Megaton Communion - Three Of Cups (Album Review)

Release Date: September 11th 2026. Record Label: Black Doomba Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Three Of Cups - Tracklist

1.Evil Speak 03:43 video
2.Echoes in Time 04:52
3.Desert Centipede
4.Three of Cups
5.Depth
6.Embrace
7.The Hollow
8.Goddess
9.River Valley Queen

Members

Derrick – Guitar

Joe – Bass/Vocals

Ken Gosselin – Drums

Review

Desert Rock/Stoner Metallers Megaton Communion return with their second album Three Of Cups which allows the band to add a seedier and grungier style of music. The sound is still very distorted with a classic Nineties Hard Rock attitude that emerges very early on within the sublime opening track of Evil Speak. There is a great style of different influences appearing where you can hear musical vibes from the likes of Soundgarden, KYUSS, FU MANCHU and The Melvins. 

The whole sound has an aggressive layer of Fuzz Metal with some buoyant QOTSA and Truckfighters based Desert Rock swagger. Megaton Communion are in complete control creating their own great blend of gloomy sounds that become quite DOOM based with each passing song being played such as: Echoes Of Time and Desert Centipede. The band excel playing fast-paced music to the more doom rock orientated slow paced numbers which shows a wide range of different styles to appear.

Three Of Cups may be dominantly melodic but Megaton Communion allow themselves the time and freedom to go in a different musical direction where the sludgy instrumental sounds become more abrasive and refreshingly honest. The “DOOM & GLOOM” themes contained within the lyrics has a certain apocalyptical momentum especially towards the second half of the album.

Megaton Communion even added some TOOL-esque beatdowns and musical progressive beats to make this quite a mind expanding record still keeping with the grounded attitude that’s always been a great aspect of the band’s music. Perhaps not as riff heavy as their debut album but there’s more variety of great music that allows each band member to show their great musical skills from start to finish.

The stripped back production of the album is refreshingly clean and superbly real which allows  Megaton Communion to add real human emotion into their music and nothing is over played with Three Of Cups being superbly original in its own right.

Other standout tracks to check out are: Depth, Embrace, Goddess and the mighty final track River Valley Queen.

My final thoughts is that Megaton Communion have delivered a superbly addictive album that pays homage to the classic Nineties Hard Scene but adding a gritty modern day flavour into the mix that is the complete package if you’re a dedicated follower of THE MIGHTY RIFF!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Metal Devastation PR for the promo.

Three Of Cups is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Black Doomba Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Bleeding Antlers - Songs Of Praise (Album Review)

Release Date: August 22nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Songs Of Praise - Tracklist

1.The Devil of Mariazell

2.Meet me in the woods at midnight

3.Blue Jeans

4.When the Sun Bursts

5.The ghost of Oliver Reed

6.Fimbulwinter

7.Crooked Lines

Members

Simon Bismarck (Vocals)

Good Luke (Guitar)

Prince Ben (Bass)

Ghost Pete (Drums, BV)

Ren Ashlea (BV, Blue. Jeans)

Review

Songs Of Praise is the second album from Psychedelic Doom Metallers Bleeding Antlers and it’s not what I expected at all with the band adding levels of Stoner Metal, Groove Metal, Sleaze Rock and some unorthodox Alternative melodies into their music. Bleeding Antlers feel inspired mostly by the likes of Candlemass, Pallbearer and Type O Negative but that only tells a brief part of the story they develop throughout the album.

There’s some highly dramatic, over the top and superbly epic that comes across with each individual track that allows Bleeding Antlers to forge a classic Traditional Doom Metal sound before applying modern day soundscapes into the mix. The record is deliciously dark with the lyrics and excellent vocals delivered by Simon Bismarck with great backing vocals appearing from Ghost Pete and Ren Ashlea.

The Post-Gothic dynamics becomes one of the album's main strengths especially within the standout tracks of Meet Me In The Woods At Midnight and Blues Jeans which have an obsessive Folk Rock trajectory dominating almost everything being played. You can hear the Type O Negative influence taking hold as the DOOM & GLOOM sound becomes quite emotional with some sinister lyrics emerging from the darkness. The album is quite leftfield with the gloomy atmospherics and frenzied grooves that can be quite distorted which was another cool surprise when listening to the album.

Bleeding Antlers experiment with their sound once more with traces of Alt Metal, Industrial Rock, Gothic Rock and Post-Punk appearing which just adds a whole layer of SLEAZE on tracks such as: When The Sun Bursts, The Ghost Of Oliver Reed and Crooked Lines. There is also a great style of subversive humour that’s been added to this record despite the serious tone of the record. It's good to see Bleeding Antlers having fun and letting the listener in on the joke especially with the album title.

For folks not in the know. Songs Of Praise is a long running British TV Show which is best described below from Wikipedia:

“A religious programme that presents Christian hymns, worship songs and inspirational performances in churches of varying denominations from around the UK alongside interviews and stories reflecting how Christian faith is lived out.”

However, Bleeding Antlers are quite serious with their music and they deliver some intense and highly majestic Doom Metal melodies that bridges the gap between Classic, Traditional and Modern Day themes with first rate delivery. This allows Songs Of Praise to be a thrilling record that offers a high momentum of great grooves and spellbinding sounds from start to finish. 

Bleeding Antlers are the real deal and this record only proves this point time and time again.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Bleeding Antlers and Metal Devastation Radio PR for the promo.

Songs Of Praise is available to buy now on Digital Download.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Prepare for a cosmic journey with Sight of Theia's The Great Dreamer

Atlanta progressive metal outfit Sight of Theia is set to unleash their highly anticipated debut full-length album, The Great Dreamer, on September 4, 2026. This self-released masterpiece is packed with crushing riffs, intricate musicianship, and an immersive science fiction narrative that takes listeners on a cinematic journey through the depths of space, where humanity encounters an ancient nightmare beyond comprehension.

Originally founded by guitarist and primary songwriter Alex Buhlig, Sight of Theia has evolved through several lineup changes before solidifying its current roster with drummer Ricky Shenkman, guitarist Charles Von Kanel, and bassist Bill Pritchard. The band built a strong reputation across the Atlanta metal scene with their energetic live performances and their previous release, the Lighthouse EP. With The Great Dreamer, they embark on an ambitious new project, creating a concept album that intertwines the technical precision of progressive metal with emotional intensity. The addition of vocalist Haden Rider proved to be the missing piece, as he brought the record's story to life with his commanding vocal performance.

The result is a progressive metal experience that intricately balances technical musicianship with gripping storytelling, drawing inspiration from cosmic horror. As described by the band, “The Great Dreamer is Sight of Theia's cosmic horror themed debut album telling the story of astronauts that find Cthulhu in space.” Fans of Mastodon, Leprous, and Meshuggah will find plenty to sink their teeth into, as the band blends thunderous grooves, progressive arrangements, atmospheric textures, and haunting melodies into an unforgettable listening experience.

The tracklist showcases the exceptional talents of:

- Alex Buhlig – Guitars, Synths, Backing Vocals
- Charles Von Kanel – Guitars
- Haden Rider – Lead Vocals
- Bill Pritchard – Bass
- Ricky Shenkman – Drums, Backing Vocals

The album also features an impressive production team including:

- Mixed and Mastered by: Christoffer Borg
- Drum Engineering: John Douglass
- Guitar & Bass Editing / Bass Engineering: Alex Parra
- Vocal Editing: Corey Bautista
- Artwork: Sara Slick

With its compelling concept, towering musicianship, and expansive sonic landscapes, The Great Dreamer marks a bold first full-length statement from a band poised to make waves in the progressive metal underground. The album will be available worldwide on September 4, 2026.

Pre-Save the album here: Pre-Save
Bandcamp Pre-Order: Bandcamp

For fans of:

- Mastodon
- Leprous
- Meshuggah

About Sight of Theia:

Sight of Theia is an Atlanta-based progressive metal band that has been making waves in the underground scene with their energetic performances and intricate music. With a vision to explore cosmic horror through their sound, they have created a unique niche that resonates with fans of the genre.

Follow Sight of Theia:

Apple Music: Apple Music
Facebook: Facebook
Instagram: Instagram
Spotify: Spotify
YouTube: YouTube
Bandcamp: Bandcamp

Thanks to Metal Devastation Radio PR for the details.

Doom/Stoner Metallers Burnt Witch Unleash Crushing Electric Wizard Cover "We Hate You" Exclusively on Bandcamp

WEST TENNESSEE - Fresh off the world premiere of the track on The Zach Moonshine Show on Metal Devastation Radio, West Tennessee doom outfit Burnt Witch have officially unleashed their crushing rendition of "We Hate You," originally performed by legendary British doom pioneers Electric Wizard.

The cover is available exclusively on Bandcamp , giving doom devotees an early opportunity to experience Burnt Witch's massive reinterpretation before it arrives on additional streaming platforms at a later date.

Rather than simply recreating a classic, Burnt Witch inject their signature blend of swamp-soaked heaviness, crushing low-end, and fuzz-drenched atmosphere into the iconic track while paying respect to one of doom metal's most revered influences.

The release follows the growing momentum surrounding the band after their acclaimed EP Dopelich , which earned recognition from Weedian's "Best Releases" spotlight. Burnt Witch have continued building a reputation throughout the underground with their uncompromising approach to doom and sludge, drawing attention from fans across the heavy music community.

The band also recently appeared on The Zach Moonshine Show for an in-depth interview discussing their evolution, gear, songwriting, and the growing Memphis doom scene, while also shining a spotlight on the upcoming Delta Doom Fest , scheduled for October 17, 2026, at Growlers in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fans of Electric Wizard, traditional doom, sludge, and riff-driven heavy music won't want to miss Burnt Witch's crushing take on this underground classic.

Listen now exclusively on Bandcamp:

https://burntwitch.bandcamp.com/track/we-hate-you

More streaming services will follow in the coming weeks.

Connect:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/burntwitch/dopelich-ep
https://open.spotify.com/artist/19WSxNJAzrFZoivgL0f5Pe
https://burntwitch.bandcamp.com/album/dopelich-ep
https://www.youtube.com/@burntwitch75
https://www.facebook.com/burntwitch75/
https://www.instagram.com/burnt_witch75/
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/burnt-witch/1865047179
https://shop.tonethreads.com/collections/burntwitch
burntwitch75.com

Thanks to Metal Devastation PR  for the details.

Hexjakt - Blessing Of The Damned (Album Review)

Release Date: December 01st 2025. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records / Burning Skull. Formats: Cassette/DD/Vinyl

Blessing Of The Damned - Tracklisting

1.10,000 Crows

2.Black Circle

3.Void Throne

4.Wyrd

5.The Act of Dying 

6.Don't Talk to Strangers

7.Monolith

8.Cathedrals

Lineup

Hampus Henningsson - Guitar/Vocals

Toni Åkerman - Bass/Vocals

Dan Nordin - Drums

Review

Hexjakt return with their debut full length album Blessing Of The Damned and it has all the classic hallmarks for a spectacular record from the world famous Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal scene. The mood can be mean and nasty with Hexjakt forging a muscular and murky battlefield to play their music upon. Everything has an aggressive presence with Hexjakt taking influence from the mainstays of the Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal scene and further beyond with acts such as HIGH ON FIRE and CONAN making a mighty presence along the way. 

There is a sudden influx of Psychedelic surroundings and Classic Heavy Metal melodies with a Thrash based outlook which all appear within the first few moments of the epic opening track 10,000 Crows. The music is mightily thick and bursting with an almighty confidence with the excellent vocals from Hampus Henningsson and Toni Åkerman joining forces that becomes a mighty formative defence to unleash a dominating musical presence. Hexjakt captures a sublime sludgy presence on the later stages of the song that projects a huge WALL OF NOISE that’s played at a mighty fine pace. 

Second track Black Circle could have easily arrived from their acclaimed 2025 self-titled debut EP with it’s downbeat Thrash and Sludge based sound with the band navigating around a backdrop of thick and highly powerful WEEDIAN melodies. The atmosphere is quite stripped back with Hexjakt having an intense physical AURA within their music. With a sudden rush of NOLA based grooves appearing, Hexjakt plays with sonic fuelled Psychedelic and Spaced Out passages with an ice cold level of distortion appearing. The lyrics go slightly into fantastical realm but not too much with this record have quite a grounded creative vibe throughout. The music is always demanding your full attention and Hexjakt are always happy to provide the listener with an onslaught of epic grooves that even have a hint of Post-Stoner, Ambient and Post-Rock surroundings within them. 

Third song Void Throne sees Hexjakt once again keep with the Prog Metal theme within their music for another epic song running past the eight minutes mark. The song has quite a calculated presence with Hexjakt forging areas of Doom Metal, Sludge Metal and Stoner Metal where the likes of Mastodon, CONAN and High On Fire reign supreme. Though, the band makes its own destructive world with bombastic vocals from Toni and Hampus combining once more. The sound is quite deceptive when a more riff-driven methodology is added to the mix with Hexjakt showing their technical prowess amongst a thrilling cinematic atmosphere that ultimately becomes one of the standout tracks on the whole album.

Fourth track Wyrd is pure DOOM METAL theatre with droned out vocals appearing setting the scene which may have a slightly slower delivery than the other tracks for the most part. However, Hexjakt delivers faster THRASH paced beats out of nowhere before returning to their slow-to-mid paced Doomed Out environment. Around the third minute mark, the song becomes more aware of it’s Psychedelic and Stoner Metal surroundings which allows Hexjakt once more to fully take flight with Ambient textures and dominant riff-centric landscapes taking you closer to “INTER-DIMENSIONAL SPIRIT ANIMAL” territory. 

The second half of the record sees Hexjakt become more DOOM METAL obsessed with darker moments of lyrical content and exploring Post-Metal themes whilst keeping in line with their core Doom and Stoner Metal beliefs on tracks such as The Act Of Dying, Don’t Talk To Strangers, Monolith and the epic final track Cathedrals that runs for an almost mind-expanding fourteen minutes. 

Hexjakt appears more confident within the second half of the track by exploring more daring themes and heavier soundscapes though the distorted and down-tuned melodies of tracks such as The Act Of Dying and Monolith are real head-banging epics. The band show their true creative and technical MIGHT within the final track of Cathedrals where they everything into the blender and conjure up a masterclass of modern day Doom/Stoner Metal that still offers a few surprises along the way especially if you’re a fan of the more Progressive side of underground music.

Blessing Of The Damned is a stunning and highly evolved slice of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal that will impress you with its complex and challenging sounds that will leave you on the edge of your seat throughout. Hexjakt already feel they’re at the top of their game and for a debut album that's something very hard to achieve. This is one of those rare debut albums that you simply cannot ignore.

Unmissable. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Hexjakt, Viral Propaganda PR and Metal Devastation PR for the promo.

Blessing For The Damned is available to buy now on Cassette/DD/Vinyl from the links below:

Cassette - https://hexjaktband.com/product/cassette-blessing-for-the-damned/

Vinyl – Blessing for the Damned – Wine Queen Edition

Vinyl - Blessing for the Damned – The Joker Edition

Vinyl - Majestic Mountain Records

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Hexjakt - Monolith (Single Review)

Release Date: October 01st 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Monolith - Tracklisting

Monolith

Members

Hampus Henningsson: guitar/vocals

Toni Åkerman : bass/vocals

Dan Nordin: drums

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers Hexjakt return with their latest single Monolith from their upcoming new album and follows a similar sound captured on their acclaimed self-titled EP that was released earlier this year. This one has a heavier tone compared to their debut release with Hexjakt adding a massive Psychedelic and Cosmic sound to their music. Monolith taps right into the legendary Swedish Sludge/Stoner Metal underground scene that touches upon grooves played by the likes of CONAN, MONOLORD and HIGH ON FIRE

There are flashes of NOLA and SOUTHERN METAL sounds that build within the later stages of the song and that thrilling COSMIC energy develops into a sense of DOOMED OUT paranoia where the music becomes slightly down-tuned and distorted along the way. Monolith lasts over six minutes but Hexjakt never outstays their welcome with great vocals selling the whole superb creative vision throughout. 

The production values have improved greatly since their debut EP with Hexjakt aiming for bigger and better things and Monolith is the first sign that their upcoming debut album could be the start of something special for them. Until then, Monolith is a great way to spend six minutes of your life and be treated to some outstanding Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds that leave you wanting to hear more!!!

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Metal Devastation PR for the details..

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram