And like that… We’re gone… Well, in a few hours... Off to Italy for three weeks, seeing the sights, hiking the mountains and probably trying to dive into the Vesuvius volcano. No updates on the little old blog or on Facebook… But there might be a very occasional post on Instagram. Since we’re heading for Naples as well, we will surely be listening to the Tuna De Tierra albums. Who, by coincidence, might be reforming (with a different line-up) in the near future! We can only hope! And of course many of the great releases of the past and upcoming months will be travelling with us. And all time favorite 'on the road' albums... Do you have favorites for the road? Let us know, we might be able to take those with us as well..
It has been on repeat for many moons over here! The self-titled debut album by Finish five piece Mandy Manala! Out on Octopus Rising and Argonauta Records, this Friday, 23th of May but audible right now, right here. Yes, we are honored to bring you the FULL ALBUM PREMIERE for Mandy Manala! A full review appeared a few days ago, but we can sum up the words like this: “There is magic in everything that Mandy Manala does. They’ve taken the vintage and retro vibes and added so much modern power to it that it becomes this high energy, high flying ever forward propellant.” And… “Mandy Manala takes it up a notch, shoving movement in every nook and cranny of their creation and in doing so creating something that might turn into a movement itself. For with this debut album they’ve seemed to already have captured that essence of rock ‘n roll; they’ve created their own world. And that world is something other people will probably and hopefully are relieved and pleased to be a part of. For nine tracks and forty-seven minutes long the Ostrobothnia, Finland born five piece drags you, pulls you, shoves you and directs you towards a glorious state of euphoria.”
So, get moving, get grooving and be immersed in the Mandy Manala world! Press Play!
We thank Mandy Manala, Octopus Rising, Argonauta Records and Grand Sounds PR for the amazing opportunity to release this album into the wild…
Mandy Manala is a five-piece, female-fronted rock band from Vaasa, Finland. They deliver a dark yet catchy blend of rock music, characterized by powerful vocals and experienced musicianship. Formed in 2021, the band features members who have been active in the local scene for over two decades, coming from groups such as ELD, Lords of Chernobyl, Rock Fuel and MotörCünt.
While rooted in stoner rock, Mandy Manala draws from an impressively wide range of influences, including Ghost, Abba, Fleetwood Mac, The Hellacopters, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Bathory and Darkthrone. The result is a sound that is heavy and intense, yet melodic and accessible. Their songs are driven by the dynamic voice of lead singer Christa Nedergård and supported by rich instrumental arrangements.
Lyrically, Mandy Manala explores deep and often unsettling themes such as anxiety, mental illness, witchcraft, occultism, the decline of modern society and the shadowy corners of the human mind.
The band's debut album was recorded in April 2024 at Wolfthrone Studios in Forsby, Finland. It features nine tracks, including a reimagined version of "Black Sheep" originally by Gin Wigmore. The album was produced by bassist Kenneth Norrlin and engineered, mixed and mastered by Owe Inborr, who also contributed keyboards and piano on several songs. Additional elements include backing vocals by Norrlin and percussion by guitarist David Granfors.
Mandy Manala is not just a musical project, but a full concept. The band is inspired by theatrical rock icons like Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson, and plans to develop a strong visual identity and narrative around the lead character. This vision is central to their artistic direction and future releases.
While capable of delivering a compelling live show, Mandy Manala prefers to keep performances rare and intentional, focusing instead on quality and presentation rather than frequency.
The band is currently looking for a label partnership to finalize their debut release and move forward with a cohesive launch plan. All materials — recordings, visuals and creative direction — are in place and ready to go.
Band Members: Christa Nedergård – vocals Jonas Snickars – drums Joel Vienonen – guitar David Granfors – guitar Kenneth Norrlin – bass
Album Details: Recorded at Wolfthrone Studios, Forsby, Finland, in April 2024 Produced by Kenneth Norrlin Engineered, mixed and mastered by Owe Inborr Keyboards and piano on "The Machine," "Black Sheep," "May Queen," "The Dark Passenger" and "When We Rode Out to War" by Owe Inborr Backing vocals by Kenneth Norrlin Percussion by David Granfors All songs written and arranged by Mandy Manala, except "Black Sheep" written by V Butler and Butch Walker, originally performed by Gin Wigmore on the album "Gravel & Wine" (Universal, 2011)
Kal-El – Astral Voyager Vol.1 Majestic Mountain Records / Blues Funeral Recordings Rock, Stoner, Space, Doom, Metal Rated: *****
Did these two powerhouse labels compete to get to release the new Kal-El album? Or did Majestic Mountain Records and Blues Funeral Recordings immediately decide to release Astral Voyager Vol.1 together? Was it because they equally loved the new Kal-El? Or is it just a way to keep shipping costs down? Either way, we are glad they did! For the new six track release is one for the ages, for eternity probably. And to think it will be followed up by a Vol.2 and probably this year? Wow! Another diptych of stoner bliss! Stoner metal mixed with minor doom touches and space elements. Incredibly fuzzy and even opting for some more progressive touches here and there. It’s Kal-El doing their own brilliant thing! They have a certain ring to their sound, a cold spark and an icy glimmer. It’s always been there, but this time around, it’s what makes the entire album hum and sing. The energy seems to vibrate at the perfect pitch. And it gives their metallic edge that extra bit of shine. Delivering constantly in big riffs and soaring payoffs. The vocals are pristine and add that extra bit of shiver. Kal-El has delivered many great albums in the span of their career, starting ten years ago with Ecosphere and Dark Majesty from 2021 making it to the Number 11 position of the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown of 2021 according to all of your votes. But Astral Voyager Vol.1 is on a different level. Topping up on everything you have come to love about Kal-El. Astral Voyager takes you on a celestial drive and beyond the event horizon, eternity awaits…
AAWKS – On Through The Sky Maze Black Throne Productions – 2025 Rock, Metal, Doom, Stoner, Psych, Black Rated: ****
(Heavy On The Cosmic) still spins regularly and so does that split with Aiwass, but it took me some time to come to grips with the new AAWKS album On Through The Sky Maze. It’s the vocals. The death grunts, the blackened howls. They’ve always had their own singular approach to the vocals, but this is another step in an entirely different direction. It’s been out now for some three weeks and I reckon most of you lovely freaks out there have been getting lost in On Through The Sky Maze for all the days since you heard the ominous church bell tolling. Entirely gritty and proto, the doom comes in mucilage form. Turning every riff and rhythm into a sticky extrapolation of a bad trip or demon possession. Opener Celestial Magick sets the tone and offers up no apology for the manner in which they disrupt your energy flow, switching up the groove many times over and distorting it with the guttural disintegrating rumbles. Following Death Trip continues on in the same vein but offers a bit more of cosmic energy to surf on, seventies, acid colored and sporting lovely bass work. Lost Dwellers goes into that territory even more, turning the electric kool-aid into a haunting affair, setting it up with a scary snippet, a ready to rumble rhythm, before breaking it up again and shifting gears. The dynamics, arrangement and breaks reeks of brilliance and the confidence to infuse it all with some stoner swagger is truly magnificent. And you’re not even half way through… If the maze was present and swirling on (Heavy On The Cosmic), it’s has definitely taken on M C Escher proportions for the new album. A psychedelic doom labyrinth that keeps on changing and shifting, only ever alluding to a center or an exit, but getting lost and dwelling forever inside is all you will ever want anyway… AAWKS is back with a different spin on its very own and twisted reality and it will take possession of your entire being…
Mornin everyone! Final few days before we depart for the road trip through Italy. And that while we still need to get grounded after another wild and wonderful edition of Sonic Whip Festival. Absolutely one of the best indoor festivals around! Loved every minute and show I saw but the performances by Karkara, Khan, The Devil And The AlmightyBlues, Elder playing Lore in its entirety and the tears that welled up during Temple Fang will forever be edged upon my heart. Many thanks to all the venue, the organizers, the bands and the fans once again. What pure bliss to have been a part of it again! We hope to do a few more Stoner HiVe posts before we leave devoting every spare second we have. But they are severely limited, so we cannot say how much we will be able to do. But you can always enter the 'wayback machine' and scroll through old Stoner HiVe posts from the last sixteen years if you are hungry for some freaky HiVe stuff or visit last week’s post by Stevie Reek about Pearl Handled Revolver or words about Mandy Manala! And get ready for that FULL ALBUM REVIEW for Mandy Manala happening THIS WEDNESDAY! Have a great week everyone! Much love!
Mandy Manala - Mandy Manala Argonauta Records / Octopus Rising – 2025 Rock, Hard, Stoner, Metal Rated: *****
From violet to mauve, with a faint splatter of scarlet running through, like that earliest of sunrises on the longest day of the year. There is something absolutely special about this new star that is about to appear. Lead by the wonderful vocalist Christa Nedergård, they are called Mandy Manala and will be releasing their debut self-titled album via Argonauta Records / Octopus Rising on May 23rd. There is magic in everything that Mandy Manala does. They’ve taken the vintage and retro vibes and added so much modern power to it that it becomes this high energy, high flying ever forward propellant. With members of ELD, Lords of Chernobyl, Rock Fuel and MotörCünt, this might seem logical, since they all had that fuel, nuclear or otherwise and motoring momentum. Even the space punk of ELD is a grounded and ever forward affair. Mandy Manala takes it up a notch, shoving movement in every nook and cranny of their creation and in doing so creating something that might turn into a movement itself. For with this debut album they’ve seemed to already have captured that essence of rock ‘n roll; they’ve created their own world. And that world is something other people will probably and hopefully are relieved and pleased to be a part of. For nine tracks and forty-seven minutes long the Ostrobothnia, Finland born five piece drags you, pulls you, shoves you and directs you towards a glorious state of euphoria. Stillborn reverbs its way into that starting riff, and with the addition of the drums becomes this monstrous trucker, electrifying and still carrying a bit of mystique that seems to drift along many of the tracks. In part thanks to the vocals of Christa Nedergård, the way she lets them hang and surge like an ocean. You can hear there is power there, but she refrains from using them immediately. But there are definite options for grandiose gestures, opera-like even, gothic in its sensibilities. On that follow up track, From Whence You Came it sees her going full force. A sweet rocking scoot boogie that implores so much from the seventies and yet sounds completely from this time. More power in the vocals, more power in the riffage. But more power, massive bass work and delicious drum is to follow with The Machine. Thundering and stomping, sweating and swaying, a metal roll that keeps on rolling, but sounds softer to the ears, thanks once again to those magnificent vocals. That opt for confessional and catchy when Black Sheep rolls around, highly dynamic, tasty bridges, soaring choruses, and a minor touch up by those male second vocals. Hit potential written al over it. As does following May Queen, out as single and video. It is another dynamic and riveting track, alluring and enticing, whisking you away on a trip through the ages. Metal, hardrock and some minor gothic atmosphere, a great solo full stop in service of the track, takes this track to a higher kind of level. Four more tracks follow, with closing nine minute long battleship, When We Rode Out To War. Overture opening, continues rolling, displaying all of their storytelling strengths, constantly building, but showing restraint and not exploding our showing us the actual war, and only becoming that marauding cavalry galloping of to war… Are you ready for it? For Mandy Manala?
And we are absolutely honored to bring you all the FULL ALBUM PREMIERE for Mandy Manala - Mandy Manala on Wednesday the 21st of May! Two days before it releases on Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records. Check out the video below or the three singles out on bandcamp and visit Stoner HiVe on Wednesday the 21st of May for the FULLMandy ManalaALBUM!
Pearl Handled Revolver - Tales You Lose Self-released - 2025 Psychedelic, Progressive, Stoner Rated:
British Progressive Rock band PEARL HANDLED REVOLVER dip deep into the well of creativity on their 5th album, "Tales You Lose". Opening with a 10-min opus, "Black Rock" slowly breathes into life with mellow drums, pensive vocals and atmospheric keys before the bass and wah-wah drop in and an off-kilter cadence ensues with proggy overtures. "Heart of Gold" starts gently with a rhodes/vocal prelude before settling into a slow rhythm groove. "Gilding the Lily" picks up the pace with some nice hammond stabs and a strident riff. "Lightning" has a mid-tempo mellow Jazz feel to it, whilst "Courageous" kicks off with wah-wah guitar before developing into another throbbing, atmospheric piece. The tempo then ramps up with a strident rhythm and some killer Hammond. More mellow Jazzy vibes from "Hammer", which has an almost Arthur Brown-like quality to it. Final track, "Junkies" is another opus to end with: A tour-de-force of all that has gone before, highlighting the groove and understanding they have for the genre and material. A well-crafted album deserving of a good ear!
We’ve been hooked on the new Finnish rock sensation Mandy Manala ever since the promo landed. Their self-titled album is so well executed it boggles the mind. Imploring all these vintage and retro vibes but turning that into a highly modern hardrock and metal affair, without ever losing that beautiful atmosphere. The album will be out on Octopus Rising / Argonauta RecordsMay 23rd, with a FULL ALBUM PREMIERE going live on Stoner HiVe on May 21st! But you can check out the video for May Queen below. Wild stuff!
PR Wire:
Mandy Manala Sign With Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records; Debut Single And Video "May Queen" Out Now
Prepare to Enter the Dark, Enigmatic World of Finland’s Rising Heavy Rock Phenomenon.
Argonauta Records and Octopus Rising are thrilled to announce the signing of Mandy Manala, a five-piece, female-fronted heavy rock powerhouse hailing from Vaasa, Finland. Combining an electrifying blend of stoner rock, gothic undertones and diverse influences, Mandy Manala is set to redefine the boundaries of modern rock with their captivating debut album, recorded at the renowned Wolfthrone Studios.
To kick off this new chapter, Mandy Manala have released their debut single and music video, "May Queen", offering a glimpse into their haunting yet irresistibly catchy sound. The video, brimming with dark imagery and powerful performances, sets the stage for the band’s unique storytelling and artistic vision. Watch the official video here: https://youtu.be/vMXNeGBxxmM.
Mandy Manala isn’t just a band; it’s an experience. Formed in 2021 by seasoned musicians from the Finnish rock scene—including members of ELD, Lords of Chernobyl, Rock Fuel, and MotörCünt—this group has quickly become a must-watch act. Drawing inspiration from iconic acts such as Fleetwood Mac, Alice Cooper, Ghost and Black Sabbath, Mandy Manala combines dark, grim atmospheres with irresistibly catchy hooks and choruses, delivered through the commanding and emotive voice of lead vocalist Christa Nedergård.
The band’s nine-track debut album, meticulously crafted since its inception, is a manifest to their dedication to artistry. Every riff, every lyric and every note reflects the passion and experience of musicians with over 20 years in the industry. Complementing the album, Mandy Manala has been hard at work on a series of cinematic music videos and striking visuals that will immerse fans in the enigmatic lore they are building around the band’s persona.
Meet the Band:
Christa Nedergård – Vocals Jonas Snickars – Drums Joel Vienonen – Guitar David Granfors – Guitar Kenneth Norrlin – Bass
Mandy Manala has emerged as a beacon of creativity and collaboration, earning its unofficial reputation as a local supergroup. With their unique sound and storytelling approach, they are set to carve out their place on the global stage.
The debut album is slated for release later this year and Mandy Manala is poised to captivate audiences worldwide. "May Queen," the first single, is just the beginning—an anthemic introduction to their dark and cinematic universe.
Morning! We’ve got some time off approaching fast. And working hard to get all that rent paying stuff done as well as some promises we made for Stoner HiVe. So, besides those updates, not that many might appear this week. Cause on Thursday we leave for Sonic Whip Festival in Nijmegen! Can’t wait! Have you seen the line-up? Wowzah! The week past was filled with work as well but we still managed to do some HiVe stuff, I mean that Quick Fire Friday alone had eight good songs or more in it! But then we also managed to mention that wild new Gaupa single and the one by Kadavar. We put up a some words about the new Mountain of Misery, Paralyzed, Conan and Magic Pie. We were honored to receive that wonderful gift from Argonauta Records and we were also honored to be part of the Breakfast with Komatsu. And we finally put up a few words about that croissant filled morning… So, here’s to the new week! May it be good and merry for you all and for those attending Sonic Whip! Hope to see you all there!
Tables littered with bottles of dubious quality whisky, tequila and rum... Empty beers everywhere and huge piles of Columbian marching powder. An incredible amount of weird objects, shattered half written bathroom tiles, broken guitars and an amp sending out a death hum as coils of smoke waft towards the ceiling. We’re here, with a bunch of journalists to have A Breakfast For Champions with the good ol’ boys from Komatsu and the producer that got roped in, to produce this new sludge metal banquet that will fill every heavy rock loving belly...
No no no... It's just your fantasy, rock ‘n roll romanticism and wistful old legendary tales taking over your imagination. What actually went down, is of an entirely different nature. Cause instead of Devil’s dandruff and beer, there were croissants, rolls, boiled eggs and all sorts of other condiments spread out over the table. Coffee abundant and to celebrate the coming release of the Komatsu lovechild, a smidge of champagne to mix into a mimosa with freshly squeezed orange juice or to drink pure, like the hardcore professional rock ‘n roll journalists we obviously all are…
Across the studio they had hastily decorated picknick tables and set out the breakfast, to regale us with stories about the recording process, the album and the different songs. Journalists were spread out between the Komatsu three and producer Pieter Kloos. The producer who took it upon himself to make the introduction statement. He had secretly been involved with more projects than anticipated in the past months and Komatsu wasn’t even among the planned ones, he explained. “They came to me after a different option had fallen through. I had already recorded, nay captured, the tracks for that other party, and sent all that had been captured, to the other team. But for whatever reason they weren’t able to do anything Komatsu worthy with what we set up. An immensely frustrating period of bad communication followed. It should have been easy for them, cause I delivered everything in such a way that they could take it in any logical direction they thought it should go. After hearing their vision of what we delivered, I was flabbergasted at what was returned. And so were the boys. And when the Komatsu three asked if I could just do it, it felt only natural to say yes…”
Natural… The operative word for the entire A Breakfast For Champions project. Cause after second guitarist Matthijs Bodt decided to leave Komatsu, it only felt natural for the three remaining members to try to do this sludge rock thing as a trio. Sure they thought about a fourth member, but quickly enough they decided to go forth, conquering the globe as power trio. Always comprised out of four members, the sound quickly became this all leveling, all-encompassing sludge fuzz feast. But with only three members, every instrument, every part of the composition, got more air and oxygen to breathe, it could take up its natural place in the order of sludgy things. Drummer Jos Roosen was suddenly able to take his drum parts in a different direction. More dynamics, more room, more silence even. “I could suddenly hear myself and what the other guys were playing at certain moments.” As bass player Martijn Mansvelders added: “Some of it was a complete surprise. Hearing parts I never realized were there. We always rehearsed in a certain way and with full volume, the Komatsu sound becomes its own entity. Big, huge and eighteen ton heavy. But now, there were details…” Jos adds: "Everything became more balanced. And as the recording went on, I felt ever more confident of where my ability was going. Of my contributions to the sound, the songs and the way it seemed to push everything in the right direction. It became balanced in every sense of the word, the three of us, turning into the perfect team. And that's also so much due to the guidance of Pieter. He gave us the perfect room and sound to groove within."
When asked to think back to the days in the studio and what the first word is that comes to mind. They all yell in synch: “kut!” Fucked, annoying, horrible. But then Mo Truijens, vocalist, guitarist comes clean. “We were all in a slump, searching for our room within the new three piece Komatsu, but even so, we needed the recording process. Cause outside of that, everything was even worse, all three of us were going through such a difficult period that we started the recording process like ghosts. It pulled us, all three of us, through a difficult time. And as we forged ahead with the new tracks, slowly but surely, all of our spirits were lifted. We knew we were on to something, that we were on the right track. We hammered it out and hammered our frustrations away, it became therapeutic for us all.”
Martijn adds: "A gigantic haze. Thinking back about the recording process, I still can't believe we made it through. It was hard to get going, we even worried if this was the wrong time to start such an undertaking. But after everything, we talked with each other, looked each other in the eye and knew it was the only thing we could do. Forge ahead! And now, as we started rehearsing for the release show, we even have to really figure some parts out, because we can't remember how we did them during the recording process. It's like being a Komatsu cover band..."
On the right track or not. They did invite more help. Was Mo in such a slump that he could not write lyrics and had to get the best poet in the world, Ronny Dijksterhuis, to join in? “Haha, no it was more something I wanted to try. We only sent him a title and direction of the song. He then came up with some beautiful lines, a few of which I incorporated into the What Lies Underneath track.” Ronny Dijksterhuis. Wait, what?Ronny is here. What the fuck? Ronny is here. He’s stuffing a croissant in his mouth! But he also writes for Stoner HiVe! And he is about to have his own release party, on May 18th for his poetry collection ‘Hoe Glas Bevriest’ (How Glass Freezes) in Turnhout, Belgium. Errr…
Back to Komatsu, cause even though every fan around the globe has already been feasting their ears on the new album A Breakfast For Champions album since it was digitally released through Heavy Psych Sounds on April 11th. The official release date is May 16th, and the party will be at Effenaar, Eindhoven. And a party it will be! For even though the album is riddled with more serious undertones, there is and always will be room for humor with the Komatsu boys. Not taking it all so seriously. As most fans know, one-off merch, like those bathroom tiles, weird little give aways, videos featuring artists like Nick Oliveri, Eddie Glass, Peter van Elderen Ryan Colde, Mike Pygmie and some ten more that state Komatsu sucks... But serious as well, as Mo says: “Savage, our second single and video, is dedicated to Tom Davies from Nebula. We toured with them and he was such a wonderful man and character. We became great friends and it’s another one of those difficult things we had to deal with. Losing a loved one, continuing on. Losing yourself in a way. I guess the entire album feels a bit darker..."
Martijn adds: "It's not necessarily black, but our situation, the world situation, it all leads to a darker outlook on things. You have to let it out to be able to let new stuff in. And that inevitably leads to good stuff. How proud we all are of what we accomplished. How proud Pieter was of us. Sure he dug what we did before, but his exuberance and excitement had never been that visible before. But this time, he smiled from ear to ear, saying that this was seven leagues ahead of what we did before."
And all Pieter did, as he stated himself, was capture what the three played. He got to set up the right mic, the right way, in his nerdy kind of way and then let the three of them sludge away. Not doubling guitars, not doing extra basslines. Almost no overdubs at all. Just capturing Komatsu in their purest form. Wobbles, little mistakes and all... Turning A Breakfast For Champions into a highly personal document for themselves and the best rock album the three amigo's have made...
And tomorrow morning… So we beat on… You, those few that read the words just now, will wake up… Head on over to the Komatsu or Heavy Psych Sounds bandcamp page. And have yourself your very own A Breakfast For Champions …
And next Friday... May 16th! All those lucky ones that are able to attend the release show at Altstadt, Eindhoven, will not only be treated to the aural A Breakfast For Champions; they will also be able to taste it! And not just because the sludge will be dripping down from the ceiling... But because Brewery 'Het Verhaal van De Vos' (The Story of The Fox) has decided to honor the band with a very own beer called A Breakfast For Champions.
A whisky infused, ten and half percent, black like tar, but incredibly tasty beer!
And then you come home to find a package that looks like a brick of Columbian marching powder in front of your house...
And you wonder how this made it through customs...
But then you turn it over and open it...
Wowzah! What an incredibly wonderful gift from the one and only Gero from Argonauta Records... Thank you so much amigo! For this wonderful gift and all the great music you release! Will be spinning all of them in a row immediately!
Whenever we do a Quick Fire Friday, we just want to continue doing them. Shoot from the hip! Write a sentence or two and let you lovely freaks out there, take it from there… So, because it’s Friday once again, we are here once again. No six shooter! But an eight speedy rock salvo! And we know, we should do more… For there is so much great music out there, and we cannot ever do it all justice. So we came up with a way to shoot out a quick blurb and hope it will entice you to listen to the single or the entire discography! So here it is… Another Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday! And it burns hot like molten lava!
Lammping – Never Never
To start this Quick Fire Friday off we have something different for ya. Off center! Weird in a not very heavy kind of way. Which means: Lammping! We said it before, we will continue to say it, the Lammping boys have this Beta Band thing going on that’s just lovely. Never Never, with its hiphop streak, its head wobble and that bop and bounce psych will surely make you smile. And long for those warm crate digging days…
To follow that weird start, we go with something heavy, but not needing any smidge of help of a little blog like Stoner HiVe cause they are a freaking big name! But hey, I got a soft spot for Garbage! And I hope you do too! Check out the new Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty, damn good stuff!
And now for your regular broadcasting Stoner HiVe service! PEMOD! Gritty stoner doom straight out of Myslenice, Poland. And Meduza does not just sport that gritty and smokey stoner doom, it also sport cello and a whole lot of ominous undertones. Recorded live in Prague, the video shows them giving themselves wholly to that serpentine under current…
Goat Riders came out in 2023! A wild and truly amazing album. And soon, the Italian three named King Potenaz will be releasing a new four track called Arcane Desert Rituals Vol.1 through Majestic Mountain Records. Lead single, Rivers Of Death is a doom march rife with the occult and slithering with creepiness. As warm as a freshly dug grave, the fuzz is ever present and so is the feeling of death, lurking around the corner…
Did you hear? The Midnight toker is back! And with a devious grin! A Satan’s Grin! That’s right Midnight Whiskey Massacre released another three track EP, back in March! Filled with that dirty motoring doom sound, that that man behind this project has quickly become known for. Proto touched, punk spirited and with a whole lot of filthy fuzz! Grab a bottle and get drunk with this Midnight madman!
Out on Pillars of Creation since April 20th, ofcourse… It’s Vape Warlök and their And His Skull Shall Make My Bong release. A full five track album, demonic and infernal, vocals that make you shiver and doom sludge to make you shake. Inhaling all those bong fumes and exhaling nothing but nastiness and atmospheric ditties as extremely low hanging clouds of green florescent evil becomes the pervasive tone… All through…
Demons My Friends are back! And signed to Ripple Music! And out today is their new single and video The Isolate. When a full album will appear is unclear at this point, but the grungy and doom touched, yet hauntingly melodic The Isolate makes you hope it will arrive soon! And if you need more Demons My Friends after hearing The Isolate you can always grab back to their Demons Seem To Gather album… And hey, if you go HERE, there might still be a code or two alive!
More light hearted now… Pizzazz is the second single of Scott Evil’s debut album Big Dipper which will be out on 5th June 2025 via Spinda Records and Backpack Records. Garage indie, pop punk, danceable, a bit of emo, glittering and wholesome. The kind of music that makes you want to go out and smile at the world passing by, knowing its still there. The good people, the good vibes and the sun. And yes, I wouldn’t mind a pizza right about now… O’ and go check out Circles on their bandcamp site…
Magic Pie – Maestro Karisma Records – 2025 Rock, Prog, Symphonic, Metal, Folk, Jazz Rated: ****
We’re lucky, we’re the ones that know about the Heavy Underground. We’re lucky! We’ve got the best music. The best bands. And shit, the best labels! There are many, and they all do their best in bringing great music to our ear. Take Norwegian label Karisma Records for instance, doing own thing, specializing in bringing rock, folk rock and especially progressive rock mostly from Norway to all of your speakers. Tusmørke, Oak, Wizrd, Agusa, Airbag and many more great bands. And then there is the old guard: Magic Pie! Symphonic progressive rock, formed in 2001, by guitarist Kim Stenberg, and about to release their sixth studio album Maestro. Six years in the making, the first with new drummer Martin Utby, this almost fifty minute long magnum opus, starts with Opus Imperfectus Pt.1 The Missing Chord and ends it with Opus Imperfectus Pt.2 Maestro. Two songs that seem to straddle the five tracks in between, almost turning those into a simple dalliance for the Maestro in question. A slower, smoke vibing, atmospheric song called By The Smokers Pole. A raucous, energized hard rocking, blues based, sporting absolute wild guitar work, Name It To Tame It follows. Kiddo, atmospheric and subtle, but producing a serious message for the younger generation. Someone Else’s Wannabe is therefor the natural follow-up to that message but brings the power back into prog. Lucious key work and incredibly catchy, that delivers an exchange between keys and strings later on in the song that’s to beautiful not to have on repeat. Everyday Hero has another one of those duels, starts out almost Tool like, brings you the modern prog in pristine version and turns into this very hooky track. And then we come to the ending track that turned the start into a grandiose finish. And where it opened much more varied, metallic and modern prog and symphonic. This time the track goes into a more seventies styled prog area, storytelling, symphonic and evocative, which does go into more Dream Theater territory as well once the guitar is allowed to explode. Magic Pie remain true to their craft, their sound and their ability to produce beautiful symphonic prog in all shapes and sizes. True Maestro’s!
