Daily Peaks · 12.05.2026
If you start the album with the opener "World Collapse"—banging your head and moshing along—you might think: "Cool, Crowbar have recorded a new album featuring a few Motörhead-style tracks." If, however, you start with the second song, "Second Strike," you’ll think: "Finally, a band that doesn't just whine about the loss of Motörhead, but actually steps into their footsteps of dirty, heavy rock 'n' roll." Either way, it becomes clear that you are dealing with a band that is equally...
Heavystoned Albums · 20.04.2026
And then there are days when I receive music that goes far beyond my usual musical horizons. The Finnish band Marianas Rest achieved this with their release this year, "The Bereaved." Normally, an opener like "Thank You for the Dance" closes an album, a song that begins calmly, subtly, and culminates in an epic monument, practically a soundtrack. "Rat in the Wall," however, is as melodic as an Amorphis song, sung with growling death metal vocals and clean backing vocals. The following song...
Daily Peaks · 12.04.2026
Black Royal have been one of my absolute favorite bands since their 2020 album "Firebride." From the very beginning, I loved the palpable brutality of their songs, which nevertheless feature melodies, hooks, and perfect dynamics. The new song picks up where "Earthbound" left off in 2022 and refines their signature elements. "Water of the Crow" surges irresistibly forward, almost resembling a Motörhead-esque boogie-rocker, seasoned with a subtle keyboard hook despite all the heavy guitars....
Heavystoned Albums · 20.02.2026
This album is heavy and stoned, heavy in the Black Sabbath sense, stoned in the sense of numerous references to Kyuss and Fu Manchu. To this already potent brew is added a raspy, clearly sludge-influenced vocal style, rounding out this current trinity of heavy music. What's more bothersome is the track order: there are three blocks of two songs each, all drawn from the same genre. For example, the opener (no)Hope and the following "Bloody Vampire" are more in the rockier Fu Manchu or Kyuss...
Festivals · 07.12.2025
After Keep it Low comes the next Keep it Low, because no sooner have the last chords faded, the last Augustiner beer drunk, than, alongside the ticket pre-sale phases, the first part of the lineup is posted on all social media. And yes, the lineup is already exciting. And to be on the safe side, click the button below to buy your ticket.
Daily Peaks · 06.11.2025
We first met Curt in 2017, shortly after his release from prison. We saw him four times with Zeke, and now, seven years later, he's back with the ultimate Seattle answer to High on Fire. Okay, Dirty Old Buzzard is dominated by rock 'n' roll and a certain FOAD attitude. The opener, "Bag of Nails," kicks off in true Motörhead style—pure snotty rock—which is then followed by "Death Becomes Your Dying Wish," a song more in the doom or sludge vein, a pretty furious track with annoying...
Heavystoned Albums · 01.10.2025
The roaring annoys me the most of the sludge and hardcore bands, and you don't understand the texts. So why sing or roar? Let's remember that Sludge is actually a very groovy mix of blues and hardcore and let us play this mix with a feeling of rhythm that only Brazilians can get. Be it Sepultura or Chico Science and even Krisiun grooves despite all the brutality. Madbong´s EP just takes 17 minutes of grooving and positively swinging brutality, which is actually a contradiction itself. Madbong...
Daily Peaks · 20.09.2025
DÖ from Finland made my playlist immediately, as did their fellow countrymen Black Royal. The two bands together would be a dream lineup. It certainly wouldn't be noodle music, with infantile 50- to 60-year-olds jumping around to it. It's death doom, with just the right tempo without being annoying, yet still make you want to bang your head. The two songs also strike the perfect balance between being truly pissed off and having good hooks and riffs. I don't need to ramble any further;...
Heavystoned Albums · 19.09.2025
Every day, my Bandcamp algorithm sends me interesting new bands from all over the world that I probably won't see at festivals or concerts in the next 25 years. They're either from Canada, New Zealand, or Chile, or they're one-man projects, or they come from a country with a relatively small music scene, like Spin the Skull from Portugal. The cover of their eponymous debut album reminded me of the numerous crust, hardcore, and D-beat bands I listened to in the 80s, and I immediately pressed...
Daily Peaks · 01.09.2025
This song feels like a Scott Barrett or Richie MacCaw tackle. And as a rugby fan, I'm not exaggerating. A very powerful, forward-moving song, bellowed with all the facets of Matthew Hyde's voluminous voice, which feels like the All Blacks are celebrating a haka a meter in front of you. And us in Europe? We see Earth Tongue from New Zealand four times a year, but so far, no Beast Wars in sight. I'm praying to Matte from SOL that he brings this fantastic band to Europe for a few festivals.