On All Hallows Eve 2025, HOWLING GIANT released their third full-length album, Crucible & Ruin. It is lush and heavy, taking us deeper into their mind-bending multiverse. As ever, HOWLING GIANT fuse melodic phrasing, sophisticated arrangements, and heavy psych riffs in a variety of permutations that are both inventive and visceral . . . and all to the mad timing of Zach Wheeler's Cosmic Surfer drumming.

One paradox we get with HOWLING GIANT is that even though they have only been around for 10 years, they have a deep, rich discography including four EPs, one split, and three LPs. With three full-lengths, you think—"Okay, they're just hitting their stride"—but then you stack up all their other releases, and you realize they reached their stride ages ago.

Throughout their tenure there are several things we can always rely on from HOWLING GIANT: 1) Stunning performances from Zach Wheeler. I mean, it's not often I go hunting for isolated drum tracks from any band. 2) Harmonized vocals like a URIAH HEAP reunion. Listen, I love raspy, demonic vocals. The rawer, the better. But I also love the art of harmony and HOWLING GIANT has vocal harmonies in spades. 3) Crushing riffs and complex compositions. Call it almost Prog, call it almost Stoner. Call it Rock, call it Metal. Either way, it's utterly compelling. 4) Sci-Fi and fantasy themes galore. Like so many other metalheads, I'm a geek. I play D&D, I worship Phillip K. Dick, I know so much about Lovecraft I need to roll daily insanity checks. HOWLING GIANT scratches that itch. Listening to one of their albums is like walking through the GenCon trade floor.   

With that said, Crucible & Ruin delivers on all those promises. It's another step upward on their ascending trajectory. One really interesting development is that band has now evolved from a power trio to a foursome. Adrian Zambrano (guitars, synthesizers) has joined the lineup. What does this add? More depth and range as well as some fresh perspective on the songwriting. From my ears, I can't hear a whole lot of difference—which is to say, the band is just as fluid and consistent as ever. Where I think it will really show up is on the stage, which I hope to verify in the next month or so.

As usual, many, many standout tracks on this album. My personal favs include "Hunters Mark" with its glorious shift at the 3:25 mark to an epic stoner anthem; "Archon" for its endless exploration and mesmerizing solo; "Scepter and Scythe" which attacks like a horde of pissed-off hornets; and "Beholder II Labyrinth" which is equal parts Doom and Thrash. Also very excited to see their videos which so far include "Beholder I: Downfall" and "Hunter's Mark."     

HOWLING GIANT once again crushes. Crucible & Ruin features creative and smart storytelling, incredible execution, and always surprising depth and range. A worthy follow-up to "Glass Future." Your turntable will thank you though your neighbors may hate you.