I think The Return to Tomorrow is one of the best Fu Manchu Albums ever released. Old fans will find enough to scratch that old-school itch while hearing new things from the band.
Read More Review: Fu Manchu’s The Return of TomorrowIt’s not easy to find good festivals in the US, and it’s even more difficult if you’re looking for Stoner Rock festivals. Sweden has them, Greece has them, the Netherlands has them, Portugal has them—the list goes on and on outside of the US. I also live in the Midwest, so events like Psycho Las […]
Read More Festival Review: Ripplefest Texas 2023There’s something special about looking back to check out the top albums of the year. In some ways, Monster Riff has become a bit of a personal music diary. As much as it is a home to analyze music, interview artists, and dig into the coolest parts of the underground, it’s also a snapshot of […]
Read More Top Stoner Rock and Doom Albums of 2022We talk a lot about the pioneers of the Stoner Rock sound, and generator parties, and fuzz pedals, and Orange amps, but there’s one thing that doesn’t get nearly enough credit for this amazing scene. Of course, I’m talking about weed! Just kidding. I’m talking about the art.
Read More The Silent Heroes of Stoner Rock — Part 1When I was initially approached about contributing to the Doom Charts, I was intimidated. Not because I was worried about writing—that’s straightforward enough. No, I was worried about the responsibility. “Basically, the Doom Charts is a submission of your top 25 albums each month,” Ioannis from Desert Vulture (and, obviously, the Doom Charts) told me. […]
Read More What It’s Like Writing For the Doom Charts: A Peek Behind the Curtain