Shadow Of Jupiter - BONES (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

BONES - Tracklist

1.BONES 

2.Whatever God You Fear

3.Ugly on the Inside

4.Echo Chamber 

5.Rumblestrip

6.Riot Dogs

7.For Heaven Above

Members

John Piotrowski: Lyrics/Vocals

Colin Peterson: Guitars

Scott Brakebill: Bass Guitar

Adam Kazragys: Drums

Review

Shadow Of Jupiter created and achieved a lot of great things with their acclaimed 2023 debut album PORTA COELI with its mouth-watering blend of Proto-Doom, Stoner Rock and Psych Rock which wasn’t afraid to throw in some aggressive outbursts of classic Heavy Metal and Hard Rock. Fast forward three years later and Shadow Of Jupiter returns with BONES with a record that’s more Spaced Out with some earthly Swampedelic melodies forming whilst having some great influences from the Space Rock and Southern Rock scenes.

Opening track BONES has a mighty throwback to the likes of HAWKWIND, MONSTER MAGNET and BLACK SABBATH with lead vocalist John Piotrowski aligning the Grunge, Sludge, Doom and Stoner Metal wastelands with his epic vocal delivery. The music is constructed by a highly methodical style of Psych, Doom and Heavy Metal with some swirling Space Rock attitude showing some cool progressive grooves being used that’s laid down by Colin Peterson (Guitars), Scott Brakebill (Bass) and Adam Kazragys (Drums). The instrumental work is intense with a brooding creative force leading the band into the next heavy wave of psychedelic aggression.

Second song Whatever God You Fear is delivered by a classic Heavy Metal theme with the music inspired by the Eighties Hard Rock scene. There are also some classic overlapping guitars that can be quite thrash based with Shadow Of Jupiter applying an OLD SCHOOL delivery with John’s vocals being more outrageous compared to the opening track. This track shows how the band moves between the different eras of Heavy Rock they play throughout this album. Some parts are made up of pure Seventies Proto-Metal direct energy whilst other aspects are driven by an epic modern day psychedelic landscape.

Third song Ugly On The Inside feels like what WO FAT would sound like if they ever went down the GRUNGE route for a song that’s still bursting with Doom/Stoner Metal attitude. Sometimes the music is played quite cautiously within the quieter aspects but there’s still that undeniable sideline of riff-centric energy that once again allows Shadow Of Jupiter to construct some hard rocking inspired riffs with seedy Blues Rock sounds holding the whole line together. 

Fourth track Echo Chamber opens with an Occult Rock and Proto-Doom distorted movement with Shadow Of Jupiter slowly building up the atmosphere with intense Sludge Rock passages which quickly transforms into a hard-rocking monster inspired by the likes of Saint Vitus and The Obsessed. The gloomy melodies have an eerie Drone vibe with John’s vocals revelling in the role of storyteller and ringmaster of this record that moves ever so closely to HARD ROCK and HEAVY METAL excess. The music does allow Colin, Scott and Adam to have a min-battle between themselves to fight over who really has the “LEAD” on this track which they all win outright in their own unique ways.

The final three tracks of Rumblestrip, Riot Dogs and For Heaven Above sees a killer NOLA and Southern Rock/Metal delivery starting to fully take shape with Shadow Of Jupiter once again writing classic Heavy Metal lyrics that offer a NO FUCKS GIVEN attitude. This gives BONES its most rebellious sideline of stunning grooves and psychedelic soundscapes that remain absolutely vital and essential listening until the dying seconds of the whole record.

Shadow Of Jupiter have aligned themselves to the mighty powerful RIPPLE MUSIC for this album and we all know they’re the definitive label within the underground HEAVY ROCK scene. The record sounds excellent from start to finish but still having that undeniable underground sound, feel and quality to make BONES really stand out. 

BONES is an absolute winner on all levels where it delivers on all fronts. What more could you possibly want!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

BONES is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Links 

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Druidess - Trip Meadow (Album Review)

Release Date: June 26th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Meadow - Tracklisting

1.The Hermit of Druid's Temple

2.Trip Meadow

3.Knightingales 

4.Mandragora

5.Descended from Giants

6.A Witches' Sabbath

7.The Forest Witch's Daughter

Members

Daniel Downing - Guitars, Saxophone

Shonagh Brown - Vocals / Bass

James Hill - Keyboards

Sam Armstrong - Drums

Review

Druidess have already built a fearsome and well deserved reputation supporting the likes of Castle Rat, Slomatics, Dopethrone, Margarita Witch Cult, Josiah and Saint Karloff over the years. They released their debut EP Hermits and Mandrakes back in 2024 which I rated quite highly. Fast forward to 2026 and Druidess have completely reworked their debut EP which makes up the crux of their album. However, this is no mere cash grab with Druidess re-working almost every aspect into a completely different sound with a clearer creative vision and heavier grooves being applied for the album.

Trip Meadow which only expands their heavy blend of Psychedelic, Doom and Stoner Metal. Druidess play areas of Blues Rock, Occult Rock, Proto-Metal and Prog Rock into their music with a slight Sludge Rock undercurrent coming from the excellent guitars supplied by Daniel Downing.

Front and centre of all the action is the highly talented and extremely versatile lead vocalist Shonagh Brown who brings a classic style of Doom Rock merged with a soulful Blues Rock attitude. The vocals are at the forefront of the record for the majority of the record with the rest of Druidess building an epic Doomed Out platform for Shonagh to perform on. The band play closely to the likes of Black Sabbath, Windhand, Hippie Death Cult, The Doors, Green Lung and Monolord. 

Druidess aren’t afraid to go for an OVER THE TOP sound that allows other great instrumental sounds to appear such as Organs, Keyboards and Saxophone. I’ve said before but I’m not the biggest fan of Saxophones being included within Doom and Stoner Metal music. but Daniel Downing puts in a great performance which even I admired leaving me wanting to hear more.

Trip Meadow can be quite TRIPPY and SPACE ROCK heavy where Druidess leave their “Retro Rock” surroundings for a heavier modern day sound with that gloomy Post-Doom sound holding everything together. Though, the sounds of Seventies Proto-Doom and Hard Rock is never too far behind which allows the record to be so damn original throughout. 

Shonagh also provides Bass which she puts in a commanding and aggressive performance with Sam Armstrong helping out on drumming duties where they combine for a massive rhythm section for Druidess to fully operate from. James Hill on keyboards feels like he’s been fed a steady diet of Seventies Prog Rock and Proto Doom albums with the amount of different directions his keyboards actually move into. 

The lyrics have a great classic theme which fully sells the DOOMED OUT aspect of the record especially on tracks such as The Hermit Of Druid’s Temple, Trip Meadow, Knightingales and Witches Sabbath being the main highlights. With a neverending supply of gloomy sound effects and superbly played organs, Druidess have delivered a record that should easily allow them to receive widespread attention that the mighty Green Lung achieved with their first couple of albums.

Trip Meadow is a quality sounding album that is not afraid to move into the darker depths of Classic Doom and modern day Stoner Metal that will leave you completely satisfied when everything is said and done.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Palmer Turner Overdrive  PR for the promo.

Trip Meadow is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Doom/Stoner Metallers GODDESS Superb Debut Album RITUAL OF THE CLOVEN HOOF

Emerging from the ashes of Goatess, Goddess usher in a new chapter for the Stockholm-based band following the departure of founding guitarist Niklas. While the name has changed, the essence remains intact, a towering blend of crushing, riff-driven doom, thick stoner grooves, soaring vocals, and a dark, psychedelic edge.

Drawing from the legacy of Goatess’s acclaimed releases, Goatess (2013), II: Purgatory Under New Management (2016), and Blood and Wine (2019), Goddess push that unmistakable Swedish doom sound forward, tighter, sharper, and more driven than ever.

Channeling the spirit of Electric Wizard, Sleep, Saint Vitus, Count Raven, and classic Black Sabbath, while carving its own path forward.

Now signed to Majestic Mountain Records, Goddess are set to deliver a record that captures both the legacy of their past and the vision of what comes next, heavy, hypnotic, and uncompromising. 

You can hear the amazing album in full thanks to the cool folks over at Viral Propaganda PR and Majestic Mountain Records.

 

Ritual Of The Cloven Hoof is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records.

Follow Goddess

https://www.facebook.com/baldersounds
https://www.instagram.com/goddessbandofficial

Follow Majestic Mountain Records

https://www.majesticmountainrecords.com
https://majesticmountainrecords.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/majesticmountainrecords
https://www.facebook.com/majesticmountainrecords

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the details.

Goddess - Ritual Of The Cloven Hoof (Album Review)

Release Date: May 22nd 2026. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

No King - Tracklisting

1.Godless

2.Inquisition

3.To Be King

4.Blood Fever 

5.Born Again Heathen

6.Devil's Reef

Members

Karl-Martin Buhre: Vocals and guitar

Kenta Karlbom: Drums

John Jansson: Bass

Anders Martinsgård: Guitar

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Goddess is the band formed from the ashes of the much missed Goatess who released three amazing albums in their epic career. The founding guitarist of Goatess (Niklas) left the band where the remaining members re-grouped as Goddess and the business of creating epic sounds forged from the legendary sounds of the Seventies Doom Metal scene with a heavier modern Cosmic flavour remains intact. Their debut album Ritual Of The Cloven Hoof takes up the mantle of what the band achieved with Goatess and elevates their sound more closely to the likes of SLEEP, MONOLORD and ELECTRIC WIZARD.

There’s still that classic Proto-Metal and Doom Metal energy heard on the previous Goatess records but Goddess has a more refreshing Psychedelic and stripped back sound. The sound is almost rooted in Sludge Rock and Spaced Out folklore with some classic vocal interplay from Karl-Martin Buhre moving from the classic eras of Ozzy and DIo fronting Black Sabbath. The music is quite melodic with that thrilling Seventies Hard Rock energy developing within the multiple examples of intense musical solos especially from the sludgy sounds that both Karl-Martin and Anders Martinsgård lay down on their excellent guitar solos.

Kenta Karlbom on Drums and John Jansson on Bass keep things grounded with a stunning rhythm section that remains quite closely guarded to the classic GOATESS template whilst moving onto new sonic pastures under the guise of GODDESS. The tracks written for this record are heavier and progressive with Goddess more comfortable with their COSMIC DOOMED OUT surroundings with flashes of first rate Stoner Metal delivery being played very early on tracks such as Godless, Inquisition and To Be King. There are the classic Doom Metal influences that you can hear from the likes of Saint Vitus and The Obsessed but you can also detect that winning Swedish Stoner Metal creative mentality holding everything together.

Goddess aren’t afraid to show that the highly polished style of modern day Doom/Stoner Metal has a real place in their highly cinematic style of music that’s superbly riff-driven on the later stages of the album mostly on the tracks Blood Fever and Born Again Heathen. The lyrics are sometimes outlandish but they fit the Proto-Metal and Classic Doom Metal narrative amazingly well with some wicked levels of Amplifier and Fuzzed Out Heaviness making a wonderful appearance.

Ritual Of The Cloven Hoof perfectly allows Goddess establish themselves Doom/Stoner Metal masters of their own creative domain with a spellbinding record that’s quite dark which you only admire further every time you listen to the album. The production values are sublime with Joona Hassinen handling almost everything and I’ve been a fan of Joona’s work for such a long time. He’s been involved with a multitude of great bands over the last decade or so and perhaps helped establish the Swedish Heavy Metal scene to where it is today. 

Goddess debut album is a masterful album on every level which will no doubt allow them to achieve a similar style of acclaim as Goatess if they keep releasing great records such as this. Goatess maybe dead but LONG LIVE GODDESS!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Ritual Of The Cloven Hoof is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Bird - Mondo Occvlto (Album Review)

Release Date: 04th March  2026. Record Label: Olde Magick Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Mondo Occvlto - Tracklisting

1.Fright 04:43

2.Yehudit 04:51

3.The Fall Of The House Of Horus 05:28

4.Sebeth 06:13

5.Queen Of The Mountain 05:39

6.The Saint 04:20

Members

Simone Pennucci - lead vocals and guitars;

Pietro La Tegola  - backing vocals, bass, synthesizers, and theremin

Johnny the Snake - drums

Review

Mondo Occvlto is the latest album from Psych Stoner Rockers Bird who are formed from the ashes and musical legacy of Italian cult rockers Whiskeycold Winter. This time round they explore their musical horizon to play a mixture of Psych, Prog, Doom, Stoner and Folk Rock which is lovingly wrapped up in Seventies Hard Rock aesthetics. On their latest record, the band play a riffier and free-flowing sound compared to their previous records. There’s some epic levels of amplifier distortion and screeching guitars played against an out of control THERMIN and SYNTHS combo for certain sections of the album.

For the most part Bird are quite happy playing closer to the classic style of SABBATHIAN heavy metal with brief trips in to Eighties Heavy Metal excess which allows Simone Pennucci on lead vocals to fully embrace that “WILD MAN OF ROCK” persona that he pulls of brilliantly on the album. Sure, it’s outlandish and way over the top but it works for the context of this album. 

Johnny The Snake on drums is a pure enigma at times. One moment he’s calm as hell and the next he’s playing like a madman which gives a whole unexpected frantic energy to the album. However, the real MVP has to be Pietro La Tegola who provides backing vocals, bass, synths and theremin. Though, together as a collective unit, Bird are brilliantly impressive which allows them to have an unpredictable quality to them on how they play their music. 

Mondo Occvlto is pure rock and roll theatre with Bird tapping into that classic style of Proto-Doom and Occult Metal on tracks such as Fright, The Fall Of The House Of Horus, Sebeth and Queen Of The Mountain. However, the album does have some real emotionally charged moments where the mood becomes quite reflective when Bird plays a cooler style of Classic Hard Rock with areas of modern day Psychedelic movements appearing.

Overall, Bird has delivered an album that’s quite different and eerily familiar at the same time. The record may take a few listens to get the multitude of different sounds and flavours that Bird has committed to record but it’s a journey worth taking over and over again. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp

FANGUS - Emerald Dreams (Album Review)

Release Date: March 13th 2026. Record Label: From The Urn Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Emerald Dream - Tracklisting

I - Howling Hammer

II - Pyre Of Love

III - Psychoïd Telepath

IV - Quest For Fire

V - Emerald Dream

VI - Time Gambler

VII - Shapeshifter

VIII - Stardust Regulator

Members

Alex Bigras - Guitars

Snake St-Louis - Drums

Vick Trigger - Bass

Chub - Synths/Organ/Backing Vocals

Jim Laflamme - Lead Vocals/Tambourine

Review

FANGUS debut album Emerald Dream is an intoxicating mix of Psych, Acid Rock, Doom Rock, Proto-Metal, Occult Rock, Blues Rock and Stoner Rock. The album is quite wild and wickedly vivid with how FANGUS blend different genre conventions with an outlandish premise that pushes the boundaries of Heavy Psychedelic music.

The music is mostly sourced from the legendary sounds of the Sixties and Seventies scenes with the band never venturing into modern day themes. This makes the album quite a cool sounding and hip leaning slice of RETRO ROCK with a great attitude to match.

The record starts off spectacularly heavy and fast paced through the opening tracks of Howling Hammer, Pyre Of Love and Psychoïd Telepath which relies quite heavily on the extraordinary talents of Chub who provides an amazing array of Synths, Organs and sublime backing vocals along the way. His performance was what instantly drew me in at first though the rest of the band are amazing musicians as well with all them putting in first rate performances. Though, it took me a few listens to actually listen to each individual performance on certain sections of the album.

The lead vocals from Jim Laflamme feels like he was brought up on a steady diet of The Doors, Black Sabbath, Led Zepp, Alice Cooper, MC5 and The Who with his vocals having a slightly grizzled Classic Rock and Heavy Rock feel. The album does lean into early Seventies Proto-Doom metal records with a sudden outburst of Heavy Psych and Garage Rock making the album sound quite heavier and vindictive at times. The Occult Doom themes become the most interesting aspect on the later stages with FANGUS feel like they’re developing a soundtrack for a lost classic horror movie that’s being discovered for the very first time.

Everything is bloody OVER THE TOP and insanely dramatic but you can’t deny how beautifully melodic and insanely addictive the album is at the same time. The record moves to more demented areas of Occult Rock with some amazing FREAK-OUT instrumental passages courtesy of some wonderful guitars laid down by Alex Brigas. 

There’s also a slightly Ritual and Tribal aspect to Emerald Dreams that starts to break through on tracks such as Quest For Fire, Emerald Dreams, Shapeshifter and Stardust Regulator where the album does have a minor Space Rock aspect starting to form which allows the album to become ever more unpredictable.

The production values are outstanding which allows FANGUS to transport not only themselves but also the listener to another forbidden dimension told through the power of music.

Emerald Dreams doesn’t feel like a debut album. This feels like a greatest hits collection with FANGUS providing their best musical output for a new legion of followers to discover for the very first time in the present day. That’s the best way I can describe Emerald Dreams and I’m have no doubt that FANGUS will start to build quite a loyal cult following within the underground scene thanks to this superb album. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Emerald Dreams  is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via From The Urn Records.

Links 

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Sundecay - The Blood Lives Again (Album Review)

Release Date: February 13th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

The Blood Lives Again - Tracklisting

1.Here Comes the Wizard 08:05

2.Silence Spoken 07:48

3.The Blood Lives Again 06:04

4.The Tyranny Rushes In 11:22

5.Will Dusk Defy Dawn 10:19

Members

Derek Hoffman - Bass

Julian Vardy - Drums

Mark Chandler - Guitars

Brian Scott - Guitars

Rich Pauptit - Vocals

Review

Psych Doom Metallers Sundecay latest album The Blood Lives Again forges sounds from areas of Proto-Metal, Sludge Metal, Prog Metal and Stoner Metal for a complex and riff-fuelled dynamic. You can hear influences from the likes of Saint VItus, Pentagram, High On Fire, Mastodon, Pallbrearer and Monolord. Sundecay make their own great mark by adding moments of Heavy Prog into the mix and bombastic vocals that match the “Proto-Metal” environment that holds everything together.

Opening track Here Comes The Wizard has that classic HEAVY METAL fantasy element heard within the lyrics but Sundecay weaves classic and modern based soundscapes that makes you instantly pay attention throughout. The sound is quite dramatic with full on Progressive melodies that allows Sundecay to dive right into the world of Psychedelic Stoner Metal with superb results. The song is quite long with different melodic themes and technical structures that makes it even more addictive from the very start.

Second track Silence Spoken sees Sundecay opt for a more grounded approach with the lyrics but with the band playing an almost GOTHIC sounding melody with perhaps using Type O Negative as influence. The vocals are quite dramatic with a slight operatic approach allowing the music to move between levels of Post-Doom, Gothic Rock, Sludge Rock and Post-Metal. This is quite an interesting style of music that  Sundecay have created here as it’s quite vivid with outbursts of ambient grooves that add a layer or mystery to the whole record. 

Third track The Blood Lives Again sees Sundecay switching things again by combining modern day Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves with a fantastical Proto-Metal energy which sees demonic lyrics and vocals unite for one of the most DOOMED OUT tracks on the whole album. There’s a ton of great instrumental passages that move between the best moments of the last fifty years of heavy metal within one glorious and unapologetic standout track.

The final two tracks The Tyranny Rushes In and Will Dusk Defy is where the band fully align themselves to their Progressive Doom Metal roots with two tracks offering highly dramatic sounds that have a haunting and emotional quality to them. The music is complex yet again and beautifully played with Sundecay inspired by the likes of Pallbearer, YOB  and Mastodon for certain sections of both tracks, The gloomy and gothic themes of the lyrics tug at the heart strings with perhaps The Tyranny Rushes In being my favourite track on the whole album.

The Blood Lives Again is an emotionally charged and beautifully constructed Psychedelic Doom Metal album of the highest order. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sundecay for the promo.

The Blood Lives Again is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

New Mexican Doom Cult - Ziggurat (Album Review)

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

Ziggurat - Tracklisting

1.The Church of Starry Wisdom

2.Metatron

3.Cloudrider 

4.Return to Babylon

5.Criosphinx

6.Sungod

7.I Stand Alone

Members

Nils - Guitars/Vocals

Fredrik - Bass

David - Guitars

Magnus - Drums

Review

Ziggarut is the sophomore album from Doom/Stoner Metallers New Mexican Doom Cult who impressed me greatly with their 2023 debut album Necropolis. I’m not sure if I have the correct line-up in the review as the PR blurb I received states different members to the ones listed on BandCamp so apologies to the band if that is the case. Anyway, this record oozes Proto-Metal appeal with the band touching upon areas of Doom, Psych, Stoner, Fuzz and Occult Rock overtones.

Aligning themselves closely to the likes of Electric Wizard, Saint Vitus and The Obsessed for this record. The whole tone and sound is quite filthy that has HUGE levels of destructive FUZZ and AMPLIFIER HEAVINESS along the seedy journey which allows New Mexican Death Cult to play with a meaty cosmic style of sludgy surroundings. 

The vocals are delivered with expert precision by Nils who channels his inner WINO and JUS OSBORNE for a record that’s never afraid to get down and dirty with the fuzzy instrumental movements that can be quite PROTO-DOOM obsessed. This sees them play with a passionate Psychedelic energy throughout the excellent opening tracks of The Church Of Starry Wisdom, Metatron and Cloudrider.

New Mexican Doom Cult are quite adept at switching musical gears for a breathtaking style of melody which can be quite fast-paced at times but also adding layers of distorted Doomed Out heaviness. There is the added use of freak-ish musical solos with the guitars reminding me of Acid Mammoth and Green Lung in places. The lyrics are quite subversive which taps right into the Occult Rock philosophy but the mood is always grounded in reality. 

You have to give credit where it’s due with New Mexican Doom Cult adding areas of Grunge and Ritualistic elements which just elevates this album onto an entirety different Cosmic Plane of existence altogether on tracks such as Cloudrider, Return To Babylon, Sungod and I Stand Alone being my favourite tracks on the album. As the sound becomes way progressive with even areas of Darkened Post-Whatever holding those heavy melodies and extended instrumental solos together. 

There’s an eerie sense of DOOM & GLOOM becoming more dominant as the record progresses to its natural conclusion. This is a powerful record that sees New Mexican Doom Cult bringing a murky and creepy sense of evil OCCULT terror into the famed Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene. The production values have an intense “vintage” flow built into the whole record which allows the band to offer an album that has a “timeless” feeling but still sounding refreshingly modern at the same time.

Ziggurat is jam-packed full of great grooves and riffs that will leave you on the edge of your seat time and time again. New Mexican Doom Cult may well become your “favourite new band” to discover right now. As this is a first rate album you cannot possibly ignore. Jaw-dropping stuff. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the details.

Ziggurat is available to buy now digitally from all good digital stockists thanks to Majestic Mountain Records.

Links 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newmexicandoomcult
Bancamp: https://newmexicandoomcult.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newmexicandoomcult