Mojave Desert instrumental doom/sludge solo project Maliciouz to release new album »Sympathypnotic Intercession« on May 22nd; first single out now!

Twenty-Nine Palms, California based instrumental doom/sludge solo project Maliciouz returns with new album, »Sympathypnotic Intercession«, due out on May 22nd, 2026.

The album’s lead single »Catharticism« is now streaming exclusively on Bandcamp!

Tracklist:
01. 39
02. Pendulous
03. A Thousand Deaths
04. Intercession
05. Agony & Ivory
06. Catharticism
07. Torn
08. Mountain Rising Falling

Courtesy of Good Boy PR:

After crushing 2025 with two albums »Sarberus« and »Tortoise«, one-man doom dealer Maliciouz returns with more oppressively heavy, psychedelic riffs on »Sympathypnotic Intercession«. A statement on grief, pain, and healing, the new album is personal and poignant.

In the band’s own words:

The music of Maliciouz is described as “tectonic shifting of the earth’s crust”, “the slow, grinding decay of a planet across eons”, “almighty riffs and a dark atmosphere”, “will vibrate your skull off of your spine”, “wrapped in hypnotic, suffocating atmospheres”, “a wall of crushing weight”, “heavy as fuck”, “the riffs are gargantuan, lumbering, prehistoric behemoths”, “soaked in desert heat”, “state of the art low tempo metal”.

Maliciouz is a one-man-band. A decision more so made by circumstances than a desire for it to be that way. While starting to get a band together in late 2022 I received a cancer diagnosis, which was treatable only by removal of a kidney. Surgery takes a real toll when you’re an old dude like me. I was left without the strength to lug around heavy gear. I was left with experiencing severe pain when standing too long. It took a while to get past the anger. But eventually I regained a gratefulness for still being able to write songs, record albums, and put them out into the world for others to hear.

Although I’m not able to take this music to a live stage, the heavy underground community has been awesome, as is their way, in showing support by purchasing recordings, streaming, and telling others. I am forever thankful!

What comes next? I never know. But what usually happens – without warning – is a collection of riffs will arrive, and once the cup is full of these new riff ideas I start working them into full-fledged songs and make a record.

About the album:

What the holy blazes does Sympathypnotic mean?!

A hypnotic piece of music or performance could be sympathetic if it evokes deep emotions or resonates with someone’s inner state.
For example: “The hypnotic melody felt sympathetic to my grief—it lulled me into a calm where I could finally cry.”

And what about the Intercession part?

Inter – to place into a grave or tomb
Cession – the formal giving up of rights
The specific way I’m using it here is “lay down your right to heal yourself and let the music do this for you”.
I fully believe in the power of heavy music to heal. My soul resonates with low, slow, and loud. Heavy music relieves heaviness. On this premise… »Sympathypnotic Intercession« is a collection of songs regarding life’s troubles; but with the hope of bringing relief and healing for those needing this.

Praise for Maliciouz:

»Tortoise« (August 2025):
“»Tortoise« lets the riffs do the talking and they say plenty about the grit and expanse Muckow is trying to conjure. Be careful out there. He makes it easy to get lost.” – JJ Koczan, The Obelisk

»Sarberus« (January 2025):
“A wide array of different Funeral Doom grooves with a sense of fear and anxiety creeping in spectacular fashion… I can’t recommend this highly enough.” – Steve Howe, Outlaws Of The Sun

“We’ve been gifted an unbelievably heavy album full of some of the most genius genre-mashing I’ve heard in several months. The effortless fusion of sludge and funeral doom in particular are quite the sounds to behold.” – Jacob ‘Reverend Fuzzcut’ Baker, Doom Charts

Maliciouz – »Sympathypnotic Intercession« out May 22nd, 2026 (Digital, CD)

All songs composed, recorded, mixed & mastered by Maliciouz.

Maliciouz is Michael Mucklow.

FFO: Acid King, Black Sabbath, Bongripper, Conan, Dhyana, Hexecutioner, Windhand

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well