Stormriders - Whispers Of The Void (EP Review)

Release Date: July 04th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Whispers Of The Void: Tracklisting

1.I. Ascending Dunes 06:51

2.II. Whispers of the Void 08:11

3.III. The Descent 05:38

Review

Doom/Fuzz/Stoner Metallers Stormriders return swiftly and quite methodically with their even better new EP Whispers Of The Void. The EP continues the creative and heavy DESERT METAL sound from their debut release with a flash of THIN LIZZY and MASTODON dueling guitars throughout the release. The sound this time round is more Progressive based with Stormriders aligning themselves quite convincingly to the “NEW YORK” way of Stoner Metal with different layers and textures of Sludgy solid foundations especially within the excellent opening track -  

I. Ascending Dunes.

Stormriders have moments of Post-Doom or Post-Stoner grooves within their music which appear on the later stages of I. Ascending Dunes which aims for solitary conclusion before the closing moments.

Second song II. Whispers Of The Void have vocals appearing for the first time from the band and it’s a welcome addition which moves between subtle Sludge/Stoner Metal aggression with a slight classic HEAVY METAL and NOLA based vibe. The music once again is dominated by powerful strands of Doom/Stoner Metal with a Psychedelic Sludge groove that allows Stormriders experiment with powerful Desert Rock sounds that can be quite tribal and atmospheric at times. The music becomes way aggressively heavy and quite distorted but all in the best possible way which allows Stormriders to play the heaviest, frenzied,, loudest and aggressive moments of the whole EP. Fans of Old School Hard Rock and Heavy Metal will no doubt love the later parts of this track alone.

Third song The Descent is a more gloomier and doomed out take from Stormriders with distorted and low-key guitars and the kick-ass rhythm section delivering a murky excursion into SABBATHIAN based Doom Metal with a slow-paced sludgy environment. The song is quite abstract and cold-hearted compared to the other two tracks but it shows another cool side to Stormriders. 

Whispers Of The Void is an absolutely intense release with sublime production values which allows it to be another excellent EP from Stormriders who are quickly beginning to gain some great attention within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal community and on this evidence it’s not hard to see why.

Stormriders are onto something here and I can see them becoming one of the essential upcoming acts to look out for in the foreseeable future. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Stormriders - Bound By The Storm (EP Review)

Release Date: June 14th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Bound By The Storm: Tracklisting  

1.I. Echoes Of The Sands 01:23

2.II. Bound By The Storm 02:10

3.III. Dunes Of Eternity 02:13

4.IV. Desolation 01:35

5.V. Scorched Path 03:04

Review

Bound By The Storm is the debut EP by Doom/Stoner Metallers Stormriders who bring a metallic style of Desert Rock to their music. The EP is quite FUZZY and AGGRESSIVE in all the right places with the band playing music that promises a lot of epic sounding adventures in the future on subsequent releases.

If you dig bands such as The Sword, Summoner, Howling Giant and Restless Spirit then Stormriders are more than capable to join the ranks of those great bands especially if they match the sublime sounds of the tracks II. Bound By The Storm, III. Dunes Of Eternity and V. Scorched Path.

The tracks are quite short and straight to the point with Stormriders avoiding the surroundings of Prog Metal altogether and play a riff-centric style of classic sounding Doomed Out Desert Rock with a Scorched Earth appetite when the Psychedelic Sludgy tones appear. Stormriders even show-off with classic sounding dual guitar twin energy within the later stages of the track.

Bound By The Storm has great production values whilst still being a little rough around the edges which will perhaps see Stormriders transform their music slightly for future releases. However, they’re on the right track for becoming more well known within the underground scene. As they have the talent to go a long way within the scene. The EP only lasts for around ten minutes but what a great way to introduce yourselves to the Doom/Stoner Metal community..

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram