REDWOOD – Cloud Colony

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · November 16, 2025

REDWOOD is a heavy psych/ stoner rock solo project from Sheafer McOmber (Deer Lord). McOmber is a one man band in the California based REDWOOD and plays all of the instruments himself. He released the last album only eight months ago, this past February, called Sky Offering (review here). McOmber is a very talented musician who writes and records all of the music and vocals . His other REDWOOD releases includes two EPs, 2022’s Redwood EP and 2024’s Dry Rivers. Red Colony is the latest and was released on October 24th 2025 and contains eight tracks at forty four minutes long. It was released on his Northern Buffalo Productions.

“Doomsday Darling” opens the album with a brief sample that kicks into a heavy psychedelic rocker with a bouncy rhythm and pace. It’s a great catchy tune that gets things moving right from the start. Similar to Sky Offering, the swirls of synth and keys are layered in the background of the main instruments. The title track, “Cloud Colony” strikes it hard and relentless like the opener. The hazy production is a perfect fit for these songs and the menacing “Cloud Colony” keeps the surge throughout from start to finish. There seems to be a a strong sense of urgency with these eight tracks that was not as glaring on Sky Offering. Cloud Colony has an intense punk rock feel that can easily float into a more chilled out stoner like “Escaping Absence”.

Sheafer McOmber is a human riff and songwriting machine. He incorporates more sludgy rhythms on this one and the rocking hardcore flow of “Caravan” is an always welcomed sound for me. “Europa” begins slow and dirgy. The heavy fuzz bass starts the riff as the guitar leads join in. The track stays slower and doomier than the first three but it’s a great song nonetheless. “Riders Of Ton 618” is a colossal wrecking ball of chugging riffs and pounding rhythms. “Into The Sun (Kick Out The Jams)” has a pummeling groove and a catchy chorus. REDWOOD are on a new mission with Cloud Colony.

The eighth and final track is the excellent instrumental, “Ceres”. The cool bass line that grooves from the start is infectious and controls the whole song. Heavy psych freak out leads and blankets of keyboards, the song is an absolute masterpiece and stretches the perceived sound limits. There is some moments of prog in the tempo changes too, which further enhances the REDWOOD sound.

As I anxiously wait for a new Deer Lord record to drop, REDWOOD ties me over just fine. I am really impressed with the fine quality of musical content from Sheafer McOmber. Cloud Colony is yet another giant step forward for this one man project and REDWOOD could very well become a legitimate band in the future. The songs are all of high quality but just finding the right musicians could be a real challenge. At any endeavor, I am glad that Sheafer continues to release these albums because they are exceptionally well written and produced, and more importantly, the songs are really good.