PROX Intake

Blog

  • In Concert: Billy Idol

    by Emma Jenkins– Guest Columnist — OVO Arena Wembley -London, England – June 24, 2025 It’s a hot balmy evening, London is entering into a heatwave, and Wembley arena is no exception.  Tonight is not […]

  • Like A COWBOY – Songs in Celebration of National Day of the Cowboy (and Chris LeDoux)

    Like A COWBOY

    As promised in my Run for the ROSES and Good HORSES blog, and in honor of the National Day of the Cowboy, I’m sharing my playlist Like A COWBOY highlighting songs featuring Cowboy in the title. National Day of the Cowboy is celebrated on the fourth Saturday in July, falling on July 26th this year (2025). It is a day established to honor the contributions and spirit of cowboys and to preserve the pioneer heritage of the American West and cowboy culture.

    Cowboys are animal herders who tend cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback. They arose in the mid 19th century from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico as well as having historic roots tracing back to Spain. They gradually became figures of great significance and legend. Other names for cowboy have included buckaroo, cowpoke, cowhand, and cowpuncher. Buckaroo is an anglicized version of vaquero, with Spanish pronunciation “ba ‘ke ro.” And of course cowgirl is the female counterpart which arose in the late 19th century- my Cowgirl playlist will be the them of a blog for another day 😉.

    Some famous cowboys of sorts over the years have included Buffalo Bill Cody, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, the Marlboro Man, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood in their western movies, the cowboy of the Village People, and Woody in Toy Story.

    Often people confuse cowboys with outlaws and gunfighters such as Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James, and Butch Cassidy. Some of my favorite Western movies, which often focus more on gunslingers than cowboys, include Silverado, Tombstone, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, Fistful of Dollars, For A Few More Dollars, High Plains Drifter, Unforgiven, The Magnificent Seven, The Hateful Eight, Dances With Wolves, City Slickers, Pale Rider, 3:10 To Yuma, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, Django Unchained, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, Giant, Shane, Once Upon A Time In The West, True Grit, High Noon, Rio Bravo, and Treasure Of The Sierra Madre. For those interested in such cowboy movies, which again often lean toward outlaws, gunslingers, and lawmen, here is a list, compiled by Rotten Tomatoes, of the top 100 western movies of all-time.

    100 Best Western Movies of All Time

    While great Western movies, they don’t always exemplify the life of the cowboy.

    So my inspiration for the playlist was listening to Ashley McBryde’s “Aint Enough Cowboy Songs.” Not that I ever need a reason to explore music, it prompted me to determine if there was any truth to the premise. And lo and behold, I think there are plenty of Cowboy songs. But in the spirit of her assertion, I think there perhaps can never be enough Cowboy songs, no matter how many are written and sung.

    Some of my favorites include Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” Big & Rich’s “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy),” Garth Brooks’ “Good Ride Cowboy” and “The Cowboy Song” (though alas Garth continues to eschew making his music available for streaming, thus I had to settle for covers), “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Randy Houser’s “Like A Cowboy,” Dustin Lynch’s “Cowboys & Angels,” and Waylon & Willie’s “Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.” The songs are predominantly by country artists. Though I did include some non-country songs, and some songs that don’t include cowboy in the title, but either feature Cowboy prominently in their lyrics or were prominent in cowboy movies.

    In Ashley’s “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” she briefly yodel’s the melody made famous in Eddy Arnold’s “Cattle Call” also made famous by a then 13 year old Leann Rimes, though actually recorded when she was just 11! I included both in the playlist, as well as Randy Travis’ “High Lonesome” also referenced in the song. Toby’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” sings of Gene (Autry) and Roy (Rogers), who obviously have entries on the list. While many argue that Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter isn’t a country album, I included her mega-hit “Texas Hold ‘Em” on the list. In her defense, Taylor Swift seems more pop than country to me, also included on this list with “Cowboy Like Me.” Judge for yourself.

    Perhaps the consummate singer of cowboy tales is one who also lived it, rode it, and wrote it – Chris LeDoux. He was an American country music singer, songwriter, and hall of fame rodeo champion. Recording 36 albums including two gold and one platinum album in his 35 year career, with 20 Cowboy songs included in the playlist. Prior to his music career taking off, he had a career taking off from the chutes, winning the bareback riding championship at the national finals rodeo in 1976. He more than wrote about being a cowboy, he lived the life of a cowboy.

    Well I wake up in the mornin’,
    I brew my coffee hot and strong.
    I get out my ole guitar, and try to write a song.
    And them larks are singin, oh lord, just outside.
    And I’m stuck here in this kitchen tryin’ to write.

    And I’m writin’ these cowboy songs.
    yodellehe, cowboy songs…
    Just me and my beat up ole guitar.
    Cowboy songs, yodellehe, cowboy songs…
    Well maybe one of these cowboy songs
    is gonna make me a star.

    Now Hank Williams jr. writes ’em rough,
    and sings ’em tough.
    And Charlie Daniels sings a song about the devil.
    And Waylon and Willie sing about… whatever they like.
    And I’ll probably be sing these cowboy songs
    for the rest of my life.

    And writin’ these cowboy songs.
    yodellehe, cowboy songs…
    Just me and my beat up ole guitar.
    Cowboy songs, yodellehe, cowboy songs…
    Well maybe one of these cowboy songs
    is gonna make me a star.

    Well this don’t sound like Strawberry Roan,
    or that lonesome Cattle Call.
    And you might think that it don’t sound
    nothin’ like a cowboy song at all.
    But it is, ’cause I wrote it… and I’m a real life buckaroo.
    And I wrote this silly little cowboy song, especially for you.

    Here it is… cowboy songs, yodellehe, cowboy songs.
    Just me and my beat up ole guitar.
    Just a cowboy song, yodellehe, cowboys songs.
    Well maybe one of these cowboy songs
    is gonna make me a star.

    Cowboy Songs – Chris LeDoux

    His friendship with Garth Brooks helped bring his music to prominence, with a nod by Garth in “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)” relating:

    The competition’s gettin’ younger
    Tougher broncs, you know I can’t recall.
    A worn out tape of Chris LeDoux,
    lonely women and bad booze
    seem to be the only friends I’ve left at all

    Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)
    – Garth Brooks

    When Chris was diagnosed with a progressive liver and gallbladder disease, Garth volunteered to be a partial liver donor. However his generosity was not to be, as he was not a tissue match. Chris ultimately succumbed on March 9, 2005 at just 56 years of age to his disease after failing health despite a liver transplant from another doner.

    Here is Chris with his classic “This Cowboy’s Hat” from his hometown of Casper, Wyoming.

    While Autumn Brooke didn’t write the song “Hey Cowboy” as a tribute to Chris, it sure seems appropriate, a touching memory for any fallen cowboy called home.

    Hey Cowboy, I heard you moved away
    To a place where the cattle run free and you never run outta hay
    Hey Cowboy, I heard they’re buckin’ bulls
    And they’re the meanest sons of bitches that you ever could’ve wished for
    Hey Cowboy, I know you’re doin’ fine
    ‘Cause they’ve got dirt roads for miles and the beer’s on ice

    There’s no more long, hard days
    No more calves to tag or colts to break
    And there’s one less hat in the arena tonight
    But his entry fee’s been paid
    And now there’s hoof prints on the streets of gold
    ‘Cause today God called a cowboy home

    Hey Cowboy, you left somethin’ behind
    That mustang sittin’ in the field that nobody else but you could ride
    Hey Cowboy, you left your boots there by the door
    I put your Stetson on the mantle and your dog’s waitin’ for ya on the porch
    And hey Cowboy, I hope that you don’t mind
    But I took your old six speed for a drive

    Hey Cowboy, how’d you leave without sayin’ goodbye?
    I guess packin’ your bags without warning is just the cowboy way of life

    There’s no more long, hard days
    No more calves to tag or colts to break
    And there’s one less hat in the arena tonight
    But his entry fee’s been paid
    And now there’s hoof prints on the streets of gold
    ‘Cause today God called a cowboy home
    Yeah today God called a cowboy home

    Hey Cowboy – Autumn Brook

    I also included in the playlist Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” though not truly a Cowboy song, them mood, as well as the album cover with Kenny in his western gun slingin’ garb playing poker evokes images of the wild west and cowboys.

    It reminds me of one of my dad’s favorite western albums, again with an amazing album cover, with Marty Robbins, who I thought was the greatest singer of cowboy western songs until I learned of Chris LeDoux.

    Also on the list is the theme song from Midnight Cowboy, as well as the very popular hit from the same movie “Everybody’s Talkin’,” and I couldn’t pass up including at least one song from a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western, with the theme from “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” an movie soundtrack album with yet another great cowboy cover.

    To close the country portion of the playlist, Waylon Jennings weighs in on the fading of the cowboy way of life with “Last Cowboy Song,” and Roy Rogers closes out with “Happy Trails” – a great cowboy ending.

    Some rock and pop songs featuring cowboy  in the title or sound include the classic Bon Jovi anthem “Wanted Dead Or Alive’ – I’m a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride… Tesla’s “Modern Day Cowboy,” Rickie Lee Jones’ Flying Cowboys,” George Michael’s “Cowboys And Angels,” Billy Joel’s “Ballad Of Billy The Kid,” Elton John’s “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” from the album of the same name, Eagles’ “Desperado,” and Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” declaring “Some people call me the space cowboy.” Not surprising, Bruce Springsteen, who, though from New Jersey, has a large horse farm and his later career has had a Western feel, thus providing a few entries on the list. And believe it or not, heavy metal great Pantera even made the list, though they do hail from Arlington, Texas.

    The closing song of the non-country Cowboy songs is “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone.” I think they’re still here. They’ve just evolved. Perhaps watch “Yellowstone” to get a glimpse of the modern-day cowboy. So in response to Ms. McBryde’s assertion that there “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” I’d say there are aplenty, over 8 hours and 145 songs, but perhaps, when celebrating cowboys, that still ain’t enough.

    I thought I’d share some music videos to take you out west where the horses and cowboys roam free.

    Ashley McBryde’s providing inspiration for my playlist with “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs”

    Toby Keith’s classic “Shoulda Been A Cowboy”

    Tim Montana’s “Be A Cowboy”

    Randy Houser’s “Be A Cowboy”

    And Lainey Wilson offering when to “Call A Cowboy”

    And Randy Travis doing the “Cowboy Boogie”, with some familiar faces of actors who’ve played cowboys, including Chuck Norris, Burt Reynolds, and Lou Diamond Phillips.

    And a classic with Gene Autry singing “Cowboy’s Heaven”

    And Michael Martin Murphy’s version of “Cowboy Logic”

    So I hope you enjoy this foray into the west in honor of the cowboy. Happy trails and happy listening.

    And if you’re interested in accessing all of Chris LeDoux’s Cowboy songs some 35 sone, at least one for each year of his career, I made a separate playlist. He has several greatest hits compilations, including Classic Chris LeDoux, The Ultimate Collection, Anthology, 20 Greatest Hits, and Best of Chris LeDoux.

    I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew.  Rediscover the passion of music in your life.

    Live in the moment.

    Enjoy the moment.

    Love the moment.

    Listen to the MUSIC!

  • HEBI KATANA ~ IMPERFECTION … review


    Hebi Katana’s     self-titled full length debut, “Hebi Katana“, took essences of grunge, doom, glam and proto-metal and blended them all together in one big melting pot of groove, it was a sound that was different but at the same time bore elements of familiarity. The band followed up their debut with “Impermanence” and here they leant towards a much more 70’s proto-metal sound, the grooves were a tad more strident and gritty, the guitar solos a touch dirtier and the vocals sneerier. The band then went back into the studio and what came out was “III“, an excellent album that apart from the punkish desert rocker “Darkest Priest” seemed to take a large part of its influences from cult rockers Budgie’s first four albums. The bands star was on the rise and people were starting to realise that at last Church of Misery and Boris had some competition in the best known Japanese underground band stakes. One of those turning their heads in Hebi Katana’s direction was Todd Severin who signed the band up to his Ripple Music label for their next album, that album, “Imperfection”, has now dropped and it’s a BANGER!!!!

    Opening number “Bon Nou” begins quite restrained with a gently picked guitar arpeggio but then in comes a dirty bass motif and the song takes off on a galloping groove that leans to the more punkish side of stoner rock, a strident but not overly furious groove decorated in clean vocals that have a similar stoner punk dynamic. The pace is slowed down somewhat for the following “Dead Horse Requiem“, musically the song has a proto-doomic feel, all reverberating riffage and thunderous rhythms, but boasts a very cool  theatrical vocal melody not too disimilar to the melody utilized by rockabilly stalwarts Stray Cats on their UK chart bothering song “Stray Cut Strut“. “Praise The Shadows” is up next a frizzy fuzzy medium paced rocker with an ear-catching verse/chorus/verse structure that features rhythms, chord progressions and guitar solos that sit at the more classic end of hard rock. “Echoes From Old Tree” begins dark dank and menacing but then morphs into something more akin to playful with choppy reggae(ish) chord work  and swinging rhythms framing equally swinging vocal melodies, the song does take off on a few musical tangents along the way but overall the feel is more hard rock than heavy rock. There is a Deep Purple Mk III vibe to next song “Blood Spirit Rising” albeit without the keyboards, especially in its fiery closing passages where we find guitarist Nobu shredding a mix of bluesy and neo-classical flavoured guitar solos over bassist Laven and drummer Goblin’s incessant rhythmic backdrops. “Yu gen” is restrained, psychedelic and grungy, both musically and vocally, and is punctuated with occasional burst of  heaviness a trick that is repeated on final track “Yume we Kareno” only here the vocals , both lead and backing, are delivered a little more lilting and melodious. 


    It would seem that Hebi Katana, with “Imperfection“, have decided to dial down their worship of bands like Budgie and Black Sabbath and have instead opted to explore territories a little further afield, the band jamming grooves still very much rooted in proto-metal and doom but that are not limited to or by those genres. It may have taken a few albums to get there but it would appear Hebi Katana have at last found their sound. 
    Check ’em out ….. 

    © 2025 Frazer Jones

  • HEBI KATANA ~ IMPERFECTION … review


    Hebi Katana’s     self-titled full length debut, “Hebi Katana“, took essences of grunge, doom, glam and proto-metal and blended them all together in one big melting pot of groove, it was a sound that was different but at the same time bore elements of familiarity. The band followed up their debut with “Impermanence” and here they leant towards a much more 70’s proto-metal sound, the grooves were a tad more strident and gritty, the guitar solos a touch dirtier and the vocals sneerier. The band then went back into the studio and what came out was “III“, an excellent album that apart from the punkish desert rocker “Darkest Priest” seemed to take a large part of its influences from cult rockers Budgie’s first four albums. The bands star was on the rise and people were starting to realise that at last Church of Misery and Boris had some competition in the best known Japanese underground band stakes. One of those turning their heads in Hebi Katana’s direction was Todd Severin who signed the band up to his Ripple Music label for their next album, that album, “Imperfection”, has now dropped and it’s a BANGER!!!!

    Opening number “Bon Nou” begins quite restrained with a gently picked guitar arpeggio but then in comes a dirty bass motif and the song takes off on a galloping groove that leans to the more punkish side of stoner rock, a strident but not overly furious groove decorated in clean vocals that have a similar stoner punk dynamic. The pace is slowed down somewhat for the following “Dead Horse Requiem“, musically the song has a proto-doomic feel, all reverberating riffage and thunderous rhythms, but boasts a very cool  theatrical vocal melody not too disimilar to the melody utilized by rockabilly stalwarts Stray Cats on their UK chart bothering song “Stray Cut Strut“. “Praise The Shadows” is up next a frizzy fuzzy medium paced rocker with an ear-catching verse/chorus/verse structure that features rhythms, chord progressions and guitar solos that sit at the more classic end of hard rock. “Echoes From Old Tree” begins dark dank and menacing but then morphs into something more akin to playful with choppy reggae(ish) chord work  and swinging rhythms framing equally swinging vocal melodies, the song does take off on a few musical tangents along the way but overall the feel is more hard rock than heavy rock. There is a Deep Purple Mk III vibe to next song “Blood Spirit Rising” albeit without the keyboards, especially in its fiery closing passages where we find guitarist Nobu shredding a mix of bluesy and neo-classical flavoured guitar solos over bassist Laven and drummer Goblin’s incessant rhythmic backdrops. “Yu gen” is restrained, psychedelic and grungy, both musically and vocally, and is punctuated with occasional burst of  heaviness a trick that is repeated on final track “Yume we Kareno” only here the vocals , both lead and backing, are delivered a little more lilting and melodious. 


    It would seem that Hebi Katana, with “Imperfection“, have decided to dial down their worship of bands like Budgie and Black Sabbath and have instead opted to explore territories a little further afield, the band jamming grooves still very much rooted in proto-metal and doom but that are not limited to or by those genres. It may have taken a few albums to get there but it would appear Hebi Katana have at last found their sound. 
    Check ’em out ….. 

    © 2025 Frazer Jones

  • Valcata Unleash ‘Overload the Reactor’, an Explosive New Single

    First offering from forthcoming as-yet-untitled 3-song EP kicks off a new era for the symphonic prog-metal collective.

      

    Valcata, the symphonic progressive metal collective known for weaving cinematic orchestration with emotional depth, has officially released Overload the Reactor. This first single from their upcoming 3-song EP is now available digitally worldwide on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms.

    Rooted in themes of connection and determination, Overload the Reactor uses sci-fi-infused imagery to tell a fundamentally human story: two souls uniting to overcome darkness and embrace hope.

    “This song is about the power of support,” explains composer Oha Cade. “Our protagonists find connection through a shared purpose. When you find yourself struggling, often all it takes is one other soul to help you break through.”

     
     

    A Global Lineup

    • David Michael Moote (Operus) – clean and harsh vocals, honed in Toronto’s progressive metal scene.

    • Sharon Portilla (Blind Hex) – clean lead vocals; she co-founded the Mexican neo-symphonic band Blind Hex in 2021.

    • Landryx (ex-Unexpect) – versatile drummer from Quebec whose work on Unexpect’s acclaimed albums In a Flesh Aquarium and Fables of the Sleepless Empire fueled tours with elite acts including Dream Theater and Iron Maiden.

    • Amin & Armin Saffar (Hyper Planet) – the Iranian-born duo add guitar and bass depth, fusing Persian heritage with avant-garde prog-metal (now based in the Netherlands).

    • William Khan (Golden World Archive) – cinematic, neoclassical orchestration.

    • Emil Reitan (Frostbitt, Trylion, Tulpas) – mixing/mastering at Iceland’s renowned Icicle Studios.

    • Oha Cade – composer, lyricist, producer, and visionary force behind Valcata.

    This lineup will continue across all tracks of the forthcoming EP.

     

    New Overload the Reactor t-shirt added to the store

     

    a new chapter

    Since debuting in 2019 with their conceptual self-titled album, Valcata has earned praise for blending symphonic, progressive grandeur, and heartfelt storytelling. Overload the Reactor is the group’s latest emotional anthem to signal a powerful new era.

    Bandcamp: https://valcata.bandcamp.com/album/overload-the-reactor
    Facebook: http://facebook.com/valcataproject
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valcata_official
    Merch: https://valcata-merchandise.creator-spring.com/
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4v5p8lgoaI12d3E879sZ2d?si=26d244bc06ce40d3
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@valcatamusic
    Website: https://www.valcata.com/

     

  • In Memoriam, Ozzy Osbourne

     

    In Memoriam, Ozzy Osbourne

    Our small staff at this heavy metal blog send our condolences to the family, friends and fans of the late Ozzy Osbourne who passed away yesterday morning. There are not enough words to express how much his legacy meant to the fans of the heavy metal genre. A world without Ozzy, it’s hard to imagine but it’s what we all have to deal with now. 

    OZZY FOREVER!

    Dec. 3rd, 1948 – July 22nd, 2025

  • In Memoriam, Ozzy Osbourne

     

    In Memoriam, Ozzy Osbourne

    Our small staff at this heavy metal blog send our condolences to the family, friends and fans of the late Ozzy Osbourne who passed away yesterday morning. There are not enough words to express how much his legacy meant to the fans of the heavy metal genre. A world without Ozzy, it’s hard to imagine but it’s what we all have to deal with now. 

    OZZY FOREVER!

    Dec. 3rd, 1948 – July 22nd, 2025

  • GAUPA ~ FYR….. review


    This year (2025) sees Sweden’s GAUPA returning with not only a brand new release, “Fyr” (Nuclear Blast Records), but also a slimmed down line up. 2024 saw co-guitarist Daniel Nygren handing in his notice so as to concentrate more on his family which left remaining members, Jimmy Hurtig (drums); Erik Sävström (bass); Emma Näslund (vocals) and David Rosberg (guitars), with the options of either finding a new guitarist to fill Nygren’s boots or carrying on as a four piece, it was decided that of the two options it was the latter that served GAUPA’s purposes best. 
    We at Desert Psychlist are of the opinion that it is this more compact line up, where each musician has to work just that little bit harder to achieve that signature GAUPA sound,  which has resulted in “Fyr” being the bands darkest, tightest and heaviest release to date, see what you think… 


    Opening number “Lion’s Thorn“, begins haunting and mystical with what sounds very much like a set of solitary bagpipes (but could just as easily be a saxophone) parping majestic tones over a backdrop of droning textures, this then slowly fades away to be replaced by a throbbing low key but highly effective groove over which  Näslund pours a fragile vocal containing all the usual distinctive vocal mannerisms fans of GAUPA  have come to expect from her. Now you may be asking when does all this darkness and heaviness, talked about in the opening part of this review, kick in, well it is first hinted at around the songs 4:40 mark but really takes hold when the song clocks in at just over the five minute mark when guitarist Rosberg decides he’s had enough of laying down quaint textures and instead goes full on crunchy, the guitarist dragging Sävström and Hurtig along with him on a powerfully executed groove that teeters on the edges of doomic and sees Näslund’s vocals taking on a more forceful dynamic. Second song “Heavy Lord” mixes chugging stoner(ish) grittiness with prog and post-punk texturing beneath a delightfully delivered Näslund vocal that shows along with having ethereal and powerful in her locker she also has husky and smoky. “Ten Of Twelve” follows and sees GAUPA musically swaying between complex passages of strident progressive metal and bouncy psychedelic rock over which  Näslund delivers another superb vocal, the real clincher here though is Rosberg’s ear-worming guitar motif’s which are reminiscent of something you might find gracing a YES album or something by Chicago’s Huntsmen. “Elastic Sleep” is an epic shape-shifting opus, a truly captivating blend of blustering progressive metal heaviness and heavy psych otherworldliness fronted by a truly incredible vocal performance. this song that really needs to be listened to without distraction to fully appreciate the true majesty and magnificence of its individual performances.
    #Those opting for a physical release of “Fyr” also get  the bonus of hearing GAUPA perform “Sömnen & Febersvan” live at Monkey Moon Studios, both songs featuring the now departed Daniel Nygren.


    There were probably many that were hoping GAUPA’s next release would be an all bells and whistles full length album but “Fyr“, which the band describe as a “mini” album, is more a statement of intent, an announcement to the world that despite losing a core member they are still a musical force to be reckoned with, Of course losing a member is going to alter any bands dynamic to some extent and in GAUPA’s case that has resulted in a slightly darker and heavier sound but its more a subtle shift than a drastic one and all those elements that we have come to love about this unique Swedish outfit are all still very much in place, the genre blending grooves, the surrealistic lyricism, the distinctive vocalisations all remain but this time sprinkled with just a pinch more grittiness.
    Check it out ….   

    © 2025 Frazer Jones

  • GAUPA ~ FYR….. review


    This year (2025) sees Sweden’s GAUPA returning with not only a brand new release, “Fyr” (Nuclear Blast Records), but also a slimmed down line up. 2024 saw co-guitarist Daniel Nygren handing in his notice so as to concentrate more on his family which left remaining members, Jimmy Hurtig (drums); Erik Sävström (bass); Emma Näslund (vocals) and David Rosberg (guitars), with the options of either finding a new guitarist to fill Nygren’s boots or carrying on as a four piece, it was decided that of the two options it was the latter that served GAUPA’s purposes best. 
    We at Desert Psychlist are of the opinion that it is this more compact line up, where each musician has to work just that little bit harder to achieve that signature GAUPA sound,  which has resulted in “Fyr” being the bands darkest, tightest and heaviest release to date, see what you think… 


    Opening number “Lion’s Thorn“, begins haunting and mystical with what sounds very much like a set of solitary bagpipes (but could just as easily be a saxophone) parping majestic tones over a backdrop of droning textures, this then slowly fades away to be replaced by a throbbing low key but highly effective groove over which  Näslund pours a fragile vocal containing all the usual distinctive vocal mannerisms fans of GAUPA  have come to expect from her. Now you may be asking when does all this darkness and heaviness, talked about in the opening part of this review, kick in, well it is first hinted at around the songs 4:40 mark but really takes hold when the song clocks in at just over the five minute mark when guitarist Rosberg decides he’s had enough of laying down quaint textures and instead goes full on crunchy, the guitarist dragging Sävström and Hurtig along with him on a powerfully executed groove that teeters on the edges of doomic and sees Näslund’s vocals taking on a more forceful dynamic. Second song “Heavy Lord” mixes chugging stoner(ish) grittiness with prog and post-punk texturing beneath a delightfully delivered Näslund vocal that shows along with having ethereal and powerful in her locker she also has husky and smoky. “Ten Of Twelve” follows and sees GAUPA musically swaying between complex passages of strident progressive metal and bouncy psychedelic rock over which  Näslund delivers another superb vocal, the real clincher here though is Rosberg’s ear-worming guitar motif’s which are reminiscent of something you might find gracing a YES album or something by Chicago’s Huntsmen. “Elastic Sleep” is an epic shape-shifting opus, a truly captivating blend of blustering progressive metal heaviness and heavy psych otherworldliness fronted by a truly incredible vocal performance. this song that really needs to be listened to without distraction to fully appreciate the true majesty and magnificence of its individual performances.
    #Those opting for a physical release of “Fyr” also get  the bonus of hearing GAUPA perform “Sömnen & Febersvan” live at Monkey Moon Studios, both songs featuring the now departed Daniel Nygren.


    There were probably many that were hoping GAUPA’s next release would be an all bells and whistles full length album but “Fyr“, which the band describe as a “mini” album, is more a statement of intent, an announcement to the world that despite losing a core member they are still a musical force to be reckoned with, Of course losing a member is going to alter any bands dynamic to some extent and in GAUPA’s case that has resulted in a slightly darker and heavier sound but its more a subtle shift than a drastic one and all those elements that we have come to love about this unique Swedish outfit are all still very much in place, the genre blending grooves, the surrealistic lyricism, the distinctive vocalisations all remain but this time sprinkled with just a pinch more grittiness.
    Check it out ….   

    © 2025 Frazer Jones

  • Tormentor – Elisabeth Bathory (Song Review)

    “Oh how I love to feel your breath”

    Due to the challenges of being an extreme metal band in Communist Hungary, Tormentor’s 1989 debut album Anno Domini didn’t see the light of day as an official release. But a tape of the record soon found its way into the global tape-trading network and it became a big influence on the burgeoning black metal scene of the 90s. A key factor in this influence was the brilliantly prescient track Elisabeth Bathory. Like a lot of black metal the track is rooted in place and history: a love-letter to the notorious Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer rumoured to have bathed in the blood of virgins to retain her youth. It’s cold, hypnotic stuff with relentless mid-pace, eerie arpeggios and a theatrical, vampiric performance from vocalist Attila Csihar. The impressive Csihar was later recruited by the infamous Mayhem to record vocals for their genre-defining classic De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, which sent many black metal fans (like me) scurrying back to investigate his previous work with Tormentor. But it doesn’t matter whether you encounter this song in 1989 or 1999… or ten years from now. Elisabeth Bathory is quintessential, fervid, eternal black metal.