You don’t have to stretch too hard to hear the metal at root in Thorndale‘s new single, “Veins of the Phoenix.” Specifically, one can hear some of the turn o’ the century melodeath coming through the thrashy groove here, enhanced by the production. Coinciding with that is a commitment to following where the riff goes, and at just a year’s remove from their debut, Lightning Spawn, the upcoming Spiritual Chains shows immediate cohesion and unification around its purpose. Elsewhere on the record, one can find a guest guitar spot from Duel‘s Jeff Henson — I wondered if he might’ve had a hand in helming the recording as well, reading the below, but it seems like he probably just tracked his own part — but though it’s not him, the solo on “Veins of the Phoenix” is a bit of a ripper.

Maybe you know a headbanger just getting into underground heavy. Consider Thorndale as the potential gateway drug. They still very much have a thread of metallic aggression in the sound, but groove and melody are priorities as well. I’m just saying there’s a niche being dug out and there could be an audience for it.

The PR wire has more details:

Stoner/Doom Metal Powerhouse, THORNDALE, Announce New Album, Spiritual Chains!

Thorndale, the Netherlands-based stoner/doom metal powerhouse, is thrilled to announce the September 12 release of their sophomore album, Spiritual Chains. A music video for the album’s first single, “Veins of the Phoenix”, is available at youtu.be/jQvSLVMMjv8.

“Veins of the Phoenix” is also available on Bandcamp. The single will be available on all other digital platforms soon.

This highly anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2024 debut, Lightning Spawn, promises a darker and more mature sound, showcasing the band’s evolving artistry and the addition of a second guitar player to their lineup.

Comprised of seasoned musicians from notable acts such as Adarrak, Killing Darlings, Embers of Oblivion, Epinikion, and Primal Charge, their unique blend of heavy, stoner, and doom metal has resonated with fans worldwide, setting the stage for Spiritual Chains to be a significant release.

Spiritual Chains was recorded across various studios in North America and Europe, a testament to Thorndale’s commitment to sonic excellence. Jeff Henson (Duel) lends his talent to the album, featuring a guest solo on the track “Exiles and Masters”. The album was mixed and mastered by Rickard Bengtsson and Stafan Karlsson at Sweetspot Studios in Halmstad, Sweden (Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars).

Pre-order: thorndale.bandcamp.com/album/spiritual-chains

Track Listing:
1 – Veins of the Phoenix
2 – Battles Fought in Vain
3 – Gods of Pain
4 – Twenty Thousand Souls
5 – Spiritual Chains
6 – Exiles and Masters

Album Credits:

Cover Art – Costin Chioreanu.
Jeff Henson – guest guitar on “Exiles and Masters”.
All music by Thorndale.
All lyrics by Gustavo Valderrama and Zigor Munoz.
Produced by Thorndale.
Recorded locally in Austin, Texas; Scarborough, Ontario and Haarlem and Den Haag, Netherlands across 2024 and 2025.
Mixed and mastered by Rickard Bengtsson and Stafan Karlsson at Sweetspot Studios in Halmstad, Sweden.
Photo credit: Gustavo Valderrama (edited by Gonzalo Restrepo)

BIO:

Thorndale is a stoner/doom metal band from The Netherlands, formed by experienced musicians from the European and North American metal scenes. Known for their powerful sound, Thorndale has quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the heavy music landscape. Members include Gustavo Valderrama (Killing Darlings, Headcrusher, Adarrak), Peter Shannon (Primal Charge), Maarten Jungschläger (Embers of Oblivion, Epinikion), and Zigor Munoz (Adarrak, Ferkaad).

Photo credit: Gustavo Valderrama

Line-Up:
Gustavo Valderrama – Vocals
Peter Shannon – Guitars
Maarten Jungschläger – Guitars
Zigor Munoz – Bass
Guest musician: Rob Stone – Drums

thorndalelegions.com
thorndale.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/thorndaleofficial
facebook.com/thorndaleofficial

Thorndale, “Veins of the Phoenix” official video

Thorndale, Spiritual Chains (2025)