Hibernaut / Face Pulp Split (Album Review)

Release Date: February 27th 2026. Record Label: What’s Left Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl/Tape

Hibernaut / Face Pulp - Tracklisting

Hibernaut - Mark of Shame 

Hibernaut - Intermundium

Hibernaut - Tongueless

Hibernaut - Bastardized Cultivation

Face Pulp - Ups and Downs and Crap

Face Pulp - Dicks, Pins, and Needles

Face Pulp - The One You Forgot 

Face Pulp - I'll Need Proof of Humanity

Face Pulp - Stereotypical Paths

Face Pulp Members

Steve - Vocals

MT - Guitar

Landyn - Bass

Randy - Drums

Hibernaut Members

Dave Jones - Guitar, Vocals

Zach Hatsis - Drums

Josh Dupree - Bass

Matt Miller - Lead Guitar

Review

This split album featuring Doom/Stoner/Sludge Metallers HIBERNAUT and Grindcore/Punk/Sludge Metallers FACE PULP is an interesting record with both bands coming from different musical backgrounds though they compliment each other very well. I consider myself a fan of Hibernaut but Face Pulp are an entirely new band for me as I’m not really into the whole Grindcore scene now.

Hibernaut offer the “SLUDGE METAL / STONER METAL” side of the record taking influence from the likes of SLEEP, HIGH ON FIRE, MASTODON and NEUROSIS. Their side of the album is spread across four tracks running around twenty three minutes of great music. The band play to their strengths with stripped back production values that gives a raw sludgy atmosphere developing from the opening track Mark Of Shame which does have an early “NEUROSIS” influence especially with the vocals and how the music is aggressively played.

This style of sound is the dominant style of music that Hibernaut superbly delivers throughout their entire set with mighty slabs of Prog Metal forming within the standout tracks of Interundium and Bastardized Civilization. The band have written some pretty hard-hitting lyrics for this record especially when compared to their previous albums. Hibernaut take creative cues from HIGH ON FIRE and MASTODON especially when the music changes into a heavier THRASH style with echoes of THUGGISH Stoner Metal grooves finally showing up. 

The band do experiment with their music by adding some cool sounding organs into the mix within Interunidum. The record changes into a Occult Doom Metal record for one of the best parts of Hibernaut’s set. Hibernaut once again prove what a great band they truly are with a highly unapologetic performance that leaves you wanting more. 

As I stated previously, I haven’t listened to Face Pulp before and this is my first experience with them but truth be told, these guys are FUCKING AWESOME. I loved their side of the record so much. Face Pulp provides five tracks and within true Grind/Death/Hardcore Punk fashion, their side only lasts thirteen minutes. 

Their style of Grind, Death. Sludge, and Hardcore Punk equals PURE FUCKING CARNAGE and VIOLENT BRUTALITY. There’s also some great rhythms and rocking melodies along the way especially on their tracks “Ups And Downs And Craps”, The One You Forgot and I’ll Need Proof Of Humanity.

Face Pulp live upto their “GRIND” and “DEATH METAL” influences in a huge way with big and brutal slamming riffs from the very start. Their music is the very definition of “MOSH PIT MUSIC”. As you can feel the intensity of their music being played at a very fast pace. It left me breathless at times. However, Face Pulp does slow the mood right down for a wicked Sludge Metal sound to fully emerge and take control in small doses.

Once Face Pulp’s set had finished, I needed a brief rest to collect my thoughts and question what I just listened to. I mean that as a huge complement. The production values are solid with Face Pulp having a raw aesthetic and violent energy that perfectly matches Hibernaut’s side of the split.

This is a great album featuring two amazing bands from different sides of the musical spectrum that should expand their fan base even more. And what’s most important for me is that I’ve become a fan of Face Pulp because of this outstanding album. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.

Hibernaut / Face Pulp Split Album is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl/Tape via What's Left Records via the links below:

Face Pulp BandCamp Page / Hibernaut BandCamp Page

Hibernaut Links:

Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Linktree

Face Pulp Links:

Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify

Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 featuring Eagle Twin & The Otolith (Album Review)

Release Date: September 20th 2024. Record Label: Desert Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 featuring Eagle Twin & The Otolith - Track Listing:

1. Eagle Twin - Horn Vs. Halo 11:39 video

2. Eagle Twin - Qasida of The Dark Doves 08:28

3. The Otolith - Crossway 08:53

4. The Otolith - Phosphene Dream 10:49

Review

Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 is the next exciting installment from Desert Records series of joint albums this time featuring Eagle Twin & The Otolith. This chapter sees both bands bring their own stylish and acclaimed take of Drone, Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal that’s quite different to each other. Both sets of tracks from each band lasts around twenty minutes with Eagle Twin being up first with their two tracks of Horn VS Halo and Qasida Of The Dark Doves.

Eagle Twin have been playing their down-tuned slice of Droned Out Americana since 2007 across acclaimed multiple releases and this sees the band get straight down to business of laying down pulsating progressive leaning Droned Out Fuzzed Up Sounds with their gruff trademark vocals to match. 

Their two tracks are the heaviest of the split and personally my favourite part of the album. As it has a heavy sludgy monolithic beat throughout both tracks where the music is vividly melodic with the down-tuned aggressive pastures that results in heavy destructive grooves with quite an organic delivery as well. 

The Psychedelic Fuzzy Instrumental passages have a more dramatic Post-Metal sound compared to their previous releases but it’s the grizzled and gruffy vocals that is quintessential Eagle Twin territory and overlapping instrumental passages with a mighty air of distorted progressive metal holding everything together.

I have to admit that Qasida Of The Dark Doves has a more straightforward riff-centric style from Eagle Twin for the most part and I loved the screeching guitars that has similar themes to bands such as The Melvins and Mastodon in places but this is still classic EAGLE TWIN through and through.

Up next is The Otolith and they are more than capable for the challenge by delivering their own sublime tracks of Atmospheric Doom/Stoner Metal based folklore which has a more experimental delivery compared to Eagle Twin. I was blown away by their 2022 debut album Folium Limina and their two offerings of Crossway and Phosphene Dream carries on with a similar vivid sound with more emphasis on the folkier aspects of their lyrics with a brilliantly intense vocal performance from everyone involved.

The interplay between the sludgy instrumental sounds and traditional instruments such as Violin and Piano is a joy to behold that appears within Crossway leaving me quite dumbfounded once again at how spectacularly heavy The Otolith can be whilst bringing a Classical Music element to their overall sound. There are echoes of Drone and Ambient delivery within the hidden Post-Rock flow which allows their music to have a more dramatic and progressive feeling compared to Eagle Twin.

Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 is going from strength-to-strength with each passing release but this is perhaps their heaviest and finest release to date with two bands at the top of their creative powers. This is forty one minutes of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal perfection which showcases two highly different bands to each other but delivering a split record of the highest order. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo.

Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Desert Records.

Eagle Twin Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

The Otolith Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

ISAAK // GEEZER - Interstellar Cosmic Blues & The Riffalicious Stoner Dudes (Album Review)

Release Date: May 03rd 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

ISAAK // GEEZER - Interstellar Cosmic Blues & The Riffalicious Stoner Dudes - Tracklisting

1.Acid Veins (Geezer)

2.Little Voices (Geezer)

3.Mercury Rising (Geezer)

4.Oneirophrenia (Geezer)

5.The Whale (Isaak)

6.Crisis (Isaak)

7.Flat Earth (Isaak)

Review

Famed Heavy Rock Label Heavy Psych Sounds presents their latest split album release featuring two of their finest Cosmic Stoner Rock bands teaming up on a highly irresistible release featuring Cosmic Blues Rock Overlords GEEZER and Psychedelic Stoner Riffsters ISAAK. These two greats of the Stoner Rock scene bring their own trademark blend of Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal which are quite different to each other but both having the same purpose of providing the listener with a wicked style of highly energetic grooves and extended spaced out jams.

GEEZER provide four tracks of cosmic riffage which sees the band expand upon their Blues Rock and Cosmic dominated style with a freaky sideline within Seventies Space Rock aggression merging with a modern day Sludge Rock take on things appearing within Acid Veins and Little Voices being perhaps the standout tracks from GEEZER’s side of the split.

It’s good seeing GEEZER turning back the clock and venturing into sounds we’ve haven’t heard since their earlier album releases. There’s a ton of guitar reverb and fuzzed up feedback on GEEZER’s tracks which makes for some killer seedy instrumental sounds with Pat’s “Devil May Care” attitude and catchy vocals making a stirring impression on the final two tracks of Mercury Rising and Oneirophrenia. Plus with the added bonus of glitchy noises and a healthy overdose of SONIC feedback that sees GEEZER leaving you wanting to hear more from them on this release alone.

ISAAK’s side of the split release sees the band continue the experimental Stoner Metal sound heard on their last album HEY but with some familiar themes and creative ideas heard on their groundbreaking 2016 album Sermonize. The music is more fast-paced which you’ll encounter on The Whale with its Fuzzed Up Metallic attitude with a ton of Psychedelic aggression.

ISAAK keep going with that free-flowing Sludge/Stoner aggressive turn on the remaining two tracks of Crisis and Flat Earth with the band bringing a different theme to each track with the music constantly changing into something you don’t expect. ISAAK feel like a different band compared to HEY at times and that could be down to the creative partners or guest musicians who appear within their songs that are listed below:

Fabio Cuomo from Gotho & Liquido di Morte - THE WHALE

Fabio Palombi from Nerve & Burn the Ocean - CRISIS

Levre from Ufomammut - FLAT EARTH

My favourite track from ISAAK side of the split is FLAT EARTH as it feels like UFOMAMMUT in places especially within the Heavier Sludge movements that appear. This track also allows ISAAK to do their own thing at the same time. Though, Crisis is a track that could have easily come from their landmark album Sermonize but the harsh vocals give it a more unsettling appeal as well. So there’s something for everyone to enjoy, respect and admire from ISAAK’s music on this release alone.

Interstellar Cosmic Blues & The Riffalicious Stoner Dudes is a first rate collaboration from two of Heavy Psych Sounds roster of Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal outfits. This is a must have addition to all fans of GEEZER, ISAAK, Heavy Psych Sounds and Stoner Metal music in general.

As Pat from GEEZER would say - “You Dig” - and I most definitely do. Fantastic stuff…

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Interstellar Cosmic Blues & The Riffalicious Stoner Dudes will be available to pre-order on CD/DD/Vinyl now from Heavy Psych Sounds from Friday May 17th 2024.

Geezer Links

Facebook | BandCamp | instagram

ISAAK Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

High Desert Queen & Blue Heron - Turned To Stone Chapter 8: The Wake (Album Review)

Release Date: May 20th 2023. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Turned To Stone Chapter 8: The Wake: Tracklisting

High Desert Queen - Black Moon

High Desert Queen - Drift Into The Sun

HIgh Desert Queen - Roll The Dice

Blue Heron - Able Baker

Blue Heron - Day Of The Comet

Blue Heron - Superposition

Review:

Turned To Stone Chapter 8: The Wake is the new split album being released on Ripple Music but this time featuring Stoner Metallers High Desert Queen and Blue Heron with both bands offering around fifteen minutes of new music. There's something for everyone here if you've never heard of these two great bands. 

High Desert Queen play a more aggressive style of music compared to their celebrated debut album though fans of that album will still be superbly entertained with the three tracks contained here with Black Moon and Roll The Dice being the standout moments of their side of this split release. Heavy Psychedelic guitars with a twinge of Thrash and Doom being the most heaviest aspects of the track. Ryan's vocals are undeniable and passionate as ever with his vocals taking a more heartfelt Classic Rock approach on Black Moon. 

High Desert Queen's batch of songs are always melodic and highly atmospheric but I admired their style they adopted on the second track Drift Into The Sun. As the song opts for an Alt Rock and Spaced Out feeling with twinges of haunting Post-Rock/Blues Rock sounds appearing. There's also excellent backup vocals from Morgan who continues that cool style on the final song of Roll The Dice. That song also has some killer Thin Lizzy inspired classic guitar action that allow High Desert Queen to end their set with style and conviction.

Blue Heron offers a more Fuzzed Up and metallic blend of Doom/Stoner grooves across three tracks called: Able Baker, Day Of The Comet and Superposition. Taking the similar sounds where their acclaimed debut album ended, Blue Heron went straight for Stoner Metal overdrive with their style of music. Opening song Able Baker takes a more Fuzzier approach with a mixture of clean/harsh vocals telling an intriguing story with the bombastic and slightly sludgy grooves written for this track. Perhaps a more ferocious style of music compared to High Desert Queen but the contrast works superbly well. Fans of KYUSS, Monster Magnet and Fu Manchu should check out this song for the action alone.

The other two tracks of Day Of The Comet and Superposition feel like they could have come from their debut album with similar melodies and vocal structures contained throughout both tracks. Though, there is a subtle Grungier attitude appearing on Day Of The Comet with the band's heaviest and most interesting creative sounds heard on this track alone. The gruff based vocals have a slight Blues Rock twang but all add up to a HARD ROCKING great time with Blue Heron going into Stoner Metal guitars excess on the later stages of Day Of The Comet. This part can be quite flashy in places but it's hard not to be impressed by it all.

Blue Heron continues that style of music with Superposition but with a slightly more relaxed atmosphere being used to deliver the melodic sounds.

Turned To Stone Chapter 8: The Wake is another stellar chapter within this groundbreaking and acclaimed series from Ripple Music. With this being a Ripple Music release, you know this oozes QUALITY throughout. Everything sounds superb and you can understand why this release is building up such a great BUZZ within the underground Stoner Metal scene. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Turned To Stone Chapter 8: The Wake is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Blue Heron Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

High Desert Queen Links:

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram 

Doom Sessions Vol VII Feat: Endtime // Cosmic Reaper (Album Review)

Release Date: 20th January 2023. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Doom Sessions Vol VII Feat: Endtime // Cosmic Reaper: Tracklisting

ENDTIME - Tunnel Of Life

ENDTIME - Beyond The Black Void

COSMIC REAPER - Sundowner

COSMIC REAPER -  Dead And Loving It

COSMIC REAPER - King Of Kings

Review

Here's the exciting new Doom Sessions chapter from Heavy Psych Sounds featuring Swedish Doom/Sludge Rockers ENDTIME and USA Heavy Psyched Doom Stoner Rockers COSMIC REAPER. Both bands who released acclaimed albums on the ever present Heavy Psych Sounds label. It's good hearing new music from both bands especially from ENDTIME who impressed me greatly with their last release.

ENDTIME offer two songs here running under twelve minutes with Tunnel Of Life and Beyond The Black Void allowing the band to play a different style of Psychedelic Doom Metal compared to their last album which you can hear with Tunnel Of Life. An excellent track that sees ENDTIME bring Heavy Psych Grooves and Gloomy Synths that gives a more "Goblin-esque" feel to their standard Sludge/Stoner Metal sound. The vocals are quite abrasive when they appear but they do hold your attention. Though, it's the music that impresses the most and the bold creative choices ENDTIME makes for this track. Some epic synths and psychedelic beats give ENDTIME a more cerebral outlook with the band still finding time to play epic riffs along the way.

Their second track Beyond The Black Void is a more darker and disturbing affair with glitchy distorted noises having a slight industrial and seedy feel. The distorted vintage doom grooves are essentially what ENDTIME excel at and when the SABBATH inspired AMPLIFIER grooves appear then the music moves from 70's Doom Metal to modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal atmospherics. The Crust Punk inspired vocals add a more classic "HORROR" element to ENDTIME's music but with the music moving cautiously slow, you begin to notice a more progressive and harsher sound that could easily came from their acclaimed debut release. 

Time for Cosmic Reaper to take over with three tracks running around nineteen minutes in length with tracks Sundowner, Dead And Loving It and King Of Kings showcasing how different the band are to ENDTIME but working superbly together for this release. 

Sundowner is a great mix of Cosmic Rock, Psych Rock, Doom Rock, Stoner Rock and Classic Hard Rock which reminds me of Black Sabbath, Monolord, GEEZER and Thin Lizzy. Heavy Stoner Grooves packed with a fantastic Space Rock energy with Cosmic Reaper in fine storytelling mode. As the band have written excellent lyrics to match the sublime gloomy and groovy sounds. There's a high amount of classic hard rock guitar solos that venture off into darker areas of Psych Stoner Rock or perhaps Spaced Out Doom. 

Dead And Loving It is a bleak alternative to Sundowner with Cosmic Reaper playing into the darker reaches of Doom/Stoner Metal with a thunderous creative drive that can be quite punishing to listen to at times. The band are perhaps more BRASH and IN YOUR FACE with this track but it's good to see a different side to the band. The vocals are quite operatic at times but the music is always fully bang on point with echoes of Classic Doom and Proto Metal leading the way. The song can be quite slow in places but Cosmic Reaper knows what they're doing and that's delivering the album's finest track.

King Of Kings is another great track from Cosmic Reaper that matches Classic Doom, Proto Metal and highly atmospheric Stoner Metal with a warped progressive sound. The music is very multi-layered and once again the band take their time bringing the heaviest sounds to the party. The Psychedelic grooves even become slightly creepy and freaky which brings a twinge of Occult Rock to the record. When the band starts bringing a gloom based narrative and progressive vibe to the track, everything becomes more clearer with the music being some of the finest music Cosmic Reaper have written to date. If you dig Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid but with a more Cosmic/Space Rock approach then this track tells you why Cosmic Reaper are highly thought of within the scene.

Doom Sessions Vol VII is a fantastic and thrilling release showcasing not only the two great bands involved but also the wonderful work that Heavy Psych Sounds continue to do within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal underground scene. Though, ENDTIME and COSMIC REAPER deserve the majority of the plaudits here. As they've both written outstanding tracks that will delightfully entertain the Underground Community for some time to come.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage for the promo. 

Doom Sessions Vol VII will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from January 20th 2023.

ENDTIME Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

COSMIC REAPER Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Cardinals Folly & Purification - Possessed In The Ritual Grove (Split Album Review)

Release Date: March 4th 2022. Record Label: Rafchild Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Possessed In The Ritual Grove (Split) - Tracklisting

1.Cardinals Folly - Law And Enlightenment 06:42

2.Cardinals Folly - The Second Seal 03:23

3.Cardinals Folly - Prince Prospero 07:35

4.Purification - 1st John 2:18 (King James Version) 02:59

5.Purification - The Crowning Mercy 06:54

6.Purification - Six Horn Cult Of The Sword 05:07

7.Purification - Adrianople (Suicide Morning) 04:29

Cardinals Folly - Members

Mikko - 4 Strings & Doomed Preaching

Juho - 6 Strings of Nordic Wrath

Joni - Battery & Brutality

Purification - Members

Grand Field Marshall William Purify

Count Darragh. 

The Resurrected Lord Donangato provided moral and spiritual support through these trying days, but does not play on this recording.

Review

Possessed In The Ritual Grove is a split album featuring legendary Finnish Doom Metal Legends Cardinals Folly and rising USA Doom Metallers Purification and it’s an album that perfectly shows what both bands bring to the Doom Metal genre whilst still bringing their own individual sound to the record.

Cardinals Folly offers three tracks running for around 19 minutes in length and Purification with four tracks clocking in at 20 minutes. Cardinals Folly are masters of the European Doom Metal Scene and they’re at their gloomy best with tracks that span the Heavy Metal and Classic Doom atmosphere especially on their opening track Law And Enlightenment.

The opening track is what Cardinals Folly do best by blending vintage sounding Doom Metal with a cool modern Heavy Metal sensibility and with a fast-paced approach. The vocals are OTT but with a menacing style when the heavier growls appear. The clean vocals are excellent with the band offering plenty of terrific guitar work along the way.

The other two songs from Cardinals Folly offer more great gloomy ideas and sounds especially on the stunning second song The Second Seal. The swirling psychedelics are a great touch and this has a Post-Doom flavour with the band playing a more restricted style of music that they’re mostly known for. 

Their final song Prince Prospero is the standout track from the band firing on all DOOM METAL CYLINDERS for an aggressive style of Heavy Metal and Doom Metal that has the right amount of modern day Doom Metal attitude whilst paying respects to the classic grooves and sounds that was laid down over the last 50 years or so. The song is one of the best offerings the band have written in some time. 

Now it’s Purification’s chance to impress listeners with their style of Occult based Doom Metal. I will admit this is my first time listening to the band and I’m mightily impressed. Their music is a mixture of Doom Metal, Occult Metal and NWOBHM that allows the band to be more aggressive in the volume department. 

Their standout tracks for myself personally are The Crowning Mercy and Six Horn Cult Of The Sword. As they are fantastic showcases of what Purification is all about. With both classic and modern day Doom Metal and Heavy Metal riffs matched against hard-hitting lyrics. Their overall sound is quite distorted in places compared to Cardinals Folly and I may have enjoyed their part of the album a little bit more. 

However, this release works so well is down to the bleak surroundings both bands adverse themselves in with their individual sets of songs that allows Possessed In The Ritual Grove to be one of the best split album releases seen in the Doom Metal field for quite some time.

This could end up being considered one of 2022’s Doom Metal Best Split Records Of The Year. It’s a seriously outstanding release that will keep the Legion Of Doom Metal fans happy and excited for a long time to come.

This is true DOOM METAL at its very best. You dig.

Awesome stuff…

Words by Steve Howe

Cardinals Folly Links

Facebook | BandCamp

    

Purification Links

Facebook | BandCamp