Slomatics – Canyons


Highly-respected Ulster Sludge/Doom outfit Slomatics is as well known for its countless splits, most prominently with fellow Doom yellers Conan, as it is for its own produce. So it’s something of a surprise to discover that Canyons (Black Bow Records) is the band’s sixth album in its fifteen-year existence, but as expected it shows a soupçon of originality in the unrelenting, slothlike heaviness.Continue reading


Witchfinder – Hazy Rites


Satan rules!” states the bio of French Doom/Stoner trio Witchfinder. Dear, oh dear…more expected is the apparent devotion to hedonism and, on the band’s second album Hazy Rites (Black Bow Records), both are seemingly hallowed in equal measure.Continue reading


Blind Monarch – What Is Imposed Must Be Endured


From the first recording session through to the present day, it’s taken almost eighteen months for What Is Imposed Must Be Endured (Black Bow Records), the debut album from Sheffield-based quartet Blind Monarch, to see the light of day. In that time the band has shared stages with leading lights of the UK Death-Doom scene so it wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to suggest that this album is eagerly awaited.Continue reading


Ungraven – Language Of Longing EP


During an interview a few years ago, Conan’s Jon Davis told me he didn’t want to release music by his worshipped band on his own Black Bow label, in an effort to keep the two projects separate. Well, Ungraven is no Conan. A darker, more Industrial beast than the Caveman Doom outfit he has lovingly tended to for the past thirteen years, debut EP Language Of Longing (Black Bow Records) sees the more savage edges roughened up and thrust to the fore.Continue reading


Bast – Nanoångstrӧm


Four years ago, Bast’s Spectres (Burning World Records) hit the racks and quickly gained a reputation as one of the best British underground debuts of recent times. The world seemed to be the Blackened Sludge trio’s oyster yet, save for a smattering of gigs here and there, they seemed to vanish and earn mythical status in the process.Continue reading


Jon Davis Of Conan And Sarah Sampson Form New Management Company


Jon Paul Davis of Conan and Sarah Sampson of Black Frog Management Group in New Zealand, have formed a new management services brand, Blackskull Services. Jon is a former HR Manager and owns several businesses including Black Bow Records, SkyHammer Studio, and Chariot Band Logistics. Blackskull is already working with a number of high profile acts, including Bast, King Witch, and Slomatics, whom Davis said recently in an interview with Ghost Cult is the best doom band in the world right now. Continue reading


Jon Paul Davis Of Conan Talks New Album And The State Of Doom Metal


Earlier this year, Conan announced their new album, due out this summer from Napalm Records. Existential Void Guardian promises to build off of the success of 2016’s Revengeance. The band has been especially prolific, also releasing a split EP with Slomatics and their early recordings as the Man Is Myth – Early Demos last fall. We caught up with frontman Jon Paul Davis at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, New York, before their sold out show to chat about the new album, Davis’ own label Black Bow Records, and the current state of Doom Metal. Videography by Heather Wilkerson for BunnySyn Photography. Continue reading


1968 – Fortuna Havana EP


It is with great pleasure I present to you Fortuna Havana (Black Bow) by the band 1968. Fortuna Havana is released on Black Bow Records and features the talents of Jimi Ray on vocals, Sam Orr on guitar, Tom Richards on bass guitar, and Tom Drury on drums. Continue reading