Heavy rock trio, Northern Heretic – made up of members from Kings Destroy, Eternal Black, Reign of Zaius, Begotten, Clothesline, and End of Hope, have just released their debut single “Killing Floor.” This is the first of four singles the band will be releasing through to 2024. Head into the article below to hear the new track and read more from Northern Heretic.
Kurokuma – Born Of Obsidian
Having released multiple EPs and splits since their 2014 formation, Born Of Obsidian is the first proper full-length from Kurokuma. The UK group plays a style that could be best described as ritualistic Sludge Metal, incorporating tribal percussion somewhere between Sepultura circa Roots and Gojira overseen by a hypnotic aura not unlike Oranssi Pazuzu. The former influences are most immediately apparent on the one-two punch of ‘Smoking Mirror’ and ‘Sacrifice to Huitzilopochtli,’ which are largely driven by downright bouncy rhythmic chugs punctuated with extra fuzz.
However, the band’s atmospheric side gets time to shine as the album goes on. ‘Jaguar’ saves the harsher guitar crashes for its climax, allowing the percussion to provide a more subtle buildup that is given even greater precedence on ‘Ololiuqui’ and the closing ‘Under The Fifth Sun.’ It’s an accessible listen as far as this sort of freakout sludge goes; the less than forty-minute runtime isn’t too tough to digest, and the rhythmic focus gives it a more pulsating presence than most. A strong journey suited well to the balance of brutal and trancelike.
8 / 10
Sleepwulf – Sunbeams Curl
Sleepwulf’s second album, Sunbeams Curl (Heavy Psych Sounds) continues down the path of Doomy Occult Rock set up by their 2020 self-titled debut. The mood is a tinge more ominous with a slightly heavier push in the guitars and tighter drumming, but the vocals retain that jovial warble with enough of that rustic aesthetic to trigger comparisons to Witchcraft, Kadaver, and Graveyard.
‘Stoned Ape’ and ‘Toad Licker Mushroom Picker’ are the biggest highlights, adding some extra Psychedelia as suggested by their righteous titles, while ‘Man Under The Mountain’ dares to stomp into full-on Doom territory. It’s a simple package perhaps better done these days by groups like Green Lung and Magic Circle, but enjoyable enough to satisfy fans of those bands looking for more of the same.
7 / 10
Fostermother – The Ocean
Fostermother’s sophomore album sees some considerable expansions to their Shoegaze-informed brand of Heavy Psych. In addition to a move to Ripple Music giving The Ocean a larger platform than before, the songs noticeably run longer and play heavier than those on their 2020 self-titled debut. The album isn’t too drastically different from its predecessor but upgrading to a trio lineup certainly gives the proceedings some appropriate power.
Putting more emphasis on the Doom portion of Stoner Doom admittedly makes for less varied songwriting, but this methodical approach works well in its own ways. The guitar and bass fuzz are as thick as ever with the vocal effects providing an ethereal contrast without getting too overwhelmed. Things really pick up in the second half as ‘Unholiest Of Days’ and ‘Redeemer’ put in more upbeat hustles, the former seeming to channel classic The Sword, that are strongly counteracted by the title track’s particularly oppressive riff set. It may not have the same quirky appeal for me as the debut, but The Ocean is a worthy step forward.
8 / 10
Hazemaze – Blinded By The Wicked
Hazemaze plays the sort of Doom Metal that’s somewhere between Cathedral and Electric Wizard, driven by fuzzy mid-tempo riffs and an occult aesthetic without getting too zoned out. Their third album, Blinded By The Wicked (Heavy Psych Sounds), offers more of the same albeit with a somewhat darker tinge than their previous efforts. While the execution is admittedly vanilla at times, there are some strong songs that come out of it.
‘Divine Harlotry’ is my pick of the litter for its winning riff and equally catchy chorus with ‘Malevolent Inveigler’ coming close with its thicker riff set. There’s also promise in the atmospheric keys on ‘Ceremonial Aspersion’ and ‘Luciferian Rite.’ Another album that’s simple in design with a style arguably done better elsewhere, but enjoyable enough to warrant a listen.
7 / 10
Obsidian Sea – Pathos
Obsidian Sea has seen some neat evolution since they formed in 2009, rooted in Saint Vitus-esque Traditional Doom and gradually picking up a more laid back, Psychedelic disposition ala Orodruin, Pale Divine, and Kings Destroy. Their fourth album, Pathos (Ripple Music), pushes the trajectory forward even further with the hazy overtones threatening to completely overtake the Doom riffage. Fortunately, it’s a natural transition as the guitars keep an organic vibe, the vocals are pleasantly workmanlike, and the structures allow for plenty of jammed out instrumental segments.
In a fun twist, the more mellow tracks may be where the album shines the most. ‘The Long Drowning’ is a pretty smooth Blues track complete with climactic speedup, ‘I Love The Woods’ has an almost Folky touch appropriate for its pastoral theme. Elsewhere, ‘Sisters’ has an almost Grungy swagger and ‘The Meaning of Shadows’ closes the album with its most disorienting, Prog-oriented structure. It’s great to see the evolution that came about with 2019’s Strangers followed-up with even bolder confidence.
8 / 10
CHRIS LATTA
Pure, bluesy Rock music has undergone somewhat of a revival of fortune in recent years. Not only have the old guard of legends remained strong and as popular as ever, but a slew of younger talent has held the flag of that sound flying high through an earnest passion and solid songwriting. In amongst this ever-widening crowd, Boston act Kings Destroy can easily find themselves a part of that bracket on latest effort Fantasma Nera (Svart Records) and yet simultaneously offer something vastly different.Continue reading
New York City metallers Kings Destroy have shared their new single, ‘Barbarossa’ today. The track comes off of their upcoming new album Fantasma Nera, due out this March 8th, via Svart Records. Crank it up and jam it out now!Continue reading
The Maryland Doom Fest celebrates its fifth anniversary this upcoming June and has confirmed fifty bands including headliners Pentagram, Conan, Earthride, and Mothership. For the first time in its history, MD Doom Fest brings international artists, the mighty Conan from the United Kingdom and Interitum from Tasmania, with another 48 American acts. Taking place from June 20th – 23rd, 2019 , in Frederick, MD. The Early Bird Discount for weekend passes are only available until December 31st, which you can purchase from the link below. Continue reading
Maryland Doomfest will launch it’s 5th edition in 2019, from June 20th to the 23rd. The bill features fifty of the heavy hitters of the genre such as Pentagram, Conan, Earthride, Mothership and many more. There is also a Pre-Fest Party on Thursday, June 20th, which will also be a 20th Anniversary celebration of the Stoner Hands of Doom Festival (ShoD), with a spectacular lineup. These bands have all performed at great SHoD fests of years past! The Pre-Fest / SHoD 20th Anniversary Celebration must not be missed. Early Bird Tickets sales open December 17th through the 31st.Continue reading
New York doom rockers Kings Destroy embark on a tour of Europe tonight with The Skull. You can watch their tour trailer below: Continue reading
Helmet will go down as one of the greatest and most influential bands ever. This fact is undisputed. Coming out of new York City at a time when a generation of bands bred on New York Hardcore values married to the talent of thrash bands (with some general avant-garde weirdness for good measure), Helmet stood out like a sore thumb of weirdness. Continue reading
Starting a rock album with a song about a Motown legend may seem a curious move, but there’s little Detroit Soul here: initially Kings Destroy (War Crimes), the eponymous third full-length from this New York quintet, purveys some Queens of the Stone Age-style Desert stomp. The band’s second album, A Time of Hunting (also War Crimes), raised serious eyebrows, and the crushing yet pacy riffs and rhythms of opener ‘Smokey Robinson‘ expand on those expectations. Steve Murphy‘s voice has that laconic yet soulful delivery of Josh Homme, reaching some heavenly heights when crooning Robinson’s name, but has the right amount of gravel when required.
At the album’s slow points, such as large swathes of ‘W2’, it’s easy to feel that this is a band merely going through the motions, a prosaic structure surrounding the, albeit pulverising, drums and deep, revving riffs. Taking the critical eye away for a second, however, allows the true emotion to bleed through, the passionate vocals and harmonies augmented by the moving solo at the close. There’s more than a touch of Americana too, heightened in the pensive yet affecting segments of ‘Mythomania’: growling intersections adding an element of steel without dwarfing the soulful beauty of the music.
Unfortunately, as is usually the case with Stoner linked sounds, there are ingredients which belong with a really good pub band; the plodding nature of ‘Embers’ possessing the ability and feeling to bewitch such audiences whilst being devoid of any refreshing or inventive quirks that would ensnare other ears, with only another stirring solo enlivening the track to noticeable levels. The band are undoubtedly more impressive at a higher canter and the return to a languid Desert groove of the brief ‘Green Diamonds’, with more Homme-style inflections, gets the body snaking. In a disappointing end, however, early sections of closer ‘Time for War’ are dull, lifeless, and appear a little lazy.
Despite its heavy flaws, and the unlikelihood of appeal to many below a certain age, this is nevertheless an often capable offering for those attracted by easier sounds which still retain a hint of power.
6.5/10
PAUL QUINN
Kings Destroy is streaming their self titled album, out now via War Crime Recordings, in its entirety below. The album is playing tonight (May 5, 2015) at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, NY.
