If we were to sit here and take into consideration the current album-release series that are out there for us to find enjoyment out of, the world of rock, particularly the heavy and psychedelic reaches, has three that come to my mind instantly: (1) Ripple Music’s “Turned to Stone”, Desert Records’s “Legends of the Desert”, and Blues Funeral Recordings’s “PostWax”. Each of them have been true treasure troves to those of us who have been lucky enough to experience all three, and with the second run of PostWax now in full swing thanks to Josiah and Mammoth Volume, it felt only natural that one of the other two would swiftly follow. There was already a fresh edition from “Turned to Stone” just a couple months ago, but it’s clear that Ripple Music has far more up their sleeves than we could’ve anticipated, and it’s for the fifth time straight that this split series has achieved nothing but glory.

When you have the resources and the sway thanks to wide acclaim like an entity such as Ripple Music, it’s only natural that when you’re doing a series like this that you’ll keep finding talent that’s not only willing to contribute, but those that come forward are certifiably the best of the best be they up-and-coming or well-established. From Howling Giant to Merlin to Electric Monolith, “Turned to Stone” has always found itself in excellent company. For its fifth rendition, that trend refuses to change. Very much the sort of split that’s a “two sides of the same coin” type deal, it’s from both Planet of the 8s and Duneeater we’re able to witness a wondrous display of heavy rock that is all but indicative and deserving to be part of this powerful split series. It’s with their groovy and ripping vision of heavy rock that Duneeater gets things started with riffs and a terrific attitude that permeates every ripping minute of their five tracks that show us how to breathe life into this branch of rock in exemplary fashion, and then Planet of the 8s comes around with four tracks to kick our shit in just a little bit different but no less effective. Oftentimes slowed down but far from afraid to crank things up, their offering of four tracks offers us another fantastic glimpse as to what the world of heavy rock is fully capable of in the right hands with the hands of Planet of the 8s not just being the being set, but the ones that are more than perfect to compliment and work off of what Duneeater set forth before them.

Brought together, “Turned to Stone: Chapter V” effortlessly becomes one of my favorites out of this beyond-noteworthy series that continues to show us magnificent talent time after time without fail, and both these two bands maximized their opportunities given to them for this wonderful chance. This is a combination that is all but perfect for what both acts are able to bring forth an execute in wondrous fashion, but those behind “Turned to Stone” already knew that, didn’t they?

“Turned to Stone: Chapter V” releases on August 5th via Ripple Music!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Turned to Stone: Chapter V” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Planet of the 8s on Facebook here.

LIKE Duneeater on Facebook here.