Vancouver-based riff merchants, ASTRAKHAN, are today streaming their upcoming EP -A Tapestry of Scabs and Skin- in it's entirety, ahead of its release on December 12.Of the EP, Sputnik Music - who are hosting the stream - say: "The way the band melds sludge, garage rock, and spacey stoner vibes together is enviable: Astrakhan have a clear vision of the kind of music they want to create, but unlike a lot of young bands, they also have the chops to make that vision come to life."

StreamA Tapestry of Scabs and Skinin fullHERE.The four piece band have established themselves firmly in the Canadian metal scene, having shared stages with the likes of Cynic, Weedeater, Helms Alee, and fellow Vancouver residents, Anciients. Now they're setting their sights on Europe, with an EP that will pave the way for their first full length (due next year) and be a catalyst for some caustic live shows on this side of the pond.

Featuring two tracks that were previously release as a digital EP, they've also added two brand new, never released, tracks to make up theA Tapestry of Scabs and SkinEP. Recorded with producer Jesse Gander (Bison, 3 Inches of Blood, Anciients) in two sessions totalling eight days, the results are, say the band, 'doomy, pyschedelic, sludgey and progressive".Guitarist and vocalistRob Zawistowski commented: "We're really proud to be releasing this EP and hope it will bring us closer to metal communities the world over. I have already started to notice traffic on our website coming from some foreign torrent sites.

If people using the Cyrillic alphabet are trying to pirate our tunes, that is probably a good sign! With this EP they can purchase the real deal if they so wish!" Featuring brain-bending artwork courtesy of Nick Patterson, the EP will be released as a limited edition 12" (just 300 copies available) and as a digital download, via War On Music Records, on December 12th. The EP can be pre-orderedHERE.