Record Reviews S

With their self-released debut album 'Emersion', Finland's SONS OF KINGS take the listener on an instrumental journey through many genres and moods....

Due to the album title, UK's SOUL THIEF caught my eye, because I love old funk from the late 1960s/early to mid-1970s. So I hoped very much that this...

I read that a band called Sideburn would play this years Doom Shall Rise festival. And I never think I have heard of them. The name induced thougths...

Hailing from West Virginia, SEVEN PLANETS is an instrumental band and this self-titled album is their second self-financed full-length, released in...

I guess there is no need to introduce this band from Germany with the American on the mic, right? Seamount should by now be a household name for...

Well, I do not share the view of music journalist T. Rozwadowski who described the music of Wisconsin's SOUTHSIDE STRANGLERS with the words: "Dirty,...

I am saying nothing new when stating that the UK in the 1960's was a kind of blues mecca. At that time there were so many groundbreaking bands that...

SOLRIZE come from Vienna, Austria, and are self-proclaimed propagators of heavy rock, as they proudly state with their album title, which literally...

SUPER DISTORTION is just one of many projects of Pete Bradley, who was completely unknown to me until I received this promo disc from Pointy Bird...

Damn, this album is as infectious as a worldwide plague. Fortunately these "plague" already exists. It is called rock 'n' roll and Sweden's SPIDERS...

Good to know that STINKING LIZAVETA is still around. Unfortunately I sort of lost touch a bit and the last album I know well is 'Slaughterhouse'...

Some of you have probably heard of Sweden's SPIDERS before, because since 2011 the band has released two 10"'s as well as a digital single. 'Weekend...

This is what you call bad timing. Not even two weeks after I visited the Stoned From The Underground Festival a package with new "work" arrived at my...

Those of you who have a huge interest in space and psychedelic rock should know SULA BASSANA, the solo outfit of Dave Schmidt who is probably the most...

More recently, I have received a lot of good music from Denmark and Copenhagen's three-piece SHOGUN ASSASSINS is no exception to this rule. With both...

Trends come and go, but one thing is here to stay: SONS OF OTIS. For more than 18 years now, Ken Baluke (guitar, vocals) and crew explore their own...

SPACE LIZARD (formerly known as Devil's Harvest with roots that reach back to the 1990's) from Finland are back with their second demo that contains...

Some bands are predestined to be recorded live, because that's the best way to capture their true power. STONE AXE is one of these bands and that's...

SKY ARCHITECTS come from Denmark and along they bring their 2012 debut album 'The Promise Of Tomorrow', labeled by themselves as Doom-Pop. A label...

Hardly a month goes by in 2012 without a new release from a Tony D. Reed-related band. And if it's not one of his own bands, than its an album which...

SAINT VITUS were one of the true first sons of Black Sabbath, that I discovered in 1986. There was a fantastic record store named Garageland in the...

When this CD arrived in my mailbox, I was not sure if I was the right guy to review this. I am not the man who listens to MEAN and EXTREME Doom. Not...

About eight years ago, I received a killer demo from a Japanese sludge band named Psychotoblack. I was so enthusiastic that I did an interview with...

It gave me great pleasure when I found this 7" in my post box, because I'm a big fan of WHOOPING CRANE. I guess you're now wondering why I don't have...

STUBB’s debut album is also the first release of the young label Superhot Records. Recorded in 2010 and mixed in 2011 by Stone Axe’s own Tony...

Elektrohasch stands mostly for quality. While looking on the cover of 'AlphaOmegaAlpha' you see a beautiful made gatefold cover with massive content...

In late 2011 a sigh of relief escaped all those who had mourned the departure of Welsh stoner-doomsters Acrimony more than ten years ago, because 4/5...

The debut album of SUN GODS IN EXILE, 'Black Light, White Lines' was one of my personal musical highlights in 2009. This was particularly due to the...

Today there exist ca. 1.465.980 bands which resurrect the rock music of the 1970's. And it seems that this fashion trend will increase further within...

And here I am again, sitting in front of the computer and writing another review about another band from England that released another CD full of good...

It's no easy task to create an own sound, because a lot has been done in the last sixty years. But despite all of this, there are a couple of bands...

To this day, SINISTER REALM's 2008 demo ranks among the best demos that I received in the course of the last five years. The subsequent self-titled...

Hardly a month in 2011 goes by without receiving a new promo release from Transubstans Records. It goes without saying that not each new album appeals...

Up to the present I've not had SUNGRAZER on my list. I did not pay much attention to their debut and I must say quite honestly that I had less...

If you are an attentive reader of Cosmic Lava, you have probably noticed that I'm a huge fan of traditional Delta blues. Aside from the classic...

As the title 'Metälpünk Invasion' already indicates, here you will get an undiluted dose of punk-infused heavy metal. There is nothing new about...

More people should listen to STONE AXE, in particular those who cannot get enough of classic 1970s rock. Indeed there is an approximately equal number...

It seems as if SUPLECS remained a kind of well-kept secret among fans of heavy music even though they are located in New Orleans. Furthermore Man's...

Even on their third album 'III', Hungarian heavyweights Stereochrist cannot deny their influences. You surely still hear some Down in there. And...

Recently, I wrote a review about the new album from Motorjesus, but my enthusiasm was very limited. The reason is mainly that I don't like bands who...

There is no doubt that Steve Sylvester has written history with Death SS. They were one one of the first Italian doom/heavy metal bands who connected...

The debut record of Atlanta's SONS OF TONATIUH adds nothing new to the uncomfortable world of sludge, but that should not be taken to mean that this...

Although this album has been released in January 2010, it is still worth writing some good words about it. If you love classic 1970's hardrock, 'The...

Sludge bands from the Netherlands are always welcomed here in Cosmic Lava, and so I was pleasantly surprised when I found this promo in my mailbox....

I wasn't really too enthusiastic about the first SERPENT THRONE album 'Ride Satan Ride'. This was primarily caused by the fact that I missed some...

Personally, I think that 2010 was a good year in terms of heavy music. A couple of excellent albums have seen the light of day and this includes also...

The third, self-released effort from Denmark's SEDATED ANGEL belongs in a category of albums that one can neither love nor hate. Generally, 'Far...

Originally released by MeteorCity a few months ago in April 2010, this is the strictly limited vinyl edition which is a co-release between Electric...

With every new album, Los Angeles' power trio SASQUATCH are getting better. Well, that phrase sounds flat and empty, but it's indeed the case. At...

With a four track demo, SLUGSTAIN made a good start to the heavy doom scene. Hailing from Finland, they have nothing in common with the NWoWD (New...

It is good to see that Peru's space rockers SERPENTINA SATELITE are still alive. I first heard about the band, when I received their second album 'No...

New Jersey's heavy flagship SOLACE returns with their third album and once again prove that they are still something very special. Meanwhile they...

STONE AXE's self-titled debut was classic rock perfection from start to finish. It showcases in an impressive way that it's still possible to...

Here we have a special delicacy for everyone who's interested in Warrel Dane's (Nevermore) first musical steps. Before he joined Sanctuary, Dane was...

Those of you who are strongly interested in the Brazilian metal scene of the early 1980's will already know the band STRESS. Originally formed in...

For more than 20 years UK's SACRILEGE was a well-kept secret among punks and metal fans with a good musical taste. Since the band's 25th anniversary...

Currently, everything is going smoothly for Germany's SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT. Following a successful USA tour at the beginning of 2009, the band...

It's about time to use the word underrated, because that is what SEAMOUNT are. Already the self-titled debut revealed the high potential of this ...

Finally a new release from the fabulous STONE AXE, who preserve the cultural heritage of Free, Bad Company and Thin Lizzy. 'Extended Play' has been...

SUBARACHNOID SPACE have been around since 1995, but unfortunately this is my first meeting with their completely improvised heavy psychedelic rock....

It's not often that I'm particularly impressed by a new band, but the debut album from SUN GODS IN EXILE hit the bullseye. Since the day I received...

First, I have to say that it is really great that Calculon Records are among those record label which send abroad promo vinyl copies. I really do...

Personally, I believe that the bands debut 'SpaceJumboFudge' is still a very underrated album. At that time in 1996 there was no other band around...

The name of this German band is still unknown, but maybe some of you've noticed the name of bassplayer Eric Asmussen before, because he's also in the...

After the successful 7" release in 2008 on Roadburn Records, Tony Reed wasn't lazy and although he's been busy touring and recording with his main...

I've been a fan of SANTERIA since I received their last album 'House of the Dying Sun' in 2003. Hailing from the swamplands of Louisiana, this band...

Whenever I'm bored of all those bands who pretend how much they hate the world, and everything else then the second last album from SUPERCHRIST is the...

SOLENOID's debut is an unrelenting, take no prisoners, punch you in the face and buy you a beer afterwards sort of heavy metal-soaked rock 'n' roll...

For a lot of people Billy Anderson is something like an icon. Whenever he produces a new album for a band, I bet that his work will increase the sales...

South America was always a fertile ground for hardrock, punk, metal, blues, and heavy psych. Since the late 60's a lot of very good bands emerged from...

Some demos are just so marvelous that they surpass some of the regular releases. This time it applies to the US-band SINISTER REALM which was formed...

Currently everything works well for Belgian heavy weights SERPENTCULT. After the successful release of their debut EP 'Trident Nor Fire' in 2007, the...

Short after the end of Terraplane in 2007, SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMT has risen from the ashes of that German heavy psych band, and this is their first...

There's no need to introduce vocalist Maniac, because he became famous for his work with Mayhem, one of the first Norwegian black metal bands. His...

SUTCLIFFE JÃœGEND, one of the world's leading purveyors of harsh power electronics are back with a new album. The band evolved from legendary...

After their contribution for a split-7" with Marzuraan on Traquedo Records in 2006 SINK returns with their first full-length, that has been released...

The third release from Electric Earth is the debut of the Belgian two-man band SARDONIS. Consisting of R. on guitar and J. on drums, the band delivers...

Here it is, probably one of the most eagerly-awaited debut albums of all times. Well, I'm kidding, but I was really looking forward to the moment when...

I love reviewing a release from a band I've never heard of when the album turns out to be amazing! SHAME CLUB play blues-infected rock 'n' roll,...

In the beginning of 2008 Catacomb Records started with a very good international compilation, entitled 'The Sound of the Catacombs', featuring some...

Most of you will be unacquainted with the name SLUGPUNCHER, but hopefully this will change very soon, because this band consists of...

After Crucial Blast released the album 'Orange Canyon Mind' three years ago and  'Tribulation' one year later in 2006, the time has come in 2007 for...

I already mentioned that most of the bands, who have been signed by I Hate Records own something very special. Mostly it's an unique sound or the...

Calculon Records excellent reputation for sourcing ultra-aggressive, destructive sludge can only be strengthened by this excellent split-CD, although...

It's time for the third album from one of Sweden's best 70's retro heavy rock bands, and it also the debut for the new vocalist Sartez Faraj, who's...

I already liked the debut of US-powertrio SASQUATCH and I'm not disappointed from the successor, which has been released by Small Stone Records in...

Sometimes Scott Hamilton, who's the head of Small Stone Records, is good for an unexpected release. SLOT is definitely among this surprises, because...

The first 'Sucking The 70s' still belong to one of my favourite compilations of all times. Just take some of the best current heavy rock bands and let...

Since the day when I received their first self-release MCD 'Countdown to Victory' I fell in love with SPANCER's raw rampant heavy sound. They never...

It's awesome that more and more Doom Metal classics have been re-released over the past eight years. Among this labels is Cyclone Empire, who...

With this album SOLSTICE have developed into a significantly innovative force in Doom Metal. They have never been a generic band and 'New Dark Age'...

This 10" has been re-issued for the first time in 1999, but Cyclone Empire did a much better job here, especially due to the included eight bonus...

What for a tremendous start from the US underground label Shadow Kingdom Records, which is focused on Doom and Heavy Metal. This is their very first...

Finally after 13 years, Greek doomsters SORROWS PATH have managed to release their debut full-length, which contains both digitally remastered demos...

Split releases are always a good chance in discovering new groups, although I think, that both German bands are not so unknown here in the German Doom...

I Hate Records are not only specialized in crushing Doom Metal, but also in outstanding Thrash Metal from the underground. One of this bands are...

Usually, I like most of the stuff, which has been released by I Hate Records, but this one here is just a pain in the ass for me. To be more accurate,...

Out of the ashes of Thee Plague Of Gentlemen (still a great loss for the Doom Metal scene) comes SERPENTCULT, and this is their debut for I Hate...