• Doom Charts

    DOOM CHARTS – NOVEMBER 2025
    12/05/25 04:42:43AM
    The saying “one good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain” means music can have a powerfully distracting and healing effect, allowing a person to momentarily escape their physical or emotional pain. It highlights music’s ability to provide comfort, uplift the mood, and create a sense of peace. And it can […]
    FRIDAY FREEBIE – VESSEL
    11/28/25 03:31:43PM
    VESSEL – THE SOMNIFER Australian heavy desert rockers VESSEL released their massive album The Somnifer last November, and in honor of its one-year anniversary we’ve got codes galore! Justin Wittenmeier (Metal Temple, DoomedForMetal) wrote: “This is my first experience with VESSEL—and I have definitely been missing out.   Although rooted firmly in doom, the album is quite […]
    FRIDAY FREEBIE – HIBERNAUT
    11/28/25 03:23:22PM
    HIBERNAUT – OBSIDIAN EYE HIBERNAUT released their crusher of an album Obsidian Eye this past July, and are wallopping us with a TRIPLE Friday Freebie! Not only do we have codes for the album, but we’ve also got two singles from the album with exclusive B-sides with music videos. Dig it! Kyle SB (Good Boy […]
    FRIDAY FREEBIE – HOWLING UNIVERSE
    11/28/25 03:12:16PM
    HOWLING UNIVERSE – SKULLFLOWER MAGIC “Playing the Stratocaster with Phaser and Uni-Vibe, Tjeerd de Jong (Phantom Druid) is excited to present to you HOWLING UNIVERSE! Atmospheric Stoner Blues from the heart! HOWLING UNIVERSE blends psychedelic textures with reverb-soaked atmospheres and haunting vocals.Born out of late-night jams and a obsession with the strange beauty of the […]
    FRIDAY FREEBIE – ELK WITCH
    11/28/25 02:58:19PM
    ELK WITCH – AZIMUTH The mighty ELK WITCH graced us in April 2024 with their album Azimuth, landing at #9 on the Doom Charts, and their massive psychedelic doom rides once again for a Friday Freebie! Says the band, “Azimuth is a natural progression from our first album, pushing the ingredients of those songs into […]

  • Musipedia Of Metal

    Reviews: Enthroned, Blood Red Throne, Kakihara, BILA (Rick Eaglestone, Matt Bladen, Cherie Curtis & Spike)

    Enthroned - Ashspawn (Season Of Mist) [Rick Eaglestone]

    Enthroned have been absolutely smashing faces in the underground since 1993, and with Ashspawn, they've delivered what might just be their most ferocious statement yet.

    Enthroned have long been standard-bearers for the Belgian black metal scene, standing proudly alongside the likes of Ancient Rites and Emptiness. While their Scandinavian counterparts often get the lion's share of attention, Belgium's contribution to the genre has been consistently overlooked, which is criminal when you've got bands like this churning out absolute bangers year after year.

    Ashspawn arrives with the kind of violent intent that immediately sets it apart and from the moment the opening track detonates, you're thrust into a maelstrom of blast beats, serrated riffing, and vocals that sound like they're being torn from the depths of some unholy abyss. This is black metal played with conviction and malice, the way it bloody well should be.

    Producer Phorgath has done an outstanding job capturing the band's live energy while maintaining that essential underground aesthetic which is heavy as hell. The man's range is genuinely impressive, shifting from guttural growls to piercing shrieks with the kind of ease that only comes from decades of experience. There is a theatricality to his delivery that never tips into parody, which is a fine line to walk in this genre. When he unleashes those tortured screams, you absolutely believe every syllable.

    The riffing across Ashspawn is where Enthroned truly flex their muscles. These aren't your standard tremolo-picked affairs, though there's plenty of that when needed. No, Enthroned have always had a knack for injecting genuine groove into their blackened assault, and that skill is on full display here. There are moments where the guitars lock into these absolutely devastating mid-paced sections that will have you wind milling like a teenager at their first metal show. Then, without warning, they will launch into full-throttle blasting that threatens to peel the skin from your skull.

    The middle section of the album is particularly strong. Without descending into specific track-by-track analysis I'll say that the flow from track four through seven is absolutely seamless. The band demonstrate remarkable restraint in places, allowing certain passages to simmer before bringing the hammer down.

    The atmospheric elements deserve recognition as well. While Enthroned have never been ones for lengthy ambient interludes or orchestral bombast, there are subtle layers throughout Ashspawn that add genuine depth. Whether it's a dissonant guitar line lurking beneath the chaos or the occasional eerie sample, these touches enhance the album's dark atmosphere without ever overwhelming the core sound.

    Drummer Menthor (yes, they all have pseudonyms, because this is black metal and that's just how we roll) puts in an absolutely stellar performance. The man's a machine, churning out blast beats with the precision of a Swiss watch manufacturer, yet he's got the chops to throw in creative fills and tempo changes that keep things interesting. The drum sound itself is gloriously organic – real skins being properly battered, not some triggered nonsense that sounds like a drum machine having a seizure.

    The bass work from Neraath provides a solid foundation throughout, and crucially, you can actually hear it in the mix. Too many metal albums relegate the bass to an afterthought, but here it adds genuine heft to the proceedings.

    Lyrically, Enthroned continue to explore the darker aspects of existence with the kind of poetic intensity you would expect from a band of their pedigree. Without reproducing specific lines, I can say the themes revolve around spiritual corruption, existential darkness, and the usual occult subject matter, all delivered with genuine conviction rather than teenager-in-their-bedroom shock value. This is philosophical darkness rendered through a black metal lens, and it works brilliantly.

    The album's pacing is near-perfect across its runtime. At no point does it drag or feel padded, and by the time the final track fades out, you're left genuinely satisfied yet immediately wanting to hit play again that's the mark of quality songwriting – creating something that feels complete while simultaneously leaving you hungry for more.

    Ashspawn is a triumph. It's raw, brutal, and remarkably well-crafted. Enthroned have proven once again why they're one of the genre's most reliable and devastating acts. This is top-tier black metal executed by masters of the craft, and it deserves every bit of praise coming its way.

    A Masterclass in Belgian Black Metal Savagery. 7/10

    Blood Red Throne - Siltskin (Soulseller Records) [Matt Bladen]

    With almost 30 years of noise behind them Blood Red Throne have have been flying the flag for Norwegian death metal for a long time now. In a country where black metal is probably the genre you think about, the band are a bludgeoning death metal machine and show no signs of slowing down.

    If anything Siltskin is their fastest, heaviest record yet with more focus on the melodic side as well to counteract the mechanical battery shown by tracks such as Husk In The Grain which just pulverizes. On These Bones meanwhile is more like the BRT of old as Marrow Of The Earth builds the atmosphere with an intro that slowly but surely unleashes hell in that OSDM way of being a brutal crush.

    Despite being relatively new to the band vocalist Sindre Wathne Johnsen really brings a broad style to things with bowel shaking growls and black metal screams, however it's not just him that makes this record grab you by the throat from the first track, it's the whole package, that Blood Red Throne off here. From the leads/solos and riffs still sculpted by founding member Daniel Olaisen alongside Ivan Gujic, to the inhuman drumming of Freddy Bolsø and the technically bass from Stian Gundersen who adds those finger style flourishes to increase the prog quota.

    Siltskin is an album you would want from these veterans, vicious and raw but with the experience and technical skills of decades. 8/10

    Kakihara – Love Songs Part II (Ripcord Records) [Cherie Curtis]

    Don’t be fooled by the album name, this one isn’t as sweet as it sounds. Its deafening, abrasive and disorganized which is more of a whirlwind than messy- It’s the equivalent of being doused with cold water on a hot day. This one is short, only five tracks running for around 2 minutes each and it offers a spectacular amount of high energy, originality and good old fashioned moshpit fuel.

    For people like myself who are unfamiliar with Kakihara, I feel like it gives us the cliff notes of who they are as a band. They don’t show this by providing range which a lot of EPs tend to do, all five tracks are consistently stuffed with aptitude as well as containing a multitude of sludgy distorted bass and drums which is promptly taken in nicely by an almost prickly sounding and crisp lead guitar. The metal vocals are extremely harsh and each track has their own consciousness which doesn’t build but throws us into a sickening breakdown.

    Love Songs Part II is pure fun, I didn’t know much about Kakihara but now I know they have a wicked sense for what we need from metallic hardcore. The overall music composition was not only stylistically interesting but simple and articulate as well as keeping the tone of their specific genre. I know that current fans of the band will really enjoy this one and provide something neck breaking and fresh for new listeners. 8/10

    BILA – Beżżalart (Go Down Records/Kewn Records) [Spike]

    This is not a pleasant vacation postcard from the Mediterranean. This is the purest expression of Maltese rage. BILA doesn't play Hardcore Punk; they deliver a visceral, bone-crunching sonic reaction to the real estate developer hell-scapes that neoliberal gargoyle governments conjure up. Their debut, Beżżalart, is a high-octane assault against urban decay, fuelled by bilingual venom and angular, weapons-grade riffage.

    The band's genius is in its caustic efficiency. This trio, guitar/vocals, bass/vocals, and drums creates a massive, unruly sound that manages to be bone-crushingly heavy while retaining the frenetic energy of the punk scene. Produced by Wayne Adams (Petbrick, Big Lad), the sound is raw, loud, and apparently captures the energy of their bustling live sets.

    The whole album is steeped in a dark, local folklore, turning social critique into something mythic and furious. The journey starts with the lead single, A Thousand Wolves, which immediately launches into a hooky, rage-fuelled groove. This is followed by Drowner, where the chaotic energy is focused into pure Noise Rock friction.

    The heart of Beżżalart is its uncompromising groove and lyrical venom. Tracks like Ħabbagozz and Brain Cake showcase their distinct, angular approach, blending Post-Punk atmospheric dread with moments of sharp, shouting aggression. They are masters of the high-octane burst, delivering fury that owes as much to Trash Talk as it does to the uncompromising churn of The Melvins.

    The title track, Beżżalart, serves as the album’s chaotic centrepiece, summarizing their aesthetic: socially charged bursts of energy delivered with a twisted sense of humour. The final act, closing with Bla Buzz and Sin Eaters, ensures the record ends in relentless destruction, leaving you battered by the sonic toll of eleven tracks. This album is a testament to the power of localized rage given a global, uncompromising voice. 8/10

    Reviews: Stone Nomads, Skogskult, Now Or Never, Myth Carver (Matt Bladen)

    Stone Nomads - Empires Of Stone (Ripple Music)

    Stone Nomads hit a sweet spot with their doom laden riffs.

    Hailing from Texas they play a style that brings the classic doom riffs of Trouble or Sabbath (Title Track) alongside the progressive sludge of Baroness (Desolate Sands) and the anthemic quality of Black Label Society. They don't stop there though as their sludgy doom riffs have a bit of ZZ Top boogie and a Pantera-like groove to them as well. Formed by Jon Cosky (Guitar/Vocals) and Jude Sisk (Bass/Vocals) adding drummer Ben Wozniak to the fold rounds then off a hard riffing heavy rocking power trio.

    They've already got two albums under their Stetsons and with Empire Of Stone they're threatening to break out of the underground onto the wider scene. What I love about this record are the vocals, bold and powerful, there's a lot of Matt Barlow (Ashes Of Ares) in the lower reaches, with that bellowing doom sound of the old school. Behind the voice are the riffs and they negotiate shifts between thundering doom metal and melodic progging easily, giving plenty of lead guitar magic over the powerhouse low end and blast beats drumming. 

    The opener Lost In The Storm has massive BLS-like riff to it moving into Mastodon realms towards the close, from here there's a CoC chug on Eyehatesociety, Mount Aras remind me of fellow Texans The Sword. Empire Of Stone is just a little bit good. Fantastic stuff from this little ol' (doom) band from Texas. 9/10

    Skogskult - Skogskult (Bonebag Records)

    Oh yeah that's some dirty doom from the shores of Sweden. Skogskult play doom metal that takes influence from Sleep, Acid King and Electric Wizard, it's grimy, slow, fuzzy and louder than a bomb going off. It's what you get on the self titled debut record from this Swedish foursome, singing in their native language they use Nordic mythology for the stories in their lyrics, especially the legends of the occult and the Skinwalkers from their deep mythos, these dark journeys into the mystical are brought to life through their music. 

    Produced by Cavern Deep and Bonebag Record’s Max Malmer, Skogskult is filthy, it's got massive stoner/doom riffs coming out of every orifice, distorted guitars, grumbling basslines, weighty drums and rabid vocals drive all six tracks from the Sabbath worship of Pakten, through the grinding extremity of Turs, to the woozy Sol, Skogskult bring the mire back to doom with their debut record. 8/10

    Now Or Never - The Legacy (Metalapolis Records)

    Created by former Pretty Maids members Ricky Marx (guitar) and Kenn Jackson (bass), Now Or Never have three albums behind them but after the pandemic, things were shaken up a little when Jackson exited, leaving just Ricky and drummer Ranzo as the sole members, they were joined by vocalist Peer Johansson (Fate/The Grandmaster) and bassist Guillaume Surroca for the next era of the band.

    Joined by Simone Mularoni behind the desk and Jacob Hansen handling the mix/master, The Legacy sums up what you can expect on this fourth album, it's classic hard rock mixed with meaty modern metal, influenced of course by Pretty Maids but there's more than just that. Vocally Peer has that gritty snarl of Ronnie Atkins and musically they sway between anthemic hard rock and punchy heavy metal, so there's a little something for everyone.

    Heavy metal veterans, playing what they know to a new audience, it may be Now Or Never but The Legacy of great music is strong here. 7/10

    Myth Carver - Twist Of Fate (No Remorse Records)

    Myth Carver are from Dallas Texas however Myth Carver do sound as if they come from Germany, harnessing all of the power of the Euro metal scene of the 80's and fusing it with beginnings of the American thrash scene Twist Of Fate is modern, yet classic heavy metal.

    Inspired by Priest (Thunderkill), Testament (Shadows Firmament), Mercyful Fate (Unnamed Steel) as Iron Helm brings the new wave of bands such as Eternal Champion or Sumerlands, and Crimson Terrain closes this debut EP with the chest beating bravado of Manowar.

    Classic heavy metal, modern band, Twist Of Fate delivers on many levels for Myth Carver. 7/10

    Reviews: Treat, Danko Jones, Lynch Mob, Cassidy Paris (Matt Bladen & Rich Piva)

    Treat - The Wild Card (Frontiers Music) [Matt Bladen]

    Treat are Swedish rock legends, after forming in the 80's, they took a hiatus and then returned in 2006 and since then they've been kicking out stadium anthems since then, cementing their place as Swedish rock veterans that should be spoken about in the same breath as Europe.

    The Wild Card     is their fifth album since reforming and with the line up that's pretty much been the same since then. So a seasoned rock band playing the melodic hard rock, wrapped up in polished production there's no chance of there being anything out of the ordinary on The Wild Card despite it's name.

    However this isn't detrimental to the record as it's packed with the melodic rock you will be expecting, in fact it's got all the facets the band have had their entire career as this is a record with a structure to it, beginning in the 80's and that higher energy style they shift into the ballad heavy 90's before moving to their contemporary style.

    Treat have said that they are trying to go full circle here, showcasing their entire career in one record and it pays off brilliantly as 1985 is a joyous throwback, while Mad Honey is heavier strut and One Minute closes the record with the band Treat are today.

    A career spanning record from these veterans, showing that Treat still have a few goodies up their sleeve. 8/10

    Danko Jones - Leo Rising (Perception) [Rich Piva]

    Danko Jones has been around for what seems forever. The Canadian trio have been rocking their heavy blues punk rock for almost 30 years now, and have dropped 12 albums and a bunch of other stuff, including their new one, Leo Rising, which continues their string of high energy, fun but serious, heavy ass rock and roll records.

    The opener, What You Need, is a straight up punk ripper. Punk, but also a band that understands rock and roll; leather, denim, and whatnot, combined together nicely. Diamond In The Rough shows that Danko and crew have some sunset strip records in their collection for sure. You can like SNFU and Van Halen at the same time. 

    Everyday Is Saturday Night is kind of like Buckcherry, but Casket Rats did it better. Cathay as hell, though. More 90s punk vibes come across on I Love It Louder, but Danko can’t shake that 80s metal thing, and that is just fine with me. My favourites are the cowbell-filled Pretty Stuff and the rocking I’m Going Blind. Overall, the 11 tracks on Leo Rising are all fun and all worth your time if you are looking for a good time.

    The new Danko Jones is some melodic, ear worm inducing bluesy punk rock that loves 80s hair metal too. Leo Rising is catchy as hell and fun, but nothing ground breaking, but who needs that from Danko jones at this point in their career. Enjoy. 7/10

    Lynch Mob - Dancing With The Devil (Frontiers Music) [Rich Piva]

    George lynch, somehow, is underrated as a guitarist. How? No idea. The dude shreds and was an innovator of his time. His always questionably named band he formed outside of Dokken, Lynch Mob, was also pretty underrated. 

    Their debut, Wicked Sensation, was great, and their self-titled follow up was so overlooked, coming out at the wrong time for it to make any impact (see every unfortunate band labelled “hair” at some point in 1992). While I thought Lynch had retired the name, alas, we get one final Lynch Mob record in the form of Dancing With The Devil, album number eight from the band, and just like all the ones after the self-titled record, it is fine.

    Lynch rips always. That continues on the 11 songs on Dancing With The Devil. The solo on Pictures Of The Dead is perfect stuff. His playing, of course, is the highlight here, with really not much else standing out. It is a solid effort from a band from the late 80s/early 90s and sounds exactly how you think it will sound. 

    It is a bit more gritty then their sparking sounding and puke inducing production of their Frontier records, with Saints And Sinners being a good example of this. Album vocalist Gabriel Colón's singing is really solid, but the songs are what they are, held up by one of the greatest players of any generation. My favourite track is The Stranger, which is the perfect combination of Dokken and Lynch Mob, a fitting way to end this chapter of Lynch’s career.

    Like I said, for a band at this point in their career, Dancing With The Devil is fine. Lynch rules. The songs are good, just nothing special, but I am not sure what anyone would expect other than what I just wrote at this point in time. 7/10

    Cassidy Paris - Bittersweet (Frontiers Music) [Matt Bladen]

    "Influenced by icons like Debbie Harry, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, and Lita Ford, but always with my own spin on things" yep it's a Frontiers release.

    Blending retro with modern Aussie rocker Cassidy Paris' second album Bittersweet is more personal than her debut, full of raw emotion as it reflects on a journey that has seen her not only achieve her dreams of being a rockstar but also take up the mantle as an anti-bullying advocate with Metalheads Against Bullying.

    Performing in schools to showcase that just because you dress differently or like different music than the rest of your age group you should still be treated with respect, (this goes for plenty of other things too) and while there are a million Taylor Swift fans there's not always that many who would indulge in some Lzzy Hale.

    At age 11 she met Paul Laine (ex Danger Danger, The Defiants), and stared to mentor her in the ways of the rock world, while also being a co-writer and producer of her music. Again with Bittersweet, Paul Laine, Steve Brown and others contribute to the songwriting but this second album feels more like Paris finding her voice.

    Be it with the tender meets anthemic balladry of Gettin' Better and Can't Let Go, the swaggering rockers Nothing Left To Lose/Wannabe or the pop-tinged moments such as Sucker For Your Love or Turn Around And Kiss Me. There's a defiance and a confidence that shines through on Bittersweet, making Cassidy Paris a exciting prospect for the Planet Rock circles. 7/10

    Reviews: The Cyclist Conspiracy, male//gaze, Godeater, Devilhusk (Matt Bladen)

    The Cyclist Conspiracy - Back To Hermetics And Martial Arts Vol 1 (Subsound Records)

    There aren't too many instances when you come across a properly psychedelic record but my, my if you want some, mind expanding, transcendental, exploration look no further than the new record from Serbian band. Much like Greek band Villagers Of Ioannina City, The Cyclist Conspiracy put out repeating psych rock that features Balkan instruments and World Music influences.

    Subsound Records has become a bit of home for the more mystical reaches of the stoner/doom/psych spectrum and The Cyclist Conspiracy do a lot to keep their place out on the fringes in the rarefied air of musical enlightenment. A band that expands from four members to ten, there's a loose collaborative feeling to this whole record, desert rock that expands from the Balkan mountains to the dunes of North Africa and the scorched lands of the Middle East.

    Each track on Back To Hermetics And Martial Arts Vol 1 is an album of musically dense, spiritually esoteric, movie themes inspired by composer's such as Morricone (Estrella Mariana), Vangelis (Calice Dei Fantasmi), John Barry (Penga) and Lalo Schifrin (Soften Our Evil Hearts) but also Greek Rebetiko (The Verdant One) and Tibetan chanting (The Throat Ancestors).

    Nine instrumental journeys through world music driven by one man's creative vision and a host of musical companions. Back To Hermetics And Martial Arts Vol 1 by The Cyclist Conspiracy is one of the most interesting records I've heard this year. 9/10

    male//gaze - Too Late Now (Self Released)

    From the Pacific Northwest, Too Late Now is the new EP from 'extreme pop' band male//gaze. This EP they say is about “coming to terms" lyrics exploring memory, loss and self-acceptance, six songs that are about coming to terms with last trauma and coming out the other side.

    Fusing hardcore with synth pop, Too Late Now builds from the haunting Falling then explodes into Get Well, the propulsive electronics driving the emotion, as the vocals scream for catharsis. The band have released a full length album, an EP and singles, touring across their region with a unique sound that provides moments of aggressive clarity and melodic vulnerability.

    Slaymaxxing for instance sees throttling hardcore spiked with bubblegum pop, it's furious but shifts into the woozy shoegazing of Speak (For Me), Ash's dreamy vocals often joined by Hank's for a harmonious unity. Hank is joined on guitars by Ray, their reverbed chords and fits of distortion make for the duality felt in this record.

    The rhythm section of Gavin (bass) and Spencer (drums), control the constant shifts of motion on the EP, the closing impetus of Returning giving you that last gut punch of frenzied brand of extreme pop. male//gaze are a band formed to deal with a breakdown of a relationship but have gone on to inspire recovery and rediscovery of oneself. Too Late Now? Hardly, there's plenty more to come from male//gaze. 8/10

    Godeater - Alvorecer EP (Self Released)

    From their destructive deathcore debut, through their more progressive introspective second album, Scottish band Godeater have been redefining themselves since 2016. With songs about ecology and nature their extreme metal soundtrack pushes boundaries with what deathcore is, adding melodeath, prog and symphonics to it. Check out the atmospheric Soil And Steel for something different.

    Adding ambient atmospheres that bring emotion and melody to counteract the bludgeoning riffs and harsh vocals. The recent addition of Jamie Harrison as a vocalist gives them and new lease of life on this EP. From his aggressive growls and strong cleans, meaning that Alvorecer EP is an almost restart which will reintroduce their musical force to audiences.

    Godeater ship out the mix and master to Studio Friedman to make the sonics razor sharp, meaning that Ross Began and Andrew Macdonald's guitars have all the harmonic melodies, ferocious riffs and technical solos of the Gothenburg scene. They don't escape their deathcore roots though on breakdowns heard on The Enveloping Grey.

    Alvorecer is Godeater reclaiming their place in the UK metal scene, visceral, technical and anthemic, this is the future of heavy music. 8/10

    Devilhusk - Sleep Like The Dead (Self Released)

    Brighton based Devilhusk play something called Nu-Metalcore comprised of Joe Lyndon (Vocals), James "Kino" Boon (Guitar/Production), Joshua Hutchings (Guitar/Bass), and Kieron Durrant (Drums), they've been creating a bulldozing noise fusion since 2023. This a place without rules, where Djent, hardcore, DnB, dubstep all collide into glorious loudness.

    A track such as Sycophant is the first to properly showcase this schizophrenic approach to songwriting with throat shredding screams and guttural growls over angular riff driven beatdowns. The atmospherics and electronic thumps cutting through the metal as the genres get twisted more on Vitriol. They've drawn comparisons to Deftones and Loathe and are intent on creating music that "simply does not exist yet."

    Well I'd say it does as I hear a lot of Slipknot in Devilhusk's music, along with the likes of Korn, Coal Chamber and Static-X but also Pendulum and The Prodigy with dance heavy beats of Mach Breaker and IRUKANDJI. This is wild audio experience, slamming all these style together like atoms in the Large Hadron Collider, Devilhusk are as modern as metal music gets. 8/10

    Reviews: Stellar Circuits, Downswing, Avralize, Smash Into Pieces (Matt Bladen)

    Stellar Circuits - Phantom :: Phoenix (Nuclear Blast Records)

    Stellar Circuits 2023 album Sight To Sound came via Nuclear Blast and it brought their modern progressive metal to a much wider audience, gaining them a following and critical acclaim. Inspired by the Djent originators with the passion of post-hardcore and the atmospheric sound of post metal/rock, they captured what modern prog metal is about currently, blending genres together with a technical proficiency and strong emotional moments.

    On the back of their last album they have gained a much wider following so with this record they'll be trying impress again and as soon as you press play you're once again in the realm of Stellar Circuits, charged with emotion and technical skills of the highest level. There's no huge that shifts the approach just a more refined take, drawing from a wider pool of inspiration, on a track such as Elegant Illusion there's an influence of Deftones while something like Bury The Ashes increases the aggression towards the heavy end.

    Both Corridor and Gloria come from the songbook of Coheed & Cambria and Leprous, the bass driven prog of Same Page brings that mix of emotion, technical and melody I referred to earlier. Armed with more melodies in these new songs and stronger resolve to climb up the rankings of prog metal, Stellar Circuits, are hard wired for success with album three. 8/10

    Downswing - And Everything Was Dark (MNRK Heavy)

    Oof *makes and stank face* Albany New York band Downswing embrace darkness on their new album And Everything Was Dark. A record about endurance and being honest in the face of crisis, Downswing have tightened every nut and bolt in their machine to produce the most confident, visceral and emotional music of their career.

    Having been curating their legacy since 2018, every record gets louder and broader, the breakdowns crush, the vocals are expelled with rage and the music gets more sonically expansive. For example tracks such as Drowned Out or the ferocious Thanks For Nothing skilfully balances the heavier side of Downswing with their angst filled melodic side.

    The themes of addiction, self-destruction and letting go are all explored on this record, the overarching theme being losing someone you love, this esoteric influence allowing them to adapt their songwriting to playing the music they want to. Resistant of trends or shifts in taste, Downswing want to be authentic to their ideals and their creative vision, carefully constructing the songs on this album to tell stories rather than just showing off their skills.

    And Everything Was Dark is an album about death and whole there is a lot of anger and regret here but it's a record about working through this and coming out the other side. Downswing define their next chapter with this record. 8/10

    Avralize - Liminal (Arising Empire)

    You may thing you have the wrong album when you first press play on Liminal from "Germany’s next metalcore powerhouse" as Medicine begins with a bit of 90's European dance music but it's all part of the eclectic style of Avralize, quickly following up their 2024 debut Freaks with this second full length they make their way further down the 'cyber-metalcore' route inspired by the likes of Unprocessed and Northlane.

    Electronics play a huge part in what they do as do those anthemic clean vocals, it's a real modern hybrid sound with DnB, dance and synth wave all featuring heavily, giving many of these tracks such as Wanderlust, the sound of videogame soundtrack or maybe Stranger Things as Open Spaces leads into the breathy ballad Close To You, the pop side of the band very strong on the immensely funky Cyanide.

    Formed by vocalist Severin Sailer, guitarist Philipp Tenberken, drummer Bastian Gölz, and bassist Valentin Noack, Avralize are right at the forefront of the 'core' scene this is what is expected of a band in the metalcore genre today. Brimming with electronic elements, heavy breakdowns and some epic, emotive vocals, Liminal is metal in 2025. 8/10

    Smash Into Pieces - ArmaHeaven (Self Released)

    Swedish alt rock band Smash Into Pieces play music for those who like a lot a pop in their rock. Cinematic, conceptual music that's all part of an overarching dystopian cyberpunk storyline and delivered with a myriad of pulsating synths meeting the standard guitars, modern alt rock with a few 'core' edges then.

    The band have been gaining quite a following with their ambitious but accessible music, it's even led them to the Melodifestivalen final twice where they were performing for a chance to represent Sweden at Eurovision. That's really all you need to know about the band to be honest, they play bouncy, emotionally charged metal which also features guests in the shape of Elize Ryd (Amaranthe), Swedish singer Liamoo and Swedish/Japanese performer LiLiCo. 

    At 15 tracks it's a pretty weighty record to get you ears around and there does seem to be a few too many ballads here but with being a band with a strong pop sound they are aiming for radio play so ballads often do better as singles.

    Riight in the most contemporary side of the metal/rock sphere, Smash Into Pieces deliver more of their signature sound with ArmaHeaven. 7/10


  • Outlaws Of The Sun

    Frozen Planet....1969 - Echoland (Album Review)

    Release Date: November 25th 2025. Record Label: Pepper Shaker Records. Formats: CD/DD

    Echoland - Tracklisting


    1.The Plants 02:55

    2.Setting The Scene For Time To Stand Still 08:46

    3.If It Had Wings 05:31

    4.Plastic Banquet 05:36

    5.Echoland 18:23


    Lineup


    Paul Attard.........6 strings

    Lachlan Paine....4 strings

    Frank Attard.......no strings


    Review


    I haven’t featured Frozen Planet.…1969 on the blog in almost four years where I reviewed their 2022 album Not From 1969. Well, the guys are back with another extraordinarily slice of Psychedelic Rock with massive amounts of Space Rock, Stoner Rock and extended instrumental jams on their latest musical adventure Echoland. The end result is quite subversive and experimental with Frozen Planet…1969 employing many left-field creative turns with their music which can be straightforward and downright confusing at the best of times.


    This has always been the case with Frozen Planet…1969 on previous record and they don’t change direction here with different flavours of Psychedelic Rock which is formed against a backdrop of experimental cosmic themes. There’s different feedback loops, noises and gnarly instrumental effects. The whole record is deeply rooted in Sixties and Seventies psychedelic folklore with a splash of modern day interpretation only being used sparingly throughout the album. 


    With influences ranging from EARTHLESS, KARMA TO BURN, HAWKWIND and CAN being heard on Echoland, the band still manage to keep things quite real and putting their own authentic spin especially within the excellent tracks of The Plants, Setting The Scene For Time To Stand Still and the epic final title track of Echoland. There are shades of Garage Rock and more straight-forward Rock & Roll being added for good measure which results into some epic extended instrumental passages with the right amount of Stoner Rock streetwise credibility. 


    Though, be prepared for different musical instruments, sound effects and noise effects being thrown in for good measure. If you’re a long time fan of Frozen Planet…1969 then you’ll be use to this surreal experience but for the casual fan, this will be like your mind, body and soul has been transported into an entirely new musical dimension of the band’s own making.


    The album can be quite heavy and freakishly loud which makes this one of the most interesting records the band have put out in a long time. Frozen Planet…1969 adapt a whole experimental and cinematic approach which allows their music to feel longer than it actually is. That’s one of the main strengths of Echoland with some hidden and highly deceiving surprises throughout.


    The warped use of different sound effects offers a fantastical and science fiction take which is always great to hear but Frozen Planet…1969 manages to keep everything real and grounded and that takes real talent to form a record such as this. 


    Echoland is a superb slice of Instrumental Stoner Rock who prove once again they’re one of the finest Psych/Stoner Rock exports the Australian Rock scene has to offer at the moment.


    Words by Steve Howe


    Links 


    Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
    Introduce Yourselves: SUN EMPRESS

    What is the name of your band?

    Sun Empress

    What is the genre of music you play?

    Sludge metal, progressive stoner with psychedelic influences

    A brief history of the band

    Sun Empress is the Swedish duo Henrik Wikner (Vargsol, Caterpillar Ghost, The Distance Between Us) and Christian Fransson (Mon) who started making music together remotely in 2023 as a side project, connected through their common love of slow and explosive heavy music. As the songs grew and morphed from riffs and ideas into a cohesive whole, more effort and time was poured into it as the project solidified into their debut 2025 release, Still Life.

    What can people expect from your music?

    An uncompromising outlook on life, both the good and bad. A very focused musical endeavour that moves from the gnarly sound of a single locust to the explosive sensation of being stampeded by a herd of elephants. 


    What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?

    Still Life is the first release from the hard-hitting outfit from Gothenburg, Sweden. Moving through the realms of the slow paced heavy musical universe of bands like Yob and Kongh, Sun Empress adds psychedelic and progressive colours to a pitch black canvas. Add to this a distinct sense of melody and an expressive vocal style and Sun Empress sets out on a musical exploration.

    Where can people find you on social media?



    SUN EMPRESS - Still Life (EP Review)

    Release Date: December 05th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

    Still Life - Tracklisting


    1.Still Life 05:46

    2.Conform (To Belong) 04:40

    3.A Gift 06:15

    4.A Sun From A Sun 08:11


    Lineup


    Henrik Wikner

    Christian Fransson


    Review


    Still Life is the debut EP from Swedish Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metallers SUN EMPRESS who perform music similar to the likes of YOB, KONGH and MONOLORD. Their music is expressed by a layer of Doomed Out melodies with an aura of ice-cold Psychedelic beats that soon transforms into waves of Ambient Post-Rock within the more reflective moments of the EP. For the most part SUN EMPRESS play an unsettling blend of modern based Sludge/Stoner grooves with the band playing some MASTODON-esque passages throughout the EP.


    Opening track Still Life is a highly confident slice of Progressive energy with SUN EMPRESS exploring different themes from the Sludge/Stoner Metal environments whilst exploring different creative themes with subtle Ambient and Psychedelic touches measured against some excellent vocals at the same time. You can hear a slight Alt Metal and Grunge based sound bursting from the seams which comes into play on the later stages of the EP.


    Second track Conform (To Belong) captures the classic Nineties Grunge/Alt-Metal attitude full on with shades of Soundgarden appearing before SUN EMPRESS return to their own Swedish Underground domain for a sound that can be quite GOTHIC and POST-PUNK influence in places. This is an interesting style with the vocals being slightly OVER THE TOP but it’s the band’s musical choices that make this such a great song to fully experience especially when the Post-Doom and Post-Sludge surroundings are applied against the backdrop of Stonergaze melodies.


    The final two tracks A Gift and A Sun From Sun offer some darker moments with SUN EMPRESS embracing their Post-Metal identity even further with shades of Ambient and Sonic distortion developing within both of these tracks whilst keeping with their core Sludge/Stoner based dynamic. The songs are quite diverse with their different styles of Post-Whatever attitude keeping everything fresh and original. The lyrics are from the world of Alternative Metal which gives a warm-hearted and gloomy outlook both at the same time.


    Still Life is a bold EP in every sense of the world where SUN EMPRESS deliver huge sounding anthemic grooves throughout that should hopefully gain them some wider notice and attention within the HEAVY ROCK underground scene. I’m looking forward to hearing more from SUN EMPRESS in the future. This is an emotionally charged record that you should all check out now.


    Words by Steve Howe


    Links 




    NZ Heavyweights SIDEWINDER Ignite a New Era With ‘FIRELIGHT’ | New Album Out in 2026


    We’re thrilled to announce that ahead of the release of their new album Dominion in early 2026, New Zealand heavyweights Sidewinder return this month with ‘Firelight’, their most formidable, swagger-drenched, speaker-rattling statement to date.

    Formed in Wellington in 2021, Sidewinder have carved a reputation for towering riffs, monolithic grooves, and a blues-drenched heaviness that has propelled them to the forefront of Aotearoa’s hard rock and stoner scene. Now, with ‘Firelight’, the band step boldly beyond their origins and herald the arrival of a darker, heavier, and more progressive sound.

    Off the back of their 2022 debut Vines and thunderous sophomore album Talons, Sidewinder’s rise has been fuelled by explosive live shows and sold-out support slots with international titans including Orange Goblin and Sasquatch. Their seismic stage presence has proven repeatedly that the band’s live ferocity translates with equal force in the studio.


    Produced by Tiny Triumph Records and mastered by Will Borza (Deftones, Smashing Pumpkins), Firelight captures Sidewinder at full power, blending bone-dry stoner-doom swagger and swamp-soaked sound that is unmistakably their own.

    Their third album Dominion will also usher in a new era with vocalist Jem Tupe, whose commanding presence joins guitarists Ben Sargent and Thomas Rousell, bassist Si Randall, and drummer Grant Lister, elevating the band to a new creative peak. Critics worldwide have already praised Sidewinder’s crushing evolution, calling their sound unstoppable, monumental, unique, powerful, and a gripping reflection of their artistic intent."

    Sidewinder stand ready to cement their status as one of the most electrifying heavy rock exports to emerge from New Zealand in recent years. Check out new single ‘Firelight’ here and keep your ears peeled for further developments.

    Sidewinder Live:
    5th December –Sanctuary Sounds Festival
    6th December – Sidewinder Single Release Show

    Artist: Sidewinder
    Single: ‘Firelight’
    Release Date: 05/12/2025
    Formats: Digital

    Sidewinder on Bandcamp | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Spotify


    Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the details.

    KAVEMAN - Giants (EP Review)


    Release Date: December 05th 2025. Record Label: Marathon Recordings. Formats: DD

    Giants - Tracklisting

    The Giant Magog (5:15)

    The Giant Gog (8:25)


    Lineup


    Alfath Arya Nugraha - Guitar

    Fikri Izza - Bass/Vocals


    Review


     Psych/Doom/Stoner Metallers KAVEMAN are a duo based between South Tangerang, Indonesia and New York who are releasing their new EP - Giants. The EP is a great mix of modern day Heavy Psych merged with Doomed Out Stoner Metal passages with the band showing a slightly flamboyant style with influences from the likes of MASTODON, MELVINS and HIGH ON FIRE. The music can be slightly experimental but never boring with the overlapping Psychedelic sounds and classic Stoner Metal with a certain Progressive energy to it all. The two tracks of The Giant Magog and The Giant Cog are superbly played which has some blissful Post-Rock moments set against the turbo-charged music. Sometimes things can be quite JAZZ based that appear within the opening track. This does slow down the chaotic and fast-paced energy that KAVEMAN first opened the EP with but it’s good to see a more progressive and technical sound appear from behind the scenes. KAVEMAN is full-on Sludge/Stoner Metal aggression with little flashes of Sonic Exp

    erimentation which is perhaps the standout track on the EP with the band aiming for a heavier, aggressive and intense delivery. The song is more riff-centric but KAVEMAN provide excellent vocals that leans heavily into the Stoner Metal underground scene with flashes of Prog Rock and Jazz interludes appearing once more. There’s also a tribal aspect to KAVEMAN’s aspect where I hoped they explored further but perhaps on future releases such as a longer EP or full length record so they can build a grander cinematic vision for their music. Giants is a stunning EP for KAVEMAN to make themselves known further within the underground scene.


    Words by Steve Howe


    Links 


    Official| BandCamp | Instagram


  • Stoner HiVe

    Malkasian – Heavy Blues

     

     

    Malkasian – Heavy Blues
    Self-released / Desert Bloom PR – 2025
    Rock, Blues, Psych, Stoner, Alternative 
    Rated: 

    They’ve got style! But we already knew that. Cause we loved their The Macabre album and were truly honored to premiere the Hedonic single from their new album Heavy Blues. Dark, dirty, dripping with blood kind of blues. Yes, Malkasian is back! They’re back with a fist through the floorboards. If you remember and love The Macabre, you know the drill… Twisted, deranged, stoner-blues noir. But now with sharpened claws and a cigarette that burned down to ash and fell to the floor with nobody noticing and a band that continues to play. Drunk on blues, rumbling, feverish and filthy. You remember Hedonic right? And that harmonica? Howling like a junkie at the end of the night… 

    Have you been there? Those dubious watering holes where even biker gangs show up fully armed. Well, this is their soundtrack. Riffs drag like the hungover bodies strewn about, the guitar sweats hundred percent alcohol, bass shudder and the drums stomp on the terra like a beast that knows there might never be another time. But it’s still the blues. The Heavy Blues, thick with dust and bourbon fumes. And those vocals, exactly hauntingly enough, close enough to follow you around like a shadow. And wild enough, so they might never quite let you go… It all just creeps under your skin and cut straight to the marrow. It rattles the bones and lingers like slow swirling smoke in a dim room. It’s Malkasian at their rawest. And Malkasian at their finest. Remember when All Them Witches started out as a blues band? Indeed… Well, Heavy Blues drags the old blues through alley grime, mixing bruised hearts, loud sorrow, and worn-out rage into something intense and bloody raw.

     

    (Written by JK)




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    Kadavar – Kids Abandoning Destiny Among Vanity And Ruin


     

    Kadavar – Kids Abandoning Destiny Among Vanity And Ruin
    Clouds Hill – 2025
    Rock, Stoner, Psych
    Rated: ****

    The I Just Want To Be A Sound album arrived only months ago, but Kadavar storm back like fuzz crazed time travelers kicking down the doors of heavy rock’s ancient granaries. Their new album, Kids Abandoning Destiny Among Vanity And Ruin, is an intense mix of stoner grit, doom thunder and classic rock swagger. Their earlier album flirted with pop and self-reinvention, but this one?! This is the sound of a band truly becoming it and being possessed by it. It is the most chaotic and most Kadavar record they ever released. With every member throwing riffs, ideas and groove into the cauldron. The result isn’t just hard rock, retro or whatever, it’s a highly familiar yet definite mutant echo of heavy rock’s past. But most of all, the record seems to be bursting with raw rock and unfiltered joy. And that’s a sound we all want to become…  


    (Written by JK)


    Homepage

     


     


    Winds Of Neptune – Winds Of Neptune

     

     

    Winds Of Neptune – Winds Of Neptune
    Small Stone Records – 2025 
    Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock 
    Rated: ****

    Skidding across a Detroit parking lot, is Michigan’s Winds Of Neptune and their chrome-plated UFO as they crash land into the heavy underground landscape. Muscular, loud, unpolished and undeniable. Born during the pandemic by three veterans who played in bands like Flogging Molly, The Meatman and 500 Ft. of Pipe, their debut is a fuzz soaked love letter to the seventies! Freeway burning, bell bottom swagger, cosmic power and enough guitar heroics to make you go nuts! And smeared across that veneer, is a lysergic shimmer that makes every track feel like its leaking some weird color radiation fluid! Gravitational and centripetal all at the same time!


    (Written by JK)




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    The Doom Charts For November 2025

     


    DOOM CHARTS

    NOVEMBER 2025

    “One good thing about music on the Doom Charts, when it hits you, you feel no pain…”
    ~ Bob Marley

    The saying “one good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain” means music can have a powerfully distracting and healing effect, allowing a person to momentarily escape their physical or emotional pain. It highlights music’s ability to provide comfort, uplift the mood, and create a sense of peace. And it can do so much more for so many of us. And with the amount of great music constantly growing larger, it could possibly become the universal healer. And when it becomes too much, there is always that off switch. If only for a few minutes, hours or even a week. And then you come back to your favorite albums all fresh and in a desperate need to hear them once again… Below, there are 40 listed that might just become one of those albums! The Number One from October carried over and the Contributors voted for a total of 224 different albums this month, 24 different albums received a Number One vote from at least one Contributor and on Number 41 we find THE HYENA KILL with their Collapse album… And all of them have the ability to offer you escape… 

     

    It's Bandcamp Friday! And the November Doom Charts just went live! There goes your paycheck... And December is already such an expensive month... But how can you say no to more great music? Ho ho ho!

    An amazing list of heavy underground albums once again and will start my listening run down with Number 40: Vast Pyre...

    Could have voted for all of them I'm sure... But of the ones that made it, I only voted for: Vast Pyre, Liquid Silk, Silver Orbs, Moonstone, YOU GUITARPRAYER, Papir, Dune Aurora, Doomherre, BLACK MAGIC TREE, Yawning Man (Official), Pale Horse Ritual, Maha Sohona & Winds Of Neptune .. .

     Already featured on Stoner HiVe: 

    SUNCRAFT – WELCOME TO THE COVEN

    HOWLING GIANT – CRUCIBLE & RUIN

    SILVER ORBS – SILVER ORBS

    YAWNING MAN – PAVEMENT ENDS

    MAHA SOHONA – A DARK PLACE 

     

    Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio, podcasters and reviewers from the heavy underground around the globe.  Each month, our critics submit their picks for the best new doom, sludge, metal, stoner, psychedelic and heavy rock albums.  The results are compiled and tabulated into the chart below.  This is a one-stop shop for the best new albums in the world…

     

    The Doom Charts for November 2025 



    Suncraft – Welcome To The Coven

     

     

    Suncraft – Welcome To The Coven
    All Good Clean Records – 2025
    Rock, Metal, Punk, Hardcore, Stoner, Speed
    Rated: ****

    Welcome to… Welcome To The Coven! Suncraft’s back alley ritual where punk, stoner and black metal all showed up drunk and ready to hustle and fight! The Oslo five-piece have bottled their mania into a forty minute blast of pure ruckus that should make little sense. But it does anyway, it’s Suncraft’s way to destroy all expectations. Their name might whisper stoner, but this is not it, this is a demolition of all genres, and they do so with a malicious grin! 

    Battering ram Ragebait kick things off like a lit fuse, pick slides, blast beats and enough TNT to blow up the entire neighborhood. But just as you are bracing for the explosion, Suncraft’s shifts gear and seamlessly into a majestic groove. Immediately revealing their biggest forte, showing their chaos with open hands and then squeezing it into needle point precision…

    Their three guitar madness is a high-wire act! Riffs spiraling, tumbling and swapping with an incredible aloof kind of swagger. It all feels improvised, but well, it clearly isn’t! The only thing that seem to keep this on the ground is bass player and vocalist Rasmus Skage Jensen and drummer Tobias Paulsen’s manic drum work. Well, until they detonate too! Dynamite stuff! Addictive, unruly and the kind of pandemonium you love to wake up after being knocked unconscious… 


    (Written by JK)




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  • Screaming From the Heavy Underground

    Best New Releases November 2025

     

    Screaming from the Heavy Underground logo

    How in the world did we get here? 

    By some devilish magic, the days are suddenly mercilessly short, a sharp winter chill is beginning to permeate the nights, holiday preparations are in full swing, and in less than a month, I'll be ranking my Top 25 Albums of the Year. I'm not ready. 

    Until then, you'll be pleased to know that November was far from a  disappointing month in the heavy underground. Impressive in both number and variety, there were many noteworthy albums that caught the ears of eager listeners this month. Here are my personal favorites that I submitted to the Doom Charts in November, ranked in descending order: 

    (Side note: I'm just going to throw it out there that the albums were VERY hard to rank this month, but as always, there was a clear-cut #1). 

    8.) Beastwars - The Ship//The Sea

    Beastwars The Ship//The Sea Album Cover Photo

    The emotions expressed on Beastwars' sixth album The Ship//The Sea are some of their most intense ever, on par with their crushing riffs. Naturally, the band's use of sharply contrasting vulnerability and brutality fashions the perfect spyglass through which to view the album's nautical theme. With "the ship" representing the body and "the sea" symbolizing life, each song on the album explores a different motif such as survival, wisdom, purification, and healing. You'll hear inspiring messages of optimism, relatable anecdotes of struggle, and encouraging glimmers of hope. Not only does Beastwars very successfully execute the concept of the volatile sea on their album, but they do it in an admirably unguarded and genuine manner, making it very apparent to the listener that The Ship//The Sea could be the band's most personal yet. 

    You can read my quick review of the album here.
    Favorite track: Guardian of Fire



    7.) The Birch - Vicious Mind 

    The Birch Vicious Mind Album Cover Photo

    Based upon the vibrant first impressions I'd formed of The Birch when they released their single Free Your Head back in October, I was expecting their new album Vicious Mind to be brimming with more of the same high energy, legitimate '70s rock tones. What I got from the album was that and so much more...in a nutshell, the perfect balance of bubbling grooves and steady, hazy soul. Whether a song takes on a fun and lively or more pensive mood, The Birch always creates an authentic sound, inspired by the heavy rock of decades past but infused with a modern outlook that's sure to resonate with a wide variety of listeners.

    Favorite Track: Downpour 



    6.) Black Magic Tree - Terra 

    Black Magic Tree Terra Album Cover Photo


    The bluesy psychedelic tones of Black Magic Tree's sound get an HD makeover on their sophomore album Terra. While their music has always been crisp, energetic, and colorful, there are even sharper edges, additional shades and hues, and infinitely more depth throughout this album that signal heightened attention to detail. Also dialed up to eleven is the emotive intensity - both vocals and instrumentals feel even more expressive and more honest than ever before. This results in a bold and genuine sound, allowing the band to be straightforward but vulnerable with their listeners. With all of this growth in both self-assuredness and sound, Black Magic Tree makes it clear on Terra that they're quickly becoming pillars of the underground heavy psych scene on a global scale. 

    You can read my review of the album here.
    Favorite Track: Págos 



    5.) Burning Sister - Ghosts 

    Burning Sister Ghosts Album Cover Photo

    Ghosts, the sophomore album from Denver-based downer rock duo Burning Sister, marks their first work as a two-piece since 2019. Nevertheless, the band proves that a massive sound can still emanate from a drum and bass duo as they churn out a hypnotic blend of doom, stoner rock, heavy psych, noise rock, and shoegaze. On a deeper level, Ghosts symbolizes tenacity and evolution for Burning Sister as they ambitiously took the opportunity to experiment with gear, amps, and effects. Relying less on a traditional Sabbathian doom/classic stoner sound than in the past, the band leans heavily into their heavy psych and noise rock influences on this album, producing a buzzing, immersive, lysergic tone that fills your entire body and mind with its echoing reverberations, a sensation that's utterly addictive.

    Favorite Track: Brokedick Icarus

     


    4.) AcidSitter - Escape From Egoland

    AcidSitter Escape From Egoland Album Cover Photo

    AcidSitter specializes in an energetic but thought-provoking brand of psychedelic rock. While this appropriately named group infuses their music with plenty of hallucinogenic grooves inspired by the sounds of the 60s, the message behind their songs is always crystal clear. The band's sophomore release Escape From Egoland bursts right out of the gate with even more bubbling energy than their debut album Make Acid Great Again. The edges are sharper, the emotions are higher, and the contrasts are starker. However, there's an underlying urgency present within the colorful acidic grooves, a nod to the album's theme that beseeches us to save ourselves from ourselves. More than anything, AcidSitter proves on this album that they're a band that's always thinking, growing, and evolving - adding even more clever layers to their kaleidoscopic sound while keeping a pulse on the times, ensuring that their sound grows with their listeners.

    You can read my quick review of the album here.
    Favorite track: Psychopomp



    3.) Winds of Neptune - (self-titled) 

    Winds of Neptune Self-titled Album Cover Photo


    Michigan-based trio Winds of Neptune stands out among the flood of heavy rock releases this month for bringing the grit and sweat to the party, along with a more progressive style. While their full-length self-titled debut certainly includes some hypnotic psychedelic respites in the mix, it's the high-octane freeway jams, leather-and-bellbottoms vibes, wailing guitar, and liberating grooves that more distinctly represent American pop culture during the "Anything Goes Decade" of the 70s. One of my favorite things about the album, however, is the underlying spacey feel it carries throughout, framing the imagery of Winds of Neptune's songs with a lysergic sci-fi aura that pairs incredibly well with the band's overall sound. This is a killer, no-skip album from start to finish. 

    Favorite track: The Faun's Rhyme



    2.) Astralplane - Out of the Void

    Astralplane Out of the Void Album Cover Photo

    Astralplane is a trio of brothers from Oslo who prove themselves to be purveyors of both vast atmospheres and rumbling riffs on their album Out of the Void. Here, spaced-out psychedelic rock and gritty stoner groove give way to whispers of 70s heavy rock, providing a warm glow within frigid interstellar expanses. Best of all, Astralplane does a phenomenal job of keeping the energy up throughout Out of the Void while providing engaging vocals and lyricism, ensuring the vibe never gets lost in space. This is truly a hidden gem in the heavy underground that you won't regret unearthing! 

    Favorite track: Ascension



    1.) You Guitarprayer - I Am The Light/The Light I Am

    You Guitarprayer I Am The Light/The Light I Am Album Cover Photo


    I always picture You Guitarprayer's sound as a live wire, snaking about on the stage, going where the mood draws it, hot and glowing, always threatening to spark. I think this visual speaks not only to the unparalleled energy behind the band's style, but also to the organic flow of each and every song they compose. On their sophomore release I Am The Light/The Light I Am, the avant garde trio holds true to their signature sound, characterized by delightfully unpredictable bursts of energy and chaos that flow gracefully into dreamlike reveries. However, You Guitarprayer continues to add even more layers, colors, and facets to their sound, indicating sustained creative growth while drawing their listener in even deeper on an emotional level.

    You can read my full review of the album here.
    Favorite track: Ace of Wands


    That's it for November! I hope that you enjoy these albums as much as I did. 
    Don't forget to check out this month's Doom Chart where there are forty albums waiting for you to discover, and as always, be sure to show your favorite heavy underground artists some much-deserved love! 

    Check out Screaming from the Heavy Underground on YouTube!
    Best New Releases November 2025, Video Version


    Black Magic Tree Brings the Energy with "Terra", Showcasing Their Sharpest Sound Yet

    Black Magic Tree Band Photo

    Black Magic Tree is a quintet from Berlin whose sound is an alliance between the old and the new, combining golden heavy rock tones, soulful heavy blues, and colorful swirls of psychedelia. To this formula, the band adds an infusion of modern energy and (dare I say) radio friendly catchiness that grabs the attention of a wide variety of ears. 

    The band got their start in 2018, taking inspiration from bands like Led Zeppelin, Cream, Black Sabbath, and The Doors, as well as newer bands such as Rival Sons, Graveyard, and Wolfmother. Black Magic Tree released their debut EP Of Animals and Men in 2019, successfully grabbing the attention of the German heavy psych underground. In 2021, the band released their debut full-length album Through the Grapevine. This release was my first time hearing Black Magic Tree and I was immediately smitten with their exceptionally vibrant take on vintage heavy rock, with the song Mandala Lady in particular staying on heavy rotation for me ever since. 

    The official music video for "Mandala Lady" 


    On November 28, 2025, Black Magic Tree released their sophomore album Terra, their first with esteemed heavy underground label Majestic Mountain Records. With this album, the band continues to deliver their spirited heavy rock jams through a "distinctly Berlin soul", but this time, they do it with newfound confidence. 


    Black Magic Tree - Terra

    Black Magic Tree Album Cover Photo

    Terra opens with the level of energy I expected from Black Magic Tree on first track Time Parrots (Hit Me Up!), a feel-good modern rock sound kissed by vintage rock tones. Popcorn and Coke maintains this momentum, delivering an equally upbeat and infectious tune with a particularly memorable chorus. Interestingly, this one has a whisper of a glam metal vibe to my ears, and I'm here for it.

    The music video for "Popcorn and Coke" 

    From here, the vibe of Terra begins to get a bit more serious and emotional. On third track Págos, my favorite song on the album, rollicking grooves frame a much more pensive mood marked by bittersweet, emotive choruses. At this point, some songs take on a more sensuous temper (such as fourth track Grace), morph into lamentable ballads (such as the songs Love & Doubt and Roadway), express feelings of anger (such as in final track Veleno), or do a little bit of all of these things, delivering a more serious but lively assertion (such as in the songs Chasing the Light and Summer). 



    Final Thoughts

    While Terra delivered the caliber of energy and tunefulness that I was expecting, it also surprised me with so much more. 

    First off, it feels like Black Magic Tree's sound has gotten an HD makeover. While their tone has always been crisp and colorful, there are even sharper edges, additional shades and hues, and infinitely more depth throughout this album that signal heightened attention to detail. 

    Also dialed up to eleven is the emotive intensity of Terra - both vocals and instrumentals feel even more expressive and more honest than ever before. 

    While Terra is still brimming with the vintage heavy rock and psychedelic groove the band is known for, Black Magic Tree seems to be updating their sound for the modern era, infusing their songs with even more contagious energy and relatability, ensuring their songs are more memorable than ever for an even wider variety of listeners. Along those same lines, I feel that Black Magic Tree is exceptionally confident and authentic with their approach to songwriting, playing, and recording, particularly on this new album (as they should be). This results in a bold and genuine sound, allowing Black Magic Tree to be straightforward but vulnerable with their listeners. 

    With all of this growth in both self-assuredness and sound, Black Magic Tree makes it clear on Terra that they're quickly becoming pillars of the underground heavy psych scene on a global scale. 


    More About Black Magic Tree

    Black Magic Tree Band Photo 2

    You can follow Black Magic Tree and listen to their music at the following links: 

    Black Magic Tree Is:
    Alessandro Monte – Vocals
    Christian Reuter – Electric Guitar
    Max Milan Bergrath – Electric Guitar
    Michael Hupp – Drums
    Philipp Ott – Electric Bass Guitar


    A massive thank you to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo! 


    Check out Screaming from the Heavy Underground on YouTube:


    Enigmatic Doom Rockers Fátima Release "Primal", the Title Track to Their Upcoming Album!

     

    Fatima Band Photo

    If you feel like you've heard me singing the praises of this highly underrated trio from Paris before, you'd be correct. In fact, Fátima's album Eerie soared to the number one spot on my Top 25 Heavy Underground Releases of 2024 list, and I also wrote a super detailed love letter of a review of that release here. 

    Describing Fátima's sound is one of those things that's easy yet very complex, as the band doesn't fit neatly into one particular category (and I love that). While I could justly say something like "doomy rock filled with psychedelic currents and a killer grungy vocal" to describe their tone, that would be selling Fátima short. I think it's more appropriate to describe their music in terms of the moods and images it evokes, such as hair-raising sci-fi movies, vast swathes of the Gobi Desert, intricate labyrinths, the electric smell in the air before a storm, and the blinding intensity of a whirlwind. 

    Fátima - Primal 

    Fatima Primal Single Cover Photo

    Needless to say, I was overjoyed when Fátima released their new single Primal on November 24, 2025. It just so happens that this song is also the title track to their upcoming album, slated for release on February 3, 2025 via Black Robes Records. 

    Primal is an immersive but mesmerizing track on which driving percussion frames Fátima's signature storytelling, boasting hypnotic riffs and cyclonic bursts of intensity that draw the listener deeper still into the unfettered mood and evocative imagery. As always, Fátima's sound takes on a razor-sharp cinematic quality, with a crystal clear diegesis emerging through intense waves of spellbinding psychedelia and doom-laden rock. This is a memorable first taste of what we can expect from Fátima's upcoming album which, based upon its cover art, appears to be continuing Fatima's legacy of ultra-creative DIY spirit. 



    Be on the lookout for the full album to drop on February 3, 2026, and be sure to follow Fátima on their social media pages for more updates! 



    Fatima Primal Album Cover

    Fatima Primal Back Cover

    Fatima Primal Vinyl

    You can preorder Primal on vinyl and CD at Fátima's official website here!



    More About Fátima 

    You can follow Fátima and listen to their music at the following links:

    A massive thank you to the band for the promo! 











    You Guitarprayer - "I Am The Light/The Light I Am"

     

    You Guitarprayer Band Photo
    Photo Credit: Kostas Lilopoulos

    You Guitarprayer is a band from Cologne who specializes in a very avant garde style of noise rock, characterized by unparallelled creativity and freely flowing emotion. 

    The trio, composed of Soheyl Nassary (vocals, guitar), Scharco (bass) and Spiro Kotsomitopoulos (drums), was formerly active in bands from the German label BluNoise such as Nicoffeine, Tarngo, Clarkys Bacon, Toxoplasma and Genepool. 

    You Guitarprayer released their debut album Art Won't Tear Us Apart Again in 2019, a collection of songs on which they cemented their signature sound that blends neo-psych, noise rock, shoegaze, and "cinematic chaos". While staying very active in the live music scene, the band released the singles Ace of Wands in February 2022, Transsurfer in February 2024 and Saffron Eyes in May 2025. After signing with Worst Bassist Records, You Guitarprayer released their album I Am The Light/Yhe Light I Am on November 21, 2025. 

    You Guitarprayer - I Am The Light/The Light I Am


    You Guitarprayer I Am The Light, The Light I Am Album Cover Photo

    1.) Transsurfer 

    Transsurfer was released as a single back in February 2024, and it has a much lighter and airier feel than the typical You Guitarprayer fare. In fact, this stirring track makes great use of building, reminiscent of a mounting wave. It begins with peaceful but sparkling guitar and emotive vocals, crests to the beat of booming percussion, and finally comes crashing into shore with some of the chaotic energy we know and love from the band.

     
    The official video for "Transsurfer"


      2.) I Am The Light/The Light I Am

    The album's title track brings the energy way up with a delightfully tumultuous intro, but this song ultimately elects to dance with some vast, spacey textures, giving it a bit of a post-metal feel at times (I dig it). This combination of sounds, as well as the expressive vocals, generate a resounding aura of triumph, a confident feeling that is contagious.  

    3.) New Moon Energies 

    New Moon Energies dives headfirst into noise rock territory with a whisper of a surf rock vibe here and there. With live wire guitar, the racing pulse of the drums, unfettered vocals, and the keyed-up gallop of the bass, this song flows with a frenzied electric charge from start to finish. 

    4.) Ace of Wands

    Ace of Wands was one of the first You Guitarprayer songs that I ever heard, and it's the one that sealed my affinity for the band. The standout thrum of the bass throughout the song, the longing wails from the guitar that bubble over into bittersweet, biting textures in the choruses, the fittingly agitated drumming, and the sensuous vocals create a bit of a gothic, post punk essence that mingles naturally with the emotive turbulence of noise rock. I've had Ace of Wands on heavy rotation since the day I heard it, and I don't see that changing. 

     
    The official video for "Ace of Wands"


    5.) Stereostar

    In addition to another prominent bassline and a driving, chugging undertow, Stereostar has a warm glint of heavy rock that bounces of the unpredictability of noise rock. There's even a pocket of tribal-esque drumming that caught my ear shortly after the standout lyric "True love is always diabolical," lodged itself in my brain. 

    6.) Transistor 

    A bright, lively garage psych groove with another glimmer of surf rock hanging around, Transistor features an intense and spiraling but dreamy interlude before the last chorus that is the highlight of the song for me. 

    7.)  Transformer

    Transformer is a brief instrumental interlude that, to my ears, feels like a concentrated essence of You Guitarprayer's sound. 

    8.) Mutiny In June

    Mutiny in June is unrestrained even by noise rock standards, sprinting wildly in all directions while still managing to be cohesive. The overall feel of this song is unsettling, tense, and borderline eerie, spurring similar emotion in the listener. The drums pound unrelentingly from start to finish, echoing in one's head like a racing heartbeat. Heavily distorted guitar wails haphazardly while sinister bass keeps pace with the frantic drumming, and the vocals take on a crazed, frenetic cadence, erupting into bursts of full-blown madness. This is one of the most raw, tumultuous songs I've ever heard from You Guitarprayer, and I absolutely love it. 

    9.) Gravitron

    Gravitron blooms slowly, cautiously, and mysteriously, emerging through mist and anchored by little more than the steadfast crawl of the bass and punctuating pound of the drums. The vocals are dreamy and serene while waxing noticeably trippy, signaling a disconnect from actuality. As this seven-minute track fades, any grip on reality jets away on the distorted yowls of the guitar. 

    10.) Radio Guidance

    The trance-inducing tones initiated on Gravitron continue on final track Radio Guidance. This song has a base of intense tom drumming and a whispered backing vocal that persists for the entirety of the song. At first blush, that seems like a combination that might be a bit anxiety-inducing, but the mellifluous main vocals and calm measured strums of the guitar are enough to turn the entire tone to one of pure tranquility. While the pace does pick up around the midway point (namely by way of the bass joining in), this serves more to heighten the intensity of the mood rather than stoke the energy. Radio Guidance is definitely meditative; a song to close your eyes and drift blissfully away to. 


     

      Final Thoughts

    I always picture You Guitarprayer's sound as a live wire, snaking about on the stage, going where the mood draws it, hot and glowing, always threatening to spark. I think this visual speaks not only to the unparalleled energy behind the band's style, but also to the organic flow of each and every song. You Guitarprayer's sound is driven by an almost palpable force, a powerful creative instinct that bounces among the band members, allowing them to masterfully control the chaos and slip gracefully into the most delicate of reveries at will. 

    These instincts successfully made their way onto I Am The Light/The Light I Am (to put it mildly), but it's immediately evident to the seasoned listener that this skill set has become infinitely more sophisticated with time. While one can safely say that You Guitarprayer is staying true to their signature sound on this album, that's because their tone is an ever evolving one, often shapeshifting within a single song. However, one can't deny that there are even more layers, colors, and facets to I Am The Light/The Light I Am, an indicator of continued creative growth from the band. And, at the risk of sounding a bit basic, this album just hits deeper, particularly on an emotional level. 

    To that end, I think two of the biggest signs of a successful band, particularly one that is in it for the right reasons, are when their energy becomes even more contagious and their creativity becomes less and less inhibited, resulting in an authentic, organic sound. You Guitarprayer has always possessed these qualities, but on I Am The Light/The Light I Am they shine through brilliantly, an undeniable beacon of genuineness and vitality that the listener can feel as much as they can hear. 

    You Guitarprayer Band Live Photo
    Photo Credit: JacQue Photography



    More About You Guitarprayer

    You Guitarprayer Is:
    Soheyl Nassary - Guitar and Vocals 
    Spiro Kotsomitopoulos - Drums and Percussion
    Scharco - Bass 

    You can follow You Guitarprayer and listen to their music at the following links: 

    A massive thank you to the band for the promo! 


    Check Out Screaming from the Heavy Underground on YouTube!


    SFTHU Quick Reivews: AcidSitter - Escape From Egoland

     

    AcidSitter band photo

    AcidSitter is a Polish/Japanese psychedelic rock quartet based in Kraków who specializes in an energetic but thought-provoking brand of psychedelic rock. While this appropriately named group also infuses their music with plenty of hallucinogenic grooves inspired by the sounds of the 60s, the message behind their songs is always crystal clear. 

    AcidSitter burst onto the scene from what seemed like out of nowhere with their debut album Make Acid Great Again, a release that caught the attention of many underground music fans and reviewers alike (myself included). Here, the band introduced us to their buoyant signature sound dotted with pockets of emotional intensity and dreamy respites. Following the success of their debut, AcidSitter brought their passion and energy to the stage by playing at many different festivals and touring with the likes of Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, King Buffalo, and Karkara. 

    On November 14, 2025, AcidSitter released their sophomore album Escape From Egoland: "a conceptual psychedelic manifesto about breaking free from the ego". The album was produced and recorded on tape by Maciej Cieślak (Ścianka) in an effort to stay true to the band's vintage psychedelic rock inspirations. 

    AcidSitter - Escape From Egoland

    AcidSitter Escape from Egoland Album Cover Photo

    Escape From Egoland bursts right out of the gate with even more bubbling energy than AcidSitter displayed on their debut album. The edges are sharper, the emotions are higher, and the contrasts are starker. However, there's an underlying urgency present within the colorful acidic grooves, a nod to the album's theme that beseeches us to save ourselves from ourselves. While the atmospheric reprieves are fewer on Escape From Egoland than they were on Make Acid Great Again (again speaking to the album's liveliness), the softer interludes that are present hit deeper than ever; you'll keenly relate to the apt-for-the-times Doomscroller's Blues and get lost in the longing notes of Your Eyes Were Orange Like The Sky. 
    More than anything, AcidSitter proves on Escape From Egoland that they're a band that's always thinking, growing, and evolving - adding even more clever layers to their kaleidoscopic sound while keeping a pulse on the times, ensuring that their sound grows with their listeners. 


     
    The official music video for "Doomscroller's Blues"


     
    The official music video for "PSYCHOPOMP"


       

      More About AcidSitter

    AcidSitter Is:
    Filip Franczak - Bass
    Rafal Klimczak - Vocals, Guitar, Synths
    Tetsuya Nara - Guitar, Backing Vocals
    Tomek Gluc - Drums, Handsonic 

    You can follow AcidSitter and listen to their music at the following links:
    A massive thank you to the band for the promo! 




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