Finally, the time is here for my monthly list, this time going to 11. Check out the full list on the Doom Charts.
But these are my favorites for the month, and I’m sure I’ll be writing about something I missed during this hectic month. Thanks for reading!
HIBERNAUT – INGRESS
I guess if a band where to produce an album this year that checked all my boxes, it would be Hibernaut. It’s been a very rich year so far for Stoner/Doom and Ingress by Hibernaut is one of my favorite releases so far this year. There’s a spirit, a vibe to it that reminds me of the bad ol’ days…,when you had to know about a release after you read about in a fanzine, or your friends shared it with you with hushed tones and wild eyes. This was the #1 since the moment I heard it…
TURNED TO STONE CHAPTER 8 – HIGH DESERT QUEEN AND BLUE HERON
If you’ve been following the heavy underground seen for any amount of time, then the Turned to Stone series from Ripple Music is no surprise to you. What is surprising to me is the uncompromising quality of each release. I always expect one of these compilations to suck, and I just hasn’t happened yet. High Desert Queen has always been one of the best bands in the scene since their first album. They just keep getting better, and it’s like they saved some of the best songs for this release.
Blue Heron is a band so rare, I never even thought about it. A desert rock band from the actual desert- go figure! Like Gypsy Chief Goliath and End of Age from Chapter 7, Blue Heron is now one of my favorite bands to keep an eye on. Virtually perfect!
DUSKWOOD – THE LAST VOYAGE
Duskwood’s The Last Voyage is awe-inspiring on so many levels. This is highly-refined Hard Rock on par with Steak, and even Hermano on the more Stoner side of things. It’s a fantastic album to put on, LOUD, and jam to with some of the best vocals this side of John Garcia. Even better, like Mystic Majesty earlier this year, they’ve released a concept album that doesn’t suck. In fact, you’ve got two earlier albums to bliss out on if, like me, this is your first spin and you want to dig in some more!
THE GREAT GRAY FUNK – THE GREAT GRAY FUNK
In full self-disclosure, I can be a bit of a…snob. Reformed, though. When the ear candy of The Great Grey Funk emitted their highly refined and masterfully produced compositions through my daily headphones, I knew I had a reason to reach for the Big Guys, the Sennheiser HD800S’s. As much as I need a bit of dirt and generally prefer the sound and energy of a live recording, there is a place and time for this kind of polished presentation. The song craft and musical ability of this group is stunning!
THE MACHINE – WAVE CANNON
May was one of the most diverse months I’ve heard in a while. True, I didn’t get a chance to listen to as much music as I generally like. But everything I heard seemed to fit into my favorite niches in the Heavy Underground. No Spacelug or Elephant Tree so far this year? The Machine has it covered. I think this style or niche is one of the most difficult to pull-off due to stiff competition and high expectations. The trippy, thick and heavy music is aided by superb production that makes this one the best Heavy Psych releases in recent years.
BLOOD CEREMONY – THE OLD WAYS REMAIN
For years, Blood Ceremony has been one of the most highly respected bands in the entire heavy underground. Which I never quite understood. While I found the concept compelling, the delivery was a little too”Stylized” for me to get into. The Old Ways Remain changes that to the point that I can go back and appreciate their earlier albums. I think this is what happens with constant refinement: a statement album the brings the best out of the prior catalog. What really sucked to me in was the overdriven sound of a guitars, no fuzz required. I think this album literally redefines who Blood Ceremony is.
THEY WATCH US FROM THE MOON – COSMIC CHRONICLES: ACT 1, THE ASCENSION
The more than I do this, the more music I listen to, the more I pay attention to the vocals. It’s kind of weird, because I don’t recall that being a major point of focus for me. For whatever reason, vocals make or break an album for me nowadays. I mentioned this because The Cosmic Chronicles has some of the best vocal work and recording I can remember hearing. That the music is heavy, cosmic, and engaging is an added plus. I can’t get enough of this album!
SLEEP TOKEN – TAKE ME BACK TO EDEN
Nobody is more surprised than I am at how much I like this album. Usually I have a reluctant admiration for the more commercially successful bands such as Ghost. I don’t hate ’em, but I don’t go out of my way to put them on my playlist. Take Me Back to Eden goes beyond all that. This is some of the most intelligently written, mindfully produced “mainstream” music I’ve heard in years. There’s a serious amount of doom adjacent material, and I can’t help but daydream that Frayle and Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard along with Sleep Token would be one of the best shows I could ever possibly see. If this is what the kids are listening to nowadays, I should have had kids… much respect!
SLUGG – ORICHALCUM
It won’t surprise me at all if Orichalcum winds up being in my top 10, maybe even my top five for the year. Whenever I put together a list like this, it really is my best guess. It takes time to figure out where something actually places. This has everything I can think of to make it a decades-long favorite. The tone, pacing, and writing are right in that target area that makes good music great.
LOVE YOUR WITCH – A JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN
It took me a while to get into A Journey Into the Unknown. But thanks to Love Your Witch’s excellent social media presence, and a few gentle nudge is from my fellow Doom Charts colleagues, I had that much need a moment of clarity. What the fuck was my problem? This is Bluesy/Thrashy/Stoner/Doom goodness that showcases a variety of styles, with world class guitar playing and vocals that adding up to one heck of a good time. Highly recommended!
BEWARE OF GODS – POST APOCALYOPTIC DOOMED LOVE AFFAIR
Going to 11 isn’t just a worn out tribute to This Is Spinal Tap. I literally could not leave any of these 11 bands off of this list, and I kept numbers off of the list because they are all so interchangeable. You can thank Post Apocalyptic Doomed Love Affair. This is a bass heavy tour de force that doesn’t suffer from bloat or unnecessary instrumental wankiness. This is the perfect length EP for an introduction to the band, and some of the best songs this month.
That’s a Wrap!
As always, thanks again for checking this out. May was another record breaking month for this website, and Newbie and I truly appreciate it! Check out my Linktree below for other content, and be sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel as well. We have a few serious surprises in store…
