Diaries of Doom

Rugby metallers Wounded Cross originally formed in 2014, releasing the Bonecrusher EP a year later. Known as 'Groovy Stoner Thrash Doom Metal', they'd play on the live circuit several times over the mid-tens before going quiet in 2017. The full-length Our Future Is Dead album followed in 2020, the band's final recordings at the time. Now, their latest single indicates that there's been a dormant giant in Warwickshire for the last few years. Sounding very different to the 80s heavy rock stylings of Wounded Cross of old, the band sound focussed, more modern and boast their strongest songwriting to date. It's a rebirth in every sense of the word. An ominous clean guitar-led intro sets the scene, with some bass guitar and piano work nicely layering over the top to create an atmosphere early on. Finally, the song powerfully explodes with a cool drum pattern and some guitar chugs to really draw the suspense out of every note. As far as intros go, it ticks all the ...

This week sees the long-awaited release of Netherhall 's debut album, Process . Formed eight years ago, the band's formative years saw the Imacular EP, victory in the Birmingham Metal 2 The Masses, and a performance at the unveiling of the city's Black Sabbath bridge. Since solidifying their lineup with Matt Preston on lead vocals - alongside Lewis Ward on guitar, Tom Bushell on bass and Jake Raybould on drums - they released two singles prior to Covid and returned to Bloodstock in 2021. Plenty going on, then. Netherhall - Disintegrate (live at Bloodstock 2021) Process thematically deals with the process of life and death and everything in between. As the band put it themselves, 'after 8 years of ups and downs, lefts and rights and life itself, we are thrilled, relieved, and most of all proud to release Process, our debut album. This has been a labour of love for the last 5 years of our lives, which has been an emotional roller-coaster and in many ways, we can feel t...

Press release : "We live, we die" is the theme that Birmingham progressive rockers Netherhall have chosen to discuss for their first new piece of music since 2020. ‘Process’ was released on Friday 24th March 2023 and is accompanied by a picturesque music video shot in the Peak District. Formed in late 2015, Netherhall are a Midlands-based alternative metal band who draw influence from multiple genres; notable influences include Karnivool, Deftones & Toska. As the band began searching for their sound, they debuted their first EP ‘Imacular’ in 2017 and in the same year entered the Metal 2 The Masses competition to play at Bloodstock Festival, winning the competition. Netherhall spent 2018 as an instrumental 3-piece, highlighted with supporting The Contortionist. 2018 also saw Netherhall perform at a private function at Aston Villa FC for Tony Iommi & Geezer Butler honouring Butler’s induction into the Birmingham Walk of Stars. In 2019, Netherhall released their ...

My introduction to Sergeant Thunderhoof seems, in hindsight, relatively late - it's not a band name you forget easily after hearing it for the first time, but I only really began taking note after hearing their cover of Alice Cooper's 'Halo of Flies' around the tail end of last year. Leading up to that point, they'd released a few full-length albums through their own label after forming as a band in 2013. Playing trippy, groovy heavy rock around the UK in the decade or so since, most enthusiasts of underground doom or stoner in this country will be well-acquainted with The Hoof  by now - and frankly, after the release of This Sceptred Veil , their monumental album number four, there's no excuse not to be. Recorded with Josh Gallop (Phoxjaw) at Stage 2 Studios in Bath and mastered by Tony Reed of Mos Generator fame, This Sceptred Veil is noticeably darker and heavier than anything they've released before. All the stoner, progressive and psychedelic-tinged ele...

Five years into their career, Hertfordshire heavies Ritual release their second EP this week. We last heard from Ritual with their 2019 release Operation Copacabana and the Punch-Drunk Blues . Enigma continues the narrative from the previous EP, which reimagined and extrapolated on the song by Barry Manilow. In a very loose way, Enigma continues this story by following the antagonist's trial, execution and descent to hell following a murderous crime of passion. Written before the world shut its doors two years ago, Ritual weren't able to release Enigma as intended, yet the band played this to their advantage. While refining what they already had, the band decided to embellish the songs with guest appearances. ”We thought about what we felt the songs were missing and identified people who we’d ideally like to perform the parts", they explain. Fortunately, their dream musicians weren't touring 'as normal' and were able to lend a helping hand or two (or severa...

 Preston trio Callus return with A Breath of Flesh Air , two and a half years on from Hogpocalypse and the Through Blood, Sweat, Piss and Pain EP in 2017. Recorded at Foel Studio with Chris Fielding from Conan back in February, you notice the stunning album artwork (created by Ryan Hancock) and wonderful song titles such as 'Cinderstella' and 'Sludge Guzzler' before you even hit the play button. It's enough to draw anyone in... I had seen the name 'Callus' on a few bills prior to seeing them in concert for the first time at Badgerfest in Manchester a few weeks ago. Their confident brand of progressive sludge metal has hints of Mastodon, Boss Keloid, Dvne and the like, but with an aggression and directness that nods unashamedly to acts like High on Fire. In the live arena, their downtuned riffs and energy absolutely crush, with a dual vocal attack that gives extra dimension and layering to their thick sound - which, somehow, only comes from three musicians....

Impressively, Rochester thrashers Incivtra have released 'Of Flesh, Steel and Stone' barely a year after their last EP, 'Chaos Theory '. Formed in 2015, they've gone from strength to strength in the New York metal scene and are already starting to boast an impressive discography. A few tweaks to their lineup over the past year, and they're now on their fourth release in five years. It's a daring step forward that advances their sound and sees them sounding more convincing and vital than ever. Opener 'Vozrozhdeniya' sets the tone like a call-to-arms, with slinky guitar melodies that demonstrate musicality, flair and talent from the word 'go', from creepy clean lines to grandiose, arpeggiated lead guitar licks when the whole band are kicked in, with amps up to 11. Segueing into 'Objects of Rage', Invictra waste no time in upping the energy levels, backed by the darkly melodic guitar riffs, Josh's well-honed screams and the frantic d...

Wall's debut release earlier this year was borne of lockdown boredom; a creative way to pass time while there was nothing to do. Clearly, Elliot and Ryan Cole's instrumental sludge outfit isn't done just yet, after dropping another EP a few weeks ago. It's an expansion of their sound and proves that Wall has the potential to be more than just that;  Vol. 2 could really see them lay the foundations for a much bigger beast. Commencing with a proggy sludgefeast, 'Avalanche' is possibly the EP's strongest track. From stoner grooves descended from mid-70s Sabbath, it evolves into a new bridge in a new key with impressive, pounding drumwork from Elliot, before the tempo and mood completely drop, ushering in a trippy, chilled out, doomier section. It's a nice little part to lose yourself into, but just as you find yourself drifting off into the next dimension, Wall cleverly shift this idea into much heavier territory. It suddenly sounds uglier, sludgier and mor...

London's Satlan formed in 2015, but with members' activities in other bands Panacea is the first real taste of what they have to offer for most of us. An enthralling listen, Satlan take you on several twists and turns throughout their 47-minute exploration into powerful, vintage-sounding heavy rock that draws unapologetically from psychedelia, doom and stoner. Sure, most of the songs are pretty long, but sprinkled with differing sections, musically intelligent ideas and time changes that aren't found too often in the genre, Satlan have indisputable prog rock leanings. It adds a real dose of ambitiousness to their recognisable, yet unique sound. Fronted by Soozi Chameleone (ex-Dead Witches), Satlan are now a must-know band for any self-respecting doomhead - and here's why... The hazy 'Control' introduces Panacea with jaunty, Iommi-influenced riffing from Roy Nadel. Although it's nine and a half minutes long, there's no time for introductions - Soozi's...

...The ritual’s about to begin. The sun in the sky is waning, the trees have decided to simmer down and even the birds nesting amongst their branches have hushed for this very special occasion - Boss Keloid have released a new album. The (in)tense rush of excitement trembles through my hand as my fingers steady the needle, awaiting its kiss as it crackles along the surface of my newly pressed vinyl. I’m about to experience Family the Smiling Thrush for the first time in my life... I mean, where do I even start, other than at the beginning. Usually I’m able to write a satisfactory review after a full listen or two, but with Family the Smiling Thrush I’m finding myself going back for more time and time again so I can digest all the music details like Augustus Gloop gobbling up Willy Wonka’s chocolate river. Leaving no stone unturned, you’re getting an in-depth review, so buckle up. Family the Smiling Thrush feels like an ...

London-based mob Tunguska return with their sophomore EP, Decline . It sees them sounding more impressive and more crushing than ever.   Opening with cold, industrial noise to set the scene before a punishing, jaunty, dissonant guitar riff bursts through your speakers, Tunguska offer a healthy dose of brutality in 'A Cold Symmetry', showing with little haste the heaviness they are capable of. Morphing into a more sinister mood with a well-placed key change, their use of clean vocals is as effective as the roaring death growls. Tunguska strike a satisfying balance between the likes of Korn on one end and Meshuggah on the other. 'Hive Mind Puritan' follows in a similar vein, featuring Mike Pilat of Herod on guest vocals. The guitar riffing shows off a cool approach to the modern, post-Meshuggah school of death metal, and accompanies Sean Gibson's vocals that, again, alternate nicely between stomach-churning screams and carefully-placed melodies. An infectious amount o...