Another year done and gone. This post is about music, so I won’t mention the events of the last few months. Lots of great shows this year and I listened to a lot of cool new bands and records that I was not familiar with. It is such a joy for me to discover and listen to new music all year and to be able to catalog that auditory journey is equally fun and fulfilling. I hope you’ll check out the awesomeness that is contained in my list and support all these great bands/artists. The list is in no particular order.
Grave Pleasures – Plagueboys (Century Media) – I can’t state enough as to how great this album is. See my detailed write-up here - https://lunchlog2001.wixsite.com/mysite/post/grave-pleasures-plagueboys https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_Pleasures
Overkill – Scorched (Nuclear Blast) – The Jersey boys are back with another Thrash-ter-piece. One of the few of the old guard that continues to deliver output of high caliber. Everything that you know and love about Overkill. No major deviation or departure from a tried and true Thrash attack. www.wreckingcrew.com
Savage Grace - Sign Of The Cross (Massacre Records) – Truly amazing that this band is still active since their founding in 1981. Original guitarist, Chris Logue, has put together an awesome new lineup…especially with new vocalist Gabriel Colon. Fantastic classic Heavy Metal. https://savagegrace1.bandcamp.com/album/sign-of-the-cross
Duskwood - The Last Voyage (Ripple Music) – Kick-ass Stoner Rock from Somerset, UK. Some serious nods to Kyuss goin on here. Nuff said…crank it! https://duskwood.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-voyage
Faerie Ring - Weary Traveler (King Volume Records) – From Evansville, IN comes a six song album consisting of a perfect blend of Classic Heavy Metal, Stoner Rock, and Doom. Soaring vocals and big cavernous production make this a thrilling ride for your auditory senses. https://faeriering.bandcamp.com/album/weary-traveler
Cavalera - Morbid Visions 2023 (Nuclear Blast) – The Cavalera brothers re-recorded this album and ‘Bestial Devastation’ this year. Both are great, but I like this one better. They really hit the mark with capturing the raw primal brutality of these primitive recordings with updated production and performance. So fuckin heavy! https://www.cavaleraconspiracy.net/
Black Rainbows – Superskull (Heavy Psych Sounds) – An absolutely stunning and epic album from this Greek band. Full throttle Stoner Rock alongside moody soundscape psychedelic numbers. https://blackrainbows.bandcamp.com/album/black-rainbows-superskull
Astrodeath - Vol II (Heavy Psych Sounds) – Bad-ass heaviness from Sydney, Australia. Catchy mid-tempo stompage. A great one to crank on a road trip. https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/astrodeath-vol-ii
Tidal Wave - The Lord Knows (Ripple Music) – Gotta have some representation from Sweden and this band represents in a big way. This album is huge…big riffs, big drums, big bass, and big vocals. Another Stoner Rock gem. https://tidalwaveswe.bandcamp.com/album/the-lord-knows
The Golden Grass - Life Is Much Stranger (Heavy Psych Sounds) – Superb Retro-Rock from NYC. Great harmonies and a smooth laid back sound. https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-golden-grass-life-is-much-stranger
Handgemeng – Ultraritual (Ripple Music) – Another entry from Scandinavia. This time from Drobak, Norway. This is blistering stuff. Heavy Stoner Doom Rock that’ll blow your doors off. https://handgemeng.bandcamp.com/album/ultraritual
Giant Lungs - Self Titled (Self Released) – A brilliant slab of Desert Rock in the vein of early Queens Of The Stoneage from Augsburg, Germany. https://giantlungs1.bandcamp.com/album/giant-lungs-2
Destronomer - The Two Horns (Self Released) – Another wonderful entry from Sydney, Australia. A great blend of Stoner/Doom/Psych with unique and beautiful vocals. https://destronomer.bandcamp.com/album/the-two-horns
Godzilla Was Too Drunk To Destroy Tokyo - Atomic Spitfire (Self Released) – The Italian power trio returns with their second album. They’re armed with a new drummer and takin no prisoners. Really fun Punky/Psych Rock. https://godzillawastoodrunktodestroytokyo.bandcamp.com/album/atomic-spitfire
Mammuthus – Imperator (Self Released) – A gargantuan release from this Wellington, New Zealand outfit. As their name invokes; this is a thunderous lumbering soundtrack of Doomy Stoner Rock. https://mammuthusnz.bandcamp.com/album/imperator
Hauch – Lehmasche (Self Released) – A great EP from this Stoner Rock band from Waltrop, Germany. Super catchy even though all the songs are sung in German. Probably even more-so if you speak/understand German. https://hauch1.bandcamp.com/album/lehmasche
Dozer - Drifting In The Endless Void (Blues Funeral Recordings) – The Swedish Stoner Rock legends are back after close to a decade since their last release. It’s everything you’d expect from this powerhouse band. Top notch groove laden Psychedelic Stoner Doom Sludge. https://dozerofficial.bandcamp.com/album/drifting-in-the-endless-void
Kleazer – Signals (Self Released) – A really fun blend of Alt and Stoner Rock from Amsterdam, Netherlands. Catchy foot tappin head bobbin stuff. https://kleazer.bandcamp.com/album/signals
Haurun - Wilting Within (Small Stone Records) – A monumental debut from this Oakland, CA band. Brilliant and impressive. Beautiful vocals atop a musical backdrop of haunting hypnotic Psychedelic Drone Rock. https://smallstone.bandcamp.com/album/wilting-within
20 Watt Tombstone - The Chosen Few (Self Released) – Bangin new album from this Death Blues duo from Wausau, WI. Was so great to see them with Left Lane Cruiser in Austin this year. https://20watttombstone.bandcamp.com/
Sun Dweller - High Ride (Self Released) – A soulful bellowing album of Heavy Bluesy Grungy Stoner Rock from this trio from Ohio. They do a cool cover of Pink Floyd’s “Eclipse”. https://sundwellermusic.bandcamp.com/album/high-ride
Asinhell - Impii Hora (Metal Blade Records) – Michael Poulson from Volbeat launches his monstrous Death Metal project and it is awesome. Classic old school Scandinavian Death Metal. Pummeling mid-tempo ferociousness. https://asinhell.bandcamp.com/album/impii-hora
Dixie Goat - Order, Chaos, Life And Death (Self Released) – The boys from Santiago, Chile are back with their sophomore studio release. This album is more Doomy and Sludgy and the slow grooves are thick as molasses. Nikk’s voice is awesome and the rest of the band rips as well. https://dixiegoat.bandcamp.com/album/order-chaos-life-and-death
Prong - State Of Emergency (Steamhammer/SPV) – Tommy Victor moved back to his native NY after a long time in CA and what he’s produced is another great true to form Prong record. Full of signature Victor grooves and huge riffs. A bouncy good time. https://prongmusic.com/
Triumph Of Death – Resurrection Of The Flesh (Prowling Death Records) – So cool to see Tom Warrior release the old Hellhammer recordings as a live album. And what makes it extra special is that some of the tracks are live from our very own Hell’s Heroes Fest in glorious Houston, TX. The songs sound great with a modern update due to musical prowess and experience. https://www.nightshiftmerch.com/products/triumph-of-death-resurrection-of-the-flesh-2x12-pre-order
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