Australian blackened doom/sludge band Ghostsmoker premiere new single and music video »Incarnate«

Melbourne, Australia based blackened doom/sludge band Ghostsmoker premiere new single and music video »Incarnate«.

»Incarnate« is the first single from Ghostsmoker’s upcoming debut album »Inertia Cult«. The song is both hypnotic yet rhythmically punishing, finding the balance between loud hulking instrumentals and haunting ambience. The album will be released on March 21st, 2025 via Art As Catharsis.

Courtesy of Art As Catharsis:

»Incarnate« is the first taste of Ghostsmoker’s debut album, »Inertia Cult« – a record of earth-shaking sludge and blackened doom.

Following the release of their 2022 EP »Grief«, »Inertia Cult« represents an evolution for Melbourne’s Ghostsmoker. Their newly refined, collaborative approach to recording has allowed the band to hammer out powerful riffs, tighter song structures and further experiment with mood and atmospherics.

Comparisons to Conan, Thou, Bongripper and ISUA are warranted. Each of Ghostsmoker’s riffs ring with monolithic, thunderous power, generating the kind of sonic intensity that only comes from years of amplifier worship.

Opening with haunting howls chased with bone-crushing riffs, the song wages a careful balancing act between loud, hulking instrumentals and haunting ambient inspired sections, each one underscored by slamming drums and wild lashes of fuzz from every string struck. The final product is both hypnotic yet rhythmically punishing, a balancing act that, on face, is hard to achieve.

“»Incarnate« is about being stuck in a loop of despair and not being able to move forward through your grief and trauma,” says Brunning. “During the very early stages of writing for the album, my brother passed away suddenly which had a significant impact on the lyrical themes on the record. Our drummer Brayden’s father also passed away while we were in the studio recording the album, and the rest of us rallied together to finish the job in dedication to our friend who was going through such a painful time in life, and his father, who was his biggest supporter. The above, the hurdles of everyday life, relationships failing, new ones forming etc all ultimately fed into making this album what it is.”

Preparing for the release of »Inertia Cult« sees the band committing to a promotional tour for Incarnate’s release across Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide throughout November and December this year. Following that, a full album release tour will take place in March 2025 across Australia, with the potential for overseas tours to Japan or Europe.

Don’t miss one of Australia’s finest up and coming doom bands. The tectonic heaviness of Ghostsmoker’s »Inertia Cult« is sure to ring in your ears for days, and is essential listening for loves of sludge, post-metal, doom and drone alike.

Ghostsmoker’s new album »Inertia Cult« is out 21 March 2025 on Art As Catharsis. Pre-order here: ghostsmokerau.bandcamp.com.

Written and performed by Ghostsmoker.
Recorded and mixed by Jason Fuller.
Mastered by John Ruberto.
Cover illustrations by Abismo Black Arts.

Ghostsmoker is:
Ben Astbury – Guitar
Nathan Brunning – Lyrics and Vocals
Brayden Becher – Drums
Rhys Brennan – Bass

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