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Musipedia Of Metal
A View From The Back Of The Room: Tungsten (Alice Doyle)
Tungsten, Butane Skies & Ruhnt, Gryphest Day 1, Gryphon, Bristol, 25.09.26
The first day of Gryphest 2026 saw a free show to begin the weekend.
Ruhnt (8) started on a very strong note, balancing growling - almost screaming - elements with funky math rock undertones. As the set went on we visited almost that early 2000s high school rock vibe, but much harder. Sadly they suffered from what I’d consider ‘technical difficulties’, rendering one of the microphones almost inaudible, which was a shame because all three of the vocalists seemed capable and harmonised well. I scribbled in my notes “these guys go home and play super meat boy”, which wasn’t a diss. They finished the set with a slower song, which wound up being my favourite of the set.
We made an initial note, that Butane Skies (6) seemed very “fresh out of music studies”; technically and theoretically sound, but somehow lacking creativity and passion. This time the main vocalist had some microphone complications, and throughout the first few songs I could barely hear them - which is a shame, because once we did hear them, they actually had a very beautiful voice.The band performed a good range of emotional, melancholic tunes narrated by a moody keyboard tune, later followed by a violin that was sadly drowned out by the drums - a fault I’ve noted in small venues in the past. Towards the end of the set we were presented with a cover track, which to me personally felt unnecessary, although it displayed their musical talents. I saw potential, but couldn’t grasp anything that made me want to personally see them again.
Tungsten (7) are a three piece powerhouse had a lot to prove after the first few acts, but would wind up being my second favourites for the evening. The set was heavy, but with elements of modern punk and the bass was bopping. Out of the three bands I had witnessed on the day these guys seemed the most comfortable on the stage, and in engaging the audience.I felt that vocally they were not as strong as the last two groups, and as the set went on I noted that the genre was fluctuating a lot as if they hadn’t yet pinned down an identity. Nevertheless it was a strong finish to an excellent night of live music at the Gryphon, kicking off Gryphest with volume and THAT bass!
Reviews: Cloven Hoof, Violation, Killer, Watcher (Matt Bladen)
Cloven Hoof - Never A Prophet In Your Own Land (High Roller Records)
Never A Prophet In Your Own Land is perhaps a prophetic title for a Cloven Hoof record, in it's own way. You see though the band came from that fertile NWOBHM period, they have always been much more popular on mainland Europe than in their native country. There's something about leather and studs that revs the engines of the Germans and the Greeks who both have festivals dedicated to NWOBHM/Speed/Trad metal.The Greek link leads to recent changes in the Cloven Hoof camp as founding member/bassist Lee Payne managed to score Jag Panzer frontman Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin as their new front man, taking the mic over from the much kissed Russ North. Conklin was able to join as he is now based in Greece so as an American in Europe he's perfectly suited to belt out Cloven Hoof tracks at a Euro fest near you.
He made his debut on 2024's Heathen Cross, and the line up from that album is retained for Never A Prophet In Your Own Land, Payne and Conklin joined by guitarists Luke Hatton and Chris Coss and Ash Baker on drums for a varied, hard hitting record where there's a lot of changes of pace, pathos and drama.
From excellent mid-pace anthems such as the Title Track to the Rainbow chug of Gypsy Roller which showcases the keys of producer Chris Dando, as does the Neo-classical approach of Iron Mask, which unsurprisingly sounds like Iron Mask the band. There's also some classic NWOBHM gallops on tracks such as Conquistador and Phantom Chaser as Prodigal Son is a sleazy street rocker but no matter the style they approach these songs with, there's a lot to love on this record, you'll be nodding along.
You'll be singing the choruses after a couple of listens, however don't try to sing like The Tyrant as you may pull a muscle, he's just such a brilliant addition to Cloven Hoof, giving them a latter life injection of epic, that will hopefully see them play more shows in their native country soon. 8/10
Violation - The Anthology (Underground Metal Vault/Ripple Music)
It's not often I get to jump on something Ripple related before Mr Piva but my denim and leather credentials are perhaps a little stronger than his as I'm the one picking up The Anthology by Bay Area metal band Violation.It's the debut release through Ripple Music's The Underground Metal Vault which like the Beneath The Ocean Floor series is trying to find and reissue classic have metal records and bands that are long out of print or have long since disappeared all together, from the 70's and 80's. Basically discovering the bands from all across the world that were swept up in the leather-clad NWOBHM sound but weren't from The Midlands or London where the real action was.
That said Violation were from the Bay Area and at that time you just know that there was probably a drummer named Lars Ulrich that would have trading their tapes as it's right in his wheelhouse, they even played shows with Metallica, Mötley Crüe and Quiet Riot as they themsleves take a lot of influence from Diamond Head and UFO.
The Anthology is collects all of their recorded output, including three demos too as Todd Severin is nothing but a completest. As these are the original recordings it means production and quality varies, no remastering or remixing, just rough and ready heavy metal.Heavy metal that caught the ear of Y&T drummer Leonard Haze who produced three of the tracks here, including Meet Me At Midnight, which is not a Saracen cover, while the double A Side in turn got them on Shrapnel Records US Metal Vol. 3 compilation, so there was a lot of potential but by 1982 they are no more.
There's a spark about Violation, yeah they can get sleazy and some of it still has quite simple riffs and lyrics but their music has an old school charm that does make you think, what if? Props to Todd and the team at Ripple for moving into the underground metal scene, I'm looking forward to what else he unearths. 8/10
Killer - The Grand Finale (High Roller Records)
Killer are a band who formed in 1980, right in the middle of the NWOBHM and they drew their influence form that raw, early heavy metal sound especially Motorhead, who were never NWOBHM, but really hit their succes at that time. They're aggressive speed metal, rumbling bass, biting guitars and gruff vocals, releasing three records in the 80's, then a string of breakups and reunions that has brought us to The Grand Finale, which is set to be the last album from Killer.
Dedicated to Lemmy, the record leans more toward Motorhead than any of their others as the trio of Paul “Shorty” Van Camp (guitars/vocals), Ian Anthony (bass) and Vanne (drums), run through some dirty rock n roll rangers and mid pace chugs. They even bring Lloyd the singer from Motorheadz to do some guest vocals on Roll The Dice and What You See Is What You Get, and while the album is good and fans will lap it up, it doesn't seem like a final record, just another record.
There's nothing too special about it, no sense of finality other than perhaps Killer have used up all the creativity as a track such as Hard Day Coming rips off a Sabbath riff. So not really a celebration but the last embers of a rock n roll legacy. 6/10
Watcher - Mistress Of Our Time (Dying Victims Productions)
Over to Sweden now and the only band here that wasn't formed in the 70's/80's but sounds like they were. Watcher are part of the NWOTHM, contemporary bands who want to play the traditional heavy metal sound which I've referenced more than a few times in this selection of reviews.
Having only been formed three years ago, as a solo project by Viktor Gustafsson, Watcher definitely have that old school ethos as this is already their second album and it keeps the heavy metal flame alive with fantasy inspired lyrics and energetic metal work outs where drama comes through the choruses on tracks such as Down From Skies Divine.
While this isn't thrashy speed metal, there's lots of galloping riffs to get you head nodding along, bands such as Enforcer, Cauldron and Haunt can be heard as modern day influences on what Watcher do along with your Maiden etc. There’s a lot to like on Mistress Of Our Time, from the old school nods fused with a modern day audio power, Watcher are cranking out quality for classic emtal fans. 7/10
Reviews: Crown Magnetar, Early Moods, Nail By Nail, Remote Viewing (Spike, Rich Piva, Joe Guatieri & Mateusz Stefanow)
Crown Magnetar – The Hollowing Of Godflesh (Unique Leader Records) [Spike]
When this landed on the desk tagged as "brutal deathcore," it didn't take long to realize it does exactly what it says on the tin. Bands love attaching sprawling, hyphenated labels to their sound, but here it’s completely accurate. This is a lethal mash-up of brutal death metal, blistering technical death metal, and modern deathcore weight. If you've got those ingredients in the pot and you know what you’re doing with them, the results are going to hit like a freight train.
Clocking in at a tight twenty-nine minutes, The Hollowing Of Godflesh has one massive advantage right out of the gate: zero filler. Too many bands in the modern heavy sphere feel the need to pad their albums out with ambient fluff or drawn-out interludes that kill momentum. Crown Magnetar don't bother with any of that nonsense. It’s an unbroken half-hour sprint of pure technical precision and unvarnished savagery.
The record opens with Gun Eater, which acts like a tense, creeping fuse before Desecrate Infinite completely detonates. The sheer velocity is breathtaking. Byron London’s drumming is practically superhuman, shifting between rapid-fire blast beats and bone-snapping half-time shifts without missing a single beat. Dan Tucker delivers the kind of throat-shredding performance that makes your own vocal cords ache in sympathy, bouncing effortlessly between cavernous lows and piercing shrieks.
What keeps this from turning into a blurry wall of unreadable noise is the technical craft behind the guitars. New recruit Rob Maramonte weaves in intricate, angular riffs that nod towards technical death metal stalwarts like Defeated Sanity and Suffocation, but he never lets the guitar gymnastics distract from the physical groove. Tracks like Domination and Impaled Genesis are anchored by massive, tectonic riffs that give the technical flash real, room-clearing weight.
The title track, The Hollowing Of Godflesh, is an absolute masterclass in pacing. It charges forward with dizzying speed before pulling the rug out from under you with an abrupt, neck-snapping breakdown. That live-wire energy carries straight into Godkiller, which feels purpose-built to turn a venue floor into an absolute war zone with its nasty tempo drops.
Down the back stretch, they keep their foot welded firmly to the floor. Shut Up And Bleed and Torture Engine deliver relentless, teeth-grinding brutality, while Sculptures Of Suffering brings in extra vocal venom to trade off with Tucker before the crushing finale of Dead Crown drags you over the finish line.
The Hollowing Of Godflesh doesn't pretend to be anything other than a ruthless, surgical beating. It’s concise, relentless, and played with jaw-dropping skill. If you want heavy music that strips away the radio-friendly posturing and just delivers raw devastation, this is an essential listen. 9/10
Early Moods - Ready For The Grave (RidingEasy Records) [Rich Piva]
Early Moods album number three is here and this guy is certainly happy. The Sabbath/proto loving Los Angeles band bring more riffs and evil on Ready For The Grave, but also sound like they are straight off one of those NWOBHM comps that we all love.
The title track is straight up NWOBHM worship. Like something Metallica would have covered on Garage Days when they were still cool, and by the way it is awesome. The middle part breaks down like Sabbath, but the first part is more Diamond Head than anything else. I am certainly not complaining.Inquisition gets back to the doomier side of the band, slowing it down and getting all black mass on our asses. Dig it. I love when the pace picks up and the back up vocals are included. I can’t help but to hear early Metallica vibes on this record. Not because they thrash it up, but more on how it sounds like something Lars would have tape traded for back in the day. Like Thy Eternal Grief, with the acoustic opening leading to the dual guitar attack. I mean they have a (killer) song called The Prowler too! It also happens to be one of Alberto Alcaraz’s best vocal performances till date.You want chunky doom with great guitar work? Fine, I present to you When Light Fades in all of its glory. But wait! That middle part! This is their metal ballad, and it works great. Her Wicked Spells is trademarked Early Moods; mid-tempo, doomy riffs, with a couple temp changes and cool vocals. The epic Ashes Of The Damned is their final quest. This is a big and sprawling proto doom track that ends the record nicely.
We are not breaking new ground with Ready For The Grave, but Early Moods brings us something new from them that is as enjoyable as their best work and a worthy addition to their discography. This record sounds great, the playing is a step up for them, and so is the songwriting. Another solid effort from a very cool band. 8/10
Nail By Nail - Internal Inferno (War Anthem Records) [Joe Guatieri]
Nail By Nail are a Black Metal band from Germany, only forming a few year ago in 2023. Since then they quickly put out their debut album, Embraced By Darkness in 2025. An album which was received positively by critics and metal fans alike. Now only a year later in 2026, they're putting out their second full-length with Internal Inferno. I went into this completely blind, only to see the light again…
Getting into the LP with track two, Katharsis, it brings emotional depth in every sense of the word. Starting with a soft introduction with a lone guitar that feels like the wind blowing on a dark cold night, only to be awakened by an explosion 40 seconds in.
It feels like the end already with what I can only describe as an epic riff which feels miraculous, it’s like you’ve just survived a near-death experience and are crawling away from it. The vocals are howled with such venom as the rhythm section pounds away until the blasting sets course on its intended target by 2:42.
The bass playing is especially breathtaking, Emmanuel puts his entire being into it, hitting those low notes like he’s carving into stone. Katharsis is beautiful and is no doubt my favourite song on the album. It stars Internal Inferno with its best foot forward which I find strange to comprehend with as it sounds so final, you can either go fall down a hole after this or ascend into heaven, there is no in-between.
I can’t really describe the rest of the record without repeating myself again and again, that goes the same with a lot of Black Metal for me. The difference here with what Nail By Nail has done here is that they’ve kept me engaged throughout despite similarities between tracks. I enjoy the way that the experience washes over my person, I could quite easily close my eyes and be drifted away into a different world by listening to this.
There is a certain type of melancholy here which I don’t get with a lot of music in this sphere, it makes me want to dig deeper. There is a force there which isn’t pushing you away or sitting alone, it needs to carry on and it doesn’t know how too. I would describe this feeling as suffering in public, it’s got no other choice.
Overall, Nail By Nail have wowed me not by scaring me which is what I usually look for with Black Metal, instead they’ve put me into a meditative which is the last thing that I expected. They take a lot of influence from Oathbreaker and channel attack into comprehending one's place in the world. Nail By Nail have definitely made a fan out of me with Internal Inferno, it’s an opera of the mind. 8/10
Remote Viewing - State Violence (Human Worth) [Mateusz Stefanow]
I’ve always had a soft spot for 80s slasher films, and this album indescribably gives me that exact vibe. The album cover contrasts between the dark outside and the steamy amber of the inside of the car foreshadow the astonishing smoothness of the tracks within.
#makemoneymakelovemakemoney is quintessential sludge metal, it’s thematically dark, groovy and the John Atkins’ bass is clear in the mix. Maybe I’m being placebo-effected by the title, but the spoken word section brings to mind powerviolence influences, which adds to the gritty atmosphere that we are being encompassed in. As we fade out of the first track, we effortlessly crossfade into Retrain As A Swan, Tom Fowler and James Bryant enchanting us with exquisite duo guitarwork as John Breslin rhythmically paves the way via his percussive skills.
Remote Viewing personally don’t Disrespect The Arts - crushing riffs that flow and ebb and are certain to please the ears of wandering Electric Wizard fans, and those Warning fans that desire some less emotions in their sludge. Ever heard a violin in a sludge metal song? If not, Human Right$ is a must-hear track. Far from a pseudo-artsy addition, this 4 stringed instrument blends seamlessly with the mournful vocals and guitars to nail home the weight of this albums message,
Birds Of A Feather Is On In 7 Minutes must be the most non-blatantly politically charged song ever- purely melodic, it builds in volume and intensity up to a crescendo, that peak of the wave before… fading, and fizzling out- just like our interest in the horrors of the social injustices around the world.
The album veers away from Remote Viewing’s older song-naming conventions, focusing more on the socio-political corruption present in our societies, as bassist Atkins eloquently put it ‘the world is currently a veritable shit show of epic proportions’. Be that as it may, but this album is most assuredly not partaking in that shitshow, for it is like floating down a river of basslines, pulled by the riff undercurrents, no paddling required, just the drums and vocals to guide you along. 7/10
A View From The Back Of The Room: I Prevail (Heather Louise Ash)
I Prevail, Polaris and Gore, Depot Cardiff, 23.09.26
A sold-out Depot welcomed I Prevail, Polaris and Gore. to Cardiff for a night of heavy music, sweaty bodies and a crowd that seemed to get more lively with every set. The music got heavier, the pits got bigger and by the end of the night things had got very, very sweaty.
Flashing lights surrounding the floor drew everyone's attention to the stage as Gore (8) opened with haunting vocals and strong screams, their darker atmospheric sound getting a sea of heads bopping almost in unison before the heavier moments got more bodies moving.The pit was still more of a gentle jostle at this point, people lightly pushing each other, arms going over shoulders and smiles all round, with someone's lost shoe eventually appearing above the crowd, being held in the air like a beacon. There was loads of energy on stage and phone torches appeared across the crowd during the slower moments, swaying above people's heads before disappearing again when things picked back up.
Between sets the pits disappeared and everyone gathered in little groups chatting and sharing stories. It's one of my favourite things about live music, one minute you're being shoved around by a complete stranger and five minutes later you're chatting away to them like you've known each other for years.
Polaris (9) came on noticeably heavier, but with enough melodic moments for people to sing along before it all got heavy again. The pits got bigger pretty quickly, circle pits opening up with more and more people piling in and the first beads of sweat starting to form on faces as The Depot got noticeably hotter.
Crowdsurfers also started to spawn above everyone's heads and I somehow kept finding myself directly in the spawning points, taking the occasional foot in passing before watching another person disappear over the crowd towards the barrier. Arms were up, bodies were bouncing and even those staying around the edges of the pits were no longer standing still.
Another break meant a chance for a drink, some air and more chatting before I Prevail (9) came out heavy and hard and things got very sweaty, very quickly with their set in support of A Violent Nature. The crowd were singing along to favourites one minute and throwing themselves around again the next, and those beads of sweat from earlier were basically puddles by this point.
After spending most of the night around the edges I decided it was finally time to brave my first pit. Lots of pushing, kicking, arms and legs everywhere and at some point I inevitably ended up on the floor in a game of human dominoes. I barely had time to register I'd face-planted the concrete before several hands appeared and pulled me straight back up. I came away with a grazed knee, carried on and then went back in because apparently once wasn't enough.
Walls of death started forming too, the crowd splitting before both sides ran at each other and collided in the middle, with bodies still flying overhead. As always though, the second somebody hit the floor there were hands reaching in to get them back up to safety.Things slowed down later for a cover of Taylor Swift's Blank Space, phone torches came back out and everyone got a much-needed chance to catch their breath before things picked up again.
That sense of community carried through the whole night. People spent the sets pushing each other around, catching strangers above their heads and picking each other up off the floor, then the music stopped and everyone went straight back to chatting and sharing stories.
I left The Depot sweaty, slightly battered, with a grazed knee and feeling it in pretty much every limb for the remainder of the week. It was worth every second.
Reviews: Sigh, Shakra, The Hu, Harlott (Will Bond, Keith Boswell, Jordan Griffiths & Mateusz Stefanow)
Sigh - Goh-Ka (Peaceville Records) [Will Bond]
Goh-Ka is the 14th studio album from Japan’s Sigh. Combing elements of black metal, thrash, prog and folk, it takes the listener on a journey over eleven tracks. With an hour of music it could have outstayed it’s welcome, but it flew by in a whirlwind of blast beats, folk interludes and huge riffs.The first thing that struck me was the wild array of instrumentation, with synths, strings, pianos and all manner of traditional oriental instruments. Production wise, this album is a feat of enormous magnitude. All elements are blended expertly so you don’t question it when you hear oriental flutes paired with guttural vocals and blasting drums.
The vocalist has a wide range, from clean singing to searing growls, and every syllable is intelligible. Often black metal vocals can become a wash of harsh noise, but here the rhythmic patterns of the vocals are crystal clear. The riffs are huge, with dual guitars and blistering solos, and the drums are played with incredible virtuosity. My head was thoroughly nodding to thrash drums and blast beats by track two.Track three brings the tempo down, switching between folk and huge riffs. Track six picks up the pace with a galloping riff, opening up into a huge chorus reminiscent of Wishbone Ash. Track eight is a blistering thrash masterpiece, erupting into blast beats before a huge chanted chorus.The final track of the album is a ten minute prog epic. A huge head banging riff with pained screams, going into a waltzed light refrain, then straight back to the riffs. The track builds until it morphs into symphonic orchestration, then dissolves into binary messages received from another dimension. It’s then reborn as a piano lullaby to close out the album.Goh-Ka rises and falls in tempo and mood at a natural pace, as if it’s a living breathing thing. Goh-Ka is a prog metal epic that should be consumed in full, taking you on a journey through multiple dimensions. 8/10
Shakra - Just Love Loud! (Frontier Records) [Keith Boswell]
Following on from their 2023 Invincible album the five piece from Bern in Switzerland Shakra, have just released their 15th album entitled Just Live Loud!
The album has 12 tracks is 56 minutes in duration and continues strongly in the melodic hard rock genre.
Shakra, with the gravely vocals of lead singer Mark Fox intermingled with the melodic shredding guitars and the very full and deep riffs make for a very interesting journey through the album. Notably there are many melodic and catchy hooks throughout which make it instantly attractive to listener.
The album opens up with an assault on the ears with songs including Let The Show Begin, Wasteland Warrior and Just Live Loud. All of which hit the very heavy rift laden heights that instantly warm you and get your feet tapping and head nodding. If this is the start of the album, I smile in anticipation of the further delights that await!
The fourth track Left Outside Alone is a cover of the of the Anastasia song of the 90s which features the superb voice of Seraina Telli. Fox's gravely low voice is an instant hit in collaboration with Telli’s excellent, pitch perfect haunting delivery. That linked with tremendous guitar work truly enhances the original in my humble view.
In the main, all the tracks within the album are of great standard unfortunately on the negative side a few of the offerings mid album tend to blur into one another which is a real shame.
However towards the conclusion of the album the track Higher Above The Storm starts slowly and builds to a crashing crescendo of drums and guitars solos which actually is very very good and I enjoyed thoroughly.
In conclusion, Shakra’s Just Live Loud! offers some great music and is crafted to a very high standard. It certainly lives up to the legacy and the quality of music that Shakra have built over their long career and it is certainly one for the newcomer, like myself, as well as the hardened fan.
The album has seen recent success in topping Swiss charts and continues to do well in Europe. 8/10
The Hu - Hun (Better Noise Music) [Jordan Griffiths]
The Mongolian folk-metal pioneers return with Hun, an album that demonstrates just how far their distinctive sound can go. Their traditional throat singing, Morin Khuur strings and pounding rock instrumentation remain at the heart of the band, and their sound.However this time around, it seems that The Hu has leaned further into more accessible, area-sized songwriting. The result, creates an album, an 11 track run, of unmistakable Mongolian sound, traditional and authentic instrumentals, which leaves a mark that says “Yeah, they’re getting more comfortable with the modern metal world”.
Warrior Chant opens up this album and establishes its identity early. Deep, resonant vocals, with forceful percussion, and traditional instrumentation create a sense of.. Movement and ceremony, almost like a Mongolian army, marching and crossing the Mongolian Steppe.It is music with physical weight, the entire opener is built with a crowd in mind. To start the movement early, and prepare you for what’s to come. I feel that it does what it’s designed to do, very well.
As the album transitions into the song, The Men, the more up-beat, head nodding, dance worthy rhythm kicks in, making this track into a mid-tempo and catchy almost 4 minutes.Gradually throughout this song, the intensity picks up, and then peaks with the Morin Khuur solo, and then continues with its intensity for a short while, before gradually settling back into a more calmer, unified ending. Which I do enjoy, as opposed to sticking with the heaviness throughout.
Echoes Of My Father is the fourth track in this album, and serves, in my humble opinion, as more of a reflective, meditative track, as opposed to a heavy, hard hitting, bone trembling alternative. Which, I also personally really like, it’s the calm before the storm, a little rest stop, before the rest of the journey of sorts. This track really executes what it sets out to do, very well!
This is when the heavier side of the album starts to pick up, it starts first and foremost with track 5 - Shadow, while not the heaviest track on the album, it serves as the introduction to what The Hu has to offer you this time around.The heaviness on the album continues onto, and runs throughout Horsemen, The Real You, and Grey Hun. Creating a gradual increase of heaviness from the start of the album, reaching its height with the aforementioned songs, before coming back down and heading into Universe.
Greed sits as the 7th track, sitting between Horseman and The Real You, and while still being, heavy, of sorts, it sits as an outlier in terms of the heaviness of the above songs. It establishes itself as a more, darker, repetitive groove styled song, with the deep vocals, and the choice of guitars, it feels more like you’re a part of a ritual, than you are listening to a song.
Universe, what can I say about this one, it is by far, the band's longest song to date, coming in at 8 minutes 43 seconds, and it does not disappoint, it starts very atmospherically, before taking your hand and leading you through a story of history, philosophy, and pride.The vocals, all throughout are very expressive and intimate in a way that makes you feel like you’re a part of this journey with them. It does not overstay its welcome at all. This is less of a commercial metal hit song, and more of a cinematic story through the ages, and it feels that the album was built around, and lead up to this epic, and it did so amazingly.
I’ve saved this one for second to last, as I did not want to open on a semi - negative note, however, I feel that Lost Soul (Feat. Jonny Hawkins of Nothing More) was the weakest song within the album, overall. It starts off in a way that you would easily mistake the album you're listening to, for being a playlist that’s on shuffle.Then the vocals of The Hu come into play, and you realise the stark contrast between Jonny Hawkins’ higher tone, indie style voice, and the darker, deeper vocals of The Hu. Creating a track that, in my honest opinion, I was not a fan of.
Second Face, brings back the rhythmic, and more up beat tone of The Hu, for one final song It’s definitely a major contrast in vibe compared to the epic 9 minutes of Universe, but it's a welcome tempo change, and ends this album with an abrupt end, and a laugh.
In short, Hun is a very confident, deeply atmospheric release that, once again, proves these folk-metal pioneers can broaden their musical range without sacrificing the core beginnings and heritage that makes them so special.Even if a few choices don't quite hit the mark, blending the traditional Mongolian strings with rhythms and contemporary rock yields an offering that feels genuinely authentic and bold.
This record serves as an impressive next step for a group that is clearly growing more at home with the full scope of their global impact, and I look forward to hearing what they have to offer next! 7/10
Harlott - Exsequiis (Metal Blade Records) [Mateusz Stefanow]
As a longstanding Harlott fan, I’ve excitedly followed their journey since Proliferation released in 2015, and with the release of Exsequiis the Australian thrashers showcase their talents once again.
The whole album is peak thrash, with political lyrics that challenge the status quo, and the musicianship to create a scene for the messages to be conveyed through.This aggressive and powerful album is introduced via Incipiam, a melodic track which slowly builds in intensity before crashing into the straight-into-your-face aggression of Void, The Messiah Simplex and one of the two previously released singles of Trial By Liar.
Once our baptism by thrash has been sufficiently progressed, we are treated to The God That Knows No Name, a punchy, gritty track that builds up to a harsh pre-chorus before grinding down to the almost worship-like grating of the chorus.Featuring phenomenal lyricism such as ‘shed the blinding noose’ and ‘5 nails to hold you down, for the 5 sins that bought your crown, with the 5 thorns that pin your shame in place…’ provide a fresh twist on the iconic if not slightly overused 666 references in metal.
Then we are bombarded by Kleptogenesis, the most abrasive song on the album. This song may be considered the most thrash in the traditional sense, with its political messages, buzzsaw guitar work, great bassline and thundering drumming.A Still More Glorious Dawn Awaits is catchy, and the cleaner backing vocals on the chorus adds depth without cluttering the sound of the track.
The album is a must-listen to fans of Municipal Waste, Havok and Warbringer, through the featuring of call and response vocals on some of the choruses and frequent showcasing of technical guitar solos and classic style thrash riffs to make you want to headbang along, an excellent addition to the Harlott discography. 8/10
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Outlaws Of The Sun
Mushroom Beard - Mushroom Beard (Album Review)
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Release Date: October 03rd 2026. Record Label: Pale Wizard Records. Format: CD/DD
Mushroom Beard - Tracklist1.March of the Shroom Elephant
2.Elden Beard
3.Bringer
4.Speech of Leaf and Beard
5.Fungal Haze
6.Khala-Shai
Members
Stig Chell – Guitar, Vocals
Gareth Harding – Bass
Norbert Hussey – Drums
Review
Doom/Stoner metallers Mushroom Beard share a lot of common ground with the amazing Sergeant Thunderhoof. They play a similar style of music, and the band is even signed to the same label. You even have Dan Flitcroft (lead vocals) from the HOOF providing guest vocals on the track "Speech Of Leaf And Beard." Band members are also part of stoner rock/metal collective Quiet The Thief, just to prove how much these guys mean business.Mushroom Beard also shares creative ground with the likes of The Brothers Keg, delivering thunderous, fuzzed-out heaviness reminiscent of Sleep and High on Fire. The music is heavily Weedian-dominated, with a smoked-out influence giving the record a creepy blues-rock energy compounded by aggressive slabs of amplified heaviness. However, that only tells half the story—Mushroom Beard employs generous levels of psychedelia, post-doom, ambient textures, and sludge metal grooves throughout the album.The first couple of tracks, "March Of The Shroom Elephant" and "Elden Beard," introduce a grounded yet fantastical element where lead vocalist Stig Chell sounds like he’s read plenty of classic sci-fi and fantasy along the way. That’s one of the strongest points of the album: it’s never afraid to embrace its over-the-top, otherworldly roots, delivering catchy psychedelic grooves and sludge metal melodies with a subtle progressive edge.The production feels nicely stripped-back, placing Mushroom Beard firmly within the vibrant underground sludge/stoner metal scene. Still, you quickly appreciate the band’s hunger for something bigger, especially when channeling the catchy flow of King Buffalo and Howling Giant on tracks like Elden Beard, Bringer and Fungal Haze.As stated previously, Dan Flitcroft makes a welcome appearance on the more grounded "Speech Of Leaf And Beard." While it feels like a Sergeant Thunderhoof track at times, Mushroom Beard injects a seedier, psychedelic quality that is entirely their own. The lyrics take that classic herbal approach the stoner metal world thrives on, but the band never wastes an opportunity to put their own creative spin on things, even as the music drifts further into space-rock territory.Mushroom Beard makes great use of fuzz, resulting in finely tuned levels of distortion that build an atmospheric vibe bound to sound massive in a live setting.The final two tracks, Fungal Haze and Shala-Shai are the clear standouts. Here, Mushroom Beard explores a spaced-out, heavy dominance that never feels overly flashy, yet hits hard enough to leave you on a high. The instrumental closer, Shala-Shai lets Stig Chell (guitar/vocals), Gareth Harding (bass), and Norbert Hussey (drums) lock into a dynamic back-and-forth clashing and coalescing into a destructive slice of modern doom/stoner metal that pulls the listener right into the journey.Mushroom Beard’s debut is a superb release that makes an immediate statement, bound to be one of the underground’s favorite discoveries this year. Jam-packed with heavy grooves, it’s sure to impress heavy music fans and earn Mushroom Beard spots on prominent festival stages sooner rather than later.Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Mushroom Beard and Pale Wizard Records for the promo.
Mushroom Beard is available to buy now on CD/DD via Pale Wizard Records.
Links
Facebook: Facebook
Instagram: Instagram
Bandcamp: Music | Mushroom Beard
Spotify: Spotify
Website: mushroombeard.com
Exclusive Album Premiere Of Instrumental Post Rockers IN THE PONDS New Album CHTHONIC LAYER
With three previously released EPs, San Jose-based instrumental post-rock duo IN THE PONDS will release their first full-length album, Chthonic Layer this coming October.IN THE PONDS started during the pandemic lockdowns and California wildfires of 2020, with the newly wed duo staring out their windows at soot-filled skies wondering, “what the hell now?” They’ve kept to instrumental rock, mainly to give themselves (and their listeners) a breather from the barrage of concepts always trying to elbow into their headspace.The best ideas live in a place beyond words, so they try to flood that place with as much light as possible. The Chthonic Layer is a realm beneath the surface where deities and demons live. There are lots of ways to get there, but music is the safest bet. It lets you explore dangerous places without getting stranded. This album is our way of diving into the abyss to meet its shadier characters, while staying tethered to terra firma.Chthonic Layer was recorded and co-produced by guitarist David Perez and Dan Padilla.The album was mixed by Art Bertik. The front cover artwork was created by bassist Jennifer Gigantino.We're excited to premiere the new album in full thanks to the awesome IN THE PONDS which you can listen to below:
Exclusive Song/Video Premiere For Psych/Folk/Indie Rock Artist JULIEN PRAS New Song NO AUTHORITY From Upcoming New Album "MINOR FALL"
Julien Pras, the singer/guitarist of French Heavy Psych powerhouse Mars Red Sky.
Julien goes full singer-songwriter mode with his solo project, and returns after 9 years with a new album, Minor Fall, out on October 30th. There he reconnects with his folk-rock and indie-psych-pop roots (FFO: Elliott Smith, Sean Lennon, Arthur Satàn, Neil Young...), yet you can still feel a sense of heaviness in this.This is a refreshing change of pace from Julien compared to this amazing work with Mars Red Sky and we're excited to premiere the new song "No Authority" which you can watch below:JULIEN PRAS new album 'Minor Fall' Out October 30th 2026 on LP, CD and Digital via Les Disques Du Paradis & Mrs Red Sound.Thanks to Vous Connaissez PR for the details.
In The Ponds - Chthonic Layer (Album Review)
Release Date: October 02nd 2026. Record Label: Entelodon Records. Format: CD/DD
Chthonic Layer - Tracklist
1.Tornado Alley
2.Last Rat Standing
3.Barnacles
4.Her Eyes Burn with Unholy Light
5.Old Shuck
6.The Young Falcon
7.Blackwood Sugar
8.Empty Victory
9.Sunset Waltz
Members
David Perez – guitar
Jennifer Gigantino – bass / mandolin
Review
Instrumental Post-Rockers In The Ponds awaken from a three year slumber with their spellbinding and superbly captivating debut album Chthonic Layer. In The Ponds have a more expressive and emotionally charged attitude appearing within their music as they blend Prog Rock themes against a backdrop of gloomy Instrumental Rock sounds that float cautiously into the Stoner Rock abyss. The band’s musical weapon of choice is Post-Rock and Ambient Rock which remains essentially grounded with a stripped back delivery that you can hear from within the excellent opening track Tornado Alley.
David Perez (Guitar) and Jennifer Gigantion (Bass/Mandolin) form a great musical partnership where they feel beautifully in sync with each other but still allow themselves the opportunity to do their own thing when the time calls for this. I was quite surprised at how aggressive In The Ponds have become compared to their previous releases with some fantastic sludgy grooves appearing within the bombastic second track Last Rat Standing. They’ve played strands of Heavy Rock before but with a certain Garage Rock angle but this has a more subtle Doomed Out quality with flashes of Nineties Grunge and Stoner Rock.
In The Ponds have always been a band willing to experiment and move their music along to something different that’s come before it. You appreciate the delicate Electronic sounds, beats, glitches and loops that appear within the onset of their sublime Prog Rock delivery. The album is purely instrumental with In The Ponds letting their music weave interesting stories that instantly draw you in especially when the mood is played at a gloomy slow-to-mid pace with a deceiving Post-Rock vibe once more moves into unexpected areas of Heavy Rock on tracks such as Barnacles, Her Eyes Burn With Unholy Light, The Young Falcon and Empty Victory being my favourite parts of the whole album.
There’s a lot of doom and gloom trickery emerging from these songs with In The Ponds combining elements of Drone, Shoegaze and Space Rock surroundings that almost give a cold sense of PARANOIA within the album. You can feel some great musical influences from the likes of EARTH, OM, Pelican and Russian Circles as In The Ponds create music that can easily be classed as Experimental Rock and Art Rock whilst having a great Stoner Rock movement to them.
In The Ponds are not the type of band to play fast-paced melodies as their music is cautiously slow but with steel cold determination that’s very hard to ignore even when they prefer a classical style of Post-Rock to do all the talking. Nothing is what it seems with Chthonic Layer as the record is quite bleak with minimal moments of uplifting sounds which gives this album quite a dangerous feeling when you least expect this.
The music is wonderfully played by David and Jennifer who once again exceed all expectations with this record alone. I once described In The Ponds as “one of the best Post-Rock bands currently out there” and I stand by that description. They more than prove that on this album which offers a haunting and emotionally rewarding experience that not many bands can provide especially for their debut album.
In The Ponds are the type of band within the underground scene you want to branch onto bigger and better things so as many people can experience what a great band they truly are. The way they blend different musical genres into something refreshing and wholly unique is a joy to listen to. There’s even some surprising developments within the album when In The Ponds add levels of Surf Rock and Cinematic Rock elements for a wholly different perspective to emerge on repeated listens.
This is an album with brains as well as brawn that makes it such an outstanding success on every level possible.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to In The Ponds for the promo.
Chthonic Layer is available to buy now on CD/Digital Download via Entelodon Records
Links
https://intheponds.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/inthepondsmusic
https://www.facebook.com/inthepondsmusic/
Boston Prog Metallers Momentary Masters Release New Video For Their Superb New Single "Body Tells" from their forthcoming new album
Prog metallers Momentary Masters have just released the latest video of their newest single "Body Tells" from the forthcoming album "Rheospect". Heavy, crunching riffs, ethereal vocals, and winding grooves are the name of the game for this crusher of a track.
Momentary Masters is a four piece Boston-based prog-lite rock band. Subtly weaving prog moves into a digestable, heavy riff-driven format, they are looking to share prog sensibility with the greater rock community throughout New England and beyond..jpg)
Their debut album, Rheospect, is a love letter to the album format as a narrative arc. In spirit it tells the story of the creative process from inception (“Prospect”), through the flow state of creation (“Rheospect”), and eventually to letting the product go (“Retrospect”).
Laid out in a palindromic structure, Rheospect plays straight through the roughly 70 minute run time and features big riffs, soaring choruses, dynamic instrumental shifts, and thematic easter eggs..jpg)
The band plans to support the record live in the Fall in the greater Boston area and is looking forward to digging into their sophomore record.
Momentary Masters - Rheospect
Album out Fall 2026
Self-released (Digital)
Boston, Massachusetts, US
FFO: Tool, Mastodon, Coheed and Cambria, and Karnivool
Momentary Masters is:Peter Balogh - Guitar
Corey Fyfe - Bass
Jacob Josefsberg - Drums
M Levesque - Vocals
Tracklist:Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.
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Stoner HiVe
SINGLE PREMIERE - Erosions - Homegrown
SINGLE PREMIERE
Erosions - Homegrown
As announced on Monday... Yesterday... That wild and freaky Single Premiere! Straight from the Psalm / Erosions split album soon to be released, it's the track Homegrown by Erosions! And this isn't just a simple split album, or a simple single... It's the second single for the very first release on that new and crazy Space Goat Records!
Space Goat Records is the new label on the block. Spearheaded by the one and only Jason Doome of Grand Rapids Doomfest and Sean Brooks of The Heavy Underground Farm Report and HUFR FEST. Two good ol’ boys running a sick new heavy underground label… Stoned, ripped, twisted… Good people!
With one hell of a mission statement:“Space Goat Records is an independent heavy underground label dedicated to limited-edition split vinyl releases. Premium packaging, collector-quality pressings, and unforgettable riffs unite exceptional bands from the doom, stoner, sludge, and psychedelic underground—one exclusive release at a time.”
And their first Split album, is this one... The one by Psalm and Erosions... And we're honored to premiere for you all the new single: Homegrown.
Trashy, punky, grimy, gritty... It's all that and more... But most importantly, are you a NBPS? A Natural Born Pot Smoker? If so, you know this kind of energy as it flows through your veins... Homegrown takes its sweet time getting where it’s going, settling into an eight minute haze of rolling riffs, fuzz and slow-burning groove. Erosions lean hard into the weed-soaked reverie of the track, letting the guitars wander before dragging the song back into its central riff... There’s something almost ritualistic in the repetition, a smoky almost spooky sound that grows thicker and more unruly as it moves along. By the time the final stretch arrives, the groove has swollen into beautifully billowing smoke, leaving Homegrown hanging in and drifting through the air like the last hit of bong exhaled in a dark room...
PR Wire:
Primitive scuzz rock from Illinois and trad stoner doom from Las Vegas
Split LP out October 31st, 2026 on Space Goat Records
Psalm single "Pain" out now
Erosions single "Homegrown" out September 30th (Private stream)
Genres: Fuzz Rock • Stoner • Doom • Grunge
This Halloween, the inaugural release from Space Goat Records brings two bands from separate corners of the heavy underground together for six total tracks and one monster of a split LP.
From Freeport, Illinois, fuzzed out trio Erosions bring their beefy brand of raucous, groovy scuzz rock, picking up the torch lit by stoner greats of old and dousing it in beer and gasoline. On the other side of the coin are Las Vegas doom dealers Psalm, armed with dour melodies, soaring vocals, and grunge-fueled crunch. A labor of love by all parties, Erosions and Psalm are honored to the lead the charge for Space Goat.
Born from the heavy underground community it lives and breathes, Space Goat Records is the fully baked brainchild of two of the scene’s biggest fans. Sean Brooks, of Denver’s HUFR FEST and the Heavy Underground Farm Report, and Jason Doome of Grand Rapids Doom Fest, bonded over their mutual love for heavy music and the bands and people who make it.
SPACE GOAT RECORDS
The label's goal is to continue specializing in limited-edition split records featuring bands from the heavy underground, with an emphasis on high-quality vinyl, unique artwork, premium packaging, and releases designed to be collectible rather than mass-produced.
Space Goat Records plans to work with bands from across the United States and internationally, connecting different regional scenes through carefully curated split releases.
The label is particularly interested in doom, stoner rock, sludge, psychedelic rock, heavy psych, desert rock, and other riff-driven forms of underground music.
The ultimate goal is to build a catalog where every release feels like an event and every record tells a story.
Sean: “We didn't want Space Goat Records to be another label that simply puts out records. We wanted to create something that felt connected to the heavy underground — the bands, the festivals, the fans, and the people who are still excited about actually owning music.
Erosions and Psalm were the perfect bands to launch the label with. They're coming from completely different parts of the country and have their own distinct sounds, but both bands represent the energy and authenticity we're looking for.”
Psalm
Jason: “Where would I like to see SGR go in the future? Into as many hands of music lovers as possible. That’s it. I want everyone to hear these bands because we believe in them so much we’re willing to put out a physical album to tell you about it. There’s no better feeling in the world than to turn someone onto new music that they’ve never heard and they dig it! Bringing the best bands the Heavy Underground has to offer to you the fans. That is and always will be our goal."
WHAT'S NEXT
Erosions aren't slowing down anytime soon. The Freeport, Illinois trio is planning a mini-tour built around HUFR FEST, including an appearance at Tampa Doom and Gloom Fest, while also heading back into the studio to record several new songs. The band is looking forward to expanding its reach beyond the Midwest, playing new cities, and continuing to bring its fuzzy, scuzzy, primitive rock to the road.
Erosions
Las Vegas doom trio Psalm has plenty in the works, including a full-length album in addition to the Erosions / Psalm split. The band plans to hit the road and play as many out-of-state shows and festivals as possible, with updated merch on the way. Vinyl releases of both the Erosions / Psalm split and 2025 EP In Darkness Have Mercy are also in the works. Psalm is actively open to festival opportunities, so promoters—get in touch!
Psalm
Erosions/Psalm - Split Album
Album out October 31st, 2026
Space Goat Records (Digital, Vinyl)
Artwork by @fadlisafikri_
Erosions is:
Gregg Metzger - Drums
Rocky Lilies - Vocals, Guitar
Tom-T Schoenhard - Bass
Freeport, Illinois
FFO: Black Sabbath • Kiss • UFO • Mephistopheles • Weedeater • Grand Funk
Psalm is:
Jon "Fro" Torres - Vocals, Bass
Ian Henneforth - Drums
Juan Arturo - Guitar
Jeremy Aceves - Bass
Las Vegas, Nevada
FFO: Trouble • Black Sabbath • Deep Purple • Lamb of God • Thin Lizzy
Tracklist:
Erosions
1. Deep Creep (5:54)
2. Too Man Deaths (4:52)
3. Homegrown (8:12)
Psalm
4. Asunder (5:56)
5. Pain (3:52)
6. Psalm 9 (5:08)Erosions Bandcamp
Erosions Instagram
Erosions Facebook
Psalm Bandcamp
Psalm Facebook
Psalm Instagram
Space Goat Records Homepage
Space Goat Records Bandcamp
Space Goat Records Facebook
Space Goat Records Instagram
Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…
Stoner HiVe’s
Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…
Queens Of The Stone Age
Triggerfinger
Saturna
De Staat
Godzilla In The Kitchen
Wailin Storms
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats
Kant
Smoke Witch
Gods & PunksMorning! I hope you all had a great week and an even better one will follow. It was a hectic one, but the ending was beautiful. Off into the Dutch wildlands to listen to deer in rut and watching them burl. We also came across a pack of five wolves as an absolute bonus. Amazing times! This week, back into the chaos! We look forward to presenting to you all another Premiere. And we hope to finish another few reviews we’ve been working on…
Last week we still managed to mention that amazing Gods & Punks album that has had us hooked for ages and the amazing new Saturna album. Great albums and I think we can manage to put up a post or two more this week… Let’s see what happens!
Saturna – Light and Shadow
Saturna – Light and Shadow
Spinda Records / Ripple Music / Discos Macarras – 2026
Rock, Prog, Psych, Seventies
Rated: ****I still spin The Elven’s Solstice album religiously and the Shine single whenever I’m struggling with life, emotions or hardship. It always helps. A lot. And two parts of The Elven project are of course also members of Saturna. And on their new Light and Shadow album, you can definitely hear some of those The Elven sonics rubbed off, in the absolutely right way…
So, learning how much we love The Elven and Saturna’s 2023 album The Reset, we naturally could not let their new Light and Shadow pass by without a few of our silly words. Cause the Barcelona quartet returns with a thirteen songs and forty-six minutes of warm, heavy, soulful rock. They’ve turned the lights down and the amplifiers up! It’s radiant and glowing!
The opening track Unheard shoots in with a mighty charge, guitars blazing while the melody keeps the fire under control. Following Falling Apart shoves us back into Saturna territory. The title track follows, a glorious Sabbath-shaped beast, bluesy, heavy and carrying that magic of riffs that sound like they’ve been waiting for fifty years to finally be played..
But Saturna isn’t just about the riffs of yore or the golden age of heavy rock. Absence has those beautiful harmonies you love from Saturna, intertwined with acoustic and electric guitars. While following About You strips everything down to its wooden bones, once again showing off the The Elven colors. But the rhythmic groove does not lay dormant for long, as following So Long makes clear. Seventies rock, proto metal, motoring and an easy rider if ever there was one…
Heavy progressive blues without enough psychedelic touches to make it uplifting when needed or burrowing down and heading for the dark when called for. Indeed, all sides have their moment and their time. Light and Shadow feels like they’re filtering sunlight through an old amplifier, warm, dusty, soulful and alive. Saturna honor the past without becoming its prisoners. They take the old flames, add their own oxygen, and let them burn brightly once again. And even the shadows cast, feel glowing and radiant!(Written by JK)
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
Saturna - Your whimsical selfishness
Saturna – The Never-Ending Star
Saturna – The Reset
The Elven – Closer To Freedom
The Elven – SolsticeAnd for those that went all the way to the bottom...
We've got a few bandcamp codes!REDEEM HERE
Codes:e4ek-xpuf
2hld-kdug
aqse-6hau
kprv-u4cx
n9xr-jmdpAll gone? You might want to keep your eyes on the Doom Charts!
Gods & Punks – A Shrine By The Sea
Gods & Punks – A Shrine By The Sea
Electric Valley Records – 2026
Psych, Doom, Stoner, Prog
Rated: ****They hail from Brazil and with their 2021 album The Sounds Of The Universe they had me hook, groove and riffs. Since then two EP’s and the Death album followed, which we are ashamed to admit we never got around to mentioning on the HiVe. But in all honesty, we should have mentioned all of the Gods & Punks releases since they started back in 2017…
But we’re here now and we’ve been living with their new one A Shrine By The Sea for quite some time now. As of May, when the promo arrived as a 10 track digital album. And then again as the vinyl two-track it is meant to be. Two tracks, both 21 minutes and 12 seconds long. That’s right: 2112. I’ll let you make the connection. And as that connection might feel deep. The album will make it all feel even more so..
A Shrine By The Sea feels like a majestic voyage into the heavy music’s deeper waters. The two sprawling compositions sees the Brazilian quartet navigate beautifully between crushing doom, lysergic psychedelia, stoner haze and some progressive intricacy, without ever staying anchored for long. Riffs rise high like majestically dark swells, before slowly dissolving into drifting guitar passages, ghostlike vocals, acoustic calm and waves of seventies touched organ…
The Lighthouse. Draws you in, and crashes ashore with Sabbathian weight, stormy, dramatic. A restless, tidal fury flows within. Hypnotic and wonderfully unpredictable, The Lighthouse is all that heavy psych turned to an oceanic pilgrimage.
Poseidon on the other hand is allowed to drift more. Patient and psychedelic, it begins in spacious waters before gathering its force through hypnotic riffs, shimmering guitar, organ swells and restless progressive turns. There’s a sense of something vast slowly awakening beneath the surface. Strange, fluid and immersive this slower, stranger current is what carries Gods & Punks into deeper waters. And as those final harmonies fade away, the voices carried away with the tide, you will feel at peace again…
Yet for all its ambition, nothing feels excessive. Nothing feels overdone and all is measured and delivered with prime execution. Every shift in volume, texture and tempo serves the journey. The result is atmospheric by default, and absolutely progressive, without losing any of its primal heft. It’s allowed to drift and spin, but never becomes weightless. It’s Gods & Punks and the sea, it’s the sound of the sea forever in the background, it’s the sound forever in your mind. A Shrine By The Sea is a stunning, immersive and beautifully strange trip into deep unknown…(Written by JK)
Electric Valley Records
Gods & Punks – The Sounds Of The Universe
Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…
Stoner HiVe’s
Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…
Queens Of The Stone Age
The Armed
De Staat
Tropical Fuck Storm
30,000 Monkies
Gods & Punks
Steel Beans
Lunar Ruins
10,000 Years
EditorsWe know. It’s Tuesday evening already… Well, sometimes stuff just gets in the way or things move to mess up the rest of the agenda. But still, we’re always happy to move stuff around so we can talk to Troy van Leeuwen and about everything involving the new album Perfecth! Of course, that interview has now a fast approaching deadline, and we have a little trip coming up. So, there will be little time to HiVe… Just like last week… But will return with a vengeance soon! And make up for all lost HiVe time… I can feel it in my bones!
But still, we did do that wild Full Album Premiere for the wild Allume – Ex-Luto album! Wow, what a great smash ‘n grab album that is. We also mentioned the new 30,000 Monkies. And of course, if you have enough time, you can still go back and read the wild chat we had Phantom Logic! Or check out the albums above, some are out, some only singles and some will be released very soon! Stay tuned, and keep listening to all those cool tunes…
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Screaming From the Heavy Underground
SFTHU Quick Reviews: Mr. Bison - "The Garden of Forgotten Dreams"
Italian heavy psych and prog wizards Mr. Bison continue to deliver a moving blend of the heavy and the light with their new album, The Garden of Forgotten Dreams.Similarly to their previous two releases Echoes From The Universe (2024) and Seaward (2020), the band continues to focus more on gentler tones that evoke clear images of the natural world, saturating their sound with gossamer psychedelic atmospheres. Far from a somnolent experience, The Garden of Forgotten Dreams is layered with a multitude of auras including some spacey moments, smokey heavy rock interludes, and surges of coarse stoner riffage, creating a highly textured and ever-changing sound. Blink and you might miss something. Of course, Mr. Bison's masterful use of prog provides a perfect framework for the aforementioned elements to reside in, molding them into emotive swells and stirring shifts in mood.My favorite aspect of The Garden of Forgotten Dreams is Mr. Bison's clever employment of the garden theme, which stands out brilliantly throughout the album. Managing to be equally as strong and established as the roots of an old tree and as delicate as a Sakura blossom in both sound and deeper meaning, the idea of the garden serves "as a metaphor for refuge". According to the band, this haven is a place "where we can keep our secrets, our most authentic truths, our aspirations, and our dreams...guarded until we are ready to reveal them to those who can contain and appreciate them".The Garden of Forgotten Dreams is out now via Heavy Psych Sounds!A massive thank you to Purple Sage PR for the promo!More About Mr. Bison
You can follow Mr. Bison and listen to their music at these links:
Muddy - "In Medias Res"
Muddy is a quartet from Bordeaux, France who is poised to make a big splash in the heavy underground with their debut album In Medias Res. The band prefers to keep descriptors to a minimum by calling their music "heavy saturated rock", but it doesn't take the listener long to hear that there's a LOT going on within Muddy's eclectic sound.
Muddy - In Medias Res
Each song on In Medias Res will take you on a captivating sonic journey, navigating rugged terrain in the form of gritty stoner/desert rock, providing mystery and intrigue through creeping tendrils of psychedelia, passing through waves of darkness via surges of doom, and even occasionally blasting off into spacey atmospheres. An infusion of alternative rock energy, a dash of punk here and there, and soaring vocals top things off, ensuring the album is as infectious as it is mesmerizing.The music video for "Buried or Burnt"Muddy traverses these ever-shifting landscapes with remarkable smoothness, so much so that the listener naturally focuses more on the emotive swells each movement brings about instead of the transition itself, further speaking to the bewitching qualities of In Medias Res.While each of the ten songs has a unique identity, mood, and story to tell, Muddy truly ensures that each and every note is "saturated" with stirring, colorful, chameleon-like sound.In Media Res is available now in digital, CD, and vinyl formats via Muddy's Bandcamp page!More About Muddy
Muddy Is:Vincent, Maxence, Louis, and TommyYou can follow Muddy and listen to their music at these links:A massive thank you to the band for the promo!
Saturna Strives for a More Live-Oriented Sound on Sixth Album "Light and Shadow"
Saturna, a heavy rock band from Barcelona, Spain, has become a household name here in the heavy underground, and for good reason. Not only has this talented quartet been making music for over a decade now, but their emotionally charged, authentic rendition of 70s era heavy rock is absolutely unforgettable.For their sixth studio album Light and Shadow (released on September 17, 2026 via Ripple Music, Spinda Records, and Discos Macarras Records), Saturna explores duality, homing in on light and darkness, love and hate, and life and death. Regarding their sound, the band appropriately takes a more authentic approach. Recorded and produced by Saturna themselves and mixed by drummer Enric Verdaguer, Light and Shadow strives for "a more organic, honest, and live-centered approach". And, it probably goes without saying, but Saturna absolutely nailed it.Saturna - Light and Shadow
On Light and Shadow, Saturna continues to charm us with their spot-on blend of 70s/80s hard rock with nods to heavy blues. However, as alluded to above, the band makes beautiful use of more subdued tones here, especially when compared to their previous album The Reset. As a result, the emotional expression is stronger than ever, even easier for the listener to access through this more intimate, cozy atmosphere.In spite of the slightly more stripped-down feel, Saturna effortlessly maintains every facet and shade of their dimensional, colorful sound. This is evident in moods that seamlessly drift from a melancholic haze to crisp, buoyant notes bathed in hopeful light, and the natural inclusion of the swells of emotive intensity the band is known for. In fact, I would argue that both feeling and depth are even sharper for Saturna on this album, made infinitely more tangible through a more natural lens.Don't get me wrong, a few songs do toe the line, possessing an electric, live show- or open highway-ready energy, with the tracks So Long and No Question being a standout examples. In stark contrast, songs such as fifth track About You are fittingly bare-bones and almost painfully raw, never failing to tug on the heartstrings of the listener.A gorgeous live version of "Self-Told Lies, recorded at Siete Barbas Studio in Barcelona.With all of that said, my favorite thing about Light and Shadow is its inviting feel. Throughout the album, Saturna's inherent warmth surrounds you, inviting you to settle in and listen like the crackling of a bonfire.Light and Shadow truly feels like a career milestone for Saturna. This release is less about honing a "signature sound" or composing the perfect, catchy riff. It's a palpably honest outpouring from a band whose magnetism and magic as musicians is incredibly evident.To end, I'll leave you with the spoken words Saturna utilizes on Light and Shadow's final track A Strange Mix of Humans, a testament to the group's creative chemistry and longevity:"There are things that happen in music, which only happen in music. We try to make good music, every one of us. But the truly great bands only happen by accident because once in a while, a strange mix of humans make a band, and for some reason, it works perfectly. But we can't control it."More About Saturna
Saturna Is:James Vieco - Vocals, GuitarMax Erikkson - GuitarRod Tirado - BassEnric Verdaguer - DrumsYou can follow Saturna and listen to their music at these links:- Discos Macarras Bandcamp (Spain)
- Ripple Music Bandcamp (United States)
- Spinda Records (Spain)
- Saturna Bandcamp
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- YouTube
- Facebook
- Instagram
A massive thank you to Discos Macarras for the promo!
Fixtures of Garden State Stoner Rock Shovelhead Release Fourth Album "A Place of Dead Roads"
There's a good chance you haven't heard of Shovelhead even though they've been rocking the New Jersey heavy underground for over three decades now, but the band's lasting mark isn't lost on stoner fans in the Garden State. In fact, Tommy Southard of Solace declares, "Those in the know KNOW that Shovelhead is one of New Jersey's best kept heavy rock secrets. Those who don't know, SHOULD KNOW!"When Shovelhead got their start, the budding stoner sound was dominated by greats such as Monster Magnet and Fu Manchu, bands that deliver that characteristic gritty, barreling energy that, as you'll quickly find out, absolutely saturates Shovelhead's sound. So, not only has Shovelhead stood the test of time as a band, but they continue to keep the flame of classic stoner rock burning bright and hot.Shovelhead - A Place of Dead Roads
Shovelhead continues this mission on their fourth album A Place of Dead Roads (self-released by the band on September 12, 2026), their first new music in over twenty years. The album explodes right out of the gate with timeless, riff-driven stoner rock underlined by punchy energy and groove. This atmosphere quickly blends with a strong presence of vintage heavy rock, adding an abundance of warmth to Shovelhead's tone as it unfurls like a ribbon of sun-parched highway, an image made even more vivid by long instrumental stretches. Naturally, heavy psych makes an appearance, delivering refreshing waves of hypnotic trippiness that tend to get stronger in the latter half of the album. To mark this shift, A Place of Dead Roads is split by Ghost in the Garden, a haunting instrumental interlude that provides a soothing respite and stark contrast to the blistering heavy rock thrashing. To add to their immersive sound, completely capable of standing on its own instrumentally, Shovelhead is graced by a powerful vocalist whose echoing, unrestrained intonations are often less about melody and all about raw expression.The official music video for "Witching Hour"Taken together, all of these elements create a rollicking ride that seems to end far too soon, hooking the listener from start to finish with the driving energy of classic stoner, the timeless grooves of heavy rock, and cool splashes of psychedelia.Now, if you need me, I'll be jamming to the rest of Shovelhead's discography... Better late than never, right?More About Shovelhead
You can follow Shovelhead and listen to their music at the following links:
Canadian Stoner Rock Quartet Hazemind Delivers a Memorable Debut Album with "Inner Sanctum".
Hazemind is a band that needs to be on your radar.Popping up seemingly out of nowhere, this Canadian quartet began churning out stoner grooves as a trio when René "Bits" Hosson, Mathieu Pelletier, and Elliot Cadieux formed the band in 2022. Two years later, the budding group added vocalist Jonathan Lachapelle to the fold, and Hazemind was complete.Hazemind - Inner Sanctum
On September 4, 2026, Hazemind released their debut album Inner Sanctum, a collection of eight full songs (and one spoken-word interlude) that offers a powerful introduction to the band while packing a ton of heavy underground variety.Building upon a strong foundation of energetic, classic stoner rock, Hazemind keeps their listeners invested with soaring melody, infectious hooks, and powerful vocals. Secondary to stoner rock, Hazemind's sound also boasts a pronounced grunge and alternative rock component, but the band also adds a dash of heavy-blues-tinged southern rock as well as sinister surges of doomed-out riff rock. It's very apparent that Hazemind feels just as comfortable playing more melody-driven tracks as they do heavier ones, giving them the ability to appeal to a wide variety of music fans.Inner Sanctum doesn't feel like a debut at all - its established, confident sound could easily be emanating from a band that's a decade or more into playing together; the creative chemistry is that strong here. And that's great news for Hazemind, as it lays the groundwork not only for great live performances, but for a long and fruitful career!More About Hazemind
You can follow Hazemind and listen to their music at these links:A massive thank you to the band for the promo!
- Discos Macarras Bandcamp (Spain)
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