Blog

Source

The not so young dudes.

The post Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson Joined Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong For A Mott The Hoople Cover Last Night appeared first on Theprp.com.

General Information

Personnel:

Alice Gawlinski – vocals
Chance Gawlinski – guitar
Alton Minor – bass
Mike Benitez – percussion

Artwork: Alice Gawlinski
Producer: Alton Minor and Mothertomb
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Record Label: Independent

Setting the Scene

I am not a big fan of doom metal, but there are always a few exceptions that catch my attention, and Mothertomb is easily on that list. The Northern Michigan band has just released their debut full-length album, Dying to Live. Mothertomb put a lot of care into this record being an independent effort, and it shows. From the songwriting to the overall presentation, Dying to Live feels focused, complete, and carefully crafted from start to finish.

First Impression

Dying to Live immediately sets a dark, gothic atmosphere with minimal instrumentation and vocalizations that draw you into its world. From there, the album combines influences from different genres into Mothertomb‘s own interpretation of doom metal. It’s a solid base to build upon, and it slides right into the story of the album, setting the stage for the heavy, atmospheric sounds to come.

Similar Sounds

If you’re into any of these artists, this album should be on your radar.

Acid KingWindhandKing WomanCandlemass

Visual Vibes

The black-and-white artwork shows a ghostly woman walking into a graveyard, her cloak dissolving into a sea of anguished faces. It perfectly sums up the themes of suffering and the supernatural that run through the album. Alice Gawlinski has managed to translate the atmosphere of the music into a visual form and has put pieces of the darkness, emotion, and beauty of the album directly into the artwork.

Track on Repeat

“Mountain Hag”

As I mentioned before, I am not usually an avid consumer of doom metal. I often need a little push to dive into a doom metal band or album, and this time, that push was “Mountain Hag”. The song moves naturally between slow, dragging doom passages and faster, heavier stoner metal grooves, while its deep spiritual lyrics make it a full circle.

In-depth Notes

Musical Shape 🎸

Mothertomb brought together elements, not only from different genres, but even different eras. They did not just smash together gothic, grunge, groove, and stoner vibes into their doom sound, but brilliantly wove them all together into their own unique sound. This is the difference between music that uses elements from here and there, as an attempt to make the music sound richer, and music influenced by different genres, fused into a unique sound that identifies a band, as is the case with Dying to Live.

Vocal Performance 🎤

Alice Gawlinski‘s voice feels like it was made for doom metal. However, it is not only the rone of her voice that makes the vocals stand out. The emotions and feelings that she reflected by her vocals make the album go even further, especially with the perfectly timed screams that add even more impact.

Themes and Concepts 💭

Dying to Live explores themes of transformation, suffering, and the eternal struggle between darkness and light. With inspiration from Welsh folklore and the depths of the human psyche, the album takes listeners on a journey through a world of ancient spirits and inner demons, told through brilliant storytelling. All of the elements come together to reflect the depth of emotion and concept in the album, and the music carries these themes to the ears and minds of the listener perfectly.

Final Verdict

★★★★★★★★★☆

If you gave this album to someone who knew nothing about Mothertomb, they would never guess it was a debut. Dying to Live brilliantly fuses diverse influences and powerful vocals to create a unique doom metal masterpiece.

Mood Meter

%

Intensity

%

Melancholy

%

Darkness

%

Emotional

%

Serenity

%

Energy

%

Romance

%

Joyfulness

Perfect For…

Night walks – great background music for the creatures of the night
Sitting in Nature – great themes to sit with in nature
Thinking in bed – Provides companionship after a long day
Working at office – especially when you want to silence your dumb co-worker

Get the Album

Bandcamp

Band's Website

• Follow

The post Album Review | Mothertomb – “Dying to Live” first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

That song will be arriving next week.

The post Tom Morello’s Upcoming New Single “Date Night” Is Inspired By A Teenage Trio Who Killed Nazis In World War II appeared first on Theprp.com.

Source

The frontman of the legendary NY hardcore group Lou Koller, has passed away. Sick Of It All released the following statement in the official Instagram […]

The post Lou Koller of Sick Of It All dies at the age of 59. appeared first on Metal-Rules.com.

Source

Posted on July 24th 2026, 11:36pm

Blues Rock Weekly highlights a new Bernie Marsden album featuring Joe Bonamassa, plus new music from Jovin Webb, Ghost Hounds, Eliza Neals, The Zac Schulze Gang, and The Commoners.

WATCH: Eliza Neals “SPEEDY BEADY” LIVE @ 33rd North Atlantic Blues Festival 6/12/26

The post Blues Rock Weekly – July 24, 2026 appeared first on Blues Rock Review.