Blackwater Holylight (RidingEasy Records), the début album from the Portland, Oregon-based doomstresses of the same name, delivered not merely an enlivening quality but also realised founder member Alison ‘Sunny’ Faris‘ intent of giving heavier rock a new lease of life by incorporating more tuneful, lighter music into that sound. With second album Veils Of Winter (RidingEasy Records) the band, now a quintet with the addition of guitarist Mikayla Mayhew, aim to expand on that formula and the buzz created by that first release.
Tag Archives: Eastern
Sacri Monti – Waiting Room For The Magic Hour
Another outfit from the lysergic dreamlands of San Diego, Sacri Monti left a sizeable impression with their self-titled 2015 debut album (Tee Pee Records) which was a psychedelic trip through heavy vibes. The quintet’s sophomore effort, Waiting Room For The Magic Hour (Tee Pee Records), is another faithful journey through drifting sands and heady atmospheres but shows a pleasing maturity and willingness to experiment.Continue reading
Cave In – Final Transmission
If you’re a fan of any music that Caleb Scofield created or played, bring the tissues for this one. Cave In‘s aptly-titled Final Submission (Hydra Head) is a collection of recordings made with the band’s late bassist before his tragic death last year and contains much input from the man himself. It’s a slightly different album than fans might expect, but in many ways, it’s more meaningful for it.Continue reading
Valley Of The Sun – Old Gods
Since their 2010 inception, Ohio trio Valley Of The Sun has been lauded in the same breath as Grunge legends Alice In Chains and Soundgarden, while not yet achieving that level of iconic status. New album Old Gods (Fuzzorama Records) sees the band maturing, with a gentle psychedelia gracing those heady grooves.
The Pilgrim – Walking Into The Forest
Gabriele Fiori obviously has too much time on his hands. The Black Rainbows frontman also runs Heavy Psych Sounds Records, and it’s this outlet through which he has chosen to propel new project The Pilgrim, a duo with bandmate Filippo Ragazzoni, toward the masses.Continue reading
Sataray – Nocturnum
One-person Seattle outfit Sataray is the brainchild of Katarina E. and purports to be a dark, ritualistic experience. Ploughing a live furrow over the last few years with her Performance Art-style shows, Nocturnum (Scry Recordings) is the first long-player from this enigmatic artist.Continue reading
Obsidian Sea – Strangers
Whilst steadily garnering a reputation in their native Balkans, Bulgarian trio Obsidian Sea finally saw some US action in 2016 with a repress of second album Dreams, Illusions, Obsessions (Nuclear War Now! Records). Third album Strangers sees a Ripple Music release that will undoubtedly propel the psych-Doom outfit further.Continue reading
The Moth Gatherer – Esoteric Oppression
The Earth Is The Sky, the 2015 sophomore album from Swedish miserabilists The Moth Gatherer, gave post-Metal a real kick up the arse: its spacey, synth-drenched starkness oozed intensity, passion, and musicality, and possessed natural – if occasionally long-winded – invention. Latest long-player Esoteric Oppression (both Agonia Records), their first without founder member Alex Stjernfeldt, sees that sparkle given an added cohesion which can only enhance their burgeoning reputation. Continue reading
Demon Head – Hellfire Ocean Void
The latest act to trot off the impressive Svart Records conveyor belt, Danish quintet Demon Head like to maintain the traditions of Doom. Third full-length Hellfire Ocean Void sees their devotion to Proto and Psych Metal expanded with a little modernity but sticking true to the format, a feat undoubtedly assisted by having legendary producer Flemming Rasmussen at the knob-twiddling helm.Continue reading
Dirge – Lost Empyrean
Parisian quartet Dirge can surely be termed a veteran of the post-Metal scene, now nearing a quarter of a century of active service. A new album is always hotly anticipated and seventh long-player Lost Empyrean (Debemur Morti Productions) is no different.Continue reading