REZN & Vinnum Sabbathi: Silent Future (Album Review)

Release Date: August 11th 2023. Record Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Silent Future: Tracklisting

1.Born Into Catatonia

2.Unknown Ancestor

3.The Cultigen

4.Hypersurreal 

5.Clusters

6.Morphing 

7.Obliterating Mists

Members

Gerardo Arias: Drums, Percussion, Lead Guitars

Phil Cangelosi: Bass

Patrick Dunn: Drums

Samuel Lopez: Bass

Rob McWilliams: Guitars, Vocals

Spencer Ouellette: Synths, Sax, Flute

Juan Tamayo: Heavy guitars, Synths

Roman Tamayo: Additional FX

Victor “KB” Velazquez: Additional Guitars

Manuel Wohlrab: Spoken Word

Review:

Silent Future is the new album from Psych Doomsters REZN and Cosmic Doom/Stoner Metal masters Vinnum Sabbathi. This is an actual album and not a split release with both bands forming as one collaborative unit which explores the thrilling sounds that both REZN and Vinnum Sabbathi are known for. Silent Future is a cinematic based journey which offers a monolithic style of Doom/Stoner Metal visionary grooves. 

The atmosphere is constantly spaced out and one that offers genuine world-building Progressive grooves which drift between Post-Rock and Post-Doom heaviness which can be quite dreamlike and surreal in places with the majority of the songs allowing both bands to drift into areas of music they haven’t played before which you feel within the excellent two opening tracks of Born Into Catatonia and Unknown Ancestor. REZN’s style of Progressive Doom/Stoner Metal works amazingly well with Vinnum Sabbathi’s more Spaced Out sound with the music still being very grounded in reality. The Ambient flavours have an aura of 1980’s Gloomy Rock and then leaning towards 1990’s Sludge/Post-Metal heaviness. 

The vocals from REZN’s Rob McWilliams belong mostly in the Post-Doom environment but he puts in a virtuoso performance here with flashes of Alt Rock and Prog Rock appearing throughout the record.

Silent Future sets a new benchmark of what collaborative albums from the Doom/Stoner Metal scene should actually be measured against. As it’s full of soothing Ambient Instrumental moments that is blissfully hopeful one moment and devastatingly heavy the next which is perhaps down mostly to Vinnum Sabbathi’s masterful style of Cosmic Doom/Stoner Metal which comes more into focus on the epic fourth track Hypersurreal.

Though REZN are no slouches in the HEAVY VOLUME department either with their own blistering style of music perhaps having a more restrained approach but they know how to make an entrance when the time calls for this style of music. 

With the later stages of the album adding a more focused Psychedelic and Progressive based Electronic/Ambient groove, Silent Future still takes risky creative choices that sound remarkably fresh and original on tracks such as Clusters, Morphing and Obliterating Mists which is perhaps where the bulk of the heaviest sounds remain. There is still that wicked “WORLD BUILDING” aspect to the record that still makes you wonder where the album goes next.

The album is backed up by wonderful production values and allows Silent Future to be an exquisite and must-have album from two of the scene’s most inventive bands which will no doubt only enhance their well deserved reputation within the Doom/Stoner Metal Underground Scene and beyond. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR and Red Lead PR for the promo.

Silent Future is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings.

REZN Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Vinnum Sabbathi Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Caustic Casanova - Glass Enclosed Nerve Center (Album Review)

Date Released: October 07th 2022. Record Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Glass Enclosed Nerve Center: Tracklisting

1.Anubis Rex 04:36

2.Lodestar 03:41

3.A Bailar Con Cuarentena 04:43

4.Shrouded Coconut

5.Bull Moose Against The Sky

Members

Francis Beringer – vocals, bass

Stefanie Zænker – vocals, drums, percussion

Andrew Yonki – guitar

Jake Kimberley – guitar

Review

Sludge/Stoner Rockers Caustic Casanova return with their strangest album yet. Glass Enclosed Nerve Center is awash with Progressive Sludge/Stoner Rock passages and sometimes far out Experimental creative themes. The music is also lively and vastly different to what we've heard from the band before. If you're a longtime fan of the band then you know the score. If you're new to their wild and crazy world then Caustic Casanova plays vast different styles from the Sludge/Stoner Metal underground world. The music is never the same and the band are perhaps more creatively aligned to The Melvins but draw familiar sounds such as Red Fang, KYLESA, Baroness and Torche into their crazy intense world.

Opening song Anubis Rex is a happy-go-lucky song with an almost 90's Alt Rock and POPPY feel but with a free-flowing Prog Rock attitude allowing the band to play one of the more friendlier songs. There's plenty riffs here that sees the band have mini extended jams when the later grooves appear. The dual vocals of Stefanie and Francis are superb with fantastic lyrics and spiky vocals working fantastically well with the heavy melodic sounds the band play for this song.

Second song Lodestar is a more fast-paced Punk/Sludge song with distorted ambient and glitchy noises perhaps having the first standout EXPERIMENTAL moment of the album that has a slight The Melvins vibe. Subtle hints of Psych Rock and Post-Rock appeal when Stefanie's lush sounding vocals appear before the song changes into a more sinister offering with the downbeat lyrics that could be classed as Occult Rock. The jangly guitars are heavy and bring a more solitary feel for the entire song.

Third song A Bailar Con Cuarentena opens with a Start/Stop Punk approach before moving into Experimental Art Rock/Stoner Rock territory. The instrumental work is excellent yet again with an Alt Rock/Metal creative influence within the lyrics and musical beats the band play here. Add Jazzy Psychedelic and Funk based grooves to this song and Caustic Casanova only become crazier and more intense with their different strands of Hard Rock that appears here. 

Shrouded Coconut offers almost 10 minutes of intense Experimental Sludge/Stoner Rock riffage that easily has the best riffs on the album that flirts between Jazz Rock rhythms and Heavy Prog Rock sounds. You can expect moments of Freaky Psychedelics and Warped Electronica glitches towards the later stages of the song where the whole atmosphere becomes more DOOM based. 

Bull Moose Against The Sky is perhaps Caustic Casanova's finest creative moment. As the band have their “Sgt Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band” or “Pet Sounds” moment with this part of the album and that's down to the many different sounds and genres of rock they've employed for this track. I mean that as a compliment. This is a 22 minute Progressive Sludge/Stoner Rock opera that's quite easy to follow and fall in love with. The song can be scarily loud when it needs to be but also sweet natured as well.

Glass Enclosed Nerve Center is a record that requires multiple listens to fully understand it all. As it's quite a multi-layered album which I wouldn't expect anything less from Caustic Casanova. The album has wonderful production values that helps the band get their crazy and hypnotic sounds over the finishing line with first rate results.

This is Caustic Casanova's best album to date. No question. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Red Lead PR, Purple Sage PR and Magnetic Eye Records for the promo.

Glass Enclosed Nerve Center will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records from October 07th 2022.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter

SOLACE - The Brink (Album Review)

Release date: December 13th 2019. Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Brink – Tracklisting

1.Breaker of the Way

2.Desert Coffin

3.Dead Sailor's Dream

4.Waste People

5.The Light is a Lie

6.Crushing Black

7.Bird of Ill Omen

8.Shallows Fade

9.The Brink

10.Until the Last Dog is Hung

11.Dead Sailor's Reprise

Members

Tommy Southard - Guitar

Justin Daniels - Guitar

Goins - Vocals

Mike Sica - Bass

Timmy Gitlan - Drums

Review

Doom Metal Legends Solace return with their first album in almost a decade with THE BRINK. A 70 minute plus album which sees the band on stunning form. The band play a classic style of Doom/Stoner Metal with influences such as NWOBHM, Prog Rock and Psych Rock appearing on the album. Solace have had numerous line-up changes through the years and this album doesn’t suffer from that at all.

The Brink has a deep rich progressive sound that feels like it’s coming from a completely different band at times. Can we call The Brink a comeback album. As it feels Solace feel more ALIVE and HUNGRIER than ever. The album has 11 songs and all showing SOLACE deep love and appreciation for DOOM METAL and HEAVY GROOVES.

The opening 2 songs – Breaker Of The Way and Desert Coffin – show how the rest of the album plays out with classic sounding Doom/Stoner Metal riffs that have a timeless quality to them. The album has a deep nautical theme to it that allows SOLACE to let their musical imagination run wild with vivid creativity.

The majority of the songs run for about 5 mins to 7 mins each and each contain spellbinding lyrics, hypnotic riffs and awesome vocals to match. The album has some of the best Doom Metal riffs you’ll hear all year. SOLACE feel most live on the 2^nd half of the album as that’s where some of the heaviest tunes appear and lead vocalist Goins being on majestic form as well.

The standout songs are Dead Sailor's Dream, Waste People, Crushing Black, Shallows Fade and Dead Sailor’s Reprise. The production is as epic as the music itself. SOLACE have never sounded so good. So this is definitely the best sounding album of their career.

The Brink never outstays it’s welcome despite the 70 minute plus runtime. I wanted the album to go on for much longer as the album is packed full of incredible songs. This album feels like a greatest hits album than a collection of new songs. All instantly recognizable which will have you coming back for more.

SOLACE have released a classic Doom/Stoner Metal album with The Brink. It’s everything you want from a Doom/Stoner Metal record. This is perhaps the “DOOM METAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR”.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead PR for the promo. The Brink will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from December 13^th 2019 via Blues Funeral Recordings.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Howling Giant - The Space Between Worlds (Album Review)

Release date: September 27th 2019. Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Space Between Worlds – Tracklisting

1.Comet Rider 04:30

2.Nomad 05:10

3.Ghosts in The Well 02:42

4.The River Guide 05:43

5.Ice Castle 04:37

6.Cybermancer and The Doomsday Express 04:04

7.Everlight 07:57

8.The Orb 07:08

9.Stone Giant 06:17

Members

Sebastian Baltes – Bass/Vocals

Tom Polzine – Guitar/Vocals

Zach Wheeler – Drums/Vocals

Review

The Space Between Worlds is the eagerly awaited new album from Psychedelic and Spaced Out Stoner Rockers – Howling Giant. The band have been making a name for themselves over the last few years with their blend of intergalactic based tales of Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal. Taking influence from bands such as Elder, Baroness, Summoner and Mastodon but putting their own spin on the Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal sound.

This album is a concept album which allows Howling Giant to weave a totally out there story that fits in with their Psychedelic Heavy Grooves with strands of Progressive Rock holding everything together.

The album has an easy-going atmosphere which allows the band to draw the listeners in with their blend of Spaced Out Rock with opening song Comet Rider setting the whole tone and atmosphere for the whole album. The vocals can sound quite “poppy” in places but it’s quite an addictive style of vocals from who is the main vocalist of the band. It’s hard to tell as the band all share vocal duties through different stages of the album. There are some fantastic vocal harmonies that form some of the best parts of the album.

Songs such as Nomad, Ghosts In The Well, The River Guide, Cybermancer and The Doomsday Express – all show the natural progression Howling Giant have made from releasing their acclaimed EP’s over the years. Howling Giant build epic stories through each song and the powerful Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal riffs bring those lyrics to life with vivid imagination.

The music is the main selling point with Howling Giant playing some of the best spaced out grooves you’ll hear this year. The album can be exceptionally heavy one moment and quite peaceful the next with the band adapting Ambient Post-Rock passages for certain parts of the album.

The standout part of the album has to be the final 3 songs – Everlight, Orb and Stone Giant – as everything comes together for a truly cinematic sounding experience with epic riffs from start to finish.

Overall, Howling Giant have released an epic sounding album with The Space Between Worlds that makes this one of the best albums of 2019. You’ll be insane to miss this huge sounding album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead for the promo. The Space Between Worlds is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Ghastly Sound - Have A Nice Day (Album Review)

Release date: September 13th 2019. Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Have A Nice Day – Tracklisting

1.Bait and Switch

2.We're All Shadows

3.Deathlogic

4.War

5.No Security

6.Selina Kyle

7.The Holocene Has Ended

8.Electric Tumor

9.Have A Nice Day

Members

Tyler Gurwicz

Ryan Lewis

TJ Maynard

Review

Ghastly Sound debut full length album – Have A Nice Day – is a vivid, bold, brash and violent delight that sees this hard hitting power trio drawing influences from Torche, At The Drive-In, Red Fang and Kylesa. As the band play a mix of Sludge Rock, Doom Metal, Punk Rock, Stoner Metal with violent Psychedelic Rock tendencies.

The opening two songs Bait and Switch & We’re All Shadows have a fast-paced and complex rhythm merged with a harsh “Doom-Pop” sound that Floor and Torche are known for. Add aggressive riffs, vocals and lyrics where the Psychedelic Grooves hide a darker and progressive sound that Ghastly Sound fully explore on the later stages of the album.

Ghastly Sound explore the darker side of their music compared to their previous EP’s. This album takes you places that you wouldn’t expect with socially aware lyrics having a distinctive edge to them and all set against a backdrop of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal grooves that shouldn’t really work this well. However, Ghastly Sound make you believe in their overall creative vision of the entire album.

Songs such as Deathlogic, War, No Security, Electric Tumor and Have a Nice Day sees the band continue to offer a bleak and harsh vision with brash and pissed off soulful vocals to match.

The albums production is quite intense and allows Ghostly Sound to preach their hard-hitting message with expert precision. The best parts of the album is when the “poppier” moments appear and allow the listener to catch their breath and take every trippy psychedelic sound into their own being. Though the album doesn’t stay silent for long as Ghastly Sound thrive upon playing music that is LOUD, ANGRY and PRIMAL that leaves you wanting more.

Have A Nice Day is an epic sounding album that has BRAINS as well as BRAWN. This is an album that sees Ghastly Sound fully live up to their huge potential and deliver a record that’s packed full of different sounds that allows you to have a completely different kind of Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal experience.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead PR for the promo. Have A Nice Day will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records from September 13th 2019.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

LowFlyingHawks - Anxious Ghosts (EP Reveiw)

Release date: June 28th 2019. Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Anxious Ghost – Tracklisting

1.Night Flight

2.Somewhere (Part 1)

3.Somewhere (Part 2)

4.Hollow Grasp 06:59

5.Doors To Nowhere

Members

Dale Crover - Drums

Trevor Dunn - Bass

AAL - Guitars, Vocals

EHA - Guitars, Lead Vocals

Review

Lowflyinghawks return with their new EP – Anxious Ghosts – and it’s another round of bleak sounding passages that has elements of Drone, Doom, Sludge and Psych Rock that the band have used on their previously two acclaimed albums.

This EP sees Lowflyinghawks offering a subdued sound compared to their previous releases. Anxious Ghosts still has moments of full-on heaviness which merges Drone, Doom and Sludge Metal to maximum effect. Though the opening song - Night Flight – is a semi-acoustic song with elements of Drone and Ambient based Post Rock grooves with the vocals having an Alternative Rock/Indie Rock feel to them.

Lowflyinghawks return to their normal style of music with the excellent two-part song Somewhere Part I and Somewhere Part II.

Somewhere Part I sees Lowflyinghawks playing a highly atmospheric blend of Ambient Rock/Metal with haunting vocals appearing and disappearing in quick succession. The Post-Rock/Post-Metal interludes slowly build upto a heavier and unsettling style of music.

Somewhere Part II is the first appearance of Lowflyinghawks trademark Doom/Sludge Metal sound with a bleak and world weary vibe holding everything together. The vocals are quite reflective in places with the music being superbly heavy from the start. The Doom/Drone/Sludge Metal grooves have a real presence to them and leave you wanting more.

Hollow Grasp and Doors To Nowhere – carries on the experimental and droned out heavy sounds that Lowflyinghawks that can be classed as their trademark sound. As the band are three records into their career and you can tell without a doubt that this is Lowflyinghawks territory. The music moves from heavy down-tuned sounds too fast-paced Doom/Sludge Metal riffs that keeps the Post-Rock/Post-Metal grooves moving along at a frantic pace.

As with previous Lowflyinghawks releases, the band are helped on this EP with contributions from their famous friends The Melvins alumni Dale Crover and Trevor Dunn making appearance on Drums and Bass respectively. Dale and Trevor bring their legendary talents to Lowflyinghawks world and make everything sound quite dark and sombre but also glorious on the more psychedelic sounding parts of the EP.

Anxious Ghosts is a different sounding release compared to Lowflyinghawks previous albums. However, it drives the message home that Lowflyinghawks are one of the best kept secrets within the Doom/Sludge Metal community and this EP proves that Lowflyinghawks are more than happy to stay under the radar and release music on their own terms.

Overall, this EP is one that takes time to fully understand and admire. The EP can be quite unforgiving in places but that what makes it so good. Lowflyinghawks are a band with a unique voice within the scene and they let their music do all the talking and offer no apologies for creating a different style of Doom/Sludge Metal.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead PR for the promo. Anxious Ghosts will be available to buy on Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl via MagneticEye Records from June 28th 2019.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

DOMKRAFT - Flood (Album Review)

Release date: October 19th 2018. Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Flood – Tracklisting

1.Landslide 09:55

2.The Watchers 04:46

3.Flood 05:31

4.They Appear to be Alive 01:22

5.Sandwalker 07:28

6.Octopus 04:39

7.Dead Eyes, Red Skies 08:09

Members

Martin Widholm - Guitar

Martin Wegeland - Bass & Vocals

Anders Dahlgren -Drums

Review

Domkraft new album Flood carries on the psychedelic sounds of the first album. Flood feels and sounds like an actual chapter of the band’s progression from their last album. Though Flood has a more darker and unforgiving nature with the overall feel of the album. Domkraft manage to include many different musical elements on this album with Prog, Psych, Stoner, Doom, Sludge and Post-Whatever style sounds.

Opening song – Landslides is 10 minutes of heavy post doom and gloom sonic riffery with the band creating a bleak and complex sound. The lyrics have quite an “end of the world” feel and that only adds to the overall gloomy nature of the song. Domkraft manage to stop for breath and take a step back and play a laid back Post-Rock Psychedelic groove before returning to a familiar heavy complex Sludge Rock sound.

Second song – The Watchers – opens with a standard Sludge/Stoner Rock riff with a swirling ambient sound that explodes into a loud progressive wall of noise. The vocals are superbly handled by Martin. This song is less flashy and experimental compared to the previous song. Perhaps down to the band having less time to play with or wanting to show a different side to their music.

Third song – Flood – sees Domkraft settle for a standard hybrid Sludge/Doom/Psych/Stoner Metal sound for this song and the remainder of the album. Though this song does allow the band to experiment and play different types of music. Perhaps influenced by Ufomammut and Slomatics too closely at times. This doesn’t stop Domkraft dazzling listeners with a wide array of heavy guitar riffs.

Fourth song – They Appear To Be Alive – is an instrumental post-rock song with a sombre gloomy atmosphere.

Fifth song – Sandwalker – carries on the unforgiving slow-paced gloomy nature of the openings songs. However this ranks as one of the best songs on the album. As Domkraft play this song with real human emotion and leave you wanting more especially when the heavy doom based riffs fully take over.

The final 2 songs Octopus and “Dead Eyes, Red Skies” offer two final rounds of heavy progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal songs that leave many questions unanswered. As the overall story of the album feels incomplete. Perhaps to be continued on Domkraft’s next album.

Flood is a stunning, bold and quite complex album that will have you listening for a long time. It may not be as assessable as their debut album but Domkraft prove they’re on the right path in forging an exciting future for themselves.

The album is made stronger by the stellar production compared to their debut album. Is Flood a better album than their debut album. I’m still struggling to make a firm decision on that one. Let’s be pleased that Domkraft have released another brilliantly entertaining album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead PR for the promo. Flood is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp