This is the debut album from Barbarian Hermit, a stoner/sludge metal band from the UK.
With a thick, heavy sound, Barbarian Hermit explode out of the speakers with big riffs and a forceful presence. No messing around, no stupid intros, just straight into the good stuff. Just as I like it. Continue reading
This is the debut EP from UK stoner rock band Ghozer.
Here we have 21 minutes of enjoyable stoner fuzz. It’s charismatic and direct, while still boasting a decent amount of depth and atmosphere. Continue reading
So what dark delights do we have for you this month? Yes, once again it’s time to delve into the best releases that June had to offer, and what a bunch of fine albums we have to share with you this time… Continue reading
This is the ninth album from UK stoner metal band Orange Goblin.
It was 2014 when we saw the release of the first-rate Back from the Abyss. It seems like it’s been a long time since then, (and it has, I suppose), but now I’m very pleased to say that Orange Goblin are back with one of their strongest and most diverse albums to date. Continue reading
This is the third album from Black Moth, a doom rock band from the UK.
On Anatomical Venus Black Moth combine doom, garage, and psychedelic rock ,with a bit of the old metallic heavier stuff, into 45 minutes of kicking jams and beguiling songs. Continue reading
This is the debut album from Temptation’s Wings, a doom/heavy metal band from the US.
Think of a Southern metal flavoured mix between Grand Magus, Candlemass, Down and Orange Goblin. Temptation’s Wings have produced an album worthy to be spoken of in the same sentence as these bands, as Skulthor Ebonblade is very enjoyable indeed. Continue reading
This is the debut album from US metal band Devil Gone Public.
Devil Gone Public play stoner/groove metal with a Southern flavour. Imagine a mix of Orange Goblin, Lamb of God, Red Fang, Black Tusk, Mastodon, Corrosion of Conformity and Down – this should give you a good starting point for what Devil Gone Public sound like.
The songs Continue reading
Boss Keloid are a Sludge Metal band from the UK. This is their second album.
Boss Keloid’s Sludge fuses Metal, Doom, Stoner and even Progressive Metal and Grunge into its tar-like embrace, offering the listener 59 minutes of compelling riffage.
With a huge, massive sound, Boss Keloid bring the heaviness with ease. The songs are chock-full of tasty riffs and the kind of guitars that can knock you over if played at full volume.
The Stoner-esque vocals sound really good, adding an extra level of colour and richness to already textured music. The singer has commanding presence, great personality and charisma, all of which are clearly felt through his voice.
The songs themselves are very satisfying, all the more so due to the decent amount of variety and interest that the album has. With almost an hour of music it would be easy to lose momentum or have some dull moments, but the incorporation of the various Metal sub-genres into the mix makes for a very endearing and engaging album.
Unlike some bands that use multiple styles as parts of their musical recipe, Boss Keloid don’t move from one easily identified sub-genre in one section to another; the band mix all of these elements into the songs together, holistically making the most of these influences to the betterment of the songs and the album as a whole.
Each track is recognisable as its own beast with its own identity, and pretty much every track has elements of the wider pool of influences mixed in.
An extremely impressive album. Herb Your Enthusiasm is a keeper.
For fans of Conan, Electric Wizard, Mammoth Storm, Orange Goblin, Down, etc.
XII Boar are from the UK and this is their début album. They play Stoner Rock/Metal.
This is gritty, Metallic Rock ‘N’ Roll in the vein of Orange Goblin that will find a nice home in the hands of fans of Corrosion of Conformity, Down, Lord Dying, Crowbar, High on Fire, Apostle of Solitude, etc.
XII Boar play feel-good music with an earthy, raw quality. The singer is full of charisma and attitude, as is the band as a whole really.
The songs are catchy and memorable slabs of rocking distortion and hot guitar licks.
It’s an easily identifiable style but the band play with such passion and conviction it’s easy to get swept up in their enthusiasm. The NOLA influence is apparent in their riffs but this has been filtered through the UK and Orange Goblin’s legacy is definitely felt in XII Boar’s style.
Pitworthy is an enjoyable album with a good sound and belligerent swagger. Have a listen.
This is the third album from US Doom Metal band Apostle of Solitude.
With a quality album cover I was looking forward to hearing this band and they didn’t disappoint.
This is Doom Metal with an eye on the past and ambitions on the future. Of Woe and Wounds may have an Old-School core but it has a thoroughly up-to-date production that’s warm and organic whilst simultaneously being punchy and in-your-face. It may be Traditional Doom Metal but the recording leaves no-one in any doubt; Apostle of Solitude are a band that are of the here and now and they mean business.
The sound is crisp and crunchy, with the guitars sounding full of vitality and bone-crushing heaviness. Gargantuan riffs rise and fall with the drums sounding immense and the bass being a much more audible rumble than the norm.
Of Woe and Wounds combines the classic artefacts of Traditional Doom with elements of the more modern exemplars of the style such as Down and Orange Goblin to result in a truly wonderful album that combines the best of old and new. I even hear strains of Alice in Chains on occasion and it sounds just great, (Lamentations of a Broken Man, for instance).
The singer has a powerful voice that rings out strong and clear. He effortlessly becomes the focal centrepiece whenever he’s around.
Each song is a first-rate example of Doom Metal and of the depth that it can have. The tracks have a longevity about them that most bands would kill for. Carefully constructed Doomscapes and crawling riffs dominate the proceedings and I couldn’t be happier listening to this.
Apostle of Solitude have produced something special here. Make sure you get in on the action.
