Despite being from London, Cold in Berlin once again lives up to their name, as it conjures, stark, wintry urban landscape at night. Wounds (New Heavy Sounds) finds the band going further down the path they wandered down on their previous album, which found them more fully committing to their crossover into doom. The opening track of their new album blurs the lines even further, carrying a darker, more pulsating beat. Vocalist Maya belts things out with the expected intensity of her aching alto. The hypnotic pulse of “12 Crosses” shares some common ground with grunge from the nineties, as more exotic flourishes of atmosphere are also employed. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Retro Rock
ALBUM REVIEW: Softsun – Eternal Sunshine – Heavy Psych Sounds
Going into silent moments before winter, a change of soundtracks is needed. This album helps to achieve that goal. Gary Arce from Yawning Man started Softsun a couple of years ago. On Eternal Sunshine (Heavy Psych Sounds), Arce uses guitar tones similar to those employed with Yawning Man, but with a more melodic shoegaze vibe. This project’s strength actually lies in the vocals of bassist Pia Isaksen. She brings a more song-focused element to the table by creating a more tangible narrative. Her voice weaves sleepy melodies in the spaces left by the floating guitar parts. The second song works off a similar formula, as the opening track that finds the band continuing to capture a languid mood as the vocals coo their way into a lonely sunset. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Yawning Man – Pavement Ends
ALBUM REVIEW: Lo-Pan – Get Well Soon
Timeless Stoner Rock giants Lo-Pan are at it again with their brand-new cut Get Well Soon on Magnetic Eye Records. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: The Night Flight Orchestra – Give Us The Moon
Retro-flavoured Swedes The Night Flight Orchestra (ft. Soilwork, Arch Enemy, Mean Streak members) are still at it with their seventh album Give Us The Moon (Napalm Records). With an insanely catchy AOR style, with an unabashedly high level of seventies and eighties-style cheese front and centre. Half the tracks here sound like they belong in some long-forgotten, coming-of-age film from 1985. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Bird’s View – House of Commando
From the fuzzy Alt Rock and early Foo Fighters vibe of “Vienna,” German rockers Birds View’s second album House of Commando (Drakkar Entertainment) starts as it means to go on. Influenced by ‘90s alternative rock acts such as the aforementioned Foos, Soundgarden, and Queens of the Stone Age, HOC is primed with propulsive, straight-to-the-point songs that do not outstay their welcome. Continue reading
EXCLUSIVE ALBUM PREMIERE: Death Wishlist Streams Their Debut Album – “You Are Next”
Do you ever listen to modern music and think to yourself “What happened?” and “Where is the danger?” Well, Rock’s newest heroes are here to kick your teeth in with the fury that they had in `76! Tuscany, Italy’s Death Wishlist is a throwback to a simpler time of true Punk Rock spirit and raw unapologetic vibes! Their debut album “You Are Next” is out this week, April 19th, 2024, via the Area Pirata label, but you can stream it here at Ghost Cult now!Continue reading
REVIEWS ROUND-UP: ft. Amaranthe – Blackberry Smoke – Bokassa – Shooting Daggers
When Swedish Europop-metalcore (they’re a difficult band to put a tag on considering how distinct their sound is!) sextet Amaranthe announced their arrival with 2011’s self-titled semi-classic album, it was hard to imagine them, as great as their first shot was, still being around thirteen years later. Continue reading
CONCERT REVIEW: Lucifer – Coven – Early Moods Live at Le Poisson Rouge
The renowned venue Le Poisson Rouge hosted an unholy night of Heavy Metal, in the heart of New York City. A triple bill dubbed “The Satanic Panic Tour” – featured Lucifer, Coven, and Early Moods. It was the perfect environment for this tour. The bands did not disappoint, giving a modern throwback feeling of heavy metal.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Starbenders – Take Back The Night

Life is a cabaret, old chums, with the scintillating Take Back The Night (Sumerian Records). A power-packed, credulity-stretching showcase of strong, strong pop-rock songwriting and arranging courtesy of Starbenders; this album is full of punky attitude and thrusting ambition.





