Sunniva - Hypostasis (Album Review)

Release Date: September 19th 2025. Record Label: Svart Records. Formats: DD

Hypostasis - Tracklisting

1.Mercurial Bloodstreams 05:03

2.Peine Forte Et Dure 07:22

3.Valovaltimo 07:29

4.Opening the Key 07:06

5.Sun Funeral 08:16

6.Hung from the Sky 08:00

Review

Sunniva’s debut album Hypostasis blends Funeral Doom, Sludge Metal and Post-Metal atmospherics against a blend of nihilistic Black Metal passages. There’s a dark sense of brooding mystery forming against the backdrop of Ambient Metal textures and sudden shifts into Psychedelic warfare based tactics. This is a highly accomplished debut which is their first new material in over five years. This is time that has served Sunniva well as the band have crafted an ice-cold and emotionally calculated release that blends the sounds of Neurosis, ISIS and Cult Of Luna but with a Post-Black Metal philosophy.

The vocals are harsh, aggressive and very precise but Sunniva deserve high praise for their high reliance on Shoegaze and Alt-Metal themes which gives this record quite a different feeling compared to other Post-Metal albums being released recently. There’s an aura of DEFTONES and DEAFHEAVEN lurking in the midst especially with how Sunniva weave the claustrophobic elements of Alt-Metal against the punishing backdrop of Blackened Sludge Metal especially on the albums early opening tracks of Mercurial Bloodstreams and Peine Forte Et Dure.

Sunniva operate on a Progressive Metal landscape which allows them to add layers of twisted Post-Metal grooves and thrilling Psych Metal melodies with an abstractive Industrial sound holding everything together. This course of creative action stays quite similar throughout the whole album but when Sunniva goes off-script and delves into other areas of music then the album really starts to shine especially when the emotionally driven clean vocals appear.

The other tracks on Hypostasis are really beautiful to listen to and fully experience with moments of delicate Post-Rock energy appearing before transcending across the Post-Black Metal abyss that still leaves a refreshing burst of heavy sonic based aggression on tracks such as: Valovaltimo, Opening The Key and Hung From The Sky.

This is the type of Post-Metal album that dares to be different at every possible opportunity and pulls this off brilliantly with great style and a unique vision which should see Sunniva become more well known in the Post-Metal world.

Overall, Hypostasis is the perfect blend of melody, aggression, sonic interludes and intense black metal soundscapes that allows this to be a wonderfully addictive and highly unforgettable album. 

Words by Steve Howe

Hypostasis is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Svart Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Sludge Metallers SUNNIVA Drop Hypnotic New Track "Valovaltimo" – A Finnish-Language Ode to Death & Unity

Finnish sludge/post-metal act Sunniva have unveiled their latest track, “Valovaltimo”, the latest track from their upcoming debut album Hypostasis, due out September 19 via Svart Records.

Watch the track for Valovaltimo below:

Sung in Finnish and Swedish, “Valovaltimo” (which translates to “Artery of light”) is a deep, hypnotic journey into the band’s signature blend of psychedelic repetition, crushing doom, and heavy atmospherics. The track builds slowly, creating a sense of mounting tension before culminating in a dramatic, almost spiritual conclusion.

The song’s lyrics are inspired by a vivid, unsettling dream experienced by the band’s lyricist: a vision of a massive black hole consuming everything—people, animals, buildings, trees, the very fabric of reality itself. “At first I felt dread as I floated toward it,” the lyricist recalls. “But then I saw animals heading toward it, accepting it without fear. There was a strange sense of calm, and that stayed with me.” The dream ultimately became a meditation on death, unity, and the idea that we are all interconnected, spiraling toward the same end.

The track also features guest vocals and lyrics by Lotta, the lead singer of SVARTA HAVET, who was inspired by the dream’s imagery to create her own contribution, adding a hauntingly ethereal layer to the song’s dramatic finale.

Sunniva was formed in 2016 out of a shared hunger for the raw sonic power of heavy music. The band's name, derived from the Old English Sunngifu, meaning "gift of the sun", hints at the layered darkness and light woven into their sound.

Blurring the lines between death doom, sludge, and post-metal, Sunniva summons the same seismic intensity as titans like Amenra, Neurosis and Dark Buddha Rising. Their past releases – The Holy Mountain (2017), self-titled EP (2020), and the sprawling single This Reality Only Speaks In Blood (2018) – have cemented their reputation for crafting immersive, soul-crushing soundscapes. The band is in its full elements in live shows which you can experience as follows

29.8. Seinäjoki, Bar15
30.8. Oulu, Tukikohta
18.9. Turku, Nirvana
19.9. Tampere, Maanalainen
20.9. Helsinki, Lepakkomies

“Valovaltimo” is out now on all major streaming platforms - https://orcd.co/valovaltimo

New full-length album Hypostasis out on September 19th via Svart Records.

Listen. Witness. Be undone.

19.9.2025 Sunniva: Hypostasis LP/CD (Pre-order)

https://www.svartrecords.com/en/product/sunniva-hypostasis/13399
https://www.facebook.com/sunnivadoom/
https://www.instagram.com/sunnivadoom/
https://sunniva.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to For The Lost PR for all of the details.

Sludge Metallers Sunniva unleashes 'Mercurial Bloodstreams' – A crushing reflection on technological dystopia

Turku-based sludge metal force Sunniva releases Mercurial Bloodstreams – a harrowing new track from their upcoming debut album Hypostasis – that challenges the illusions of progress and freedom in the modern age. Watch the official video for the new single at Svart’s YouTube channel HERE

Through thundering riffs, monolithic rhythms, and guttural howls, Mercurial Bloodstreams confronts society’s unrelenting drive for technological advancement – a journey promised as a road to liberation, yet more often entangling humanity in deeper webs of oppression. Sunniva dissects the myth of progress and questions the very nature of freedom itself.

"We are constantly sold the dream of freedom", the band states, "but the reality is only a few understand what true freedom even is – or if it can exist at all."

Photo by Aleks Talve

Sunniva was formed in 2016 out of a shared hunger for the raw sonic power of heavy music. The band's name, derived from the Old English Sunngifu, meaning "gift of the sun", hints at the layered darkness and light woven into their sound.

Blurring the lines between death doom, sludge, and post-metal, Sunniva summons the same seismic intensity as titans like Amenra, Neurosis and Dark Buddha Rising. Their past releases – The Holy Mountain (2017), self-titled EP (2020), and the sprawling single This Reality Only Speaks In Blood (2018) – have cemented their reputation for crafting immersive, soul-crushing soundscapes. The band is in its full elements in live shows which you can experience as follows:

29.8. Seinäjoki, Bar15
30.8. Oulu, Tukikohta
18.9. Turku, Nirvana
19.9. Tampere, Maanalainen
20.9. Helsinki, Lepakkomies

Mercurial Bloodstreams is out now on all major streaming platforms. New full-length album Hypostasis out on September 19th via Svart Records.

Listen. Witness. Be undone.

16.5.2025 Sunniva: Mercurial Bloodstreams (Digital)

https://orcd.co/mercurialbloodstreams

19.9.2025 Sunniva: Hypostasis LP/CD (Pre-order)

https://www.svartrecords.com/en/product/sunniva-hypostasis/13399

Links

https://www.facebook.com/sunnivadoom/
https://www.instagram.com/sunnivadoom/
https://sunniva.bandcamp.com

Thanks to For The Lost PR for all of the details.

Obnoxious Youth - Burning Savage (Album Review)

Release Date: October 18th 2024. Record Label: Svart Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Burning Savage - Track Listing:

1. Alpha Diabolos

2. Imminent Evil

3. Burning Savage

4. Lethal Revenge

5. Black Magic Whore

6. Torrents Of Black Blood

7. Ultra Death

8. Bitchkrieg

9. Ethereal Termination

10. Phantasma

11. Tornado Of Blades

12. Omega Therion

Members

Affe ”Phantasma” Piran - Vocals

John ”Zeke” Finne - Guitar

Frans ”Cult” Utterström - Drums

Edde ”Shit” Aftonfalk - Bass

Lukas ”Spine” Häger - Guitar

Review

Sometimes I like to step away from the music I usually promote here and check out music that I loved back in earlier years as a metal head. I was into Thrash Metal, Speed Metal and Death Metal big time back in my late teens and early twenties. So I was asked recently if I would review Obnoxious Youth’s new album Burning Savage and I jumped at the chance. As I was a fan of their previous two albums The Eternal Void and Disturbing The Graves.

The album continues the heavy and pissed off style of Thrash Metal and Speed Metal the band are known for. However, the band isn't afraid to add a sense of aggressive melody into their overall sound with moments of Classic Hard Rock and Psych Rock appearing along the way. They remind me of KVELERTAK in many ways with how both bands blend so many different genres together and offer a highly original style of HEAVY METAL that’s downright catchy and brutally thrilling at the same time.

Members of Obnoxious Youth have played in or currently play in bands such as Vorum, Undergång, Endtime, Reveal!, Morbus Chron, Century, Tøronto, Degial, Begravningsentreprenörerna, Entombed and No Future. Though don’t be expecting to hear a straightforward EXTREME METAL album as Burning Savage is anything but that.

Burning Savage may have a Blackened Metal identity but its creative soul is PURE and BRILLIANTLY entertaining at the same time. The vocals are on the extreme side with the music mostly powered through punishing beatdowns and fast-paced grooves that seem quite chaotic when first listening to the album. However, there is a ton of first rate creativity going on throughout the whole album with moments of Psych Rock, Prog Metal and Electronic beats that’s played against the non-stop frantic and deeply unapologetic sounds of Thrash Metal and Speed Metal.

Obnoxious Youth may live upto the classic and outdated tropes of Heavy Metal but they do this with real charm, conviction and huge talent. They have a ZERO FUCKS given attitude which mostly appears within their lyrics and the fucked up insanity of their music which is downright genius in places especially on tracks such as Alpha Diabolos, Imminent Evil, Burning Savage, Torrents Of Black Blood, Tornado Of Blades and Omega Therion.

With brief outbursts into Punk Rock lore and Occult Metal themes, Obnoxious Youth have really outdone themselves with Burning Savage with this being their most technically impressive and wonderfully entertaining album yet. The whole sound of the album will be too outlandish for some but for the majority of others Obnoxious Youth have crafted a brilliantly surreal album that allows them to have such a unique voice within the realm of HEAVY METAL.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

Burning Savage will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Svart Records from Friday October 18th 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

The Lunar Effect - Sounds Of Green & Blue (Album Review)

Release Date: April 12th 2024. Record Label: Svart Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Sounds Of Green & Blue - Tracklisting

Ocean Queen - 4:39

Flowers For Teeth - 2:42

Colour My World - 4:56

In Grey - 4:38

Middle Of The End - 4:21

Pulling Daisies - 3:48

I Can't Say - 3:48

Fear Before The Fall - 5:38

On The Story Goes - 5:47

Review

Psych Stoner Rockers The Lunar Effect made a mighty impression with their 2019 debut album Calm Before The Calm. The record was a great mix of Psych Rock, Fuzz Rock, Stoner Rock and waves of Cosmic Rock which allowed the band to have a unique sense of heaviness of their own creation. Well, lightning has struck twice with their even more impressive second album Sounds Of Green & Blue which sees The Lunar Effect bring a sense of hedonistic style of 1970’s Hard Rock to the free-flowing 1960’s Psychedelic Rock world. 

The Lunar Effect explore the darker and doomedelic side of Freakish Psych Rock with waves of Fuzzed Up Stoner Rock and Frenzied Garage Rock all forming for quite an adventurous sound which you can feel the powerful impact on the opening tracks of Ocean Queen, Flowers For Teeth and Colour My World. These three tracks alone showcase the wide variety of different influences that the band use for this album, as you can hear influences such as The Doors, The Who, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zepp, Monkey3, Red Fang and Radio Moscow.

Though, don’t go thinking that The Lunar Effect doesn't bring their own creative energy to the party. As the whole album is full of highly original and slightly intense long drawn out instrumental jams which keeps the mood soulful, energetic and buoyantly heavy throughout.

There’s a sense of world-weary mysticism hidden within the band’s lyrics which gives an air of mystery to the band’s music especially with the EPIC vocals employed for the record. This is an album that has a classic rock energy whilst also becoming a thoroughly modern Stoner Rock record at the same time.

The album can be quite deceptive within its more quiet moments as you feel you’re witnessing a Post-Stoner groove before The Lunar Effect delivers an intense explosion of Blues Rock inspired Stoner Rock energy which is hidden throughout the majority of the tracks. The music can be quite seedy in places but the punishing blend of Cosmic Fuzz and Classic Stoner grooves allows The Lunar Effect to deliver some of the album's most standout moments which perhaps shine brightest within the second half of the record.

Other standout tracks include: In Grey,  Middle Of The End, Fear Before The Fall and  On The Story Goes.

Sounds Of Green & Blue is a pulsating record with first rate production values that allows this album to become an essential release within the UK Stoner Rock scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR and Svart Records for the promo.

Sounds Of Green & Blue will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Svart Records from Friday April 12th 2024.

Links

https://www.thelunareffect.co.uk/
https://thelunareffect.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.youtube.com/c/thelunareffectmusic
https://instagram.com/thelunareffect
www.twitter.com/Thelunareffect
https://www.facebook.com/TheLunarEffect/

An Interview With Jon Jefford From Psych Stoner Rockers THE LUNAR EFFECT

UK Psych/Stoner Rockers The Lunar Effect are releasing their new album Sounds Of Green & Blue on April 14th 2024 via Svart Records.  The album sees The Lunar Effect playing a more wider range of Stoner Rock by blending Fuzz Rock, Hard Rock, Psych Rock and Doom Rock for a record that highlights some of the best Hard Rock movements from the last 60 years or so.

Sounds Of Green & Blue is quite different and more daring compared to their acclaimed 2019 debut album Calm Before The Calm with The Lunar Effect taking more creative risks with their music. The end result is a fulfilling musical exploration of different Psychedelic sounds.

I caught up with Jon Jefford from the band to discuss the making of the album and future touring plans amongst other things which you can read below.

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

The band was really formed while myself and Dan were playing in another band. We were not that happy with our situation so started doing other things and writing more music . Then we were offered a little record deal to put out and limited EP run and it just grew from that.

Why did you call yourselves The Lunar Effect.

It was just somethings that happened organically, born out of a fascination for the moon.

How would you describe your overall sound for Sounds Of Green And Blue. As it's quite different compared to your debut album. As you seem to have captured the last 50 or 60 years of the Hard Rock Scene brilliantly well for this album. It's Stoner Rock but it's also bigger than the normal Stoner Rock sound.

The album has a more rounded sound overall, it took longer and has a lot more depth compared to our first album which was recorded and mixed very quickly in comparison. We have tried to mix our influences from the past with our own style, hopefully we have got somewhere near achieving that.

What can people expect from the album and what is the creative outline or story for the album.

People should expect everything they liked about the first record, with maybe a bit more depth and thought to the songs. There is no overall story for the album, each song has its own meaning or story.

Where did the name Sounds Of Green And Blue for the album come from. 

The name is a lyric from the song ‘In Grey’

Was this an easy or hard album to record for compared to your debut album.

It was harder, there was slightly more expectation for this album. We wanted to raise the bar. It was also delayed by the covid lockdowns, which then made the pressure to make something really good all the more acute.

What is the creative process or setup within the band? Do you write the music together or do certain people within the band do that. 

I have written most of the music for the songs either alone or with Dan, and Josh writes most of the vocal melodies and lyrics. There are a few songs on the album that were independently written by either me or Josh, such as Pulling Daisies or On The Story goes. Which ever way the initial idea comes about we then work on it and perfect it as a band.

You're from London, UK. We all know there's a thriving gig scene and community based in London. Do you perform regularly within London or do you have to travel further afield to perform on a regular basis.

We perform fairly regularly in London though we also try to go further afield in the UK so that we can play for our fans in the other towns and cities.

Photo by RAKKAN.com

What future gigs have you coming up and will you be promoting the album more this year.

We have a lot of gigs to announce in the UK and Europe, but you will have to keep checking our socials and website to get all the details as soon as we can share them.

What are your favourite venues within the UK. Any particular venues or locations you always look forward to when touring.

The Garage in London is a favourite, as is The Dev which is somewhere we always like to go back to.

How would you describe the live THE LUNAR EFFECT experience.

It’s like stepping back into 1973 but with more Fuzz.

The artwork for the new album is excellent. Who designed the album cover and how much involvement did you have with the final design.

The artwork was designed by an awesome artist called Nik Gernert, he also did the first album cover.

What bands or artists influenced you to pick up an instrument and to become a musician.

All the greats -  The Beatles, Bowie, The Faces, Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Queens of The Stone Age, Oasis, Free……..so many more.

Svart Records is releasing the album. How did you hook-up with that great label.

We had heard good things about them from our friends Kaliedobolt and Green Lung who had both worked with them in the past. That really helped us make the decision to work with them as opposed to some other labels that we had offers from.

Before you go, do you have any words of wisdom for your fans currently out there.

Keep buying music and supporting the bands you like. They appreciate it more than you know or they say.

Words by Steve Howe and Jon Jefford

Thanks to For The Lost PR for arranging this interview and for Jon taking the time out to do this interview.

The Lunar Effect - Record release show - 26.4.2024 London, The Black Heart
https://www.ourblackheart.com/events/2024/4/26/the-lunar-effect

1.3. The Lunar Effect: Flowers For Teeth (digital)
https://orcd.co/qbryvme

12.4. The Lunar Effect: Sounds of Green & Blue LP/CD (pre-order)
https://svartrecords.com/en/product/the-lunar-effect-sounds-of-green-blue/12072

Pulling Daisies Official Video

Links

https://www.thelunareffect.co.uk/
https://thelunareffect.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.youtube.com/c/thelunareffectmusic
https://instagram.com/thelunareffect
www.twitter.com/Thelunareffect
https://www.facebook.com/TheLunarEffect/

PSYCHEDELIC ROCK BAND THE LUNAR EFFECT REVEAL NEW SINGLE "FLOWERS FOR TEETH”

The Lunar Effect, sonic architects known for their gravitational pull of fuzzy, snarling riffs and psychedelic visions, proudly announce the release of their latest album, "Sounds of Green & Blue", available for pre-order now through Svart Records.

“Sounds of Green & Blue” is a galactic journey through sound that showcases The Lunar Effect’s evolution and marks a pivotal chapter in their musical odyssey. The second single from the album, "Flowers For Teeth", will be released digitally on March 1st 2024, but you can pre-listen the song by watching the brand-new lyric video by Costin Chioreanu here or watch below: https://youtu.be/eR8bPm1HoPM

Formed in 2016, The Lunar Effect burst onto the scene with a distinct blend of grunge and retro hard rock. With a flair for hair and a penchant for barbed and growling riff work, the London-based quartet quickly garnered attention for their dynamic sound and Blues rock reverence. In 2019, they crash-landed onto the Stoner Rock scene with their debut album, "Calm Before the Calm,” firmly establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

"Sounds of Green & Blue" sees The Lunar Effect expanding their sonic scope and bending all the elements and eras of Classic Rock into their own unique mold. The album is a testament to their musical growth and willingness to explore new territories while maintaining the brooding vintage sound that defines them. Each track is propelled into orbit by the low-end buzz of distorted chords, powerful enough to blow the moon-dust off your amp.

From the heyday of The Beatles, Floyd, Zeppelin and Sabbath to newer artists like Graveyard, Radio Moscow and Red Fang, The Lunar Effect have created a masterclass in Psychedelic Rock that takes you firmly by the collar. With a palette that also includes shades of the 90s Grunge scene like Nirvana and Soundgarden into their heady mix, The Lunar Effect paint their own trippy world, where genres blur into their unique brew of heart-felt space rock.

"Sounds of Green & Blue" by The Lunar Effect is proudly released by Svart Records, a label known for its commitment to uncovering high-quality, diverse, and boundary-pushing music. Svart Records continues to be a platform for artists who defy conventions, push the boundaries of their respective genres, and break out of the underground.

The Lunar Effect - Record release show - 26.4.2024 London, The Black Heart
https://www.ourblackheart.com/events/2024/4/26/the-lunar-effect

1.3. The Lunar Effect: Flowers For Teeth (digital)
https://orcd.co/qbryvme

12.4. The Lunar Effect: Sounds of Green & Blue LP/CD (pre-order)
https://svartrecords.com/en/product/the-lunar-effect-sounds-of-green-blue/12072

The Lunar Effect: Pulling Daisies (Official Video)

Links

https://www.thelunareffect.co.uk/
https://thelunareffect.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.youtube.com/c/thelunareffectmusic
https://instagram.com/thelunareffect
www.twitter.com/Thelunareffect
https://www.facebook.com/TheLunarEffect/

Thanks to For The Lost PR for all of the details.

The Lunar Effect lift up cosmic spirits with "Sounds of Green and Blue" Album, out 12th April via Svart Records

The Lunar Effect, sonic architects known for their gravitational pull of fuzzy, snarling riffs and psychedelic visions, proudly announce the release of their latest album, "Sounds of Green and Blue," available to pre-order now through Svart Records. “Sounds of Green and Blue” is a galactic journey through sound that showcases The Lunar Effect’s evolution and marks a pivotal chapter in their musical odyssey.

Formed in 2016, The Lunar Effect burst onto the scene with a distinct blend of grunge and retro hard rock. With a flair for hair and a penchant for barbed and growling riff work, the London-based quartet quickly garnered attention for their dynamic sound and Blues rock reverence. In 2019, they crash-landed onto the Stoner Rock scene with their debut album, "Calm Before the Calm,” firmly establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

"Sounds of Green and Blue" sees The Lunar Effect expanding their sonic scope and bending all the elements and eras of Classic Rock into their own unique mold. The album is a testament to their musical growth and willingness to explore new territories while maintaining the brooding vintage sound that defines them. Each track is propelled into orbit by the low-end buzz of distorted chords, powerful enough to blow the moon-dust off your amp.

The first single from the album, "Pulling Daisies," is a bristling sojourn that encapsulates the band's celestial rock influences. The track combines classic Blues tones, fuzzy guitars, swirling ethereal vocals, and a dusty, hypnotic rhythm that transports listeners from the past into a screaming, paisley, future wonderland. "Pulling Daisies" sets the controls for the heart of the moon, showcasing The Lunar Effect's ability to craft immersive and soul side musical experiences. 

From the heyday of The Beatles, Floyd, Zeppelin and Sabbath to newer artists like Graveyard, Radio Moscow and Red Fang, The Lunar Effect have created a masterclass in Psychedelic Rock that takes you firmly by the collar. 

With a palette that also includes shades of the 90s Grunge scene like Nirvana and Soundgarden into their heady mix, The Lunar Effect paint their own trippy world, where genres blur into their unique brew of heart-felt space rock.

 
Listen to “Pulling Daisies” from "Sounds of Green and Blue" on and bathe yourself in the glow of The Lunar Effect's sonic moon-burn here https://youtu.be/8_cr9OxhNmU and here https://orcd.co/6kdabnd

"Sounds of Green and Blue" by The Lunar Effect is proudly released by Svart Records on 12th April, a label known for its commitment to uncovering high-quality, diverse, and boundary-pushing music. Svart Records continues to be a platform for artists who defy conventions, push the boundaries of their respective genres, and break out of the underground.

Pre-order The Lunar Effect: Sounds of Green and Blue LP/CD - https://www.svartrecords.com/en/product/the-lunar-effect-sounds-of-green-blue/12072

Tracklist:

1. Ocean Queen
2. Flowers For Teeth
3. Colour My World
4. In Grey
5. Middle Of The End
6. Pulling Daisies
7. I Can't Say
8. Fear Before The Fall
9. On The Story Goes

Follow online:

https://www.thelunareffect.co.uk/
https://thelunareffect.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.youtube.com/c/thelunareffectmusic
https://instagram.com/thelunareffect
www.twitter.com/Thelunareffect
https://www.facebook.com/TheLunarEffect/

Thanks to For The Lost for all of the details. 

JAAW - Supercluster (Album Review)

Release Date: May 26th 2023. Record Label: Svart Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Supercluster: Tracklisting

Thoughts And Prayers (Mean Nothing)

Reality Crash

Rot

Total Protonic Reversal

Bring Home The Motherlode, Barry

Hellbent On Happiness

The Dead Drop

Army Of Me

Members

Andy Cairns

Jason Stoll

Wayne Adams

Adam Betts

Review

Supercluster is the debut album from Industrial Metal/Noise/Psych Rockers JAAW and they can be classed as a supergroup of sorts. JAAW features Andy Cairns (Therapy), Jason Stoll (Mugstar), Wayne Adams (Death Pedals) and Adam Betts (Trapped Tigers, Squarepusher) within their ranks. The band are primarily influenced by bands such as Godflesh and Ministry but play a variety of different hooks, grooves, sounds and heavy riffs. Throw in elements of aggressive Sludge Rock, Doom Metal and Stoner Rock then JAAW are a different kind of Industrial Metal band.

Opening song Thoughts And Prayers (Mean Nothing) isn't the strongest track on the album but it's powerfully addictive with its blend of aggressive and fast paced Noise Rock and Industrial sounding Techno beats. Reminding me of The Mad Capsule Markets in places. The song picks up towards the middle when JAAW play a warped style of Psych Rock with AMPLIFIER DISTORTION creeping in. Andy's vocals are prominent as ever and he feels energetic and essential from his early days with Therapy.

Second song Reality Crash is where JAAW quickly find their Creative groove and start impressing with their Riff Based and Anthemic Rock. Psychedelic Noises and Glitches work surprisingly well with a more DOOM orientated effort with a track reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails and perhaps from their WITH TEETH era. The heavy Industrial themes are given a more GLOOMY makeover with JAAW bringing a mechanical sense to the Doom Metal genre this track can easily fit into. JAAW experiment more with their Industrial beats and this leads to sublime extended Noise Rock based jams. The vocals are chaotic, measured and fully assured from start to finish.

Third song Rot has been receiving plenty of positive feedback lately and it's not hard to see why. As JAAW bring a sense of bleak dystopia that merges into heavier areas of Sludge/Stoner Rock with the premise still being one of Industrial Metal and Nightmarish beats. The vocals are more chilling in places but the subtle Psychedelic moments allows JAAW to bring a refreshing blend of Noise Rock fused Industrial Metal to the album. The lyrics have a real life quality to them which allows the song to be more DOOM based than you would initially expect. However, it's the SONIC experimentation that JAAW use for this track allow this to be one of the standout tracks on the album.

Fourth song Total Protonic Reversal goes further down the Industrial Metal Rabbit Hole with echoes of Mechanical Noises and Synths. Distorted guitars have a more Psychedelic Feel with the music allowing the vocals to be further in the background for the earlier parts of the track. JAAW return with a highly anthemic 90's Alt Rock/Metal approach to this track with the song being helped along by GLOOMY Sludgy Sounds which have an almost Post-Punk or Post-Metal energy to them. 

Fifth song Bring Home The Motherlode, Barry - is the most interesting track on the album. As JAAW play for almost nine minutes on this track. The creative themes once again float around the different genres JAAW adapt for this track. Sludge, Doom, Noise Rock, Psych Rock and a disturbing Stoner feel soon transcends into a dark style of Progressive music. This allows JAAW to further experiment with their sound yet again. Andy's vocals are heavily digitised in places but they're easy to understand with the band perhaps fuelled by Modern Day Paranoia yet again. This is my favourite track off the album as JAAW create their own blend of Sludge fuelled Industrial Rock/Metal with a mighty fine sideline in aggression and melody.

The final three tracks Hellbent On Happiness, The Dead Drop and Army Of Me (Yes, they've included a cover of the Bjork classic track) sees JAAW continue their dark journey into the Industrial Rock/Metal abyss with the focus equally spread across experimentation and playing sublime grooves that convey a more Post-Doom feeling especially on Hellbent On Happiness and The Dead Drop. Their cover of Bjork classic Army Of Me is a dark and inspiring take which is quite different from the original which you would expect from a first rate Psychedelic/Industrial Metal group such as JAAW.

Supercluster is an absolute marvel to listen to. The album is one of the darkest examples of Psych Metal and Industrial Metal I've heard in quite some time. However, JAAW impresses even further with their fresh style of unique sounding grooves and riffs which the album is full of. 

This allows Supercluster to be an Album Of The Year contender. 

Words by Steve Howe

Supercluster will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Svart Records from Friday May 26th 2023.

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