Bradford stoner/doom five-piece Son of Boar have released “In the Eyes of Hatred,” the final single ahead of their second studio album, The Hand That Reigns, arriving November 20 via Pale Wizard Records. The song comes with an official music video and works as a rallying cry for anyone who has ever felt out of place.
Listen to “In the Eyes of Hatred” on Spotify and Apple Music.
“‘In The Eyes Of Hatred’ is a mix of stoner groove and heavy doom that makes our brand of northern fuzz. It is a call to arms for all the misfits and people who ever felt like they don’t fit in, in a divided world it’s a call for unity and understanding.”
Son of Boar
A Darker Second Album
Five years after their self-titled 2021 debut, The Hand That Reigns, which we covered when it was announced, pushes the band into darker, heavier and more aggressive territory. It was recorded at Corner House Studios in Yorkshire with Kurt Wood and mastered by Dave Draper, during a stretch when every member was going through difficult times. Those experiences found their way into the writing, and the songs move from groove metal to desert rock to the deepest doom.
“At the time of writing the album, everyone seemed to be going through a dark time. It quickly became apparent that this batch was darker, heavier, and more aggressive than the previous set.”
Luke Oliver
The lyrics deal with alienation, judgement and resilience. Oliver says the songs cover being an outcast in various forms, drawing on world events, personal experiences, documentaries and life in a band, and on the inner strength needed to get past those barriers.
Forged in the Grim North
Formed in 2018, Son of Boar draw on NOLA sludge names such as Crowbar and Down, stoner rock legends Kyuss and British heavyweights Black Sabbath and Paradise Lost. Twin harmonized guitars and Luke Oliver’s gravelly roar sit on top of slow, groove-heavy riffs. The band have shared stages with Conjurer, Sergeant Thunderhoof, Desert Storm, Nebula, Conan and Fatso Jetson, and they have played Bloodstock, Riffolution, Ruination, Hard Rock Hell Fest, Hammerfest, SOPHIE Fest and Masters of the Riff.
Their next show is at The Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham on November 14, 2026, six days before the album comes out.
Our Take
The UK underground has no shortage of riff merchants, but few are as tied to their home as Son of Boar, and the phrase “northern fuzz” sums them up neatly. A second album after a five-year gap can go either way, yet everything the band say about this one points to a group that simply got heavier and better at writing songs. Fans of Corrosion of Conformity, Down, Monolord and Pallbearer should take note.
Son of Boar are: Luke Oliver (vocals), Gareth Bates (bass, backing vocals), Adam Waddell (guitar, backing vocals), Lyndon Birchall (guitar), Luke Doran (drums).
