Doom/Stoner Metallers PALE HORSE RITUAL Release "Bloody Demon" From Upcoming New Album Diabolic Formation Out Nov 28 Via Black Throne Productions

Under the canopy of a darkening forest, the album, Diabolic Formation is preparing to manifest in its final material form on November 28, 2025, via Black Throne Productions. As it's arrival approaches, the Canadian stoner/doom/heavy psych outfit PALE HORSE RITUAL provide a further taste of what is to come with the new single, "Bloody Demon". 

PALE HORSE RITUAL evoke the occult sound of the '70s with a seductive yet deadly twist. An enticing rock 'n' roll spirit lies within "Bloody Demon". Groove rhythms are accompanied with the band's staple offering consisting of distortion, lashings of fuzz and a memorable hook. The electric opening riff soon settles into a fully immersive, rhythmic momentum that carries throughout the song's duration. It's guitar-driven shadowy appeal doesn't let up.

About PALE HORSE RITUAL

Steeped in mysticism, PALE HORSE RITUAL create an spellcasting blend of doom, occult rock and vintage metal. Based out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the band formed in 2024 and their sound is driven by gritty vocals, sludgy riffs, and pounding rhythms that channel the spirit of 1970s heavy music with a modern, gothic edge. Following their alluring 2024 EP titled Enchantress, the quartet are preparing to unveil the full-length, Diabolic Formation on November 28, via Black Throne Productions.

Line Up:

Paco (Bass/Vocals)
James Matheson (Lead Guitar)
Will Adams (Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals)
Jonah Santa-Barbara (Drums)

Album Credits:

Producer: Will Adams
Recording Studio: Green Mountain Ranch
Engineer: Will Adams at Tell Me About It… Records
Mastering: Zack Hollow at Z Hollow Studios
Mixing: Will Adams

Guest Musicians:

Dom Valela- Keys, Vocals
Doom Valhalla- Italian Preacher

Links:

Bandcamp: https://palehorseritual.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palehorseritual/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaleHorseRitualBand
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pale.horse.ritual

Track Listing:

1. Deflowered (5:58)
2. Wickedness (5:03)
3. Holy Lies (5:46)
4. Save You (3:13)
5. Bloody Demon (5:02)
6. DED (6:50)
7. A Beautiful End (6:55)

Thanks to C Squared Music for the details.

Groom The Giant - Old Toby (EP Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Old Toby - Tracklisting

1.Old Toby 04:24

2.Megawatts 07:11

3.Wyrms 04:23

4.Pissjazz 07:30

Review.

Old Toby is the latest EP from Psych/Grunge/Stoner Rockers Groom The Giant. I remember listening to the band’s excellent debut EP Culhwch which focused on Celtric folklore and heavy myths with a deep fantastical sense of wonderful mystery. The band keep with that theme on their excellent new EP where they advise the record is about: 

“Celtic heritage and magical fiction into a format of loud, danceable grunge; with songs inspired by the plagues of King Lludd (from where the Welsh flag gets its iconic red dragon) and explorations of omnipotence, to tributes to Gandalf's favourite tobacco.”

What makes Groom The Giant stand out is their grounded sound that’s boosted by elements of Grunge and Sludge with a heavy pounding Psychedelic effort. This highly polished and aggressive sound is perfectly captured through the stunning opening track Old Toby. Though, this is offset by fantastical lyrics with a huge WEEDIAN influence especially if writing songs about Gandalf’s favourite tobacco. 

The music is always quite aggressive with catchy instrumental passages which moves from 1990’s Grunge/Stoner Rock surroundings to the more modern day Psychedelic Rock fused with heavy Sludgy Rock grooves.

The music can be quite dark in places with levels of distorted FUZZ and scorched Desert Earth melodies which fully come along within the second standout track of Megawatts which is perhaps a slight homage to Back To The Future. The song opens with a long drawn out Post-Stoner / Post-Grunge sound that develops into a Psychedelic/Fuzz/Doomgaze landscape which feels inspired by TRUCKFIGHTERS in all the right places. The song is played at a superbly realized slow-to-mid pace with Groom The Giant adding more levels of distorted FUZZ and Psychedelic energy which fully crosses over into Doom Metal pastures. 

Third track Wyrms turns the EP on its head with a weird Piano instrumental beat that pushes the record into Soft Rock/Jazz territories which does show a deep love and respect for FAITH NO MORE. If you ever wanted to hear FAITH NO MORE become a Doom/Stoner Rock obsessed band then this is the best way to describe that track. It’s wonderfully surreal that shouldn’t really work but Groom The Giant add an unexpected Doomed Out twist to the final stages of the track.

The final track of Pissjazz is back to the long drawn out instrumental surroundings of the second track but with some wickedly dark humour being injected into the overall mix of someone actually having a “PISS”. I kid you not before Groom The Giant fully settle back into their heavy FUZZED OUT and STONED AGE creative world. They merge Jazzy soundscapes yet again but it’s the Psychedelic Weeidan flavours washed out by classic Grunge riffs that make this another standout track of the record.

Old Toby is completely off-beat, brilliantly surreal and has a wonderful MONTY PYTHON based madness to it all. If that sounds like it’s the EP for you then I can’t highly recommend this outrageous EP enough. 

Superb. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Linktree

Gnarwhal - Circuits (Single Review)

Release Date: September 10th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Circuits - Tracklisting

Circuits

Members

Mark Kilbride (vocals)

Benji Straker (guitar and vocals)

Jeremy Straker (bass and vocals)

Layne Rybchinski (drums and percussion)

Review.

Circuits is the latest single from powerhouse Sludge/Stoner Metallers Gnarwhal that is from their upcoming new album due for release in March 2026. The record is a decidedly more progressive song compared to their previous releases. This song is boosted by epic Progressive Sludge sounds with air of Post-Stoner heaviness with the added layers of trippy Psychedelic melodies. Gnarwhal fuses Post-Rock, Doomgaze and Ambient vibes into the backdrop of distorted FUZZY passages. 

There are elements of bands such as BARONESS, MASTODON and YOB spliced into the mix but GNARWHAL still conjure up their own highly powerful and wonderfully polished sound. The vocals are EPIC with a clean, clear and crisp performance by lead vocalist Mark Kilbride. There’s a haunting Alt Metal presence within Mark’s vocals with the rest of the band conjuring up intense Sludge/Stoner grooves that have a subtle riff-centric approach.

On this evidence alone, Gnarwhal have genuinely made me excited to hear their upcoming full length album which could endear them even further to the Sludge/Stoner Metal underground community.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

http://gnarwhalband.com

http://facebook.com/gnarmusic
http://instagram.com/gnarwhalsounds
https://gnarwhalband.bandcamp.com

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers APPALOOZA Stunning New Album THE EMPIRE OF LOSS

French heavy rock powerhouse Appalooza release their epic new album "The Emperor of Loss" on September 12th via Ripple Music and we have the exclusive album premiere thanks to the amazing folks over at Purple Sage PR and Ripple Music.

The Lowdown

"The Emperor of Loss" is a wall of sound that raucously fuses stoner rock, grunge rock, metal and tribalism, all propelled by magnetic baritone vocals (as seen in their latest Magnolia video). This gut-wrenching concept album explores the psychological depths of emotional captivity, domestic violence, and the mourning of one's identity. It portrays the torturous journey of a woman grappling with Stockholm Syndrome, caught in the grip of her persecutor, a figure both tyrannical and deeply internal. A fire-driven rock journey and their darkest album to date."

APPALOOZA links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

RIPPLE MUSIC links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Pre-order: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-emperor-of-loss

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

UK Heavy Psychedelic Rockers LACERTILIA to release new album "Transcend" on Majestic Mountain Records this fall.

Cardiff-based heavy psych torchbearers LACERTILIA return after five years with their anticipated third studio album "Transcend", due out on October 24th through Swedish powerhouse Majestic Mountain Records. Stream their brand new single and video for "The Sun Is The Key" now!

Watch Lacertilia's new video The Sun Is The Key below + listen to the single on Bandcamp

Lacertilia stand out as a fearless blend of psychedelic soul and heavy riff warfare, rooted in their Welsh stoner rock identity but unafraid to draw from cosmic textures, primal energy, and punk-inspired vigour. A powerhouse live act, they have leveled stages from Desertfest London to Hellfest in France, converting audiences at every stop.

Their sonic evolution culminates in their forthcoming third album and Majestic Mountain Records debut "Transcend", which sees the five-piece refining their explosive sound, merging the massive riffs and spacey explorations they are revered for with darker, more intricate textures of folk, prog and post-rock. The result is a heavier, more dynamic listen that charts a course through themes of profound personal growth and transformation, grappling with the nature of reality, existential dread, the breakdown of relationships, and the future of mankind.

Their new single "The Sun Is The Key" is a pagan space rock epic that soars with cosmic energy, connecting themes of higher consciousness, mysticism and ancient spiritual practices. Lacertilia worked with filmmaker Ren Faulkner to capture a ritual sunrise performance in the Welsh Mountains during Summer Solstice '25.

New album "Transcend" - Out October 24th on Majestic Mountain Records (LP/CD/digital)

TRACKLIST:

1. Archaic Oscillations
2. We Go Here
3. Listen Close
4. Over & Out
5. Nothing's Sacred
6. Transcending
7. Deviate From The Plan
8. Weird Scenes
9. Cerulean Sky
10. The Sun Is The Key

For the past decade, Cardiff’s Lacertilia has been a formidable force in the UK's heavy psychedelic sphere, forging a reputation as purveyors of high-energy, cosmic rock. They have seamlessly bridged the worlds of underground punk, metal, and stoner rock, delivering their high-energy cosmic sermons everywhere from DIY stages to hallowed European festival grounds like Hellfest in France, Freak Valley in Germany, Desertfest London and their biggest headline show to date: the 10th anniversary show in Cardiff in 2024.

Their recorded journey maps this evolution: from the explosive arrival of their 2015 debut EP "Crashing Into The Future" through their 2016 LP "We’re Already Inside Your Mind" and the raw power of the "Live at Hellfest" EP, to the lockdown-forged introspection of their 2020 sophomore album, "Calling The Quarters".

This journey culminates in their third and most ambitious album to date, "Transcend", coming out in October 2025 through Sweden's esteemed label Majestic Mountain Records. "Transcend" is the culmination of a decade of growth — a mind-altering sonic statement from one of the UK’s most compelling underground rock acts.

Lacertilia is

Matt Fry – Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Lucas Zalunski – Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Michael Young-Temple – Electric Guitar, Djembe
Ed Hughes – Bass
Carl Richards – Drums

Lacertilia links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Majestic Mountain Records links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Cosmic Reaper - Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned (Album Review)

Release Date: September 26th 2025. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned - Tracklisting

1. Hammer

2. Bloodfeather

3. Pot Of Gold

4. Parasites

5. Dwelling

6. Perfect Organism

7. Bones

8. Waiting by the Gallows

Members

Thad Collis - Vocals / Guitar

Peter Snasdell - Guitar

Garrett Garlington - Bass

Jeremy Grobsmith - Drums

Review.

Doom/Stoner Metallers Cosmic Reaper return with their latest album Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned which sees the band become master practitioners of the Proto-Metal world with their sound playing homage to the likes of Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Candlemass and Pentagram. What makes Cosmic Reaper standout is their foray into areas of Psych, Space and Cosmic pastures with certain elements of Alt Metal and Grunge to give their sound quite a destructive and distinctive quality.

This time round Cosmic Reaper performs with a mature storytelling aspect compared to their celebrated debut album with tales of horror and science fiction that allows the album to be quite fantastical and horror obsessive at the best possible moments. The lyrics have a real blood curling effect with Thad Collis vocals settling firmly into the role of Ringmaster and master storyteller all in one go.

The music itself is destructively heavy and downright gloomy with flashes of aggressive melodies with flashes of MONOLORD-esque FUZZY heaviness injected within the Proto-Doom surroundings of the superbly played opening tracks of Hammer, Bloodfeather and Pot Of Gold. Sludgy guitars can be felt more than ever that allows the excellent rhythm section of Garrett Garlington (Bass) and Jeremy Grobsmith (Drums) generate a pounding and intense Doom Metal ENGINE that really makes Cosmic Reaper actually tick and perform to the best of their musical abilities.

Thad also handles guitar duties along with newest member Peter Snasdell which gives the band a holier than thou METALLIC quality with down-tuned and suitably paced melodies combining for a record that’s ultimately perfect for the upcoming HALLOWEEN season. Cosmic Reaper have found a great balance of NWOBHM based vibes and influences on the other parts of the record that pushes the whole experience into one of SONIC and AUDIO manipulation with FUZZY and VIOLENT amplifier riffage dominating the musical journey on other standout tracks such as Parasites, Dwelling, Bones and Waiting By The Gallows. 

Cosmic Reaper always have an authentic creative energy to their music which allows the band to merge classic sounds of Seventies Heavy Metal  against Nineties Alt Metal/Stoner Metal that always leads to places you don’t initially expect. There’s excursions into areas of Blues Rock which adds a gritty undertone that fully transforms the backdrop of Cosmic/Spaced Out Doom into something with real human emotion.

Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned is an emotionally satisfying, thrilling and emotionally charged experience with dangerous LEVELS of FUZZ and GLOOMY instrumental passages that leaves a lasting impression long after the record has finished. 

Cosmic Reaper will no doubt make a bigger name for themselves with this truly outstanding record.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

Black Moon Cult - Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Black Doomba Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig)  - Tracklisting

1.Moonchild Ritual 06:07

2.Supernova 05:12

3.Ophidian Future 08:06 video

4.Sunfish 04:40

5.At The Mountains of Madness 05:43

6.Stoned Ape 08:41

Members

Kaleb M. Riser - Vocals, Guitar, Synth, Electric Sitar

Kevin Lewis - Vocals, Bass, Keyboard, Pipe Organ

Jeff Vandebussche - Vocals, Drums, Percussion

Review

Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) is the latest record from Black Moon Cult who throw every groove, sound, rhythm and melody from the Psych/Stoner Metal movement with this album running for over thirty eight minutes in length. However, the album feels twice as long with Black Moon Cult playing a wide array of different style of melodies with fantastical creative insight. That creative vision is brought to life even further with Prog Rock/Metal techniques being added throughout the album.

With a multitude of different instruments played by the three core members to almost pure perfection especially on the experimental parts of the record where things like Electric Sitar and Pipe Organ make an appearance. However, it’s also the traditional instrumental sounds that make up the majority of the heavy based melodies with intense grooves being overplayed against areas of destructive Fuzz, Cosmic Rock and Space Rock for a sound you don’t really come across that much.

The vocals are EPIC but also wonderfully WEIRD which sees all three members branch out into louder areas of Heavy Metal at the drop of a hat. To confuse matters is Black Moon Cult’s dramatic use of Middle Eastern Trippy Sound Effects which sees this record having a weird “KrautRock” attitude before switching into other areas of Mystical Heavy Metal.

With influences ranging from Black Sabbath, Monster Magnet, Hawkwind, Pink Floyd and KYUSS this never deters Black Moon Cult being their own band where they play their own highly original style of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal with intense lyrics to match. There is a sense of weirdness appearing for all of the tracks but you can’t help be impressed by the band’s storytelling skills and the whole narrative of the record being completely BONKERS but also quite grounded at the same time on tracks such as: Moonchild Ritual, Supernova, Ophidian Future and Stoned Ape. 

Those tracks were the main standouts for myself as that’s where Black Moon Cult impress the most with their fearless playing and intense sludgy melodies that even had a “NO FUCKS GIVEN” attitude being added just for the sheer hell of it. Some may complain that Black Moon Cult are trying too hard here with the multitude of different styles that appear on the record and perhaps maybe play it safer. I’m grateful that Black Moon Cult feel brave and bold to release a wonderfully weird record like this for their debut album.

The band are aiming BIG with Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) and it really does have a gigantic CINEMATIC quality which taps right into the classic heyday of 1970’s Hard Rock EXCESS but delivers this with a free-flowing modern day attitude which is where the REAL MAGIC happens. 

Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) is delightfully weird and absolutely bonkers at the same time. However, it’s also a brilliantly entertaining record with Black Moon Cult delivering a highly anthemic and original sound of their own making.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Metal Devastation Radio PR for the promo.

Ophidian Future (The Children of Yig) is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Black Doomba Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Polly - Death Drive (Single Review)

Release Date: September 08th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Death Drive - Tracklisting

Death Drive 

Members

Tina P, Tom P and Alex B.

Review

Death Drive is the new single from Psych/Stoner Rockers Polly which is from their upcoming new album of the same name due out for release on 22nd September 2025. What we have here is a song that explores areas of Psych, Doom, Stoner Rock and Proto-Metal surroundings. Death Drive starts off cautiously and slow paced with Polly delicately building the levels of Stoner Rock passages that transform into a gloomier driven sound.

Polly primarily uses the Seventies Rock & Roll template to create their music with flashes of other eras of Psych Rock with fragmented use of modern Doom/Stoner Rock grooves. The vocals are part of the Proto-Doom world with flashes of Occult Rock interacting with the subtle Instrumental grooves that merge Sludge Rock screeching guitars and COSMIC themes for a more aggressive style of music for the second half of the track.

The end result is a twisted ride into the Proto-Doom/Stoner Metal vortex with flashes of subtle Blues and Psych Rock distorted melodies that leaves you wanting more once the eight minutes runtime is finally up. If the rest of the upcoming Death Drive album follows this the same musical path as the title track then Polly should have no trouble gaining quite a cult following within the underground scene. 

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO - Sideral Voivod (Album Review)

Release Date: September 19th 2025. Record Label:  Octopus Risings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Sideral Voivod - Tracklisting

Interstellar Greyhound

Icarus

Sideral Voivod

Sasquatch's Eyes

Ouija Witch

Telekinetic Thunder Yeti

King Bong

Prelude

Whale

Space Leech

Worship the Middle

Stomp

Summer in the Void

Members

Sara de Luca

Nicola Viola

Alessandro “Camu” Camurati 

Review

Sideral Voivod is the latest SONIC expedition from GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO. The record is a sludgy mix of Psych, Fuzz, Grunge, Noise and Stoner Metal with a subtle nineties Alt-Metal charge leading into some unexpected levels of distorted heaviness. The band adds an abrasive and sonic inducing level of raw aggression into the overall feel and sound of the record which leads into some catchy and fucked up heavy grooves.

The influences of L7, The Melvins, FU MANCHU and Acid King can most definitely be felt and heard with GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO applying their own blend of GONZO and HIPSTER based melodies throughout the album. The end result can be quite experimental in the most unexpected of places but doesn’t stop the band playing superbly interesting grooves with that Garage Rock attitude being played very early on within tracks such as Interstellar Greyhound, Icarus and Sideral Voivod. Sometimes the levels of distorted FUZZ Rock drown out the excellent vocals but maybe that’s the point to keep up with the “DESTROY TOKYO” aspect of the band’s name with a violent musical effect developing for the majority of the album.

The album transforms into one of Cosmic Doom landscapes merged with Psych Sludge Rock passages that allows the band to have some wicked fun within the whole album. There’s some freakish extended instrumental passages that have a wicked deviance into JAM Based rock soundscapes with that classic Noise / Grunge aesthetic creating the heaviest and most riff-centric parts of the whole album.

The LO-FI and SEEDY delivery of the record is demonstrated even further on tracks such as Telekinetic Yeti Thunder, King Bong, Space Leech, Worship The Middle and Summer In The Void with elements of MONSTER MAGNET appearing quite suddenly but with GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO providing their own creative stamp of PSYCHEDELIC HEAVINESS and OUT OF THIS WORLD WEIRDNESS.

Sideral Voivod does allow the band to perform a wide array of different Sludge/Stoner Rock styles throughout the thirteen tracks contained on the album but told with a mesmerizing down-tuned and amplifier distorted approach. If you love where the AMPS are played at dangerous levels with the band never losing their Psychedelic and Cosmic attitude then this is the place to be. Truth be told, Sideral Voivod has a nightmarish element when the band plays a faster and more violent style of music which may leave you gasping for breath in places.

The record is never boring with GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO adding a fresh and unique perspective within their hybrid style of HEAVY RAWK that not only reaches for the STARS but absolutely destroys everything within its wake.

SIderal Voivod is FUCKING AWESOME. Plain and Simple!!! 

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

Sideral Voivod is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records Imprint).

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram