Vessel - The Void Tempest

Vessel - The Void Tempest

G’day y’all! We are honored to introduce the new Vessel single of their upcoming album Vagabond Blues. It’s called The Void Tempest and it’s one of the seven tracks that are featured on the album that will drop on February 7th through Majestic Mountain Records. The first single Twenty Twenty, premiered on Outlaws Of The Sun and was a fast paced grimy and fuzzy kick ass stoner trucker. Their second single, The Void Tempest goes off into another dimension, showcasing that these crazy Aussies can do it all! Slow and heavy it will make you crazy with lust for the rest of the album! Which we shall review before it drops on February 7! Check out The Void Tempest! And get ready for the awesome ride!

Tracklisting for Vagabond Blues:

Vagabond Blues

Twenty twenty

Atacama (Instrumental)

Red Witch

Dark in the light

The Void Tempest

The Devil’s Backyard (lead vocals by Sue D. Nym)

Recorded and mixed by Jesse Oberin

Mastered by Magnus Lindberg

Vagabond blues vinyl will go on sale at release date, February 7th at Majestic Mountain Records

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Dopes to Ethereal - I

Dopes to Ethereal - I

Self-released - 2020

Doom, Sludge, Stoner

Rated: ****

Lumbering out of Langreo, Spain comes the debut album "I" of sludge doomers Dopes to Ethereal, a record caked in grimy Sabbathian riffs with massive weight and atmosphere that's all the more impressive for being a first effort. Wasting no time in making their mission known, the four-piece tears open the gates with opener "Nimbo", wielding a rumbling, tectonic low end that's liable to quake lesser speakers into pieces. Beneath the bass's avalanche stomps a steady bashing drumbeat, building a bedrock for the ripping lead guitar tone as it spits out low and slow riffs of doom. The band's apocalyptic sound is driven home by singer Maertha's eerie, soaring vocals, adding a ghostly feel to the proceedings. The following track "Bone of Contention" is an album highlight, filled with sneering riffs honoring Iommi before accelerating into an uptempo shuffle that effectively contrasts with the later plodding, divebomb licks of "Drowned Homeland". The dynamic mix of sludge and more traditional doom continues across the record's six tracks, with rawer production lending itself to the thick, churning layers of distortion while vocalist Maertha moodily floats over it all. Dopes to Ethereal's first outing is filled to the brim with classic riffs and evil atmopshere, making for a both punishing and expressive debut that marks the Spaniards as ones to watch in the expanding heavy underground.

(Written by Kyle / Shastabeast)

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Snake Mountain Revival, Sibyl and Mister Earthbound - Live at Fuzzy Cactus, Richmond

Snake Mountain Revival, Sibyl, and Mister Earthbound - Live at Fuzzy Cactus, Richmond, VA Jan 18 2020

One of the most prolific hubs of the U.S. East Coast's heavy music scene, Richmond, VA served up a heavy psych show packed to the gills with talent at the beloved Fuzzy Cactus earlier this January. Joined by openers Snake Mountain Revival from nearby Virginia Beach, local favorites Sibyl and Mister Earthbound celebrated their new split "Hypnotic Rhythm" in style, with groove and riffs to spare. Perfectly setting the packed house's mood was a DIY lighting setup straight out of the 60's: a bowl of multicolored liquid balanced on an old projector, coating the stage in a trippy primordial soup. As the lone master of lighting stirred and swirled his freak juice, Snake Mountain Revival started things off with their signature eerie, entrancing sound, luring the audience into a trap of winding guitar leads and otherwordly atmospherics. Tight as can be, the set was a shining example of well-honed psychedelia. Building off the opener's hints of danger, co-stars of the night Sibyl took to the stage, and made it known to all this was a night of HEAVY psych. Smoothly moving from low and slow doom to rocking uptempo crunch, the Richmond crew were in command of both groove and crush. All this was topped off by the show-stealing vocals, the deep and haunting wails a powerful complement to the instrumentation's thundering stomp. To cap off the night, fellow Richmonders Mister Earthbound brought attitude and bluesy bounce to bear, getting the crammed Cactus moving with high energy retro vibes and piercing, classy solos. Fierce vocals added an edge to the toe-tapping riffs, combining with more laidback psych passages to close out the night on an exhilarating high note. To cheers and applause, the three bands proved beyond a doubt the deep well of young talent in Richmond and larger Virginia's heavy underground, and left the crowd eagerly awaiting more riffs and shows to come.

(Written by Kyle / Shastabeast)

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Ritual King - Ritual King

Ritual King - Ritual King

Ripple Music – 2020 (February 21st)

Stoner, Doom, Heavy Psych

Rated: ****

The ever-expanding UK Underground consistently unearths amazing talent, none more so than Manchester's Ritual King, who deliver their eponymous debut for Ripple Music next month. Seven titanic tracks of first-degree sensorial assault. "Valleys" opens the show with crunch, crush and charisma - seismic bass tones pinning currents of savage Stoner riffery with clean, clear vocals soaring like a hunting Kestrel. The Jazz-infused beats of "No Compromise" suddenly give way to Doomy smatterings of harsh abrasive riffs, pierced by sweet guitar noodles. "Headspace" slows into a melting-pot of licks and lysergic atmospheres, layered vocals harmonizing with themselves and the surging riffs beneath. The riffs come back full-force with "602", a pelting rock-out instrumental showcasing the tightness and invention of the band. The crawling Doom motif resurfaces on "Dead Roads", blending Stoner sonics and punitive percussion into a psychic stew of sounds. This formula continues unabated with "Restrain" ..an aptly-titled reign-back of stunted riffs, hard breaks and harder shoulders bearing the bulbous weight. Closer "Black Hills" turns through chugging riffs and flat-four tempo, a Desert Rocker of searing, white-hot glow and groove. Ritual King delivers breadth, width and height: the full dimensions of Modern Underground Metal in all it's geometric gelignite.

(Written by Reek of STOOM)

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Desert Colossus – Eyes And Tongues

Desert Colossus – Eyes And Tongues

Self Released - 2020

Stoner Rock

Rated: *****

Desert Colossus are a stoner band who do not piss around trying to invent the wheel - they want to turn the amps up, crank out some riffs and stomp on some distortion pedals. This is raw stuff, both in production and the playing which suits the music just fine. Riffs are basic and powerful and sometimes that is all I want. Circular song passages keep the groove turned up to the max and the foot stomping beat just keeps rolling along. The guitar solos are prime electric blues - mean, aggressive and full of feeling. This is the sort of shit I love. And because they are good guys, the new album Eyes And Tongues is NYP on Bandcamp.

(Written by Tony Maim)

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Hubris – Metempsychosis

Hubris – Metempsychosis

Art As Catharsis – 2020

Rock, Post, Ambient, Progressive, Metal

Rated: ***

I wonder how many Swiss band we have mentioned over the past ten years? The amazing Feuerzeug ofcourse and the equally stunning Six Months of Sun. And now we get to mention Hubris. Their Metempsychosis album will be released somewhere back in March 2020 by Art As Catharsis and is once again a beautiful instrumental post rock and post metal record that celebrates all the good sides of ambient rock. The Fribourg quartet knows how to paint those wide and tranquil vistas and then expertly distort them into an impressionistic array of sentiments and moods. By sheer coincidence we are reading Mythos by Stephen Fry at this very moment; and the album stands tall as an exploration of Greek mythos and mortality through the medium of technical post-rock.

(Written by JK)

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Hey Bulldog – Death & Greed

Hey Bulldog – Death & Greed

Doing It To Death Records – 2019

Rock, Garage, Stoner, Psych

Rated: ****

Another Manchester band before us this morning! Hey Bulldog! A three piece garage rocking freak expose on how to always keep your garage guns up and your weird bullets close by to load it with. For the band has been releasing music since 2007 and many  of those garage and psych releases move towards stoner or desert or even doom. But the two tracks on the Death & Greed single stay distinctly in their garage corner with minor krautrock and spacey elements. It’s grimy and it’s psychy and it’s empowering! You will dance like a dog in heat, like an animal out of control and exactly like you’ve always wanted to dance!

(Written by JK)

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Tutherun – Tutherun EP

Tutherun – Tutherun EP

Self released – 2019

Rock, Doom, Metal, Stoner

Rated: ****

Soothing doom and all the way from Manchester! Soothing my ass! Growling, languid doom that has the exact right amount of metal influences to keep your head moving at two speeds! The four from Tutherun know how to go turtle with their doom and how to go galloping goat style! They offer up three tracks on their debut EP, lasting twenty minutes in total, and all those twenty minutes are well spent! Damn! Tutherun! Tutututherun! You need to check these cats out!

(Written by JK)

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Doomed & Stoned in Hellas

Doomed & Stoned in Hellas

Greece has got the goods!

From deep within the fabled gloom of his hollows, the venerable Reek of Stoom has crafted yet another Doomed & Stoned journey through lands rich in heavy talent. Hellenic music has always been a stalwart of the heavy underground, and in the latest D&S compilation the truly immense depth and breadth of its scene is brought to light. Kicking off with a track from rising stars' Acid Mammoth's upcoming "Under Acid Hoof" LP, Reek's journey weaves a path through a range of genres and themes. Transitioning from the initial sludgey doom of the likes of The Slayerking, a hard rock edge is brought to bear by the debut of Bacchus Priest's occult doom track "White Sepulchre" and the Sabbath vibes of Night Resident, along with a D&S exclusive mix of Tidal Shock's psych doom "Black Hole Genesis" before plummeting into the Conan-level heaviness of atmospheric doomsters Automaton. A well-earned breath of fresh Greek air is soon found, however, in one of the comp's standout sections. Starting with the lauded Villagers of Ioninna City, a series of groups melds traditional Hellenic and Eastern culture with heavy music to brilliant effect, such as the use of the kemenje fiddle and throat singing by Around the Fire and the doomed Eastern melodies of Babylon Tree. A shot of adrenaline is then delivered by the psychedelic stoner of Arrakis and company, mercilessly followed by the caustic sludge attacks of Sadhus, The Smoking Community and Gagulta. Yet with a whopping 66 tracks, the ride thankfully isn't over. Morose atmospherics of Okwaho and Six Steps Above The Earth settle the mood before it rises once more with the swinging rock and roll grooves of Stonus and like-minded headbangers. The journey ends in suitably epic fashion with the wonderfully weird She Tames Chaos, the legendary Naxatras, and finally the crushing shoegaze/black/doom of Faunus, whose massive sound is directly inspired by Greek lore. Many thanks to the Greek heavy scene, Reek of Stoom, and Doomed & Stoned for an astounding collection of music, and happy trails to all those about to find a new favorite band in Hellas!

(Written by Kyle)

Doomed & Stoned in Hellas

(A map, guiding you across the isle to all that Hellas goodness locations...)

Supernaut – The Green

Supernaut – The Green

Self released – 2019

Rock, Stoner, Psych, Prog, Blues, Seventies

Rated: ***

Santa Cruz, California, birthplace of the three called Supernaut! Spinning extremely loud over here, is their sophomore record The Green. It often comes across as a Brant Bjork take on stoner or a seventies blues inspired prog jam that celebrates all that good stuff that came from the desert. It has Sabbathian moments and more straightforward rock trucking. Damn, there’s one hell of a cool vibe going on; which would come across even more if the mix had not pushed the basswork and drums a bit too far back. That is the lone and mighty shame; the balance… Cause it results in either undercover bass rumbling or crashes that should be louder. Especially on the Sabbath worshipping moments or during the whirling of title track The Green. Shit, Supernaut’s The Green has everything to be one hell of an album; it just does not completely materialize…

(Written by JK)

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Ultracombo - Season 1

Ultracombo - Season 1

Self Released - September 2019

Stoner, Desert Rock

Rated: ****

The Italian five-piece powerhouse known as Ultracombo plunder the dusts of the desert with their latest release Season 1. High-Intensity at low-frequency is their stock-in-trade, and "The King" opens with growling fuzz and 4/4 stomp, spitting sand and glass from it's hybrid burn-out grooves with the flavours of Kyuss and Truckfighter. "Sparatutto" keeps the fuses lit with more low snarlings and charged plasma undercurrents of driving bass and percussion. The pace intensifies with the fuel-injected "Gravita", revving up a frothing bass frenzy and trademark desert riffs under a guitar/keyboard motif. "Flusso" mellows into a smooth guitar lead-in then blossoms into a hard n heavy, driving juggernaut. closing the album, "Il momento in cui non penso" ushers us out through the same door as the entrance: Low, fuzzy and groovy. Five tracks of fervent Stoner that bring the heat, the sweat and the flies of Sonora to your ears and minds.

(Written by Reek of STOOM)

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The Legendary Flower Punk – Wabi Wu

The Legendary Flower Punk – Wabi Wu

Self released / Tonzonen Records – 2019

Rock, Prog, Jazz, Space, Fusion, New Wave, Drum n Bass

Rated: ***

Looking for something different? Something that might blossom like a rock flower in your head? Like kaleidoscopic petals full of jazz and space? Well, Wabi Wu is blessed which such fecund richness that one could easily believe that whatever you planted in the minds of The Legendary Flower Punk band, it would definitely burst full of passion into a wild and uncontrollable flowerbed! The instrumental prog, jazz, spacey fusion seems endowed with an astonishing fertility. It feels like a space age opera, a romp and stomp through space and time, myth and legend. There seems to be no limit to all the jam-like compositions; it will make your head expand and your heart explode with exalted adoration for the folk involved. It’s a core of three with a multitude of guest spots; Ed Wynne of Ozric Tentacles being one of them. No holds barred, let it all loose! Buy the ticket… Take the ride…

(Written by JK)

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Matador – They Were here Before Us

Matador – They Were here Before Us

Self Released - December 2019

Post Rock/Post Metal

Rated: *****

Matador give us an album called They  Were Here Before Us with six powerful tracks that will make mountains crumble into the sea and the moon move out of orbit. For me, post-metal is in danger of becoming stale, with only a handful of bands capable of rising above the cut'n'paste copyists that seem to litter this genre. Luckily for us all, Matador escape that trap with thoughtful song writing capabilities that have an epic feel to them and yet still retain a hardcore edge to focus the tracks with razor-sharp guitar riffs that slice through the sonic denseness. Atmospherics that are sparsely used do not overplay their hand, instead they add, rather than distract from the rage and despair being played out through the songs. Despite the power and fury, there is a hypnotic quality due to the running order of the tracks that brings a cohesive feel that just sounds right. And because Matador are good guys it is NYP on Bandcamp.

(Written by Tony Maim)

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GoatHawkBuffalo – Come to Temple

GoatHawkBuffalo – Come to Temple

Self released – 2019

Rock, Stoner, Metal, Sludge

Rated: ****

Gnide en and! It’s one of the many important phrases one should know in Danish. Shit, it’s a phrase one should know in every language. And fortunately we do… But for now we are in Copenhagen where Come To Temple by GoatHawkBuffalo was born. GoatHawkBuffalo, five guys playing heavy rock music. It might get dirty, and it definitely will be loud! Yes, it does! Ten stoner metal tracks that they themselves also label as ‘party sludge’. Ho ho ho! And there’s a one hell of shindig going! Singapore Slings with (Rancho De La Luna) Mezcal on the side! They quickly turn to a mighty groove and keep it going for the entirety of the record; leveling all that lies before them and almost turning machinal. Or so you think and wish; cause without a warning shot they suddenly go through layers upon layers of fuzzy reverb between tracks and Americana, blues inspired songs. Which shows these cats want to do more than just produce kick in the balls groove metal, stoner and sludge. Is every one of those sidesteps a winner? Perhaps not; but let’s not spoil the surprise! Go to the GoatHawkBuffalo Temple and heat the sermon…

(Written by JK)

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Strider / Godbud - Them Doomed Roads

Strider / Godbud - Them Doomed Roads

Self Released Split- 2019

Rock, Stoner, Doom, Psych

Rated:

Two prominent risers in the bright Turkish Underground, Strider and Godbud join forces on Them Doomed Roads to proffer differing adventures in Heavy Psych: Strider's low-fuzz vibes throwing up all the hot desert sand and peyote a healthy Stoner needs whilst Godbud go for the creeping Doom approach, bending notes and minds with deep-rooted Psych Doom! Well worth a punt!

(Written by Reek of STOOM)

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Yur Mum – Ellipsis

Yur Mum – Ellipsis

Self released /Rebel Rebel PR – 2019

Rock, Punk, Grunge, Stoner

Rated: ***

The two became three and the sound multiplied by infinity! Or did the three become two? Whatever might have happened, the sounds like infinity times two! A live gig or the band photo? Anyway, check out the new EP Ellipsis by Yur Mum. The alternative rock, punk and grunge all indeed have that nineties feel; but with the touches of stoner and metal the five tracks soon become something more as well. Formed as a duo by Anelise Kunz (Vocals/Bass) and Fabio Couto (Drums/Vocals) they released their first album Road Rage on Flicknife Records in 2018. But the new EP sees the London two or three become absolutely explosive!

(Written by JK)

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Czar – Too Close For Comfort

Czar – Too Close For Comfort

Black Bow Records – 2019

Rock, Stoner, Grunge

Rated:

Denver, Colorado based foursome Czar released two singles near the end of 2019. Can we expect to receive a full album in 2020? We can only hope so! For both singles are a wild exploration of the stoner and grunge scene. Tuned low and tuned grime, both the A Loathing and Too Close For Comfort singles kicks you hard and swiftly with a nineties vibe and a new era grunge sound. We might be dealing with a new despot here!?

(Written by JK)

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Black Tundra - Daylight Dark

Black Tundra - Daylight Dark

Self released - 2019

Doom, Post, Core

Rated:

Highlighted as one of my December Doom Charts picks, Polish pessimists Black Tundra serve up bitter fruits of bleak, atmospheric Doom with their latest opus Daylight Dark: 6 tracks of inventive, irascible Doom/Post-Hardcore that capture your ears and incarcerate your attention!

(Written by Reek of STOOM)

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Shit The Cow – Stoner Ghost

Shit The Cow – Stoner Ghost

Self released – 2019

Rock, Indie, Stoner, Garage, Punk

Rated: ****

We’ve been mentioning those crazy Cows from Sweden ever since their first release back in 2012. But since Shit The Cow has been pretty prolific, we fear we might have missed a few of their releases since. And back in November their ninth (counting singles and ep’s) release became a fact. Their second (?) full-sized album is called Stoner Ghost and it definitely starts off with a bit of a ghostly or ethereal touch. But soon enough the six Shits take it into a rougher, ramshackle and rugged terrain. Title track Stoner Ghost is just that, ghosting everything we love about stoner rock! Sublime and effectively done it seems to take the perfect and logical stoner route; but then the Shits hit you with the sax and take the entire track to another level! Dang! And they stay on that high with almost every track that follows! Magnificent!

(Written by JK)

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Praÿ – Praÿ

Praÿ – Praÿ

Self released – 2019

Rock, Stoner, Space, Psych, Seventies, Instrumental

Rated: ****

‘Massive riffs upon gargantuan groove’, that’s what Bucky claimed to have heard while listening to the new Praÿ. And he was absolutely right! Some dark space and heavy psychedelic elements, a seventies approach and a wild and adventures atmosphere. The instrumental power trio from France has come up with an amazing and swirling trip down to the universal drain. You will feel the earth moving through space with this one! 

(Written by JK)

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Primitif - Cercle Vicieux

Primitif - Cercle Vicieux

Clou – 2019

Rock, Metal, Slduge

Rated:

French two-man Sludge outfit Primitif wreak havoc on the senses with their newest release Cercle Vicieux - five tracks of decrepit, filth-encrusted Metal that reveals the Blackened soul of Versoul - Brutal!

(Written by Reek of STOOM)

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Deserts of Mars - Return From The Void

Deserts of Mars - Return From The Void

Self released – 2019

Rock, Hard, Stoner, Metal,

Rated: ****

These cats released their Transmission album back in 2011; but Deserts of Mars return now with a serious blast off and a glorious EP aptly called Return From The Void. Vocalist/bassist Tony Salvaggio behind the only original member we can assume the rest might have perished on the sandy red planet. With two new Martian maniacs involved the space age adventure continues. And that’s what it is, a stoner rock adventure with spacey twitches and hard rock trucking! Great drumwork, excellent bass rumbling and wonderful guitarlicks! Desert of Mars has returned and will stomp on every planet!

(Written by JK)

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Stonus – Sweetspot

Stonus – Sweetspot

Self released – 2019

Stoner, Rock

Rated: ****

Stonus from Greece, that fabeled mythical country, captured by our very own Reek of STOOM on the Doomed and Stoned In Hellas compilation, is now situated in England, and their new single definitely hits the Sweetspot ! Indeed, it’s called Sweetspot and heralds the coming of their new album Aphasia soon to be released. Stonus is stoner and Stonus is bad ass! Five crazies who know how to tune dirty and sound filthy! Check out the amazing new single and be ready for the album!

(Written by JK)

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The Swell Fellas - Singles

The Swell Fellas - Singles

Self-released - 2019

Psych, Progressive, Stoner

Rated:

Releasing singles "Shadow Man" and "The Saga Of Sir Goosenberry Jr." in anticipation of their remastered album, The Swell Fellas deliver a heady and eerie brand of psych rock, spiced with otherworldly textures and metallic guitar licks.

(Written by Shastabeast)

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