MASSASAUGA - These Ghosts Of Mine (Single Review)

Release Date: June 05th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

These Ghosts Of Mine - Tracklisting

These Ghosts Of Mine

Members

 

Conrad Lummus (Guitar / Vocals)

Adam Stewart (Drums)

Review

Doom/Fuzz/Stoner Rockers MASSASAUGA return with their latest single These Ghosts Of Mine which is from their forthcoming EP This Savage World. This glorious FUZZ HEAVY track follows a similar sound laid down on their excellent 2023 debut EP The Only Good Wizard Is A Dead Wizard. The sound is a little bit more bombastic which leaves the “DOOM ROCK” aspect slightly behind with a finely tuned Alt Rock and Desert Rock approach. Inspired by the likes of Black Sabbath, Royal Blood, Red Fang, FU MANCHU, Dozer and Truckfighters, this track is a fast-paced and pissed off musical adventure.

MASSASAUGA put their AMPS all the way past ELEVEN as the sound is constantly aggressive and very much in your face. There’s some flashes of Psychedelic energy heard in the back with a massive LOW & SLOW sound emitting from all corners. For a two piece combo, MASSASAUGA really does sound like they have more members in their ranks. T

he band do feel they’re aiming for a heavier STADIUM ROCK sized presence on this track alone which I feel they ultimately achieve. The song is gloriously entertaining from start to finish which taps right into the underground mentality where “LESS IS MORE” is played to pure perfection especially on the later stages of the song where the heaviest, aggressive and fastest melodies of the track appear. 

There’s a dominant Punk Rock vibe that holds everything together and I’m hoping the rest of the EP matches this great creative energy when it’s finally released at a later date. MASSASAUGA sure have the tools to make it big within the scene and it’s tracks like this that should make people take notice of what a great band they actually are. 

These Ghosts Of Mine rocks out like the proverbial BASTARD that the track really is. 

Awesome stuff!!! 

Words by Steve Howe

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MASSASAUGA - The Only Good Wizard Is A Dead Wizard (EP Review)

Release Date: June 14th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

The Only Good Wizard Is A Dead Wizard: Tracklisting

1.Witching Hour 03:54

2.The Only Good Wizard is a Dead Wizard 02:57

3.Interlude (No Peace in the Village) 04:53

4.Don't Be Scared of the Dark 02:58

5.Dungeon Crawler 06:20

6.The Sorcerer's Theme (Bonus Track) 02:46

Members:

Conrad Lummus

Adam Stewart

Review:

MASSASAUGA is a Doom/Stoner Rock band from Coventry, UK and their debut EP, The Only Good Wizard Is A Dead Wizard allows the record to qualify under the “DOES THIS DOOM” category and it most definitely does. As the band play a different blend of Doom/Stoner Rock with MASSASAUGA focusing on more modern day elements.

The EP is based on the following concept:

“Inspired by the Witch Trials of the 17th century, "The Only Good Wizard is a Dead Wizard" tells a tale of mass hysteria, ritual sacrifice and ancient magic. A series of events transpiring to create a divide between man and mage.”

MASSASAUGA adds a gloomy style of Fuzz and Hard Rock with Thrashier elements appearing on the opening song Witching Hour. I was expecting MASSASAUGA to be a Green Lung clone but I was pleasantly surprised to see MASSASAUGA offer an almost Gothic and Post-Punk vibe to their music with the tone and melody of the song. This is a killer song with eerie vocals, intelligent lyrics and wicked grooves make this one of the standout tracks on the EP.

Second song The Only Good Wizard Is The Dead Wizard is where the Post-Punk element perhaps takes centre stage but MASSASAUGA still remember they’re a Doom/Stoner Metal band first and this allows them to play an assorted and aggressive melody of Thrash based grooves. The production values are solid with a DIY approach which allows MASSASAUGA to try more exciting things with their music.

Third song Interlude (No Peace In The Village) is an instrumental piece that offers a semi-acoustic Doom Rock/Metal take with some freaky Psychedelic beats. This has a vintage 70’s Hard Rock attitude which can be quite jazzy in places. 

Fourth song Don’t Be Scared Of The Dark sees MASSASAUGA return to playing their vintage and freaky blend of Doom Metal. Add a funkier groove and more occult based lyrics then MASSASAUGA offer another one of the EP’s standout tracks. This is perhaps the most “fun” song on the album as the band drew influence from bands such as Sisters Of Mercy and The Cult on this track alone. 

The final two tracks Dungeon Crawler and The Sorcerer’s Theme become more Thrash based yet again but still offering huge amounts of Stoner based grooves with Dungeon Crawler being the most aggressive and heaviest track on the EP.

MASSASAUGA have delivered the goods with The Only Good Wizard Is A Dead Wizard. Taking bold creative risks for a wholly satisfying release that shows a band with huge potential for their future releases. Check this out when you can. It’s seriously that good.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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