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Screaming From the Heavy Underground
TIER Releases New Single and Video, "Keep Sweet" Ahead of Upcoming Album
TIER is a band from Trier, Germany who puts a very unique and theatrical spin on the standard stoner/rock fare. Instrumentally, their sound has a strong basis of stoner/desert rock that often takes on a bit of western flair, and even more frequently, becomes delightfully weighty (as stoner rock is inclined to do). The vocals are where things start to get really interesting... Not only does TIER often utilize a heavy blues/country western vocal style, but they incorporate multi-dimensional, layered vocal harmonies that really add to the theme and plot of each song. I was immediately struck by the band's originally (and creativity); I'm not sure that I've ever heard such a contrasting combination of sheer loveliness and grit in the stoner/heavy blues realm that just works as it does here. However, TIER successfully creates an impressively cinematic experience, as appropriate for a focused listening session as it is for everyday rocking out on the drive to work.TIER is composed of a trio of musicians, Fab (bass), Jan (guitar), and Jones (drums). These "brothers in spirt and groove" released their debut EP, Dawner, in December 2022. Now, the band is gearing up for their first full-length release, Backwood Blues, out on May 16, 2025 via the awesome Pink Tank Records. However, TIER decided to give us a lovely gift just in time for Valentine's Day by dropping the first single from the album, the aptly titled Keep Sweet, along with an accompanying lyric video (below):
Keep Sweet: the Premier Single from Backwood Blues
Keep Sweet is a great choice for the first single from Backwood Blues, as it truly encapsulates a little of everything that makes up TIER's signature sound. A bit of a delicate, cowboy campfire-esque intro quickly leads into the gritty and barreling stoner metal chorus, adorned with vocals both gruff and dulcet. The vocal harmonies here appropriately draw upon a southern gospel style (I love those "In the name of the Looooord"s). The verses are a little more bare bones in the best way, where crawling bass and grooving percussion allow the melody of the vocals to stand out. Lyrically, the song is a satirical warning to "keep sweet", a phrase frequently used by the infamous Warren Jeffs of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). Essentially, the phrase encourages followers of the cult, particularly women, to stifle their emotions and keep a smile on their face, even in the midst of grave mistreatment and abuse by those that are believed to have "authority" over them. As a whole, Keep Sweet offers a very immersive blend of quality stoner/desert grooves, creativity, and vocal aptitude, and a healthy dose of wit to bring it all together. The primary thing you need to know, however, is while this single certainly offers a window into what you can expect from the full Backwood Blues album, it's a fleeting glimpse... I assure you; Backwood Blues is filled with surprises and variety that you don't want to miss!Backwood Blues drops on May 16, 2025 via Pink Tank Records!More About TIER
You can follow TIER and listen to their music at the following links:
Berlin-Based Instrumental Stoner/Prog Metal Icarus Burns Releases Self-Titled Debut Album
Icarus Burns is an instrumental stoner/psychedelic/progressive quartet from Berlin, Germany. The band was originally formed in 2020 as a heavy psych group with a vocalist, and they released a three-track debut EP in 2021. After undergoing a lineup change mid-2024, Icarus Burns decided to focus solely on instrumentals, taking inspiration from greats such as Rotor, Elder, Monkey3, Rezn, Thrice, Kosmodrome, My Sleeping Karma, and Robot God. This prioritization shines through in their multi-dimensional sound. Icarus Burns is all about contrast, alternating between smooth and rough textures and tones that vacillate between serenely atmospheric and downright tumultuous. In this way, the band not only achieves their goal of allowing each instrument to shine, but they effectively weave impassioned tales without a need for words.With this new kaleidoscopic sound to drive them, Icarus Burns set to work on their self-titled debut EP. One single, the heavy-hitting Minotaur, was released in January 2025, very efficaciously drumming up a wave of excitement for the new EP. Furthermore, in the true spirit of the heavy underground, Icarus Burns co-produced the EP themselves and released it on their own label, Feather & Wax Records.Icarus Burns' self-titled EP was released on February 12, 2025, and it contains 6 diverse tracks:Icarus Burns' Self-Titled Debut
1.) Minotaur
Minotaur enters on a placid, dreamlike breeze, but don't be fooled: a note of trepidation hovers in the air. A palpable charge builds in the atmosphere, leading to booming drums and crashing cymbals striking like lightning, ushering in a tempest whose rumblings can physically be felt in your body as you listen. Electric flashes of intricate and wailing guitar work dot the storm, with crunchier riffage underfoot. A strong heavy psych undertone is present throughout Minotaur, drawing upon desert and Eastern tones. These snakelike tendrils of psychedelia creep in at first before making their way to the forefront in the final third of the song.My favorite thing about Minotaur is it does a great job of ensuring that all its elements - atmospheric, heavy, and psychedelic - remain constant once established, but each takes multiple turns in the spotlight, drawing attention to just how necessary each of these parts are in creating the whole.2.) Die Werft
Die Weft (meaning "the world" in English), much like Minotaur, enters on an ethereal note, but this time, it's marked by a background of distorted confusion. This reminds me of one of those dreams that, while foggy and perplexing, can also bring with it an element of placating intrigue. After this intro, some spacey psych takes hold, which always creates an aura of optimism plagued by apprehension for me. About one third of the way into Die Weft, some much heavier instrumentals join in, alternating between weighty, booming stomps and crunchy bite. These contrasting moods join forces to end the track in a very epic way - and that may or may not be a play on words in regard to the song's meaning.3.) Melancholia
Melancholia begins true to its namesake, with a gloomy yet soothing intro that relies on some mellow percussion and spiraling, psychedelic guitars. Of course, in true Icarus Burns fashion, this temper ultimately launches into what is one of the heaviest transitions yet: a thundering heavy metal roar that, while undeniably sludgy in its gravity, still manages to be quite crisp. This move from wispy psychedelia to dense metal cannonade occurs once more, this time adding a noticeable amount of dimension to each segment before ending the song as delicately as it entered.4.) Slash (A Distant Light/In The Darkness)
This aptly named track starts with a pulsing, spacey buzz and bright but driving guitar, creating an amalgamation that's simultaneously weighty and buoyant, painting an interstellar portrait in my mind. While these elements gradually increase in intensity as the song progresses, they wait until Slash is drawing to an end before becoming uproarious in a smooth crescendo that leads directly into delightfully immersive chaos.5.) Trännen der Sonnen
On Trannen der Sonnen ("tears of the sun" in English), we take an even sharper turn into the atmospheric qualities begun in the previous track, with some airy and dynamic post rock/metal textures. While there are some heavy, metallic moments, particularly at the midway mark, Trannen der Sonnen is considerably fluid.6.) 100 Days
Just when I thought the ascent into the clouds had reached max altitude, Icarus Burns takes us beyond the exosphere on 100 Days. While the moods on Trannen der Sonnen were a bit spacier in their post metal sting, the character of 100 Days is altogether heavenly, with a much more delicate, less aggressive, and less apprehensive vibe. That is...until the last three minutes of the song, when our rise into the ether suddenly becomes a full-throttle plummet into a chasm down below. This journey is plagued by dense and quaking, viscous instrumentals, carrying us through the fire before spitting us out to rest on the last few notes of the EP. These notes truly leave us on a cliffhanger, with their soaring yet anxious wails... Is the fall from grace the least of our worries, or should we brace ourselves for something even more sinister?Final Thoughts
There are two primary things about Icarus Burns' self-titled EP that stand out to me. First is the adeptness with which the band ensures each element of every song not only gets a turn in the spotlight, but that each component often revolves back to the forefront for another showcase. In this way, Icarus Burns not only thoroughly highlights the skill of each individual musician, but they develop a sense of continuity that keeps the listener invested. However, that's certainly not to say that Icarus Burns' music is predictable, it's actually quite the opposite, and that brings me to my second point: variety. Just when you think you know which direction a track is headed, the floor will drop out from under you, transporting you from an incredibly atmospheric environment or into the most immersive heavy metal assault. Of course, Icarus Burns isn't the first instrumental metal band to utilize this technique, but they do it with pronounced contrast and abruptness, reminding me very much of the band Rotor. With their knack for sophisticated songwriting, instrumental prowess, and an unparalleled element of surprise, Icarus Burns makes one hell of an impression with their debut EP. This is one that will never leave you bored.More About Icarus Burns
Icarus Burns Is:
Tim Corden - GuitarJens Gehrke - GuitarAxel Kalteiß - BassCristobal Cuadra Bravo - DrumsIcarus Burns is planning to play gigs throughout Germany and Europe in 2025, with some dates already confirmed. Keep an eye on the band's social media and website (links below) for more info about upcoming shows!
You can follow Icarus Burns and listen to their music at the following links:
A massive thank you to Icarus Burns for the promo!
If you like Icarus Burns, you may also enjoy TFNRSH!
Lorquin's Admiral Releases Debut Single and Video "Inexplicable Things"
On January 6, 2025, Argonauta Records proudly announced the signing of Lorquin's Admiral, a supergroup composed of current and former members of Afghan Whigs, the Fizz Fuzz, Hermano, Luna Sol, Orquesta del Desierto, Sons of Alpha Centauri, and Yawning Sons (whew!).Led by husband-and-wife duo Dandy and Dawn Brown (who also just finished recording a new Fizz Fuzz album!) along with Nick Hannon (Sons of Alpha Centauri), Marlon King (Sons of Alpha Centauri), and Steve Earle (former Afghan Whigs), the group seemingly popped up out of nowhere, announcing a debut album sometime in the not-too-distant future. Although many elements of the band remain interestingly shrouded in mystery, Lorquin's Admiral lifted the veil just a bit on February 11, 2025 in reveling their debut single and video, Inexplicable Things.Inexplicable Things
Inexplicable Things has the most enjoyable foundation of stoner, desert, and heavy psych tones: it's laid back while being effortlessly propelled by the energy of the lead guitar. This bright and emotive solo guitar work is a constant throughout the song and is so involved, it acts almost as a backup vocal. This is layered atop driving stoner riffage and darker undertones, a nod to the cryptic nature of the song's subject matter. My favorite thing about Inexplicable Things, however, are the hypnotically feline vocals of Dawn Brown, which primarily stay in the range of a soothing alto purr but occasionally take on a sensual yowl in the choruses.The official video for Lorquin's Admiral's debut single, "Inexplicable Things".Keep your eyes and ears open for a debut album from this incredible group coming soon, and in the meantime, check out some of the other bands Lorquin's Admiral's members have on their resumes:You can also read my review of Hermano's EP when the moon was high... here.
Best New Releases January 2025
Your girl is starting off 2025 on a good note, increasing my best of the month album count from a measly two releases in December 2024 to a whopping eight on the first month of the new year. And, while eight is no epic feat, it's nothing to sneeze at for me. Maybe you caught me in a good mood, maybe it's the Aquarian energy afoot...I certainly won't question it.I was expecting a few highly anticipated albums this month, but in its last few days, January actually surprised me with several new and new-to-me bands with some very solid new releases.Let's start off the list with an honorable mention:Honorable Mention:
Parish - Queen of the Skies b/w Sisters of the Light
The only reason this beauty didn't make my January Doom Charts list is the simple fact that it's a two-track single, not offering up quite as much material as the usual selection for the monthly list. However, Parish captivated me so much with their latest release, Queen of the Skies b/s Sisters of the Light, I purchased it on Bandcamp barely 20 seconds into the first track.Queen of the Skies b/s Sisters of the Light is Parish's first release since their debut album in 2022, and it's a powerful comeback, delivering more of the epic proto-metal goodness we know and love from the band. This time, each track explores humanity's relationship with the sun. Queen of the Skies is a celebrational hymn, appreciating the sun's life-giving properties and offering up praise. Conversely, Sisters of the Light recounts a tale about the blood recklessly spilled over such religious convictions, shining a light on "the darker side of sun worship".Favorite Track: Sisters of the LightJanuary Doom Charts
Here's everything I submitted to the Doom Charts in descending order:8.) TFNRSH - Book of Circles
Book of Circles, the highly anticipated sophomore album from instrumental progressive/psychedelic trio TFNRSH, is the soul cleanse you didn't know you needed.To me, the album is an introspective journey. It feels like holding up a mirror and looking long and hard at some of life's heavier emotions, particularly when it comes to the power that they have over us. TFNRSH sonically illustrates these feelings in such a vivid way, as clearly as if they were painted with a brush. It bears emphasizing that this is done in the absence of vocals and lyrics to underline each song's meaning. Instead, the band communicates with liberal use of contrast, creativity, and as TFNRSH aptly calls it, "bursts of energy". This is a meditative sonic journey that requires no words, only an "embrace of the soul".Favorite Track: ZemestanRead my full review here.7.) Fidel A Go Go - Diss Engaged
Fidel A Go Go is a band from Australia who, with their infectious blend of math rock, prog, stoner, grunge, and hard rock, delivers a candid portrait of some of the ugliest parts of the modern world. Their new album Diss Engaged keeps true to the signature sound the band developed on their 2022 debut while adding layers of darkness, realism, and grit, digging deeper into what ails us.Favorite Track: Sandstorm6.) Mountain Dust - (self-titled)
Mountain Dust is a modern hard rock, stoner, desert, and heavy psych band from Quebec who has been making music since about 2013. The band is a true chameleon, whose sophisticated and poignant tunes move fluidly between lighter, colorful psychedelic moods and heavier, grittier earth tones. Most of the songs on Mountain Dust's new self-titled album are saturated with notes of the desert, but these vacillate between nods to West Asia and the southwestern US, truly giving the listener the best of both worlds. As if that's not proof enough that Mountain Dust's music is noticeably flexible, the emotive vocals and adaptive instrumentals carry each track through a gamut of feelings, illustrating a complete cycle of mental processing within each. This is one of those albums that is meant to be savored, enjoyed, and deeply felt, much like a compelling novel.Favorite track: Only Them5.) Idol Lord - The Other Side
Idol Lord is a band from Los Angeles whose debut, The Other Side, has made a very positive first impression on the heavy underground with its six tracks of deliciously trippy, viscous, distorted, and down-tuned stoner/psych goodness. There's much more going on, however, as the band incorporates a ton of dimension into their sound, ultimately concocting something that is both steadfast in its weightiness and fluid and warm in its desert tones. The gritty, hazy atmospheres are topped with gruffly melodic vocals that are altogether hypnotic in their consistency, delivering highly infectious choruses.With this promising debut and a slew of impressive live gigs under their belt (playing alongside the likes of Howling Giant, Gozu, The Obsessed, Mr. Bison, and Max Boogie Overdrive), Idol Lord immediately demonstrates that they're here to stay (and that's more than ok with us)!Favorite Track: Caught Inside4.) Hey Satan - Flamingoes
Formed by longtime friends, Hey Satan is a band from Lausanne, Switzerland who's been making music since about 2017. The band is influenced by a wide variety of heavy music, including Led Zeppelin, Rage Against the Machine, and Kyuss, all of which are evident in their kaleidoscopic sound.On their newest release, Flamingoes, Hey Satan continues their habit of ensuring each track packs a powerful punch. Constructed from a baseline of warm and fuzzy stoner that's never stingy in its heaviness, each song smooths things out in the chorus with soaring psychedelic and heavy rock tones. This has a way of carving many facets into Hey Satan's sound, providing variety and a ton of scintillating dimension (beautifully demonstrated on the EP's instrumental closer, The Monster).In a nutshell, Hey Satan is the perfect band for the stoner/desert fan who appreciates both the heavier and lighter sides of the genre, while giving nods to the influences that helped mold the style's modern landscape.Favorite Track: Rubicon3.) Century - Sign of the Storm
Sign of the Storm, the sophomore album from Swedish NWOBHM band Century, picks up right where their debut left off, continuing to deliver concentrated and energetic doses of old school heavy metal. The band also preserves their retro production style, bringing a dark and hazy quality to the sword and shield vibes and calling to mind bands like Angel Witch and Diamond Head. The ten tracks on Sign of the Storm are powerful, confident, and anthem-like with impressive instrumental chops, charging riffage, and wailing solos. The vocals recount each epic tale, soaring above the instrumental battleground and often punctuating stanzas with a characteristic heavy metal wail. In a nutshell, Sign of the Storm shows Century steadfastly wielding the torch of the NWOBHM bands that came before them, and they keep that flame burning brilliantly.Favorite Track: SacrificeRead my quick review here.2.) Godzillionaire - Diminishing Returns
Accurately described as Godzillionaire's most eclectic release to date, Diminishing Returns delivers and builds upon everything we know and love about the Kansas-based stoner/alternative rockers, while successfully exploring some new stylistic components. The band maintains their foundation of stoner rock, grunge, and alternative rock (with some nods to metal in the mix), but experiments with sounds that are on both the lighter and heavier ends of the spectrum in comparison to their previous releases. Frontman Mark Hennesy's lyrics are more heartfelt and personal than ever, and his vocals elevate their use of contrast, expanding upon their trademark approach of alternating between soothing and frenzied moods. However, I think the most important takeaway from Diminishing Returns is less about its specific genre affiliations (or lack thereof), and more about its incredibly accurate illustrations of emotion and the human condition. This is one of those albums that you can both rock out to and identify with on a profoundly deep level.Favorite Track: Drowning All NightRead my full review here.1.) Dax Riggs - 7 Songs for Spiders
Dax Riggs' first album in fifteen years is everything you expected and more.7 Songs for Spiders could realistically be translated to "7 Psalms for the Jaded Realist". Each track candidly explores demons (both real and those that reside within us), death, love, belief (or lack thereof), and the afterlife. For all of this darkness, there's just as much bright optimism, or in this case, a brutal but peacefully relayed honesty and acceptance of one's inability to care, comply, or jump on the bandwagon.What makes this subject matter stand out on 7 Songs for Spiders is its presentation as a hymnal of sorts, the songs deeply grounded in swampy southern gospel tones, inspired by the culture of Louisiana where they were authored. The album also incorporates an undercurrent of darkened and slowed proto metal, muddy grunge, and enough buzz and hum to satisfy the stoner rock fan. Surprisingly, there's also an electronic component on a few of the tracks, giving them a danceable goth groove.7 Songs for Spiders isn't an album to be taken lightly; it's incredibly thought-provoking and relatable, made to be savored and pondered upon. More than anything else, I personally found it to be reassuring and downright comforting, a reminder that life is often about finding a way to amicably reside alongside both your inner demons and those that hang out around you.Favorite Track: deceiverYou can read my quick review here.There you have it, the best of January according to Doomcakes. I hope you enjoyed these amazing albums as much as I did. As always, don't forget to check out this month's Doom Chart and show your favorite heavy underground artists some much-deserved love!
SFTHU Quick Reviews: Century - "Sign of the Storm"
Fun fact: I love traditional heavy metal almost as much as I love doom. When you think about it, they have a lot in common: occult and fantastical themes and imagery, riff-driven guitar work, and countless shared musical influences for starters. As much as I adore the low and slow sinister tones of doom, I'm enamored with the high energy and often more intricate compositions of traditional heavy metal and the new wave of British heavy metal movement that rocked the genre in the 70s and 80s.With that said, you can imagine my giddiness after happening upon Century, a heavy metal duo from Sweden who creates one of the most raw and legitimate vintage metal sounds I've had the pleasure of hearing. The band composes as a duo, with Leo Ekstrom Sollenmo on drums and bass and Staffan Tengner on guitars, vocals, and bass. When playing live, they enlist the help of fellow musicians Isak Koskinen Rosemarin and Edvin Aftonfalk.Century got their start in 2020, releasing a few demos and singles (often released on an old school cassette format) before dropping their first full-length album, The Conquest of Time, in 2023. By this point, the band had really refined their heavy metal chops and had homed in on their signature sound. For the most part, the tracks on this album are rather short, albeit high energy and concentrated doses of NWOBHM goodness. Not quite two years later, Century is keeping up the momentum by releasing their second full-length album, Sign of the Storm, which will be our focus here.Sign of the Storm
On Sign of the Storm, Century picks up where they left off on their debut full-length album, and that's a good thing in this case. While I do hear a fair amount of dimension added on Sign of the Storm, the band ultimately does what they do best in bringing us more of their trademark NWOBHM stylings.Unlike many of their mainstream counterparts, Century is not about modern production values or theatrics. They're all about maintaining a genuine retro sound, and it's a massive part of their appeal; the music effortlessly speaks for itself. The band keeps this attitude on their sophomore album, which I was delighted to hear. In fact, I'm quite sure that if I told you that this album was recorded in the late 70s, you wouldn't bat an eye. To my ears, however, Century is unique in that there's a dark and hazy quality in that old school production that adds a layer of dark magic alongside the sword and shield vibes, in the vein of bands such as Angel Witch and Diamond Head.The ten tracks on Sign of the Storm are powerful, confident, and anthem-like (especially that title track), each weaving fantastical tales in the tradition of the genre. The instrumental chops are impressive, with intricate, relentless, charging riffage and wailing solos that both impress and remind you of everything you love about the complexities of traditional heavy metal. This is a genre that exudes power, and Century interprets this quality incredibly well. Similarly, the smooth yet assured vocals recount each epic, soaring above the instrumental battleground and often punctuating stanzas with a characteristic heavy metal wail.On Sign of the Storm, Century continues to wield the torch of the NWOBHM bands that came before them and breathes fresh air into the genre by bringing it into modern times. It's beyond refreshing to not only hear a new band keep that flame burning, but to do it remarkably well.Physical CD copies of Sign of the Storm can be purchased via Dying Victims Productions and Electric Assault Records here.
More About Century:
You can follow Century and listen to their music at the following links:
If you like Century, you might also enjoy HRAEFN!