Release Date: May 12th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Shifting Sands - Tracklisting
Nirvana Dunes
Tempest
Eternal Shadow
Review
Shifting Sands is the new EP from Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers Cervus who I’ve featured on the blog twice before. The band have upped their game with this EP with their sound given a richer, bolder and thicker feel compared to their previous releases. There’s a subtle Psychedelic element on the EP but they never stray from their Seventies based roots with a lush modern day Psych vibe with traces of Blues Rock.
Opening song Nirvana Dunes has an interesting premise with Cervus playing elements of Doom Rock, Americana, Country, Blues Rock and Stoner Rock. The sound is mostly semi-acoustic with a breezy and free-flowing attitude that screams 1970’s Hard Rock. The vocals are mostly peaceful and soulful. The later stages of the track sees Cervus move up a gear and bring a heavier Desert/Stoner Rock groove to the track. There’s a “Lo-fi” Post-Psych drive to the band that will appeal to fans of All Them Witches and King Buffalo.
Second song Tempest opts for a more Doom based Garage Rock sound with elements of Psyched Out Blues for a faster and aggressive sound compared to the first track. There’s also a “FUNK” based guitar that’s quite different to hear. Cervus then brings in a highly convincing DOOM METAL groove that is quite Jazzy in places. The song does feel like a collection of extended jam sessions in places but when the riffs are that good I’m not going to complain at all.
Third song Eternal Shadow.is the gloomiest and DOOMED out track on the whole EP which moves Cervus firmly over to the Post-Doom or Post-Stoner world compared to their previous releases. The sound is highly atmospheric and quite dramatic with the heavier stylish grooves and eerie Psychedelic tones the band employ here. Taking cues from Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid this is Cervus at their creepiest and demonic best and they even find the time to add a slight NWOBHM influence to the mix which allows the EP to end in highly convincing fashion.
Shifting Sands is a superb release and showcases why Cervus are one of the best kept secrets from the Netherlands Stoner Rock/Metal Underground Scene.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Cervus for the promo.
Shifting Sands will be available to buy on Digital Download on May 12th 2023 from all digital stockists.
Links
Release Date: May 03rd 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Ingress - Tracklisting
1.Stygian Nectar 08:10
2.Summoner 04:19
3.Projection 07:13
4.Sloe 07:56
5.Lantern Eyed 08:48
6.Nor'easter 07:51
7.Magog 04:50
8.Kaleidoscope 07:11
9.Mines 08:00
10.Aeons Entombed 05:16
11.Spherical 04:41
Members
Josh Dupree - Bass
Dave Jones - Rhythm Guitar/Vocals
Zach Hatsis - Drums
Joey Toscano - Guitars
Review
Ingress is the debut album from Psych Stoner Metallers Hibernaut who bring a high amount of amplifier distorted Doom/Sludge Metal along the way. Taking cues from High On Fire and Mastodon with their own blend of gloomy Psychedelics. The album lasts for over seventy minutes with the band playing progressive strands of Stoner Metal. There’s a fine amount of FUZZY grooves with a dirty and seedy atmosphere.
The vocals are a mixture of Matt Pike and Troy Sanders with a slightly more gruff based attitude. The opening two songs of Stygian Nectar and Summoner both have a fine mix of fast-paced grooves and a slower style of music where Hibernaut brings in trippier Psychedelic elements that could be considered Space Rock in places. The music has a “LOW & SLOW” appeal which shows up predominantly on the later stages of Stygian Nectar.
There is a lot to take in with this album with the album running for such a long time. However, Hibernaut seem to immerse themselves and the listener only further into the vast reaches of Psych Stoner Metal. There’s also a slight twinge of Groove Metal which allows the music to be more appealing even when the harsher and thrasher based grooves appear.
HIbernaut channels the Mid 2000’s spirit of Relapse Records with the fast-paced metallic energy that sees the band zip along with highly confident energy on tracks such as: Projection, Sloe, Lantern Eyed and Nor’easter. The majority of these tracks run between seven to eight minutes each. The instrumental sounds are always impressive with Hibernaut playing to their creative strengths especially Dave Jones on vocals who sounds like he’s been religiously listening to classic Mastodon (Leviathan) and High On Fire (Blessed Black Wings) albums most of his adult life but still performing his own fantastic vocal styles.
The second half of the album is perhaps more wilder than the first half with Hibernaut becoming more of a Sludge Metal band but still with a killer WEEDIAN mentality. The grooves are heavier and thicker with a lot more SONIC experimentation as well.
Standout tracks on this part of the album include: Magog, Kaleidoscope, Mines and Aeons Entombed.
Hibernaut are wonderfully expressive with their creative thoughts and musings for the lyrics they write for the whole album. This is great to see a band such as HIbernaut playing a neverending style of aggressive and catchy extended guitar solos with a thunderous rhythm section laying down the groundwork for Dave and Joey to fully explore. So high marks to bassist Josh Dupree and drummer Zach Hatsis on that score as well.
Ingress is a violent and unexpected delight that offers first rate entertainment for the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal underground scene to claim as their own and promote their music to the high heavens.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Release Date: April 14th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Scavenger Kings - Tracklisting
1.Scavenger Kings 04:28
2.Sinking Ship 03:31
3.Vargarnas Natt 03:00
Members
Östen Jäderberg - drums
Magnus Öhrn - vocals and bass
Martin Sällström - vocals and guitar
Review
Scavenger Kings is the new EP from Vulture Neck who specialise in playing a winning mixture of Heavy Rock, Doom Metal and Sludge Metal. There’s also a subtle underground Punk Rock feel which allows Vulture Neck to have an aggressive but catchy sound of their own. There’s a cool “Power Trio” dynamic to Vulture Neck which is used to great effect on the opening title track Scavenger Kings.
The song has a slight claustrophobic feeling that allows the EP to have a “rough and ready” approach within the production values. The music has little flashes of Psych Rock which work superbly well with the vocals from both Magnus and Martin. The EP also has that “Nordic” sound running within it’s creative DNA which Vulture Neck run amok with on the other two excellent tracks of Sinking Ship and Vargarnas Natt.
The EP has a fantastic “rebel” or “troublemaker” attitude to it which reminds me of Kvelertak at times which is mostly heard on Sinking Ship and Vargarnas Natt.
Scavenger Kings is a great EP that offers quality entertainment for the eleven or so minutes that it runs for. The EP could have done with a couple more tracks but apart from that minor complaint, Vulture Neck are onto a winner here. More please….
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Release Date: May 01st 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Take A Ride - Tracklisting
1.Mother Ship 07:01
2.I Run 07:43
3.Take A Ride 06:33
4.Orbit 10:02
5.Disconnect 05:27
6.Wormhole 10:00
Review
Take A Ride is the third full length album from Psych Doom/Stoner Rock Band Neon Burton. The band impressed me greatly with their 2021 effort Mighty Mondeo. Neon Burton play a Psychedelic blend of Space Rock, Doom Rock and Stoner Rock but spliced with cinematic Post-Rock sounds. You could call the music Post-Doom or Post-Stoner as Neon Burton easily moves in between those two different styles of music.
The album does have elements of sounds and influence from bands such as Weedpecker, Earthless, Russian Circles and Pelican. Take A Ride does take time to fully get moving with the Ambient driven style of Stoner Rock heard on the opening track Mother Ship.
The song is superbly played with moments of lush Psychedelic vibes and Progressive based Space Rock passages. Subtle vocal passages appear here and there to give the album a more creative feel. However, when Neon Burton brings a heavier style of music then the album takes off in a whole different direction. The atmosphere becomes more FUZZ based and shows signs of the classic Desert/Stoner Rock scene.
Second track I Run starts calmly and slowly with the Monster Magnet inspired lyrics allowing listeners early on what type of track this will become. Neon Burton play a mellow blend of Stoner Rock for the first few moments before venturing into heavier areas of seedy and muscular Stoner Rock/Metal which also has a certain Grunge quality to it. Perhaps one of the standout tracks of the album.
Third track Take A Ride has another Psychedelic soft opening which is calming and soothing with the semi-acoustic drive Neon Burton opt for the first few moments. There’s some swirling Blues Rock grooves that become more Doom based as time passes. The vocals are soulful with the music offering little moments of blissful heaviness which become more apparent and focused on the later stages of the track.
The next track Orbit is one of two tracks that last for around the ten minutes mark. This is where Neon Burton proves their creative worth with some of the best ideas and interesting grooves on the album. The track is expansive with Neon Burton employing different styles of Doomed Out Stoner Rock for this track. The Ambient Post-Rock themes are used superbly well yet again on the early stages of the track. Offering a more Progressive sound with Neon Burton wisely choosing the right moments to unleash some mighty fine Stoner Metal riffs that packs a mighty punch in the volume department.
The final two tracks Disconnect and Wormhole explore the Space Rock themes even further with Wormhole being the other ten minutes track included on the album. Neon Burton plays the QUIET vs LOUD dynamics superbly well mostly on Wormhole. Wormhole is perhaps my favourite track on the album with Neon Burton showcasing what great storytellers they are.
Take A Ride is a great album from Neon Burton with its fine style of LOW KEY cinematic sounds against the bombastic Stoner Metal parts. The album can be quite surreal in certain places but it’s the overall journey Neon Burton takes you upon with this album that makes this such a stunning album to add to your record collection.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Release Date: April 14th 2023. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD
Najing - S/T: Tracklisting
1.Melancholia 08:19
2.Nerocolore 05:54
3.Death In Slow Motion 07:13
4.Fire Walk With Me 08:02
5.Sedna Aphelion 05:38
6.Violet 12:20
Members
Andrea Turini: Guitar
Marco Neri: Bass
Marco Di Chiara: Drums
Review
Instrumental Doom/Post-Metallers Najing debut self-titled album takes the Post-Metal template first laid down by bands such as Pelican and Russian Circles but gives it a more Doomed Out and Sludgier perspective with the heavy sludgy grooves that operate here. The album is quite progressive from start to finish and allows Najing to play a more expansive style of music.
The instrumental work is always buoyant and intense with Najing firmly within the mid-2000’s era of Post-Rock/Post-Metal. The atmospherics have an earthly Spaced Out flow to them which is used superbly well on the haunting opening song Melancholia. The song is beautifully complex to listen to with the multitude of different Ambient Post-Whatever styles Najing play with a fearless attitude.
Second song Nerocolore is more of a straight up banger with a Doom Metal style of music that allows Najing to be that ever more chaotic with their creative choices. The instrumental work has a “choppy” feeling to the track which allows Najing to add different “AMBIENT” flavours to the mix.
Third song Death In Slow Motion moves along at its own “BEAT” with Najing leaning heavily on early-era sounds of the Post-Rock/Post-Metal scene. The track does take time to find its own creative groove but when Najing slows the mood right back and offers a more stripped back or back to basic approach then Najing play their own sound. There’s a wicked DRONE aspect to this track with elements of bleak DISTORTED sludgy grooves that become more of an Industrial based sound then Post-Metal but it works surprisingly well. This allows this track to be one of the standout tracks on the album.
The second half of the album becomes more gloomier and one of despair with Najing opting for a stripped back Psychedelic and Ambient approach with their music. Perhaps, not as heaviest or as direct compared to the first half from your first listening to the album. However, Najing offer the most interesting and creative choices on this part of the album. There’s a more “world-weary” attitude to Najing especially on tracks Fire Walk With Me and Violet.
Fire Walk With Me and Violet are the other standout tracks of the album with Najing becoming more daring, progressive and playing the heaviest grooves on the album. Violet is a masterclass in Modern Day Post-Metal. As the song conveys so many moods along with the intense music Najing has created for this track alone.
Najing’s debut album is a winning collection of emotionally charged tracks that offers an exciting blend of different styles of Instrumental based Doom, Ambient, Post-Rock and Post-Metal grooves to lose yourself in.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotions PR and Najing for the promo.
Najing self-titled debut album is available to buy now on CD/DD via Argonauta Records.
Links
Release Date: May 02nd 2023. Record Label: Interstellar Smoke Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
MACABRE: Tracklisting
1.Abundance
2.Serpent
3.Silence Queen 03:26
4.Circus
5.Mentor 03:27
6.Loom
7.Forswear
8.Hum
9.Macabre 04:31
10.Earth
Members
I.Nediuzhyi - drums / vocals
V. Panchishko - guitar / vocals
V. Skorzhenko - bass
Review
Ukrainian Doom/Stoner Metallers Risin Sabotage new album MACABRE is an album created and forged by the events of the last few years. Written during COVID-19 lockdown and mastered within the horrible events of the ongoing war within the country, the happy-go-lucky Doomstes of their earlier albums are a thing of the past. With Risin Sabotage focusing upon real life events and experiences, MACABRE has a different gloomy feeling than I anticipated.
Sure, the music is classic Doom/Stoner Metal with Risin Sabotage playing some mighty fine grooves along the way. However, the tone and message of the album matches upto the album title of MACABRE. The FUZZY beats are freaky and seedy with that classic SABBATHIAN approach heard within the excellent opening tracks of Abundance, Serpent and Silence Queen. The sounds have a fresh DIY approach which oozes 1970’s Doom Rock with that heavy FUZZ surround style of music that gives Risin Sabotage a vital creative presence throughout.
Shades of Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus reign supreme with a sludgy intricate and highly melodic style weaving it into the mix early on within the album, perhaps most notable on Serpent and Silence Queen. The band always allow themselves the opportunity to experiment with their sound by adding GUITAR REVERB and AMPLIFIER FEEDBACK effects which can become quite deafening in places though that’s a highlight if you’re looking for an album purely for HEADBANGING purposes.
The later stages of the album does see Risin Sabotage offer more darker sonic and fuzzed out passages with echoes of freaky Blues Rock and seedy Psychedelic extended jams with songs such as Circus, Mentor Hum, Macabre and Earth being the best examples where Risin Sabotage bring first class DOOMED OUT aggression to the underground masses.
MACABRE is the type of album I always hoped Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats would make. As Risin Sabotage have that similar type of vibe and sound. However, they have the creative vision to explore darker areas of Doomed Out Stoner Rock which is packed full of FUZZ ROCK goodness. The grooves are bleak and eerily delightful with Risin Sabotage bringing a cool and real life menacing perspective to the underground Doom/Stoner Metal scene.
This is a highly impressive release which will have listeners entertained for a long time to come.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Infecting Cells PR for the promo.
MACABRE is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Interstellar Smoke Records.
Links
Linktree | Facebook | BandCamp