Sludgers Mean Green drop new single "Employee Of The Month" and a ripping live cover video of "War Pigs"

Following lead single "Wasteland", Mean Green have just dropped "Employee Of The Month", a crusher the band hold close to their hearts.

The band states, "[former bandmate] Alex wrote this one. It meant a lot to him and us. Unfortunately he’s not playing with us for the time being, but he may return one day. This one goes out to him."

Adds guitarist/vocalist Jake Helms, "The solo that starts at 4:20 (nice) has a good story behind it. While recording the album we were away from home for a week. On the tail end of recording, one night my girlfriend who lived with me called me up and said she was leaving and taking my dog with her. The solo you hear in the song is the first take of the session the next morning straight off the dome, she’s gone but I kept my fucking dog (his name is Riff). So thanks for the inspiration behind that one Emily.”

War Pigs

Not ones to rest easy, in addition to Castle's new riffs Mean Green have also just dropped a live recording of an extra nasty cover of "War Pigs".

While on tour and wanting to pay tribute to the late Ozzy, the band put together a sludged-out take on "War Pigs". The last piece of the puzzle fell into place when roadie Logan Felder, also of North Carolina blackened crust punks VRAS, hopped on vocals, and lightning in a bottle was captured.

Mean Green is a three-piece sludge outfit with all the subtlety of a rusted-out square body with glass packs - and the fortitude of a rabid opossum in heat. Armed with riffs as thick as a bowl of cold grits, the band blends crushing sludge, classic rock swagger, and raw Southern grime into a live show built to hit hard and leave a lasting mark.

Mean Green released their self-titled debut album to wide acclaim in 2023, and are proud to present their sophomore LP, “Castle”.

Fusing the crushing weight of High on Fire and Sleep with the gritty, blues-soaked swagger of ’70s rock acts like Foghat, Cactus, and Cream, Mean Green deliver the heavy goods on “Castle”.

Leading the charge is single "Wasteland", a ripper of a track where crushing tone and gravel-chewing vocals set the foundation for a dark, psychedelic journey. Notes guitarist and vocalist Jake Helms, “I wrote this when I was tripping on acid watching 2001 a space odyssey on a broken tv with no volume".

Get lost in the Wasteland on July 23rd and get stoked for the full album "Castle" out August 14th.

Second single "Employee Of The Month" drops Friday, July 31st.

Mean Green will also be headlining the Wicked Doom Festival August 29th in Worcester, Massachusetts alongside Sundrifter, Worshipper, Üga Büga, and more.

Mean Green - Employee Of The Month (single)

Single out July 31st
Album "Castle" out August 14th
Self-released (Digital, Vinyl)
Boone, North Carolina
Mastered by Steven Raets
FFO: Weedeater, Buzzoven, Toke, Telekinetic Yeti, Bongzilla

Castle album credits:

Jake Helms - Guitar, Vocals
Alex Wierback - Bass
James Matthews - Drums

Mean Green is:

Jake Helms - Guitar, Vocals
Cole Franklin - Bass
James Matthews - Drums

Tracklist:

1. Castle (3:45)
2. Sludge Puppy (4:33)
3. Employee Of The Month (6:23)
4. Wild Bill (4:30)
5. Slack Jaw (5:26)
6. Cyclone (5:01)
7. Wasteland (5:16)

Links:

Facebook | Instagram | BandCamp

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.

Psych/Stoner Rockers ORB Release New Song/Video For REFLECTIONS

Formed in Lithuania in 2011, ORB is a force of nature. Their sound is highly influenced by classic heavy metal bands, the stoner metal movement and general blasphemy.

Heavy grooves, catchy riffs and forbidden rituals of magick.

ORB have just released their stunningly heavy new song REFLECTIONS which has a classic looking and very trippy new video to accompany the song which you can watch below:

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | LinkTree

Progressive Stoner Metallers Pharm to Unleash Blistering New Single, "Crackhead Arachnid," on March 31st

KELOWNA, BC –– The three mystical scientifical mad lads are back at it again!

Pharm, the mongers of mind melting prog infused stoner metal, have announced the release of the first single, "Crackhead Arachnid", off their highly anticipated second album. The track is clambering out and busting speakers on March 31st, 2026

Infamous for their twisting riffs, psychedelic time changes, and unhinged drum work, Pharm returns from the road, bringing their wild flair into the studio for their most blistering work yet. "Crackhead Arachnid" promises to be an absolutely filthy addition to their catalogue, offering fans a bone-jarring blend of relentless drumming, precision riffery, sci-fi theremin, and menacing keyboard and guitar work that conjures the specter of ritualistic doom.

The single was recorded deep in the heart of the Okanagan at Archouse Studios, capturing a raw, uncompromising energy that has become the band's signature. It is a sonic journey that will appeal to fans of Black Sabbath, Rush and Mastodon.

Accompanying the track is their crazy guerilla style video which blends live footage, signature greasiness and the phellas' unmistakable energy.

"Crackhead Arachid" will be available for streaming on all major streaming platforms on March 31st, 2026. The video will be released the same day.

About Pharm:

Pharm was forged in the early days of 2019. Their debut album "Vortex" took the fellas on a 52-day tour in the summer of 2023. The 3 fellas’ whacky antics on and off the stage precedes their reputation for their delicious musical blend of proggy rock and stoner metal. 2023 saw the release of their critically acclaimed, raucous EP, “The Tower”.

Since then, they've been featured at Massif Festival, Loud As Hell, Mosh the Rock, Pharmphest, Psychfest,Electric Highway Festival, Wacken Metal Battle, Armstrong Metal Fest and Canadian Music Week in Toronto. Album number 2 is far underway and will bring old and new fans alike into an uncharted and nutty territory.  

They're coming to make heads bang and change up the timing faster than Einstein's microwave!

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

US Stoner Doom Metallers HASHTRONAUT to release debut album "No Return" on Blues Funeral Recordings; watch "Rip Wizard" video now!

Denver, Colorado stoner doom metallers HASHTRONAUT have signed to Blues Funeral Recordings for the release of their debut album "No Return" this March 22nd, with preorders and a highly addictive first single available now!

Red-eyed at the crossroads of thunderous stoner sludge and towering doom, HASHTRONAUT are ready to daze and inebriate the riff-obsessed masses on this planet and beyond! "No Return" is a resiny slab in the grand tradition of weed-fiend odysseys from Sleep, Weedeater and Bongzilla, an intoxicating and pummeling journey through time and space infused with a lungful of potent hook-doom.

Watch Hashtronaut's new video Rip Wizard below and Stream the official single at this location

Their debut album "No Return" will be released in limited Astral High Splatter vinyl edition, limited Heavy Resin vinyl edition, limited CD digipack and digital on March 22nd, with preorders available now on Blues Funeral Recordings.

HASHTRONAUT "No Return" - Out March 22nd on Blues Funeral Recordings
Preorder on the Blues Funeral store and Bandcamp

TRACKLIST:

1. Rip Wizard
2. Cough It Up
3. Carcinogen
4. Dead Cloud
5. Hex
6. Lung Ruiner
7. Dweller
8. Marsquake
9. Blast Off

HASHTRONAUT launched into orbit from their Denver-based Mission Control in the summer of 2020. Coalescing through a string of hazy jam sessions during the darkest days of the pandemic, the four-piece began playing live the minute they could, and it took only a few gigs to solidify their electrifying reputation in the Colorado heavy scene.

With a distinct sonic identity that channels classic elements from Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy to mainstays of the modern canon like Windhand and Monolord — along with their collective love of vintage gear, walls of speakers and the sweetest leaf of all — HASHTRONAUT’s galactic tones, colossal riffs and driving rhythms have begun spreading to the farthest corners of the universe.

Keeping momentum high on the heels of a self-released EP and opening slots for icons like Pallbearer, Bongzilla and High on Fire, HASHTRONAUT head into 2024 preparing for the release of their debut LP "No Return" — a resiny slab in the grand tradition of weed-fiend odysseys from Sleep — on March 22nd through New Mexico-based independent label Blues Funeral Recordings.

HASHTRONAUT current lineup:

Michael Honiotes - Drums*
Kellen McInerney - Regular Guitar
Robb Park - Stunt Guitar
Daniel Smith - Bass/Vocals
*all tracks on the album recorded by Eric Garcia

HASHTRONAUT links

Website⎮Facebook⎮Bandcamp⎮Instagram⎮Spotify
 

BLUES FUNERAL RECORDINGS links

Website⎮Facebook⎮Bandcamp⎮Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.