BEASTWARS Announce New Album THE SHIP // THE SEA | Listen to First Single ‘LEVITATE’

The southern hemisphere’s kings of apocalyptic metal rise again with their sixth studio album, The Ship // The Sea (out 7th November 2025 via Destroy Records)

Like bearing witness to a world sliding headlong into the abyss, Beastwars are no strangers to soundtracking times of war, disaster, and collapse – when half-truths and hidden agendas lurk behind every act of the world’s eroding empires.

From the very beginning, their music has embodied the apocalyptic feeling of these end times: primal, hypnotic, and relentlessly heavy. Their 2011 self-titled debut declared as much, and tragically, feels more relevant today than ever. Fourteen years later, the world has only grown harsher and Beastwars’ sixth record, The Ship // The Sea, distils that darkness into one of the most intense and cathartic albums of their career.

In 2021 and 2023, the band toured their first two albums in full. Revisiting that early material reignited the raw energy at their core, inspiring them to strip back the progressive flourishes of recent years and reconnect with the heaviness of their origins. The Ship // The Sea channels that spirit into towering riffs and unflinching emotion, unfolding like a sequence of hellish headlines. Mute the endless stream of calamities on your screen. Beastwars’ heavy howls create an eerily apocalyptic soundtrack for the present day.

“Life has become a marathon for most people,” says Hyde. “How can we not see the injustice, the cruelty of the world? Our new album is like Picasso’s Guernica - a reflection of war and horror, of endings and upheavals. It's the sound of a ship adrift on a cruel sea.”

Water runs as the central motif throughout the record, the ship representing the body and the sea symbolising life. Lyrically, the songs traverse survival, purification, wisdom, and healing, always with an undercurrent of danger and the fight to endure.

To capture this vision, Beastwars decided that they needed to record by the ocean. They decamped to Studio 11b near the beach in Mount Maunganui then completed the album back in their hometown of Wellington, once again working alongside longtime collaborator James Goldsmith.

Having co-produced the band’s last three albums and engineered their live shows, Goldsmith was the ideal partner to harness their ferocity with heightened intensity.

As ever, the music is paired with artwork by Nick Keller (Weta Workshop: Narnia, Avatar, The Hobbit). His vast oil painting for The Ship // The Sea is both terrifying and transcendent, an otherworldly vision that mirrors the sound within.

The Ship // The Sea will be released Friday 7th November 2025 via Destroy Records on LP and digital formats, with pre-orders available now at www.beastwarsband.com. The band will also tour Australia and New Zealand this November in support of the release.

Listen to New Single ‘Levitate’ – HERE

This album was created with the generous support of NZ On Air

Tour Dates:

Mo's Desert Clubhouse – Gold Coast, Aus – Wed 12th November
The Brightside – Brisbane, Aus – Thu 13th November
The Landsdowne – Sydney, Aus – Fri 14th November
The Evelyn – Melbourne, Aus – Sat 15th November
River Rocks Rehab – Geelong, Aus – Sun 16th November
Last Place – Hamilton – Thu 20th November
Double Whammy – Auckland – Fri 21st November
Meow Nui – Wellington – Sat 22nd November
Dropkicks – Dunedin – Fri 28th November
Churchill's – Christchurch – Sat 29th November

Artist: Beastwars
Album: The Ship // The Sea
Record Label: Destroy Records
Formats: LP/Digital
Release Date: 7/11/25

Promo photography by David James

Limited edition vinyl and tees available from www.beastwarsband.com

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Twitter

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the details.

ACEVES - Magnus Dopus (Album Review)

Release Date: June 27th 2025. Record Label: I:AND:I Recordings. Formats: DD

Magnum Dopus - Tracklisting

1.The True and Indisputable Meaning of Rock and Roll 03:36

2.Still Aint Dead 03:42

3.Taxi Driver 04:11

4.Love in the Time of Apocalypse 04:21

5.Hail Mary 02:49

6.Just Your Disguise 05:13

7.Daisies 02:36

8.Faithful Man (Lee Fields Cover) 04:23

9.For My Children 02:41

Members

Mark Aceves - Everything

Review

Magnus Dopus is the debut album from ACEVES aka Mark Aceves from Doom/Stoner Rock heavyweights ZED who dedicated this album to his father Jose J Aceves and band mate Sean William Boyles within a year. The record isn’t too far removed from the sound that ZED were known for but with ACEVES injecting a Punk Rock and Classic Stoner Rock sound. The album feels inspired by the likes of MC5, Motorhead, The Stooges, Black Sabbath and KISS.

ACEVES plays with a fast-paced and highly unapologetic in your face sound that plays fast and loose with the rules of Stoner Rock with the record also having a “BACK TO BASICS” approach with the production values used for tone and delivery of the album. The record can be full on PARTY MODE but ACEVES delivers with his own determined charm, warmth and superbly witty lyrics to match. There’s a classic QOTSA vibe appearing within the majority of the tracks with tracks such as The True and Indisputable Meaning of Rock and Roll, Still Ain’t Dead and Taxi Driver making a lasting impression very early on.

Mark adapts an OUTLAWS persona which allows his Punk Rock creative energy allow the record to be played at a highly exciting and fresh pace that even has an old-school Pop-Punk sound developing at times before a thuggish Stoner Rock sound levels things out for the better. The record doesn’t shy away from some tough times that Mark has been through recently on tracks such as Love In The Time Of The Apocalypse, Hail Mary and Daisies. 

ACEVES even finds the time to add elements of Electronic Rock with subtle Trance beats which should appeal to music fans outside of the Stoner Rock spectrum at times. The vocals are intriguing throughout with ACEVES developing and performing multiple different styles which has real warmth and human emotion to them. 

A lot of Stoner Rock musicians have released solo albums recently and usually move away from the music they’re known for, so Mark deserves real credit for sticking to what he knows with Magnum Dopus. Though, that’s not to say he tries new things here which he does but the majority of the music is mostly from the Stoner Rock realm. The later stages sees ACEVES developing a fuzzy and aggressive love affair with the FUZZ which should impress fans of FU MANCHU and CLUTCH and even the mighty ZED of course. 

Magnum Dopus is a grand musical adventure with ACEVES delivering an action packed, catchy and superbly entertaining record. If ZED is currently on long term hiatus then ACEVES could have a long term and exciting future of his own if he keeps releasing great records such as this.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the promo.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp

ACEVES Announces New Video and Debut Solo Album MAGNUM DOPUS on I:AND:I RECORDINGS

FFO: Queens of the Stone Age, The Bronx, Teen Mortgage, Fu Manchu

This June marks the official release of Magnum Dopus, the explosive debut solo album from ZED bassist and underground mainstay Mark Aceves.

Written in the aftermath of his father's death and the tragic loss of close friend and bandmate Sean Boyles, Aceves poured every ounce of grief, resilience and hope into nine blistering tracks to help people move, scream, and heal.

“This isn’t a vanity side project, it’s a battle cry,” he explains. “I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel; I’m trying to light it on fire and ride it into the apocalypse with a crooked smile. The songs on this album come from my heart, and it's written with love, man. It's for the fighters, the dreamers, and the beautifully broken. It's loud. It’s real. And it’s just the beginning.”

Fans of Zed will be especially pleased to hear that Aceves hasn’t strayed too far from the raw and raucous grooves of his Bay Area brethren. A fireball of punk defiance, stoner swagger, and rock-and-roll soul — like a backstreet clash between QOTSA, AC/DC and The Bronx – Magnum Dopus is a raw cathartic blast of rebellion. From the gut-punch opener and Boyles tribute ‘The True and Indisputable Meaning of Rock and Roll’, to the defiant dancefloor anthem ‘Still Ain’t Dead’, the bittersweet ‘Love in the Time of Apocalypse’, and the poignant closer ‘For My Children’, the album is a riot of pure emotion.

Messy, honest, and unflinchingly human, Magnum Dopus by Aceves combines infectious hooks, heavy riffs and lyrics that bleed with meaning, and is released 27th June on I:AND:I. Pre-order here

Watch the new video for ‘Still Ain’t Dead’ now here!

Tracklisting

1. The True and Indisputable Meaning of Rock and Roll
2. Still Ain’t Dead [Listen]
3. Taxi Driver
4. Love in the Time of Apocalypse
5. Hail Mary
6. Just Your Disguise
7. Daisies
8. Faithful Man
9. For My Children

Artist: Mark Aceves
Album: Magnum Dopus
Record Label: I:AND:I Recordings
Formats: Digital
Release Date: 27/06/2025

Aceves on Bandcamp | Facebook

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for all of the details.

Mika Häkki - Mørker (Album Review)

Release Date: April 11th 2025. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: DD

Mørker - Tracklisting

1.Take This Light Away 

2.When You're Old

3.Time Stood Still

4.Couch Anthem 

5.Make No Sense

6.Another Reason To Stay

7.Weighted Daze

Members:

Mika Häkki

Review

Mørker is the new album from Mika Häkki better known as the powerhouse bassist from Doom Metal Heavyweights MONOLORD and this is Mika’s second full length album. Mika’s musical style is quite different to his MONOLORD colleagues with a mixture of Heavy Atmospheric sounds and Composed Laidback melodies which showcase a fine style of Classic Rock, Folk, Americana, Country, Psych, Prog and Post-Rock appearing throughout. 

There is a deft touch of Psychedelic and Sonic experimentation within the album with Mika’s superbly Folk-ish vocal style which traverses through the Soft Rock and Hard Rock elements that Mørker expertly handles. The lyrics are quite insightful and hopeful with deep emotional meaning with Mika hitting upon some dark strands of Gloomy based Rock on songs such as Take This Light Away, When You’re Old and Time Stood Still.

Mørker works best when the 1970’s based haunting melodies and experimental Prog Rock sounds merge instances of Americana, Folk and Psych Rock with Mika keeping a sullen guitar sound as his main instrument of choice. It’s to Mika’s credit that everything sounds real and quite organic with a wide range of musical influences being used mostly from the 1970’s and 1980’s Soft Rock scene but there’s still a small murmur of Post-Doom surroundings appearing from time-to-time. 

Mika is joined by the following guest musicians on the record for a few songs: Klas-Henrik Hörngren on keys, Krister Selander on bass and Kristoffer Ragnstam on drums and backing vocals. They all play splendidly especially during the heavier and darker moments of the album with some trippy and heavy hazy sounds that I didn’t expect.

Other standout tracks include: Couch Anthem, Another Reason To Stay and Weighted Daze.

There is a deeper reliance on Progressive sounds especially on Another Reason To Stay and Weighted Daze. Though Mørker has a few hidden surprises throughout with flashes of Distortion and Fuzz being injected into the mix. I’m pretty certain you can hear echoes of Post-Punk and Gothic Rock within Mika’s instrumental delivery at times but that could be an oversight on my behalf, whatever the sound I originally heard, it’s downright original and offers some of the heaviest and freakiest grooves on the album.

Mørker is an absolute delight with Mika firing on all musical cylinders to create an album which is an absolute delight to listen to and showcase a completely different side to his MONOLORD persona. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life and Majestic Mountain Records for the promo.

Mørker will be available to buy on digital download via Majestic Mountain Records from Friday 11th April 2025.

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Monolord’s MIKA HAKKI Returns with his Sophomore Album on MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN RECORDS | New Video Out Now

Mika Häkki on Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify

Best known to those above and below the underground as one third of the most sonically devastating bands in recent memory, Mørker is the second solo album from Swedish bassist Mika Häkki.

Aided and abetted once more by fellow countrymen and peddler of all things heavy, Majestic Mountain Records, much like his 2022 debut Vemod his follow-up is another uncompromising labour of love for the Monolord man. Where his previous album touched upon aspects of classic country and singer/songwriter-centred material, Mørker takes a confident step into the unknown and finds Hakki painting a broader range of styles with a defter and more masterly stroke. From dreamy progressive pop to raw tripped-out proto-punk, hidden within these compositions are hints and hammer blows from the back catalogues of The Stooges, Pink Floyd and even the Americana thrum of Neil Young.

As Hakki himself explains, “Mørker continues the same path which my previous album started. Looking back, looking in and forward, trying to embrace the darkness while finding your place in it. In the darkest of times, you must look into the core to pick apart the strains and see what makes it tick.”

Joined by Klas-Henrik Hörngren on keys, Krister Selander on bass and drummer Kristoffer Ragnstam, who also produced the album alongside Hakki at LÜXFÄLLAN Studios, Mørker by Mika Häkki will be released worldwide via Majestic Mountain Records on 11th April 2025. As premiered on The Obelisk recently, stream and share his new single ‘Take this Light Away’ 

TRACK LISTING:

1. Take This Light Away [Listen]
2. When You're Old
3. Time Stood Still
4. Couch Anthem
5. Makes No Sense
6. Another Reason to Stay
7. Weighted Daze

Artist: Mika Häkki
Album: Mørker
Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records
Formats: Digital
Release Date: 11/04/2025

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for all of the details.

Möuth - Global Warning (Album Review)

Release Date: February 14th 2025. Record Label: Bonebag Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Global Warning - Track Listing:

1.Holy Ground 

2.Dirt 

3.Speed of Life

4.Sheep

5.World Pain

6.Appetite 

7.Alike

8.Mantra

9.In My City

Members

Erik Nordström - Bass/Vocals

Martin Sandström - Guitar

Fredrik Aspelin - Drums

Review

Global Warning is the debut album from Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers Möuth who add layers of Proto-Metal, Grunge, Fuzz and Garage Rock sounds into their music. The record is a wicked collection of tracks that can be quite retro at the best of times but one that is also thoroughly modern when the band decides to let their Doom and Stoner grooves take centre stage. 

With a catchy SONIC appetite being delivered at the same time, Möuth are quite adverse in developing grooves that are inspired by European and American Stoner Rock scenes with a certai Stadium Rock energy appearing on the early parts of the album on tracks such as Holy Ground, Dirt  and Speed Of Life.

I’ve seen the band being compared to the likes of Green Lung, Elephant Tree and 1000mods and those are fair comparisons to make but I see them more aligned to the 1990’s Alt Rock and Grunge scenes with the music having a killer “commercial” aspect appearing within the melodic grooves and Erik’s excellent vocals. The record is still part of the Doom/Stoner Rock underground scene with Möuth playing heavier Sludge Rock sounds within the heavier and aggressive parts of the record.

Möuth are quite adept at switching to different levels of heavy music whilst keeping with a dominant “DOOM-POP” theme. There is a huge likeability within their music and Möuth do create some epic “sing-along” moments to their tracks that remind me of FOO FIGHTERS, TORCHE and FLOOR with a killer Psych Rock swagger that screams 1970’s ROCK & ROLL excess.

There are subtle moments of DOOM & GLOOM that appear out of nowhere within the lyrical content that works superbly well despite the occurrence of the sweet natured grooves that Möuth continuously to impress throughout the album on tracks on such as: Sheep, Appetite, Alike and In My CIty. 

Global Warning is an album packed full of great tunes allowing Möuth to bring a different style of music to the majority of the tracks which will impress you with the multitude of different styles of Doom/Stone Rock the band actually play on the whole album. The record can be quite understated at times but they bring a thunderous and highly energetic level of VOLUME to the album which allows Global Warning to be an outstanding debut album you seriously must own.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered LIfe PR for the promo.

Global Warning will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Bonebag Record from Friday 14th February 2025.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

WARPSTORMER - WARPSTORMER (Album Review)

Release Date: November 29th 2024. Record Label: London Doom Collective.: CD/Cassette/DD/Vinyl

WARPSTORMER - Track Listing:

1.Black Herald

2.Oracle 

3.Cursed, Cold

4.Beyonder – i. A Cry Towards the Light; ii. Ash & Rust

5.A Liar's Crown 

6.Fester

7.The Edge of Time

Members

Richard J Morgan – voice

Simon Doggett – bass, voice

Adam Davies – guitar

James Loh – drums

Review

Heavy Metal Riff Merchants WARPSTORMER create one hell of a racket with their self titled debut album which comes with an ALL GUNS BLAZING attitude that throws a classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal ferocity into the mix. Taking inspiration from bands such as Baroness, High On Fire, Mastodon and Thin Lizzy.

The album has a heavy Psychedelic charge that transforms into a barrage of non-stop THRASH grooves with a hint of Progressive Metal attitude which comes off in spectacular fashion with tracks such as Black Herald, Oracle and Cursed, Gold setting up the scene.

There’s also a slight Orange Goblin vibe appearing within some of the lyrics and vocal passages that WARPSTORMER uses on the album. However, the demented classic Thrash Metal energy is the main driving force for the band to explore the heavier areas of the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal stratosphere.

The band have a deep reliance on Science Fiction and Fantasy themes on the album which appeared on their acclaimed 2022 debut EP. This time round, WARPSTORMER have honed their songwriting skills to absolute perfection which allows the album to be completely outrageous and way OVER THE TOP like a great classic HEAVY METAL album should be.

Teaming up with the GOD LIKE technical genius of Wayne Adams to co-produce the album who also doubles down on mixing, recording and mastering duties. This winning creative combination has delivered one of the catchiest and riff-fuelled debut albums you’ll likely to hear in 2024 with aggressive and abrasive melodies being played at wonderfully LOUD levels. 

The subtle use of SONIC and PSYCHEDELIC scores adds a level of Post-Stoner attitude to the album that Mastodon would be proud to call their own especially within the standout fourth track Beyonder. The track has moments of deep PROGRESSIVE clarity that sees a rush of non-stop sludgy guitar solos that moves into different areas of Thrash, Doom, Heavy Metal, Sludge Rock and then all the way back to the centre ground of STONER METAL mayhem.

The album is being released by rising UK Underground label - The London Doom Collective who’ve been on a roll recently this year releasing acclaimed albums by the likes of OLD HORN TOOTH, TROY THE BAND and ERRONAUT. This is a great fit for both parties to both establish themselves further within the wider underground Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scenes.

The later stages of the album keeps up with the fast-paced Thrash Metal trajectory with that intense Sludge/Stoner Metal sound that adds a more aggressive Progressive energy into the musical landscapes with daring Psychedelic textures and subtle levels of distorted movements. Though, you’ve gotta admire WARPSTORMER’s use of classic HEAVY METAL guitar shredding that comes straight from the 1980’s and given a modern day STONER METAL makeover on tracks such as A Liar’s Crown, Fester and The Edge Of Time.

WARPSTORMER’s debut album is quite a wild ride and one that only becomes a better album with each subsequent listen. If you miss the early days of High On Fire and Mastodon then WARPSTORMER is here to answer your call. As they’ve delivered an outrageously epic slice of Stoner Metal carnage you’ll find very hard to beat and one that perfectly can easily be ranked as one of the standout debut albums of the year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life for the promo.

Warpstomper S/T debut album is available for pre-order now on Cassette/DD/CD/Vinyl via London Doom Collective

Links

WARPSTORMER on Bandcamp – warpstormer.bandcamp.com
Twitter – x.com/warpstormer
Facebook – facebook.com/warpstormer
Instagram – instagram.com/warpstormer

Methadone Skies - Spectres At Dawn (Album Review)

Release Date: October 25th 2024. Record Label: Haywire Records. Format: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

Spectres At Dawn - Track Listing:

1.To No Avail

2.'87 via '94 

3.Mano Cornetto 

4.Thrill Estate

5.Sheryl Low

6.Use the Excessive Force

Members

Alexandru Wehry - guitar

Casian Stanciu - guitar, E-Bow

Mihai Guta - bass

Flavius Retea - drums, percussion, keyboards

Review

Spectres At Dawn is the sixth album from Romanian Post-Rock Heavyweights Methadone Skies who also celebrate their fifteenth anniversary as a band with this huge sounding release. This is perhaps weighing more into their Post-Metal persona than the earlier surroundings of Post-Rock the band first made their names with. Though, the band never forgets their roots with a mix of Psych Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal and Progressive Rock themes allowing this to be Methadone Skies most expressive and heaviest album to date.

The album captures all the standout instrumental sounds that have made Methadone Skies one of the most interesting Instrumental Post-Rock bands within the underground scene. They never release the same album twice with the band trying new areas of music with each passing release and Spectres At Dawn is no different. The sound is always progressive and quite deceptive with the different amounts of instrumental rock/metal that the band employs here. 

Opening track To No Avail is a collection of heavy progressive jams told through areas of Post-Rock, Post-Metal and Psych Rock with a thrilling Doom/Stoner perspective allowing Methadone Skies to weave a cinematic style of storytelling which is used throughout the whole album. Areas of Ambient Rock, Space Rock and heavier Sludge Rock guitars allows a menacing METALLIC presence to appear in the least unexpected places but gives another level of heaviness when you least expect it.

The next two tracks ‘87 via 94 and Mano Cornetto expands that style of Cinematic Post-Rock further with a haunting Ambient score with Methadone going full-on HEAVY METAL with gloomier soundscapes being quite cathartic at times. Shades of Russian Circles and Pelican can be heard but with Methadone Skies being more STONER obsessed which once again sees the band create highly original instrumental music of their own making especially on tracks Mano Cornetto, Thrill Estate and Use The Excessive Force. 

The second half of the album becomes quite GROOVE orientated with Methadone Skies also operating with a more expressive style of Progressive Metal with stunning Spaced Out textures keeping everything real and grounded. There’s a hidden aspect of Droned Out Rock which allows Methadone Skies to play with an air of mysticism to their overall sound. 

Methadone Skies have delivered the goods yet again with Spectres At Dawn being their most emotionally rewarding and brilliantly entertaining record to date.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life for the promo. 

Spetres At Dawn will be available to buy on Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl via Haywire Records from Friday 01st November 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram