VIDEO PREMIERE: Chicago's Of Wolves return with "Heart To Hand"

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois Of Wolves play a raw and heavy blend of punk and metal from stoner sludge to hardcore & post punk. Releasing their debut record “Evolve” in May 2013, it was a caustic, white-knuckle roller-coaster ride, fueled by a righteous fury at the world around them.  An album full of skull crushing riffs and lumbering bass pierced with a load of heavy grinding monster beats and stomping blasts that open up like bursts of machine-gun fire.  This devastatingly intense band write songs to deal with stress, disillusionment, social injustice.

6 years have now passed since their debut and Of Wolves have a new album in the can which is set for release via Cimmerian Shade Recordings next year.  Given the fact that we loved their debut so much, it was a no brainer when we were asked to debut a brand new track  and today at THE SLUDGELORDwe’re stoked to be premiere “Heart to Hand” which you can check out below.  More new about their sophomore will be announced when we know more.  In the meantime, turn the volume to 11 and watch your speaker die!!!

Band info: Facebook || Bandcamp

ALBUM PREMIERE: Disrule deliver riffs with more fat than Danish Bacon on sophomore "Sleep In Your Honour"

The world has many things to thank Denmark for over the years, not least its incomparable sense of style and Copenhagenis home to some of the world’s most sought-after designer brands and classic products. My kids would say the piece de resistance is Lego, however they probably haven't stepped on it with no socks on, if they had I am sure they’d change their tune haha.  Have you done it?  Hurts like fuck doesn’t it

When I was a kid the most famous Dane I was aware of other than Lurpak butter was Jan Molby, then when I got into metal, Lars Ulrich was obviously a name associated with Denmark and is arguably one of the countries most recognisable faces, reviled and loved in equal measure, when you trace the roots of Danish heavy metal he is probably top of the tree.

Hailing from Denmark, you’d be mad(s)(Mikkelson) to overlook the band DISRULE., because they are a diamond (King), a doom/stoner heads wet dream, because these guys can groove and rock out with the best of 'em. Clutch, Down, Fu Manchu and the mighty Black Sabbath all come to mind upon listening to their second record “Sleep In Your Honour”and in keeping with the spirit of legendary bands such as Sabbath, it was recorded live at Dead Rat Studio in just two days. 

Streaming in full today exclusively, ensure you turn this one up loud(drup) with a bier (Susanne) in hand.    “Sleep In Your Honour” is released this Friday via Seeing Red Records and is available HERE

Band info: facebook

ALBUM PREMIERE: Wasted Theory put the hammer down on album #3 "Warlords of the New Electric"

Wasted Theory’s second release with Argonauta Records, after the ‘2017 edition’ CD re-release of “Defenders of the Riff,” displays a disturbingly sober vision of slammed down, heavy rock invaders. Completed in the spring of this year, “Warlords of the New Electric” was recorded, engineered, and mixed by Joseph Boldizar (Ruby The Hatchet, Ecstatic Vision, The Age of Truth)  at Retro City Studios in Philadelphia, PA.

Wasted Theory had the following to say about the record

"When we set out to write ‘Warlords of the New Electric’ we wanted to take the energy and enthusiasm of ‘Defenders of the Riff” and develop those vibes even further. In our opinion, this is the perfect companion to the last album. We didn’t want to put out the stereotypical third album where we start getting all experimental and bizarre. So, we did the exact opposite - we took our gritty rock n’ roll origins and pushed them even heavier into the material.

The riffs are harder, the fast stuff is faster and the doom stuff is doomier. This is the perfect album for those hot, sticky summer nights hanging out at your buddy’s BBQ bonfire and having way too much to drink. This album is very much a Wasted Theory album."

Argonauta will release “Warlords of the New Electric” worldwide this Friday  October 26th 2018.  The eight song, full album hammer strike will include Vinyl and CD formats, with Digital Download and today a couple days ahead of the release you can stream the record in full.  So turn in up and let your speakers die

Band info: facebook

ALBUM PREMIERE: It's a new horizon for Komatsu

Komatsu is a super-massive rock band from Eindhoven, formed  in early 2010, their years of musical experience in all kinds of bands and individual creativity created a brutal mix of sludge, stoner rock and metal, the beast that is Komatsu was born.

After playing 85 shows in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, England, The Netherlands, Brazil and Austria in support for the album 'Recipe for Murder One' released in 2016, Komatsu entered The Void Studio with producer Pieter Kloos in January 2018 to record the new album 'A New Horizon'.

Set for release on Friday September 7th 2018 on Argonauta Records (Vinyl/CD/digital formats) their new album will once again smash listeners, and to  make sure you get the first listen before anyone, we’ve been given the opportunity to debut the record a day early, which you can check out below.  Pre-Orders are available at: www.argonautarecords.com 

Band info: facebook

REVIEW: Acid Priest, "Drop Out" [EP]

By: Mark Ambrose

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 05/06/2018

Label: Independent

Like the best psychedelic art they explore the bizarre, the beautiful, the sinister and the sensual all at once and leave your mind reeling.  Strap in, drop out, and follow the Acid Priest to stoner salvation.

“Drop Out” DD track listing

1. Initiation

2. WarWagon

3. The King Tide

4. Let Go

5. EYEZZ

The Review:

My media libraries seem to be inundated with odes to psychedelic explorations – the complete Zap Comix line my shelves next to the midnight movies of Alejandro Jodorowsky abutting mind melting genre writers and the discographies of prolific drug takers too numerous to mention.  But I have to admit up front that for all my rhapsodizing about stoner riffs and psychedelic freakouts, and a less than saintly life in 33 years, I’ve never taken the plunge into LSD.  I’m cripplingly neurotic on my best days and convinced I’ll step into a nightmare vision out of a Beksinski painting the moment I drop acid.  But after listening to the warped, fuzzy, oddly beautiful tunes on “Drop Out”, the church of the Acid Priest may find new lysergic converts.

It’s all about the riffs for these punky metal rockers.  There’s a warm current of Thin Lizzy running through all five tracks of their debut EP, but intro track “Initiation” is like a harmonic blast of golden 70s hard rock.  Guitarist Zakk Mild’s riff is so finely crafted, in fact, that it feels a bit wasted on an intro.  No matter, since there are stellar riffs to spare in the four remaining bangers.  “WarWagon”hinges on a gallop that recalls the early days of NWOHBM – when it still retained a strong crossover appeal to punkers and heshers alike.  Bassist and lead vocalist Spliff Burton doesn’t reinvent the wheel of classic metal bass playing – he lays it out solid and thick, with few frills.  His unique cadence as a vocalist is really something – belting out some snarling lines on this one and sliding into a gothy croon on “Let Go” and “EYEZZ” that feels like some desert rock cranked to 11.  The doomy, stoner outro of “WarWagon”manages to pull of pyrotechnic shreds and ignorant riffs – not an easy feat for seasoned veterans, let alone guys cranking out a debut.  The “King Tide” is steeped in Cali hardcore but way more headbanging than half that shit could aspire to.  Loaded with hooks and equipped with a memorable, shouted chorus, it’s no wonder that this was the band’s first single.

“Let Go” shifts gears from sheer aggression to weirder, sinister tones.  Between Burton’s smoothed out vocals and the reverb-laden guitar lines of the verses make recalls the golden era of stoner metal.  The shuffling rhythms here are key; Steve Kunzel’s drumming is jazzy punked out metal precision that would make Bill Ward proud, and make plenty of modern metal drummers blush from embarrassment at their own double kick monotony.  When the mellow sheen drops, the chaos lurks beneath, and it’s largely because of this percussive dynamic.  The eerie, spacey ending, complete with spoken word poetry, makes it a memorable and oddly affecting track.  The closer “EYEZZ” is another total left field freakout.  Layered with sinister organ playing, monastic chanting, and gothy whispers, I found myself recalling the bizarre Euro-metal outliers of 80s metal, especially Italian creep-doomsters Black Hole, before a hardcore break, followed by some evil prog like the bastard spawn of Deep Purple and “Red” era King Crimson.

If the genre shifts, tempo changeups, and mashup of clean and shouted vocals sound overwhelming… well that’s because it is!  But in a remarkably cohesive, rocking way.  There’s no gimmick at the heart of this trio, just strait up headbanging rock indebted to the classics while not playing the boring game of nostalgia-fueled pastiche.  Like the best psychedelic art they explore the bizarre, the beautiful, the sinister and the sensual all at once and leave your mind reeling.  Strap in, drop out, and follow the Acid Priest to stoner salvation.

“Drop Out” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Astrosoniq, "Big Ideas Dare Imagination"

By: Victor Van Ommen

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 02/06/2018

Label: Van Records

“Big Ideas Dare Imagination” DD//LP track listing:

1). King

2). The Great Escape

3). Mindless

4). KEPPRA!

5). Vision Factor

6). Freezen

The Review:

A year ago, Astrosoniq lost a close friend and sometimes band mate. His name was Bidi. He was a guy who clearly made an impact on the heavy rock scene of The Netherlands and beyond. As a tribute to their fallen brother, Astrosoniqtook to the studio and made this, their new album, “Big Ideas Dare Imagination.” The band brought in many friends to participate in the making, writing and performing of this album. It’s a group effort. It’s an album the band and their surrounding community needed to make.

Astrosoniq has been around for quite some time. The amount of recognition that they’ve received for their work is arguably underrated. Albums such as “Made in Oss” (technically an EP), “Son of A.P. Lady” and my personal favorite, “Speeder People”are incredibly adventurous. These albums push the borders of every genre in existence – yes, even that one – and they make it work. Doomy jazz with a country twang? The Wizards of Oss master it.

Surprisingly enough, this new album is not as adventurous as the band is known to be. Each song on here is a rock song- sometimes metal, sometimes stoner – but the adventure factor is missing. The experimentation can be heard when it comes to song structures and the addition of a saxophone, for example, but the wild ride Astrosoniq is known to offer just isn't here. For me, as a fan of the band, this took some getting used to.

So I wondered - does the passing of a friend call for a wild adventure? The slow, weirdo hook of opening track “King,” certainly doesn’t think so. It makes its point just fine. The rolling bass and passionate vocals of “The Great Escape” also see no reason to fly off the handle. It’s a sturdy song, just as the straight up rockers of “Mindless” and “Keppra!” are pretty cool songs. Album closer, “Freezen,” is the weirdest and most refreshing track, even if it is just leaning on 1 idea the whole time. So the songs are good. But where does this album fit in the Astrosoniqdiscography?

I’m left with mixed emotions here. Astrosoniqhave made an album that’s close to their hearts. That’s obvious. The passion, courage and heartfelt emotion are certainly present in these 6 tracks. Involving guest musicians was a good move. Bidi made an impression on many people, so it’s a no-brainer to involve these people when making a tribute to the guy. At the end of the day, though, “BIDI” doesn’t gel as an album. Each song very much stands on its own, almost to the point that “BIDI” sounds like 6 songs made by 6 bands. However, considering the context of the album, this isn’t a critique in the slightest. This is the album that Astrosoniq needed to make. This is the adventure Astrosoniq needed to take. The listener will just have to approach these songs with an open mind.

“Big Ideas Dare Imagination”is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

VIDEO PREMIERE: Ukranian progressive stoners Stoned Jesus debut "Hands Resist You"

On September 7th STONED JESUS will deliver their next solid load of progressive stoner rock on Napalm Records entitled “Pilgrims”.  With their fourth album the Ukrainian trio offers much more than your usual Kyuss wannabe or your average desert session band and let’s face it Kyuss hasn’t but out a record for nearly 25 years and we need some fresh jams.

With “Pilgrims”, STONED JESUS have delivered a multi-faceted album mixing groove with noise rock elements, lots of proggy infusions and giant such as Mastodon and Melvins come to mind in terms of tone and texture.  Make no mistake STONED JESUS can’t be pigeonholed and “Pilgrims” is very fine album indeed.  The band comments on the new album:

"This record was inspired by our relentless touring and the feelings you get - or more precisely you lose - because of it. It's weird how disconnected one becomes when constantly surrounded by people. Musically it's pretty different from what we've done, it's more song-oriented but simultaneously more challenging than before - sonically and structurally"

Today THE SLUDGELORD is stoked to host UK premiere of STONED JESUS’ brand new video for “Hands Resist Him” which you can check out below

Band info: facebook|| bandcamp

TRACK PREMIERE: Gramma Vedetta deliver epic psychedelia with a twist of grunge on "Address Unknown"

Stoner/Hard rock band GRAMMA VEDETTA will release their new single "Address Unknown" on June 15th 2018. The song is taken from the band's yet to be titled upcoming album.

The band commented "We are very stoked to release this song. Built on a jam in the studio it has evolved into an epic journey between the 70s psychedelia and the 90s grunge, all revisited in a modern way. This song shows completely where the band's roots are."

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Wychhound, "Earth Orbiter"

By: David Jupp

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 01/05/2018

Label: Independent

The many audio-faces that tell the story of ‘Earth Orbiter’ are proof, that if instrumental music is judged right, executed well, and arranged with craft, riffs beat words. Every damn time.

“Earth Orbiter” DD track listing:

1). Flux

2). Supercluster

3). Comet Shoemaker – Levy 9 (SL-9)

4). Aurora

5). Matter – Antimatter Annihilation

The Review:

When a band parts company with their singer, the ensuing discussion generally goes something like this. ‘Fuck! It won’t be the same man, someone else singing those songs. They might as well pack it in.’ Well in 2017 and only two years on from their debut EP, Wychhounddid just this by saying farewell to singer Jimmy Holifield. Rather than start the depressing trudge through London’s abundance of awful singers, the band decided to strike out on a new path as an instrumental four-piece. Shedding the crutches a vocalist provides in both immediacy and structure is a brave decision, and especially risky when you already have an established following who expect ‘songs.’ So, as Wychhound set forth on a new journey the question is, can they fill the yawning void left by words?

‘Earth Orbiter’sets flight to a wall of feedback. As the pressure builds and ‘Flux’ ignites, Wychhound let fly with a barrage of strings, cymbals and skins. It soon becomes clear how the wordless quartet intend on bringing their old fans with them, and to be honest it’s the oldest trick in the book. Big riffs. Lots of them. Really fast. Before you even reach the minute mark Wychhoundhave twisted their audio-rubix-cube three times. Twist one, swaggering math-groove. Twist two, euphoric chord progression. Twist again, Toolinflected grunge-swerve. As minute two lands guitarist Miles Mcdonald swaggers in with a howling solo and boots the whole metaphor out the window. Singers? Pfft.

The success of instrumental heavy music revolves around a bands ability to judge phrasing. Without lyrics to convey a message you are left with the subtle art of assembling meaning from a jigsaw of riffs. It’s like the best kind of sign language, hold a riff out for too long and the listener grows bored, take it away too quickly and the message is lost. Track two ‘Supercluster’ serves as an advanced elocution lesson in riff-annunciation. Guitarist Roberto Pini kicks things off with a superb off-kilter riff before Mcdonald laces another emotive lead into the fray. Just as the narrative begins to wane bass player Neil Neighbour and drummer Sid Nagdhi grab the track by the low-end and spread a stuttering bang all over it.

Having seen Wychhound cultivate the seeds of these songs across a variety of London’s venues in the last year I must admit that when I first saw the artwork for the record I didn’t really get it. Don’t get me wrong the art looks great but I didn’t quite see what a planet of faces had to do with the songs I had heard.

Named after a comet that broke apart in 1992 and collided with Jupiter, ‘Comet Shoemaker – Levy 9 (SL-9)’s seven-minutes of aching slow-dawn soon provide me with the artworks meaning. Wychhound are a band with many faces. Just as the opening act of the record’s focus sharpens into a prog-metal guise the second movement softens into soaring arpeggiated post-rock.

Great records are made in small increments. The stunning arpeggio that permeates ‘Comet...’sskyline progression is beautiful enough, but exceptional bands always reach for that extra percent. So, as Mcdonald’s triads arc into the records second half, Roberto Pini’s haunting e-bow adds that last extra lift and I challenge anyone not to crane their neck and sigh.

Next up is ‘Aurora.’ Until now Wychhound’ssophomore effort has worn its influences on its sleeve and that doesn’t stop here. Tool, Russian Circles, early Barrows and “Zidane”-era Mogwai have all stirred in places, but now Elder’stotemic influence on the contemporary heavy landscape looms into view. Luckily Wychhoundhave no intention of merely paying homage and as the Bostontrio’s ‘SpiresBurn/Release’ EP flickers in the distance the band re-apply their riff-sculpture and successfully carve another fresh face into the records strata.

‘Matter – Antimatter Annihilation’ brings the album to a close and makes a welcome return to the cinematic melodies of ‘Comet Shoemaker.’ As the spiralling guitar-runs that litter ‘Earth Orbiter’ arch back and dive into another surging chord sequence all fears of a loss of narrative are expelled and the record re-enters the atmosphere on a surge of hefty tone. 

In the last year Wychhound have become a staple of London’s burgeoning heavy-scene. So, by making the decision to record ‘Earth Orbiter’ live, I’m glad to say they have successfully captured the ebb, flow, movement and act that make their live show so popular. What’s more impressive however, is the successful progression from traditional stoner band into a new instrumental landscape. In music, just because a choice is brave doesn’t necessarily mean it is right, so in shedding their singer Wychhoundcould have easily gotten lost in a sea of riffs that lacked narrative. Luckily the many audio-faces that tell the story of ‘Earth Orbiter’ are proof, that if instrumental music is judged right, executed well, and arranged with craft, riffs beat words. Every damn time.

“Earth Orbiter” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

TRACK PREMIERE: Progressive sludgers Astrakhan unleash "A Change Begins"

Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, progressive sludge band Astrakhan are set to release their sophomore album this month, entitled ​"Without ​New ​Growth ​Process ​is ​Bloodshed" the album’s theme according to the band ​is ​the ​idea ​that, ​from ​birth, a ​child ​is ​told ​what ​is ​right ​and ​wrong, ​what ​is ​good ​and ​bad, ​based ​on ​the ​opinions ​of ​the narrow ​minded ​individuals ​who ​influence ​them ​through ​their ​upbringing. ​This ​inevitably ​leads ​a curious ​mind ​to ​question ​why ​things ​are ​as ​they ​are. ​This ​preparational ​approach ​to ​education teaches ​children ​to ​grow ​up ​and ​be ​like ​an ​adult ​as ​soon ​as ​possible. ​There ​is ​little ​time ​to ​bask in ​the ​serene ​innocence ​of ​ignorance.

“Without New Growth Process is Bloodshed” comes two years after their highly praised debut album “Reward in Purpose” and is further evidence of the bands continued growth as a band, channelling a number of different sounds and genres throwing them into a melting pot, with the resultant brew being one of originality and a record executed with flair  and little something extra, making the album a compulsive listen.  Today ahead of the record’s official release you can check out the track “A Change Begins” below

Band info: facebook|| bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Possessor - "The Ripper"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full length

Date Released: 24/11/2017

Label: Wicked Lester Records |

Graven Earth Records

"The Ripper" is one of the most pleasing releases to wrap 2017 and open up 2018. Possessor's massive sound and brutal composition make it one of the more intimidating listens on the scene, and one you should get to know now, if you aren't already down.

“The Ripper”CD//CS//DD track listing

1. Conjure and Possess

2. Guillotine

3. Wet Cemetery

4. The Slime        

5. Whitechapel Murders

6. Lava 

7. Notting Hell

8. Hacksaw

9. Earth Shaker

The Review:

London's thrash marauders Possessor have been at this for awhile, and get fans excited by its mutated form of garage, hardcore, thrash and even a splash of doom from moment to moment. The three-piece managed to carve its own lane in English metal through efforts like its 2016 album "Dead By Dawn," 2015's "Stay Dead" EP and many more. To its credit, Possessor has garnered, through this time, much critical acclaim for its distorted sludge and classic-metal influenced roar.

A band this busy – Possessor has offered nine records since 2014 – always raises eyebrows. Is there potential for burnout, or whiling through all one's creative juices? "The Ripper," an ambitious nine-song album with miles of fire to it, generates a number of these questions, undoubtedly.

So where is a band that gets high regard and seems to have a lot more in the tank to do when music itself is evolving constantly? In the case of Possessor, which melds enough traditional metal to offer a timelessness to its sound, there is an inherent advantage here, since it is not wedded to trends. "The Ripper"starts with "Conjure and Possess," a double-down of guitars and monster riffs that make it clear that Possessor is taking no prisoners. Again, there's an approach that seems to defy our almost innate desire for something wholly new. We're in a moment of so many metal consolidations – black metal with everything, hardcore and more subgenres are blended all the time – that fans almost start to expect it. Bands like Mastiff and Possessor seem to instead revel in straight-ahead metal. There are a list of gifted influences you hear on the opener and its followup, "Guillotine," including Pantera, Megdeth and Exodus among them. A few critical ears might feel this could be considered derivative or even a bit too 1990s. "Wet Cemetery" delivers a bit of grunge-style punk that still stands out for its heaviness. However, Possessor does something that is much harder to pull off than it seems. Songs like "Whitechapel Murders" and "Earth Shaker" come across as inspired by influences, rather than mimicking those acts. Herein Possessor make a far greater return than maybe even at first glance.

If you enjoyed the band's earlier work, like its driving and ferocious album, "Electric Hell," there's a lot on "The Ripper" to please you. The music thrashes hard while being enjoyable for new fans. Cuts like "Hacksaw" are some of Possessor's better songs.  "The Ripper" is one of the most pleasing releases to wrap 2017 and open up 2018. Possessor's massive sound and brutal composition make it one of the more intimidating listens on the scene, and one you should get to know now, if you aren't already down.

"The Ripper" is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook