From the ashes of SLUDGELORD favourites Canaya, step forth a brand new 3 piece conjuring up their own malevolent blend of noise magic. 'With the metallic edge of Mastodon and Gojira, mixed with the punishing tones of High On Fire and Kvelertak', Leeds based Nomasta infuse doom laden thrash amidst bursts of elephantine riffs and dancing time signatures, creating a new blend of sonic brutality for discerning metal fans.
Today at THE SLUDGELORD, it gives us great pleasure to premiere brand new music, in the form of “This Trail Got The Best Of Us'taken from Nomasta'sforthcoming record 'House of the Tiger King', set to be released November 3rd. Owen Wilson (Guitars, vocals) had the following to say about the track, which you can also stream below
“This Trail Got The Best Of Us' is a real nasty piece of work, in the most metal way! Musically it is an ode to the extreme music scene I was introduced to when I moved to Leeds in 2004, and to the friends I made along the way. Lyrically the song is about understanding how all things can come to an end. It can take huge amounts of mental strength and humility to detach from a situation and regardless of our personal investment, to accept failure and begin starting a fresh can often be the best avenue to pursue.
Briqueville is a band shrouded in mystery. On stage, they create an instrumental mantra of spooky guitars, modified field recordings and eerie sampled chants. These meditative build-ups, based on the perseverant element of repetition, are contrasted with and ripped apart by sudden, unforeseeable outbursts of the purest and sheerest heaviness.
Upon release of their debut album in 2014, the band buried 20 copies at various locations across the country, and gradually released the coordinates on their facebook page, animating fans to dig them up from the soil. The idea was met with great enthusiasm among their quickly growing fan base, and will be revisited and extended for the release of Briqueville's mesmerizing 2nd album, appropriately titled “II“, which is to be released on September 29th via Pelagic Records andtoday you can check out the new video for the track "Akte VI" below. Preorders are available here
Hey folks I’m not Dororthy and we’re not in Kansas, but just like her trusty companion Toto, the ever reliable riff masters, Topeka’s THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN rolls again like a tornado strike, catapulting listeners to blissed out aural wonderland, with another cavalcade of distorted guitars and gravely vocals. Yes folks, follow the yellow riff road, because fans of their dusty, fuzzy tones, pounding rhythms, snarling vocals, and most of all, their passionate delivery rejoice,because their fourth opus titled 'Cypress Ave.' is set to be released July 28th 2017 on Napalm Records, and will surely become their most diverse and suprising album to date: Never before has THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN shown this side of themselves. Their new album 'Cypress Ave.' proves that they 're not just another rock band, they're explorers, risk takers, and true artists. This is not a departure, but an expansion, and will please both old and new fans alike.
Now THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN premiere their first music video for the track 'Red Eyed Junkie Queen', taken from the band's upcoming album 'Cypress Ave’ which you can check out below. But before you do, here is what vocalist & guitarist Steve Moss had to say about the track. Can you dig it?!
"This video is a way to show fans what it's like inside the studio with us, a sort of behind the scenes video. We took some cameras into the studio, and just shot random acts, and different pieces of the process over the course of the two weeks we were in there. Believe it or not, this is by far the heaviest song on the album. The driving heaviness of it it just seemed to fit the feel of working in the studio."
'Cypress Ave' will hit the streets on July 28thand will be available on CD, LP Gatefold + Digital Download via Napalm Records, and make no mistake it is an absolute must for every blues- and rock fan. Be prepared, becauseTHE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN are about to return with their most diverse and uniquely sounding album to date!
Pre-Orders of 'Cypress Ave.' are now available here.
“Cypress Ave” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1. Tonight
2. Red Eyed Junkie Queen
3. Glenn's Promise
4. Bury Me Deep
5. The Watchers Nest
6. Break My Love
7. Lemon Trees
8. The Boogie Down [ feat. Sonny Cheeba ]
9. Black Wave
10. The Echo
11. I Can't Let You Go [ Bonus Track ]
To support the band's upcoming album, THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAINwill hit the road this year again, kicking off with an extensive US tour this summer. Make sure to catch THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAINwith their energetic live ritual here:
24.08.17 US - FT Worth, TX / The Grotto
25.08.17 US - Austin, TX / Swan Dive
26.08.17 US - Lafayette, LA / Boom Boom Room
27.08.17 US - New Orleans, LA / Siberia
28.08.17 US - Jackson, MS / TBA
29.08.17 US - Hattiesburg, MS / TBA
30.08.17 US - Muscle Shoals, AL / TBA
31.08.17 US - Pensacola, FL / Handlebar
01.09.17 US - CHarlotte, NC / Snug Harbor
02.09.17 US - Atlanta, GA / Masquerade
03.09.17 US - Richmond, VA / Banditos
06.09.17 US - Baltimore, MD / TBA
07.09.17 US - Washington, DC / Atlas Brew Words
08.09.17 US - Philadelphia, PA / Kung Fu Neck Tie
09.09.17 US - Brooklyn, NY / Gold Sounds
10.09.17 US - Connecticut / TBA
11.09.17 US - Providence, RI / Firehouse 13
12.09.17 US - Boston, MA / O'Brien's Pub
13.09.17 US - Rochester, NY / TBA
14.09.17 US - Cleveland, OH / TBA
15.09.17 US - Indianapolis, IN / Radio Radio
16.09.17 US - Detroit, MI / The Rockery
17.09.17 US - Kalamazoo, MI / TBA
18.09.17 US - Madison, WI / Frequency
19.09.17 US - Green Bay, WI / Gasoline
20.09.17 US - Dubuque, IA / The Lift
21.09.17 US - Chicago, IL / Reggie's Music Joint
22.09.17 US - Lexington, KY / Green Lantern
23.09.17 US - Newport, KY / Southgate House Revival
24.09.17 US - Nashville, TN / TBA
25.09.17 US - Charleston, SC / TBA
26.09.17 US - Raleigh, NC / TBA
27.09.17 US - Charleston, WV / The Empty Bottle
28.09.17 US - Canton, OH / The Buzzbin Shop
29.09.17 US - Dayton, OH / Blind Bob's
30.09.17 US - Pittsburgh, PA / Descendants of Doom Fest
We have covered Familiars a couple of times over here at The Sludgelord. In case you missed those reviews, it’s not too late to catch up!
Familiars spend their time stomping around the Torontoarea by way of hazy, low hanging guitars that are as much a wall of noise as they are drenched in melody. A sturdy groove runs the show, but never really breaks a sweat. This is music for those late nights with the lights dimmed low.
On Sunday, March 12, Familiars is releasing a new 7 inch (order it here ) and we have the honor to premiere the B-Side of this release. Press play below and check out this short interview we did with these Canadians.
Sludgelord: This is your third short release in as many years. What are the accomplishments/milestones Familiars have achieved in these years?
Jared: It feels great to all be on the same level, ironing out our live show, writing, and finding our sound has been really rewarding. And of course getting some wax out there is another big one for us. We're all vinyl guys so it's been a goal to put out a 7 inch since day one.
Sludgelord: The sleeve for the 7 inch is hand made. This gives the product a very personal touch and in doing so, bridges the gap between the listener and the band. Yet in this time of streaming and digital music, the idea of presenting a product sometimes gets left by the wayside. Can you tell us a little about the process of adding this personal touch to the 7 inch? What did it involve? How did you realize this idea? What drives you guys to want to do this?
Jared: We did as much as we possibly could ourselves on this release. The artwork and layout, silkscreened the covers and even carved our own stamps to mark each side of the vinyl. When buying something we appreciate knowing it was made with care by a person that has pride in the product, so hopefully when people get this in their hands they're going to feel that as well.
In a lot of ways we're just doing what we'd want to get from a band. As much as everything is trending towards streaming and digital, there is still a demand for a physical unit.
Sludgelord: The release date for your 7 inch is Sunday, March 12. That's this month's full moon. Is there any relation between the release date and the full moon, and if so, what is the relation? What makes this date so special to the band?
Jared: Anytime we can get something to align with a full moon is a positive. I wouldn't say we're really superstitious, but we do like the idea of them and rituals.
I think the full moon stuff came from Neil Young, he only records on full moons. So it's partly a homage to Neil and partly because writing and recording on those days just seem to have a little more to it.
Sludgelord: So, a full length. About time, right? Can you let us in on any tasty details about the album?
Jared: It's coming. We are writing it now. We're all excited by the songs and writing.
Our sound has evolved in a way, we flow a lot better with each other & the songs seem to reflect that.
Sludgelord: What record were you just now listening to? Which musician - living or dead - would you recommend it to and why?
Jared: We've had the new All Them Witches album on repeat. As to whom I'd recommend it to… I think Neil would dig them, but he's strange so who knows.
And finally
Sludgeord: You've been offered to tour the world with none other than Nickelback! The contract states specifically that your only compensation would be limited to hotels, food, and drinks. Do you jump at the opportunity or do you send your Canadian brethren alone out on the road?
Jared: We'd do it, hopefully they'd be taking us to the UK. We wouldn't have to listen to their set each night would we?Besides, I'm sure we could eat and drink our way into making it worth it.
On the 24th March Wisconsin’s, Attalla, with return with “Glacial Rule the band's second full length, a top loaded riff machine that delivers like a knock out punch.A fully DIY release on CD, LP and digitial download, the album was recorded with Shane Hochstetler of Howl Street Recordings, with mastered duties being handled by Carl Saff, and let us not forget the artwork by Adam Burke.
The album is loaded with crunch, groove and a double helping of rock n roll swagger. So if you like doom, immense guitars and riffs that kick you in the gut, make sure you pick up a copy.
You can check out an exclusive stream “Butte Des Morts” below and preorders are available here
'Glacial Rule' CD//DD//LP track listing:
1. ButteDes Morts 2. Ice Harvest 3. Valderan 4. Black Wolf Rituals 5. Devil's Lake 6. Glacial Rule
Space Witch are a psychedelic stoner/doom band that draw on influences from 70's prog and psychedelia.The band formed in Stoke-on-Trent, England, UK in 2007 and consist of Darren Lee Rowlands (Guitars and founder member), Daniel Mansfield (drums), Peter Callaghan (Vocals and Electronics) and Tomas Cairn (Bass). In 2008 they released their first demo, a 2 track self-titled affair and quickly followed it up with a stream of gigs in the UK underground. The demo was followed up in 2011 with 'Resurrection' a 7 track demo which included 3 live recordings.
In 2013 they released their first EP 'The Alchemy Paradox'-A 3 track mini album which was released by defunct Bristol based label Cosmic Tomb. The band followed this up with a number of shows and festival appearances across UK and saw them embark on the 'Hang the Witch' tour. In 2014 the band released a split with the UK Doom band Trollkraftt called 'Wytchkraft' and their self-titled first full length (a double album) released as a joint venture with labels HeviSike Records, Fear Me Music and Orchestrated Dystopia Records. The album was critically acclaimed and was chosen as Roadburn Festival's album of the day.
To follow the album up, the band toured the UK as well as playing Norway and headlining a festival in Edinburgh which featured on a underground documentary about the Edinburgh scene. Since that time Space Witch have supported bands such as Conan and Mars Red Sky before taking time to write their 2nd full length, 'ARCANUM' which will be released in Spring 2017 on HeviSike Records.
The Sludgelord has been fortunate to have heard “ARCANUM” and make no mistake when we say that that it will undoubtedly be the doom record of 2017, with Space Witch further developing their sound, but retaining all the elements that have made Space Witch one of the premier bands on the scene. With a release date yet to be finalised, the wait to debut new music from their monolithic face melter is over, with one of the band’s finest and suffocating compositions to date. I give you “Hex Solaris” by Space Witch, but not as you know it captain.
ALLOCHIRIA is a post-sludge band from Athens, Greece. They were formed in 2008, and released a self-titled EP in 2010. In January 2014, they released their first full-length album,” Omonoia”.
In December 2016, ALLOCHIRIA joined forces with Art of Propaganda for the release of the band’s second album, “Throes”. Having shared the stage with Deafheaven, Year of No Light, Altar of Plagues, and many more, as well as undertaking their first European tour in March 2015, ALLOCHIRIA 's live experience becomes readily apparent across the vast expanses of “Throes”.
Although their music has often been likened to Neurosis, ISIS, Amenra,and Cult of Luna, ALLOCHIRIAassert their own identity in the post-sludge realm with their deep exploration of very human themes. With “Throes”, its theme explores man as a social being, the corruption that defines him in modern societies, his vain struggles, painful routine, and the effect this has in the world around him.
“Throes”retains the same concept as “Omonoia”, which has man in its main area of interest. But this time, ALLOCHIRIA's pursuit of that concept is angrier and more direct, making for an even more intense listen. Speaking directly to mankind, “Throes” expresses anger, pain, and agony in a higher degree; living beings are being killed, drowned, destroyed, and left helpless, and the rest either cause this or witness it. We mourn a little bit, and then go on with our lives - we are hopeless and weak. This is “Throes“,and ALLOCHIRIA are guiding its maelstrom.
Today you can check out the face melting new track “Lifespotting” which you can check out below. “Throes” is available to preorder/buy here
London based heavy rock band The Riven are set to create quite the stir within the heavy rock fraternity, they are set to release their gloriously righteous debut EP “Blackbird”on April 14 2017 and as a consequence it is destined to propel them to the top of every playlist by year’s end. Make no mistake this band are going to blow up in stratospheric proportions. The album's five tracks recall the glory of 70s hard rock and is influenced by bands such as Grand Funk Railroad and Deep Purple.
The Rivenis the perfect juxtaposition of delicacy set against raw, soulful, heavy rock which tastes all the better when washed down with lots of hot sauce and cheap beer. Formed in West London after an alcohol-fueled songwriting session between guitarist Arnau Diaz and bass player Max Ternebring, they were soon to be accompanied by Charlotta Ekebergh on vocals and Olof Axegard on drums.
Whilst comparisons with their contemporaries will undoubtedly come their way, naysayer take a walk, this delectable quartet are the perfect remedy for the blues of winter and compose music that warms the soul and puts a strut in your step. So we are beyond stoked to debut a brilliant new track from their forthcoming EP which you can check out below entitled “Ain’t No Doctor”. Now where's that beer and hot sauce!!
Hailing from the mountains of North Carolina, Temptation's Wings maybe new to The Sludgelord, however having formed in 2005, they have been writing and releasing music for over 10 years now.With a few albums and EPs under their belt, it wasn’t until the release of their 2012 EP “Legends of the Tusk”, that the band finally began to hit their stride, touring relentlessly in support of the record and earning a slot opening for Iced Earth at a home town gig to their biggest crowd to date.
Fast forward to 2017 and with a new full length entitled “Skulthor Ebonblade” set for release on March 10th, the record is the culmination of over 10 years graft, that has seen them refine their song writing skills and grow into the thrashy doomed infused goliathon they are today.Taking cues from bands such as Grand Magus, “Skulthor Ebonblade” is the complete package with powerful riffs, propulsive rhythms, and emotionally penetrating vocals that will immediately imprint upon your memory.
“Skulthor Ebonblade”will be released on CD and digital formats on March 10 and you can stream the track “I Destroyer” below. The CD version will include an acoustic bonus track called "Solitude." The album was mixed, mastered, and recorded by Andy Bishop at Giraffe Studios, HendersonvilleNC, with the impressive artwork by none other than David Paul Seymour.You can preorder/buy a copy here
“Skulthor Ebonblade” CD//DD track Listing:
1. Burning of Hjalmar 2. I Destroyer 3. Into the Maelstrom 4. To Forge a Legend (Ulfbehrt) 5. Lair of the Gorgon Queen 6. Solitude* 7. Treachery of the Blind Raven 8. Witches of Dredmoor 9. My Name was Skulthor
With the flames barely died down from their critically praised album 'Bless The Earth With Fire', Kent metallers Allfatherare following it up swiftly with new single, 'Inherit the Dust'. Seething with aggression and barely-concealed rage, the track offers up a feast of gargantuan riffs, monolithic grooves and a breakdown big enough to crack the earth.
Recorded with long-time collaborator, Jason Frye at his new studio Century Audio, 'Inherit the Dust' addresses the West’s seemingly endless obsession with bombing the Middle East in the hope of bringing peace, but being continuously surprised at the tragic consequences of these actions.
Vocalist Tom continues: “War in the Middle East has continued to drive instability and created an exodus of refugees from these countries. Refugees that Europe and the West seem less and less willing to offer asylum and safety. We’ve created a world where in some places children fear clear, sunny days as they know these are the best days for drone strikes to be carried out. Our governments claim we want peace yet offer only obliteration".
With that in mind, Allfatherare donating all proceeds from sales of “Inherit the Dust” to humanitarian charity Help Refugees. Help Refugees assist displaced people throughout Europe and the Middle East, providing food, shelter,and safety for thousands of refugees. For more information see http://www.helprefugees.org.uk/
'Inherit the Dust' will be released as a digital download on today Friday 2 December 2016 via Bandcamp here and you can stream the track in full below
Allfather play the Black Heart. Camden on Friday 2 December 2016 and the Underdog Gallery, LondonBridge on Saturday 17 December 2016.
Cowardiceis a 5 piece doom/sludge based in Northern New Jersey. The members are collectively in active bands including Black Urn, Null & Void,Sunrot, Thera Roya, Sentient Horror, Worthless, Intertia. The band was formed late spring 2016 and recorded their first record summer 2016 with Brian Brody in Summit, NJ. Today at The Sludgelord, we can exclusively debut the first track 'The Tearing Down', from the forthcoming album "Without Condolence”, to be released 29/12/2016 via their bandcamp page here. Given the pedigree of the bands mentioned, you know this is gonna crush. Check it out below.
Louisiana-based stoner metal band Vermilion Whiskey will return with their new album “Spirit of Tradition” on February 17 2017. The band's blend of metal with southern and classic rock is refreshing in a sea of groove/Pantera clones. “Spirit of Tradition” was mixed by Kent Stump of Wo Fatand mastered by Tony Reed of Mos Generator.
Hailing from South Louisiana, Vermilion Whiskey is a working man's band, steeped in whiskey fueled Rock-N-Roll tradition. Their musical roots run deep like river veins stretched across their beloved home state & beyond. VW live and dedicate themselves to the thrill of the stage, no matter the crowd size, you will find 101 proof Vermilion Whiskey. Where the good times roll, they can be found, sharing their own brand of hard-nosed rhythms with any and all who live to have a good time! Long live the riff!Taking cues from Corrosion of Conformity, Down, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple, will undoubtedly create quite the stir upon its release and today, you can get your first taste of this superb album with the premiere of “The Past is Dead” which you can check out below.Preorder are available now via their bandcamp page.
Lizzard Wizzardmade an almighty splash into the underground doom scene back in November 2013 when they released their acclaimed self titled debut album, with it's rough mix of down-tempo stoner sludge riffs and a heavy dose of finely tuned doom to boot
Fast forward to 2015 and these talented Aussies released a blistering release in the form of “Dankrupt” that left the underground scene foaming at the mouth because “Dankrupt” was one heavy fucking bastard of a record and a brutal exercise in amp worship. Lizzard Wizzard appearing to thrive on the unadulterated and unflinching brutality they put the listener through.
So having been away from the scene for the better part of 2 years these unruly noise makers are back with a brand new song, “Shithead Nihilism” which you can check out below. The track is taken their new album "TOTAL WAR POWER BASTARD" which is due January 1, 2017 via their bandcamp page. Until then prepare to be bludgeoned with “Shit Nihilism”.
The Asteroid has landed with new album “III”, it has been almost 7 years since their well-renowned second album ‘II’ was released and the band are back with their most polished, solid record to date. For well over a decade, Asteroid, one of the scenes leading lights in the heavypsych community and with a sound firmly rooted in the hard-hitting field of stoner rock the third instalment in Asteroid’s spectacular ascendancy is a hugely diverse record and shows the advanced musicianship between the band, blending all kinds of stoner rock and fuzz.
This is a band who are firmly on the rise to the top and know exactly how to get there. Armed with one of the best releases of 2016, Jake Wallace caught up with band for a quick interview and if that wasn’t enough we have an exclusive stream of “Wolf & Snake”, which you can stream and shareat the end of this article.
SL: Hi guys, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. How are you guys doing today?
Robin & Johannes: Hey! Well actually I'm a little bit sick at the moment, got a bad cough after the last tour. But it's getting better so next week it's buissiness as usual.
SL: Your new record 'III' is a phenomenal album as I highlighted in my review for The Sludgelord. The first thing I’d like to ask is how the idea for the artwork came about?
R & J: Thank you very much, we are very proud of how it turned out. The art work for the album was put together by the amazing Mr Jerker Josefsson, who also worked with us on our new merchandise. We were throwing around ideas for the cover and came up with a couple of different concepts. This being one of them and actually the first one we tried. The photo turned out so good we didn't even try the other ideas...
SL: Can you give an overview on the main thought process for the album and which direction you wanted to take the music in comparison to your second album?
R & J: There has never been a main thought behind any of the albums. As soon as two or three songs come together, the rest of them sort of come natural and fill in the gaps of what we think is needed to make an album feel complete. It's very important that an album has a flow to it, ups and downs, ins and outs.
SL: Who were your main musical influences for the style of the songs on 'III'?
R & J: Hehe, I think we have the same influences as we've always had, we've just gotten better at making the songs sound the way we want them to.
SL: How do the songs usually come about? Does it begin with a guitar riff or do the lyrics set the theme for the music?
R &J: It can be any number of things. A guitar riff, a drum beat or a lyric. My phone is full of 10 second riffs or just me humming something. It can come from anywhere. I've used lines my friends and family say for lyrics and some have started from a beat I got from a machine. Most of “II” was written when I worked with Elvis at a printers standing across from an old cast-iron machine doing different rhythmic patterns. The mind starts to make up fun stuff when you do something monotonous.
SL: Was it a difficult process to write and record this album or did you find it to be manageable?
R & J: A bit, yes. We didn't have as much time to write and rehearse the songs as we did with “II”. So we had to do things a little different this time. The last song was actually written and recorded when everything else was already done. We have our good friend Mr Philip Saxin, who mixed and mastered the album, to thank for making it sound as good as it does! But it was hard work getting it done in time for sure.
SL: Asteroid is now a very well-known name in the world of stoner/fuzz rock, did you ever think you would achieve such recognition?
R & J: When me and Johannes started the band back in 2004 we didn't think much more of it than any other time you've started a band when drunk. So now, almost 12 year later, it feels very cool to still be able to make music that people find enjoyable. We never thought we would end up where we are today.
SL: What is the music scene like in Sweden? Were there many other bands playing similar music when you were first starting out?
R & J: When we started we were kind of the"odd man out"... Only a hand full of bands in Sweden were doing similar stuff and it was tough getting people to understand what the hell we were doing. When people don't understand something, they tend to get a bit uncomfortable, so it took some time o find our audience.
SL: What has been your most memorable gig/festival to date and where would be the ultimate venue to play?
R & J: Well that's a hard one... I remember one gig when we first started out, playing at a high school senior dance. Talk about being out of place! The weird ones always stand out. Utimate venue... Hm, hard to say. I like it when people dance and sing along to the songs, so I guess anywhere where people are happy and enjoying themselves.
SL: What bands are you guys listening to at the minute? Who is the hottest talent in the genre today?
R & J: Well our friends in Blues Pillsare great, Dorian was kind enough to lay down a solo for the album. Uncle Acid & The Dead Beats are good to, as well as Kadavar. Not to mention the darling lads in Limestone Whale, whom we spent the last couple of weeks on tour with.
SL: What is the future for the band? Where do you see yourselves in 5 years time?
R & J: I guess we'll keep making music and exploring what we can do, keep moving forward. We'd love to be able to do this for a living, but as you know that's not easy these days. We've started booking for next year and we're gonna try to visit a lot more places we've never been. And new music is on the horizon as well. But first we 're gonna spread the gospel of Asteroid“III”.
SL: Cheers for taking the time to chat, I wish you guys all the best in the future!
R & J: Thanks, it's been a pleasure. All the best to you all.
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