Rolling Stoner/Psych/Doom/Sludge/Retro/Drone/Space Thread 2013: The Next Day

Hopefully I'm not stepping on some toes here, but I wanted to talk about the new Sgt. Sunshine album and I noticed one of these was never started for 2013! People need to populate this thread, because I've really been big into stuff like this in 2013.

I'll admit to having missed out on Sgt. Sunshine over their first two albums, but I'd read some scattered praise about them and needed something to throw in my All That Is Heavy cart and grabbed it. Well. There are some fantastic riffs on here and I can see why people really love this band, but I'm so disappointed in the muddy production. I get that it was an intentional thing, but I just don't feel like it does them any favors. The low end gets emphasized, but at the expense of everything else. Look at Colour Haze, they get a great fucking sound, but they don't have to sacrifice the rest of the mix. I guess it just sticks in my craw because it really has the potential to be a really great record otherwise.

But on the posi tip, here's stoner/psych/doom/sludge/retro/drone/space that I'm totally digging:
Age of Taurus - Desperate Souls of Tortured Times
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Mind Control
Carpet - Elysian Pleasures (a real revelation for me, kind of stoner jazz rock stuff on Elektrohasch, love it!)
Spaceking - In the Court of the Spaceking
Kadavar - Abra Kadavar
Orchid - The Mouths of Madness
Spiritual Beggars - Earth Blues
Blaak Heat Shujaa - The Edge of an Era
Romero - Take the Potion
The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic - The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic (side project by former Monster Magnet guitarist)

Also been digging stuff from Space Mushroom Fuzz, but I think you may have to have a high tolerance for jambands to really get into this.

Purson is right up there too. I had high expectations for their debut album based on the "Rocking Horse" single from a year ago, and they delivered.

Blood Ceremony also really come into their own on their new album.Still plenty doomy in places, but it mostly cranks up the Black Widow/Wicker Man OST influences, which I just love.

I talk about this album way too much, but Contackt by Sungod is a natural for this thread. jvc if you haven't checked it out, you should.

http://holodeckrecords.bandcamp.com/album/contackt-hd011

Ooh, that Sungod sounds very promising! Thanks for the recommendation.

I've been really, really anxious to hear the Purson, but I keep being told that it's still an "import" when I check at my locals. I think I just need to order it online somewhere because it doesn't seem to wanna get stocked around here. I loved the "Rocking Horse" single and the 7" with "Leaning on a Bear" and "Let Bloom".

Another album on my own personal radar: Ice Dragon side project/alter ego Tentacle apparently released a great doom album. I havent heard it yet but ut's on Bandcamp, I believe...

Anyways, really looking forward to checking out all these albums jvc. You are a prince and a scholar.

As are you, I had no idea there was an Ice Dragon side project! Nice to know.

Theres at least a couple of them. Those guys are insane!

Ha, they are! It's tough enough keeping up with Ice Dragon's releases.

Well the plan was to roll this thread into Rolling Metal for a wider audience so it's not just me talking to myself. I haven't been as active due to new job, vacation, feelin under the weather. Here's what I'm liking in rough order so far:

Purson - The Circle And The Blue Door (Rise Above)
Uncle Acid - Mind Control (Rise Above)
Kadavar - Abra Kadavar (Nuclear Blast)
Toner Low - III (Bilocation)
Motorpsycho - Still Life With Eggplant (Rune Grammofon)
The Crystal Caravan - With Them You Walk Alone (Transubstans)
Vidunder (Crusher)
Ghost B.C. - Infestissumam (Loma Vista)
Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork (Matador)
Orchid - The Mouths Of Madness (Nuclear Blast)
Sgt. Sunshine - III (Elektrohasch)
Gozu - The Fury Of A Patient Man (Small Stone)
Manilla Road - Mysterium (Shadow Kingdom)

Fellwoods, who had a split single with Ice Dragon last year, really needs to put out something new. Or at least make their EP available on CD.

Hadnt realized about a new QOTSA album (or that they signed w Matador)

Looking forward to Blood Ceremony. Just heard this, and it's awesome:

Naam - Vow (Tee Pee) June 4

I've liked the previous stuff I've heard from Naam so I'm anxious to hear that. Definitely a huge cosign on the Gozu too, good stuff.

I must have missed out on the decision to keep this in the regular rolling metal thread, sorry! I like the idea of this being a separate thread though, because Ned and some other posters that don't typically follow the metal threads pop in from time to time to hype good drone stuff.

It's still so weird to me that QOTSA is now on Matador.

space-psych-stoner thread is definitely a separate thing imo.

i didnt start it this time incase certain people complained about taking it out of rolling metal.

agree w j, but this thread primarily seems to concern stoner, doom & retro metal, with a side of fuzzed-out hard rock. that niche definitely needs its own thread, but keeping the name so close to the more expansively inclined rolling psych/drone/freak thread (which has been going for 8 years) seems a little odd.

i like this thread

Yeah I def missed it

It won't be out until summer, but Shooting Guns' new LP Brotherhood of the Ram is fantastic. More of the same catchy instrumental doom/kraut/space/psych jams, but is expands on the idea even more. Filthier tone, a lot darker, song lengths longer, but still plenty hooky.

this is drone metal though rather than the freak folk kind

Been into this Cult of Dom Keller album for the past few daze: http://mannequinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mnq-037-the-cult-of-dom-keller-s-t-lp

Hadnt realized about a new QOTSA album (or that they signed w Matador)

several tracks streaming here :

http://www.likeclockwork.tv/

love it.

That Follakzoid record is pretty good fun, very Neu! influenced, but since when has that been a bad thing?

Heh, exactly. Follakzoid proudly displays their influences, but when the resulting album is this good - who cares?

It seems like the new Moss is getting pretty lousy reviews, but I like it. Its a pretty bleak and desolate slab of doom. I think some might be turned off by how one-note it is, but I like how it just revels in the darkness and sludge and doesn't really give a fuck if you care.

Saw Follakzoid live last month. Can-worship all the way, but a terrific sound.

Yeah I totes want to check the Follakzoid out

Spun Water on Mars, the new-ish Purling Hiss, several times today after checking in a little while back and letting it percolate. Pretty damn great! Lazy, fuzzy garage POP with a heavy stoner/psych undertow. Traces of Weezer, Pixes and Dino Jr on the more upbeat & catchy numbers (esp. "Rat Race" and "The Harrowing Wind"). Super heavy leadoff track "Lolita" shoots nirvana through the boogie van instagram. All the name-dropping not to say that this is at all derivative or stale, but rather that PH are taking inspiration from a fairly wide and unexpected range of sources. It's garagey enough to please genre purists, but also gently implies the inevitable early 90s revival. Course there's plenty of killer guitar mangling where appropriate, but it's a surprisingly restrained album on that front, given Polizze's chops and the fried self-indulgence of his early recordings. Among their contemporaries, I'd say it slots in p comfortable with the likes of King Tuff, Kurt Vile and Ty Segall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lqJW0LSdW0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXTAiTxN0W8

^ first of those = "The Harrowing Wind"

Also digging Moon Duo's Circles remix companion album, their second such offering, a risdy special I picked up a few weeks back. First side is tilted in the general direction of semi-actual dance music, with excellent versions from Tom Furse and White Rainbow, among others. "Dance music" defined fairly liberally, cuz the guest producers rarely disguise the fact that these tracks began life as buzzed out trance rockers, but substantial liberties are nonetheless taken. Funky shit. Side two is more experimental, grubby and even a bit unhinged, with the best moments coming from Sun Araw, who pilots a lurching raft of buoyant neon squiggles through your dome, and Umberto, closing the curtains with a characteristically 80s-damaged ghoul school take on "Rolling Out". Excellent companion piece to Mazes' disco redux.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taS5loJCnEE

^ "Trails (White Rainbow Trail Blazer Edition)"

Yeah, I've been enjoying that Purling Hiss as well. I haven't heard any of their older stuff, does it stack up well with this latest?

yes and no. they (or he, really) gots two phases previous. first was a wall of hairy, matted riffs & noize over a beat, as on hissteria and the self-titled/untitled/whatever-titled debut LP. those records are cool, a lot more interesting & catchy than most head-caved gtr grot of a like nature, but not my favorite shit in the world. better to check w freedom purists.

in 2010, PH made a lateral leap to crudophonic shoebox guitar pop on "public service announcement" and 2011's follow-ups, the lounge lizards EP and dizzy polizzy cassette. all three of these are GREAT, imo, and they strongly prefigure water on mars. that said, they require elevated tolerance for home rec tape hiss and lazy/loser dgaf vibes.

water is polizze's first full-band effort w PH, and the first pro studio recording. he's been writing great songs all along (or at least generating great song ideas), but now you can actually hear them.

they require elevated tolerance for home rec tape hiss and lazy/loser dgaf vibes.

I think my years of Pollard and GbV fandom should help me out here. Thanks for the rundown, its been a name I've read a lot but hadn't got around to hearing until now.

oh yeah, if you can hack (or better yet love) early GBV, you're all set

should have said that water is the first full-band full-length. think the current lineup recorded lounge lizards too. not sure though.

couple tracks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C84r_jPOVAQ

^ PSA's "run from the city"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NDe2EBCkOg

^ LLEP's "midnight man" (cleaner & tougher)

Speaking of remix albums, Clinic's Free Reign II is way great

Is it? I've been meaning to check that out but I keep forgetting about it.

it is. haven't even heard the official mix, but the lopatin version is awes.

shit, man, contederizer can string some quality words together about Purling Hiss. kudos. loved all those descriptions.

one of my fave bands of the past 5 years, but i have to admit i love Hissteria the most. I like the other/older/lo-fi-er stuff (PSA, LL, etc), and feel like Water on Mars is a tad disappointing. BUT w/ two little kids in my house and way too busy a life, i have definitely not been able to give it the good listens it deserves. i've no doubt that my cursory listens have translated thusly into my brain: "well, this ain't destroying my skull like Hissteria, therefore i don't like it as much." and that isn't really fair.

Polizze completely and totally rules, tho.

Review of the new Toner Low:
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2013/05/23/toner-low-iii-bt/

That record sounds good, but Toner Low is an appalling name for a band.

Ya kind of punny, brings back flashbacks of temping after college. Not sure if Tone-Lo would be better or worse.

Finally heard the new Blood Ceremony, love it.

New Brutus is fun: http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/news/brutus-svart-records-gear-up-to-release-behind-the-mountains-pre-orders-now-available/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=brutus-svart-records-gear-up-to-release-behind-the-mountains-pre-orders-now-available

"ratchatcher" on the new motorpsycho is pretty absorbing for a seventeen minute epic, way less symphy too than anything on death defying unicorn

This was a nice surprise, I wasn't even aware a new Jex Thoth was coming out and I got to hear it this weekend. Definitely up there with Purson & Blood Ceremony as a favorite so far. Another Wisconsin doom/psych band, Sleestak has a new EP, hits all my fuzz and space buttons. Jex Thoth remains on a Swedish label and seems to mainly play in Europe. Hope they throw their domestic fans a bone and play some shows in the U.S.

Jex Thoth - Blood Moon Rise (I Hate Records) Jun 14
http://www.deafsparrow.com/jex-thoth-review-2013.html
http://puregrainaudio.com/reviews/jex-thoth-blood-moon-rise
http://ihate.bandcamp.com/album/blood-moon-rise

Sleestak - Book Of Hours EP (Sleestak)
http://sleestak.bandcamp.com/album/book-of-hours

Introducing the new monthly Super Doom Charts!

Top 40 albums as voted by a group of "bloggers, reviewers, radio hosts and label heads in the amorphous world of stoner doom sludge, etc."

http://theparanoidmusicblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/super-doom-charts-for-may-2013.html

And this is why I suggested sticking to Rolling Metal.

what?

Because no one posted itt in two days? That happens with Rolling Metal from time to time too. I don't know, whater. Have a mod kill this thread then.

sometimes rolling promo goes too fast sometimes noone posts for a week. it happens.

Your FB page gets more discussion that this!

fnb - i noticed weed is weed on yr year end list (whom i've never heard of) and now i'm wondering which of these years album are the most stonery - not just genre-like but aesthetically too

Ha, yeah it's hard to surpass Weed Is Weed in stoner themes! I think that's why the bands are so diverse, aesthetically people have very different ideas of "stonery," some like wobbly psych, jammy space rock, drones, heavy fuzz, or still more heavier crunch. Here's some jammy space rock:

10. Samsara Blues Experiment – Waiting For The Flood
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2013/12/number-10.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5jeZPnRdg60/UraiLM4lyqI/AAAAAAAAGe8/GMnl3NNxRtA/s320/10-barrel-oregon-brown-ale.jpg

“They took a standard brown malt bill and augmented with Aromatic, Marris Otter, Cara-Crystal wheat, flaked barley, chocolate, and special roasted malt. They then overloaded it with Cascade, Centennial, Northern Brewer, Simcoe, and Chinook hops, leading to a complex battle of pine and citrus flavor and aromatics. Which has lead to: Rich citrusy, floral hop aromas with a crisp, vivacious fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a long, grilled root vegetable, chocolate mint and honey grilled citrus finish.”

Two points above Number 11 we enter the top 10 with a band that is the embodiment of underground, experimental and jam based grooving. Released only a month ago it has quickly surged through the hearts of all music lovers out there and mesmerized with its four tracks. With heavy nods towards seventies heavy psychedelic rock and worldly influences it is a pure and unadulterated cosmic adventure blow out. Chuck full of massive riffs and gigantic rhythms this proggy stoner extravaganza is paying homage to the giants of yore and with it, it turns into something gigantic itself. So get your bathing suit on and prepare to float…

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bzuxMn5YbBY/UrajUWCTZ8I/AAAAAAAAGfo/VOltU3EAwbI/s320/Samsara-Blues-Experiment+01copy.jpg

My Psych list includes a lot of stuff not included in the more stoner/doom focused list upthread. I've been listening to the Spotify playlist and getting more into Wolf People (UK psych-prog-folk inspired by obscure Finnish bands, Mighty Baby, Dark, Groundhogs, Dungen), Föllakzoid (Chilean psych/space rock) and Pinkunoizu (Danish arty psych). The latest by Master Musicians Of Bukkake and Psychic Ills grew on me too.

Spotify playlist (433 tracks, 35 hours!)
http://open.spotify.com/user/1212496385/playlist/2jwma4l2gY4ZlcU6MUIv2L

01. Wooden Shjips – Back To Land (Thrill Jockey)
02. Naam – Vow (Tee Pee)
03. Wolf People – Fain (Jagjaguwar)
04. Thee Oh Sees – Floating Coffin (Castle Face)
05. Cave – Threace (Drag City)
06. Föllakzoid – II (Piccadilly)
07. Pinkunoizu – The Drop (Full Time Hobby)
08. Mammatus – Heady Mental (Spiritual Pajamas)
09. Aqua Nebula Oscillator – Spiritus Mundi (Tee Pee)
10. The Entrance Band – Face The Sun (Beyond Beyond Beyond)
11. Hookworms – Pearl Mystic (Redeye)
12. Dead Meadow – Warble Womb (Xemu)
13. The Flying Eyes – Lowlands (Nois-O-Lution)
14. Master Musicians Of Bukkake – Far West (Important)
15. The Asteroid No. 4 – The Asteroid No. 4 (Asteroid #4)
16. The Cult Of Dom Keller – The Cult Of Dom Keller (Mannequin/Reverberation Appreciation)
17. Psychic Ills – One Track Mind (Sacred Bones)
18. The Lucid Dream – Songs Of Lies And Deceit (Holy Are You)
19. The Limiñanas – Costa Blanca (Trouble In Mind)
20. Sungod – Contakt (Holodeck)
21. Vision Fortune – Mas Fiestas con el Grupo Vision Fortune (Faux Discx)
22. Jacco Gardner – Cabinet Of Curiosities (Trouble In Mind)
23. Luder – Adelphophoagia (Small Stone)
24. Movements – Like Elephants 1 (Cleopatra)
25. Ice Dragon – Born A Heavy Morning (Navalorama)
26. The Warlocks – Skull Worship (Zap Banana)
27. Carlton Melton – Always Even (Agitated)
28. Barn Owl – V (Thrill Jockey)
29. Retribution Gospel Choir – 3 (Chaperone)
30. Bardo Pond – Peace On Venus (Fire)
31. Pond – Hobo Rocket (Modular)
32. White Manna – Dune Worship (Holy Mountain)
33. Huge Rat Attacks – Organic Babies (Huge Rat Attacks)
34. Mikal Cronin – MCII (Merge)
35. TOY – Join The Dots (Heavenly)
36. Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. – In Search of the Lost Divine Arc (Important)
37. Destruction Unit – Death Trip (Sacred Bones)
38. The Flaming Lips – The Terror (WB)
39. The Black Angels – Indigo Meadow (Blue Horizon)
40. Mars Red Sky – Be My Guide EP (Mars Red Sky)
41. White Hills – So You Are…So You’ll Be (Thrill Jockey)
42. The Hedgehogs – The Heights (Hedgehogs)
43. Dean Allen Foyd – Road To Atlas EP (Crusher)
44. The Cosmic Dead – Inner Sanctum (Evil Hoodoo)
45. Mind Spiders – Inhumanistic (Dirtnap)
46. The Bevis Frond – White Numbers (Woronzow)
47. MGMT – MGMT (Columbia)
48. Spaceking – In The Court Of The Spaceking (Spaceking)/li>
49. Deerhunter – Monomania (4AD)
50. Julian Cope – Revolutionary Suicide (Head Heritage/Redeye)

Tremendous list, fnb. Just listened to that Cosmic Dead album and it might be my favorite thing I've heard from them. Closest we'll ever get to a Hawkwind dub/punk album

9. SubRosa – More Constant Than the Gods
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2013/12/number-9.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yooNOOVl_Ag/Urg3pYRzrbI/AAAAAAAAGf4/0HNzfOBoMU0/s320/9-exit+9.jpg

“Exit 9 Hoppy Scarlet Ale is a richly flavored red beer crafted with a variety of domestic and imported malts and a classic American yeast strain. It is assertively hopped with Amarillo, Centennial, Chinook and Citra hops for a bouquet with complex notes of citrus and tropical fruits and an appropriate bitterness in the finish. Recommended with spicy foods, such as gumbo or curry, as well as alongside rich blue or sharp cheddar cheeses, or just by itself...”

We dive into the single digits with a band that received one point more than Samsara Blues Experiment. On Number 9 we find a five piece magical doom band that scurries the ancient subconscious for those haunting melodies that vibrate low and long through the very core of your being. Their evocative ambience, their folky touch and that duo of electric violins simply bewitch and charm their way into your heart. Plagued by setbacks through their existence and having all their gear stolen only a month ago this band has constantly delivered high grade payment for the primal and antique hopes, desires and biddings to have the Gods look favorably upon us…

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yi-k68SjCbc/Urg3rYfcheI/AAAAAAAAGgA/69kXKjvkOrU/s320/subrosa-9.jpg

Maybe I ranked the Cosmic Dead too low, will have to reconsider it. A couple bands seem to draw more attention for people when they see them live, like Hookworms and Psychic Ills, which is #2 in Changingdad's post today.

This psych poll has oddly limited choices, am gonna have to listen to more of them first:
http://psychorizon.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/psychorizon-year-end-poll-2013/

I wd probably go ahead and just not give a crap about it...

treat it like an ILX Poll: Jex Thoth wins!

I did a spot check on some of those albums *oof* so you don't have to. Yeah, skip it. This is a good one to participate in though -- http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2013/12/02/top-20-of-2013-readers-poll/

8. Kylesa – Ultraviolet
http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2013/12/number-8.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hp8lEO2oHQY/Url0N7DBe0I/AAAAAAAAGgQ/YqbnCJEpHJU/s1600/8-Ball-Stout_beer_medium.jpg

“This smooth oatmeal stout has won well over a dozen additional gold, silver, and bronze medals at various beer competitions since first bringing home a silver for Lost Coast in the 1997 World Beer Championships. Presenting a deep, rich brown on the pour, capped by plenty of fluffy light brown foam, 8-Ball offers up luscious aromas of dark chocolate and well-roasted coffee, with some hints of smoky char and a bit of an earthy character. Look for a core of roasty-toasty malts on the palate, joined by some scorched caramel and a mild char note, with the flaked oats helping contribute to a nice round and creamy feel.”

To reach Number 8 we climb four points from SubRosa. It is the final album that belongs to the group of artists that all had almost the same amount of points. Cause we’ve only climbed twenty-five points from the Number 20 position to the Number 8. But after this we make the jump to the frontrunners. But before we do we are treated to the sixth album of a shapeshifting group that has always delivered some damn fine sludge metal. We could always trust these guys and girl to deliver some aggressive heaviness that was thick with punk. But since their last album they used more breathing room and more melodic and psychedelic influences. We can still enjoy those leaden riffs and colossal grooves; but the angelic side is much more prominent than ever. Which we all seem to dig even more! Highly diverse and ultraviolet!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WuVrikCjiN4/Url0PLpNytI/AAAAAAAAGgY/klDH58jg51Y/s320/Kylesa-2013-8.jpg

Changing dad's album of the year:

Wooden Shjips - Back To Land
02. Psychic Ills - One Track Mind
03. Savages - Silence Yourself
04. Fuzz - Fuzz
05. Hookworms - Pearl Mystic
06. Föllakzoid - II
07. The Lucid Dream - Songs Of Lies And Deceit
08. Cult Of Dom Keller - Cult Of Dom Keller
09. Wolf People - Fain
10. The Limiñanas - Costa Blanca

Honorable mentions:
The Asteroid #4 - The Asteroid #4
Jacco Gardner - Cabinet Of Curiosities
KVB - Minus One

Tracks
http://backseatmafia.com/2013/12/21/best-10-tracks-of-the-year/

01. deathrowradio, "Hocus Pocus"
02. Savages, "She Will"
03. Psychic Ills, "FBI"
04. Föllakzoid, "Trees"
05. Fossil Collective, "Wolves"
06. Moon Duo, "Zoned"
07. Findlay, "Off & On"
08. Hookworms, "Radio Tokyo"
09. The Asteroid No. 4, "Revolution Prevail"
10. Besnard Lakes, "People Of The Sticks"

The poll is shaping up quite differently this year, with a much greater focus on sludge metal than stoner rock. What remains for the top 6? Vista Chino, At Devil Dirt, Magic Circle, Blood Ceremony, Kadavar, then either Windhand, Brimstone Coven or Fuzz?

7. Red Fang - Whales and Leeches
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2013/12/number-7.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xrhcgZxu4T4/UrqsO7slnQI/AAAAAAAAGgw/1vk1rMY7LkA/s320/7-IMG_1036.jpg

“Most breweries have at least one piece of equipment that’s just a bit persnickity. At Boulevard they have fermenter number seven, the black sheep of the cellar family. Ironically, when the brewers were experimenting with variations on a traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale, the perfect combination of elements came together in that very vessel. You could call it fate, but they called it Tank 7, and so it is. Beginning with a big surge of fruity aromatics and grapefruit-hoppy notes, the flavor of this complex, straw-colored ale tapers off to a peppery, dry finish.”

As mentioned in the post about Kylesa’s Ultraviolet album that made it to the Number 8 position we now jump 26 points to make it to Number 7. The funbunch that stars on the bottom position of the five frontrunners has also made the list in 2011 when their album reached the Number 5 position. And on this album, their third, they show us that the can also get gritty and swampy but with much more depth and height. For this album goes the way of the sumo and leaves behind of some of the melodies and humor we knew from their earlier work. Heavier, fatter, darker and much sludgier. They are hear to blow out and suck you empty! Errr?!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cnfQgppIHfo/UrqsVYEz0wI/AAAAAAAAGg4/MVaEmdN8kfQ/s320/Red-Fang-7.jpg

6. Monster Magnet – Last Patrol
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2013/12/number-6.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ETXqEGi1Mjs/UryK6HvnscI/AAAAAAAAGhI/A30wZ6LeDUo/s320/6.jpg

“It is described as a “dark, spiced ale with the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg,” with a 9.0 percent alcohol content by volume. The beer is made with seven different types of malts, including two-row, Munich and others, along with magnum hops. Spices include ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and orange peel. And it is malty and big-bodied, with intermingling toasty and fruity characters. Almost a dessert in itself, it’s the quintessential winter beer – absolutely savory. And absolutely allusive…”

We climb three points from Red Fang to make it to Number 6 where we find another bunch of old rockers that made the countdown before. Their 2010 record made it to Number 14 that year and we were all glad the boys had made a new one and the frontman was back and ready for action. The new one goes a more psychedelic and experimental route in comparison with the one that came before but not as much as the older ones that we all hold close to our hearts. Sludge, Space, Sleaze and all kinds of heaviness go hand in hand with trippy lyrics and a hypnotic atmosphere. Now all we need to do is hope this isn’t their last patrol…

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-roxjgJdnQ/UryK93kw4fI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/JhK4PHb5ZeU/s320/monster-magnet-6.jpg

Last year's Stoner HiVe Top 20:
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2012/12/the-countdown-so-far.html

1. Witchcraft – Legend
2. Kadavar - Kadavar
3. Graveyard - Lights Out
4. Om - Advaitic Songs
5. Orange Goblin - A Eulogy for the Damned
6. Mamont - Passing Through the Mastery Door
7. Goat - World Music
8. Royal Thunder – CVI
9. Stubb – Stubb
10. High on Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis
11. Colour Haze - She Said
12. Troubled Horse - Step Inside
13. Wo Fat - The Black Code
14. Greenleaf - Nest of Vipers
15. Ufomammut - Oro: Opus Primum
16. Horisont - Second Assault
17. My Sleeping Karma – Soma
18. Ufomammut - Oro: Opus Alter
19. The Sword – Apocryphon
20. Major Kong – Doom for the Black Sun

Countdown so far:

20. American Sharks – American Sharks
19. Naam - Vow
18. Monkey3 - The 5th Sun
17. Purson – The Circle And The Blue Door
16. Goatess - Goatess
15. Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats – Mind Control
14. Ghost B.C. – Infestissumam
13. Black Sabbath – 13
12. Kvelertak – Meir
11. Carcass – Surgical Steel
10. Samsara Blues Experiment – Waiting For The Flood
9. SubRosa – More Constant Than the Gods
8. Kylesa – Ultraviolet
7. Red Fang - Whales and Leeches
6. Monster Magnet – Last Patrol

So for the top 5 I think Kadavar for sure, since they ranked high last year, then Vista Chino and probably Windhand. Since At Devil Dirt didn't make it last year, not sure who else. Possibly Horisont, Magic Circle, Blood Ceremony. Guess not Brimstone Coven or Fuzz...

Your liveblogging the Stoner Hive countdown was how I heard the Greenleaf album last year which endedvuo having a couple of my favorite songs from the year on it

Greenleaf was a pleasant surprise. Then Dozer reunited for Roadburn/Desertfest. I wonder if they'll record anything. Truckfighters album is out in a month, and this is the last week they're taking pre-orders (link upthead).

5. Kadavar - Abra Kadavar
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2013/12/number-5.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd6EnSbStsA/Ur3X2cmJltI/AAAAAAAAGhg/hiXyZ9ZkyOo/s320/5-2.jpg

“A lot of the new breweries that has cropped up everywhere over the past year or so seems to be dedicated to making boring bitters and other so called Real Ales. Weird Beard is luckily miles away from this rather stale approach. Their focus is on crafting a range of diverse and exciting beers, and it’s our duties, as beer geeks and borderline alcoholics, to support them in this endeavor. Weird Beard - five o’clock shadow. An absolutely amazing American IPA. There is no holding back on the hoppiness of this one. A perfect beer if you love bright hoppy flavors. This is what hop bomb should have tasted like. Beautiful beer, this makes you glad that people care enough to brew this well.”

One point higher as Monster Magnet we find one of those bands that give a new meaning to the words retro, bellbottoms and old skool. On Number 5 we find a trio that made the list last year and made it all the way to the Silver Medal position on Number 2. Their follow-up album makes it to Number five and with a live performance on Roadburn that blew everyone’s mind we can rest assured that these cats will return again soon. But first we have this gem to destroy our teeth on. Unpolished psychedelic stoner and hard rock that grooves with a high pitched villainous vocalist at the helm and a true animal on drums. It is the sound of blood, sweat and tears right through to their lo-fi production; which leave us doubled over with pleasure and fulfillment. It’s a kind of magic!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ERYxIvTf7jM/Ur3X5oSe0nI/AAAAAAAAGho/3lsJ0QHp1vA/s320/Kadavar_5.jpg

Avatarium could still make an appearance too...

Captain Beyond Zen's Top 40 Albums of 2013

1. Mountain Witch - Cold River
2. Tombstoned - s/t
3. Uncle Acid & the deadbeats - Mind Control
4. Devil - Gather the Sinners
5. In Solitude - Sister
6. Bloody Hammers - Spiritual Relics
7. Orchid - The Mouths of Madness
8. Beelzefuzz - s/t
9. Vista Chino - Peace
10. Tombstones - Red Skies and Dead Eyes
11. Windhand - Soma
12. Domovoyd - Oh Sensibility
13. Kadavar - Abra Kadavar
14. Noctum - Final Sacrifice
15. Egypt - Become the Sun
16. Goatess - s/t
17. Fuzz - s/t
18. Monster Magnet - Last Patrol
19. Red Fang - Whales and Leeches
20. The Flying Eyes - Lowlands
21. Mothership - s/t
22. Ice Dragon - Born A Heavy Morning
23. Black Capricorn - Born Under the Capricorn
24. Samsara Blues Experiment - Waiting For The Flood
25. Sandrider - Godhead
26. SubRosa - More Constant Than The Gods
27. Black Wizard - Young Wisdom
28. Kröwnn - Hyborian Age
29. Borracho - Oculus
30. Lord Dying - Summon The Faithless
31. Horisont - Time Warriors
32. Purson - The Circle and the Blue Door
33. Blood Ceremony - The Eldritch Dark
34. ASG - Avalanche
35. Realmbuilder - Blue Flame Cavalry
36. Sasquatch - IV
37. Kylesa - Ultraviolet
38. Doublestone - Wingmakers
39. Brutus - Behind the Mountains
40. Spiral Shades - Hypnosis Sessions

http://captain-beyond.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-top-40-albums-of-2013.html

The Tombstoned debut is much better than I expected it to be. They've got a promising future.

4. Queens of The Stone Age - …Like Clockwork
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2013/12/number-4.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kzyh21trEqA/Ur8p_p_AoVI/AAAAAAAAGh4/WQ2Ri3V_8LE/s1600/naamloos.png

“It has a big round raisin toffee fruitiness and the a dark amber color. There’s not a great deal to smell in this beer save for a slight woody toffee which is a shame. And there’s woodiness in the flavor too, it’s a brown resinous timber and it backs up the fruitiness very well. The hops are crisp and crunchy, sharp with brambles and they lead to a decent dry finish.”

We climb yet again only one point after enjoying the magical Abra Kadavar and find ourselves at Number 4. It is one of those albums that received as much flak from the early fans as it received praise from the later ones. And the other way around. For it moved every further away from the obscure, weird, rough and heavy beginnings towards something big, colorful and poppy. There is still that air of strange and dry heat surrounding it and there’s still enough of that gritty desert atmosphere permeating the songs. But not everyone has declared their love for this album; but the ones that conjured this one up will not care. For apparently dying a couple of hours, fighting with your brothers from the early days and fathering a couple of children changes you. And as time passes we all change. You can set your watch to that…

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkKdpa55AV0/Ur8p_m5njcI/AAAAAAAAGh8/gdTV69K8gJw/s320/josh-homme--010-4.jpg

3. Windhand - Soma
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2013/12/number-3.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itv8Rau6ilY/UsAujWCuTRI/AAAAAAAAGiQ/sSRBMsYrtTg/s320/3-thumb_600.jpg

“The brand 3 Horses refers directly to the origin of the Breda brewery. As long ago as 1446 the “Burghers” of Breda were granted the privilege of brewing their own beer, a right normally reserved to one of the ancient guilds. Slightly grainy and a crisp aroma come from this clear pale golden color brew with a small white head. A taste of club soda and dirty water come from this relatively light bodied brew. With an almost tin taste and a bitter aftertaste it sours the throat like you’re drinking liquid bronze...”

We reach the Bronze medal after climbing one more point. After this we reach the two albums that were voted for way ahead of the rest. But first we are treated to Number 3. There’s heavy, heavy and heavy and then there’s this piece of doom metal extravaganza. With a damn fast new release after their earlier one released in March 2012 these freaks are keeping a sweet speedy pace; which is not something they do with their music. A steady syrupy march towards the inevitable cliff; but there seems to be no end and the slow trek becomes cumbersome, repetitive and full of chronic deceit like you’re on a stroll with Sisyphus. And that’s exactly where their strength lies. Length, repetition, endurance and oppressive structuring…

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ljt72PpKra8/UsAulUO9F9I/AAAAAAAAGiY/Vgf8L4dJBe8/s320/windhand-3.jpg

Hrm, I'm thinking Vista Chino will win it, followed by maybe Magic Circle?

hah guess who forgot to vote again this year. Vista Chino are certs since I reckon I know most of the voters.

Since it's not posted, what do you pick for #2?

Still not posted. So what we got, Magic Circle? Avatarium? Blood Ceremony? I suddenly have the fear it might be Clutch. Hugely popular band, good band, mostly overrated albums.

If I know these guys I promise you it's Clutch

Well that kind of sucks.

2. Clutch – Earth Rocker
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2013/12/number-2.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n4u7hWp693A/UsHYlpyDnLI/AAAAAAAAGio/RMyUlmXFaFw/s320/2-new+belgium+2+below.jpg

“New Belgium Brewing declares a snow day for everyone! This joyful phrase conjures universal meaning: forget work and enjoy. 2ºBelow is New Belgium’s winter seasonal, bringing warmth and relaxation to cold winter days. It carries the subtle chocolate and caramel flavors of the newly developed Midnight Wheat malt. Pleasantly hoppy, the Styrian Golding, Centennial and Cascade hops bring a bright note to complement roasty undertones. It is the deep garnet of roasted walnut and presents a creamy tan head. “With its layered hops, it delivers the depth people crave in a winter beer but it’s very drinkable,” said Grady Hull, assistant brewmaster at New Belgium Brewing. “We intentionally created a beer that could carry its weight without weighing you down…””

The Silver medal position has eighteen points more than Number 3, Windhand. For the longest time this album held the Number 1 spot in its clutches, which was a pretty big surprise for me. It is a damn good album but I had not expected it to reach that or in fact this position. The same goes for the current Number 1. But; let’s focus on the Silver medal first. Their ninth album made it to the Number 19 position of the 2009’s edition of the Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown. On their tenth studio record the fellas go for the gusto in a big, fast and heavy way. And it may function as a blueprint for all bands out there who might feel like they’re stuck in a rut, format or lack the guts to have the dealer set them up with an additional set of cards. For even though some of the changes seem to be floating beneath the surface and there is still much stoner groove and metal blues to be enjoyed; all limiters are thrown out of the window here. They implore a skinned off sound where instruments crackle and vocals pop. The riffs growl and claw at your face without tearing off your fur. And all eleven compositions are equally powerful and where the band used to loose themselves a bit in extravagant earthly, native or eccentric meandering they now use all those influences much more subtle and have it transport the groove like an underground current. And all those earthly up-tempo beautiful rockers are even more infectious thanks to the vocals that stun with humor and melancholy truths. All of which are brought to us with care by blues poets, stoner souls and deranged vicars… If you’re gonna do it; do it on stage…

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbArMQw1ZMY/UsHYoDUq_vI/AAAAAAAAGiw/hJCckkp00yg/s320/Clutch-2.jpg

these guys have always been popular amongst the hive. even back in audiogalaxy days. I had a tape copy of their 1st album way back but never cared for anything else. Music was okish but i hated the singer. Not heard this album.
It won metal hammer UK album of year btw

It's their best record in a decade. Just good old fashioned hard rock.

Very meat 'n' potatoes, great sound, good live, but most of their songs don't stick for me. I have a hard rock list and they didn't make the top half:

1. Gozu – The Fury Of A Patient Man (Small Stone)
2. Queens Of The Stone Age – Like Clockwork (Matador)
3. Årabrot – Årabrot (Fysisk Format)
4. Moonbow – The End Of Time (Moonbow)
5. Zodiac – A Hiding Place (Prosthetic)
6. Doublestone – Wingmakers (Levitation)
7. Gaytheist – Hold Me…But Not So Tight (Good To Die)
8. Blues Pills – Devil Man EP (Nuclear Blast)
9. Wall – Wall (This Chaming Man)
10. American Sharks – American Sharks (American Sharks)
11. Diesto – For Water Or Blood (Eolian Empire)
12. Iron Tongue – The Dogs Have Barked, The Birds Have Flown (Neurot)
13. Motörhead – Aftershock (UDR)
14. Big Business – Battlefields Forever (Gold Metal)
15. Melvins – Tres Cabrones (Ipecac)
16. Coliseum – Sister Faith (Temporary Residence)
17. Nails – Abandon All Life (Southern Lord)
18. The Body – Master, We Perish (At A Loss)
19. Scorpion Child – Scorpion Child (Nuclear Blast)
20. Clutch – Earth Rocker (Weathermaker)
21. ASG – Blood Drive (Relapse)
22. Larman Clamor – Alligator Heart (Small Stone)
23. Mothership – Mothership (Ripple Music)
24. Falcon (Ex-Circle) – Frontier (Ektro)
25. Secrets – Fragile Figures (Rise)
26. Skogen Brinner – 1st (Subliminal Sounds)
27. The Brimstone Days – The Healer (Transubstans)
28. True Widow – Circumambulation (Relapse)
29. Mojo Waves – Lo And Behold! (Mojo Waves)
30. La Chinga – La Chinga (La Chinga)
31. Free Fall – Power & Volume (Nuclear Blast)
32. Ape Skull – Ape Skull (Heavy Psych Sounds)
33. Melvins – Everybody Loves Sausages (Ipecac)
34. The Quill – Tiger Blood (Metalville)
35. Alice In Chains – The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (Virgin)
36. Spiritual Beggars – Earth Blues (Inside Out)

From HP Taskmaster:
LAST CALL FOR THE READERS POLL:

Tomorrow afternoon I'm taking the Top 20 of 2013 Readers Poll down so the results can be properly mathematicified. If you haven't yet added a list or even a pick or two to the cause, now would be the time. Once again, thanks to everyone who's participated thus far:

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2013/12/02/top-20-of-2013-readers-poll/

In the context of my summary, didn't include albums in the genre lists that made my overall top 13, which in the case of the hard rock list were Spirits of the Dead, and this, which I highly recommend:

All Them Witches – Lightning At The Door (All Them Witches)
After self-releasing their music on Bandcamp, Elektrohasch remastered and issued Our Mother Electricity last year. The Nashville, TN based band is the only American band to have made the roster of the German label run by Stefan Koglek of Colour Haze. Their style of stoner desert blues is distinctly American, and their own. There’s no direct comparisons for sound, with only vague associations with Giant Sand that probably are in my own head and not the band’s, and a touch of menacing folk-Americana of Wovenhand. Much of their sound comes down to their secret weapon, drummer Robby Staebler. His deceptively laid back, lurching rhythms allow for a lot of space in the music while enhancing it with drama such as the middle section of “Swallowed By The Sea.” This recording really captures the full range of his heavy toms and singer Michael Parks, Jr.’s bass where the first album didn’t. Imagine if John Bonham had listened to Captain Beefheart and wore an electro-shock collar that enabled him to reign in the bombast. All Them Witches is that and much more. The blues is well over a century old, and it’s still being creatively reimagined. | http://allthemwitches.bandcamp.com/album/lightning-at-the-door

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GXr66dBcJ58/UsKm9aAev5I/AAAAAAAAGjA/G9t59n0joaE/s320/beer-051712-xlg.jpg

The Countdown so far...

Since we are about to announce the numero uno, the number one, the Gold medalist of The Ultimate Stoner HiVe Top 20 albums of 2013! The one that beat Clutch by 8 points. It must be the right time to run through the countdown so far... Later on today, before the clock strikes twelve and 2014 begins, we will know which album occupies the number one position! Thanks to all you lovely freaky voters out there!

1. …
2. Clutch – Earth Rocker
3. Windhand – Soma
4. Queens of The Stone Age – …Like Clockwork
5. Kadavar – Abra Kadavar
6. Monster Magnet – The Last Patrol
7. Red Fang – Whales and Leeches
8. Kylesa – Ultraviolet
9. SubRosa – More Constant Than The Gods
10. Samsara Blues Experiment – Waiting For The Flood
11. Carcass – Surgical Steel
12. Kvelertak – Meir
13. Black Sabbath – 13
14. Ghost – Infestissumam
15. Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats – Mind Control
16. Goatess – Goatess
17. Purson – The Circle And The Blue Door
18. Monkey3 – The 5th Sun
19. Naam – Vow
20. American Sharks – American Sharks

1. Vista Chino – Peace
http://stonerhive.blogspot.nl/2013/12/number-1.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_W-wtR28crg/UsLrlC64gMI/AAAAAAAAGjY/PRp7Wvd5Xx0/s320/GOLDBEER1.jpg

“Fiji Gold Beer is by no means a pilsner that deserves that gold label. It is a basic yellow fizzy in appearance, but with a slightly richer color and a pathetically thin head. The aroma is not offensive, but it doesn't conger up a huge desire to drink it, either. The hop profile in the nose is slightly reminiscent of a decent Pilsner, but that's where the similarities end. The least attractive part of this beer is the sweet graininess in its taste. It's out of place, and has the same kind of malt off-flavor you usually find in a first-time home brewer’s beer, before he or she has discovered the complexities of grain and hops and just throws a pre-hopped extract brew together and wonders why it doesn't taste pro. I often describe this flavor as tasting "like a headache," though it's not usually an alcohol or ester issue. The mouth feel is fine. But, that's not enough to carry this beer…”

In a last ditch effort, after Clutch held the Number 1 position for days on end, this one surpassed it during the final two days. It now has the Gold Medal firm in its grasp. With eight points more. It is of course the album that was highly anticipated for quite some time. One that was meant to be released earlier; but due to legal issues which arose (thanks to the one that did not partake) after their initial successful reunion run (minus one), they had to change name and lots of bass players that were also there in the very beginning decided to call it quits at that point. For the band that started it all, the band that forever will be known as the godfathers of stoner and the flag carriers of the desert sound was brought to life in 2010 thanks to the vocalist. After which the original drummer joined and plans for the future were brewing at the start of 2011. As mentioned before the project grinded to halt due to multiple legal complications and fans feared the worst. But all good things take time and will always come to pass. For it was definitely worth the wait. The album is a throwback to the good ol’ days; and that lo desert sound that we all love so dearly. But with a more loose, bluesy and perhaps even jazzy sound; you can hear the boys matured and discovered their inner soul and recognized its beauty. The vocalist sounds better than ever, the grooves are there, the riffs are damn fine and the drummer is so magnificent that he alone would have deserved a top spot this year. All that’s left to do is to poor another beer, put on the album and dream away under the starry sky as the fireworks explode above… Peace…

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9mPKuIRKW9Y/UsLrlHeHhyI/AAAAAAAAGjc/42NfLReOHMQ/s320/vistaChino-1.jpg

Egypt - Become the Sun

who can tell me about this?!?

http://egypt1.bandcamp.com/album/become-the-sun

hear for yourself, mane

Apparently Sheavy put out a new album this month. I haven't thought about those guys for a decade.

(re-)listening to the first track, sounds like they're kind of hitting that middle ground between stoner rock and Pantera-style country-fried groove/thrash. Not unlike Clutch or Down...
xp

Way late but I was a little blown away by the Sungrazer half of their split w/ The Machine, esp. "Dopo" and "Yo La Tengo". I was not that into their last album but clearly they deserve closer attention

I loved Sungrazer, too bad they split up.

The Obelisk Top 20 of 2013 Readers Poll
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2014/01/01/top-20-of-2013-readers-poll-results/#more-40727

1. Clutch, Earth Rocker (589 points)
2. Vista Chino, Peace (431 points)
3. Queens of the Stone Age, …Like Clockwork (357 points)
4. Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Mind Control (354 points)
5. Monster Magnet, Last Patrol (329 points)
6. Kadavar, Abra Kadavar (312 points)
7. Windhand, Soma (291 points)
8. Earthless From the Ages (285 points)
9. Red Fang, Whales and Leeches (276 points)
10. Black Sabbath, 13 (220 points)
11. Blood Ceremony, The Eldritch Dark (217 points)
12. Church of Misery, Thy Kingdom Scum (166 points)
13. Sasquatch, IV (155 points)
14. Carcass, Surgical Steel (136 points)
15. Kylesa, Ultraviolet (129 points)
16. Orchid, The Mouths of Madness (124 points)
17. Samsara Blues Experiment, Waiting for the Flood (114 points)
18. Deafheaven, Sunbather (112 points)
19. Kvelertak, Meir (109 points)
20. Ghost, Infestissumam (103 points)
20. The Melvins, Tres Cabrones (103 points)

Honorable mention also goes to:
ASG, Blood Drive (96 points)
Naam, Vow (95 points)
Alice in Chains, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (90 points)
Pelican, Forever Becoming (90 points)
Gozu, The Fury of a Patient Man (85 points)
Deville, Hydra (79 points)
Lumbar, The First and Last Days of Unwelcome (79 points)

In Solitude, Gorguts and Black Pyramid also has respectable showings, as you can see in the lists themselves. Clutch dominated from day one and never relinquished the lead, but some of the races for the spots behind them were tight, like Queens of the Stone Age and Uncle Acid keeping it close, as well as others. In any case, such unanimity around Earth Rocker was exciting in itself. It was my album of the year too.

While the results are quite similar to Stoner HiVe, the coolest part this year is seeing all the individual ballots. I checked out the lists of the few who voted for my favorite, Spirits Of The Dead, and found Hidden Masters and Rose Windows. As usual, I'm thrilled to find more music I like, but also wonder how the hell I missed them. I even read an article on Hidden Masters. They were not low profile, debuting on Rise Above/Metal Blade. Just totally dropped the ball and forgot to listen to 'em.

Sock to the gut!

needs new thread

I was pretty let down by the Rose Windows. The Reckless employee sticker had me expecting something a little heavier. It's not bad, just pretty watered down stoner/occult stuff. The last track sort of reveals that they were maybe a Fleet Foxes clone before they decided to jump on the occult rock bandwagon.

I like the Rose Windows, but then again I like some Fleet Foxes stuff too. Agree it's not that heavy though, apart from like one track.

I like Fleet Foxes too, wasn't meant to be a knock against them. 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.

Rose Windows put on a hell of a show when I saw them recently, I haven't listened to the album much but it might not measure up.

New year, folks:

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