2024 was a strange year for me. I had to change jobs in June and because of that I didn’t have the same kind of time to find and consume new music. My wife and I attended Ripple Fest in Austin for the first time and it was awesome. We also took some cool trips to Germany, Athens & Atlanta GA, Minneapolis MN, and Buffalo NY. But my year ended in terrible sadness when my best friend and feline companion of almost 20 years passed away in early December. I have never been so sad in my life and I miss her so bad.
Here are the albums I listened to most in 2024. Please check them out and support by buying these great pieces of work.
Moon Wizard – Sirens (Self Released) – An absolutely fantastic release from this Salt Lake City, UT outfit. Soaring melodies and soulful majestic vocals…damn this girl can sing! All built on top of a foundation of stellar Stoner-doom. https://moonwizard.bandcamp.com/album/sirens
Craneium - Point Of No Return (The Sign Records) – The Finnish quartet returns with another masterpiece blend of Grunge Stoner Rock. Lilting beautiful melodies, light and airy, fuzzy, and psychedelic. https://craneiumband.bandcamp.com/album/point-of-no-return
Professor Electric - In Shambles (The Swamp Records) – The Las Vegas mad scientist is back with another whacked out slab of Dirty Blues and Stoner Rock. It’s gritty and nasty and sounds like Tom Waits helming the microphone. https://professorelectric.bandcamp.com/album/in-shambles
Leather Lung - Graveside Grin (Magnetic Eye Records) – Was a treat to see these guys at Ripple Fest in Austin this year. The boys from Boston bring some serious Heavy Boogie on this one. Huge riffs, gnarly vocals, and booming sludgy grooves. https://leatherlungcult.bandcamp.com/album/graveside-grin
Sidewinder – Talons (Self Released) – Absolute bad-assery from New Zealand. Jem’s voice is gorgeous and the band delivers a stunning performance of Bluesy Stoner Rock that takes you on a beautiful journey into the stratosphere. https://sidewindernz.bandcamp.com/album/talons-album
Left Lane Cruiser - All You Can Eat (Alive Records) – The Fort Wayne, IN Blues duo smacks you with another raucous release of Dirty Boogie Blues. If this doesn’t get you movin, I don’t know what will. https://leftlanecruiser.bandcamp.com/album/all-you-can-eat
High On Fire - Cometh The Storm (Mnrk Heavy) – Riff lord Matt Pike and his Stoner Metal machine completely crushes on this one. Lurching, gargantuan, and barreling over everything in it’s path. Stand out track is the Turkish/Middle Eastern inspired instrumental called ‘Karanlik Yol’. https://highonfire.bandcamp.com/album/cometh-the-storm
The Obsessed - Gilded Sorrow (Ripple Music) – The Doom legend Wino Weinrich puts out a killer new record by The Obsessed. Stompin grooves, huge riffs, and that signature Wino snarl. https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/gilded-sorrow
Waste A Saint – Ravenous (All Good Clean Records) – The melodic heavy Rock outfit from Norway comes back with a new album of Grungy, Heavy-Alt-Rock with beautiful vocals. https://wasteasaint.bandcamp.com/album/ravenous
Transmigration Macabre - Funeral Eve (Self Released) – It can’t be an end of the year list without a brutal and bad-ass Death Metal band. And this one from Argentina comes blasting out the gate with a classic old-school Death Metal ride that harkens back to Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, and Death. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzha4sj_AUg