The journey of Elder through their releases has been quite an experience. Starting off stoner doom and later incorporating a more psychedelic feel with heavier synth work, their sixth full-length, entitled Innate Passage (Stickman Records), has been released to the world. This adventure of an album spans over fifty-three minutes across five tracks that are adventures on their own.
The Chernobyl disaster rocked the then-Soviet Union in 1986. Ronald Reagan was the president. Gas was just over a dollar a gallon (Editor’s note, gas was $2.14 per gallon nationwide in 1984). Times were much different so many decades ago, which makes it all the more remarkable that epic doom metal pioneers Candlemass – who formed in 1984 – continue to wield the torch of the scene, guiding the masses and collecting newcomers along the way.
We caught up with COC co-founder and bassist Mike Dean recently, as the band heads out on tour to end the year with Spirit Adrift and The Native Howl. We chatted about the tour, their last album No Cross, No Crown, a change at the drum throne for both the tour and the next album, Mike’s other bands, and more.
A new doom metal “supergroup” releasing a COVID-19 lockdown album in late 2022. That sentence, which describes MMXX‘ Sacred Cargo (Candlelight) in plain terms, will no doubt inspire a variety of different thoughts and feelings in people with an interest in such things. Some might dismiss the concept (album) out of hand. After all, the band’s name translates as “2020” and, well, not only is it not 2020 anymore, but the mere mention of that year is liable to inspire at least a wearied eye-roll if not a flashback to genuine out-and-out despair.
Graveyard have announced a run of co-headline dates for the UK and Europe with Kadavar for 2023. The tour will see the two bands take in seven different countries across the continent and includes appearances at the UK’s Desertfest London! Tickets go on sale on Halloween!
Kingston New York’s perfect power house trio Geezer returned in 2022 with one of the most rewarding rock releases of the year, Stoned Blues Machine. The band has become arguably the backbone of the small surviving scene of hard rock torch bearers in their Upstate, New York locale and are due mad respect for their latest achievement within the wider underground. Think no nonsense frills, mind-bending solos and huge stoner riffs with equal parts fun groove and heavy execution. That still will not prepare you for the brotherhood of Geezer’s tones, presence or general big feel vibes. If you are a fan of Corrosion of Conformity’’s Deliverance (Columbia) era or classic Fu Manchu stuff, this band is a no brainer for you. If lightning can strike twice and another stoner band ever win besides High On Fire, give these hombres a Grammy!
Ghost Cult caught up with our pal Weslie Negrón Pagan of Moths PR to discuss their new album “Space Force” – out now! Weslie discussed the release of the album, the expansion of the sound of the band from the previous release, a change in the line-up with Damaris Rodríguez stepping down and Mariel Viruet joining, heading to Argentina to perform at Heresy Festival, working with cool artists, album release strategy, more new music coming soon, and the chances of the New York Yankees to win the 2022 World Series after their post-All-Star Game slump.
Events Center, Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV 8/18/19
Desertfest has announced its dates and first bands for 2023 for its Desertfest London event. Taking place Friday 5th May – Sunday 7th May 2023, weekend tickets are on sale now at the link below. Initial headliners include Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, along with Graveyard, Kadavar, Church of Misery, Somali Yacht Club, Blood Ceremony, Inter Arma, Grave Lines, Valley of The Sun, Spaceslug, Mars Red Sky, Gaupa, Ecstatic Vision, Celestial Sanctuary, High Desert Queen, Plainride, Everest Queen, Venomwolf and Margarita Witch Cult. Buy tickets and see the first poster here:
Skin & Sorrow (Aqualamb) is the second full-length release from Cleveland, Ohio’s “heavy, low and witchy” duo Frayle. The band consists of multi-instrumentalist Sean Bilovecky and singer Gwyn Strang, who between them cite the influence both doom metal (Black Sabbath, Kyuss, Sleep) and avant-garde pop (Björk, Portishead). Frayle’s stated aim is to create “music for the night sky”.
Clutch, the irrepressible quartet from Maryland, America have just graced our ears with a new record Sunrise On Slaughter Beach (Weathermarker) – their thirteenth record, coming four years after Book Of Bad Decisions. It is unmistakably a Clutch album, full of hearty riffs and deft turns of phrase, but it is a shorter and more varied one than its predecessor.