Troubled Sleep – The Gardens Of Babylon EP

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · August 17, 2026

Troubled Sleep is catchy stoner rock band from Sweden. They play a mix of desert rock, fuzz, and grunge, with stoner grooves and hooks, that last for days. The quartet have released their debut EP, 2024’s A Trip Around the Sun and their latest EP, 2026’s The Gardens Of Babylon. The Gardens Of Babylon was released on July 31st 2026 on Black Mold Records. It contains four tracks at sixteen minutes long.

Troubled Sleep begins this excellent EP with “The Reckoning”, a vibrant QOTSA style rocker. The vocals have an old school John Garcia, via Kyuss strain to them and the grooves are undeniably awesome! I love the catchiness in the hooks and melodies with these songs and “The Reckoning” has such a vibrant appeal to it. Musically, it’s classic nineties style stoner rock that only the Swedes have truly mastered, with the likes of Lowrider and Dozer leading the reign.

The second track, “Wolves In Suits” begins with the bass and drums and floats in the fuzzy riffs thereafter. The vocals sound great with the power and intensity, crooning its way throughout the song. The bouncy rhythms and stoner grooves grabs the listener’s attention and there’s a strong grunge component that fuels the track also. The overlaying of fuzz oozing from the amps, coupled with the soaring melodies, has me remembering the first time that I heard Truckfighters. Troubled Sleep does a fantastic job carrying the torch of this classic sounding desert rock that only a band from Sweden can totally pull off. There is something so nostalgic and energizing about their sound.

The third song and title track, “Gardens Of Babylon” is the most vital cut on the record! It has a fuzzed-out and hard driven pulse that connects everything just right. The infectious hooks and grandiose grooves are impossible to ignore! Troubled Sleep has such a spellbinding vibe and captivating sound that these hooks and melodies will be swimming in your head for days. The fourth and final cut is called “Savior”, and it’s another banger! The music kicks right in with commanding vocals and melodies that never quit. The vocals have an intensity about them and the riffs are raging. Right at the midpoint of the song there’s a cool bass and drum break that flourishes guitar leads and a banging rhythm. The music dips down into a psychedelic bridge of clean guitars and tasty leads and finishes with cymbal taps before kicking back into the first riff.

Overall, this is a fantastic EP! It has just the right amount of energy and catchiness that really gets me moving. Troubled Sleep plays on that dynamic style of classic stoner rock that really resonates with me. I can’t wait to hear a full length release from this excellent band because based on these four songs, they construct the perfect balance of fuzzy riffage, stoner grooves, and unforgettable hooks and melodies.