Release Date: June 27th 2025. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Arcane Desert Rituals Vol. 1 - Tracklisting
1.Rivers Of Death 10:11
2.The Empty Hand pt.1
3.Sabbatum Sanctum
4.Ariadne, The Serpent Witch
Members
Giuseppe Guarini: guitars/vocals
Francesco Pensato: bass
Piero Schiavone: drums/synth
Special guests:
Jana Maista: vocals on “Ariadne, The Serpent Witch” and backing vocals on “Sabbatum Sanctum
Review
Italian Psych/Fuzz/Doomsters King Potenaz returns with Arcane Desert Rituals Vol .1 which once again explores the heavy down-tuned and fuzzed up waters of Doom and Stoner Metal. The influences ranging from Black Sabbath, SLEEP, Electric Wizard and KYUSS are once again included but this time round King Potenaz delves further and heavier into the Occult Metal aspect of their sound. There’s a sense of modern day viciousness heard within the Guiseppe Guarini’s majestic raw sounding vocals which becomes quite Electric Wizard obsessive towards the end with flashes of modern day Stoner Rock surroundings before the album is finished.
With a pure DOOMED OUT essence of Seventies Proto-Metal that’s built around a heavier Sludge Metal backdrop where the music is dramatically different with the production values and recording techniques compared to their 2023 acclaimed debut album Ghost Rider. There is a sense of Classic Hard Rock melody that merges with the gloomy synths that drummer Piero Schiavone provides superbly well especially within the closing stages of the epic opening track Rivers Of Death.
Rivers Of Death perfectly captures the SONIC and PSYCHEDELIC essence of King Potenaz at their creative peak where they conjure up DEVILISH grooves and trippy DISTORTED landscapes to build upon their WEEDIAN narrative. The music is played at a perfect slow-to-mid pace which becomes more atmospheric as time passes by.
King Potenaz aims for pure AMPLIFIER heaviness on the second track The Empty Hand Pt.1 which reminds me of fellow underground doomsters Acid Mammoth in many ways. This track has a wicked sense of Psychedelic deception with the gloomy synths and Shamanic Acid Rock vibes projected from Guiseppe’s vocals and pounding rhythm section courtesy of Francesco Pensato on Bass and Piero Schiavone on Drums. The band include a classic style of GRUNGE to appear and merge with the distorted Sludge Rock elements for a track that has a timeless feel to it all. Long drawn out DESERT ROCK sounds converge with the sudden shift of Fuzzy Stoner Metal urgency with an APOCALYPTIC quality showing through the lyrics.
Three of the four tracks contained here run between ten minutes to thirteen minutes in length with King Potenaz honing their creative and progressive skills with sublime moments of pure LOW & SLOW heaviness which is completely stripped back allowing the music to offer the listener plentiful moments to ROCK OUT and LOSE THEMSELVES in.
Third track Sabbatum Sanctum is the more OCCULT based track with King Potenaz incorporating a surreal vision to their music which results in DISTORTED PARANOIA with how the music is delivered. The guest vocals from Jana Maista (Bass/Vocals from MATER INFECTA) is a great touch with the song becoming quite surreal which instantly reminds me of a classic Alexander Jodorowsky film. The song is perhaps the most frightening and droned out part of the record which is also my favourite track from the band to date.
The final track of Ariadne, The Serpent Witch once again sees Jana Maista provide exquisite vocals once more with King Potenaz fully committed to their Drone Metal persona with slowly played instrumental notes and long drawn out passages which has vibes of SUNN 0))) and BONG at times.
However, King Potenaz settled for their trademark Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal grooves. Add a sense of world weary and gloomy Post-Rock based synths that creates a desolate world that becomes more destructive when the full-on and aggressive WEEDIAN melodies appear. Though the track can be too long in places running nearly fourteen minutes in length, the overall journey makes this the other standout track on the album.
Arcane Desert Rituals Vol. 1 is boosted by the immense talents of Marc Urselli who mixed and mastered the record. Marc Urselli released the fantastic Ramones Redux and SteppenDoom projects recently to great acclaim within the Stoner Metal underground scene. He’s done a great job here by providing a raw aesthetic for the band to entice new listeners with. Credit must also goto Stefano Manca who recorded this great album and keeps everything real and grounded with how he captured the band at their most primal.
This is also another first class release from Majestic Mountain Recordings who are now becoming one of the most important labels the scene has to offer next to the other great labels of the scene.
However, this is King Potenaz's chance to shine where they have delivered a record of outstanding quality that leaves their debut album in the dust with more sinister, heavier, exciting and pulse-pounding grooves that demand your complete and full undivided attention.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.
Arcane Desert Rituals Vol. 1 is available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records
Links
https://www.facebook.com/KingPotenaz666
https://www.instagram.com/kingpotenaz666
https://kingpotenaz.bandcamp.com
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