#bluesfuneralrecordings — Public Fediverse posts

Elder announce European tour – Distorted Sound Magazine

ELDER have announced a headlining European and UK tour! The heavy psychedelic/progressive rock band will hit the road…
#Europe #EU #AllNoir #BluesFuneralRecordings #Elder #ElderEuropeanTour #European #StickmanRecords
https://www.europesays.com/europe/69010/

Rain has started to leak into the ducts as Spring gets wetter and wetter. While I’m away, vacationing in a nice, dry, cloudy place, my minions are drenched and miserable. As it should be! But I’m still keeping tabs on their progress. Just because I’m having a great time somewhere else doesn’t mean these louts don’t have a quota to meet!

And meet their quota they shall, if only barely… BEHOLD!

ClarkKent’s Sci-Fi Soundbites

Epigram // Obsolescent [March 6th, 2026 – Self Released]

Combining the melodic black metal of Thulcandra and Dissection with the symphonics of Fleshgod Apocalypse and SepticFlesh, Epigram dropped a tasty little morsel with their debut, Obsolescent. The trio from Los Angeles puts on a spirited performance that borders on thrash. Tim Cauley’s display on the kit is a dominant force as he furiously blast beats his way from one song to the next. He turns “Wrath of Betrayed” into a piece of blackened thrash and proves tireless across Obsolescent’s 27-minute runtime. The lively vocal performance of Luis Echevarria adds further to Epigram’s charm. His low growls may seem underpowered, but his delivery is energetic and fun. He’s also the source of the symphonic instrumentation, via synths, though this aspect is secondary. Sure, there’s some choral chants (“Myrmidon,” “The Usurper’s Throne”), strings (“Hour of Gods”), and other vaguely symphonic sounds, but Epigram is most focused on the blackened melodic stuff. Shadi Absi throws together some great riffs, particularly on “Empires,” a work of pure black ‘n roll. The showstopper is “Hour of Gods,” with some sweet riffs and terrific energy. This song alone makes Obsolescent a worthy spin. Rounding out the musicians is Sanjay Kumar (Inferi, Wormhole), who plays solos on “Wrath of Betrayed” and “No Sin.” This is a promising debut for an eager new band.

Kal-El // Astral Voyager Vol. 2 [March 20th, 2026 – Blues Funeral Recordings]

Sporting the greatest band name of all time, Kal-El have been blasting listeners with stoner doom since 2012. Astral Voyager Vol. 2 is the follow-up to last year’s Vol. 1, and these pyschedelians’s seventh album overall. It’s been seven years since Witches of Mars was unfairly pummeled by a Kryptonian frog, and now I’d like to do the band justice by rescuing them from our filter. On this astral voyage, you get the pleasure of listening to six songs and 42 minutes of laid-back stoner tunes with plenty of fuzzy riffs—perfect for cruising around the cosmos. Their riff-centric approach puts them in the Black Sabbath camp, and the riffs on the likes of “Juno” and “The Prophecy,” which has a “Children of the Grave” vibe, are tons of fun. Further cementing the Sabbath comp is the vocal performance of Ståle Rodvelt, who carries a resemblance to Ozzy in his delivery. Longer cuts take more exploratory routes, akin to Sleep, yet still feature plenty to get your head bobbin’. “Asteroid” opens up with some sweet riffs that sustain its near eight-minute frame, while “The Nine” will still have you singing along in the final of its ten minutes. 1 So if you are in the mood for something chill that won’t put you to sleep, something that has the riffs without the risk of elevating your blood pressure, you should spend some time with Kal-El.

Thus Spoke’s Tectonic Treat

Bong-Ra // Esoterik [March 20th, 2026 – Debemur Morti Productions]

Not having received promo, it was only upon visiting DM’s Bandcamp page while writing up Aversio Humanitatis that I realised Bong-Ra had released another album. Asked whether Esoterik would be leaning more into enigmatic doom or spiky industrial electronica, the shapeshifting Bong-Ra said “yes”. The music is built on layers of dense, gritty atmosphere undulating with bass, breakbeats, and distorted riffs. Vocals are maintained from Black Noise—half-spoken snarls blurred by noise, shifting between blunt tunefulness (“Serpentine Helix”) and gargling venom (“Machine Halo”)—but at least half of the space is devoted to the purely instrumental psychosis. The saxophone is back, adding bizarre elegance and chilling eeriness in equal measure. Sometimes, Esoterik seems to be pitting its sultry and acerbic natures against one another; that chamber jazz side can take one by surprise (“Pleasures of the Flesh,” “Duality of One”), sandwiched as it is between a more punishing industrialism, but Bong-Ra just about gets away with it. This could be down to Esoterik’s efficiency in establishing (new) grooves—rhythmic and stylistic. Opener “Harmony Cloak” dispels misgivings on its skittering electronic oddity with a chorus that strikes a stylish balance between melody and dissonance; “Machine Halo” later follows in its stride. It’s an album that earns its moniker, right down to the particular spelling, and is worth the dark diversion it requires.

Grin Reaper’s Kooky Curios

Surturian // II – Hessian Spears [March 13th, 2026 – Crawling Chaos]

A German thrash band named after the legendary fire giant and guardian of Muspelheim? And on their debut LP, they launch an unrelenting, venomous assault filled with sticky riffs and bopping bass grooves in under forty-five minutes? Sign me up! Surturian plays thrash that smacks of early Testament and Metallica fused with the epic melodies of latter-day Kreator—hell, vocalist Tim Krogull reeks of Mille’s rancorous vocals, even though his name hews closer to a Voivodian disposition. In addition to thrash influences, Surturian calls upon Maiden’s signature gallops (“Cimmerians Wrath”) and anthemic melodies (“⁠Night Stalker,” “Do What Thou Wilt”), inculcating a lofty grandeur throughout II – Hessian Spears. Further fanning Surturian’s flames, the outfit navigates a varied landscape that imbues each track with its own character while never straying too far from their core sound. Hard-hitting offensives (“Blood Witchery”), slinky licks (“Night Stalker”), and oddball songwriting (“Beneath a Dying Sky”2) unite into an album I’ve regularly returned to since discovering it. If you’re feeling unSurtain, take it from me—it’s always a good time for some Hessian aggression!

Barn // Crucibles [March 24th, 2026 – Self Released]

Thanks to a certain dude/guy in the comments section, Crucibles didn’t slip past me undetected. Despite their dubious band name, Barn dropped a humdinger slab of tech death back in March that oozes with references to Unquestionable Presence (Atheist), Focus (Cynic), and, to a lesser extent, Decrepit Birth.3 There are even moments that echo more subdued moments from recent Sallow Moth releases (“The Serpent’s Perpetual Shed”). Staccato bursts of guitar, pinch harmonics, and buttery, fretless bass glissandos epitomize what Barn offers, and they spread it thick and chunky all over Crucibles’ sixty-five-minute runtime. Rustic name notwithstanding, Barn’s latest sounds like a sci-fi adventure, supported by track names like “Black Hole Lens” and “Cymatics.” The fretless bass especially helps with the futuristic aesthetic, frictionlessly gliding through gusts of abrupt, otherworldly guitars that buffet tracks from all angles. Barn rarely offers reprieve during their unconventional onslaught, but tracks like “Forbidden Fruits,” “Cymatics,” and “The Defeater” achieve such heights that I don’t find myself needing one. In short, these Boise boys warp listeners to a different dimension on Crucibles, and though it runs a tad long, I haven’t been deterred yet from lighting up this Barnburner.

Dionysiaque // La Tourbe des Rêves [March 27th, 2026 – I, Voidhanger Records]

Dionysiaque dispenses a bizarre derivative of doom on La Tourbe des Rêves that’s sure to be equal parts captivating and divisive. Reaching into the bag of tricks defined by Cathedral, Black Sabbath, and Candlemass, Dionysiaque’s sophomore album lumbers and chugs with classic rock-inspired leads and firecracker songcraft that I find utterly enthralling. Songs like “Aaron,” “Hate Fruit,” and “The Two Headed Boy” spotlight Dionysiaque’s plaintive guitar wails, contributed by L.B. and Bruno Penserini, along with their savvy balance of somber atmospheres and rousing melodies. Buoying the guitar tandem, bassist Lethal lays down frolicking, fabulous thunder via absorbing countermelodies while drummer T.H. looses potent fills and rolls throughout. Soaring atop the instrumentation are N.C.’s unorthodox vocals, which will almost certainly be the sole determining factor in listeners’ ability to engage with La Tourbe des Rêves. His delivery recalls that of Mayhem’s Attila Csihar at his most operatically deranged, never lacking conviction yet occasionally overpowering and ostentatious. Still, I appreciate and enjoy the commitment to the unhinged performance, and although dialing it back a little would make Dionysiaque’s latest more accessible, I’ve come to love La Tourbe des Rêves without apology. So don’t be afraid to let a little love into your heart—go get debauched with Dionysiaque’s aphrodisiac.

Creeping Ivy’s Pandemonic Pleasure

Mammon’s Throne // My Body to the Worms [March 13th, 2026 – Hammerheart Records]

In advising his fellow fallen angels—recently expelled from Heaven—to turn Hell into a competing kingdom, Mammon projects that All Demons will ‘work ease out of pain / Through labor and endurance.’4 Satan doesn’t heed this advice, but the third LP from Mammon’s Throne arguably does. On My Body to the Worms, this Australian five-piece inflicts pleasurable pain upon metaldom via five filthy slabs of sludgy death-doom (plus two instrumental reprieves). Mammon’s Throne conjure Hooded Menace, Temple of Void, and (old) Worm in their proclivity for plodding tempos, swampy riffs, and gravely howls (“Elixir”). The album is also a labor of love for classic (death-) doom à la Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride, mixing gothy croons, ascendant melodicism, and haunting piano into the band’s sinister stew (“Every Day More Sickened,” “At the Threshold of Eternity”). Though the listener does need some endurance, as three of the five non-instrumentals hover in the 8–9 minute range, the record flows fluidly across an easy 42 minutes. If you ever wondered what metal in league with Mammon might sound like, give My Body to the Worms a spin.

Elder – Through Zero Review

Elder sits at the top of their field, a rare heavy band with a genuinely singular sound that…
#NewsBeep #News #Music #2026 #4.0 #AmericanMetal #AU #Australia #BluesFuneralRecordings #DoomMetal #elder #Entertainment #May26 #ProgessiveMetal #progressiverock #PsychedelicRock #review #reviews #StonerMetal #ThroughZero #yes
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/704251/

Elder – Through Zero Review

Elder sits at the top of their field, a rare heavy band with a genuinely singular sound that…
#NewsBeep #News #Music #2026 #4.0 #AmericanMetal #BluesFuneralRecordings #CA #Canada #DoomMetal #Elder #Entertainment #May26 #ProgessiveMetal #ProgressiveRock #psychedelicrock #review #reviews #StonerMetal #ThroughZero #Yes
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/703338/

Elder – Through Zero Review

Elder sits at the top of their field, a rare heavy band with a genuinely singular sound that…
#NewsBeep #News #Music #2026 #4.0 #AmericanMetal #BluesFuneralRecordings #DoomMetal #Elder #Entertainment #May26 #ProgessiveMetal #ProgressiveRock #PsychedelicRock #review #Reviews #StonerMetal #ThroughZero #UK #UnitedKingdom #Yes
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/611013/

https://www.europesays.com/uk/992891/ Elder – Through Zero Review #2026 #40 #AmericanMetal #BluesFuneralRecordings #DoomMetal #Elder #Entertainment #May26 #music #ProgessiveMetal #ProgressiveRock #PsychedelicRock #Review #Reviews #StonerMetal #ThroughZero #UK #UnitedKingdom #Yes

Elder sits at the top of their field, a rare heavy band with a genuinely singular sound that has earned both widespread critical acclaim and a massive, devoted audience. The Massachusetts-to-Berlin transplants have conquered the world with their brand of long-form, psychedelic stoner rock, which effortlessly evokes the hypnotic sprawl of 70’s prog and fuses it with towering, fuzz-drenched guitar work. Elder cemented their greatness with the riff-forward stoner psych of Lore (2015) and the pensive doom/prog of Reflections of a Floating World (2017), but stumbled a bit with the more straightforward Omens (2020). 2022’s Innate Passage was never covered here, but it proved the band still had plenty of creative momentum, embracing mellotron-laced atmospherics and expansive prog excursions without losing the crushing guitar work at the heart of their appeal. Now, four years later, Through Zero arrives with early singles hinting at an even deeper dive into synth-heavy textures and cosmic reflection. Does Through Zero serve as another worthwhile addition to the Elder catalog?

Through Zero features many of Elder’s trademark mannerisms, but complicates their stoner inclinations in favor of more amorphous soundscapes that prioritize dynamics. Elder still deploys bombastic, fuzzed-out riffs and complex, interlocking rhythms and melodies, but they’re buoyed by longer stretches of calming, golden age Yesisms and introspective krautrock-flavored wanderings. Compositions don’t move between various parts as much as they unfurl seamlessly and organically, with meditative, odd-meter loops giving way to crushing guitar theatrics and emphatic hooks, all while maintaining an immaculate sense of psychedelic contemplation. While Elder still sounds like they’ve bottled the rare moments of transcendence that arise in the best of freeform jams, their songwriting now feels more intentional, grounded by a firm sense of contrast and a consistent push-and-pull that comes across as carefully patterned rather than formulaic. The band showcases a nuanced take on the classic and effective “soft/loud” paradigm, as tracks weave effortlessly between quiet deliberation and crushing grandeur, each shift serving to heighten the eventual climax of dizzying catharsis. This allows the stunning conclusion of songs like the title track and “Sight Unseen” to stand alongside the best Elder moments, rivalling the peaks of “Sanctuary” or “Illusory Motion” in resounding splendor.

Of course, these sonic journeys are only able to soar so high due to the strength of the individual parts and performances, with Elder’s veteran chemistry shining through across every facet of Through Zero. Elder truly move as one cohesive unit, main axeman and vocalist Nick DiSalvo leading the charge with jubilantly clean, single-note runs and multifaceted heavy guitar explosions (“Sigil to Ruin”). Behind him, the rhythm section follows perfectly in step, allowing complex patterns and grooves to coalesce into something instantly familiar. DiSalvo’s vocals are still the least impressive element, but he leans far more into an ethereal John Anderson tenor, using his voice to emphasize notable passages rather than to dominate them. Synthmaster and second guitarist Mike Risberg has been with the band for years, adding nuance to the longform meanderings and accenting powerful crescendos. On Through Zero, he’s given much more room to leave his mark. A song like “Capture/Release” demonstrates the added depth the Tales From the Topographic Oceans style synths can add, beginning with a stunning electronic shimmer and playful plinks and ending with a searing keys solo that serves as the cherry on top of an already impressive riff-fueled finale.

For all of its intricate musicianship and circuitous compositions, Through Zero is a remarkably easy record to get lost in. Despite 5 out of the 6 tracks approaching the 10-minute mark, no moment or motif overstays its welcome, and every crescendo feels earned. Elder themselves took part in the production and mixing process, and their attention to detail is evident in the record’s rich analog warmth that never sacrifices modernity. From subtle cymbal washes and gentle synth pulses to towering distorted guitar tones, every sonic peak and valley feels carefully placed, giving the music an unexpectedly serene quality. That sense of tranquility reaches its apex on the closing track, “Blighted Age,” one of the shortest and most subdued pieces in Elder’s catalog. Eschewing the monumental builds that define much of the album, the song unfolds as a contemplative acoustic meditation, bringing Through Zero to a quietly reflective close.

In many ways, Through Zero feels like the album Elder have been building towards across their storied career. It blends the psychedelic riff-porn of Lore and Reflections with the atmospheric synth prog of Innate Passage and even sharpens its approach with the more discernible structures of Omens. More importantly, it captures the sense of wonder and transcendence that has always made Elder special, delivering some of the most rewarding music of their career in the process.

Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: N/A | Format Reviewed: Stream
Label: Blues Funeral Recordings
Websites: beholdtheelder.com | facebook.com/elderofficial
Releases Worldwide: May 29th, 2026

The best things in life often happen organically. Temptress1 began in 2019 in Dallas, Texas, as three friends casually jamming together, and they had enough natural chemistry to decide to take their alluring stoner doom to the studio. Like someone who is well-versed in the art of seduction, they appear to be working their way through each of the five senses. Their debut full-length, see, was born in 2023, but now the time has come to close your eyes and hear what Temptress has conjured up for their sophomore record.

hear is both more immediate and less straightforward than its predecessor. Temptress has livened up the laid-back stoner rock of see with copious amounts of grunge. Kelsey Wilson’s guitar lines are equally likely to slip into a hypnotic, looping groove as they are to burst into peppy riffs. The passages occasionally slow to a doomy plod or bear a passing resemblance to the psychedelic side of Messa. Regardless of style, much of the repetitive songwriting has been tightened across the board, making hear’s average track length and total runtime noticeably shorter.

hear by Temptress

hear is a concerted group effort that respects each member’s individuality. All three members share mic duty, which affords variety rather than synergy because most songs have only one vocalist (with the exception of some backing vocals during the chorus of “Narrows”). The ethereal female croons2 in “Edge” and “Downfall” tend to fit the music best; however, the singing elsewhere can sound a bit flat (“Now or Never,” “Narrows”), not quite matching the passion with which they play their respective instruments. Andi Cuba’s drumming has an endearing, quirky character—I like that intro track “Into” uses only tom and bass drums, although there are small annoyances such as the overuse of syncopation (“Edge”) or snare drum fills (“Downfall”). Christian Wright takes the lead with bass guitar in outro track “Out of,” which I hope to hear more of in the future.

Temptress is becoming adept at writing a cohesive record that keeps a live setting in mind. The first half is much more energetic, giving hear the initial impression of being front-loaded, but the back half contains additional nuance upon closer listening. “Be Still” and “Downfall” experiment with tempo shifts to overall success, save for the 30 seconds or so of dead time at the end of each track. The bookends tie hear together well as a package, with a crisp transition from “Into” to “Narrows” and “Out of” complementing the introduction neatly. The one song that I struggle with as a whole is “Now or Never” due to the deadpan vocals and repetitive lyrics, but the instruments are spirited enough that I can imagine that this would work better when performed live.

Temptress comes across as a tight-knit group that retains a refreshing “no expectations” attitude from their early jamming days. The stoner doom and grunge work very well together to produce plenty of enjoyable licks and riffs, although the vocals are something of a mixed bag. Temptress’ growth between see and hear is impressive. I’d like to see them continue to refine their more subtle, contemplative songwriting approach in addition to their more straightforward, bouncy side. All in all, what I’ve heard so far makes me eager to touch Temptress’ next album.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 3 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Blues Funeral Recordings
Websites: temptressofficial.bandcamp.com | temptressofficial.com | facebook.com/temptressdfw
Releases Worldwide: January 23rd, 2026

https://www.europesays.com/uk/441719/ Castle Rat – The Bestiary Review #2025 #3.0 #AmericanMetal #BlackSabbath #BluesFuneralRecordings #CastleRat #DoomMetal #Entertainment #GreenLung #HeavyMetal #music #NWOBHM #Purson #Review #Reviews #TheBestiary #UK #UnitedKingdom

Castle Rat – The Bestiary Review

By Saunders

New York’s Castle Rat generated buzz off the back of their impressive slab of fantasy-inspired doom rock featured on 2024s Into the Realm. A fuzzy, female-fronted doom act with sword and sorcery shtick and a theatrical, unabashedly old school bent, the debut featured tight, infectious songwriting and enough retro flair and heavy metal swagger to rise above the familiar, throwback nature of their craft. Of course, the debut had its detractors, with their theatrical antics, coupled with a not especially original sound, failing to match the hype for some listeners enamored with the heavily populated throwback doom rock/metal scenes. Striking while the iron’s hot, Castle Rat return in quick time with sophomore album, The Bestiary. A quickfire turnaround is a welcome thing, though creates a sense of trepidation of rushed work. Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) and her fellow minions return full of fire and ready to cast their doomy spell for the second time.

Castle Rat hit the ground running with their warm and cozy retro sound intact, albeit featuring a livelier, louder and more propulsive reiteration of the sound established on the debut. Whether listeners find their whole deal too gimmicky or not, it’s tough to doubt the authenticity and passion for their chosen style. Castle Rat channel a ’70s psychedelic haze, prominent Black Sabbath influence, and share surface similarities with acts such as the underrated and enchanting Purson, and modern stoner doom merchants Green Lung. The Bestiary is an altogether harder-hitting and boisterous entity compared to the debut, jacking up the NWoHM and fantasy-inspired bombast for extra crunch. “Phoenix I” unfurls in a slow-burning, dramatic and deliberate fashion, setting the scene for Pinkerton and co to unleash their full fury.

The Bestiary’s increased gallop and fiery guitar work ignite around the poppier sensibilities and smooth central doom grooves and prevalently catchy vocal hooks. Although not the most distinctive frontwoman in the biz, Pinkerton’s silky vocal hooks and confident, commanding delivery continue to a key focal point. Right out the gate, Castle Rat stockpile big-hitting rockers, courtesy of the bluesy doom swagger and earworm hooks of rollicking gems, “Wolf I” and “Wizard.” “Siren” keeps the good times rolling, employing tense rhythmic builds and seductively sinister vocals to cast its spell. There is an easy-to-like simplicity and infectiousness to Castle Rat’s songwriting that shines when the band’s craftsmanship is at its best. Dialing up the epic-ness and adding extra crunch and pepper creates a burlier, higher-octane effort. Within the rowdier experience, Franco Vittore (aka The Count) belts out some blazing solos, while lending doomy weight to straightforward rockers (‘Serpent, “Dragon”) and a grinding, ominous touch to “Unicorn.” Castle Rat’s willingness to experiment outside their comfort zone results in an adventurous, though mixed bag. The softer material nails mysterious, foreboding atmospheres and changes pace, though these shorter pieces are generally less engaging than the album’s rockier fare.

Amidst The Bestiary’s endearing and infectious songwriting, drawbacks appear, tainting an otherwise enjoyable opus. The bricked mastering and loud production detract from the music’s warmth and endearing charms. This issue is felt in numerous areas. The drums lack punch, the mix is squashed and muddied, while dynamic shifts, such as acoustic forays, or the noisy, climactic cacophony on “Unicorn” and “Sun Song” are sapped of their power, dulling impact. Another notable change from the debut is the increased runtime, climbing to nearly fifty minutes, in contrast to its predecessor’s refreshing efficiency. There are momentum drops and pacing issues. These factors and the front-loaded nature of the album contribute to bloat. An intro, outro, mid-album instrumental piece (“Path of Moss”) and three decent, acoustic-driven folkier tunes have their merits but combined contribute to pacing issues and overall padding.

Into the Realm was an impressive debut outing, signaling Castle Rat as a fresh force pedaling retro and fantasy-clad doom to strong effect. The Bestiary marks an ambitious, solid, if flawed follow-up. Significant production concerns and the aforementioned pacing issues, bloat, and an uneven backend detract from an album that reaffirms Castle Rat as a talented band with old school values and a vision to diversify their formula with intriguing results. While not everything hits the mark, there is still much to unpack, some killer tunes, and fun to be had. Hopefully Castle Rat can channel their creativity into a more consistent, tighter effort next time round.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 3 | Format Reviewed: 2304 kbps (Lossless)
Label: Blues Funeral Recordings
Websites: bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: September 19th, 2025

#2025 #30 #AmericanMetal #BlackSabbath #BluesFuneralRecordings #CastleRat #DoomMetal #GreenLung #HeavyMetal #NWOBHM #Purson #Review #Reviews #TheBestiary

Blue Heron – Everything Fades Review

By Carcharodon

Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Blue Heron dropped their debut record, Ephemeral, in 2022. I remember briefly listening to it at the time, but it didn’t leave much of an impression. Dipping in again now, I think that was very much a Me Problem because Ephemeral was a solid slab of desert stoner rock, tinged with both blues and grunge. And I slept on it. Stoner is a genre mired in mediocrity but, for me, when a band hits its stride, it’s so goddamned satisfying. Bands like Kyuss, whom we’ll be hearing more about below,1 had this ability to just carry me away, born on the languid desert winds. Now back with their sophomore record, Everything Fades, whatever sort of journey Blue Heron wants to take me on, it’s one I’m determined not to sleep on!

On Everything Fades, Blue Heron picks up where they left off. And why not? They set themselves a great base to build on and have done so in every respect. Most of the material falls slap bang in the middle of a sand-swept bridge, leading between the lands of Kyuss and Sleep. Huge, distended guitars from Mike Chavez (ex-Spiritu) rumble and flow across a world drowning in reverb and languid melodies, while Steve Schmidlapp’s bass thrums its way through the open dunes. There’s also more than a bit of early Clutch (opener, “Null Geodesic”) and Orange Goblin (closer, “Flight of the Heron”) infusing the smoky sound on show. Not satisfied with the desert, however, Blue Heron skilfully weaves in Dirt-era Alice in Chains (particularly on “Swansong”), adding extra depth to their songwriting. The star of the show, however, is singer Jadd Schickler (also ex-Spiritu), who shows himself to be hugely versatile. His vocals range from a beautifully rich, bourbon-drenched husk that evokes Sleep’s Al Cisneros and early-career Neil Fallon, to a delicate bluesy style, which was uncannily familiar.2

Everything Fades truly kicks off the moment that Schickler’s gritty voice is first unleashed. After that, Blue Heron never looks back. The Kyuss worship is both clear and very well done (“Dinosaur” and “Trepidation”) but there’s a lot more going on than that. Both Jam Room-era Clutch and the rougher edge of early Down, or even Neurosis, shine through in places. It’s the title track that showcases Blue Heron’s absolute best, as the song glides effortlessly from Kyuss’ desert blues, Ricardo Sanchez’s drums awakening slowly from a sun-drenched daydream, to kick off into big, Orange Goblin stoner territory. At the three-minute mark, Schickler drops down from his coarse bellow, which perfectly tweeters on the verge of cracking, to a delicate croon, which reminded me most of Mark Lanegan.

Coming in at a tight 38 minutes, there is very little fat on Everything Fades, which is a welcome surprise for a stoner record.3 Indeed, Blue Heron show themselves to be very talented songwriters, with nearly everything they try coming off, feeling fluid, organic, and crucially, effortless. It has to be said that “Clearmountain” feels a bit light on ideas and notably weaker than the rest of the songs, with Schickler’s normally stellar voice also feeling like it’s straining. However, the lyrics for that track properly got me for some reason, as Schickler husks “Don’t stand upon my grave and weep, I am not there; I do not sleep, I am the thousand winds that blow.”4 That slight misstep apart, the thing that really holds back Everything Fades is the production. At a shocking DR2, it often sounds shallow and crushed, with the drums eating up the space that should be available for the guitars (see “Bellwether” and “Flight of the Heron,” in particular). This is a real shame as Sanchez’s work behind the kit is solid and I love Chavez’s guitar tone, which sounds mellow and organic.

With Everything Fades, Blue Heron has improved on Ephemeral, showing themselves to be skilled songwriters. The songs flow and the album is at that perfect length where each time the last notes of “Fight of the Heron” fade out you’re left wanting just a little bit more. Undoubtedly a very good record, if Everything Fades had better production, it could easily have been a great one.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 2 | Format Reviewed: V0 VBR mp3
Label: Blues Funeral Recordings
Websites: blueheronabq.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/blueheronabq
Releases Worldwide: September 27th, 2024

#2024 #35 #AliceInChains #AmericanMetal #BlueHeron #Blues #BluesFuneralRecordings #Clutch #Down #EverythingFades #Grunge #Kyuss #MarkLanegan #Neurosis #OrangeGoblin #Review #Reviews #Sep24 #Sleep #StonerMetal #StonerRock

Delving – All Paths Diverge Review

By El Cuervo

I admire artists who change. Considering the trend away from doom metal and towards psychedelic rock across the Elder discography, it should come as no surprise that the new project by frontman Nick DiSalvo focuses entirely on the latter. Diving into layers of synthesizers and guitar haze, All Paths Diverge blazes a new trail into psychedelic music that was only hinted at by Elder previously. Though the remainder of this review will describe their music, the Delving artwork is perfect; it fuses a warm embrace with something fantastic and foreign. Does the album match?

The opening three tracks on All Paths Diverge are stylistically similar and indicate the record’s core sound. They fuse twinkling synths, keyboard melodies, and fuzzy stoner riffs into songs that like to gradually layer and de-layer. It’s solely instrumental but you won’t notice the absence of vocals; the guitars, drums, and synths are plenty expressive. The flowing song-writing moves at an ambling, lilting pace, operating in a space that feels more psychedelic than it does progressive. And while I’m sure the guitars would have more heft in a live setting, as recorded nothing here has the imposing feel of true ‘heaviness.’ The majority is warm, pleasant and unthreatening. The evocative atmosphere transports me to an unhurried, beautiful walk through some sunny hills close to the Mediterranean.

Despite my overall positivity towards the core sound of All Paths Diverge, I prefer the songs featuring more dramatic change. Over the second half of “Zodiak” and the first half of “The Ascetic,” the album slows to almost ten minutes of crawl, featuring lots of synths and ambience. Fortunately, this is encircled by meatier riffs across the first half of the former and a frantic finale to the latter, melding keyboard and guitar solos into one of the heaviest passages throughout. Likewise, “New Meridian” is another highlight because of its dynamism. Pulsing synths and gentle beats ebb and flow for minutes before a dramatic transition into a fast, technical guitar lead. I’m an advocate for dynamic songwriting that pairs light with heavy, so I’m most engaged when Delving sprawl and develop. However, these stronger songs also emphasize that the opening tracks are rapidly consistent and predictable by comparison.

It’s clear that DiSalvo is a sophisticated songwriter. The compositions here transition smoothly and subtly, waxing and waning through the many instrumental layers and tempos. It’s just as well because All Paths Diverge runs for over an hour, averaging nine minutes per track. So these long songs demand smooth edges to mitigate the more abrasive track lengths. It’s a lot of music to consume. The generally relaxed approach and lengthy songs consequently results in much of the music slipping into the background. The big, airy synths and whining guitars contribute to this effect, whiffing more than a little of Steve Rothery’s solo work1. But where Rothery consistently fuses his gorgeous, spacious synths with dramatic solos and intricate guitars, and therefore commands my attention, Delving doesn’t always do so. Besides those moments of dynamism described above, All Paths Diverge is a gentle nudge compared with an emotive punch.

I’ve concluded my time with All Paths Diverge having appreciated its presence in the background as agreeable mood music. But its lack of real potency, both of a musical and emotional variety, devalues the Delving experience. Is background music what an artist truly tries to achieve when creating their music? Something to occupy your passive thoughts while active thoughts are focused elsewhere? I suspect not. But those who enjoy wallowing in psychedelia will undoubtedly find something to enjoy here.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Blues Funeral Recordings (US) | Stickman Records (EU)
Website: delving.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: August 23rd, 2024

#2024 #30 #AllPathsDiverge #AmericanMetal #Aug24 #BluesFuneralRecordings #Delving #Elder #PsychedelicRock #Review #Reviews #SteveRothery #StickmanRecords #StonerRock

Blue Heron - Everything Fades

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9oTcrcQAPc&t=16

#music #rocknroll #metal #heavymetal #stonermetal #stonerrock #blueheron #bluesfuneralrecordings

Lord Buffalo – Holus Bolus Review

By Cherd

Four long years ago, just at the onset of the Great Plague, in the face of uncertainty and anxious hand-wringing, I found myself agreeably distracted for the briefest of moments by Lord Buffalo’s sophomore LP Tohu Wa Bohu. These Austin, Texas boys culled fruit from the darker corners of Americana music and spat out an oaky mélange of gothic country-psych rock that spoke to the sullen farm boy in me. The Plague has since waned to a sniffle, but there’s still plenty of uncertainty and anxious hand-wringing when one surveys the news headlines. Can Lord Buffalo once again pull me away from doom scrolling long enough to fall under their Middle American spell? I’ll say this for them, they have a way with album titles. Tohu Wa Bohu is the Hebrew for the phrase “formless and empty” found in the book of Genesis. Meanwhile, Holus Bolus1 is an antiquated term that means “all at once.” Thankfully, the band is consistent in more than just obscure rhymes.

Many of the same influences from their earlier albums are still embedded on Holus Bolus. There’s the obligatory burnt offering at the altar of David Eugene Edwards, particularly his Wovenhand iteration, as well as Nick Cave, both for his work with the Bad Seeds and his excellent film scores with Warren Ellis. I noted in my review of Tohu Wa Bohu that one could hear hints of Timber Timbre in a song or two. That aspect of their sound has expanded on Holus Bolus, especially in the vocals of Daniel Jesse Pruitt. That said, Lord Buffalo has landed on a more cohesive sound on this outing, pruning the occasional rabbit trails down in favor of a compact compositional range and tying it all together with a warm but close-sounding production job absolutely saturated with off-kilter reverb of both instruments and vocals.

In my review four years ago, I expressed hope that Lord Buffalo’s next record would see them surpass the sum of their influences and hit on their own unique perspective. I’d say they’ve done so. They’ve leaned hard into the atmospheric side of their approach, upping both the Americana earthiness and trippy psychedelia. Case in point is the deceptively majestic “Malpaisano,” which starts as a languid, haunted country elegy before a heavily distorted keyboard and horn section elevates it to an otherworldly plane. Two songs later, a natural companion piece presents itself in “Cracks in the Vermeer.”2 Where the latter was almost a vignette of stately sadness, “Cracks in the Vermeer” is fleshed out into a full song, with a first half deeply depressive, yet gentle, giving way to a funereal chant and the darkest stretch of the album. It’s not all dolor and ennui on Holus Bolus, tho. The leadoff title track is a propulsive rock song full of banally apocalyptic imagery, from empty strip malls to prairie fire kindling. Meanwhile, second advance single “I Wait On the Door Slab” gathers the various threads of the album and binds them into six minutes of twisting gothic folk and doom rock. Each of these songs is a complete thought, as well as a brick in the lyrical wall Lord Buffalo builds across the album.

So far, so great, but as good as all this material is, I have a niggling issue with the overall album composition. This is a slight album, at just under 40 minutes. Not a problem in itself, but the two longest tracks are instrumentals. The first one, “Slow Drug,” fits the album’s mood and style wonderfully, with an odd swagger and heavily distorted vocal humming that integrates well with Holus Bolus’ other affectations. The problem is that it falls second in the track listing, derailing the momentum set by the fantastic opener. It would flow better later in the runtime. With one instrumental, and a good one, already under their belt, Lord Buffalo close with the seven-plus minute “Rowing In Eden,” which is unfortunately the one throwaway track on an otherwise stellar set of songs. It’s not bad on its own, tapping into the same haunted atmosphere as the rest of the album, but the time could have been better spent expanding the lyrical content of this missive on the American landscape at the twenty-first-quarter-century mark.

Lord Buffalo have taken a significant step forward forging their own take on the gothic Americana sound with Holus Bolus. That said, the album composition holds this back from becoming the jaw-dropping statement I’m now convinced they have in them. They remain an exciting contemporary of acts such as Wailin’ Storms and All Them Witches, and I’ll happily follow them wherever they go next.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Blues Funeral Recordings
Websites: lord-buffalo.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/lord.buffalo.band
Releases Worldwide: July 12th, 2024

#2024 #35 #AllThemWitches #AmericanFolkRock #Americana #BluesFuneralRecordings #DavidEugeneEdwards #FolkRock #GothicAmericana #HolusBolus #Jul24 #LordBuffalo #NickCave #NotMetal #Review #Reviews #TimberTimbre #WailinStorms #Wovenhand

Horseburner – Voice of Storms Review

By Mystikus Hugebeard

I believe that the words I used when Steel informed me that a new Horseburner album was in the bin were, quote, “About fucking time!” Sure, it’s only been five years since The Thief, and in the grand scheme that’s nothing. I’ve tried on plenty of stoner/sludge/doom groups during that wait (when I wasn’t listening to Conan’s Existential Void Guardian for the zillionth time) but through it all I kept coming back to Horseburner. So as far as I’m concerned, a new Horseburner couldn’t arrive fast enough. After my time with Horseburner’s newest release, Voice of Storms, I can say with confidence that it’s not only a solid album of great Horseburner-brand sludge-prog jams, it’s a fascinating step forward for a band committed to evolving their style.

Horseburner’s usual comparisons to Mastodon, Baroness, and Howling Giant still hold up, but Voice of Storms reminds me more of Mastodon than ever before. “Palisades” in particular immediately made me think of Once More Round the Sun the first time I heard it; the guitars fly through frantic noodling and big, satisfying riffs, the vocals are a harsh but melodious growl, and the drum fills are constant. Even the less hyperactive songs like “The Gift” and “Heaven’s Eye” have a great Mastodon-esque sense of dynamic energy and momentum. The overall sound of Voice of Storms is a bit cleaner this time, with the guitar’s grit toned down from The Thief. I’ve always loved the edge that grit brought to Horseburner’s riffs, but Voice of Storms still has a satisfying, sludgy fuzz that’s a joy to experience.

Where The Thief saw Horseburner zeroing in on their sound and taking bolder strides in their songwriting, in Voice of Storms Horseburner expands on their songwriting abilities by refining them. Some of their more frenetic progressive tendencies have been eschewed for a tighter scope and stronger focus on melody, and the result is an album of distinct, highly memorable songs. Just after a first listen, every song sticks out even at a cursory glance; the insanely catchy melody in “Hidden Bridges,” the frantic pace of “Palisades,” the big, beefy riffs contrasting the lightning-quick verse in “The Gift,” or the sprawling, epic escalation of “Widow.” These core motifs make the songs easy to latch onto and highly re-listenable, but Horseburner’s real achievement is how energetic the music is while never losing control. This energy plays into the themes as well; Voice of Storms is an allegory for the mistreatment of women throughout history. The energy feels almost impossible to contain like it’s fighting against the limits of the songs themselves, and it gives Voice of Storms an unrelenting but thrilling pace.

If Voice of Storms were a vacuum, there would be scant little to complain about. The latter half of “Diana” starts to recycle ideas without enough escalation to justify the runtime, and I’ve never quite connected with the interlude “Silver Arrow,” but I struggle to muster any real annoyance. But while Voice of Storms is the more consistent album, the high points don’t hit quite as high as those from The Thief. Because of the toned-down grit, heavy riffs like those in “The Gift” or “Widow” don’t have a similarly massive impact as something like “Hand of Gold, Man of Stone.” That thick, crunchy tone paired with the violent riffage made The Thief’s best moments downright electrifying; I never had a similarly rapturous moment in Voice of Storms as I did the first time I heard “Fathoms.” Still, if this were somebody’s first Horseburner album, they wouldn’t be missing some crucial piece of the puzzle. But the crunchier elements from Horseburner’s past are somewhat missed by a curmudgeonly fan like me.

I know this review is late as sin, but I wanted to get it out there because Voice of Storms deserves your attention. Horseburner could have just made another Thief and I’d have eaten it up, but Voice of Storms comes from a yearning desire to never stop changing and the results are great. Maybe sometimes a few things are lost in the churn of evolution, and I’d love to see some of Horseburner’s heavier sensibilities return in the future, but it’s difficult to ignore Horseburner’s achievement here. Voice of Storms is well-written, full of energy, and is Horseburner’s most consistent release to date; this is a vital album for Horseburner fans and for anyone looking for a refreshing slab of dynamic sludge metal.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: PCM
Label: Blues Funeral Recordings
Websites: facebook | bandcamp
Releases Worldwide: June 21st, 2024

#2024 #35 #AmericanMetal #Baroness #BluesFuneralRecordings #Horseburner #HowlingGiant #Jun24 #Mastodon #ProgMetal #Review #Reviews #SludgeMetal #StonerMetal #TheThief #VoiceOfStorms

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#MetalSucks
Sh*t That Comes Out Today – May 24, 2024
Featuring new releases from Abrams, Bring Me The Horizon, and Rotting Christ. The post Sh*t That Comes Out Today –

https://www.metalsucks.net/2024/05/24/sht-that-comes-out-today-may-24-2024/

#shitthatcomesouttoday #abramsbluescity #bluesfuneralrecordings #denverband #baroness #bringmethehorizon #nexgen #posthuman #totemcatrecords #dopethrone #brokesabbath #totemcatrecords #sludgemetal #rottingchrist #proxristou #seasonofmist #greeks #empirefall

Dozer "Dust For Blood" Official Visualizer Video

https://youtu.be/nraLiBN6cxk

#music #metal #doommetal #stonermetal #dozer #bluesfuneralrecordings