Doom/Stoner Metallers A Gram Trip announce new album titled “Bud Ends And Glass Bottoms”, first single out now!

A Gram Trip is a four-piece stoner metal band from Zagreb, Croatia. Founded in 2019, they released their debut album titled “Long Overdue” in 2023, followed up by a three song EP titled “If We Leaf Tomorrow” in 2024. 

This year, they are putting out their second album titled “Bud Ends And Glass Bottoms”, set to release on Vinyl on November 20th.  The album was recorded in Studio Depth, Zagreb over a three-day weekend at the end of May 2025. Mixing and mastering was done by Filip Sertic. 

“From the early days of the band there was always an idea to have Croatian Naive art to grace an album cover. Luckily, we stumbled upon Ivan Vecenaj and his work. We jumped in a car and went to his museum. Getting to talk to his son Mladen, and getting to know his life and work, we realised there is a lot we have in common! He was self-taught with a diy mindset. ”

Ivan Vecenaj (1920-2013) was a Croatian Naive painter, writer and poet born in Gola. His painting “Our Future”, which graces the cover of this album, was created in 1975 using oil paints to glass. 

The first single from the album titled “Flesh and Wires” is available now via Youtube and on all major streaming platforms. You can pre order the full album on 12” black or turquoise vinyl via the artists Bandcamp! 

https://agramtrip.bandcamp.com/album/bud-ends-and-glass-bottoms

https://open.spotify.com/track/39RzoTv7dApCtQqJL3SGl2?si=aa1af55e19814ffb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeL5EPI4f4Q

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

BEASTWARS Announce New Album THE SHIP // THE SEA | Listen to First Single ‘LEVITATE’

The southern hemisphere’s kings of apocalyptic metal rise again with their sixth studio album, The Ship // The Sea (out 7th November 2025 via Destroy Records)

Like bearing witness to a world sliding headlong into the abyss, Beastwars are no strangers to soundtracking times of war, disaster, and collapse – when half-truths and hidden agendas lurk behind every act of the world’s eroding empires.

From the very beginning, their music has embodied the apocalyptic feeling of these end times: primal, hypnotic, and relentlessly heavy. Their 2011 self-titled debut declared as much, and tragically, feels more relevant today than ever. Fourteen years later, the world has only grown harsher and Beastwars’ sixth record, The Ship // The Sea, distils that darkness into one of the most intense and cathartic albums of their career.

In 2021 and 2023, the band toured their first two albums in full. Revisiting that early material reignited the raw energy at their core, inspiring them to strip back the progressive flourishes of recent years and reconnect with the heaviness of their origins. The Ship // The Sea channels that spirit into towering riffs and unflinching emotion, unfolding like a sequence of hellish headlines. Mute the endless stream of calamities on your screen. Beastwars’ heavy howls create an eerily apocalyptic soundtrack for the present day.

“Life has become a marathon for most people,” says Hyde. “How can we not see the injustice, the cruelty of the world? Our new album is like Picasso’s Guernica - a reflection of war and horror, of endings and upheavals. It's the sound of a ship adrift on a cruel sea.”

Water runs as the central motif throughout the record, the ship representing the body and the sea symbolising life. Lyrically, the songs traverse survival, purification, wisdom, and healing, always with an undercurrent of danger and the fight to endure.

To capture this vision, Beastwars decided that they needed to record by the ocean. They decamped to Studio 11b near the beach in Mount Maunganui then completed the album back in their hometown of Wellington, once again working alongside longtime collaborator James Goldsmith.

Having co-produced the band’s last three albums and engineered their live shows, Goldsmith was the ideal partner to harness their ferocity with heightened intensity.

As ever, the music is paired with artwork by Nick Keller (Weta Workshop: Narnia, Avatar, The Hobbit). His vast oil painting for The Ship // The Sea is both terrifying and transcendent, an otherworldly vision that mirrors the sound within.

The Ship // The Sea will be released Friday 7th November 2025 via Destroy Records on LP and digital formats, with pre-orders available now at www.beastwarsband.com. The band will also tour Australia and New Zealand this November in support of the release.

Listen to New Single ‘Levitate’ – HERE

This album was created with the generous support of NZ On Air

Tour Dates:

Mo's Desert Clubhouse – Gold Coast, Aus – Wed 12th November
The Brightside – Brisbane, Aus – Thu 13th November
The Landsdowne – Sydney, Aus – Fri 14th November
The Evelyn – Melbourne, Aus – Sat 15th November
River Rocks Rehab – Geelong, Aus – Sun 16th November
Last Place – Hamilton – Thu 20th November
Double Whammy – Auckland – Fri 21st November
Meow Nui – Wellington – Sat 22nd November
Dropkicks – Dunedin – Fri 28th November
Churchill's – Christchurch – Sat 29th November

Artist: Beastwars
Album: The Ship // The Sea
Record Label: Destroy Records
Formats: LP/Digital
Release Date: 7/11/25

Promo photography by David James

Limited edition vinyl and tees available from www.beastwarsband.com

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Twitter

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the details.

GRIN - Incantation (7 inch Single Review)

Release Date: August 29th 2025. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Incantation - Tracklisting

1.Incantation 03:54

2.The Color Of Ghosts 04:22

3.Echoes In The Static (Bonus Track) 04:24

Members

S. Oberg – Bass Guitar

J. Oberg – Drums, Vocals

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers GRIN return in spectacular fashion with their blazing new 7 inch single which features three tracks that could easily have fit within any of their brilliant albums especially their latest record Acid Gods that was released a few months ago. The sound is full of Slusge Metal aggression with GRIN’s trademark style of Distorted Psychedelics and slight Industrial based melodies that soon goes into Stoner Metal dynamics.

The opening title track Incantation has a nightmarish FUZZ METAL attitude that has a trippy HORROR based vibe that manifests into a surreal Industrial Rock/Metal element built around Jan’s outstanding vocals that is perhaps his scariest and most demonic sounding to date. Sabine’s bass have a devastating and apocalyptic quality to them which allows Jan’s drums to fully hold everything together. There’s a twisted sense of melody appearing which GRIN are absolute masters at. This is one powerful trip into the darker side of GRIN’s creative outlook.

Second track The Color Of Ghosts feels like GRIN are channelling their other projects such as Earth Ship and Slowshine with its sense of twisted Doom-Pop melodies and Sludge Rock aggression. The clean vocals are superb and allow GRIN to play a subdued style of music compared to the opening track. GRIN are at their creative best on this track as it shows a different side to them with a more hopeful based track that fans of FLOOR and TORCHE will love. The final stages sees GRIN return to the heavy Sludge Metal environment they’ve made their names with.

The final track Echoes In The Static is a fast-paced number with a Punk Rock attitude with the music being slightly chaotic with DIY production values that once again shows a different side to GRIN. The song definitely has a “LESS IS MORE” approach but still makes up for thrilling and bombastic beats with Jan’s drumming being quite erratic and unpredictable at times. I mean that as a huge compliment. Sabine’s bass has a dominant and direct vibe that makes it my favourite part of the whole track. The warped Psychedelic sound effects have a soaring and gloomy energy that allows GRIN to end this record in highly spectacular fashion.

Incantation is another epic release from GRIN that once again proves why they’re one of the finest and most hard working Sludge/Stoner Metal bands to emerge from the German underground scene. 

Yeah, I absolutely loved this twisted slice of HEAVY MUSIC and even though it’s only on for around thirteen minutes, this is an essential record to own. Outstanding once again from GRIN!!!

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy Incantation now on Digital Download and Vinyl from The Lasting Dose Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

MUFFASONIC - Brotheranza (EP Review)

Release Date: September 12th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Brotheranza - Tracklisting

01 Komadrone

02 Phantoxication

03 Bruddharoids

04 Musoman

05 Bovindha

Members

Gianluca Sirri (guitar)

Giampaolo Farnedi (drums)

Nicola Casadei (bass guitar).

Review

Brotheranza is the next release from Instrumental Psych/Stoner Rockers Muffasonic who showed huge potential for epic jams on their excellent debut album ZEROH released back in July 2024. The album showcased Muffasonic’s style of classic sounding Desert Rock based landscapes that’s levelled up by a heavy amount of Fuzz and Stoner Metal. Muffasonic doesn't change that winning formula much with this release but there is a sense of gritty heaviness that emerges within the superb opening track of Komadrone.

The sound is quite cinematic in its approach with influences such as Karma To Burn and Yawning Man appearing at times but the presence of a heavier Post-Doom attitude takes charge with the long drawn out distorted melodies that appear at the end of the track. This style of music takes centre stage for the next two tracks of Phantoxication and Bruddharoids which elevates the record into a Sludge Rock environment.

The instrumental playing is excellent with Muffasonic playing a classic Power-Trio formation where everything is played on point. There’s a sense of Hard Rock determination which reminds me of classic KARMA TO BURN more and more.

With an ever increasing reliance on FUZZ, REVERB and DISTORTED FEEDBACK for the final two tracks of Musoman and Bovidha leading upto the heaviest sounds on the EP that is perhaps the standout parts on the EP especially on the epic final track of Bovindha. Muffasonic demonstrates a wealth of huge talent with their music that leaves you wanting to hear more.

Brotheranza is the type of EP that merges old-school Instrumental Stoner Rock grooves and modern day Psych Metal to great effect that makes this such a great record from start to finish.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

French Heavy Rockers GOATFATHER Unveil New Album Details; New Single & Music Video Out Now

GOATFATHER, the French Heavy Rock band, will release their new full-length, House of the Rising Smoke, on October 24th via Argonauta Records. Today, the band unveils the full album details and drops a new single along with the official music video for “Stoner Dream.”

"The goat is back!

We’re delighted to announce that GOATFATHER will continue to work with Argonauta Records for their next effort! We’re so excited to renew our criminal conspiracy with Gero and all the Argonauta family.

GOATFATHER’s third album “House of the Rising Smoke” is to be released very soon and will be available in LP, CD and digital. Be ready for a new blend of heavy guitars, catchy riffing and thunderous vocals!

We’re also very proud to introduce Violeine (ex-WITCHGROVE) as our new bass player! We wish you’ll give her the warmest welcome!" - says the band

Watch “Stoner Dream” here: 

Album track listing:

1. Stoner Dream
2. Eye of the Electric Mountain
3. Night of the Blue Smoke
4. Son of a Witch
5. Rainbow Rider
6. Space Weeds and Heavy Trips

Come and have a taste of GOATFATHER’s unique mixture: a filthy blend of goat milk, engine oil and southern bourbon in a rusty shaker.

Spreading greasy music in their path, these four musicians from France play Heavy Stoner Rock, and they play it loud! The band quickly got attention from the audience and the press with their first two albums, “Hipster Fister” (Black Wave, 2016) and “Monster Truck” (Argonauta Records, 2021), playing many shows and supporting bands like STONED JESUS, PLANET OF ZEUS, MARS RED SKY, MONKEY3...

The goat is back! Their next effort House of the Rising Smoke will be released October 24th through Argonauta Records: 6 tracks of heavy music, catchy riffing and thunderous vocals, coming straight from the bayou!

https://www.facebook.com/goatfatherstoner
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.

Dusted Angel - This Side Of The Dirt (Album Review)

Release Date: September 19th 2025. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

This Side Of The Dirt - Tracklisting

1. Plastic People

2. Death Crushes Hope

3. Redman

4. This Side Of The Dirt

5. Kiss O Shame

6. Little Lizzy

7. The Thorn

8. Seeking The Dawn

Members

Elliot Young - Bass

Eric Fieber - Guitars

Clifford Dinsmore - Vocals

Steve Ilse - Drums

Eddie Gregor - Guitars

Review

This Side Of The Dust is the next chapter from Doom/Stoner Metallers DUSTED ANGEL who last released an album back in 2010 and I who thought they split up years ago. However, here we are with DUSTED ANGEL firing on all cylinders with their latest album. DUSTED ANGEL haven’t lost the verve, swagger and gritty eagerness that made their debut album such an exhilarating experience. 

If you’re new to DUSTED ANGEL’s world then look at the lineup the band contains as it features Clifford Dinsmore on vocals (Bl'ast!, Seized Up, Spaceboy), Ed Gregor on guitar (Hedgehog, No Use For A Name), Eric "Dog" Fieber on guitar (Mock, Creature, Fire Sermon) Steve Ilse on drums (Creature, Herbert, Automatic Animal) and Eliot Young (Lost in Line, Seance) on bass.

This record has a grittier and aggressive flavour with DUSTED ANGEL definitely inspired by the modern day underground HEAVY RAWK scene and for a band going since 2008, the hunger is still there which you can fully experience on the catchy as hell opening track of Plastic People. This track allows DUSTED ANGEL to perfect their Punk Rock heavily inspired take of Doom and Stoner Metal with a meaty NOISE ROCK attitude being played throughout. The bombastic and no fucks given vocals from Clifford Dinsmore allows him to bridge the gap between the Hardcore, Punk and Stoner Metal scenes with demented relish. 

The instrumental sounds are a cross between FU MANCHU, KYUSS, Monster Magnet, Bl’ast, Whores, The Melvins and Kowloon Walled City which makes up for a highly interesting style of music to fully develop on tracks such as Death Crushes Hope, Redman and This Side Of The Dirt.

ANGEL DUST have a bone-thumping melody to their overall sound that only fully sells their gritty and realistic sound to the highest level. With sneaky visits to areas of Psych Rock, Doom Metal and Desert Rock, this record never plays out the way you expect. The shamanic vocals from Clifford have a shamanic and out of control poet approach which reminds me of Desert Rock outlaw Sean Wheeler, especially the way he delivers intriguing stories through pulsating musical passages and intense melodies.

The rest of the band - Eric, Steve, Eddie and Elliot all play their epic part moving through the multiple styles of HEAVY RAWK being transmitted through your nearest speakers with a glorious sense of rebellion holding everything together.

DUSTED ANGEL have gone through a lot of physical and emotional battles over the years that perhaps shaping the whole creative outcome of This Side Of The Dirt. However, it’s a testament to the band’s talent and personal strength they’ve released an album full of action packed tracks that always offers an exciting style of music with a lot of heart and pissed off grooves showing you a damn good time.

The second half of the album never falters either with DUSTED ANGEL going even further delivering seedier and heavier BLAZING riffs with a distorted WEEDIAN PUNK ROCK flavour coming superbly through on tracks such as: Kiss O Shame, Little Lizzy and Seeking The Dawn. After listening to this album multiple times I started to notice themes of music I originally missed like a sweeping Proto-Metal attitude appearing which most definitely brings a classic Seventies Doomed Out aesthetic to the party. So expect a record that pulls no punches with its non-stop style of aggressive STONER METAL of the highest order.

With the power of HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS backing DUSTED ANGEL then you have the ingredients for a MONSTER SUCCESS on every level possible. Yeah, this record is something else and I have a feeling this could be the start of a career resurgence for DUSTED ANGEL. As it’s simply that good!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

This Side Of The Dirt is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

PIECE - Rambler's Axe (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: This Charming Man Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Rambler’s Axe - Tracklisting

1.Heria

2.Demigod 

3.Bastard Sword

4.Spheres

5.Hathol

6.Rambler's Axe

7.Owl Eyes

8.Serpentfolk Tyel

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metal bruisers PIECE return with their second full length album Rambler’s Axe which follows a similar destructive and aggressive path to the likes of CONAN, Mastodon, High On Fire and Firebreather but with a NOLA based intensity with shades of CROWBAR to keep things extra HEAVY. There’s a dramatic Progressive Metal sound here which also appeared on their acclaimed  2023 debut album Ancient Greed but PIECE add a richer, fuller and more diverse flavour to the mix which has a certain Spaced Out flavour when the time calls for this.

The record starts off in spectacular fashion with the opening track Heria which fuses High On Fire style riffage and creative themes inspired by CONAN though with PIECE still holding their own ground by putting their own great take on the Sludge/Stoner Metal sound. There’s a lot of psychedelic energy being generated but it’s more of a murky, distorted and drone based kind with a sadistic FUZZ movement that allows PIECE to suddenly change into a more action packed style of musical momentum.

Second track Demigod is a more subdued affair compared to the bombastic opening track though it’s still full on destructive CAVEMAN carnage with a welcome essence of Hardcore Metal and Punk Rock vibes that gives off a street level attitude that appears within the grizzled vocals and battle hardened lyrics. The final stages of the track has some intense complex musical melodies with a raw underground aesthetic that sees areas of Post-Doom and Post-Rock attitude suddenly starting to emerge from the shadows.

The instrumental playing on the record by PIECE is sublime with the band putting in a commanding performance throughout which allows the record to have quite a beautiful organic quality to it despite the world destroying and apocalyptic melodies being played around everything. PIECE confidently adds strands of ambient vibes and haunting soundbytes that adds quite a fantastical feel to the record with the listener essentially becoming part of the overall musical adventure which develops even further on tracks such as Bastard Sword, Spheres and Hathol.

The Hardcore and Punk Rock vibes  is one of the main strengths of the record which allows the more dominant Doom, Sludge and Stoner grooves to develop into a more interesting style of Prog Metal, Psych and Cosmic surroundings that provides a rich level of storytelling as well. The second half of the record keeps up with the fast-paced narrative of the first half with PIECE never wavering from their overall mission of delivering brutal grooves that have a sense of pure melody and harmony.

Rambler’s Axe could be considered Post-Metal at times with the many instances of Psychedelic and Spaced Out pastures though what you can call this is simply an outstanding album that allows PIECE to avoid the dreaded second album / sophomore record curse with flying colours. This is a record that demands to be listened to by the biggest audience possible and it’s backed up by perfectly pitched production values.

PIECE have come on leaps and bounds since their 2023 debut album with Rambler’s Axe without doubt being the much better album and perhaps allowing the band to move onto bigger and better things.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to CZ Promotions for the promo.

Rambler's Axe is available to buy on now on DD/Vinyl via This Charming Man Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram