GREEN LUNG · Woodland Rites | OLIVE LP

Olive green vinyl in standard cover with insert.

Background information about 'Woodland Rites'

When Green Lung first emerged from London's murky underground, they felt like a secret whispered among those who still worship at the altar of the riff. Woodland Rites is the moment that secret becomes a full-blown coven gathering — and what a glorious, smoke-wreathed ceremony it is.

From the opening chime of "Initiation," there's an immediate sense that you're being led somewhere ancient and untamed. This isn't just stoner doom by numbers; it's a record steeped in English folklore, pagan imagery, and the kind of organ-drenched heaviness that would make both Black Sabbath and Deep Purple nod in grim approval. Tom Templar's vocals soar with a theatricality that recalls the golden age of occult rock, while the dual-guitar attack of Scott Black and Andrew Cave weaves melodies that feel simultaneously catchy and ritualistic. "Let the Devil In" struts with a swagger that's almost glam in its confidence, while "The Ritual Tree" stretches out into sprawling, psychedelic territory that conjures visions of moonlight dances in forgotten clearings.

What sets Woodland Rites apart from the pack is its refusal to stay in one lane. "May Queen" bursts with anthemic, hook-laden energy that borders on NWOBHM territory, and "Into the Wild" closes the album on a triumphant, emotionally resonant note that lingers long after the needle lifts. The production is warm and organic — every fuzz-laden riff feels like it's emanating from a tube amp that's been cooking in a forest for decades. This is heavy metal that understands melody isn't the enemy of weight, and that true darkness is most potent when balanced with moments of genuine beauty.

For fans of:
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Ghost, Blood Ceremony, Kadavar, Graveyard

Other Versions

BLACK LP · Sold out CD · 21,99 € 2-CD DIGIPAK DCD · Sold out

Track listing

A1. Initiation
A2. Woodland Rites
A3. Let the Devil In
A4. The Ritual Tree
B5. Templar Dawn
B6. Call of the Coven
B7. May Queen
B8. Into the Wild

Manufacturer: Warner Music Group Germany Holding GmbH, Alter Wandrahm 14, 20457 Hamburg, Germany, Contact: www.nuclearblast.com