Miss Lava Under a Black Sun CD Review
I’ve been a longtime fan of Small Stone Records, so it’s a pleasure to finally dig into a release from the label. While Miss Lava is a new name on my radar, I can confidently say this: if you're into Desert Rock with a Post-Doom, apocalyptic edge, their latest album “Under a Black Sun” is exactly what your soul needs for the journey ahead.
The album opens with the brooding “Dark Tomb Nebula” - drenched in atmosphere and heavy with the slow-burn groove. I’m catching strong Sleep and OM vibes here, which comes with the territory, but Miss Lava doesn’t ride coattails. They carve their own path through the dust and distortion, and this track is the perfect tone-setter. Then comes “Neon Gods” and holy smokes, this one rips. It’s as if they sat at the feet of Kim Thayil and took notes on how to properly worship the riff. That same energy carries into “Evil Eye of a Witch”, which veers more into Psych territory without losing aggression. It’s a trippy detour, but one that deepens the band’s sonic palette rather than distracting from it.
“Chaos Strain” clocks in at just over a minute, leaning into the band’s Sludgier side. It’s noisy and unhinged and more of a gnarly prelude than a proper track - but it sets up what might be the album’s most crushing moment “Woe Warrior.” This is Miss Lava firing on all cylinders. Pure Stoner Doom bliss. The bass lines are monstrous, the riffs hypnotic, and the whole thing feels like a ceremonial offering to the amplifier gods. If you’re a fan of this genre, you can’t skip this track.
Another standout is “Fear in Overdrive.” It’s got an elusive sing-along quality or as close as you can get in this genre. It’s the kind of track you crank with the windows down even if nobody else gets it. It hits the sweet spot between catchy and crushing.
There are several more gems to discover on this album. “I Drown” will have you spacing out and nodding along, lost somewhere in the void. The whole record is drenched in a searing mix of heavy vibes and scorched earth landscapes.
Bottom line: “Under a Black Sun” is a slam dunk for fans of Stoner, Doom, and Desert Rock in 2025. If this is your introduction to Miss Lava like it was mine, buckle up, you're going to want some more. Check it out and get your bell rung properly.