Red Sun - Songs From Hidden Places (Album Review)

Release Date: June 19th 2026. Record Label: Subsound Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Songs From Hidden Places - Tracklisting

1.. Hidden Places

2. Details from the Past

3. Sleeping Brainqui

4. The Hidden Truth

5. All Things Are Written There

6. A Hidden Bond

7. The Secret Dope

Members

Stefano "Eno" Dusi (guitar)

Mirco Dugaria (bass)

Federico Rivoli (drums, synth)

Elisa Brusati (vocals)

Review

Psych/Space/Stoner Rock collective Red Sun take a major creative risk with their latest album Songs From Hidden Places by moving from their core instrumental sound and adding a vocalist to the mix. Elisa Brusati has joined the band and this gives Red Sun a more mystical and ethereal progressive quality to their music which aligns them more closely to the likes of TOOL and A Perfect Circle from a musical perspective at times.

Elisa’s vocals are quite grounded which gives Red Sun quite a Spaced Out energy compared to their previous albums. Their trademark style of Acid Rock, Psych and Jam based melodies are fully intact but with a heavier presence which fully comes to life very early on within the excellent opening track Hidden Places. There’s some trippy sounds building up behind the scenes as different layers of musical themes overlap each other whilst still being quite low-key and remarkably subdued.

Songs From Hidden Places does take time to find it’s emotional core but it’s a journey worth taking with the lyrics inspired by the likes of WINDHAND which is powered by some epic gloomy soundbytes being played from the instrumental melodies that accompany each track. There are some interesting themes developing within the hard-hitting tracks of Details From The Past. Sleeping Brain and The Hidden Truth.

The album does have a kaleidoscopic sound that’s developed throughout the album where the music constantly evolves with different hooks, riffs and progressive sounds allowing Red Sun fully reinventing themselves for the better. Red Sun perhaps had to change their music to form around Elisa’s superb vocals which can be quite direct one moment and beautifully sincere the next which left me impressed on an emotional level.

The second half of the album does allow Red Sun to play heavier grooves and wonderful ambient synths which can be considered Doomgaze in some aspects with the most powerful moments appearing on tracks such as All Things Are Written There and The Hidden Dope. 

Songs From Hidden Places is an emotionally charged record that allows Red Sun to open a highly exciting new chapter for themselves. The record is quite daring but one that offers the listener a highly rewarding experience that you will remember for a very long to come.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Metaversus PR for the promo.

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Exclusive Album Premiere For Stoner Rockers RED SUN Stunning New Album SONGS FROM HIDDEN PLACES

After three entirely instrumental albums, Red Sun have traced a steady evolution from desert stoner toward increasingly psychedelic horizons, enriched by a growing use of synthesizers and theremin.

'Songs from Hidden Places' marks a turning point: for the first time, the voice of Elisa Brusati (formerly singer of Noema) — who joined the band in 2025 — runs through all seven tracks, grafting the song format onto an already mature sound without betraying its identity. Guitars and bass take a more central role compared to the previous 'From Sunset to Dawn' (2024), while still leaving room for long psychedelic digressions — as in 'Hidden Places' and 'Sleeping Brain' — that keep the band's dreamlike and epic imagery intact.

Thematically, the new album explores those hidden places that belong to us — physical and interior — worn by time but steeped in memories: silent refuges where comfort and catharsis can be found. An idea that also runs through the artwork, based on a concept by drummer Federico Rivoli, who personally carved the song title font and the band's logo into the wall of the old mill in Albone, the Red Sun's historic rehearsal space.

You can listen to the superb new album thanks to the cool folks over at Metaversus PR and Subsound Records.

Find pre-orders at Bandcamp: https://redsun3.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-hidden-places

TRACKLIST

1. Hidden Places
2. Details from the Past
3. Sleeping Brain
4. The Hidden Truth
5. All Things Are Written There
6. A Hidden Bond
7. The Secret Dope

BIOGRAPHY

Photo by Nicola Neso

Red Sun were formed in 2014 in Albone, between Piacenza and the Emilian Apennines. Within less than a year, Stefano "Eno" Dusi (guitar), Mirco Dugaria (bass), and Federico Rivoli (drums, synth) recorded their self-produced debut album 'Trisophy' (2015), later reissued on vinyl by Spin On Black. After an intense run of live activity across Germany, the UK, Switzerland, and France, their second album 'The Wind, the Waves, the Clouds' (Psyka Records) followed in 2017, alongside the split 'Psychedelic Battles n° 4' (Vincebus Eruptum), shared with Chicago's The Luck of Eden Hall. In 2024 they released 'From Sunset to Dawn' (Subsound Records); in 2025 Elisa Brusati joined as vocalist, leading to 'Songs from Hidden Places' (2026).

Links

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Thanks to Metaversus PR for the details.

Exclusive Song/Video Premiere For Stoner Rockers RED SUN New Song DETAILS FROM THE PAST From Forthcoming New Album

Italy-based psych/stoner band Red Sun unveil 'Details from the Past', first single and video from 'Songs From Hidden Places', their upcoming album due for release on Subsound Records on June 19th, 2026.

Photo by Nicola Neso

A lilting, enveloping rhythm harks back to trip-hop, carried by Elisa Brusati's evocative vocals, while guitars, synth, and theremin weave in a psychedelic touch. The song speaks of unknown places explored despite a troubled state of mind — seeking safety in the unknown and in the power of the subconscious.

Links

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Thanks to Metaversus PR for the details.

We As A Company - First Summer (Album Review)

Release Date: July 04th 2025. Record Label: MiaCameretta Records. Formats: CD/DD

First Summer - Tracklisting

1.Outcast 04:44

2.A God 04:44 

3.Kill Spider-man (In the Steppes of Central Asia - A. Borodin) 07:57 

4.Flowers Gone 06:48

5.Tears Away 05:25

6.First Summer 06:38 

7.Saved 05:39

8. Walking Through The Graves 05:00

Members

V. – voice, guitar, synths

F. – drums

D. – bass

Review

First Summer is the debut album from Italian Psych/Alt/Stoner Rockers We As A Company and the record has a messy and chaotic style of storytelling to the record that actually makes it standout. We As A Company have a loose structure where they blend Doom, Noise, Grunge and Shoegaze into the mix with the record being a constantly heavy affair. It can be a bit all over the place with the Punk Rock production values applied throughout the whole album but it sounds remarkably hip and fresh as well.

The instrumental melodies can be quite Sludge Rock aggressive with We As A Company hitting upon similar aspects to bands such as RED FANG, WHORES and TORCHE in places. The album gets straight down to business of of playing subtle Doomed Out grooves with a touch of Garage Rock snarling arrogance to them on tracks such as Outcast, God and Kill Spider-man (In the Steppes of Central Asia - A. Borodin). The vocals are clean based and have a subtle Indie Rock / Alt Rock flow which works surprisingly well with the rebellious Stoner Rock passages and intricate Fuzzed Up Psychedelic sounds that acts as a fine counterbalance to the Space Rock aesthetics that suddenly start to emerge.

We As A Company focus on GIGANTIC sounding riffs on this record that feels like they should be played on the biggest stage possible but still retaining that vital underground energy which allows the band to keep experimenting until the final stages of the album. The band aren’t afraid to strip back the Stoner Rock / Sludge Rock aspects of their music and replace them with a Indie Rock and Brit-Pop momentum with the highly emotionally charged Kill Spider-man (In the Steppes of Central Asia - A. Borodin). 

The sound does become more of a Post-Rock anthem for the first half of the track before We As A Company add moments of uplifting Doomgaze and Grunge energy for one of the most unconventional and standout tracks on the album. The vocal harmonies and superb lyrics have a real “ WAVE YOUR LIGHTER / MOBILE IN THE AIR” kind of effect. The second half then transports that atmosphere to a heavier Sludge Metal playground whilst still being hopefully uplifting and destructive at the same time. 

Fourth track Flowers Gone opts for a Gothic/Occult vibe with an enthusiastic Eighties Rock score developing in the background. There’s a minimal Post-Punk and Post-Doom drive constantly driving the music forward with haunting synths and a stubborn Indie Rock that keeps things nicely grounded. This isn’t the heaviest track on the record but We As A Company surround themselves with BIG, BOLD and BRASH ideas to keep the atmosphere highly interesting and superbly original.

Fifth song Tears Away is a mixture of FOO FIGHTERS, QOTSA and TORCHE based melodies with a thumping instrumental score and Pop based vocals that is quite playful and thuggish with the superbly THRASH & PUNK grooves that could have easily made a killer impact on commercial radio over thirty years ago. We As A Company excel with their unusual musical ideas and creative themes that result in highly memorable riffs to make them stand out from the crowd.

The final few tracks of First Summer, Saved and Walking Through The Graves sees We As A Company apply unconventional musical structures and ideas to form a backdrop of leftfield based Sludge/Stoner Rock soundscapes with a dreamlike quality before transforming into a heavier and cohesive musical journey. The Shoegaze from the band’s creative perspective offers some life affirming lyrics especially on First Summer. 

We As A Company return to the Doom-Pop atmosphere on the excellent final tracks of Saved and Walking Through The Graves which once again sees the band delve into the uplifting Psych Rock arena that leaves the record on quite an emotional finish. The record does lose focus at times but you can’t deny the unquestionable energy from We As A Company and that’s one of their greatest strengths which they never lose sight of.

First Summer is an excellent debut record that may see the band gain a loyal and dedicated following within the underground scene. Check this out when you can.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Metaversus PR for the promo.

Links

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Exclusive Song Premiere Of Psych Rockers MESSINESS New Song Previous Life

Photo by Roberta Ferrante

Previous Life’ is the first single from the upcoming debut album by the Milan-based psychedelic act Messiness, set to be released in autumn 2025 via StoneFree Records (LP) and Tarla Records (Digital).

Parodically referencing the classics of psychedelic rock, ‘Previous Life’ transforms nostalgia into a commodity, mapping out a non-existent past instead of longing for real memories. It portrays the present as a sensory overload and an unsustainable hyperreality for an empty generation, while proposing an escape into an imaginary era where absence becomes a luxury and presence is elevated. The refrain, "I'm making plans for my previous life," functions as a mantra of the digital age, underscoring the absurdity of planning for the future while idealizing a past that was never truly lived.

BIOGRAPHY

Born in the shadows of Milan’s fashion district, Messiness walks a deliberately unfashionable path. The band orbits around Sicilian polymath Massimiliano Raffa – musician, sociologist, and writer joined by sonic wanderers from the city's underground. Messiness crafts an explosive postmodern fusion where psychedelic rock collides with space-funk, free jazz interleaves with baroque pop and Canterbury sound meshes with art rock. Their distinctive Mediterranean spirit infuses the music with rich textures drawn from traditional Eastern Mediterranean sounds, creating an eclectic mix that defies any categorisation, creating an eclectic mix that defies any categorisation. Messiness' debut album will be released by StoneFree Records in collaboration with Tarla Records, an independent record label based in Istanbul, Turkey.

Messiness Music · Previous Life

LINKS

https://www.facebook.com/messiness.music
https://www.instagram.com/__messiness
https://messiness.bandcamp.com

Thanks to Metaversus PR for the details.

Hard Rock/Psych Rock Band THE LANCASTERS Premiere New Song/Video THE QUEST From Their Upcoming New Album

The Quest' is from The Lancasters's forthcoming album, 'The Word of the Mistral', scheduled for late 2024.

The band commented that "We produced this video clip by gathering footage from our last tour with J.P. Shilo (Mick Harvey, Hungry Ghosts), Mika Bajinski (Sometimes With Others), and Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth). We entrusted our friend and director, Tony Fried, to edit this piece, as we felt it was best to maintain some distance from the content, allowing us to better convey the message we intended with 'The Quest' That tour was merely the beginning of our future projects, but it gave us the strength to harness our collective inner energy, akin to the resolve that supported fearless ancient pilgrims on their journeys.

None of us in the band believe in the Catholic Church or Christianity. However, we were deeply moved by the immense and astonishing aesthetic created by humanity in its search for God and the struggle to purify their souls. St. Michael is one of the central figures in the lives of pilgrims. He is as strong as the sword he wields, yet merciful at the same time. In the lyrics of this song, he addresses the Four Horsemen, whom we have chosen as the main characters for our concept album.

'The Word of the Mistral' will be the name of our next LP, symbolising the voice of us all carried by the wind that leads us to the truth. It also represents the voices of the guides who hold our hands, making us feel braver and safer. We are collaborating closely with Retro Vox Records to release our album this autumn, along with several singles that will precede the LP's launch."

 

LINKS

https://www.facebook.com/thelancastersband
https://www.instagram.com/thelancasters_band
https://thelancastersband.bandcamp.com

Thanks to Metaversus PR for all of the info.

Stoner Rockers BRUT OSS Release New Video For GIVE ME BACK And Announce Reissue Of Their Self Titled Debut Album On Vinyl

Italian Stoner Rockers Brut Oss announce the reissue on vinyl of the band's 2022 self-titled debut album set on 12th April via Orzorock Music.

Brut Oss says: "2023 saw a change of lineup with the rotation on the guitar between Pier Primo Zanzagni and Antonio Chirivì who is now helping the band for the promotional concerts of the album ‘Brut Oss’ to be reissued on vinyl, with the addition of two unpublished tracks: ‘Texa's Cola’ and ‘Give Me Back’."

The ‘Give Me Back’ video wants to remember the Italian Buddy-movies and be a tribute to the Po River, landscapes that inspire the band's compositions and the reconquest of the values of the small towns and the countryside.

Brut Oss is a stoner rock band, born through the mists of the Po Valley on the Emilian side, on the banks of the Po river, during the end of 2019. The nature of the river and the fog is seen as an element corresponding to the desert in the stoner imagery, helping the band to find inspiration and the right alienation for the realisation of their compositions. The members come from the local scene such as Deportivo LaBonissima, Nijls, Koen and Upstair. On 30 July 2021, their debut EP "How to Waste Your Time Broiling Bones" was released (Orzorock Music). In 2022 they released their self-titled debut album (Orzorock Music).

LINKS

https://www.facebook.com/BrutOssStonerBand
https://www.instagram.com/brut.oss_band
https://brutoss.bandcamp.com

Thanks to Metaversus PR for all of the details.

Psych Stoner Rockers Thomas Greenwood & the Talismans Premiere New Song SUNHOUSE From Upcoming New Album ATES

Thomas Greenwood & the Talismans become, through the years, a psychedelic rock band heavily contaminated by 70s influences, the Western Movies scenario with a Neo-Psychedelic taste. Founder Thomas Mascheroni (also guitar/voice of stoner trio Humulus) gave birth to the first record back in 2021 called 'Rituals', entirely self-produced; Ramble Records from Melbourne and Echodelick Records from Atlanta printed the vinyls. After a long period of wild jams into an old barn on the mountains of lake Iseo, the new upcoming record "Ateş" is ready.

Subsound Records · Sunhouse

Sunhouse is a song about youth. Remembering a ghost house and the memories of being innocent kids playing in the streets. It's a non-stop motion that tries to bring you back to the essence of joy.

Links

https://thomasgreenwoodband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_thomasgreenwood/

Subsound Records will release 'Ateş' on LP and digital on March 15th, 2024. Preorders: https://subsoundrecords.bigcartel.com/artist/thomas-greenwood-and-the-talismans

Thanks to Metaversus PR for all of the details.

The Black Flamingo - An-nûr (Album Review)

Release Date: 02nd February 2024. Record Label: Subsound Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

An-nûr - Tracklisting

Selk'Nam

Au-Nur

Due

Tredici

Solaris

Ayahuasca

Members

Tiziano Giammichele

Mattia Lolli

Matteo Nuccetelli

Review

An-nûr (meaning Light in the Arabic Language) is the debut album from Psych Instrumental Stoner Rockers The Black Flamingo and it's quite a politically charged release even for an instrumental release especially within the title track which walks along in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The album is a mixture of warped soundscapes, obsessive Space Rock rhythms and intense Psychedelic Stoner grooves. The Black Flamingo have a more jazzy and carefree attitude with their music which allows the album to be its own cinematic style of monolithic sounds.

Opening track Selk'Nam is a "normal" sounding instrumental Stoner Rock song with dark Space Rock elements that transform into a more reflective style of music with heavy dominant Doomed Out moments as the song arrives at its natural conclusion. The song does become more COSMIC obsessed with swirling noises and Post-Rock themes showing an epic style of music from The Black Flamingo.

Second song An-nûr is where the album becomes more politically charged, especially what's happening with Palestinian people. This may put some folks off depending on their own political beliefs and choices. I'm reviewing the music itself and this is a very powerful song with hard-hitting themes which uses multiple politically aware soundclips matched against a backdrop of Space Rock passages. This is a way of delivering music that I haven't heard before, especially within the instrumental field. The Black Flamingo draw upon SONIC textures and heavy drone based Psych Stoner Rock jams for a song that fully becomes heavier as the song progresses. The emotional content can be unflinching at times but that's the powerful aura the album contains. Shades of Earthless, Yawning Man and Pelican appear within this track with an eerie Psychedelic atmosphere becoming quite metallic along the way.

Third track Due is where The Black Flamingo delve into a classical style of Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal which has that Spaced Out swagger played out to a fine melodic tone. Areas of Noise Rock and Industrial measures allows the song to have moments of pure SONIC distortion and screeching guitars shows a different side to the band. There's a slight Sludge Rock attitude starting to appear with The Black Flamingo slowly becoming more confident with their style of DOOM & GLOOM which wouldn't go amiss from an UFOMAMMUT record. Perhaps one of the standout tracks on the whole album.

The second half of the album continues with dark style of Heavy Doomedelic sounds whilst keeping the constant flow of Desert Rock/Stoner Metal groove flowing at a fast pace on other standout tracks such as Tredici and the epic fourteen minutes final track Ayahuasca. The Black Flamingo expand their Progressive journey across more Sonic/Cosmic based territory with moments of experimental Ambient sounds which feels like it's being played from a different band. Middle Eastern Chants held within Tredici has quite a dominant feel of gloominess and darkness which is the most experimental part of the album.

However, The Black Flamingo still play moments of Ethereal Post-Rock which soon changes into heavier and aggressive Stoner based grooves An-nûr is an unapologetic style of Post-Doom/Stoner Metal tracks which is quite challenging to hear but always brilliantly original in it's own right. The production values are intense and impressive which allows The Black Flamingo to provide a politically charged journey told through the power of Instrumental music. 

An-nûr is a sublime record and it's even more impressive for being a debut release. This is beautifully original and one that demands multiple listens for the full cause and effect of the album. 

Words by Steve Howe 

Thanks to Metaversus PR for the promo.

An-nûr will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Subsound Records Sounds from February 02nd 2024.

Links

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Psych Stoner Rockers The Black Flamingo Release New Song 'An-nûr' From Upcoming New Album 'An-nûr'

'An-nûr', 'light' in arabic language, is The Black Flamingo's first LP. Six tracks that go across obsessive rithms, lysergic journey and stoner blows. 'An-nûr' is also the title of the single, a long trip of black holes and solidarity with Palestinian people. The LP has been recorded in Rome, in the 'Cinque Quarti' studio, under the patient supervision of Lorenzo Amato (Max Carnage), that took care of mixing and mastering. 

The vinyl mastering has been done by Lorenzo Stecconi (Lento).The Black Flamingo is a stoner-psych instrumental trio, which vibes among space and desert, with a rotten attitude. The band is formed in Rome, literally in the spaces of 30 Formiche club, by Erio Destratis (guru and housekeeper), Tiziano Giammichele (Camion, Cielo Drive) and Mattia Lolli (the Whirlings). Erio soon leaves for a nomad life and his bass is taken by Matteo Nuccetelli (Mad Roller).

Subsound Records will release 'An-nûr' on LP and digital on February 2nd, 2024.

You can listen to the brilliantly powerful title track below 'An-nûr' from the upcoming album.

Links

Facebook | Ban, dCamp 

Thanks to Marco at Metaversus PR for all of the info.

Introduce Yourselves: SAN LEO

How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?

We play intense, immersive music. Sometimes it’s minimal, a lot of the times it’s pretty dense and packed with sounds. It’s been this way since our first attempts in 2013. Starting with a simple guitar-drums setup, in the last few years we’ve added a few more sound sources (sampler, keyboard/synth, vocals). We try to keep it exciting and share our vision.

Describe your first musical memory.

inserirefloppino (drums): sneaking into my parents’ car to listen to ‘Yellow Submarine’ on cassette.

m tabe (guitar): a brass/drums marching band somewhere, it was loud and chaotic.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

inserirefloppino: the first time I sat on a drum kit.

m tabe: can’t think of THE best, but Phil Elverum’s first distorted bass attack during The Microphones’s live performance at LeGuessWho in 2021 was pretty cool.

When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?

Every time we walk on stage we test our principles and convictions. Sometimes it all works out fine and we feel like we’re in the right direction, other times we need to take a step back, get our shit together and try again.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

Hopefully a deeper understanding of oneself, and in general a perpetual search for clearer, sharper expression. It probably never ends.

How do you define success?

On one side, managing to communicate what you are in a way that’s relevant to other people. On a more intimate, inner level, success would be staying curious, always finding new ideas to be passionate about and/or obsessed with.

What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?

Television (the thing, not the band) and social networks.

Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.

If we could define this idea in our head clearly enough to describe it in a few words we might as well start working on it right now! But just for fun, it would be cool someday to collaborate with other media artists, film/video makers, performers, lighting technicians, set designers… Who knows.

What do you believe is the most essential function of art?

To let us peek into a different interpretation of reality, a vision stripped of conventions and re-shaped into some new kind of Truth.

Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?

We might want to check the new Anish Kapoor exhibition in Florence - the last one in Venice was pretty good, his work is always inspiring.

Words by San Leo

Thanks to Metaversus PR for all of the details.

Links

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Full Album Premiere Of Doom/Stoner Metallers KOTIOMKIN - Le Casalingue – The Satanic Rites of Cobram

Five years after the previous 'Lo Albicocco Al Curaro (Decameron 666)', Kotiomkin are back with a new album, 'Le Casalingue – The Satanic Rites of Cobram', out on September 29th, 2023 via Subsound Records. A wall of distortions and analog synthesizers in eclectic sauce sonorizes the dark erotic-vampire misadventures of the geometra Calboni, a fictional character, appearing in Italian literature and film, created by Paolo Villaggio (Fantozzi).

The Kotiomkin band was born from a great passion for 60s-70s-80s Italian genre cinema, a series of movies characterized by aesthetically innovative approach, in complete opposition to the mainstream and to more or less politicized intellectual cinema of the time. The duo devote himself to the creation of instrumental soundtracks for non-existent movies, with invented plots featured in the liner notes, having as a reference the classic soundtracks of the time but revisiting them with the violence of the most modern stoner, pushing the boundaries of doom.

We're excited to premiere their new album Le Casalingue – The Satanic Rites of Cobram which you can hear below. 

Thanks to Metaversus PR for all of the details. 

Le Casalingue – The Satanic Rites of Cobram is available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Subsound Records from September 29th 2023. 

Links

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