Exclusive Album Premiere Of Doom/Thrash/Stoner Metallers CALLUS New Album GRAVIS DECENNIUM Released This Friday

Trepanation Recordings are delighted to be working with CALLUS to release their third album ‘Gravis Decennium’ on 10th May.

Preston, UK based CALLUS play down-tuned stoner metal fused with Thrash, Sludge and Doom elements forming a truly obnoxious, quite furious and outright terrifying sound.

The third studio album by UK heavy band CALLUS.

Gravis Decennium presents a tenth anniversary speciality of earlier material fully re-recorded with crushing new production to celebrate a whole decade of CALLUS.

From CALLUS:

‘This album is a collection of handpicked tracks from previous early releases, fully re recorded, heavier and more sonically dynamic than we ever thought possible. It's been a labour of love for the past "Heavy Decade" of this band and our lives... Play it fucking loud, we hope it brings you as much joy hearing these tracks as it has done for us re visiting them.'

We're beyond excited to premiere the whole album in full thanks to the awesome folks over at Trepanation Recordings.

‘Gravis Decennium’ will be released on CD, cassette and digital formats. Find pre-orders here: https://callus117.bandcamp.com/album/gravis-decennium

‘Gravis Decennium’ Tracklist:

1. Yog-Sothoth

2. The Primordial

3. Infinite Beef Machine

4. Cycloid

5. The Dunwich Horror

6. Leg Slice

7. The Root of all Evil

8. Dreameater

Credits:

Recorded February 2023 at Foel Studios in Wales.

Produced by Chris Fielding.

Mixed and Mastered by Chris Fielding.

Album painting by Ryan Hancock.

Digital layouts and original CALLUS logo by Dom Sohor.

Thanks to Trepanation Recordings for the promo.

This is also the last ever release from cult UK underground label Trepanation Recordings who are sadly calling it a day after five years of terrific service and sublime releases. I want to say thank you to Dan Dolby for his tireless work and dedication to the scene. You’ll be sadly missed and I wish you all the best for your future endeavours.

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CALLUS - Gravis Decennium (Album Review)

Release Date: May 10th 2024. Record Label: Trepanation Recordings. Formats: CD/Cassette/DD

Gravis Decennium - Tracklisting

1.Yog-Sothoth

2.The Primordial

3.Infinite Beef Machine 

4.Cycloid 

5.The Dunwich Horror

6.Leg Slice

7.The Root of all Evil

8.Dreameater

Review

Doom/Thrash/Stoner Metallers CALLUS third album Gravis Decennium sees the band continue with their obsessive down-tuned journey that fuses a more intense Heavy Metal sound with the band becoming quite intricate with their multiple styles of different sounds. The album is quite unforgiving with it’s THRASH beats and breakdowns whilst keeping mostly in line with their Stoner Metal identity. CALLUS do generate some classic sound THRASH grooves that have echoes of Lamb Of God, Pantera and Metallica in places.

Gravis Decennium allows CALLUS to present a tenth anniversary speciality of earlier material fully re-recorded with crushing new production to celebrate a whole decade. So even though these songs have been released previously, they haven’t been heard like this before.

This feels like a different sounding CALLUS compared to their previous celebrated 2021 release A Breath Of Fresh Air. The vocals are Doom/Thrash based with a slight James Hetfield swagger to them whilst the music becomes more aggressive and fast-paced on the excellent opening batch of tracks Yog-Sabbath, The Primordial and Infinite Beef Machine. Clean vocals and harsh growls are part of the main course of destructive quality with the filth and dirge ridden lyrics that gives Gravis Decennium a menacing appeal.

However, there’s some fantastic and black pitched humour that appears within the record that showcases CALLUS are happy to have some demented fun with their music.

Other great tracks to check out are:Cycloid, The Dulwich Horror, The Root Of All Evil and Dreameater. 

Gravis Decennium does feel like a brand new studio full length recording with the new production values and techniques compared to the original versions. The tracks are way more Psychedelic compared to the originals with a buoyant SONIC attitude heard throughout the album. 

If you’re new to CALLUS and want the right introduction to the band then Gravis Decennium is the perfect way to do this. As this record is an excellent album full of brutal Doom/Stoner Metal grooves that has a vicious Thrash/Groove Metal identity to standout from the crowd with.

Excellent and HIghly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

This is also the last ever release from cult UK underground label Trepanation Recordings who are sadly calling it a day after five years of terrific service and sublime releases. I want to say thank you to Dan Dolby for his tireless work and dedication to the scene. You’ll be sadly missed and I wish you all the best for your future endeavours.

Thanks to Trepanation Recordings for the promo.

Gravis Decennium will be available to buy on CD/DD/Cassette from Trepanation Recordings from Friday May 10th 2024.

Links

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State Of Non Return - White Ink (Album Review)

Release Date: May 03rd 2024. Record Label: Trepanation Recordings. Formats: DD

White Ink - Tracklisting

1. Catharsis 9:35

2. Vertigo 8:45

3. White Ink 9:18

4. Pendulum 15:15

Members

 

Mauro - guitars

Diego - bass

Tony - drums

Review

White Ink is the debut album from Drone/Doom/Stoner Metallers State Of Non Return and when a band names themselves after the classic track by OM then you have a good idea of a certain style of music that the band plays. However, that’s a small side of State Of Non Return’s overall sound as they incorporate massive amounts of Drone, Doom, Psych and Stoner Metal grooves which also has a cold calculated Industrialised movement running through it’s creative mindset.

You can hear influences from bands such as Neurosis, YOB, ISIS and SLEEP with the record moving across the Post-Metal landscape to a heavier style of Progressive Stoner Metal. There’s moments of Ambient Post Rock and ethereal soundscapes all combining for a record that’s quite unsettling within the more heavier Sludgier environments on the stunning opening tracks of Catharsis and Vertigo. The vocals that appear when the time calls for it which you first hear on Catharsis and they’re spread out fairly evenly within the album. 

White Ink contains four tracks that run about forty four minutes in length but it feels longer and I mean that as a huge compliment. As State Of Non Return are quite adventurous with their music and explore different levels of cold-hearted heaviness which becomes ever more ethereal and devastating on the later tracks of White Ink and Pendulum. The instrumental passages can be focused mostly on Shoegaze or Doomgaze delivery but State Of Non Return brings an epic, harsh and abrasive style of vocals to move the album back into the Sludge/Post-Metal arena. 

State Of Non Return allows the record to transform into a heavier and distorted atmosphere which sees the overall creative flow of the record to be quite dynamic and fractured at times with the help of some intense raw-sounding production values. 

White Ink is a more direct, aggressive and primal style of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal sound which buries itself under a ton of POST-METAL aggression that leaves you wanting to hear more.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Trepanataion Recordings for the promo.

White Ink will be available to buy on Digital Download from Friday May 3rd 2024.

Links

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Trepanation Recordings are delighted to be working with State Of Non Return to release their debut album on 3rd May.

State of Non Return is a psych, stoner, doom trio based in Bologna, Italy. Formed in 2016 as a duo featuring Mauro (guitars, vocals) and Tony (drums), found its complete form in 2018 with the inclusion of Diego from RIAH on bass.

The essence of the band's music lies in their penchant for writing and playing long, heavy and intricate songs, targeting for emotional impact while maintaining a sense of flow and continuity throughout the whole listening experience.

State Of Non Return debut album, "White Ink", is slated for release in spring 2024. The self-produced record comprises four tracks, collectively spanning 44 minutes, and is the result of the band’s commitment to staying true to their live sound and attitude, somehow raw and unprocessed but still very well focused and defined.

Finalizing 5 years of rehearsals before, through and after the pandemic, the album provides listeners an intimate glimpse into the band’s creative journey, and serves as a reflection of the path they've taken, encapsulating their growth and artistic philosophy.

White Ink’ Tracklist:

1. Catharsis 9:35
2. Vertigo 8:45
3. White Ink 9:18
4. Pendulum 15:15

Credits:

Album recorded at Cabot Cove, mixed and mastered by Mauro at his home studios in Bologna, Italy.
Cover art: original photo by Dio Alif Utomo

Links

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Thanks to Trepanation Recordings for all of the info.

Yersin - The Scythe Is Remorseless (Album Review)

Release Date: 10th January 2024. Record Label: Trepanation Recordings. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

The Scythe Is Remorseful - Tracklisting

1.TRIUMPHANT 

2.MOUTHS LIKE OPEN GRAVES 

3.THE SCYTHE IS REMORSELESS 

4.LUST FOR CRUST

5.RED MIST

6.TO THE MASSES

7.DOOM

Review

The Scythe Is Remorseless is the second full album from Sludge/Grind/Crust/Doom/Death Metallers Yersin and it’s quite a brutally aware assault on the senses with Yersin playing a pummelling blend of Psychedelic sounds and bone-crunching Death grooves. The music is aggressive and violently pissed off from the start with Yersin playing a no-holds barred style of Grindcore/Sludge Metal fused with Death/Doom Metal imagery with that classic Blackened Crust flavour showing small elements of Hardcore Punk.

Yersin are from Sunderland located in the North East Of England which is quite close to my hometown of Newcastle Upon Tyne. I’ve known about Yersin for quite some time and I was a fan of their 2020 debut release but The Scythe Is Remorseless is on another level. As Yersin play fast and loose with the rules of Extreme Metal and start playing their blend of highly original Grindcore grooves with that powerfully potent Doom/Sludge Metal element being heard on the early stages of the album on tracks such as: Triumphant, Mouths Like Open Graves and The Scythe Is Remorseless.

The music can be quite hard to adapt at first with the ferocious anger coming from Yersin which sees the band being influenced by heavy hitters such as Napalm Death, Fuck The Fact, THOU and Agoraphobic Nosebleed whilst offering some subtle flashes of delivering subtle and menacing moments of Doom/Sludge Metal riffs amongst the Death/Crust/Grind carnage that Yersin mostly create and play with demonic relish throughout the album.

The instrumental work is nothing short of breathtaking in places especially with massive amounts of thrash beats and grindcore blast beasts. Usually I struggle with Grindcore vocals the best of times but I have to say I fully understood lead vocalist Chris' outstanding vocals. Even when they moved into more extreme levels of harsh grunts and growls. The lyrics came perfectly clear to myself and I do struggle with vocals from the Extreme Metal world. 

Yersin plays some of the filthiest, heaviest and brutal EXTREME guitar sounds I’ve heard quite some time especially on tracks such as The Scythe Is Remorseless, Lust For Crust and Doom. The album is quite brisk running under twenty five minutes in length but that’s part of the course for an album such as this. Yersin doesn't waste a second in playing an album that will no doubt cater more to the masses of the Extreme Metal Underground scene than the normal Doom/Sludge Metal crowd I normally cater for.

However, it’s always good every now and then to leave your comfort zone and experience something that leaves you uncomfortable which is what The Scythe Is Remorseless. Yersin delve into the darkest depths of the Extreme Heavy Metal scene with elements of 1980’s Black Metal and 1990’s Grindcore allowing the record to transform into something unexpected and that’s an intelligent release that oozes violent charm and charisma throughout. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Yersin for the promo.

The Scythe Is Remorseless will be available to buy on CD/DD/Cassette/Vinyl via Trepanation Recordings from January 10th 2024.

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Novere - Nothing Stays Hidden In Daylight (Album Review)

Release Date: October 01st 2023. Record Label: Trepanation Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Cassette

Nothing Stays Hidden In Daylight - Tracklisting

Hydra

Aphelion

Dense Macabre

Cromlech

Members

Voi - Drums/Vocals

Dave - Guitars

Top - Bass/Vocals

Matteo - Guitars

Review

Nothing Stays Hidden In Daylight is the new album from Post-Metallers Novere who fuse world-building mechanics with a despairing Progressive Sludge Metal sound. Taking cues from bands such as Cult Of Luna, Amenra, ISIS and Mastodon then this album is quite a different style of Post-Metal from Novere. As they weave Psychedelic and Ambient Soundscapes with a focus on diverse storytelling that A Perfect Circle are known for. The end result is enigmatic and deliciously twisted especially when the clean vocals appear in contrast to the harsh vocals that Noverre use as well for the more despairing moments of the record which comes into focus on the outstanding opener Hydra. 

Novere expand their Post-Metal/Prog Metal sound over four tracks that build upto over forty minutes of classic Post-Metal themes whilst still allowing Novere the opportunity to impress with their own unique style of Creativity with the Progressive Sludge guitars and Alt-Metal themes that ultimately reside within this album. 

Novere operate with a more Ambient Post-Rock sound on the mellower and quieter moments of the album especially on the soulful second track Aphelion. This track alone reminds me constantly of Cult Of Luna classic landmark album Eternal Kingdom whilst still being its own thing. As the music has similar Post-Metal beatdowns and breakdowns that expand into different areas of Doom/Sludge Metal with Novere impressing with the multitude of different sounding grooves contained within the gloomy background. The vocals add another layer of violent aggression and brief moments of sonic ferocity allow this to be one of standout tracks with Novere showing a gritty outlook to their music.

Third track Dense Macabre is a soulful and haunting Post-Rock driven score with Alt Rock/Gothic sounding vocals leading a song with a more thoughtful and emotional centre at it's creative core. There are twinges of sludgy Post-Rock sounds but this is mostly a Gothic based Post-Rock track with Novere showing a more damaged version of themselves which perhaps conjures up some of the most emotionally charged vocal imagery on the entire album. With intense instrumental work, Novere are in their creative element here, perhaps from a storytelling aspect at least.

The final track Cromlech is an epic style of Post-Rock/Post-Metal aggression with a bleak Progressive Doom/Sludge Metal sound slowly working it's way up. Shades of ISIS (Oceanic era) Post-Rock mythology once again allows Novere the perfect opportunity to weave their own style of Post-Metal dominance. When the outburst of aggressive harsh vocals appears then Novere are back where they belong playing different levels of punishing and deafening amounts of Post-Metal grooves that surprised me at how "riff-centric" the music becomes. There's a cool sounding Ambient/Sonic atmosphere on the later stages that brings a more Post-Doom environment for Novere to build their sound upon and deliver one final round of first rate Post-Metal heaviness to the underground masses.

Nothing Stays Hidden In Daylight has some top-notch talent behind the scenes with Joe Clayton (Pijn) on recording duties and the legendary Magnus Lindberg (Cult Of Luna) on mastering duties. So Novere have backed up their phenomenal talent with some other Post-Metal heavy hitters that help to make Nothing Stays Hidden In Daylight quite frankly another brilliant and worthwhile addition of outstanding releases to come the UK Post-Metal underground scene. This is a must have release.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Novere and Trepanation Recordings for the promo.

Nothing Stays Hidden In Daylight is available to buy on CD/DD/Cassette now via Trepanation Recordings.

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MAIRU - Sol Cultus (Album Review)

Release Date: July 28th 2023. Record Label: Trepanation Records. Formats: CD/DD/Cassette

MAIRU: Tracklisting

1. Torch Bearer [9:03]

2. Perihelion [6:26]

3. Inter Alia [1:02]

4. Wild Darkened Eyes [5:29]

5. The Scattering Dust [8:12]

6. Per Alia [1:38]

7. Atar [6:39]

8. Rite Of Embers [10:27]

Members

Alan Caulton - Guitar, piano and vocals

 Ben Davis - Drums and synths

Dan Hunt - Bass and vocals

Ant Hurlock - Guitar and vocals

Review:

Sol Cultus is the debut album from UK Sludge/Post-Metallers MAIRU and it sees the band take creative themes used by bands such as Cult Of Luna, BOSSK, TOOL, Deftones, The Ocean and ISIS though still having that ice cold steely atmosphere that UK Post-Metal bands use within their music. MAIRU are perhaps way more Psychedelic with their music being more COSMIC based with the free-flowing Ambient Post-Rock attitudes that MAIRU ultimately conveys.

Opening song Torch Bearer drifts from Instrumental Post-Metal passages to ice-cold Sludge Metal grooves with harsh vocals to match. The Ambient and Sonic progressive moments allow MAIRU to deliver a more extreme vocal delivery for this song though they’re quite easy to follow and understand. The subtle switching from Post-Rock to Atmospheric Sludge is intense with the band operating with a mid-2000’s Post-Metal edge that slowly builds into uplifting Ambient instrumental passages before returning to the heavier Doomed Out attitude that allows the band to rival UK Sludge/Post-Metallers Hundred Year Old Man in the heavy volume department

Second song Perihelion is a heavier instrumental style of Post-Metal that PELICAN are known for but with a twinge of Prog Metal that allows MAIRU to hold their own against the legendary bands of the scene. The subtle use of Post-Rock flavours and Ambient Metal creates a stunning QUIET vs LOUD aesthetic where the music is constantly transforming into something far greater especially when the HEAVY PROGRESSIVE sounds appear. The clever use of Psychedelic textures is what makes this song truly standout and perhaps become one of the standout tracks on the album with many anthemic sounds to lose yourself in.

Third song Inter Alia is a quietly played and subdued Ambient/Piano number that sadly doesn’t offer much to the album but it’s a superbly played little number to show a different side to MAIRU.

Fourth song Wild Darkened Eyes sees MAIRU dwell in the same creative theatre that Cult Of Luna and The Ocean Collective made their names with. The vocals are more violent and offer a bleak desolate attitude for the atmospheric sludgy guitars becoming more DOOM & GLOOM along the way. MAIRU still add moments of slowly played Post-Rock before returning with a buoyant distorted style of Psychedelic Sludge Metal with flashes of TOOL-esque sounds heard on the later stages of the album.

Fifth song The Scattering Dust continues with the bleak and cinematic based Post-Rock soundscapes that evolves into a majestic style of Post-Doom/Atmospheric Sludge extended guitars. The music has a stunning “BATTLING AGAINST THE ELEMENTS” approach throughout with the band playing some of the most uplifting sounds on the album. The vocals are used sparingly with that subtle style of  “instrumental” delivery being used for the majority of the album. MAIRU do switch things around for a more Progressive feel to this song but it allows the band to play some of the heaviest moments of the album.

The final three songs Per Alia, Atar and Rite Of Embers sees MAIRU venture further into the theatre of Post-Metal with the band playing a more direct style of music with trippy moments of aggressive atmospheric energy on tracks such as Atar and Rites Of Ember. The music is quite complex with a harsh instrumental backdrop allowing the band to deliver their own uncompromising style of Atmospheric Sludge Metal that demands your undivided attention.

Sol Cultus is an epic release from MAIRU and could allow the band to become one of the most important bands (along with Hundred Year Old Man) within the UK Sludge/Post-Metal scene in the years to come. 

Sol Cultus remains a spellbinding, beautifully played and wonderfully complex album that MAIRU deserves all the plaudits hopefully coming their way.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Frenchie PR for the promo.

Sol Cultus is available to buy on CD/DD/Cassette now from Trepanation Recordings.

Links:

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Orme - Orme (Album Review)

Release Date: April 20th 2023. Record Label: Trepanation Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Cassette

Orme - Orme: Tracklisting

Nazarene

Onward To Sarnath

Members

Tom Clements - Guitars/Vocals

Jimmy Long - Bass and Didgeridoo

Luke Thelin - Drums and Silence

Review

Orme are a Psychedelic/Drone/Ritual/Doom Metal band from the UK and the band play expansive Long Drawn out grooves that feel inspired by the likes of Sunn 0))), BONG, SLEEP and OM. Their self-titled debut album offers two tracks Nazarene and Onward To Sarnath both running for 41 mins and 53 mins respectively. So you can expect a challenging and complex sounding album which Orme offers no apologies for.

Both tracks have a slight Stoner or WEEDIAN sound to them with an almost Apocalyptic approach with their music. Ambient and Psych Metal textures have a slow building methodical nature to them. You could wait a long time for heavy Drone/Doom grooves to appear. The same methodology goes with the vocals as well. As Orme bides their time to allow lead vocalist Tom Clements to make a welcome appearance. Tom's vocals and delivery styles are mostly a mixture of Doom Chants and Experimental elements but all showing a GREGORIAN style quality to them.

There's a deep level of warped melody and distortion with the music that comes into play very early on with the opening track of Nazarene. Orme even adapted their music to play more experimental styles of Post-Rock and even Acid Rock but still firmly within the Drone/Doom Metal aspect their music confidently delivers.

The later stages of both tracks contain the heaviest parts of the album where Orme manages to play deeply interesting cuts of Riff based music. Sure, there's the long drawn out Sunn 0))) or BONG sonic influence keeping things played at a slow pace but at least Orme learn to adapt with their music and include some mighty fine DOWN-TUNED, LOW & SLOW and AMPLIFIER DISTORTED epic instrumental jams.

The standout track has to be Onward To Sarnath. As it's a longer and deeply more interesting track from a creative point of view. Orme include different themes or different sides of Ambient/Ritual music. This track allows Orme the chance to perform some of the heaviest and bleakest sounds on the album. 

With BONG being missing in action for the time being, I can easily see Orme filling that void. They may play similar styles of music but Orme have a darker sense of SONIC EXPLORATION that left me mightily impressed by the lyrics, chants and vocal passages they created for this album. However, it's the music that's the real standout with Orme perhaps taking cues from the legendary album DOPESMOKER for the more scorched desert parts the album contains.

The album isn't going to be for everyone. Some may feel not a lot happens but you have to have experience the whole album in one sitting to fully understand what Orme achieved with this album. The record is superbly heavy in it's own unique way. I would love to see what these guys bring to the live stage. As this is the type of band that would go down a storm within the Roadburn crowd and perhaps other well known underground Doom/Stoner festivals.

Production values are excellent which allows the heaviness of the album to grow naturally and offer the listener some deafening Doom/Stoner/Psych tinged grooves of the highest order.

This is a sublime release from perhaps the best Droned Out Doom Metal bands from the UK Underground Scene I've heard in quite some time.

Words by Steve Howe

Orme is available to buy now via Trepanation Recordings on CD/DD/Cassette.

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