As Iced Earth's founder continues to defile the legacy of the band he started by being a complete MAGA mentalist, there are plenty of bands willing to fill that void, delivering the potent US power thrash riffs, progressive touches and massive vocals that were all part of IE appeal for me.
One such band is Black Sites whose previous albums have all scored highly with me due to their similarities to Iced Earth and that whole US scene but unlike Mr Schaffer they seem to have more of steady head on their shoulders with tracks such as Aquarius Betrayed taking aim at previous generations who "reaped the benefits of a socially liberated and progressive era, then quickly turned their back on them when they became inconvenient."
Vocalist/guitarist Mark Sugar has been joined by a totally updated line up of Lee Smith (guitar), Chris Black (drums) and José Salazar (drums) on this record and this injection of new blood has again shifted the influences of Black Sites as their classic heavy metal foundation is built upon by goth, doom, thrash and more, it's a broader range of sounds that come on For Eternity without abandoning the heavy metal heart.
This fifth album also spreads it's lyrical inspiration widely with UFO cults in their native Chicago (Cosmic Circle Of Fellowship), through to those dealing with mental health battles on Silent Wars, inspired by Robin Williams and anyone who struggles with their mind being their worst enemy.
A revamped line up, some more additions to their traditional metal sound as they build on the prog from their last record but Black Sites still fly the flag of heavy metal on For Eternity. 8/10
Holystone - Accepting Omega (Self Released)
Desert doom from Down Under now with the second album from hypnotic rockers Holystone. Despite only releasing their debut in 2024, the trio of Wolfe Peterson (guitar/vocals), Madison Morris (bass/vocals) and Jonny Pickvance (drums) have built up quite a formidable musical history in their native country with other bands.
As Holystone the have been taking to stages across Australia in support of Brant Bjork Trio, Yawning Man and Witchskull, along with numerous big riff festivals. There's a depth to Holystone that a lot of bands could really pay attention too. On the surface it's doom and psych that are the major points of reference but Holystone make their music makes you feel uneasy, it's brooding and ominous.
Ritualistic in their stage performance this transfers into their music as the vocals of Wolfe and Madison, blend together in union against the often discordant, rhythmically repetitive riffs. Within this mind bending psych doom there's also garage, grunge fuzz and even some dark Americana.
Holystone create sounds befitting the cinematic style of Alejandro Jodorowsky or The Stand by Stephen King, both having a strong impression on Accepting Omega a record where themes of existentialism, morality and depression are paramount, as it's an album about accepting the end and only then ultimately knowing who you are as a person.
I could describe all the songs on this record but it's one of those you need to listen to front to back, let is enter your psyche and work it's black magic on you. Accepting Omega is Holystone at their most apocalyptic yet. 7/10
Ruthless - Curse Of The Beast (Fireflash Records)
Heavy metal never dies and Ruthless are one of those bands who have taken a familiar path in the heavy metal world.
Formed in the 80's to reasonable success, they broke up only to reform again in the 2010's. Since then they've released three studio albums, the last one, The Fallen, on Fireflash Records and now with their fifth record Curse Of The Beast they return to Fireflash for more heavy metal mania.
Ruthless play US heavy metal, in the style of Jag Panzer, Metal Church and Exciter, owing inspiration to Accept and Judas Priest, they've even thrown in a cover of Metal Gods on this album. Their own tracks though are tough, heavy metal slabs, the American way with heavier riffs and rougher vocals than many of their European neighbours.
Speed metal often bowls over into thrash, for example the double shot of the Title Track and Raging Violence, however it's not all intensity as Blood Coalition opens with melodic guitars and heavy chug, continued on Killed By Fate but the majority of Curse Of The Beast puts it's foot on the gas and doesn't ease off until the very end.
Ruthless by name, Ruthless by nature, Curse Of The Beast is more thrashing heavy metal from these US veterans. 7/10
Mothertomb - Dying To Live (Death Box Records)
A band from Michigan singing about Welsh folklore? Well sign me up as it worked for Fleetwood Mac, however unlike 'The Mac' Mothertomb are a much heavier and formidable group of forest dwellers formed after a colossal ice storm in 2025.
Cut off from the outside world with just music, the spirits and their own psyche for company Mothertomb crafted this debut record of transcendental occult doom, where hypnotic riffs, stoner fuzz, gothic atmospheres and glacial movements are all used to capture the attention and keep your head banging.
Dying To Live as I've said takes inspiration from Welsh Folklore but also more tangible issues such as suffering, the struggle between dark and light and the fight with inner demons rather than those that come from hell. Inspirations come from Sabbath obviously, but also Pentagram, Windhand and Acid King, combining various flavours of the doom world without running too far from low and slow.
Alton Minor (bass) and Mike Benitez (drums) create a black hole of a groove, the drumming expressive, with double kicks taking you by surprise and lots of cymbal work for ambience on Cythraul. The bass is the thundering bottom end, but adds the psychedelic grooves to Mountain Hag and the title track.
The bass lingers beneath the guitar of Chance Gawlinski, who can conjure mind warping passages with reverb and echo and fuzzy/distorted riffage from doom 101. Mothertomb is fronted by the brilliant vocal power of Alice Gawlinski who sails between ghostly wails and demonic snarls adding more dynamics to these already by casting the vocal spells.
Mothertomb may be Dying To Live but this debut kicks open their frozen tomb with some heavy occult psych doom. 7/10
Holystone - Accepting Omega (Self Released)
Desert doom from Down Under now with the second album from hypnotic rockers Holystone. Despite only releasing their debut in 2024, the trio of Wolfe Peterson (guitar/vocals), Madison Morris (bass/vocals) and Jonny Pickvance (drums) have built up quite a formidable musical history in their native country with other bands.
As Holystone the have been taking to stages across Australia in support of Brant Bjork Trio, Yawning Man and Witchskull, along with numerous big riff festivals. There's a depth to Holystone that a lot of bands could really pay attention too. On the surface it's doom and psych that are the major points of reference but Holystone make their music makes you feel uneasy, it's brooding and ominous.
Ritualistic in their stage performance this transfers into their music as the vocals of Wolfe and Madison, blend together in union against the often discordant, rhythmically repetitive riffs. Within this mind bending psych doom there's also garage, grunge fuzz and even some dark Americana.
Holystone create sounds befitting the cinematic style of Alejandro Jodorowsky or The Stand by Stephen King, both having a strong impression on Accepting Omega a record where themes of existentialism, morality and depression are paramount, as it's an album about accepting the end and only then ultimately knowing who you are as a person.
I could describe all the songs on this record but it's one of those you need to listen to front to back, let is enter your psyche and work it's black magic on you. Accepting Omega is Holystone at their most apocalyptic yet. 7/10
Ruthless - Curse Of The Beast (Fireflash Records)
Heavy metal never dies and Ruthless are one of those bands who have taken a familiar path in the heavy metal world.
Formed in the 80's to reasonable success, they broke up only to reform again in the 2010's. Since then they've released three studio albums, the last one, The Fallen, on Fireflash Records and now with their fifth record Curse Of The Beast they return to Fireflash for more heavy metal mania.
Ruthless play US heavy metal, in the style of Jag Panzer, Metal Church and Exciter, owing inspiration to Accept and Judas Priest, they've even thrown in a cover of Metal Gods on this album. Their own tracks though are tough, heavy metal slabs, the American way with heavier riffs and rougher vocals than many of their European neighbours.
Speed metal often bowls over into thrash, for example the double shot of the Title Track and Raging Violence, however it's not all intensity as Blood Coalition opens with melodic guitars and heavy chug, continued on Killed By Fate but the majority of Curse Of The Beast puts it's foot on the gas and doesn't ease off until the very end.
Ruthless by name, Ruthless by nature, Curse Of The Beast is more thrashing heavy metal from these US veterans. 7/10
Mothertomb - Dying To Live (Death Box Records)
A band from Michigan singing about Welsh folklore? Well sign me up as it worked for Fleetwood Mac, however unlike 'The Mac' Mothertomb are a much heavier and formidable group of forest dwellers formed after a colossal ice storm in 2025.
Cut off from the outside world with just music, the spirits and their own psyche for company Mothertomb crafted this debut record of transcendental occult doom, where hypnotic riffs, stoner fuzz, gothic atmospheres and glacial movements are all used to capture the attention and keep your head banging.
Dying To Live as I've said takes inspiration from Welsh Folklore but also more tangible issues such as suffering, the struggle between dark and light and the fight with inner demons rather than those that come from hell. Inspirations come from Sabbath obviously, but also Pentagram, Windhand and Acid King, combining various flavours of the doom world without running too far from low and slow.
Alton Minor (bass) and Mike Benitez (drums) create a black hole of a groove, the drumming expressive, with double kicks taking you by surprise and lots of cymbal work for ambience on Cythraul. The bass is the thundering bottom end, but adds the psychedelic grooves to Mountain Hag and the title track.
The bass lingers beneath the guitar of Chance Gawlinski, who can conjure mind warping passages with reverb and echo and fuzzy/distorted riffage from doom 101. Mothertomb is fronted by the brilliant vocal power of Alice Gawlinski who sails between ghostly wails and demonic snarls adding more dynamics to these already by casting the vocal spells.
Mothertomb may be Dying To Live but this debut kicks open their frozen tomb with some heavy occult psych doom. 7/10
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