Pleb - Grease Trap (EP Review)

Release Date: August 07th 2026. Record Label: Human Worth. Formats: Cassette/DD

Grease Trap - Tracklist

1.CLODS OF SHIT AND BONE

2.THE BRUISES MEAN IT'S ON THE WAY OUT

3.THE EYES MELT FIRST

4.PUT IT BACK

5.EVOLUTIONARY ROADBLOCK

6.THE STREETS AREN'T RELIABLE IN THE SLIGHTEST

7.YOU AND ME BABY AIN'T NOTHING BUT CANNIBALS 02:11

8.BELLY UP

Lineup

Delia Fraser - Guitar / Feedback Hell

Steve Myles - Drums / Sqwaks and Grunts 

Review

Grease Trap is the debut EP from Punk/Grind/Doom/Sludge Metallers Pleb and it’s a brutal exercise in pure filth and sonic distortion with a manic Punk Metal sound at its main core. The music is violently intense and it revels in delivering a pure grimy experience from beginning to end. Pleb operate in a no holds barred world where the production values are quite lo-fi which gives them such a NO FUCKS GIVEN attitude with their music. However, it brilliantly works as PLEB manages to combine areas of Grind, Sludge, Doom, Punk, Thrash and even small amounts of Psychedelic beats into a cohesive style of music that pulls no punches.

The vocals are shouted with extreme confidence that it gives the the whole EP a bombastic attitude that develops into violent levels of twisted Sludge Metal carnage on tracks such as Clods Of Shit And Bone, The Bruises Mean It’s On The Way Out, Put It Back and Evolutionary Roadblock being the most threatening, aggressive, seedy and superbly entertaining tracks on the EP. This is where PLEB show their real selves especially with Delia Fraser’s sublime guitars and twisted feedback skills that puts the amplifiers through their fucking destructive paces. 

Steve Myles also excels on vocal duties and drums which gives the EP it’s whole grindcore spirit but everything staying true to the Doom/Sludge Metal world but with a more abstract filth ridden PUNK METAL spirit which Grease Trap delivers right to the very end. 

The EP lasts under fifteen minutes but that’s more than enough time for Pleb to get shit done and leave the audience in a violent and catatonic state where they once again offer no apologies.

The whole thing is brilliantly seedy and the lo-fi production values make this an unpredictable force of nature. I would have liked a couple of more songs on the EP as the whole thing suddenly ends when things start getting truly exciting. However, it’s always best leaving the audience wanting more and that’s what Pleb has fully achieved with this great slice of extreme metal the underground scene will go absolutely crazy for.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

BandCamp | Instagram

Darren Ironside - The Nothing (Album Review)

Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

The Nothin - Tracklist

1.Next Stop Hell 00:46

2.The Nothing 03:34

3.Witches Of Essex 02:11

4.Forgotten Dream 03:21

5.Nebula Rising 01:47

6.Overwatch and Control 03:58

7.To The Gallows 04:05

8.Through The Darkness 03:05

9.Planets Collide 03:42

Members

Darren Ironside - Everything

Review

The Nothing is the latest album from Darren Ironside who used to be formally known as MIDNIGHT WHISKEY MASSACRE. It seems that Darren has retired from that project and decided to become a fully fledged solo artist with this highly confident offering. If you’ve heard that great band before then you know what to expect with The Nothing. However, this is way more political than I originally anticipated which you can hear from the very first song Next Stop Hell. 

This record has a deeply subversive political message that’s played out against a backdrop of Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, Doom Metal, Proto-Metal and Stoner Metal sounds. The whole thing is quite gritty with true DIY production values being employed all the way though. Darren Ironside is quite good at writing socially aware lyrics set against a backdrop of HEAVY METAL sounds influenced by the likes of Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and FU MANCHU.

Darren fully taps into that playful and rebellious delivery with this record sounding as if The Sex Pistols or The Clash fully went down the HEAVY METAL route. There’s nothing progressive or flashy about how Darren delivers his music on the record and that’s no bad thing. This album has a “ZERO FUCKS GIVEN” attitude which makes it more enjoyable with grooves that are laced with political attitude and a big UP YOURS message to the establishment. The great use of soundclips from classic TV shows and movies only hammers the message home but it’s the great musical work that Darren employs here that’s the real standout.  As Darren is an excellent musician playing everything on The Nothing. 

Standout tracks include: The Nothing, Witches Of Essex, Forgotten Dream, Overwatch and Control and Planets Collide where Darren shows a quintessential BRITISH attitude but don’t let that put you off. It’s an essential message that can be used in any part of the world in today’s troubling climate. If you’re here for the music that’s fine as well with Darren playing a massive amount of great sounds to fully lose yourself in.

Some of the songs messages don’t fully reach their target but the music is always superb and the great use of dramatic storytelling when Darren uses his abrasive Punk Rock vocals set against gloomy soundbytes. The Nothing is a solid creative work which will perhaps gain a cult following within the underground scene and there’s really a lot to admire here. Though, some of the dark political themes may put some folks off and that’s a shame as there’s some excellent music bursting from the seams.

Check this out when you can as you’ll be in shock and awe in what awaits you!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thunderchief - With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star... (EP Review)

Release Date: July 01st 2026. Record Label: ASR Records. Formats: CD/DD

With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star… - Tracklist

Malaise

Chintzy

Catch My Fall

Entrance of the Devil (Zior)

Lie Nation

Slurpee

Members

Rik Surly - Vocals/Guitar/Bass

Erik Larson - Drums

Review

Doom/Sludge Metallers Thunderchief offer their new EP With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star... onto an unsuspecting audience. The record is driven by a black metal approach and down-tuned style of music where the band play some of the fastest and nastiest grooves of their career  within the excellent opening track of Malaise. Thunderchief plays a more violent slab of Punk Metal you’ll encounter in some time. The music is played against long drawn out Doom/Sludge Metal soundscapes that have echoes of SLEEP running throughout. 

You can hear elements of HIGH ON FIRE and  MOTORHEAD running violently free against the backdrop of nightmarish Drone Metal themes and distorted Blackened Sludge Metal firmly settling down for a fast-paced journey into the vast darkness of the underground on the brutal second offering Chintzy. The vocals are violent and way over the top that are delivered by Rik Surly who is on highly inspired devilish form.

The music adapts itself to more modern day Crust Punk surroundings that allows Thunderchief to firmly remain in MOTORHEAD territory on the remainder of the record. Thunderchief splice out lo-fi carvings of the Extreme Metal scene at times before merging within their Punk Metal delivery on tracks such as: Catch My Fall, Entrance of the Devil (Zior), Lie Nation and Slurpee which remain the some of the heaviest, seediest and dirtiest parts of the record. 

Thunderchief are never afraid to offer the listener a seedy, unapologetic and in some cases deeply flawed production values on the EP. As With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star… ultimately provides a thrilling picture of the brutal Doom/Sludge Metal underground scene you rarely witness.

Thunderchief channels some epic SUNN 0))) vibes with the aspects of Drone Metal reaching crazy levels of pure heaviness but the music is still riff heavy where the band never disappoints especially with the excellent drumming from Erik Larson being my favourite aspect of the EP. Erik’s fully committed or perhaps possessed by the POWER OF SATAN which allows Rik to deliver some mammoth sounding instrumental passages of his very own.

With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star… is a little short running around twenty two minutes in length but it provides an action-packed ride that’s fun, filthy and brutally entertaining that leaves you wanting more. 

Excellent and Highly Recomemnded.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

www.thethunderchief.com

https://www.facebook.com/thunderchiefrva/

https://www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial/

https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com/music

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers THUNDERCHIEF Announces New Album and Tour for *With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star…”

Virginia-based heavy metal/punk outfit THUNDERCHIEF will release its new full-length album, *With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star...*, through ASR Records on physical and digital form on July 1, 2026, and embarking on a 4-week tour beginning July 6 to support the release.

Continuing the band's blend of aggressive metal, raw punk, and hard rock influences, *With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star...* presents THUNDERCHIEF's most focused and direct material to date. Across the album's runtime, the band delivers a collection of hard-hitting tracks built on heavy riffs, frantic rhythms, and unsettling lyrical content--touching on current social issues including politics, humanity and the dreaded concert-ticket & music-streaming capitalization.

The band states, "We are really excited about this album, it hits on everything we like about making music. We pushed ourselves in a few new directions on this one to include some new elements that weren't present on prior albums, and we're stoked on how the fans have responded to hearing these songs live”."

Formed in Richmond, Virginia, THUNDERCHIEF has developed a sound rooted in abrasive metal/hardcore punk, drawing weight & urgency equally from the respective genres. The new album builds on that foundation, offering a set of songs that emphasize momentum, intensity, and dare we say, “groove”, without relying on studio excess or modern trends to create atmosphere. The band also threw in a cover of the 1973 Zior cult-laden classic, “Entrance of the Devil”.

*With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star...* will be released by ASR Records on July 1, 2026, with a 4-week tour to follow beginning on Monday, July 6, and a southwestern tour slated for October.

For more updates and information, visit THUNDERCHIEF online at www.thethunderchief.com



THUNDERCHIEF - *With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star...*

ASR Records - July 1, 2026 (CD/Digital)

Track Listing

Malaise
Chintzy
Catch My Fall
Entrance of the Devil (Zior)
Lie Nation
Slurpee

Summer Tour 2026

7/6 Alexandria, VA Galactic Panther
7/7 New Hope, PA John & Peters
7/8 Harrisonburg, VA Coffee Hound
7/9 Pittsburgh, PA Rock Room
7/10 Detroit, MI Paris
7/11 Chicago, IL Liars Clu
7/12 Madison, WI Gamma Ray (Matinee)
7/13 Minneapolis, MN Underground
7/15 Columbus, OH Dirty Dungarees
7/16 Wheeling, WV Carins Pub
7/17 Akron, OH The Matinee
7/18 Buffalo, NY Ask a Punk
7/19 Reading, PA Gnome Hutch
7/20 Saratoga Springs, NY Desperate Annies
7/22 Manchester, NH The Bungalow
7/23 Worcester, MA Ralph’s Rock Diner
7/24 New London, CT 33 Golden
7/25 Portland, ME Madrids
7/26 Bangor, ME Old Towne Theater
7/27 Henniker, NH Henniker Brewing
7/29 Providence, RI Alchemy
7/30 Medford, MA Deep Cuts
7/31 Clifton, NJ Dingbatz
8/1 Philadelphia, PA O’Malleys

Links

www.thethunderchief.com

https://www.facebook.com/thunderchiefrva/

https://www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial/

https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com/music

Thanks to Thunderchief for all of the details

Sludge/Stoner Metallers Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol - new single PEACHES Out Now!!!

Austin trio Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol share a new single today, titled “Peaches” culled from their forthcoming album CA$H GRAB. The song finds the band showcasing their absolute mastery of heavy hook-filled riffs and rhythms couched in earworm melody that would make Green Album era Weezer jealous. CA$H GRAB, which is still in production, will be announced in more detail at a later date. For now, dig in to the bite-sized anthem that is “Peaches” on all DSPs HERE. 

Spotify pre-save link: https://linktr.ee/rickshawbilliesburgerpatrol

RBBP continue their CA$H GRAB headlining tour dates across North America, running through May. The band is joined on the entire 6 week long tour by Austin punk-metal trio American Sharks (whose new album Not Dead Yet released last week), and in the Midwest by Denver "Desertgaze" trio Pink Fuzz. 

Please see all dates below. Tickets for all shows are available HERE.

RBBP’s fourth annual festival, BIG DUMB FEST IV will take place on May 30th, 2026 in Austin, TX. Full lineup, food vendors and details follow below.

BIG DUMB FEST IV Lineup:

Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol

American Sharks * Palefade * Transit Method

Buzz Electro * Waterworld * Sodomy Cop

Food vendors:

Bad Larry's Burger Club * Epic Jerk * more TBA

Mohawk Austin - 6pm - ALL AGES - Indoor and Outdoor stages

RBBP have opened a new online store via Shopify, with new merch and restocked LPs and cassettes. Shop MERCH HERE.

BIG DUMB RIFFS is available on LP, cassette and download, released May 10th, 2024. Doom Wop is available on LP, cassette and download, released August 11, 2023. 

RICKSHAW BILLIE'S BURGER PATROL - US LIVE 2026:

04/23 Los Angeles, CA - Zebulon (LOW TICKETS)

04/25 San Diego, CA - The Casbah (LOW TICKETS)

04/26 Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriet’s

04/28 Phoenix, AZ - Rebel Lounge

05/01 Oklahoma City, OK - Resonant Head *

05/02 Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck *

05/03 Omaha, NE - Reverb *

05/04 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry * (LOW TICKETS)

05/06 Milwaukee, WI - Falcon Bowl *

05/07 St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill Duck Room *

05/08 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle * (LOW TICKETS)

05/09 Cleveland, OH - Mahall’s *

05/10 Toronto, ON - The Garrison

05/12 Montreal, QC - Cabaret Foufs

05/13 Boston, MA - Sonia

05/15 Brooklyn, NY - TV Eye (LOW TICKETS)

05/17 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s

05/18 Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery

05/20 Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre

05/21 Atlanta, GA - The Earl

05/22 Atlanta, GA - The Earl (SOLD OUT)

05/23 Nashville, TN - The Blue Room

All shows with American Sharks 

*w/ Pink Fuzz

Links:

www.rickshawbilliesburgerpatrol.com

https://linktr.ee/rickshawbilliesburgerpatrol

Thanks to US/THEM PR for the details.

Italian Sludge Metal Squad TONS to release new album "Stoned Villains" on Heavy Psych Sounds this 4/20. New single "The Big Bong Theory" unleashed!

Turin, Italy's premium sludge dealers TONS are set to return with their loud and gritty fourth album "Stoned Villains" on Heavy Psych Sounds this April 20th, and team up with Doomed & Stoned to premiere the debut single "The Big Bong Theory" today.

Your favorite weed sludgers Tons are ready to come back with their fourth studio album this April, the aptly titled "Stoned Villains" on Heavy Psych Sounds Records! From the very first listen, their distinctive sound strikes instantly, with seven tracks of skull-grinding, sulfurous doom-sludge with influences ranging from the '90s to Turin-inspired hardcore punk — the scene in which our "villains" were born and raised. Expect heavy razor-sharp riffs, a seismic rhythm section, and Gingerzilla's voice barking out ungraceful tales of weed abuse and uncontrolled eating. The songs perfectly encapsulate the Tons state of mind: a band that doesn't take itself too seriously and turns its trademark tongue-in-cheek irony into its unfailing superpower.

Crank new single "The Big Bong Theory" below:

The debut single "The Big Bong Theory" is a blend of heavy, slow, and relentless sludge metal with psychedelic moments culminating in a drone-doom-esque finale. The drums pound, the guitars terrify, while Gingerzilla's acidic, raspy voice recounts tales of gargantuan bong sessions. "This song does major battle damage, with massive monolithic chords, explosive beats, and acid-soaked vocals that are nothing short of vicious. Prepare to be shook," says Doomed & Stoned editor.

New album "Stoned Villains" - Out 4/20 on Heavy Psych Sounds - Pre-order

TRACKLIST:

1. Shirley Temple Ball
2. Hangover The Top
3. Lost In Plantation
4. Intro (Cabin Fever)
5. The Big Bong Theory
6. Darth Vaper
7. Rollercoaster Diet Bombo

Forged in 2009 by members of the Turin hardcore scene (The Redrum, Lama Tematica, NoInfo), Tons deliberately traded breakneck speed for a colossus-sized, slow-motion onslaught — sludgy-as-fuck, caustic and laced with wry weed wisdom and local esoteric mystique.

From their 2012 debut, Musineè Doom Session, Volume 1, to the punishing Filthy Flowers of Doom (2018) and the evil and acerbic Hashension (2022), Tons has never taken a single prisoner. The unstoppable foursome has shared stages with iconic acts such as Bongzilla, Unsane, Napalm Death and Church Of Misery, and relentlessly stormed festivals across the continent (Desertfest, Sonic Blast, Frantic Fest, Venezia Hardcore, HPS Fest).

Blasting forth with a new player behind the kit, Tons is ready to crank it up to maximum sludge levels again with their fourth album Stoned Villains, due out in the spring of 2026 and followed by a promotional Japanese tour in May. The album was recorded and mixed in Turin by Danilo "Dano" Battocchio at Deepest Sea Studio and mastered by James Plotkin, with artwork and graphics by Steuso.

Tons is

Gingerzilla - Bass / Voice / Synth
Duncan McCrapper - Lead Guitar / Sampler
Stewart J Tanuki - Rhythm Guitar
Oreste Pennarelli - Drums

Tons links

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

YAAK - YAAK (EP Review)

Release Date: January 01st 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

YAAK - Tracklisting

1.The Witch 06:12

2.Sing me to sleep 04:07

3.Parasites 05:07

4.WAR WAR WAR 03:34

5.Surrounded 05:39

Members

Arni Lundberg - vocals

Daniel Grzegorczyk - guitar

Przemysław Gomuła - guitar, backing vocals

Zuza Klauda - bass

Miłosz Czerwonka - drums

Review

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers YAAK release their self-titled EP which features a sludgy aspect of Punk Rock into the mix. The record starts with an outlandish attitude with the music having a weird stop/start aspect and the vocals moving from clean vocals to harsh DEATH based growls. I will admit the whole sound does take a few moments to fully get used to especially within the opening track The Witch. I even expected a straightforward style of Doom/Stoner Metal with YAAK coming from the infamous Polish underground metal scene. 

So it’s to YAAK’s credit for delivering their own great blend of music to release as their debut EP. Their record does have a twisted DESERT METAL sound which allows the band to move between the more extreme aspects of the underground STONER scene. There’s some great levels of AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and FUZZY REVERB along the way with YAAK offering a demented audio experience along the way.

YAAK take influence from the likes of WEEDEATER, BONGZILLA, HIGH ON FIRE, KYUSS and FU MANCHU when the blackened Desert Rock themes fully start to arrive within the excellent second track of Sing Me To Sleep, though only if KYUSS or FU MANCHU sold their souls to LUCIFER themselves. It’s an intriguing concept and YAAK fully sells that premise superbly well and to the best of their ability.

The remaining three tracks of the EP allows YAAK to travel further along the Stoner Metal highway with deafening levels of deceptive BLACKENED FUZZ and DOOM METAL only amplifying their overall sound. The vocals become even more pissed off on tracks such as Parasites and WAR WAR WAR. The production values are great for the most part with a few raw sounding moments but I feel those aspects are intentional to allow YAAK to hammer home the heaviest and aggressive grooves for the listener to fully experience. 

YAAK’s debut EP  is a wicked interpretation of the modern Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene that does want me to hear more as when the band focuses on a more riff-centric sound they play some truly great sounds of their own making.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

THUNDERCHIEF Unleashes 2025 U.S. Tour — Featuring Erik Larson (Alabama Thunderpussy, Avail, Birds of Prey) & Rik Surly

RICHMOND, VA — Prepare for a barrage of volume and venom as THUNDERCHIEF , the relentless sludge ’n’ roll duo from Richmond, Virginia, take their crushing live show across the U.S. with a full-scale 2025 tour .

The band, known for their no-compromise, genre-defying heaviness, will hit 30+ cities in support of their acclaimed full-length Synanthrope and the pulverizing pandemic-era covers release Dekk Meg... . Armed with bone-breaking riffs, thunderous drums, and a refusal to play it safe, THUNDERCHIEF’s live show is an all-out aural assault not to be missed.

Formed in 2006 by guitarist/vocalist Rik Surly , the band has evolved into an unstoppable two-man demolition unit with the addition of drummer Erik Larson , a key figure in underground heavy music. Larson’s legendary résumé includes Alabama Thunderpussy , Avail , Birds of Prey , Satan’s Satyrs , Morne , and Parasytic , bringing decades of punk, sludge, and metal fury to the THUNDERCHIEF machine.

Check them out on Bandcamp and support:

https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com/album/dekk-meg

2025 U.S. TOUR DATES:

AUGUST

8/20 – Washington, DC – Simple Bar
8/21 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – Curry Donuts
8/22 – Salem, MA – Koto
8/23 – Wallingford, CT – Cherry St. Station
8/24 – Portland, ME – Geno’s
8/25 – Henniker, NH – Henniker Brewing
8/26 – Albany, NY – Ophelia’s
8/27 – Rochester, NY – Bug Jar
8/28 – Kent, OH – Bar Lucci
8/29 – Detroit, MI – JobStoppers
8/30 – Indianapolis, IN – Melody Inn
8/31 – Dayton, OH – Cosmic Joe’s

SEPTEMBER

9/1 – Louisville, KY – Mag Bar
9/2 – Cincinnati, OH – Feel It Records
9/3 – Lexington, KY – Green Lantern
9/4 – Huntington, WV – Truckin’ Cheezys
9/5 – Roanoke, VA – Blindhouse Brewery
9/24 – Richmond, VA – Banditos

OCTOBER

10/1 – Norton, VA – Music Shop
10/2 – Murfreesboro, TN – CrX
10/3 – Memphis, TN – Growlers
10/4 – Fayetteville, AR – Nomads
10/5 – St. Louis, MO – Platypus
10/6 – Columbia, MO – PMD
10/7 – Kansas City, MO – Farewell
10/8 – Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves
10/9 – Austin, TX – Chess Club
10/10 – San Antonio, TX – Slow Ride
10/11 – Houston, TX – Black Magic Social Club
10/12 – Baton Rouge, LA – Punk Rock Flea Market
10/13 – New Orleans, LA – Fred Hampton Free Store
10/15 – Vicksburg, MS – Watermark
10/16 – Birmingham, AL – Firehouse
10/17 – Athens, GA – Flickr
10/18 – Greenville, NC – Suite E

ABOUT THUNDERCHIEF:

Once described as "an incessant nightmare, like Sleep on ketamine" , THUNDERCHIEF has spent nearly two decades refining their brand of riff-soaked, drum-forward punishment . Built on power, groove, and pure gut instinct, the band doesn’t chase trends—they bulldoze through them.

For fans of: Orange Goblin, Weedeater, Cobra Whip
Genre: Sludge 'n' Roll / Southern Doom / Punk-infused Metal

Links

https://linktr.ee/thunderchief
https://www.thethunderchief.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thunderchiefrva
https://www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial
https://youtube.com/@thunderchief2696
https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6UXY1RLQnRZPNBjjfzJepo
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thunderchief/no-sufferance-for-thy-fools-2
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thunderchief/synanthrope

Thanks to Metal Devastation Radio for the details.

Exclusive Premiere Of New Split Single Featuring DEAD + Defektro / Skullfork

Djaara Country, Castlemaine, Australian DIY heavy duo DEAD preview the first split singles from their ambitious “pop” record, Burn Us Clean throughout December, 2023.

Along with the 9 original A-Side tracks, DEAD have enlisted a plethora of their favourite bands to record B-sides for the project. The result is a compilation of raw and exciting sounds from across the extreme music world.

DEAD are releasing the first three singles and their B-sides throughout December in digital and physical form, featuring Norway’s MoE, Gay Witch Abortion from Minnesota and tracks from Japan’s Defektro and brutal locals Skullfork.

Each 7” is released in an edition of 150 with sleeves hand printed the band. A box set version featuring all nine singles in an edition of 50 has already sold out. Dead will release a second, more modest box set for those who missed out. All singles will be available in digital format.

When it comes to the Burn Us Clean project, the band explain that “like most things DEAD does it started with “Hey wouldn’t it be fun if…” And for us “fun” usually means biting off more than we can chew and pissing off someone in the process.”

We’ve never been a radio band but insist our songs are full of melody – not our fault people are too lazy to find it. So, after recording Raving Drooling (our version of a metal album) we decided to write a pop record; a whole album of singles that could, in theory, be played on the radio.

But how do you make a simple idea like that overly complicated? What if we released each single as a split 7”? And made a box set version as well? Sounds suitably stupid.

But hang on why is this only coming out now? Well…we started this record pre pandemic, with much hope in our hearts. We worked again with Toshi Kasai to track it and laughed till it hurt. And then everything went dark. We couldn’t do what we loved most, we lost people dear to us. And all of a sudden pop songs didn’t feel right. We released a noise record, a live album and the long form instrumental The Laughing Shadow.

And now Burn Us Clean; A series of nine singles that is also an album and also a showcase of some of our very favourite bands active right now. An embracing of the short attention span that permeates our music culture more and more every day. Yes we can write singles!”

Information about the first 3 B-Side Bands:

Vol I - MoE (Norway):

We’ve had the privilege of touring with MoE across continents. They are simply one of the most phenomenally heavy live bands you’ll ever see. A relentless work ethic, an insatiable desire for capsaicin and a refusal to land inside any genre.

Vol II - Gay Witch Abortion (USA):

We met these delightful fellas on our first US tour and they instantly became the most played band in the tour van. Their musicianship is awe inspiring and they write damn good tunes to boot. We just love what they do and how they go about doing it.

Vol III - Defektro and Skullfork (Japan/Aus):

Defektro makes noise music in a way that is absolutely unique to him. Builds his own instruments and pedals and plays with fire on stage; literally, not metaphorically.

Skullfork is unlike any other band we’ve ever come across. The world is better for having their music in it. Sam (Guitarist of Duckeye) somehow steers this unruly ship and we’re so grateful that he does.

DEAD BURN US CLEAN SPLIT 1 with MoE and SPLIT II with Gay Witch Abortion are both out now via BandCamp

You can now listen to the next exciting chapter from DEAD with Defektro / Skullfork performing their own intense blend of Hardcore/Punk/Metal Grooves with a FUCKED UP sense of aggressive and ferociousness that will leave you breathless.

You can buy all of the Split Singles now featuring MoE, Gay Witch Abortion and Defektro / Skullfork

Thanks to Hearts & Minds Agency & We Empty Rooms for all of the details.

Links

Bandcamp
Facebook
Website
Instagram

Band To Check Out - Black Cloud Harbour

Introducing Black Cloud Harbour – a rock metal project injected with the raw power of punk and the atmospheric darkness of black metal. 

For fans of Kvelertak, Converge, Woods of Ypres, and Cave In, Black Cloud Harbour promises to elevate your musical expedition!

Dive into the intense fusion of powerful riffs, cathartic energy, and emotive melodies. Black Cloud Harbour is more than a music project; it's a sonic force set to provide a cathartic journey for your senses.

Craving an atmospheric musical experience that experiments with different genres?

Follow Black Cloud Harbour on Spotify now and stay tuned for an unparalleled blend of musical aggression and atmospheric intensity

More music coming soon (including the second single 'Storm' on 22nd November).

This is the new project from Adam C. Taylor (Vocals/Guitars) from UK Sludge Metallers EVEREST QUEEN. And this project is an absolute banger so you should all definitely check this out now.

Links

Linktree | BandCamp | Instagram | Spotify