THAMMUZ - III (Album Review)

Release Date: May 09th 2025. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

III - Tracklisting

When Darkness Comes

Old Man

Ishtar

Bloodlust

Risen

Boy in the Crow’s Nest

Azazel

Dissolution

Devil’s Gallow

Review

III is the new album from Heavy Stoner Rockers THAMMUZ who move away from their Desert Rock roots to a heavier style of Southern Metal and NOLA sound with this record having quite an aggressive lo-fi feeling compared to their previous albums. I can see why comparisons to WO FAT and Orange Goblin have been made for this album with III having a heavier feel with THAMMUZ still in complete control of their music. The sound is quite self contained in places with the band employing a downbeat real life energy within the lyrics but keeping within the Stoner Rock/Metal world.

The flashes of Fuzz and Psychedelic beats are always a major part of THAMMUZ’s overall sound and they inject a solid backline of Sludge Rock grooves which are fully realized and delivered within the opening batch of tracks such as When Darkness Comes, Old Man and Ishtar. 

THAMMUZ are very direct with their music with minimal signs of progressive melodies with the songs being part of the “OLD SCHOOL” mentality of underground Stoner based music though there are subtle glimpses of Doom and Gloom within the darker depths of the record. The record is aggressively melodic with some cool use of soundclips and glitchy sonic themes which gives the album an almost “GRINDHOUSE” feel. 

There’s an air of PARANOIA in the atmosphere with THAMMUZ taking a central APOCALYPTIC stance on the standout fourth track Bloodlust which is quite creepy and provocative at the same time. Distorted moments of bass-heavy grooves, over the top vocals and thrash leaning instrumental passages shows how THAMMUZ feel like a different band compared to their previous records. The transformation is quite remarkable especially within the heavier and violent sounds the record wonderfully contains. 

THAMMUZ fully sealed their DOOMED OUT makeover with seedy and filthy sounds on tracks such as Risen, Azazel, Dissolution and Devil’s Gallow. There are still moments of mellow musical interplay which is quite refreshing to hear but it’s played against a wall of harsh psychedelics and hazy soundscapes. THAMMUZ have created their first true DOOM METAL record which could allow the band to aim for bigger and better things in the future. 

III is an excellent record from THAMMUZ and the DIY sounding production values allows this to be quite a dangerous album that dedicated followers from the underground scene will no doubt think the same way.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

III will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Friday 09th May 2025 via Argonauta Records.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram 

THAMMUZ ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM "III" – REVEAL FIRST SINGLE "WHEN DARKNESS COMES"

Argonauta Records is thrilled to announce the return of Dutch heavy rockers THAMMUZ with their third studio album, "III", set for release on May 9, 2025. Available in CD, Colored Vinyl and Digital formats, this highly anticipated record promises to deliver an intense fusion of fuzz-drenched riffs, hypnotic grooves, and powerful songwriting. Pre-orders will be announced soon!

With the album announcement, THAMMUZ also unveil their brand-new single, "When Darkness Comes", a thunderous and atmospheric track that showcases the band’s signature blend of stoner rock, doom and psychedelic influences, further cementing their place in the underground heavy music scene, also feat. Jelle Aaron Scholtes of Baardvader as guest vocals: https://song.link/Thammuz_WDC

Emerging from the Netherlands in 2020, THAMMUZ was formed by members of former bands Dreckneck and Fuzzboar, combining years of experience and a shared passion for heavy, groove-driven music. Their debut album, Into the Great Unknown (2020), quickly gained traction, reaching #2 on the international Doom Charts upon release. Following up with Sons of the Occult in 2022 via Argonauta Records, the band explored darker, more immersive soundscapes, solidifying their reputation as a formidable force in the stoner/doom genre.

Now, THAMMUZ are back with "III", an album that promises to push boundaries even further. Stay tuned for more details and prepare to immerse yourself in a sonic journey that blends raw power, haunting melodies, and crushing heaviness.

TRACKLIST:

When Darkness Comes
Old Man
Ishtar
Bloodlust
Risen
Boy in the Crow's Nest
Azazel
Dissolution
Devil's Gallow

"III" will be released on May 9, 2025, via Argonauta Records. Pre-orders coming soon!

For fans of Kyuss, Orange Goblin and Wo Fat, this is one release you won’t want to miss!

INFO:

https://www.facebook.com/ThammuzBand
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords
https://grandsounds.net/

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for all of the details.

THAMMUZ - Sons Of The Occult (Album Review) & Exclusive Album Premiere

Date Released: October 28th 2022. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD

Sons Of The Occult: Tracklisting

01. Electric Sheep

02. Sons Of The Occult

03. Guayota

04. Had A Blast

05. Self-taught Man

06. Death Songs

07. Dumuzid’s Descent

08. People From The Sky

09. Peyote

10. Insomnia

Review

Sons Of The Occult is the new album from Psych Stoner Rockers Thammuz who impressed the Stoner Rock underground greatly with their debut album Into The Great Unknown. This time round the band are now signed to Italian Powerhouse Cult Label Argonauta Records and the band seems to have moved into the gloomier style of Occult based Doom/Stoner Rock.

Thammuz have a greater sense of urgency to their music with a more vibrant FUZZIER and GLOOMIER sound to their music. The band is still fuelled by the legendary 90’s Californian Desert/Stoner Rock scene but this time the album now has an edgy Occult Rock sound that works superbly well with their melodic Psychedelic grooves.

The opening two songs Electric Sheep and Sons Of The Occult have Thammuz playing their high voltage blend of Psych Stoner Rock/Metal with things taking a more sinister turn on second track Sons Of The Occult. The song is more FUZZED UP and has a distinctive DISTORTED AMPLIFIER groove that still harks back to bands such as KYUSS, FU MANCHU but now with the doom riffs of Electric Wizard and Black Sabbath. The vocals are calm at first but soon move into more aggressive territory that only adds to the band’s creative presence.

Third song Guayota is a superbly played Instruemental affair with the right balance of Psych Rock, Desert Rock and Stoner Rock with heavy melodic outbursts of gloomy Fuzz Rock and Americana soundscapes for a different style of music that we haven’t heard from the band. The instrumental work is excellent with Thammuz playing a high amount of extended jams towards the end of the song.

Fourth song Had A Blast starts off slowly with a classic Truckfighters style Desert Rock solo and the vocals have a slight Alt Rock approach. The song is constantly gloomy and has a simple creative premise with the sublime guitars at the start before Thammuz explode into a heavier style of Stoner Rock/Metal. Perhaps one of the standout tracks on the album that demands repeated listens. 

Thammaz has written and recorded ten songs for this album and I will be here all day describing in great detail what each song contains. The first four tracks give you a good indication on where the rest of the album ends up. Though, Thammuz do have a few more creative tricks up their sleeve for other songs on the album such as: Had A Blast, Self Taught Man, Dumuzid’s Descent, Peyote and Insomnia.

The band started mixing things up a bit and even showed musical influence from bands such as The Doors on Self-taught Man. The vocals and lyrics most definitely do have a Jim Morrision swagger to them but all told through the power of Stoner Rock/Metal.

Things do become gloomier, heavier, sinister and even weirder on the later stages of the album. This doesn’t feel or sound like the Thammuz I encountered on their acclaimed debut release. Thammuz now has a more dangerous presence around them and I admire their new bleak creative vision. 

The album is refreshingly daring and different to standout from the Stoner Rock/Metal underground. Production values are excellent with the band offering a more realistic approach with their music. Sons Of The Occult is a rebellious and thrilling album that will offer all fans of the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene a damn good time.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can hear the album with this exclusive album premiere courtesy of Grand Sounds PR and Argonauta Records

Sons Of The Occult will be available to buy from October 28th 2022 via Argonauta Records from October 28th 2022.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram 

THAMMUZ - Into The Great Unknown (Album Review)

Date Released: 18th November 2020. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Into The Great Unknown - Tracklisting

Intro
Speed Machine
Into The Great Unknown
Memoirs
Slow
Good Behaviour
Thammuz
Absolution
Fake It
Wizard Sleeve

Review

Into The Great Unknown is the debut full length album from Dutch Psych Stoner Rockers THAMMUZ and it’s an album that sees the band bring a more gloomier approach to the Desert/Stoner Rock scene. With the band taking the familiar sounds and grooves made famous by Kyuss, Fu Manchu and Monster Magnet with an almost doom based atmosphere appearing on different parts of the album.

This is a deeply engaging and adventurous album with THAMMUZ relying heavily on the world of Psychedelic Rock to get their hard-hitting grooves across. The early songs such as Speed Machine, Into The Great Unknown and Memoirs are fast-paced with a Punk based energy with the free-flowing 90s Stoner Rock/Metal riffs superbly played and being quite direct. The vocals are good and what you expect for a cool sounding album such as this. The lyrics are excellent with THAMMUZ delivering their Stoner Rock credentials with true conviction.

The band aren’t afraid to change into a more darker type of Stoner Metal band that you initially expect especially on the creepy Memoirs which has a “Church Of Misery” influence to it all. You know when you hear the song for yourself, One of the best songs on the album being purely instrumental with a deeply disturbing confessional track. All I’m saying.

Into The Great Unknown returns the stylish realm of Hard Rock and Stoner Metal with a combination of slowly played riffs with a nice alternative feel on the track - “Slow”. THAMMUZ take their time on this song playing a Post-Stoner style of music before upping the ante and playing a heavier blend of Psych Stoner Rock/Metal.

The 2nd half of the album carries on the action-packed blend of high voltage sounds and if you’re in the mood for old-school riffs back from the mainstay of 90s Desert/Stoner Rock then THAMMUZ will have you firmly rooted to the spot with crisp sounding production bring a fine level of heaviness to the mix and flow of the album.

Standout songs on the 2nd half include: Good Behaviour, THAMMUZ and Wizard Sleeve.

Into The Great Unknown is a record that feels like THAMMUZ 3rd or 4th album instead of their debut. As it shows a band with big, bright and wonderfully bold ideas that you rarely hear on a debut album. So, Yeah. I dig this album a lot and I feel that the Stoner Rock community within time will enjoy the absolute hell out of this too.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to THAMMUZ for the promo. Into The Great Unknown is available to buy Digitally now.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp