1

Numero 1

THE GOLD MEDAL!

The number one album according to 18 lists of the Stoner HiVe peeps is one that was produced by the masters of meditative atmospheric doom and minimalistic metal. Heavy like a blackhole and loud as a sunstorm. Recorded with fifty percent new blood; there is a new drummer in this two-piece; the album does take on a different approach then earlier ones. The search for the perfect tone, the godlike chord continues but with a bit more frivolous instrumentation. Powerful and graceful; less a dead beast dragging itself towards its inevitable end and more that of contemplative remembrance of how existence started. The gold medal goes to; the number one album of 2009 according to the Stone HiVe Freaks is…

(DRUMROLL)

OM – God is Good

The Countdown so Far !

Since we are about to announce the numero uno, the number one, the gold medalist of The Ultimate Stoner Hi\/e Top 20 albums of 2009! It must be the right time to run through the countdown so far... On the last day of the year we will know which album occupies the number one position!

2. Mastodon – Crack The Skye

3. Feuerzeug - Drive Fast And Crash!!

4. Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder

5. Masters of Reality – Pine / Cross Dover

6. Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures

7. Nightstalker – Superfreak

8. Wo Fat – Psychedelonaut

9. Lo-Pan – Sasquanaut

10. Nebula – Heavy Psych

11. Siena Root - Different Realities

12. Los Natas - El Nuevo Orden de La Libertad

13. Baroness – Blue Album

14. The Machine – Solar Corona

15. Ancestors - Of Sound Mind

16. Ahkmed – Distance

17. Cyclone 60 – Instant Classic

18. Saviours - Accelerated Living

19. Clutch - Strange Cousins from The West

20. Palm Desert - Dawn Of The Burning Sun

2

Numero 2

For the piece of silver; we have arrived at the number two spot and have to conclude that even though I was surprised at this in the beginning; it is well deserving. This fourth official studiopiece of this foursome is a bit more wider and less thunderous than the albums that came before. More direct vocal lines; less screams and even harmonizing. Hints of experimental instrumentation in the use of xylophones; Hammonds and basssynths. The entire feel of the album is that of a rockopera and the background for this albums suggests just that. So the most consistent part of the band is the fact that they seem to be getting better and better with each album they deliver. Grand! Great! Glorious! A beast of an album!

Mastodon – Crack The Skye

http://thelastdisaster.blogspot.com/2009/02/mastodon-crack-skyepromo-2009.html

3

Numero 3

We have arrived at one of the biggest surprises. Not that they don't deserve it; but I would not have guessed they would end this high. The bronze plaque goes to a collection of very diverse players who make up this foursome. A punkrock drummer, a grindcore bassplayer, a grunge vocalist and a guitarplayer who is known for his eastern stoner. So in line with all this; the music is diverse as well but focusses on fuzzrock, stonermetal with grunge influences. Its heavy, its hard and its pure like the Swiss mountainair…

Feuerzeug - Drive Fast And Crash!!

http://www.easy-share.com/1904840954/feuerzeug.rar

4

Numero 4

Another Supergroup hit the stores later on in 2009. No; I am not referring to Chickenfoot but to a band comprised of members stemming from bands like Om, Melvins, Neurosis and The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, Hidden Hand. We are ofcourse referring to that band that hit stores with a sound that was in the end created in only three days. Its crunching doom and hypnotic overall atmosphere is memorable to a default. The release is a powerhouse of doom and ambiance. With that in mind this debut is even more an ode to the riff and the rythms that could and should go on forever…

Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder

http://www.mediafire.com/?a2mzml50mjz

5

Numero 5

The living legend behind this album has been credited with discovering Kyuss, creating the sound of Queens of The Stone Age and being the Godfather of the stoner and desert rock. Mass producing records all over the place he has only found time to release six studio albums with his own band. Only six, even though the band started out back in 1981! On this new album the listener is treated to eleven songs that drown in the magical realism that colors the man’s life. It grabs back to his earlier work and not to the last album before this Give Us Barabbas; while still moving on and going into places he has not yet visited. Much more in free form jam style the repetitive nature and hypnotic melodies and vocal-lines give the record a dreamy alien atmosphere. Adoring the magical mystery Merlin; we cross over…

Masters of Reality – Pine / Cross Dover

http://rapidshare.com/files/270392441/pine.rar

6

Numero 6

The most talked about band of the second half of 2009. Comprised of three (four) legends; and even if you don’t like them, you have to admit muscial geniuses; this band has been taking the world by storm. Superb basslines, incredible drumwork and a guitarvibe for every occasion. And not that every note or groove stuns the mind or blows you away; but the combination of it all and the atmosphere it evokes sure will. The three seem to be masters in evoken a feeling of adventure and fun. And that is always a good thing…

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

http://www.mediafire.com/?nj0xyl30wmg

7

Numero 7

There are only a few bands on this world that can deliver the same amount of eagerness, energy and aggression on their fifth studio-album as on their first one. These Greek motherfuckers are one of those bands that can and have been doing that for about nineteen years on end! With that accomplishment they should be mentioned in the same row as illustrious bands like Motörhead and Monster Magnet. And where those bands have been known to keep serving their old but very tasty tricks and treats, these ouzo-guzzling freaks want to keep surprising themselves. Raw rock, tasty riffs and psychedelic solo’s. Among the three of them they are able to put down some fuzzplates in front of you with which you will almost eat your fingers. Through the years, the steady gigging, smoking and drinking has only improved Argy’s vocals and drumming! And when Superfreak switches into lower gears; they produce sounds for the ages… So; pull down the window, open the beers and cruise without destination…

Nightstalker – Superfreak

http://www.mediafire.com/?nmjtgbmhw0n

http://www.blogger.com/www.nightstalkerband.com/

8

Numero 8

With their second album this Dallas trio pulls out all the stops and stomp out some heavy fuzz driven stoner jams to warm the heart of every true music lover. With an earnest simplicity these guys deliver the goods when it comes to riff-fueled journeys into the mind. Raw vocals and perfect switches between laid back groove and aggressive fuzzed out stoner; this album is a definite stayer among the top rated ones. Giant riffs, country doom, stoner blues, and electrified assaults on every human sense!

Wo Fat – Psychedelonaut

http://themetalpapers.blogspot.com/2009/10/wo-fat-psychedelonaut-2009.html

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=49XTPCRS

9

Numero 9

We are about to delve into the depths of some fuzz that has been designed to blow some serious groove patterns out of your speakers. Some serious stoner riffs filled out with slightly distorted vocals and a steady percussion to weaken the mind and let it fly high. Cymbals a plenty and tweak this second album of the Columbia, Ohio rockers to a level of excellence in both musicality and emotion. The perfect soundtrack to a cross-country trip in order to croak a scag baron named Savage Henry…

Lo-Pan – Sasquanaut

http://www.mediafire.com/?fmqm2njzgdd

http://ehbeyehateblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/lo-pan-sasquanaut-2009.html

Number 10

Number 10

We are entering the top 10; ladies and gentlemen! (Hey; that rhymes!) And we do this with a band that has been around for a while. And these guys honor that fact with producing a record that sounds like it was made even way before their start. It sounds like the heavy rock of the sixties and seventies is rejuvenated and mixed with the desert rock sound of the band that was the start of this band; Fu Manchu. Laid back rock that touches all the bases that make this genre so freakin great: heavy riffs, space-rock, psychedelica, worldly influences, desert feels, bluesy solo’s and lounge moments that make lounge lizards crap their pants… Released in 2008 as a six, seven and eight song counting EP; this is the 2009 version with ten songs. Aah yes; this is some aptly named Heavy Psych…

Nebula – Heavy Psych

http://danmetalreleases.blogspot.com/2009/06/nebula-heavy-psuch-2009.html

Numero 11

Numero 11

The Swedish Seventies. Aah yes; these guys stick to their guns. Clothing, hair, albumscovers and their incredbile music. They have the whole package down to an art. Psychedelic rock residing on the top shelf of the seventies. Their fourth record is once again a journey back in time to a place where people still believed they could change the world; and almost did. With influences stemming from Indian and Arabic music we get an ecclectis record full of pure psychedelica. No need for reinventing the wheel; let’s just truck on… With:

Siena Root - Different Realities

http://depositfiles.com/files/qj0acgy5c

Magic 12

Magic number 12

The Argentinean Three Amigo’s are one of the most prolific producers of music out there. Already on their twelfth, thirteenth or maybe twentieth album; the guys keep growing and amaze! Once pushed into the corner of stoner and psychedelica; these guys have been able to fight themselves out of there with their own style. Free Rock is what they call it; and it is a combination of all that is right in music! Groove from the depths of their soul; and beautiful guitar. This time around there is some addition of Argentinean folk. An album which gives the listener a powerful experience. Three hoorays’s for:

Los Natas - El Nuevo Orden de La Libertad

http://encierrovolatil.blogspot.com/2009/05/los-natas-nuevo-orden-de-la-libertad.html

Numero 13

Numero 13

Two years ago these guys came up with a spectacular album and named it after the color of blood. To follow up this hugely successful album they made an even better one and called it after the color of water. Savannah rockers sporting heavy riffs, atmospheric guitars and dueling slingers! The songs are so strong, diverse and with the ethereal voices switching between aggression and communion; there is never a dull moment. Sludge metal with a progressive and symphonic twist. True passioned music for the true freaks!

Baroness – Blue Album

http://musicalmojo.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post.html

14

14

We have arrived at one of those entries, which might surprise a bit; but completely deserve to be there! This Dutch band has only started playing together since the end of 2006. And this is their second release. Long weaving psychedelic songs with groove-moments and jazzy sixties and seventies guitarsolos. Influenced by the likes of Hendrix, Blue Cheer and Colour Haze this album sails on slow and steady drums and bass; with the occasional driving rhythm as in songs like X… They came, they saw and they bloody hell rocked our socks off like they are old souls who lived to tell the tale… Old souls who saw the wave that broke and rolled back… And they are already recording the follow up to their 2009 album...

The Machine – Solar Corona

http://cartgfnk.blogspot.com/2009/05/machine.html

Numero 15

Numero 15

With contributions from Davis Scott Stone (Melvins, Slug), Sera Timms (Black Math Horsemen) and cellist Ramiro Zapata these Los Angeles rockers have delivered us a stunning album both glowing in atmosphere and in slow doomriff. Even though there is some hard-hitting stuff on the album most of the songs and passages are sluggish. It sounds like these guys are trying for some weird kind of progressive doom/stoner sound. Its cohesive, its adventurous and above all, highly entertaining!

Ancestors - Of Sound Mind

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4PD5G3M0

SIXTEEN

Number 16

Hailing from Melbourne Australia these three amigos have been capturing many of the pure music lovers imagination since 1998! Two well-known fans of this band are Chris Goss and Aldo Struyf; not that that makes any difference. The album itself excels in psychedelic guitars and intertwining post rock influences with classic stoner and ambient doom. The record contains everything the new era of psychedelic has in store; distortion, drone, groove, noise, repetition, repetition, etceteras. Long atmospheric songs that tear themselves down and build up again, often exploding into a magnificent firework ending!

Ahkmed - Distance

http://stonerobixxx.blogspot.com/2009/06/ahkmed-distance-2009.html

Septendecim (or plain and simple: 17)

Number 17

And it surely is an Instant Classic, hailing from the Murder Capital of The United States of America; these guys have come up with a thunderous; loud and stomping beast! The jam feel to this monster and retro sound delivers their point with ease. Rock, Roll, don’t take everything so seriously and enjoy the freakin hell out of yourself! And how can anyone not dig a guy with an orange helmet? Wearing one of those makes you an Instant Classic!

Cyclone 60 – Instant Classic

http://mofongorellenodemierda.blogspot.com/2009/07/cyclone-60-instant-classic-2009.html

Nummer 18

Nummer 18

On the other side of the San Francisco Bay lies Oakland; and the foursome hailing from that city have always been revered for the true metal influences they have incorporated in their sludge, doom and stoner anthems. On this third album they have refined that sound and distilled their quality into premium audio liquor! This is grade A stuff and not for the fainthearted. Incredible harmonized hooks for the ages and a drummer who is being chased by the devil himself! Aah yes; we need a saviour now:

Saviours - Accelerated Living

http://metalheadandproud.blogspot.com/2009/11/saviours-accelerated-living-2009.html

Number 19

Number 19

This is the ninth album of these American freaks. They formed somewhere around 1990 and have been mixing their styles of music ever since. Starting with Metal and Punk and migrating over to stoner and incorporating funk, blues and many other styles. This album sees them retro-rocking all over the place with fine and dandy stoner influences. Sometimes heavy and aggressive and on other moments experimental and adventurous. We have grown accustomed to their greasy, raw and savage sound. So let’s shift gears:

Clutch - Strange Cousins From The West

http://stonerobixxx.blogspot.com/2009/09/clutch-strange-cousins-from-west-2009.html

Numero 20

Numero 20

Hailing from the beautiful grounds of Poland these guys have a knack for producing riffdriven sounds similar to the gods who are credited of being one of the founders. Its dry, its dusty is diabolically good. Kyuss as their starting point; feeling up bands like Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and adopting that Hermano bonding sound; these Polish bastards, who have only been at it since 2008, have come up with an album deserving of being among the best 2009 has delivered. So; without further ado we give you:

Palm Desert – Dawn Of The Burning Sun!!

http://getoffmyelevator.blogspot.com/2009/10/palm-desert-dawn-of-burning-sun-2009.html

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2009

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2009

As of today we will count down from twenty to one on this honourary blog. Everyday one album of that said top 20 will be posted on this blog. Deduced from 17 lists submitted by the freaks from Stoner HiVe; this is The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 of 2009. In my opinion it holds a few surprises and many logical choices! So; let’s start the show!

In Honour of all the freaks...

In honour of all the freaks in the Stoner HiVe...

The ones who feel the true heaviness of the riff...

And keep the soul of this magnificent beast alive...

The ones who play, who listen and who feel...

The ones who bang their heads and drink their beer...

The ones who know true music and what is real...

In honour of all of those out there;

The original ones,

The high power mutants,

And the depraved!

Let there be great freakin music!

Let us all be saved!