cenergetic live performances. If anyone could capture a bad trip, that would be it.

New full length album “Second Coming, Second Crucifixion” will be released 01.09.20223 via Interstellar Smoke Records.

WEIRD TALES shared stages with such well known acts like Church of Misery, Bongzilla, Belzebong, Dopelord and Spaceslug and performed at festivals Electric Meadow, Gruzilla and Low Gravity.

The band tours frequently over Poland and Europe and played in Germany, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia

Check Out Singles from the upcoming album:

"Swampire" official video: https://youtu.be/n9pIQWs6drI
"Undertaker" lyrics video: https://youtu.be/WGEcWSoPrcw
"Disgusting & Mean" tour video: https://youtu.be/s8QiyQpcQNM
"ZZ" live studio video: https://youtu.be/uaK_Yk4GxCQ

Releases:

2017 - two EP’s “WEIRD TALES” and “SHINY VOID”
2019 - debut full length album “Hell Services Cost a Lot”
2021 - concept EP “Y'all Motherfuckers Forgot 'Bout Good Ol' Son of a Bitchin' Blues“
2021 - live studio recording “ZZ”
2023 – full length “Second Coming, Second Crucifixion”

Connect with Weird Tales:

https://weird.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/weirdtalesband/
https://instagram.com/weirdtalesband?igshid=wtwhwxlxhl69
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-38mViA1wQrP2QLPBaZLg

Connect with Interstellar Smoke Records:

https://interstellarsmokerecords1.bandcamp.com/
https://interstellarsmokerecords.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Interstellar-Smoke-Records-101687381255396/
https://instagram.com/interstellar.smoke.label?igshid=n7qwce5lvevs

Moonstone - Growth (Album Review)

Release Date May 17th 2023. Record Label: Galactic Smokehouse / Interstellar Smoke Records. Formats: CD/DD

Growth: Tracklisting

1.Harvest 02:40

2.Bloom 07:46

3.Sun 08:01

4.Night 05:04

5.Lust 06:16

6.Emerald 06:12

Review

Growth is the new from Doom/Stoner Metallers Moonstone and it’s a different record compared to their 2021 release 1904. Moonstone have changed into a more Psychedelic band compared to that release. Growth has a more transcendent metal approach with influences such as YOB and Pallbearer coming into the mix. There’s a more adventurous sound to this album with Moonstone wisely merging elements of Post-Metal, Heavy Psych, Prog Rock, Doom Metal and Stoner Metal. 

Growth has an array of different QUIET vs LOUD moments of emotionally charged music with Moonstone having a Cosmic feel to their music. The opening songs of Harvest and Bloom showcase that Post-Whatever dynamic with vocals that are full of SORROW and have a DRONE quality to them. The music is cautiously optimistic at times but comes alive when Moonstone brings a more sombre attitude to the heavy grooves that have a hint of melody to them.

Becoming ever more DOOM based on the songs that follow especially on Sun, Night and Lust that allows Moonstone play a more ethereal style of Prog Doom/Stoner Metal with flashes of Cosmic Metal and Occult Doom slowly appearing. The instrumental work is relentless with harsh sludgy sounds being the main order of business for Moonstone to bring new levels of DOOMED OUT HEAVINESS to their creative repertoire. 

The album has its fair share of sublime guitar solos that can be quite flashy at times but it works within the creative confinements that Moonstone have adapted for this album. Growth allows Moonstone to build a more dramatic world compared to their previous releases. The vocals do take some getting used to but they’re delivered with charm and conviction even when they have a more sinister feeling to them on tracks such as Bloom and Sun.

Growth is another winning and spellbinding album from Moonstone that showcases another brilliant band from the famed Poland underground Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal scene. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Growth is available to buy now on CD/DD from Galactic Smokehouse and Interstellar Smoke Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Risin Sabotage - MACABRE (Album Reveiw)

Release Date: May 02nd 2023. Record Label: Interstellar Smoke Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

MACABRE: Tracklisting

1.Abundance

2.Serpent

3.Silence Queen 03:26

4.Circus

5.Mentor 03:27

6.Loom

7.Forswear

8.Hum

9.Macabre 04:31

10.Earth

Members

I.Nediuzhyi - drums / vocals

V. Panchishko - guitar / vocals

V. Skorzhenko - bass

Review

Ukrainian Doom/Stoner Metallers Risin Sabotage new album MACABRE is an album created and forged by the events of the last few years. Written during COVID-19 lockdown and mastered within the horrible events of the ongoing war within the country, the happy-go-lucky Doomstes of their earlier albums are a thing of the past. With Risin Sabotage focusing upon real life events and experiences, MACABRE has a different gloomy feeling than I anticipated.

Sure, the music is classic Doom/Stoner Metal with Risin Sabotage playing some mighty fine grooves along the way. However, the tone and message of the album matches upto the album title of MACABRE. The FUZZY beats are freaky and seedy with that classic SABBATHIAN approach heard within the excellent opening tracks of Abundance, Serpent and Silence Queen. The sounds have a fresh DIY approach which oozes 1970’s Doom Rock with that heavy FUZZ surround style of music that gives Risin Sabotage a vital creative presence throughout.

Shades of Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus reign supreme with a sludgy intricate and highly melodic style weaving it into the mix early on within the album, perhaps most notable on Serpent and Silence Queen. The band always allow themselves the opportunity to experiment with their sound by adding GUITAR REVERB and AMPLIFIER FEEDBACK effects which can become quite deafening in places though that’s a highlight if you’re looking for an album purely for HEADBANGING purposes.

The later stages of the album does see Risin Sabotage offer more darker sonic and fuzzed out passages with echoes of freaky Blues Rock and seedy Psychedelic extended jams with songs such as Circus, Mentor Hum, Macabre and Earth being the best examples where Risin Sabotage bring first class DOOMED OUT aggression to the underground masses.

MACABRE is the type of album I always hoped Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats would make. As Risin Sabotage have that similar type of vibe and sound. However, they have the creative vision to explore darker areas of Doomed Out Stoner Rock which is packed full of FUZZ ROCK goodness. The grooves are bleak and eerily delightful with Risin Sabotage bringing a cool and real life menacing perspective to the underground Doom/Stoner Metal scene.

This is a highly impressive release which will have listeners entertained for a long time to come.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Infecting Cells PR for the promo.

MACABRE is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Interstellar Smoke Records.

Links

Linktree | Facebook | BandCamp