Most Listened: November 26
Fool’s Idol – Autumn EP
I’ve mentioned a few times this month that I have certainly but unwillingly boarded the proverbial struggle bus when it comes to November’s new releases. We were hit with an utter tsunami of amazing new albums in September, then again in October, and now suddenly everything I hear pales in comparison. Just as I was about to throw in the towel, I happened upon Fool’s Idol’s Autumn EP. Fool’s Idol brings the psychedelic garage rock sound with this palpable punk rock energy, yet they somehow manage to maintain a rather serene, dreamlike background to their music at the same time. I found it to be quite fitting that one of the band’s tags on Bandcamp is “garage punk blues”, a pretty accurate and rad way of describing their sound.
This six-track EP with its run time of just over fifteen minutes has a way of ending all too soon, but not in a bad way. More like a “What just happened? I think something just melted my face off and I liked it” kind of way.
This energy, especially coming from the alternative rock end of the spectrum that I hold so dear, is exactly what I needed. If you don’t do anything else today, take fifteen minutes to check out Fool’s Idol; absolutely guaranteed to melt your face off.
Favorite track: Autumn III
https://fools-idol.bandcamp.com/album/autumn-ep
Valley of the Sun – The Sayings of the Seers
Here’s another super refreshing one that has a way of lifting your mood.
I really enjoyed Valley of the Sun’s 2022 release, The Chariot, and decided to spend some time this week listening to some of their older stuff. Let’s just say I’m really glad I did. I especially liked the band’s 2011 EP, The Sayings of the Seers. Valley of the Sun often blurs the lines between stoner and alternative rock, and this EP seems to do that more than any other release from the band. I found it to be a slightly brighter effort overall. And of course, with those powerful yet incredibly smooth vocals, what’s not to love? If you asked me to describe the sound of this album in a metaphorical way, I’d say, “A spontaneous joyride on a summer day.”
Favorite track: Riding the Dunes
https://valleyofthesun.bandcamp.com/album/the-sayings-of-the-seers
Seedy Jeezus – Seedy Jeezus
Look at that, another high energy, feel good album! I promise, I didn’t plan this.
I recall hearing Seedy Jeezus for the first time years ago, and I didn’t really like it, but also didn’t hate it. It was one of those bands that I didn’t like quite enough to add to my personal rotation of music. Well, something changed this week. Seedy Jeezus showed up on my recommended artist list on Spotify as if to say, “Remember me?” So I gave them another go, and it was like hearing the band for the first time with new ears. Don’t you love it when that happens?
Favorite track: Wormhole
https://seedyjeezus.bandcamp.com/album/seedy-jeezus
No Skull – Wrong Eyes
Ok, I’m bending the rules a bit here. Wrong Eyes is a one-track single, not an album, but it’s too good not to mention. No Skull just released this song on October 3, their third release since March in a series of singles and EPs. Unlike the high energy jams mentioned above, this one is the exact opposite. Wrong Eyes trudges along (we appreciate that just as much around here, of course!) with mesmerizingly haunting vocals, essentially a melodic chant. This is a great song to relax to, as many stoner/doom songs tend to be.
https://noskull.bandcamp.com/track/wrong-eyes
Damage Therapy – Panacea
There are countless bands in the underground scene that don’t get enough attention. I could be here for the rest of my life (which I intend to be!) talking about them. However, Damage Therapy is one of my favorite bands on that underappreciated list.
The band released Panacea in September of this year, that month I mentioned earlier in which this uncanny number of epic albums were released, and they received a big old vote from me for the Doom Charts. Now that September is over and we’re getting close to the end of the year, I really want to bring this album to people’s attention again; it’s far too good not to be talked about and more than anything, listened to by way more people.
To this listener, Damage Therapy has a sound that’s primarily psychedelic garage rock, which I absolutely love. There’s a rawness to it; a no-frills outpouring of sound and emotion and human experience that I adore. Garage rock can often be dismissed as sloppy, flippant, and juvenile. That might be true of your stepbrother’s band that jammed in your mom’s basement in 1993, but it’s certainly not the case with a multitude of garage rock bands in the underground scene. This includes Damage Therapy and Fool’s Idol, mentioned above.
The Heavy Minds are another great example. Damage Therapy is simple yet complex. The songs are often layered with not only the classic garage rock/psychedelic rock sound, but there’s also a bit of a doom element in there occasionally as well as some progressive rock techniques. This isn’t an album that was shoddily slapped together; a lot of hard work and thought went into its composition, lyrics, and sound. Like I said, not your stepbrother’s garage band.
I also think it should be noted that Damage Therapy made an appearance on the Super Satan Show recently, which some of you may be familiar with.
Of course, it goes without saying that a band that gets a seal of approval from the Dark Lord himself certainly gets one from me as well.
Favorite track: Heathen Fire
https://damagetherapy.bandcamp.com/album/panacea
Electric Wizard – Electric Wizard
Even with the release of their debut album in 1994, Electric Wizard was already well on their way to becoming “the heaviest band in the universe”.
This one is a tad less heavy than their later releases, a bit less fuzz and distortion, and is generally more quintessential doom metal. This album definitely smacks way more of classic Black Sabbath and Cathedral. As we know, Electric Wizard went on to further personalize their sound, which they actually did fairly quickly, and this evolved into the modern day doom sound we know and love today. The band primarily writes songs about the supernatural, horror, and occult and this album is no different in that regard, just a bit more bare bones. I always enjoy listening to this album from time to time; it allows me to fully appreciate how much Electric Wizard has evolved since their start.
Favorite track: Black Butterfly
