Number ONE

“I am Garak, the original Guru of Stoner HiVe. And I proclaim this to be the number one album of 2011…”

Number ONE

We have come to the absolute winner of 2011. The gold medallist so to speak. These young puppies ended up as top dog after a gigantic sprint in the end in which they overtook Graveyard, Skraeckoedlan and Lo-Pan, which occupied the first place for the first few weeks. Their sophomore album keeps in vein with all the retromania records that have been released in 2011; but this time around they use the seventies doom variation foremost and add to this a fuzzy groove that surfs over the sound waves like a mad Hawaiian sea cowboy. And even with their progressive sound structures they still remain droning and hypnotic with an ever present cosmic and psychedelic feel to it. It gives new meaning to the word heavy and uses the blues roots in a distinctive, personal and excellent way. It flows in a melodic way that is unparalleled and delivers after every build up in their own way without aiming to be explosive all the time. They know how to be subtle, they know what silence is all about and know when the fires of old must burn and burn and char and destroy. As if these guys know the old soul of the world and have been here for many a year…

Elder – Dead Roots Stirring

The Countdown so Far!

Countdown:

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 2011! The one that beat Graveyard by 14 points. I guess this must be the right time to run through the countdown so far... Later on today, before the clock strikes twelve and 2012 begins, we will know which album occupies the number one position!

1. …

2. Graveyard - Hisingen Blues

3. Lo-Pan – Salvador

4. Skraeckoedlan – Äppelträdet

5. Red Fang - Murder The Mountains

6. Mars Red Sky - Mars Red Sky

7. The Atomic Bitchwax - The Local Fuzz

8. Yob – Atma

9. Heavy Eyes - Heavy Eyes

10. Karma to Burn – V

11. Freedom Hawk - Holding On

12. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Blood Lust

13. 1000Mods - Super Van Vacation

14. Lonely Kamel - Dust Devil

15. Mastodon - The Hunter

16. Monkey3 - Beyond The Black Sky

17. Been Obscene – Night O Mine

18. Radio Moscow - The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz

19. Elvis Deluxe – Favourite State of Mind

20. DeWolff – Orchards / Lupine

Number 2

“I’ll be pulling a pink elephant out of ma hat soon. But before I do; let me turn you onto these majestic blues sounds.”

Number 2

One more to go before we get to the gold medallist of 2011. Personally I sort of missed these runner-up guys completely when the album came out. But after a lot of you cats out there had these in their top three or higher I revisited this dark place and was awestruck. I get it now and wonder how I could have missed them the first time around. This retro loving foursome gives new meaning to dueling guitars, seventies rock and full carrying driving rhythms. It is the sound of their first release that has been battered on the road and matured due to all the trials and tribulations. It is the final and best testament released this year that there is nothing new under the sun and that when this retromania is done right, nothing can best it. A pure ode to righteous rock and the music we live by. This is mastered!

Graveyard - Hisingen Blues

Number 3

“Howdy Partner, you’d better get a load of these Sweet San Salvador Sounds. They’re so good, you might be spittin biscuits on a dead possum soon…”

Number 3

Hail to these kings of the tight stoner groove and old school grunge attitude. Applause for the light swollen vocals of the singer and heavy licks and riffs of the axe slinger. Hats off for the pummeling drums and fat ass bass. Aah yes, this is how all sunny day rock outfits should sound when the end is nigh. It is that look into all that stoner has had to offer after the might riff came into existence without sounding retro; it is owning up to where you came from but never sounding outdated or copied. It is what we all long for when we find ourselves jamming out on a rainy Wednesday evening: that evil mutation of the mighty beast into something meant for tomorrow and maybe even for the ages. Without a doubt, these guys, who held the number one spot for quite some time, have build a masterpiece out of pillars of rock; and always with their own hands…

Lo-Pan – Salvador

Number 4

“Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger, Mushroom Mushroom!”

Number 4

Like I mentioned before, the top four this year are in a league of their own. From now on each higher number beats the other with about fifteen points. But this one already beats Red Fang with over twenty points. A Swedish stoner sledgehammer that owns the mightiest groove of 2011 without any doubt. With a high retro and vintage attitude these guys start riffing and let it all stampede over the listener like a herd of biblical beasts. It’s heavy roaring bass and massive thrashing drums should be used from now on as the prime example of how heavy music should be made. And let’s not forget the vocal melodies that are carrying each song to even higher highs. Highly addictive and highly seductive, as if the band is the new incarnation of that temptuous snake that made Eve pluck that darn apple from that cursed tree…

Skraeckoedlan – Äppelträdet

Number 5

“Momma, she’s not okay, she lights a candle, for everyday, that you’re away…”

Number 5

Before we get to the top four; who are in a league of their own, with number four besting number five with more than twenty points difference. We will still need to deal with these fun motherfuckers. Barbarically beautiful, gritty, muddy and hard. Swinging stoner alternated with smoky groove and swampy metal. Raw, infectious, entertaining and above all great fun. Cause these guys know not to take things too seriously, or not at all. They serve their metal and stoner mix with a hefty sauce of punk and comedy. Balancing beautifully between popular and dry, pounding and catchy and sharp and edgy. And it might all just be a trick; but I sure as hell have fallen for it…

Red Fang - Murder The Mountains

Number 6

“I’m off to see my grandma in the woods. A bring her a basket full of incredible tunes!”

Number 6

Like a barren and hostile wasteland; with a dusty wind carrying spooky sounds and almost ethereal voices we find ourselves roving around on an alien planet. The atmospheric feel to the album that we find on number six is amazing and at times awe inspiring; and then to think it is only their first full-sized record after having released their very first EP last year. And these guys dare to break from the norm; they dare to not play the notes, they dare to use their voices, and differ in riffs and time signatures to an enormous degree. It’s a trio that has quicksilver coursing through their veins and know the alchemy of using that right; with long sleek psychedelics and fuzzed out guitars; with an endless groove on the bass and two different vocal lines. In the end, you can only just put the needle back on again, crack open a beer and marvel at that sun setting in the deep red sky…

Mars Red Sky - Mars Red Sky

Number 7

“这些人是易爆的象原子弹!”

"These guys are explosive like an atom bomb! "

Number 7

Flirting with progressive and symphonic rock, offering up seemingly musical anarchy, dishing out the best of psychedelic waves, serving hardrock from the sixties and seventies and glazing it all with a nice layer of stoner and a hefty groove to put out a prime example of free rock for all to hear and appreciate. One track, no more, no less. But one track of pure blissful madness and seemingly endless adventures. Over fifty impossibly sweet riffs, unparalleled basswork and a drummer with more variation then the amount of animals on planet earth and still functioning as the glue that holds it all together. It’s grooving to a high musical wave, destined for far away lands and forever rolling and gushing and crashing. It’s so good it’s almost a criminal act not to be swept of your feet by this record. So you’d better get on board; otherwise you might get arrested by the fuzz, local or otherwise…

The Atomic Bitchwax - The Local Fuzz

Number 8

“Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen, please listen to these honorable masters carefully…”

Number 8

These doom rockers are already on to their sixth album after releasing their fifth record two years ago marking their return to the stage after a four-year absence. And damn we are glad they are back. Primal, atavistic and raw. Crushing, battering and epic. This is one gigantic Moloch of a record that slowly pulls every king hell of a riff out of the murky depths of the gaseous swamps. Not a record for the weak and feeble, but for those who allow an album to slowly sleep into their membrane before unveiling its truly gigantic proportions to your higher self. It pushes and pulls, it rips and rolls, it rises and falls and masters that perfect amalgam of righteous rock; riffing on to the exact moment when a switch is needed. Powerful stuff!

Yob – Atma

Number 9

“Alakazaam! You will not go to sleep listening to this musical voodoo!”

Number 9

These three Memphis rockers released a rough cut from their material a year ago and found the time to release something mastered this year. Their infectious playing gives us some heavy psychedelic blues, seventies inspired riffing and all of that with a garage feeling to it. Their fuzzy guitars and foot stomping rhythm takes you on a drinking binge in some gritty watering hole filled with cracks and characters that stepped out of some beat poet novel with noses running, veins swollen and impossibly heavy eyes. It’s that southern mojo that presents us with the perfect soundtrack for a ramshackle blues scene with dark alleys, open sewers, scarred worn down drinking sheds that only give limited shelter for the rain and wind, serving watered down whisky and lukewarm beer, filled with heavy rocking desperate dreamers and glorious losers, listening to black magic music that never falls into a neat line and is perfect for that lost soul that seeks refuge, solace and comfort in gritty and battered tunes…

The Heavy Eyes – The Heavy Eyes

Number 10

“No, I am not a Moroccan cat. This is my ode to the Sons Of The Desert. And I don’t mean the brilliant three(four)some responsible for the Number 10 album.”

Number 10

Who could have known that one faithful night in a liquor store could mean a resurgence this big of what once was known as the lost instrumental stoner legend. Since their reformation they have delivered an album a year although their first in 2009 was a live record. This time they were once again supposed to be accompanied by two singers just like on their 2010th one, which ended on number five last year. But what happened to the recordings done with John Garcia? Were they all to be used for his own project Garcia Vs Garcia; which keeps getting postponed? And ofcourse Daniel Davies did his part; after which they returned to their relentless tour schedule. But after time it once again became clear that the band should remain instrumental and Daniel left to pursue his own music, delivering a mighty EP called Hidden Faces. We are left with 8 tracks of driving rhythms, pounding drums and groovy guitar-work, which keep in vein with all their heavy tunes that came before… We’re now at 51…

Karma to Burn – V

Number 11

“Fuck you man, you’d better sleep with one eye open!”

Number 11

Before we enter the top ten we are treated to yet another entry that takes its queues from the seventies and most importantly Black Sabbath. This time around it’s hugely due to the fact that the singer reminds us of a young Ozzy and the guitarplayer of a youthful Iommi. And where the band used to be compared a lot to Fu Manchu that resemblance has faded a bit. Gone are a lot of the groovy and lazy pieces and we are now treated to up-tempo driving arrangements and classic metal. Sure; we still get a few of those easy going sunny influences but above all: this record is one of the most genuine and beautiful ode’s to the almighty riff released this year. Venomous soloing, mean drum pounding; grand in rhythm, structure and intent. Just grab on and hold on for the ride…

Freedom Hawk - Holding On

Number 12

“Hey! Don’t mess with a cat on acid!”

Number 12

The mysterious trio we find on number 12 uses classic rock, retro doom and old school stoner in a lo-fi way to produce an occult and mystic sounding musical ritual. Heavy guitars, massive riffs and a witchy sounding singer take us through the roots of all the horror psychedelics out there. The dirty analog way of recording gives the entire album a savory mouth like that of a forbidden taste without sounding sloppy or cheap. It actually makes you wonder every now and again if this gem wasn’t found somewhere in a dusty crypt; and it keeps that incredible fine balance between creepy and catchy in a perfect way. It’s mesmerizing and hallucinatory and makes you envision pure lust for the sinful properties of man. Aah yes, that vintage spilling of blood…

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Blood Lust

Number 13

“My love is a like a red red rose. And I am a little thorny. Je t’adore! Shut the window! I don’t care. Let’s just make mad passionate love on the sounds of number 13.”

Number 13

By sheer coincidence these guys got in contact with me after the Top 20 countdown had already started. They wanted to bring their new record to my attention. I told them I already knew them, their new record and you guys out there had been enjoying it as well. Stay tuned; I continued; you might be surprised to see yourself end up in the Top 20 somewhere. And they most righteously did. At number 13. These Greek freaks started out in 2005 and solidified in 2006. And immediately released a record. Another EP and two singles followed. Their first full-sized album was released this year and gives you an hour of heavy hitting stoner, fuzzy psychedelics and a steady doom march. It sticks close to the stoner blueprint and entices with killer riffs and tasty melodies… I feel like going on a vacation to Greece once again and this time we won’t fly but take some kind of Super Van…

1000Mods – Super Van Vacation

Number 14

“No, I’m not a bunny!!!”

Number 14

I asked these guys recently where they met the Devil last year; seeing as their in 2011 released album was so much better that their 2010 one. They just laughed and refused to really answer the question. It might have been due to the Hertog Jan beer the The Machine guys bought them or the Dutch stew they were gobbling down; but I reckoned they’d rather not talk too much about the fact they sold their soul. But hey, I’d sell my own without hesitation if the beast would let me make a record like this filled to the rim with phenomenal heavy blues songs, groovy stoner and seventies hardrock. A wild and haunting voice in full overdrive sounding extremely righteous and when the fascinating rhythms coarse through your veins you are simply hypnotized. As if the Devil himself has gotten hold of you and enchanted you with incredible riffs, dark drums and a full trotting bass that defines everything. And when the dust settles… The Devil has gotten hold of yet another soul…

Lonely Kamel - Dust Devil

Number 15

“Look into the puppy eyes! Look into the puppy eyes!”

Number 15

In 2009 these guys were the runner-up to OM who were considered by 18 peeps who sent in their lists that year to have delivered the number one album with their release God Is Good. This year that number two released their fifth studio album, which was less experimental as their former but still remains as heavy and thunderous as a massive crack in the sky. More concise and to the point and with a catchy-ness that might turn more people on to them. It might miss a bit of drive like Leviathan or Blood Mountain, it might lack the progressive adventure feel of Crack The Skye or perhaps the surprise of Remission. But all that is just nitpicking, seeking for little bitty thingies in a puddle of water, and hunting for a needle in the hay…

Mastodon – The Hunter

Number 16

“Lovely! I think these guys are just lovely!”

Number 16

One guy demanded that these animals would get the double amount of points possible. And if I had just doubled his points the album would have ended on number ten; and if their entire amount had doubled they would have ended up on the third position. But there was no need to pull strings or play favorite cause these guys don’t monkey about; they get into the Top 20 on their own strength. Their heavy psychedelic rock with overtones of space and stoner can easily beat any contender. It’s pure Swiss instrumental groove rock that will make you float and swim through the currents on your mind. And this, their fourth studio album, takes it even beyond those dark and muddy waters…

Monkey3 - Beyond The Black Sky

Number 17

“What do you think? Can I pull it off? This hat, with this collar and this bell? I know for sure that Number 17 can pull off whatever they want…”

Number 17

Two years in a row for these guys. There is only one other band, which pulled that off. Although there are two other bands later on that were featured in the top 20 of 2009. Anyhoo. Last year they almost made it to the number one spot with an album that was hailed as the benchmark for all new desert stoner bands out there. This year saw the release of their follow up to that magical dance and it carved out their own place nicely. Austrian mountain stoner and high altitude psychedelic tunes which were less of the Kyuss sort and more of that solid sound which is their own. Ooh yes, their very own. Their very own dark, twilight, twinkling and nightly sounds…

Been Obscene – Night O’ Mine

Number 18

“You can laugh. But the last time I listened to this record the whole damn house collapsed!”

Number 18

The first time I saw these guys perform they played in a worn down factory changed into a cultural venue in the lovely city of Utrecht, Holland on a cold and windy Sunday afternoon back in 2009. Also on the bill was the incredible Dutch band Automatic Sam. And both these outfits truly delivered this year. Automatic Sam released their amazing album Texino. But the trio we find on number 18, had only just released their second album Brain Cycles back then and are now returning with their third installment. Both bands blew me away and I ended up buying shirts and all vinyl I could get my hands on. The album released this year is a continuation of their Hendrix heavy psychedelic blues invoking the spirit of Zeppelin, Cream and all that good stuff from the sixties and seventies. Or, it might simply be that the album's protagonist was born in that era and made its great escape through time to help them out right here, right now…

Radio Moscow - The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz

Number 19

“I’m cool. And listening to Number 19 just made things cooler…”

Number 19

The four friends we find here started jamming together some ten years ago and released their first album in 2007. And where that one leaned heavily on the sound originating from the Palm Desert; their new record pays in some way homage to their love for punk and prog without forgetting that desert sound. It’s gritty riffs and psychedelic waves wash over you in a dirty sea of sound. With a nasty and awesome seventies production the guys have delivered one hell of a follow up. Put on this record and let it alter your mind into what surely must be its favorite state…

Elvis Deluxe – Favourite State of Mind

Number 20

“Yummy! Finally that damn tasty Stoner HiVe top thingy has started!”

Number 20

These young cats delivered their second full-sized album this year and took everyone along with them on a magic musical adventure. A psychedelic rock journey that travels through the sixties and seventies and makes the listener bob along on an endless rippling ocean of sound. Where rippling does not stand for uninteresting but for subtle and with endless finesse executed compositions. The psychedelic storm that rises on occasion through the form of guitar-explosions and organ-extravaganza intensifies the listening experience and gives the feeling of being part of an extraordinary voyage. On number 20 we find:

DeWolff – Orchards/Lupine

The Ultimate Stoner Hive Top 20 albums of 2011

The Ultimate Stoner Hive Top 20 albums of 2011

And so it begins. First off let me say thanks to all you lovely freaks out there who took the time to send in their list. Some of you could only find two or three good albums this year. Others went as far as detailing their 67 favorite ones. My hats off to each and every one of you. In the end I was graced with 48 lists of which the Ultimate Stoner HiVe Top 20 of 2011 has been comprised. A few surprises here and there. And for a long time the numbers 1, 2 and 3 went head to head…

But in the end; there can be only one…

And so it begins…

With numero 20…

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2011

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2011

Yet another reminder to all of you out there. Counting today there are only THREE days left before we start the countdown of The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums list of 2011. Last day to send in your list will be on Sunday december the 11th. And you don’t have to necessarily send in a list of twenty albums; if you only heard five great ones this year; or twelve or fourteen and a half; it's all good. Just send in the amount you have. And from all the sent in lists we will deduce the Ultimate 20. Here’s me hoping all of you guys out there find the time to send something in. So far about 25 lists have found their way to the inbox.

Here’s where to send it to: emailadres…

In honour of all you freaks...

Hot Potato Syndrome – Come War Ghost

Hot Potato Syndrome – Come War Ghost
Self released – 2011
Rock, Stoner, Grunge
Rated: ***

In the amazing country of Greece which has been unjustly wrecked by the bullshit can of elephant meat we call the economy; grows a potato that has the ability to intoxicate and derange. We are talking ofcourse about the quartet going by the name of Hot Potato Syndrome. Made up out of other Athens bands who met on stage in 2009 they started jamming together in 2011 to explore wild and uncharted territories. With the emotion and criticism of grunge; which also delivers most of the structures, the gritty and fuzzy guitars of stoner and their famous groove and a tiny pinch of the sound of the psychedelic seventies their first demo Come War Ghost lights a fire in your mind. Especially the ever changing rhythm, aggressiveness and nineties rock feeling are stunning and enchanting. Next time I’m in Athens I will definately get me a plate of Hot Potato!

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De Staat – Let It Snow

De Staat – Let It Snow

And an early Christmas present in the form of a great video accompanying a great song performed by De Staat once again. Simply magical! It makes me long for snow…

De Staat – Sweat

De Staat – Sweat

A lovely cover by Dutch rockers De Staat of the David Guetta / Snoop Dogg song.

Grand Central – 01

Grand Central – 01
Domino Media / Hellvice I Vicious Records – 2011
Rock, Stoner, Metal, Hardcore, Punk
Rated: ****

Like a runaway train at the end of a worn down track running through some old abondened station the French guys from Grand Central explode out of the speakers with their first track Pacific on their debut EP called 01. This is some hard-hitting stuff. Founded in 2010 and comprised out of members of deceased bands such as Madame de Montespan, STAL and SMSCREW these freaks deliver some wild ass rock ’n roll. Combining the best from punk and hardcore with some stoner drive and heavy metal. Four simple tracks that relentlessly beat their way into your brain. Punk ’N Roll from a higher plain. To entice the beast that lives inside and even turn the gentlest of creatures into a wicked demon. Get on board; buy the ticket, take the ride and try to survive!

Bandcamp

Lord Stereo – Lord Stereo

Lord Stereo – Lord Stereo
Mustache Ministry – 2011
Rock, Seventies, Retro, Stoner
Rated: ****

The Polish scene sure has gotten big over the years and has given us so much beautiful stuff. And here’s another promise for ya: Lord Stereo. Comprised out of a truckload of bands such as: The Black Tapes, Oregano Chino, Vavamuffin, Pablopavo i Ludziki, the Monsters from Switzerland, Poker Face and Capital, Lord Stereo promises to steadily conquer the world with their vintage sound. It’s that lovely Hammond that is responsible for that old, brown and gray feeling. That seductive seventies sound that inspires and gets your fired up. Five filthy freaks doing their best to honor Zeppelin, Stooges and Sabbath without becoming a caricature and always implementing their own sound via rolling solo’s and freakishly tight rhythms. It’s fuzzy, it’s grimy and it once again has that special something that makes you want to scream on the top of your lungs: “It’s all happening!”

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The Reptilians – The Mentalist

The Reptilians – The Mentalist
Spacnum Records – 2010
Rock, Stoner, Samples, Experimental, Metal
Rated: ****

The Mentalist is one kinghell of a project. Not only does this one track album warp your mind and soul like a weird vortex of sound it also brings to the table a massive book with amazing photo’s and a biography that definitely entertains. The Mentalist is brought to you by the crazy foursome called The Reptilians and starts off with a rant by Doug Stanhope over their music. It was recorded live in one eight hour session in a studio in Salt Lake City in 2009. The layers of riffs are scorching and the steady rising drags, no pushes you up that hill. It’s dark and surging, and brooding and heavy like a hot and shimmering desert afternoon. And when you’re finally at the top after an intense twenty-five minutes; you are just thrown off… And while drowning; there is only Stanhope to cling to and that is a very bleak prospect…

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Acid Snake – Pariah

Acid Snake – Pariah
Moshtache Records – 2011
Metal, Screamo, Hardcore
Rated: ***

It’s always amazing how much someone can actually butcher and destroy their own vocal chords before actually succumbing to utter exhaustion. Singer Harry Acid from the Australian outfit Acid Snake is a prime example for this fact. With utter throat shredding no holds back screaming Acid Snake comes as you like a mad Boa holding an AK-47. It’s weird seeing a snake holding a gun; well, get ready for a surprise. Cause Acid Snake seems to be holding two of them. Their youthy prowess and aggression is their main forte; they mean business and will not stop until they blow up every amp on the planet. On the songs where they slow down to convey over the battlefield and the bodies they slaughtered; you can actually hear that these guys will have more and different stuff to offer in the future. And as a tasty treat they also add the The Sun Distortion Sessions Live EP to the mix. Watch out for those fangs!

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Caltrop – World Class

Caltrop – World Class
Munich – 2011
Rock, Stoner, Hard
Rated: ***

And yes, here we are once again with another lovely band that pays homage to Black Sabbath, produces songs lasting for about eight minutes, without too much speed and sounding like a Kyuss of old. The cynic in ones soul could become harsh and claim that the flood of stoner bands emerging and roving through the alternative rock scene are not producing much of an own sound, new ideas or simply strong songs. And ofcourse there are always those emeralds and diamonds to prove that the cynic is always wrong. The American born Caltrop is one of those lesser stones; still bright and shiny but not too expensive. Their album World Class counts seven songs, which are sometimes ingenious and sometimes come across like a faux pas or a missed opportunity. It’s a hard starter; but once it gets rolling things do get interesting and vocals, roaring solos and seeping riffs do get quite tasty. One for the true devourer of everything stoner related!

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