Stoner HiVe: 2012

zaterdag 29 december 2012

Number 3

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” Romans 5:12

Should you be a gambling man than at one point in your career you will always cross the wrong wires and find yourself burned to a cinder by an electric firestorm. But you will also come across that sure shot; that one lucky guess that isn’t lucky at all. So I ain’t going to bet anyone if they can guess where the guys from Number 3 come from. Cause I am pretty sure seeing as almost half of the list hails from that beautiful country in Scandinavia that you know which that might be. We climb almost twenty-five points and are treated to groovy blues inspired by the seventies and driving stoner grafted on that happening feeling. And then to think they already made it to the Number Two position last year! Let’s hope they have another album ready for us in 2013!!!

Graveyard - Lights Out

vrijdag 28 december 2012

Number 4

"Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God." Revelation 9:13

Like we mentioned yesterday: we now enter a different part of the league, we enter a league of extraordinary releases. For to reach Number 4 we have to add almost 50 points to Orange Goblins final total. These guys have been making the list since it’s conception and actually made it to the number 1 position of that first year. This year they find themselves stranded on place Number four with 192 points. But their spiritual expedition into the realms and dynamics of heavy music does not care for numbers of points. Filled with seductive arrangements of droning strings, tablas, chants and melodies woven together in a hazy melange of rock at its most languorous the album transports you to an entirely different dimension. And only on a very rare occasion does the bass of yesteryear make its appearance in a sting of sludge. Made for Opium dreams; Ibogaine reveries and Ayahuasca epiphanies…

Om - Advaitic Songs

donderdag 27 december 2012

Number 5

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Peter 5:8

As we count on and add another five points we end up at the Number 5 position with exactly a 141 points. And these cats have been around for a while and are not from Sweden but from the British Isle. They released their seventh album this year and it is filled with heavy stoner and metal that roars and grunts and is as steady as Motörhead. And mix that given band with some heaviness from Down and the doom and dark virtuoso we love from Black Sabbath and you approach that well crafted sound of these insane critters. They sound like the perfect soundtrack to a bourbon soaked biker movie and should actually be signed by one of the big whisky brands to provide music for every freaking commercial they ever make. Rock solid, hard hitting and fast driving. This rock’n roll is what’s keeping me breathing!

Orange Goblin - A Eulogy for the Damned

woensdag 26 december 2012

Number 6

“And will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.” Revelation 20:8

And yes, as we skip ahead with seven points to the next entry we once again find a collection of crazy Swedes. Four young dogs that sound like the masters of old. And to complete that fact they produced a true album’s album. Cause from the first forest noises to the last birds singing in the closing track it is a complete and utter musical adventure that transport the listener to green pastures, wide landscapes and mountainous regions. Their sound is huge, cumbersome, heavy and gigantic; like the name of the band suggests; yet surprisingly agile and on some weird and possible insane level folksy, pure and luscious. It sounds like the rumblings of a monstrous storm; but one that does not bring destruction; but life and renewal...

Mamont - Passing Through the Mastery Door

dinsdag 25 december 2012

Number 7

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.” Revelation 17:8

From Royal Thunder we move three points towards the next entry; another debut album and once again these freaks hail from Sweden. Seeped in mystery and tradition the album speaks of haunting tales, ancient myths and tribalistic rituals. Through a colorful mixture of kraut and space rock, enchanting percussion, eastern influences and mesmerizing vocals we are treated to magical voodoo music. Spells are cast and transport towards a psychedelic and occult delirium. It’s a necromancers rejoice at bringing to life long lost music, the visions and the waves of emotions that belong to it. And besides all that it also strikes a chord in the hearts of the most reckless; for it is a vague and distant call to arms for all those who on some level detest the way life in the western world is shaping up to become. Join in with the slaughtering!

Goat – World Music

maandag 24 december 2012

Number 8

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.” Revelation 1:7

Five points higher as Stubb we find one of those incredible debut albums of 2012. Cause there were quite a few of those this year. This one paints illustrious psychedelic landscapes and gallops through them on huge and powerful doom rhythms. The powerhouse diva on vocals slays like a metal medusa and their complex structures are carefully hidden below layers of impressive basswork and intense riffs. Highly electric and deadly sexy like lightning! It might be their concealed obviousness that does the trick; but after one listen you’re hooked and in love! Ride the thunder!

Royal Thunder – CVI

zondag 23 december 2012

Number 9

“So the six angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind.” Revelation 9:15

On Number 9 we find an act that has the same amount of votes as High On Fire; but since this act to some surprise stayed in the top three for ages and has gotten more amount of votes. It has been decided that it is ranked one place above High On Fire. The album was released early this year and their heavy psychedelic sound transports you to the seventies. Thanks to a lazy groove and acoustic folk inspired interludes their progressive riffing and blues motivated soul captivates in a devious and shrew manner. This is not heavy for heaviness sake but classic for classics sake. It has the fine and golden qualities of absolute freedom and rolling with whatever wave of creativity is lying in wait…

Stubb – Stubb

zaterdag 22 december 2012

Number 10

“Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” Isaiah 33:14

And now we enter the Top 10 of this years Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 of albums. Which means the world has not come to an end and those Maya, Hopi, Indus cultures and a caseload of lovely freaks had it wrong. So we can now look forward actually seeing who ends up on the Number 1 position according to 56 sent in lists and to 2029 when the world will come to an end according to a few other maniacs or 2060 according to Newton. Hell; as long as we try to make this floating rock a bit better for everyone inhabiting it; I don’t mind sticking around. And I think those freaks we find on Number 10 would not mind either; even though they get their kicks from a very destructive power. Which you can hear in their burning riffs and blistering drums. Their sixth studio album is an almost bombastic inferno of heaviness that borders on insane punctuation and a highly exact execution. Ambitious yet extremely atavistic.

High on Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis

vrijdag 21 december 2012

Number 11

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” Revelation 21:1

Five points above Troubled Horse we find one of those acts that has been loved by everyone for what feels like ages. And with every release since their conception somewhere around 1994 they seem to have bettered themselves. And according to many of you out there they did it again! And that’s a feat on itself for the expectations ran high since the release of this tenth studio album got delayed and delayed and delayed. Thanks to the added instrumentation this is incomparable to earlier work even though it is still very recognizable. Warm, open-minded and openhearted, artisanal and mystical without being overly dramatic about it. She speaks of dreams and of hope and offers a peak into the soul of its creators and offers guidance in this dark and twisted society. It is elaborate, intricate but not difficult and it is what the world needs at this moment of time and space…

Colour Haze - She Said

donderdag 20 december 2012

Number 12

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

Sweden; it seems to be a chosen country, a territory filled with ancient riffs and structures and rhythms and melodies of yore. They shimmer and glint in their bronze armor as they devour the stage. And there are many of them. On Number 12 we find yet another collection of these seventies styled stoner Mongols running head first and guitar drawn towards the stuff of legends. For yes, not only is this number filled with Swedes, it is also filled with songs that make up one of those retro styled classical masterpieces. Rolling waves of riffs and whirling dashing drums completed by vocals with the right amount of shrill haunting. And even if there’s a weak sentence or dubious refrain here or there; there is no way that can harm such intense retro-pleasure! Let’s all move to Sweden…

Troubled Horse - Step Inside

woensdag 19 december 2012

Number 13

“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilence’s. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11

We’ve already come to the unlucky Number 13 and have already climbed exactly twenty-six points from Major Kong residing at Number 20. And here we find yet another outfit that mastered the fuzzy rock ages ago. Their 2011 album was already an amazing piece of solid gold that for some weird reason did not make the list that year. Their 2009 album did and made it to Number 8. Their new one seems destined to grow and eventually best all of them; for it has been written in a dark and secret code. High driving energy and gigantic smoky riffs; throbbing rhythms and raw vocals; that all seem to end in loose and orgiastic jams. Or to quote the honorable FastNBulbous: “Someday there will be scientific evidence that certain notes and timbres reliably induce a peculiar balance state between bliss and fury, or a general state of earthy, metallic awesomeness. And it will be belatedly revealed that Wo Fat cracked that code a long time ago.” They definitely did!

Wo Fat – Black Code

dinsdag 18 december 2012

Number 14

“These are the Signs that great destruction is coming. The world shall rock to and fro. The white man will battle against other people in other lands -- with those who possessed the first light of wisdom. There will be many columns of smoke and fire such as White Feather has seen the white man make in the deserts not far from here.” Hopi prophecy as told by White Feather in 1970.

Seventies and stoner. The two are linked together indefinitely and they owe a lot to each other. And as said before the resurgence of all that goodness the last few years has given us a fair share of amazing albums. Some more stoner and others more groovy or filled with enough fuzz to make a shoulder long wig so that even that weird bald uncle that only visits during the holidays could become cool again. And these guys go for the fuzz and for the proto-stoner of the sixties in a big way. Intense drumming and classic riffs are key here and produce a warm nest to sleep in. But be careful; cause their are quite a few stings lurking around the corner and once the venom swirls through your blood there is no telling what will happen! Ooh; and should we mention Sweden once again?!

Greenleaf – Nest of Vipers

maandag 17 december 2012

Number 15

“For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return...” Genesis 3:19

So here it is. The other part of the psychedelic doom metal adventure into tonal space. And as we listen to the sounds building and cascading and erupting and imploding we hear the Italians making every single tone count and hear them execute with extreme precision a highly intense journey where every sonic touch seems to be a stroke of genius. They balance beautifully on a chessboard of dynamics and never seem to want to go for the easy way out. Without any hesitation they sacrifice their queen and knights; and make the simple pawn their chief attacker in the audio assault. There is no doubt that this years Opus is a definite checkmate; and it does not seem to matter at all that the albums were released months apart and that one has gotten more votes than the other…

Ufomammut – Oro: Opus Primum

zondag 16 december 2012

Number 16

“And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” Revelation 6:4

And during this doomed final year of mankind the love for the old guard has once again been ever present. For we all know and love the resurgence of the ‘retro’ styled old school rock these past few years. And there were a great deal of releases in that good stuff corner and for some weird reason most of the good records seem to come from Scandinavia or even Sweden. The guys we find on Number 16 produced an intensely groovy, blues-based seventies rock record. Nostalgic in the good sense of the word and hard rocking all over all of the obvious heroes and inspirations of that era. But I do reckon this album making the list a bit of a surprise since the album does dwindle in conviction fairly quick. Still; it has some tasty jams on it and I guess all those people voting for them deservedly pushed them on to that Number 16 spot. Let’s get ready for a third attack!

Horisont - Second Assault

zaterdag 15 december 2012

Number 17

“Whenever there is decay of righteousness… and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I, Myself come forth… for the destruction of evil-doers for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness. I am born from age to age.” Bhagavad Gita, fourth discourse

These guys turned out to be one of the best bands on Speedfest this year. Something I had not expected given the nature of the festival and the concrete industrial halls, which could be too big for such a band and distort their sound. And given the hour of the day and the long lines outside there were unfortunately only a handful of devotees to witness their tight spaced out show. It was their last evening of the tour with Monster Magnet and it was clear for the ones that were there that the guys had learned a lot. The played their set amazingly firm and strong and visited their 2012-released fourth album. Like true nectar of gods their sounds weave and float through your mind and expand it in true psychedelic fashion. So drink up and let the hardy taste transport you to another world…

My Sleeping Karma – Soma

vrijdag 14 december 2012

Number 18

“They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.” Ezekiel 7:19

These three guys turned in a bit of a puzzle for our inadequate but heartfelt List; a tiny head scratcher so to speak. But since some of you only voted for one of them or even separately and rating one higher than the other one. I ran with that suggestion. And for the ones that voted for them together; those points got divided evenly. Aha; so now you already know which Italians occupy Number 18 with their spacey, groovy and top heavy doom that is both atavistic and visceral. Meant to be listened to in one entire session the guys delivered two albums this year. This one is meticulously build; like an intricate clockwork of riffs, rhythms and rumbling drums without ever destroying their very own complex mechanisms. So, one of them we find on 18; but which one is it and has the other one made the list also?!

Ufomammut - Oro: Opus Alter

donderdag 13 december 2012

Number 19

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34

On their fourth studio album these four freaks make their stoner metal grow a set of wings and take off like a malicious bird of prey. Propelled ever faster and with more precision their songs bulge of impressive vocals and lyrical hooks that take aim and destroy before you can blink with your left eye. And as the beast takes flight again its looks to see the earth scorched by awesome riffs, wicked variations and excellent solos. And thanks to the drum powered groove the entire structure of the album rumbles and grumbles and shakes and torments the very soul of the earth. And hidden within it all is the desire to shatter the anvil and take up The Sword to conquer the world…

The Sword – Apocryphon

woensdag 12 december 2012

Number 20

“I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood.” Revelations 6:12

This instrumental trio pays homage to the godfathers of the ‘scene’ and immediately also show which direction they are heading. Massively ponderous and meant for charcoal and withered landscapes; not some hot and steamy desert. Apart from that they also honor the coming apocalypse. Not only with their album title; but also with their thunder heavy drums and dark and dangerous riffs. They move and weave and dance on the very edge of the world with their enigmatic and doomed blues. So stand in attention and salute the Major…

Major Kong – Doom for The Black Sun

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012

It is now 12:12 CET on December the 12th in this doomed year of our lord 2012. And so it begins; this years Top 20 countdown. We ofcourse hope that those freaky Maya and kinky Hopi had it wrong with the date and that we can continue doing this countdown for many years to come. For once again the amount of lists sent in got higher. So thanks to all you freaks out there. Some of you could only find two, three of five decent albums this year. Others went so far as detailing 30, 75 or even a 100 great albums. My hat goes off to all of you once again! In the end we were graced with 56 lists; of which this years edition of the Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 is comprised. A few surprises here and there and big surprises in regards of albums that did not make the list. And we can state there is a definite top 4 going on with number 4 beating number 5 with over 50 points; and the number 1 gained the lead quickly and never relinquished even though number 2 climbed hard and fast towards the end…

And so before Koyaanisqatsi is overturned and we get back to the ways of balance and respect of all living things; let’s celebrate the amazing albums that we were treated to this year… And we start with...

Number 20

dinsdag 11 december 2012

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012

Today is the final day to send in your list for the Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012. So far we have already received a great deal of amazing lists; many thanks to one and all! And if you my friend think that your favorite album should get more votes; send in your list today. For tomorrow; around this time the number 20 of the list will be posted and the countdown will commence… The rules: vote for any amount of albums or EP’s released in 2012. If you dug only one; name that one. If you dug 78; name all of them! The address: stonerhive@hotmail.com!

zaterdag 8 december 2012

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 of 2012

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 of 2012

Yet another reminder to everyone out there. Four / five days left before we start the countdown for the Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012. So far almost 40 lists have found their way to stonerhive@hotmail.com and we sincerely thank each and every one of the freaks who sent in their list. And we also hope that there are still a few lurkers out there who are planning to send theirs. It does not matter if you sent your top three, five, seven, twelve, twenty or sixty-three; it’s all good and awesome! So c’mon compadres, get cracking, it won’t take long and sent your lists to stonerhive@hotmail.com before or on December the 11th cause on December 12 we start the countdown!!!

Camera – Radiate

Bureau B – 2012

Rock, Kraut, Space

Rated: ****

Radiate is one of those albums that suddenly bursts onto the scene and is advised by an enormous variation of folks that all seek contact within a few days. The final push of the edge was when Doktor420 talked highly of it. Produced by the three-piece Berlin krautrock outfit Camera it leans towards spacerock while carving little snippets of something more psychedelic into their music. Their instrumental brushstrokes paint colorful and hypnotic paintings of bizarre landscapes and twisted universes. It has every characteristic from all those classic krautrock bands we come to hold so dear but they do not try to emulate; but rather re-invent them or continue down a path discovered decades before. So head on down to Berlin and walk through the city cause somewhere; on some dusty little corner between a bookstore and a thrift shop or under a dirty gray bridge Camera might be playing one of their guerilla gigs. It is true; great stuff comes from the weird, the sick, the daring and those few seconds of confidences that pushes you over the edge…

vrijdag 7 december 2012

Molior Superum – Into The Sun

Self released – 2012

Rock, Psychedeclica, Garage, Stoner

Rated: *****

This album has been spinning in my home and car for a few months now, driving my girl crazy for she can never understand why something goes on repeat that much. And I’m on the verge of ordering a case of vinyl’s for my bandmates; cause they know how to operate the repeat button. These young dogs come from villages such as Stenungsund and Orust; little specks on the Swedish map. (And our bassplayer may actually own a house in their vicinity!?) The four found each other somewhere around 2009 and after a few rehearsals decided to call their band Molior Superum. In 2011 they already released a superb demo called Towards The Haze and now we are treated to their debut album Into The Sun. A high-energy mix of classic spacerock, grimy garage and psychedelica from the seventies. With their roots firmly planted in blues they make all those influences melt together in one kinghell of a freaky funk adventure. The extreme expressive, high-pitched, hunted and nervous voice of main vocalist Carl Isaksson seems to bring his message with a feverous necessity. And when towards the end of the record after many enchanting guitar battles and exquisite riffs we are even treated to a bit of Hammond there is only one conclusion left: the seventies are alive and kicking ass! Musical dynamite!!!

woensdag 5 december 2012

Bison BC – Lovelessness

Metal Blade / Rough Trade – 2012

Rock, Metal, Sludge

Rated: ***

The Canadian born Bison BC has been battling under the lee of bands such as High On Fire and Mastodon. And where those bands have slowly gathered more fans around them the BBC is still fairly unknown. Which is unfair; for their bulky, burly and hairy sludge is a true stampede of heaviness. Lacking somewhat in subtlety and flexibility their third album Lovelessness storms over you like a mad cow herd looking for tasty grass. And this rolling thunder keeps going for six songs and forty-five minutes. They hardly ever let off steam and the build up anxiety and anger seems to keep exploding like everlasting fireworks. It is amazing and it is loud but in the end it does make Lovelessness a hard button to button. Cause where their first albums leaned more towards the eighties and showed definite promise; this one seems to slowly fade into a deafening history. Like the beasts of yesteryear’s evolution. Let’s hope their next record stomps even harder towards fertile pastures where they will find drinking grounds to rest, recuperate and dance…

Metalblade

vrijdag 30 november 2012

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012

Tomorrow we enter the final December month of human society, as we know it, on this beautiful little planet called Earth. But even if we do not make it to the very end of this year we still forge ahead and try to do this Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums list of 2012 right. For everything worth doing, is worth doing right. So please make sure you send your list of three, five, ten, twenty or two hundred and thirty three albums to this email before December the 11th… Cause on December 12 we start the countdown with number 20. So far already ten lists found their way to the inbox and I am thankful for each and every one of them! Get cracking; send yours and try to get your favorite album of this year on the number 1 spot! Even if it’s the last thing you do!

Bilis Sicario – Encuentro de Sutilezas

Torcaza Records / Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Desert, Instrumental

Rated: ***

This time around we are treated to a genuine Mexican formation and after seeing the cover picture of their first EP I would already call them: Fangtastic! Bilis Sicario hails from the Californian region of La Paz; a place at the very end of the road. Which turns out to not be a bad place at all. Just a place where they stopped making roads. But for a place without any streets they do have a fierce driving rhythm, which sometimes shifts gear to make you float and dream like you’re at some great sky party. Weaving in all kinds of subtle shimmering changes and intricate little structures Encuentro de Sutilezas comes across as lost high desert diamond. A shining gem full of all these kaleidoscopic mutations and otherworldly visions. Something to keep you warm during the winter…

donderdag 29 november 2012

John Lancaster – Crash Test In Progress

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Prog, Metal, Alternative

Rated: ****

Last year we already mentioned the amazing Phantom Moon record by Chum frontman John Lancaster. On where he enlisted the help of fellow great musical magicians from the Huntington, West Virginia area. This time he dove into the studio with the guys who have been playing the live gigs with him and who already earned their spurs with bands like Chum, Abdullah and Hybrid Zero. Which could have lead to the eclectic sound suffer and songwriting barriers be erected, since the first album was written over a long period of time and colored in by the guests. But no, the man seems to have a definite hold on his freedom and even if the band has contributed in the way of writing it seems to have been in minor variations which never interfere with the no boundaries take of Lancaster himself. Riffs straight off some colossal stoner record, structures that could be found on progressive metal albums and masterful melodies that are usually found less and less in heavy rock. Loud, huge, versatile and determined. It makes Crash Test In Progress once again magnificent and imposing.