Teleost - ATAVISM (Album Review)

Release Date: December 01st 2025. Record Label: Inverted Grim Mill Recordings. Formats: CD/DD

ATAVISM - Tracklisting

1.Volcano 12:20

2.Bari 09:59

3.Life 08:21

4.Djinn 08:14

5.Canyon 11:48

Lineup

Leo Hancill - Baritone, Vocals, Guitars

Cat Redfern - Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Metal Duo Teleost debut album ATAVISM is a heavy destructive style of music with the band forging a slightly industrial based sound set against a sludgy and droned out effect. The album has a distinctive NOISE ROCK aesthetic especially within the production techniques used to capture Teleost's intense musical delivery. The band are quite fond of creating AMPLIFIER FEEDBACK and heavy reverb which is used throughout the album. 

Teleost take influences from the likes of CONAN, THE MELVINS and BORIS but they also show their tender side which moves slightly into Post-Rock or Shoegaze territory which appears within the final stages of the brilliantly chaotic opening track of Volcano.Before that, Volcano allows Teleost to sharpen their Drone/Doom Metal landscapes with some great vocals from Leo Hancill appearing here and there. The song is quite slow at the best of times but Teleost do play a faster style of music for the majority of the track.

There’s some SONIC experimentation being added that allows the album to have a monolithic quality within the heaviest and harshest environments that Teleost deliver with on the other tracks such as Bari, Life and Djinn that all explores the more seedier and distorted levels of Doom/Stoner Metal. There’s an ice cold efficiency to how Teleost deliver their music which channels a classic style of Doom Metal with that epic INDUSTRIAL sound coming mostly from Cat Redfern’s excellent drumming. Though Leo provides some haunting and downright scary melodies on guitars with his vocals once again impressing me even further on the later stages of the album.

If you’re a dedicated follower of the LOW & SLOW style of music with an air of distorted progression then Teleost have delivered a record that will impress you from the very start. The sound and overall delivery of ATAISM can be quite fractured and violent in places but it’s the musical journey that Teleost takes you upon that make this such a standout album. The album can be beautifully melodic with long drawn out Psychedelic passages with hints of Space Rock making everything quite surreal but quite hopeful as well.

ATAVISM is a highly original album with Teleost developing their own great style of music that deserves to be heard by the widest audience possible within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy ATAVISM now on CD/Digital via Inverted Grim Mill Recordings.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp

Teleost - Three Originals (EP Review)

Release Date: January 03rd 2025. Record Label: Inverted Grim-Mill Recordings. Formats: DD

Three Originals - Track Listing:

Forget

Ether

Throwaway

Members

Catherine Redfern - Drums/Vocals

Leo Hancill  - Guitar/Vocals

Review

Three Originals is the new EP from Drone/Doom/Stoner Metal Duoe Teleost and I’m going to start the review with the fantastic description of their own music they sent to me. As it best describes what to expect:

“We use a baritone guitar strung with a bass string tuned to B (same as a 5 string bass). We then run into 3 amps: lead, rhythm and bass. This way we achieve a massive tone with a breadth and weight often missing in other two-piece bands. On top of this we add ethereal, folkish vocals which gives the music an incantatory feel, reminiscent of bands such as Om and Nadja.”

Teleost avoids the usual cliches of drug references of the Doom and Stoner Metal scene by drawing influences from the world of Folk, Prog and Classical music. Though, you can’t tell with the first rate musicianship they play here. As Teleost firmly belongs in the LOW & SLOW division of music. This is a spellbinding mix of different low & slow styles with the band showcasing a wide range of epic AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and PSYCHEDELIC instrumental passages within each of the superb tracks that make up Three Originals.

The music is constantly played at a superb slow-to-mid pace which allies Catherine’s drums to build up a world shattering rhythm and Leo’s guitars are built for destroying planets with it’s seedy tone and unapologetic delivery. The psychedelic Post-Rock and Ambient beats are a cool touch and I can see why Teleost mention Om and Nadja as influences. However, they can easily add bands such as SUNN O))), UFOMAMMUT, CONAN and SLOMATICS into the mix. As their music is subtly heavy on the COSMIC side of things perhaps mostly within the excellent opening track Forget.

Second track Ether is a mixture of gloomy Drone/Doom textures that builds upto an exquisite destructive rhythm before transforming into a subtle Post-Rock style of music in the middle. Teleost switch back to a heavier Sludgier sound with echoes of Leo’s long drawn out vocal chants. 

Third track Throwaway is a mixture of sounds played on the previous two tracks but with emphasis on distorted feedback and proggy psychedelics whilst keeping away from the drug-influenced creative choices that usually beset the underground scene. Teleost seems to thrive experimenting and diverting peoples expectations and they deserve full credit for doing something uniquely different at times. My only complaint is the song suddenly ends and may peharps an unsatisfactory conclusion for some but this is still a great track to close the EP with.

Three Originals is a great record to open 2025 with that offers listeners a wholly original and brilliantly unexpected ride into the UK Drone/Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene. 

More please…..

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Teleost for the promo.

Three Originals will be available to buy on Digital Download via Inverted Grim-Mill Recordings from Friday 03rd January 2025.

Links

LinkTree | BandCamp

Tripping Haze Ceremony - Indicat (Album Review)

Release Date: September 13th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Indicat - Track Listing:

1.Indicat 06:37

2.Sabbath’s Bell 09:22

3.Red Eyes Downer 09:07

4.Curse Of The Witches’ Grave 03:42

5.Bed Tundy 09:27

6.Religious Rider 10:54

Line-up:

Epulyard - Guitars/Vocals

Sara - Bass

Lem - Drum

Review

Indicat is the new album from Malaysian Doom/Stoner Metallers Tripping Haze Ceremony (THC) who lay on the Psychedelic Fuzzy Amplifier Reverb from the very start of the record with homages to bands such as Black Sabbath, Church Of Misery, SLEEP and WEEDEATER being used as a great reference. The album delightfully sees a seedy and sadistic attitude starting to form within the epic opening title track of Indicat.

The downtuned sludgy instrumental parts are played at a subtle slow pace with Sara’s powerful bass playing creating an electric atmosphere for Lem’s Drums dictate the action and Epulyard’s muscular and aggressive guitars lead the music into a modern violent landscape of hazy WEEDIAN groove. The excellent choice of audio samples is what gives Indicat such an unpredictable quality where you can see the Church Of Misery reference come through.

Second track Sabbath’s Ball opens with a heavier and faster style of music which oozes that classic SABBATHIAN sound. The music is delightfully creepy with raw-sounding production values allowing THC to demonstrate their love for all things FUZZ and DOOM based. There’s a slight nod to Electric Wizard with some of the lyrics and Epulyard’s vocals may seem laid back but he brings a sinister persona to the party. The majority of the songs on Indicat are quite long but THC keep things moving along at a very cool pace with their sublime creative choices of downtuned progressive sludgy passages which can be quite melodic in places without giving up its epic DOOM METAL surroundings.

The production values are quite sparse indeed with the whole surroundings allowing the record to feel that it was recorded in the 1970’s and being discovered by today’s modern audience. The album still sounds superb and makes you buy into THC’s overall creepy and demented WEEDIAN persona. The album was recorded live and gives Indicat a more authentic and grimy sound which only becomes heavier and sinister on the other parts of the record.

Third track Red Eyes Downer finds the right balance of Occult Doom Metal dominance and the low tuned energy of Stoner Metal with a grimy Sludge Metal attitude starting to form. The music is played at a devilish slow-to-mid pace but THC excel conjures up moments of classic sounding AMPLIFIER DISTORTED mayhem that add superb elements of OCCULT HYSTERIA to the mix.

Fourth track Curse Of The Witches Grave is a gloomy instrumental Occult Doom number which feels inspired by GOBLIN and the works of Dario Argento. It’s a very cool and moody piece which feels quite different to the rest of the album but works overall within the whole creative narrative for Indicat.

The final two tracks of Bed Tundy and Religious Rider sees THC go all out with the heaviest, freakiest and aggressive sounds of the record. Uncomfortable audio clips generate the perfect and unsettling mood for Bed Tundy with THC playing those long drawn out Sludge/Stoner based AMPLIFIER grooves that’s spiced with extra demonic heaviness. Religious Rider allows THC to end the album on a downbeat and seedy note which is how Indicat started.

Tripping Haze Ceremony have released a great album that portrays the perfect picture of the seedy underbelly of the underground Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene that I’ve been missing for the last few months.

Indicat is an absolute blast to listen from start to finish and I loved every twisted seedy thing about the album. If Tripping Haze Ceremony isn't on your radar then they should be after this outstanding album.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Green Hog - Fuzz Realm (Album Review)

Release Date: June 20th 2024. Record Label: The Swamp Records. Formats: CD/DD

Fuzz Realm: Tracklisting

Ritual

Voice Of The Forest

Sounds Of Magic

Escape On The Wheels

In The Midst Of The Bong

Nightmare Creatures

Morning Dew

Phantom

Members

Ronan - Drums

Mike - Guitars

Ivan - Vocals/Bass/Guitars

Review

Fuzz Realm is the new album from Doom/Stoner Metallers Green Hog who have released an impressive discography since forming in 2020. This is their fourth full length album and it sees the band venture into the heavier depths of the FUZZ METAL sound with moments of Doom Metal, Sludge Rock, Stoner Metal and a whole lot of creepy amplifier reverb and multiple levels of sonic feedback throughout the album.

The vocals are clean based but with a sideline in slightly demonic fare with the sludgy OCCULT rock vibes which evokes memories of bands such as Church Of Misery and Dopethrone with the sinister sound effects and vocal samples that appear on the album especially on tracks such as Ritual and Voice Of The Forest.

The whole mood echoes one of 1970’s Classic Horror Movies with subtle overtones from the B Horror Movies Scene in general. Doing a similar creative theme as early-era Uncle Acid but with perhaps a slightly menacing purpose. The sludgy and down-tuned FUZZY extended passages have an off-kilter sound running amok through the production and recording techniques used for the album.

This allows FUZZ REALM to transform into a vibrant and highly kinetic affair with the music becoming more aggressive and dominated by an unsettling WEEDIAN approach which gives the album an intelligent and self aware style of darkly comedic humour that adds spice the whole surroundings of the entire record.

Other great tracks to check out are: Escape On The Wheels, Nightmare Creatures, Morning Dew and Phantom. Green Hog play some of the wildest and heaviest sounds on these tracks alone which once again will appeal to fans of Black Sabbath, Church Of Misery, Electric Wizard and Acid Mammoth.

If you love FUZZ ROCK amped upto the MAX with sinister intentions and down-tuned groovy goodness then FUZZ REALM is the place to be with GREEN HOG delivering their best album to date which should cause a stir within the Doom/Stoner Metal community and perhaps especially with the Doom Charts Crew.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to The Swamp Records for the promo.

Fuzz Realm will be available to buy on CD/DD via The Swamp Records from Thursday 20th June 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

VOIDOZER - Silence Is Great (Single Review)

Release Date: June 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Silence Is Great: Tracklisting

Silence Is Great

Band Members

Nicolas - vocals

Stéphane - Bass

Florian - Drums

Matthieu - Guitars

Review

Silence Is Great is the debut single from Post-Doom/Post-Sludge collective VOIDOZER with the band focusing on building Progressive sounding melodies and rhythms which has a sense of resemblance to bands such as Monolord, Mastodon, CONAN, Windhand and Crowbar. The track takes its time building into a heavy sludge fuelled charge with ice cold vocals from Nicolas allowing a dramatic atmospheric flow to settle down.

The song lasts for over twelve minutes and VOIDOZER show echoes of Post-Punk influence before exploding into harsh growls and subtle down-tuned sludgy guitars. The Post-Doom aspect of the track is amped up for more dramatic levels before the band returns to their melodic Psychedelic and Post-Punk inspired creative charge.

The sound is aggressively raw and quite powerful at the same time with the mean sounding bass from Stéphane being one of my favourite aspects for the whole track. The bass lines are meaty and thick which propels the song to the heavier grooves to appear which is where Florian and Matthieu impress the most on Drums and Guitar duties respectively.

Silence Is Great stands out from the crowd with its poetic use of multi-layered vocals and emotionally charged lyrics which all builds upto a hugely exciting finish when a “LOUD WALL OF NOISE” is delivered within the final few moments of the track.

SIlence Is Great is a first rate debut single from VOIDOZER and I’m genuinely looking forward seeing what the guys have in store for us on their debut release.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Voidozer for all of the info.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Voidozer
Bandcamp: https://voidozer.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@voidozer
Spotify: https://shorturl.at/hLNAc

Dopethrone - Broke Sabbath (Album Review)

Release Date: May 24th 2024. Record Label: Totem Cat Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Broke Sabbath: Tracklisting

1.LIFE KILLS YOU 03:26

2.TRUCKSTOP WARLOCK 05:35

3.A.B.A.C. 07:17

4.SHLAGHAMMER 05:04

5.ROCK SLOCK 08:31

6.UNIWORSE 04:23

7.SULTANS OF SIN 05:04

Review

Sludge Metallers Dopethrone return after a lengthy six year absence with their new album Broke Sabbath which is a grimy, nihilistic and pissed off take on their normal blend of down-tuned Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal. As the title suggests there’s a slight influence of Black Sabbath in the air but this album is more closely linked to the likes of Electric Wizard, THOU, Bongzilla and Weedeater with the seedy sounds that appear on the album.

Dopethrone are wildly chaotic and offers many unexpected movements of Sludge Metal on this album which we haven’t heard from the band before. There’s raw sounding production techniques used throughout the album that allows Dopethrone to achieve maximum WEEDIAN effect which gives their music a more violent feel.

Opening track Life Kills You is a fast-paced and aggressive affair with the downbeat energy appearing within the lyrics and vocals delivered through the track. The sound is helped by a buoyant and nasty soundclip that gives the track a more self aware feeling whilst allowing Dopethrone to become masters of their sinister domain. The instrumental sounds are down-tuned and quite vicious but there’s some fantastic riffs waiting to be heard which the band conjure up more despairing instrumental jams.

Second track Truckstop Warlock has a creepy CHURCH OF MISERY essence with its bass heavy atmosphere merged with the AMPLIFIER WORSHIP style of downtrodden Stoner Metal making a welcome appearance. The vocals are harsh and coarse but always brutally effective. The SABBATHIAN experience only tells half the story with Dopethrone slowly creating their own definitive style of music with the sludgy and psychedelic guitars leading the way.

Third track A.B.A.C. is one of the heaviest and nastiest tracks on the album but given a slightly demonic and satanic touch. Dopethrone adds a slight Progressive sound where the music is dominated by long drawn out sludge metal grooves and devilish vocals conspiring for perhaps one of the best tracks that the band have written to date. The LOW & SLOW methodology of delivering punishing grooves works amazingly well with the raw sound that dominates the grimy landscape on this track and for the remainder of the album.

Dopethrone do play some classic Doom/Sludge Metal guitar shredding throughout various stages on the album which gives this album a more riff-centric sound even when they blend harsh Psychedelic and WEEDIAIN influences into the mix especially on tracks such as A.B.A.C, Shlaghammer and Rock Slock.

Fourth track Shlaghammer sees Dopethrone continue to play and perfect their own unique style of LOW & SLOW sounds with a punishing underground essence which allows their music to become more DOOM & GLOOM obsessed but still with a healthy sideline in Sludge Metal aggression. There’s a mean creative energy that appears with Shlaghammer with moments of Droned Out Stoner Metal jams with the guttural vocals allowing Dopethrone to remain firmly in the darkness. 

The next few tracks of Rock Slock. Uniworse and Sultans Of Sin has moments of epic and maddening guitar shredding with the seedy Psychedelic grooves aligning themselves further to the harsh vocals and brutal lyrical content that are some of the heaviest and bleakest tracks on the album. However, there’s moments of great humour that appears here and there which still allows Broke Sabbath to be have a thrilling “FUCK IT” experience especially on Sultans Of Sin.

Broke Sabbath is Dopethrone most outlandish and one of their heaviest records to date that will keep their legion of fans brilliantly entertained for a very long time to come. As this is perhaps their best album in years. Awesome. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage for the promo.

Broke Sabbath is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Totem Cat Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

German Stoner Doomsters VAST PYRE Sign to Octopus Rising; First Single Out Now

Vast Pyre - German Stoner/Doom band signs with Octopus Rising to release their debut full-length album.

The band comments about the signing: "Folks, we're super stoked to unbolt the crate and ignite our very first outcome in cooperation with ARGONAUTA/OCTOPUS RISING. It's great news to have found a partner with whom we feel in good hands. We're looking forward to the future as a band and the partnership as well. BEHOLD THE NIGHTTIME."

Today also marks the release of a new single as a huge appetizer for the coming album. The track's title is "Focus Deceased," now available here: 

In the end of 2021 Försti (guitar) and Wally (drums, vocals) were in the mood and got together to jam some Stoner/Doom tunes from Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath, Sleep etc. and hanging out from time to time. Genre-specific, they knew what they wanted. After some sessions and finding the right sound, they concentrated on writing their own songs - a few ideas got discarded. Bit by bit, they extended their backline/equipment in the rehearsal room, because they needed to add more low-end to the guitar. In the end, there was a huge backline that drove their sound and they decided to not put in any bass-guitar as an instrument separately: they just wanted to make "guitar-only" music. 

Later, their friend Jonny (lead guitar) joined the band at the end of 2022. Henceforth, the songs were rearranged and fine tuned. In August 2023 Vast Pyre opened for the Festival "Burgbrand Open Air" and shared the stage with bands like EREMIT and INDIAN NIGHTMARE, to name just a few. That should be the only concert they played that year, because first they wanted to record/mix their stuff, what they eventually did from November 2023 to February this year.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/vast.pyre/
https://www.instagram.com/vast.pyre/
https://www.argonautarecords.com/

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for all of the details.