The end of another great year in music is nigh, so here's the best of the best I laid my ears on. A personal selection of this year's favorite records with some quick opinions. Enjoy!
1. Bongripper - Satan Worshipping Doom
One of the best (& still highly underrated) artists in the genre as it is today. They prove it like no other with this instrumental masterpiece. The heaviest, most dynamic stoner/sludge/doom album I heard in a long time. So down-tuned and heavy as fuck. This is the real soundtrack to the apocalypse, forget about the rest...
2. Stonehelm - Stonehelm
Skull crushing riffage & hypnotic smoked out vocals, no need to say more. I think an album cover can say a lot about the music that's behind it, Stonehelm is a band that's part of that philosophy. The best newcomer & biggest surprise this year. Let's hope for an official release through Dead Earth Records soon..
3. Fatso Jetson - Archaic Volumes
Another fantastic release by the Lalli cousins (Yawning Man). Highly distinctive & progressive desert rock. Funky, psychedelic, groovy & damn great from start to finish. Beautiful, this album grew on me like no other.
4. Zoroaster - Matador
If there was a genre called 'Mystic Doom Metal', Atlanta's Zoroaster would be king of it. This album is mind expanding. It's hypnotic, heavy & psychedelic. A great evolution from 'Voice of Saturn'. One of my most anticipated albums this year. It still grows on me, well worth the wait!
5. Sardonis - Sardonis
The 'two man aural demolition crew' from Belgium. One of my favorite bands from my country. After their first EP from 2008 I was stunned by the sound of this band. Now they are back with another destroying instrumental album, old & new material. For all lovers of the mighty, punishing riff.
6. Samsara Blues Experiment - Long Distance Trip
Incredible psychedelic jams from Germany. This is pure love, filled with all kinds of influences. Stoner rock, psychedelic rock, 60's/ 70's, raga,..
Starts epic, ends epic.
7. Hooded Menace - Never Cross The Dead
You gotta love some nasty early 90's inspired death metal, but when you combine it with even nastier doom you get this repugnant monster. Hooded Menace, summoned by Lasse Pyykkö (Claws, Acid Witch, Phlegethon, Vacant Coffin,..). Their second full-length is one to remember.
8. The Sword - Warp Riders
A pleasant surprise after 'Gods Of The Earth'. I think this is the ultimate Sword album, it combines everything this band did in the past and adds more to it. Great tracks, great songwriting, solid production & a shitload of 70's inspired riffage with a classic rock touch. One highly enjoyable album...
9. Brant Bjork - Gods & Goddesses
The latest desert vibes from Brant Bjork. You can't go wrong with Brant & The Bros and this is another solid album. Maybe it fell a little short, but it has damn good tracks. Fair deal.
10. Karma To Burn - Appalachian Incantation
These guys need no introduction, this is their comback album. And hey, it's really good. It could use some more new tracks. But there is no denying that it rocks like fucking hell. Karma To Burn still has it.
11. Ramesses - Take The Curse
A dark, twisted, horrific, sleazy stoner/doom story packed in an original piece of artwork. Their best offering yet.
12. Electric Wizard - Black Masses
Seventh full-length by the legendary Electric Wizard. They did better & they did worse. But in the end it's another great entry in the EW catalogue, essential for 2010.
13. Ufomammut - Eve
The masters of utterly heavy psychedelic doom, Italy's Ufomammut delivers again with 'Eve'. It's a little more psyched out this time. Lovely album with a great conclusion...
14. High On Fire - Snakes For The Divine
Rumbling stoner-doom with incredible energetic vocals from Pike. I think this could be a great starting point for newcomers. It starts really good but loses it's pacing near the end. Still, Death Is This Communion & Blessed Black Wings is where it's at. This is just another great album by a great band.
15. Kamni/ Камни - Promo EP
Best EP this year, period. Just like Stonehelm's s/t, this was one huge surprise. From Russia with riffs. I loved it.
Honorable Mentions;Psychedelic/ Instrumental/ Space Rock
The Kings Of Frog Island - III
Mother-Unit - Brain-Massage
Yawning Man - Nomadic Pursuits
My Sleeping Karma - Tri
Hypnos 69 - Legacy
Sula Bassana - Kosmonauts
Electric Moon - Lunatics
Stoner/ Fuzz/ Hard RockStake-Off The Witch - Medusa
Sungrazer -Sungrazer
Rotor - 4
Gozu - Locust Season
Asteroid - II
Year Long Disaster - Black Magic; All Mysteries Revealed
Monster Magnet - Mastermind
Heavy/ Doom/ Sludge MetalWitchsorrow - Witchsorrow
Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
Dragonauta - Cruz Invertida
Cough - Ritual Abuse
Cathedral - The Guessing Game
Black Tusk - Taste The Sin
Age Of Taurus - In The Days Of The Taurean Empire
Windhand - Practice Space Demo
Grand Magus - Hammer Of The North
Thorr-Axe - Roots Of The Mountain
Earthride - Something Wicked
Kylesa - Spiral Shadow
Band RequestsThe Grand Astoria - IISahara Surfers - Spacetrip On A Paper PlaneDemonic Death Judge - KneelRocket Chief - Rise Of The MachineOruga - Blitzkrieg LadyPallbearer - DemoLow Gravity - Low Gravity
On Hold;
Ghost - Opus Eponymous
Pombagira - Baron Citadel
Beehoover - Concrete Catalyst
Sagh - III
Stonebride - Summon The Waves
Electric Orange - Krautrock From Hell
Solace - A.D.
Sasquatch - III
Riotgod - Riotgod
Melvins - The Bride Screamed Murder
Buckaduzz - The Big Slow
Master Musicians of Bukkake - Totem Two
Black Land - Extreme Heavy Psych
Monobrow - Monobrow
Wizard Eye - Orbital Rites
Wino - Adrift
Acid Witch - Stoned
Suma - Ashes
Kings Destroy - And The Rest Will Surely Perish
Quest For Fire - Lights From Paradise
Most anticipated for 2011;
Monkey3 - Beyond The Black Sky
Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light
Weedeater - Jason...the Dragon
Tank 86 - Rise
Serpentcult - Raised By Wolves
Sungrazer Full-length
Age Of Taurus Full-length
New Yawning Sons album?
Feel free to leave your own favorite(s)/opinions in the comments! Hails, riffs & happy holidays...
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