Skyofant - Leaves (EP Review) and Red Sun Leaves (Mini Album Review)

Release Date: January 23rd 2026. Record Label: Sycophantastic Records. Formats: DD

Leaves - Tracklisting

1.Roots and Canopy 03:50

2.Mycelium March 02:33

3.Heart of the Woods 16:22

4.Leaves EP (Continuous Mix) 22:47

Members

Emil Moen (guitar, vocals)

Melvin Treider (drums)

Per Semb (guitar)

Sindre Haugen (bass)

Review

Leaves is the next chapter from Prog Rock/Stoner Rock collective Sykofant who released their celebrated debut EP Red Sun in 2025. These two EP’s were meant to be released as one full length album but was split into individual chapters. Just to make this even more confusing, the band have also released the actual full album of both EP’s as one individual album called Red Sun Leaves which you can listen to here and buy on CD, DD and Vinyl.

I’m focusing upon the Leaves EP as I reviewed Red Sun last year. The EP continues the same creative themes heard on that great record but with perhaps more Prog Rock and Ambient experimentation. There’s some deft “Jazz Rock” interplay between all of the three tracks contained on the release with sudden shifts into Post-Rock landscapes which gives this record a richer and fuller sound especially on tracks such as “Roots and Canopy” and Mycelium March. The sound can be quite understated with a classical sense of melody shifting quite suddenly into areas of Prog Rock which have a certain PINK FLOYD twist with echoes of ELDER along the way.

The lyrics flirt between folk rock and art rock sensibility before an aggressive Post-Stoner melody forms throughout the epic sixteen minutes final track of Embers. This is where the real magic happens with strands of Seventies Hard Rock allowing Sykofant to explore the Eighties Hard Rock and Heavy Metal scenes with absolute creative freedom which they play with real zest and musical originality of their own making.

As with the previous release, the final track is a full and continuous version of the whole EP which folks may want to delve into once in a while. 

Leaves is an exquisite release from Sykofant and I maybe cheating not reviewing both EP’s as the full album it’s intended to be. 

Leaves EP

If folks want my overall verdict of the album Red Sun Leaves then here it is:

Red Sun Leaves (Mini Album Review)

“Red Sun Leaves bring two extraordinary EP’s from Sykofant within one glorious package where you can some of the most inventive Prog Rock, Psych and Post-Rock melodies forming under the banner of Stoner Rock. There’s some freak-ish and jazzy musical interludes which sees Sykofant clearing aiming for bigger and better things with some epic storytelling forming within their lyrics and sublime vocal passages. 

WIth superb production values, Sykofant’s debut album shouldn’t be as good as this. I may enjoy the EP’s more as individual releases but at least the band are housing everything together as one complete album that’s a highly sophisticated release when everything is said and done.”

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Red Sun Leaves

Liar Thief Bandit - Diamonds (Album Review)

Date Released: September 16th 2022. Record Label: The Sign Records. Formats: CD/DD

Diamonds: Tracklisting

1.Peace With Disaster

2.Better Days 

3.Harm Reduction

4.Ain´t Fit To Live Here 

5.Diamonds (Are Made Under Pressure) 

6.The Art of Losing Battles 

7.Send Me Home

Review

Diamonds is the new mini-album from Swedish Power Trio Liar Thief Bandit. A band that describes themselves as Action Rock which encompasses areas of Hard Rock, Classic Rock and Stoner Rock but all done within the established Power Trio formation. There is also a slight Alternative modern feel on Diamonds that is a welcome addition to their overall sound. Add a Garage Rock element and Liar Thief Bandit are firing on all cylinders. 

Opening song Peace With Disaster is an aggressive and addictive song that evokes the spirit of Thin Lizzy with some top-notch classic twin guitar action. The psychedelic sounds are an added bonus with the band showing areas of classic heavy metal and rugged cllassic rock. The music is nicely balanced between different periods of Heavy Music with the spiky confident vocals being more suited to modern day Stoner Rock.

Second track Better Days carries on with the Thin Lizzy influence with bursts of 90’s Alt Rock energy for a song that tells a well crafted story. The vocals have a Punk Pop vibe but in a good way though it’s the music that saves the day. The lyrics are just OK for this track but they get the job done for one of the most “POP” based offerings on the album. Those damn melodic guitar solos are some of the best parts of this release.

Liar Thief Bandit continued this style of music for the remainder of the album across excellent tracks such as Harm Reduction, Am I Fit To Live Here, Diamonds (Are Made Under Pressure) and Send Me Home. Well just the whole damn album mentioned there. That’s a testament to this great band by creating memorable grooves that captures the spirit and essence of the last 45 years of the Hard Rock scene with a small underground vibe lurking in the background.

My only complaint about Diamonds is that it can be too repetitive in places but Liar Thief Bandit have more than enough charm to stand on their own creative merits. If you’re a fan of good old fashioned Hard Rock and Stoner Rock then these guys are seriously worth checking out.

Roll onto the next full length album from Liar Thief Bandit.

Excellent and Highly Recommended. 

Words by Steve Howe

Diamonds is available to buy now on CD/DD via The Sign Records.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter | Instagram

GRIEVING - Songs For The Weary (Mini Review) & Vinyl Release Details From Interstellar Smoke Records

Mini Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers GRIEVING new album Songs For The Weary is a slightly darker take on the Doom/Stoner Metal sound with a Heavy Occult Rock Twinge. The album moves between Hard Rock and Heavy Metal with GRIEVING showing supreme confidence from start to finish.

The vocals are clean based but with a menacing tone behind them when the album moves fully into the Occult Rock arena. The Gothic Tinged atmosphere allows GRIEVING to create a more satisfying and richer full sound with a dark Psychedelic undertone as well. The music is quite melodic in places but also shows a rather cool Muscular Groove that brings a more meatier and muscular tone especially on the 1st half of the album.

GRIEVING's debut album is a tad too short at under 29 minutes in length. A couple of more songs would have benefited this album greatly but that's my only minor complaint for this album.

Overall, Songs For The Weary is a gutsy adventure into the darker side of Stoner Metal with plenty of Doom Metal attitude to match.

Fantastic stuff.

Words by Steve Howe

Interstellar Smoke Records Vinyl Release

GRIEVING are following the footsteps of their forefathers, with sounds of doom accompanying them as they weave stories of devils, witches, ghouls and the endless capacity for evil in the heart of every human being. Singing songs for the weary, they grieve over this dying world.

The band includes members of Mentor, Furia, Thaw, ARRM, Gruzja, Las Trumien, J. D. Overdrive and Pure Bedlam.

“Songs for the Weary” tracklisting:

1. Crippled by the Weight of Powerlessness
2. This Godless Chapel
3. A Crow Funeral
4. Foreboding of a Great Ruin
5. Witch Hunt Eternal
6. Lucifer Wept

Line-up:

Artur Rumiński – guitars/bass/keys
Bartosz Lichołap – drums
Wojciech Kałuża – vocals

"Songs for the Weary" was recorded and mixed at Satanic Audio and was released on July 26th, 2021. The album will be released on transparent white vinyl on August 27th and can be purchased here: https://interstellarsmokerecords.bigcartel.com/

Connect with Grieving here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grieving666
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grieving.666/
Bandcamp: https://grieving666.bandcamp.com/

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

HOVEN - Mule (Mini-Album Review)

Release date: March 18^th 2016. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Mule – Tracklisting

1.Dawn Of A New Age 03:26

2.Crooked Eye 05:27

3.Unmade 01:37

4.The Mule Pt 1 02:52

5.The Mule Pt 2 08:58

Band Members:

Cal, Paul, Dan

Review:

Hoven are a band from County Durham, North East Of England who have just released their superb debut mini-album – Mule. A blend of Sludge, Doom and Stoner Metal with some cool touches of progressive metal appearing here and there.

It's quite a ballsy release as Hoven create sounds you may have heard elsewhere but they do it with such style and confidence you can't but help enjoying the whole volatile atmosphere the mini-album holds over you. One of the strengths of Hoven's music is their use of progressive riffs that brings back memories of Crack The Skye era – Mastodon with a few touches of NWOBHM.

I think all 3 band members all share lead vocal duties as it's very hard to tell who is the lead singer. It doesn't really matter as the vocals are superb through out. One thing I can definitely tell is that the vocals are heavily influenced by Layne Staley especailly on Crooked Eye. A progressive Sludge/Stoner/Grunge kind of song that has a hell of a lot going for it.

Mule is slightly let down by some amateurish production values at times but that's my only complaint as Hoven created an excellent record to showcase their talents. The standout song has to be the two part 11 minute title track – The Mule – that allows the band to show the world what they really can do when they put their minds to it. A progressive sludge metal journey that once again pays homage to Alice In Chains. Hoven include a cool subtle psychedelic vibe that I like to hear more of on future releases.

The mini-album may last only for 19 minutes but Hoven include a lot of great ideas and riffs for you to check out. Apparently these guys have plans to record their full length debut album. On this evidence, I will be looking forward to see how the band progress their sound on a full length record.

Until then enjoy this fine slice of Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal. Mule is a superb release. Check this out now....

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp