Stoner HiVe: 2013

The Countdown so far..!

The Countdown so far...

Since we are about to announce the numero uno, the number one, the Gold medalist of The Ultimate Stoner HiVe Top 20 albums of 2013! The one that beat Clutch by 8 points. It must be the right time to run through the countdown so far... Later on today, before the clock strikes twelve and 2014 begins, we will know which album occupies the number one position! Thanks to all you lovely freaky voters out there!

1. …

2. Clutch – Earth Rocker

3. Windhand – Soma

4. Queens of The Stone Age – …Like Clockwork

5. Kadavar – Abra Kadavar

6. Monster Magnet – The Last Patrol

7. Red Fang – Whales and Leeches

8. Kylesa – Ultraviolet

9. SubRosa – More Constant Than The Gods

10. Samsara Blues Experiment – Waiting For The Flood

11. Carcass – Surgical Steel

12. Kvelertak – Meir

13. Black Sabbath – 13

14. Ghost – Infestissumam

15. Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats – Mind Control

16. Goatess – Goatess

17. Purson – The Circle And The Blue Door

18. Monkey3 – The 5th Sun

19. Naam – Vow

20. American Sharks – American Sharks

maandag 30 december 2013

Number 2

“New Belgium Brewing declares a snow day for everyone! This joyful phrase conjures universal meaning: forget work and enjoy. 2ºBelow is New Belgium’s winter seasonal, bringing warmth and relaxation to cold winter days. It carries the subtle chocolate and caramel flavors of the newly developed Midnight Wheat malt. Pleasantly hoppy, the Styrian Golding, Centennial and Cascade hops bring a bright note to complement roasty undertones. It is the deep garnet of roasted walnut and presents a creamy tan head. “With its layered hops, it delivers the depth people crave in a winter beer but it’s very drinkable,” said Grady Hull, assistant brewmaster at New Belgium Brewing. “We intentionally created a beer that could carry its weight without weighing you down…””

The Silver medal position has eighteen points more than Number 3, Windhand. For the longest time this album held the Number 1 spot in its clutches, which was a pretty big surprise for me. It is a damn good album but I had not expected it to reach that or in fact this position. The same goes for the current Number 1. But; let’s focus on the Silver medal first. Their ninth album made it to the Number 19 position of the 2009’s edition of the Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown. On their tenth studio record the fellas go for the gusto in a big, fast and heavy way. And it may function as a blueprint for all bands out there who might feel like they’re stuck in a rut, format or lack the guts to have the dealer set them up with an additional set of cards. For even though some of the changes seem to be floating beneath the surface and there is still much stoner groove and metal blues to be enjoyed; all limiters are thrown out of the window here. They implore a skinned off sound where instruments crackle and vocals pop. The riffs growl and claw at your face without tearing off your fur. And all eleven compositions are equally powerful and where the band used to loose themselves a bit in extravagant earthly, native or eccentric meandering they now use all those influences much more subtle and have it transport the groove like an underground current. And all those earthly up-tempo beautiful rockers are even more infectious thanks to the vocals that stun with humor and melancholy truths. All of which are brought to us with care by blues poets, stoner souls and deranged vicars… If you’re gonna do it; do it on stage…

Clutch – Earth Rocker

zondag 29 december 2013

Number 3

“The brand 3 Horses refers directly to the origin of the Breda brewery. As long ago as 1446 the “Burghers” of Breda were granted the privilege of brewing their own beer, a right normally reserved to one of the ancient guilds. Slightly grainy and a crisp aroma come from this clear pale golden color brew with a small white head. A taste of club soda and dirty water come from this relatively light bodied brew. With an almost tin taste and a bitter aftertaste it sours the throat like you’re drinking liquid bronze...”

We reach the Bronze medal after climbing one more point. After this we reach the two albums that were voted for way ahead of the rest. But first we are treated to Number 3. There’s heavy, heavy and heavy and then there’s this piece of doom metal extravaganza. With a damn fast new release after their earlier one released in March 2012 these freaks are keeping a sweet speedy pace; which is not something they do with their music. A steady syrupy march towards the inevitable cliff; but there seems to be no end and the slow trek becomes cumbersome, repetitive and full of chronic deceit like you’re on a stroll with Sisyphus. And that’s exactly where their strength lies. Length, repetition, endurance and oppressive structuring…

Windhand – Soma

zaterdag 28 december 2013

Number 4

“It has a big round raisin toffee fruitiness and the a dark amber color. There’s not a great deal to smell in this beer save for a slight woody toffee which is a shame. And there’s woodiness in the flavor too, it’s a brown resinous timber and it backs up the fruitiness very well. The hops are crisp and crunchy, sharp with brambles and they lead to a decent dry finish.”

We climb yet again only one point after enjoying the magical Abra Kadavar and find ourselves at Number 4. It is one of those albums that received as much flak from the early fans as it received praise from the later ones. And the other way around. For it moved every further away from the obscure, weird, rough and heavy beginnings towards something big, colorful and poppy. There is still that air of strange and dry heat surrounding it and there’s still enough of that gritty desert atmosphere permeating the songs. But not everyone has declared their love for this album; but the ones that conjured this one up will not care. For apparently dying a couple of hours, fighting with your brothers from the early days and fathering a couple of children changes you. And as time passes we all change. You can set your watch to that…

Queens of The Stone Age - …Like Clockwork

vrijdag 27 december 2013

Number 5

“A lot of the new breweries that has cropped up everywhere over the past year or so seems to be dedicated to making boring bitters and other so called Real Ales. Weird Beard is luckily miles away from this rather stale approach. Their focus is on crafting a range of diverse and exciting beers, and it’s our duties, as beer geeks and borderline alcoholics, to support them in this endeavor. Weird Beard - five o’clock shadow. An absolutely amazing American IPA. There is no holding back on the hoppiness of this one. A perfect beer if you love bright hoppy flavors. This is what hop bomb should have tasted like. Beautiful beer, this makes you glad that people care enough to brew this well.”

One point higher as Monster Magnet we find one of those bands that give a new meaning to the words retro, bellbottoms and old skool. On Number 5 we find a trio that made the list last year and made it all the way to the Silver Medal position on Number 2. Their follow-up album makes it to Number five and with a live performance on Roadburn that blew everyone’s mind we can rest assured that these cats will return again soon. But first we have this gem to destroy our teeth on. Unpolished psychedelic stoner and hard rock that grooves with a high pitched villainous vocalist at the helm and a true animal on drums. It is the sound of blood, sweat and tears right through to their lo-fi production; which leave us doubled over with pleasure and fulfillment. It’s a kind of magic!

Kadavar - Abra Kadavar

donderdag 26 december 2013

Number 6

“It is described as a “dark, spiced ale with the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg,” with a 9.0 percent alcohol content by volume. The beer is made with seven different types of malts, including two-row, Munich and others, along with magnum hops. Spices include ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and orange peel. And it is malty and big-bodied, with intermingling toasty and fruity characters. Almost a dessert in itself, it’s the quintessential winter beer – absolutely savory. And absolutely allusive…”

We climb three points from Red Fang to make it to Number 6 where we find another bunch of old rockers that made the countdown before. Their 2010 record made it to Number 14 that year and we were all glad the boys had made a new one and the frontman was back and ready for action. The new one goes a more psychedelic and experimental route in comparison with the one that came before but not as much as the older ones that we all hold close to our hearts. Sludge, Space, Sleaze and all kinds of heaviness go hand in hand with trippy lyrics and a hypnotic atmosphere. Now all we need to do is hope this isn’t their last patrol…

Monster Magnet – Last Patrol

woensdag 25 december 2013

Number 7

“Most breweries have at least one piece of equipment that’s just a bit persnickity. At Boulevard they have fermenter number seven, the black sheep of the cellar family. Ironically, when the brewers were experimenting with variations on a traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale, the perfect combination of elements came together in that very vessel. You could call it fate, but they called it Tank 7, and so it is. Beginning with a big surge of fruity aromatics and grapefruit-hoppy notes, the flavor of this complex, straw-colored ale tapers off to a peppery, dry finish.”

As mentioned in the post about Kylesa’s Ultraviolet album that made it to the Number 8 position we now jump 26 points to make it to Number 7. The funbunch that stars on the bottom position of the five frontrunners has also made the list in 2011 when their album reached the Number 5 position. And on this album, their third, they show us that the can also get gritty and swampy but with much more depth and height. For this album goes the way of the sumo and leaves behind of some of the melodies and humor we knew from their earlier work. Heavier, fatter, darker and much sludgier. They are hear to blow out and suck you empty! Errr?!

Red Fang - Whales and Leeches

dinsdag 24 december 2013

Number 8

“This smooth oatmeal stout has won well over a dozen additional gold, silver, and bronze medals at various beer competitions since first bringing home a silver for Lost Coast in the 1997 World Beer Championships. Presenting a deep, rich brown on the pour, capped by plenty of fluffy light brown foam, 8-Ball offers up luscious aromas of dark chocolate and well-roasted coffee, with some hints of smoky char and a bit of an earthy character. Look for a core of roasty-toasty malts on the palate, joined by some scorched caramel and a mild char note, with the flaked oats helping contribute to a nice round and creamy feel.”

To reach Number 8 we climb four points from SubRosa. It is the final album that belongs to the group of artists that all had almost the same amount of points. Cause we’ve only climbed twenty-five points from the Number 20 position to the Number 8. But after this we make the jump to the frontrunners. But before we do we are treated to the sixth album of a shapeshifting group that has always delivered some damn fine sludge metal. We could always trust these guys and girl to deliver some aggressive heaviness that was thick with punk. But since their last album they used more breathing room and more melodic and psychedelic influences. We can still enjoy those leaden riffs and colossal grooves; but the angelic side is much more prominent than ever. Which we all seem to dig even more! Highly diverse and ultraviolet!

Kylesa – Ultraviolet

maandag 23 december 2013

Number 9

“Exit 9 Hoppy Scarlet Ale is a richly flavored red beer crafted with a variety of domestic and imported malts and a classic American yeast strain. It is assertively hopped with Amarillo, Centennial, Chinook and Citra hops for a bouquet with complex notes of citrus and tropical fruits and an appropriate bitterness in the finish. Recommended with spicy foods, such as gumbo or curry, as well as alongside rich blue or sharp cheddar cheeses, or just by itself...”

We dive into the single digits with a band that received one point more than Samsara Blues Experiment. On Number 9 we find a five piece magical doom band that scurries the ancient subconscious for those haunting melodies that vibrate low and long through the very core of your being. Their evocative ambience, their folky touch and that duo of electric violins simply bewitch and charm their way into your heart. Plagued by setbacks through their existence and having all their gear stolen only a month ago this band has constantly delivered high grade payment for the primal and antique hopes, desires and biddings to have the Gods look favorably upon us…

SubRosa – More Constant Than the Gods

zondag 22 december 2013

Number 10

“They took a standard brown malt bill and augmented with Aromatic, Marris Otter, Cara-Crystal wheat, flaked barley, chocolate, and special roasted malt. They then overloaded it with Cascade, Centennial, Northern Brewer, Simcoe, and Chinook hops, leading to a complex battle of pine and citrus flavor and aromatics. Which has lead to: Rich citrusy, floral hop aromas with a crisp, vivacious fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a long, grilled root vegetable, chocolate mint and honey grilled citrus finish.”

Two points above Number 11 we enter the top 10 with a band that is the embodiment of underground, experimental and jam based grooving. Released only a month ago it has quickly surged through the hearts of all music lovers out there and mesmerized with its four tracks. With heavy nods towards seventies heavy psychedelic rock and worldly influences it is a pure and unadulterated cosmic adventure blow out. Chuck full of massive riffs and gigantic rhythms this proggy stoner extravaganza is paying homage to the giants of yore and with it, it turns into something gigantic itself. So get your bathing suit on and prepare to float…

Samsara Blues Experiment – Waiting For The Flood

zaterdag 21 december 2013

Number 11

“The Eleven Brown Ale is a smooth Dark ale with hints of caramel and roasted nuts that are a result of the careful formulation of the malts. A slight hop bitterness balances the sweetness of the malts and provides the complement that makes the Eleven...”

The amount of votes cast for Number 11 and which beats Kvelertak with two points was amazing, something I had not expected at all. Not because the album was weak or silly; but because perhaps it moves even further away from the ‘regular’ featured music on the blog. Then again; Nick Cave and David Bowie are both also still in the top 100 of most voted for bands; as we will see after the countdown has finished. But this one is so atavistically metal it’s almost scary. With their melodic deathmetal approach towards every aspect of their sound they return after having been absent for many years. It puts the album they released before they called it quits in 1996 to shame and has the band revisit the sound everyone loved. This is a homerun for all their fans and apparently the guys have been able to sweep up loads more among different areas of heavy rock and metal junkies… On Number 11 we find some pure and vigorous metal!

Carcass – Surgical Steel

vrijdag 20 december 2013

Number 12

“12 Horse Ale poured a clear, yellow color with a two fingered width, white head. The aroma is mild with pale malt. The body is all bready malt with some decent depth. The finish has a very faint, dry yeastyness to it. Overall; a sturdy and solid beer…”

Today we climb four points! And find ourselves listening to a Number 12 that is more metal than anything else in the list. (Well, maybe Number 11 can beat them there?) With their six members they bring high octane riffs that go metal on one moment and hardrock or perhaps even pubrock the next. With background colors provided by black metal influences and with a hardcore or punky-flair the vocals grab you by your throat and try to suffocate until your bones start rattling. This is aggressive rock history compressed and served steaming hot. And on those moments that their small stoner side presses itself towards the forefront we understand why these Norwegians are this high up in the list; they are able to do it all and combine everything to make something which nobody can refuse…

Kvelertak – Meir

donderdag 19 december 2013

Number 13

“Stone 13th Anniversary Ale pours brilliant deep red with a light tan foam. Up front, the aroma is all piney, resinous and citrus hops. Upon tasting, the hops are still on the front, and they are balanced with the malty, toffee like flavors contributed from the blend of crystal and amber malts used in the brewhouse. The finish is deliciously bitter, with a touch of warmth provided by the 9.5% alcohol.”

Today we are able to pay homage to one of the bands that actually started the entire scene. And what amazing luck it is, that these guys really and truly made it to the Number 13 position with one point more than Ghost. With only one of the original members absent the guys delivered a damn fine album and toured the world with a great show. Better than all of us expected and definitely not as bad as everyone feared. The album mostly got flak due to the peak limiting and the compressed dynamic range. Well; the lyrics got a bit of heat too. But overall, the fans who were holding their heart with anticipation or fear were pleased or appeased and happy. The old boys had definitely delivered! Too bad ol’ Bill wasn’t there to live in this moment with them…

Black Sabbath – 13

woensdag 18 december 2013

Number 14

“Named for the 54 Colorado peaks which tower over 14,000 feet in elevation, this beer is a spectacular copper hued beauty. The treatment of the water to simulate English hard water and the blending of several specialty malts and hops produce a delicate balance between aromatic maltiness and herbal hops. An extra special bitter ale beer that has aromas of citrus, honey, vanilla and yeast, this domestic craft beer has strong herbal hops flavors followed by mild malt flavors…”

Another entry that only had one point more than the one that came before. Yes, these lovely guys do their musical dance on Number 14. And they do it with pazazz! Their flamboyant dazzling style might defer the attention a bit form their pop sensible doom metal but still; they do it on their own terms and with a definite feel for flair! Moving ever forward from their theatrical beginning towards a musical future; (which was even more perfected on the follow-up EP also released this year) these boys dress for every occasion. On the album released earlier this year they combine pop sensible hooks and melodies with a hallowed atmosphere, some sixties occultism and Scandinavian metal twists. Instead of hostile we are treated to docile tunes that beg to be stroked… Stroked hard…

GHOST (B.C.) – Infestissumam

dinsdag 17 december 2013

Number 15

"Hop-15 Ale starts with a smooth hop bitterness that is followed up by a bite of bitterness on the finish. The hops flavor is primarily spicy with a touch of pine. The citrus does not come out in the taste but I taste a little pineapple with the sweetness from the malt. It has a nice roasty and malted barley sweetness that smooths out the bitter hops that are jam packed into this beer. Although there is a lot of alcohol in this beer, this beer is not harsh and lacks astringency."

With one point more that Number 16 and eight points over the Number 20 position we are treated to some occult riffing on today’s Number 15. A group that also made it to the Stoner HiVe top 20 back in 2011 where they occupied the Number 12 position. Earlier this year I asked the man behind the band if it troubled him that the veil of mystery had been lifted. But he concluded that even though the music still has the same obscure feel to it the group has already evolved to an entirely different entity. Which sums up quite nicely what this album entails in comparison to the one that came before and made the group explode. Still creepy and still catchy the boys move a few small steps away from the too obscure and occult and towards sixties heavy pop and polyphonic refrains. This is heavy on an entirely different scale. And still every song works as a hypnotic ritual and creates visions. Hallucinations that make your mouth water with thick blood and lust… And they control your every action…

Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats – Mind Control

maandag 16 december 2013

Number 16

“Roasty finishing malts, balanced with just enough bitterness provides a traditional amber ale that is dark red to the eye, but not heavy on the palate. A beige one finger head remains for a long time. The aroma is rich with malts. Lighter citrusy hops are bright. And a touch of chocolate. The earthy tones come in mid glass…”

Today we arrive at Number 16. Again with a mere one point difference in regards to the Number 17, Purson. Hailing from that country that been doing so well the past few years in delivering that ‘retro’ minded goodness we all love so dearly. In this case we are referring to a Swedish self-titled debut effort that has a frontman in their midst that has already seen and experienced enough to slaughter the beast with ease. We are there for trusted to experience heavy rock in throwback mode that implores loads of doom weight, psychedelic shifts and stoner curveballs. Add to this that intense bluesy atmosphere, a truckload of fuzz and a chased vocalist that just shrieks, howls and wails himself straight into your very spine and you can be sure that the shivers you experience are the ones that you feel when you are on the right path… So let’s got slaughter the beast with them…

Goatess - Goatess

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zondag 15 december 2013

Number 17

“An aroma of peaches and yeast and spices, all soaked in booze. Very fruity flavors kick things off, sweet peaches and oranges. The Belgian yeast is very prominent as well, start to finish. While it's not hot and annoying burny, there is a helluva boozy kick from the 10.5% alcohol. After a few sips and getting used to the sweetness, you will be able to start picking out the zesty lemon and citrus flavors. Bitter yet candied, still able to help take some of the sweet edge off. Cloves and coriander and pepper add nuances to the spice basket. ”

These guys and girl arrived out of nothing in the final few days. Propelling them from a place somewhere below the first hundred to Number 17 with four points more than Monkey3. These eccentric English occult rockers are fronted by a lovely female creature with a luscious warm, smoky and seductive voice and for some weird and possibly insane reason this release has completely escaped my attention. Luckily, thanks to all of you lovely freaks out there who voted for this gem pushed it into the top 20 and into a rightly deserved spotlight. Because their psychedelic guitars, repetitive kraut bass lines and vaudeville organs are highly addictive and seem to capture you and set you loose in a baroque labyrinth where there’s only one escape route. So get out the LSD or take up the opium pipe cause I see a blue door and I want to paint creepy and colorful circles on it…

Purson – The Circle And The Blue Door

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zaterdag 14 december 2013

Number 18

“Based on their most award-winning beer, Denver Pale Ale, this copper-hued treat is a celebration of everything Great Divide does best. Plenty of malty sweetness provides a backdrop for earthy, floral English and American hops, while French and American oak round off the edges and provide a touch of vanilla.”

With exactly one point more than NAAM we arrive at Number 18. Another space jam extravaganza! With their fourth album in twelve years these four amigos have delivered another piece of high grade interstellar quality. Their highly layered atmosphere is filled with shooting guitar lines and massive drum asteroids. Uplifting, mesmerizing and enchanting. They slowly build their cathedrals and let them explode in a beautiful climax. Grander, bigger and with more dynamics this is definitely better than all that came before. Like the one before that and the one before that. So you know what this means when their fifth record comes our way. But until then we are appeased with this amazing diamond that shines as bright as the sun…

Monkey3 - The 5th Sun

vrijdag 13 december 2013

Number 19

“If you're interested in what beer was like before the 18th Amendment ruined a decade of baseball games and barbecue, get your hands on a pint of Batch 19. Based on a 91-year-old, pre-Prohibition recipe (and named for the year 1919, before Prohibition began), this new brew from Coors delivers a "bold, hoppy flavor that is surprisingly well balanced…”

And if you’re interested in some high quality psychedelic space rock that reminds of the good ol’ days. Get your hands on this little gem. For their second album is filled with mind-altering dark horse heaviness and with one point above American Sharks we find them on Number 19. Thanks to the addition of keys and a freaky fourth member to their galactic tribe the sound moves away from the Monster Magnet and Black Sabbath influences towards a more Spacemen 3’ish, Hawkwindian and Floydian future. This is one hell of a cosmic firebomb! And I vow to pledge allegiance to their name…

Naam – Vow

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donderdag 12 december 2013

Number 20

“The beer pours a mid-orange, with a chunky head that leaves some persistent, patchy lacing. The nose is powerful, orangey, thick, tropical, somewhat cloying, but pleasant. Initially it tastes like a barley wine: syrupy and luscious, but with fairly sharp hop notes. The hops never really get going for me; they are excessive in no particular direction, lending to a rather characterless effect. Stewed apricots come through, but that's about it. I think that malt-lovers would be disappointed, hop-heads alienated. Then the worst bit: a brutally astringent, chemically finish with all the grace and élan of a nail varnish jell-o-shot. Bad enough to be called flawed; so much so that I'd chalk this off as a bad bottle had it not only just come off the line. If this is 20lb-er as intended, it definitely falls somewhere between "not-for-me" and plain old "gross".” (Lovingly pinched from Small Beer)

Beating two bands with one point and two bands with three points. This trio of fun guzzling, fast paced rock loving fishes have given us an amazing album with only nine tracks. But during that warp speed overdrive heaviness you get thick kick karate kicks in the guts and pure adrenaline coursing through your veins. Thrilling, freaky and absolute crazy enjoyment bordering on the demented is served with smashing drums, filthy rumbling bass and a wild speedy vocalist. And then we realize that it’s a debut effort and that these freaks will probably only get better and better and better and crazier. Holy hell and great balls on fire! I sure hope these guys never get caught by a trawler and end up in a fishstick… (Insert Kanye West joke) We have loved every second of these…

American Sharks – American Sharks

The Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown of 2013

The Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown of 2013

And so it starts…

It is now a little past 21:00 CET on December the 12th of this crazy year of 2013. An hour ago we passed the final deadline... And so it begins, this year’s top 20 countdown. It has been great receiving so many lists in the past weeks and even learning about some bands we never heard off. For it has been a crazy ride which has caused a highly fragmentary Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 of 2013. In the end we did make it past the 60 mark; with exactly one extra list. Indeed my fellow freaks. This year the list is comprised out of 61 lists in total. Some of you sent a one album list; some three, some more and a few went as far as detailing no less than a hundred or even a hundred and eleven single albums. We thank all of you who took the time and made the effort to send in their list. As mentioned just a minute a go; the list is fragmentary. Which means that just below the Number 20 album there are loads of albums that only missed a few points to beat said Number 20. The Number two of the list was the front runner for many days; until the one that is now on Number one passed by in the final few days. And there are a few other surprises and sudden arrivals… But all that will be told and will be revealed as the countdown rolls on…

So… without further ado… We give you Number TWENTY.

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2013

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2013

12 hours left! Today at 20:00 CET the deadline closes to get your votes in. The list of the top 20 albums of 2013 will then be computed and the Number 20 will be posted. So if you feel like making a difference and getting your favorite albums a little push; get your votes in now!

Send your choices HERE !

At Devil Dirt – Plan B: Sin Revolución no hay Evolución

At Devil Dirt – Plan B: Sin Revolución no hay Evolución
Kozmik Artifacts/Billocation Records – 2013
Rock, Hard, Stoner, Alternative
Rated: ****

Chile’s At Devil Dirt are the new provocateurs of the sludgy guitar sound on the block. Two members is all that’s needed as the guitar assault will saturate most of your personal space and available air supply. It’s really that thick throughout “Sin Revolución no hay Evolución 2013” . “Devil Dirt” must be the nickname for whatever unholy deal with the Melvins devil they made to get this sound because it’s just not fit for natural human ear consumption. Of course, that’s a windfall for us at Stoner HiVe! The other interesting aspect of At Devil Dirt’s approach is the distinct 90s/Alt/Grunge influence that is drawn largely from the vocals which are of the Alice in Chains nasally crooning sort, albeit much of which is sung in Spanish. This throwback trait is perfectly evidenced on the opener “Don’t See You Around” and plays well off the pile-driving riffs they’re trying to sing above. Following the colossal Psychedelic Doom of “40 Years Ago”, the album takes a slightly more subdued approach with spacier, more psychedelic songs. “There´s not a God or a Devil” finishes on another impenetrable doom rampage where that gnarly guitar furrows ever deeper into the listeners head. Excellent, just remember to grab a breath of fresh air before repeat listens.

(Written by Matthew McGarity)

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And ofcourse an equally great review was written by Lucas on his Paranoid Hitsophrenic!

woensdag 11 december 2013

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2013

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2013

The final 35 hours! Tomorrow at 20:00 CET we commence with the countdown of the Stoner HiVe top 20 of 2013! For those of you who still want to send in your lists. You have till that time to do so! Send your favorite albums of 2013 to our EMAILADRESS ! You might just the one that puts us over the hill. For last year we received 57 lists. And we hope to receive more this year. We are almost there... If not for me. Do it for the bands. Or do it for Truman, cause he doesn't even know there's more out there... Not yet; but soon he will find out there's all this amazing music everywhere...

Send your list of favorite albums of 2013... HERE

Junior Bruce – The Burden

Self released – 2013

Rock, Metal, Stoner, Sludge

Rated: ****

Their damn fine debut album The Headless King released in 2012 rippled the stoner metal pond until it became a stormy ocean. And now the five amigos are back with a follow-up two track EP called The Burden. We are of course referring to the Florida outfit Junior Bruce. Who delivered with this very EP one of the heaviest and brutal releases of this very year. It is an all-out wrecking ball! But one that doesn’t just level everything; it does so with precision and countenance. Just listen to the drums. Deliberate air where one would expect thick bass and slow rhythms accentuated by cymbal ticks and crashes. The riffs slay with ease, the guitars howl so beautifully it makes your skin crawl and the growling vocalist convinces even more. Check out Junior Bruce and get naked. For apparently that’s the only way to go when enjoying a wrecking ball!

(Written by JK)

maandag 9 december 2013

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2013

So far we received somewhere around 50 lists! But we hope to receive more in the 3 remaining days!!! Yes, there are only 3 days left to get your votes in for the Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown of 2013 !! Send yours HERE ! Otherwise the dude above will keep screaming in your ear!!!

Just to be sure here are the rules once again. It is a weighted vote count. But you decide how many albums you sent in and if they are in any order. You can send in 1, 5, 10, 20, 41 or 968 albums. They need to be released between December 2012 and now. When they are in no particular order they are all counted as a high vote; but not as top three votes. Otherwise the points are cast in the order you put them in with the top three gaining a few extra points. And you can vote for any album or EP you desire…

Check out the earlier editions to see the outcome the past few years… It has been a steady grower and we hope to exceed the amount of lists we received last year… Here’s us hoping it will happen… So let’s all dress up like Santa and start making a list; checking it twice… And find out who’s damn heavy and who’s got the detonating device… Err..!?

Send your list of favorite albums of 2013 HERE…

Giant Horizon – Natural Born Greed

Self released – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Metal, Sludge

Rated: ***

The amount of Soproni beer guzzled in my years borders on the insane and there are whole armies of dwarfs that would drown when it would be poured over them. Hometown of that lovely beverage is Sopron, Hungary on the Austrian border. It is also the birthplace of Giant Horizon. A four-piece stoner metal force that has been together since the ugly year of 2009. The guys released their debut album Astronaut in 2011 and have now recorded a follow-up EP called Natural Born Greed. On it we are treated to four grimy gravelly stoner rock tracks that are heavy on the metallic side and sometimes cross over to something very sludgy. There’s this weird bluesy aggressiveness to most of the songs and that in company with the great compositional choices makes this EP damn tasty. It leaves a highly savory taste and a lust for more. So let’s hope there’s more giantness waiting right there over the horizon… Egészségedre!

(Written by JK)