Another year has flown by and another year mostly consumed by Covid. It was a big year for me because I got married to my lovely partner Debbie (I love you). We did have some health issues this year (Covid and non-Covid related) and that was taxing. Things did get a little better in terms of seeing some shows and it was nice to get out and be amongst other people. It was a great year for new music and I had a lot of fun finding and listening to all these great bands. Please support them and I hope you enjoy my end of the year faves list. It is in no particular order. Cheers!
Maha Sohona – Endless Searcher (Made Of Stone Recordings) – An absolutely stunning album from this trio hailing from Umea, Sweden. A masterful marriage of beautiful atmosphere, heft, and incredible musicianship. Stoner Rock at its absolute finest. The album cover art is extremely cool as well. https://mahasohona.bandcamp.com
Thunder Horse – Chosen One (Ripple Music) – Hailing from San Antonio and dripping in Texas charm and character. A fabulous album of Stoner Rock wrapped in dense rhythms, acoustic passages, and stomping groove. https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/chosen-one
Halfaya – Blunderblues (Self Released) – These guys hail from Rosario, Argentina and this record kicks all kinds of ass. Spanish language Stoner Fuzz with great production, sick riffs, and monster groove. Crank it! https://halfaya.bandcamp.com/album/blunderblues
Prosperina – Flag (Self Released) – An exceptional album by this band from Swansea, UK. An Alt-Stoner Rock gem with brilliant memorable songs and moving vocals. https://prosperina.bandcamp.com/album/flag
King Buffalo – The Burden Of Restlessness (Stickman Records) – An incredible amalgamation of Prog, Psych, Kraut, and Stoner Rock from this Rochester, NY trio. The musicianship is off the charts as they weave a captivating sonic tapestry. https://kingbuffalo.bandcamp.com/album/the-burden-of-restlessness
Cactus Flowers – Solace (Self Released) – My Houston home-town hero’s served up a killer four song EP. Catchy Psychedelic Stoner Rock with Jessica’s kick-ass vocals. The trio has had a busy year with some great tours and spots on some high profile festivals. https://cactusflowers.bandcamp.com/album/solace-ep
Lords Of The Opium Church – Self Titled (Self Released) – A killer power trio from Alberta, Canada. A great blend of Stoner Rock, Metal, Doom, and Punk. Some really cool vocals atop a steady high energy musical backdrop. https://lordsoftheopiumchurch.bandcamp.com/
Indus Valley Kings – Self Titled (Self Released) – Bad-ass trio from Long Island, NY. This album is full of awesome twists and turns that makes this record a really fun and diverse listen. A nice mix of Stoner Rock, Grunge, Doom, and Blues. Great band name too. https://indusvalleykings.bandcamp.com/releases
Komatsu – Rose Of Jericho (Heavy Psych Sounds) – The Eindhoven Mother Sludgers are back with another fantastic Stoner Rock long player. This band never disappoints and so is the case with the new record. One anthem after another. https://komatsu.bandcamp.com/album/rose-of-jericho
Swamp Thief – I (Self Released) – A blistering four song offering from this bad-ass duo from Swansea, UK. Bluesy Soulful Sludgy Southern Stoner Rock from across the pond. So friggin good. https://swampthief.bandcamp.com/album/i
Monstroid – Burnt The Sky (Self Released) – From Cape Town, South Africa comes a serious barn-burner. Full throttle mid-tempo Stoner Rock groove tonnage. Huge riffs and memorable arrangements make for an album full of one anthem after another. https://monstroidfuzz.bandcamp.com/album/set-2-burnt-sky
Eros – Self Titled (Self Released) – A killer five song EP from this Indianapolis, IN outfit. Oozing with bluesy retro style Southern Stoner rock swagger. https://erosindiana.bandcamp.com/releases
Blackjack Mountain – Holding Time (Self Released) – Super tasty Southern fried Stoner Rock from this trio out of Carrollton, GA. Smooth soulful vocals, big bass grooves, and fuzzy riffs galore. https://blackjackmountain.bandcamp.com/album/holding-time
Borracho – Pound Of Flesh (Self Released) – The power trio from our nations capital laid down a huge slab of riffology with their new record. Layers of monster riffs coupled with throbbing groove. Another one to blast with the windows down. https://borracho.bandcamp.com/album/pound-of-flesh
Stone Deaf – Killers (Coffin And Bolt Records) – My homies from New Castle, CO put out a superb new record in “Killers”. An excellent collection of Desert Rock Boogie that begs to be played over and over. See my full review here - https://lunchlog2001.wixsite.com/mysite/post/stone-deaf-killers
Carcass – Torn Arteries (Nuclear Blast) – The Liverpool, UK Grind Death Metal legends return with a gargantuanly heavy album. Bill Steer’s riffs are sick. Jeff Walkers snarl is incendiary, and Daniel Wilding’s drumming is monstrous. https://carcass.bandcamp.com/album/torn-arteries
Craneium – Unknown Heights (Self Released) – The boys from Turku, Finland give us a majestic six song slab of mellow Stoner Fuzz. Full of awesome dynamics, moodiness, and catchiness. https://craneiumband.bandcamp.com/album/unknown-heights
Smoke Rites – The Rite Of The Smoke (Self Released) – A great 4 song EP from this band out of Warsaw, Poland. The singer switches her voice from growls to clear croons that weave their way around plodding doom to mid-tempo grooves. https://smokerites.bandcamp.com/releases
Flotsam & Jetsam – Blood In The Water (AFM Records) – The Arizona Thrashers are back with another thrash-tastic offering full of chugging riffs, Erik AK’s awesome vocals, and Ken Mary is a skin bashing beast on the drums. Great to see these guys still at it and doing it at the same caliber of their classic days. Flots till death! https://www.flotstildeath.com/
Dust Moth – Rising // Sailing (Self Released) – A hauntingly beautiful album by this Seattle quartet. Booming soaring dirges full of sumptuous texture with Irene Barber’s gorgeous voice that envelopes the listener in shimmering loveliness. https://dustmothband.bandcamp.com/album/rising-sailing
Comments