The Sludgelord Exclusive - TOVARISH - New Song Streaming and Cover Artwork Revealed

Drone Noise Doomsters TOVARISH (from Providence, Rhode Island) reveal cover artwork and premiering their new song “Order 227” below:

The new album “This Terrible Burden” is set to be released on May 4th 2015 by ARGONAUTA Records. Also featuring the stunning voice of Yoshiko Ohara (of BLOODY PANDA fame), the album is highly anticipated as a destructive work made on drones, guitars and inhuman vocals! Highly recommended if you like acts as Gnaw Their Tongues or Khanate.

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

https://www.facebook.com/Tovarishband

Kult Of The Wizard - The White Wizard (EP Review)

Album Type: EP

Date Released: March 13^th 2015

Label: Self Released

The White Wizard – Track Listing

1.Tusk Of Mammoth 06:44

2.Olde Fashioned Black Magik 03:52

3.Plasma Pool 03:41

4.Black Moon 07:27

5.Devil Delight 07:19

Bio

Spit forth from the bowels of earth, Kult of the Wizard erupted in early 2013 in its first form and was captured as The Red Wizard. Written and recorded in a week, it’s a collection of songs about the burning destruction of man’s less than desirable habits. Less than a year later another form surfaced from the watery black depths and The White Wizard brought destruction to the shores. Carrying with it waves of monsters and ominous abode, The White Wizard explored the realm of space as it relates to a crushing watery grave. 

In 2015, the third form arrived, The White Wizard. Crafted with care and purity the album explores a tender subject of love. It’s in this form that Kult Of The Wizard resides physically. Tuned into their natural vibrations riff slingers, Aaron Hodgson and Ryan Janssen bring sonic devastation held steadfast by the drums of battle from Anthony Bierstedt. And just when you thought the bleak end was eminent, the soaring vocals of Mahle Roth bring life. Focusing their sound on aural landscapes each song becomes more about exploring the ride of the riff and less on a set form, presenting a live visual that takes the audience to a space outside of themselves and pushes their bodily resonances together into one unified form and experience.

Kult of The Wizard is a collection of human beings that set forth to bring different forms of Mother Nature to light. In each form a wizard presents itself and reigns down with all their force. Shaking mountains and bringing oceans to unrest, Kult Of The Wizard carves a path of destruction and life in hopes to bring favor to the powers divine.

Praise be to Gaia, the great creator, the great destroyer. All hail the riff.

Members

Guitars - Aaron Hodgson

Bass - Ryan Janssen

Drums - Travis Nordahl

Vocals - Mahle Roth

Review:

Kult Of The Wizard are getting a ton of praise within the Doom/Stoner Metal Community at the moment as a potential band to look out for in the future. And you know what – This band is something else. Damn!!! - Wait until the trippy occult based Stoner/Doom riffs on their brilliant new release – The White Wizard.

Truth be told I hadn't heard of this band and shame on me as they've released two stunning records before The White Wizard. Sure those two releases were purely instrumental and the band have recruited a kick-ass vocalist since then – Mahle Roth. The White Wizard is the dark and twisted result of bring Mahle to the group and it's a great decision as Mahle can sing. And I mean Mahle can really sing. Heavy, soulful and dirty blues rock vocals.

Mahle should be singing with a Blues Rock band not a Doom/Stoner Metal band such as this. The White Wizard is packed full of great moments to leave you begging for more. Fans of Witch Mountain will sure get a kick out of this band but it's more than good enough for Kult Of The Wizard to stand as their own band. If you're not moved by the Soulful Occult Rock based blues of Olde Fashioned Black Magic then it's best to check if you're still alive or not. This is a highly passionate and highly volatile number where Mahle's impressive vocals are more than backed up by the heavy sludgy doom and gloom guitar tones with great drumming to match.

The album is very dark, creepy and disturbing as the band create a rather unsettling atmosphere for you to embrace yourself with. 3^rd track – Plasma Pool – is purely ambient noises and soundbytes added together but it makes for one of the albums unsettling tracks. Nice work folks...

Though its' back to normal business on Black Moon. Another stunning blues drenched Occult/Stoner/Doom Metal musical odyssey that's packed with soulful riffs and vocals with a dark sinister edge. This song could be classed as a murderous creepy love song. As Mahle's vocals draw you in once more before devouring you with deadly precision. The band impressed me the most with the last song on the album. A cover of a Heart song no less. Truth be told, I hate Heart with a passion so I was worried when the band included a cover of Heart's supposed classic – Devil's Delight.

Damn, was I wrong. Kult Of The Wizard turn this song into a dark and nightmarish classic of their own. Who the hell knew that a Heart song would make a brilliant Doom/Stoner Metal anthem and that's what the band do. Make this song their own as they slowly build up the atmosphere with creepy blues rock driven occult riffs.

Kult Of The Wizard have delivered a truly wonderful EP for everyone to check out. Lets hope their full length record is good as this as this band have potential to something very special in the years to come. Outstanding. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

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The Pod - Land Of Bread And Water (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: March 8^th 2015

Label: Self Released

Land Of Bread And Water – Track Listing

1.Of Bread and Water 06:11

2.Lifegiver 03:40

3.Folded Eyes 04:00

4.The Alarmist Was Drowning 04:13

5.Premonition II (Scars Can Be Saved) 04:05

6.Work Through Work 05:02

7.And This Is Where We Part Ways (ft. Matt Stevenson) 08:21

Bio

Scott Endres of Sludge/Post-Metallers – MAKE – Ambient/Doom Solo Project

Members

Scott Endres - vocals, guitar, synthesizers, samples, beats

w/

Matt Stevenson - drums, beats, samples

Spencer Lee - bass

Review:

I've featured Scott's solo project – The Pod – a few times and I consider myself a fan of his experimental/drone/ambient/doom/electronica/doom solo project. Some of you may know Scott from Chapel Hill Sludge/Post-Metal band – MAKE. A great band in their own right.

This is The Pod's 8^th release overall. If you're a fan of Jesu, Godflesh and Tribes Of Neurot then The Pod will speak massive volumes to you. As Scott has created an album that leave you in trance from beginning to end as the mood ventures from Ambient based Industrial Synths to the more heavier Drone based Doom Metal variety with bleak vocals to match.

There's no point doing a song by song review as this album should be experienced as one epic song. It's a breathtaking and adventurous work from one of Sludge/Post-Metal's highly talented individuals. The way Scott blends different noises and sounds can be considered an art form as he makes real passionate music to lose yourself in. You can feel the texture and density of the heavy synthesizers that leave you in a bleak state. Scott doesn't play by the rules so some people may find this album very hard to listen. And truth be told it is a very hard album to listen to. If you're a fan of Ambient/Drone albums then you will find much to admire here.

Scott doesn't create music to impress people with. He creates music for the sheer love of it all. He's very highly regarded in his home town and the Sludge Metal scene in general. It's been a while since MAKE released any new material so Scott has focused all his creative energy into The Pod. I'm always glad to hear new music from Scott and I'm a huge fan of his work but I'm hoping we will see new material from MAKE as this album made me remember the heavier riffs that I first encountered Scott's work. But I'm digressing – Fans of John Carpenter soundtracks will get a kick out of this album as well especially on the brilliant last track – And This Is Where We Part Ways – as it has a slight throwback feel to that legendary director's musical output. Or that could be looking far too much into things.

If you want something different to test your resolve with then this album comes highly recommended. It won't be to everyone's tastes but if you have the patience for this then you will richly be rewarded with a stunning musical experience. Check it out as the album is available to buy now on BandCamp Buy Now.

Excellent and Highly Recommended

Words by Steve Howe

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Wicked Inquisition - S/T (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: May 8th 2015

Label: Tridoid Records

Wicked Inquisition – S/T – Track Listing

Black Magik Nacht
Crimson Odyssey
Sun Flight
M.A.D.
In Shackles
Death Of Man
Tomorrow Always Knows
Wicked Inquisition

Bio

Wicked Inquisition is a doom metal band based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Formed in 2008 by Nate Towle, the band has found a common middle-ground in doom metal, incorporating a wide variety of influences into a powerful sound, primarily inspired by artists such as Black Sabbath, Budgie, Blue Öyster Cult, and Trouble. 

In the present, plans are to continue writing new material for a full length album. With the band's extended play "Silence Thereafter" receiving positive reception from small-scalereviewers, the band is eager to continue moving forward by writing, performing, and recording music.

Members

Nate Towle - Guitar/Vocals
Ben Stevens - Guitar
Jack Mckoskey - Drums
Jordan Anderson - Bass
Review:

Wicked Inquisition's self titled album will be released on May 9th. My only question is, where the hell was I in July of 2013 when this band released their first EP? Since this band was news to me, I hadn't heard anything from them until I was given this new album....and man, was I impressed, enlightened and inspired. I hadn't wrote a review for a while because nothing really had me wanting to write anything, or tell people just how good the music was.

Though the feeling I got when I listened to this album the first time was like hell ya's! and high fives all around. This is the music that made me fall in love with metal in the first place. It's that catchy song writing that is loaded with riffs upon riffs and a strong rhythm section with a stand-out drummer, clean vocals and solid, confident delivery. Wicked Inquisition has it all, this is a great album!

Above all, this album will stand out as the one loaded with riffs like a freight train....heavy, coming at you full force and hard to miss. The riff-meister responsible for all this is Nate Towle and he uses his guitar like The Walking Dead's Michonne uses her sword. They don't screw around, they get in and get the job done and obliterate everything in their path. Plus not only is he brilliant on his guitar he is also the lead vocalist, and at 21 years old, this guy means business.

I know I could go on and on and give you a track by track description of each song but I'm going to keep it short and sweet and just say this.....whether you are into the heaviest of heavy doom or sludge, or you prefer the ease of hard rock....you can appreciate this album for its talented musicians that have put this together. Its deserves your attention, and I bet it will earn your respect for what they have accomplished on this album. Congratulations Wicked Inquisition on your first full-length self-titled LP, I am sure we will be seeing and hearing from you guys in the future.

Words by Soshanna Scarsella

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Wicked Inquisition debut album will be released on May 8th 2015 via Tridoid Records.

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Recluse - The Quiet Hours (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Release Date: June 2015

Record Label: Tiny Revelations

The Quiet Hours – Track Listing

1. Horrible / Beautiful (3:54)
2. Move Me (4:16)
3. Temper (4:55)
4. Now You're Gone (3:55)
5. Leper Captain (5:03)
6. Machine's Way (6:10)
7. Soothe (4:03)
8. Bury Us Separately (5:48)
9. Augustus (4:08)
10. Ectropion (5:33)
11. Cherry (5:39)
12. I Only Pretend To Know (2:17)

Bio

Since 2009 Recluse have continually played the local South Wales scene and festivals throughout the UK with a great response to their dynamic and powerful live show. Recluse regularly play with some of UK's up-and-coming bands such as Henry's Funeral Shoe, Kyshera, Bad Sign and Spider Kitten. Following on from their highly praised debut studio album Crooked Heart, they will release their 2nd album in spring 2015.

Members

Britt - Guitar & Vocals
Tom - Bass
Alex - Drums

Review:

Recluse is a hard rocking Desert Rock/Blues/Grunge combo from Wales. Bands we normally feature from Wales tend to be on the Sludge/Stoner Metal of things with bands such as H A R K, Sigiriya, Spider Kitten and Hogslayer. So it's quite refreshing to hear a different style of Hard Rock from our Welsh Brothers in arms. Recluse has been compared to QOTSA and Soundgarden when they released their critically acclaimed debut back in 2011/12.

Now the guys are back with their second album - The Quiet Hours. It's very different to their debut album. This album is darker, progressive, heavier and the band showing a more confident ruthless streak as they venture into some pretty dark places. Opening track - Horrible / Beautiful - may not give that direct impression but give this album time as you will be blasted with a seedy Grunge like Desert Rock guitar riff with hints of blues rock providing a distinctive Fuzz sound. These guys have a great reputation amongst the UK Hard Rock scene and they've toured with some great bands such as Spider Kitten.

Recluse brand of good old fashioned rock and roll becomes ever more confident and you slowly feel becoming part of the action and not wanting to end. Tracks such as Move Me, Temper, Leper's Captain and Machine's Way prove that Recluse may have that extra something special to breakout into the burgeoning UK Hard Rock scene. All those songs show what highly talented songwriters the band actually are. They have written intelligent lyrics with the music to match. 

Ectropion - has a slight early Foo Fighters vibe with Britt resembling an early Dave Grohl though the dark Desert Rock vibe is still there for everyone to experience. It's a slow-paced track for the first few minutes until Recluse explode into life with impressive fast paced grunge/desert rock riffs. The drumming is intense at times as Recluse shows us what they are made of. Recluse then change style once more by a more bass heavy approach to their music before winding down to a more slow-paced feel as the vocals become poignant and bittersweet.

One of the final tracks - Cherry - opens with a 70s style bass approach before the heavy guitars and drums take over for a slight funky beat. This song is firmly rooted in 70s Classic Hard Rock with touches of modern Stoner Rock to provide another exciting song for Recluse to prove their worth. Things become very psychedelic as the band let fly with impressive guitar solos straight from the 60s/70s whilst maintaining their own vision and identity on proceedings. The last 90 seconds of Cherry sees the band play some impressive Blues/Hard Rock solos that come out of nowhere. Cherry is one of the albums best songs. It's an exciting and thrilling song that will go down a storm on the live arena.

The final song - I Only Pretend To Know - is beautifully played and written but it slow things right down and the hard rocking mood Recluse wisely built up is sadly disrupted by this song. It would have been better if the band closed with a fast-paced hard rock number. Though that's my only criticism of the album Recluse have created an album which lays on the heavy grunge like FUZZ in a big way as this album will appeal to fans of QOTSA, Soundgarden, and Foo Figthers.

Some people may complain that the album is a little overblown at about 60 minutes in length. Recluse have created an excellent album to impress you with. If you want riffs, riffs and more riffs with a whole ton of excitement then The Quiet Hours is the album for you. All in all, The Quiet Hours is an exciting album for you to immerse yourself with. Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Recluse for the promo. The Quite Hours will be available to buy on CD/DD from Tiny Revelations Records from June 2015

Words by Steve Howe

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Space Probe Taurus - Mondo Satan (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: April 28th 2015

Label: Ripple Music

Mondo Satan – Track Listing

Scorpio Queen

Kill City Death Cult

Spahn Ranch Motherfucker

Make Me Bleed

Galaxy Travelin' Blues

Superfuzzed

Mondo Satan

Dust Joint

The Iguana

The Righteous One

Bio

Originally formed as Snake Machine in 1992 it wasn’t until a name change and shortening of their songs in ’97 that the band settled into doing what they do best; preaching the gospel of dirty garage rock. Swedish style.

Often compared to the likes of Mudhoney, The Stooges, MC5 and Blue Cheer – the latter of whom SPT paid tribute to with a ripping cut of ‘Second Time Around’ on Black Widow Records’ Blue Explosion – their music is influenced by late ’60s psych rock and low-budget B-movies like Psychomania and Angels From Hell. (Anobsession that quickly led on to the band contributing music to the 2005 snuff documentary Actress Apocalypse and I Am Vengeance in 2012.)

Band Members

Sjöberg - Guitar & Lead Vocals

Enberg - Bass & Backing Vocals

Review:

For a band that's been around since 1992 (OK the guys did change their name to Space Probe Taurus in 1997) it's almost criminal that Mondo Satan is only Space Probe Taurus second full length album after almost 23 years in existence. Sure they've released one full length album and a wide range of EP's and demos to critical acclaim. Thank our lucky stars that our good pals at Ripple Music have signed this great band to their label as Mondo Satan is an absolute blast from start to finish.

Sure these guys are highly influenced by Monster Magnet but Space Probe Taurus deserves to be taken as their own band. Their sound is more of a Fuzz Rock, Garage Rock, Psych Rock vibe with the band showing their love for 60s Psych Rock from the Biker Movies from the same era. Put all this trippy goodness together and you have an album that's packed full of great tunes to rock out to. There's nothing progressive here just good old fashioned Fuzzed Up Acid style Stoner Rock jams with a band playing for the love of the music.

Opening track - Scorpio Queen - comes at you like an out of control gang looking for their next battle as these guys are primed ready with Acid Rock style Stoner/Punk/Fuzz riffs. The vocals have a raw DIY feel and that's keeping to the bands DIY ethos that has served them so well over the years. The sound isn't the most polished but I wouldn't have it any other way as it gives Space Probe Taurus a real air of authenticity that you cannot get with some Stoner Rock bands. You feel this band live and breathe the crazy 60s Psych Rock scene though with a great modern sound to match as well.

Second track - Kill City Death Cult - starts with a trippy soundclip with a sense of danger lurking around the corner. It has a slight Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats vibe as the band venture further into their trippy psych rock persona for one of the albums standout tracks. The opening two tracks should tell you what's in store for the rest of the album as the band entice you early on tales of rebellious carnage all told through the power of Acid Fuzz/Psych Rock/Stoner Rock beats. The album is brilliantly produced and played by all from start to finish.

It's very hard to find fault with this album as these guys play at a breakneck speed you won't have time to catch your breath. Especially on tracks such as - Spahn Ranch Motherfucker, Galaxy Travelin' Blues, Mondo Satan and Superfuzzed. If you miss mid 90s sounding Monster Magnet then Space Probe Taurus is the band for you. With so many bands joining on the Retro sounding band-wagon it's great to hear a band having so much fun without caring what anybody else thinks.

If you're not rocking out to - The Righteous One - then there's no hope for you - as the band create more crazy psychedelic riffs with a major rebellious streak running through its veins. Mondo Satan is an album for all you Acid Rock/Fuzz/Stoner Rock freaks to go crazy over. 

I hope these guys tour the UK one day as I want to see these guys in action to see if they are this wild and crazy in real life. Do yourself a favour, when this album is released, grab a copy of this album as it's a thrilling and adventurous album from one of Stoner Rock's true underground heroes finally starting to receive the attention that they truly deserve.

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life for the promo. Mondo Satan is available to buy from Ripple Music on CD/DD on 28^th April 2015.

Words by Steve Howe

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Satori Junk - S/T (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: 25^th February 2015

Label: Taxi Driver Records

Satori Junk – S/T – Track Listing

1.T.T.D. 08:10

2.Spooky Boogie 08:26

3.Monsters 09:23

4.Shamaniac 09:03

5.Blessed Are The Bastards 05:34

6.Ritual 09:19

7.Lord Of The Pigs 09:18

8.Queen Ant Jam 11:25

Bio

Year 2012. Satori Junk was born in Milan (Italy) among the dense fog and the smoke of the urban waste landfills. Four members: guitar, bass, drums, vocals & synth. An acid cocktail full of fuzz and electronics. The music is inspired by the typical sonorities of cult bands as Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard.

Rough sounds, repetitive and loud overwhelming riffs and lyrics coming from dreams, hangover nightmares and horror movie atmospheres. There is no claim to create something innovative. The band's main idea is to trap the listener in their rabid and uncomfortable distorted world.

Band Members

Luke - Vocals / Synth

Chris - Guitars

Lorenzo - Bass

Max - Drums

Alessandro - Roadie & Merch-man

Review:

Satori Junk is a band that could only ever come from the Italian Metal Scene as Italian bands have a different perspective compared to other countries when it comes to music. I've noticed over the last few years that Italian Sludge/Stoner Metal bands are the most adventurous and ones are willing to take more risks with their to music to sound different to everyone else. 

Though that brings me to Satori Junk - an intriguing and exciting band who blends Sludge, Stoner, Space Rock, Fuzz, and Doom with a huge amount of Drone to impress you with. Their S/T debut album is one weird and trippy musical odyssey where the band will confuse and frustrate many while entertaining a whole lot more within the Sludge/Stoner Metal world. Opening track - TTD - is an experimental force of nature with the band showing people what their sound is all about. Drone based vocals with layers of distorted Fuzz is the main driving force with far-out there psych Sludge/Stoner style riffs with the band playing some heavy Doom Metal carnage with a sense of originality to boot as well. When Satori Junk add a 60s style piano into the mix, your musical senses will go into overdrive with sheer joy and excitement. Satori Junk say heck to convention as Satori Junk play by their own rules.

Second track - Spookie Boogie - is a very creepy affair with noises and sounds combining with Doom and Gloom atmospherics giving you another exciting dark tale to play at full blast. This song is a very bass heavy affair and the vocal delivery is simply stunning at times. The album is very psychedelic and should appeal to fans of Church of Misery, Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard. This album is runs for an epic listen at 71 minutes or so. Some of the songs run from 8 mins to almost 12 mins in length. So if you dig Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal songs then this album will appeal to you. As I said before it's very experimental as the band aren't afraid to throw in a jazz-rock beat-down here and there.

Though it's the louder Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs that are the main draw here especially on 3rd track - Monsters. A superb track that ranks as one of the albums standout tracks. The vocals will take a while to get used to as they have quite a distorted effect and a feeling the vocals are being projected from another time or dimension. You will understand when you hear the album. Though it works for the context of the whole album as Satori Junk impress through out. It's good that they have written epic songs compared to shorter songs as it gives the band more time to build more heavy atmospherics for their overall sound to work.

Volume is the key for Satori Junk and they need a lot of time and space to build upon that sound. When everything comes together, the album becomes a very exciting place to be and you're part of the action. Fourth Track - Shamaniac - is another crazy ride into the unknown which opens with another creepy soundbyte before some inspired Church Of Misery guitar worship appears and these psychedelic rockers put your entire body through another round of heavy punishing slow-paced riffs. Yeah this album is a challenging album to listen to at times but at least Satori Junk has the courage to release something epic and different to anybody else.

I will be here all day if I start reviewing all of the albums 8 songs but the first 4 songs will tell you what to expect for the rest of the album. Crazy, experimental, progressive, psychedelic, Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs that will test your patience to the limit though you will justly be rewarded with a real satisfying experience you will find very hard to beat. Wait until you experience the final two songs - Lords Of The Pigs and Queen Ant Jam - which ranks as the best 20 minutes of the album. This is where the band go for broke and impress you with more superb droned out vocals and even crazier & heavier riffs to match. It brings this epic album to an almighty finish. This isn't an album for the casual listener.

This is an album for people who like to be challenged and work hard for their musical rewards. I loved it mainly for it's crazy nature and how the band are willing to take risks and succeed at every turn. This is a must have album. Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Sara from Taxi Driver Records for the promo. Satori Junk S/T debut album is now available to buy from Taxi Driver Records.

Words by Steve Howe

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