Search For Elite Heavy Albums 

Tool, originating from Los Angeles, started their unique path in 1990. They first appeared with the dark and distinctive EP, Opiate , followed by the brooding heaviness of Undertow . In 1996, with Ænima, Tool began exploring a more progressive style. Their pursuit of combining musical experimentation and visual arts persisted with Lateralus and 10,000 Days . Their fifth studio album, Fear Inoculum , released after a thirteen-year hiatus, offers a meditative heaviness that intensifies with each listen. Tool Albums Ranked: Undertow (1993) AE nima (1996) Fear Inoculum (2019) Lateralus (2001) 10,000 Days (2006) Opiate (1992)

Released: 2025 Genre: Sludge, Post-metal Sounds Like: SUMAC, Neurosis Homeland: Madrid, Spain What makes Dry Soil elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? The Madrid-based quartet delivers one of the year's most intense and dynamic sludge albums to bless our speakers. Dry Soil is far more than your typical sludge album. It travels through peaks and valleys of Post-metal and doom. The musicianship is incredibly precise, the vocals perfectly embody the sludge style, and the production is impeccable. Get this one on vinyl. Track Listing: Overload 6:49 Concrete 4:05 Edge 8:08 Restart 6:32 Blood Kills The Soil 6:40 Bonfire 9:03 Dive deeper into Dry Soil with our Q&A with Adrift. OHMs Peak: Would love for a brief glimpse into your process and time commitment in making the album. Adrift: We make the album between 2021 and 2023 but almost all the songs were finalized during 2023. We are very slow making albums. OHMs Peak: 'Blood Kills the Soil’ is our favorite track on the album and is so brilliantly crafted. The undulating dark current  and fugue are all consuming. Jorge’s vocals are spine-chilling and blend so well with the sludge dynamics. How did this track come into creation?  We would love to hear more about its meeting and tie-in overall to Dry Soil . Adrift: This song was composed in a few days, we was looking for make a song more simple, using only two riffs and exploring more in the repetition of it. We wanted to change the way we used to compose the song and here is the result. Also we completed it with a lot of background noise, that gives to the song more depth. The vocals are inspired in the band Indian and the way the singer use to scream. Dry Soil title is taken from the lyric of “Blood Kills…” and talks about how we are losing humanity in the face of tragedies happening in the world and how we seem to be drying up the soil. The soil is a metaphor for minds  OHMs Peak: What was your band’s most memorable live performance? Where was it held and why was the night so special? Adrift: We think that our most memorable live performance were in an underground festival in Valencia that were organized in a tractor yard, surrounded by vineyards. We remember it as the craziest show we ever do, playing in the floor, surrounded by crazy people and tractors. We had to stop playing a few times because some people fall in the pedals or disconnect accidentally some cables. I mean, It wasn’t our best show if we talk about how we played but it was the funniest and energetic show we ever played. OHMs Peak: What band NOT in your genre would you love to tour with that would most compliment your sound? Adrift: mmm maybe Motorpsycho. It’s one of our favorite bands and a big influence of us but our music is different. OHMs Peak: We would love any insight as to your current and upcoming tour plans? Adrift: At the moment we only have a few show en Spain. We’ll play in Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga and we are looking for more show but because of our jobs it is difficult for us to find dates to play. OHMs Peak: The chemistry is clear on Dry Soil as you are veterans to the craft having worked together for over 20 years. Has the band held strong together throughout or ventured off tangent on occasion. What side projects has the Adrift team participated in? Adrift: We have been playing during those years and we had grow and learn as musicians during that time. We also have and had a lot of projects like El Páramo, Toundra, Voul, Aathma, Giganto, Loma Baja…  OHMs Peak: The album cover is abrasive and intriguingly fitting. We see Jorge was involved in the illustration. How did the concept come about? Adrift: When we were recording Dry Soil, on the way to the studio there was a wall that we think was painted by someone who wanted to spoil the white wall. We saw that and we loved it so we decided to take some photos and try it as the cover and it works! We like it because its abstract by we think that the concept is strong. OHMs Peak: Your band is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turntable and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to? Adrift: Very difficult question… it could be Times of Grace of Neurosis. Follow Adrift: Bandcamp / Facebook Adrift are: Jaime Garcia: Drums Daniel Chavero: Bass David lopez: Guitar Jorge Garcia: Guitar & Vocals Grab some Adrift Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2025 Genre: Psychedelic rock, Garage rock Sounds Like: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Tweak Bird Homeland: France What makes Nighshade elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Originating from France, Spiralpark offers an enchanting mix of psychedelic garage rock. Guitarist Dorian's vocals are quite distinctive, evoking memories of 90s Tripping Daisy. Nightshade stands out as one of the most unique and distinctive albums to grace our speakers this year. It offers a terrific blend of fuzz, psychedelic, and DIY garage sound. Track Listing: 1. Belladonna 3:25 2. Candy Machine 4:07 3. Vision 3:57 4. Emergency Exit 3:42 5. Last Piece 3:02 6. In Brand New Company 3:15 7. Their Eyes 3:47 8. Gate Keeper 3:22 9. Slumber 4:47 Dive deeper into Nightshade with our Q&A with Spiralpark. OHMs Peak: Would love for a brief glimpse into your process and time commitment in making the album. Spiralpark: Nightshade is the result of 3 years of composition. We don’t have a specific songwriting technique, we work on our songs all together during rehearsal sessions. Thanks to Clem, Manu and Diogo for all their technical support to bring this album to fruition. OHMs Peak: "Candy Machine" is one of our favorites and absolutely takes us to another atmosphere. So majestic and ethereal. We would love to learn more about the meaning behind this track and how the concept came about. Spiralpark:  We are glad you brought this particular track up because it is one of the songs that deeply connects to our intimacy and core principles. Candy Machine can resonate with anyone who has painful experiences with recreational or prescribed drugs, either past or present. We understand many people struggling with this kind of distress feel overwhelmed, remain silent, and let themselves be consumed by an excess of substances that distort their emotions, feelings, and lives ; to the point of wanting to end it all. With this song, we want to bring hope to those who have lost it. The concept was born from a few riffs that we wanted to build around the drums, with a stronger and more pronounced playing intention. From there, ideas and lyrics naturally blended with the instrumental spirit of the track to convey our message. OHMs Peak: What was your band’s most memorable live performance? Where was it held and why was the night so special? Spiralpark: The most memorable live performance was our first ever gig as Spiralpark. It was at a festival we organized in Gorbio with Poutrasseau, our association. The band was only in its infancy, we had to work hard to finish the setlist and be ready to rock on the stage. OHMs Peak: The album art actually drew us in to checkout their album (thankfully!). We noticed Loic Delucis did the drawing and Mathea participated in the coloring. How did the process for the artwork unfold? Spiralpark: The drawing represents a belladonna, relating to nightshade plants. The original idea came from Dorian, who intrinsically inspired all of us for the album's theme. The belladonna juice dripping onto hands was also Dorian's idea. We made sketches together so that Loïc could create the final drawing. The drawing was then vectorized to allow for digital coloring. OHMs Peak: How did the name Spiralpark come about? Spiralpark: We just thought Spiralpark sounded good and suited us overall.. OHMs Peak: What band NOT in your genre would you love to tour with that would most compliment your sound? Spiralpark: We would love to plan a tour with Scooter and VANR. OHMs Peak: We would love any insight as to your current and upcoming tour plans? Spiralpark: We just finished touring through eastern and central France, with dates in Zurich and Italy as well. We have several gigs planned for the upcoming summer: the Tribal Fest in the south of France, a private festival in the center, and maybe we'll play at The Mass Echoes Fest organized by Poutrasseau during the last week-end of august at home, in the mountains of Menton. Also, we'll be on tour this autumn, hopefully covering the western and the northern regions of France. OHMs Peak: Your band is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turntable and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to? Spiralpark: The band is on the verge of splitting because of this question… We all come from different musical universes, so we would end up choosing something very classical like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles. Spiralpark are: Dorian Caione - Vocals / Guitar Antoine Cayol - Drums / Pad Mathéa Fieschi - Guitar / Keyboards Etienne Mozzone - Bass Follow Spiralpark: Bandcamp / Facebook Grab some Spiralpark Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Mind Funk launched their short yet remarkable career in 1991. Their highly anticipated self-titled debut featured an intense blend of metal, punk, and funk. Their second album, Dropped , marked a significant transition to a more subdued, trippy stoner-influenced powerhouse, widely regarded as their masterpiece. The third and final album, People Who Fell From the Sky , continued this psychedelic stoner theme, cementing their status as an all-time great. Mind Funk's Albums Ranked: Dropped (1993) People Who Fell From The Sky (1995) Self-Titled (1991)

It's a distinctive tale—a sound that changed the heavy metal world, Iron Maiden has become an institution. Their story extends beyond international tours or hit records that have motivated fans around the world. Iron Maiden's legendary status in music and heavy metal is etched in stone. Maiden, quite simply, are relentless – both historically and currently. Since their formation, they have exemplified the spirit of heavy metal independence, unwavering dedication to their fans, and a blissful disregard for their critics that can only be described as legendary. Iron Maiden Albums Ranked: The Number of the Beast (1982) A Matter of Life and Death (2006) Powerslave (1984) Senjutsu (2021) Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988) Iron Maiden (1980) Killers (1981) Somewhere in Time (1986) The Book of Souls (2015) Fear of the Dark (1992) A Brave New World (2000) The Final Frontier (2010) Dance of Death (2003) Peace of Mind (1983) No Prayer for the Dying (1990) Virtual XI (1998) The X Factor (1995)

Released: 2025 Genre: Sludge Sounds Like: Spelljammer, Sleep, Telekinetic Yeti Homeland: Denmark What makes As Above, So Below elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Two lengthy, sludge-infused tunes that will demand your attention. Center of the Earth has a unique, psychedelic fuzzed-out sound that is incredible when played at high volumes. After listening to this album, we strongly suggest exploring the rest of their riff-heavy catalogue. Track Listing: Slope Dealer 10:43 Black Knight Sattelite 10:08 Dive deeper into As Above, So Below with our Q&A with guitarist/vocalist Jesper from Center of the Earth. OHMs Peak: Would love for a brief glimpse into your process and time commitment in making the album. Jesper: 
We recorded As Above so Below over the course of a weekend, then spent the next several months re-amping, mixing and recording layers. Finally, we handed it over for mastering at "No Master's Voice" studios, for the final product you hear now. OHMs Peak: What was your band’s most memorable live performance? Where was it held and why was the night so special?
 Jesper:  
The "Concert of Smoke": 
Late at night, finale show, at Elværket, Helsingør. 
Someone in the stage-crew choose to give the keys to the smoke machine to the audience, which quickly enveloped the entire room in plumes of smoke so thick you couldn't see your own hands, let alone anyone else. Everyone was stuck in a fog-of-war situation where we all solely relied on muscle memory. We didn't notice the engineers cutting the PA; so we kept playing until the sound guys came on stage kissing our foreheads screaming "you're done, we've cut the power!" Apparentl, our backline was so loud we didn't notice. 
Well, we also played in a church. Two churches, actually. That was cool. We recorded one of these gigs called "Live from Rock the church", pretty rough sermon to say the least! OHMs Peak: What band NOT in your genre would you love to tour with that would most compliment your sound?
 Jesper:  
Tough question. But a band like Earth,  would be an interesting band to play with and add to their already sonically brilliant soundscape. OHMs Peak: Would love to hear about the album art process and selection. Tell us about ShaneHorror and the connection. Jesper:  
ShaneHorror made the vinyl artwork for the Tolkion test-press.
After rediscovering this relic, we wanted to to bring his artistic vision back with more creative freedom. He received the demos and lyrics for the EP with a text promting him to "go crazy".
Additionally, we chose to print the test print art on shirts and what-not In honor of this collaboration (since it was Dope as Lord) OHMs Peak: Slope Dealer is such a rich and textured track. Multiple layers no fluff/filler like many of the other doom and sludge acts. Take us through the meaning behind this track and your process to make things fresh.
 Jesper:  
Slope Dealer is rooted in fantasy, and dealing with the devils of the past (PTSD);
The goal was to make it grand and layered, like the green hills of the giant; Which is a stark contrast to Black Knight Satellite. That song has a more balls to the wall/riff in your face, kind of sound, also reflected in the bleak lyrics it presents. OHMs Peak: What album should new fans dive into next and why? Mars, Tolkion, or The Wizard is Loose….
 Jesper:  
Definitely Tolkion. It stands as a magnum opus of our blood sweat and tears, sementing the band we are. If you want a more experimental sound then go for Mars (2nd album) or The Wizard is Loose (jam collection). 
As Above, So Below goes back to our roots in terms of riffage and song structure. OHMs Peak: We would love any insight as to your current and upcoming tour plans? Jesper:  
We are playing a local gig, 28th of March. We are working on further dates, hopefully we get to play a lot more. 
But we are not quite done recording yet... OHMs Peak: Your band is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turntable and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to?
 Jesper:  
Opeth - "Heritage", no doubt. Follow Center of the Earth: Bandcamp / Facebook Center of the Earth are: Aksel Brammer - Drums Frederik Holm - Guitar and Vocals Jesper Laugmann - Guitar and Vocals Sebastian Wilsleff - Bass Grab some Center of the Earth Merch Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Originating from Germantown, Maryland, Clutch are trailblazers in the modern heavy rock scene. Their skillful songwriting, unique sound, and remarkable live shows are consistently impressive. With a wealth of albums, EPs, and live recordings, their contribution is unmistakable. Clutch Albums Ranked: Clutch (1995) Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes And Undeniable Truths (1993) The Elephant Riders (1998) Jam Room (1999) Blast Tyrant (2004) Robot Hive/Exodus (2005) Slow Hole to China (2003) From Beale Street To Oblivion (2007) Strange Cousins From The West (2009) Psychic Warfare (2015) Sunrise On Slaughter Beach (2022) Earth Rocker (2013) Book Of Bad Decisions (2018) Pure Rock Fury (2001)

Genre: Math rock, Punk, Noise rock Barkmarket Albums Ranked: Gimmick (1993) L Ron (1996) Vegas Throat (1992) Lardroom (1994) 1-800-GODHOUSE (1988) Easy Listening (1989) Peacekeeper (1995) Barkmarket was an innovative math/punk band that originated in New York City in 1987. The group comprised singer/guitarist and primary songwriter Dave Sardy, bass guitarist John Nowlin, and drummer Rock Savage. Their music was typically loud and aggressive, incorporating various styles such as math rock, hardcore punk, and noise rock, but they did not settle into any single genre.

Released: 2025 Genre: Avant-garde metal, Post-metal, Black metal Sounds Like: Cult of Luna, ISIS, SUMAC Homeland: Poznań, Poland What makes Uulliata Digir elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Uulliata Digir’s self-titled album is a stunning debut and loaded with avant-garde heaviness that will be a sure-fire mainstay in your rotation. The contrast of the euphoric dousing of blissful trumpet coupled with dueling female (Julita) and male (Michal) vocals make for one of the most unique albums we have come across in a long time. The band’s song-structure is so imaginative and inviting. There are many jaw-dropping moments throughout the album. Case in point are Julita’s vocal despair and beauty, that will send chills down your spine. Track Listing: 1. Myrthys 15:36 2. Asea 0:40 3. Omni Dirga 6:47 4. Atti 0:41 5. Eldrvari 14:50 Dive deeper into this album with our Q&A with Uulliata Digir . OHMs Peak: Would love for a brief glimpse into your process and time commitment in making the album.   Uulliata Digir: Beginnings of this album go far back to 2019, when our guitarist, Marcin, and drummer, Krzysztof, first met and began casually jamming together. Over time, small pieces of the compositions started coming together and the sound became more defined and this is when the rest of the band joined in. That’s when the real work on the album began. From that point, it took us 3 years to refine the songs, layer the instruments and produce the final version. Mixing was a crucial phase. We had a clear vision of the sound we wanted but achieving it was complex due to the multitude of instruments and strong dynamic shifts. Much of the album was born from improvisation, while other sections were carefully composed with every note planned. At times the process felt endless—weekends of hard work with little visible progress. Other times everything fell into place naturally and we knew that we’re getting somewhere. And most importantly, we knew that we were creating something we couldn’t quite categorize but it sounded awesome and it was giving us a lot of drive to work patiently and trust the process to craft a sound that felt uniquely our own.   OHMs Peak: What was your most memorable live performance? Where was it held and why was the night so special?   Uulliata Digir:  Our first live performance was definitely the most unforgettable. The venue was completely unequipped—no sound system, no heating, a broken toilet, and, to top it off, the electricity cut out just 20 minutes before the show. We had to break into a locked room just to restore power. And after the gig, we had to pack everything up and clean the entire space ourselves. It was exhausting, but it was also magical. Inside the venue, we discovered these incredible statues that we placed on stage, and they perfectly complemented our aesthetic. The room was packed, the audience was amazing, everybody including us got kind of hypnotised. It felt like we all stepped into some distant place outside of reality. That night we got really close together as a band.   OHMs Peak: What band/artist NOT in your genre would you love to tour with that would most compliment your sound?   Uulliata Digir:  Phuture Doom would be an incredible fit - if you happen to be in touch with them, let them know we are ready! 😉 OHMs Peak: We would love any insight as to your current and upcoming tour plans? Uulliata Digir:  Right now, we are planning some ad-hoc concerts in Poland, polishing our show and proving the demand. As soon as we get more traction, we’ll be planning a full tour—so stay tuned! ;)   OHMs Peak: ‘Eldrvari’ is an absolutely groundbreaking closer with some of the most powerful contrast we have ever heard. Take us through the concept behind this track and how Julita channels such beautiful emotion and despair to close the track.   Uulliata Digir:  The entire album is a concept piece that tells a story—one that might have happened. It is a story about creation, care and trust, about a sin, a disappointment, a curse and a prophecy. About a cataclysm, war, death and sacrifice, about forgiveness, and new beginnings. It is a story of humanity but at the same time a story of individual souls. That’s why the contrasts are so extreme, and the emotions so intense - it is kind of a message that is flowing through us.   OHMs Peak: What does Uulliata Digir mean in English (our search leads us to ‘Pea Pods’ in Somali) but what is the polish tie-in and how did it come about?   Uulliata Digir:  We don’t want to reveal too much just yet, but we can say this: the name doesn’t come from Polish. It’s derived from ancient languages like Sumerian, much like the titles of our songs and lyrics. It ties deeply into the concept of our music and the stories we tell. Keep watching, and in time, you’ll uncover its meaning. ;). OHMs Peak: Uulliata Digir is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turntable and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. You can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to?   Uulliata Digir:  Our taste is eclectic so each of us would say a different one. Here is the list of 6 albums, each from one band member: -        Lateralus - Tool -        Mestarin kynsi - Oranssi Pazuzu -        Advaitic Songs - OM -        Oceanic - ISIS -        Balance - Van Halen -         Human 2.0 - Nasum Uulliata Digir are: Krzysztof Kulis (ex-Struggle with God, ex-Smoła) - Drums Marcin Tuliszkiewicz (In Twilight’s Embrace, Faust Again) - Guitar and synths Bartłomiej Kerber (ex-Heresy Denied) - Bass Magdalena Andrys - Trumpet Michał Sosnowski (Blast Rites) - Vocals Julita Dąbrowska - Vocals Follow Uulliata Digir : Bandcamp / Facebook Grab some Uulliata Digir Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2025 Genre: Stoner rock Sounds Like: Daily Thompson, The Sword, Slomosa Homeland: Sydney, Nova Scotia What makes Tense Lip elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Despite all the excitement Slomosa generated in the stoner rock scene last year, which was well-deserved, 10 Slip has now emerged and might be this year's breakout heavy band. Hailing from Sydney, Nova Scotia, 10 Slip quickly became a staple in our heavy rotation. The album is packed with insanely catchy stoner hooks and clever songwriting. The vocals from Gregor and Brandon enhance a punk/stoner atmosphere, creating a blend of 90s DIY rock with a classic stoner feel. 10 Slip deliver in a big way. It's one of the more entertaining heavy albums to bless our speakers this year. Track Listing: 1. Dead Ain't Gonna Cry 3:57 2. Cult 4:25 3. 10 Split 6:02 4. The Wall 8:53 5. Shallow Waters 3:19 6. Mirrors 2:41 7. Hallowed Ground 5:41 8. Spore 9:19 Dive deeper into Tense Lip with our Q&A with guitarist/vocalist Brandon from 10 Slip. OHMS Peak: Would love for a brief glimpse into your process and time commitment in making the album. Brandon: We started writing Tense Lip around the same time that we released our debut EP Blackbeer’d in 2023. The EP was a collection of older tracks written as a two piece with bass being thrown in the mix down the road. Tense Lip marked a shift in our writing to a collaborative effort with far more intention on each instrument and the tracks as a whole. We spent the better part of that year writing tunes, flowing through the best creative hot streak we’ve ever had and hit the studio around October 2023. Recording Tense Lip took another 7 months, another stark contrast to the quick and dirty two days we spent tracking Blackbeer’d. We worked with the same audio engineer, Colin Kelly of Red Sky Recording Studio but spent a lot more time setting up each track to get the best takes. Everything was recorded to a click paying extra attention to tempo changes and transitions. All guitar and bass takes were recorded via DI and re-amped later to dial in tones and effects. It was a totally new experience for us and the results are clear on the record. We used a rehearsal space in the basement of a local mall for tracking. Almost everything was recorded on the graveyard shift after all the businesses would close so we could dime amps and punish drums without consequence. When we were tracking bass you could feel the vibrations in the asphalt of the back parking lot. Colin spent another 3-4 months mixing the tracks and by October of 2024 we had mixes ready for the record company.  We always said no matter what it sounded like our first record would be called “Tense Lip”. It was a common mispronunciation of “10 Slip” and being a bunch of nerds we thought it would be a hilarious title for our first album. OHMS Peak: We would love to hear about the writing process for 10 Split . The song moves along at a chilled bluesy pace than shifts to a punk/stoner vibe at the last 2 minutes. Brandon: The main riff from 10 Split came to us while demoing some fuzz/OD tones in the jam room. It was originally very similar to an old tune from a local favourite of ours so we decided to drop tune it and slow it way down, resulting in the hazy groove that became 10 Split. The back half of the track came from our self awareness of constantly writing tunes that end slower and heavier. Instead we wanted to rip into something face paced that was different from what we’d typically write. We were also listening to a lot of Wine Lips at the time so that definitely played a role in the direction of this tune. The name itself is another common typo that fits the tracks' split up sections perfectly. Even more so, were just nerds that thought it would be even funnier to have the track 10 Split on Tense Lip by 10 Slip. OHMS Peak: 'Shallow Waters' is all consuming with an interesting story. What is the meaning behind this track? Brandon: Shallow Waters is rooted in the idea that even when you can see the bottom, you should be wary of what could be lying beneath the surface. It’s about the slimy people in life that thrive on the trust and manipulation of others, especially those in positions of authority. The story is told through the eyes of a man renouncing his village elders after finding they have used the word of god to prey upon the faith of their followers for their own personal gain. It was a very different style of writing that we enjoyed so much that we carried this story through Mirrors and Hallowed Ground. OHMS Peak: The album art is terrific and fits your sound. Who created this beauty? Brandon: The artist that brought this album to life was Fadli Safikri (@fadlisafikri_ on Instagram). We came across a piece he did for someone else and felt the style was perfect for this project. At the time the only thing we had to reference for the record's sound was an early draft of the opening track Dead Ain’t Gonna Cry, so Fadli drafted this piece based on his interpretation of that track. The landscape he used was based on a picture we sent from a hiking trip at the most northern point of Cape Breton Island. It was really cool to see that piece of our home added to the artwork. OHMS Peak: What was your band’s most memorable live performance? Where was it held and why was the night so special? Brandon: The most memorable performance we’ve ever had is hands down the release party we threw for Blackbeer’d. It was the release of our first EP and also one of the first shows we had played together since we all had been separated across half the country during the pandemic. Even if we played to no one, this show was going to be a celebration for us but to our surprise the venue was packed to capacity. The community in Sydney was beyond supportive of our little project and the energy in the room that night was unlike any show we’ve ever played. Honestly our set wasn’t even that great but it didn’t matter, the crowd was all in on Blackbeer’d and so were we. Because that show was so amazing we’re doing the same thing for the release of Tense Lip this Saturday (February 22nd) back at Ashby Legion. OHMS Peak: What band NOT in your genre would you love to tour with that would most compliment your sound? Brandon: We would love to tour with norc, another Nova Scotian band that we got to catch at Nova Scotia Music Week this year. They’re a mathy indie rock band that love to use a lot of strange transitions, time signatures and freakin’ weird grooves. They sound completely different from us sonically but their focus on the rhythm section would make the clashing sounds cohesive enough to be a really cool tour. Otherwise, if you have any contacts with King Gizz let us know. OHMS Peak: We would love any insight as to your current and upcoming tour plans? Brandon: We live in a pretty isolated region on the East Coast of Canada that makes it hard for us to travel very far. We’ve lined up a few shows this year in different parts of the province but are hoping to expand further through the Maritimes and Eastern Canada. OHMS Peak: Your band is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turntable and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to? Brandon: Picking a single record to listen to for what I can only assume would be the rest of our days probably should have been a huge debate but in reality we unanimously picked ATW within 3 or 4 suggestions. All Them Witches has always had a heavy influence on our sound and is a personal favourite for all of us. The tracks on ATW cover a lot of the band's changing sounds and give it that necessary unexpiring replayability to be a great desert island record. Follow 10 Slip: Bandcamp / Facebook / Instagram / Youtube 10 Slip are: Gregor MacDougall: bass/vocals Brandon Hoban: guitar/vocals Cameron Walker: drums Colin Kelly: Recording/Mixing engineer and producer Mikey Allred: Mastering Engineer Fadli Safikri: Album Art Grab some 10 Slip Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2025 Genre: Post-metal, Post-rock Sounds Like: Cult of Luna, ISIS, Codespeaker Homeland: Scotland, UK What makes Cleave elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Originating from Scotland, UK, Beneath A Steel Sky offers a captivating post-metal sound. Their music is both intense and soothing, combining post-metal with layers of post-rock. The album's vocals enhance it with a combination of clean and sludge-like tones. This remarkable debut highlights their patience and depth, blending precise production with outstanding song structures. Beneath A Steel Sky deliver in a big way. It’s abrasively beautiful as we like to say. If you love Post-metal or just want to explore a more expansive side of metal, this album is a must. For a debut album, they bring their own style into this genre, making this a must have for vinyl lovers. Track Listing: 1. The sky above the port was the colour of television, tuned to a dead channel 3:17 2. Vanguard 6:04 3. Everyone you've ever known 4:35 4. Quetzalcoatlus 6:245 5. The infinite silence that follows the absolute truth 7:16 7. Cyclical dunt 4:06 7. The becoming 7:57 Dive deeper into Cleave with our Q&A with Beneath A Steel Sky. OHMs Peak: Would love for a brief glimpse into your process and time commitment in making the album. Beneath A Steel Sky: Our debut album Cleave is an evolution of an earlier instrumental-only incarnation of the band that originated during the Covid19 lockdowns in the UK. The songs on Cleave started life as the next stage to this original project, with changes to the original lineup facilitating additional instrumentation (and a vocal approach). As such the framework recordings for the songs have existed now for some time, with the final structuring, polish and mastering happening towards the end of 2024. We undertook the recording and mixing of all instrumentation ourselves (with the exception of the drums, which were studio recorded), and the completed album was sent to Brad Boatright of AudioSeige for mastering.  OHMs Peak: What was your band’s most memorable live performance? Where was it held and why was the night so special? Beneath A Steel Sky: As a relatively new band we’ve only played a handful of gigs so far, including support slots with bands such as Shy, Low. Our most memorable performance however would have to be our album launch show at the end of January 2025. To see such a public appreciation for the music was a very uplifting experience. OHMs Peak: You show tremendous patience throughout this album. With songs like 'The infinite silence that follows the absolute truth' and 'Quetzalcoatlus,' you sound like a band that has been around for a decade. What previous projects has each band member been in prior to Beneath A Steal Sky? Beneath A Steel Sky: All members of Beneath a Steel Sky would (probably) describe themselves as seasoned, having all played (or currently playing) in one or more additional musical projects for a relatively long time. Currently the band features current or past members of (most noteably) Codespeaker, Iron Altar, Divide and Halo Tora.   OHMs Peak: The vocals on this album are stellar. The balance between sludge angst and the uplifting clean tones really elevates this album. Can you provide an insight into the how this came to be? Beneath A Steel Sky: The vocal ethos for this band was always about creating textural additions to the music with different vocal colourings, rather than presenting the music as vocal-fronted. We aim to treat the vocal parts in the same way we approach guitar and synth melody. The range facilitated by the 3 singers in the band also allows for exploration of all aspects of vocal performance, from glassy harmony-rich clean vocals to claustrophobic doom. On Cleave, we’ve attempted to make use of this only when most appropriate for each song.  OHMs Peak: The album art is very intriguing, and has this post-metal/industrial feel. Is there any meaning behind this? Beneath A Steel Sky: We’d intended for the artwork accompanying our music to further flesh out the feeling of the universe created through the themes expressed in the songs. It was intended through subject matter and colour choice to convey an environment that is both austere and dystopian, yet also strangely familiar. The visuals should (hopefully) form effective companion pieces for the music. OHMs Peak: What band NOT in your genre would you love to tour with that would most compliment your sound? Beneath A Steel Sky: We'd love to tour with someone like Massive Attack or Boards of Canada, we'd hope that some of our more ambient sections would work with their fans. OHMs Peak: We would love any insight as to your current and upcoming tour plans? Beneath A Steel Sky: We are currently planning some UK dates for later in 2025. OHMs Peak: Your band is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turntable and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to? Beneath A Steel Sky: So we couldn't come to an agreed answer to this question, and the fight over it would probably be the end of the band. We did manage to narrow it down to Mastadon's Crack the Sky, and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Potentially played at the same time to keep everyone happy. Follow Beneath A Steel Sky: Bandcamp / Facebook / linktree Grab some Beneath A Steel Sky Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2025 Genre: Punk, Noise rock, Hardcore Sounds Like: The Coathangers, Death From Above 1979 Homeland: Chicago, Illinois A brief look into what makes Bad Reading elite and sit atop OHMs Peak. Where are they from? Heet Deth are two-piece duo with robust epochal sound hailing from Chicago, Illinois What’s the genre? Bombastic noise rock layered with doses of punk/hardcore/math rock Why the album soared to elite status? Bad Reading is entertaining to the core and tight as fuck. The band’s sophomore release delivers so much diversity and precision. Beautiful production with an aggressive message that speaks to our independence and free thinking. What are our favorite tracks? ‘King Of Swords’ hits all the marks for us. Wild contrast and complex percussion with genious fretwork. It’s got it all!! Why you need this in your library. Laila and Julia deliver in a big way on ‘Bad Readings’. It’s abrasively beautiful as we like to say. The muffled vocals and harried melodies come together to bind what is a clear message and 11 cohesive tracks that hit another level. Other tidbits. The female duo created the unique clay-mate-like album art. Bad Reading was written amidst an onslaught of shows in and outside of Chicago. Track Listing: 1. Destroyer 4:13 2. Hierophant 3:12 3.High Tower 3:35 4. Laundromat 2:44 5. War King 1:53 6. Scroll Dance 3:55 7. Double Speak 2:55 8. G&T 3:26 9. King of Swords 2:51 10. No Ego 2:59 11. CLANK 1:23 Heet Deth are: Laila Eskin (Guitar, Vox, Lyrics) Julia Bard (Drums, Vox) Follow Heet Deth: Bandcamp / Facebook / HeetDeth.com Grab some Heet Death Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2024 Genre: Post-metal, Black metal, Post-rock Sounds Like: Amenra, Alcest, Julie Christmas Homeland: Germany What makes Requiem elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Requiem is a masterful work of art that skillfully combines elements of Post-metal, Black metal, and Post-rock. Marie-Luise Thurm's vocals are incredibly original and heartfelt. They uniquely blend desperation, angst, and softness. The production is crisp and powerful, with each instrument finding its own space to shine. Laudare are carving their own niche in the Post-metal scene. It will be fascinating to see their future direction. Track Listing: 1. Introitus 3:40 2. Dies Irae 5:30 3. Quid Sum Miser 3:11 4. Rex Tremendae 3:33 5. Quaerens Me 4:08 6. Lacrimosa 5:207. 7. Offertorium 4:43 8. Hostias 2:33 9. Sanctus 9:11 10. Agnus Dei 4:18 Dive deeper into Requiem with our Q&A with Laudare. OHMs Peak: Requiem feels like a concept album where in the listener is immersed into this elaborate uncharted landscape. We would love to know more about the underlying theme within Requiem. Luise: Requiem is based on the liturgical Requiem Mass, the mass for the dead. We took the Latin texts and translated the religious theme into our own secular musical language. We were interested in what would remain and still found it to be a deeply touching experience about death, grief and hope. OHMs Peak: Every track is so different yet they tie back to the story that unfolds. There is not a flaw on this album and frankly each track stands out to us, but we’re just gonna randomly pick one of the heavier tracks here and ask you to shed some light on the heavy passion that is ‘Quaerens Me’ Daniel: Back in the day songwriting for Laudare took place on the guitar almost exclusively. And I think that song in particular is very much guitar driven. I can still remember how I sat at the kitchen table coming up with pretty much all the parts for the song on my acoustic guitar in that Session I've had with myself. Guitar wise it combines so many different styles I like to play. The beginning could be considered funky even with all that ghost notes. Then there is this long Tremolo- Blast- Beat- Section. It's all stuff I really enjoy playing. I think you can say it's a lot of different ideas put into a bucket and stirred uncompromisingly. Usually Luise and me would sit down together arranging the song with the vocals afterwards. No magic, just trying and erroring. Haha. OHMs Peak: What was Laudare’s most memorable live performance? Where was it held and why was the night so special? Luise: For me personally it was in June this year, when we played at Fusion Festival. The festival is huge and it was a honour for me, to be able to play there. The stage we played at is curated by some old friends of mine, so being there also felt like some kind of "family gathering“. Also we played an hour, which is a pretty long set for Laudare and we played some songs, we wouldn’t play live usually. And the third reason that it was a special gig, is that it was Ollis last show with us. We had been playing together for six years and two months earlier he told us about his decision to leave the band. So, we were also really eager to make this a special day. OHMs Peak: What band NOT in your genre would you love to tour with that would most compliment your sound? Daniel: Picking up a spade, taking it to Vienna and start digging. Let's see what's left of Beethoven. He also is in the fortunate position of not having to hear the same set every night. OHMs Peak: The gothic album artwork absolutely pulls us in and so fits the aura of Requiem. We see that Marie-Luise Thurm put this together. Would love to hear more about the selection process for this album art. Luise: Thank you very much. 🙂 Since it’s me creating all of our artworks myself, it’s mostly my own personal process. Usually I’d get into the mood of random inspiration from time to time and then start to prepare a cover art - sometimes with a particular project in mind, sometimes just for fun and then I keep it for the future. Because it took us over three years to finish and finally release Requiem, there were multiple drafts and ideas and I tried different approaches. In the end, the drawing of the seraph that’s now forming the center of the artwork was an ink drawing I created for last years Inktober challenge. I found it really fitting to the theme of Requiem - and another funny side fact: in the bible, it’s the seraphim singing to each other "Sanctus, Sanctus, Deus Sabaoth“ - which is the text of "Sanctus," the second last song album. OHMs Peak: How did the name Laudare come to form and what’s the meaning/background? Luise: Laudare is also Latin and it means "to praise“. When we first came together as a band we surely needed to find a name. We exchanged ideas and discussed different options. One day, Daniel had a revelation to not focus on meaning too much, but more on melody and sound. The word Laudare is catchy, sounds beautiful and has a beautiful melody to it, so we stuck with that. OHMs Peak: Laudare is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turn table and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to? Probably, we’d go for Witchy Activities and Maple Death by Monica Roscher Bigband.. Laudare are: Almut Voigt – Cello, Vocals Daniel Kaltofen – Piano, Guitar, Arrangements, Vocals Marie-Luise Thurm – Bass, Vocals, Screaming Follow Laudare: Bandcamp / Facebook / violentpoetry.com Grab some Psychlona Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Ascend with us as we soar to the peak of this year's elite heavy albums. #1:  Lucifer Giant Genre: Stoner rock, Heavy psych, Doom Sounds Like:   Red Scalp, Pallbearer, Katatonia Homeland:   Switzerland The debut from Lucifer Giant is truly timeless. This exceptional piece of work will guide you on a soothing exploration of expansive heavy soundscapes while the vocals have a soft and ethereal quality. Each song possesses a similar tone and vibe, creating a vast and immersive journey into doom. The impressive album cover encapsulates the essence and complexity of the album, inviting you into their heavy psychedelic world . Full Interview and stream... #2:  Slomosa - Tundra Rock Genre: Stoner rock Sounds Like:  Queens of the Stoneage, Kyuss, Truckfighters Homeland:  Norway Tunda Rock is a nostalgic nod to the sun-soaked, desert vibes of 90s stonerrock with doses of modern day infectious fuzz. The anthemic vocals from Benjamin Berdous and the deep bass grooves by Marie Moe immersed in whirwind .of genius fretwork make for one hell of an addictive album. #3:  Chat Pile - Cool World Genre: Noise rock, Sludge, Punk Sounds Like:  The Jesus Lizard, Pissed Jeans, Pitchshifter Homeland:  Oklahoma Somehow the Oklahoma natives turn abrasive pummeling noise rock into wild tranquil hooks that are both bleak and cathartic. #4:  Wizard Must Die - L'Or des Fous Genre: Psychedelic rock, Stoner rock Sounds Like:  Spirit Mother, All Them Witches, Sgt. Sunshine, Homeland:  Lyon, France Six beautifully elaborate track that push the boundaries of progressive stoner rock. Their third release since 2018 us an absolute triumph in sound. #5: Longheads - Layers of Wax Genre: Heavy psych, Progressive metal, Thrash, Doom Sounds Like:  King Gizzard, Slift, Fuzz Homeland:  London, UK Immerse yourself into this wild tapestry of sound molded with psychedlic doom and inspiring tangents of thrash and progressive rock. #6: Disastroid - Garden Creatures Genre: Hard rock, Grunge Sounds Like:  Melvins, Gruntruck, Paw Homeland:  California This addictive off-kilter album features unfiltered heqviness harkening us back to the days of Paw and Gruntruck. Enver's quirky vocals and the richlt layered fretwork add intriguing complexity that drives deeper each listen. Review and Interview with Disastroid here #7:  Familiars - Easy Does it Genre: Heavy rock, Stonegaze Sounds Like:  Fostermother, BoneHawk, Tragically Hip Homeland:  Canada Comforting countryside stonegaze that .beautifully marries heavy riffs with expansive landscapes. Let this one percolate over time and it will become a mainstay in your rotation. #8: Oranssi Pazuzu - Muuntautuja Genre: Sludge, Psychedelic, Black metal, Industrial Sounds Like:   Blut Aus Nord, Sigh Homeland:  Finland In the ever-evolving lanscape of metal music, few bands have dared to push the boundaries as bodly as Oranssi Pazuzu. Muuntautuja blends industrial sludge and Black metal with haunting atmospheric elements. The band has created a soundscape that resonates with both heaviness and etherrality, crafting a genre all to themselves. #9:  Laudare - Requiem Genre: Black metal, Progressive metal, Post metal Sounds Like:   Amenra, Julie Christmas Homeland:  Germany Requiem  is an innovative trip through a web of progressive Post-rock, hardcore, Black metal and operatic choir driven poetry. #10: High Desert Queen - Palm Reader Genre: Stoner Rock Sounds Like: Kal-El, Sasquatch, We Hunt Buffalo Homeland: Texas Palm Reader  slams with bold and crunchy fuzz, hitting all the right notes and offering a plethora of tremendous hooks. Full Interview and Review here...

Released: 2024 Genre: Black metal, Doom Sounds Like: Alcest, Agalloch Homeland: Denver, Colorado What makes Nature's Cadence elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? The latest album by The Flight of Sleipnir is a stunning fusion of Black metal and majestic doom. It's rare to hear such a remarkable combination of these two classic metal genres in a single album. The album begins with the bold 11:50 minute track 'North,' which is certain to captivate fans of Black metal and progressive doom.. The contrast in vocal styles between David and Clayton is incredibly impressive. The transition from black metal angst to clean doom is unparalleled. Nature's Cadence is filled with such a rich variety of metal layers, it's essential to own it on vinyl. Track Listing: 1. North 11:50 2. Madness 8:32 3. Vingthor 6:54 4. The Woodsman 4:41 5. Wanderer 6:50 Dive deeper into Nature's Cadence with our Q&A with The Flight of Sleipnirs' guitarist/vocalist Clayton. OHMs Peak: Congratulations on the release of yet another brilliant album. Nature's Cadence is such a complex and comforting blend of Black Metal and melodic doom. There is a plethora of wonderful nuances and heavy changeups found throughout this album. Can you provide a glimpse into your unique writing process? Clayton: Thank you for the kind words! Our writing process is pretty straightforward. Sometimes a whole song is brought in for review, sometimes there are parts of songs and riffs that we work on as a band, and sometimes there are even jam-like sessions. Occasionally David (Csicsely) and I will trade files over the internet as well. Then there are always some embellishments once we get to the studio. Everyone in the band has input, it typically works out well. OHMs Peak: We absolutely love the multitude of different styles carried throughout this album. From the slide guitar breakdown on 'Madness' to the folk themed 'Woodsman'. What musical backgrounds does each member bring to the table to create such diverse metal? Clayton:  We all have pretty wide tastes in music, and our shared history includes many styles of metal- black, death, doom and grind mostly. But we listen to a lot of different things, and elements seep in from all over the place. Most of our experience is from playing in various groups. I also studied music in school. OHMs Peak: The vocal contrast is absolutely stunning when shifting between black metal scowls and clean melodic doom styled vocals. What backgrounds do you have as singers to display such raw emotion? Clayton:  For the most part, we just kind of went for it at the very beginning of the band. David seemed to find his method with ease... I had done some singing in garage bands in high school but I didn’t learn how to properly sing until much much later. The rough vocals were a result of some experimentation over a year or so near the very beginning (around 2007). OHMs Peak: How did the name The Flight of Sleipnir come about? Would love to hear, and is it tied to Norse mythology? (apologies we are not rich in knowledge here) Clayton:  Yes, it is Odin’s horse in Norse mythology. He is the eight-legged steed, the best of all horses. David came up with the name, and in general it is a nod to the spirit of the band which is to operate without many restrictions. We also incorporate a lot of the mythology into the lyrics as well. OHMs Peak: The album art is wild and so engaging. Who created this masterpiece cover? Clayton:  David Csicsely does all of the artwork for the band. He is immensely talented. I think we are lucky to have such a rich visual history for The Flight of Sleipnir. OHMs Peak: The Flight of Sleipnir is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turn table and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to? Clayton:  We were just in Germany playing a few dates, and in the car the album that got the most reaction was Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” - so I am going to go with that. The Flight of Sleipnir are: David Csicsely - Drums, Vocals, Percussion Clayton Cushman - Guitars, Vocals, Pedal Steel, Keyboards Dave Borrusch - Bass Jeremy Winters - Guitars Follow The Flight of Sleipnir: Bandcamp / Facebook / The Flight of Sleipnir Grab some The Flight of Sleipnir Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2024 Genre: Doom, Heavy Psych Sounds Like: Belzebong, Dopelord, REZN Homeland: Poland What makes Weedow elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? The debut album from Poland's heavy psych trio is remarkably impressive for a new band. Their relaxed, fuzz-infused sound is both seasoned and highly captivating The trippy, chilled vocals and voice overs seamlessly integrate with the immense stoner sounds, creating a perfect blend The production solid and deep, with each instrument finding its own space to shine Weedow is one of this year's best doom albums to grace our speakers Track Listing: 1. Nothing 8:24 2. Weedow 5:34 3. Delusion 7:37 4. Funnel Vision 5:12 5. Empowerment 7:28 6. Threnody 9:28 7. Mourn 8:24 Dive deeper into Weedow with our Q&A with the heavy psych trio. OHMs Peak: We cannot take this out of rotation, your debut is absolutely cathartic and mesmerizing. You hit majestic heights as this album encompasses the perfect blend of doom and heavy psych. Patryk Wójcik delivers with some impressively chilled vocals. We would love to hear more about the band’s background and how you started. Were you in other projects together? Any insights to your formation we would love to hear? Maciek: For a few years, Patryk and I had been close friends, we even shared a home. Sometimes we jammed together and/or with other pals. Personally, I was more interested in other music and projects at the time; I already had some experience, and my sounds were 90s alternative, punk, and hardcore (which are still close to me, though they vary now naturally). Patryk has never performed in a band before, therefore this is his first effort, and the band was founded entirely on his initiative. Weedow's foundations were most likely laid in the fall of 2021, when we began playing more stoner themes together. Patryk was playing riffs on the guitar at the time, and I started playing along with him on the fly (Patrick's "JUST PLAY SLOWER", lol), and I became hooked. After a while, we felt that we wanted to augment the riffs with a melody line, so we tried playing with several guitarists, but it wasn't until we met Tomek that we found common ground. Patryk placed a post on a local Facebook group for musicians, we met and played a few times, liked each other, and that's how it all began. OHMs Peak: Your debut has a different feel than many of the psychedelic doom albums we encounter. Your work is one that takes the listener into this expansive heavy psychedelic journey. Take us through the writing process and setting in making this album? Patryk: This could be a result of our diverse musical interests. As he previously stated, Maciek played a different kind of music that was aggressive too but faster. As a drummer, this undoubtedly affected the band's overall sound. Tomek, on the other hand, played a lot of classic blues in many projects and jams. I, from another side, preferred to play slow, thick, and fat riffs. This is where Maciek's violent, tremorous rhythms meet with Tomasz's blues individuality, and all this pulled by a big mammoth combined with a roller and a combine harvester driving through a forest of people, lol. It's meant to be heavy and thick. When it comes to the writing process, a major portion of the record was formed during one of the jams when we were still playing with Maciek as a duo. One evening we went to a rehearsal space and just had a great time, lol. The whole thing was recorded on the phone, then Maciek took it and cut the 2-hour jam into pieces and composed a few tracks with it. We didn't have a wider plan for it; it just occurred to us organically (Nothing, Delusion, Weedow, Funnel Vision). "Mourn" is essentially a single riff by Maciek, who was playing with sounds at home in the meantime. Tomasz brought the intro and main riff for "Empowerment" to one of the jams, while "Threnody" is the result of jamming from scratch. Recording and production are our own work, done in the privacy of our home and rehearsal space, with numerous sessions and wonderful fun. In addition to running around with cables, lol, Maciek was in charge of the mixing (with our combined monitoring and corrections). It is interesting that many solos were recorded one-take, when Tomek recorded them quickly before leaving when he was in a hurry to catch the tram, leaving us with our jaws on the floor, lol. This was undoubtedly done for "Funnel Vision" and "Mourn". For "Threnody" we thought that spoken word would be a good fit, our friend Wiktoria Kowalska came to help and wrote and recorded a poem (thank you!). OHMs Peak: What bands over the years have influenced your sound? We hear hints of Belzebong and Dopelord, but only splashes. Tomek: We didn't really intend to mimic or so the sound of any particular band; we just performed whatever came to mind. For all of us, REZN is undoubtedly a major source of inspiration. Maciek: Yes, I truly enjoyed REZN. I found it easy to navigate where many of the songs had a straightforward structure that brought back memories of my roots. Next to Dope Smoker and Windhand, it served as a sort of introduction to this genre for me. Listening to music with Patryk helped me learn more about these bands and stoner doom overall. Tomek: My main inspirations include Tool, Om, and Kaz Bałagane. All of this mixed with blues, lol. Patryk: Instrumentally, it would be a blend of Dope Smoker and Electric Wizard, with REZN on vocals and lead. Maciek: I'd also add that probably everything we've heard throughout the years has left a lasting impression on us. OHMs Peak: There is not a flaw on this album but if we had to pick favorites they might be either "Weedow" or "Funnel Vision." These two songs hit with such highly addictive and fuzzy rhythms and the vocals blend in perfectly to the psych doom. Take us through the concept and making of these tracks Tomek: Maybe because they are the catchiest and most "pop-oriented" on the album, lol. They have a timeless structure and are undoubtedly highly catchy. Maciek: Yes, I think my roots have a hand in this when I was cutting and arranging this jam, lol. Simple music is often the most expressive. These are also some of the first songs we created, so no wonder. Patryk: We didn't have a plan for it, we just jammed it out, I only knew there had to be a riff, it had to be thick, and the rest came out in the wash, lol. The entire record was really a test of our ability to perform this type of music. OHMs Peak; The album cover is so fitting to your sound. Who created and drove the artwork? Patryk: The cover is the product of our collaboration; Maciek assisted me later with technical difficulties, but I designed it myself. However, the idea for the name, cover, character is actually mine. This also holds true for the original cover variations for the singles Empowerment and Mourn. OHMs Peak: Weedow is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turn table and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to? Tomek: Dope Smoker - Legalize It , lol, that would be crazy as fuck, lol. Weedow are: Patryk Wójcik: bass/vocals Tomasz Raszewski: guitar Maciej Budzowski: drums Follow Weedow: Bandcamp / Facebook / Weedow Grab some Weedow Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2024 Genre: Stoner rock Sounds Like: Greenleaf, Queens of the Stoneage Homeland: Bradford, UK What makes Warped Vision elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Psychlona's most recent album is incredibly engaging, filled with abundant cosmic fuzz and smooth stoner rhythms. The trippy, chilled vocals seamlessly integrate with the immense stoner sounds, creating a perfect blend. The production is crisp and powerful, with each instrument finding its own space to shine Psychlona has solidified their place in our rotation with their highly addictive blend of stoner rock. Owning this on vinyl is essential. Track Listing: 1. Jasmine 5:14 2. Let's Go 5:55 3. Smoke 5:57 4. Cut Loose 5:44 5. Topanga 6:01 6. Kaleidoscope 5:24 7. Split 06:17 8. Magic Carpet 5:07 Dive deeper into Warped Vision with our Q&A with Psychlona. OHMs Peak: Congratulations on the release of Warped Vision . Psychlona has been a staple in our rotation since the very beginning. Your music has such a unique fluid heaviness that seems effortless. Can you give us a glimpse into the songwriting process? Psychlona: It's very simple. Somebody has a riff or chord progression or sometimes a complete song they bring down to the jam room. We usually toss it around and add individual parts to it and if we all dig it then we'll take it further. Lyrics are usually the last part of the song to get written. OHMs Peak: We noticed two new members have joined the band for this album. The music sounds as crisp as ever. How has this transition affected the band? Psychlona: Only in positive ways. Martin and Izak have both been around the block a few times and are seasoned musicians/band dudes so know the score. They both fit in musically and equally important on a personal level too. We knew them both for a long time before they joined the band so there were never any concerns. OHMs Peak: How did the name Psychlona come about? It's a unique band name that fits your music perfectly. Psychlona: I think it was myself (Phil) and Martyn tossing ideas around when we used to work together a few years ago. We were called Too Many Chiefs back then and wanted to change to a more unique name. No real story behind it but we sometimes wish we'd found a name that was easier to spell!!! There was one festival t shirt in particular a few years ago with a seriously bad typo... OHMs Peak: The tracks 'Smoke' and 'Split' have a calming and heartwarming feel that resonate with us. How did these songs come to form? Psychlona: 'Smoke' is a song I initially wrote over 10 years ago for another band I was playing in. It never seemed to work out but I knew it was a song that I wanted to re visit at some point with the right group of musicians. Now seemed about right and I'm very happy with how it's worked out. 'Split' is another one I wrote some time ago and decided it wasn't right for the band at the time. It's a tough one to perform lyrically as it covers grief and loss of loved ones so very unlikely to ever be played live. OHMs Peak: We absolutely love your vibrant album covers. Who is the artist for Warped Vision and what does it represent? Psychlona: All four of our album covers have been done by a guy called Kyrre Bjurling who is from Norway. I can't remember how we initially made contact with him but he just 'gets it' when we pitch him an idea. We have no plans to ever let anybody else do our album art. The new album cover is his visual interpretation of 'warped vision' with the guys head kinda exploding due to the audio he's got playing in the headphones. Notice on the rear cover the headphones are off. OHMs Peak: Psychlona is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turn table and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to? Psychlona: Very easy question to answer as it's only me here doing the interview. The album would be 'London Calling' by the Clash as it's the greatest album of all time. Follow Psychlona: Bandcamp / Facebook Grab some Psychlona Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2024 Genre: Math rock, Punk Sounds Like: These Arms Are Snakes, June of 44 Homeland: Chicago What makes To All Trains elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Shellac has revolutionized and solidified what is math rock. Spanning 30 years we have been blessed with their caustic and impactful ways. Needless to say we were saddened to hear of Steve Albini’s passing just a few months back. Arguably one of the biggest pioneers of heavy music, his involvement to expand heavy rock and off kilter viewpoints is vast and game changing. While tragic as can be the light here is to celebrate what he and the amazing embodiment of Shellac. 6 studio albums , 3 EPs and two live albums of brilliance. Most astonishing is their sound just keeps getting fresher and alas we welcome in their 2024 release To All Trains ’ a fucking pinnacle of their work. Encompassing 10 songs that span 28 minutes. Envision chaos blending beautifully in a concise tight way hitting wild angles testing the efforts of your speakers. We are amazed at how much Shellac can capture in a 2 minute track. Their off tempo brilliance can engulf the listener quicker than any other band. Take the opener 'WSOD,' Albini’s abrasive melodies attack immediately and meld so well with Trainer and Weston’ epic undercurrent. Much akin to the Jesus Lizard, Weston and Trainer drive some of the most innovative jaw dropping tempos. From ‘Scrappers’ in your face anthem “we’ll be pirates” to the creeping ‘I Don’t Fear Hell’ looping in ‘baseball’ incoherence with “if there’s a hell I’m gonna know everyone” we ride the dark satiric perspective that has so shaped Shellac’s 30 year journey. To All Trains is just about as powerful a work that the threesome from Chicago have ever released. Steve Albini will be missed but his imprint on the math rock landscape will hopefully reverberate forever. Track Listing: 1. WSOD 2:24 2. Girl From Outside 2:45 3. Chick New Wave 2:22 4. Tattoos 3:08 5. Wednesday 3:17 6. Scrappers 2:20 7. Days Are Dogs 1:41 8. How I Wrote How I Wrote Elastic Man (cock & bull) 4:08 9. Scabby the Rat 1:46 10. I Don't Fear Hell 4:17 Shellac are: Steve Albini - Guitar Todd Trainer - Drums Bob Weston - Bass Follow Shellac: Bandcamp / Facebook Grab some Shellac Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2024 Genre: Stoner rock, Grunge, Progressive rock Sounds Like: King Buffalo, Tool Homeland: North Carolina What makes Hollow Ground elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Stonekind's newest release is completely immersive, featuring a plethora of progressive rock, grunge and stoner-influenced metal As a duo, they deliver a powerful surge of heaviness, showcasing unparalleled attention to detail Drummer Jeff Ayers' vocals exude a soothing vibe reminiscent of Jerry Cantrell, blending seamlessly with the music's style The production of Hollow Ground is excellent, capturing a brooding, trippy, psychedelic vibe that makes it a must-have on vinyl Track Listing: 1. Storyteller 3:55 2. Glass of Hours 3:17 3. Hollow Ground :59 4. Masters of Man 8:18 5. Dune 4:57 6. Veda 1:45 7. Dressed as Man 9:48 8. Echus Chasma 2:20 Dive deeper into Hollow Ground with our Q&A with Stonekind. OHMs Peak: Hollow Ground your third release since 2019, is in our opinion your best work to date. We find seamless connectivity between each of the eight tracks. The landscape is filled with rich fuzz-filled blues that sprawls over some dark landscapes. Take us through the evolution of your songwriting and what makes this album different from the prior two releases. Stonekind: Thanks so much! It’s a great feeling to know folks are digging it. Our music has definitely evolved over the years, but our process for writing the songs has basically stayed the same. The initial song structures (drums and guitar) usually come together pretty quickly and organically. Davis usually brings in some riffs and rough song structures to rehearsal in the home studio, we hash it out until we have some basic drums and transitions figured out, and then hit record. This roughest demo gets plenty of car playback, and Jeff works his magic spicing up his drum parts. We’ll rehearse and tighten things up before hitting the studio to officially track drums and rhythm guitar. Additional guitars, bass, and finally vocals (when Jeff finally gets around to it haha) are tracked in the good ol home studio. We have shared lyric writing duties throughout all three albums although Jeff wrote the majority of lyrics for Hollow Ground. We had a vision of connectivity between songs, so the song order was partially thought out before tracking so the ending of one song and beginning of the next would make sense when blended together. We’ve always loved albums with continuity between tracks so everything flows together almost like one epic song. Both Hollow Ground and Spirit of the Void were mixed by Davis in his studio which really allowed for his perfectionist tendencies to take the reins. It’s been quite a learning and rewarding experience for us both, but can feel painfully slow at times. Hopefully it won’t be another 3 years before our next release! This album is quite a bit heavier and darker than our previous material but the blues vibe lives strong. I don’t think we intentionally tried to make a heavier album when writing the songs, but that’s how it turned out. The context of what’s going on in the world around us over the past few years with wars, the pandemic, and social / political madness was surely a factor in the heaviness and lyrical content. OHMs Peak: The fullness of your sound as a two piece band is astounding. Are there enhancements within the studio album that just can’t be recreated live? Would love to hear more about the approach live vs studio in your case. Stonekind: We are still trying to figure this one out haha. Our approach thus far has been to make records that sound huge, memorable, original, and emotionally meaningful. In our attempts to do so, there are lots of layers of guitars and vocals in the mix, and Davis recorded the bass tracks. So yeah, there are plenty of enhancements that cannot be recreated live with just the two of us. With that said, we are currently looking for a bass player… Anybody? OHMs Peak: What current band would you love to tour with? That would most compliment your sound? Stonekind: There are so many great bands in the scene making heavy music these days… we’d be honored to share the stage and hang out with any of them. Some of our favorites recently are King Buffalo, Jack Harlon & the Dead Crows, REZN, Ritual King, and Valley of the Sun. OHMs Peak: Interestingly 'Masters of Man' and ‘Dressed as Man’ are our two favorite tracks and we often use the names confuse them or use them interchangeably. Take us thru the concept or interplay between these two tracks that lay forth almost a prehistoric reference perhaps? Stonekind: The idea behind the lyrics were pretty much the same. Thinking about people that can pull certain strings in our society, or have certain influence on people. Watching things move with a heaviness of the soul while we are stuck here figuring the shit out. A lot of the lyrical content on this album came out of frustration - almost a non belief of how ridiculous people of influence can be. We confuse ourselves with these names also haha. We actually didn’t officially name them until they were mixed. They are probably the two most complex songs in our catalogue, with “Masters” being our favorite off this record. OHMs Peak: We love that your sound evokes memories of some raw early 90s grunge bands and also morphs into wild progressive work at times. What bands form the 90s have most influenced your sound? Stonekind: Alice in chains, Tool, Kyuss, Soundgarden, STP to name a few I was a big Soundgarden fan and still am. I stole a lot of tidbits of Matt Cameron’s playing. I feel like Davis and I are a good combination of progressive mixed with groove. Davis will often times bring these really amazing guitar arrangements where I have to really sit back and think, “ok how do I lay a groove to this and simplify the rhythm a bit?” Maybe that’s not the best way of putting it haha - Davis is definitely the brains and I’m just the caveman that wants to dance to it. OHMs Peak: Stonekind is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turn table and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to? Stonekind: Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs This was the first vinyl record I ever got. I was 13 and the dad of a good friend of mine knew I was diving deep into guitar so he gave me a copy of Bridge of Sighs. I had never heard of Robin Trower and my mind was blown spinning it on my dad’s old zenith turntable. It’s such a soulful album, and the lush guitar tone/performance is so damn good I could never get tired of it. “Too Rolling Stoned” would sound right at home on a deserted island. - Davis What’s funny is my dad turned me on to this album. I was digging through old records of his and he suggested it. He loved James Dewar and I feel the same. Absolutely incredible album. Stonekind are: Jeff Ayers, Jr.: Drums, Vocals Davis Templeton: Guitars, Bass Mastered by Jay Matheson at the Jam Room in Columbia, SC. Follow Stonekind: Bandcamp / Facebook / Instagram Grab some Stonekind Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)

Released: 2024 Genre: Stoner rock Sounds Like: Kal-El, Sasquatch, We Hunt Buffalo Homeland: Texas What makes Palm Reader elite and sit atop OHMs Peak? Palm Reader impresses with its bold and crunchy fuzz, hitting all the right notes and offering a plethora of tremendous hooks Vocalist Ryan Garney exudes a powerful yet relaxed vibe that complements the music perfectly The production is spot on, showcasing HDQ's craftsmanship to create this stoner rock classic. It's a must-have on vinyl The production is spot on, demonstrating HDQ's skill in crafting this stoner rock classic. It's essential to have it on vinyl Make sure not to overlook their ongoing North America tour, as they are emerging as one of the top heavy bands to experience live Track Listing: 1. Ancient Aliens 5:24 2. Death Perception 4:23 3. Head Honcho 9:07 4. Palm Reader 4:40 5. Time Waster 4:52 6. Tuesday Night Blues 5:34 7. Solar Rain 9:01 Dive deeper into Palm Reader with our Q&A with vocalist Ryan Garney of High Desert Queen. OHMS Peak: Congratulations on the release of Palm Reader , it is a terrific follow-up to Secrets of the Black Moon . Upon first rotation, we instantly hear that signature High Desert Queen brand of stoner rock. You play with such raw emotion and every track hits with fuzzy grooves that stick with you. Take us through the making of this album and your psyche in putting such a heavy hitter together. Ryan Garney: Thank you. We are very happy with how the record came out. We went into the studio after touring Europe for 6 weeks with the legendary Fatso Jetson. We were working on songs like 'Ancient Aliens,' 'Head Honcho' and 'Solar Rain' a lot live getting those down. We decided we wanted to record the album live, not to a click track and with as few overdubs as possible. We took 6 completed songs into the studio and had 3 other ideas we were going to finish. However, the first day in the studio while we were setting up and getting levels, we wrote 3 songs that ended up making the record and we never got around to tracking some of the songs we were planning to. 'Palm Reader,' 'Death Perception' and 'Tuesday Night Blues' were all created in a few hours and we decided to track those to continue to give the album a "raw" and "live" feel to it. Another huge factor in this album was these are the first songs we wrote as a full band with this lineup together. The first record was more or less Rusty (guitar) and myself sending ideas back and forth and having Phil track drums and a friend of mine track bass. OHMS Peak: The vocal prowess of singer Ryan Garney is strong and distinct. How do you belt out such impressive notes while containing a chilled vibe? Ryan Garney:   This is a great question! Answering for myself will be difficult but I think it stems from the passion I have for the music. I am in no way an angry person and feel music is a great way to spread love and great vibes. Music is about emotion and I get very emotional about ideas I sing about. Sometimes those call for more aggressive notes even though I'm not an aggressive person. If art doesn't cause you to have an emotional response, it's not art. I'm the same way when I'm listening to other bands. I get very animated when I listen to music I enjoy. Luckily I really enjoy the music HDQ is creating too. OHMS Peak: The music on this album is thick and hits with so many ear worms. What backgrounds do you have as musicians that bring out this high level of talent? Ryan Garney: We all have different backgrounds. As far as myself, I've sung in several different bands in college but actually haven't had the chance to perform or jam with a band in over 15 years before HDQ. Life just kind of happened and I thought that part of my life was gone. I'm very glad it's not. Rusty has played in bands for decades. He's a big 80's metal guy and it shows in how he shreds, but we love that he's able to come up with some monster heavy riffs. Morgan is Rusty's daughter and has been raised with music. She may be the young one of our group but shes a music encyclopedia and more knowledgeable than the rest of us. She's been playing with School of Rock all through her life which has allowed her to be as skilled as she is. Phil has an extremely eclectic musical background. He's played in death metal bands, prog bands, doom bands, funk bands, country bands and everything in between. He does a lot of work in the studio as well. He's the one that gives us our groove. OHMS Peak: ‘Death Perception’ could be one of the best stoner rock duets we have heard. How did this collaboration with Gaupa vocalist Emma Naslund form? Ryan Garney: We love how this song came together. We met Emma and the rest of Gaupa when we played Fuzz Fest in Sweden. They are amazing people. We then got to hang out again when we both played DesertFest London. I got to talking to Emma and told her we were going to record when we got home and it would be great if she added vocals. She was excited to be a part. I had an idea to have her sing on a song we were taking into the studio. However, we wrote "Death Perception" in the studio and we immediately decided to send the song to Emma. She's too talented to make a "guest appearance" and she needed to be featured. It didn't take long for her to send back a vocal melody. She was just singing notes and not saying words. I however wrote words based on what it sounded like she was saying. Then we went back and forth to have the lyrics make sense as I already had the title and chorus written. I had so much fun working with Emma on that song. I hope we get to work together again in the future. OHMS Peak: The OhmsPeak team is excited to see you play Desertfest New York in September. As a performer, how do you compare playing in collaborative festivals versus your own intimate venue? Which band are you most excited to see while you’re not playing at the 3 day gala? Ryan Garney: We approach and perform every show the exact same way. It doens't matter if there's 20 people or 20,000 people. We all have the stroies of "I saw ____ in a room of 15 people and they brought it!" Those were some of the best moments as a fan and we keep that in mind. We will only be there for the day we play so I hope I get to see our good friends Hippie Death Cult. Plus we will watch Dozer who we will be on tour with and will want to check out Acid King, True Widow, Spaceslug, Gozu, Truckfighters, and whoever else we can find time to see! There will be some tough choices! OHMS Peak: High Desert Queen is a great name for a band, how did this come about and what does it represent? Ryan Garney: I actually created the band name with my brother Shay. You might know him as the Evil Band Manager in several of our music videos. I was brainstorming ideas and actually combined a few names I like together. He and I go out to the High Desert all the time. It's a magical place. The "Queen" signifies Mother Earth and who would rule over the High Desert. I'm just in love with that part of the world. I'm amazed life exists in a place where it shouldn't OHMS Peak: The album cover is very unique and colorful, we love the spaced-out neon sign theme. What was the inspiration for the artwork? Ryan Garney: We took more inspiration from the desert. We wanted something that reminds us of a hotel or casino you randomly see in the middle of nowhere after driving for hours on end. Our artist PabloRR (72826) nailed it. We also loved the colors. We figured those aren't colors you usually see from bands in our genre. OHMS Peak: High Desert Queen is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turn table and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album do you ultimately agree to? Ryan Garney: I don't think there is any way we could just do one record! We all come from such different musical backgrounds. It's even a struggle in the van picking music everyone will agree on! So I will say for purposes of answering the question, that we would take our new record "Palm Reader" because it's something we are very proud of and each of our styles and influences comes out on the record. High Desert Queen are: Ryan Garney – Vocals Phil Hook – Drums Morgan Miller – Bass Rusty Miller – Guitar Follow High Desert Queen: HDQ.com / Bandcamp / Facebook / Instagram Grab some High Desert Queen Merch Music (vinyl, CDs, digital, shirts, etc.)