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Screaming From the Heavy Underground
Best New Releases January 2025
Your girl is starting off 2025 on a good note, increasing my best of the month album count from a measly two releases in December 2024 to a whopping eight on the first month of the new year. And, while eight is no epic feat, it's nothing to sneeze at for me. Maybe you caught me in a good mood, maybe it's the Aquarian energy afoot...I certainly won't question it.I was expecting a few highly anticipated albums this month, but in its last few days, January actually surprised me with several new and new-to-me bands with some very solid new releases.Let's start off the list with an honorable mention:Honorable Mention:
Parish - Queen of the Skies b/w Sisters of the Light
The only reason this beauty didn't make my January Doom Charts list is the simple fact that it's a two-track single, not offering up quite as much material as the usual selection for the monthly list. However, Parish captivated me so much with their latest release, Queen of the Skies b/s Sisters of the Light, I purchased it on Bandcamp barely 20 seconds into the first track.Queen of the Skies b/s Sisters of the Light is Parish's first release since their debut album in 2022, and it's a powerful comeback, delivering more of the epic proto-metal goodness we know and love from the band. This time, each track explores humanity's relationship with the sun. Queen of the Skies is a celebrational hymn, appreciating the sun's life-giving properties and offering up praise. Conversely, Sisters of the Light recounts a tale about the blood recklessly spilled over such religious convictions, shining a light on "the darker side of sun worship".Favorite Track: Sisters of the LightJanuary Doom Charts
Here's everything I submitted to the Doom Charts in descending order:8.) TFNRSH - Book of Circles
Book of Circles, the highly anticipated sophomore album from instrumental progressive/psychedelic trio TFNRSH, is the soul cleanse you didn't know you needed.To me, the album is an introspective journey. It feels like holding up a mirror and looking long and hard at some of life's heavier emotions, particularly when it comes to the power that they have over us. TFNRSH sonically illustrates these feelings in such a vivid way, as clearly as if they were painted with a brush. It bears emphasizing that this is done in the absence of vocals and lyrics to underline each song's meaning. Instead, the band communicates with liberal use of contrast, creativity, and as TFNRSH aptly calls it, "bursts of energy". This is a meditative sonic journey that requires no words, only an "embrace of the soul".Favorite Track: ZemestanRead my full review here.7.) Fidel A Go Go - Diss Engaged
Fidel A Go Go is a band from Australia who, with their infectious blend of math rock, prog, stoner, grunge, and hard rock, delivers a candid portrait of some of the ugliest parts of the modern world. Their new album Diss Engaged keeps true to the signature sound the band developed on their 2022 debut while adding layers of darkness, realism, and grit, digging deeper into what ails us.Favorite Track: Sandstorm6.) Mountain Dust - (self-titled)
Mountain Dust is a modern hard rock, stoner, desert, and heavy psych band from Quebec who has been making music since about 2013. The band is a true chameleon, whose sophisticated and poignant tunes move fluidly between lighter, colorful psychedelic moods and heavier, grittier earth tones. Most of the songs on Mountain Dust's new self-titled album are saturated with notes of the desert, but these vacillate between nods to West Asia and the southwestern US, truly giving the listener the best of both worlds. As if that's not proof enough that Mountain Dust's music is noticeably flexible, the emotive vocals and adaptive instrumentals carry each track through a gamut of feelings, illustrating a complete cycle of mental processing within each. This is one of those albums that is meant to be savored, enjoyed, and deeply felt, much like a compelling novel.Favorite track: Only Them5.) Idol Lord - The Other Side
Idol Lord is a band from Los Angeles whose debut, The Other Side, has made a very positive first impression on the heavy underground with its six tracks of deliciously trippy, viscous, distorted, and down-tuned stoner/psych goodness. There's much more going on, however, as the band incorporates a ton of dimension into their sound, ultimately concocting something that is both steadfast in its weightiness and fluid and warm in its desert tones. The gritty, hazy atmospheres are topped with gruffly melodic vocals that are altogether hypnotic in their consistency, delivering highly infectious choruses.With this promising debut and a slew of impressive live gigs under their belt (playing alongside the likes of Howling Giant, Gozu, The Obsessed, Mr. Bison, and Max Boogie Overdrive), Idol Lord immediately demonstrates that they're here to stay (and that's more than ok with us)!Favorite Track: Caught Inside4.) Hey Satan - Flamingoes
Formed by longtime friends, Hey Satan is a band from Lausanne, Switzerland who's been making music since about 2017. The band is influenced by a wide variety of heavy music, including Led Zeppelin, Rage Against the Machine, and Kyuss, all of which are evident in their kaleidoscopic sound.On their newest release, Flamingoes, Hey Satan continues their habit of ensuring each track packs a powerful punch. Constructed from a baseline of warm and fuzzy stoner that's never stingy in its heaviness, each song smooths things out in the chorus with soaring psychedelic and heavy rock tones. This has a way of carving many facets into Hey Satan's sound, providing variety and a ton of scintillating dimension (beautifully demonstrated on the EP's instrumental closer, The Monster).In a nutshell, Hey Satan is the perfect band for the stoner/desert fan who appreciates both the heavier and lighter sides of the genre, while giving nods to the influences that helped mold the style's modern landscape.Favorite Track: Rubicon3.) Century - Sign of the Storm
Sign of the Storm, the sophomore album from Swedish NWOBHM band Century, picks up right where their debut left off, continuing to deliver concentrated and energetic doses of old school heavy metal. The band also preserves their retro production style, bringing a dark and hazy quality to the sword and shield vibes and calling to mind bands like Angel Witch and Diamond Head. The ten tracks on Sign of the Storm are powerful, confident, and anthem-like with impressive instrumental chops, charging riffage, and wailing solos. The vocals recount each epic tale, soaring above the instrumental battleground and often punctuating stanzas with a characteristic heavy metal wail. In a nutshell, Sign of the Storm shows Century steadfastly wielding the torch of the NWOBHM bands that came before them, and they keep that flame burning brilliantly.Favorite Track: SacrificeRead my quick review here.2.) Godzillionaire - Diminishing Returns
Accurately described as Godzillionaire's most eclectic release to date, Diminishing Returns delivers and builds upon everything we know and love about the Kansas-based stoner/alternative rockers, while successfully exploring some new stylistic components. The band maintains their foundation of stoner rock, grunge, and alternative rock (with some nods to metal in the mix), but experiments with sounds that are on both the lighter and heavier ends of the spectrum in comparison to their previous releases. Frontman Mark Hennesy's lyrics are more heartfelt and personal than ever, and his vocals elevate their use of contrast, expanding upon their trademark approach of alternating between soothing and frenzied moods. However, I think the most important takeaway from Diminishing Returns is less about its specific genre affiliations (or lack thereof), and more about its incredibly accurate illustrations of emotion and the human condition. This is one of those albums that you can both rock out to and identify with on a profoundly deep level.Favorite Track: Drowning All NightRead my full review here.1.) Dax Riggs - 7 Songs for Spiders
Dax Riggs' first album in fifteen years is everything you expected and more.7 Songs for Spiders could realistically be translated to "7 Psalms for the Jaded Realist". Each track candidly explores demons (both real and those that reside within us), death, love, belief (or lack thereof), and the afterlife. For all of this darkness, there's just as much bright optimism, or in this case, a brutal but peacefully relayed honesty and acceptance of one's inability to care, comply, or jump on the bandwagon.What makes this subject matter stand out on 7 Songs for Spiders is its presentation as a hymnal of sorts, the songs deeply grounded in swampy southern gospel tones, inspired by the culture of Louisiana where they were authored. The album also incorporates an undercurrent of darkened and slowed proto metal, muddy grunge, and enough buzz and hum to satisfy the stoner rock fan. Surprisingly, there's also an electronic component on a few of the tracks, giving them a danceable goth groove.7 Songs for Spiders isn't an album to be taken lightly; it's incredibly thought-provoking and relatable, made to be savored and pondered upon. More than anything else, I personally found it to be reassuring and downright comforting, a reminder that life is often about finding a way to amicably reside alongside both your inner demons and those that hang out around you.Favorite Track: deceiverYou can read my quick review here.There you have it, the best of January according to Doomcakes. I hope you enjoyed these amazing albums as much as I did. As always, don't forget to check out this month's Doom Chart and show your favorite heavy underground artists some much-deserved love!
SFTHU Quick Reviews: Century - "Sign of the Storm"
Fun fact: I love traditional heavy metal almost as much as I love doom. When you think about it, they have a lot in common: occult and fantastical themes and imagery, riff-driven guitar work, and countless shared musical influences for starters. As much as I adore the low and slow sinister tones of doom, I'm enamored with the high energy and often more intricate compositions of traditional heavy metal and the new wave of British heavy metal movement that rocked the genre in the 70s and 80s.With that said, you can imagine my giddiness after happening upon Century, a heavy metal duo from Sweden who creates one of the most raw and legitimate vintage metal sounds I've had the pleasure of hearing. The band composes as a duo, with Leo Ekstrom Sollenmo on drums and bass and Staffan Tengner on guitars, vocals, and bass. When playing live, they enlist the help of fellow musicians Isak Koskinen Rosemarin and Edvin Aftonfalk.Century got their start in 2020, releasing a few demos and singles (often released on an old school cassette format) before dropping their first full-length album, The Conquest of Time, in 2023. By this point, the band had really refined their heavy metal chops and had homed in on their signature sound. For the most part, the tracks on this album are rather short, albeit high energy and concentrated doses of NWOBHM goodness. Not quite two years later, Century is keeping up the momentum by releasing their second full-length album, Sign of the Storm, which will be our focus here.Sign of the Storm
On Sign of the Storm, Century picks up where they left off on their debut full-length album, and that's a good thing in this case. While I do hear a fair amount of dimension added on Sign of the Storm, the band ultimately does what they do best in bringing us more of their trademark NWOBHM stylings.Unlike many of their mainstream counterparts, Century is not about modern production values or theatrics. They're all about maintaining a genuine retro sound, and it's a massive part of their appeal; the music effortlessly speaks for itself. The band keeps this attitude on their sophomore album, which I was delighted to hear. In fact, I'm quite sure that if I told you that this album was recorded in the late 70s, you wouldn't bat an eye. To my ears, however, Century is unique in that there's a dark and hazy quality in that old school production that adds a layer of dark magic alongside the sword and shield vibes, in the vein of bands such as Angel Witch and Diamond Head.The ten tracks on Sign of the Storm are powerful, confident, and anthem-like (especially that title track), each weaving fantastical tales in the tradition of the genre. The instrumental chops are impressive, with intricate, relentless, charging riffage and wailing solos that both impress and remind you of everything you love about the complexities of traditional heavy metal. This is a genre that exudes power, and Century interprets this quality incredibly well. Similarly, the smooth yet assured vocals recount each epic, soaring above the instrumental battleground and often punctuating stanzas with a characteristic heavy metal wail.On Sign of the Storm, Century continues to wield the torch of the NWOBHM bands that came before them and breathes fresh air into the genre by bringing it into modern times. It's beyond refreshing to not only hear a new band keep that flame burning, but to do it remarkably well.Physical CD copies of Sign of the Storm can be purchased via Dying Victims Productions and Electric Assault Records here.
More About Century:
You can follow Century and listen to their music at the following links:
If you like Century, you might also enjoy HRAEFN!
SFTHU Quick Reviews: Dax Riggs "7 Songs for Spiders" - Psalms for the Jaded Realist
7 Songs for Spiders is here, and it's everything you expected and more.
The one and only Dax Riggs is back with his first album in fifteen years, and it bears mentioning that the era of shrieking as the frontman of Acid Bath was merciful to his vocals. Riggs' voice on 7 Songs for Spiders remains rich and velvety smooth, and that's exactly what's required to deliver these seven hazy and soulful tracks.7 Songs for Spiders could realistically be translated to "7 Psalms for the Jaded Realist". Each song candidly explores demons (both real and those that reside within us), death, love, belief (or lack thereof), and the afterlife. For all of this darkness, there's just as much bright optimism, or in this case, a brutal but peacefully relayed honesty and acceptance of one's inability to care, comply, or jump on the bandwagon. What makes this subject matter on 7 Songs for Spiders stand out is its presentation as a hymnal of sorts, the songs deeply grounded in swampy southern gospel tones, inspired by the culture of Louisiana where these tracks were authored. The album also incorporates an undercurrent of darkened and slowed proto metal, muddy grunge, and enough buzz and hum to satisfy the stoner rock fan. Surprisingly, there's also an electronic component on a few of the tracks, giving them a danceable goth groove. In fact, the album's closing song, Graveyard Soul, overachieves in following this framework and ends up being the pleasant surprise and "bop" of the album.7 Songs for Spiders isn't an album to be taken lightly; it's incredibly thought-provoking and relatable, made to be savored and pondered upon. More than anything else, I personally found this album to be reassuring and downright comforting, a reminder that life is often about finding a way to amicably reside alongside both your inner demons and those that hang out around you. And, while this peaceful cohabitation with darkness is possible, it doesn't mean that you have to follow its example or succumb to it."Put on your face and laugh. Take off your mask and sing."7 Songs for Spiders is available digitally and in vinyl/CD format via Fat Possum Records.
You can follow Dax Riggs and listen to his music at the following links:
If you like Dax Riggs you may also enjoy Yeast Machine!
Doomcakes' Favorite Mainstream Punk Albums of All Time
Before I was listening to metal, I was a card-carrying punk rocker. And, while this wasn't a musical phase that I was into for terribly long, I completely immersed myself in it at the time, diving deep into not only the music, but the culture and fashion as well. The most important thing about this teenage "phase" was that it was truly a gateway to heavier music for me, with the Misfits leading me to Glenn Danzig's metal career with the band that bears his name (naturally, right?), and ultimately, to stoner/doom. As an adult, I primarily listen to stoner/doom and grunge in my free time, but every so often, I come back to one of the punk albums that deeply resonated with me during those formative teenage years, often to find that it still has the same emotional effect on me today. So, just for fun, and in no particular order, here's my favorite mainstream punk albums of all time:
Social Distortion - White Light White Heat White Trash
I think if I had to pick a favorite punk band, Social Distortion would be it. Growing up on classic country music, I deeply appreciated the genre's presence in Social Distortion's blend of punk, hard rock, and blues with country undertones. This particular amalgamation has a way of intensifying the emotiveness of the plights described in frontman Mike Ness' lyrics. While these lyrics are quite straightforward at face value, I always found them to be exactly what I needed to hear many a time, providing a source of comfort to me as a teenager. This is particularly true of the album White Light White Heat White Trash, on which the band takes a bit of a softer approach. Instead of focusing on grittier topics such as being in trouble with the law, White Light White Heat White Trash lyrically addresses relatable issues such as regret, moral dilemmas, religion, and love.Rancid - Self-Titled (aka 2000)
While I could have easily put any Rancid album on this list, the band's second self-titled album, also referred to as "2000" to avoid confusion with their debut, makes the cut for a big reason: This album has the best flow of any I've ever heard. That's saying quite a lot, considering I've heard a LOT of albums and punk isn't even the primarily genre that I listen to these days, but after all these years, I still haven't found another that comes close. "2000" plays seamlessly, moving from track to track in the most fluid manner, even though many songs vary quite wildly in tone. There are tracks that are more characteristic of the more aggressive side of punk rock, some that are representative of Rancid's trademark blend of gruffly melodic and punky shouting (thanks to the awesome vocal tradeoffs between Lars Frederikson and Tim Armstrong), and others that are much softer than the band's typical approach, almost venturing into alt rock territory. With that said, those more vulnerable moments are also why I adore this album, as it digs a bit deeper into the side of the band that we saw on songs such as Ruby Soho and Avenues & Alleyways. At the end of the album's 38-minute runtime, which always feels much shorter, I'm always left feeling a bit rattled and emotional (in a good way) no matter how many times I listen to it.The Offspring - Americana
While American modern punk legends The Offspring's big break began with their album Smash in 1994, I distinctly remember them being catapulted into the media spotlight with the release of Americana in 1998. The hit Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) was all over the radio and MTV at the time, and fans also fell in love with the singles The Kids Aren't Alright and Why Don't You Get a Job. However, it's my opinion that the meat of the album is not to be found in its singles, but in its less popular tracks. While Americana in its entirety is an intense and relatable commentary on the darker side of American culture, this sentiment is particularly dark and palpable on more intense tracks such as The End Of The Line, No Brakes, Americana, and Pay The Man. This is another punk album with a killer flow, especially as the final notes of the 8-minute epic Pay The Man fade out, inevitably leaving the listener shaken and contemplative. Furthermore, while Americana has some desert tones throughout, it's on Pay The Man that these really shine through without abandon, adding an element of mystery and exoticism to The Offspring's traditionally punk rock stylings.Bad Religion - Recipe For Hate
Bad Religion has all the punk rock attitude when it comes to challenging conventional beliefs about politics, religion, and the like, but they deliver these viewpoints in a much more melodic and digestible way. Known for their soothing three-part vocal harmonies, Bad Religion paved the way for the Californian punk rock revival in the early 90s. The album Recipe For Hate was the first Bad Religion Album I ever heard, and it's always been my favorite.Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
The Dead Kennedys is certainly one of those punk bands that makes no qualms about how they really feel about the world. Their 1980 release, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, is my favorite for its blunt and honest opinions about global injustices, war, poverty, and politics. The often darkly eerie instrumentals combined with Jello Biafra's unique vocals offer a jarring but somehow infectious listening experience, which is what punk rock is all about.The Misfits - Static Age
Love him or hate him, you can't deny the massive influence of Glenn Danzig in the realms of both punk rock and metal music. You also can't deny that his trademark "evil Elvis" vocals, while not typically what you'd expect at a late 1970s punk show, worked brilliantly well in the horror punk subgenre. While I've never met a (original lineup) Misfits song I didn't like, the Static Age album stands out because it contains my favorite representations of Glenn Danzig's powerful vocals amid those spooky instrumentals with the songs Some Kinda Hate, Last Caress, Return Of The Fly, Hybrid Moments, We Are 138, Attitude, Hollywood Babylon, and In The Doorway.Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bullocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
Let's face it, this wouldn't be a list about punk rock without including the Sex Pistols. Spearheading the punk movement in the UK in the late 70s, the band had a seismic effect on youth attitudes, culture, and fashion. While the Sex Pistols made waves that weren't exactly welcome in traditionally stuffy British culture, they certainly influenced young people to stand up for themselves. In fact, their sole studio album Never Mind The Bullocks, Here's The Sex Pistols, is a soundtrack of sorts, containing the anthems of an entire generation.There you have it: my favorite punk albums of all time. While none of these albums are terribly obscure or unique within the genre, they all had a profound effect on me as a young woman and continue to touch my life today. I hope you enjoyed this list and were able to revisit some of your favorite punk albums as well!Oh, and if you really like lists, check out the Screaming From the Heavy Underground Top 25 Releases of 2024!
Instrumental Psych/Prog Trio TFNRSH Releases "Book of Circles"
TFNRSH is an instrumental psychedelic/progressive rock trio from Tubingen, Germany. The group has been creating music since the early 2020s, focusing on "synthesizing" their individual musical styles and influences into a signature sound. As it turns out, this particular sound is known for its complex, multi-faceted, and unpredictable nature, yet it still has a way of being utterly mesmeric and melodic for the listener.TFNRSH released their debut album TIEFENRAUSCH in July 2023. TIEFENRAUSCH was well-received and even landed at #28 on the July 2023 Doom Charts. (Side note: I personally found it very cool to learn that "tiefenrausch" is a German word derived from the Greek for "the act of making numb", but it translates to "rapture of the deep" in English. This is perhaps a bit of a spoiler, but this feeling is essentially what you can expect when you listen to TFNRSH).The band's newest album, Book of Circles, was released on January 17, 2025, and is considered to be a sequel to their debut. According to TFNRSH, you can expect more of their trademark bursts of energy scattered throughout their distinctive sound, only elevated to the next level. Furthermore, the band promises an additional layer of "wrath and a raw, visceral energy". TFNRSH elaborates,"Bittersweet melodies blend with powerful riffs to create an atmospheric and moving synthesis that inevitably embraces the soul, offering space for limitless expression and blurring the boundaries of perception.Welcome to the rapture of the deep!"
Book of Circles
1.) Zemestån
Zemestån, meaning "winter" in Farsi, has a deeper meaning behind its frosty atmosphere. According to TFNRSH, the song "thematically connects to Death of Freedom, from the debut album TIEFENRAUSCH, and addresses the protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. After the violent suppression of the Iranian people's protests, the oppression continues seamlessly, resulting in a seemingly eternal 'winter' that must be endured."Utilizing psychedelic and spacey elements, Zemestån follows a complex progressive rock pattern that skillfully communicates the plight of the Iranian people. In its airier, more delicate parts, the song illustrates a bleak mood, rife with hopelessness. In the denser, riff-driven areas, the pace picks up to add a layer of rage to the despair. By the end of the song, these forces culminate with soaring synth tones and wailing guitars, which inevitably feels like a symbolic crying out.2.) WRZL
WRZL communicates with stark contrast and is an interplay among angst, peace, and passion. In the first half of the song, this distinction is most sharp, beginning with tempestuous riffs tussling with some futuristic sounds. Quite suddenly, "peace" enters on gossamer wings, placating the guitars into a calm, psychedelic interlude with her serene but coldly modern synth tones. This dance ultimately culminates in a fleeting moment of triumphant optimism, before rage seems to win in the end. At this point, you can quite literally hear peace and passion yielding to these darker forces.3.) Zorn
Pounding percussion, eerie synth, and trepidatious guitar and bass hover above a lengthy spoken word part for nearly the first five minutes of Zorn. When the speaking stops, the instrumentals erupt, the anxious energy finally bubbling over. Very gradually, this temper gracefully transitions to one of victory. All things considered, Zorn feels like the long-awaited ascendency of hope over fear.Interestingly, "zorn" is a German word that refers to anger, wrath, or rage. I can't help but hear a base of apprehension in the song, but when you think about it, that makes sense considering fear is often the root of anger. I think if my German was better and I understood more of the speaking word part, Zorn's deeper meaning would be clearer for me, but I'm still very content to hear emotion so accurately and powerfully depicted in the song.4.) Ammoglyd
Ammoglyd, Welsch for "possible", also seems to ultimately represent victory over fear, but from a much different place than Zorn. Ammoglyd's beginning, while delicate and calm, feels tangibly sorrowful - the kind of despair one feels upon completely surrendering. Like Zorn, Ammoglyd very cleverly uses a slow and measured transition that, by its end, sounds like how I imagine true inner peace feels. Best of all, this shift happens so smoothly, you don't notice it occurring until you feel your own mood reacting. At this point, you can practically see the sunbeams beginning to make themselves known as the storm clouds dissipate.Final Thoughts
First of all, I have to enthusiastically applaud TFNRSH for their clever use of contrast and "bursts of energy", as they aptly call them. This not only keeps the listener invested, but it so vividly renders the way in which real emotions and events occur, often without warning and with jarring intensity.In that vein, Book of Circles, to me, is an introspective journey. It feels like holding up a mirror and looking long and hard at some of life's heavier emotions, particularly the power they have over us. TFNRSH sonically communicates these emotions in such a vivid way, as clearly as if they were painted with a brush. It bears emphasizing that this is done not only in the absence of visual cues, but also without lyrics of vocals to underline each song's meaning. While TFNRSH certainly created each of these tracks with a specific purpose in mind, it's ultimately up to you, the listener, to process and translate them for yourself as an individual. It probably goes without saying that Book of Circles was a refreshing but thought-provoking meditative experience for me, opening up the door not only for self-reflection but to a deeper understanding of and empathy for the circumstances of those we share the planet with. As it turns out, this is a journey that requires no words, only an "embrace of the soul".More About TFNRSH
TFNRSH Is:
Sasan Bahreini - Guitars / SynthsStefan Wettengl - Bass / SynthsJulius Watzl - DrumsYou can follow TFNRSH and listen to their music at the following links:
A massive thank you to the always awesome Broken Music Booking for the promo!If you enjoy TFNRSH, you might also like Acid Rooster!