REVIEWS ROUND-UP: Stoner Doom Edition ft. Tenebra, Eric Wagner, Domkraft, Slomatics, Ufomammut 


Tenebra – Moongazer (New Heavy Sounds / Seeing Red)

There is something evocative about the retro / occult rock of Italian quartet Tenebra that is encapsulated in a most vigorous way on the third track of Moongazer, ‘Black Lace’. A steady, spacious build from jangled, careful chords that takes its time gives room for the powerful smoke-and-whiskey vocals of Silvia to take centre stage, before a Zeppelin-esque vocal-led coda closes things out. It is not the only, nor possibly even the best, song to do this, but as a drawing together of the best elements of the Tenebra sound perhaps serves as their best showpiece. Continue reading


Eric Wagner, Vocalist of The Skull (ex Trouble) Has Died


Sad news to report as Eric Wagner, legendary Doom Metal vocalist of bands such as The Skull and formerly of Trouble has died, according to a report from The Obelisk website . He was 62 years old. Eric was to have performed with The Skull at Psycho Las Vegas this past weekend, and was in the midst of a co-headlining tour with The Obsessed. However, he ended up contracting COVID-19 and pneumonia as a result, before passing away as a result. The news was broken on social media by his son. Wagner carved out a legendary career in the genre of heavy metal as a vocalist for over 40 years, since coming out of Chicago. After an incredible run with Trouble in the 1980s which helped revive interest in traditional doom metal, heavy metal and adding other classic rock influences, before the bands’ reunion in 2007. After leaving the reunion he co-founded The Skull, and provided to be no less important, headlining festivals around the world and recording several key albums. This loss is devastating and we send our sympathies out to Eric’s family, friends, bandmates, and fans at this time. Continue reading