I've been spinning a lot of Lowbau records lately, but this new EP hits differently. The Great Zero has been on my daily playlist since its release — and the opening track, Holy Drones, often gets more than one play in a row. That thick, full, raw sound just pins you to the chair — it’s the kind of energy that makes you turn the volume up without even realizing it.

Released on July 4th, 2025, via Electric Fire Records, The Great Zero features three tracks — Holy Drones, Cosmic Cowboy, and Symphony of Diversity — and it feels like the Austrian sludge/stoner metal outfit’s most ambitious release to date. Each song builds its own world, yet they’re all tied together by a dark, conceptual thread.

Holy Drones opens like a ritual — a hymn to blind obedience and faith turned mechanical. Cosmic Cowboy is a hellish western in space, where even the gods draw their guns. Symphony of Diversity dives into themes of false unity, social conditioning, and the struggle for individuality — lyrically and musically one of their strongest works.

The sound throughout is massive and organic — no overpolished edges, no artificial shine. The drums thunder, the guitars snarl, the bass throbs, and the vocals strike a perfect balance between anger and emotion. You can feel that this wasn’t made to be “perfect” — it was made to be real.

 This EP shows a new face of stoner rock — one that doesn’t try to fit in or look back nostalgically, but still respects its roots. The Great Zero might just represent one of the genre’s future directions: heavy, thoughtful, and instinctive all at once. AMEN!

https://www.facebook.com/LOWBAU

https://www.facebook.com/electricfirerecords

A new force is rising from Denmark’s stoner/fuzz underground. The trio SuperCollider released their debut EP Soundwaves on September 17th — four fuzz-drenched, high-energy tracks that hit straight to the core of heavy groove and distortion.

5 things you should know about Denmark’s SuperCollider ⚡️

1️⃣ A fresh stoner/fuzz rock trio from Esbjerg, Denmark.
2️⃣ Their debut EP Soundwaves dropped on September 17th.
3️⃣ It features four tracks: Flee, Ride The Soundwaves, Clinically Insane and Inhumanity.
4️⃣ Their sound is raw, heavy and full of fuzz — pure “no fuss fuzz rock.”
5️⃣ Mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, The Amorphous Androgynous, etc.) at The Doom Room.

So, let me put it a bit more directly:
Lately, I rarely come across bands delivering pure stoner rock, which is why I was thrilled from the very first second with SuperCollider. No polish, as hairy as it gets. No unnecessary extras. No sludge, no doom, no other nonsense. For a moment, I felt transported back to the early 2000s, around the time stoner rock was being born. I hope they never stray from this path — what they’ve delivered here is truly a missing piece in the scene! AMEN!

https://www.facebook.com/SuperColliderDK

The name alone says it all — nothing fancy here. Toilet Snake is a sludge-doom trio from Milan that delivers raw, dirty heaviness straight from the underground. Marco Ziggiotti (guitar/vocals), Davide Ratti (bass), and Giacomo Caiazzo (drums) operate with pure DIY spirit. They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel — they just keep it loud, filthy, and real. Because in the end, heavy music is all about attitude.

Formed in 2019, the band self-released their debut in 2022, later reissued on vinyl by DHU Records (NL). Their new four-track EP, Back from the Sewers, dropped on August 29th, 2025, via Electric Valley Records and Teschio Dischi — an all-Italian collaboration of pure sludge worship.

This EP doesn’t waste your time. No intros, no gimmicks, no overthinking — just crushing riffs, distorted bass, and pissed-off vocals. As Monuments In Ruin wrote:

“No bells and whistles, make up or flashy wardrobes... Expect loud amps, pounding rhythms and gnarly vocals. One of my favorite EPs of the year.”

And that sums it up perfectly. Toilet Snake reminds us that music isn’t about posing — it’s about guts and conviction.

They won’t change the world. They’re not doing anything new. But what they do have is something that’s been missing from the scene for a long time: that raw, punk-driven “I don’t care what anyone thinks, I’ll play this filth anyway” energy. The same fearless attitude that once fueled the ‘80s punk underground.

If you think sludge has gone stale, think again. You just have to look down in the sewers — that’s where the real stuff still lives.

Pure sludge. No bullshit. AMEN!

 https://www.facebook.com/wehatethesnake

https://www.facebook.com/electricvalleyrecords/

https://www.facebook.com/teschiodischi/

https://www.facebook.com/goodboyprofficial

When I first saw the cover of Daytripper’s debut album, the lettering instantly reminded me of the legendary Bongripper. Even their names sound alike. Because of that, I approached Book I: The Trip with a certain reservation. I could barely listen through it, as I constantly drew parallels with Bongripper. It’s hard to fully embrace something when you see it as living in the shadow of another.

I truly love this kind of proto doom/sludge, but you really need to create something monumental to rise above the swamp and have your name remembered. Book I: The Trip (2024) laid the groundwork for the band’s mythological universe, featuring seven tracks (Jarl’s Eyes, Marijuanakon, Primitives, Staff of the Bog, Sludgelurker, Tin Man, The Trip) filled with psychedelic, sludge-soaked tones and mysterious storytelling. It set the stage for what would come next.

 Now I’ve received their new release, the The Alchemist EP, and right away it feels like a major step forward. Daytripper has welcomed new members (The Seer and Warrior Sage), and that addition has clearly done them good. The foundation remains the same — a valium-hazed, psych-doom tinged, dark-toned rock — but the sound has grown thicker. The female vocals are ethereally beautiful, serving as a perfect counterpoint to the menacing music. The drumming leans more towards groove, if one can even say that about something bordering on funeral doom. Meanwhile, the synthesizers add strange effects and playful textures, making the record both atmospheric and chillingly cold.

The title track, The Alchemist, captures the essence of this new sound, with its narrative music video drawing listeners into the smoke-filled study of the Alchemist and his forbidden experiments.

With The Alchemist, Daytripper finally rises above the mass of indistinguishable doom acts. This EP doesn’t settle for the usual formulas; instead, it carves out a unique atmosphere that will rightfully earn the band more attention. It’s a rare delicacy for those who are already weary of the same monotonous, swamp-stenched doom music. AMEN!

https://www.facebook.com/Daytripperdoom

https://www.facebook.com/goodboyprofficial

After our first conversation with Jochen about Daredevil Records and the music industry (Part 1 – Label / Industry Focus), we now turn to a more personal side of his story.

Who are your favorite bands, both in stonermetal and beyond?

- I come from the thrash metal scene and have witnessed the beginnings through tape trading. Death metal also captivated me for a long time, and I was there from the very start; the same goes for doom metal. My favorite bands are Dark Angel, Morbid Angel, and Samhain. Danzig is always one of the most important influence. In stoner, I was naturally fascinated by Kyuss, but what blows me away continuously to this day is DOZER - you can't play this kind of music better. I'm also someone who celebrates the UNIDA albums more than the Kyuss stuff. Beside this I listen to a lot of good music. The old Mustasch stuff, Deftones, Muse, Beth Gibbons, Type O Negative and Life of Agony and especially Fjort.

What have you been listening to most lately? Any fresh albums you would recommend?

- Everything from Fjort. And as mentioned, the last two Ridge albums, which were released for the first time, even though they have existed for a long time.

 

If you could release any bands`s album, past or present, which would it be? 

- Of course, I would love to have released the classics from Metallica, Exodus, Slayer, or Danzig. I would be happy with the Danzig debut on my label, as it would also fit stylistically the best. Or 'Songs for the Deaf' by Queens of the Stone Age and the second, never released UNIDA album, produced by Rick Rubin and a real masterpiece  

Is there a band or artist whose new music you are especially looking forward to? 

- I love all the albums by Dax Riggs and I'm looking forward to new music. The Deftones have just released their new album, which I have always liked a lot. I would be excited about a new Unida album and maybe another Danzig album, produced by Rick Rubin and with the original lineup from the debut.       

Do you play music yourself, or have you ever been in a band?    

- Yes. For ages. I used to be in a thrash metal band, then switched to doom metal and since 1999 I've been with Duster 69. We were one of the first bands in Germany to play Stoner Rock back then. The band was on ice for a few years, but new material is currently being worked on. A new single will be released later this year. Additionally, I've been playing guitar with GRAND MASSIVE since 2009, which leans more towards metal, and there I had the opportunity to collaborate with some of my absolute heroes. Recently, the latest EP has been released on vinyl through Daredevil Records! 

 

If you could play with any musicians in the world, who would it be?

- Mike Patton and Glenn Danzig on vocals, James Hetfield and Arthur Seay on guitar and Peter Steele on bass.

Who was the best person you ever worked with a Daredevil Records?

- That is difficult to say because there were many in the different decades. in the early days with the team from the stoned from the underground festival, who were always a great help. with ralf, who initiated all of this in 1998 or my whole helpers over the years. I always had band members or friends who helped me with the label work. Without them, it wouldn't have been possible at all.

Are there any encounters or collaborations you are particularly proud of?

- Yes. I have been a big fan of Mustasch since their debut, and the fact that the band released a split with my band Grand Massive was the greatest thing for me personally. And that we were allowed to release the 3 RIDGE albums. 

 

Are there personal experiences from the label that shaped your view of the scene?

-  I have noticed for years that the same pool of bands is always booked for the big stoner rock festivals, and smaller, often successful bands are being left out. Stoner rock has not been underground for a long time and is dictated by a handful of big festivals about what is good and what is not. This is a pity because many listeners only engage with these bands.     

Since we’re on the topic, which smaller bands would you like to see on stage, especially thinking about the European scene?

- Since my musical tastes are broad, I can't name a band right now. There are many bands in the thrash, stoner, doom, and alternative genres that I'd like to see. But I can also say that I've seen almost all the bands that mean something to me—and there are quite a few—live. Often, even during their "good times."

 

Do you have time to discover new music, either in Scandinavia or more broadly?

- Since I also write for Throatgrind Magazine and we also publish reviews on our site, I'm constantly receiving new music. I'm not a fan of streaming and downloads, but so much arrives every day that I can't listen to them all. But every now and then you discover a new band that captivates you. But honestly, that rarely happens.

From your previous answers, it’s clear how symbiotic your life is with music, but outside of music, do you have any other hobbies, or is there something you’ve missed out on in life that you hope to make up for?

- No, I have a family and a regular job. However, all my free time revolves around music, and music is my constant companion. I'm consistently happy and don't feel like I've missed anything in life.

Our conversation with Jochen shows how deeply music shapes both his life and his vision, proving that Daredevil Records is much more than just a label – it’s a lifelong passion. We thank Jochen for sharing his story with us. AMEN!

https://daredevilrecords.bandcamp.com/music