Temptation's Wings - StormForged (EP Review)

 

Release Date: September 09th 2025. Record Label:  Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

StormForged - Tracklisting

1.Aqua Tusk

2.Brother of the Storm

3.The Calm/The Fury

4.Hell-ene

Review

StormForged is the new EP from Southern Metallers Temptation’s Wings which offers four new tracks of classic HEAVY METAL riffage paired up with classic NOLA Metal energy which should appeal to fans of DOWN, Corrosion Of Conformity and Crowbar. The band add a great style of NWOBHM sounds to the EP with some fantastical lyrics that allows Temptation’s Wings to be quite PRIMAL and wholly AGGRESSIVE in the way they deliver their music.

Temptation’s WIngs are a super tight unit with a monstrous PROTO-METAL appetite being developed and played within the stunning opening track of Aqua Tusk. The Southern Metal influences are powerful, dynamic and played to perfection. The whole EP is full of classic Heavy Metal melodies and lyrics that veer slightly into “POWER METAL” domain but Temptation’s Wings have a great talent for keeping everything within the realm of Southern Metal and a haunting grounded vision at the same time.

Standout tracks are perhaps Brother Of The Storm and The Calm/The Fury with the band showing some fine Psychedelic energy within the instrumental passages and exquisite Heavy Metal melodies that you wouldn’t expect on an EP such as this. Sure, things can be over the top at times but it’s Temptation’s Wings talent for adding a sense of humanity and realism that makes this such an outstanding EP from start to finish. 

StormForged is perhaps Temptation’s Wings best record in years and I hope they continue with this style of music especially with the stripped back production values that allows the band to have a more threatening, muscular and aggressive presence to their overall sound.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Desert Bloom for the PR Details.

StormForged will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Sunday 07th September 2025.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Electric Jaguar Baby: Clair-Obscur (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label:  Majestic Mountain Records. Formats:DD/Vinyl

Clair-Obscur - Tracklisting

1.Heroine (feat Chris of Acid Mammoth) 04:34

2.Bring Me Down (feat. Patrón) 03:33

3.Stray from the path 05:00

4.My Way 03:04

5.Goin thru the blu part.II 05:18

6.Nightmare 02:30

7.The Fastest Ride 04:28

8.Anything 04:52

9.Winterholidays VS Fuzzroutine 04:12

10.Hownow 03:41

11.The Oswlad Cobblepot complex 05:02

12.Bonus track - Rock n Roll Queen (The Subways cover) 03:32

Members

Franck (drums/vocals)

Tony (guitar/vocals)

Review

Clair-Obscur is the latest album from Psych/Fuzz/Stoner Rockers Electric Jaguar Baby and they fully lean into the modern day sound that QOTSA have developed over the last decade or so but with more catchy rhythms, grooves and a shit-ton of streetwise attitude as well. With a free-flowing style of Garage Rock, Acid and Punk Rock overtones, the band have a playful and highly energetic attitude to their music which does see the band play multiple styles of music with that Acid Rock tinged vibe serving the band superbly well.

Starting off this crazed journey is the excellent opening track Heroine which features Chris of Acid Mammoth fame providing guest vocals with a song that’s refreshingly hip and rebellious from the very start with a murky sludgy grooves being quite flamboyant in places. The song is superbly heavy with a seedy sideline in FUZZY sounds which sees Electric Jaguar Baby align themselves closely to the likes of TRUCKFIGHTERS and FU MANCHU with the Fuzz Rock aspect.

Second track Bring Me Down has a slight departure into Grunge and Alt Rock attitudes with the sound being FUNK ROCK in places with a dynamic mid nineties Stoner Rock presence appearing within the vocals and heavy guitars. The sound once again flirts between QOTSA catchy grooves and the full-on Psych Stoner Rock attitude of today’s modern scene. The vocals are superb yet again with guest musician Patrón appearing along the way which gives this track a cool sense of unpredictability.

Third track Stray From The Path is full of Desert/Stoner Rock heaviness that has a sense of seediness with the subtle flashes of Noise, Grunge and Acid Rock melodies that develop. With a confident stride into aggressive Post-Rock and Noise Rock surroundings, Electric Jaguar Baby really start to find their own voice on this record especially when a distinctive Droned / Shoegaze melody appears within the instrumental movements. 

Fourth track My Way is a song that moves away quite heavily from the Psych/Stoner Rock path the previous tracks contained. This is more dominated by Fuzz Rock sounds with catchy Garage Rock riffs and Punk Rock attitude which is quite refreshing to hear but isn’t the most exciting track to hear but I give Electric Jaguar Baby credit for doing something different on this album and this is the first real sign of things changing quite dramatically for the rest of the album.

I can’t review every track on the album as it’s quite a highly involving record with the band offering twelve tracks that allows them the perfect opportunity to craft a different musical style for the majority of the tracks with even more weird and wonderful stories developing from the Fuzz/Garage/Stoner Rock creative template they have at their own disposal.

Electric Jaguar Baby always allow themselves the perfect opportunity to develop themselves further within other areas of Hard Rock with a fearless attitude that may not always work but they still develop a vast collection of outstanding tracks that will appeal to many different factions of the Indie Rock, Mainstream Rock and Underground Rock scenes. That is a very hard thing to pull off but Clair-Obscur is a superbly entertaining record with tracks such as Goin thru the blu part II,  The Fastest Ride, Anything, Winterholidays VS Fuzzroutine and The Oswlad Cobblepot complex.

If you’re a fan of the previous albums by Electric Jaguar Baby then you’re going to be in your element here with twelve tracks of superb sounding quality and their excellent cover of Rock n Roll Queen by The Subways makes it all worthwhile. 

Overall, Clair-Obscur is a superbly produced record that focuses upon the classic sounds of the Nineties Heavy Rock Scene and gives it a cool modern-day atmosphere and wise-cracking attitude to match.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Clair-Obscur is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records.

 

Links

Electric Jaguar Baby Links

http://electricjaguarbaby.band
https://electricjaguarbaby.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/ElectricJaguarBaby
https://www.instagram.com/electricjaguarbaby

Greenhead - Subherbia (Album Review)

Release Date: August 29th 2025. Record Label:  Self Released. Formats: DD

Subherbia - Tracklisting

1.Subherbia 28:39

2.Indigo 06:59

3.All-Seeing Eye 03:32

4.Nature's Pyramid 05:57

5.Purple God 07:47

Members

Nick Groves - Guitar/Vocals

Ian Andrew - Drums/Vocals

Alex Dixon - Bass/Vocals

Review

Subheriba is the debut album Psych/Doom/Stoner Metallers Greenhead and they play a style of music they call “Stonecore” as they include elements of Punk, Sludge and Hardcore into their highly trippy blend of WEEDIAN METAL. Greenhead are quite bold by starting their album with the epic title track running for over twenty minutes in length. This is a creative choice that pays off big time as Greenhead play an astonishing array of trippy grooves and intense melodies that allows Nick Groves (Guitar/Vocals), Ian Andrew (Drums/Vocals) and Alex Dixon (Bass/Vocals) to fully show off their superb musical talents throughout.

Greenhead demonstrates areas of Thrash, Speed and Post-Metal in their music which appears within the first half of the standout title track. The track shows how Greenherd tackle Prog rock passages and Ambient Rock surroundings which is helped along by elements of expressive free-form Jam Rock for the most part. Though expect touches of bands such as CAVE IN, PRIMUS, The Melvis, Mastodon and Mutoid Man to appear within this wicked style of WARPED STONER based madness. 

Greenhead focus on playing more riff-centric fare for the remaining tracks on the album but still keeping with their out of control “CREATIVE” outlook on tracks such as Indigo, All Seeing Eye, Nature’s Pyramid and Purple God. The highly volatile style and utmost reliance of Experimental Stoner Metal sounds might be too jarring for some but it does allow Greenhead to have an unsettling quality and unpredictable edge to their music. 

However, the album is never boring and brilliantly thrives on its highly unpredictable and unforgiving nature which sees the band have quite a SCHIZOPHRENIC identity at times which is one of the best parts of the record as you never know what to expect next. 

Subherbia isn’t going to be for everyone but if you’re on the lookout for a band with a unique voice who aren’t afraid to take HUGE creative risks with their music then Greenhead are the band for you. There’s a ton of great instrumental solos which fully embraces the “PARANOID” style of Stoner Metal which should delight fans of Philip K. Dick as well. I know that’s a bold statement to make but wait until you hear the whole album in full and make your own conclusions.

My own verdict is that Subherbia is not perfect by any means but it’s the Psychedelic and Warped journey the record takes you upon where you’re treated to a wholly original style of Stoner Metal to pulverize your senses with.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Coltaine - Brandung (Album Review)

Release Date: September 05th 2025. Record Label: Lay Bare Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Brandung - Tracklisting

1.Tiefe Wasser 01:51

2.Memories Of Ice 04:38

3.Keep Me Down In The Deep 05:50

4.Black Coral 02:06

5.Wirbelwind 02:14

6.Above The Burning Sand 06:04

7.Maelstrom 03:06

8.Brandung 07:43

9.Solar Veil 02:46

Members

Julia Frasch - vocals, percussion

Moritz Berg - guitar

Benedikt Berg - bass, cello, percussion

Amin Bouzeghaia - drums

& additional guitar on Black Coral,

Wirbelwind, Brandung, and Solar Vein

Review

Coltaine are back with their latest offering Brandung and whilst the songs maybe shorter than the ones held on their previous release that doesn’t mean Coltaine are cutting corners with the emotionally charged grooves they’ve made their name with. Far from it. As Brandung is an emotionally charged release that transcends multiple genres, themes, sounds and delicate ambient passages for a record that’s musically complex but also emotionally rewarding throughout.

Coltaine are perhaps defined as a Post-Doom/Post-Metal collective with flashes of Black Metal, Psych Rock. Post-Rock, Drone and Orchestral sounds for a bold, grand and musical statement that has influences such as Chelsea Wolfe, Wolves In The Throne Room, Godspeed You Black Emperor helping their creative cause.

The music is stripped back to its rightly cold hearted score which is also helped by the excellent recording duties and production values contained on the record. I was quite surprised to see my Jan Oberg (EARTH SHIP and GRIN) on mixing and mastering duties on this album. He pulls out all the stops as usual making Coltaine sound absolutely unique with a fresh spin on the whole Post-Doom/Blackened Post-Metal sound. Credit must also go to recording engineers Gregor Rieth & Amin Bouzeghaia as well. So production values get a major THUMBS UP from me.

Now back to the actual album itself with Brandung being quite a highly original style of evolving Post-Metal sounds with that ice-cold Blackened Metal drive with Julia Frasch’s vocals being beautiful, dynamic, aggressive and quite destructive within the heavier moments especially on tracks such as Memories Of Ice, Keep Me Down In The Deep, Above The Burning Sand and Brandung.

The album itself feels like one lengthy song broken down into individual chapters with each offering haunting melodies, ice-cold lyrics and captivating storylines to show how Coltaine have evolved brilliantly ever since their inception back in 2022 though some members were part of the much missed WITCHFUCKER. The excellent use of different musical instruments adds a sublime ETHEREAL vibe that appears within the shorter tracks of Tiefe Wasser, Black Coral and Wirbelwind.

The shorter tracks are perhaps the most dominated by Orchestral and Post-Rock movements which adds a sense of CINEMATIC sounds to the whole album. Though, Coltaine does add “extra” spice to the mix within the shorter tracks with outbursts of Julia’s intense screams and sudden shift into Psychedelic paranoia laced with Post-Black Metal intrigue. 

Brandung is a richly observed and emotionally charged album with Coltaine breathing new life into the whole Post-Doom scene with complex rhythms, vocal harmonies and epic Post-Metal soundscapes combining for one of the most intense and beautifully realized records you’ll hear this year.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Coltaine and All Noir PR for the promo.

Brandung is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Lay Bare Recorrdings.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Exclusive Premiere Of Southern/Sludge/Stoner Metallers TEMPTATION'S WINGS New EP STORMFORGED

Temptation's Wings release their outstanding new EP - STORMFORGED - on Sunday 07th September but we're ahead of the game and we have an exclusive premiere of the whole EP which you can listen to below. Thanks to the amazing folks over at Desert Bloom PR.

Expect over eighteen minutes of finely tuned of highly memorable Southern/Stoner/Sludge Metal that will appeal to fans of DOWN, Corrosion Of Conformity, CROWBAR and High On Fire. You can also expect some classic Proto-Metal grooves being added for a slight mythical and fantastical twist.

Stormforged will be available to buy from all good digital stockists from Sunday 07th September 2025.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Desert Bloom for the PR Details.

Syncolima - Move Mountains (Album Review)

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

Move Mountains - Tracklisting

1.Gluten Free Toast 03:18

2.Mistakes Were Made 05:34

3.Shipwrecked 05:31

4.Black Dog And The Bleak Sky 05:25

5.Kill All The Billionaires 04:42

6.Ouroborus 04:35

7.Move Mountains 04:17

8.The House We Build 05:08

Members

Chris Daughton - Bass

Joshua Morgan - Vocals/Guitar

Harry Redfern - Drums

Review

Heavy Metal/Stoner Metallers Syncolima return in a big way with their hard-hitting new album Move Mountains and it’s a record that has huge ideas throughout that’s delivered with supreme confidence that could allow the band to be the natural successors to the mighty Orange Goblin who have sadly called it a day.

Syncolima are their own band with their own creative ideas, themes and seedy grooves but they operate within the same heavy Stoner Rock/Metal territory where they fuse elements of other areas of Heavy Rock such as Grunge, Desert Rock, Psych, Sludge and certain Ambient vibes.

Move Mountains has a contemporary and social vibe hidden within the lyrics as the band provides a sly commentary on the modern world. The whole record flows along at a great pace but it gives you a lot to think about within tracks such as Gluten Free Toast, Mistakes Were Made, Kill All The Billionaires, Move Mountains and The House We Build.

This is most definitely an “ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT” record with some of the powerful statements included by Syncolima. However, if you’re not here for the political and social commentary then you’ll be treated to a wide assortment of epic sounds forged by the likes of KYUSS, Orange Goblin, Clutch, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath and King Buffalo when the band play surreal Psychedelic Spaced Out melodies.

The album is constantly evolving and moving forward compared to Syncolima’s previous two records with the help of outbursts of aggressive Thrash and Speed Metal beats that appear from time to time. This melodic change allows Syncolima to demonstrate their technical ability by moving from a certain Post-Doom/Post-Stoner attitude to the classic era of Heavy Metal which means there’s never a shortage of kick-ass riffs.

I was surprised by the distorted and trippy instrumental effects that appear on the record where everything quite Spaced Out with some thrilling guitar solos to match. The vocals from Joshua are excellent as he delivers with a passionate and emotional quality which fully sells the overall message of the album. Chris and Harry provide a superb rhythm section which can be quite NOLA and BLUES ROCK obsessive at times. Joshua provides guitars which are quite dynamic and equally aggressive with the other band members' performance on Move Mountains.

Move Mountains is the album where Syncolima “come of age” and finally become a great “KICK-ASS” Stoner Rock/Metal band in their own right that should see them playing some of the biggest and most well known stages within the Heavy Rock Scene. Ignore this record at your peril. As it’s simply superb and needs added to your record collection now.

Words by Steve Howe

 

Thanks to Sickset Media for the promo.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Polish Stoner Rock heroes WEEDPECKER sign to Heavy Psych Sounds!

Poland's heavy psychedelic rock pioneers WEEDPECKER ink a worldwide deal with Heavy Psych Sounds Records for the release of their anticipated fifth studio album, the reissue of their sophomore full-length "II" as well as the booking of their next European tour!

About joining the HPS roster, the band comments: “We’re excited to announce that Weedpecker is joining the Heavy Psych Sounds family. It feels great to team up with a label that shares our vision, and we can’t wait to share the next chapter of our journey with you all.”

Forged in Warsaw, Poland in 2012, Weedpecker emerged from the creative union of brothers Piotr and Bartek Dobry. Their mission was to weave dreamy, expansive psychedelic rock with the raw gravity of stoner and grunge. Throughout the decade, the band solidified its reputation with three critically acclaimed albums, delivering some of the most revered heavy psych anthems the scene has witnessed.

After the powerful release of “III” in 2018, the band entered a new chapter as longtime members Bartek Dobry, Robert Kulakowski, and Grzegorz Pawlowski moved on. Weedpecker re-emerged in 2020 with a revitalized lineup, welcoming members of Dopelord and Major Kong. This new incarnation debuted not only fresh faces but also an expanded sonic palette, introducing keyboards to their live performances.

Their latest chapter, “IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts” (2021), fully unveils this evolved identity. The album effortlessly flows from mellow psychedelia to blistering rock explosions, all anchored by their signature melodic heavy riffage.

Through transformation and growth, Weedpecker continues to affirm its place as one of Europe's most essential and exciting psychedelic acts. Stay tuned as more details regarding the new album and "II" reissue will be revealed soon!

Weedpecker links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.