I’ve come to realize that Fans are not only the first level of Gatekeeping, but potentially the most toxic and destructive. I’m a Gatekeeper Events have conspired to make me think about and come to terms with one inescapable truth: I’m a Gatekeeper It’s unavoidable. The very nature of writing about bands and music in […]
Read More The Reviewer As Gatekeeper in the Heavy UndergroudThe blog “Clean and Sober Stoner” is transitioning to focus more on headphones while maintaining its musical essence. The author shares personal experiences with audio obsession, recovery, and the need to appreciate music over gear. The mission now includes highlighting high-quality recordings in the stoner doom and heavy rock genres.
Read More My Pivot to Headphones: The “Stonerphile” VisionThis Top 12 Heavy Rock albums is the hardest list I’ve ever written. Doom. Post Rock. Heavy Metal. Sludge. I believe each of these albums could become iconic, and ranking them just seems wrong on so many levels.
Read More The Top 12 Heavy Rock Albums of September ’25Faetooth: A Sign of the Times It’s been an absolute crap show of a year, hasn’t it? With political turmoil and a general sense of unease hanging in the air, it’s easy to feel like we’re all spiraling. After the political (or more precisely: cultural) assassination, I’ve seen people I love and respect giving in […]
Read More Faetooth: Labyrinthine Is the Perfect Soundtrack for a ‘Soul-Crushing’ TimePrelude to Black Sunrise Black Sunrise just released their new album, Drowning, and it’s making me appreciate where I come from. The southern shores of Lake Michigan are a sight to behold. To the west, the incredible Chicago skyline stands out like giants reaching toward the cosmos. To the east, the historic national landmark, the […]
Read More Black Sunrise- Drowning