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[doomedandstoned]

Ireland’s TEN TON SLUG Oozes with Filth and Fury on ‘Colossal Oppressor’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Artwork by Adam Burk/Nightjar Illustration

From the City of Tribes, comes TEN TON SLUG, a band that really does live up to its name for its massive attack and weighty sound. We featured the Galway four-piece some years back on our compilation Doomed & Stoned in Ireland and now, after teasing us with two EPs in 2016 and 2017, they are back with their debut full-length, 'Colossal Oppressor' (2024).

Ten Ton Slug's name reminds me of the iconic album cover of the Conan & Slomatics split back in 2012, which showed a warrior atop a slithering ogre. Of course, that was a snail not a slug, but if you've ever wondered what it would be like to encounter a mollusk of such proportions, look no further than the seven mighty tracks before us.

The record begins appropriately with "The Ooze," ushering us to a scene besieged by oppression and war. "They cast us to the fires, they push us towards the sea," growls frontman Rónán Ó hÁrrachtáin. "Subjugation is here!" Right off we get a feel for the kind of energy the band brings to the stage, with unrelenting rhythms from Pavol Rosa (bass) and Kelvin Doran (drums). Rónán fires off fierce, sludgey vocals, with backing vox and killer groove metal riffs from Sean Sullivan. The tone and tenor is not surprising from guys who've been in such acts as Weed Priest and Soothsayer.

"Balor" is next, and gives a play-by-play of those in the throes of a wild horde. In Celtic mythology, Balor was chief of the Fomoire, a crazed race of demons who threatened the Irish with extinction during the chaotic second battle of Mag Tuired. "Jump to deny these false gods, rip them out!" Rónán urges his people, echoing the war cries of past generations. "Banish them all from their dystopian thrones!" The sentiment of the song is certainly relatable to anyone living under the hand of hapless leadership or the whims of dictators. Riffs seem to characterize the fluttering of demonic wings and vocals are dripping with caustic ire.

"Ancient Ways" dons a racing heartbeat in explosive drumming from Kelvin Doran, then the mood becomes dark and doomy as the band warns of gathering storms. "Plant your feet, take a brace, hold your ground!" adjures Rónán, "Ancient ways prevail, gaining strength to kill." Meanwhile, Sean Sullivan delivers ominous tech-death style riffage (as you'll hear later on the single "Mindless and Blind"), then belts out a piercing classic metal solo. Pavol Rosa's basswork is almost jazzy.

Dissonance rules the day in "Brutus" and brutal it is, featuring a collaboration from none other than Karl Willetts of Bolt Thrower fame (currently heading up Memoriam). His approach is low toned and raspy, almost as if he is breathing fire. All three vocalists play off each other with intimidating effect.

Another highlight of the record for sure is "Mallacht an tSloda," a song entirely in the Irish language. Ten Ton Slug explain it "captures the fury and wrath of the wretched oppressed who curse and revile their oppressor using the finest of Gaelic curses and ill-sentiments (to which the characteristic sound of the Irish language lends itself so well)." Fans of Tasmania's Psycroptic will find much to admire here, and the singing in the final minutes is the deadliest we've heard thus far.

The record finishes on "Mogore the Unkind", the longest track at nine-and-a-half minutes. It contains lines of ancient Hittite, a mysterious kingdom only uncovered archaeologically in 1834 but memorialized in Egyptian writings and reliefs. The Hittites were famous for their chariots of war, these "dark warlords of Hattusha." The song is about blood, sand, betrayal, and burning cities. A fitting end to this damning tour de force.

One more thing you should know, Ten Ton Slug tells us:

The last notes on the album were played by the remnants of a prehistoric lumbering beast that lived some 20,000 years ago...using a plec made from the tusk of a Siberian Mammoth, paying homage to the colossal beasts of the past.

This monster slithers out on vinyl, compact disc, and digital formats on Wednesday, May 1st (pre-order here).

And now get ready for a wild ride, as Doomed & Stoned gives you a first listen to Ten Ton Slug's Colossal Oppressor.

Give ear...

Colossal Oppressor by Ten Ton Slug

SOME BUZZ

Ten Ton Slug originated in the depths of Connemara in the west of Ireland in 2014 and plays a riff-filled mix of sludge and doom characterised by huge riffs and pummeling drums coupled with dynamic and charismatic heavy vocals.

The Slug has gained a stellar live reputation and a loyal and ever-expanding fanbase throughout Ireland, the UK and beyond, having shared stages with bands such as Black Label Society, Corrosion of Conformity, Memoriam, Crowbar, Conan, Jinjer, Bongzilla and more.

Self-organised tours across the UK, Ireland and brief runs into Europe as both support and headliner alongside appearances at notable festivals including Bloodstock Open Air and Metaldays have helped spread the slime far and wide; continuing this year with the band’s upcoming slot at Maryland Doom Fest and run of shows in the USA in mid 2024.

Two studio releases (‘Brutal Gluttonous Beast’ and ‘Blood and Slime’), one live EP (’Live at the Siege of Limerick’) and a single (‘Hunting Ground’) have all garnered excellent reviews to date, and May 2024 sees release of the long awaited and eagerly anticipated debut album Colossal Oppressor, featuring guest vocals by Karl Willetts of Memoriam/Bolt Thrower on the track "Brutus."

‘Colossal Oppressor’ is a slab of triple distilled slime that constitutes the culmination of over five years of work and dedication. It features all the elements from previous Ten Ton Slug releases such as powerful riffs and huge drums with Ronan’s characteristic vocals layered on top, yet develops them further and expands on them by incorporating more dynamic bass, developed songwriting and a wider variety of different grooves, atmosphere and melodic feels resulting in an album the Slug will be proud to enslave humanity to.

With cover art by Adam Burke of Nightjar illustration and guest vocals by Karl Willetts on the track "Brutus," ‘Colossal Oppressor’ melds doom, sludge, and metal elements to create 40+ minutes of prime riffage. The album expands upon the previous sound of the Slug incorporating new languages and elements including acoustic guitar intros, interludes, leadwork and more of a dual vocal approach.

TEN TON SLUG ON TOUR

Ireland

May 3rd - Limerick (tix)

May 5th - Dublin (tix)

North America

June 19th - Cambridge, Massachusetts @The Middle East (upstairs)

June 20th - New York (TBA)

June 21st - Frederick, Maryland @Maryland Doom Fest

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[doomedandstoned]

England’s URZAH Charges Out of the Gate with Astonishing Tour de Force

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Yes! This is what I needed to get my week revving. An explosion of color, energy, and rage. Pure mayhem. This is URZAH from Bristol. With a mix of post-sludge and metalcore, the band has whipped up a frenzy in 'The Scorching Gaze' (2024), their debut full-length following two brutal EPs in 2020 and 2022.

Drums pound with guitars, bass, and vocals from the team of Ed Fairman, Tom McElveen, Les Grodek, and James Brown. The form a great onslaught of synergistic motion for opener "I, Empyrean." A song of cosmic proportion, Empyrean was said to be the abode of God, higher than the highest heavens, a place of burning glory. "We’ll meet again, two worlds reborn, this scarlet crown, thou shalt adorn," sings frontman Ed Fairman.

"Lacrimare (Misery's Shadow)" hits you with a barrage of incendiary arrows hoisted through the air in unrelenting rhythmic fashion, erupting into a firestorm without mercy. The song speaks of unbearable loneliness ("hollow and numb") borne of chaos and grief. "Lacrima" is the Latin word for "tear," so a lacrimare can only be a life torn apart again and again, both in reality and in heart.

Next up is "Immateria Noir", a 7-minute behemoth, which heralds a "bold sun burning." One can hardly look at the sun, much less stare at it. It is a witness to this world of confusion, hurt, and loss. We will be one with the solar giant when the earth is one day consumed by it in "sunlit obsidian." It is indeed the "essence of omnipresence," as we cannot escape the sun's gaze (explaining why our forebears worshiped it). The song feels like a sanguine messenger of doom, with hints of tragedy and regret along the way in the guitars especially.

After a surreal interlude, dissonant strumming and unrelenting drums bode an ominous warning as "A Storm Is Ever Approaching," a track which speaks of "doomed enterprises" and "divided lives." The guitars are the star of the show here, with head-banging deft and booming low-end.

Reprieve from the ire of the tempest comes with "The Aesthetic," featuring the lovely, reassuring strains of guest singer Eleanor Tinlin. It's short but sweet, with hints of tensions rising in its waning moments.

"Of Decay" is next, with more apocalyptic overtones in the lyrics. "Shadows surround me," Fairman barks, "baptized in ashes, frozen in time." Guitars swirl with grooves, while the rhythm section rumbles forward like the approaching hand of Death itself. "The dream is over," the vocalist declares, as the drums thunder with an air of finality. The downtuned low-end is nothing short of intimidating in the last minute of the song.

The final two songs concern Thera, which may be an allusion to an ancient abandoned settlement which sits atop a limestone hill on the Greek island of Santorini. It was abandoned, I believe, due to volcanic activity in the region. While I may be missing much of the lore behind this, "Thera I: Sea of Flames" catches us up on its symbolic meaning to the band. Guitars wind, wallow, and wisp with damning doom chords, underscoring lyrics that speak of "sacred pillars" that "spire high" and then "fields of fire," "plumes of smoke," and "inferno" that bring about the once proud city's ultimate desolation, promising a "molten rebirth."

The record draws to a close with "Thera II: Embers of Descent," which combines with the previous track to form a 15-minute epic. Guitars meet out buzzing repeated notes that have the feel of a languishing journey through ruins of smoke and brimstone. "Dreams in slow motion," Fairman cries, "Edge of the abyss." Screeching guitars at 3:22 sound like the haunting echoes of some long forgotten human drama, accompanied by chugging guitars and drums that pummel the soil. Bittersweet guitar passages soar above the desolation, but are soon swallowed up by it.

The Scorching Gaze is loud, brash, and in your face, but a great compliment to your speakers and headphones thanks to the work of Josh Gallop in Bath's Stage 2 Studios. Tom McElveen's guitars are captured with crisp clarity and great emotion.

Look for Urzah's new LP on Friday, May 3rd, released by APF Records on a limited run of cassettes, as well as on compact disc (pre-order here). Stick it on a playlist with Cult Leader, Elder, Converge, Gojira, and Cave In.

Give ear...

Urzah · THE SCORCHING GAZE

SOME BUZZ

APF Records' latest signing URZAH deliver a powerful and gargantuan storm of savage riffs on their blistering debut album THE SCORCHING GAZE Post/progressive sludge metal newcomers URZAH present their fiery debut album THE SCORCHING GAZE. After only a few short years of actively recording and gigging, Urzah have set Bristol's stacked heavy underground scene ablaze and captured the attention of Manchester's beloved APF Records, home of Desert Storm, Goblinsmoker, The Hyena Kill, Video Nasties et al. Through a commanding and captivating album of complex and wildly fluctuating songs brimming with sharp melodies, Urzah deliver a barrage of dynamic and intricate riffs boasting influences of post-metal, sludge, metalcore and moments of pure surprise.

From the second you hit play, opening track and leading single 'I, Empyrean' entices the listener and grabs them by the throat, kick starting a sprawling web of chugging guitars, soaring leads, stabbing bass and commanding powerhouse drumming. Progressive and lengthy cuts such as riff workout 'Immateria Noir' sit comfortably alongside the sheer face-melting gut-punch attack 'Of Decay'. The Scorching Gaze isn't without brilliant and daring curveballs, including the sweetly nested ballad 'The Aesthetic', lead by contemplative clean guitars and guest vocalist Eleanor Tinlin's expressive singing.

The Scorching Gaze by Urzah

The Scorching Gaze is a record guided by thought-provoking lyrics and titles, inspired strongly by both the cosmic horror writings of HP Lovecraft and more directly, the late Cormac McCarthy's novel The Crossing. Akin to these works, Urzah's songs channel a narrative of inward cerebral odyssey -- life's cycles through desolation and joy, triumph and pain, violence and beauty, as well as the permanency of choice and consequence. All of this culminates in Urzah's grand finale, the fifteen minute two-part 'Thera' suite, where the quartet go balls to the wall, slowing down to a sensational sludgy pace and confronting us with their heaviest and most crushing onslaught of all.

In order to capture more density, texture and sonic space in their sound, Urzah recorded The Scorching Gaze with producer, engineer and Phoxjaw guitarist Josh Gallop at his own Stage 2 Studios in Bath. This has resulted in a thickened and balanced soundscape across these winding and complex songs that are always evolving and changing.

The quartet have brought in key additional players into the studio space, with Eleanor Tinlin of Choir Noir (who have performed live and recorded with Bring Me The Horizon and Frank Turner) providing dreamy clean vocals, as well as cellist (and bassist of stoner metallers Froglord) Luke Clemenger to lay down sorrowful strings.

Topping everything off is the vibrant cover art by the talented Indonesian gig poster and album cover illustrator Putra Satria Nugraha, expertly evoking the tapestry of layers, depths and mysteries that this album holds. The Scorching Gaze is a brightly ambitious and rewarding listen that reveals new layers and intricacies through repeat listens, boldly striding its maze of blistering riffs, dynamic song structures and flaming intensity.

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[doomedandstoned]

The Doomed & Stoned Show

~Season 10, Episode 5~

In this episode, Billy Goate (Editor, Doomed & Stoned) links up with Steve Howe (Editor, Outlaws of the Sun) to discuss some of their recent finds from the doom-stoner scene.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patron.

PLAYLIST:

INTRO (00:00) 1. HIGH ON FIRE - "Burning Down" (00:31)

HOST SEGMENT I (06:44) 2. TRANSIT METHOD - "Frostbite" (20:13) 3. GOAT MAJOR - "Evil Eye" (29:06) 4. ANCIENT VVISOM - "Ashes from on High" (35:47) 5. WITCHORIOUS - "Monster" (39:00)

HOST SEGMENT II (43:46) 6. CASTLE RAT - "Dagger Dragger" (54:35) 7. GREENGOAT - "Human" (58:37) 8. ESBEN WILLEMS - "Cabaret Street" (1:03:42) 9. LUNGBURNER - "Embers" (1:08:44)

HOST SEGMENT III (1:18:12) 10. MARIO LALLI & THE RUBBER SNAKE CHARMERS - "Other Desert Cities" (1:28:00) 11. THE PALADIN - "Bog God" (1:33:37) 12. CANCERVO - "Sacrilegious Mass" (1:42:59) 13. HAUNTED - "Catamorph" (1:48:49)

HOST SEGMENT IV (1:54:24) 14. ALTAR OF BETELGEUZE - "Conclusion" (2:07:49) 15. KULT IKON - "Lost Sea" (2:13:27) 16. HASHTRONAUT - "Rip Wizard" (2:25:14) 17. O ZORN! - "Slow Mood" (2:29:56)

OUTRO (2:35:04)

CREDITS:

Theme Song: Dylan Tucker

Thumbnail Art: High on Fire

[doomedandstoned]

Portland’s KINGHORN Unveils Roiling 2nd LP, ‘Empty Handed’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Album artwork by ADB

It's been just a minute since we featured a new band from Portland, Oregon, where we began our landmark compilation series back in 2014. I can say there's nothing more exciting than visiting venues like Dante's, World Famous Kenton Club, The High Water Mark, Star Bar, and a plethora of other metal bars and encountering acts as electric as the one before us. Coming out into the chilly air afterwards at one, two in the morning, walking buzzed down damp, sleeping streets, and feeling the psychological reverb of what you've just experienced. There truly is no better experience here than live for the heavy music acolyte.

From the City of Roses comes the exhilarating three-piece act KINGHORN, an electric trio that features the combined talents of Brandon Whalen on guitar and vocals, Aaron Blanchard on bass and vocals, and Nicholas Jones on drums and backing vocals -- each of which have been in a fair number of local bands over the years.

Formed in 2019 with "a bunch of gear, high volume, and beautiful angsty aggression," the band has been prolific during these recent chaotic times, following up their Short Stories EP in 2020 and self-titled debut in 2021 with a brand new album, 'Empty Handed' (2024).

Here before us are 10 bombastic tracks that combine as a wrecking ball of post-everything, with a vicious punk attitude, smashing energy, and furious hardcore tendencies.

Says the band:

The connectivity of existential dread and fear of the unknown is a powerful unifier -- instilling the understanding that we are all in this together; we are all one.

"Cold Hearts" begins the record strong with shoegazy rhythms, feats of drumming, and a melodic chorus. Don't be fooled by this description, it's heavy as all hell. Meanwhile "Dirty Hands" has all the low-end heft of fellow Oregonians Yob.

"Spoiler" continues the trend with brash, roaring vocals. Rhythmic tendencies are belligerent, with deep, bruising bass licks, unruly drumming, and a guitar that can be bittersweet, dire, or crunchy as the need dictates.

Every song charges out of the gate with astonishing verve, like the track "Cleanup," -- frightful in its combativeness. There are moments of dazing reflection here, too, with damning full-band chords in the song's last minute (bleeding next into the title track).

"Spoiler" is a barnstormer if there ever was one, donning bass that simply rocks the senses. Lead single "Narcicity" erupts with broiling emotion ("a feeling you've been caught in a landslide and buried alive," the lyrics go).

Other songs venture into grunge territory like "Jeanette" and would pair well with any of Melvin's early albums or even Mastodon's Leviathan. Maybe my favorite of the record for its stormy, tossing sonic waves.

The opening beat on "Iron Stoic" is larger than life, with dissonant, angsty guitar riffs and rumbling bass that usher us through the record's longest track. The singing is boss all the way, with a toe dip into melodic and harmonic territory for the chorus. The guitar solo is fittingly drowned in the morass of the band's collective might. It's loud, loud, loud, and that's the way we like it.

Kinghorn's new album dashes and crashes with foolhardy might, one of the best in class of the year thus far. Recorded and engineered by Mike Vera at Brown Sound Studios and mastered by Stephan Hawkes, you can get Empty Handed on Bandcamp right here.

Stick it on a playlist with Trap Them, Baptists, Black Breath, Whores, and Enabler.

Give ear...

Empty Handed by Kinghorn

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Italy’s KAYLETH Return with New Sci-fi Video “The Night”

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Y'all know by now that I'm a sucker for a good conceptual album, one that really tells a story through interlocking songs and immersive ideas. Whether that be more mainstream examples such as Mastodon's Crack the Skye, subterranean classics such as Sleep's Dopesmoker and Slomatics Strontium Fields, or lesser known gems like Underground by Trippy Wicked & The Cosmic Children Of The Knight. There are actually more sci-fi and fantasy albums in the stoner-doom scene than one might expect, and an album that does it well is worth remembering.

Hailing from Verona and killing it since 2005, today we witness new sounds from five-piece stoner metal crew KAYLETH. We featured the band on our compilation Italy Strikes Back, and now they make a post-pandemic return with a sequel to their last sci-fi themed narrative 2020: Back To Earth.

Kayleth's next chapter is entitled 'New Babylon' (2024), and the cover art really says it all: astronauts riding theropods, ufos hovering over bleak, explosion-pocked landscapes, mysterious orbs shooting lasers, and creatures of undefined origin descending from the sky. All fight for dominance over a strange planet.

"The Night" is the first single, presented here as an animated music video. An adventurous youth leaves his clandestine bunker, hops onto his speeder joined by his small robot friend, and takes a trip out into a post-apocalyptic world surrounded by ruined buildings drowned in water. Along the way, he encounters kaiju, muddy giants, and other menaces, ultimately finding his way deep into city caverns to emerge with a Pacific Rim style Jaeger that does battle with the dreadful blue cyclops.

Musically, the song starts out with a determined drumbeat accented by a bobbled synthesizer. Pulse-pounding proggy guitar riffs hint of danger. Powerful vocal harmonies soar above the morass. Next there is a transition into a second theme, this time more downtuned, doomy and consequential. The track fades out to accompaniment of epic woahs and ahs.

As with their three previous full-lengths, Italian label Argonauta Records will be issuing Kayleth's New Babylon. Look for news of the release date, formats, and pre-order specifics at the label's website and on the band's socials.

Stick it on a playlist with Sunnata, Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, Cosmic Reaper, and Vinnum Sabbathi.

Give ear...

The Band Speaks on 'New Babylon'

It has now been four years since our return to earth in '2020 Back to Earth.' There we had found a cold and inhospitable place, humanity was inexorably channeled on the path to extinction. We therefore decided to flee immediately in search of another planet where we could dwell.

We therefore came to New Babylon, a planet inhabited by humanoids but also by monstrous and ravenous creatures. There are "giants" that march about raising immense clouds of dust, stealing and plundering everything from people. Giants much like our corporations, they know no defeat and have no weaknesses, at least apparent ones.

There are old warriors like jarek who wait for war to feel like heroes, to feel alive. They find their dimension within the battle, where the line between hero and assassin magically blurs.

There are pyramids erected by men who think they are gods and turn the things life gives them into weapons and death, changing their use and meaning. Little men who think themselves omnipotent, burying knowledge of how life works under piles of lies.

We find a myriad of slaves, surrendered to live in huge troughs. They toil at nothing and find meaning in nothing. They prefer a convenient lie to an inconvenient truth.

In short, we realize that we have arrived in a world very much like earth. We are aliens but in a certain way we feel at home. We want to know, to understand, to evolve. We don't recognize ourselves in this deceived humanity, we don't give in, we believe. Nature, life is wonderful but when one thing loses its usefulness life gently explains to it that it is time to make room for something else. This existence has already been explained to the dinosaurs.

Kayleth continues their journey, never stopping because whoever seeks will find itself.

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[doomedandstoned]

THE DOOMED & STONED SHOW

~Season 10, Episode 4~

Since its inception, this podcast has followed the Doom Charts, with hosts Billy Goate (editor, DoomedandStoned.com), John Gist (Vegas Rock Revolution), and Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect) -- all contributing members of DoomCharts.com.

In this episode, we're reintroduce you to some of the bands and releases you may have overlooked in the busyness of the New Year, so we're going all the way back to January's chart for a very eclectic mix of psychedelic, stoner, and heavy rock, with plenty of downtuned action and doom sprinkled into the mix!

Now streaming on podcasting platforms everywhere!

PLAYLIST

INTRO (00:00) 1. One Eyed Moon (#15)- "We're Not Alone" (00:31)

HOST SEGMENT I (04:10) 2. Dust Mice (#34) - "Space Magick" (14:27) 3. That Ship Has Sailed (#16) - "I Am, Yeah" (18:52) 4. Buffalo Bud Buster (#11) - "SST" (22:47)

HOST SEGMENT II (26:17) 5. Ritual Earth (#12) - "Through Interstellar Medium" (36:32) 6. Teen Mortgage (#33) - "Valley" (42:38) 7. Moon Wizard (#29) - "Phantom" (47:31)

HOST SEGMENT III (52:23) 8. Horse God (#10) - "Thundersnow" (1:01:58) 9. The Slow And Easy (#9) - "Middle" (1:06:23) 10. One-Eyed Monsters (#8) - "Laden Sky" (1:09:38)

HOST SEGMENT IV (1:14:13) 11. Lucifer (#7) - "At The Mortuary" (1:24:53) 12. Slower (#6) - "The Antichrist" (1:32:01) 13. The Clamps (#5) - "Forty Nine" (1:40:11)

HOST SEGMENT V (1:44:00) 14. Qilin (#4) - "On Migoi's Trail" (2:04:00) 15. Les Moontunes (#3) - "Elephant Wizard" (2:09:45) 16. Hazehound (#2) - "Flatearth" (2:12:59) 17. Slift (#1) - "Weaver's Weft" (2:18:51)

BONUS TRACKS:

18. Lord Dying (#14) - "A Bond Broken By Death" (2:29:41) 19. Ancient VVisdom (#25) - "Apollyon" (2:35:15)

[doomedandstoned]

THEY WATCH US FROM THE MOON Open Eyes to New Video “Space Angel”

~Doomed & Stoned~

By Billy Goate

It's rare to have so big an ensemble in a doom metal band, which makes six-member crew THEY WATCH US FROM THE MOON doubly exciting to witness as a live act. The Lawrence, Kansas act matches sick downtuned doom-stoner riffs, rumbling bass, and stalwart drumming with dual female vocals, which gives their sound an elevated atmosphere that's at once entrancing and spine-tingling.

Today, Doomed & Stoned brings you the world premiere of the stargazing new music video "Space Angel," a song which has been one of my personal favs from Cosmic Chronicles, Act I: The Ascension. The imminently relistinable record dropped almost a year ago on New Heavy Sounds.

Cosmic Chronicles, Act I: The Ascension by They Watch Us From the Moon

"Space Angel," distinguished by transcendent vocal harmonies and galactic low-end, advances the narrative of the album, which is also illustrated in a graphic novel. The band had this to say about:

We now see our young heroes being subjected to a top secret Government Remote Viewing study after the discovery of their involvement in an abduction. All under the watchful eye of the secret space program. What's next for our young heroes? Stay tuned for an all new adventure.... Rise of the Blood Moon Cult."

You can lay hold of They Watch Us From The Moon's monumental LP here and . As an aside, this spin also makes a fitting companion to the 2010 faux documentary film Lunopolis.

Give ear...

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[doomedandstoned]

Supergroup YOUNG ACID Unveil 3rd Single for ‘Murder at Maple Mountain’

~Doomed & Stoned~

By Billy Goate

We get a kick out of introducing you to new bands here at Doomed & Stoned, not that this band is really new per se.

Swedish punk rock supergroup YOUNG ACID are all set to release 'Murder at Maple Mountain' (2024) next month and today we reveal to you the third and final single, in the form of an intriguing new music video written and directed by Fred Burman (from Satan Takes A Holiday).

And what makes them a supergroup, you ask? Well, get a load of this line-up:

  • Mio Hällagård - Vocals (Greenleaf)   • Mio Stjernfeldt - Guitar (Grand Cadaver, Novarupta)   • Mio Wegeland - Bass (Domkraft)   • Mio Baier - Guitar (Besvärjelsen, Vordor)   • Mio Karlsson - Drums (The Moth Gatherer)

All of these bands we've introduced you to in these pages and on The Doomed & Stoned Show over the years. And if you like what any of them have to offer, particularly the vocals on Greenleaf, you'll find a lot to love here.

"Into The Depths" is a haunting number that takes us deep into the forests, dark streets, and solidary dwellings. Misty, stirring atmosphere, and sanguine guitars that waft and wail join with heartbeat drums and buzzing bass to set the stage for Arvid Hällagård's bittersweet vocals, making this one a must for late night drives along empty highways.

Young Acid's Murder at Maple Mountain, ten tracks in all, releases May 31st on Majestic Mountain Records pre-order here.

Give ear...

SOME BUZZ

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you combined Greenleaf, Domkraft, Grand Cadaver, Besvärjelsen and The Moth Gatherer, chances are you would never have imagined anything quite like this.

Young Acid is a Vimmerby-based punk rock powerhouse that unites members of all previously aforementioned underground institutions into one blistering garage rock alliance. Packing raw guitar riffs, seismic energy, and a rebellious spirit, the quartet has already released two singles – ‘The Crust’ and ‘Run Boy Run’ – from their soon to be released debut album, Murder at Maple Mountain. With the latter song influenced by celebrated Swedish storyteller and Pippi Longstocking author, Astrid Lindgren.

Run Boy Run by Young Acid

With the band all donning the first name “Mio” in honour of Lindgren’s 1954 novel, Mio, My Son, the playful side of Young Acid is one that is as addictive as the fuzzy, blues heavy and inevitably grooving vibe of new single ‘Into the Depths’, which is premièring now over at Doomed & Stoned.

Voluminous in sound if not duration, clocking in at a punk-friendly thirty-four minutes, Young Acid is on a mission of their own making (their motto is “Nobody can ruin our day, ’cos we’re probably going to ruin it ourselves!”) but it’s one you don’t want to miss.

The Crust by Young Acid

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[doomedandstoned]

Tennessee's WYNDRIDER Gear Up for 2nd LP with “Motorcycle Witches”

~Doomed & Stoned~

By Billy Goate

East Tennessee's WYNDRIDER has been signed to Electric Valley Records, one of the hot growing labels in the doom-stoner heavy underground (and can almost never go wrong with a release). The four-piece got our attention with their self-titled debut last year, and now they follow this up with 'Revival' (2024).

The new album is notable for its fuzzed-out, acid-soaked guitar tone, doomy southern metal riffing, and a rumbling rhythm section, contrasted by Chloe Gould's bluesy occultic vocals and moments of drugged psychedelic wonder.

The Ozzy, Geezer, Ward, and Iommi connection comes to bear in WyndRider's "Remember the Sabbath" (my favorite track of the album), which has a misty blues club feel and could well stop time. A fitting companion to Black Sabbath's monumental first album.

Other songs like "Devil's Den" present a bold face to the band, with soaringly smooth singing and damning low-end. Closing track "The Wheel" is simply haunting, with sweetly pained guitar riffs, dismal atmosphere, and vocals that echo into the night, as though coming from a clandestined spot inside the moonlit woods of the Deep South.

Today, Doomed & Stoned takes you highlights WyndRider's powers with "Motorcycle Witches." The track begins with a solitary riff from axeman Robbie Willis, belting out in forlorn sweetness. This theme is repeated as things shift down and the full band moves in a downtuned direction.

There's lots of slow stoner groove to be had, thanks not only to irradiated guitar play, but Joshuwah Herald's swaggering bass and Josh Brock's prolific drumming. Chloe Gould's delivery is at once dark, sultry, and entrancing.

Think you've had enough Did it all for love Try to keep it up Stripped for all your worth Leaves you in the dirt Oh, the witch's curse

Reached for comment, the band says of the new single: "If it’s got two wheels or high heels, you probably can’t afford it and it’s likely trying to kill you."

Danielle Fehr of The Wizard Productions in Bristol, Tennessee did a standout job of recording, mixing, and mastering this hazy offering of fire and incense to the slow 'n' low.

Mark your calendars for June 7th, when Wyndrider's Revival will be revealed by Electric Valley Records on three variants of heavyweight vinyl, along with a CD and digital release (pre-order here). Glory or Death Records will be providing North American folks with an easy alternative to give us a break on overseas shipping costs (get it here).

Stick 'em on a playlist with Acid Witch, R.I.P, The Death Wheelers, Drug Cult, and Shrooms Circle.

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SOME BUZZ

Formed in 2022, WyndRider is a four-piece, stoner doom band from the mountains of East Tennessee. Their eponymous debut album, recorded in late September by Danielle Fehr of The Wizard Productions, was released independently in March of 2023. The album earned WyndRider critical acclaim and even AOTY nods from global heavy music media.

Recognized as “one of the hardest working bands in the stoner doom community,” WyndRider made waves with appearances at Ohio Doomed & Stoned Festival; Holler of Doom II and III in London, KY; Mountains of Metal 7, and extensive touring throughout the Eastern and Southern US.

WyndRider by WyndRider

In February 2024, the quartet hit the studio once again with The Wizard Productions to record their second full-length. Titled Revival, this sophomore effort is a sharpened knife, showcasing the refined sound of the band. After playing all over the Eastern US, the group returned to their home in the Appalachian Mountains, focusing in on the hopes and horrors of living there with an unapologetically heavy Southern groove. This album, washed in the blood of its region, sheds light on the smoke and mirrors of life in the Bible Belt and provides a fix for those left craving more after the first dose that WyndRider brought to the scene.

This year, WyndRider will be hitting the stage at Maryland Doom Fest, Gravitoyd Doom Fest in Houston, and Holler of Doom IV, alongside numerous other cities and states.

Upcoming Shows

5/02 - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone 5/03 - Arlington, TX - Growl Records 5/04 - Houston, TX - Gravitoyd Doom Fest at Black Magic Social Club 5/05 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia 5/24 - Knoxville, TN - BrickYard Bar & Grill 5/26 - Charlotte, NC - TBA

6/08 - Johnson City, TN - The Hideaway 6/20 - Indianapolis, IN - Black Circle 6/21 - Akron, OH - Buzzbin 6/22 - The Maryland Doom Fest at Cafe 611 6/23 - New York, NY - The Bowery Electric

7/05 - Asheville, NC - The Odd 7/11 - Nashville, TN - Springwater 7/12 - London, KY - Holler of Doom Fest at Mountain View Farm 7/13 - Cincinnati, OH - The Comet

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Irish Sludgers COROZA Unleash “Scorched Earth”

~Doomed & Stoned~

By Billy Goate

Some years back, we introduced you to progressive sludge foursome COROZA from Cork, Ireland. Tom Hanno wrote an excellent review of their debut LP, 'Challiceburner' (2019), in which he lauded the band for their "heavy, heavy riffing and huge tone." The band also contributed a track to our compilation Doomed & Stoned in Ireland before the pandemic. In the years since, Coroza has earned a reputation as a firebrand live act.

Today, Doomed & Stoned brings you brand new material from Coroza with the single "Scorched Earth," an apocalyptic number from their upcoming second full-length 'As Within' (2024). Here mysterious monastic singing meets deranged howls and mighty roars. Riffs are nothing short of crushing, the rhythm section a windstorm. You'll certainly want to listen with a good pair of speakers or headphones for full effect.

The nine-minute monolith seems to me like the ebb and flow of crashing tidal waves in the Celtic Sea. There is something both beautiful and chaotic afoot, and one can picture a great asteroid of impending doom not far from view. Perhaps we will self-destruct beforehand in our own man-made funeralopolis. Let Coroza take you for a ride to the End of Days.

Coroza's As Within releases May 20th on vinyl, CD, cassette, and digital formats via Cursed Monk Records (pre-order here). Stick it on a playlist with Yob, Ahab, and Zirakzigil.

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SOME BUZZ

Coroza was formed in Cork, Ireland in mid-2015 and over the course of two years honed their sound into a devastatingly heavy form, which encompasses heavy blues, metal, sludge, doom and stoner elements, leading to the release of their well-received self-titled demo in 2017.

Extensive gigging cemented them into the local scene and soon Coroza began appearing on bills around Ireland, landing support slots to international touring bands such as Conan, Bolzer and Tusker. 2019 saw the release of their debut album Chaliceburner which was met with positive reviews.

Coroza's second album titled 'As Within' (2024) was recorded and mixed by renowned producer Aidan Cunningham and mastered by Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna).

Coroza are:   • Ciarán Coghlan (guitar/vox)   • Jack O’Neill (lead guitar/vox)   • Ollie Cunningham (drums)   • Tomás O’Brien (bass)

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Montréal’s MOOCH Drop Energetic New Single “Hangtime”

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

It's good to have new sounds from MOOCH. We introduced you to the three-piece Québec heavy rockers back in 2020, with the premiere of their #4 Doom Charts ranking LP Hounds, which also happened to be recorded with desert rock pioneer Brant Bjork of Kyuss and Fu Manchu fame.

Now the team of Ben Cornel (guitar, vox), Julian Iac (bass) and Alex Segreti (drums) are back, after delivering a fantastic cover of Nirvana's "Something in the Way" earlier this year.

"Hangtime" is a bluesy, pulse-pounding number that'll really get your day going (or help you recover from that after-lunch coma). The song features smooth authoritative vocals, stinging classic guitar tone, lilting backing vocals, and surreal interludes.

The band had this to say about the new track:

“Hangtime” is an eclectic blues tune with rough edges, halftime drops that buckle the knees, and an outro that touches down after however long of being suspended mid-air.

Mooch's "Hangtime" releases on Friday, April 12th (get it here). They're touring Canada (see dates below) and we can only hope to see them in the States soon. Stick 'em on a playlist with Truckfighters, Atomic Bitchwax, Danava, Wet Cactus, and Pushy.

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MOOCH · Hangtime

SOME BUZZ

Mooch is a heavy psychedelic rock trio based in Montreal/Yellowknife, Canada. The band is composed of three lead vocalists and multi-instrumentalists Ben Cornel, Julian Iac, and Alex Segreti. Down-tuned desert rock meets '90s grunge and '70s psychedelia.

Tidal waves of vocal harmonies complete the multi-faceted psych experience. For the old school lovers of The Doors, to the modern day fans of Kikagaku Moyo and Queens of the Stone Age.

The band is set to release their third full length record VISIONS May 3rd 2024, with “Hangtime” releasing as the first of two singles. Visions Tour 2024, an Eastern Canadian tour is booked for May 2024 and will be presented by Black Throne Productions and Interland Events. AAWKS and Earth Altar will join the tour as direct support during their respective legs. The tour will also host the likes of The Hazytones, Conductor, Mountain Dust and Ivy Garden.

Lyrics

Will I ever find another one like you? Been around the town and found there's nothing to do Roll with the tide, the toll is too high I will find another dollar, pinch another penny on my way

I'm waiting for you to roll my way Cuz I know you got the blues I'm just waiting for your skies to turn grey I wanna hear your hangtime blues

Pocket full of pieces of your love Let it happen Don't need a reason to move on When you're trying to erase The crimes and mistakes That were done, again and again

I'm waiting for you to roll my way Cuz I know you got the blues I'm just waiting for your skies to turn grey I wanna hear your hangtime blues

When you feel you're alone And there's nobody home You're never alone at all

Hounds, shake them down to deliver with their noses to the ground When you can't quite sing and you just can't get away You lost your tongue and don't know what to say Then you'll hear not everything you see is real Choose what you want to be revealed Time will unwind and break the seal You're never alone

Visions Tour 2024

The MOOCH live show experience is a timeless expression of rock n' roll music. Whether showered in a psychedelic light show, cradled by a curtain of fog, or out in the open air, the music is delivered with razor-sharp precision and an outflow of captivating energy from each member.

May 10th - Ottawa May 11th - Montreal* May 17th - Toronto* May 18th - Hamilton* May 19th - Barrie May 24th - Fredericton May 25th - Moncton May 26th - Sydney May 27th - Halifax

*Liquid Light Show presented by Strange Matter Light Show

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DUEL Unleashes “Satan’s Invention,” Prelude to 5th LP

Doomed & Stoned Debuts

By Billy Goate

Austin, Texas rockers DUEL can always be counted on for one hell of a good time. They made an appearance on Doomed & Stoned in Texas awhile back and are pushing ten years as a firestarting act.

Now the band reveals fresh sounds from their upcoming studio album, 'Breakfast with Death' (2024), with a new song: "Satan's Invention." Rumbling rhythms meet commanding vocals, with addictive riffs and Sabbath overtones on this ripper of a single. The album promises to flex a "heavier and faster side of Duel" with every song "a beer soaked banger." If this doesn't get your heart pumping, nothing will!

Reached for comment, the band says:

"I don’t believe in the devil! Hell is a place here on earth!" Satan’s Invention is a four-minute Thin Lizzy-sequel rocker exploring the evils of man and the illusions of life. The countless lies we are fed from birth to death. All at a beat you can dance to!

Look for Duel's Breakfast with Death, releasing July 5th on Heavy Psych Sounds (pre-order here). Make sure to catch them live!

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California Mystery Trio STONED SPACE Airs Evocative New Single ‘I’

~Doomed & Stoned~

By Billy Goate

Today, we're taking a chance on a new entrant into the crowded field of stoner-psychedelic rock, a three-piece from California that's a bit of an enigma. The members of STONED SPACE are all anonymous, "a mysterious collective of cosmic voyagers" hailing from somewhere in California "with a love for mind-bending riffs and pulsating rhythms."

Coming down the pike is their debut record, 'I' (2024) -- seven tracks each designated with a Roman numeral. They'd prefer for us to give them our own titles, I suppose, letting sound pique the imagination.

Each of the seven tracks on 'I' is a sonic exploration, transporting listeners to the far reaches of the universe. Yet, as the music reaches its climax, it ends on the xx:59th second, leaving a tantalizing glimpse of the cosmos just out of reach. These fleeting moments serve as a reminder of the infinite mysteries of the cosmos, beckoning the listener to delve deeper into the cosmic abyss.

The band, which at this juncture appears to be entirely instrumental, has a penchant for picturesque landscaping in this opening track. Beginning with confident bluesy stoner swagger, the song takes a turn for the sublime. Like the cover art, it conjures a rising sun over gentle windswept sand dunes with morning clouds strewn across the heavens. At just 3 minutes in length, you'll probably be wanting to hear more...and more there is to come.

Look for Stoned Space to release I on May 3rd (pre-order here.

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TEMPLE OF THE FUZZ WITCH Unleash Magnum Opus, ‘Apotheosis’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

We introduced you to TEMPLE OF THE FUZZ WITCH in our compilation Doomed & Stoned in Detroit and the band subsequently played Ohio Doomed & Stoned Festival in 2019.

Now past the pandemic years, the band's sound has matured and evolved to encompass frightening black metal textures, in addition to the stalwart doom sound they forged in the beginning. On their third LP 'Apotheosis' (2024), Temple of the Fuzz Witch execution is nothing short of tight, demonstrating an uncanny penchant for conjuring apocalyptic atmospheres. Every member of the team is on point and collaborate to create something dark and powerful.

While not pitched as a concept album, savvy listeners will pick up on the subtext of fallen angels, drawing from Biblical, Zoroastrian, mystical, and traditional lore to create a singular work of terror that could well be a sequel to Dante's Inferno.

Apotheosis is the process of becoming deity (an idea long held by Egyptian, Greek, Buddhist and Christian beliefs), so perhaps this album concerns the rise of those angels who fell like lightning to our planet after a failed coup against The Almighty in heaven. Now is their time to rise again and terrorize mankind, as foretold in St. John's Revelation, The Books of Enoch, Kabbalah, and Milton's Paradise Lost.

Joe Peet's blistering bass welcomes us to "A Call To Prey," with bravura drumming from Taylor Christian and Noah Bruner's grungy guitars following not far behind. We prey upon your fear sings frontman Noah with windswept ire. One could imagine hearing this voice echo in the dead of night over moonlit hills and forests.

"Wight" is a foreboding doomer with elements of black metal. Noah teeters between jaded vocals with menacing growls. Wight is a reference to a ghostly creature, and there's sinister, foggy element to the song, as evil spirits vow:

We’ll break you Damned You’ll never be free We’ll break you For all eternity

"Nephilim" made me recall how damningly heavy Temple of the Fuzz Witch was at Ohio Doomed and Stoned Fest. You can get a sense of it with a pair of good speakers, but seeing them live punches even harder. Vocals vary in character between forlorn cries, as depressed hushes declare, "You will see, I will feed." Fiery yells and guttural rumbling join ravaging drumwork and hailing tremeloes as the song progresses.

"Bow Down" lives in familiar stoner-doom territory, with southern sludge riffing suggesting a revelrous lot dedicated to the worship of their master. Here the singing here is clear, clean, and resonant, intersected by harsh vocals that shout defiantly: Bow down and worship the sky, we pass beyond the glowing light.

"Sanguine" has become one of my favorite words, lately, though I've struggled for an appropriate reason to include it in my writing. It basically means making the best of a bad situation, remaining confident despite the odds, optimistic even when faced with nihilistic uncertainty. Lyrics allude to "Yahweh's condemned," "diabolic souls" who were "cast into swine" by God's Son, and now look to overtake Earth when Satan is loosed from the Bottomless Pit. Bittersweet riffs and damning low end remind me of Purple Hill Witch, and there are some badass chord progressions here. This one has been lingering in my head for days.

"Cursed" gives us little clue as to who the Cursed are, other than they have "sought the watchers in the blacks" and that their "moment has now passed" and now "there's no return." The Watchers are most likely fallen angels from the Book of Enoch, the Nephilim referenced in the book of Genesis. Maybe the cursed ones were acolytes of the Nephilim, but we're given only scraps, hints, fragments to piece together the mystery.

"Raze" opens with muted drums and a swarm of distorted guitar noise that almost seems like a portent of the great horde, here to "end all humans." It takes the perspective of the Fallen, who are still loyal to Lucifer. I have carried his black mark, all the way from the very start.

Strumming arpeggios suggest the clock is ticking in "Apostate," one of my favorite tracks of the record for its sheer dread. Downtuned, dissonant guitar chords make the ire of Noah's roaring vocals all the more convincing, as four lines are repeated thrice:

Await the hallows Swallow the earth The apostates Filled with dread and woe

"Ashes" brings the album to a head with another highlight of the record, a slow headbanger if there ever was one. Vocals are terrifying, referencing "vows of the damned" and Ahriman the evil spirit of early Iranian religions -- the very embodiment of destruction.

It's good to see Ripple Music continue to expand its portfolio into doom territory. Look for Apotheosis by Temple of the Fuzz Witch, dropping this Friday, April 5th (get it here).. Stick it on a playlist with Electric Wizard, Saturnalia Temple, Cough, Coffins, and Moon Coven.

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LISTEN: Temple of the Fuzz Witch - Apotheosis

SOME BUZZ

With riffs and lyrics as bleak and crushing as a Michigan winter, blackened doom outfit Temple of the Fuzz Witch brings a unique take on the doom genre, their unwaveringly nightmarish sonic processions being raised to another level with frontman Noah Bruner's jaw-dropping balance of crypt-worthy growls and astoundingly grunge-styled clean vocals. Never the darkness has felt so magnificent and compelling, and their aptly-titled third album "Apotheosis" has everything to put the mighty trio on every black and doom metal fan's radar for years to come.

Launched in 2017 with a 3-track EP, the Detroit three-piece has successively released two albums: "Temple of the Fuzz Witch" (2019) and "Red Tide" (2020). Temple of the Fuzz Witch is now set to unleash the beauty of its unique occult-driven nihilism with "Apotheosis". The album was recorded and mixed by Pete Grossman at Bricktop Recording, and mastered by Chris Fielding at Skyhammer Studio. Its artwork was created by Sarah Fazriah and Zoro (Mysteriousfour).

Apotheosis by Temple of the Fuzz Witch

About the album, the band says: “The lyrics and concept as an album are more overt and less cryptic than the previous Temple releases. Everything is bigger, heavier, and darker. Rather than making just another doom record, we wanted to do something that stepped outside of the box a little bit. Established fans will still find catchy riffs that are staples of doom but will be surprised with some new twists on the genre with the introduction of blackened vocals and some more up-tempo tracks.

Lyrically the album is deeply rooted in the esoteric and spiritual. We came at the album with a very introspective mindset, and each of us was able to add a little bit of our own soul to it. I think when people hear the lyrics and music together they'll find something fresh, but dark, to connect with.”

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Albuquerque's RED MESA Reveal Biting New Single “Dying in The Cold Sun”

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

History is full of takes of people who've frozen to death, or nearly. Like Ernest Shackleton's expedition to the Antartic, in which his ship was frozen in the icy waters and his crew was forced to endure great hardship in unimaginably freezing temperatures, bringing them to near madness.

Today, Doomed & Stoned brings you the latest track from desert stoner-doomers RED MESA, prelude to their new album 'Partial Distortions' (2024), their roiling, rumbling doom-worshipping fourth album. Solid through and through.

"Dying in the Cold Sun" features forlorn riffs, stalwart drumming, excellent basslines, and strong, rapsy vocals. Fans of Pallbearer and High on Fire take notice. Reached for comment, frontman Brad Fyre says:

I wanted to write a song about freezing to death, as I frequently think about that as a possible great way to die. Go out into the frozen wilderness and just walk…until the cold overtakes me. The song however, came out far more gloomy and tortured than a peaceful farewell. We are calling this our “blackened desert” sound blending desert, doom, and black metal to give you a thundering dirge. Certainly one of the heaviest songs in the Red Mesa vault.

Mark April 19th on your calendars, when Red Mesa's Partial Distortions will be revealed, releasing on Desert Records and Majestic Mountain Records.

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Partial Distortions by Red Mesa

SOME BUZZ

‘Partial Distortions’ shows a powerful return of the Albuquerque, NM heavy desert rock trio Red Mesa with their fourth full-length. The album will be released on April, 19th 2024 via Desert Records (North America) and Majestic Mountain Records (Europe).

This 6-track album features the same lineup from their 2020 release ‘The Path to the Deathless’ and the 2022 single ‘Forest Cathedral’.

The record shows further collaboration between band members as guitarist/vocalist Brad Frye, bassist/vocalist Alex Cantwell, and drummer/vocalist Roman Barham all contributed musically and lyrically throughout the album.

Red Mesa has been leading the new generation of desert rock by proving that the genre is capable of greater expanses. The trio has expanded their signature heavy desert sound on ‘Partial Distortions’ to include more doom and sludge metal moments.

“Blackened desert” sound collages and an overall doomier and downright frightening musical path will confront the listener, as the album is darker musically and thematically. All whilst still dwelling within an optimism that instills hope that amongst the loss, the tragic endings, and the suffering that this existence brings, that life is still worth living.

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VIGIL Offer Roaring Catharsis on EP ‘...And The Void Stared Back’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Nothing is worse than the emotional burden of hurt, loss, betrayal, and grief. It is often overwhelming, consuming thoughts and giving rise to depression and physical distress that can last for months, years, even a lifetime. Music comes as a welcome respite, as it not only identifies with our pain but offers an outlet for mourning, insight, perhaps even healing.

Thus, death-doom was born, a melding of death metal with doom metal that began with groundbreaking acts such as Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Katatonia, and Draconian in the 1990s and continues strong well into the second decade of the new century. A hallmark of this style is slowed down tempos, gruff vocals, double kick drumming, and plaintive guitars, with the genre expanding into melodic realms as well. To onlookers it may seem harsh, morose, even distasteful. However, to those in the throes of misery it can come as a welcome salve to the soul.

Today, we introduce you to the grim New Hampshire blackened death-doom crew VIGIL, which rose from the ashes of another Kingston area band: Onera.

Justin Christian (bass, guitar) and Craig Simas (guitar, synth) have aimed not only for a heavier direction than their previous project, but also something "beautiful and emotional." Dave Petillo (vox), Joe Davis (bass), and Brandon Phinney (drums) round out the formidable ensemble on the band's debut EP, '...And The Void Stared Back' (2024), which Doomed & Stoned is premiering.

"One of the original building blocks of Vigil was to be as heavy as we could," the band says, "This led to the decision to have two bass players. As the songs started to take shape and each member was putting their own touches to the arrangements, we realized quickly that we succeeded in our goal. Combining that with our love for post-rock, thrash, and progressive metal, Vigil is a showpiece for all our influences filtered through our ears, hands, and emotions. We take the listener down a dark road of sorrow and anger."

The four-track affair begins strong with one of my favorites of the record, "Descend To Extinction" -- a song that puts our mortality into perspective.

You must all face The truth of life We end in spite Of our strife All must pay A toll sometime Let our being Be a moment in time

A sanguine guitar lead greets, interlaced with dire growls personifying our great common enemy: Death. Juxtaposed to this is a melodic chorus with appealing vocal harmonies that address the cold, hard reality of human suffering. At 4:22 there is some arresting riffwork that harkens back to the metal glory days of the '80s. It feels as if the rushing winds of Fate are sweeping us away. The song closes with a return to the dissonant rhythms and the bittersweet riff of the start.

Next comes the "Words of a Dying Man". Rainy repeated chords set the stage and are soon contrasted with contemplative picking, spacey synthesizer, and dark octaves on the piano. This is accompanied by gnarling vocals and that both snarl and whisper. Emphatic bass and drums shake us awake from this dream state, and downtuned guitars embrace a return to reality.

After this, we're visited by "Erosion of the Soul". Gut-wrenching black metal vocals are reminscent of Enslaved and the tension increases with strumming chord progressions, tremeloes, and aggressive drumming. You can really feel the rumble of the dual basses here.

The pain you gave me rots inside I cannot tell you I can't believe The hatred still living blind I can't let it breed inside Spirits live fighting Right inside my head

"Convulse Ways From A World Beyond" finishes us off with a wild hailstorm of drumming, chugging groove rhythms, and flashes of dissonance, interrupted by some doomy moments on guitar that are genuinely moving. Twin guitars offer sorrowful strains that intersect and contrast. Solitary bass lines usher us to the EP's closing moments.

Vigil's ...And The Void Stared Back is available on compact disc, with singles available for download (get 'em here). Stick it on a playlist with Serpentine Path, Heavy Death, and Hooded Menace, and Marche Funèbre.

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ISAAK Reveal Tempestuous New Single and Music Video “The Whale”

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Artwork by Mirko Masala

ISAAK and Doomed & Stoned practically grew up together. The Genoa, Italy four-piece stoner metal crew began life as Gandhi's Gunn in the mid-2000's and released two LPs, then began moving in a more up-tempo and progressive direction that outsized the original band -- thus, giving birth to Isaak in 2012.

Three of the four original founding members remain a decade later: Giacomo Boeddu (vox), Francesco Raimondi (guitar), and Gabriele Carta (bass), with Davide Foccis joining on drums for the band's recent third full-length Hey. This team really gets the job done, evincing an unyielding verve that faces off with a savage world. In Isaaks own words, a "riffalicious fast-forward stoner rock band."

Now Issak are splitting a disc with a band of complimentary temperament, New York's Geezer, for 'Interstellar Cosmic Blues & The Riffalicious Stoner Dudes' (2024) on Heavy Psych Sounds. Today, Doomed & Stoned brings you the first of the three Isaak tracks, "The Whale," with a music video that vividly captures the song's vibe.

Buzzing feedback summons us to a churning ocean, where furious drumming suggests wild, tossing waves. The interlacing of riff and rhythm is seamless throughout this roiling four-and-a-half minute ride. Vocals are stubborn and heroic in the face of dread ("I will find you!"), as the vessel treads the unpredictable territorial waters of a mighty aquatic Colossus.

"Take the sounds of the first Baroness albums," the band says, "mix them with stoner riffs and imagery inspired by Herman Melville's masterpiece Moby Dick and you will get this nuclear bomb." Yes, indeed.

Look for the Isaak/Geezer split to emerge May 17th on three variants of vinyl, CD, and digital format, as Heavy Psych Sounds continues to plunge into the mighty depths of it's 14+ year run (pre-order here).

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