A
gigantic thank you to this month’s contributors:
Bill
Goodman [The Evil Engineer], Billy Goat [Doomed & Stoned], Blasting Daysblog, Cameron Crichton [Motherslug], Dr. Doom [Dr. Doom’s Lair], Gruesome Greg
[Gruesome Views], Joop Konraad [Stoner HiVe], LK Ultra, Pat Harrington
[Electric Beard of Doom], Phantasmagoria blog, Phil Howlett [Rote Mare], Rod
Reinhart [Captain Beyond Zen], Soggy Bob [Soggy Bog of Doom podcast], Steve
Howe [The Sludgelord], Tony Maim [Black Insect Laughter], Ulla Roschat [TheWicked Lady Show], Welcome to the Void blog
Paranoid
F(r)iends Phantasmagoria blog have just released their third anniversary
compilation called ‘Tunes in Fumes vol. III’ for free download on
bandcamp! Click the links, check it out,
download and take the ride …
1). SLOMATICS – Estron
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‘Estron’
documents a band fully realizing and fully enjoying its own power. The music starts from the heavy hitting drums
and flows outward into riffs which suspend all motion and time before crashing
down again. What’s amazing about this
album is how Slomatics wield this formula in such an accessible manner. This band embodies that old doom trope, “tune
low, play slow”. – LK Ultra
2). ALEPH NULL – Nocturnal
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The
third instalment from German sludge giants Aleph Null sees the bands debut full
length album realised. "Nocturnal" furthers the signature lush
discordant riffing, heavy locked-in Goatsnake low end and exceptional vocals
that Aleph Null are fast becoming known for.
The
band branch out in some new directions on 'Nocturnal', intricate bass lines in
'Muzzle of a Sleeping God' weaving in and out of the riff, the epic two part
title track, and a faster paced passage in 'Black Winged Cherub' reminiscent of
'Sabbath and Spirit Caravan.
Aleph
Null are on the rise and are beginning to receive some of the attention they
well and truly deserve with 'Nocturnal', after two amazing EP's in 'Dale'
(2012) and 'Belladonna' (2013). This album will be very hard to displace from
many year end top 10 lists... – Clint (Hand of Doom Radio)
3). INDIAN – From All Purity
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With
hearts of hate and a fistful of distortion pedals, Indian are back with their
5th album - From All Purity. Primitive
doom and sludge explode from this collection of twisted tracks and quite
simply, stun you into submission.
The
atmospherics are dark and brooding, helped by the relentless riffs that are
crashing out, creating a dense and tension-filled collection of tracks that
need to be listened to in one sitting. You
feel drained after playing this – you don’t so much listen to this but
experience it.
When
the frantic, frenzied vocals emerge from deep within the mix, you realise
how much depth and layering you are hearing, how the dynamics have been thought
out and most of all, just how
the
searing riffs are in fact much more complex than realised on your first listen. Using fuzzed out riffs that register
extremely low on the richter scale, this is a solid slab of sludge with doom
elements threaded throughout.
One of the strengths has to be the song writing. Hypnotic riffs that latch into
your head and tunes that have a purpose to them bring direction and flow to all
the tracks.
Bleak heaviness is the tone set but this does not mean unrelenting misery for
the listener. Careful use of electronic drones and textures carry across
an atmosphere of denseness and weight that somehow feels cleansing after the
music stops. – Tony Maim
4). DEMON EYE – Leave the Light
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I’ve
been on the Demon Eye bandwagon since I was first introduced to the band by
fellow Super Doom Chart contributor Soggy Bob way in the Spring of two thousand
dickety three! (okay, it wasn’t too long ago.)
It’s been nice to see the underground community respond to their debut
album in such an overwhelmingly positive way.
‘Leave the Light’ features 11 strong tracks of 70’s inspired grooves
with a hard edge which straddles the line between hard rock and proto-metal,
built around strong hooks with deceptively simplistic melodies. – LK Ultra
5). GOYA - 777
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Goya
- 777 - is a masterclass of Doom Metal. If you studied at the same university
of Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard and Sleep then this is the album for you. 51
mins of pure electrifying down-tuned riffs. 777 plays out like a greatest hits
set to your favourite band. The album is a dark and dangerous ride into the
unknown. Tracks such as Rites Of Hashage, Night Creeps and Amongst The Red
showing the band are truly masters of the riff. Creepy atmospheric noises
and sounds are blended brilliantly with the band’s heavy pounding music which
is actually quite soulful at times. Demonic, Yes but still very soulful. 777
shows that Goya have grew up on a steady and healthy diet of classic 70s/80s
Doom Metal, Classic Horror Movies and the mighty power of the legendary WEED!!!
What
isn't there to love about this album.
777
is a classic doom metal album in the truest sense of the word. It's just that
the world hasn't caught onto that fact. But they will. Eventually… - Steve Howe
6). TRUCKFIGHTERS - Universe
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Universe
gets right down to dishing out those sweet stoner grooves that Sweden is known
for. Of course, these guys are one of the reference points for Swedish stoner
rock, so to say it sounds like the Truckfighters would be a sufficient
explanation for some. There are plenty of Nordic desert grooves here, adding a
bit of a lighter feel in between some downright doomy passages. Basically, it
still sounds like Truckfighters. – Gruesome Greg
7). DRUGLORD – Enter Venus
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STB records once again come up trumps by
putting out this 4 track monster of sludgey doomness from Druglord. Heavier, bigger
and more sonically powerful than their previous output, “Enter Venus” should by
all rights go onto many peoples playlists and get stuck on repeat.
Distorted guitars that riff with the weight
of unpromised misery ooze out of the speakers giving the songs a suffocating
feel that rolls over the senses.
Vocals are reverbed and buried deep in the
mix with claustrophobic results. This is a monster of an album that will be my
companion for a long time. – Tony Maim
8). LIZARDIA – Self-Titled
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Lizardia
come from Greece and have produced an album to kick away the winter
blues. This has a really powerful guitar sound and the whole sonic
stew sounds LOUD at whatever volume you play it at.
Drawing
on the fast and furious influences of Fu Manchu / Orange Goblin / Nebula,
this album has all you want from a heavy stoner band and much more. Everything is drenched in thick fuzzed riffs
and solos and as it goes from thuggish psychedelic rock to up-tempo, foot
stomping tunes, the abrasive yet melodic vocals sit nicely on top of
everything.
This
is for people who want some raw 100% stoner vibes.
This
is dirty fucked up rock’n’roll at its best - the band keep the riffs
rolling along at white knuckle speed, economical solos stop
anything getting too overblown or long, besides they ain’t got time for
pointless fretboard wanking ‘cause here comes the next song, come on
people, jump on board this express train of stomping rock, Lizardia want
to show you how this sort of thing should be done - in a genre that can
be very boring in the wrong hands, this album is a breath of fresh air. –
Tony Maim
9). GRAND MAGUS – Triumph & Power
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If
you’re unfamiliar with Grand Magus, then ‘Triumph and Power’ is a good place to
start. The first thing you’ll notice is
the distinctive voice of JB, it’s deep and resonant with just a touch of epic
wail, ever bold, ever reaching. It’s
something the band as a whole and the music itself demands, to push brashly
toward the epic. This is sword-wielding
music, but not blindly hacking away with the fury of a thousand martyrs’s sons
kind of sword-wielding music, it’s calculating and methodical, though never too
technical. It’s measured and reasoned,
though there’s still room for the old fire and brimstone in Grand Magus’s
attack. – LK Ultra
10). CHILD – Self-Titled
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The very first sounds I hear after clicking
the play button get me hooked and only halfway through the first track I am
already lost, lost in the warm fuzzy stoner blues tunes that three piece band
Child from Melbourne/Australia offer on their self titled debut!!! album. It is
not too often that the Blues catches me, although it is actually not much that
it takes to do this, but few blues acts really got it - feel the blues, convert
the pure, true emotion into sound, don’t dilute it with cheesy weepiness and
then pour it all over the audience/me.
That’s exactly what Child do. Deeply rooted
in Stoner Blues tradition they create a very personal style that, despite all
mellow warmth and fuzziness, has a dynamic power and raw intensity that makes
the songs feel so breathtakingly soulful. The occasional hints of progressive
and psychedelic elements never sound out of place (or like “see what we can
do”), but give depth and variety. Not a single note is redundant, all is
essential and right to the point.
To say that I like this album would be
sheer understatement, I love it. I’d have to go quite far back in time to name
a Blues album that found its way to my heart and soul on this extremely direct
way like this one did. – Ulla Roschat
11). MAJOR KONG – Doom Machine
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Major
Kong are from Poland and "Doom Machine" is their second album. The
title is very apt as this is an album with huge, doomy riffs and more doomy
riffs. Major Kong are from Poland and
"Doom Machine" is their second album. The title is very apt as this
is an album with huge, doomy riffs and more doomy riffs.
Apart from some samples, these are instrumental tracks........which a lot of
the time gets my heart sinking. There is a lot of generic Stoner/Earthless
clones clogging up my collection and
I am growing weary my friends........
But worry ye not - this is a different beast.
Major Kong do not piss around with quiet atmospherics or calm passages - this
is heavy, fuzzed up guitar playing that wants to get your head nodding while
you drool over classic offerings from Electric Wizard & Sleep.
In case I have not pleaded their case enough, we are talking
about riffs
riffs
more riffs
and huge riffs
– Tony Maim
12). DOCTOR CYCLOPS - Oscuropasso
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I
gotta say, I love this band’s name in a cheesy, super-villain kinda way. Doctor
Cyclops is actually a power-trio from Italy that’s dooming out with their
collective tomb out here. This one's got everything, trad doom, pig noises, a
bass solo...and undoubtedly some dastardly plans to rule the world. – Gruesome
Greg
13). MAMMOTH STORM – Rite of Ascension
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Every
time I think about Mammoth Storm the first thing that comes to mind is
heaviness. This Swedish trio have made
themselves synonymous with the word ‘heavy’ in a miraculously short period of
time, the two song 20+ minute ‘Rite of Ascension’ is just their second release
after last year’s debut EP. They are
quickly becoming a “buzz” band and all eyes will be on their debut full-length
if and when one comes to light. ‘Rite of
Ascension’ makes an excellent prologue. – LK Ultra
14). MANTAR – Death By Burning
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Mantar
– Death By Burning – an album that plays out like a twisted nightmare come to
life. Mantar have the speed and ferocity of Motörhead matched against the crazy
Sludge Metal riffs of The Melvins.
The
album plays by its own rules and doesn’t bow down to no-one. It’s a crazy
genre-defying riff-laiden powerhouse of an album. Just check out tracks such as
Into The Golden Abyss, Cult Witness, White Nights and March Of The Crows.
All
great tracks bringing Mantar’s nightmarish world to life. Black Metal, Sludge,
Doom and Punk combining for one unforgettable experience. Mantar’s intense
onslaught of drums and guitar riffs has a more potent threat to it as there is
no bass guitar here. Just two guys playing heavy dangerous riffs that packs an
almighty punch.
Play
this album loud as you possibly can as these dark overlords deserve nothing
less.
It’s
a dark and twisted album that is already starting to find a fanbase within the
Sludge/Doom Metal community. And it’s not hard to see why. It’s a contender
already for Album Of The Year. It’s seriously that good!!! – Steve Howe
15). CONAN – Blood Eagle
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‘Blood
Eagle’ cuts right down to the heart of Conan’s sound, pulsating, pounding,
rumbling and most of all, driving. A death-dealing barbarian stalking
with purpose through the canyon pass, one foot in front of the other, knowing
the marauders will ambush but ever-vigilant, meaty hand on hilt. Vocalist
/ guitarist Jon Davis pens monosyllabic lyrics with clear, precise and
uncomplicated meaning, thinking like a Neolithic warrior. On ‘Blood
Eagle’ the music follows suit. The results are devastating. This is
the album Conan was meant to produce. I don’t think it’s unfair to say
that the band has lived up to its Full Potential here. – LK Ultra
16). BAST - Spectres
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It’s
interesting how things worked out here with Conan’s latest still unreleased but
sauntering easily up this Super Chart while head man Jon Davis’s label, Black
Bow Records, signees Bast brings up the very next placing with their debut
album. Bast is a sludge trio from the UK
who have been around for a while now, building their reputation and repertoire
slowly by gigging. Now they have a great
sounding album under their belts which navigates through a mine field of
static-y drone riffs punctuated by driving rhythms. – LK Ultra
17). WOUNDED KINGS - Consolamentum
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Wounded
Kings’s fourth album and second with vocalist Sharie Neyland sees the band
finding their horrific essence.
Basically, they do here what a doom metal band is supposed to do which
is to give you the chills. This is the
soundtrack to an imaginary movie based on Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of
Hill House directed by Dario Argento and produced by Hammer Studios. It’s a fantastic, dark and haunting album
full of ominous feelings and riffs. – LK Ultra
18). SLOW GREEN THING – I
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Classic 70's heavy riffing, heavy on the
phaser pedal and easy on the ear. Slow Green Thing are an immediate smile and
hell yeah as soon as the first notes land. Equal parts Trouble & Sabbath,
Slow Green Thing not only have one of the best band names going, but also an
extremely impressive debut release. Hard to pick a 'best track' here, as they
all genuinely kick ass. - Clint
19). ANCIENT WARLOCKS – Self-Titled
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Ancient
Warlocks long awaited debut was released back in early November and it’s still
generating a solid buzz. Here’s why: the
album features eight songs of laidback harmonies and mighty grooves. The quartet is Seattle’s stoner residents in
chief, gigging at a hellacious pace, opening for or headlining with every major
stoner and doom act that passes through the Emerald city, legendary for its
live music scene. So if they haven’t
yet, it’s only a matter of time before they get to you too! – LK Ultra
20). BONG BREAKER - Mountain
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All the way back in April 2012 Bong Breaker
released a stunning two track demo - massively heavy riffing which left plenty
of people hungry for more. Fast forward to January 2014 and Bong Breaker unveil
their debut album "MOUNTAIN", and it is more than worth the wait.
Near on an hour of laid back powerful riffing and ice cool vocals throughout.
Wilmar Timmerman (Bass/vox/guitar) and Mink Koops (drums/guitar) are a
songwriting force to be reckoned with. Impressive. A Mount Everest of riffs \m/
- Clint
21). BLACK MOON CIRCLE – Self-Titled
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Sometimes
it’s just easier to let the band explain...
“Black
Moon Circle is dedicated to dark psychedelic space rock, driven by a disposition
towards prolonged jams”.
The
3 song self-titled debut from this Norwegian power trio (quartet?) is just
that. This is a thick slice of groove served up on a plate of vintage 70’s
psychedelic fuzz. It sometimes takes a long time to go down, but oh how we
enjoy the ride! Not ominous in any real way, this is more
posi-stoner-psych-rock with almost an ‘After Forever’ vibe, sometimes even
sounding like a heavier, trippier version of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
The
centerpiece here is the last song, Enigmatic Superbandit (awesome song title!)
which centers mainly around a brilliantly simple funk(ish) riff that
intertwines with heavily spaced out solos for near 15 minutes of pure
interstellar exploration. The drums keep the cruiser moving with a tight
syncopated beat while the bass holds a steady landing strip for the guitar to
land occasionally to refuel before blasting off to yet another galaxy tucked
away in the back corner of your mind. Do they serve snacks on this flight? –
Pat Harrington
22). BLACK SPACE RIDERS – D:REI
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D:REI
is Black Space Riders’ third album, and already the title hints at an ambiguity
and complexity that runs like a common thread through the album. Far from being
just the (German) number three, the letters are the initials of the four
chapters Defiance, Ruin, Escape and I-Beyond. The message is multi-layered in
the sound as well as in the lyrics. Of
course, these five guys from Münster/Germany, weren’t true space riders, if
they wouldn’t take you on a trip through space. They do indeed, but it’s never
quite clear, if it’s outer space or the inner space of your mind. It’s the
story of destruction, ruin and survival through transformation as a cycle of
life… of an individual?... mankind?... society?... worlds?
Stylistically
BSR rely on psychedelic, stoner, doom rock sounds, but easily draw elements
from different styles as well and thus create a style distinctively their own.
Just as the atmosphere, mood and message demands, there are progressive parts,
hypnotic driving psychedelic elements, there are groovy, heavy, powerful
onslaughts and quieter, melancholic and reflective moments. Despite this
diversity plus its considerable length of nearly 80 minutes there’s a quite
perfect flow throughout the album, not least because of the four chapters
having their own dynamic build ups.
No
matter on which level you take this trip, the universal message of the cyclic
motion of life with its ups and downs and all the intense emotions involved,
contradicting, confusing and even ambiguous in their evaluation is perfectly captured
and conveyed by the album. – Ulla Roschat
23). GODHUNTER - City of Dust
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What
a fantastic year for new releases, so far--especially for sludge metal. Meet
Tucson, Arizona 6-piece GODHUNTER. While your stereotypical sludge metal album
may sing about, say, drinking, doping, and despair, City of Dust (2014) has an
entirely different concern: "Fire on high/the hills are burning." In
other words, there is trouble afoot, right here in River City. "This
place means the world to me/this place will be the death of me," the
opening track announces, "The best of all/the worst of all. It's that
duality that defines me." We're challenged by the unstoppable pace of
technology, which is blurring our social, moral, and spiritual boundaries. The
bad guys have been quick to take advantage of this to fuck with the rest of
us--and GODHUNTER is sounding the alarm. What Rage Against the Machine and
System of a Down are to alt metal, Godhunter aspires to be to sludge. Well,
they'd probably just say that they've got words that need to be said, a loud
noise to stir things up in the established (dis)order of our world. With this
new album, I'm definitely in the mood for listening! – Billy Goat
24). GREY WIDOW - I
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Ceaselessly
heavy, this massive debut from UK doom dwellers Grey Widow is 8 tracks and 50
minutes of abrasiveness. The band uses
various touchstones of extreme metal but alwas keeps the black curtain of doom
drawn around it all. I’d describe this
album as an ordeal if it wasn’t so seductively immersive. Still, the mood of an ordeal gallops
alongside any moments of enjoyment like a black rider, ‘I’ is an infernal
trial, one in which your soul is weighed against this album’s heaviness and
guess which one tips the scales? – LK Ultra
25). HAIL SPIRIT NOIR – Oi Magoi
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Greek
prog metal trio Hail Spirit Noir have returned with their sophomore album on
Code666 Records. Hail Spirit Noir push
their own musical vision to the absolute outskirts of extremity on all sides,
turning expectations on their heads.
This just might be what would happen if you made Dr. Seuss into a metal
band. – LK Ultra
26). SATAN’S SATYRS – Wild Beyond Belief
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27). SOLAR HALOS – Self-Titled
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28). UPYR – Altars / Tunnels
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29). THE SOCKS – Self-Titled
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30). WE HUNT BUFFALO – Blood from a Stone
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31). YOUNGBLOOD SUPERCULT – Season of the
Witch
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32). MUSTASCH – Thank You for the Demon
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33). MOOSATAUR – Self-Titled
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34). AT DEVIL DIRT – Dinner Is Ready EP
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35). BLACKWITCH PUDDING – Taste the
Pudding
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36). FOGHOUND – Quick, Dirty & High
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37). DISENCHANTER – On Through Portals
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38). BUZZHERD – On Sinking Ships … Rats
Drown
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39). THE WISDOOM - Hypothalamus
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40). DIRT WIZARD – No Son of Mine
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