Sacri Suoni - Time To Harvest (Album Review)

Release Date: January 23rd 2026. Record Label: Electric Valley Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Time To Harvest- Tracklisting

1. Plow the Void 

2. Soothe

3. Dissolve to Reunite in Varanasi

4. It Will Crumble Before Us

Members

Mattia Carabelli: Bass
Gianmarco De Santis: Lead Guitar
Giacomo Tagni: Rhythm Guitar
Alessio Gavioli: Drums

Review

I wouldn’t blame you for being confused by the album cover for Sacri Suoni’s new album TIme To Harvest, as this gives the impression that this is a Seventies Prog Rock or Classic Rock album and it’s anything but that. Time To Harvest is a beautiful and stunningly heavy Cosmic Doom/Stoner Metal album that’s told thoroughly the power of Instrumental Rock. You can expect to hear fractured and fragmented Spaced Out passages with Sacri Suoni exploring the finer details of Psychedelic Doomed Out Stoner Metal. There is an extra heaviness of Sludge Rock/Metal developing within the Space Rock surroundings which comes to life on the excellent opening track Plow The Void.

Plow The Void continues the distorted and psychedelic vibe heard on their acclaimed debut album Sacred Is Not Divine though Sacri Suoni allows a thunderous progressive energy to develop that overlaps with the intense gloomy guitars from Gianmarco De Santis and Giacomo Tagni. The guitars have a similar sound to the likes of BELZEBONG and CLOUDS TASTE SATANIC but perhaps more Space Rock and Sludge Rock obsessive which becomes the main weapon of choice for the band to destroy the listener’s hearing with.

Second song Soothe is a richer, aggressive and progressive offering with Sacri Suoni adding small movements of Ambient and Drone appearing behind the scenes. The epic rhythm section of Mattia Carabelli on Bass and Alessio Gavioli on Drums keeps everything grounded especially when the music moves at a faster pace. There’s areas of swirling psychedelic sounds and sludgy dynamics that once again ventures into the far reaches of the Space Rock/Cosmic Rock vortex. The music can be quite stripped back with Sacri Suoni opting for STOP/START approach which allows the heavier COSMIC themes bring a gloomy sense of weariness into play. This allows Soothe to be one of the most cinematic and climatic tracks on the whole album. 

Third track Dissolve To Reunite In Varanasi was originally released as the second single from the album and it gained major acclaim for how the song actually plays out. This is a track with a beginning, middle and end but told through a breathtaking creative narrative which propels Sacri Suoni into greater levels of storytelling. Sacri Suoni experiments with tone, sounds, melodies and progressive moods for a song that once again becomes way more CINEMATIC and adventurous. There's an epic intro of Seventies based Prog Rock that’s pitched against a thrilling modern day Psychedelic Doom Soundtrack score. This song has become my favourite track I’ve heard this year with Sacri Suoni exploring different areas of the Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal scene and conjuring pulsating melodies that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Fourth track It WIll Crumble Before Us offers a sombre and moody Post-Rock delivery with Sacri Suoni eerily setting the scene for this mammoth thirteen minute track. Taking cues from the likes of PELICAN, RUSSIAN CIRCLES and VINNUM SABBATHI for the opening moments before exploring their own distinctive style of Cosmic Doom yet again. The sound is multi-layered with the band adding deceptive layers of Psychedelic Metal and Ambient surroundings. Sludge Metal landscapes take centre stage with Sacri Suoni still taking their music into completely new creative directions. The execution is swift and always highly rewarding with Time To Harvest ending in a brilliant and surprising way.

Time To Harvest is an album I’ve been listening to constantly on a daily basis for the past month or so and it becomes a much better experience every time you listen to the album. The record is wonderfully produced and when you have the legendary talents of Brad Boadright to master the record with mixing and engineering duties at Niton Lab by Enrico Mangione & Luca Martegani, then you have the perfect ingredients for a record that sounds incredible from start to finish. 

That’s why TIME TO HARVEST is going to be one of the standout and possibly most important Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal records of the year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo.

Time To Harvest is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Electric Valley Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Basaltic Plateau - Dead Dinosaurs Echoes (Album Review)

Release Date: October 17th 2025. Record Label: Electric Valley Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Dead Dinosaurs Echoes - Tracklisting

1.Mystic Flow

2.Sleep Paralysis 

3.Summer Dream

4.Peyote Rising

5.Cuttlefish Galaxy 

6.Dead Dinosaurs Echoes

Members

Maurizio Cau – Guitars and synth

Marco Serra – Bass and effects

Roberto Loscerbo – Drums

Review

Dead Dinosaurs Echoes is the debut album from Psych Stoner Rockers Basaltic Plateau who play between a selfless style of Post-Rock and Ambient Interludes that’s matched against an aggressive style of Post-Doom and Stoner Rock movements. The album can be quite understated which means Basaltic Plateau can focus on the more important things such as constructing progressive melodies and levels of sonic surroundings that draws upon the likes of Red Sparrows, Yawning Man and Pelican. There is also the added bonus of classic Desert Rock vibes and certain Space Rock experimentation hanging in the balance.

The album does rely heavily on heavy synth work which can be quite Noise Rock and Prog Rock focused but allows Basaltic Plateau to play their own blend of Psychedelic Rock. The spaced out effects is another standout on the album which is fully realised very early on within the tracks Mystic Flow and Sleep Paralysis. Dead Dinosaurs Echoes never feels rushed with the band taking their time bringing the heavy FUZZED OUT and slightly Stoner Metal sounding aggressive melodies where you  can also hear a sludgy distorted atmosphere starting to burst at the seams. 

Basaltic Plateau aren’t afraid to move into Progressive based Post-Metal waters that provide a thrilling and chaotic sound into the mix. The production values do feel quite lo-fi and solitary at times but with Basaltic Plateau playing areas of Cosmic Rock and Space Rock dimensions then this helps the album’s cause to great effect. 

As the album moves through tracks such as Summer Dream and Peyote Rising then Basaltic Plateau becomes more tranquil and peaceful with the world. The whole flow is subdued with Ambient themes, Eastern Vibes and extended instrumental dreamscapes with a JAM BASED quality that remind me of EARTHLESS and WEEDPECKER at times.

Basaltic Plateau do offer an Experimental quality and identity to their music with the record including moments of Noise Rock, Sludge and Droned based surroundings that once again allows the POST-METAL aspect to fully take control on the later stages of the album on the final tracks of Cuttlefish Galaxy and Dead Dinosaurs Echoes.

I admire when the album becomes quite frenzied with Basaltic Plateau racing to the finishing line as everything is quite chaotic once more that allows the band to play some of the heaviest, frenzied and catchiest grooves on the whole album. Dead Dinosaurs Echoes is one of those “RARE” type of albums that you don’t know how it’s going to finish with Basaltic Plateau keeping the listener on the edge of their seats with instrumental sounds that have an air of intelligence to them.

Basaltic Plateau have released a stunning, beautiful and mysterious musical odyssey with Dead Dinosaurs Echoes which becomes more memorable every time you listen to the album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo.

Dead Dinosaurs Echoes is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Electric Valley Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Crypt Monarch - Codex Pestilentia (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Various. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

Codex Pestilentia - Tracklisting

1. Terror From Above

2. Cultus Solis Aeterni

3. Two Sleeps

4. War of the Gargantuan (Aquadome) [Listen]

5. Eaten by the Castle of Flies (Pt. 1 Acid Chambers / Pt.2 Dark Dawn)

Members

Christopher De Haan: Bass/Vocals

Jose Rodriguez: Guitars

J.C. Zuñiga: Drums/Vocals

Review

Codex Pestilentia is the next chapter from Costa Rican Doom/Stoner Metallers Crypt Monarch who have a creative rebirth with their latest album as they blend Heavy Metal mysticism with dark elements of Grunge into their already classic sounding Doom/Stoner Metal sound. The album feels partially inspired by the likes of Alice In Chains, Electric Wizard, CONAN and Church Of Misery with the band also employing some mighty creative tricks of their own making.

The atmosphere is very down beat with the excellent dual vocals of Christopher De Haan and J.C. Zuñiga striking a fine balance between old school Doom Metal harsh growls and modern day grizzled Stoner based vocals. The music itself is composed with multiple instances of Amplifier Distortion, Heavy Reverb, Psychedelic landscapes and Grunge surroundings that is built into the mix from the excellent opening track Terror From Above. There’s a sense of classic Paranoia hidden within the lyrics as Crypt Monarch shows sudden shifts into Progressive Sludge melodies whilst keeping with their harsh and violent down-tuned FUZZED up attitude.

Crypt Monarch shows a great style of slow-to-mid played and fast-paced instrumental passages throughout with a slow brooding sense of tension building throughout the album which fully gets moving along on the stunning second track Cultus Solis Aetern. That track has a certain SLEEP vs ELECTRIC WIZARD sound dominating for the most part but with a classic Saint Vitus energy developing behind the scenes. The band still focuses on playing a rigid style of aggressive sounds with every perfectly pitched at the right destructive levels of distorted volumes.

Third track Two Sleeps is a stripped back instrumental Fuzzy and Psychedelic Blues Rock number which is more of a breather before Crypt Monarch return back to normal destructive duties but it’s nice to hear a sudden shift from their normal scheduled Stoner Metal programming. 

The final two tracks of the album War of the Gargantuan (Aquadome) and Eaten by the Castle of Flies (Pt. 1 Acid Chambers / Pt.2 Dark Dawn fully lean into the Occult Doom Metal vibe that the excellent album cover demonstrates with Crypt Monarch giving that trippy Occult sound a slightly Grunge makeover. The vocals are quite eerie and full of Doom & Gloom passion. Though, it’s the music that makes you take notice with Crypt Monarch adding even more levels of distorted paranoia to the mix. The music can be drawn out too long at times but you’re treated to some of the heaviest and filthiest grooves contained on the album. 

There’s even a sense of a cinematic story building up within War Of The Gargantuan (Aquadome) that explodes into a heavier and monolithic story line within the standout track of Eaten by the Castle of Flies (Pt. 1 Acid Chambers / Pt.2 Dark Dawn. This is perhaps the most Progressive and Original song that Crypt Monarch have written to date that shows you what great songwriters and storytellers the band actually are.

Codex Pestilentia is the type of album you’ll be listening to days on end and never be bored with. The record is a highly captivating slice of Doom/Stoner Metal that should firmly establish Crypt Monarch as a true force of nature with their own great style of music to entice listeners with.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo.

You can buy the album from the links below:

Vinyl (USA): https://thingsfrombeyond.com/shop/p/crypt-monarch-codex-pestilentia-vinyl-lp
Vinyl (UK/EU): https://heavy-threads.com/collections/crypt-monarch
CD: https://cognitivediscordancerecords.bandcamp.com/album/codex-pestilentia
Cassette: https://violencerecordscr.bandcamp.com/album/codex-pestilentia
Digital + Vinyl: https://cryptmonarch.bandcamp.com/album/codex-pestilentia (Vinyl for Costa Rican buyers)

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Grave Speaker - Rays Of The Emerald Sun (Album Review)

Release Date: May 16th 2025. Record Label: Electric Valley Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Rays Of The Emerald Sun  - Tracklisting

1.Chosen One

2.End of Time

3.Sword of Life

4.Rays of the Emerald Sun

5.Bones and Steel

6.Tower

Members

John Steele - Everything

Review

Rays Of The Emerald Sun is the second full length album from Doom/Fuzz/Psych/Stoner Metal collective Grave Speaker where the creative mastermind (John Steele) behind the project focuses on a more highly polished style of Psychedelic and Proto-Metal energy that allows the record to have a more uplifting momentum compared to their debut album. There is still a despairing sense of Doom and Gloom inspired by the likes of Electric Wizard, Uncle Acid and Black Sabbath with Grave Speaker persevering with a heavy down-tuned style of AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and wicked sounding FUZZ grooves.

The record has a vintage melodic angle with a violent element of Proto-Doom surroundings allowing the album to weave abstract Psychedelic instrumental passages that harks back to the classic sounds of Uncle Acid matched against on the seedy heaviness of Electric Wizard.

There’s a flamboyant vocal style being sung by John Steele which oozes 1970’s Heavy Metal showmanship. The vocals are sometimes muffled within the overlapping layers of heavy guitar reverb and amplifier feedback but they’re easy to understand that adds to the vintage flow that Grave Speaker ultimately aims high for and truly delivers throughout.

The songs themselves are rooted in 1970’s Doom Rock and Proto-Metal folklore with the sound having a subtle aggressive Stoner Metal attitude that allows a certain Sludge Metal angle to appear on the heaviest and seediest moments of the record especially on tracks such as Chosen One, End Of Time, Rays Of The Emerald Sun and Tower. These are the longest tracks on the album with Grave Speaker having more time to develop his classic Doomedelic sound which has become vital and threatening when that PSYCHEDELIC FUZZ attitude takes centre stage and delivers a dominant sound. The vocals are at their most impressive when John blends a crazed Blues Rock attitude into the mix which is quite subversive at the same time.

Rays Of The Emerald Sun is a mighty sounding and classic throwback to the good old days Of Proto-Metal and Doom Metal that can only be described as essential listening for the hordes of underground masses to fully get behind.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo. 

Rays Of The Emerald Sun is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Electric Valley Records.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Amammoth - Distant Skies And The Ocean Flies (Album Review)

Release Date: March 21st 2025. Record Label: Electric Valley Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl.

Distant Skies And The Ocean Flies - Tracklisting

1.Intro

2.Among Us

3.Chosen

4.So High So Numb

5.Sink or Swim

6.Satellite 05:34

7.Ashes Remain

8.Interstitial

Members

Scott Fisher – vocals, guitar 

Scott Wilson – drums 

Warwick Poulton – bass

Review

Aussie Sludge/Stoner Metallers Amammoth second album Distant Skies And The Ocean Flies is quite an aggressive and obsessively bleak record with the band developing harsh atmospherics with a violent Fuzz Doom sound. With the band aligning themselves more closely to the likes of CONAN, High On Fire, BONGZILLA and SLEEP. There’s a deep fascination with LOW & SLOW and REVERB based heaviness within this record which comes out in full force across the opening tracks of Intro and Among Us. The sounds are weighed down by a mighty thick level of NOISE and GRIME which Amammoth have used on their previous records but not as fully developed or as heavy as this great album.

Second track Among Us is the longest track on the album with Amammoth using a classic ELECTRIC WIZARD mentality for their lyrics and how Scott Fisher’s muscular vocals are delivered. The sound may seem simplistic at times but it’s the little things that you begin to notice at how progressive and refreshing everything sounds. Subtle flashes of Psychedelic Beats and that claustrophobic Doomed Out energy that resonates from the excellent rhythm section of Scott Wilson on Drums and Warwick Poulton on Bass respectively. The song is quite slow to begin with but the band speed things up ever so slightly with a killer Blues Rock sound developing which allows the record to become more OCCULT focused at times.

Distant Skies And The Ocean Flies lyrical themes cover topics such as extraterrestrial life, religion, aquatic and UFO’s that will thrust the listener into many complex ideas and theories. However, Amammoth have quite the talent of keeping everything grounded and realistic. The sounds become more blurred with elements of Groove, Drone and Space Rock appearing more on more on tracks such as Chosen, So High So Numb, Sink Or Swim, Satellite and Interstitial which allows Amammoth the perfect opportunity to finely tune their seedy style of LOW & SLOW to reach greater musical heights. 

The record never loses its sense of bleakness and self-loathing at the world. There are no uplifting instrumental passages or tracks for Amammoth to lighten the mood with. This is a band who focus upon the darker side of Sludge/Stoner Metal and just run RIOT with this style of music. Distant Skies And The Ocean Flies is an exhilarating experience where you may need to switch off from the world after listening to the album. 

Amammoth are one of the heaviest and filthiest bands to emerge from the Aussie Sludge/Stoner Metal scene in recent years and they sure do have the necessary talent to back that up with a MASSIVE SOUNDING record that should propel the band onto bigger and greater things. Be prepared to see this album claiming one of those important Album Of The Year Contender spots before the year is out. It’s already grabbed a place on mine….

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo.

Distant Skies And The Ocean Flies is available to buy on DD/Vinyl from the links below.

Electric Valley Records Official

Electric Valley Records BandCamp

Glory Or Death Records (North America Only)

Links

 

https://www.facebook.com/amammoth

https://www.instagram.com/amammothdoom
https://amammoth.bandcamp.com

Deaf Lizard - The Last Odyssey (Album Review)

Release Date: November 01st 2024. Record Label: Electric Valley Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

The Last Odyssey - Track Listing:

1.Nuclear

2.The Devil's Show

3.City of Life 

4.Independent Terror

5.Lady in Black

6.Ape's Odyssey

7.The Veil

Members

Patrick Brödje – Vocals/Guitar

Steffen Blancke – Guitar

Lars Wikström – Bass

Marc Mattschenz – Drums/Synths

Review

Doom/Stoner Rockers Deaf Lizard return with their new album The Last Odyssey and it sees the band play with a seedier determination compared to their celebrated debut album No Man’s Sky. This time round the band deliver a sludgier, seedier and distorted style of music that explores the aggressive side of FUZZED UP DOOM with an aggressive attitude to match. 

Deaf Lizard explore a wealth of different styles of Doom/Stoner Rock that has a surreal 1970’s Proto-Metal attitude band that even allows them to be more closely aligned to bands such as Black Rainbows, Monolord and Electric Wizard along the way. The lyrics are way OVER THE TOP and slightly out of place at times but everything works as it should especially tracks such as The Devil’s Show, City Of Life and Independent Terror.

There’s a chaotic Sludge Rock sound starting to emerge from the Punk Rock surroundings with a bombastic MOTORHEAD influence appearing throughout the whole album. However, Deaf Lizard stick more closely to their hallucinogenic and psychedelic passages with massive AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and GUITAR REVERB on the later stages of the album. This isn’t your most straight forward album with Deaf Lizard playing fast and loose with the creative narrative of the whole record. 

Some people may call this “SHAMBOLIC” in places but this is done with style, grace and pure conviction that sees Deaf Lizard deliver highly original grooves of their own making. There's a method to Deaf Lizard’s madness on this record and it’s quite a joy to listen to and fully experience with the superb raw production values giving a quintessential Punk Rock/Garage Rock energy to The Last Odyssey.

Deaf Lizard do conjure up Progressive based Instrumental Jams along the way with a frenzied Psychedelic approach which can be quite vast within the heavier Cosmic and Space Rock movements that sees the album inject moments of classic NWOBHM along the way before returning to a thrilling Doom/Stoner Metal landscape of pure chaos and down-tuned distortion.

The Last Odyssey is one freakish and brilliantly original ride that will allow Deaf Lizard to become more widely known within the underground scene. If you want an album that fully delivers on the RIFF COUNTER then Deaf Lizard have delivered the goods with this sublime record.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo.

The Last Odyssey is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Electric Valley Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

WyndRider: Stoner doom quartet set to begin September Eastern US Tour; 2nd LP ‘Revival’ out via Electric Valley Records

Hailed as “one of the hardest working bands in the stoner doom community,” East Tennessee’s WyndRider is actively touring to support their critically acclaimed sophomore record, Revival, released in June via Electric Valley Records. Earlier this year, the four-piece hit the stage at Maryland Doom Fest, Gravitoyd Doom Fest in Houston, and Holler of Doom IV, along with several other stops across various cities and states. This September, WyndRider will play different parts of the East.

“We are overwhelmed by the amount of love and support we have received for ‘Revival,’” the band shares. “We are excited to continue touring this year and make stops in as many cities and states as we are able. See you on the road!”

WyndRider September 2024 Dates:

9/07- Columbia, SC- Art Bar*
9/08- Asheville, NC- The Odd *
9/11- Knoxville, TN- The Pilot Light *
9/20- Chattanooga, TN- Cherry Street Tavern
9/21- Shelbyville, TN- Bring it Back Games
9/24- Baltimore, MD- TheDepot Baltimore •
9/25- Akron, OH- Afterlife •
9/26- Buffalo, NY- Mohawk Place •
9/27- Pittsburgh, PA- Squirrel Hill Sports Bar •
9/28- Morgantown, WV- Fuzzfest WV •
* with Valley of the Sun
• with Silent Monolith

Formed in 2022, WyndRider is a four-piece, stoner doom band from the mountains of East Tennessee. The eponymous debut album, released independently in March of 2023, earned WyndRider critical acclaim and even AOTY nods from global heavy music media.

In February 2024, the quartet hit the studio once again with The Wizard Productions to record their second full-length. Titled Revival, this sophomore effort is a sharpened knife, showcasing the refined sound of the band. After playing all over the Eastern US, the group returned to their home in the Appalachian Mountains, focusing in on the hopes and horrors of living there with an unapologetically heavy Southern groove. This album, washed in the blood of its region, sheds light on the smoke and mirrors of life in the Bible Belt and provides a fix for those left craving more after the first dose that WyndRider brought to the scene.

Electric Valley Records issued Revival on four variants of vinyl (Black, Color in color / Orange in Clear Splatter Black, Ultra LTD “Rider Edition” and Test Press), ORDER vinyl/merch from the label’s WEBSTORE or BANDCAMP. USA/North American customers can order from Glory or Death Records.

Additionally, the band oversees the CD edition; ORDERS available HERE on Bandcamp.

STREAM Revival in its full below or FIND the album on your preferred digital media AT THIS LOCATION:

Thanks to Qabar PR for all of the details.