Cosmic Reaper Bleed The Crown Drown The Damned Review
Cosmic Reaper
Bleed The Crown, Drown The Damned
Heavy Psych Sounds Records
2025
Southern Doom/Sludge outfit Cosmic Reaper return with “Bleed the Crown, Drown the Damned”, another crushing effort of fuzz-drenched riff worship. Dropping this September via Heavy Psych Records, the record feels less like a release date and more like an oncoming storm.
While much of this style gets the Stoner tag and inevitably trudges down the Sabbath-forged highway, Cosmic Reaper keep steering off-road. True to their name, their sound expands outward, lush, spacious, and more psychedelic in its weight than simply Stoner-bound. Hints of ‘90s Grunge creep in too, especially in the band’s approach: there’s an undercurrent of anger threading through the songs, even if the vocals don’t always scream outright. The aggression simmers instead of erupting, smoldering beneath the haze.
Also refreshing is their restraint with guitar solos. Instead of cramming in endless lead breaks, the band leans into atmosphere, layering fuzz and lead fills to build tension. Depending on your taste, you’ll either miss the flash or get lost in the weight of the tone and depth.
For modern comparisons, Cosmic Reaper fit comfortably alongside Monolord and Spelljammer. In fact, Monolord drummer Esben Willems handled the mastering here, a fitting choice given the sonic kinship. While his hand didn’t reshape their sound, it’s hard to imagine a more appropriate set of ears fine-tuning these riffs.
If your vice is atmospheric, fuzz-soaked Psychedelia delivered at a slow, crushing crawl, Cosmic Reaper’s “Bleed The Crown Drown The Damned will serve every need you have.
Standout tracks: “Waiting by the Gallows”, “Hammer”, “Pot of Gold”, and “Dwelling.”