I needed something proper heavy the other day, and this one did the job. Warcoe are three lads from Pesaro in Italy who’ve been at it since 2021, and Upon Tall Thrones is their third album, out late September 2025 on Ripple Music. I went in expecting standard retro doom, but it actually kept me listening all the way through without checking the phone.
It’s that warm, fuzzy Sabbath-worshipping sound with stoner grooves and a bit of occult storytelling sprinkled on top. Stefano, on vocals and guitar, has this corrosive, melancholic croon that reminds me of old Ozzy but less theatrical. The riffs are big and simple in that classic way, nothing overly technical, just effective. Carlo and Francesco lock in tight on bass and drums, giving it that steady, crushing foundation.
“Octagon” starts things rolling with a riff that builds nicely and gets you nodding straight away. The title track “I’ve Sat Upon Tall Thrones (But I’ll Never Learn)” has a proper catchy chorus with a bit more bite to it, which has been stuck in my head. “Brown Witch” and “Deepest Grave” lean harder into the album’s heavier riff-driven side and were the tracks I kept going back to. There’s a short acoustic breather called “Gather in the Woods” that’s actually really nice (though I’ve seen a couple of people moan about some production noise on it). “Flame in Your Hand” is an instrumental that shifts moods well, and the closer “Dark Into Light” brings some extra weight to finish things off.
At just under 40 minutes, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Some bits feel a bit samey if you’re not in the mood for trad doom, but when it clicks, it really clicks, especially if you’re driving in bad weather or just zoning out after a long day. They’re just really good at what they do.
This one feels like their strongest yet. If you like classic doom with stoner warmth, Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Trouble, Pentagram, that whole family, Warcoe are delivering the goods without sounding like a tribute band. Solid record. I’ll definitely be coming back to it.
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Released by Ripple Music on September 26th, 2025
