Last month I got a huge kick from the special guest write-ups for the albums. This month I went all out by gathering words from across the globe for your reading pleasure. Guest contributors include Justin Gish, Nuclear Dog, Pat Harrington, Steve Miller, Gruesome Greg, Ulla Roschat, Blasting Dennis, Joop Konraad, Tony Van Dorston, Cheryl Carter, Aaron Pickford and Jeff Warren. A mighty cheer for these heroes!!
A quick note of explanation of the chart: Each person asked submitted a list of their current favorite albums (you can find a list of contributors at the bottom of the post). Some ranked their lists, some didn't. Those that were ranked higher received a higher number of points, those that weren't ranked received the same amount of points for every album. Those receiving the highest number of actual votes were ranked highest on this list, with the points acting as tie-breakers. Got it? No? No problem, just enjoy the list for what it is.
In all over 250 albums received votes! Here are the top 40 ...
1). UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS – Mind
Control (Rise Above)Last Month: #1 [-], Months on chart: 2
Words by Justin Gish (Forte Radio Show, Heavy Planet)
Last
month these cryptic Brits materialized at the top spot on our list and now they
refuse to leave. I suppose it is our fault. They, cloyingly offered us Beatle
harmonies and heavy riffage, and we said sure, we'll have some of that. And now
we're hooked. If you're in Europe you can get your fix while they open for the
mighty Sabbath. If you live my side of the Atlantic, you'll have to sit in your
car and listen to this album while you wait for Sabbath to go on. Unless you
want to roll the dice, hoping Andrew W.K. plays this album all the way through. Find the album here.
2). KADAVAR – Abra
Kadavar (Nuclear Blast)Last Month: #3 [1↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by Nuclear Dog (Heavy Planet)
Kadavar
on "Abra Kadavar" have managed to achieve a rare and welcome feat
with their sophomore album, a release that comes quickly on the heels of
their highly received debut in 2012, and surpasses in every way
that first studio album. The same nimble, hard driving, tightly wound
musical onslaught returns, and, if anything, the songs, the melodies, display
more of a penchant for the hook while deploying musical codes
that achieve primal synch with a listener's deep lying metal
receptors; receptors that often stay locked in jaded resistance of
substandard fare, but bloom wide and warm for the reception of a wicked and
worthy sound. The amalgam of stoner rock, doom metal,
and psychedelic carpet rides on deep piles of shaggy fuzz, soaring
breathlessly through a musical subconsciousness upon waves of
classic seventies standards provides for an experience at once
familiar and unique, a feat of extraordinary magnitude, especially for a
sophomore event. See my review for Sludgelord. Find the album here.
3). ORCHID – Mouths
of Madness (Nuclear Blast)Last Month: #2 [1↓], Months on chart: 2
Words by Pat Harrington (Electric Beard of
Doom)
So
forget about the comparisons and controversies surrounding Orchid. Are they
derivative? Yes. Do they sound dangerously close to the “band-that-cannot-be-named”?
Yes.
So
what?
Here’s
the thing about ‘Mouths of Madness’ ...
The
songs are great. The songwriting is great. The performances are great. The
sound of the album is great. It sounds like it was recorded in 1973! This is
the kind of shit that made me fall in love with hard rock/heavy metal! Orchid
somehow makes me feel like I did the first time I heard “Masters of Reality”.
Based
on its own merits, this album kicks ass on virtually every level, for my money,
that’s all you need to know.
Dig!
Find the album here.
4). BLACK SABBATH – 13
(Vertigo)
4). BLACK SABBATH – 13
(Vertigo)
Last Month: - [-], Months on chart: 1
Words by Steve Miller (Temple of Perdition)
Imagine
for a moment that Bill Ward—at his age and in his current state —could actually
drum his way out of a wet paper bag let alone come close to emulating his
performances on the early Sabbath records. Then the whole ‘13’ reunion debacle
would be even more regrettable than the band’s choice in producer Rick Rubin.
Sure, Ozzy often sounds as if he’s an android or on the verge of a catatonic
state, but there’s no denying the brilliance of Iommi and Geezer. While it’s a
wild stretch to claim that ‘13’ is a return to form or an album that fits in
well with the band’s first six albums, it’s still a solid album that is heavy,
full of hooks and gives the finer moments of ‘Technical Ecstasy’ and ‘Never Say
Die!’ a run for their money. ‘13’ may be Black Sabbath at their most
self-referential, but it’s still fucking Black Sabbath. Find it here.
5). BLOOD CEREMONY – The
Eldritch Dark (Rise Above)Last Month: #20 [15↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by Gruesome Greg (Gruesome Views,
Hellbound)
After
stumbling upon this Toronto band back in ’06, I’ve been following their career
for seven years. Full credit to them for not recording the same record over and
over again—while I prefer the trad-doom-tinged debut, the mellower, more
progressive sounds of The Eldritch Dark still satisfy. But it’s not a complete
departure from the old, either. How many albums invite you to “Come to the
Sabbat” on “Candlemas Eve?” This one does. Find the album here.
6). CHURCH
OF MISERY – Thy
Kingdom Scum (Rise Above)
Last Month: #45 [39↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by LK Ultra
Church
of Misery have been flying the freak flag for all of Japan for nearly 20 years
and all that you’ve come to expect from the band remains intact. While shucking some of the band’s fabled
heaviness for a more polished chrome stoner finish, the tales of serial killing
depravity are still there, the low-riding bass foundation is still there and
the great riffs are all still there, flowering out in abundance. Find
it here.
7). BRUTUS – Behind
the Mountains (Svart)
Last Month: #- [-], Months on chart: 1
Words by LK Ultra
Retro rockin’
Norwegians Brutus have delivered a truly standout album within their
niche. Basically, 'Behind the Mountains'
is a handy album to bring around to maypole dances by day or ensorcelled orgies
round the old hanging tree by night. It both establishes and matches the
mood of each event at different times. Find
it here.
8). QUEENS
OF THE STONE AGE – … Like
Clockwork (Matador)
Last Month: #13 [5↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by Gruesome Greg (Gruesome Views,
Hellbound)
Josh
Homme and co have perhaps done themselves some disservice by releasing this one
on the heels of the s/t reissue, as this is definitely not the Queens of old.
Those expecting another “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” might be disappointed—but
that’s not to say there aren’t some songs on here that could provide a solid
soundtrack to your summer. C-c-c-c-cocaine not included. Find it here.
9). CULT
OF OCCULT – Hic
Est Domus Diaboli (Self-Released)
Last Month: #- [-], Months on chart: 1
Words by Ulla Roschat (The Wicked Lady
Show, Temple of Perdition,
Metal Bandcamp)
This is
the devil’s house, so be prepared to get your skull crashed and your brain
mashed with a wall of heavy sludge riffs. Your abulic mind is now ready to get
infused with darkness and despair by hypnotic ritualistic rhythms in an almost
quiet soothing way. Vocals like a blazing firestorm shroud you into the cries
of a million tortured souls. Oppressive dark bass sounds and rhythmic chant
like vocals numb your mind (or what’s left of it). Now and again seducing
guitar parts and a kind of dark warm fuzzy and reverberating guitar and bass
tone try to persuade you everything’s going to be alright.
The
devil pushes every button, and he succeeds. After your seventy minute long
visit in his house you’ll knock on the door again, since Cult of Occult’s first
full length album HIC EST DOMUS DIABOLI is highly addictive. Find it here.
10). CLUTCH – Earth
Rocker (Weathermaker Music)
Last Month: #4 [6↓], Months on chart: 2
Words by Justin Gish (Forte Radio Show, Heavy Planet)
The
seasons may change but Clutch's presence on this chart will not. I listened to
this album as I shoveled the last of the spring snow from my driveway. I'm
still cranking Earth Rocker as I mow the lawn in the hot summer sun. In a few
months I'll be giving you an update of what it's like to rake fallen leaves
while blasting this beast. Find it here.
11). KYLESA – Ultraviolet
(Season of Mist)
Last Month: #23 [12↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by Blasting Dennis (Blasting Days)
Through
the years Kylesa crafted their unique mid tempo sludge / doom with male /female
vocals, tribal elements (a second drummer providing more percussions) and dark
psychedelia. On the albums since Time will fuse its worth, they developed the
more subtle side of their sound, using more melodies and focusing on building
trippy atmospheres, with even some post-punk elements since Spiral shadow.
Ultraviolet is their more sabbathian album to date, could also remind of
Killing joke, but sounds like an excellent Kylesa album more than anything
else. Find it here.
12). CATHEDRAL – The
Last Spire (Rise Above)
Last Month: #18 [6↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by Joop Konraad (Stoner Hive)
The
final call for Cathedral. The Last Spire is coming down to the wire. And even
though they called it quits before; this time they seem to be resolute. And on
their decisive salute they return to the doom metal with which it all started.
And as ever they have those Cathedral choices on it that are weird, fun or
annoying. Like some freaky keyboard or irritating laughter. Without those it
would have been a grand tower of fable. But now it might crumble too soon like
Babel and leave us with nothing but wreckage and ruins and memories of what was
lost… Find it
here.
13). JEX THOTH – Blood Moon
Rise (I Hate)
Last Month: #- [-], Months on chart: 1
Words by Tony Van Dorston (Fast n’ Bulbous)
Jex
Thoth remains just as mysterious a half dozen years since they first appeared
as Totem. After 2010's tantalizing but
unsatisfying three song EP Witness, they've returned triumphant and better than
ever with Blood Moon Rise. While Jex has proven in the past that she can
deliver bluesy wails with the best of the Joplin acolytes, on this album her
voice is recorded close and intimate to focus more on emotional nuances
complimented by the eerie, psychedelic atmosphere. For a band initially identified as doom
metal, there's nothing that's exceptionally rocking on this album aside from
the nicely thudding "The Places You Walk." But overall it feels
plenty heavy due more to mood and arrangements more than brawn. Not surprisingly
the most memorable cuts also have the stickiest vocal hooks ("The
Divide," which is introduced by a satisfyingly plodding doom riff), and
melodies ("Keep Your Weeds"). After a couple weeks listening though,
just about every cut is a winner, definitely one of the most dynamic, varied
albums of its kind this year, leaving me wanting more after every play. Now
let's get to it and buy some albums and show they're appreciated here before
they decide to permanently relocate to Scandinavia. Find it here.
14). EGYPT – Become
the Sun (Self-Released)
Last Month: #16 [2↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by LK Ultra
From the
opening licks of "Matterhorn" Egypt serve up a steaming dish of
southern groove that would not sound out of place on the Dazed and Confused
soundtrack. The bass tone is more in tune with the early 80s / late 70s
with the gain turned way up and there's more dynamism in the drum work.
Not fast and thrashy but more uptempo, more BPMs, more filling in empty
spaces with fills and a lot more ride as a general thing. Even the vocals
are more aggressive, smoke-blown and resonant. That all said, it's not as
though Egypt has dropped the doom from their repertoire altogether.
"Orb of the Wizardking", "Greenland" and "The
Village is Silent" are all fine examples of the genre. But as an
overall impression after listening to the album, it seems as though there's
more "Stalker"s than "Wizardkings" here and it may be that
that's just the point. By the time the album finishes, it's cuts like
"Stalker", "Hillside" and "Matterhorn" that make
the biggest impact, these are the songs that provide the stronger whispers
ringing in the ears. Find it here.
15). ROTE MARE – The Invocation
/ The Kingdom (Self-Released)
Last Month: #- [-], Months on chart: 1
Words by Steve Miller (Temple of Perdition)
Rote
Mare have continued to impress with their brand of traditional doom metal and
their ability to navigate and include a variety of styles and influences
without sacrificing cohesion. While it’s almost impossible to separate the two
releases I find myself returning to ‘The Kingdom’ a bit more frequently. While
it may be the stronger of the two it would now feel incomplete without its twin.
Highly recommended for all doom aficionados
(originally
posted on Temple of Perdition webzine, used with permission). Find themhere.
16). COUGH
/ WINDHAND – Reflection
of the Negative (Relapse)
Last Month: #14 [2↓], Months on chart: 2
Words by Cheryl Carter (Cvlt Nation, This Is Not a Scene,
Metal Hammer)
There's
gotta be something in the water over in Richmond, Virginia, because it seems as
though every band that comes up from there has that little extra edge that
makes them all the more appealing. Cough and Windhand are no exceptions to this
rule (a rule I just made up to be honest) and the doomed electricity of their
two distinctive sounds straddles different aspects of the genre whilst holding
true to the absolute desolation of it all. Their split is one that draws you in
and down into an abyss that's created by the ritualistic atmosphere of Cough's
track and the smoky haze of Windhand's two offerings. Let the sacrifice
commence. Find it here.
17). SPACE
WITCH – The
Alchemy Paradox (Self-Released)
Last Month: #75 [58↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by Aaron Pickford (Sludgelord)
Well for
me, Space Witch kind of reflects what Sludgelord is all about: an unknown
bringing it big time, nothing fancy just fat riffs, full of hooks and packed
full of variety, dispelling the myth that instrumental music is boring. Honestly, the opening riff kicks you in the
guts and if you ain't got riffs, you ain't got shit. Space Witch have got whatever it is in spades. It's bands like Space Witch that make me
embrace the sludge stoner doom scene and the underground scene in equal
measure. Probably best £2 you spend in
this month or any other for that matter.
It's not
a science, just killer riffs.
18). DEVIL – Gather
the Sinners (Soulseller)
Last Month: #8 [10↓], Months on chart: 2
Words by Joop Konraad (Stoner Hive)
Obscure
and retro gold, triumphant returns to the demonic sounds of old. Devil too,
stomps back to those wonderful days in the sixties and the seventies when the
almighty riff blew everyone away. On Gather the Sinners the Norwegians move
through those timelayers with definite prowess and implore a little bit of
NWOBHM yore and set a straight course for the absolute molten lava middle of
the earth. Straight on, straight on it goes.
Find it here.
19). ALICE
IN CHAINS – The
Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (Capitol)
Last Month: #60 [41↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by LK Ultra
I’ve
been reading some bad reviews of this album online. Mostly, the criticism centers around the band’s
lack of ‘growth’. This is surely a
symptom of the internet age where the entire earthly canon of art, film,
literature and music is available for free without any effort at all so that
the only way an album can truly stand out is if it makes a huge deal about
doing so. Alice in Chains don’t do
that. Furthermore they don’t need
to. They just deliver another incredibly
consistent effort of killer tunes in their idiosyncratic style. Like the band, like the album. Not every band needs to break the mold every
damn time, least of all a well established act who have been at it for 25 years. Find it here.
20). MAGIC CIRCLE – Magic Circle
(Self-Released)
Last Month: #43 [23↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by LK Ultra
Despite
their placement on this chart, something tells me that Magic Circle is the best
kept secret in the world of Doom today. Energetic
and epic doom, who can argue with that?
This mass of Massachusetts based former hardcorigans weave a muscular spell
of buff wizardry. Who says this isn’t
the petulant Paranoid Age of pituary epic doom?
Find
it here.
21). WITCHES
OF GOD – The
Blood of Others (Self-Released)
Last Month: #- [-], Months on chart: 1
Words by Jeff Warren (Broken Beard)
If
you've ever wondered what it might sound like if someone finally turned LA's
sunset strip into a dark alley of switchblade fights and 2 am skull fucking
seances, then wonder no more, because Witches of God are throwin' out glitzy
spells of death rawk and sleaze doom that ought to bring the City of
Angels to its scabby knees. Their debut, The Blood of Others, is so fucking
glorious I want to cry; monumental yet morbid riffs; swanky yet slithery solos,
glamorous yet psychedelic dynamics; a shameless fusion of Big Elf, Turbonegro,
Alice Cooper, and Pentagram that makes heavy music magic. Hell, as if it wasn't
great enough already, The Blood of Others even features guest appearances by
Wino and Eddie Solis, and the song "Higher Than the Heavens" is a
tribute to Piggy! These guys do it more right than I could have ever thought
possible (originally posted on facebook, used with permission). Find it here.
22). LA CHINGA – La Chinga
(Self-Released)
Last Month: #48 [26↑], Months on chart: 2
Words by Jeff Warren (Broken Beard)
It's
never a good idea to make assumptions, but it's always a good idea to break the
rules, so I'm gonna go ahead and assume the Canadian power trio La Chinga are
highly influenced by the following: flashy hogs, painted vans, outer space and
all of its asteroids and nebulas, extreme levels of voltage, chicks in bikinis,
skunky denim, Grand Funk Railroad, 80s arcade games, warm beer, good weed,
dusty boots, lighting fires (and then pissing them out), Led Zeppelin, back
porches, roller derby, beards (obviously), gringo outlaws, tigers in
sunglasses, Frank Frazetta, and amplified freedom. One assumption I do not need
to make, however, is that their new self-titled album is completely and utterly
bad-ass to its boogie n' groove core. This is pure summer lovin' hard rock
dripping with enough country and blues notes to lift you up and fly you to the
center of the sun on good time wings. Fuck yes, brothers and sisters. Fuck yes
(originally
posted on facebook, used with permission). Find it here.
23). SCORPION CHILD – Scorpion Child
(Nuclear Blast)
Last Month: #- [-], Months on chart: 1
Words by LK Ultra
Skateboards
and mustaches grind on the rails of classic rock to produce something that
could easily squeeze into spandex but finds a comfortable old pair of jeans instead. Scorpion Child goes beyond hearkening back to
the days of classic rock and have produced something truly classic. They work hard, they play hard, they rock
hard and they even ballad harder than most.
With a bit of luck, and if there’s any hope left for humanity, this is
the future of rock n roll right here. Findit here.
24). AGE OF TAURUS – Desperate
Souls of Tortured Times (Rise Above)
Last Month: #- [-], Months on chart: 1
Words by Justin Gish (Forte Radio Show, Heavy Planet)
I feel
like this band gets lost in the Rise Above shuffle. So while other bands on the
label are getting more press than Age of Taurus, I dare you to produce one that
rocks as hard. Or dooms as slow. Or wears more denim. No costumes here folks,
just denim. And beards. See the album
review here. Find
the album here.
25). WO FAT / EGYPT – Cyclopean
Riffs (Totem Cat)
Last Month: #- [-], Months on chart: 1
Words by Justin Gish (Forte Radio Show, Heavy Planet)
How long
should a split last? You figure four songs ought to add up to what, 20 minutes,
max? This one clocks in around 40 amazing minutes, almost an album's worth of
tunes from Wo Fat and Egypt. Pick this one up to hear two future HEAVYweights
of underground rock and you'll be sure to get your money's worth. Find
the album here.
26). DEMON EYE – Demon Eye (Self Released)
27). BEASTWARS – Blood Becomes Fire (Self Released / Destroy)
28). KRÖWNN – Hyborian Age
(Self-Released)
29). BLACK PYRAMID – Adversarial (Hydro-Phonics)
30). REVELATION – Inner Harbor (Self-Released / Shadow Kingdom)
31). GOZU – The Fury of a Patient Man (Small Stone)
32). FUNERAL CIRCLE – Funeral Circle (Self-Released)
33). BLACK WIZARD – Young Wisdom (Self-Released)
34). NAAM – Vow (Tee Pee)
35). COLTSBLOOD – Beyond the Lakes of Madness (Self-Released)
36). DEMON LUNG – The Hundredth Name (Candlelight)
37). IRON TONGUE – The Dogs Have Barked, The Birds Have Flown (Neurot)
38). KINGS DESTROY – A Time of Hunting (War Crime)
39). SHROUD EATER – Dead Ends EP (The Path Less Traveled)
40). PYRES – Year of Sleep (Granite House Records)
A rousing ovation for this month's contributors:
Aaron Pickford [The Sludgelord], Astral Doom, Bill Goodman [The Soda Shop], Cameron Crichton [Motherslug], Cheryl Carter [Cvlt Nation], Chris Markwell [The Sludgelord], Clint [Hand of Doom Radio], Dennis [Blasting Days], Edward Gane [Amplifier Worship], Gruesome Greg [Hellbound], Haris [Welcome to the Void], Jeff Warren [Broken Beard], Joel [Hell Comes Home Records], Joop Konraad [Stoner Hive], Justin Gish [Forte], Katharina Pfeiffer [Psychorizon], LK Ultra, Lyk [Phantasmagoria], Mats Florstam [Ozium Records], Matt Fitton [The Sludgelord], Nuclear Dog [Heavy Planet], Pat Harrington [Electric Beard of Doom], Phil Howlett [Rote Mare], Rod Reinhart [Captain Beyond Zen], Soggy Bob [Soggy Bog of Doom], Steph Le Seux [Temple of Perdition], Steve Howe [The Sludgelord], Steve Miller [Temple of Perdition], Todd Severin [Ripple Music], Tony Van Dorston [Fast n' Bulbous], Ulla Roschat [The Wicked Lady Show]
Thank you all!!!!!
See last month's Super Doom Chart
Damn fine list! And a couple I have not heard yet. Need to check them out.
ReplyDeleteNice! For a nice addendum to the 13 blurb, here's the suitably epic, definitive review of that album by Nate Carson of Witch Mountain - http://www.cvltnation.com/the-end-of-the-end-black-sabbath-13-review/
ReplyDeleteRemember to report broken links here. There seems to be a snafu with the formatting. I've already gone back a fixed about ten busted links.
ReplyDelete