MERLOCK Announce New Album Onward Strives Colossus

MERLOCK Announce New Album Onward Strives Colossus

Exploring gloomy realms, MERLOCK produce imposing soundscapes that embrace the murky depths. Seeing multiple genres converge, MERLOCK manifest a compelling doom, psychedelic and stoner mix in the new record. Onward Strives Colossus will be released on February 24th, 2023.

"Onward Strides Colossus is a sort of “hero's journey” set in a posthuman, postdoom atmosphere. Sonically and lyrically, it explores cycles of death and rebirth, notions of hell, and of self-actualization. Seeking truth is the primary urge of the album, and that urge becomes, at times, colossal, which is where the name comes from. Heady pretension aside, the album is also very much about the three of us building this monstrosity that is Merlock. Writing albums, touring, failure & victory — all of those intense experiences that continually shape and reshape us as people. We all had to grow into new, more powerful versions of ourselves to create this album. We know the Colossus doesn’t stop here." — Taylor D. Waring

Introducing the release is "Sovereign Throne", a groove rhythm powered track with a bluesy side. Lead guitars emerge out of the shadows with bright intricate solos that interweave. An injection of energy sees the pace increase and elevates the music as the vocals soar above. "Behold the Sword of Lock" brings an aggressive onslaught seeing harsh vocals combined with noisy guitar tones to unleash a fully immersive sound. MERLOCK pull out all the stops with the album's title track. Eerie, droning fuzz and wandering vocals evoke a haunting, otherworldly air. Playing with dynamics, the tracks builds up into explosive rhythmic guitars and percussion — "Onward Strides Colossus" delivers a powerful and impressive impact.

About MERLOCK:

Described by critics as “gloomy and semi-mystical”, “shadowy and mysterious”, and “epic and ever-climbing”, MERLOCK melds stoner doom with heavy psychedelic sounds to create heavy post-doom atmospheres. Formed in 2017 in Spokane, Washington, MERLOCK has self-released 2 EPs and toured the West Coast while continuously demonstrating their willingness to evolve a songwriters and performers. Having weathered line-up changes and the ever-evolving music scene in the post-COVID world, MERLOCK continues to look for new paths forward.

MERLOCK is:

 
Taylor D. Waring - Guitar / Vox
Andrew Backes - Bass
Lucas Barrey - Drums

Album Credits:

 
Album Art - Leoncio Harmr
Album Layout - Taylor D. Waring
Engineering and Mixing - Nic Wilbur
Mastering - Adam Tucker

Track Listing: 

1. Sovereign Throne 

2. Sunnbarren

3. Behold! The Sword of Lock

4. Where No One Goes

5. Somniloquy

6. Onward Strides Colossus

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merlocklives

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merlocklives/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/merlocklives

Bandcamp: https://merlock.bandcamp.com/

Website: https://www.merlocklives.com/

Eye Of Doom - The Sapient (Album Review)

Date Released: November 11th 2022. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

The Sapient: Tracklisting

1.224.7 01:55

2.Eye of Doom Part I 10:57

3.Dead Void 05:29

4.Return to Descension 06:36

5.The Sapient 09:33

6.Eye of Doom Part II 12:44

Members

Adam Mattsson - Guitar

Alex Kadhim - Bass

Derrick Staines - Drums

Review

The Sapient is the debut full length album from Canadian/Swedish Heavy Doom/Spaced Out Stoners Eye Of Doom. Taking cues from bands from the Swedish Doom/Stoner Metal scene and perhaps some cues from Monolord, YOB and Slomatics along the way. Eye Of Doom brings elements of the occult, classic heavy metal sounds within a warped style of Modern Doom/Stoner Metal with a huge reliance on AMPLIFIER RIFF WORSHIP and FUZZ ROCK.

The music is LOUD, SEEDY and elements of Distorted Fuzz along the way. Echoes of Progressive Doom are heard within the early stages of the album through songs such as Eye Of Doom Part 1 and Dead Void. The instrumental work has echoes of Black Sabbath and early Black Sabbath with the vocals not what I initially expected but still doing a damn fine job in amplifying the Occult Rock atmosphere. The music is quite melodic despite the heavy seediness of it all. 

Throw in 70’s and 80’s Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal guitars that merge into extended jams with the delicious down-tuned aggressive Fuzz Rock grooves then Eye Of Doom are doing something exciting to the normal Doom/Stoner Metal template. The Psychedelic and Space Rock parts of the album keep things current and super-fresh.

The whole album has a vibrant DIY approach with rich production values with perhaps Monolord’s Esben Willems having a major hand with on Mixing and Mastering duties at his famed Berserker Audio studio. 

The Sapient becomes even gloomier and heavier on the later stages on the album especially on tracks such as Return To Descension, The Sapient and the outstanding final track Eye Of Doom Part 2. The music perhaps drowns out the excellent vocals on this part of the album but that’s perhaps the desired effect with the HEAVY GROOVES being a statement of intent from Eye Of Doom rather to show their sublime creative and musical skills which is shown throughout the album.

With the power of famed underground label Majestic Mountain Records behind Eye Of Doom for releasing this album though the vinyl is now sold out. Wonder if a vinyl repress will be announced in the future. Let's hope so. 

The Sapient is a deeply engaging and brilliantly FUZZ-TASTIC release that will appeal to the wider majority of the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene. With that added first class Spaced Out and Psychedelic Rock sound, The Sapient is an album that really does deliver on all fronts.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Elder - Innate Passage (Album Review)

Date Released: November 25th 2022. Record Label: Stickman Records (EU) / Armageddon Shop (USA). Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Innate Passage: Tracklisting

1.Catastasis - 10:50 

2.Endless Return - 09:54 

3.Coalescence - 09:47 

4.Merged in Dreams – Ne Plus Ultra - 14:43 

5.The Purpose - 08:37  

Members

Nick DiSalvo - Vocals, Guitars and Keyboards

Jack Donovan - Bass

Mike Risberg - Guitars and Keyboards

Georg Edert - Drums

Review

Progressive/Psych Stoner Rock masters Elder return with their sixth album Innate Passage and it’s everything you’ve come to expect from them. Epic and lush sounding Psych Stoner Rock extended jams with a layer of Prog Rock cleverness within the music. Fans expecting a return to their earlier sounding Doom Metal sounds of their earlier albums will likely be disappointed. Though, Elder have been playing and perfecting this style of Psychedelic music for the best part of a decade now. 

Innate Passage is superbly heavy from start to finish with Elder moving between the different levels of Psych Stoner Rock and their clever use of Prog Rock themes. The subtle moves of Space Rock and Ambient Post-Rock is a welcome bonus to this album which you can hear in full effect on the excellent opening track Catastasis that is beautifully heavy and moderately quiet in different stages of the track. Haunting melodic grooves work superbly well with the Ambient Post-Rock or Post-Stoner vibes of the album. The vocals are a different class compared to other bands of Elder’s ilk with them being quite uplifting on the more mellow parts of the song which is carried out throughout the remainder of the album.

Second song Endless Return carries on the similar creative journey of the opening track but perhaps has a familiar feel to songs that appeared on Lore and Reflections Of A Floating World but Elder still showing new sounds that we haven’t heard from them. The song has a great use of synths at the start before bringing traces of Spaced Out Stoner Rock with a cool sounding 70’s Prog Rock feel. Elder shows a new creative side to themselves but still offers classic ELDER wonderful psychedelic sounds. 

All the tracks run between nine minutes and almost fifteen minutes in length which is part of the course with Elder albums. The songs on the album are perhaps some of the most progressive we’ve heard from Elder with the different styles of music they employ on the album which allows the album to be wonderfully creative and breathtaking on the later stages on the album. None so more on the best tracks on the album which has to be Coalescence and Merged in Dreams – Ne Plus Ultra. These two tracks are my favourite tracks on the album and contain some of my favourite pieces of music I’ve heard from the band since their celebrated first two albums. 

Both of these tracks feature lush and dreamy Post-Rock passages merged with modern day Psych/Stoner Rock grooves that feel CINEMATIC in scope especially on Merged In Dreams - Ne Plus Ultra. Both tracks feature first rate vocals that just adds to the beauty of it all.

Elder ends the album on a high with the stunning final track The Purpose which perhaps feels the most emotionally charged on the album. Intricate Psych Rock sounds that have a feeling of genuine human emotions within the lyrics and Prog Rock passages that accompany the track to its exciting conclusion.

Innate Passage is another classic album from Elder and only enhances their reputation of being one of the essential Psychedelic Stoner Rock bands within the whole scene. This is a type of album that will inspire future musicians for generations to come.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo.

Innate Passage will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Stickman Records (EU) and Armageddon Shop (USA) from November 25th 2022

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Time//Wounds - The eighth studio LP from Mos Generator Being Released via Pale Wizard Records

We've had a great relationship with Tony Reed and Mos Generator for a few years now. So we were honoured when he approached us to handle the worldwide Cd release for their new album. What we didn't expect was for the album to be quite as amazing as it is. Trust us, this is like nothing you've heard from this band before. It's like Tony has gone through his (vast) record collection and managed to blend the best moments from the last 40 years of Rock and Pop. We can hear Jeff Buckley, Steely Dan, Sabbath and so much more. Have a listen to one of the tracks below:

In order to do this album justice, we decided to release a deluxe edition of just 100 CD's in a special slipcases with an exclusive embroidered patch (not available anywhere else). Head on over to the link below to pre-order your own copy before they're gone. Official release is 16th December. Thank you for reading.

Pale Wizard BandCamp Store

Calm Collapse - Mirrored Nature (Album Review)

Date Released: November 25th 2022. Record Label: Spartan Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Mirrored Nature: Tracklisting

Positive Greed

Sounds God

Brad Delp

Subtle Beast

Welfare Tour

Comeuppance

Shadows Paroled

Stairwell From The Moon

Members

Doug Lorig

Rob Smith

Jonathan Pease

Review

Calm Collapse is made up of members from the Indie Rock scene and whilst their debut album Mirrored Nature has Indie Rock vibes, this album is purely made of Prog Rock, Noise Rock, Grunge with massive Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves akin to bands such as Mastodon and Melvins. The album also has influences from bands such as Soundgarden and Torche in places. Recording and Mixed duties are handled by Matt Bayles who knows a thing or two about certain heavy grooves thanks to his work with bands such as Mastodon and ISIS.

Mirrored Nature contains eight tracks where Calm Collapse moves throughout the history of the Heavy Rock spectrum of the last forty years or so. However, this album remains thoroughly modern while striking a perfect balance of Indie Rock sounds with the heavier and more dynamic Sludge/Stoner Metal parts of the album.

Opening song Positive Greed opens with a more commercial heavy rock groove before Calm Collapse starts adding elements of Noise, Grunge, and Sludgy grooves that goes quite Spaced Out rock towards the end of the song. The vocals are equally powerful with a certain Grungy charm to them. There's a certain King Buffalo energy when the track slows the mood right down for a lush Cinematic and Psychedelic Post-Rock or Post-Stoner feel.

Second song Sounds God offers a heavier approach with that Indie Rock vibe working superbly well with the heavier Alt Rock flow of the track. The song revels in its 90's bold drive with a grungy atmosphere being more fast-paced than I originally anticipated. Perhaps one of the more gloomy offerings thanks to the sublime lyrics written for the track. Calm Collapse brings a certain style of calmness to the album whilst playing a refreshing blend of aggressive Psych Rock/Metal.

Third song Brad Delp opens with a killer guitar or bass solo before the Hardcore Punk vocals breaks up the peaceful mood to a more volatile energy. The song can be quite hard to describe in places with Calm Collapse moving between Punk Rock, Grunge, Noise Rock, Psych Rock and Prog Metal with echoes of WEEZER, Mastodon and QOTSA being felt through their wonderfully powerful and creative sounds on the album. This song remains superbly original with the band showing brilliant flashes of EPIC PSYCHEDELIC GROOVES that is violently addictive but so damn catchy at the same time.

Calm Collapse continues with this style of music for the remainder of the album on tracks such as Subtle Beast, Welfare Tour, Shadows Paroled and Stairwell For The Moon. The album does see Calm Collapse merge uplifting Ambient Post-Rock passages for a more reflective style of music whilst maintaining their Sludge/Stoner Metal presence on the later stages of the album.

If you loved HUM or Museum Of Light most recent albums then there's much to admire here with Calm Collapse offering similar Psychedelic and Melodic compositions whilst still being original in it's own right. The second half of the album also sees Calm Collapse play the heaviest and intense sounds on the entire record. 

The added bonus of Indie Rock sensibilities allows Calm Collapse to release an album that is a breathtaking, bold and daring style of Sludge Rock/Stoner Metal that you don't really hear that often. Mirrored Nature is an outstanding release that's fast becoming one of my favourite albums of the year even this late in the game as well.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mike at Earshot Media for the promo.

Mirrored Nature is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Spartan Records from November 25th 2022

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Turned To Stoner Chapter 6: Captain Caravan and Kaiser (Album Review)

Date Released: November 18th 2022. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Turned To Stone Chapter 6: Tracklisting

 

1.Captain Caravan - Down 03:51

2.Captain Caravan - Sailors 04:23

3.Captain Caravan - Painted Wolf 04:14

4.Captain Caravan - She Can 05:28

5.Captain Caravan - Void 03:41

6.Kaiser - Howl 05:05

7.Kaiser - Fire 02:28

8.Kaiser - Black Sand Witch 04:50

9.Kaiser - Phoenix Part 1, 2, 3: Fission, Death, Rebirth 09:37

Review

Ripple Music release the next exciting chapter within their acclaimed Turned To Stone series with two of Scandinavian’s finest Fuzz/Stoner Rock bands with Captain Caravan and Kaiser being given the opportunity to showcase their mighty talents. Curated by famed underground Stoner Rock champion and all round good guy John Gist, this release is a mighty fine slab of Blues Rock, Fuzz Rock and Stoner Rock coming from both bands.

Captain Caveman’s set of five songs around twenty minutes of high voltage STONER RAWK with a classic sideline of FUZZY SOUNDS and great vocals with a twinge of menace behind them which you feel into full effect on great tracks such as Dawn, Sailors and She Can. The instrumental work is super tight and sees the band bring energy from the legendary 70s and 80s Hard Rock scene. Excellent lyrics and melodic grooves allows Captain Caveman the chance to impress with an almighty swagger with the music walking a fine line between Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and Stoner Rock.

Kaiser’s set of fours songs perhaps offer the LOUDEST and HEAVIEST sounds on the EP with a cool approach with levels of classic sounding FUZZ ROCK that would make Truckfighters blush in the volume department. Their sound also has a PUNK ROCK spirit or attitude on tracks such as Howl, Fire and Phoenix Part 1, 2, 3: Fission, Death, Rebirth. The instrumental work is once again first rate and I will admit I enjoyed Kaiser songs the most here especially when the band go into Fuzz Rock/Desert Rock/Stoner Rock overdrive with the intense drumming allowing the record become even crazier and heavier.

Both bands bring their “A” game to the party and they do feel like different sides of the same coin on this release. So whatever style of Stoner Rock mood you find yourselves in, this release covers all bases in that aspect and offers the chance for you to fully rock out with two great bands from the Scandinavian underground scene. 

Bring on Chapter 7 in January 2023. Ripple Music showing once again why they’re one of the finest labels within the Stoner Rock Community and underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Turned To Stone Chapter 6 is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Captain Caravan Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Kaiser Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Borehead - 0002 (EP Review)

Date Released: November 17th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

0002: Tracklisting

 

1.Phantasm (A Prequel) 11:02

2.Mariana's Lament 05:36

3.Lost in Waters Deep 09:08

Review

0002 is the new EP from UK Doom/Stoner Metal instrumentalists Borehead and it’s quite an engaging affair driven by Black Sabbath inspired AMPLIFIER WORSHIP heavy gloomy sounds. The whole flow of the record is powered by some epic Progressive and Psychedelic grooves that remain slow paced for the most part but also sees Borehead play faster sounds that feel super fresh in places.

The three tracks that make up the EP are all superbly played and produced from beginning to end with perhaps the standout tracks being Phantasm (A Prequel) and Lost In Waters Deep. You can hear shades of Russian Circles, Pelican, Vinnum Sabbathi and even Mastodon when Borehead start playing a more a more progressive sludgier style of music. 

The Ambient noises and soundclips that accompany Phantasm (A Prequel) make you take more notice of Borehead and the music they deliver with perhaps the music becoming more DOOMIER and MENACING with the band still playing first rate extended jams.

The use of different styles of Instrumental Rock/Metal contained on this release such as Post-Rock/Post-Metal allows Borehead to take huge creative risks with their music for a more well rounded and huge sounding release that you don’t initially expect.

0002 is expertly recorded and produced which allows Borehead deliver a more cinematic style of Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal that ultimately leaves you wanting to hear more. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp