Heavy debut by Realm Drifter

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Realm Drifter’s self-titled album was released on July 11, 2022

This week, The Sonic Sofa is featuring the heavy new album by Realm Drifter. The four-piece stoner-doom band from Fort Worth, TX have amped up their game with their debut, self-titled album. It features a slow and heavy metal sound, with plenty of groovy riffs, a thick, gnarly bass tone, edgy melodic vocals, and a bluesy heavy drum sound. The five song album clocks in at a beefy 44 minutes, and features artwork by, Cameron Hinojosa, a freelance graphic designer who primarily focuses on the independent music community. I hope the wizard figure on the album cover is toasting up some magical s’mores, because that sounds delicious. But seriously, the stripped down color palette and the fantasy art really compliment the dark mood and feel of the record.

1. Fire For Wolves 5:33
2. With No Name 9:58
3. Feeding Shadows 8:37
4. Sound of an Owl 12:10
5. Realm Drifter 7:51

The album opens with Fire for Wolves. Featuring a beefy bass tone and bluesy drum pattern, we’re also treated to melodic vocals with a touch of Neil Fallon’s edge, some high-reaching guitar solos, and a slow and heavy closing riff that brings echoes of Sabbath. With No Name clocks in at nearly 10 minutes and starts off with a nice psych intro that blossoms into a huge, gnarly riff. Listen for some tasty wah-pedal guitar leads and don’t miss that heavy stoner rock pattern that closes out the last quarter of the song. Feeding Shadows opens with an awesome bass line and features plenty of groovy riffs and a headbanger chorus. This track also gave me some Elder vibes from their early, heavier work. Sound of an Owl is the longest track on the album, clocking in at over 12 minutes, and spotlights plenty of slow and dark riffage, as does the dynamically ranged closer, Realm Drifter, which completes the classic trifecta of Band Name, Album Name, Song Name.

Independently released before the band signed with Gravitoyd Heavy Music, the album is making waves in the stoner rock community, including a review on Doomed Nation and a spot on the podcast, Hour of the Riff. Look for the album on Bandcamp where you can stream and download the digital album for $7. The band is also active on social media.

Primordial: Heavy new stoner rock album by Telekinetic Yeti

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Primordial was released on July 8, 2022

Telekinetic Yeti is a stoner rock duo hailing from Dubuque, Iowa. Formed in 2015 on the basis of progressive guitar riffs, exploratory drum beats, and purely stoner rock lyrics, the band released their first album, Abominable, in 2017. Now, after five years and a change of drummers, Telekinetic Yeti is back with their much awaited second full-length, Primordial.

In the great tradition of stoner doom bands like Sleep and The Sword, Telekinetic Yeti brings progressive doom metal action from start to finish. Founding guitarist and vocalist, Alex Baumann, masterfully layers guitar tracks, developing a rich, full, and heavy sound, replete with chugging riffs and progressive patterns oozing with bluesy groove. Armed with an arsenal of guitar effects and pedals, Baumann’s interaction with the drums is tight and dynamic, constantly progressive and in the pocket. Listen for catchy, provocative leads which often take the place of vocals throughout, and especially on instrumental tracks, Stoned Ape Theory and Invention of Fire.

However, vocals do come more into play on Primordial, with Baumann displaying a more developed and sophisticated vocal range. The vocal styles make use of melodies and aggressive delivery. Lyrical imagery includes references to humanoids like in Beast and Cult of Yeti. Classic stoner rock topics abound in Toke Wizard and Rogue Planet, as well as with weed references in Ancient Nug and Ghost Train Haze.

Rockwell Heim joined the band in 2019, replacing founding member, Anthony Dreyer. Rockwell’s style is fluid and progressive, both complementing and exploring Baumann’s riffs. Heim brings the heaviness of drummers such as Chris Haikus and Jason Roeder of Sleep and mixes it with the complexity and speed of drummers like Wingo Trivett, original drummer of The Sword. In fact, Rogue Planet may be one of the fastest songs in their arsenal, driven by Heim’s fast, galloping beats. Listen for examples of Heim’s progressive complexity on tracks like Ancient Nug and Stoned Ape Theory. Don’t miss heavy changeups, syncopated patterns, and heavy breakdowns on most of the tracks, notable on opening track, Primordial, and Cult of Yeti.

The album is available on Bandcamp for digital download for $11. Vinyl is available in multiple color combinations through TeePee Records for $25. Do yourself a favor and listen to this album on the physical LP. It’s also available on CD for $13. The band is currently on tour promoting their new release with tour dates listed below. The band is active on social media.

Tour Dates

Jul 28 Smalls – Detroit, MI

Jul 31 Revival Room, Southgate House Revival – Newport, KY

Aug 01 The Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL

Aug 03 Lyric Room – Green Bay, WI

Aug 04 Wildwood Saloon – Iowa City, IA

Aug 06 Reverb Lounge – Omaha, NE

Aug 07 Globe Hall – Denver, CO

Aug 08 Aces High Saloon – Salt Lake City, UT

Aug 10 Substation – Seattle, WA

Aug 11 The Shakedown – Bellingham, WA

Aug 12 Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC

Aug 13 The Bossanova Ballroom – Portland, OR

Aug 14 Cafe Colonial – Sacramento, CA

Aug 16 Bottom of the Hill – San Francisco, CA

Aug 17 Gigi’s Cocktail Lounge – Ventura, CA

Aug 18 The Echo – Los Angeles (LA), CA

Aug 19 Yucca Tap Room – Tempe, AZ

Aug 21 89th Street – Oklahoma City, OK

Aug 23 Exit In – Nashville, TN

Aug 25 Record Bar – Kansas City, MO

Aug 26 Red Flag – St Louis, MO

Aug 27 Skylark – Rock Island, IL

Aug 28 The Lift – Dubuque, IA

Aug 29 7th St Entry – Minneapolis, MN

Feel This, the groovy new album by Crobot

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Feel This was released on June 3, 2022

There are many keywords that could describe Crobot: stoner rock, glam, dirty grooves, heavy riffs, grungy action, attitude. The truth is Crobot embodies all of these and more. The four piece group from Pottsville, PA has been violently administering heavy grooves since 2011 and are back with their fifth full length, Feel This. The album delivers in classic Crobot style, with riffs and high-flying vocals on 12 heavy, headbanging tracks.

1. Electrified 4:00
2. Dizzy 3:32
3. Set You Free 3:31
4. Better Times 3:33
5. Golden 3:57
6. Without Wings 4:35
7. Livin’ on the Streets 3:02
8. Into the Fire 3:04
9. Dance with the Dead 2:59
10. Holy Ghost 3:17
11. Never Break Me 3:24
12. Staring Straight Into the Sun 4:56

Vocalist, Brandon Yeagley, and guitarist, Chris Bishop, are the founding members of the group, carrying forth the vision of the band with renewed passion on Feel This, which was released in June. Yeagley’s impressive vocal range is well displayed on opener, Electrified, a fight song with a shock of adrenaline and fast paced riffs. If any of the tracks could be called a stadium anthem, it might be Set You Free, with it’s nice key board accents and catchy vocal hooks. Yeagley’s lyrics are laced with wit and wordplay, like on the Motley Crue-esque Livin’ on the Streets and the catchy, classic rock sounding track, Dance With the Dead. On riffs, Bishop’s guitars sound crunchy and groovy. Listen for his unique signature guitar effects, notable on the opener, the grungy track Golden, and Holy Ghost, which features lots of cool, heavy changeups. Dizzy features slower, dirtier riffs and a quick Tom Morello style solo. Don’t miss Bishop’s extended solo on closer, Staring Straight Into the Sun, which also features a fast changeup and extended jam at the end.

Crobot formed in 2011

Dan Ryan joined in 2018 and recorded drums on Motherbrain and bassist, Tim Peugh, joined the band in 2021. Ryan’s drumming is rock solid, perfectly synced with Peugh’s growly bass tone. Listen for some tight transitions on Better Times, and don’t miss that super heavy, progressive ending on Without Wings. Hang on for the ride on headbangers like Into the Fire, Holy Ghost, which features some impressive drum fills, and Never Break Me, another attitude filled track which highlights Peugh’s awesome bass tone.

Feel this is available for streaming and digital download on Bandcamp for under $9. It’s also available on transparent red and multi-color splatter vinyl, as well as CD, on their merch page. Interact with the band on social media and check out their live dates for an incredibly energetic, action-packed live show. I got to see Crobot in January, 2014, at Club Fever in South Bend, IN, opening for The Sword and Clutch. I was completely blown away by their insane level of charisma and energy. I got to meet Yeagley at the merch table after the show for a quick chat. I was impressed with how much of an animal he was on stage and how chill, down to Earth, and generally kind he was as a human. If you get a chance to witness Crobot live, don’t pass the opportunity.

Tour Dates

Aug 19 Psycho Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NV

Dec 16 Royal Circus (Cirque Royal/Koninklijk Circus) – Brussels, Belgium

Dec 21 O2 Victoria Warehouse – Manchester, UK

Dec 22 O2 Academy Brixton – London, UK