Rolling Stoner/Psych/Freak/Doom/Sludge/Retro/Drone/Space Thread 2014: These Start at 11

I have heard of this rock

Sorry Ned, I thought it was more appropriate to continue talking about 2013 releases in the other thread.

Looking forward to this being very active this year!

I'm still catching up on my listening from last year. My discovery this morning was the terrific, if unoriginally named, Stonehenge. German mostly instrumental stonerish psych-rock with a fantastic organ player, very Deep Purple. I like it.

There was just something about the Rose Windows that felt a little forced, like it was a band unsure of their footing but that might just come down to the kind of patchwork way the band came together.

I don't know much about the band history, but I think the songwriting is maybe a bit uneven - some filler on this. I like the singer's voice though - hope they go more in the heavy direction.

Yeah the vocals were my favorite thing about the record, for sure. I'll give it another go at some point.

y'all are talking about that Sun Dogs album on Sub Pop, right? I liked it, but it does seem like they are still trying to find their own sound.

yep, that's the one.

i'm still not totally clear on the difference between this thread and normal rolling metal 2014: where do folk metal albums go?

And also is there a rolling thread for ambient/avant releases? I like the stoner stuff too but am not always sure why "drone/space" gets lumped in here.

It's all very mutable for sure.

because you get drone metal and space metal too. So it went in here as the ordinary metal thread tends to go too fast and covers promos months before everything comes out so the discussion is gone by release date

the other drone thread covered the ambient/avant/freak folk etc

im guessing ned just wants to merge the two?

Locked already? Still have the 2013 Super Doom Chart to post when it comes out. It's not 2014 for me until I start buying 2014 albums, but I guess it's good to see interest in these threads.

I am still catching up on my 2013 listening as well, but I can do that with this new thread just as well as with the old. Still got a ton of bandcamp stoner rock to wade through.

Les Indiens - Crâne

http://lesindiens.bandcamp.com/album/cr-ne

French-Canadian stoner band; not really sure what's the deal with all of the Native American imagery, but I assume that since this band is (I think) Quebecois, that there's a decent chance the iconography is being used with respect...? Musically, the band traffics in good old stoner rock, with some neat psychedelic touches. I probably dig this almost as much as the Naam album. If I'd been on the ball, and had listened to this before they had closed nominations, this would totally have gone on my metal ballot. "Crève-coeur" starts out as a fairly trippy organ/surf-twang instrumental with the echo laid thick before turning into ace classic rock in the indelible tradition of Black Sabbath. "Désert de glace" builds on a similar tension between crunchy riffs and psychedelic interludes that indulge a love of pure sound (dig the wiggy middle section that is not so much solo as some crazy wah pedal workout with the sound of a tape fast-forwarding mixed in). And that is p much the name of the game here--distortion intermingling with spacier effects. Highly listenable.

It's unfortunate that fewer people are voting, but it means your ballot will have more impact than usual. Stoner/doom/sludgsters represent!

~~~ ILM METAL POLL 2013 - ALBUMS & TRACKS VOTING & CAMPAIGN THREAD~~~ (VOTING ENDS FRIDAY JANUARY 10th 11.59pm UK time/6.59pm EST) )

Maximum of 50 album votes/Minimum of 5.
Maximum of 20 tracks votes/Minimum of 5

Please vote by filling in the
Voting Form, copying your selections directly from the nominations spreadsheets:

Album Nominations Spreadsheet
Tracks Nominations Spreadsheet

Upcoming Releases

Indian – From All Purity (Relapse) 21-Jan
Moon Coven – Amanita Kingdom (Transubstans) 20-Jan
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra – Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything (Constellation) 20-Jan
Alcest – Shelter (Prophecy Productions) 21-Jan
Culted – Oblique To All Paths (Relapse) 21-Jan
Warpaint – Warpaint (Rough Trade) 21-Jan
Demilich – 20th Adversary Of Emptiness (Svart) 24-Jan
Truckfighters – Universe (Fuzzorama) 24-Jan
Guardian Alien – Spiritual Emergency (Thrill Jockey) 28-Jan
Pontiak – Innocence (Thrill Jockey) 28-Jan
Moon Curse – Moon Curse (Bilocation) 3-Feb | Bandcamp
Grand Magus – Triumph And Power (Nuclear Blast) 4-Feb
Mantar – Death By Burning (Svart) 7-Feb
Sammal – No. 2 (Svart) 14-Feb
Cynic – Kindly Bent To Free Us (Season Of Mist) 18-Feb
Slough Feg – Digital Resistance (Metal Blade) 18-Feb
The Wounded Kings – Consolamentum (Candlelight) 25-Feb
Helms Alee – Sleepwalking Sailors (Sargent House) Feb
Conan – Blood Eagle (Napalm) 3-Mar
The Men – Tomorrow's Hits (Sacred Bones) 4-Mar
Dark Forest – The Awakening (Cruz Del Sur) 11-Mar
The Shrine – The Shrine (Tee Pee) 11-Mar
Dead Rider – Chills On Glass (Drag City) 18-Mar
The Socks – Some Kind of Sorcery (Small Stone) 18-Mar
The Graviators – Motherload (Napalm) 28-Mar
Mos Generator – Electric Mountain Majesty (Ripple Music) Mar
Snail – Feral (Snail) Mar
Entombed – Back To The Front (Century Media) 1-Apr
Mars Red Sky – Mars Red Sky (Mars Red Sky) Apr
Serpent Venom – Of Things Seen And Unseen (Church Within) Apr
Greenleaf – Trails & Passes (Small Stone) Spring
Mount Salem – Endless (Metal Blade) Spring

Last day to vote! Let's make sure our stoner/doom/sludge/psych etc. tastes are properly represented!

figured i'd talk about it here and not in the "proper" metal thread: i love the alcest album. it's gorgeous. i was really worried when i heard birgir jón birgisson was involved, but even though his influence is discernible, it works really well.

The Amanita Kingdom album/long EP that comes out next week is fun. You can check out "Ruler of Dust" here:

https://soundcloud.com/transubstans-records/moon-coven-ruler-of-dust

Thanks for the reminder! Here's also a review and their official video for "East"!

http://theparanoidmusicblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/moon-coven-amanita-kingdom-album-review.html
http://youtu.be/5FUOwUdQPKo

Here's another review from some yabo:

http://lastrit.es/reviews/7175/moon-coven-amanita-kingdom

Mansion is a new, very promising Finnish heavy occult psych band. Their EP is finally available for download, and a second vinyl pressing.

http://weshalllive.bandcamp.com/album/we-shall-live

So the metal poll is a wrap, and here's some of our babies:

5 SubRosa - More Constant Than The Gods, 741 Points, 19 Votes, 2 #1s
6 Windhand - Soma, 732 Points, 19 Votes, One #1
7 Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats - Mind Control, 707 Points, 20 Votes, 2 #1s
9 ASG - Blood Drive, 668 Points, 17 Votes
11 Kylesa - Ultraviolet, 637 Points, 18 Votes, One #1
17 Queens Of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork, 557 Points, 15 Votes, One #1
19 Ghost - Infestissumam, 502 Points, 15 Votes
27 Blood Ceremony - The Eldritch Dark, 416 Points, 12 Votes
29 Moss - Horrible Night, 401 Points, 11 Votes
32 Föllakzoid - II, 383 Points, 10 Votes
33 Bardo Pond - Peace On Venus, 377 Points, 12 Votes
36 Earthless - From The Ages, 368 Points, 11 Votes, One #1
39 Church Of Misery - Thy Kingdom Scum, 335 Points, 11 Votes
45 Black Sabbath – 13, 294 Points, 10 Votes, One #1
48 Vista Chino – Peace, 276 Points, 9 votes
51 Cathedral - The Last Spire, 263 Points, 8 Votes
57 Kadavar - Abra Kadavar, 253 Points, 7 Votes, One #1
59 Argus - Beyond The Martyrs, 248 Points, 9 Votes
61 Orchid - The Mouths of Madness, 244 Points, 8 Votes
75 Magic Circle - Magic Circle, 214 Points, 5 Votes, One #1
79 Clutch - Earth Rocker, 205 Points, 5 Votes
81 Purson - The Circle and the Blue Door, 202 Points, 5 Votes
84 Obelyskkh - Hymn to Pan, 184 Points, 6 Votes
85 Sungod – Contakt, 178 Points, 6 Votes
93 Lumbar - The First and Last Days of Unwelcome, 164 Points, 7 Votes
96 Goatess - Goatess, 158 Points, 4 Votes, One #1
97 Sahg - Delusions of Grandeur, 155 Points, 5 Votes
101 Monster Magnet - Last Patrol, 146 Points, 6 Votes

Not bad! A few that didn't place:

105 naam - vow 142.0 4 0
106 age of taurus - desperate souls of tortured times 141.0 7 0
107 shooting guns - brotherhood of the ram 139.0 4 0
109 brimstone coven - ii 138.0 4 0
112 trouble - the distortion field 135.0 5 0
128 red fang - whales and leeches 105.0 3 0
130 corsair - corsair 99.0 3 0
136 wolf people - fain 91.0 2 0
137 bombus - the poet and the parrot 88.0 3 0
138 seremonia - ihminen 87.0 3 0
139 acid mothers temple and the melting paraiso ufo - in search of the lost divine arc 87.0 2 0
148 horisont - time warriors 81.0 4 0
157 jex thoth - blood moon rise 75.0 3 0
164 beastwars - blood becomes fire 71.0 4 0
166 black capricorn - born under the capricorn 70.0 2 0
171 twilight of the gods - fire on the mountain 66.0 2 0
175 noctum - final sacrifice 64.0 2 0
189 (victor griffins) in-graved - (victor griffins) in-graved 50.0 2 0
194 endless boogie - long island 49.0 1 0
195 iron man - south of the earth 48.0 2 0
195 magister templi - lucifer leviathan logos 48.0 2 0

Super Doom Chart - Best of 2013
http://theparanoidmusicblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/super-doom-chart-best-of-2013.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eR7NvviQkzw/UtiIi2_sv3I/AAAAAAAAB4Y/-rbmNER6w0Y/s1600/PH-Doom-Chart.jpg

Two tracks into the new Indian. Relentless. Quite similar to Guiltless as I remember it. This is a good thing. But my is this heavy stuff. Pretty suffocating.

More on upcoming releases. Be sure to read comments from Bill Goodman and others about Wo Fat, Doctor Smoke, Black Moth, Dozer, Lowrider, Electric Wizard and Goatsnake!

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/01/13/40-albums-2014/

Anyone listend to the last Papir album?

http://sacvs.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/screen-shot-2014-01-17-at-1-47-48-pm.png%3Fw%3D640%26h%3D640

Papir from Copenhagen, Denmark have gradually developed their unique vision of instrumental psychedelic rock over the course of three albums. On IIII, their fourth, they have created their most condensed and realized work to date.

The amazing thing about Papir is how they transform heavy, psychedelic music into something new and relevant, something truly unique. Sure, Papir knows their kraut- and progrock history, but unlike the majority of bands in the present day psych-rock scene they venture far beyond mere pastiche. Guitarist Nicklas Sørensen and Bassist Christian Becher aren’t afraid to explore sounds and styles usually associated with post-rock, minimalism or even shoegaze, and drummer Christoffer Brøchmann plays with a skill, ferocity and richness of ideas that is so rare. By now the bands concerts have become awe-inducing experiences, earning them slots at major European festivals including Roskilde (2012), and Roadburn (2014).It’s stunning to witness how Papir pull numerous influences together with natural ease in these three lengthy excursions. It sounds inspired. Not only is it heavier than previous efforts, it seems more lush and atmospheric as well. IIII is the sound of a band fullfilling its potential.

ooh that sounds good
"instrumental" ahhhhhhh

I gotta say, after listening to the entire results of the Tracks poll the past couple days, listening to Papir is like a warm Epson salt bath after being bludgeoned by hard icy pellets for 5 miles. Yes that happened, why am I not in the Caribbean? Why did I try to appreciate Classixx, Rich Homie Quan, Disclosure, etc?

That Papir is some good stuff.

First one available for Name Your Price on band camp: http://papir.bandcamp.com/album/papir

Yeah I've been bugging band and label to put the others on Bandcamp too. The first one isn't nearly as good as the new stuff, but a good intro.

http://www.truckfighters.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/TF-Universe-cover.jpeg

Forecasts for continued below zero temps for yet another entire week, and a shitload of more snow in this shittiest of shit winters had me slumping into lethargic despair. But then I got an email with my download to the new Truckfighters album! It's freakin' magnificent, and if I didn't have to work tomorrow I'd be listening to it all night, drinking bourbon and smashing things.

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/01/03/truckfighters-universe-review/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XPY_8AYaJI&feature=youtu.be

So far this Papir album is fun, if pretty cheesy.

*wibbly-wibbly guitar*

is it okay to talk about old releases on these threads?

I def shouldve put that Wolf People album on my metal ballot

xp sure! why not?

well i just wanted to say that i am really enjoying this year-old egypt album, "become the sun"

http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a2756230320_10.jpg

Oh you liked that? I wasnt totally into it

Of course, this isn't limited to new releases. Despite Wolf People not originally making my Lucky 13 list, I did sneak it onto my Pazz & Jop ballot: http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/critics/2013/685986/

It got three votes, enough for 289. I just wish I could have done the same for Hidden Masters. I think I finally heard the album the day after the deadline. If I gave it 14 points, it would have gone from 633 to 326. I guess that's still low and it wouldn't have mattered. I think the real issue is, why aren't there more people here voting in it? You don't have to be published in corporate newspapers or magazines, blog writers are accepted too, you just have to ask. They want to keep participation up. pazzand✧✧✧@villagevo✧✧✧.c✧✧

Let's look at Avatarium, for example. It got 16 votes in the ILM Metal poll and placed 13th. The ballot being limited to 10 limits things, so let's say it got 12 votes in Pazz n Jop. It could have placed as high as 54th. So much unflexed muscle here! ;)

This is my belated review of Hidden Masters & Wolf People
http://fastnbulbous.com/hidden-masters-wolf-people/

Truckfighters - Universe
http://fastnbulbous.com/truckfighters-universe-fuzzomania-2014/

Here's a newish discovery for me. UK electro-Kosmische, Eat Light Become Lights
http://eatlightsbecomelights.bandcamp.com/

http://www.head-fi.org/content/type/61/id/1032738/width/500/height/1000/flags/LL

Dr. Fester's prescription for winter blues...

Let the darkness consume you
And turn your mind to jelly
Or drink the Darkness
'Til it's all in your belly

Truckfighters - Universe is officially out today via Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, etc.

"We strongly advise you to listen to this album in full length, from start to finish, without interruption or distraction. Only then you will embrace the true power of the fuzz."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3tbrhz2f98&feature=youtu.be

http://www.head-fi.org/content/type/61/id/1032745/width/350/height/700/flags/LL

Oh shit, nice shout out! I'm hoping to find that album waiting for me when I get home tonight.

a little more than halfway thru - it's great

Saw Roky Erickson and The Black Angels last night. Roky was plodding and listless, quite an endurance test. I couldn't get into The Black Angels either, kept thinking how they're not nearly as awesome as Truckfighters ;) Part of my problem is that I needed something stronger than root beer, but am fighting off a cold so could not indulge on a Wed. night.

Stoner heads, the Lizardia self-titled full-length is really great. My favorite stoner record of the year so far, NB - I'm still waiting for my Truckfighters disc to arrive.

http://lizardia.bandcamp.com/

i like this:
http://woodsmanman.bandcamp.com/album/woodsman

Re: P&J. I have never voted in one of those, was not at all aware of the open call, not sure you'd've dug my ballot even if I had, fnb. It wouldve been way more like the top 10 of my main ILX ballot than anythinf else. I know jvc voted one year as the sole representer for Cosmic Dead, (and one of maybe 3 I think along w you to vote for Uncle Acid)

I saw Wo Fat at a benefit show last night and they played the title track from their upcoming album, The Conjuring. Might be the best thing they've done; a nearly perfect blend of their Southern-fried Texas blues and proper heavy proto-metal. Maybe this will be the album that finally captures their live sound.

Didn't know Wo Fat had another one coming already, that's good to hear.

I think in May?

Cool, thanks for the heads up. I'll keep my eyes out for it.

I hate to say it, but I'm finding the Truckfighters a little underwhelming. I'm not sure if the anticipatio had my expectations unfairly elevated, but I find it just good instead of amazing. I keep wanting to go back to the Pontiak record instead. Speaking of Pontiak, which of their previous albums are worth hearing? I kinda can't believe I haven't heard of them before now.

er, strike that, "heard them" not "heard of them".

All of Pontiak's prior albums are worth a listen. One of the most consistent bands out there right now.

That's great to hear, because I'm really loving the new one.

If this is your intro, I'd work steadily backwards to hear how they reached this point. It's not that Pontiak is radically different from their start, but they've honed that style over the few years they've been around.

The new Pontiak is excellent, but I love the hell out of the new Truckfighters. Am very excited about new Wo Fat too. Maybe they'll actually tour the U.S. for once.

Wo Fat won't be touring the US until maybe late summer/early fall. They do have a European tour in place right around the album's release.

Yeah, Europe always comes first -- I helped with their Kickstarter campaign to get to Europe for Roadburn, etc. last year. I just checked out Woodsman last week via a Spotify recommendation, pretty good. Liking the Lizardia so far (3 tracks in). I like the drummer.

Sadly, Europe pays the bills in a way the States haven't so far. Maybe this record will change things. Cover got released today and it's great.

Lizardia's solid. You guys heard the new Morgue of Saints? Instrumental doom with some sweet classic rock vibes mixed in:

http://morgueofsaints.bandcamp.com/album/monolith

http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2014/02/11/275385347/vikings-choice-psalm-zero-masters-its-own-undoing

After accumulating these stoner/doom/metal patches over the years, I need to man up, sew these babies on and represent. I may have to give up waiting for a Slough Feg patch though. Also on my wishlist, Elder, Colour Haze, The Obsessed and Kyuss.

http://fastnbulbous.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/metal-jacket.jpg

Okay, so a really loud listen to Truckfighters on Lake Shore Drive last night after working a 16-hour day really opened it up for me, it's pretty damn great.

I picked up Pontiak's previous album, Echo Ono, the other day... so I'm working through your advice and going back through the catalog.

Super stoked for new Wo Fat. When I was in Half Price Books a few weeks ago, I stumbled onto another round of stoner rock albums - looks like some stoner fan dumped his collection and thankfully the store was smart enough to take 'em. Anyway, got ahold of Wo Fat's first two albums that way.

Wow, nice find! I got all their first four CDs during their Kickstarter, and they're definitely all worth getting. The new cover by Alexander von Wieding:

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/wo-fat-the-conjuring.jpg

Aw they took away the computer font!

It's still on the bass drum. I don't think it's going anywhere.

Guys, I'm totally digging these Swedes in Agusa. Their album is due out in April on Transubstans Records and it's a wonderful mix of late60s/early 70s pysch, prog & krautrock.

Check this out:

https://soundcloud.com/transubstans-records/agusa-uti-v-r-hage

Wicked cover, stoked for that one.

The new Radar Men from the Moon, Strange Wave Galore, is hitting me right today. Nice stonery krautrock goodness.

Strange Waves Galore is a fun record.

Echo Ono is my favorite Pontiak record. The new one is great, too.

But yes, as someone said upthread, they're all pretty worthwhile. I do think they hit on something special around Comecrudos and could live with that one and the two others I mentioned without hanging into the others.

Helms Alee - Sleepwalking Sailors
I'm really into this. Moving from defunct Hydra Head label to Sargent House, this triggers a jumble of impressions for me, from Rodan and Lungfish to Floor and the early Baroness EPs, it all comes together in a powerful, cohesive statement.
https://helmsalee.bandcamp.com/album/sleepwalking-sailors

Slomatics - Estron
Sludge/doom from Belfast evolving nicely with creepy atomospherics and some prog.
https://slomatics.bandcamp.com/album/estron

Just started listening to Conan's Blood Eagle, which is as good as I hoped. Haven't tracked down Motorpsycho's Behind The Sun yet. Like on last year's Still Life With Eggplant, Dungen's Reine Fiske is practically an honorary member. BTW it's high time for a new Dungen album.

What I'm looking forward to this year. Most of these are not confirmed, but I reckon they're due for something new:
Arenna, Been Obscene, Blues Pills, Cherry Choke, Christian Mistress, Julie Christmas, Corsair, Dead Man, Dungen, Elder, Electric Wizard, Fellwoods, Goat, Gojira, Graveyard, Hammers Of Misfortune, Humo del Cairo, Rose Kemp, Mansion, Mastodon, Northwinds, Om, Opeth, Ovvl, Radio Moscow, Rival Sons, Royal Thunder, Spiders, Torche, Troubled Horse, USX/U.S. Christmas, Witch Mountain, Witchcraft, Wo Fat.

I'm not sure if we'll get a new Torche as we're getting a new Floor record and tour.

Torche is a done deal, signed to Relapse, recorded at Pinecrust Studio in Miami, produced by Nunez, mixed by Kurt Ballou, due in the summer. I hope the Floor thing is true! I also heard a rumor that Sleep will finally do a proper U.S. tour. Dare we hope for a new album too?

I've heard rumors of new Sleep.

New Floor is called Oblation, out April 29th on Season of the Mist. There's a song over at stereogum:

http://www.stereogum.com/1662561/floor-war-party-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/

Awesome!

Did more digging, here's some release dates:

Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus - Spirit Knife (Small Stone) 29-Apr
Mars Red Sky - Mars Red Sky Apr
Serpent Venom - Of Things Seen And Unseen (Church Within) Apr
Dwellers - Pagan Fruit (Small Stone) 6-May
Greenleaf - Trails & Passes (Small Stone) 13-May
Radio Moscow - Magical Dirt (Alive Naturalsound) May
Wovenhand - Refractory Obdurate (Deathwish) Spring
Wo Fat - The Conjuring (Small Stone) 17-Jun
Corsair - One Eyed Horse (Shadow Kingdom) June

Electric Wizard has announced a new album is due in May on their Witchfinder Records, but no title yet. They'll distribute it with a bigger company. Don't really understand why they feuded with Rise Above.

You once said, you'd like to make the heaviest, dirtiest album. Even more evil than “Dopethrone” It’s kind of hard to believe you can make even more heavy stuff?

"I think we have done it. It was easy once Liz, Mark and I started riffing…we all gravitate naturally to this dirtier, nastier sound. Every line-up created its own 'sound', its own vibe. But this time it seemed as if this was what should have happened after Let Us Prey. It was chilling actually. Too my ears its just savage and hateful and mind-destroying…but then it transcends to something more, beyond emotions and human failings. It becomes a really honest and maybe beautiful thing…..to me it sounds like the Stooges play Dopethrone….or something…man" - http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2014/02/electric-wizard-announces-new-album.html

Pilgrim - II: Void Worship (Metal Blade) 1-Apr

Also, they're touring with Spirit Caravan!
http://www.metalblade.com/us/news/pilgrim-to-release-sophomore-album/

So excited for that Pilgrim record, really loved the first one.

This came out Friday. Again it features Reine Fiske of Dungen as practically a full band member. Probably the best introduction to what they do best since Heavy Metal Fruit (2010).

Motorpsycho - Behind The Sun (Rune Grammafon)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k0kfA-U4z8&feature=youtu.be

Looking forward to The Oath. U.S. release isn't 'til Apr 15. It's a mostly digital market in 2014, why are there still these ridiculous lags?

The Oath - The Oath (Rise Above) Mar 17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt6xCf9Iivk&feature=youtu.be

I saw a rare performance by High Spirits at Alehorn of Power last fall, and they were great. Everything Chris Black does is quality. Check out "The Last Night."

High Spirits - You Are Here (Hells Headbangers) May 13
http://www.stereogum.com/1668515/high-spirits-the-last-night-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/

Super chuffed for this. For their third album Castle will finally get decent U.S. distribution (they were on German label Ván Records). Below is a great cover of Alice Cooper's "Second Coming."

Castle - Under Siege (Prosthetic Records) May 20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQKBb0BjD70&feature=youtu.be

Single and first album In Witch Order (2011) available here: https://heavycastle.bandcamp.com/album/second-coming-labyrinth-of-death-7

SAINT VITUS: Legendary Doom Metal Icons Announce Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Tour

Legendary doom metal icons, SAINT VITUS, are pleased to announce a very special run of live rituals to celebrate their astounding thirty-fifth anniversary! Sponsored by Scion AV, the tour will commence on May 8th in Albuquerque and wind its way through fifteen cities, coming to a close on May 25th in Dallas. The band will be performing the planet-rumbling Born Too Late album -- the first SAINT VITUS outing to feature the imperious voice of Scott "Wino" Weinrich -- in its entirety alongside other renowned VITUS hymns. The band will be joined by Portland stoner rock power trio Sons Of Huns, supporting their recently released Banishment Ritual full-length on EasyRider Records. Comments the band of their coveted spot on the tour, “We can't be any more stoked to support one of the finest purveyors of doom and crush many cities in our wake!" Tickets go on sale Friday, March 14th.

Starting April 1st, Scion AV will be giving away two pairs of tickets to every club show via Twitter. See www.scionav.com for details.

SAINT VITUS w/ Sons Of Huns

5/08/2014 Launch Pad - Albuquerque, NM
5/09/2014 Club Red - Phoenix, AZ
5/10/2014 Cheyenne Saloon - Las Vegas, NV
5/11/2014 The Observatory (Psycho De 5o Fest) - Santa Ana, CA
5/13/2014 The Echo - Los Angeles, CA
5/14/2014 SLO Brew - San Luis Obispo, CA
5/15/2014 Strummer's - Fresno, CA
5/16/2014 Thee Parkside - San Francisco, CA
5/17/2014 Branx - Portland, OR
5/18/2014 Highline - Seattle, WA
5/20/2014 In The Venue - Salt Lake City, UT
5/21/2014 Marquis Theatre - Denver, CO
5/23/2014 Red 7 (Outside) - Austin, TX
5/24/2014 Fitzgerald's Downstairs - Houston, TX
5/25/2014 Three Links - Dallas, TX

No Midwestern shows :(

Hawkwind cancelled their tour for a second time.

It is with great regret that we finally have to accept defeat and realise that the proposed North American dates that we have tried so hard to secure are not going to be possible after all. Together with the promoters of the five shows, which we hoped to reschedule, we have tried everything, but it has become a logistical nightmare.

In Europe and the rest of the world we always work on the premise of a 50% deposit on exchange of contracts, this enables us to make the essential travel arrangements for our somewhat large production. Unfortunately in North America this does not appear to be standard practice. However, on this occasion, as the band and crew were all so excited about the prospect of bringing our show to our North American fans, we put all of our money and savings into making it happen, relying on the fact that deposits would eventually be forthcoming and certainly within a few days of travel, so that we did not arrive on a foreign shore penniless. (on and on at https://www.facebook.com/HawkwindHQ/posts/781443368535233)

I know it's not impossible for European bands to tour the U.S. They do it all the time - Gojira, Truckfighters, Graveyard, etc. But it helps to be young and able to travel light. Hawkwind are old and need more stuff ;)

Meanwhile, I lost the auction on this awesome vintage patch:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTU3WDUxMg%3D%3D/z/QN4AAMXQVT9TArE%7E/%24_12.JPG

http://fastnbulbous.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/hawkwind-patch.jpg

Lovin' the shit out of The Oath. Similarly, Satyress have that great mix of occult proto-metal, psych, doom and NWOBHM. Can't wait also for the new Castle, who also reside in a sweet spot between Witch Mountain's bluesy doom and rockin' Christian Mistress. Lots of stuff worth noting.

The Oath - The Oath (Rise Above) - Out this week in UK, Apr 15 in U.S.
http://noisey.vice.com/blog/the-oath-interview-all-must-die

Satyress - Dark Fortunes Apr 8
http://satyress.bandcamp.com/

Demon Eye - Leave The Light (Soulseller/Megaforce Apr 15
This is already out on Soulseller, and will be distributed in the U.S. on Megaforce/RED. Sabbath, Pentagram, early Maiden. It's been on heavy rotation at my place.
http://demoneye.bandcamp.com/

Bigelf - Into The Maelstrom (InsideOut) Apr 1
With Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater) on drums, older albums were a little cheesy arena progtastic for me at first, but they've grown on me, and this one is more pyschedelic, by far their best.

Crippled Black Phoenix - White Light Generator (Provogue)
Out this week, interesting followup to their 2012 double, (Mankind) The Crafty Ape. No sonic evidence of past links to Electric Wizard, more proggy post-rock, but I like 'em.

The Socks - The Socks (Small Stone)
French stoner psych garage, out this week.
http://smallstone.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-the-socks

Kosmischer Läufer - The Secret Cosmic Music Of The East German Olympic Program: Volume Two
Just out this week, more of the same for those who liked Vol. One.
http://kosmischerlaufer.bandcamp.com/

Major Kong - Doom Machine
Instrumental stoner doom from Poland, no different from their last one, Doom For The Black Sun, but just as great. Came out in January.
http://majorkong.bandcamp.com/album/doom-machine

Others to watch out for:

Pilgrim - II: Void Worship (Metal Blade) Apr 1 (Everyone knows this, highly anticipated doom)
Agusa - Uti Vår Hage (Transubstans) Apr 2 (Seventies style Swedish prog via Kebnakajse, Amon Duul II and Colosseum.)
Sir Admiral Cloudsley Shovell - Check 'Em Before You Wreck 'Em (Rise Above) Apr 14 (Influenced by Groundhogs, Stray, Sir Lord Baltimore, Buffalo, with some raucous sloppy energy)
Floor - Oblation (Season Of Mist) Apr 25 (Those who like the old albums and Torche know what to expect)
Abramis Brama - Enkel Biljett (Transubstans) May 2 (Solid Swedish hard rock)
The Golden Grass - The Golden Grass (Svart) May 9 (Jammy psychedelic proto-metal, sound European but actually from Brooklyn. Check out their album art)
Greenleaf - Trails & Passes (Small Stone) May 13 (Guys from Dozer with rotating vocalists from Lowrider and Truckfighters, handled now by Arvid Jonsson)
Castle - Under Siege (Prosthetic) May 20
Wo Fat - The Conjuring (Small Stone) Jun 17 (I pre-ordered via https://smallstone.bandcamp.com/album/the-conjuring)

new Castle, who also reside in a sweet spot between Witch Mountain's bluesy doom and rockin' Christian Mistress.

yes plzzzzzz

Also, keep an eye out for Monolord's debut, out April 1st on Easy Rider. Very 90s doom, with a heavy dose of pre-Dopethrone Electric Wizard

ok, all these sound amazing + i'm salivating but what's the shortlist of stuff from this year i can listen to now???

2014 stuff I'm digging that's already out:

Kult of the Wizard - The Blue Wizard
Major Kong - Doom Machine
Moon Coven - Amanita Kingdom
Morgue of Saints - Monolith
Rainbows are Free - Waves Ahead of the Ocean

So, easily album (of this sort) of 2014 so far for me is Bong's Stoner Rock. Two 35 minute long tracks. One chord. Sheer heaven.

New album by Cosmic Dead announced by Paradigms.

Ooh always happy to have new Cosmic Dead in my life.

Here's my list of this stuff that is out and I've really enjoyed:
Pontiak - Innocence
Mount Salem - Endless (technically 2013, but the expanded Metal Blade edition just came out, fantastic stuff)
Sahg - Delusions of Grandeur (again, 2013, but just got a domestic U.S. release)
Tempel - On the Steps of the Temple (loose connection to the genres in this thread, but I think folks here would dig it)
The Wounded Kings - Consolamentum
Kachatka - The Search Goes On
Greenleaf - Trails and Passes (though I guess this isn't out yet)
Wedge - Wedge (great if you liked Kadavar, though these guys get even more late 60s psych)
Mammoth Storm - Rite of Ascension
Radar Men From the Moon - Strange Wave Galore
Rainbows Are Free - Waves Ahead of the Ocean (hate the name, but the cover art is phenomenal, er, so is the music!)
Bong - Stoner Rock
Truckfighters - Universe
Lizardia - Lizardia

And one that I want to emphasize separately because it is so gorgeous is the new Mark McGuire, Along the Way. It's definitely more krauty than any of the genres we are considering here, but I think this is another one that a lot of you might dig. Just beautiful stuff.

I was crazy for most of the previous Bong albums, but haven't really connected with the new one yet.

My favorites of what's out are Truckfighters, Slough Feg, The Oath (out in UK/Europe), Motorpsycho, Demon Eye (out in Europe), Helms Alee, Papir, Crippled Black Phoenix, Conan, The Socks, Major Kong, Pontiak, Kosmischer Laufer, The Wounded Kings, Grand Magus, Temples, Slomatics, Mount Salem, Dark Forest, The Movements, Goya, Woodsman, Lizardia.

Mount Salem got a shout-out on That Metal Show, heh.

i have actually looked for the oath album this week.

that's how fucking much my world has changed.

i blame this thread and all those who partake herein.

You don't need to partake of the heroin Mark. You just need to be awesome.

~ checked re typo .. ~

phew.

I definitely enjoy some of these albums

np: discography thingy of Hell out of Salem (not the NWOBHM guys). iirc they did a split 7" with Thou but I think I'd decided to get off the Thou bus by then; anyone who likes them might fuck w/ this altho this is dirtier and more varied. kinda sludge guitar tone you've heard tons of times since idk Grief I guess but when it's done right it's so effing invigorating

skipped seeing Conan tonight cos I had stuff to do, sure they'll come round again mind

oh the Hell discography is a pr*mo but the irl version is some crazy pic disc box or something and it's all old stuff and probably online so

I forgot The Socks was out. Surprisingly fun.

Also forgot one of my favorite records thus far: The Cult of Dom Keller - The Second Bardo. Top-notch psych rock

I like the Wedge, Rainbows Are Free and The Cult of Dom Keller. I just got into the latter's first album the end of last year, so it's a nice surprise. Still looking for Kult of the Wizard, Kachatka and Tempel.

Monolord - Empress Rising (Easy Rider) is now on Bandcamp, and it's freakin' great!
http://monolord.bandcamp.com/

If you want the CD, it's on sale for $8 plus shipping here:
http://www.easyriderrecords.com/product-category/easyrider-releases/compact-disc/

...with Monolord, stoner doom no longer has two gods but a holy trinity. ‘Empress Rising’ sits perfectly in between afore mentioned albums. It has the skull crushing heaviness of ‘Dopethrone’ and the drugged out feel of Sleep’s opus, with a bunch of psychedelic effects thrown in for good measure.

Kult of the Wizard is digital only for the moment:

http://kultofthewizard.bandcamp.com/

I reviewed the Monolord and did an email interview with their drummer. Nice guy, really good record.

The new Gallon Drunk, Soul of the Hour fits into this thread oddly enough. Long, pulsing tracks without much of the twang they started with. Cool way to evolve their sound, picking up from some of the looser numbers on their last album, which I thought were the strongest parts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GrMV_ro3qg

I'm a longtime fan of Gallon Drunk, so sure! It is a nice variation of their garage noir.

The new Wolfmother was released only on Bandcamp this week, and it's not bad!

http://wolfmother.bandcamp.com/album/new-crown

The boys in Shooting Guns have curated an really, really good compilation that focuses on the best of Canadian stoner/psych/doom/space. It's an incredible mix (Powder Blue, Krang, Lavagoat, Chron Goblin, Hawkeyes, Mahogany Frog, The Pack AD, and a KILLER new Shooting Guns track), and is available now.

https://shootingguns.bandcamp.com/album/house-of-burners-compilation

Not spamming, I'm a big fan of so many of these bands. It's a great time for psych north of the border.

Sounds cool! Reviews of our favorite Welsh stoner/doomsters are trickling out:

Sigiriya - Darkness Died Today (Candlelight) Apr 24

http://threelobed.bandcamp.com/album/piedmont-apocrypha

couldn't find any horseback/jenks miller thread, i guess this might belong here

I love Horseback so much, this new one took me by surprise since it's not on Relapse like the past few have been. I need to check it out.

Nothing I didn't already mention in this thread, just a few more words here and there, and sorted by my preference at the moment:
http://fastnbulbous.com/winter-album-rundown-2014/

I was double booked and missed most of Pilgrim, but Spirit Caravan were great. Bummed that Saint Vitus' Born Too Late tour isn't coming through the Midwest.

I'd trade Vitus for Spirit Caravan. I've seen Vitus a few times but never got to see Caravan.

This was self-released last year, but just coming out on vinyl via Bilocation now. I don't know if it's my new NAD amp, but the bass sounds amazing on "Spring."

Sonora Ritual - Worship The Sun
http://sonoraritual.bandcamp.com/

Satyress came out yesterday.

http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a1677125922_2.jpg

http://satyress.bandcamp.com/
http://open.spotify.com/album/1Kgoy4rziAEJewSulhN4NS

and this is mighty fun too, came out the 4th:

http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a3474741683_2.jpg

Dopelord - Black Arts, Riff Worship & Weed Cult
http://dopelord.bandcamp.com/album/black-arts-riff-worship-weed-cult

dopelord : $6.66

ha ! seen this quite a few times now.

i'm officially sick of all the naked cartoon ladies on these album covers

Yeah they're pretty silly, and don't do anything to help expand the music's appeal beyond perpetually arrested development males. Nudes in art is no new thing of course, but I feel like many of these are a poor ripoff of John Baizley's work which I think is pretty well done. The Malleus Labs crew (basically Ufomammut) over in Italy are kind of half and half in crossing the line of good taste. I'm conflicted! In one sense, stoner/psych/doom probably has no business being tasteful. On the other hand I hesitate to display certain pieces on a t-shirt as I don't want to feel douchey.

My wife hates this t-shirt:

http://www.allthatisheavy.com/images/covers/ATH-6649.jpg

I think it's cheesy, but not necessarily offensive. I would not want to wear this one though:

http://www.malleusdelic.com/store/image/cache/data/ARTPRINT/flora-300x300.jpg

It's a fine line!

Or maybe not so fine a line, lol. Here's a Malleus poster I love of Theda Bara as Cleopatra:

http://www.malleusdelic.com/store/image/cache/data/ARTPRINT/vampbymalleus2013-500x500.jpg

Turn on the blacklight and it looks like this:

http://www.malleusdelic.com/store/image/cache/data/ARTPRINT/vampbymalleus11-500x500.jpg

Yes I have a blacklight. And a plasma ball. I've regressed to 14 again.

I really wanted this, but was way too pricey. Maybe crosses the line, but the glowy version is all kinds of Cthulu-horror awesome!

http://www.malleusdelic.com/store/image/cache/data/ARTPRINT/DEMONI-500x500.jpghttp://www.malleusdelic.com/store/image/cache/data/ARTPRINT/glowingAPpreview-500x500.jpg

i dunno maybe they could switch it up and include some male or genderless skeleton cherubs from time to time? animals? plants? nonsexualized images?
it's just a boring visual default setting imo

It seems that especially to the European bands (some mentioned above are from Sweden, Poland, Italy) sexuality is never boring. I am curious if there was any conflict over the art between Satyress singer Jamie LaRose and the rest of the band.

Perhaps they could stand to borrow some of power metal's sometimes homoerotic beefcake warriors in loincloth imagery!

or if they're that committed, how about some smutty looking worms or something
i'm just tired of this narrowly defined/juvenile/grotesque female form thing

The Oath and Demon Eye were finally released on Spotify this morning. Also out today, new albums from Kyng, Sir Admiral Cloudesly Shovel, Woods, and still not on Spotify, Smoke Fairies and Mos Generator.

http://open.spotify.com/user/1212496385/playlist/5gEhhxLD3xaqaqEfc1EYNt

Picked up Admiral Sir and The Oath albums at lunch today (along with the new Triptykon), forgot to look for the Woods.

ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE & THE MELTING PARAISO U.F.O. kick off North American Tour tonight 4/23/2014 at Mercury Lounge

Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. begin their North American tour tonight at New York’s Mercury Lounge, in support of their new album Astrorgasm From The Inner Space released May 13th on Important Records. PR follows below.

Preview “Dark Star Blues” from Astrorgasm From The Inner Space here:

https://soundcloud.com/importantrecords/acid-mothers-temple-the-1

A freak-out group for the 21st century founded in 1995 by members of the Acid Mothers Temple soul-collective. Led by Kawabata Makoto.

April

Wed. 04/23 – New York, NY, Mercury Lounge http://www.mercuryloungenyc.com

Thurs. 04/24 – Washington, DC, DC9 http://www.dcnine.com

Fri. 04/25 – Richmond, VA, Strange Matter http://www.strangematterrva.com

Sat. 04/26 – Raleigh, NC, Kings http://kingsbarcade.com

Sun. 04/27 – Atlanta, GA, The Earl http://www.badearl.com

Mon. 04/28 – Nashville, TN, The High Watt http://thehighwatt.com

Tues. 04/29 – Birmingham, AL, Bottletree http://www.thebottletree.com

Wed. 04/30 – New Orleans, LA, Siberia http://siberianola.com

May

Thurs. 05/01 – Houston, TX, Fitzgerald’s http://fitzlivemusic.com

Fri. 05/02 – Fort Worth, TX, Where House http://wherehousefortworth.com

Sat. 05/03 – Austin, TX, Austin Psych Fest http://www.austinpsychfest.com

Sun. 05/04 – El Paso, TX, Lowbrow Palace http://thelowbrowpalace.com

Mon. 05/05 – Tucson, AZ, Solar Culture http://www.solarculture.org

Tues. 05/06 – San Diego, CA, Casbah http://www.casbahmusic.com

Wed. 05/07 – Los Angeles, CA, Echo http://www.theecho.com

Thurs. 05/08 – San Francisco, CA, Bottom of the Hill http://www.bottomofthehill.com

Fri. 05/09 – Portland, OR, Mississippi Studios http://www.mississippistudios.com

Sat. 05/10 – Vancouver, BC, CA, The Media Club http://www.themediaclub.ca

Sun. 05/11 – Seattle, WA, Chop Suey http://chopsuey.com

Mon. 05/12 – Boise, ID, The Crux https://www.facebook.com/thecruxcoffeeshop?rf=146645008785136

Tues. 05/13 – Salt Lake City, UT, Urban Lounge http://www.theurbanloungeslc.com/urbanlounge/calendar/listing.html

Wed. 05/14 – Denver, CO, Hi Dive http://www.hi-dive.com

Thurs. 05/15 – Lincoln, NE, Bourbon Theatre http://bourbontheatre.com

Fri. 05/16 – Minneapolis, MN, 7th Street Entry http://first-avenue.com

Sat. 05/17 – Madison, WI, The Frequency http://madisonfrequency.com

Sun. 05/18 – Chicago, IL, Double Door http://www.doubledoor.com

Mon. 05/19 – Kalamazoo, MI, Louies Trophy House http://louieskzoo.com

Tues. 05/20 – Cleveland Heights, OH, Grog Shop http://grogshop.gs

Wed. 05/21 – Toronto, ON, CA, The Garrison http://www.garrisontoronto.com

Thurs. 05/22 – Montreal, QC, CA, Il Motore http://www.ilmotore.ca

Fri. 05/23 – Cambridge, MA, Middle East Upstairs http://www.mideastclub.com

Sat. 05/24 – New Haven, CT, Cafe Nine http://www.cafenine.com

Sun. 05/25 – Providence, RI, Fete Lounge http://www.fetemusic.com

Tues. 05/27 – Philadelphia, PA, Boots & Saddle http://www.bootandsaddlephilly.com

Wed. 05/28 – Brooklyn, NY, Knitting Factory http://bk.knittingfactory.com

http://acidmothers.com/acid-mothers-temple-the-melting-paraiso-u-f-o-us-canadian-tour-2014-astrorgasm-from-the-inner-temple-tour.html

Hey Kalamazoo! Thats way do-able!

I'm totally annoyed that AMT is playing at the exact same time Medicine is at Psych Fest.

Hey Kalamazoo! Thats way do-able!

― Drugs A. Money, Wednesday, April 23, 2014 3:12 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

way pvmic!

:)

i'd like to see them but i don't like the double door at all. why do they have to play there?!

The Oath, Mansion, and Wounded Kings are all excellent. I hope Mansion do more in this dancey boogie-doom vein. It puts a nice slant on the eschatological lyrics.

The new Tweak Bird is the stoner Ween album they've had running through the veins of their prior two records. Really solid.

Interesting...

jmm, were you referring to last year's 4 song We Shall Live EP by the Finnish Mansion? Or is there a new album completed that I didn't hear about yet?

Satan's Satyrs - Die Screaming (Trash King)
https://trashking.bandcamp.com/album/die-screaming

Aquarius album of the week:

Remember the movie 2000 Maniacs? Where tourists are lured to a small Southern town and are forced to participate in 'games' that are essentially elaborate and ultra gory (and quite inventive) excuses for extreme torture that ultimately lead to their deaths. Or howabout the sixties biker classic Easy Rider? The ultimate drugged out hippie motorcycle road movie. Or maybe the seventies British horror flick Psychomania, about psychopathic suicidal bikers who make a pact with the devil, kill themselves and return from the dead to terrorize the squares? So now, imagine some crazed, druggy, doomy, psychedelic, psychotropic, head spinning mix of all three, and Satan's Satyrs are pretty much the perfect house band. Similarly, Die Screaming is essentially the soundtrack to the above, some impossibly insane, low budget, blood drenched, exploitation-splatter Z-grade alien biker undead epic. The opening track "Thumper's Theme" is uncharacteristically upbeat, but you can almost imagine this fuzzed out organ fueled jam playing beneath the credits as a porky, leather vested biker, presumably "Thumper" rolls into town, as the townsfolk lock their doors and lower their blinds, all to the strains of fuzzed out distorto riffage, wheezing organ, tumbling toms, all a little bit surfy, infused with just a bit of sonic swagger. But it's on "Instruments Of Hellfire" where things get really good, or perhaps bad if you're one of those innocent bystanders, wild squiggly psychedelic leads over blown out Stooges-y metallic garage punk pound, plenty of wild wah wah guitars, totally tripped out, and when the vocals swoop in, totally whiney, high pitched, and echo drenched, somewhere between a young Ozzy, and a more unhinged hysterical version of Uncle Acid, and in fact, Uncle Acid fans should be ALL over this. It's like a more raw and primitive take on the same sort of seventies psychedelic hard rock, but with SS, it all sounds so much more desperate and unhinged, frantic and dangerous. Oh and then out of nowhere, in comes a barrage of bongos and hand percussion, that gives the sound a little bit of a Goat vibe, but only for like 10 seconds, and then it's right back into another, lurching, lumbering psych-doom garage rock blowout.
Apparently UK doomlords Electric Wizard are huge fans, which makes sense, as they share much of the same sonic DNA, a similar psych-doom bent, and the same obsession with exploitation movies, horror flicks from the sixties and seventies, SS's jams even more that EW's evoking rubber suited beasties, blood spurting ultra violence, greasy bikers and bodacious bikini babes, if it's possible for a 'sound' to be greasy, and filthy, dirty and caked in dried blood, well, Die Screaming is as filthy, bloody and lysergic as it gets. And stick around for the sprawling creepfest closer, the 12+ minute title track, which is a drugged out doom crawl: over a bed of whirring organs, SS unfurl a lumbering dirge, a wasted psychedelic downer rock sprawl, that explodes in the last few minutes into a final, frenzied blast of heavy-horror biker rock crush that KILLS!!!
All that, and then when you add in the blood dripping logo, and melting skull cover art, it's pretty much a guaranteed aQ Record Of The Week! YOU WILL DIE SCREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally spaced on the Kadavar show night before last. I saw Godflesh and Ghost, and looking forward to Graveyard and Bombus tonight. Last night Kadavar opened for them in Mpls, too bad they can't play tonight with 'em. On the fence for Loop on Monday, then there are five consecutive shows starting 5/8 with Television, QOTSA, Slint or Fu Manchu, Floor and Truckfighters. I think I'll have to skip the third day otherwise it might kill me.

I was referring to the Mansion Congregation 7". I assume that Mansion Congregation are just Mansion still, though it's certainly a different sound from the EP.

You can hear it here: https://archive.org/details/SoggyBog164TheMansionCongregationFisterTriptykonTheOathAndMore

Blood Farmers - Headless Eyes (Resurrection)
http://bloodfarmers.wordpress.com/

Wow, I never thought I'd hear from these guys again. NY occult-horror doomsters formed in 1989, put out one self-titled album on Hellhound in 1995. Reportedly an influence on Electric Wizard, though they were contemporaries really. You can order the new one and the remastered first CD directly from the band at link above.

http://youtu.be/YyPTttZBfXI

can't wait to dig into "Black Arts, Riff Worship & Weed Cult" by the band Dopelord and see what these cats are all about

I talked to one of the guys in Mansion a few weeks ago, the new 7" consists of tracks that just didn't fit with the rest of the new album, which is currently being recorded. Expect the album to be more along the lines of the EP, style-wise.

Mansion was incredible at Roadburn, by the way. Great live band, with a freaky singer who stayed remarkably in character throughout. Unflinching.

I heard the songs from the single, and they are great (you can order the 7" on their Bandcamp, but would like more of the EP style just as much. Looking forward to it!

Graveyard were better than ever last night, so good. It's nice to be able to see them in a smallish club that's not sold out, but they should be way bigger than they are. I know they played Coachella, but wondered how many noticed. They played a few new excellent new songs, hoping they'll announce a new album coming out this year.

Glow-in-the-dark poster for last night's Graveyard show.

http://fastnbulbous.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/graveyard-2014-chicago-poster.jpg

Ok yeah that is dope

just saw Church Of Misery play a great set to a crowd that was multiple times more energetic than I anticipated esp for a Monday night. don't think they write songs for moshpits but hey if it feels good do it I guess. thought they were a p niche concern but there were lots of dudes w/ RIP DIMEBAG shirts on or whatever which was unexpected/cool

So The Oath broke up, apparently did so before they even released the album. Too bad, it was a promising band. Meanwhile Electric Wizard announced that the new album will be released on their Witchfinder label and distributed by Spinefarm. I have doubts that they can do any better than the Rise Above/Metal Blade alliance, so don't really see the point of the switch. It's not like Electric Wiz are on the cusp of superstardom, being held back by their label.

Tons of stuff out today, Wovenhand and Floor are big ones for me. Fu Manchu release totally snuck up on me. Enjoying Mars Red Sky, Sigiriya, Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus, Salem's Pot and Secret Colours too.

Shit, really? That's a bummer about The Oath, I've been listening to that one quite a bit!

i know folk metal/oriental metal isn't in the thread headline but i'm digging this album and it def has a stonerish groove idk where else to post about it

https://whatimg.com/i/LY7aMT.jpg

Been listening to Excepter's new one Familiar a lot.Incredible and I don't understand how they' haven't been universally praised since the old days of Ka.

Meanwhile Electric Wizard announced that the new album will be released on their Witchfinder label and distributed by Spinefarm. I have doubts that they can do any better than the Rise Above/Metal Blade alliance, so don't really see the point of the switch.

they fell out with their label over something or other, that's why they switched

Recent new stuff I've been diggin:

Sigiriya – Darkness Died Today (Candlelight)
Can't believe it's already been three years since Return To Earth. Guys from Acrimony/Iron Monkey with best songs since peak Acrimony days.
http://candlelightrecordsuk.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-died-today

Lé Betre – Melas (Le Betre)
Bill Goodman, formerly of The Soda Shop, turned me onto this via his new site http://www.theevilengineer.com/?p=752. French band influenced by Swedes like Graveyard, Truckfighters with extra blues.
http://lebetre.bandcamp.com/album/melas

Mars Red Sky – Stranded In Arcadia (Listenable)
Released Apr 28 in Europe, but not 'til Jun 10 in U.S. oddly. Another French band, the psychedelic space rock of their 2011 debut was kind of a hit. Dry Hop brewpub near me even named a beer after them: "Biere D’Avril – 7.5% – This collaboration with Une Année Brewery did not want to stop fermenting. So instead of Biere de Mars, we have your new Spring fling – Biere d’Avril. Strong notes of raisin & spice highlight this traditional French farmhouse ale. Spicy Saaz & Strisselspalt hops round out this complex beer." Are the hipsters going to latch onto stoner/psych next?

Dwellers – Pagan Fruit (Small Stone)
Out today! SubRosa fans take note, Dave Jones and Zach Hatsis both played with that band. Dwellers are much different of course, focusing on hard/stoner rock rather than doom, but do share some progressive psych tendencies. A big step from Good Morning Harakiri (2012).
http://smallstone.bandcamp.com/album/pagan-fruit

Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus – Spirit Knife (Small Stone)
Small Stone is nailing it this year, kind of like Rise Above did last year. They have the great debut from The Socks and are also coming out with the new Greenleaf next week and Wo Fat next month. Like Sigiriya, Dwellers, Swedish psych rockers Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus have have significantly stepped up their songwriting from their second album Bloom (2011). Sprawling guitar heavy epics and even some sticky melodic hooks ("Sworn Collision").
http://smallstone.bandcamp.com/album/spirit-knife

Fu Manchu – Gigantoid (Redeye)
One of the original stoner rock architects, I've taken them for granted over the years, as they always had solid but not amazing albums. This is still meat and potatoes rock 'n' roll, but definitely a step up from Signs Of Infinite Power (2009) along the lines of the last Monster Magnet.
http://fumanchuband.bandcamp.com/album/gigantoid

Lantlôs – Melting Sun (Prophecy)
I've gotten pretty sick of shoegazy stuff lately, as I cannot get into the last Alcest nor The Horrors. But the latest from this German band feels much more substantial.

Vestal Claret – The Cult Of Vestal Claret (Cruz Del Sur)
Lots of people loved <a href="http://ninerecords.bandcamp.com/album/bloodbath";><i>Bloodbath</i></a> (Nine, 2011/2013). The Connecticut band features Philip Swanson formerly of Hour Of 13. I'm on the fence whether this one is as great. It seems to drift from occult doom to more traditional metal, which they certainly do just as well, just depends on what you're in the mood for. Their Satanic/occult lyrics are just as provocative as ever.
http://cruzdelsurmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-cult-of-vestal-claret-2

Any idea why The Oath split up? That's highly unusual timing.

They were Decibel's feature review just last month. I got interested in them because of the In Solitude connection. Same producer from Sister, Martin Ehrencrona, as well as Henrik Palm contributing guitar. Felt like they were a solid hard-rock band with room to grow.

In the interview they said the band were the two women, with the others just hired hands. So I reckon those two stopped getting along for undisclosed reasons.

This just recaps and expands on what I've been posting here, but prettier:

http://fastnbulbous.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/2014-so-far.jpg
http://fastnbulbous.com/2014-albums-so-far/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKbm-6VoQ-4&feature=youtu.be

demo tape by Scott and Alfredo's pre-Kyuss band circa 1985. starts w/ M.O. which ended up on Sky Valley. neat!

That reminds me, back in 2011 I wrote about a documentary called Lo Sound Desert by the guys who did the Truckfighters Fuzzomentary. Not sure if it'll ever get completed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9InkRj0kY40&feature=youtu.be

BBC doc, audio only:
http://youtu.be/a3IjnuK_Cvc

Dwellers – Pagan Fruit (Small Stone)
Out today! SubRosa fans take note, Dave Jones and Zach Hatsis both played with that band. Dwellers are much different of course...

Nothing else sounds super close to them, but more people who liked SubRosa should check out Jex Thoth – Blood Moon Rise. Maybe Avatarium and Mansion. Cauchemar – Tenebrario.

http://fastnbulbous.com/take-a-roll-in-the-golden-grass/

The Golden Grass - The Golden Grass (Svart/The End)

Out today. The recording is as amazing as the album art. I need a few more listens before I write about it, but this quote from The Obelisk interview gives a good idea:

“I think we originally wanted to do something that was not quite as hard rock…we wanted to do something that was much more like shorter songs, psychedelic pop kind of music, but it ended up being stretched out. It got a lot funkier, it got a lot heavier, even some proto-metal things thrown into the mix, and I began to just go with it.”

You can stream it at The Obelisk or here - http://fastnbulbous.com/take-a-roll-in-the-golden-grass/

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-golden-grass-the-golden-grass.jpg

insanely busy but appealing cover
i'll listen to that!

This is a little more on the indie rock/dream pop tip of things but I'm really digging Powder Blue right now:

http://powderbluemusic.bandcamp.com/

http://kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/album/float-along-fill-your-lungs

how could a band named king gizzard and the wizard lizard be this fucking good

I caught part of their set at Psych Fest. It was nice, but in no way blew me away.

I really like "Head On/Pill" a lot so far, thanks!

EZ, tell us about yr Psych Fest highlights!

I'm writing a massive diary that should be published next week. Short list: Aqua Nebula Oscillator, YT//ST, Zombie Zombie, Bardo Pond, Earthless, Loop

Aqua Nebula Oscillator!!!

Bandcamp page added for The Golden Grass!
http://thegoldengrass.bandcamp.com/album/the-golden-grass

This album is a sure treat for fans of classic underground hard rock such as Truth and Janey, Dust, and Josefus as well as fans of classic UK psychedelia such as The Move, The Pretty Things, and Mighty Baby. THE GOLDEN GRASS will also greatly appeal to folks into the contemporary sounds of Danava, Horisont, Graveyard, and Dead Man.

Full-Frontal Lo-Fi Lunacy: Satan's Satyrs Interviewed
http://thequietus.com/articles/15213-satans-satyrs-interview

Clayton Burgess, also now playing in Electric Wizard, recorded all the parts to Wild Beyond Belief by himself in 2011. He was only 18.

http://awwfn.bandcamp.com/album/wild-beyond-belief

My massive Psych Fest diary is up:

http://www.steelforbrains.com/post/85914798692/sfb-psych-fest

Already mentioned this on FB, but great read. And I'm really glad to see you contributing to Steel For Brains, such a great site.

Thanks again, sir. I'm glad you enjoyed, and I'm pleased as punch to join Steel for Brains.

NEW SUNGOD

http://ssssssungoddddd.bandcamp.com/album/vision-space

on first listen, it is an intriguing and intermittently captivating mish mash of kosmiche synths, acoustic blues in somewhat the same ballpark as Ry Cooder's work on Paris, Texas, Sun Ra covers with squelchy basslines, excellent proggy weirdness, and a twenty-minute drone which unfortunately kind of kills the album for me. Still it's a worthwhile listen, has a different flavor than p much any other Sungod album I've heard, def a step up from their other more esoteric albums like Crash Galactic, and Laurentide & Cordilleran. I do love how these guys refuse to make the same album twice.

Surprised this hasn't popped up already. 76 tracks for five of your English pounds in aid of a good cause
http://peterkemptheworldisyours.bandcamp.com/releases

In the room with AMT right now!!

!!! Awesome.

double awesome!

finally catching up on The Socks record, i like this a lot!

Nice! Can't wait to hear what you think.

Show was FANTASTIC! Ears are still buzzing. I think the back room of a hipster pub is prob the perfect place to catch them. I will write a little more about it later this week maybe, but let mw just say that they were loud and overwhelming in the best way possible. Show was a total blast from start to finish.

Awesome! Bummed I missed them at Psych Fest but they were on at the exact same time as Medicine, and I figured I had a better chance of catching them at another date as they are in town at least once a year.

Speaking of Psych Fest, surprise favorite Kikagaku Moyo's new album, Forest of Lost Children, comes out today. Also out - the debut from Comet Control, which is a couple of the guys from the late, lamented (by me at least) Quest For Fire. Listening to it now and it's stellar.

Oooh, didn't know the Quest For Fire guys had a new band! I'll have to check that one out, I was a big fan of their self-titled.

The Socks album is really great, but I'd say that, as I'm a sucker for that retro, bell-bottom sound (Graveyard, Kadavar, Wedge). I like the Mellotron and organ they incorporate, and the nice boogie they get going now and then. As FastNBulbous said, Small Stone is having a really solid year.

Comet Control is Quest For Fire gone shoegaze. Way more focused, with riffs replacing jams. More Swervedriver than Pink Floyd, if that makes sense.

It does, definitely curious, thanks for the heads up!

Thank Adrien. He mentioned it yesterday on twitter - I had missed it completely.

Love that album!

listening to it now, it's really good

If you're in the mood for a more pastoral psych sound, the Kikagaku Moyo is streaming on bandcamp:

http://beyondbeyondisbeyondrecords.bandcamp.com/album/forest-of-lost-children

This new Alien Whale (Colin Langenus of USAisaMonster/many other bands & Matt Mottel of Talibam! and many other bands) is great. Hews close to the "pretty" side of USAisaMonster whislt delivering synth riffs and a great guitar solo. Love it https://soundcloud.com/careinthecommunityrec/alien-whale-anointus-venomous-atlanticus?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=twitter

New Wo Fat is pretty great. Closest they've come yet to capturing their live sound.

The Wo Fat is incredible. Small Stone surprisingly sent it to me early, over a week ago, along with my Greenleaf CD. A nice surprise!

Here's a casual write-up of the Freak Valley festival in Netphen, Germany the weekend before last. This young festival managed to outshine the Desertfest lineups IMO!

Day 1: The Heavy Eyes, Bloody Hammers, Papir, Radio Moscow
http://hoonanea.wix.com/the-morsel#!blank/c1upe

Day 2: Ivy Garden of the Desert, The Midnight Ghost Train, Mother of God, Mothership, Blood Ceremony, Wo Fat, Truckfighters, The Blues Pills
http://hoonanea.wix.com/the-morsel#!freak-day-2/ck12

Day 3: Zodiac, Oresund Sound Collective, Mos Generator, Admiral Sir Cloudsey Shovell, Samsara Blues Experiment, Elder, Motorpsycho, Kadavar
http://hoonanea.wix.com/the-morsel#!freak-day-3/c1lor

opened this to post about Bloody Hammers who I just saw play. not heard any of their music before afaik but relative to the status they've managed to attain (they're in the UK to play Download this weekend) they are incredibly weak and undistinguished as a live band. they intermittently sound like Nickelback and the singer doesn't seem to know how to speak clearly into the mic between songs

They suck live. They're passable if nothing more on record. I'm sorry you caught their set.

I need some new BLOG recommendations for this stuff

Seriously guyzz

Wish I could help. I get all my recommendations from twitter.

Well I'm subscribed to about 100 blogs on my https://www.blogger.com and I'm not about to list 'em all. Try googling reviews (or whatever yr looking for) of favorite recent albums and you'll get an idea.

Here's just a few of the sites I follow:

http://www.doommantia.com/
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/
http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/
http://www.theevilengineer.com/
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/

My review of Wo Fat - http://fastnbulbous.com/wo-fat-the-conjuring/

Also recommended this week:
Boris - Noise (Sargent House)
http://boris.bandcamp.com/album/noise

Radio Moscow - Magical Dirt (Alive Naturalsound)
http://youtu.be/gBGhw1fdOCA

I am enjoying the shit out of these lately:

http://www.terrorizer.com/terrorizerwordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/serpentvenom.jpg

Serpent Venom - Of Things Seen And Unseen (Church Within) June 27
http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album-reviews/s/serpent-venom-of-things-seen-unseen-cd-2014/

http://https%3A//f0.bcbits.com/img/a2356633421_2.jpg

Cardinals Folly - Our Cult Continues! (Shadow Kingdom) Aug 17
https://cardinalsfolly.bandcamp.com/track/our-cult-continues

Lookin' forward to these:

Purple Hill Witch (Church Within) Jun 27
Novembers Doom - Bled White (The End) Jul 15
Blues Pills - Blues Pills (Nuclear Blast) Jul 25
John Garcia - John Garcia (Napalm) Aug 5
Joy - Under The Spell Of Joy (Tee Pee) Aug 19
Pallbearer - Foundations Of Burden (Profound Lore) Aug 19
Corsair - One Eyed Horse (Shadow Kingdom) Aug 19?
Opeth - Pale Communion (Roadrunner) Aug 26
YOB - Clearing The Path To Ascened (Neurot) Sep 2

Electric Wizard originally claimed their new album would be out in June but that's clearly not happening. Hope they get their sh*t together and stop losing band members. I believe Cherry Choke, Christian Mistress, Elder, Mansion, Royal Thunder, Spiders, Troubled Horse and Witch Mountain are all recording or finished recording new albums. Torche album for Relapse in the can but no title/release date yet. Rumors of Goatsnake, Spirit Caravan and Sleep recording activities unconfirmed as far as I know so far.

I'm going to Days of the Doomed near Milwaukee this Saturday. Looking forward to Jex Thoth, Brimstone Coven, Age Of Taurus, Beelzefuzz, Egypt and Moon Curse.

http://www.daysofthedoomed.com/images/f56d5b86aaf4887aa143f927ee6dcf40.jpg

For those in Europe, here's the big fests coming up. I really wish I could see Stoned From The Underground with Colour Haze, Ufomammut, Pentagram, Graveyard, Mars Red Sky, Kylesa, The Vintage Caravan, but I have to be at a wedding.

http://theheavychronicles.com/2014/06/heavy-rock-summer-festivals/nggallery/thumbnails?lang=en

Monobrow - Big Sky, Black Horse - An increasingly rare name your price album, solid Canadian instrumental stoner/psych/doom.
http://monobrowmanband.bandcamp.com/

Funeral Horse - Sinister Rites of the Master (Artificial Head) Aug 11
http://funeralhorse.bandcamp.com/

Funeral Horse - Savage Audio Demon EP (2013) - Get a sense of this Houston, TX band's ruff 'n ready doom punk before the full length comes. Name Yr Price, YAAASSSSS!!
http://funeralhorse.bandcamp.com/album/savage-audio-demon

Messenger - Illusoary Blues (Svart) - UK psych prog folk, delicate n pretty.
http://svartrecords.bandcamp.com/album/illusory-blues

Ides Of Gemini - Old World New Wave (Neurot) Sep 16
http://youtu.be/KW7sKMrhn4M

Spiders - Mad Dog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtVL3f3xFxs

Blues Pills - High Class Woman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO3I5aa2C_M

A lot of the blogs/labels I used to look at seem to have gone. RTB RIP

So that's some great resources there, thanks.

Usually I will just read fastnbulbous' site and then google reviews for anything that sounds partic interesting

Missed that Bloody Hammers conversation the other day, but I think the new album is terrible. The only thing that kept popping into mind was:

Bloody Hammers:Occult Rock::Collective Soul:Grunge

http://fastnbulbous.com/days-of-the-doomed-fest-iv/

Highlights: Jex Thoth, Brimstone Coven, Egypt, Age of Taurus, Devil To Pay, Sanctus Bellum

Moab - Billow (Scion AV)
http://www.scionav.com/2014/06/16/download-moab-billow-lp-scion-av/

Man, I overlooked these guys when they first came up in '09-'11 because Andrew Giacumakis's sounded too Ozzy derivative. That's been corrected big time, as now he stays mostly in an ethereal falsetto range that really works. Stoner/doom may be the closest descriptor, but they do some really unique stuff with textures, structures, rhythms. They don't really sound like anyone else, but those who like what Pallbearer and 40 Watt Sun have done with doom should appreciate, or even LURVE it. L.A., whoda thunk? Anyone see them live at Scion Fest or elsewhere?

Ogre - The Last Neanderthal (Minotauro)
http://ogrereal.bandcamp.com/

Shit-tons of ugly fun to be had in Portland, Maine with these guys, 15 years worth of bluesy rock 'n' doom and proto-metal, all four albums, demo and singles worth having. Ed Cunningham's vocals used to remind me a lot of Bon Scott's, but he's developed a more Ozzy-esque wail lately. Some might appreciate the amazing single-track 37:15 Plague Of The Planet (2008) the most, but this is a great summary of strengths.

Hornss - No Blood, No Sympathy (Riding Easy)
Another great entry from the label formerly known as Easy Rider 'til a magazine forced them to change the name (but they're having a great year with Monolord, Salem's Pot, Sons Of Huns and now San Francisco's Hornss. Their style of punked up garage doom has some similarities with the early EP by Venomous Maximus and Funeral Horse, both from Houston, TX. I've been craving more of this, so kickass!

Messenger - Illusory Blues (Svart)
http://svartrecords.bandcamp.com/album/illusory-blues

Svart is really expanding their reach, with American pastoral rockers The Golden Grass and now these British psych progsters. Rarely heavy, this band is primarily ornate and folky. They cite Ulver, Swans and Pink Floyd. Not for everyone, but I was really drawn into this gorgeous recording.

Liquido Di Morte - Liquido Di Morte (Sstars)
http://liquidodimorte.bandcamp.com/releases [Name yr price!]

Their Bandcamp page mentions post-metal and post-rock but this is pure psychedelic space metal with just a touch of prog and sludge possibly inspired by the great Ufomammut. On "Ozric Pentacles," over a great, circular riff, what sounds like a clip from a sci-fi movie recites some great lines that concludes with, "Now I am become death, destroyer of worlds." The credits only say this of the lyrics: "Stolen." Ha ha ha.

Druglord - Enter Venus (STB)
https://druglord.bandcamp.com/album/enter-venus

Fellow students of blown-out Electric Wizardry along with Monolord and recorded by Garrett Morris of Windhand, this Richmond, VA band is a no-brainer fuckyeah, especially for just a 5iver.

Three Seasons - Grow (Transubstans)
Back in 2011 I binged on nearly everything on Transubstans roster which was probably a bit too much at once. I was on the fence on their debut Life's Road. Though singer Sartez Faraj was in Siena Root who I like, they were a bit too Ten Years After/hippie jam band for me. On their third album, these Swedes are at the top of their game, with Faraj kicking off the album with some wailing worthy of Humble Pie or Rod Stewart's work with Jeff Beck. They've reached a level of musicianship on par with the likes of Radio Moscow, The Golden Grass and Blues Pills, and occasionally hints of Graveyard influence. I went back and listened to Understand The World (2012) and it's nearly as great.

Ordos - Ordos
https://ordosofficial.bandcamp.com/album/ordos [Name yr price!]

This was actually self-released on Bandcamp in November 2013, but if these Swedish stoners find their audience, it'll likely be reissued by a proper label before the end of the year. Meat and potatoes thick, heavy stoner rock, but just high quality all around, and the price is right.

Older stuff to check out:

Ogre - Plague Of The Planet (Leafhound/Shadow Kingdom, 2008) | Bandcamp
Ruby The Hatchet - Ouroboros (Ruby The Hatchet, 2012) | Bandcamp
Three Seasons - Understand The World (Transubstans, 2012)
Sanctus Bellum - The Shining Path (Sanctus Bellum, 2012)
Moab - Ab Ovo (Kemado, 2011)
Ogre - Seven Hells (Leafhound, 2006) | Bandcamp
Moon Curse - Moon Curse (Bilocation, 2012) | Bandcamp
Las Cruces - Dusk (Metal Rising, 2010)
Funeral Horse - Savage Audio Demon EP (Funeral Horse, 2013) | Bandcamp
Ogre - Dawn Of The Proto-Man (Wurmhole, 2003) | Bandcamp
Orodruin - Epicurean Mass (PsycheDOOMelic, 2003)

Still waiting for my Small Stone package to show up - ordered Wo Fat, Greenleaf, Dwellers, The Socks, Dwellers and Jeremey Irons & The Ratgang Malibus.

Some good stuff on that list, Fastnbulbous.

A nice package indeed. I got the same in a couple different orders. Speaking of ordering CDs, I'm having a heck of a time finding The Church Within label releases (Serpent Venom, Purple Hill Witch) at a sane price. They really need to strike up a deal along the lines of what Svart has done with The End records. Elektrohasch too, I want those Colour Haze remasters!

I got most of my Colour Haze remasters from All That is Heavy, they were all pretty reasonably priced, from what I remember.

Unfortunately Allthatisheavy has been on hiatus for the past few months due to some sort of family health emergency. They're down indefinitely with no further updates, so I've been looking for alternatives. Right now the only option seems to be http://recordheaven.net/ which is about as expensive as you'd expect from a Swedish online retailer.

Oli from The Church Within actually just replied to my inquiry and said Shadow Kingdom sells their stuff for domestic prices, and sometimes Century Media. Shadow Kingdom has Serpent Venom's Carnal Altar (2011) for a good price, and hopefully will get in the new one and Purple Hill Witch soon. I'll probably do a big order with the 2CD remaster of Pale Divine's Cemetery Earth (2007), Cardinals Folly, Funeral Circle and an Altar Of Oblivion EP. The two albums are vinyl only right now, so I got them from Bandcamp for a good price - https://shadowkingdomrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sinews-of-anguish. New Cardinals Folly out Aug 19, and Corsair - One Eyed Horse isn't announced yet but should be soonish too.

Ah, thanks for the update! I had wondered why I hadn't received any weekly mailers from them lately, that explains it. I haven't been to their site for a while now. I hope everything turns out for them, they've got a great site.

Continuing my stupidly titled summer doom pieces:

Doom Goes Boom in June
http://fastnbulbous.com/doom-goes-boom-in-june/

Also, originally meant to come out in June, there's no date yet, but this is coming! *drool*

http://fastnbulbous.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/electricwizard-time.png

I'm writing more stuff but it's slow going. Preview:

Electric Citizen - Sateen (RidingEasy) - Ohio heavy psych, proto-metal, female lead, toured with Fu Manchu and are playing at Metro in Chicago this Saturday. I have to be at a wedding so will miss it, dangit.
http://ridingeasyrecords.com/electric-citizen-sateen/
http://electriccitizenband.bandcamp.com/track/light-years-beyond

Les Big Byrd - They Worshipped Cats (Höga Nord/A Records) - Swedish kraut psych, poppy, dancey but with some garage fuzz. Probably will be huge - Goat huge or Tame Impala huge depends on if anyone can find the damn album!

Holy Mountain - Ancient Astronauts (Chemikal Underground) - Scottish stoner doom evolve into more space psych but retains furious riffage.
http://shop.chemikal.co.uk/acatalog/CHEM205.html#aCHEM205LP

Ocean Chief - Universums härd (I Hate) - Swedish stoner doom/sludge, nearly all instrumental. Recommended by faves Spelljammer.
http://oceanchief.bandcamp.com/album/universums-h-rd

Bongripper - Miserable (Burning World) - Chicago instrumental stoner/doom, just came out yesterday.
https://bongripper.bandcamp.com/album/miserable

Great preview of 31 upcoming albums: http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/07/08/30-before-15/

Psychedelic Psummer Rundown + Extra Blues, Prog & Metal
http://fastnbulbous.com/psychedelic-psummer-rundown/

Covers the bands in previous post, plus Messenger, The Vintage Caravan, Radio Moscow, Rival Sons, Liquido Di Morte, Mastodon & Judas Priest.

hey look who's back!

http://seventhatspells.bandcamp.com/album/the-death-and-resurrection-of-krautrock-io

haven't listened to it yet, but the first album in the trilogy, AUM, kicked all sorts of ass.

in sadder news: it seems that the last Sungod shows are in July, because Braden (guitar/synths/miscellany) is moving away. They have def been one of my favorite acts of the new decade; I'm gonna miss them. Hopefully they will have a re-union sooner rather than later.

Man, in regards to the discussion upthread regarding boob-centric cover art, LOL at pretty much all the Seven That Spells art. But the new one is good stuff.

Electric Wizard's release date is Sep. 30, preview track "I Am Nothing" here - http://noisey.vice.com/blog/electric-wizard-i-am-nothing-listen

http://gurugurubrain.bandcamp.com/album/guruguru-brain-wash

comp of japanese psych from the guruguru brain label

As The Obelisk said, it's a slow year for Elektrohasch. Cherry Choke, who said on their FB that they recorded the basic tracks for their album in October 2013 and were putting finishing touches on it in March, are still working on it. I think Stefan Koglek must be having too much fun in his new studio.

Eat Lights Become Lights – Into Forever - I went nuts for this UK kosmische band when I belatedly discovered them last year. They sure can sneak under the radar, this new one has been out since May!
http://eat-lights-become-lights.bandcamp.com/album/into-forever
http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/eat-lights-become-lights-forever#D1DsrBkfJFQVdCyx.99

Clouds Taste Satanic - To Sleep Beyond The Earth - Brooklyn stoner doomsters aren't coy about paying homage to their two biggest influences, Sleep and Earth!
http://cloudstastesatanic.bandcamp.com/releases

and Flaming Lips, from the looks of it!

Not musically though!

One of the bands that played the first day of Days of the Doomed Fest that I missed was Apostle Of Solitude. I'm really digging their last album, Last Sunrise (Profound Lore, 2010), which has three bonus tracks covering The Obsessed, Misfits and Born Against. I ordered the German version on Eyes Like Snow from Shadow Kingdom which has three different covers -- Thin Lizzy's "The Emerald", Celtic Frost's "Procreation of the Wicked" and Misfits' "Where Eagles Dare" (instead of "Astro Zombies"). Their third album, Of Woe And Wounds will come out in October on Cruz del Sur.
http://profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com/album/last-sunrise

Thanks to H.P. Taskmaster of The Obelisk, these were announced with release dates, cover art, track listings, etc:

Causa Sui - Pewt'r Sessions 3 (El Paraiso) Aug 18 - Love their last album, and there's also a double Live At Freak Valley album available at Forced Exposure.
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/07/17/causa-sui-pewtr-sessions-3-preorder/

Heat - Labyrinth (This Charming Man) Aug 29 - I'm a fan of their first album, renamed Old Sparky (2012).
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/07/17/heat-labyrinth-release/

Alunah - Awakening The Forest (Napalm) Oct 7 - Check out their first two albums, Call Of Avernus (2010) and White Hoarhound (2012).
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/07/17/alunah-awakening-the-forest-details/

Oh yeah, always excited for more Causa Sui!

New Sleep song, released as an Adult Swim single!!! "The Clarity" There is hope for a new album!
https://soundcloud.com/adultswimsingles/the-clarity

Death Penalty - Death Penalty (Rise Above) - This may or may not come out Aug 11. Rise Above isn't always very forthcoming with specific info. Not sure if/when Metal Blade will be involved. It's Gaz Jennings of Cathedral with Belgian singer Michelle Nocon. Less doomy than Cathedral, more classic metal and NWOBHM. From what I've heard along the lines of Avatarium.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2p7fOnyg-M

Mortalicum - Tears From The Grave (Metal On Metal) - Swedish trad doom, vocalist Henrik sounds at times like Bruce Dickinson. Also some more rock roots via Purple/Rainbow, Lizzy, etc. Two other albums from 2010 & 2012, available on Bandcamp and Shadow Kingdom.
http://metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mortalicum-tears-from-the-grave

Got confirmation that Death Penalty album is out in September. The rest of the band is Belgium, with two of them from Serpentcult.

in sadder news: it seems that the last Sungod shows are in July, because Braden (guitar/synths/miscellany) is moving away. They have def been one of my favorite acts of the new decade; I'm gonna miss them. Hopefully they will have a re-union sooner rather than later.
i have been thinking about this bc i'm kinda bummed too -- i forgot how much i liked their last album and i was hoping to see them perform someday
o well
now there is a sungod-sized hole in the market

Fellwoods - Gyromancer EP (Svart) - Portland heavy psych prog band finally made this available for download, their first release since the 2012 split single with Ice Dragon. With bits of proto-metal and stoner doom, this is the sh*t. Also check out Wulfram. They should also have a full length coming at some point.
http://fellwoods.bandcamp.com/album/gyromancer (Name yr price!)

Xp to LL: the Sungod dude whos moving away is recording a solo album. I will update when I find out more.

Oneida and Cave are tonight at Empty Bottle but I don't think I can make it :(

i made it! it was great! what a lot of energy those guys (oneida) have! cave was the same as usual, only this time with set decoration and a light show. i don't know what it means, but it was pretty cool looking.

Wish I could have seen that one!

In other good news that might be applicable to people in this thread, All That is Heavy is back up and running. I celebrated the return by ordering the Salem's Pot album, a Unida reissue and Causa Sui's Live at Freak Valley.

Ya I got that email, good news. Though I'm annoyed as I had an order for Colour Haze's Ewige Blumenkraft for about 3 times the price from Record Heaven. Gonna try to cancel that.

A surprisingly busy release week for summer!

Blues Pills - Blues Pills (Nuclear Blast)
http://fastnbulbous.com/blues-pills-blues-pills/

Also Brimstone Coven, John Garcia, Saturn, John Gallow, Pale Horseman, Space Witch
http://fastnbulbous.com/new-albums-of-the-week-2014-08-05/

does anyone have a good classic space rock playlist for spotify they could share?

has anybody seen nik turner's hawkwind lately? any good?

Hawkwind hasn't played for a while in the U.S., as they cancelled two tours in a row last year, and the new one doesn't start 'til Aug 26. But I did see an incarnation back in 92/93, a joint show with Helios Creed, and it was mindblowing. I already bought my ticket.

yeah they're playing in my town on the 31st i think

still waiting on a spotify playlist, but in the meanwhile i'm making do w/ http://www.amazon.com/Space-Box-Beyond-Krautrock-Trips/dp/B000001JVB

love listening to this while playing Eve

Spiral Shades – Hypnosis Sessions (RidingEasy)
Christ on a crutch it never ends! A late edition to this roundup, I knew this was coming, but RidingEasy is pretty low key about PR and dates. Like Brimstone Coven and Saturn, this album was self-released last year. There was a fair amount of buzz due to the unique back story. Spiral Shades consists of two musicians who had never met in person. Filip Petersen of Norway handles the bass, drums and guitars, while Khushal R. Bhadra of Mumbai, India took care of lyrics and vocals. The Bandcamp page says Bhadra is a guitarist, but he is not credited with it on the album, and I’m not sure how much of the music he wrote. I assume at least the vocal melodies. On first listen to some stream last year, it sounded like a somewhat shitty demo-quality recording with a fairly generic old school doom and proto-metal sound. Bhadra’s vocals are very Ozzy-esque with only a slight hint of his own accent. However, their melodies and guitar riffs are often exceptional and sticky. It’s certainly worth the attention, at least as good as, say, Uncle Acid & the Deadbeat’s first hard-to-find album Vol 1 (2010). I felt they would be ten times better if they actually got together, rehearsed, toured and recorded an album in a room together. You know, like a real band. But hey, its 2014 and travel ain’t cheap, so who am I to turn my nose up at this creative partnership? So yeah, RidingEasy has now made it available on vinyl and CD (only $7)! I’m surprised they didn’t put it on cassette too. It’s a good opportunity to re-evaluate, and in lossless it definitely sounds better, particularly when the dynamics open up on the acousting closer “Fading Sunlight.” Overall it’s just a grower, and pretty much a necessity for doom/psych fans.

Aleph Null - Nocturnal (RidingEasy) - Coming out on August 25, possibly vinyl only for now. However, it's been available for free on Bandcamp since March! Top notch German doom/psych/sludge.
http://alephnull.bandcamp.com/

Also coming:
Megaton Leviathon - Past 21: Beyond The Arctic Cell (Seventh Rule) Sep 9
The Well - Samsara (RidingEasy) Sep 23

With those and Cardinals Folly, Pallbearer, Earth, YOB, Black Moth, Electric Wizard, Witch Mountain, Alunah and Apostle Of Solitude, that's a dirty dozen potentially great doom releases between Aug 19 and Oct 7. Are you ready for the doomocolypse?

My Pallbearer pre-order came in the mail yesterday, a week sooner than expected, sweet! Between that and YOB, some heavy, slow listening!

New Expo 70 - Frozen Living Elements is an unexpected jam.

Busy release day:
Pallbearer – Foundations Of Burden (Profound Lore)
Cardinals Folly – Our Cult Continues! (Shadow Kingdom) - Both reviewed: http://fastnbulbous.com/double-dose-of-doom-pallbearer-cardinals-folly/

Black Trip – Goin' Under (Prosthetic) - Some really catchy Swedish trad rock n' metal along the lines of Saturn and Death Penalty (coming next week)
Causa Sui – Pewt'r Sessions 3 (El Paraiso) - Danish band's latest psych jams
Joy – Under The Spell Of Joy (Tee Pee) - stoner psych
Johnny Touch – Inner City Wolves (Shadow Kingdom) - solid trad metal
Accept – Blind Rage (Nuclear Blast) - Probably best of the three most recent efforts

Is anyone here a fan of The People's Temple? Not Jim Jones but the Lansing, MI band. Musical Garden and More for the Masses are delightful. http://peoplestemple.bandcamp.com/

^ varying modes of retro-ish psych. sometimes they sound like Echo & the Bunnymen.

I will have to check those guys out at the Loft

new Haikai No Ku LP is fucking tasty. Loop-esque guitar tone and Bardo Pond/myriad Japanese psych wandering structures. this is Mike Vest from Bong and some other folks from the north-east of England if that helps to sell it

I was more excited before you told me it was the guy from Bong, but I'll check it out anyways. Loop and Bardo Pond and Japanese psych sounds right up my alley.

I'm not a committed fan of Bong by and large but Mike is def not a one trick pony

This is seriously cool. I was leery after everyone telling me how great Bong and 11Paranoias were and finding them pretty much unlistenable.

Thanks. They also have a connection to 11Paranoias who I just recently discovered. Vest hooked up with two from Ramesses and have a new album coming out later in the year - https://11paranoias.bandcamp.com/album/spectralbeastiaries-lp

Important studies in doom tectonics - http://fastnbulbous.com/doom-tectonics-earth-yob/
Earth – Primitive And Deadly (Southern Lord)
http://earthsl.bandcamp.com/album/primitive-and-deadly

YOB – Clearing The Path To Ascend (Neurot)

Ice Dragon – Seeds From A Dying Garden – Boston psych/doomsters get pastoral on their umpteenth album. After an unusually long gap between albums (nearly a full year), I hoped they’d actually go to a real studio. Same basement quality, but still great music.
http://icedragon.bandcamp.com/album/seeds-from-a-dying-garden

Bloodnstuff – Bloodnstuff (Fuzzorama) – Great Minneapolis based hard fuzz rock on Truckfighters’ label.
http://fuzzoramarecords1.bandcamp.com/album/bloodnstuff-bloodnstuff

The Grand Astoria – La Belle Epoque (Vuktyl) – Russian stoner rockers get proggy.
http://thegrandastoria.bandcamp.com/album/la-belle-epoque

Slow Motion Rider – Slow Motion Rider (Committee To Keep Music Evil) – LA Psych.

EZ, I can understand finding 11Paranoias hard to listen to, as both things on Bandcamp are currently just demo quality, pretty rough. But Bong are awesome. Do you hate Om too?

Yeah, Om and Bong bore me to tears.

Om are the greatest

Om are great.

So I guess I'm going to have to order the YOB online somewhere, I guess there was a problem with getting it shipped to stores? None of the stores I checked in Ann Arbor had it in and the dude at Reckless told me yesterday that a lot of people have asked but its "delayed". Super anxious to hear it though.

Yeah, order it online. I got the vinyl from Relapse the Friday before it was released.

Electric Citizen - Sateen (RidingEasy)

Really enjoying this album! Singer reminds me a little of Siouxsie, oddly.

Speaking of Hawkwind, I really enjoyed this doc. No further revelations for the initiated, but good talk/music ratio, talk is cogent, and most of the music is liiive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDJzAldD6t-ps&v=JzAldD6t-ps

Lots of other goodies currently on that same 'Tube page.

going to see WEYES BLOOD and SUN ARAW tonight

don't know anything about Weyes Blood, but Sun Araw should be a blast. have fun.

good times!! i feel overdue for a show.

I was underwhelmed by Nik Turner's Hawkwind last week. I had an open mind, as the chances of seeing them with all surviving members including both Dave Brock and Lemmy are zero, but when Turner formed his own touring band 12 years ago under the name Space Ritual, it did feature original members from 1969-72 like Mick Slattery, Thomas Crimble and Terry Ollis. On this tour, like in 2013, Turner used the members of Hedersleben, the opening band, who I wasn't crazy about. So they played the Space Ritual songs, but it was missing a lot. I'd be curious to hear Brock's lineup in comparison.

Witch Mountain, however, were awesome, much more powerful than the previous few times I've seen them. Unfortunately, they played a very short set (possibly under 30 min?), kind of a bummer as it was the last chance to see them with Uta. Just glad she stayed on for the tour, and I have the new album to enjoy.

The Well - Samsara (RidingEasy)
http://fastnbulbous.com/the-well-samsara/

Goat - Commune (Rocket Recordings)
http://fastnbulbous.com/goat-commune/

I had some tracks on this, first music/noise I ever made:

https://blackcirclerecords.bandcamp.com/album/no-pasar-n-an-anti-fascist-album

Next week's album of the week, Witch Mountain - Mobile of Angels or Electric Wizard - Time to Die? Discuss!

I'm stoked for new Electric Wizard (I think my cover band would be called Nuclear Warlock) - I guess I'm weird that I dig Black Masses & Witchcult Today. Screw these RTM reviews that I'm reading that say it sucks.

Sadly it doesn't sound like Witchcult or Black Masses. More like a lost record between Dopethrone and We Live.

Since when are people drawing a line in the sand between those albums? I like 'em all, even though it did take me a while to get used to Let Us Prey after initially wanting to throw it out the window.

http://fastnbulbous.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/doom-colossi.jpg

This will be up first thing in the morning:
http://fastnbulbous.com/doom-colossi-electric-wizard-witch-mountain/

Enjoying the Electric Wizard a lot, still waiting for Witch Mountain to get here in a package I ordered from Aquarius.

Just getting around to the Mars Red Sky record Fastnbulbous mentioned earlier in the thread, Stranded in Arcadia, really enjoying it. I like how melodic this gets at points, "Seen A Ghost" in particular - just a fantastic song.

Spiders - Shake Electric Nov 4 - This Swedish band is nothin fancy, but their high energy garage psych just nails exactly what I need lately. A touch of Fleetwood Mac/Heart style melody/production added in a few places. Am playing this to death. Pre-orders and bundles available.
http://spinefarm.merchnow.com/catalogs/Spiders

Mansion - Uncreation EP Dec 1 - Love this. Three older songs from live set newly recorded and one new song. Finnish band works in similar territory to The Devil's Blood and Jess and the Ancient Ones, but seem to be evolving more quickly than the others. They should have a full-length next year.
https://weshalllive.bandcamp.com/album/uncreation

My list is pretty up to date here
https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Fastnbulbous/fast_n_bulbous_best_albums_of_2014__in_progress_/

and database - http://fastnbulbous.com/list-search/

new lyriel omgz

you guys like pigeons? they played at my store a couple weeks back and were so great. everyone fell in love with them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYMHWYqFECo

Pigeons are great.

http://gurugurubrain.bandcamp.com/album/guruguru-brain-wash

comp of japanese psych from the guruguru brain label

― j., Monday, July 14, 2014 11:03 PM (2 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

good lazy autumn sunday music, at times i'm put in mind of comets on fire

If you liked the latest Wo Fat (which you damn well should) but want an even more psychedelic take on that blues style, I can't recommend the Big Red Panda album enough. The more I listen the more I fall for it.

https://bigredpanda.bandcamp.com/

Portugal has some tremendous psych bands right now.

That Weyes Blood album is quite wonderful, albeit on the strength of a drunken early hours first listen.

Listening to Weyes Blood now. Really beautiful stuff.

I enjoyed the Big Red Panda, will check out Weyes Blood, thanks.

I guess I jumped the gun as the U.S. release isn't until next week.

Spiders – Shake Electric (Spinefarm)
http://fastnbulbous.com/spiders-shake-electric/

Still letting the new Dawnbringer sink in. I am digging the new ones out next week by The Skull and Apostle of Solitude. Rockin' doom with touches of psych. Pentagram were amazing last week, sounding much better than when I first saw them in '09. Bodes well for their next album.

There's a great trio of occult psych EPs. Still trying to figure out how to get my hands on the Purson CD.

Purson - In The Meantime (Machine Elf)
Jess & the Ancient Ones - Castaneda (Svart) Nov 14
Mansion - Uncreation (Nine) Dec 1

I mentioned the great new Wizard Rifle album on the metal thread but realized it probably fits better here. As I said there, it's kind of "manic scuzzy trash-prog metal" but there is definitely a psych/stoner element too. It's a pretty unique mix as far as I'm aware. Though if anyone does know a similar band I would love to know because I love these guys.

is weyes blood metal? i thought they were like... indie folk?

Wizard Rifle are pretty rad, though I have to be in the right mood. Sounds like sludge noise rock.

Halloween was pretty messed up weather-wise with a bunch of snow and sleet, though nothing stuck. Everyone who bailed on the show are wusses -- *old man rant* -- the Halloween blizzard of '91 didn't stop me from going out to see some damn giant puppets at Heart of the Beast in Minneapolis! Anyway, I had my bottle of Southern Tier Warlock pumpkin imperial stout and vermicelli at Cafe Hoang in Chinatown and made it to Reggies for Elder and was glad I did. They sounded even more massive and psychedelic than last time, basically my favorite bits of Sleep, Electric Wizard, and maybe even a bit of space-rockin' Ufomammut in a new tune. Nick DiSalvo said the album is done, and will come out early next year.

At least the fifth occasion this year that two significant doom albums were released on the same day. Doom! Clap! The sound of my heart. The beat goes on and on and on and on and...

Doom Clap: Apostle of Solitude & The Skull
http://fastnbulbous.com/doom-clap-apostle-of-solitude-the-skull/

basically my favorite bits of Sleep, Electric Wizard, and maybe even a bit of space-rockin' Ufomammut in a new tune

this sounds good!!
lol @ doom clap

LSD Underground 12: first LP made on LSD? Redunkulous price, on the face of it, but prob a fun (hardly unique) listen, judging by this fun read, courtesy a fun expert:
http://www.forcedexposure.com/reviewlsdunderground.aspx

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0037/0342/products/dB_top100_DOOM_cover_1024x1024.jpg%3Fv%3D1415134232

go on then, tell me who is referenced on that cover .. amazed i managed 1 !

Cathedral's Ethereal Mirror (dude in upper left with floating baby)
Acid Bath (Gacy clown) next to Witchfinder General
Dopethrone (bong devil)
Dream Death (other side of the candle from Dopethrone guy)
small "d." for disembowelment

Confessor (lower left)

Great cover that obviously is sending me into a nerd spasm.

I think Bobby Liebling is the big head top left
The Sleep Dopesmoker caravan dude is right of center
The Obsessed is above that with the Goya painting of Saturn eating his young
Central skull is Candlemass

Oh yeah, I think dude next to Dopesmoker guy is Cirith Ungol's "King of the Dead" guy.

The two girls at bottom right - Type O Negative's Bloody Kisses?

is weyes blood metal? i thought they were like... indie folk?

weyes blood is definitely not metal, but this thread is not exclusively a metal thread. weyes blood falls under the psych/drone/freak fold that has gotten unfortunately obscured by stoner metal in the merging of the two threads. i think we should have separate threads again next year but that's just me...

i greatly prefer this thread to the normal metal thread - it def fits my tastes better. and i'm not opposed to emphasizing folk music - i've often wondered whether it'd be appropriate to post folk-metal stuff here (and i think i've generally decided to go ahead w/ it when in doubt)

OVVL - Screech - Oakland trad metal band with young guitar prodigy, awesome solos and mix of early proto-metal and NWOBHM. First album from 2012 also highly recommended.
https://owlbrotherhood.bandcamp.com/album/screech-2

The Dagger - The Dagger (Century Media) - Swedish death metallers tackling retro rock, very enjoyable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHXbND10OlU
https://soundcloud.com/centurymedia/the-dagger-skygazer

Aquarius: Doth our ears deceive us? Have we been hurtled screaming backwards across the astral plane to the mythical hard rock glory age? To a time spoken of only in forgotten whispers and ancient half recalled prophecy?? An age mortal man knows only as... 1978??? Well, if track 6 on this mystical Swedish rocker of an album is anything to go by, which is LITERALLY called "1978" and references the album titles of at least 11 classic hard rock lp that came out that same year (sample line: "We wanted blood, and we got it for sure / Alive and dangerous, coming back for more!"), then yeah I think it's safe to say aQ HQ has been transformed into some sort of space-time hopping heavy metal Tardis.

But let's back up a bit here. Who are these Nordic axe warriors, striding forth from the mists in their flared jeans and denim shirts embroidered with moons and stars (we assume anyway)? Well, surprisingly The Dagger is a Swedish death metal supergroup of sorts! Featuring past and present members of such grave gurgling stalwarts as Grave, Dismember and Nifelheim. But instead of decrepit blast beats & grinding death dirges, this album is chockfull of the kind of late '70s / early '80s hard rockin' heavy metal that we absolutely eat up here at aQuarius. It's pretty heavy on the homage to be sure, but it's done so well and with such genuine joy and enthusiasm that we don't mind one bit. Not to mention The Dagger's reference points build on a hard rock legacy that seldom gets its due from modern bands. As much we love doom metal around here, we'll be the first to admit it can be sort of hard to get excited about a band regurgitating the same Black Sabbath riffs and Ozzy aping vox unless it's done really exceptionally well. But when a band like The Dagger shows up instead sounding almost exactly like some sort of mash up of NWOBHM, early Scorpions, '80s Sabbath, solo Dio and especially '70s Deep Purple/Rainbow (there's even a song called "Skygazer"... hmm... more than a little similar to Rainbow's "Stargazer", eh?!), we're gonna immediately stand up and take notice! This is thing is bursting with Blackmore-ian minstrel harmonies and Uli-esque mystical swaying grooves. Vocalist Jani Kataja is almost a dead ringer for Ian Gillan (which is no small feat!), his strained, bluesy wail lending the songs a serious timeless world weariness, even at the most up tempo of times of which there are plenty. There's swirling Hammond organ, there's talk of "dark gypsy women", there's boogie-woogie numbers, there's Judas Priest style fist pumpers, there's crumbling doomy groovers, hell there's even a Quartz cover, "Mainline Riders"! In short, it's a rusted cauldron bubbling over with everything great about '70s dragon rock. Is it terribly original? Maybe not. But are you gonna find another band that sounds like The Dagger any time soon? Not from this decade you ain't. Recommended.

the psych/drone/freak fold that has gotten unfortunately obscured by stoner metal in the merging of the two threads.

Well more people are welcome to post about psych/drone, etc. This thread isn't really busy enough that anything is getting "obscured" other than by sheer neglect. But feel free to start a separate one if you want.

Hands Of Orlac - Figli Del Crepuscolo (Horror Records) - A nice improvement from their 2011 debut. You can buy a button for €1.20 and get the download.
https://horrorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/figli-del-crepuscolo

In a more psych/drone vein, I am digging the new La Hell Gang:

http://lahellgang.bandcamp.com/album/thru-me-again-lp-2014

Kind of Spacemen 3, a bit of early Dead Meadow, kind of desert vibe (like the place, not the style of rock).

http://www.wonderingsound.com/feature/khun-narin-electric-phin-band-innovative-leisure-interview-essay/

didn't check if this was already mentioned

I actually found that record a bit disappointing. Didn't have the blaring trance psych vibe of the videos, just kind of meanders pleasantly.

I think everyone feels that way; it's still p good

i never watched the videos, so i'm golden

That Decibel DOOM list is pretty whackadoo as far as their choices, but it's a nice issue. FYI there's a whole box of them at the Reckless Broadway location with all the other freebie mags.

This is annoying. My Hands of Orlac purchase only resulted in a download of one song, "Last Fatal Drop," despite the fact that it says, "Includes unlimited streaming of Figli Del Crepuscolo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more." And when I wrote, they refused to provide it, nice.

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 of 2014

This is the first reminder to get the attention of all of you lovely freaks out there. On December the 12th we start once again with the countdown of the Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2014! But to do so we need your help. We need to know what albums made your head spin, blood boil and your bones jump with pure euphoria! So please, my lovely fellow freaks, send your lists to our email. The rules: vote for any amount of albums or EP’s released in 2014. (And at the end of December 2013.) If you dug only one; name that one. If you dug 78; name all of them! It doesn’t matter how much, one, five, 10, 13, 20 or 41. We just want to know which albums made you go crazy!

Every year we hope that more of you find the time and energy to send in your list. The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 list has been a steady grower going from 18 lists to 37 to 48 and on to 56 and then last year: 61 lists. So should we set our goal high and hope for the big 100? Or just hope to make it last years mark again? Either way it would be grand; just so that this Countdown becomes more and more valid with each passing year…

The deadline to send in your list closes on December the 12th… So there’s still enough time to get crackin… Go on… If not for yourself or me; do it for all the rest of the lovely freaks out there… Scurrying in the HiVe…

Send your lists HERE

Every year I try to rally more participation of active doom & metal critics in the Village Voice poll. It's the last poll that comes out, and it gets a ton of attention. Participation has dropped some from around 700 to 457, but they welcome more participants. Plus, your votes have more impact. Albums that received as few as 6 votes made the top 100! Just email pazzand✧✧✧@villagevo✧✧✧.c✧✧ to request a ballot by next week and include your contact info:
a) Current address
b) e-mail and phone
c) Publications you write for/workplace

No guarantees, but I think many of you would be invited who haven't already been. Last year we did see more metal releases in the top 100:
19 Deafheaven - Sunbather
37 Carcass - Surgical Steel
64 Black Sabbath - 13
68 Gorguts - Colored Sands
79 SubRosa - More Constant Than The Gods
81 Kvelertak - Meir
89 In Solitude - Sister

Now let's get some stoner/doom/psych in the top 100 for 2014!

Posted on The Oath's FB page 3 minutes ago:

Ever heard The Oath's cover of Demon's 'Night Of The Demon' with Leo Smee on bass? It was released as a bonus track for the Japanese edition & as a 7" for the die hard edition of the album. News on Johanna's new band Lucifer soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7GCLx7uLlc&feature=youtu.be

Cool! I can't believe there aren't already a half dozen bands claiming the name Lucifer. Oh wait, there are. *Shrug*

Catching up on a few floating near the top of RYM list:

La Hell Gang - Thru Me Again (Mexican Summer) - Groovy Chilean psych.
https://lahellgang.bandcamp.com/album/thru-me-again-lp-2014

Villagers of Ioannina City - Riza (Mantra) - Interesting combo of psych, post-rock and Greek folk music.
https://vicband.bandcamp.com/album/riza (Name yr price!)

Somali Yacht Club - The Sun (Bilocation) - Ukranian stoner psych and shoegaze.
https://somaliyachtclub.bandcamp.com/album/the-sun

Mustasch - Thank You For The Demon (Gain) - Swedish hard rock/stoner band has been around for over a dozen years, but this is my first time checking them out. Pretty meat 'n' potatoes, but they have a following.

http://d31hzlhk6di2h5.cloudfront.net/20141128/19/57/9b/b7/02c5be208c1b0061c7eac89a_476x271.jpg

ATTENTION: ADJUST VISION NOW FOR DRAG CITY

BELIEVE IN GHOST? TURN TO THE SILENCE
Psych-rock brethren, you've doubtless heard the news already, but for the rest of you rubberneckers: our beloved Ghost have humbly ceased their collective journey and given themselves up with integrity intact (30 years ain't a bad run, especially when it doesn't include an Around the Sun-type castastrophe, right R.E.M. fans?). But we're all enlightened here- when talking about the end, we're really talking about a beginning. And so it is that Ghost's longtime spirit-guide Masaki Batoh has summoned The Silence. Batoh has long led our ears on the most of intuitive trips: from the towering timelessness of Ghost's classic, world-spanning ROCK, through to the delicate pastoral folk pathways of Damon & Naomi, as well as his sojourn with cellist Helena Espvall. On his own, of course, Batoh broke on through to the other side, taking us to the altered states of his interactive Brain Pulse Music. By the heavens, if you've been fortunate to encounter Batoh in concert in any of his incarnations, you've learned something about the hammer of the gods. And now comes, The Silence's self titled debut album!

Batoh tells us, "The Silence is heavier than any sound pressure and the silence which thunders the ears can only be expressed by the silence in the subconscious mind of consciousness and unconsciousness." This means that The Silence is a more more aggressive presence that the anything-goes fluidity of Ghost, while still representing Batoh's kaleidoscopic vision realized by a new collective of hand-picked peace warriors (two of whom have emerged from ancient roots of Ghost's deep family tree - keyboard wizard Kazuo Ogino & drummer Futoshi Okano). Drag City proudly drops their inaugural long-player into our earthly dimensions come March 24th of 2015 - a virtual eon in today's hyper-paced society! The Silence demands your patience - and those who are alert will doubltless encounter a digital taste or two leading up to that date.
If you find yourself in Tokyo on November 28th, perhaps you can be one of the fortunate hundred chosen to attend the very first live performance of The Silence. Reserve your ticket in advance by sending your name and digits to: ghost at hb.tp1.jp.

A little late for that last, but just spotted it, sorry (get lots of mail)

Whoa:

Colour Haze - To The Highest Gods We Knew (Dec. 15)
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/12/04/colour-haze-to-the-highest-gods-we-know-release/

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/colour-haze-to-the-highest-gods-we-know.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLkGrWUxsRc&feature=youtu.be

Is that one a total surprise to even you? Very stoked to hear that.

Kikagaku Moyo's cover of the International Harvester rave-up "There is no other place" is a barely coherent pummeling, I love it. They put out three records this year?

I knew it was coming but didn't expect it 'til next year! I would have expected new ones from Graveyard or Ufomammut before them. JJ is their #1 fan and always gets the scoop!

Which current band sounds most like Syd-era Floyd? I hanker after a contemporary version of that sound.

Interesting question. Robyn Hitchcock was an obvious Syd acolyte but he hasn't done much psych in years. I suppose Temples and Les Big Byrd owe some debt to that era.

Jennifer Gentle had a Barretty vibe, but they tended towards his solo albums in sound.

Which Syd u looking for? Multifaceted space rock Syd? Experimental cosmic noise Syd? Gentle twee fairytale Syd?

This album by Alvarius B's new band Invisible Hands is so fucking bad:
ominous psych-pop tunes, wispy as bad incense, and nerdy voices, often implying they know of dark matters further on in thee twilight garden, but they also know yew can't handle it dude, ha ha. (Ohhh, close your eyes and pretend you found it in a forgotten thrift store, which only appears once every 40 years, scorrrre.) Equally thin guitar bits, turgid "stoned" "grooves"--sheeeyit. Maybe the Arabic version is better. It'll be 1/2 of the 2-LP version, whoohoo.

I'm not looking for Syd as such but for Floyd vibes a la "Interstellar Overdrive", "Astronomy Domine" &c. xp

Try Easterfaust by the Cosmic Dead

I'm pretty dang proud of this one:

https://raymondcummings.bandcamp.com/album/birds-in-packs-b-w-antarctica

No Colour Haze promo yet, it's killin me! For the umpteenth time I bugged Stefan about putting his stuff on Bandcamp, this time prominently on the comment section of his site. Hope he doesn't get annoyed! http://colourhaze.de/

Within 15 min of each other I got the Village Voice poll email and the long-awaited email from Colour Haze!

Finished my year-end stuff:

Fester’s Lucky 13: 2014 Year-End Summary
http://fastnbulbous.com/lucky-14/

Top 100 Albums of 2014 | 2014 Breakdown: Genre Lists | Shows, Videos | Movies, Television, Books

I finished at 2 A.M. last night and then made sure I voted here: ~~~ ILM METAL POLL 2014 - ALBUMS - VOTING & CAMPAIGN THREAD~~~ (VOTING ENDS FRIDAY December 12th 11.59pm UK time/6.59pm EST) ALL ILXORS inc LURKERS WELCOME

Any of you who haven't voted, please do! Lots of stuff from this thread was nominated!

Dammit, it converted my #s: Top 100 Albums of 2014 | 2014 Breakdown: Genre Lists | Shows, Videos | Movies, Television, Books

Thanks for that, fastnbulbous. Considering your range of interests and your name, wonder if you've checked out Guerilla Toss, who I think are influenced by The Magic Band, in a no wave dance band context (anyway good skronk, good rhythm section too). Gay Disco made my P&J Albums last year; think their 367 Equalizer EP will do likewise this year: I get more out of and into those four tracks than most albums.

I don't think I have, but will do!

Spotify Playlist | Mix of stuff missing from Spotify

Stoner Hive Countdown has begun!

20. Salem's Pot - …Lurar ut dig på prärien
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2014/12/number-20.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YxdfGlMOTZE/VIoP5jRDlnI/AAAAAAAAICU/Km8xRe7Lww0/s1600/Elijah-Craig-20-yr-LR.jpg

“There’s a lot of oak here (resinous, spicy, leathery, tobacco-tinged), but it’s on a bed of layered sweetness (nutty toffee, caramel fudge, maple syrup) that supports and marries with the oak. An ideal postprandial bourbon…”

This Swedish quartet knows how to impose its classic horror and exploitation atmosphere upon the listener with feverous energy and drug-addled riffs. It is that seventies psychedelic riffage, that acid-blues and fuzz laden grooviness that draws you in. But it is that occult touch and creepy doomy vibe that enthralls and captivates. Yes, we start the countdown with them. We are talking about that sorry lot…

19. Serpent Venom - Of Things Seen & Unseen
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2014/12/number-19.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DfloF428E-Y/VIoRAoyq53I/AAAAAAAAICo/Pz3MIVb6WNg/s1600/Dec11-FCLinkwood-1990-2.jpg

“Linkwood 1990 19 Year Old - First Cask Whisky. From the First Cask range of Whisky, this is a Single Cask 19 Year Old Distilled in 1990. Minimum of 85 bucks for this one!”

They hail from the grimy streets of London. And their sophomore album received one point more than Salem’s Pot. These four musketeers know how to make a bass sound hairy, guitars absolute intense and bombard you with grandiose drum work. This is the way of the ancient giants. The ones that once roamed the earth in search of true rock. And then there are the vocals; which seem to almost float like a sycamore dream upon that thundering river of madness. And through that haze you see or maybe you don’t what happened so many years ago…

18. Kamchatka – The Search Goes On
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2014/12/number-18.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2XNKrfMa4c/VIoTJ7GJ6tI/AAAAAAAAIDE/2hBELtI-u38/s1600/Glenfiddich_18_years_single_malt_scotch_whisky.jpg

“An elegant nose, faintly sweet, scented with apple and wood. Glen Fiddich 18 is a robust and full-bodied single malt whisky, yet remains remarkably soft, rounded and long lasting.”

And again; this album received one point more than the Serpent Venom album. And once again, we travel to the Scandinavian country of Sweden. A trio this time around. And one that has stumbled upon its definitive line-up this year. Their mixture of seventies heavy blues, stoner trucking and psychedelic free garage rock has this wild and ferocious inevitability. It’s a visit to a highly volatile volcanic landscape and dancing upon its surface with your arms stretched out. And like they state themselves; think about Cream, Zeppelin and Hendrix but with a Robin Trower or Warren Haynes approach. It’s groovy, it’s funky and it moves like a caged tiger ready to pounce…

No luck with getting the new Colour Haze on Spotify or Bandcamp yet, but JJ at The Obelisk is streaming one of the cuts: http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/12/12/colour-haze-to-the-highest-gods-we-know-uberall-stream/

A couple other tracks may have been included on a mix linked from my year-end summary...

I want to go to the Psycho CA fest.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10411851_1032337450125739_5996772128828837970_n.jpg?oh=d2f5ebd3abb369751582640c354a1933&oe=5501F2EB&__gda__=1426785467_c1ae2ea067bba7f04fdc72e117d70ec2

Wow, I'd been looking out for announcements for the next Scion Rock Fest, but this is way better! Holy crap that's a sweet lineup, just about on par with one of the European Desertfests! Well depending on the three headliners it just might be on par if they get some who rarely tour North America. Oooh! UFOMAMMUT-COLOUR HAZE-MOTORPSYCHO please, pretty please! Or Witchcraft, Graveyard, Blues Pills, Spiders, Kadavar, Spirits of the Dead, Troubled Horse, Hidden Masters, Wolf People, Mansion, Purson, Royal Thunder... Truckfighters should be a headliner, and Wo Fat should be way higher in the bill, as they co-headlined a recent fest in Europe.

Speaking of Motorpsycho, their bonus album they snuck out for the holidays is pretty great: http://motorpsycho.no/2014/12/final-fragments-toys-and-more/

17. Witch Mountain - Mobile of Angels
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2014/12/number-17.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZI_P3h82p9U/VIoUVIe1xrI/AAAAAAAAIDc/UgHk3Izs6HY/s1600/hibiki-17.jpg
“The nose is quite full. There are notes of honey and wax, resin and oak. There are notes of gentle smoke and cacao, hints of cooked fruit and a nutty note. The palate is sweet and rich. There are crisp notes of mixed peels, raisin and custard with a little zest and plenty of oak. The finish is long with notes of oak and cocoa and sherried peels.”

Two points above Kamchatka we are treated to the first female input this year. Unfortunately, she decide to leave the band not long after the release of this album. With an earthy and worldly vibe it is an album that perfects that beautiful paradox of making blues and doom become so charming and magnificent to listen to that you envision yourself naked underneath a picturesque waterfall somewhere in some forest. Perfection. And perfection kills…

"female input" + nudity under the stars
what could go wrong

:-/

seriously this never ends! i like this music but the imagery is so reliably off-putting that i'd like to burn the whole thing down and start over.

that does look like a quality festival lineup though

Which imagery are you referring to?

the objectification of women in general

If you have some artistic ability, you could make some images that make fun of them! Maybe bands will start coming to you to do their covers!

Not actually the greatest response to that tbh

Starting to feel a little bad for being so into the Seven that Spells album

Then it's my fault for it being misunderstood. I'm genuinely wondering what might be able spark a change, not being facetious. But also I've wondered before, how does one distinguish between the motivations of the artists behind this work and Marijke Koger-Dunham, the woman behind the original 60s painting that Blues Pills used for their nude cover art, and the nudes depicted by the ancient Greeks, or Francisco Goya's La maja desnuda (1797) or other Renaissance artists? Is never acceptable to have nudes in art, or is it some other quality in current album art for stoner rock that makes it distasteful and misogynist?

the "naked underneath a picturesque waterfall" bit has nothing to do with the "female input" bit

Oh this is just about StonerHive's blurb? Agreed, hippie stoners enjoying skinny dipping has little to do with much of anything.

16. Lo-Pan – Colossus
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-16.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bS7NbvW8DZ0/VJE5qLSOT4I/AAAAAAAAIEI/sGTIVZ5Q9Tw/s1600/lagavulin.jpg

“A much sought-after single malt with the massive peat-smoke that's typical of southern Islay - but also offering richness and a dryness that turns it into a truly interesting dram. The 16 year old has become a benchmark Islay dram from the Lagavulin distillery. Very thick and rich. A massive mouthful of malt and sherry with good fruity sweetness, but also a wonderful sweetness. Big, powerful peat and oak.”

We move up with seven points over Witch Mountain to a band that has made the Top 20 countdown list many times. They reached the Number 9 position of the very first edition of the yearly countdown in 2009 and the Number 3 position in 2011. This year they occupy Number 16 and rightfully so. Perhaps heavier and harder as their earlier ones; it definitely goes big the way of a monstrous statue. Tight, tense and with a definite punch this is by no means a light hearted album. Or an easy straightforward heavy trucker. No, there is so much in there that begs to be discovered. And with a place in the countdown we’re sure that many have and many more will!

i think i've narrowed it down to what's really bugging me.

that seven that spells cover is what pushed me over the edge into thinking about it enough to realize that what bugs me is the attempt to visually harness yoni power when there is not a yoni in sight for miles and miles. if i need to explain this i will but that's basically it.

Fair enough! Several of the Seven That Spells covers are pretty ridiculous!

Yeah a lot of that shit stinks of desperation

I just was really stoked to have two variations on Achilles Last Stand with Amon Duul II guitar tones

yeah i mean the music is probably very enjoyable
it's just difficult for me personally to enjoy it

la lechera otm

15. Blue Snaggletooth - Beyond Thule
15. Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus - Spirit Knife
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-16.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bS7NbvW8DZ0/VJE5qLSOT4I/AAAAAAAAIEI/sGTIVZ5Q9Tw/s1600/lagavulin.jpg

“A much sought-after single malt with the massive peat-smoke that's typical of southern Islay - but also offering richness and a dryness that turns it into a truly interesting dram. The 16 year old has become a benchmark Islay dram from the Lagavulin distillery. Very thick and rich. A massive mouthful of malt and sherry with good fruity sweetness, but also a wonderful sweetness. Big, powerful peat and oak.”

We move up with seven points over Witch Mountain to a band that has made the Top 20 countdown list many times. They reached the Number 9 position of the very first edition of the yearly countdown in 2009 and the Number 3 position in 2011. This year they occupy Number 16 and rightfully so. Perhaps heavier and harder as their earlier ones; it definitely goes big the way of a monstrous statue. Tight, tense and with a definite punch this is by no means a light hearted album. Or an easy straightforward heavy trucker. No, there is so much in there that begs to be discovered. And with a place in the countdown we’re sure that many have and many more will!

Arrrggh.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mi1GASkMcDc/VJFQoriOQEI/AAAAAAAAIEc/EuKkER5VG7U/s1600/Usquaebach+15YO+bottle+glass.jpg

“Colour: Gold. Nose: Not much lower strength. Raw, spirits, inexpressive, a little cardboard, grass, leaf… And a few floral tones. But an unlovely bouquet. Mouth: Very nice, a lot of caramel, corn syrup, then coffee and, just like in the blend, a little sawdust. Finish: Medium length, with a bitter side. Some varnish in the aftertaste. A mix of two distinct highland malts, the blended malt of Usquaebach is an acquired taste.”

We climb eight points after visiting the majestic Colossus album by Lo-Pan and head off towards a late comer this year. Not one, but two actually. A definite collector’s item and a gang of underappreciated actor lovers. One of them got together about five years ago and the other has been rocking the world for ten years. One of them is responsible for an incredible proto-metal, classic hardrock and trucking stoner record that leers back towards that golden seventies era. And the other one provided us with a psychedelic rock offering that rivals any of the greats. It is low soaring and high riding and cuts you like a knife. Ann Arbor, Michigan and Stockholm, Sweden together on position Number 15.

14. Monolord - Empress Rising
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-14.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQPj9bCKDF8/VJPWQLbScZI/AAAAAAAAIE8/Wk6B6z7-zL0/s1600/caribbean-cask-WEB.jpg

“This whisky has been matured for 14 years in traditional oak casks before being transferred to Caribbean rum casks to impart some extra flavor. This process has created a well-rounded and drinkable whisky with notes of fruit and vanilla. Nose: The aroma is rich with notes of tropical fruits, namely passion fruit, and creamy toffee. Palate: Sweet vanilla forms a creamy palate with notes of apples and mangos with a hint of orange in the background. Finish: The finish lingers with a vanilla focused character. Overall: Mouth-coating and fruity with superb balance, this is an excellent new release from the chaps at Balvenie. ”

We found two albums with the exact amount of points on Number 15: Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus’s album Spirit Knife. And the Blue Snaggletooth record, Beyond Thule. And now we rise up for another six points to reach Number 14. And ofcourse as every year we find yet another Swedish band in the Top 20 countdown. But where most of those Scandinavian bands aim for the classic sound and that seventies approach with overtones of stoner and proto metal, these guys go big the way of doom. It still retains a highly vintage sound and feeling, but the gigantic riffs and massive bass implore you to nod your head slowly and gravely. And then there’s that voice. Haunting, spacy and mesmerizing! So bow down for the solitary lord and his queen!

13. John Garcia – John Garcia
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-13.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7UtP-C0rJs/VJRGrYR-FnI/AAAAAAAAIFQ/NcmeKHFM0RM/s1600/13-whisky-aichinger.jpg

“Aichinger is a wine producer in Upper Austria and is slowly branching out. This wheat malt was matured for 13 years in Barrique casks. Giving it a lovely purple tint. This exotic combination results in an extraordinary Whisky from Hilkering in Austria.”

Eight points above Monolord the well deserved Number 14 we find one of the godfathers. One of the true legends of this music we all love so dearly. It is an album that tries to bring out this voice of the desert in all its glory but does not forget to also make room for true heaviness, grand riffs and sandy grooves. Simply put, the album is brilliant and hits you like a desert thunderstorm. One of those moments where the horizon suddenly turns black and the ground shakes violently due to the sonic boom far away. And it ends with a beautiful song started, back then in 1998, or perhaps even earlier, and sounds like the clear sky after the storm passes and the rain on the ground starts to vaporize…

12. Mos Generator – Electric Mountain Majesty
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-12.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_qx9bYE5I5U/VJWK2Le4JhI/AAAAAAAAIFs/b-Te-BSD_hI/s1600/george-dickel-whisky-1089588-TwoByOne.jpg

“Recently awarded a massive 93 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute in Chicago, fending off stiff competition to win a Gold Medal at their American Whiskey Tasting. Medium deep amber color; forward vanilla spice on nose, with toasted nut, sweet fruit, earth and cedar shavings; dryish, rounded and smooth but elegant, flavors of sweet vanilla, nut, maple butter, mint and wood smoke; finish is long, warming and spicy.”

After being treated to that amazing solo album by John Garcia on Number 13, we climb just one point to reach the next damn fine record. A band that had us waiting for more than five years before the album before this one was released. Which was back in 2012. This time around it took them only two years. And this by no means hints at a rush job. No. We are treated to grade a heavy doom and gritty stoner profoundly inspired by everything from the seventies. There is something epic, mountainous and majestic about this record; and when you whip out some violin power you can do no wrong in my book! Simply electrifying!

11. Electric Wizard - Time To Die
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-11.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9M_PQ5r0No/VJZ6uZXHqdI/AAAAAAAAIGE/pkrZzRHSBGc/s1600/Apr11-Braeval11YO-Prov-2.jpg

“On the nose we detect autumn fruits with dry spices and a barley gristiness all perfumed together. On the palate anticipated crushed sugar, barley, spiced fruit and oak. All leading to a toffee- fruity - barley and lightly oaked finish.”

It was Mos Generator on position Number 12. And once again we climb just one point to Number 11. And here we find a band that already made it to the Number 1 position in Stoner HiVe countdown history. It was the year of 2010 and outside the masses where gathering to witness something dark. This year they prophesize something just as evil and wicked. Mesmerizing repetition and enough remorseless reverb to make their preaching feel like a jump of a harrowing cliff edge. It is a bleak and lumbering trek accompanied by psyched out jams that wield immense hypnotic power. Making you believe there’s no time like the present…

PSYCH INSIGHT: 20 ESSENTIAL PSYCH ALBUMS OF 2014
http://backseatmafia.com/2014/12/04/psych-insight-20-essential-psych-albums-of-2014/

Second Bardo by Cult of Dom Kellar (Cardinal Fuzz)
Forest Of Lost Children by Kikagaku Moyo (Beyond Beyond is Beyond)
Sky Is Hell Black by Has A Shadow (Captcha Records)
Outside The Circle by Anthroprophh (Rocket Recordings)
Asteroid #4 by Asteroid #4 (Bad Vibrations)
Away From The Water by Lola Colt (Fuzz Club)
Season Sun by Gulp (Sonic Cathedral)
Mammatus Clouds by Kikagaku Moyo (Cardinal Fuzz/ Captcha Records)
The Hum by Hookworms (Weird World)
Transmissions From Planet Telos Vol. 3 by Lumerians (Cardinal Fuzz)
Commune by Goat (Rocket Recordings)
Guru Overload by Eternal Tapestry (Oaken Palace Records)
No Curtains by Dahga Bloom (Captcha Records)
High Evolutionary by Dead Sea Apes (Cardinal Fuzz)
Strange Wave Galore by Radar Men From The Moon (Fuzz Club)
Ostro by Lay Llamas (Rocket Recordings)
They Worshipped Cats by Les Big Byrd (A Records)
Thru Me Again by LA Hell Gang (Mexican Summer)
Come Down Safari by White Manna (Captcha Records)
Far Out by Black Bombaim (Cardinal Fuzz)

The Obelisk Presents: The Top 30 of 2014
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/12/22/the-obelisk-presents-the-top-30-of-2014/

30. Orange Goblin, Back from the Abyss
29. Mos Generator, Electric Mountain Majesty
28. Pilgrim, II: Void Worship
27. John Garcia, John Garcia
26. Swans, To be Kind
25. Sólstafir, Ótta
24. Greenleaf, Trails and Passes
23. Earth, Primitive and Deadly
22. Ogre, The Last Neanderthal
21. The Wounded Kings, Consolamentum
20. Floor, Oblation
19. Druglord, Enter Venus
18. Ararat, Cabalgata Hacia la Luz
17. Radio Moscow, Magical Dirt
16. Apostle of Solitude, Of Woe and Wounds
15. Stubb, Cry of the Ocean
14. Brant Bjork and the Low Desert Punk Band, Black Power Flower
13. Dwellers, Pagan Fruit
12. The Golden Grass, The Golden Grass
11. The Well, Samsara
10. Montibus Communitas, The Pilgrim to the Absolute
9. Fu Manchu, Gigantoid
8. The Skull, For Those Which are Asleep
7. Blood Farmers, Headless Eyes
6. Lo-Pan, Colossus
5a. All Them Witches, Lightning at the Door
5. Witch Mountain, Mobile of Angels
4. Conan, Blood Eagle
3. Wo Fat, The Conjuring
2. Mars Red Sky, Stranded in Arcadia
1. YOB, Clearing the Path to Ascend

Honorable Mention
First, special note to Colour Haze‘s To the Highest Gods We Know. I’ve decided to count it as a 2015 release since the vinyl will be out in Spring, but otherwise surely it would earn a place on this list. Blackwolfgoat‘s Drone Maintenance also deserves note.

A few other honorable mentions:

Mothership, Mothership II — It’s hard to argue with a classic heavy rock power trio kicking ass. I won’t try.

Ice Dragon, Seeds from a Dying Garden — Boston experimental psych/garage doomers continue to defy expectation. May their weirdness last forever and continue to produce material so satisfying.

Truckfighters, Universe – I thought at some point I’d go back to Universe again, but never really did. A problem with me more than the album.

Steak, Slab City — An impressive debut following two strong EPs.

Godflesh, A World Lit Only by Fire — I never got a review copy, so I never reviewed it. Its name is here because I’m a fan of the band and glad they’re back.

Thou, Heathen — Just recently purchased this and am only getting to know it, but a ridiculously strong album.

Corrosion of Conformity, IX — Everybody who gets a boner whenever Pepper Keenan is mentioned in connection with this band has missed out. This record and the self-titled kick ass.

Spidergawd, Spidergawd — Holy shit they’re over here! No they’re over there! No wait over here again! Oh my god I’ve just gone blind!

Monster Magnet, Milking the Stars — I wasn’t sure what to do with this since technically it’s not a new album, mostly reworked songs from the last one. I still listened to it a ton though, whatever it is.

Slomatics, Estron — Another one I’m just getting to know, but am very much digging.

Electric Wizard, Time to Die — People seem to do this thing where Electric Wizard puts out a record, everyone slathers over it for a few months and then spends the next two years talking about how it sucked. I guess I’ll be on the ground floor with not having been that into Time to Die.

Pallbearer, Foundations of Burden — Had to put their name somewhere on this list or someone would burn my house down. Album of the year for many.

Guru Overload by Eternal Tapestry (Oaken Palace Records)

damn, I need to hear this

My Psych Spotify playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/1212496385/playlist/1HjNMbEZGb0GTuARqRwVK0

Lola Colt – Away From The Water (Fuzz Club) | Bandcamp
The Oath – The Oath (Rise Above)
Kikagaku Moyo – Forest Of Lost Children (Beyond Beyond Is Beyond) | Bandcamp
Earth – Primitive And Deadly (Southern Lord) | Bandcamp
Goat – Commune (Sub Pop)
Les Big Byrd – They Worshipped Cats (Höga Nord/A Recordings)
Mansion – Uncreation EP (Nine) | Bandcamp
Purson – In The Meantime EP (Machine Elf)
Electric Citizen – Sateen (RidingEasy) | Bandcamp
Comet Control – Comet Control (Tee Pee)
Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus – Spirit Knife (Small Stone) | Bandcamp
Temples – Sun Structures (Heavenly/Fat Possum)
The Lay Llamas – Ostro (Rocket) | Bandcamp
Dahga Bloom – No Curtains (Captcha) | Bandcamp
Kikagaku Moyo – Mammatus Clouds (Captcha) | Bandcamp
Sungod – Vision Space (Sungod) | Bandcamp
Seven That Spells – The Death And Resurrection Of Krautrock: IO (Sulatron) | Bandcamp
Hookworms – The Hum (Weird World)
The Golden Grass – The Golden Grass (Svart) | Bandcamp
Morgan Delt – Morgan Delt (Trouble In Mind)
La Hell Gang – Thru Me Again (Mexican Summer) | Bandcamp
Jess & the Ancient Ones – Castaneda EP (Svart)
Has A Shadow – Sky Is Hell Black (Captcha) | Bandcamp
Ice Dragon – Seeds From A Dying Garden (Navalorama) | Bandcamp
Cult Of Dom Keller – The Second Bardo (Cardinal Fuzz)
Slow Motion Rider – Slow Motion Rider (Committee To Keep Music Evil) | Buy
Black Bombain – Far Out (Black Bombain) | Bandcamp
Montibus Communitas – The Pilgrim To The Absolute (Beyond Beyond Is Beyond) | Bandcamp
Eternal Tapestry – Guru Overload (Oaken Palace) | Bandcamp
White Manna – Come Down Safari (Captcha) | Bandcamp
Haikai No Ku – Ultra High Dimensionality (Box) | Bandcamp
The Wytches – Annabel Dream Reader (Heavenly)
Horseback – Piedmont Apocrypha (Three Lobed) | Bandcamp
Liquido Di Morte – Liquido Di Morte (Sstars) | Bandcamp
Wildest Dreams – Wildest Dreams (Smalltown Supersound)
Monomyth – Further (Suburban World) | Bandcamp
Villagers of Ioannina City – Riza (Mantra) | Bandcamp
1000mods – Vulture (The Lab) | Bandcamp
The Cosmic Dead – Easterfaust (Sound of Cobra) | Bandcamp
Joy – Under The Spell Of Joy (Tee Pee)
Three Seasons – Grow (Transubstans)
Three Dimensional Tanx – Three Dimensional Tanx (Sunstone) | Bandcamp
Pontiak – Innocence (Thrill Jockey)

10. Orange Goblin - Back From The Abyss
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-10.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4uDoQZYpPYs/VJhHhzG5Q7I/AAAAAAAAIGg/Znfcm_icn4E/s1600/WhiskyYamazaki-07122010-31.jpg

“A 10 year old single malt from the Yamazaki distillery, aged in bourbon barrels. A lovely fruity dram, quite floral. The nose is fruity and rich. Plenty of barley malt and caramel, cereal sweetness and winter spice. Vanilla cream and mixed peels with a hint of nuts. The palate is of medium-body with notes of rich peels and winter spice, aniseed and a herbal note. A bitter oak develops. The finish is dry and of good length with acacia honey.”

Number 11 was occupied by those damned Wizards. And when we enter the top ten we find a band that has made it all the way to the Fifth position back in 2012; which can also be seen as the record that brought then the bigger audience they damn well deserve. This year they have eight points more than Electric Wizard and have returned from an unholy chasm. Filled with a masterful groovy rhythm section and ten ton heavy riffs they show us what true motoring stoner and no nonsense rock is all about. And then there’s that growling voice, that voice that carries that sharp edge and which will never hesitate to cut your throat when it comes down to that…

Really enjoyed your Fester's Lucky 13 this year, great stuff. I did notice, however, that you have Syd Arthur's Sound Mirror at both #22 and #29 on your list.

I always wait w bated breath for your psych list, fnb

Hah, that's appropriate, as the Syd Arthur was a bit of a sleeper until I got into it much more recently. Fixed it.

9. Greenleaf - Trails And Passes
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-9.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPTHFCdcxkM/VJmQIk7QTeI/AAAAAAAAIG8/DXvhQpTm3GM/s1600/Dec12-KnobCreek9-1.jpg

“Knob Creek is a small batch bourbon produced by Jim Beam, distilled in a more traditional style and aged 9 nine years. It is named for the area in Kentucky where Abraham Lincoln grew up, it is said that the creek nearly claimed his life when he was swimming. The nose is quite spicy and sweet. There are notes of melted salty butter on granary toast, there are notes of toasty oak and a touch of rye with caramel sweetness. The palate is quite peppy and full. There are notes of candy floss and nut oil, a touch of spice and dark chocolate, a little spice and charred oak. The finish is long with a touch of dryness, there are notes of nut oils and vanilla spice.”

One point above Orange Goblin we find yet another band that has been featured in the Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown before. It was that doomed year of 2012 when we were approaching the end of the world and the album was called: Nest Of Vipers. And made it to the 14th position. This is their fifth record and yes, the guys hail from Sweden. Their version of stoner cracks and crackles and sounds age old and vintage; and with enough blues, psych and seventies to level the playing field it is once again a true rite of passage. With new members they have produced a new stamp with which to put their mark on this sweet ass heavy music as they trail blaze across the globe….

8. Truckfighters – Universe
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-8.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h51od9WVhR4/VJqD-41_BUI/AAAAAAAAIHM/x5xH23ismwg/s1600/the-hive-8-year-old-wemyss-malts-whisky.jpg

“Yes. We got our own whisky! An 8 year old blended malt whisky from independent bottler Wemyss, built around Speyside whisky matured in both fresh and refill sherry casks for a rich, sweet and spicy dram with the emphasis on honey, as you might have guessed from the name... And yes, it tastes just as sweet as we from the HiVe do!”

Still a few more albums to go before we reach the point where the jumps become bigger. For yes, this record also has just one point more than the Greenleaf record we found on Number 9. And whaddayaknow. Sweden again. And this time we are talking about the definite frontrunners of fuzz, the future of everything fuzzalicious and those who know their way and how to hang around sizzling hooks and riffs. On their new album they explore and deepen their sound once again without changing much of the recipe and they added up the ante on the production values. It has resulted in a mean album, catchy and exactly what the fans want. And that’s not just because they’ve ended up on Number 8 this year!

7. Fu Manchu - Gigantoid
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-7.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-inRb1y5t81Y/VJvWs-mtV1I/AAAAAAAAIHk/FMLIJq42k1w/s1600/Seagrams_7_Crown.jpg

“The return of a very old brand of blended whisky from one of Canada's former biggest multi-nationals. Nose: Juicy, spicy rye grains, dried apricot, lemon curd, oak and gristy sweetness. Palate: Spicy and creamy, medium-bodied with honey, caramel and coffee. A touch of orange marmalade and panna cotta. Finish: Medium length, spicy and sweet.”

On Number 7 we find the final album that stays in close proximity to the ones that came before. Beating Truckfighters with one simple point these cats have been surfing the desert and stoner waves for a damn long time now and the release this year is their eleventh album. No Swedes this time, but Californian stoners that go big the way of the fuzz and crackling and crunchy when it comes to the punchy riffs. And then there are those punky elements and dreamy moments that make it all come together like a perfect ride. Southern coolness amongst hot and heavy breezes…

Colour Haze - To The Highest Gods We Know became available on Spotify yesterday: https://play.spotify.com/album/4nwC7Jpc9FscTkjBXjjuHE

6. Electric Citizen - Sateen
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-6.html

<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZE3niWXPL_0/VJ6K9TCs9MI/AAAAAAAAIH8/FbPlSjwdoMY/s1600/SW-EnglishWhiskyC6-20cl-a.jpg";>

“Chapter6, 3 year old Single Malt Whisky. Unpeated whisky, made by Iain Henderson. Matured solely in Bourbon casks. A great reflection on the wonderful work done at the distillery and a real hint of things to come. Unchillfiltered - Natural Colour.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise for me in this year’s Stoner HiVe countdown. As we jump 26 points from Fu Manchu to reach the next band; with a female vocalist. A band and album that for some weird reason completely passed me by before all the votes came pouring in. I had no idea. So we immediately needed to get that fixed. And what a fix it was! Ancient and bronze, vintage and doom. We’re back in the sixties and there is a bright and kaleidoscopic psychedelic edge to everything you hear. Instrumentation that holds its own against so many of those originals and organ sounds that make you lick your fingers. And there’s the vocalist. She has range and dynamic and knows how to pull you close or set you free. Simply wonderful. This kind of copper color music is always welcome, because it is like velvet for your ears…

This is kinda funny because I saw Electric Citizen open for Fu Manchu this year. I agree the EC record is better, but live they have a way to go to equal the Fu.

Yeah they're defnitely just getting started, hard to compare live with a band that had been gigging two decades nonstop! I missed their show opening for The Budos Band this summer.

No doubt. And as they freely admitted, they're learning tons by touring with acts like Fu Manchu. They're already a good live band - probably better than on album - and can only get better. I have high hopes for them in the years to come.

I'm glad to see Blues Pills doing well in these polls, but am bummed that Spiders is getting ignored. While Blues Pills have better musicians and singer, I really love the songs on Shake Electric. Both Swedish bands should rock the lists into the sunset, arms locked and perhaps conquering North America on a joint tour.

5. Blues Pills - Blues Pills
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-5.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RnxGbURSMG4/VJ7VzjiKUII/AAAAAAAAIIY/dEfpMENoTCA/s1600/foto-73.JPG

“A pure pot still rye whisky from the innovative Dutch distillers Zuidam, that's made in small batches and aged five years before bottling. A dark golden whisky, with a nose of a sweetness and fruit with hints of grain, honey, wood and vanilla.A taste of notes of wood, spices, honey and citrus. With a dry aftertaste of sweet fruit, honey, vanilla, wood and coconut in the background with something smoky.”

Nine points we jump. A small jump. Before we make the big or even gigantic leaps. So, Electric Citizen was my biggest surprise. And a highly welcomed one. What an album. So what do we find on position Number 5? More female vocals and more psychedelic rock; but this time around we aim more for the seventies and more for the blues. We knew when the album came out that it would be featured on many end year lists. And we are thankful that everyone out there dug it in the same way we did; for the soulful vocals, the classic hard rock, the acid infused coloring and the blissful guitar work are simply stunning. So take the pill and take the ride!

BTW I think our group represented pretty well on the 2014 POLL RESULTS COUNTDOWN - ILM Metal Albums of the Year

102 The Cosmic Dead - Easterfaust 143 Points, 4 votes
98 Seven that Spells - The Death and Resurrection of Krautrock: IO 146 Votes, 3 voters , One #1
97 Death Penalty - Death Penalty 146 Points, 5 votes
94 Monarch - Sabbracadaver 148 Points, 6 votes
93 Truckfighters - Universe 152 Points, 5 votes, One #1
89 Conan - Blood Eagle 157 Points, 5 votes
87 Wo Fat - The Conjuring 158 Points, 5 votes
86 Karma To Burn - Arch Stanton 160 Points, 4 votes
85 Monster Magnet - Milking the Stars: A Re-Imagining of Last Patrol 160 Points, 5 votes
82 Hands Of Orlac - Figli Del Crepuscolo 162 Points, 5 votes
79 Bongripper - Miserable 163 Points, 6 votes
78 The Flight of Sleipnir - V. 168 Points, 4 votes
77 Skull Fist - Chasing the Dream 171 Points, 5 votes
75 Opeth - Pale Communion 177 Points, 7 votes
69 Comet Control - s/t 194 Points, 5 votes , One #1
67 Shooting Guns - Street Rock 205.0 6 votes
65 Wizard Rifle - Here In The Deadlights 210 Points, 6 votes
62 Atlas Moth - The Old Believer 234 Points, 8 votes
60 The Wounded Kings - Consolamentum 251 Points, 7 votes
58 Wovenhand - Refractory Obdurate 262 Points, 7 votes
53 The Oath - The Oath 274 Points, 9 votes
51 Midnight - No Mercy for Mayhem 290 Points, 8 votes
49 Goat - Commune 301 Points, 9 votes
47 Horseback - Piedmont Apocrypha 329 Points, 9 votes
40 Boris - Noise 353 Points, 11 votes
39 Dawnbringer - Night of the Hammer 356 Points, 11 votes
33 Witch Mountain - Mobile of Angels 378 Points, 15 votes
29 Apostle Of Solitude - Of Woe And Wounds 422 Points, 11 votes
27 Floor - Oblation 434 Points, 14 votes
23 The Skull - For Those Which Are Asleep 489 Points, 13 votes
20 Blues Pills - Blues Pills 557 Points, 13 votes
13 Slough Feg - Digital Resistance 662 Points, 19 votes, One #1
9 Earth - Primitive and Deadly 738 Points, 21 votes , ONE #1
4 Electric Wizard - Time to Die 1130 Points, 27 votes THREE #1's
3 Agalloch - The Serpent & the Sphere 1165 Points, 31 votes, Three #1s
2 Pallbearer - Foundations of Burden 1233 Points, 33 votes, One #1
1 YOB - Clearing the Path to Ascend 1240 Points, 32 votes , THREE #1s

A couple late psych prog finds:

Atavismo – Desintegración (Odio Sonoro) - Spanish Floydian acolytes, early UFO, Groundhogs influences.
https://odiosonoro.bandcamp.com/album/atavismo-desintegraci-n

Amplifier – Mystoria (Superball) - UK band has been around for years, but their fifth album caught my attention with a bit more interesting guitar work.
http://www.amplifierband.com/#!mystoria/cxj2

Psych Prog playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/1212496385/playlist/1nV7e8YeM6pZqLz84X3kFj

Ulaan Markhor album at #99 really belonged itt as well tbh

4. Pallbearer - Foundations Of Burden
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-4.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WAgk6rd_o8U/VJ_gCJis1VI/AAAAAAAAIIw/tAdEmgGmNk4/s1600/braunstein_e-4.jpg

“This is a very peaty whisky at 60 ppm phenols. It is a single cask, matured exclusively in an ex-bourbon barrel from Maker’s Mark. The E:4 was bottled on 2012-11-02, and the outturn was 300 bottles. Nose: Mild smoke, surprising really – I was expecting a more distinct smokiness from the 60 ppm, but there you go. Well-rounded and mature sweetness. Vanilla, milk chocolate, and butterscotch and caramel. It is also very fruity, bundles of apples and pears. Braunstein has a very fruity and rich new make, and the distillery character shows through here. Taste: OK, here comes the smoke. And it is massive! This whisky certainly packs a punch! I also find milk chocolate, and licorice caramel to slightly temper the punchy peat. Finish: Long finish; rich, fruity, smoky and sweet. ’nuff said!”

The first bigger jump begins now and with an album I had not, to be honest, expected to end up this high on the list. We add 43 points to Blues Pills on Number 5 to reach the next level. Which, even though the sound is incredibly heavy and the themes definitely dark; lead to a record that in its whole does feel warm and begs to be heard over and over again. This is without a doubt masterful doom and metal and shows that the guys want to aim both higher and lower without changing their sound all at the same time. The biggest change in comparison to their amazing debut album from 2012 is perhaps the fact that the vocal melodies have become more important and that the band are changing rhythms and riffs quicker without losing that hypnotizing edge we all love so dearly…

20. Salem's Pot - …Lurar ut dig på prärien
19. Serpent Venom - Of Things Seen & Unseen
18. Kamchatka – The Search Goes On
17. Witch Mountain - Mobile of Angels
16. Lo-Pan – Colossus
15. Blue Snaggletooth - Beyond Thule
15. Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus - Spirit Knife
14. Monolord - Empress Rising
13. John Garcia – John Garcia
12. Mos Generator – Electric Mountain Majesty
11. Electric Wizard - Time To Die
10. Orange Goblin - Back From The Abyss
9. Greenleaf - Trails And Passes
8. Truckfighters – Universe
7. Fu Manchu - Gigantoid
6. Electric Citizen - Sateen
5. Blues Pills - Blues Pills
4. Pallbearer - Foundations Of Burden

So we got YOB, Wo Fat and The Skull left? Or will there be an upset from Apostle Of Solitude, The Well, Conan or Mars Red Sky? Prob not. Would Colour Haze have made it if they released their album earlier? Feel free to bug them to get on Bandcamp! http://colourhaze.de/guests

One last poll anyone can participate in: http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/12/01/top-20-of-2014-readers-poll/

Whoa, I didn't know people were feelin this one so much more than the John Garcia! So The Skull must not have made it, weird!

3. Brant Bjork and The Low Desert Punk Band – Black Flower Power
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-3.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9CChFNFfHvQ/VKGBAdcdfAI/AAAAAAAAIJE/570CEXmWktE/s1600/Black_Crow_Whiskey_by_seznur.jpg

“Black Crow Original Old American Whiskey, American blended whiskey in Canadian-style low-blend. Faintly vanilla. Strong in alcohol.”

We leave Pallbearer on the 4th position with a jump of 42 points. This year’s Bronze medal goes to another one of the stoner and desert rock legends. A guru in his own right. The man reached the Number 7 position with his former album and this one is a step bigger in every way conceivable. So we are happy to see it rise further up the ladder then the former one did. The guitars and drums are more raw and edgy, and the songs are righteous sheriffs! But is his sandy voice that takes charge and commands. His warm and completely logical utterings proclaim the truth and makes one and all an admirer. He is without a doubt the mythical guru of the laidback stoner and total fuzz!

Here is some Syd era Floyd influenced stuff from Finland:

Octopus Syng – Reverberating Garden No. 7 (Mega Dodo)
https://megadodo.bandcamp.com/album/reverberating-garden-no-7

2. YOB - Clearing The Path to Ascend
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-2.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ynhdwjl58SQ/VKJ2d4a-nyI/AAAAAAAAIJc/dn-AyUMjO8Q/s1600/adnams-triple-grain-no-2-whisky.jpg

“Part of the first pair of whisky releases from Adnams Distillery in Southwold, Suffolk. Just 10 barrels were used for the original release, which uses three types of grain - wheat, barley and oats - aged for over 3 years in new American oak casks. Nose: This one lures you in with approachable toasty oak, white peach blossom, some spicy grain, the bubblegum in the background this time and cocoa dark chocolate. A little lychee and sugar that’s just catching. A touch of lime. Palate: White pepper and spices, orange and a hint of powdered chocolate. Finish: Quite comforting and almost beer like with a little rich honey and chocolate now.”

The next band leaves maestro Brant Bjork trailing in its dust as we climb fifty points to reach the Number 2 spot of the 2014 Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown. The Silver Medal goes to a band that made it to the Number Eight position with the album that came before. Back in 2011. This year’s release saw it topping many lists all across the globe and we already reckoned it would have a prominent place on the HiVe as well. There is no escaping the fact that the new record is nothing but an instant doom rock classic. They take their time and carefully craft the compelling and stirring arc’s that holds you captive for fifteen minutes per track. Ten ton heavy guitar sounds whirl and twist around you lifting you up with nothing more than a couple of chords but with so much dynamic and variation that you mistake the tornado for a desert storm and the other way around. Throbbing bass work and thundering drums together with the feedback ridden dark and haunting growls or high pitched and eerie screams make this a record that is meant for the ages…

1. Wo Fat - The Conjuring
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2014/12/number-1.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qi03ASdu6Mg/VKP3vfNz8YI/AAAAAAAAIKQ/oupF1YzkdEA/s1600/The-ONE-1.jpg

“The first whisky from Lakes Distillery, a British distillery in Cumbria that are as proud of their picturesque part of England as they are their excellently blended whisky. Both The One whisky and Cumbria are equally beautiful, but only one of them has sweet, spicy notes and a whiff of smoke, so we know which one we'll put in our glasses (it's the whisky, in case you were wondering). Sublime, mellow whisky, a gorgeous blend with the slightest hint of peat, pepper and wood. Don’t mess with The One…”

We jump 90 points from YOB’s majestic album Clearing The Path to Ascend to reach the gold medal of this year’s Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown. Produced by a band that has made the countdown with almost every release the past years. Reaching Number 8 in 2009 and Number 13 in 2012. A band that inspired honorable madman Tony to write a love letter this year and inspired so many more to vote for this band as the number one release or among the top of their favorites in 2014. And the groove is indeed strong in this band. They know how to stoner and they know how to metal. With a distinct swagger and luscious riffs that call for a spittoon looking container in the manner of stomping drums; they manage to control and evoke that late night blues feeling that flows underneath all that heavy rock. It will be that trusty companion that you will turn to whenever you need something summoned or awoken. Something swinging, with distorted fuzz, molasses sludge and hypnotic bass work. It is the voodoo they do so well! And we all know these three cats will deliver and keep delivering… Don’t mess with Texas…

I'm not sure if my concept of "psych" and "drone" (I like stuff like Loop) is the same as everyone else's but I LOVED this:

http://youtu.be/W2kB5dSc_BM

Oh man that album is awesome! Dead Skeletons were mentioned early in the '12 space metal thread. Or the psych drone thread, perhaps, if there were one of those that year

Obelisk Reader Poll. Not too different from the StonerHive.
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2015/01/02/the-top-20-of-2014-readers-poll-results/

1. YOB, Clearing the Path to Ascend (560 points)
2. Wo Fat, The Conjuring (404)
3. Electric Wizard, Time to Die (367)
4. Pallbearer, Foundations of Burden (334)
5. Conan, Blood Eagle (275)
6. Orange Goblin, Back from the Abyss (254)
7. Greenleaf, Trails and Passes (240)
8. Truckfighters, Universe (237)
9. Brant Bjork and the Low Desert Punk Band, Black Power Flower (235)
10. Earth, Primitive and Deadly (230)
11. Fu Manchu, Gigantoid (225)
12. Blues Pills, Blues Pills (211)
13. Lo-Pan, Colossus (202)
14. Eyehategod, Eyehategod (198)
15. Monolord, Empress Rising (190)
16. Mastodon, Once More ‘Round the Sun (188)
17. Mars Red Sky, Stranded in Arcadia (161)
18. John Garcia, John Garcia (156)
19. Bongripper, Miserable (141)
20. Radio Moscow, Magical Dirt (127)

Honorable mention to:
Goat, Commune (126)
Swans, To be Kind (117)
Monster Magnet, Milking the Stars (116)
Blood Farmers, Headless Eyes (105)
Floor, Oblation (104)
Mothership, II (104)

The 2014 psych journey simply never ends!

Thelightshines – Now The Sandman Sings (thelightshines)
Quilt – Held In Splendour (Mexican Summer)
Doug Tuttle – Doug Tuttle (Trouble In Mind)
Blank Realm – Grassed In (Fire)
Cool Ghouls – A Swirling Fire Burning Through the Rye (Empty Cellar) | Bandcamp
The Paperhead – Africa Avenue (Trouble In Mind)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – I’m In Your Mind Fuzz (Flightless)
CreaturoS - Popsicle | Bandcamp
Bozmo - Leather Umbrella | Bandcamp

Also keep discovering more 2013 albums, several at the end of this playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/1212496385/playlist/2jwma4l2gY4ZlcU6MUIv2L

I think that King Gizzard record is a lot of fun, surprised not to see more love for that among the stoner rock fans out there.

2015 thread time?

that Doug Tuttle album is absolutely stellar. top 20 (maybe 15) of 2014 for me; my favorite pure psych record of the year, I think.

the whole thing is streaming here: http://www.spin.com/articles/doug-tuttle-self-titled-debut-album-stream/

and yes to a 2015 thread.

Yeah it grew on me quickly. I was catching up the two albums from his previous band Mmoss, and they're alright, but not nearly as good as his solo disc. I'm holding off on starting a new thread in case someone else has a new clever title for it.

One album I haven't heard beyond one very enticing krautrocky tune on Soundcloud is Herbcraft - Push Thru the Veil. Tuttle listed it here:
http://bostonhassle.com/2014/12/top-7-2014-doug-tuttle/

I'm thinking maybe it's just a single though. They have five other albums from 2010-13.

Thinking of ordering the new Sapat; anyone heard it yet?

https://soundcloud.com/sophomorelounge/sapat-rock-face

Rolling Ridiculous Naked-Lady Cover Art As Far As The Eye Can See Thread 2015

:/

Rolling Yoni Power?

More!

Heaven’s Gateway Drugs – Apropos (HGD)
https://heavensgatewaydrugs.bandcamp.com/album/apropos

Violet Woods – Violet Woods (Violet Wodos)
https://violetwoods.bandcamp.com/album/violet-woods

The Love Dimension – Create And Consume (Warrior Monk)
https://thelovedimension.bandcamp.com/album/create-and-consume

These are ones further down my list that I didn't mention above but have been enjoying on my playlists over these holidaze:

Woods – With Light And With Love (Woodsist)
White Fence – For the Recently Found Innocent
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Revelation (A Records)
Thee Oh Sees – Drop (Castle Face)
Allah-Las – Worship The Sun (Innovative Leisure)
The Soundcarriers – Entropicalia (Ghost Box)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Oddments (Flightless) | Bandcamp
The Movements – Elephants 2 (Crusher)
Black Lips – Underneath The Rainbow (Vice)
Guardian Alien – Spiritual Emergency (Thrill Jockey)
The Black Angels – Clear Lake Forest (Blue Horizen)
Donovan Blanc – Donovan Blanc (Captured Tracks)
Secret Colours – Positive Distractions
Elephant Stone – The Three Poisons (Hidden Pony)
The Soft Walls – No Time (Trouble In Mind)
Pink Mountaintops – Get Back (Jagjaguwar)
Bardo Pond – Looking For Another Place (Fire)

2011 Rolling Doom/Stoner/Sludge/Drone/Psych/Space Metal Thread
Rolling Stoner/Psych/Doom/Sludge/Retro/Drone/Space Thread 2012
Rolling Stoner/Psych/Doom/Sludge/Retro/Drone/Space Thread 2013: The Next Day
Rolling Stoner/Psych/Freak/Doom/Sludge/Retro/Drone/Space Thread 2014: These Start at 11

Rolling Stoner/Psych/Freak/Doom/Sludge/Retro/Drone/Space Thread 2015: Red With Purple Flashes

Probably reflecting my current obsession with lots of 60s psych inspired albums. Any other suggestions?

no suggestions, but to me doom/sludge is more the purview of rolling metal

stoner/psych/freak/retro/space makes sense together, in my mind

drone seems like its own thing, but then the whole discussion is kinda silly anyway, right?

All valid points. I think maybe some preferred to track stoner/doom/sludge metal subgenre stuff in this smaller discussion. However, it's all still discussed in Rolling Metal anyway. I don't track much drone myself, and someone said they'd like it separate. So...

Rolling Stoner/Psych/Freak/Retro/Space Thread then?

Rolling Fringe Metal

I don't even know what Freak represents TBH, Ned added that.

Fringe Metal, I like that, but again, that's all included in Rolling Metal.

Freak as in freak folk & freak outs

Sorry, I cut it from title but feel free to include it in discussions.

Rolling Stoner/Psych/Retro/Space Thread 2015: Red With Purple Flashes

my only suggestion is that you include Folk in the title but now i see it's too late oh well

That Heaven's Gateway Drugs album is turning into something I listen to constantly. The name makes it sound like it's going to be all heavy. It reminds me a bit of Billy Nicholls actually.

http://gurugurubrain.bandcamp.com/album/guruguru-brain-wash

comp of japanese psych from the guruguru brain label

― j., Monday, July 14, 2014 11:03 PM (2 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

good lazy autumn sunday music, at times i'm put in mind of comets on fire

― j., Sunday, October 12, 2014 3:09 PM (8 months ago)

still nice, just a coupla hours of unpretentious freakouts

only just got exposed to sonic jesus' https://sonicjesusband.bandcamp.com/album/neither-virtue-nor-anger-2, i'm enjoying it. the vintage gothiness of Reich etc was something that sort of surprised me.