Belgian alternative/sludge/post-metal band Stonemule share new single and lyric video »Caught In Paranoia«!

Brugge, Belgium based alternative/sludge/post-metal band Stonemule share a lyric video for their new single »Caught In Paranoia«, released on March 28th, 2025 via Polderrecords.

»Caught In Paranoia« is available now on all major streaming platforms!

»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. A must-listen for fans of Mastodon, System Of A Down, and Baroness.

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. Dumpmagazine summed it up: “Kyuss coated with sludge, sewing pitch-black riffs with precision and Mastodon-like vocal magic.”

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.

The beast has awakened.

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