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Pentre Fest 2025

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Pentre Fest 2025

Mclean’s Pub, Pentre, Deeside

Friday 21st & Saturday 22nd February 2025

Here we go with another Pentre Fest, the absolute highlight of my musical calendar! This is the crowning glory of North East Wales Metal Productions‘ festivals – and a huge deal to both the bands and the fans. I couldn’t wait to get to Mclean’s in Deeside and enjoy the music!

This year, another stellar line-up of bands from both near and far, with a good spread of genres. Ever Metal was in full force, with Beth and Mare joining myself for the festivities. With all of us in attendance, we split reporting duties to cover as much as possible as easily as we could.

And so, here are the reviews I composed all by my lonesome, concentrating on musicians that I wanted to contribute to (rather than all of them).

If you want to read the full review, try this here link to Ever Metal.

Friday 

Mother Thunder 

I saw Mother Thunder play in Pentre a few months back, they were superb.  This time around, they were even better.  MT play a hard hitting, groove laden take on classic rock/metal – think Thin Lizzy twin guitars with a bit of Maiden chug – and sublime female vocals.  Heavy rock with irresistible riffs, Mother Thunder lit up the room and could’ve (should’ve) been higher up the bill.  

Apollyon Rising 

Filling in last minute, Apollyon Rising were a man down as their bass player was on holiday in Morocco.  The selfish git.  But with a bit of soundboard wizardry, the remainder of the band confidently gave us a set of prime thrash metal that didn’t shame their reputation one iota.  I knew they could pull it off.  As a wise man once said, never doubt a band with a killer logo (and the talent to match). 

Saturday 

DXRK Winter 

Thankfully, I managed to catch the latter half of DXRK Winter’s set and I glad I did.  They were on first on the main stage in the afternoon, their brutal metal attack was brilliantly performed and went down really well with a crowd that could’ve been chilling, but didn’t.  A worthy act to play higher up the bill. 

Cry for Mercy 

You can’t go wrong with the blues based classic rock swagger of Cry for Mercy.  Great tunes, all built around the majesty of the riff and a persuasive groove.  I loved every second, it’s a shame they were on so early.  Never miss a chance to see Cry For Mercy if you get it.  Their new songs were just as good as old, new album is out soon! 

Victim of Damp 

Frank Williams, aka Victim of Damp, is becoming a popular mainstay of Pentre gigs.  His bipolar set comprises one half of mellow, hangover curing melody followed by a series of playful, Pythonesque parodies.  And he gets more confident every time. 

Bad Earth 

It just wouldn’t be Pentre Fest without these guys!  Bad Earth delivered a reliably ferocious set of raucous biker rock and despite sound hiccups on the first couple of songs, soldiered on admirably.  This was take-no-prisoners rock’n’roll to make Lemmy proud.  Their acoustic set was also a blinder, cooking up some awesome sing-a-long responses from the crowd outside. 

Mike West & the Missing Links 

It’s been a good few years since I saw Mike West play a solo acoustic show at Pentre.  Mike’s brand of dark country and bluegrass is now augmented by a band of drums and fiddle, adding a certain folky, Levellers feel to the tracks.  A brilliant diversion under the surprisingly blue skies of the late afternoon, this set was further proof that a metal festival can experiment with genres. 

The Raging Mables 

Now I was really looking forward to seeing this band.  I’d enjoyed viewing their Pentre Fest pre-event interview with Beany, plus they have one of the best band names ever.  No arguments.  The Raging Mables were like the Ramones playing ZZ Top, a 200mph Zeke-like melodic explosion of punk’n’roll.  One of the most perfect bands ever.  

Toranaga 

Back to some welcome thrash metal, it was indeed a huge bonus to get to witness the power of Toranaga at Pentre.  These guys are exceptional musicians, their shredding guitars creating a sound akin to classic Bay Area Thrash from the likes of Exodus and Testament.  And that is very, very good.  Their cover of ‘Mad House’ by Anthrax warmed my ancient heart, too.    

Stuntface 

Stuntface hail from just up the road in Wrexham, and it was great to see them finally bring their brand of flat-out, relentless hardcore punk to Pentre Fest.  Their songs are furious yet melodic, played super-fast and with a huge grin on bass player/vocalist Wayne’s face.  An absolute treat – Stuntface must play here again! 

What a blast that was! The guys at NEW Metal Productions always put on a heck of a show and this was no exception. Didn’t get tickets for the Black Sabbath gig this summer? Get yourselves out there and support underground metal, you’ll feel better.

My favourite Pentre Fest so far? Only time will tell…

Sergeant Thunderhoof – The Ghost of Badon Hill Album Review

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Sergeant Thunderhoof – The Ghost of Badon Hill 

Pale Wizard Records 

Release date: 15/11/2024 

Running time: 45 minutes 

Review by: Alun Jones 

9.5/10 

Two years ago, the album “This Sceptred Veil” by Sergeant Thunderhoof made such an impression on me that it topped my end of year Top 10 for Ever Metal.  So this latest release has some pretty big boots to fill.  The pressure is on, for the band and also for your friendly scribe: I’m gonna need some new adjectives in my arsenal to do this work justice.  

A mellow guitar and whistle intro brings the listener into the world of “The Ghost of Badon Hill”.  First track ‘Badon’ opens with an almost Folky feel, and in true Thunderhoof style, takes it’s time to grow and breathe.  We’re nearly halfway through before the delicate, introspective section explodes into something epic, and the hairs on the back of your neck reach for the sky.   

‘Blood Moon’ tricks the listener with a melodic intro, before a truly classic mega-riff gets the heart pounding.  The guitars of Mark Sayer and new member Josh Gallup (who also recorded the album with the band) are multi textured throughout the album, expertly ranging from the mighty to the fragile.  A pseudo-Blues introduces ‘The Orb of Octavia’, before settling on a melancholy, gentle feel.  Augmented by Daniel Flitcroft’s soaring vocals (surely amongst the best in the UK), it’s not long before the heavy is unleashed. 

‘Salvation for the Soul’ is the most immediate and Stoner/Doom related of this collection, and it quickly became a personal favourite.  “For tonight, we ride!” – trust me, kids: THAT is a chorus!   

I’ve favourably compared Sergeant Thunderhoof to Soundgarden previously – which holds true with ‘Sentinel’ – and there’s also a strong Floydian feel here too.  The changes of pace on all the tracks ably demonstrate the expertise of the rhythm section, Jim Camp on bass and Darren Ashman on drums.  Both are confident and play with finesse.  All good things come to an end though, and our final song here, ‘Beyond the Hill’, is a ten-minute plus opus that builds through several stages on a monumental journey. 

One element of this recording that’s obvious from the start, is the length of the album.  The band made a conscious decision to lay down some boundaries and write a record that would fit on a single, rather than double, vinyl album.  Whereas I could lament the shorter running time, it does make sense to condense what the band do best.  And there’s still a cornucopia of sonic delights to enjoy regardless.  I mean, I haven’t even discussed the lyric content of the record yet!  There’s plenty enough folklore, legend and mystery to keep the audience engaged and coming back for more and more. 

“The Ghost of Badon Hill” is mission accomplished for Sergeant Thunderhoof.  A great new album, reigned in a little timewise, but sonically still delivering a cerebral and visceral punch.  Another Top 10 contender, no problem.  

Check out Sergeant Thunderhoof on their website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

This review is brought to you by Platinum Al in association with Ever Metal.

Torso – Brain Cells Album Review

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Torso – Brain Cells 

APF Records 

Release date: 13/09/2024 

Running time: 31 minutes 

Review by: Alun Jones 

9.5/10 

Friday night.  I’ve just been down to the local video shop, had a scan of the horror section, took my time deciding which film to rent.  If it’s good I’ll watch it at least three times before I bring it back tomorrow.  Go for the one with the craziest sounding name and the most gonzoid image on the cover.  Doesn’t matter who’s in it, I just want to know which offers the most brain destroying, off the wall, lurid descent into madness..  Pay up and leg it home, video tape in hand.  Urgently load the clunky VHS player and wait for the image on screen to stop crackling and reveal its gory beauty… 

‘Brain Cells’ by horror metal deviants Torso bursts forth with a frantic commotion.  This is album number two from ex-Possessor frontman/guitarist Graham Bywater in his new guise as the Dark Lord of Grindhouse Schlock Terror.  APF records haven’t so much released this album, as unlocked the gates, stood well back and unleashed it upon the world in a tidal wave of bloody fury. 

Starting with the intense thrash of ‘You Belong in Hell’, the lo-fi atmosphere is captured perfectly.  Not that the production is poor, but this whole album has the vibe of an ancient cassette that’s been used and re-used many times.  Probably starting with Huey Lewis, then taped over with some early Maiden, then repeatedly re-recorded on again until it features Carcass and Entombed.   

As before, songs are peppered with random movie samples (good luck tracking the sources down, I’m stumped already), though there’s noticeably less of the John Carpenter-inspired keyboard instrumentals this time around.  No matter, the drive-in B-movie atmosphere is ever present here – both ‘Savage Magic’ and ‘Brain Cells’, in particular, help see to that. 

Key highlights you won’t want to miss include ‘Deep Space Death Trap’ with its unforgiving, virulent chorus and raw, fuzzed up riffs; and ‘Hex Pest’, which roars along as if possessed by a filthy, NWOBHM-obsessed demon biker. 

“Brain Cells” is an underground garage-metal thrill ride from opening act to final curtain.  It’s glorious, murderous fun for all – you’ll want to rewind and go from the start again, as soon as it’s finished.  A nasty, blood splattered triumph for Torso and a Top Ten of 2024 album for me.   

Find out more about Torso on Bandcamp and their APF Records page.

This review is brought to you by Platinum Al and Ever Metal.

Berenice – EP Review

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Berenice – Berenice 

APF Records 

Release date: 16/08/2024 

Running time: 13 minutes 

Review by: Alun Jones 

8.5/10 

Over the last couple of days, I’ve noticed I’ve had a cold coming on.  Sore throat starting, slight cough, feeling tired and achy.  This morning I did a Covid test – no, I didn’t know that was still a thing, either – and what do ya know, I’ve got the Vid.  Double bars on the tester, I’m in full Vid mode and suffering more by the minute.  What I need is medication.  Something to clear the fog from my head.  Luckily, I have this new EP by Berenice to help. 

This self-titled release from APF records is the debut from East Anglia based noise wizards Berenice.  It’s a wild, untamed, raw release that’s a brew of hardcore, crust, sludge and grind.  The five piece have delivered a five song EP to launch their musical manifesto and it’s every bit as uncompromising as you’d expect. 

First track ‘Problems’ unleashes a screaming, thrashing beast stampeding at 100mph.  ‘Reflection’ slows the tempo slightly, but rides on a chugging riff and guttural, screaming vocals.  The remaining tracks follow in a similarly brutal style, with only last song ‘Sorrow’ breaking the three-minute barrier. 

If melody and finesse are your thing, then Berenice might not be what you’re looking for.  Instead, if you want fast, loud, aggressive music infused with the rage of living in the modern world, the Doctor prescribes a regular dose of Berenice – to be taken as often as possible. 

This EP certainly picked me up! 

Check out Berenice on Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp and at APF Records.

This review is brought to you by Platinum Al in association with Ever Metal.

Uncle Slam – Album Review

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Uncle Slam – Will Work for Food/When God Dies 

Dissonance/Cherry Red Records 

Release date: 26/07/2024 

Running time: 2 CD compilation 21 tracks 

Review by: Alun Jones 

7.5/10 

Wow, was I asleep or something there?  How did I manage to miss Uncle Slam back in the late 80s/early 90s heyday of crossover?  At that point in time, I was 100% in this bands target demographic: young skateboarder with a love of hardcore punk and thrash metal.  And yet Uncle Slam and I never crossed paths till now.  Thanks to Dissonance/Cherry Red records, we have this double album compilation of the bands second and third albums, and I can fill in some gaps. 

The obvious starting point here is Suicidal Tendencies.  It’s a lazy option to begin here, but the similarities in sound and style between Uncle Slam and ST are so abundant that we can’t ignore them.  Both bands are from the Venice, LA scene, with various members of Suicidal appearing within the ranks of Uncle Slam at one point or another.  Anyone (like me) just arriving to this mosh pit will be astounded how the Slam guys seem to have been largely forgotten. 

The first album, “Will Work For Food”, features a satisfying metal crunch along with the punk energy.  To be fair, the influence of ST, early COC and DRI mingle with the classic thrash of Testament and Nuclear Assault pretty seamlessly.  Fans of any of those bands will dive straight into ‘Left for Dead’ and ‘Roadkill’ right from the off.  The rest of disc 1 follows in a similar frenzy of crunching metal guitars and aggressive pace, and it’s all great fun.  The only oddity is a re-working of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Dazed and Confused’, barely recognisable as it’s been reimagined so drastically – but brilliant for it. 

Disc 2 presents us with Uncle Slam’s third and final album, ”When God Dies”, released in 1995.  By this time, dominant musical genres had fluctuated, and this record shows Uncle Slam developing their sound.  The title track opener thus delivers more chunky metal, but shoe-horns some funky breaks in the style of (Suicidal off-shoot) Infectious Grooves.  It’s a less thrash, more punk and alt rock influenced sound, but although something of a departure, it still works for the most part.  As a result, songs like ‘Procreation’ still rock, but ‘Summer in Space’ is just silly. 

For some, this collection will be too similar to good old Suicidal Tendencies to stand on its own merit.  I would disagree: there are plenty of other influences here, not just the main offenders.  And who cares, anyway?  This isn’t just a sound, it’s a whole vibe – Venice beach, Dogtown, punk rock and skateboarding on a never-ending summer vacation.  Uncle Slam deserve their moment in the spotlight, and I’m not gonna deprive them of it.  Neither should you. 

There’s some Uncle Slam on Spotify for you to check out.

This review is presented by Platinum Al and Ever Metal.

Orange Goblin – Album Review

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Orange Goblin – Science, Not Fiction 

Peaceville 

Release date: 19/07/2024 

Running time: 51 minutes approx 

Review by: Alun Jones 

9/10 

Pointless review of the month time!  But why, pray tell, is this review of the new Orange Goblin album “pointless”?  Because, old pal, literally everyone knows that Orange Goblin are a BIG THING.  And they haven’t released an album for seven years.  So this release, surely, will be near the top of everyone’s wish list for 2024.  Especially in the case of our esteemed Ever Metal readers, who as we all know, are a cut above the rest of the uncultured rabble out there. 

Without patronising our dear readership in anyway, a new release from these London doom/stoner/heavy metal scoundrels is, and should be, a BIG THING. 

Anyone who’s already a fan of Orange Goblin can expect more of what has come before, but it’s safe to say, “Science, Not Fiction” is amped up a little more than usual.  The same killer riffs, powerful delivery, ace musicianship, clever style variations are all in place as expected, but tweaked just a little higher.  Right from first listen, it’s obvious that quality control has been merciless on this recording, resulting in a collection of peak songcraft.    

‘The Fire at the Center of the Earth is Mine’ opens the engines in fine form.  After a cacophonous intro marked by belching bass, the riff kicks in and the ride begins.  A furious “death boogie” with a super catchy, uplifting chord structure for the chorus, this is prime Goblin. 

There’s no room for a breather, with second track ‘(Not) Rocket science’ bolting out next – a relentless hell ride that features a killer lead bass break (courtesy of new four stringer Harry Armstrong).  It’s probably my favourite song on the album: Ben Ward’s voice booming and Joe Hoare’s guitar threatening to jump the gate and roar off into the night on its own. 

An epic, mid-seventies Sabbath-doom vibe pervades ‘False Hope Diet’, with its bouncing groove and changes.  ‘Cemetary Rats’ starts with a gloomy, gothic vibe before exploding into something akin to old school thrash a la Testament.  Through all tracks, Chris Turner’s drums are dependably solid and thunderous. 

‘The Justice Knife’ is another fast rocker that benefits from some outer space wah-wah guitar, though generally speaking, the latter half of the album doesn’t quite have the heights of invention that earlier tracks possess.  The last song, ‘End of Transmission’, fields a suitably epic and raucous finale, however – soaring through sections with determined power. 

My only slight gripe with “Science, Not Fiction” is that the bonus track ‘Eye of the Minotaur’ appears to be CD only – which means vinyl fanatics like yours truly will miss out.  Nevermind, this album is a devastating power house of modern metal.  Orange Goblin have created a record that demonstrates all we love them for, and ladled on a good-sized helping of extra sauce to sweeten the deal.  One of THE albums of 2024, “Science, Not Fiction” will be guaranteed a place in my annual Top10.      

Check out Orange Goblin on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and Bandcamp.

This review is brought to you by Platinum Al in association with Ever Metal. 

The Best of 2024

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Happy New Year, loyal friends and followers of Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub! We’re now striding into 2025 with confidence and glee, but as is customary, our first post of the year is a round up of the previous year’s successes.

So here are the Top Ten most read posts from 2024 – the ones that grabbed your attention, and briefly lit up the internet with enthusiasm.

10. New Skateboard 2024 – Death Blinky 

The most read posts on this blog relate to skateboarding, you may be surprised to know. But they’re usually slow burners, attracting attention year after year, rather than big hitters. So it was nice to see this update about my latest skate set up make it into the Top 10 list. Nice photos may have helped.

9. Platinum Al’s Top 10 Rock & Metal Albums of 2023 

My pick of the best in Rock and Metal albums for 2023 was published by Ever Metal, and I then posted it on my blog, too. Nice to know that you guys must trust my judgement. The 2024 Top 10 will follow soon.

8. UK Subs – Gig Review

I went to quite a few amazing gigs in 2024, the UK Subs in Wrexham being one of them. This was a great gig and I finally got to see this classic band live.

7. Anti Racism Poem 

Anything my daughter Eloise contributes to my blog is always well received, and this school poem was no exception. A great piece of work and wonderful sentiment.

6. GBH – Gig Review 

Another legendary punk band live review in the 2024 Top 10! This concert by punk legends GBH was fantastic, good to see the review proved popular.

5. Liverpool Comic Con

Comic conventions always perform well on the blog, and this experience from May was no exception. I also paid a visit to Liverpool Comic Con in November too, but sadly the photos from that have evaporated and the blog is redundant.

4. Whitby Road Trip – On the Trail of Dracula 

In February 2024, we went on a family road trip to the beautiful seaside town of Whitby. It wasn’t just tourism travel though, we were on the trail of Count Dracula, himself. Our vampire hunt made it to number 7 on the list.

3. UK Subs – Jet Age Review

One of my Ever Metal album reviews proved a big success: this review of the 5 CD set of UK Subs albums from Cherry Red Records.

2. Comic Con Mania – Chester 

Another Comic Convention in the Top 10! Chester was good fun, and great to see it back after it first looked like it wouldn’t happen at all.

And so we reach the top of the pile, the cream of the crop! Drum roll, please, as I reveal the most popular blog post of 2024…

  1. Wales Comic Con 

Wales Comic Con made a return to Wrexham, and Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub was there for it. This event was a scaled down affair, and sadly turned out to be a bit of a fraud. The organisers still owe us money for celeb autographs we booked but never got – and it looks like we’ll never get that cash back.

Every cloud and all that, though: Wrexham’s Wales Comic Con is under new management and hopefully will regain the heights of previous years. Let’s see…

2024 was a reassuringly successful year for the Virtual Hot Tub. Fifty posts were published, reaching the highest number of views per year since 2018.

Thanks to all of my readers for helping create this magnificent achievement – I really appreciate everyone who reads, likes and shares this content. All the best to you and your families for 2025 – I hope the year ahead brings you health and happiness.

Stay tuned to Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub, folks – there’s no stopping us now!

Nebula/Black Rainbows – Album Review

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Nebula/Black Rainbows – “In Search of the Cosmic Tale: Crossing the Galactic Portal” Split 

Heavy Psych Sounds 

Release date: 28/06/2024 

Running time: 32 minutes 

Review by: Alun Jones 

8.5/10 

What’s that old saying?  Oh yeah, “I get by with a little help from my friends”.  Now neither Nebula or Black Rainbows could possibly fail on their own, so together these cosmic psychonaut supertroopers should absolutely RULE.  These guys aren’t leaning on each other, they’re building each other up to stratospheric heights. 

“In Search of the Cosmic Tale: Crossing the Galactic Portal” is the longest title I’ve ever had to type (thank the gods for copy and paste).  It’s a six-track album split between those two bands, and released by one of the most on-the-money record companies around at the moment, Heavy Psych Sounds.  So the pedigree is off the charts. 

The first three tracks are from our old buddies, the psychedelic warriors, Nebula.  There are three brand new tracks here, of which ‘Acid Drop’ is the pinnacle – a chugging, unstoppable mammoth tune that’s fuzzier than a caveman’s armpits.  ‘Eye pf the Storm’ chills the mood out a bit with an infectious, spaced-out groove that fits perfectly.  Things get a bit weirder with ‘Ceaser XXXIV’, with a lolloping riff that wiggles into your mind. 

Black Rainbows present us with ‘The Secret’, which really shouldn’t be a secret to anyone: it’s a boisterous, Sabbath style good time and probably my favourite track here.  Ah, I shouldn’t pick – but there you go.  The galactic groove continues with ‘Thunder Lights on the Greatest Sky’, another joyous ode to fuzz.  ‘Dogs of War’ wraps things up nicely with a psych wander through the sky that gradually builds to exhilarating levels.   

At just over half an hour long, this mini album/EP or whatever simply isn’t long enough.  The quality of music is fantastic though, as well it should be.  No surprises there.  Both Nebula and Black Rainbows are awesome bands that you can trust to conjure up the goods.  This beauty’s available on several different versions of sexy vinyl too, so worth shelling out for.

Check out Nebula on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and their own website here.

Check out Black Rainbows on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Bandcamp and their own website here.

This review is brought to you by Platinum Al in association with Ever Metal. 

Black Tusk – The Way Forward Album Review

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Black Tusk – The Way Forward

Season of Mist

Release date: 26/04/2024

Running time: 35:54

Review by: Alun Jones

9/10

Black Tusk return with their seventh album (no, I can’t believe it, either), which they’ve entitled “The Way Forward”. It’s their first as a four piece, with Andrew Fidler (guitar/vocals) and drummer James May now augmented by guitarist Chris “Scary” Adams and bassist Derek Lynch.

The past few years have been tough for the band members, but their indestructible determination and formidable will has seen them stride onward regardless. It’s this perseverance that provides the album with its title and its unifying theme. Undeniably, the sludge metal sound is there as expected, but with additional guitar parts and a feeling of relentless tenacity.

Lead track ‘Out of Grasp’ and ‘Brushfire’ are both furious samples of big, dirty riffs played with furious conviction. It’s a fast paced set of aggressive yet entertaining energy – as a listener, I was dragged along with the band and could appreciate their steadfast refusal to let the ills of the world conquer them.

Many of the songs are around the three-minute mark, meaning we rarely get chance for a breather. ‘Breath of Life’ and the title track both have the opportunity to expand a little, though neither relinquishes their sheer intensity. The instrumental ‘Ocean of Obsidian’ is the slowest, trippiest number here, featuring a cavernous, cathedral-like sound.

So welcome back, Black Tusk. With “The Way Forward” they’ve dredged the swamp and pulled up a steaming, ruthless slab of metal that sounds unforgiving but positive. Absolutely bloody great!

For more Black Tusk, check out their website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Bandcamp and Spotify.

This review is presented by Platinum Al and Ever Metal.

Acid Mammoth – Album Review

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Acid Mammoth – Supersonic Megafauna Collision

Heavy Psych Sounds

Release date: 05/04/2024

Running time: 41 mins approx

Review by: Alun Jones

9/10

Your scribe is beleaguered. Beset by enemies on all fronts, every step forward an excruciating endeavour that may only force me further back than when I started. Such is life as my trusty steed, my desktop PC, has been sabotaged by scurvy knaves, and died at the side of the track. This unfortunate scenario has resulted in yours truly patching together a network of ancient laptop (unused these last four years); a dodgy Word type program that might not even be recognised by the notoriously fussy Ever Metal website; and an iPod to complete this review.

Because I’m a professional, goddamnit. I don’t quit. Not when I could actually finish a review before the album release date and avoid yet more scorn from my EM peers. This review is on, mofos – oh yes, it is on.

And what is this review? Why, none other than a spanking new release from the mighty pachyderms of Doom Metal, the wonderful Acid Mammoth. Hailing from Athens in Greece, this four piece trample everything else under their hefty hooves, with just over forty minutes of heavy riff based, crushing rock music.

Acid Mammoth consist of Chris Babalis Jr (vocals and guitar) and Chris Babalis Sr – Junior’s dad – also on guitar. So it’s an unusual, but obviously well functioning, band of family members. Rounding out the Mammoth are Dimosthenis Varikos on bass and Marios Louvaris on drums. This is their fourth full album, and it won’t disappoint any previous fans.

Thundering tribal drums open our first track, the brilliantly named ‘Supersonic Megafauna Collision’ (also the title track, obvs). Fuzzy guitars are soon added to the mix, with a pulverising pace that’s set at head nod/foot stomp. It’s a template that the album sticks to, but then this Doom Metal is of the true kind – with riffs this good, progressive excursions aren’t required.

“Come feel the fuzz”, then, on ‘Fuzzorgasm’: where the band throw in a groovetastic riff that will get your body moving like a caveman in an itchy loincloth. Great lead guitar too. The behemoth lumbers on through the ‘Garden of Bones’, where an ominous bass takes the front of the herd. The vocals remind me of Tobias Forge of Ghost, which is no bad thing.

‘Atomic Shaman’ provides more Sabbath worship, though with a slightly faster approach. ‘One with the Void’ adds a melancholic, ethereal feel that actually gave me early Soundgarden vibes. Finally, ‘Tusko’s Last Trip’ is a nearly twelve minute long opus that takes all the heavy drama we’ve already encountered and dials it right up, with some of the most crushing playing yet.

Huge is the word to describe this album. Just like the bands namesake, “Supersonic Megafauna Collision” is a gigantic, powerful beast from another age that could flatten all that stand in it’s way. Another great release for 2024, I’ve got the vinyl copy on order and Acid Mammoth look set for a high end of year Top Ten placing.

I can’t believe I’ve managed to get this review finished. In the end, the worst part was that little paper clip guy popping up. Thought he was long gone? Not on this ancient Antikythera device.

Check out Acid Mammoth on their website, Facebook, Bandcamp, Instagram and Spotify.

This review is presented to you by Platinum Al and Ever Metal.