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

Californian Sludge Veterans -(16)- release noisy Scorpions cover off upcoming "Forgeries Vol 1, (1972-1984)" album on Heavy Psych Sounds; European & UK tour announced!

Santa Ana, California sludge metal veterans -(16)- drag the anthemic metal of Scorpions through the mud with their raucous cover of "Can't Get Enough", premiering now on Metalsucks. Their upcoming 11th album "Forgeries Vol 1, 1972-1984" will be released on May 1st via Heavy Psych Sounds, followed by an extensive European and UK tour.

 Hear their sludgy Scorpions cover with Can't Get Enough

There comes a point in every band’s life when originality stops being a virtue and honesty takes the wheel. On their 11th long-playing record: Forgeries 1972-1984, -(16)- return to the impulse that first dragged them into loud rooms and bad ideas: the urge to steal what we love and make it semi-unrecognizable through devotion. "We have partnered with Heavy Psych Sounds Records to release a collection of covers that function less as homage and more as a possession to be given away," says the band. The artwork, rendered by the ever-amazing Marald van Haasteren, completes the ritual, iconic, unsettling, and unafraid.

"We’ve always believed that a great cover is not mimicry but revelation. It’s finding a song that's already lived inside you since youth and letting it crawl out, bruised and changed." From the early ’90s onward, -(16)- have treated covers as translations rather than as replicas, acts of tribute and emulation, filtered through distortion, fatigue, and lived experience. "These are songs that taught us how to stand, how to fall, and how to keep going," they add. "In our collective head, this album exists because these songs demanded it. Because they screamed copy me, and we listened. In the end, Forgeries 1972-1984 stands as both a thank you note and a theft, a reminder that all music worth a damn is borrowed, broken, and passed on between friends."

The selections on Forgeries 1972-1984 span eras and attitudes, unified not by genre but by necessity. Each track is a document of obsession, of influence absorbed and re-expressed without permission. The first volume will be issued on LP, CD and digital on May 1st, with preorders available via Heavy Psych Sounds.

*** -(16)- - European Tour 2026 ***

01.05 PT Barroselas - SWR Metalfest
02.05 IT Torino - HPS Fest
03.05 IT Bologna - HPS Fest
04.05 IT Genova - Trinità Live Club
05.05 IT Milano - Legend Club
06.05 IT Pescara - Scumm
07.05 IT Roma - Traffic Live Club
08.05 NO Oslo - Deserfest
09.05 ***OPEN SLOT***
10.05 FR Marseille - Le Molotov
12.05 ***OPEN SLOT***
13.05 DE Göppingen - Gaststätte Zille
14.05 ***OPEN SLOT***
15.05 CH Winterthur - HPS FEST
16.05 UK London - Desertfest
17.05 ***OPEN SLOT***
18.05 ***OPEN SLOT***
19.05 NL Amsterdam - Toekomst muziek
20.05 DE Bielefeld - Forum
21.05 ***OPEN SLOT***
22.05 DE Dürrröhrsdorf - GockelScream
23.05 CZ Brno - Kabinet Muz
24.05 ***OPEN SLOT***

New album "Forgeries Vol 1, 1972 - 1984" - Out May 1st on Heavy Psych Sounds - Pre-order

TRACKLIST:

1. Can't Get Enough – Scorpions
2. Nausea – X
3. Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll – Blue Öyster Cult
4. Rotten to the Core – Rudimentary Peni
5. Mother Mary – UFO
6. Tragedy – Bee Gees
7. Bloodstains – Agent Orange
8. Beat My Head Against the Wall – Black Flag
9. St. Vitus Dance – Black Sabbath
10. Foreign Policy – Fear

Formed in 1991 in Santa Ana, California, 16 stylized as -(16)- emerged from the Southern California skate scene. The original lineup featured Bobby Ferry (guitar), Cris Jerue (vocals), Ben Clark (bass), and Jason Corley (drums). Initially called *15*, the band quickly rebranded after discovering another group with the same name. Drawing influence from 7 Seconds, Bad Brains, Metallica, and the Amphetamine Reptile roster, -(16)- developed a sound that helped define both their early years and the sludge subgenre itself.

Their 1993 debut, Curves That Kick, arrived on Pushead’s Bacteria Sour and was followed by a Japanese tour and shows with Slayer. Drop Out (1996) and Blaze of Incompetence (1997) followed, with Phil Vera joining on guitar. After a 1998 U.S. tour with Grief and the 2002 release Zoloft Smile, the band toured the U.S., U.K., and Japan before entering a hiatus in 2004 amid personal struggles.

Reforming in 2007, -(16)- signed to Relapse Records for Bridges to Burn (2009), followed by Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds (2012). With Bobby Ferry now on vocals, the San Diego–based lineup of Alex Shuster (lead guitar), Barney Firks (bass), Dion Thurman (drums) released Lifespan of a Moth (2016), Dream Squasher (2020) and Into Dust (2022) to critical acclaim. Heavy touring across the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, plus major festival slots, cemented their reputation for intense, connecting live performances.

In 2025, -(16)- released Guides for the Misguided on Relapse Records, which was named one of Decibel Magazine’s Top 40 Albums of the Year. That same year, the band headlined a three-week European tour and later performed select shows in California with Acid Bath, High on Fire and Fu Manchu.

In 2026, the band partnered with Heavy Psych Sounds to release Forgeries 1972–1984, a covers album spanning influences from Black Flag to the Bee Gees. That May, they return to Europe for a tour that includes Desertfest Oslo and London, as well as the Italian and Swiss Heavy Psych Sounds Festivals. With a legacy built on resilience and constant reinvention, -(16)- continue to evolve and captivate audiences, affirming their lasting relevance in heavy music.

-(16)- is

Bobby Ferry - Guitars / Vocals
Alex Shuster - Lead Guitar
Barney Firks - Bass
Dion Thurman - Drums / Percussion

-(16)- links

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

French Psychedelic Doom Lords OCCULT HAND ORDER share eerie first single off new album "Meaningless Monuments"; out April 17th on Totem Cat Records

French psychedelic doom conjurers OCCULT HAND ORDER return with their new album "Meaningless Monuments" this April 17th on Totem Cat Records, and unveil the eerie and mystique-laden first video and single "Novo Mesto" on all platforms today.

 Get in a trance with new Occult Hand Order single Novo Mesto 

Lyon-based trio Occult Hand Order crafts a heavy and introspective sound at the crossroads of doom, post-rock and ethereal soundscapes. Their music balances crushing weight and cosmic elevation, ritualistic tension and introspective drift.

With Meaningless Monuments, the band delves into themes of apocalypse, inner collapse and the search for meaning. Darker, slower, and more cinematic, the record unfolds through long, hypnotic structures where massive riffs meet meditative, atmospheric passages. Occult Hand Order emerges as a sonic ritual: a journey through inner ruins, a quest for what remains when everything falls apart.

About the new single, the band says: "Novo Mesto acts as a catharsis. The song evokes purification through hardship, pain washed away by time and the elements, and the idea that destruction and rebirth are intimately linked. Between fatalism and acceptance, it questions what remains after chaos, and how experience transforms those who go through it. Fire and rain become symbolic forces, both destructive and regenerative."

OCCULT HAND ORDER "Meaningless Monuments" - Out April 17th on Totem Cat Records

Pre-order from March 9th at this location

TRACKLIST:

1. Bledow
2. Brno
3. Mollerussa
4. Novo Mesto
5. Gerlach

Formed in the French city of Lyon in 2018, heavy psychedelic trio Occult Hand Order marry the crushing weight of doom with an ethereal cosmic drift, all lifted by soaring vocal harmonies that conjure arcane rituals and otherworldly mysticism.

After a striking self-titled debut in 2019, the band teamed up with the aptly named Interstellar Smoke Records to unleash The Chained, The Burned, The Wounded. The EP was hailed by critics, and the roar from the underground blasted open the doors to Europe’s finest stages, where the trio now stands, locked in and levitating. They're now ready to propel their unique soundscapes into outer space again, with the release of their sophomore album Meaningless Monuments on Totem Cat Records this spring.

Occult Hand Order links

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Youtube

Totem Cat Records links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Psych/Stoner Visionaries WEEDPECKER's Spellbinding New Album "V"

Psych Stoner Rock visionaries WEEDPECKER return with their magnificent and soon-to-be classic new album "V"

Forged in a crucible of personal change and existential reflection, Weedpecker’s fifth album "V" is the sound of stability crumbling and beauty rising from the fragments. An intoxicating blend of sprawling, shimmering psychedelia, crushing heaviness and soaring prog-meets-psych-pop melody, this new album showcases Weedpecker's multi-layered craft in its most lush and refined form. 

Fans of everything from Elder, early Tame Impala to Somali Yacht Club or Pond should love t

this.

Piotr Dobry (Guitars / Vocals / Synths) from the band says this about the album:

"Everything we take for granted is, in reality, incredibly fragile. Nothing lasts forever, and the sense of things slipping away can hit much sooner than we expect. I tried to translate those feelings into sound." 

We're excited to premiere this brilliant album thanks to the amazing folks over at Purple Sage PR.

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the all of the details. 

V is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links 

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Garage Psych Rockers THE LORDS OF ALTAMONT share new video off upcoming "Forever Loaded" album. Full European tour announced!

Los Angeles garage psychedelic rockers THE LORDS OF ALTAMONT have teamed up with Vive Le Rock Magazine to present their high-octane new single and video "Get Out Of My Head", taken from their eighth studio album "Forever Loaded" on Heavy Psych Sounds Records. The band will be touring Europe extensively this spring in support of the new release.

️ Watch new video "Get Out Of My Head" below:

️

For nearly three decades, The Lords of Altamont have been the unwavering high priests of garage-punk fury and psychedelic swagger. Their upcoming eighth studio album "Forever Loaded" is the loudest and most ultimate testament to their enduring reign, a ten-track sacrifice to the true altar of rock 'n' roll.

Forged in the dive bars and digital back-alleys of a worldwide recording process, "Forever Loaded" takes you on a trip through vice-enhanced, riff-propelled heights and the sweat-soaked, concrete-floor depths of their live origins. From the first needle drop to the last decaying chord and organ keys, the album is a masterclass of grit and power, cementing LOA's legacy of chaos and communion. Dope Forever, Forever Loaded. 

Check out their latest single and video for Got A Hold On Me!

The Lords Of Altamont on tour:

30/04 - France - LILLERS, L’ABATTOIR
1/05 - France - AMBERIEU, LES TRIPLETTES SOCIAL CLUB
2/05 - Italia - BOLOGNA, HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS (TPO)
3/05 - Italia - TORINO, HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS (EL BARRIO)
4/05 - France - MARSEILLE, LE MOLOTOV
6/05 - France - MONTPELLIER,  SECRET PLACE
7/05 - Spain - BARCELONA, FESTIVAL IN SOMNI (UPLOAD)
8/05 - Spain - MADRID, GRUTA 77
9/05 - Spain - SADA, TOULIÑA POP FEST
10/05 - Spain - BURGOS, LA RIVIERA
11/05 - Spain - SANTANDER, ROCK BEER THE NEW
12/05 - Spain - ZARAGOZA, CREEDENCE
13/05 - Spain - PORTUGALETE, GROOVE
14/05 - France - PARTHENAY, DIFF’ ART
15/05 - France - NANTES, LE FERRAILLEUR
16/05 - France - PARIS, LA MAROQUINERIE
11/06 - France - ROUEN, FURY DEFENDU
12/06 - France - ST GILLES, ROCKSEA
13/06 - France - LAVAUR, ROCK&CARS FESTIVAL
10/07 - Belgium - GIERLE, SJOCK FEST
16/07 - France - ST THONAN, BAG NOZ
17/07 - France - VITRÉ, VERY ROCK TRIP FESTIVAL
18/07 - France - PÉRIGUEUX, LET THERE BE ROCK
14/08 - France - CHAMBERY, BRIN DE ZINC
15/08 - France - FREJUS, HELL’S WEEK 
19/08 - Sweden - MALMO, MEDLEY
20/08 - Norway - HALDEN, SISTE REIS PUB
21/08 - Sweden - SUNDBYBERG, ENCORE
22/08 - Denmark - VORDINGBORG, GUTTER ISLAND FESTIVAL

New album "Forever Loaded" - Out April 10th on Heavy Psych Sounds (LP/CD/digital)

The Lords Of Altamont bring forth raw rock and roll fury birthed from the ultimate end to the era of peace and love. What was billed to be the “Woodstock of the West“, the infamous Altamont Free concert on December 6th, 1969 was highlighted instead by heavy drugs, motorcycle chains and brass knuckles and later punctuated with shoving matches and fistfights. This palpable sense of bawdy foreboding resulted in four births, four deaths and extensive property damage.

While the hippies had been grooving and mellowing out in the Bay Area, the forefathers of the Lords of Altamont were playing high energy rhythms in the beer-soaked venues of Detroit and the dingy clubs along LA’s Sunset Strip. Mid-60s London RnB shares equal space with the scruffy 70s NYC Bowery among the influences of The Lords also. They take their other cues from kids banging out primitive riffs on cheap guitars all across the USA in garages alongside chopped bikes and American v-8 muscle, lingering exhaust fumes mixing with sweat to conjure the rare elixir of real rock n roll.

The story of the band who would come to be known as The Lords Of Altamont gets a proper start in late 1999. A son of Southern California and a veteran of the SoCal music scene, Jake Cavaliere - with numerous bands and projects from garage to punk dating back to the late 80s under his belt - enlisted fellow motorcycle rider and bandmate of the intro/surf sensation The Bomboras, Johnny DeVilla. Besides holding their first show at the legendary venue The Garage in Hollywood, high points include touring as the support act for their primitive rock n roll idols The Cramps, infamous rock gods The Who as well as counting the late Michael Davis of the MC5 as a past member.

Through personnel changes featuring an incredible roster of talent, and various adventures over the past 25 years, The Lords of Altamont continue to evolve their sound while staying true to their roots. Jake Cavaliere, along with his assemblage of gritty and talented personalities, continues to captivate audiences with unparalleled hard-driven performances the world over.

The Lords Of Altamont is

Dani Sindaco — Guitars & Vocals
Jake Cavaliere — Organs & Vocals
Barry Van Esbroek — Drums & Vocals
Rob Zimmermann — Bass & Vocals

The Lords Of Altamont Links

Official | Facebook | Instagram | BandCamp

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Desert Storm - Buried Under The Weight Of Reason (Album Review)

Release Date: March 06th 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Buried Under The Weight Of Reason - Tracklisting

1. Newfound Respect

2. Shamanic Echoes

3. Woodsman

4. Cut Your Teeth

5. Rot To Ruin

6. Carry The Weight

7. Dripback

8. Law Unto Myself

9. Twelve Seasons

Members

Matthew Ryan - vocals

Ryan Cole - guitars

Elliot Cole - drums

Andrew Keyzor - bass guitar

Special guest:

Chris White - guitar

Review

English heavy hitters Desert Storm are back and I couldn't be happier. I've followed the band for some time now and it's been a pleasure watching them go from strength to strength. They've always delivered the goods with their fantastic blend of doom, stoner, heavy metal and sludge. And nothing has changed on their new album 'Buried Under The Weight Of Reason', well actually two things have occurred. One, the songs are better than ever and second, Desert Storm have dialled down on the sludge part. At least to my ears they have but I could be very wrong. Regardless, the new album is bloody brilliant, and then some!

The album begins with 'Newfound Respect' and it's bottom heavy, slow, lurking and no nonsense. Add Matthew Ryan's brilliant raspy voice to the equation and the song is right in your face. All this before they hit the stratosphere in the second half. 'Shamanic Echoes' follows  and moves within the same sphere as its predecessor but is more hypnotic and transcendent in all its heaviness. 'Woodsman' is ethereal, mind-expanding and spacey for the most part until bone-breaking sections are infused perfectly. Mid-tempo yet crushing 'Cut Your Teeth' is relentless in its approach but at the same time mesmerising. 'Rot To Ruin' comes on sinister, eerie and trippy. A strange but alluring mid-section allows the band to go full tilt and from then on they move back and forth. 

'Carry The Weight' is a soft, short instrumental guitar-driven beauty where the guitars are wonderfully layered. Acts as the perfect segue in to the much faster second half which kick-starts with 'Dripback'. It is one of the fastest songs on the album as the band holds nothing back adding punk flavour into the mix. Bloody fantastic! 'Law Unto Myself' picks up right where 'Dripback' left off tempo-wise but is more metal and with great guitar harmonies almost akin to Thin Lizzy...another great composition. Pounding almost tribal-like drums leads the way until the chorus, that is. Spacey vocal harmonies take over in those parts before reverting back to the heaviness.

Throughout this powerful and brilliant album Desert Storm utilizes gradual build-up within their songs to great aplomb. In doing so, they create great visuals and emotions which in turn enhances the sound immensely and it was already great prior. As a listener and a fan it is so rewarding to hear a band who constantly evolves without losing themselves. And that's what Desert Storm does with each new album. Brilliant stuff, gents!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Buried Under The Weight Of Reason is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links 

Linktree | BandCamp

Norwegian rock'n'roll unit BONG VOYAGE to release debut album "Hedonistic Hard Rock" on Ripple Music this spring; new single available now!

Oslo rock'n'roll quintet BONG VOYAGE have signed to Ripple Music for the release of their debut album "Hedonistic Hard Rock" this May 8th, and stream the first single "Large and In Charge" on all platforms today!

Those who want respect, give respect. You might see Bong Voyage as a problem: they're not, they are the solution. The solution to all of life's hardships. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Respect the hustle and listen to “Large and in Charge”. It's time to stop guessing and start messing.

 Go all the way rock'n'roll with Large and In Charge 

So you think you’ve heard rock? Well, not like this! Bong Voyage are finally ready to release their super highly anticipated debut album, Hedonistic Hard Rock, in cahoots with Ripple Music. This album is a larger-than-life tribute to the very music that made your mom fall in love with your dad, and your friends fall in love with your sister. This album will take you from the dirtiest dive bars to the ring of Uranus, and everything in between.

Hedonistic Hard Rock is pure sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll incarnate, inspired by the true hedonists from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘00s - the pioneers of pure overindulgence. Join Bong Jovi, Abuse Springsteen, Elton Bong, Bong Iver and Kim Bong Chill committing all the seven deadly sins, through the nine circles of hell, and back into-a-gadda-da-vida, baby!

New album "Hedonistic Hard Rock" - Out May 8th on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

TRACKLIST:

1. Saturday Rite Special
2. Large and In Charge
3. UFOria
4. One Hundred Million Billion Beers
5. Escape Prison Planet Earth
6. Outer Space Freebase
7. Enabler
8. Wizard of Ozlo
9. In Possession

Bong Voyage blasted into the Norwegian heavy rock scene after releasing a bunch of independent singles, which instantly made them the most exciting new band in town. Their motley crew consists of known offenders from established acts such as Håndgemeng, Suncraft, and Buskas. They are a bunch of road-worn greasers who want to make a living playing rock ‘n’ roll. Give in to the beer pressure and lose yourself to hedonism — this is the perfect soundtrack to your next bender. As the Bong-boys say: live bong and prosper!

Bong Voyage is

Charlie Ytterli = Vocals
Simen Andersen = Guitar
Kim Grannes = Guitar
Tobias Paulsen = Drums
Asbjørn Halsten = Bass

Bong Voyage links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Ripple Music links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Finnish Heavy Rock Trio MONSTERNAUT unleashes new track "Drain"; new album "Approaching Doom" out March 27th on Heavy Psych Sounds

Finnish heavy rock and metal trio MONSTERNAUT present a driving second excerpt taken from their upcoming third full-length "Approaching Doom", to be released on March 27th through Heavy Psych Sounds.

Stream Monsternaut's new single Drain

Drifting away from the fuzzy stoner rock of the early days, their third album "Approaching Doom" showcases a darker, more metallic and uncompromisingly stomp-inducing sound, with a production leaning toward the grit and weight of early 90s heavy and song themes that add an extra layer of tension beneath the grooves. The songs took shape over several years, during which the arrival of a new drummer opened the door to more adventurous rhythms and riff ideas, pushing the band into new territory while staying true to their roots.

Recorded to analog tape with no digital editing, this new album sees Monsternaut fully locked in and hitting harder than ever, marking a confident new chapter in their story. Don't miss their previous single and title track Approaching Doom!

New album "Approaching Doom" - Out March 27th on Heavy Psych Sounds

Monsternaut is a stoner metal trio from Finland, formed in 2012 by guitarist Tuomas Heiskanen and bassist Perttu Härkönen. Fueled by the grit of Fu Manchu, Corrosion of Conformity, and Down, the band deals in heavy grooves, hard hitting riffs, and hooks built for pure head banging. On stage, Monsternaut keeps it loud, tight, and straight to the point, delivering a high energy set with no filler.

After two early demos, the band released their self-titled debut in 2016 through Heavy Psych Sounds, followed by "Enter the Storm" in 2018. They hit the road across Europe and later crossed the Atlantic for shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, backing up their reputation as a live band worth witnessing.

Drummer Patrik Kuitunen joined after the second album, bringing new rhythmic fire and pushing the music toward bolder riff ideas. That momentum led to "Approaching Doom", their heaviest album to date, recorded entirely on analog tape with no digital editing and capturing Monsternaut as they are: loud, raw, and locked in. Notable Finnish producer and sound engineer Anssi Kippo, known for his extensive work with Children of Bodom, also added valuable expertise to the sessions and strengthened the process. Set for release in 2026 through Heavy Psych Sounds, "Approaching Doom" shows the band tighter, darker, and more focused than ever.

Monsternaut is

Tuomas Heiskanen - Guitars / Vocals
Perttu Härkönen - Bass
Patrik Kuitunen - Drums

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

London Heavy Stoner Rockers OKAY YOU WIN sign to Blues Funeral Recordings

Blues Funeral Recordings are pleased to welcome London heavy rock quartet OKAY YOU WIN to their roster, with their debut album set for release later this year.

Four-piece heavy rock band Okay You Win came together in London in 2023. Over three years, the band has built a solid reputation on the UK underground heavy rock scene, bringing a double hit of heavy riffs and soaring vocals.

Rooted in influences from Seattle grunge, Californian desert rock, 90s alt-rock and classic British heavy metal, OKYW blends psychedelic stoner rock and doomy breakdowns with driving rock riffs. The band has just recorded its debut full-length album at The Nave in Leeds with producer Andy Hawkins (Psychlona, Grave Lines, The Damned) and mastered by Alain Johannes.

Okay You Win have had a stellar 2025, playing shows across the UK and a short run in Northern Spain, with a Desertfest London appearance confirmed for May 15th, 2026, and further UK and European dates to be announced shortly.

About signing to Blues Funeral Recordings, they state: "Our recent signing with Blues Funeral marks a major step forward for us, and in our journey together as a band. To be releasing our debut album on such a well-respected label, and alongside such an exceptional roster of heavy bands – bands we have literally ‘looked up to’ from the pit - is something we are extremely proud of. We hope that this album, and these songs, will help us to earn our own rightful place in the international heavy community."

Okay You Win links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Blues Funeral Recordings links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

Exclusive Song/Video Premiere Of Heavy Rock/Stoner Rockers MASHEENA New Song GOING TO THE MOUNTAIN From Upcoming New Album

From the land of midnight sun comes a new force of nature: Masheena. Recorded amidst the sun-scorched landscapes of Austin's Hill Country with renowned producer Machine (Clutch, Lamb Of God, King Crimson), the follow-up to their 2023 debut "West Coast Hard Rock" is heavier, more versatile and packed with soulful, vocal-driven hooks. Marrying the melodic-centered vision of Scandinavian hard rock with a bluesy, southern-crisp flavor and a healthy slab of fuzz, "Let The Spiders In" is a distilled shot of pure stadium-tailored heavy rock. Ten tracks poised to break hearts and rattle cages that should win over fans of Spiritual Beggars, The Parlor Mob, Rival Sons, Orchid and Dozer.

It will be co-released on April 10th by Majestic Mountain Records (Europe) and Ripple Music (North America and world).

Thanks to the amazing folks over at Purple Sage PR, we're excited premiere the new song and video for GOING TO THE MOUNTAIN from the upcoming new album LET THE SPIDERS IN.

TRACKLIST:

1. Been Waiting
2. Going To The Mountain
3. One Eye
4. A Game You Don't Want To Lose
5. Life Is But A Sin
6. Sara Lost Her Way
7. In Her Eyes
8. Don't Tell Her
9. Riffy
10. You Owe Me

The Lowdown

Hailing from Bergen, Norway, the powerhouse quartet MASHEENA blends four decades of hard rock heritage into a fresh, electrifying sound. Their debut album "West Coast Hard Rock" was a game-changer: produced by Iver Sandøy and mixed/mastered by Machine, it hit #6 on the Doom Charts, earned global acclaim, and surpassed 100K streams in its first year.

With a revitalized lineup featuring multi-instrumentalists Martin Holmes (Popium, Sylvia Wane) and Heine A. Heggernes (Lost At Last) joining Luis Salomon and Tarjei A. Heggernes, MASHEENA is back stronger than ever with their sophomore album "Let The Spiders In", to be issued on Majestic Mountain Records and Ripple Music in the spring of 2026.

Masheena UK Tour Dates

10.04.26 - Bergen - Kulturhuset (NO)

11.04.26 - Oslo - Last Train (NO)

26.04.26 - London - Helgi's (UK)

27.04.26 - Glasgow - Audio (UK)

28.04.26 - Edinburgh - Bannermans (UK)

29.04.26 - Bristol - The Gryphon (UK)

30.04.26 - Oxford - The Wheatsheaf (UK)

01.05.26 - Nottingham - The Angel (UK)

02.05.26 - Bournemouth - Bear Cave (UK)

Masheena is

Luis-Alberto Salomon — Guitars & Vocals
Tarjei A Heggernes — Bass
Bård Heavy Nordvik — Drums and percussion

Masheena links: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Ripple Music links: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Majestic Mountain Records links: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

Californian Sludge Veterans -(16)- to release "Forgeries Vol 1, (1972-1984)" cover album on Heavy Psych Sounds this May. Stream crushing Bee Gees cover now!

Santa Ana, California sludge metal veterans -(16)- take over the finest classics from Sabbath, Bee Gees, Black Flag to Scorpions on their upcoming 11th album "Forgeries Vol 1, 1972-1984", to be released on May 1st via Heavy Psych Sounds.

 Hear their crushing cover of the Bee Gees with new single Tragedy 

There comes a point in every band’s life when originality stops being a virtue and honesty takes the wheel. On their 11th long-playing record: Forgeries 1972-1984, -(16)- return to the impulse that first dragged them into loud rooms and bad ideas: the urge to steal what we love and make it semi-unrecognizable through devotion. "We have partnered with Heavy Psych Sounds Records to release a collection of covers that function less as homage and more as a possession to be given away," says the band. The artwork, rendered by the ever-amazing Marald van Haasteren, completes the ritual, iconic, unsettling, and unafraid.

"We’ve always believed that a great cover is not mimicry but revelation. It’s finding a song that's already lived inside you since youth and letting it crawl out, bruised and changed." From the early ’90s onward, -(16)- have treated covers as translations rather than as replicas, acts of tribute and emulation, filtered through distortion, fatigue, and lived experience. "These are songs that taught us how to stand, how to fall, and how to keep going," they add. "In our collective head, this album exists because these songs demanded it. Because they screamed copy me, and we listened. In the end, Forgeries 1972-1984 stands as both a thank you note and a theft, a reminder that all music worth a damn is borrowed, broken, and passed on between friends."

The selections on Forgeries 1972-1984 span eras and attitudes, unified not by genre but by necessity. Each track is a document of obsession, of influence absorbed and re-expressed without permission. The first volume will be issued on LP, CD and digital on May 1st, with preorders available via Heavy Psych Sounds.

New album "Forgeries Vol 1, 1972 - 1984"
Out May 1st on Heavy Psych Sounds - Pre-order

TRACKLIST:

1. Can't Get Enough – Scorpions
2. Nausea – X
3. Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll – Blue Öyster Cult
4. Rotten to the Core – Rudimentary Peni
5. Mother Mary – UFO
6. Tragedy – Bee Gees
7. Bloodstains – Agent Orange
8. Beat My Head Against the Wall – Black Flag
9. St. Vitus Dance – Black Sabbath
10. Foreign Policy – Fear

Formed in 1991 in Santa Ana, California, 16 stylized as -(16)- emerged from the Southern California skate scene. The original lineup featured Bobby Ferry (guitar), Cris Jerue (vocals), Ben Clark (bass), and Jason Corley (drums). Initially called *15*, the band quickly rebranded after discovering another group with the same name. Drawing influence from 7 Seconds, Bad Brains, Metallica, and the Amphetamine Reptile roster, -(16)- developed a sound that helped define both their early years and the sludge subgenre itself.

Their 1993 debut, Curves That Kick, arrived on Pushead’s Bacteria Sour and was followed by a Japanese tour and shows with Slayer. Drop Out (1996) and Blaze of Incompetence (1997) followed, with Phil Vera joining on guitar. After a 1998 U.S. tour with Grief and the 2002 release Zoloft Smile, the band toured the U.S., U.K., and Japan before entering a hiatus in 2004 amid personal struggles.

Reforming in 2007, -(16)- signed to Relapse Records for Bridges to Burn (2009), followed by Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds (2012). With Bobby Ferry now on vocals, the San Diego–based lineup of Alex Shuster (lead guitar), Barney Firks (bass), Dion Thurman (drums) released Lifespan of a Moth (2016), Dream Squasher (2020) and Into Dust (2022) to critical acclaim. Heavy touring across the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, plus major festival slots, cemented their reputation for intense, connecting live performances.

In 2025, -(16)- released Guides for the Misguided on Relapse Records, which was named one of Decibel Magazine’s Top 40 Albums of the Year. That same year, the band headlined a three-week European tour and later performed select shows in California with Acid Bath, High on Fire and Fu Manchu.

In 2026, the band partnered with Heavy Psych Sounds to release Forgeries 1972–1984, a covers album spanning influences from Black Flag to the Bee Gees. That May, they return to Europe for a tour that includes Desertfest Oslo and London, as well as the Italian and Swiss Heavy Psych Sounds Festivals. With a legacy built on resilience and constant reinvention, -(16)- continue to evolve and captivate audiences, affirming their lasting relevance in heavy music.

-(16)- is

Bobby Ferry - Guitars / Vocals
Alex Shuster - Lead Guitar
Barney Firks - Bass
Dion Thurman - Drums / Percussion

-(16)- links

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.