UK Progressive Sludge band Sail have just announced a livestream concert this Friday, 24th of September. The stream only costs £5 and the band is planning loads of surprises for fans, including the live debut of their material from their recent “Mannequin” single. We recently interview drummer Tom Coles, which you can see below after you have bought your ticket.
Rising band Brutus has shared a new live single and video for theory track “All Along” from their upcoming live album Live in Ghent, due out via Sargent House. “All Along” was the track that got everything started, as they rtemarked in a statement along with the track. Pre-orders are live at the link below and you can watch it now! Continue reading
New England’s epic Progressive Doom band Vacant Eyes will share its long-in-the-works new album A Somber Preclusion of Being tomorrow, September 4th, 2020. The band shared a new single, “An Essence of Anguish”, which you can stream below. The song is brutal and beautiful, and a fitting track for these times. Fans of Swallow The Sun, later Katatonia, and early Opeth will love this band! Check it out and pre-order the album now!
Progressive Metal masters Enslaved have shared a new single and trippy video from their upcoming new album Utgard, due for release October 9th, 2020, via Nuclear Blast Records and By Norse Records. Watch “Urjotun” now!
Badass Progressive Stoner Doom band Volcanova will release their debut album, Radical Waves this week via The Sign Records. Ghost Cult is bringing you the full album stream right now so you can try before you buy, like a free nug from your dealer of some new good shit. With their mash of old school Doom influences, mixed with proggy modern metal bands, it is a winning combo, sure to set your ears afire. Jam out to Radical Waves now! Continue reading
Splits are a pretty great tool for cross-promotion with the power to introduce different bands to each other’s audiences, but they can also foster a competitive spirit. While such intentions are normally limited to fans debating which band is better, Ripple Music intentionally fans the flames with the second chapter in their Turned To Stone series. This particular split sees two rising stars Howling Giant and Sergeant Thunderhoof putting their Stoner Prog Metal skills to the test on Turn To Stone Chapter 2, as they depict a battle of wits between two legendary Japanese swordsmen. It’s certainly one of the more intriguing ideas for a split I’ve seen in a good while, reminding me of a similar treatment that Thorr-Axe and Archarus gave The Hobbit in 2017.
After a four year absence (a handful of single releases aside), Pennsylvania-based Black Crown Initiate return with their third full-length release, Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape (Century Media). From black metal to progressive rock via blasts of technical death metal, BCI effortlessly combine a whole range of differing styles resulting in their most captivating and assured record to date.
Kingnomad’s Prog Rock tendencies have been at the forefront from their inception, but these elements are expressed in their purest form on Sagan Om Rymden (Ripple Music). The group has about completely phased out the Stoner Doom tinges that helped shape their first two albums, allowing their third to expand their dynamics without a single hint of fuzz to be found. While this does make a less heavy album on the surface, a combination of energy and commitment to atmosphere results in what is easily the band’s boldest effort yet. Continue reading
Black Spirit Crown’s first proper album sits right on the line between Doom and Stoner Metal with hints of Prog seeping through. The fuzzy riff work is rooted in Sleep and Electric Wizard tradition, the hustling tempos remind me of Orange Goblin, and the tripped-out atmospherics and vocal filters echo Howling Giant or Mastodon. These traits were already distinct on the Red Sky EP released in 2017 and the Cleveland group takes them to even further extents with Gravity (Self-Released).
Ghost Cult scribe Lorraine Lysen caught up with the great Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon for a wide-ranging interview a few months ago. They chatted about The Electric Castle Live project, the visuals of Ayreon Universe live, working with John de Lancie, rock operas, concept albums, Vin Diesel, Star Trek TNG, upcoming new music, and much more.
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