Uncle Woe - Well (EP Review)

Release Date: 20th December 2023. Record Label: Owl Ripper Recordings. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Well - Tracklisting

1.Well 04:55 

2.The Many Comforts of Calamity 05:20

3.Sermons for the Electrical Lost 06:16

4.Oblivion and Further Disaster 16:07

Review

Well is the new EP from Stoner/Doom Metal Alchemists Uncle Woe who incorporate a blend of Sludge Metal, Post-Metal, Psych Rock and Progressive World Building into their music on this EP alone. There’s a more dramatic flair coming from Rain Fice who is the creative force behind Uncle Woe especially the way he delivers his vocals within the subtle opening track Well.

Well sees Uncle Woe play heavy Post-Rock sounding guitars with a slight Industrial score which soon builds upto a solid rhythm of Psychedelic Sludge Rock energy which feels eerie close to YOB and Pallbearer at times but that’s a fine sound to aim for with Uncle Woe still striving to play their own emotionally charged style of music.

Second song The Many Comforts Of Calamity has a more Operatic feel with the distorted sludgy guitars becoming more distant and even flamboyant in places. There’s a neverending style of Ambient Post-Rock/Post-Metal energy appearing with the experimental rock energy of Rain’s vocals and subtle flashes of Prog Metal energy. The instrumental moments can be quite out-there even for an Uncle Woe release. However, the guitars and intricate instrumental sounds have a sense of wicked Doomedelic energy to them.

Third song Sermons For The Electrical Lost opens with a surreal Drone Rock aspect that soon merges into Cinematic Post-Rock textures with a slow-paced Psychedelic energy taking its time for the standard Doom/Sludge Metal sounds to appear. Perhaps the most experimental and slightly “out there” track on the album with Uncle Woe weaving intricate moments of Ambient Post-Rock and long drawn out Psychedelic noises with flashes of Droned Out imagery.

The final song Oblivion And Further Disaster is the title track from Uncle Woe’s upcoming full length album which is rather brave and ballsy of the band to include on this EP. However, this was a great decision to make as this is the standout track with Uncle Woe delivering one of their most impressive tracks to date. The song is quite conceptual with Uncle Woe channelling classic styles of Sludge Metal, Post-Metal and Doom Metal that uses influences such as Neurosis, ISIS, and Mastodon within the many moments of heavy Progressive Sludgy guitars the song actually delivers. Don’t be surprised when Uncle Woe changes the whole creative flow and direction of this track unexpectedly which allows the band to deliver their music in a unique, exciting and highly original way.

Well is another superb release from Uncle Woe. This is a record that allows Uncle Woe to explore new musical avenues and one that may show a different side to the band on their upcoming new album Oblivion And Further Disaster. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy Well on DD/VInyl via BandCamp now.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Andrew Elstner From DEAD NOW, TILTS, RIDDLE OF STEEL and TORCHE - Favourite Albums Of 2023

Andrew Elstner part of Hard-Rocking Doom/Sludge/Stoner Riffsters DEAD NOW and formerly of great bands such as RIDDLE OF STEEL, TILTS and TORCHE  has been one of my favourite musicians for over a decade now. 

Andrew's impressive back catalogue speaks for itself and he knows a thing or two about playing great songs with epic riffs. 

It's been a while since we've spoken and I wanted to see what Andrew's favourite albums of 2023 are.

You can see Andrew's choices from the great list below.

Mike Dean - 4:23

Traindodge - The Alley Parade

Duster - Remote Echoes

Upchuck - Bite The Hand That Feeds

Empire State Bastard - Rivers of Heresy

Dead Now Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Jake Lewis From Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers BURN RITUAL and GYPSYBYRD - Favourite Albums Of 2023

Jake Lewis the creative maestro behind Psych Stoner Rock acts such as Burn Ritual and Gypsybyrd picks his favourite albums of 2023. This is a great selection of albums from Jake that deserves your full attention.

Jake had a great year himself with Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers Burn Ritual releasing their new album Grave Watcher to great acclaim and it's not hard to see why.

Anyway check out Jake's favourite albums.

1. Acid King - Beyond Vision

What is there to say that anyone who has followed stoner rock or doom for awhile doesn’t already know … Acid King rules ! Always ! Another great effort from Lori and crew. Great riffs, super heavy with big jammy and atmospheric parts. Excellent !

2. Church of Misery - Born Under a Mad Sign

Another if you have been following doom or stoner for awhile bands. Church of Misery are legends in the genre. Still turning out bangers ! Rad grooves , fuzzy jams, and killer riffs. Total stoner boogie.

3. Green Lung - This Heathen Land

This is a fantastic record. Great to listen to with headphones. Very good production. Love the tone. Love the vocals. Big epic jams!

4. Slomatics - Strontium Fields

Heavy. Heavy as hell. Crushing. Epic. Atmospheric. Slomatics always bring the heavy!

5. Obituary- Dying of Everything

Death Metal legends still putting out quality music ! Love the old school guitar tone. Love the production. Raw, heavy, and classic.

6. Borracho- Blurring the lines of Reality

Heavy, fuzzy, and full of gnarly riffs. Excellent vocals. Great album!

Burn Ritual Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Gypsybyrd Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Slump/At War With The Sun - SP/LIT (EP Review)

Release Date: 08th December 2023. Record Label: Self Released.. Formats: DD

SP/LIT - Tracklisting

1.At War With The Sun - The Garden 09:54

2.Slump - Dust 03:19

3.Slump - Kneel 07:16

SLUMP - Members

David Kabbouri Lara - drums

Olly Lawrence - bass

Matt Noble - vocals, guitar

At War With The Sun - Members

Karl Bicknell - Bass

Alex Keen - Drums

Jon Weatherill - Guitar and Vocals

Review

SP/LIT is the new split EP release from Death/Doom/Sludge Metallers At War WIth The Sun and Doom/Stoner Metallers Slump which features two bands with stark contrasting visions to each other. At War With The Sun brings a Death based despair to their blend of Doom/Sludge Metal which remains constantly downbeat and aggressive throughout which appeals to fans such as Khanate and THOU. Slump play music that’s inspired by the good old days of KYUSS, Alice In Chains and Crowbar

At War With The Sun’s track The Garden is a Death/Doom musical odyssey powered by slow paced heavy monolithic tones with a subtle Sludgy Metal sound that is quite seedy which has an air of Prog Metal within the song. The band still show a fine destructive Doom/Sludge Metal appetite which occasionally ventures into Blackened Stoner sounds but the harsh vocals from Jon Weatherill allows the song to retain it’s hollow and earthly desolate Death/Doom vibe. The long drawn out Sludgy guitars have a vicious level of FUZZY atmospherics before changing into more Psychedelic flavours that I didn’t expect.

The two tracks from Slump are what you expect for a band influenced by the 90’s Doom/Sludge Metal scene with a healthy appetite of seedy Grunge vibes. There’s a Alt-Rock/Alt-Metal flavour appearing within their first track Dust which also expands into Punk Rock sounds that remind me of The Offspring in places. Though, Dust retains its Doom/Stoner Metal credentials which also has a familiar UK Underground flow to the track.

Slump’s final track Kneel goes down the GRUNGE rabbit hole using bands such as Alice In Chains and Soundgarden for inspiration in places. However, the sudden appearance of NOLA sounding Sludge/Stoner Metal guitar passages moves from one highly atmospheric passage to the next. The instrumental work can be quite Psychedelic for the most part with the vocals having that off-kilter PUNK ROCK approach before exploding into Harsh Growls which gives Slump an almost similar style to At War With The Sun in places.

SP/LIT is a well observed and superbly constructed release that features two great bands from the UK Doom/Sludge Metal underground scene. Both bands offer a different style of music to each other but the EP also makes perfect sense why the bands decided to release SP/LIT. As they both have similar sounds to each within the heaviest and filthiest parts of the EP.

At War With The Sun and Slump have delivered the goods with this great SP/LIT release.

At War With The Sun Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Slump Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Black Cloud Harbour - The Eternal Abyss (Single Review)

Release Date: 15th December 2023. Record Label: Self Released.. Formats: DD

The Eternal Abyss - Tracklisting

The Eternal Abyss

Members

Adam C. Taylor - Everything

Review

The Eternal Abyss is the new single from one-man Sludge/Post-Metal collective Black Cloud Harbour who fuse Blackened Punk with Atmospheric Sludge Metal. Imagine a more Post-Metal version of Kvelertak and you can see the creative heights that Black Cloud Harbour aims for this track alone. There’s a wicked sense of Hard Rock, Sludge and Post-Doom aggression which can be quite straightforward at times but never boring.

There’s a love for bands such as CAVE-IN, Mutoid Man and Converge with this release which appeared within Black Cloud Harbour’s previous tracks. However, The Eternal Abyss is perhaps their most fully realised song with powerful melodic hooks and wonderful out of control aggressive Blackened Punk/Doom Metal grooves which move along at a breakneck speed.

Adam C. Taylor (Vocals/Guitars) from UK Sludge Metallers EVEREST QUEEN is behind this project and it’s another impressive affair with Black Cloud Harbour going from strength to strength with each passing single they release.  The song is kick-ass throwback style to the Hardcore era of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal with a Blackened Punk outlook that would make KVELERTAK blush with envy. 

Awesome stuff.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Linktree | BandCamp | Instagram | Spotify

LEATHER LUNG release first video single 'Spit in the Casket' and details of forthcoming new album "Graveside Grin"

Boston, Massachusetts quintet LEATHER LUNG unveil the first video single 'Spit in the Casket', the opening track of their forthcoming new album "Graveside Grin". The sludge metal band's first proper full-length is chalked up for release on March 15, 2024.

Please find album details of "Graveside Grin" below.

The slick Boston beer party video for 'Spit in the Casket', in the style of a 70s biker flick with beer, broads, and buzzing guitars which you can watch below:

LEATHER LUNG comment on the single: "The opening track 'Spit in the Casket' is a middle finger in song form", singer Mike announces.

"It was written in the catharsis of leaving a toxic relationship. This song is dedicated to anyone that has ever disrespected you and lets them know that it won't happen again. We play this track like we are kicking down your door with it. For that reason, we have chosen 'Spit in the Casket' as the first single and opening track off our new record 'Graveside Grin'. This also happens to be our first full length release and first effort as a 5-piece band. It's our beastly new form and we're showing teeth. So better stay on our good side and blast the newest single as loud as it goes!"

Tracklist

1. Spit in the Casket
2. Big Bad Bodega Cat
3. Freewheelin' Maniac
4. Empty Bottle Boogie
5. Guilty Pleasure
6. Macrodose (Interlude)
7. La La Land
8. Twisting Flowers
9. Headstone
10. Cornered Animal
11. Raised Me Rowdy

Let's get this party started! The incorrigible headbangers in LEATHER LUNG have heard the pleas of their enthusiastic following to bring forth a new album of substance-fueled boogie metal, and have obliged at last with the raucous new full-length "Graveyard Grin". The proper debut album from the New England five-piece has everything promised by their previous EP releases: a thick, chugging concoction of stoner metal, doom, and unrelenting sludge, blended into a refreshingly heavy brew with a catchy kick.

LEATHER LUNG are a wild bunch that know the meaning of fun. This is hardly surprising as the band sprang into existence out of friendship and the punk and hardcore scene of Boston in 2012. Starting as a four-piece, they quickly gained an excellent reputation in their local scene, as well as plenty of critical attention through a string of EPs, starting with "Reap What You Sow" (2014) and followed in regular intervals by "Lost in Temptation" (2016), "Lonesome, On'ry and Evil" (2019), and "Dive Bar Devil" (2022).

'Dive Bar Devil' is also the name of LEATHER LUNG's own brand of lager beer, which has already sold out and been re-brewed multiple times. One may speculate that this is the liquid coming out off the can that the band's Green Lady mascot of each of their record covers opens forcefully in the artwork of "Graveside Grin".

Now a five-piece with the addition of a second guitarist, LEATHER LUNG are ready to take on the world. Following crushing live appearances at DesertFest New York and Psycho Las Vegas, the band return with "Graveside Grin", a massive sign that these freaks from Boston are ready for the road and amped to get the global party going.

Release date: March 15, 2024
Style: Boogie Metal
Label: Magnetic Eye Records

Line-up

Mike – vocals
Zach – guitar, vocals
Ben – drums
Jesse – bass, vocals
Greg – guitar

Recording & Mix by Chris Johnson at New Alliance Audio, Somerville, MA
Mastering by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, Portland, OR

Artwork by Mike Vickers
Illustrated by Ester Cardella
Layout by Mike Vickers

Shop: http://lnk.spkr.media/graveside-grin

Available formats: "Graveside Grin" is available as an LP on marbled black and yellow vinyl, on solid yellow vinyl, and as digisleeve CD.

Links

www.leatherlung.com
www.facebook.com/leatherlungcult
www.instagram.com/leather_lung

Finland's Stoner Rockers King Of None, has officially signed with Argonauta Records to launch their highly anticipated new album in 2024.

Finland's Stoner Rock band, King of None, has officially signed with Argonauta Records to launch their highly anticipated new album in 2024.

In celebration of this milestone, the band has unveiled their new single, titled 'Speeder Approaching.' Listen below: 

Band comments:

"SPEEDER APPROACHING; a fast-paced, riff-packed track channeling the band’s love for speedier stoner rock tunes with catchy melodies. The song depicts a flight to safety across a foreign planet’s surface while being under pursuit. Most of all the song is fun to perform and play, because of its awesome energy and drive!"

KING OF NONE is a stoner rock group from Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 2013, their signature sound fuses heavy riffs and raspy vocals with progressive elements and psychedelic soundscapes. The band retains all its original members from its inception: Miiro Kärki (vocals), Patrick Enckell (drums), Juho Aarnio (bass), Aleksi Kärkkäinen (guitar) and Juha Pääkkö (guitar). 

With three self-released EPs, the group's sound has evolved from having a 90's desert stoner rock feel to include more wide-ranging psychedelic and progressive influences from their own musical pasts, while maintaining the same riff-worshipping attitude. They have received attention locally and internationally in the underground stoner rock scene and become known for their energetic and captivating live performances.

For more info:

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

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for all of the details.