Exclusive Album Premiere Of Sludge/Stoner Metallers PIECE Brilliant New Album RAMBLER'S AXE

Rambler’s Axe: Berlin Sludge Band PIECE Sharpen Their Sound on a Crushing Second Album"

Berlin’s PIECE swing back hard with Rambler’s Axe, their second album and heaviest slab yet.

The production strikes a perfect balance between raw, unfiltered intensity and a fuzzy, huge but still punchy sonic landscape that brings out every riff and nuance of PIECE’s intense performance.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Crowbar, High on Fire, and Eyehategod, PIECE carve out their own path through molten soundscapes and warlike intensity.

Massive down-tuned guitars, cavernous drums, and vocals that howl somewhere between rage and ritual.

Lyrically, the album drifts through myth, violence, and inner ruin — warlike imagery meets personal collapse. Their second album is darker, deeper, and more focused — out Friday 5th of September via This Charming Man Records.

The Berlin-based band delivers a powerful blend of sludge metal, doom, and rock 'n' roll. Inspired by bands like Crowbar, High on Fire, and Eyehategod, they fuse the raw aggression of their members' musical roots in hardcore and punk with the crushing heaviness and riff-driven sound of sludge and heavy metal.

We're excited to premiere the brilliant and hard-hitting new album from PIECE thanks to the great folks over at CZ! Promotions.

Thanks to CZ Promotions for the details.

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

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

HOWLING GIANT drop new video single 'Beholder I: Downfall' taken from forthcoming album "Crucible & Ruin"!

HOWLING GIANT reveal the video clip 'Beholder I: Downfall' as the next single taken from the cosmic stoner metal trio's forthcoming album "Crucible & Ruin". The third full-length by the Nashville, Tennessee band has been slated for release on October 31, 2025, via Magnetic Eye Records and is available for pre-order here: https://spkr.store/collections/howling-giant

Watch the video for 'Beholder I: Downfall' here:

"Our current single 'Beholder 1: Downfall' is a riff-driven heavy hitter, and in my opinion is one of the heaviest songs on the record", bass player and vocalist Sebastian Baltes states. "It was a pleasure to collaborate with Jerry Roe again on the video, having previously worked with him on the clip for 'Glass Future'. It has been particularly exciting for me to follow the journey of this song from its inception with a simple riff to a full blown song and the making of the video. I can hardly wait for you all to hear this track live!"

Video credits

Directed, shot & edited by Jerry Roe of Friendship Commanders
Filmed at South X Sea

Tracklist

01. Canyons
02. Hunter's Mark
03. Archon
04. Lesser Gods
05. Beholder I: Downfall
06. Archivist
07. Scepter and Scythe
08. Melchor's Bones
09. The Observatory
10. Beholder II: Labyrinth

HOWLING GIANT take another huge step on their third full-length "Crucible & Ruin", a collection of sparking ideas, captivating melodies, and heavy riffing close to perfection - quite a feat of on-point songwriting for such a still young band!

This is the band's first album to feature new fourth member Adrian Lee Zambrano. Although the guitarist and synth player arrived somewhat toward the end of the writing process, he was still able to add his mark with cool textures on the record. The extra guitar certainly adds even more punch to HOWLING GIANT's sound, which delivers a slightly more aggressive approach compared with predecessor "Glass Future" (2023).

It also helped the overall feel of "Crucible & Ruin" that this is the band's first album to be entirely recorded in a proper studio setting as opposed to their home studio, "the bunker". HOWLING GIANT even leaned into some raw band live takes to capture the emotion in the room.

Lyrically, "Crucible & Ruin" explores the story of the clash of a novice deity against the forces of primordial chaos as an overarching theme that loosely connects the songs. This is also reflected in the album artwork, which was painted by the mother of guitarist and vocalist Tom Polzine, featuring a unique style of alcohol ink on yupo paper.

HOWLING GIANT hail from Nashville, Tennessee, USA, sidestepping the self-proclaimed Music City's assembly line of modern pop country while taking inspiration from the brilliant songwriters and virtuoso session players that keep the town's musical legacy burning bright. Fertile ground for a preeminent fuzz-psych power trio, now turned quartet, who consciously live in the pocket of that lineage!

Following a trilogy of EPs, "Howling Giant" (2015), "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 1" (2016), and "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2" (2017), HOWLING GIANT struck a chord with critics and fans on their debut full-length "The Space between Worlds" in 2019. "Glass Future" proved a gargantuan leap for the band that now featured Sebastian Baltes, son of legendary ACCEPT bass master Peter Baltes. Released in 2023, "Glass Future" brought their outstanding musicianship and triple vocal attack fully into stride.

HOWLING GIANT storm forward once more in defiant refusal to remain still. Having grown into a four-piece as well as in their prowess as musicians and songwriters, "Crucible & Ruin" is an album at least as big as their name. Don't take our word for it, just give it a spin – or two or three...

Line-up

Tom Polzine – guitar, vocals
Zach Wheeler – drums, vocals
Sebastian Baltes – bass, vocals
Adrian Lee Zambrano – guitars, synthesizers

Guest musicians

Kim Wheeler – additional synths and EWI on 'The Observatory'
Adam Nohe – additional percussion on 'Beholder I: Downfall'

Produced by Neil Tuuri, Kim Wheeler, and James Sanderson
Engineered by Neil Tuuri at Amish Electric Chair Studios, Athens, OH (US)
Additional vocal tracking by Kim Wheeler in Nashville, TN (US)
Mixed by Neil Tuuri at Amish Electric Chair Studios, Athens, OH (US)
Mastering by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Mastering, Portland, OR (US)

Artwork by Susan M. Davies
Layout by Łukasz Jaszak

Links

https://www.facebook.com/howlinggiant
https://www.instagram.com/howlinggiant
https://www.facebook.com/MagneticEyeRecords
https://www.instagram.com/magneticeyerecords

Live - With CASTLE RAT

01 OCT 2025 Asheville, NC (US) Eulogy
02 OCT 2025 Raleigh, NC (US) Chapel of Bones
03 OCT 2025 Charlottesville, VA (US) The Southern Cafe and Music Hall

Live With ANCIIENTS

04 NOV 2025 Columbus, OH (US) Ace of Cups
05 NOV 2025 Indianapolis, IN (US) Black Circle
06 NOV 2025 Chicago, IL (US) Live Wire Lounge
07 NOV 2025 Toronto, ON (CA) Lee's Palace
08 NOV 2025 Montreal, QC (CA) Piranha Bar
09 NOV 2025 Ottawa, ON (CA) Dominion Tavern
11 NOV 2025 Boston, MA (US) O'Briens
12 NOV 2025 Portland, ME (US) Geno's
13 NOV 2025 Providence, RI (US) The Parlour
14 NOV 2025 New York City, NY (US) Woodshop
15 NOV 2025 Philadelphia, PA (US) Kung Fu Necktie
16 NOV 2025 Baltimore, MD (US) Mobtown Ballroom
18 NOV 2025 Nashville, TN (US) Arcane Workshop
19 NOV 2025 Chattanooga, TN (US) JJ's Bohemia
20 NOV 2025 Huntsville, AL (US) Mad Malts
21 NOV 2025 Jacksonville, FL (US) The Albatross
22 NOV 2025 Bradenton, FL (US) Obscura

Thanks to All Noir PR and Magnetic Eye Records for the details.

SISTERS - Wings Of Deliverance (Album Review)

Release Date: August 29th 2025. Record Label: Spartan Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Wings Of Deliverance - Tracklisting

1.Wings of Deliverance 01:55 

2.Home Is Where The Heart Is 02:58

3.Peoples Temple 02:22

4.The Angels of Violence 05:02

5.Golden Sunbeams 03:28

6.The Planning Commission 04:29

7.White Night 05:58

8.Death Is A Friend 08:56

Members

Jason Blackmore (Molly McGuire)

Mario Quintero (Spotlights)

Review

Wings Of Deliverance is the second album from Noise/Grunge/Sludge/Post-Punk/Stoner Rock outfit SISTERS who return after a two year absence with a more abrasive, aggressive and sludge based offering. This feels like a different band compared to their 2023 acclaimed debut album Leecheater. SISTERS features Jason Blackmore from Molly McGuire and Mario Quintero from Spotlights with this band featuring many similarities to those great bands but also carving up their own heavy riff driven sound. SISTERS still offer a deep sense of Melodic Rock though you wouldn’t expect this after you experience the delightfully violent and pissed off title track of Wings Of Deliverance. 

This is the nastiest and heaviest track that SISTERS have delivered yet with a highly ambitious take on Industrial Metal with flashes of Post-Punk, Noise Rock and deeply rooted Electronica Beats. The vocals are harsh with a mid nineties/early noughties influence lingering in the background. The instrumental beats move from glitches to full on Electronica beats with a sudden shift into Heavy Power Mechanical Doom that feels like NIN crossing swords with Author & Punisher.

Second track Home Is Where The Heart is continues with the warped Industrial/Sludge grooves but added a melodic Sludge/Stoner Rock flavour that has similarities to TORCHE and RED FANG in places but with SISTERS adding their own distorted level of streetwise attitude and full-on catchy melodies. The vocals from both Jason and Mario are both clean based and in a stark contrast to the opening track. This is the type of music they brilliantly excel at but you’ll still be treated to outbursts of violent  Sludge Metal when the time calls for this.

Third track People’s Temple is another sonic odyssey with SISTERS employing a cool sounding melodic vibe that doesn’t necessarily play it safe with the COMMERCIAL ASPECTS that appear within the whole creative flow of the album. There is an epic nineties Alt Rock attitude with the swirling grunge based guitars and stunning rhythm sections that Mario and Jason equally contribute to. This is where SISTERS start to really hit their creative stride with subtle Psychedelic and Fuzzed mid-tempo changes which lasts the course for the rest of the album.

Songs such as The Angels Of Violence, Golden Sunbeams and The Planning Commission offer a classic Post-Punk attitude with flashes of Post-Rock and Doomed Out passages with SISTERS demonstrating their own great style of music. The lyrics are quite deceptive and observant which adds a mysterious edge to the whole album. I forgot to mention this album is about the following: 

“Wings Of Deliverance tells a chilling narrative about the cult of personality and the horrors of Jim Jones and the Jonestown tragedy”

Despite the harsh subject matter that SISTERS deal with on the record there’s still some uplifting moments told through the groovy melodies that once again remind me of TORCHE in places. However, SISTERS are never too far away to bring the mood to a slightly depressing Post-Punk and Sludge Rock vibe especially on the final two tracks of the record White Night and Death Is A Friend.which brings some moments of Progressive Metal attitude into the mix. 

These two tracks offer the heaviest, hard-hitting and bleakest parts of the album with challenging lyrics and vocal harmonies being added to complicate matters. Though, SISTERS once again play outside of the rules of HEAVY MUSIC to craft something brilliantly original and in their own aggressive image. This allows Wings Of Deliverance to be one of the most thought-provoking and sonically original records within the Alternative Rock/Metal scene (next to MOON DESTROYS and MUSEUM OF LIGHT) you’ll hear this year.

Simply unmissable!!!

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Void Sinker - Echoes From The Deep (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Echoes From The Deep - Tracklisting

1.Cetus 

2.Serpens

3.Hollow

4.Lacerta

5.Andromeda

Members

Guglielmo Allegro - Everything

Review

Echoes From The Deep is the fifth full length album from Instrumental/Sludge/Drone/Doom entity Void Sinker which takes the listener into another lengthy epic trip into a sense of gloomy despair. Guglielmo Allegro the creative mastermind behind Void Sinker once again demonstrates another exercise in minimal atmospherics with pounding Ambient movements.

The album lasts seventy minutes across five epic tracks with the shortest being on for under ten minutes in length. This record is for the serious Drone Metal connoisseur as nothing changes suddenly with Void Sinker keeping in the same creative line as bands such as BONG and SUNN 0))). There are echoes of gloomy vocals that add levels of mysterious movement behind the more abstract and abrasive parts of the record on each passing note. 

Void Sinker does add moments of downbeat Cosmic surroundings where the tone has a creepier and highly volatile style of Ambient and Psychedelic sounds being played at a very slow pace. The overlapping instruments create a sombre tone with the distorted sludgy guitars allowing this to be one of the most distinctive and possibly “LESS IS MORE” based records that Guglielmo Allegro has released to date.

Opening tracks Cetus and Serpens convey a sense of personal freedom where there’s minimal upbeat movements with Void Sinker more than happily staying within the darkness of Drone Metal and the seedy Post-Black Metal flourishes that constantly take absolute control. It’s beautifully played but one that’s violently opaque and morbid at the same time. Though, the level of dedication that Guglielmo puts into his musical craft has to be commended.

Third track Hollow is aptly named as the song is very one note with a singular course of action for the most part with music switching from Ambient, Drone and Post-Rock but over a very long time frame. There are shades of psychedelic imagery trying to creep through but Void Sinker sticks firmly to his minimal and bleak sounding mission statement.

Void Sinker springs into life and snaps out of his Drone Metal solitude with the best tracks on the record with Lacerta and Andromeda embracing a heavier, simpler and riff-centric style of music whilst keeping within the overall Drone context the first half of the album settled for. There’s a lot more aggression and recognizable melodies here with Void Sinker showing a little more “LIGHT vs DARK” momentum which made me appreciate the album a whole lot more.

Echoes From The Deep is quite a hard album to fully admire and appreciate with this perhaps being Guglielmo Allegro’s most difficult record to date. And that’s a good thing as it shows Guglielmo’s not afraid to mess around with his music even if it means a mixed critical reception or defying his fan base expectations. He’s fully in control as VOID SINKER and this is perhaps the most dangerous side of his creative persona that I’ve heard to date.

This is an excellent record to experience if you’re in the mood for a challenging listen which even I struggled with at times but I’m glad I’ve listened to the album and I’m still looking for the next bleak, surreal and challenging musical odyssey that Guglielmo will release under the banner of VOID SINKER.

Excellent and Highly Recommended though only for dedicated followers of the DRONE METAL scene.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

LAY BARE RECORDINGS to Host First-Ever London Festival; "Lay Bare Fest: Frequencies Across Borders"!

Lay Bare Recordings, an independent label known for its deep love of heavy, heartfelt, and boundary-pushing music, is set to cross the pond for the first time with its own festival. In a powerful cross-border collaboration, Lay Bare Fest: Frequencies Across Borders will take over The Black Heart in London on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Tickets are on sale now! Get them HERE

Location: The Black Heart, London - Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

Line-up:

Forlorn (UK)
Kulk (UK)
The Answer Lies in the Black Void (HU/ NL)
Coltaine (GER)
Rosy Finch (SP)
Mrs Frighthouse (UK)
Rats and Daggers (NL)
Taz Corona (UK)

Founded in 2013 by Désirée Hanssen in the Netherlands, Lay Bare Recordings has become a trusted home for artists who defy easy categorization. With a catalog of over 67 albums spanning doom, sludge, post-metal, and experimental sounds, the label prides itself on authenticity and community, supporting a DIY culture where passion and dedication come first. Every release is more than just music; it's a story pressed into wax, meant to be shared and treasured.

This one-day label showcase is a collaborative effort between Lay Bare Recordings, Chaos Theory, and Pride Management. In a fractured post-Brexit landscape, the festival stands as a statement, a call to unite the UK and European underground scenes at a time when collaboration is more crucial and complicated than ever. Lay Bare Fest is about building bridges between people who believe the underground still matters - not just between countries, but between all who support it, from musicians to music lovers, labels, bookers, and photographers. It's a gathering for the open-minded to connect through music.

Known for amplifying genre-defying creativity, Lay Bare Fest is hosting a lineup that reflects unity over division. Expect genre-defying, boundary-pushing Lay Bare acts like Rosy Finch (SP), Coltaine (GER), Mrs Frighthouse (UK), The Answer Lies in the Black Void (HU/ NL) and Rats and Daggers (NL). And recently added upcoming bands Taz Corona (UK), Forlorn (UK) and Kulk (UK).

Adding to the excitement, the event will feature three exclusive album release shows in the UK for Mrs Frighthouse, The Answer Lies in the Black Void, and Coltaine, who will all be playing their recently released albums for the first time in the country.

Experience the energy. Feel the frequencies. Be part of the Lay Bare Family.

For more info visit:

https://laybarerecordings.com
https://www.facebook.com/laybarerecordings
https://www.instagram.com/laybarerecordings

Thanks to All Noir PR and Frenchie PR Trail for the details.

Crypt Monarch - Codex Pestilentia (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Various. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

Codex Pestilentia - Tracklisting

1. Terror From Above

2. Cultus Solis Aeterni

3. Two Sleeps

4. War of the Gargantuan (Aquadome) [Listen]

5. Eaten by the Castle of Flies (Pt. 1 Acid Chambers / Pt.2 Dark Dawn)

Members

Christopher De Haan: Bass/Vocals

Jose Rodriguez: Guitars

J.C. Zuñiga: Drums/Vocals

Review

Codex Pestilentia is the next chapter from Costa Rican Doom/Stoner Metallers Crypt Monarch who have a creative rebirth with their latest album as they blend Heavy Metal mysticism with dark elements of Grunge into their already classic sounding Doom/Stoner Metal sound. The album feels partially inspired by the likes of Alice In Chains, Electric Wizard, CONAN and Church Of Misery with the band also employing some mighty creative tricks of their own making.

The atmosphere is very down beat with the excellent dual vocals of Christopher De Haan and J.C. Zuñiga striking a fine balance between old school Doom Metal harsh growls and modern day grizzled Stoner based vocals. The music itself is composed with multiple instances of Amplifier Distortion, Heavy Reverb, Psychedelic landscapes and Grunge surroundings that is built into the mix from the excellent opening track Terror From Above. There’s a sense of classic Paranoia hidden within the lyrics as Crypt Monarch shows sudden shifts into Progressive Sludge melodies whilst keeping with their harsh and violent down-tuned FUZZED up attitude.

Crypt Monarch shows a great style of slow-to-mid played and fast-paced instrumental passages throughout with a slow brooding sense of tension building throughout the album which fully gets moving along on the stunning second track Cultus Solis Aetern. That track has a certain SLEEP vs ELECTRIC WIZARD sound dominating for the most part but with a classic Saint Vitus energy developing behind the scenes. The band still focuses on playing a rigid style of aggressive sounds with every perfectly pitched at the right destructive levels of distorted volumes.

Third track Two Sleeps is a stripped back instrumental Fuzzy and Psychedelic Blues Rock number which is more of a breather before Crypt Monarch return back to normal destructive duties but it’s nice to hear a sudden shift from their normal scheduled Stoner Metal programming. 

The final two tracks of the album War of the Gargantuan (Aquadome) and Eaten by the Castle of Flies (Pt. 1 Acid Chambers / Pt.2 Dark Dawn fully lean into the Occult Doom Metal vibe that the excellent album cover demonstrates with Crypt Monarch giving that trippy Occult sound a slightly Grunge makeover. The vocals are quite eerie and full of Doom & Gloom passion. Though, it’s the music that makes you take notice with Crypt Monarch adding even more levels of distorted paranoia to the mix. The music can be drawn out too long at times but you’re treated to some of the heaviest and filthiest grooves contained on the album. 

There’s even a sense of a cinematic story building up within War Of The Gargantuan (Aquadome) that explodes into a heavier and monolithic story line within the standout track of Eaten by the Castle of Flies (Pt. 1 Acid Chambers / Pt.2 Dark Dawn. This is perhaps the most Progressive and Original song that Crypt Monarch have written to date that shows you what great songwriters and storytellers the band actually are.

Codex Pestilentia is the type of album you’ll be listening to days on end and never be bored with. The record is a highly captivating slice of Doom/Stoner Metal that should firmly establish Crypt Monarch as a true force of nature with their own great style of music to entice listeners with.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Qabar PR for the promo.

You can buy the album from the links below:

Vinyl (USA): https://thingsfrombeyond.com/shop/p/crypt-monarch-codex-pestilentia-vinyl-lp
Vinyl (UK/EU): https://heavy-threads.com/collections/crypt-monarch
CD: https://cognitivediscordancerecords.bandcamp.com/album/codex-pestilentia
Cassette: https://violencerecordscr.bandcamp.com/album/codex-pestilentia
Digital + Vinyl: https://cryptmonarch.bandcamp.com/album/codex-pestilentia (Vinyl for Costa Rican buyers)

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Festival Announcement - HUFR FEST - Mile High Riffs Coming In April 2026

Festival Announcement: - HUFR FEST - Mile High Riffs

Dates April 24th, 25th and 26th. Friday night show, Saturday night show and Sunday matinee.

Location: Bar 404 in Denver Colorado

Tickets: 3 Day passes and Individual Day tickets, details upcoming.

Bands that have confirmed so far are Blue Heron, Cobranoid, Luna Sol, Violet Rising, Lord Velvet, Hibernaut, Momovudu, Peach Street Revival, Sonolith, Psalm, Nomestomper, and Black Sunrise. 

More to be announced!

This is the first annual HUFR FEST - Mile High Riffs. The Heavy Underground Farm Report (S Patrick Brooks and Andrea Thomas-Brooks) and Zeth Pedulla (of Luna Sol) bring Denver its first exclusive Underground Stoner Rock Festival. Featuring the best Underground Stoner/Doom and Desert Rock bands in the Rocky Mountain region and slightly beyond! Get ready for 3 days of face melting, hard rocking action in the Mile High City. At least 5 bands Friday night, 5 more on Saturday night and a Sunday matinee featuring 4 bands is currently scheduled. Day lineups to be announced as soon as possible.

The fest location is a classic rock and roll bar located on South Broadway in Denver called Bar 404. Equipped with an excellent stage and sound system, an outdoor patio area and adjacent bar, Bar 404 features an excellent array of beverages (look for a special HUFR FEST cocktail) and has an excellent kitchen that will be preparing special dishes for the fest (Fest inspired menu coming up soon)! The venue is located in an area of town that features many restaurants. Lodging is located in convenient locations throughout the city.

Denver has a vibrant hard rock music scene and is the perfect location for a Heavy Underground Stoner Rock Festival. Hosted in the state that was first to legalize recreational cannabis, come and check out our dispensaries while you visit. If cannabis isn't your jam, enjoy Denver's vibrant micro-brewery scene, excellent restaurants, tour and hike Red Rocks for free during the day, and visit our many entertaining and cultural attractions. Heck, go to Casa Bonita (South Park fame) and experience the ultimate in Denver folklore.

Tickets are going on sale soon. Stay tuned to the Heavy Underground Farm Report for details and look for the HUFR FEST Facebook and Instagram pages available soon!  

Links

Facebook | YouTube

Thanks to HUFR for all of the details