Sounds | Stonemule - Caught In Paranoia
- John Van de Mergel
- 13 uur geleden
- 2 minuten om te lezen
Een pot vette alternatieve metal op een stoner bedje met een lekkere drive. Jawel, het mag goed vooruitgaan op de nieuwe single van Stonemule (Kortrijk). Caught In Paranoia heeft muzikaal ook heel wat te bieden, brengt véél dynamiek en afwisseling met tijd voor een rustige passage, zang die van ruw naar helder gaat en een gitaarsolo die zo uit meer traditionele heavy metal geplukt lijkt. Eentje die het beluisteren meer dan waard is.
Lees
"Caught in Paranoia" is the first single from Stonemule's 2025 series, exploring the harrowing experience of a psychotic state and the struggle of navigating an altered mind amidst mental illness. This single is born from pandemic-era creativity and is a renewed vision after a 2-year hiatus.
Recorded across Closed Session Studio and Highway Studio, and expertly mixed by Alex Dierickx (Jeddraudio), it’s a powerful blend of alternative, post and sludge metal with a tad of nu-metal edge.
Born in the West Flemish underground, Stonemule erupted onto the scene in 2014 with raw, unfiltered hardcore/punk energy. Founded by Tom Vandaele (Urge for Blood, GOD), Benjamin Himpens, Ruben Dewilde, and Dries Herreman, the band quickly gained a reputation for their intense live shows. A shift came in 2015 when bassist Dries departed, making way for Wannes Breyne and the introduction of dual vocals—setting the stage for something heavier.
By 2016, Stonemule hit pause, re-emerging in 2017 with a sludgier, doom-soaked sound.
Their 2018 debut EP, Dystopian State, recorded on a shoestring budget, made serious waves. Fusing hardcore, stoner metal, and doom, it earned critical acclaim—GBHBL hailed it as “EP of the year”, while Merchants of Air praised its “sheer energy and hardcore-infused stoner metal.”
In 2021, they dropped “Bitter”, a single featured on Polderriffs Volume II. Then, the world stood still. Lineup changes and a pandemic-induced hiatus kept things quiet for over two years.
Now, 2025 marks Stonemule’s return. Armed with new members Jon Huyghe and Tom Schelfaut, they’re recharged, heavier than ever, and ready to shake the foundations with new music and blistering live shows.
