DOMKRAFT Release Video Single 'Whispers' Taken From Forthcoming New Album "Sonic Moons"

Take a sizzling road-trip with Swedish psychedelic doom masters DOMKRAFT and their new video single 'Whispers' taken from their highly-anticipated fourth album "Sonic Moons", which is chalked-up for release on September 8, 2023 via Magnetic Eye Records. The album pre-sale is available via: http://lnk.spkr.media/sonic-moons

The video clip 'Whispers' is now streaming below:

DOMKRAFT comment: "The new single 'Whispers' is not quite as subtle as the title suggests, but it's not all upper case riff-o-rama during those nine minutes either", vocalist and bass player Martin Wegeland elaborates. "We wanted a touch of weightlessness while keeping the pounding grooves to create a creeping sense of forward motion. To me, the mid-section solo is the centerpiece of the track and really showcases the wide range of Martin [Widholm]'s influences as a guitarist. The harmonies, together with the different energies and densities of the song, make it fairly representative of what the album is about: confined energy and release."

Tracklist

1. Whispers
2. Stellar Winds
3. Magnetism
4. Slowburner
5. Downpour
6. Black Moon Rising
7. The Big Chill

photo: Fredrick Francke

On their fourth album, "Sonic Moons", Sweden's DOMKRAFT set forth on a voyage into the inner cosmos, riding their fuzz-driven, psychedelic riff-doom through the galactic psyche and into alternate metaphysical realities, all in search of escape, respite, and release.

DOMKRAFT generally stay true to their musical course on the new effort, but the Nordic trio has audibly matured and sharpened their writing as well. The trademark towering doom anthems remain, but with an ever so slight shift toward heavy rock through small tweaks and nuances.

That the Swedes returned to Welfare Sounds Studio on the outskirts of Gothenburg to work once more with studio heads Kalle Lilja and Per Stålberg has probably contributed as much to DOMKRAFT keeping their unique sonic identity as letting Karl Daniel Lidén (GREENLEAF, KATATONIA, LOWRIDER) again apply his mixing wizardry on "Sonic Moons".

DOMKRAFT formed when singer and bassist Martin Wegeland, guitarist Martin Widholm, and drummer Anders Dahlgren bonded over a mutual love of bands such as SPACEMEN 3, MONSTER MAGNET, SLEEP, and HAWKWIND. Drawing from the heaviest of their combined influences, they crafted a sound that blends towering dirges, mind-bending psychedelia, and hypnotic minimalism, as embodied by DOMKRAFT's monolithic 2016 debut album "The End of Electricity," crushing 2018 follow-up "Flood", and their acclaimed and massively amplified third full-length "Seeds" (2021).

DOMKRAFT have long established a reputation as a major live force and have performed at prestigious festivals such as the Desertfests (BE and DE), Psycho Las Vegas (US), Blow Up (FI), Sonic Whip (NL), Hostsabbat (NO) and many others.

With "Sonic Moons", DOMKRAFT blast through the escape hatch to the emotionally charged inner spaces of the mind, soaring through fantastic new solar systems toward unexplored musical planets. Now is the perfect time to embark on the intergalactic journey with them!

Links

www.facebook.com/domkraftband

www.instagram.com/domkraftdomkraft
http://lnk.spkr.media/sonic-moons

https://domkraft.bandcamp.com/

Line-up

Martin Wegeland – vocals, bass
Martin Widholm – guitars
Anders Dahlgren – drums

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

Evert Snyman - All-Killer-Filler (Album Review)

Release Date: July 28th 2023. Record Label: Mongrel Records. Formats: CD/DD

All-Killer-Filler: Tracklisting

1. Search and Destroy (The Stooges)

2. Temporary Secretary (Paul McCartney)

3. I Just Wanna Get Along (The Breeders)

4. Zero (Smashing Pumpkins)

5. Beetlebum (Blur)

6. I Will (The Beatles)

7. Escape – The Piña Colada Song (Rupert Holmes)

8. Freedom Rock (Frank Black)

9. The Colour and The Shape (Foo Fighters)

10. Planet Of Sound (Pixies)

11. When Your Number Isn’t Up (Mark Lanegan)

12. Jesus Gonna Be Here (Tom Waits)

Review:

South African multi-instrumentalist and good old-fashioned rock musician Evert Snyman returns with his latest album All-Killer-Filler. An album featuring Evert covering songs by his favourite artists and musical influences from a wide range of different genres. Evert covers tracks by musical artists such as The Stooges, Paul McCartney, The Breeders, Smashing Pumpkins, Blur, Foo Fighters, Pixies and Mark Lanegan to name but a few there.

Evert pays homage to all of the tracks contained on the album but also adds his own creative spin on the tracks by employing a different array of different styles, such as Punk Rock, Stoner Rock and Electronic beats, even if the original versions don’t include these elements, such as the fantastic cover of Paul McCartney’s track Temporary Secretary which is one of the most interesting choices contained on the whole album.

The album does start up with a modern-day cover of The Stooges' classic Search And Destroy. This version doesn't stray too far from the original, but there’s a more distinctive Hard Rock sound with the Garage Rock sound being more distant in places. A great track to open the album with.

I’m not a huge fan of BLUR and The Smashing Pumpkins, but Evert’s covers of Zero and Beetlebum are bloody fantastic in their own right. Zero has a Punk Rock and Sludgy vibe that makes it more essential listening compared to the original. Beetlebum has a more stripped back approach that feels like it's being delivered by Soundgarden in places and ends up becoming my favourite cover on the whole album. Quite a remarkable feat since I can’t stand BLUR or this song. 

Other great covers to check out are: I Will (The Beatles), Freedom Rock (Frank Black), The Colour And The Shape (Foo Fighters), Planet Of Sound (The Pixies), When Your Number Isn’t Up (Mark Lanegan) and Jesus Gonna Be Here (Tom Waits).

Well, that’s actually the entirety of the album and perhaps where folks will find the most enjoyment. As Evert expertly performs dramatic versions compared to the original, they are either quieter melodic pieces or more heavier interpretations of these classic and well-known tracks. 

The album is quite emotionally driven in places and I can even forgive Evert for including a cover of the god-awful The Piña Colada Song (Rupert Holmes). As he makes this track rather cool, hip and bloody good fun as well.

All-Killer-Filler is a welcome diversion from the current batch of covers albums being released and showcases why Evert Snyman is one of the most essential and finest musicians to come from the South African rock Scene. Evert is joined by multiple guests on this album who all help Evert deliver a solid collection of covers that offers sublime entertainment from start to finish.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Warren at Mongrel Records for the promo.

All-Killer-Fillier is available to buy on CD/DD from Mongrel Records from Friday 28th July 2023.

Links:

Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Bandcamp

Polish doom metal giants DOPELORD to release new album "Songs for Satan" on Blues Funeral Recordings; first single and pre-order available!

Warsaw doom metal heavyweights DOPELORD have announced the release of their fifth studio album "Songs for Satan" to be issued on October 6th as part of Blues Funeral Recordings' deluxe PostWax series. Dive into this gigantic new album with the debut single "Night Of The Witch" streaming on all platforms now!

“Hear you laughing from the dark/As they pray to their god/Now their time has finally come/To reap what they’ve sown.” - Dopelord, 2023

Stream Dopelord's new single "Night of the Witch" at this location

Having paved the way for Polish doom metal for over a decade by sticking to their strictly DIY ethos and hard work, mighty foursome DOPELORD is about to open a new chapter of its history by joining the coveted ranks of US label Blues Funeral Recordings (Acid King, Dozer, Lowrider, Dead Meadow).

Their fifth full-length "Songs for Satan" is a moment of critical mass for Dopelord. A blast of devil worship in the riffing realms is nothing new, and while they aren't the first band to openly embrace the motif, their amplified heresy is uniquely triumphant, their fuzz-drenched apostasy genuine and glorious.

Not only does "Songs for Satan" showcase the band’s equal mastery of lumbering plod and silvery hooks, but it also more importantly mines Polish Catholicism’s decades of oppression for lyrical fuel. Tracks like “Satan’s Call,” “The Chosen One,” “One Billion Skulls” and “Worms” are pointed in their defiance of the church’s cultural dominance, even while managing to be contagiously singable at the same time. Maybe the extremity of their position will lead a few listeners to question their own beliefs and examine the church’s role, religion’s role (whether in Polish society or elsewhere) like a strong push to open a door. The voice of rebellion is crucial, and Dopelord’s shout is unmistakable.

Calling to mind Electric Wizard, Windhand, Belzebong and Acid King, "Songs for Satan" is Dopelord's apex, an iconoclastic milestone for stoner doom that rumbles the earth and shakes our figurative foundations. It will be available on October 6th in various vinyl editions, limited digipack CD and digital. The ultra-limited deluxe vinyl edition will be shipped a few weeks prior to PostWax subscribers.

New album "Songs for Satan" - Out October 6th on Blues Funeral Recordings

Preorder on Blues Funeral website, Bandcamp and EU store

TRACKLIST:

1. Intro
2. Night Of The Witch
3. The Chosen One
4. One Billion Skulls
5. Evil Spell
7. Worms
8. Return To The Night Of The Witch

Rock and roll’s history with Satan goes back to before there even was rock and roll. A blast of devil-worship in the riffing realms is nothing new, and Warsaw, Poland’s DOPELORD aren't the first band to openly embrace the motif. Even so, their amplified heresy is uniquely triumphant, their fuzz-drenched apostasy genuine and glorious. The band coalesced in late 2010 in the city of Lublin, Poland, where three of the soon-to-be-band's members attended university. Merging members from two previous groups and pulling inspiration from classic cult films, 70s rock, occult themes and magical herbs, the quartet set its sights on stoner doom before the style had taken much hold in their country.

DOPELORD released their debut "Magick Rites" in 2012, a record that flaunted their love of vintage heavy rock and proto-metal, which The Sludgelord noted for its "huge unstoppable riffing in every song." 2014’s "Black Arts, Riff Worship & Weed Cult" was a leap forward in songcraft, and as the band got serious, they began touring abroad in Western Europe, the members also completing a relocation to Polish capital city Warsaw. Critically-acclaimed 2017 album "Children of the Haze" found their formula for drawn-out psych-sludge behemoths perfected, as confirmed by The Heavy Chronicles, which proclaimed, “Nothing will be the same again. There used to be doom, now there is Dopelord.”

As if heralding the actual end times, fourth LP "Sign of the Devil" arrived on March 10, 2020, just as the covid-19 pandemic took terrifying hold of the planet and called the knowable future of humanity into question. Supremely confident in their infectious bludgeon and thematic overtness, DOPELORD presented a record that stepped more fully than ever into both melody and rebellious iconoclasm. Naming "Sign of the Devil" their album of the week, Worship Metal cheered it as, “a torrent of ear-pleasingly suffocating riffs which crush all in their path," adding, "Satan would be pleased."

Derailed from their aggressive live schedule for two years, DOPELORD blasted out the “Reality Dagger" EP in 2021 before setting to work on their boldest statement yet. On October 6th, 2023, their fifth album "Songs for Satan" will induct the mighty foursome as one of Europe's heaviest and most faithful doom purveyors of the new era, crushing everything on their path under the Blues Funeral Recordings banner.

Dopelord on tour:

Oct 12 Prague Modra Vopice
Oct 13 Cottbus Muggefug
Oct 14 Jena KuBa
Oct 15 Braunschweig B58
Oct 16 Hamburg Hafenklang
Oct 17 Malmö Plan B
Oct 18 Copenhagen Loppen
Oct 19 Kiel Schaubude
Oct 20 Groningen Café de Walrus
Oct 21 Nijmegen Doornroosje
Oct 22 Antwerpen Trix DesertFest Belgium
Oct 23 Lille La Bulle Café
Oct 24 Osnabrück Bastard Club
Oct 25 Düdingen Bad Bonn
Oct 26 Düsseldorf Pitcher
Oct 27 Berlin Lido Heavy Psych Sounds Fest
Oct 28 Dresden Chemiefabrik Heavy Psych Sounds Fest

About the PostWax series: The PostWax vinyl subscription series presents exclusive limited-edition records from some of the best stoner rock, doom and heavy psych bands on the planet. Benefiting from a spectacular success in 2018, PostWax Year One debuted monster releases to subscribers first — including Elder's "The Gold & Silver Sessions" and Lowrider's seminal comeback album "Refractions" — which were subsequently released in standard retail versions to the public several months later. PostWax II will unfold as a series of 9 deluxe releases on gorgeous vinyl, next-level sleeve design, hand-crafted art and illustrations, and behind-the-scenes liner notes, with releases from Dead Meadow, Acid King, Dozer, Josiah, Dopelord, Mammoth Volume, The Otolith, REZN & Vinnum Sabbathi, Lowrider & Elephant Tree.

DOPELORD is

Paweł Mioduchowski - Guitars and Vocals
Piotr Ochociński - Drums
Grzegorz Pawłowski - Guitars
Piotr Zin - Bass, Vocals and Mellotron

DOPELORD links

Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify

BLUES FUNERAL RECORDINGS links

Website ⎮ Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

The Fierce & The Dead - News From The Invisible World (Album Review)

Release Date: July 07th 2023. Record Label: SPM Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

News From The Invisible World: Tracklisting

1.The Start

2.Shake The Jar 

3.Golden Thread 

4.Photogenic Love 

5.Wonderful 

6.Non-Player

7.What A Time To Be Alive

8.Nostalgia Now

Members

Matt Stevens - Guitar, synths, keys, programming.

Steve Cleaton - Guitar, synths, programming.

Kev Feazey - Bass, vocals, synths, keys, programming

Stuart Marshall - Drums, percussion, programming.

Accomplices:

Terry Edwards - Sax, trumpets.

Matt Jones - Piano, keys.

Tom Hunt - Backing vocals.

Tia Bush - Backing vocals.

Lara Callaway - Backing vocals.

Heidi Henders - Backing vocals.

Lorraine Richardson - Backing vocals.

Natalia Stevenson - Backing vocals.

Review:

News From The Invisible World is the new album from UK Psych/Prog/Stoner Rock outfit The Fierce & The Dead. WIth this being their fourth full length record, the band spread their creative wings yet again by employing a more Experimental and Space Rock feel to their music. There’s also a weird narrative style that draws upon bands such King Crimson, TOOL and The Flaming Lips.

You can even say there’s even influences from the 90’s Britpop scene with the vocals and the kookiness of the lyrics that feature on certain stages of the album. However, The Fierce & The Dead are mostly a Progressive and Psychedelic Stoner Rock Band with elements of Shoegaze, Warped Noises and Post-Rock for an album that delves into the weirder aspect of the Hard Rock scene.

The songs are constructed in such a way that Ambient and Electronic Noises are added just for the sheer hell of it which you can experience on the opening few tracks of the album: The Start, Shake The Jar and Golden Thread. The grooves are plentiful with The Fierce & The Dead leaning to a more Experimental Stoner sound with flashes of Weirdo based Electronica, Indie Rock, Alt-Rock and Post-Rock. This is the sort of sound the mainstream press normally goes crazy over but still retains it’s Stoner Rock/Metal underground essence with the eager Fuzz based grooves that has a classic early-era QOTSA approach. 

The album does become heavier and more experimental with the darker styles of Prog Rock/Metal that accompany The Fierce & The Dead along the way. News From The Invisible World has a rich and varied style of different vocals throughout the album which does take time to fully get on board with. Though, when everything settles down, the album becomes a more engaging experience especially on songs such as: Photogenic Love, Wonderful and What A Time To Be Alive.

The Fierce & The Dead do show their love and admiration for Porcupine Tree, Amplifier and even Radiohead on this album. Those influences are very easy to find within the songwriting techniques and different vocal styles used for the album. However, not many bands have succeeded brilliantly well by adding a Stoner Rock/Metal twist than The Fierce & The Dead have delivered with this album.

Yeah, it’s complex and utterly bonkers but at the same time, this is also an album that is fucking fearless and a superbly entertaining listen from start to finish.

News From The Invisible World is The Fierce & The Dead’s most complex and astonishing release to date.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to The Fierce & The Dead for the promo.

News From The Invincible World will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from July 28th 2023.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

KITA - Tyhjiö (Album Review) And Exclusive New Song/New Video Premiere Of Tyhjiö

Release Date: August 11th 2023. Record Label: No Profit Recordings. Formats: CD/DD

Tyhjiö: Tracklisting

1. Kivi Puhuu (The Stone Speaks)

2. Tyhjiö (The Void)

3. Torajyvä (The Ergot)

4. Kärpässilmät (Fly Eyes)

5. Ataraksia (Ataraxia)

Members

Jonne - guitar, vocals, keys, effects

Antti - guitar

Topi - bass, backing vocals 

Aatu - drums, percussion

Review:

Tyhjiö is the debut album from Psychedelic Death/Doom/Sludge Metallers KITA who also bring elements of Thrash, Punk and Prog Metal for their debut album that allows this to be quite an experimental release. Throw in some weird trippy moments of Electronica and even hints of Film Scores which make KITA quite an extraordinary band in their own right. KITA takes creative solitude with bands such as UFOMAMMUT, TOOL and ISIS with the Post-Metal and Progressive Sound of those great bands feeling right at home with the Death Metal charge that the album contains. However, this is mostly a dark and experimental take on Psych Doom/Sludge Metal that is spread across five tracks.

The first track of Kivi Puhuu (The Stone Speaks) is a haunting and ambient based track with KITA exploring the more Progressive realms of Death/Doom Metal with the Sludgy grooves having a more melodic style with buoyant gloomy Psychedelic energy. The vocals are sung in the band's native tongue and allows the band to have a mysterious quality to their music. The song is more Atmospheric based on the later stages of the track with the more thrashy beatdowns becoming part of the creative sonic journey KITA undertaken for this track and the whole album.

Second track Tyhjiö (The Void) offers a more direct style of Thrash/Death Metal with soaring Psychedelic and Sonic sounds becoming more Post-Doom and Post-Rock inspired along the way. The vocals have small amounts of Shamanic chanting before returning to that classic style of Death Metal based Harsh Growls. The Ambient rhythms and Psychedelic grooves become more commonplace with KITA injecting a Tool-esque energy into the album. The track does become more uplifting in places but the violent mood that KITA operates with returns quickly and with violent ferocious energy. Instrumental work is intense and wonderfully varied with KITA playing a multitude of different Metal styles that showcase what a hugely talented band KITA actually are.

Third song Torajyvä (the Ergot) blends TOOL creative mythology with the cosmic dynamics of UFOMAMMUT but with a more Psychedelic and Tribal flourish. Electonica based scores appear periodically and soon leave without a trace with KITA adopting a more Thrash Metal approach with a Progressive Doomed Out sound. The sludgy atmosphere allows KITA to play a more mind-expanding style of gloomy Post-Metal with violent and chaotic vocals matching the unpredictable sound of the music. Thrashy breakdowns and beatdowns are used for dramatic effect but everything works as it should with KITA providing one of the standout tracks on the album.

The final two tracks of the album Kärpässilmät (Fly Eyes) and Ataraksia (Ataraxia) offers nineteen minutes of pure Prog Metal/Sludge Metal dynamic creative energy with the music adding keys into the mix especially on Kärpässilmät (Fly Eyes). This part of the album is perhaps more Death Metal based but there's still a lot of Doom/Sludge Metal gloominess to unpack and decipher on these tracks with KITA embracing a more Cosmic side to their music. The thrashy beatdowns and breakdowns is what allows this album to truly flourish with even a subtle Hard Rock energy appearing. Constantly moving further into a Prog Metal backdrop on Kärpässilmät (Fly Eyes). Vocals remain aggressive and Death Metal based which remains one of the main strengths of the album. This allows KITA to have a truly volatile "FORCE OF NATURE'' essence to their music.

Tyhjiö is a dynamically powerful and unpredictable album that is perhaps more extreme compared to other Psychedelic Doom/Sludge Metal albums currently being released. However, KITA have a truly original sound of their own which could endear them across the multiple underground scenes within the Doom, Sludge and Death Metal communities.

I say embrace the violent chaos of this album and you will pleasantly be surprised by what you hear. As this is a stunning album with sublime production values throughout.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to No Profit Recordings for the promo.

I'm excited to premiere KITA's new song and video for Tyhjiö below from the upcoming album of the same name.

Tyhjiö will be available to buy on CD/DD via No Profit Recordings from August 11th 2023.

KITA Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

No Profit Recordings Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Bear, Man Dangerous - American War (Single Review)

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

American War: Tracklisting

1.American War 09:10

Review:

American War is the new single by Psych/Post-Rock/Stoner Rock/Shoegaze Rockers Bear, Man Dangerous who impressed me last year with their excellent EP Unofficial Co-Worker. As the blend Americana, Post-Hardcore and Alternative to their main style of Psychedelic Stoner Rock sounds. The “Talking Heads/David Byrne” influences I noticed on their debut EP remain as direct influences once again but only briefly with Bear, Man Dangerous using subtle creative styles that remind me of artists such as EELS and The Mars Volta.

American War is a bleak and dystopian tale which is offset by superb sounding and highly melodic based Post-Rock driven Psych Stoner Rock grooves with Bear, Man Dangerous not afraid to show subtle hints of Melodic Pop but with a fresh Doomed Out twist. The lyrics are quite bold and can be controversial in places but it’s good to see Bear, Man Dangerous sticking so close to their political views and ideals. 

The music can be jangled and chaotic in places but Bear, Man Dangerous have a thrilling STONER based style of their own making which allows the band to play some freakish intense extended jams along the way.

American War is a damn good single and I’m looking forward to the next exciting chapter from Bear, Man Dangerous whenever that time arrives. This is music for the heart and soul which shows a different and vibrant style of Stoner Rock with an aggressive Post-Punk attitude.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

BandCamp

Damage Therapy - The Railyard (Single Review)

Release Date: July 20th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

The Railyard: Tracklisting

The Railyard

Review:

The Railyard is the epic new song from Psych/Fuzz Rockers Damage Therapy which takes a dark creative stab at portraying a different style of Progressive based sounds. The song can be all over the place within a narrative sense but in a good way. Psychedelic sounds and ambient rhythms combine with glitchy sound effects with subtle distorted guitars that take time to appear within the first few moments of the track. 

The Stoner based grooves don’t fully appear until the third minute and Damage Therapy opt for a kaleidoscopic blend of world-weary Garage Rock based riffs. The grooves become more progressive along the way with the vocals being more Alternative in places. Damage Therapy operates with a darker narrative compared to other Psych/Stoner/Fuzz Rock bands with the music still offering a wide range of extended progressive based jams.

The production values are very good indeed whilst still having a raw Punk Rawk sound. It’s not overly produced and allows Damage Therapy to show off their DIY Underground Roots. The song may not be for everyone but there’s a whole ton of demented fun to be hard with The Railyard and I’m hoping there are plans for a longer release such as an EP in the very near future.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can watch the video for The Railyard below.

Links:

Facebook | Linktree | BandCamp