IRATA - Human (Album Review)

Release Date: July 10th 2026. Record Label: Small Stone Records Co. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Human - Tracklist

1.Altar

2.Confessions

3.Seeds

4.Delirium

5.Mirrors

6.Slipped

7.Goodside

8.Daystar

Members

Jason Ward: drums, keys, vox

Jon Case: bass, vox

Owen Burd: vox, guitar, keys

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers IRATA return with their emotionally charged fourth album Human which sees the band offer their most melodic record to date. IRATA uses a greater musical creative palette for this record with areas of Grunge, Shoegaze, Prog Metal and Cinematic based storytelling being added. With a mind-expanding use of sludgy psychedelics giving Human a cautionary sound which sees IRATA experiment with their music even further and even applying gloomy modern Doom-Pop hooks.

IRATA draws upon the likes of HUM, TORCHE, FLOOR, KYLESA and TOOL with influences appearing from other areas of the Nineties Alt-Rock scene which has become a constant staple of the band’s music whilst still sounding remarkably just like IRATA. The record may take a few listens to take everything in compared to their 2019 effort Tower and that’s down to IRATA’s great use of Progressive melodies and switching into heavier distorted sounds which gives a frenzied and grounded approach to their music.

The sound constantly switches between harsh environments and lush sounding Sludge Rock grooves with a heavy support of distorted Progressive atmospherics. IRATA depends more heavily on keyboards for this album which gives way to some of the best trippy and spaced out elements that IRATA have created to date. I still find it hard to believe or accept that IRATA have been going as a band for nearly two decades and this is their only fourth full length album. They always find the best time to return and this record does feel like a cause for celebration at times and despite the bleak subject matter the record contains you can’t help but feel the gloriously euphoric jams when they appear that leave you in a highly peaceful meditative state.

The first half of the album sees IRATA within their “business as usual “ phase by playing fast-paced and highly psychedelic grunge sounds which made their last two records personal favourites of mine. The music is constantly heavy with areas of distorted fuzz and grunge that’s played against a wall of destructive moments of Psych, Sludge and Stoner Metal with a developing sense of Shoegaze and Alt-Rock developing that turns into something heavier in the later stages of the record. 

The vocals from Jason, Jon and Owen are universally excellent throughout with shades of The Smashing Pumpkins, FLOOR, TORCHE and HUM appearing highly confident but with their own great style being superbly delivered. 

My favourite tracks on the first half of the album are: Altar, Seeds and Delirium as they bridge the gap to the classic sounds of IRATA but also allowing them to develop a new found sense of creativity especially when the music is stripped back and a forceful Progressive Sludge energy appears. Human becomes more evolving but offering moments of wonderful sing-along moments which you ultimately lose yourself in once more. 

The lyrics are super-fresh that taps into the Nineties nostalgia scene perfectly but adding that subtle modern day vibe that adds a level of darkness when you least expect it. Things change quite dramatically within the second half of the record as IRATA switches musical directions with a firmer grasp of Prog Rock/Metal with swirling TOOL-esque compositions being heard with IRATA putting their own great take of modern DOOM-POP into the mix.

IRATA always seem to be thinking five steps ahead when delivering the heaviest and sludgiest sounds on this part of the album with tracks Mirrors, Slipped and Daystar bringing a more focused and cerebral style of music which retains that classic IRATA energy. The record manages to convey that classic IRATA sound with outbursts of bleak sounding Sludge/Stoner Metal with melodic Psychedelic grooves being delivered from the highest point of MOUNT AMPLIFIED DISTORTION.

IRATA ends the record in the most perfect and complete way. You feel highly satisfied by the whole experience as Human actually feels like a record that has a beginning, middle and end. The musical performances from Jason, Jon and Owen are first rate, which is perhaps their best recorded musical performance to date. The production values are of the chart with Human being expertly produced with some eye-catching aggressive sounds being played from the speakers throughout.

Human is an outstanding album on all levels which IRATA should rightly be proud of. This is perhaps my favourite album from IRATA. It may not be as riff-centric as Tower but there’s a lot more progression and musical variety that allows the band to play some intense grooves we haven’t heard from them before which is perhaps the greatest thing you can take away from this record.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.

Human is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Records Co.

Links 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Green Desert Water - Eerie Meadows (Album Review)

Release Date: June 19th 2026. Record Label: Small Stone Co Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Eerie Meadows - Tracklisting

1. Northern Lights - 6:08

2. The Blacksmith - 3:51

3. Eerie Meadows - 5:42

4. Woodcutter - 4:07

5. Holy Ground - 5:27

6. Wolfhound - 3:38

7. Bos Primigenius - 3:31

8. Meteora - 5:28

Members

 

Juan Arias García: bass guitar

Dani Barcena: drums and percussion

Kike Sanchís: guitars and vocals

Review

Heavy Psych Rockers Green Desert Water with Eerie Meadows which is their first album in five years. The band have a fresher and highly energetic sound compared to their last album Black Harvest which sees the band lean quite heavily into the Nineties Grunge and Stoner Rock scene without compromising their Seventies Heavy Rock vision. With flashes of KYUSS and PEARL JAM inspired melodies set against the classic rock scene, Green Desert Water add elements of Thin Lizzy, The Who, Cactus and Led Zepp into their music.

The vocals from Kike Sanchis are quite grounded, gritty and that’s held by a highly melodic approach. The songs are expertly paced throughout with the band not wasting a single second on flashy gimmicks of progressive themes which gives this album a true Hard Rock approach. There is a heavy Doom Rock essence that comes into play that fans of The Sword will truly appreciate especially on the outstanding title track of Eerie Meadows.

The song is quite gloomy with a deeply Doomed Out approach appearing within the music and Kike’s vocals being more Proto-Doom obsessed. However, before that great track, Green Desert Water open up with the opening tracks of Northern Lights and The Blacksmith sees Classic Hard Rock, Psych Rock and Stoner Rock grooves combining for a damn good time with superbly written musical structures and sublime lyrics making this one of the strongest openings to an album you can possibly experience.

Though, Eerie Meadows changes the creative landscape for the band as they lean quite heavily into the Doom Rock/Metal side of life which breathes a new level of heaviness for the album. The guitars are perfectly timed with the epic rhythm section having a fine ear for detail. Green Desert Water adds seedy levels of Fuzz, Psych and Grunge which develops into some of the most interesting sounds on the whole album.

From this moment on Green Desert Water are ON FIRE by developing their music even further into a sandstorm of fuzzy melodies, gritty vocals and extended musical passages with layers of Fuzz Rock allowing the band to put those AMPS all the way past ELEVEN. There seems to be a sense of trouble brewing behind the scenes as the album becomes ever more rebellious on tracks such as Woodcutter, Holy Ground, Wolfhound and Meteora.

Eerie Meadows lasts for around thirty seven minutes in length and even though I wish there was another song to push this past the forty minute mark, it’s still an action packed record full of superbly observed moments that allows Green Desert Water to establish themselves once more as one of the premier Power Trio’s the Stoner Rock scene currently has right now.

Production values are another highlight with Green Desert Water never sounding better and perhaps finding their true sound with an intense musical performance that’s their most mature record to date. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.

Eerie Meadows is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Co Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Miss Lava - Under A Black Sun (Album Review)

Release Date: April 25th 2025. Record Label: Small Stone Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl.

Under A Black Sun - Tracklisting

1.Dark Tomb Nebula

2.Neon Gods

3.Evil Eye of a Witch

4.Chaos Strain

5.Woe Warrior

6.The Bends

7.Fear in Overdrive

8.I drown

9.Blue Sky On Mars (Bonus Track)

10.Elara

11.Under a Black Sun 

Members:

Johnny Lee - Vocals

K. Raffah - Guitars

P. Gonçalves - Drums

Ricardo Ferreira - Bass

Review

Psych Stoner Rockers Miss Lava return after a four year absence with their epic and spellbinding new album Under A Black Sun where the band have gone under a massive creative and sonic transformation. I thought their 2021 album Doom Machine is where the band changed for the better but I was wrong as Under A Black Sun is where perhaps Miss Lava aims for true greatness. 

Their new album has a grittier Post-Doom attitude with moments of Fuzz, Psych, Shoegaze, Stoner and Sludge based surroundings. The sound of the record is bounded by a Scorched Desert Rock and Apocalyptic based attitude which is delivered superbly through the crux of the album’s earliest tracks such as Dark Tomb Nebula, Neon Gods and Evil Eye Of An Witch. 

The vocals from Johnny Lee have an eerie and subtle tone to them with a heartfelt presence being delivered that was first heard on Doom Machine. The music feels inspired by the likes of KING BUFFALO, ELDER and KYUSS but with a melodic and harmonious SHOEGAZE style which does move into DOOMGAZE waters on the more COSMIC based passages that MIss Lava project into the mix.

With a grizzled Cosmic / Space Rock environment being created for the band to play extended instrumental movements upon, Under A Black Sun is brilliantly melodic and quite daring when the mood calls for this.

Miss Lava project a hallucinogenic and mind-expanding experience which darkens the Psychedelic / Cosmic energy which allows the Sludge Rock / Metal sound to be aggressive and dominant without losing the melodic vibes that appear on the other standout tracks such as Woe Warrior, The Bends, Fear In Overdrive, I Drown and Under The Black Sun. This is where Miss Lava draw upon their extensive twenty years experience within the Stoner Rock/Metal scene and create their heaviest and most dynamite based grooves they’ve released to date.

The lyrics are often hopeful and insightful but Miss Lava isn't afraid to add a sense of gloom to the overall message of the album. Though, for the most part Miss Lava takes creative cues from the likes of ALICE IN CHAINS, BLACK SABBATH and SOUNDGARDEN with their lyrics and how they deliver a non-stop style of murky sounding AMPLIFIER based melodies. The production values are perhaps more stripped back to previous albums but a vital modern RAW and PUNK based sound developing that merges with the subtle Sludge/Stoner Metal themes the album ultimately delivers on all levels.

Miss Lava have delivered the goods yet again with an intense and outstanding record that brings a mighty fine and original style of Psych Doom/Stoner Metal that is simply unmissable and truly unforgettable.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo. 

Under A Black Sun Doom will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Recordings from April 25th 2025.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

SHUN - Dismantle (Album Review)

Release Date: July 19th 2024. Record Label: Small Stone Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Dismantle: Tracklisting

1.Blind Eye

2.Aviator

3.Horses

4.Drawing Names

5.Storms

6.NRNS

7.You’re the Sea

8.The Getaway

9.Through the Looking Glass

10.Interstellar

Members

Matt Whitehead: guitar and vocals

Rob Elzey: drums

Jeff Baucom: bass

Additional musicians:

J Robbins: percussion, synths, and guitar

Bo Leslie: guitar

Review

Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers SHUN made a great impression with their acclaimed 2021 self-titled debut album which sees the band explore their Progressive sound onto bigger and greater heights. SHUN are perhaps more confident with the Space Rock and Sludge Rock aspect of their music which is quite apparent with the superb opening track Blind Eye.

Blind Eye has a familiar quality and feel associated with bands such as HUM, CAVE IN and TOOL but more than capable of conjuring up their own great style of Post-Stoner and Post-Grunge attitude that appears with certain parts of the track. The vocals are stunning with Matt Whitehead’s vocals having a classic Stoner Rock attitude which moves into the areas of Doom Rock, Grunge, Psych Rock and Doomgaze with expert delivery. The instrumental passages showcase what is forthcoming for the rest of the album with SHUN never afraid to try different sounds and techniques to what appeared on their debut album.

Second song Aviator has a sludgy movement that blends Anthemic Rock and Commercial Hard Rock at times but the constant reliance on Post-Doom and Space Rock attitudes continuously impresses whatever direction the music takes you upon. If you ever wondered what CAVE IN would sound like but with a more POST-GRUNGE vibe then Aviator is the best way to describe that track. The song is melodic and sonically aggressive at the same time which should give folks the best of both worlds.

Third song Horses takes a more gloomier and distorted sound with Matt’s vocals becoming quite direct at times but this suits into the overall delivery of the song with SHUN blending almost Metallic surroundings with the Progressive Doom/Stoner Metal instrumental parts that gives way to some of the best grooves and moments held within on the album. 

Fourth song Drawing Names using heavy atmospheric Post-Rock sounds which almost cross over into Post-Metal territory whilst firmly remaining within the confinements of the Post-Stoner environments where band such as King Buffalo and Howling Giant that SHUN play on this album whilst still striving to create their own individual sound and ultimately succeeding. The use of Psychedelic and Cosmic effects allows the music to become quite peaceful whilst offering moments of aggressive outbursts of intense music along the way.

SHUN delves into other areas of Doom/Stoner Rock with first rate cinematic storytelling appearing within tracks such as Storms, You’re The Sea, Through The Looking Glass and Insterstellar being the other standout parts of the album. SHUN offer that fantastic and haunting Post-Rock score within the later stages of the record which allows them to inject sublime Synths which brings a more adventurous flavour to their dominant style of Stoner Rock/Metal. You can hear echoes of bands such as DEFTONES starting to appear which shows you why SHUN aren’t your average Doom/Stoner Metal band.

Dismantle is an epic sounding album which is backed up by first rate production values that will see SHUN to continue to gain further recognition, prominence and momentum within the Doom/Stoner Metal scenes to promote their brilliant music. 

Simply Unmissable. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.

Dismantle will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Recordings from Friday July 19th 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Linktree

Robots Of The Ancient World - 3737 (Album Review)

Release Date: 17th November 2023. Record Label: Small Stone Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

3737 - Tracklisting

1.Hindu Kush 04:49 

2.Creature 06:14

3.Holy Ghost 06:06

4.Moustache 07:13

5.Apollo 02:26

6.Silver Cloud 10:48

Members

Caleb Weidenbach: vocals

Nico Schmutz: guitar

Justin Laubscher: guitar

Trevor Berecek: bass

Harry Silvers: drums

Review

3737 is the new album from Psych Stoner Rockers Robots Of The Ancient World which sees the band team up with legendary engineer Billy Anderson for an album that’s more rock and roll orientated compared to their previous albums. This album also has a more sense of high voltage fun against their trademark Psychedelic and Groove laden sound. Comparisons to Monster Magnet are always inevitable with the ferocious sounds of the opening track Hindu Kush that would make the legendary rockers themselves blush with envy. 

Hindu Kush has a Punk Rock spirit with a dominant Heavy Rock/Metal edge with Caleb’s vocals being quite direct. The song has a Grunge/Fuzz Rock attitude within the heavier moments of the track which allows Robots Of The Ancient World to play some wicked sounding classic hard rock guitar solos which is straight from the 1980’s with epic showmanship from everyone concerned. 

Second song Creature opens slowly with a mellow sludgy guitar before moving into a Doom/Fuzz environment. Caleb’s vocals once again keep with the song moving forward with the pulsating Heavy Psychedelic sounds being more aggressive. The little flashes of Spaced Out Stoner Rock is quite straightforward but the song allows the band to play some heavy muscular instrumental jams that become more substantial before the song ends.

Third song Holy Ghost has a more vintage quality to the song which is very reminiscent of the 1990’s Stoner Rock/Metal scene with moments of Heavy Psychedelic grooves and WEEDIAN haze that also sees Robots Of The Ancient World offer a subtle classic Fuzz Rock attitude that is quite aggressive when the mood calls for it.

The band show moments of more Prog Rock melodies and certain classic rock structures within the excellent fourth track Moustache. The song does have moments of Post-Rock qualities with the gloomy atmospherics starting to merge into heavier Desert/Fuzz Rock movements. This is perhaps the one of the standout tracks with the band becoming more focused on delivering a wicked style of Post-Stoner energy. The instrumental work is superb with the heavy FUZZ guitars moving into areas of Heavy Psych and Classic Hard Rock which becomes more effective within the heavier moments of the track.

Fifth track Apollo is a cool instrumental track with a solitary guitar and flashes of soundbytes lurking in the background.

The final track Silver Cloud is a ten minute plus track which sees Robots Of The Ancient World explore the whole creative sphere of the Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal sound they delivered with thr previous tracks with a more central Progressive theme. Everyone gets a chance to shine on this track with excellent lyrics combining for a classic style of Heavy Psychedelic grooves which closes 3737 on a mighty high.

3737 is perhaps Robot Of The Ancient World’s most impressive and superbly entertaining record to date. With first rate production values, 3737 delivers on all fronts and still leaves you wanting to hear more. This is a stunning album which shows what Robots Of The Ancient World are truly capable of.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

SHUN = S/T (Album Review)

 

Release Date: June 04th 2021. Record Label: Small Stone Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

SHUN - S/T - Tracklisting

1.Run

2.Sleepwalking

3.At Most

4.Machina

5.Undone

6.Near Enemy

7.A Wooden House

8.Heese

9.Once Again

Members

Jeff Baucom: bass

Matt Whitehead: vocals and guitar

Rob Elzey: drums

Scott Brandon: guitar and vocals

Additional musicians:

Mark Morton: guitar solo on "Heese"

J Robbins: various percussion

Review

SHUN is a band made up of 4 highly talented musicians who share their love and passion for all things Hard Rock on their debut full length album. SHUN's debut album features 9 tracks of Hard Rock/Stoner Metal grooves with the band bringing in elements of Psych Rock, Alt Rock and Noise Rock with a gloomy Psychedelic Doom based vibe.

The album impresses from the excellent opening few tracks with SHUN bringing a Psychedelic Doom flavour to the mix with opening song Run. A song that sees SHUN start with quite an enthusiastic approach to the Doom/Stoner Metal genres with a Space Rock sound that moves effortlessly into Prog Rock territory.

The 1st song Run does give you a great indication of the type of musical journey the album will take the listener upon within the 9 songs held on the album. Though, SHUN allow themselves the chance to play fast and loose with genre conventions on different parts of the album with songs such as Sleepwalking and At Most bringing TOOL based Prog Rock theatrics to a leaner style of Doom/Stoner Metal. 

The vocals from Matt and Scott are constantly engaging and evolving with each song on the album but it’s the music that impresses the most with SHUN bringing a modern Alternative approach to how the music is played and delivered to the listener.

I’ve seen these guys compared to TOOL, HUM and LO-PAN in various articles and press releases and there is a shade of truth to that statement. However, SHUN really do prove they can stand their own creative ground especially on the later stages of the album with songs such as: Undone, Near Enemy, Heese and Once Again featuring some of the heaviest and most spaced out parts of the album.

To the casual observer, SHUN’s debut album may not offer anything new or exciting to entice them with but look a bit deeper and you will be surprised with an album that’s quite inventive and a little bit different from the usual Stoner Rock/Metal albums currently being released. 

The album is a BIG ADVENTURE and takes the listener on an EXCITING JOURNEY within the vastness of Progressive Rock and Stoner Metal. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo. SHUN will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Recordings from June 04th 2021.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

An Interview With MISS LAVA

Portugal's Premier Stoner Rock/Metal Band - MISS LAVA - will be releasing their stunning new album DOOM MACHINE on January 15th via Small Stone Recordings and Kozmik Artifactz.

This will be the bands 4th album and sees the band playing a more personal style of music compared to their previous records. The band went through some tough times before making this album and you can feel that when listening to the album.  You can read my review here: 

I wanted to interview MISS LAVA for a very long time and I finally had the chance to speak to Johnny (Vocals) and Raffah (Guitars) about the making of the album and the evolution of the band itself.

Read on for a cool interview from a truly great band.

Hi Miss Lava. Thanks for doing this interview. How are things with you today.

Johnny - We’re doing fine amidst all of this, thanks. Everyone’s healthy and still has their jobs.

For people not in the know. Can you give a brief history of how the band came together and where it is today.

Johnny - I guess you can call us a heavy rock stoner outfit from Lisbon, Portugal. We started in 2005, just jamming and making songs. Then, from 2007 onwards we just played as many shows as we could. Since then, we’ve been at festivals like Desert Fest London, Stoned From The Underground, Ressurrection Fest, Stonefest, Moledo, Super Bock Super Rock, Rock In Rio Lisboa, Reverence Valada, Vagos Open Air, Barroselas Metal Fest and Faro Bike Meeting. 

In addition to having travelled to play an exclusive one-off at the legendary Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles, we have shared stages with Queens Of The Stone Age, Graveyard, Ufomammut, Greenleaf, W.A.S.P., Kyuss Lives!, Fu Manchu, Valient Thorr, Entombed, Truckfighters, and many more.

Right now, we’re set to release our new record Doom Machine on January 15th 2021. It is the successor to Dominant Rush EP (2017), Sonic Debris (2016), Red Supergiant (2013), and Blues For The Dangerous Miles (2009), as well as a limited edition self-titled blood red vinyl EP (2008).

The band have gone slightly heavier for this record especially compared to the last record. Was that the original idea and intent for this record

.
Raffah - It’s funny you mention that, I have many friends who say we did the opposite! But what I can say is that it was not intended. Before we start making this record, we talked about doing things in a different manner. We were promoting our previous record and each one of us had babies coming up in different times, so we were always on and off rehearsals in periods of time. So, Ricardo came up with idea of just going in rehearsal and start jamming whatever we felt like. We recorded lots of jams. Nothing was subject to “we need to do this type of thing” or that… it was just what our hearts needed to put out.

I guess the jams that we liked the most turned to be the music that is on the record. It was like a natural selection of sorts – some stuff evolved into songs, some did not. And when it came to lay it down in the studio, we decided to record it live. We had never done this before. And it was great. We used our own gear and just banged it out like we do in a rehearsal or a show. I guess all of this creates the overall vibe for the record.

The PR blurb that I received for the album advised that “The record is loosely focused on the tragic death of guitarist K. Raffah’s baby son and the other members’ children born during the creative process.” Rafa – Firstly, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your son. I hope you and your family are doing well. How was the overall experience for you when recording the album for yourself personally. Was this the hardest record you’ve ever been involved with.

Raffah - Thanks for your words Steve. We must say that we are doing very well. I am fortunate to have the strongest woman by my side and three awesome girls, Antonio’s sisters. It is very difficult to talk about it, of course, but very therapeutic as well. The experience of recording the album was actually gratifying and very light. I guess that, for me, it was a homage to my son. And when I feel him, I feel warmth and love. I channelled him as much as I could during the process. And now, when I hear the record I honestly can hear and feel him each time. And this feels so good to me. But this was the experience of recording the album.

Making the album was different. Garcia had been a dad again right after Sonic Debris came out (my beautiful god-daughter Carolina). Besides the shows, his time was more limited during that period. Johnny started travelling more and more to Africa for his creative work. So whenever we could get together, we would jam and jam but with no specific goal in mind. Then Antonio was born and he was in the hospital for a month and a half. In the next month, Ricardo’s second baby girl was born in the same hospital as Antonio.

It was great and awkward at the same time being in the hospital at 11pm with Antonio and Ricardo going in with his girlfriend to have a beautiful healthy baby girl. We texted and got together for a coffee at the hospital while he waited. And then I went back to my kid. Two days after they were out of the hospital. And we were still there. Anyway, when he died, as anyone can imagine, it was shocking to everyone around us. Me and my family… we just had to take our time, center on ourselves and forget the world. Then, there was a time, I can’t recall exactly when, when I felt the need to be with them in the rehearsal room and create music together. It all felt natural. 

We got back to some of the jams we had developed earlier, we invented new stuff and then sometime in the beginning of 2019 we felt it was time to record. Going to back to the process of recording the album – we went for something new, recording the instrumental parts live, we me, Garcia and Ricardo in the same room.

What a vibe. Just like when we jammed at rehearsals and when we jam live. I believe that, in the production of this record, I have the best memories from any of our records. As for the other guys, I can’t imagine the impact it all had and still has on their relation with the record.

They were all there in his last days at the hospital with me. They were all there when we buried him. These experiences are so complex and so intense that I can’t even understand them still or make any sense on how it reflects on our relationship or their relationship with me and the band.

For the other members – Your experience was perhaps quite different to Rafa’s. What did you all experience from this making his album.

Johnny - It’s not easy for me to talk about it, but looking back, for me it was the ultimate proof that love is the most important thing in life and it is what makes us Human. The way Raffah’s family carry Antonio on their hearts humbles me everyday, and still makes me try to value the good things in life. And with that in mind, the lyrics on Doom Machine are in a way to remind us what we’re doing with our lives.

The new album – DOOM MACHINE – is perhaps you best album to date. Well in my humble opinion. Why did you call the album DOOM MACHINE and what can people expect from the record compared to your previous releases.

Johnny – Wow, thanks! We decided to call it Doom Machine because I think we’re all part of a big machine of self-destruction, where hate, ego, greed and profit are the main fuel for that engine. I know it’s a cliché but I think we all know where we’re heading. We’re still making the same choices and the same mistakes and our planet and our humanity are threatened like never before. We’re out of control, we’re driving ourselves at full speed to our doomsday or to end life as we know it.

Comparing this record with the previous releases, I think is a more mature album, with more diversity. All songs are very different.

We explore new song structures, we add some interludes, that allows us to breathe and relax between some intense songs and because we recorded it live, it has a different vibe and reflects more accurately what we are as a Live band.

I ultimately enjoyed the new aspects of music you’ve written for this album. It’s heavier which I’ve said earlier but it’s more soulful and quite progressive in places. Did you want to try something different for your 4th album.

Raffah - We always set out to try something different in each record. This time around it was the jamming process for the creation of the songs. In that type of approach, we try not to have any borders or to pre-conceive any structure. I guess we were able to channel a more raw and dense emotional realm this time. Not only because of everything that happened in our lives but also because of the jamming process. That’s where I think the “more soulful and quite progressive” comes from. The music naturally developed that way in the jams.

Has it surprised you the amount of praise your music has received from the Doom/Stoner Rock community. Or do you not take much notice of things like that.

Raffah - It is great to feel like we’re part of the community in the first place. Then, it is obviously very rewarding when we release an album, read a review and think “wow, this journalist really understood what we’re doing here”. But it really really feels great when we play a live show and people come to talk to us, drink a beer and talk about music or life in general. We have made many friends on the road. And this is the best thing in being part of the community.

What comes first for you when recording new music. Lyrics or Music.

Johnny - Usually Music. But there are songs in which the opposite happened, such as “I’m the asteroid” on Sonic Debris.

You’ve signed to Small Stone Recordings for this album again. How did you hook-up with that great label.

Johnny - I believe they’re always with their antennas on wherever you are in the world. We released our first record and sent it them. I believe they started following us at that time. When we put out “Red Supergiant” (it came out first through Raging Planet Records in Portugal) they wrote to us saying they’d like to put it out with a new mix and master. And we started our relationship there.

Now you have KOZMIK ARTIFACTZ handling Vinyl Duties. Same question again. How did this collaboration came about.

Johnny - The collaboration came together between labels. They seem to make a good team and it will be great to have an European support from a label that is very into the stoner scene and that values the record as a work of art.

The album cover for the upcoming new album is excellent. Who designed the cover and how much input did you have into the overall design of the cover.

Raffah - http://josemendes.me/ has designed our cover art since the first EP! He’s a very dear friend and I believe he is like our fifth element when we finish our recording process. We talk about the concept of the album, what our creative process was like and he interprets everything through his unique approach. I won’t get into specifics, but I can see the rise of a doom machine and its’ overwhelming transformation when I look at the cover. His first inspiration came from the French artist Philippe Caza. And then I think that all those colours and overall movement really represent the energy of the record. 

You guys are from Lisbon, Portugal. Before COVID-19 hit. What was the local scene like for you guys. Was it easy to get gigs and on a regular basis.

Raffah - There are some clubs around Lisbon where we can play on a more regular basis. But many of the clubs that welcome our style had been closing even before COVID. In the last years, we have been playing mainly small local festivals around the country. Let’s see how we all come back after this. Right now, the club owners are some of the people who have been hit the most hard. Many won’t open their establishments again.

Can you advise any other great bands to checkout from your home-town that our readers may not be aware of.

Johnny - You must check out The Quartet of Woah!, Dollar Llama and Earth Drive from Lisbon. And Black Bombaim and The Black Wizards from the north of Portugal.

COVID-19 has pretty much put a stop to all life as we know it for the time being. How big of an impact has it affected Miss Lava. And how are you surviving in this stressful time.

Johnny - When COVID hit, we were in the process of mixing and mastering the album. We had a few festival dates lined up and that was it. Everything was postponed or cancelled. Right now, we can’t plan a tour to support the record, for instance. The record was supposed to come out in 2020 but it was pushed forward to 2021… we haven’t been rehearsing as there are more bands that use our space.

After everything is back to some sort of normality. What does the future hold for the band Will you be touring the record in the future.

Raffah - We sure hope so! There are no plans for it right now. We have been getting solicitations to play at different festivals, so let’s see how it goes. We love playing live and these songs will take our shows to the next level.

The band has shared stages with Queens Of The Stone Age, Graveyard, Ufomammut, Greenleaf, W.A.S.P., Kyuss Lives!, Fu Manchu, Valient Thorr, Entombed, Truckfighters, and many more. What have been your favourite bands/artists to share the stages with and the reasons why.

Raffah - To me, the most surprising was definitely Slash. When we opened up for his solo band, he talked to us and let us be on stage while they were sound checking. A legend. Opposite to WASP, whose guitarist thinks he rules the world and kicks out bands from their own backstage. Or maybe he thinks he’s still in the 80’s or something.

Johnny - For me the favourite was when we share the stage with Queens Of The Stone Age. It was such an important gig for us and Josh was surprisingly friendly, a true giant of modesty.

What have been your favourite records that you’ve heard this year. Regardless of genre.

Raffah - I like the recent King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Loved discovering Murcielago’s “Casualties”. And the new AC/DC has been playing a lot in my car. Outside from rock, I recommend “Night Dreamer Direct-To-Disc Sessions” by Seu Jorge and Rogê, Brazillian artists from my home-town Rio de Janeiro. The best thing I heard this year. (Rafa)

Johnny - I’ve been listening to the new albums of thrash bands like Death Angel, Acid Reign, Armoured Saint (I love John Bush singing style); Dool; Katatonia; All Them Witches, the new Zeal and Ardor EP and still listening a lot Voivod’s Last Masterpiece “the Wake”. Listening also a lot of kid’s music with my baby girl .

Thanks for doing this interview. Before you go, do you have any words of wisdom that you want to say to your fans.

Raffah - If you like a band, support them on BandCamp and write them. Get in touch. As there are no shows, we really feel the need to be connected with people again.

Words by Steve Howe and MISS LAVA

Thanks to MISS LAVA for doing this interview. Much appreciated guys.

Doom Machine will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Recordings and Kozmik Artifactz from January 15th 2021. 

Links: 

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