Stone Nomads - Empires Of Stone (Album Review)

Release Date: November 21st 2025. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Empires Of Stone - Tracklisting

1.Lost in the Storm 06:03

2.Eyehatesociety 05:24

3.Valley of Souls 01:01

4.Empires of Stone 06:37

5.Mount Aras 05:18

6.Desolate Sands 06:58

7.Death Adder 03:51

8.The Devil Lives in Texas 05:40

Lineup

Jon Cosky - Guitar/Vocals

Jude Sisk - Bass/Vocals

Ben Wozniak - Drums

Review

Doom/Stoner Metallers Stone Nomads return with their triumphant third full length album Empires Of Stone which continues the same creative journey heard on their 2024 EP - Beyond The Gates. I would say the band have moved even further into the Groove, NOLA and Thrash Metal arena especially when you hear the dark and grimy tone of the excellent opening tracks of Lost In The Storm and Eyehatesociety.

The music is brutally dark with some classic shades of Heavy Metal intertwined with their brooding Doom and Stoner Metal framework. Everything is played at a ridiculously fast pace with Stone Nomads adding great musical instrumental solos along the way that screams EIGHTIES HEAVY METAL RIFF-FEST.

Though, expect moments of music inspired by the likes of Thin Lizzy, The Obsessed, Saint Vitus and Motorhead. There’s some sudden flashes of OCCULT METAL imagery appearing with certain sound effects appearing throughout which gives this record a gloomier sound. Stone Nomads impress the most when they venture fully into the NOLA and SWAMPEDELIC sound as a vast Psychedelic awareness appears. 

The vocals from Jon Cosky and Jude SIsk offer a similar contrast to each other but own delivering their great melodic style. With a vast array of different vocal styles that feels inspired by Phil Anselmo the best of time. Stone Nomads have developed into first-rate storytellers by adding some great lyrics into their mix that manages to avoid the usual cliches of Doom and Stoner Metal with some hard-hitting themes being drawn into the mix.

Empires Of Stone may have an aggressive and muscular delivery but Stone Nomads aren’t afraid to show delicate moments of instrumental music with the excellent third track Valley Of Souls being an instrumental number lasting around one minute with a cool sounding semi-acoustic Doomed out track. 

The band return to their usual HEAVY METAL guise with the thundering fourth track Empires Of Stone which combines Post-Doom and Post-Stoner exploration with good old fashioned HEAVY METAL grooves forming at the very heart of the song. There’s a deceptive identity to this song with Stone Nomads showing outbursts of Groove, Thrash and Sludge Metal for one of the catchiest and standout tracks on the album.

Stone Nomads continue their creative journey with even more thrilling and warped moments of Psychedelic insanity merged with heavier instances of Doom, Sludge, Groove and Classic Rock with other standout moments appearing on tracks such as Mount Aras, Desolate Sands and The Devil Lies In Texas. 

The second half of the album proves without a doubt how masterful Stone Nomads have become making first-rate modern day Doom/Stoner Metal sounds of the highest order with great songwriting skills to match. The album offers the perfect balance of classic HEAVY METAL sounds that are matched against a brilliant modern day Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal landscape. 

Yeah, I absolutely adored this record and I can see this only enhancing Stone Nomads reputation even further within the global Doom/Stoner Metal scene. With the power and backing of the mighty Ripple Music behind them, Stone Nomads deserve all the plaudits an rewards hopefully coming their way.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR and Stone Nomads for the promo.

Empires Of Stone is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music

Links

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Stone Nomads - Beyond The Gates (EP Review)

Release Date: June 10th 2024. Record Label: Gravitoyd Heavy Music. Formats: DD

Beyond The Gates: Tracklisting

1.Witch 04:37

2.The Tempter 06:23

3.Sorrow 02:14

4.Overlords (2024 Remix) 06:03

Members

Jon Cosky - Guitar/Vocals

Jude Sisk - Bass/Vocals

Esben Willems - Drums

Kyle Thomas - guest vocals on "the Tempter"

Review

Beyond The Gates is the new EP from Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal Wrecking Crew STONE NOMADS and it continues the same style of music they developed and delivered with 2023’s well received album …At The Gates Of Solitude.

The EP is best described by the band themselves from the description below:

“Beyond the Gates”, a follow-up and exclamation point to book-end last year’s full-length LP “…At the Gates of Solitude”. The release features 2 new songs, a remixed bonus track from the LP, and a new version of the classic “Trouble” doom track “The Tempter” (stream above) featuring collaboration with metal vocalist extraordinaire Kyle Thomas (Exhorder,Trouble) along with the return lineup of guitarist/vocalist Jon Cosky, drummer Esben Willems (Monolord, Slower), and bassist/vocalist Jude Sisk.

The band are in full DOOM METAL mode with their music paying homage to bands such as TROUBLE, Saint Vitus and even some bands from the legendary NOLA scene. There’s the classic TEXAS metal sound that appears within the instrumental sounds with a slight diversion via Sweden with MONOLORD’s very own Esben Willems returning yet again.

The first new track Witch is more Heavy Metal dominated with the sludgy grooves adding an ice-cold DOOM METAL feel with flashes of Hard Rock excess especially within some of the classic 80’s guitar shredding that never feels out of place with the slow-paced Post-Doom rhythms. It can be pure EXCESS and OVER INDULGENT at times but all done in the best possible way.  If you want music that just gets straight the point of delivering Classic Heavy Metal tracks with the essence of thrilling Doom/Sludge Metal passages then Witch impresses from start to finish. 

The cover of TROUBLE classic The Tempter with Kyle Thomas appearing no doubt was heard within their last album but is a new version. I couldn’t tell much difference apart from being quite clearer and heavier in places. This is still a stunning rendition of a classic track with Stone Nomads not straying to far from the original but still adding perhaps a more menacing sludgier makeover. 

Third song Sorrow is the other new track and it’s a semi-acoustic number filled with gloomy soundscapes and abstract psychedelic tones which matches the bleak surroundings of the freakish guitars towards the end of the track. It’s a very cool track to listen to and superbly played but it takes some of the excitement from the record.

The final track Overlords (2024) remix brings the excitement back in a big way with a more aggressive take on the original track. The guitars and vocals are more “in-your-face” and completely outrageous with a subtle Alt-Rock/Alt-Metal makeover that feels inspired by FAITH NO MORE. I definitely prefer this version to the original as Stone Nomads deliver this goods on this track alone. A great way to end the EP with.

Beyond The Gates is another excellent release from Stone Nomads who may have shown brief glimpses on what to expect with their future releases. Until then, Beyond The Gates is a great sounding EP to add to your record collection right now…

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers STONE NOMADS hitting the road in support of “… At The Gates of Solitude”

Stone Nomads are touring in support of new album “…At The Gates of Solitude” with a stop at SXSW, Gravitoyd Doom Fest and Maryland Doom Fest!

TOUR DATES:

3/14/24 - Sxsw @Far and out lounge, Austin TX - STONER JAM FESTIVAL
3/16/24 – Black Magic Social Club, Houston TX w/Bong Wizard
3/22/24 - The 101, Bryan TX w/Bullethead
4/13/24 – 1810 Ojeman, Houston TX, w/Wretched Kingdom
5/4/24 – GRAVITOYD DOOM FEST 2 @ Black Magic Social Club, Houston TX
6/18/24- Fleetwoods, Asheville NC w/ Red Beard Wall.
6/20/24 – 6/23/24 – MARYLAND DOOM FEST @ Café 611 / Olde Mother Brewing, Frederick, MD

Stone Nomads have shared the stage with scene leaders Khemmis, Spirit Adrift, Elder, Mothership, among others and played multiple festivals and regional tours in the southern US. The band is currently making plans to hit the road in support of the new album in January 2024.

Media Quotes:

"with "...At the Gates of Solitude" Stone Nomads have found their own voice. The sound the band capture on this album is heavier, blacker and more extreme than anything that graced their debut and is all the better for it”

- Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist / Doom Charts)

“Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Stone Nomads have really aimed big for their second album "...At The Gates Of Solitude" with the band employing a more monolithic and thick Doom Metal sound”

- Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun)

“Sludgy doom goodness is what you get with the debut album from Houston, Texas’ STONE NOMADS. Serious Sabbath worship in the best possible way coupled with sometimes gruff sometimes not vocals, Fields Of Doom lumbers across the Texas landscape wrecking everything in its path. Songs like Fiery Sabbath don’t just rip your head off; there is a catchiness to the six tracks that is many times missing when you have such a heavy, lumbering beast.”

~ Rich Piva (Doom Charts)

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for all of the details.

Gravitoyd announce ‘CHAPTER 1: THE GATHERING’ a Split Vinyl with Stone Nomads and Demons My Friends!

Gravitoyd announce ‘CHAPTER 1: THE GATHERING’ a Split Vinyl with Stone Nomads and Demons My Friends!

Limited edition Split LP with Demons My Friends on one side and Stone Nomads on the other side. Chapter 1: the Gathering is the first in a series of split LP's from Gravitoyd Heavy Music. Includes select tracks from "Demons Seem to Gather" and "Fields of Doom"

Pre-order Chapter 1: The Gathering here. 

Gravitoyd Heavy Music is proud to announce the release of it’s first in a series of Vinyl Split LP releases – “CHAPTER 1: THE GATHERING” Featuring Gravitoyd artists DEMONS MY FRIENDS and STONE NOMADS. 

Each release will be a limited edition available in Vinyl LP format only. Visit our bandcamp page for more details (see link above)

“Chapter 1: The Gathering is a celebration of 2 of our most coveted releases here at Gravitoyd Heavy Music. The album is a collection of tracks from STONE NOMAD’s “Fields of Doom” and DEMONS MY FRIENDS “Demons Seem to Gather”, each of which were featured albums of the year in 2022 and 2023 respectively. We are excited to hear these songs on vinyl for the first time!”

About The Bands

Demons My Friends is an unlikely collaboration between members of Mexican alt-metal band QBO and Washington, DC desert rockers Fellowcraft. The stoner/doom metal trio—Lu Salinas (bass/vocals), Tarro Martinez (drums), Pablo Anton (guitar/vocals)—embarked on their creative endeavor via an impromptu recording session at the SXSW music festival in Austin, TX in 2022.

Stone Nomads is an American Metal power trio based in Houston TX. The band, formed by Jon Cosky (Guitar/Vocals) and Jude Sisk (Bass/Vocals) in 2021, incorporates the sounds of early Doom Metal, modern Sludge Metal and all things heavy. Conceptually, the band explores the journey of life and death through the heavier and darker side of things, delivered via sludged-out, powerful riff-based sonics.

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for all of the details.

Jude Sisk From STONE NOMADS - Favourite Albums Of 2023

I wish I had listened to more records in 2023.  Stone Nomads were so wrapped up recording and playing shows that I didn’t spend nearly enough time discovering new artists this year.  

King Volume Records released two of my favorite albums of the year.  Starting with:

Lord Mountain “The Oath” – This album was released in January and has stayed as my favorite album of 2023 so far.  Just good old-fashioned doom-tinged heavy metal.  Reminds me a bit of Early Moods album from 2022 that enjoyed immensely.

 

Faerie Ring “Weary Traveler” – The second of the two albums that King Volume released that landed on my albums of the year list.  A psychedelic take on proto-metal.  Very 70s sounding.  Very enjoyable.

Mizmor “Prosaic” – If you a looking for melody this is not your album.  It is an abrasive mix of black metal and doom that offers the listeners nothing uplifting; yet, in mind, a very compelling album.

Enslaved “Heimdal” The best thing about Enslaved is the mix of ethereal melody and harsh black metal roots.  Heimdal has those elements on full display.  

 

Ahab “The Coral Tombs” - Whereas Enslaved mixes melody and metal on a foundation of a driving rhythm section, Ahab drops the bottom out of the tempos.  The Coral Tombs somehow seamlessly switches from pure metal blast beats with screaming vocals and a massive guitar sound to excruciatingly  slow tempos that are paired with some of the most sorrowful and delicate vocals you will here in heavy music.  Very much out of my normal wheelhouse but executed so well I had to listen repeatedly.  

Cloak “Black Flame Eternal” – America’s version of black metal is fast becoming one of my favorite genre’s of music.  Cloak’s “Black Flame Eternal” is an interesting mix of punk, thrash and black metal. Further, I love the vocals on the album.  Even though they classify themselves as black metal the vocals are a sum of all their influences.  This album is tied with Lord Mountain as my favorite album of the year.  

Obituary “Dying of Everything” – I think the guys from Obituary have been hanging out with Jamey Jasta, because the new album has a lot more hardcore influence than anything previous.  The results are good in my book.

Spirit Adrift “Ghosts at the Gallows – If you like 1980s style heavy metal riffs, this album will not disappoint.  Like the Lord Mountain record, there are not many surprises here; however, if you like the previous work of Spirit Adrift you will like this record.  The upgraded vocal production definitely helps this album.  

Thunder Horse “After the Fall” – 2022 saw a lot of Texas bands put out great records; two of my favorites being Warlung’s “Vulture’s Paradise” and Fostermother’s “The Ocean.”  2023 saw a slowing of the pace but definitely not a dip in quality.  If you don’t like the verse riff in “New Normal” I am pretty sure you don’t like rock music.     

Words by Jude Sisk

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Stone Nomads - ...At The Gates Of Solitude (Album Review)

Release Date: October 19th 2023. Record Label: Gravitoyd Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl.

...At The Gates Of Solitude - Tracklisting

Post Apocalyptic Winds

Frigid

Blackened Paradise

The Tempter

Premonition

Upon The Hands Of Gods

Rumination

The Void That Remains

Overlords

Members

Jon Cosky - Guitar/Vocals

Jude Sisk - Bass/Vocals

Esben Willems - Drums

Kyle Thomas - Guest Vocals on The Tempter

Review

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Stone Nomads have really aimed big for their second album "...At The Gates Of Solitude" with the band employing a more monolithic and thick Doom Metal sound. I was surprised to see MONOLORD's drummer and destroyer of worlds Esben Willems join their ranks for this album and he brings his usual "A" game to Stone Nomads sound. However, Jon Cosky (Guitar/Vocals) and Jude Sisk (Bass/Vocals) still remain within the band and they bring a sense of gritty realism to their Heavy Doom/Stoner Metal sound that's boosted buy a fitting seedy Sludge Metal attitude.

The opening two songs of Post Apocalyptic Winds and Frigid offer a subtle style of Doom Metal with that modern Atmospheric Stoner/Sludge groove with flashes of Classic Heavy Metal that allows the band to play full on Thrash Metal solos with a hint of eerie Psych Rock. The songs remain an objective style of Occult Rock with a despairing level of gloominess with Stone Nomads playing with a more theatrical outlook especially within the lyrics they've written for this track.

Third track Blackened Paradise does offer a more Pitch Blackened Doom/Sludge Metal creative approach with the vocals having a slightly Demonic presence to them with a vibrant 1980's Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal attitude. The guitar solos are plentiful yet again with the elements of Proto-Doom starting to appear with flashes of Harsh Stoner Rock/Metal themes. Esben's undeniable drumming adds an unsettling cold-hearted sound to Stone Nomads with Jon's superb guitar sounds and Jude's shattering bass all cumulating with one of the heaviest standout tracks on the album.The later stages of the track does see Stone Nomads move over into Prog Metal and Post-Whatever domains with the band never losing their core creative focus.

Fourth track is a sublime cover of TROUBLE iconic classic track The Tempter with another very special guest Kyle Thomas providing vocals. Kyle Thomas even popped up providing a couple of tracks on the recenlty released new album Man In The Arena by UK Doom/Stoner Metallers The Sound Of Origin. So it's great to hear Kyle's undeniable vocals yet again with a barnstorming cover which doesn't stray too much from the original but is perhaps slower with a more deeper atmospheric edge. However, the song is wonderfully LOUD and AGGRESSIVE that sees Stone Nomads bridge the gap between the Proto-Doom Metal world of TROUBLE with their own modern day Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal sound.

Fifth track Premonition is a solitary Blues Rock/Acoustic Rock number which has a sense of gloomy Doomed Out Blues to it all. This is a different change of pace from Stone Nomads and it featues some epic Jazzy solos within its short running time. 

The second half of the album kicks off in winning style with another one of the albums standout tracks with Upon The Hands Of Gods with Stone Nomads playing styles of Classic Hard Rock, Doom Metal and Stoner Metal that feels inspired by bands such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy but with a more ferocious Sludgy attitude. The song allows Stone Nomads to play their wickedly entertaining style of non-stop guitar solos with that OTT theatrical edge appearing within the vocals with a fast-paced and highly energetic attitude being more intense when the Thrash Metal sounds appear.

The final three tracks Rumination, The Void That Remains and Overlords becomes more ice-cold and slightly more Doom Metal based with it's cold-hearted and cynical sound appearing within the excellent sounding instrumental seventh track Rumination. The track does have moments of pure Heavy Metal excess but Stone Nomads deliver this with absolute menacing relish which moves straight into The Void That Remains.

The Void That Remains and Overlords is where Stone Nomads become more menacing with the whole themes of the album. The lyrics are pure Heavy Metal theatre but the sludgy guitars and thrilling rhythm section brings a more nuanced feeling to the album which allows the final song Overlords to become the perfect combination of Classic Heavy Metal and Modern Day Doom/Stoner Metal with the right amount of punishing Sludge Metal grooves. The Psychedelic flavours that are added little by little allows Stone Nomads to play a more unsettling sound throughout.

"...At The Gates Of Solitude" is another welcome and sublime release for the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal community to fully embrace. The record is expertly produced with the album allowing Stone Nomads the perfect opportunity the Heavy Metal world what they can deliver and this is a classic sounding Heavy Metal album in every sense of the word.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy ...At The Gates Of Solitude now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Gravitoyd Records.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram