Exclusive Premiere Of Psych Doom/Sludge Metallers GRIN New EP BLACK NOTHINGNESS

Shrouded in a haze of hyper amplified bass drones and layers of sepulchral voices, heavy psych-doom outfit GRIN continue to unravel the thread of their psychedelic mythology with a brief exercise in absurd heaviness and DIY ethics.

Consisting of six short compositions, Black Nothingness eschews the duo’s characteristic use of guitar embellishments, instead relying solely on the driving force of their recognisable drum and bass sound. Returning to the essence of their sound, GRIN uncover the source of the ecstatic quality of their music, while inviting you to partake in another bedazzling odyssey through the astral plane and beyond.

The groundwork of GRIN’s trademark heavy drum and bass sound was already laid as early as their 2018 debut album Revenant, which is no surprise, since power couple Jan and Sabine (Earth Ship / Slowshine) have been actively making heavy riff-laden tunes for over ten years. Their second album Translucent Blades (2020) further solidified GRIN’s brand of sludgy psychedelic doom metal with the addition of high pitched guitar drones and eerie soundscapes.

Again recorded in Jan Oberg’s own Hidden Planet Studio, Phantom Knocks (2022) had the same earth-shattering qualities as its predecessors, but is in every way more vivid and more powerful, aptly demonstrating how the Berliners have perfected their chemistry.

I'm pleased to premiere this exclusive premiere of GRIN's new EP in full - Black Nothingness before it's official full release tomorrow on Friday 07th April 2023.

Thanks to Jan at The Lasting Dose Records for the premiere and all of the details

Black Nothingness is available to buy on CD/DD from The Lasting Dose Records on April 07th 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

1782 - Clamor Luciferi (Album Review)

Release Date: April 14th 2023. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Clamor Luciferi: Tracklisting

A Merciful Suffering

Succubus

Demons

Black Rites

Tumultus XIII

Rivers Of Sins

Devil's Blood

Death Ceremony

Members

Marco Nieddu - Vocals/Guitar

Gabriele Fancellu - Drums

Francesco Pintore - Bass

Review

Occult Doom/Stoner Metallers 1782 return with their epic new album Clamor Luciferi which means the scream of Lucifer but it also means noise and uproar according to their BandCamp Page. 1782 embraces that mentality of gloomy based Doom/Stoner Metal with a classic style of Doom Metal that brings an element of Electric Wizard classic style FUZZ to the album. 

There's influences from bands such as SLEEP, COUGH, Black Sabbath and CONAN on this album. The down-tuned tempo moves from AMPLIFIER DISTORTED levels to the more progressive Sludgy grooves that appear on the first half of the album. Everything is moved at a calculated slow pace which brings the more Occult Rock/Metal themes to the forefront of 1782's music. Though, the band use GUITAR REVERB and VIOLENT FEEDBACK SOUNDS as both a defence mechanism and for propelling their music to greater distorted volumes on tracks such as A Merciful Suffering, Succubus and Demons.

1782 play with a more Bass Heavy Direct sound compared to previous albums and that's perhaps down to some fantastic sounds played by Francesco Pintore. The guitars and drums by Marco Nieddu and Gabriele Fancellu respectively bring the more Doomed Out and Fuzzier elements to the album. The album moves at it's own destructive path with very little in the way of melody but full on BRUTE FORCE which gives them a more depressing WEEDIAN sound on the later stages of the album.

Marco's lead vocals may have a similar feel and sound throughout the album but it's the overall journey of the album that allows this perhaps Marco's best vocal performance to date especially on the more gloomier tracks such as Demons, Black Rites, Rivers Of Sins and Devil's Blood. The production values are first rate yet again. Not surprising since this is a Heavy Psych Sounds release. 

Clamor Luciferi is a dark and despairing album which does throw a few cool surprises for extended guitar jams even if those parts are dark twisted pieces of DOOMED OUT FUZZ based metal. 1782 feel inspired by 1970's Horror Movies on this album in places and even start creating their own highly original blend of twisted Occult Horror and Macabre vibes.

if you're looking for an album that's deliberately slow paced and gives the classic Power Trio formation a more primal sound then 1782 have the balls and energy to live up to that twisted vision. The music is always moving forward to the next terrifying based sound but one that allows the listener to "ROCK OUT" or "HEADBANG" in total agreement especially on the later stages of the album.

Clamor Luciferi is a masterclass and outstanding release that can only come from the Underground Occult Doom/Stoner/Sludge Metal scene. If you want an album full of HEAVY TWISTED GROOVES and EERIE CHILLS to match then accept no substitutes. These guys are the real deal!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage for the promo.

Clamor Lucifieri will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds (Europe) and Heavy Psych Sounds (USA) from April 14th 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Doom/Stoner Metallers HIGH LEAF Release New Song GREEN RIDER From Upcoming New Album VISION QUEST

Doom/Stoner Metallers HIGH LEAF have just released the new video and song GREEN RIDER from their excellent upcoming new album VISION QUEST due out on May 5th 2023.

The wait is FINALLY over!  HIGH LEAF will be self-releasing their debut album “Vision Quest” on Riffslayer Records Friday, May 5th.  It will be available on all digital platforms, and also on CD. 

You can pre save the album on Spotify here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/highleaf/vision-quest

Recorded last September (with their original lineup) at Retro City Studios in Philadelphia with Joe Boldizar (Ruby the Hatchet, Age Of Truth, Ecstatic Vision) over 5 days, the band worked tirelessly to capture the unique essence of each song.

The Mixes were engineered by Patrick Fiore (HIGH LEAF) and Joe Boldizar at Retro City Studios over the course of a month.

The album was mastered by 4x Grammy Award Winner Will Borza (Deftones, 30 Seconds to Mars, ZZ Top) at Borza Mastering in California.

The band will also be having an Album Release show on June 3rd at Silk City in Philadelphia, PA. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/4521556/high-leaf-philadelphia-silk-city in advance for $12.

Vision Quest Track List:

1. Green Rider
2. Vision Quest
3. Subversive
4. Dead Eye
5. Hard to Find
6. Painted Desert
7. March to The Grave
8. The Rot

HIGH LEAF is

Patrick Fiore- Lead Guitar
Corey Presner- Vocals/Guitar
Brian Schmidt- Bass
Dean Welsh- Drums

You can catch the band live at:

04/21/2023 @ The Depot- Baltimore with Indus Valley Kings

04/29/2023 @ The Long Island Sludge, Doom and Metal Fest

04/30/2023 @ The Union Firehouse- Mt. Holly, NJ with Sleep Signals, Silvertung, Sick Century

05/05/2023 @ The Gem- Spring City, PA

06/03/2023 @ Silk City, Philadelphia, PA. (ALBUM RELEASE SHOW) w/ Ritual Earth & Thunderbird Divine
06/22/2023 @ The Maryland Doom Fest- Fredrick, Maryland

Follow the band at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/highleafband
Instagram: www.instagram.com/highleafband
Bandcamp: www.highleaf.bandcamp.com

Spotify Pre-Save: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/highleaf/vision-quest

Offical Website: www.highleafband.com

Record Label: www.riffslayerrecords.com

GRIN - Black Nothingness (EP Review)

Release Date: April 07th 2023. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records. Formats: CD/DD

Black Nothingness: Tracklisting

1.Nothingness 

2.Gatekeeper 

3.Midnight Blue Sorrow

4.The Tempest Of Time

5.Talons

6.Deathbringers

Members

S. Oberg – Bass Guitar

J. Oberg – Drums, Vocals

Review

Psych Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal Duo GRIN return with their new EP Black Nothingness. Coming almost six months after their acclaimed last album Phantom Knocks. This EP feels like it’s from a different band as GRIN ventures into heavier and more violent Sludge Metal environments with the sound being more Crust Punk and Black Metal compared to their last release.

The music is faster, abrasive and more chaotic with GRIN operating with their own Crust Metal environments. The Psychedelic grooves are more bass heavy with a blackened sludgy drive which you can hear, feel and fully experience on the excellent two opening tracks of Nothingness and Gatekeeper. Though, GRIN still play their trademark Psychedelic and Spaced Out sounds, though perhaps kept more in the background of the more crushing music currently taking its place.

This EP also lasts under thirteen minutes but GRIN delivers a lot of bone-crunching moments within this short time. Everything is more concise with flashes of SONIC EXPERIMENTATION being more direct. Maybe the music isn’t melodic as it should be and the vocals are downright nasty in places. However, there’s a great style of heaviness that we haven’t heard from GRIN before. The music is more modern day based with perhaps a mid 2010’s Blackened Doom/Sludge Metal flavour holding everything together.

If you like your music down-tuned and bleak distortion then GRIN are perhaps influenced by bands such as CONAN and EYEHATEGOD on this EP. This is still essentially a GRIN release but given a more extreme makeover and I’ll applaud the band for doing something different.

The production values are more raw-sounding as well that puts the listener at the forefront of the action. Black Nothingness does sound superbly heavy from start to finish and you can tell that is Jan’s (GRIN’s Lead Vocalist and Drummer) handiwork throughout. 

Black Nothingness is an EP that offers the listener a release with BITE and a VICIOUS outlook within the Doom/Sludge Metal scene. This is another sublime release from one of the best creative teams within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal underground scenes.

Words by Steve Howe.

Thanks to Jan at The Lasting Dose Records for the promo.

Black Nothingness is available to buy on CD/DD from The Lasting Dose Records on April 07th 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

An Interview With Ryan Cole From DESERT STORM

Stoner/Sludge Metallers Desert Storm have been part of the UK Stoner Metal scene for 16 years now. The band have released a string of acclaimed albums since then with their new album Death Rattle being their heaviest and darkest release to date.

Teaming up with APF Records to release the album, this is another must have release from Desert Storm.

I caught up with Ryan Cole (Guitars) to discuss the making of the album and touring plans amongst other things.

So read on and see what's going down with DESERT STORM

Hi Ryan. Thanks for doing the interview. How are things with you today?

All good thanks!

I know you're currently busy preparing with your forthcoming new album Death Rattle. What can people expect from this album compared to your previous releases.

People can expect to hear lots of big heavy riffs. The album is a natural progression from our last album 'Omens'. It's a bit more progressive then our previous work, with longer and more complex song structures, but still has the Desert Storm sound!

The album is perhaps your darkest and most progressive sound to date. Was that the original plan to release a bold and daring album such as this.

No not really, we didn't really have any plan, I guess we just jammed and this is how the songs turned out.

Was this a hard album to write and record for?

Yeah, 'Death Rattle' was probably the toughest record we ever wrote. With the songs becoming more complex, the whole process became much longer, including the recording. The studio we tracked in is pretty pricey too, so that meant it took much longer to get everything laid down, i think recording alone took about a year before we even got to the mixing stages.

Did the COVID-19 Pandemic and Subsequent lockdowns shape the recording process at all.

Not really to be honest, though it did mean the album got written a bit quicker as the pandemic jeopardised the 'Omens' tour plans and meant we could focus on the writing of 'Death Rattle'.

Desert Storm have became a four piece band since 2020's Omens. Was that a hard transition for the band to get used to.

Technically Chris is still in the band as a writing member, he just doesn't want to tour or play live anymore! It's a shame but we had to respect his wishes. He was missing a lot of shows so we kind of have been playing live as a four piece for a year or so now, so we are used to it. I had to learn quite a lot of his parts and solos though for the new record, so it was quite a lot of work for me...

I still think we sound powerful as a four piece, i just turn up even louder, and Dennett is a brutal bass player whose tone helps fill the loss of the 2nd guitar live.

You're working with APF Records again for your album which is great to see. Was that an easy decision to make and did you have any offers from other labels to release the new album.

Yes, APF has always done right by us, we didn't speak to any others, it was an easy decision for us to make.

You're going on tour soon to promote the new album. What type of set will you be performing on the upcoming European Tour.

Yes, starts Friday in Oxford! We can't wait! We will be playing most of the new record, as well as tracks from our previous albums...pretty much every album apart from 'Forked Tongues' I believe. We don't really play much from the first album anymore.

You've been a band for 16 years now. Did you ever think you would last this long.

I don't know really! We were just busy doing what we do, and then suddenly Boom, it's 16 years later! But we are still having fun, so hopefully it will continue.

What have been your high points and low points during this time.

High points include Bloodstock Festival, Bulldog Bash with Motorhead, Desertfest London & Berlin, touring with Karma To burn, Raging Speedhorn, Hang the Bastard, Honky, we played some killer festivals in Europe and great support slots to Skindred, Corrosion of Conformity, Weedeater, Nashville Pussy, Orange Goblin, Crowbar, Red Fang.

Some low points for example was missing a show in Nottingham on the Nashville pussy tour due to traffic, getting ripped off by a manager, were just a couple of things that spring to mind.

Desert Storm have been a majorly important part of the UK Sludge/Stoner Metal scene. What do you think of today's UK Scene and the great bands starting to emerge.

Yeah it's just getting stronger and stronger, so many fantastic bands.

Do you have any other musical projects that folks can check out or any exciting releases coming in the future. (I know that Ryan and Elliott have WALL and The Grand Mal)

Our bassist Matthew also plays in Battalions, great band, check them out.

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

Not really words of wisdom, but I just want to say thanks for all the support, and see you at a show soon! Buy the new record!

Words by Steve Howe and Ryan Cole

Thanks to Simon at For The Lost for arranging this interview and thanks to Ryan for doing the interview.

Death Rattle is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl/Cassette via APF Records.

Links

Linktree | BandCamp

Chaosmonaut - Passion Aggression (Album Review)

Release Date: May 05th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Passion Aggression: Tracklisting

Passion Aggression - 34:29

Members

Joe Turmes - Bass, Guitar, Vocals

Joey Turmes - Drums, Guitar, Vocals

Jake Anderson - Drums, Vocals

Rebecca Irwin - Vocals

Review

Passion Aggression is the new album from Stoner Metallers Chaosmonaut who bring a Droned Out Doom Metal element to their music. The band has added a new vocalist and second drummer to the mix and this one-song album is the first release from this new line-up. The album can be quite experimental with a jagged approach with its subtle use of different Doom/Stoner Metal styles. Throw in Psychedelic and Sonic grooves then you can see why Choasmonaut are heading into areas of Progressive Metal.

Passion Aggression is quite complex with the many different creative themes the band employ for this album. The music can be quite unforgiving especially with the Drone Metal textures merging with the lo-fi Psychedelic grooves. Rebecca’s vocals are confident and self assured. They provide a different contrast to the gloomy and chaotic instrumental sounds being played sound Rebecca's vocals but it works. 

The music does feel inspired by The Melvins, Mastodon and TOOL with a Post-Metal delivery being used for the later stages of the album. The song does feel that it's been broken down into individual chapters which focuses on a different style of music.

Choasmonaut have created a highly accomplished release that’s quite inventive with the fusion of different sounds they play here. You may need to be in a certain mood to listen to the album but Passion Aggression is a highly original release with a level of technical brilliance shining throughout the album. 

Words by Steve Howe.

Links

Linktree | Facebook | BandCamp

Acid Moth - S/T (EP Review)

Release Date: March 31st 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Acid Moth - S/T: Tracklisting

1.I Am The Liquor 05:24

2.Learn To Suffer 05:56

3.Armor Of Gold 06:02

4.Destroyer Of Worlds 08:53

Members

Vocal - Courtney Frechette

Guitar - Pat Andrews

Guitar - Emmanuel Bossé

Bass - Jéremie Bilodeau

Drum - Antoine Laflamme

Review

Acid Moth's self-titled debut EP is a highly confident Doom Metal release that utilises elements of Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal and Hard Rock for an adventurous sound. The sound is quite FUZZ based with a dark gloomy presence that works superbly well with Courtney’s modern based vocals. The instrumental work offers an apocalyptic and atmospheric style of Hard Rock/Metal. There’s a ton of AMPLIFIER FEEDBACK on this release especially on the excellent opening song I Am The Liquor.

The music is played at a delicate mid-pace that brings a more muscular sound to Acid Moth. Fans of Windhand, Acid King and High Fighter will most definitely get a kick out of this cool band. The songwriting is impressive which actually propels Acid Moth even further into the Doom Metal landscape. 

The EP continues its dark DOOM based journey on the standout tracks of Learn To Suffer and Destroyer Of Worlds. Things do become quite progressive on the final track Destroyer Of Worlds but the murky and FUZZY sounds that feel inspired by Electric Wizard in places allows Acid Moth to play a more classic style of Doom/Stoner Metal.

The production has a quality LO-FI and UNDERGROUND sound which allows the music to be quite unforgiving in style and nature. There’s a ton of GUITAR REVERB on the release which brings some wicked extended guitar solos and jams from both Pat and Emmanuel. Throw in a kick-ass rhythm section with Jéremie and Antoine on Bass and Drums respectively then Acid Moth showcase what a promising band they are from the Canadian Doom/Stoner Metal scene. 

Acid Moth delivers the goods here and hopefully gain more notice within the Underground Scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe.

Links

 Facebook | BandCamp |