Stoner HiVe: augustus 2020

zaterdag 29 augustus 2020

Bleeding Eyes - Golgotha

Go Down Records - July 2020

Doom, sludge, psych

Rated: ****

Italy has made a name for itself as a hotbed of quality heavy, and veteran doomed sludgers Bleeding Eyes further cement that reputation on their sixth album Golgotha. The group delivers an apocalyptic and unrelentingly dark soundscape of low and slow doom, caustic sludge, and gothic guitars. Opener "In Principio" creeps in amid eerie background noise, building loads of atmosphere before launching a wall-of-sound riff that comes slamming down to anchor the chaos. The combination of massive guitars and dread-inducing effects is Bleeding Eyes' secret weapon, employed throughout the album alongside wild, guttural vocals that often verge into spoken word. The overall feel is that of the darkest of horror movies, suffocating and somber while hammering out amplified punishment. "1418" boasts a steamroller of a riff over a harsh drum assault, while the crunching lurch of "La Veritá" is even more unsettling against the background layers of keening, cavernous noise. Highlight track and closing cut "Inferno" then takes off the gloves with a straight ahead, classic doom riff that stomps forward with quaking low end and a monumental sense of weight. Golgotha is an intensely heavy and cathartic slab of doom, and such distinctly styled and affecting music speaks to Bleeding Eyes' mastery of their craft.

(Written by Shasta Beast)

vrijdag 28 augustus 2020

Ritual Earth – MMXX

Self released – 2020

Rock, Metal, Doom, Space

Rated: *****

On heavy rotation the past week was Ritual Earth’s new album MMXX. The four-piece from Philly, came out swinging back in 2018 with a righteous three-track Demo, which took the stoner to a space doom level, it was gritty, grimy and full of massive layers of distortion. And guess what, those three tracks feature prominently on the new album; but with an entirely different coloring. Less grime, more space, less dense, more room to breathe. All three track have had their veil lifted and are now, thanks to the production, even more accomplished. And the other four tracks are definitely their equal. There is a dark groove here, a nebulous haze that gives off this critical odor, this all-encompassing feeling that you are listening to something vital. And it is, for in the way Ritual Earth makes this perfect amalgam of doom, rock, metal, space and prog, turning soundscapes into wonderous vistas and whole galaxies of sound, you know you will reach your auditory climax. Come again? Yes indeed! Please.

(Written by JK)

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donderdag 27 augustus 2020

Saturn’s Husk – The Conduit

Self released – 2020

Rock, Doom, Sludge, Instrumental, Psych, Space

Rated: ****

The new release The Conduit by Latvian three-piece Saturn’s Husk is one long instrumental doom gaze adventure. There are elements that send you to outer space and psychedelic moments that make your travel inwards; but for the most part it’s heavy outpour will make your head bop slowly and your neck go blue. Nine mostly slow paced tracks that all seem to tumble over each in one massive high of the low-end. Atmospheric and moody, the moments when the tempo speeds up or the riffs start to zoom at warp speed, seem like a moment of respite from the sluggish lurch and the wonderful journey towards the end. One hell of a jam! Hypnotic and channeling other worldly visions! Saturn’s Husk has outdone themselves!

(Written by JK)

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woensdag 26 augustus 2020

The Hawkins – Silence Is A Bomb

The Sign Records – 2020

Rock, Hard, Pop

Rated: ***

For a moment there, when the album starts, I adjusted the volume and thought, there’s something wrong. But the ruckus starts! Fitting when the album is called Silence Is A Bomb! Released through The Sign Records it’s the second full-sized album by Swedisch foursome The Hawkins. (Named after the drummer?) It’s rock. It’s hard rock. It’s rock ‘n roll and it has this catchy, poppy and punky vibe. Think Foo Fighters, The HiVes, Royal Republic and all those other high energy rock ‘n roll outfits that always make every concert one hell of a party. Tiny influences from bands like Queen and eighties metal pop up, but that pop up goes way of pop rock very fast well. There is a lot of dynamic efforts that all come together to the same result in the end: an energetic, raucous, blow-out of immense proportions. Perfectly executed you will listen to Silence Is A Bomb thinking: I need a concert! I need a festival! I need to see The Hawkins live!

(Written by JK)

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Dungeon Weed – Mind Palace Of The Mushroom God

Forbidden Place Records / Fuzzy Mind Records – 2020

Rock, Doom, Metal, Sludge

Rated: ***

As we all know, everything is always highly subjective, there is no such thing as objectivity. Keep that in mind. For the next few minutes and every minute henceforth. Well… Shucks... For I am not very partial to the band name Dungeon Weed, I’m also struggling a bit with the artwork, and perhaps even the album title Mind Palace Of The Mushroom God and some of the vocals. It all feels a bit too gimmicky and even though there are definitely moments when I can appreciate a gimmick, this time around, it does not seem to work for me. I almost wanted to dismiss the entire album after the first two tracks, but decided to stick it out. And I am happy I did so, cause there is some great doom metal and sludge lurking beneath the grime, dust and annoying vocals. Offsetting those annoying vocals are some female lines that immediately lift every track to a higher level; of release and freedom; even though the music itself gives off this vibe of slowly lumbering to ones inevitable death. Which seems about right, since it tells the story of an imprisoned wizard. We get this proto feel directly from some electrifying guitar work and majestic drumming. Drenched in an unholy level of distortion, feedback and fuzz; it all comes together in perfect harmony and paints the bleak picture well…. And then you read the accompanying press package and see that it’s actually Dmitri Mavra of Skunk and Slow Phase at the helm here. Dang, this is completely different, completely doomed and sludged and we wonder what it will mean for future Skunk releases!

(Written by JK)

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maandag 24 augustus 2020

Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

Stoner HiVe’s

Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

zaterdag 22 augustus 2020

Psychlona - Venus Skytrip

Ripple Music - August 2020

Stoner, desert, psych, space

Rated: *****

With the excellent 2018 debut "Mojo Rising" under their belts, Bradford desert rockers Psychlona hit the opposite of a sophomore slump with new album "Venus Skytrip". Building off their desert and psych roots, Psychlona have reached another level of their craft entirely. "Venus Skytrip" lays down psyched out grooves with an added weight of tone, some space rock flavor, and an overall fullness of sound that elevates the tunes far above standard stoner rock fare. There's no holding back either as the album opens with one of its most entertaining cuts. The aptly named "Blast Off" starts with one of the best licks on the record, piercing guitar notes that seem to strobe and echo out to the farthest reaches of space. Underneath are rocksteady drums that build towards the inevitable explosion of distortion, a launchpad for a driving groove. The combination of standout, spacey lead guitar and weighted, pushing rhythms is a theme throughout the record, and melds seamlessly with the blown out Ecstatic Vision-style vocals. Prime example "Edge Of The Universe" wields a snaking riff and tumbling drums, interspersed with a spaced-out slide guitar that's straight ear candy. It's not all easy tripping though, as penultimate track "Tijuana" plunges into a rush of riffs and molten low end. Guitar wah is dished out a la Clutch as it barrels along with bashing drums and a southern edge. Special note should be made as well that whether a track is creeping through a doomy stomp or blowing minds with sky high solos, the full tones and epic atmospheres are exhilarating, to say nothing of the grooves. Psychlona have raised the bar way up for both themselves and the entire stoner rock scene with "Venus Skytrip".

(Written by Shastabeast)

donderdag 20 augustus 2020

Izzy and The Black Trees - Trust No One

Access / Antena Krzyku - April 2020

Alternative, indie, punk, stoner

Rated: ****

Following their debut EP in 2018, Polish alt rockers Izzy and The Black Trees make an outstanding impression with their first full length Trust No One. Blending punk, folk, psych, stoner, and a bevy of other influences, Izzy and co. put together an ambitious LP of singular style and impressive scope. The title track's biting post-punk energy opens up the record with jagged, razor-tone guitar by way of Gang of Four over insistent drums. Square in the spotlight are the vocals of Izzy herself, deep and sneering but able to easily convey a haunting melancholy when needed. Her style is reminiscent of The Kills' and The Dead Weather's Alison Mosshart, raw and arresting with more than a little threat lying beneath. The energy builds further with the thrumming, Rapture-style bass line of "Picasso's Octopuss", undeniably danceable while a growling guitar pushes ever forward. As the tracks progress through Trust No One, the initial pissed off energy slowly transitions to more subdued moments, as seen in highlight and penultimate cut "Strangers Allow". The deft drumming patters under a dark, swaying beat that's jazzy even without the excellent saxophone. The buildup's payoff is even sweeter, as pounding drums and muscular guitar burst out with frantic and solos from axe and sax alike. Trust No One is an ambitious, heartfelt record that runs a wide range of styles, and Izzy and The Black Trees mold them to their own sound with a confidence and ability that would suggest this is a fifth LP rather than a first.

(Written by Shasta Beast)

maandag 17 augustus 2020

Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

Stoner HiVe’s

Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

James Dean Bradfield

Acid Moon and The Pregnant Sun

Flashback

Floaters

zaterdag 15 augustus 2020

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Friday has come and gone. So has the week. Another one filled with unbelievable sadness about the state of the world and the human spirit across the earth. But we shall refrain from going into those territories here and now, we just wanted Friday to last a little longer. Cause we are still in need of some fast action! Some Quick Fire Friday action! So here we are! And we know, we know, the albums and bands deserve more than the few words we will jot down here. More attention and more of our time! But there is so much out there and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. So here it is. The Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday. And its burns hot like molten lava!

Sebastian Döbbelin - Una Vuelta Más

One man band Sebastian Döbbelin from Albacete, Spain delivered with Una Vuelta Más a perfect laidback instrumental summer jam that resonates with everything we love that has come from the desert. Five lazy stoner tracks that will lift you spirit and your Corvette Summer cocktail to toast the sun. Very sweet stuff!

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Lucid Planet – Anamnesis

The Lucid Planet trio from Melbourne is about to release their sophomore album II and to wet our appetites they sent out the first single Anamnesis. And wetting our appetite it does, progressive, psychedelic, technical and yet very earthy. And judging from this first single they will surpass their debut album by miles in quality. Can’t wait to hear it all!

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Falcon Haptics - Wolf King

Have you heard Wolf King yet? The psycho’s from Falcon Haptics have released a video for it at the end of July. It will feature on their full-sized album that will be released in October and it is damn tasty! The music that is, the video on the other hand has it moments, but also a few dubious imagery. A weird huge orange sheriff’s hat? But it is corona proof and the heavy sound makes you long for more of the Wolf King and more of Falcon Haptics!

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Bad Blood Recovery – Sweet Taste

Out on Future Noise Recordings is the new single Sweet Taste by Bad Blood Recovery. The now four from Oxford produce some very intense and heavy blues; a bittersweet electric atmosphere charged with loads of emotion and strong lyrical content. Recorded in a single take Sweet Taste is a promise that holds of on delivering, no instant gratification here, Bad Blood Recovery knows how to extend the longing and makes you appreciate that even more…

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Future Noise Recordings

Stereolith – Stuffy Air

German foursome Stereolith delivered their debut album Escape Velocity through Barhill Records / Cargo Records back in July and sent out the first single Stuffy Air in wild video form. Loud and dirty stoner rock with that surf and skate vibe. Groovy and spacey moments and a lot of style! These cats deliver the heavy goodness for your perfect summer day of rock! Stereolith for your Californian day in the sun!

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donderdag 13 augustus 2020

Lead Desert Blues - No Need

Self released - July 2020

Sludge, stoner, desert, blues

Rated: ****

Roaring out of London comes punishing sludge two piece Lead Desert Blues, with their debut album No Need. Not ones to take the stripped down sonic approach to being a guitar and drums duo, these two make their presence felt immediately with a frighteningly dense wall of sound. The guitar wields some of the filthiest, most abrasive distortion heard this year, and the wild drumming hits with a force that would have the nearest kit running for the hills. Filling out Lead Desert Blues' already massive sound are the fittingly caustic vocals, shouted and spat with punk energy over the rolling grooves. No Need moves through six cuts of pummeling noise, shifting between twisting stoner riffs and straight ahead sludge stomp. Highlight track "Blessed" is the most ruthless of the bunch, doling out a slamming stop-start attack, only broken up by screeching wails of feedback. The percussion is no less powerful, with booming hits that sound like some ancient war drum marching the horde off to battle.Lead Desert Blues are no one trick pony, either, laying down dusty southern blues on "Livin' With The Enemy", complete with a jamming harmonica that fits the gritty noise like a glove. No Need is a deafening first statement from a band who have already established a unique and utterly crushing sound. Lead Desert Blues are a force to be reckoned with.

(Written by Shasta Beast)

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Thank you!

Thank you!

We don’t recognize this enough perhaps and we only just noticed we are on route to 4000 likes and 5000 followers. Respectively almost another 100 and 500 to go… But we just want to say thank you for the support the HiVe has gotten over the years. Stoner HiVe was around in a different form, for those who know, long before the blog started back in 2009. It then took another two years to actually get around to moving it on to Facebook as well. And after that we forgot to actually do any PR work for it. Only the last few years we tried to push outwards more; and not because we need Stoner HiVe to become bigger for our own good; but simply because the words of appreciation the team writes for the albums they love, should just be read more; so that more will find out about those awesome bands and their albums! So I guess, thank you to the current Team Doktor420, Tony Maim, Reek of STOOM and Shasta Beast for doing what you do, thank you to all the heavy musicians out there for making all that beautiful music and thank you all, dear followers… It is without any doubt highly appreciated and very unreal… Be well everyone! Mahalo!

woensdag 12 augustus 2020

Mammon’s Throne – Forward Unto Flame

Black Farm Records – 2020

Rock, Metal, Doom, Black, Sludge

Rated: ****

The French label Black Farm Records has been releasing quality doom vinyl ever since they started around 2016. Limited in numbers it excels in quality. New on the bill is Forward Unto Flame by Melbourne quartet Mammon’s Throne. It is a highly venomous take on the doom metal we all love; blackened, grimy and sludgy. The first two tracks slowly immerse you into the Mammon take on doom and then comes the middle track The Spectre That Lies Within; a hunt for a legendary ghost begins. And only a small glimmer of hope is all that stood between them and death. Holy hell, how it captures your imagination and how it warps you into this drooling idiot, lusting after more of the Throne. After which it only becomes darker and bleaker and gloomier. Wither will bring you very well to the end of you tether and it is only because of closing and title track Forward Unto Flame that you actually survive. A cathedral of doom if every there was one! Crushing your soul and incinerating your spirit! What a ride!

(Written by JK)

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Eyes Fly – Eyes Fly

Self released – 2020

Rock, Metal, Stoner

Rated: ***

We’ve been enjoying the self-titled Eyes Fly album for quite some weeks now. But as you know, we’ve been swamped with crap that pays the bills, so it took some time to actually find a few moments to write a few words about it. Words that will never do it justice ofcourse, cause this is one hell of a record. But that is not what we are about anyway, right? We just profess our love for what tickles our heavy fancy! After (the demise of?) Valfader, which we absolutely adored, two of the boys went on to form Eyes Fly somewhere around 2016 on a doom fest somewhere in Bristol. Since then they’ve been hard at work carving out their sound. Leading up to the four track The Long Return release last year and now to the full-sized self-titled effort. And as expected, the sound is immense once again. Going for huge by way of gigantic. A doom groove provided by intense crushing riffs and majestic basswork; on top of a foundation of killer drums. Vocals taking center stage when needed, being haunting, chased or guttural. The man seems to be able to do it all! And so do the other three! Dang boys, Eyes Fly is massive!

(Written by JK)

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maandag 10 augustus 2020

Sunczar – The Unveiling

Self released – 2020

Metal, Sludge, Stoner, Doom,

Rated: ***

The four piece from Frankfurt, Germany going by the name of Sunczar came out swinging and grooving with their debut four track The Unveiling back in March of this year. Four metal tracks with touches of stoner, a cup of doom and a bucket full of sludge. Opener The Unveiling slowly builds up steam and only seems to set you up for the kill. Cause when the second track Back To The Shadows hits you, it hits you hard, right in the gut and you will indeed bow down before the Sunczar and keep bowing and banging until the very end! That stomp! That pounding riff, that pounding drum! Righteous and wicked! Indeed, the Sunczar heaviness will pummel you into submission!

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

Stoner HiVe’s

Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

zondag 9 augustus 2020

Sex Blender – The Second Coming

Drone Rock Records – 2020

Rock, Psych, Stoner, Drone, Kraut, Instrumental

Rated: ****

An ever changing and revolving line-up; the Ukrainian trio, quartet or quintet Sex Blender released their second album back in early June. Aptly titled The Second Coming it keeps up with the sexual innuendo’s or even blatantly stating the male pre-occupation. Right? Am I am fan of the band name? Not really. Am I fan of the album? Hell yeah! The drone is big, the kraut is huge and it’s all intensely psychedelic! It mesmerizes, it churns you out, it freaks you out and seems to be one gigantic pool of colorful mercury. And the Drone Rock Records label from the slums of Brighton, UK did right by releasing this on vinyl. Cause spinning this on those freaky and sweaty late nights, with a dubious quality rum in your hand, seems like beautiful poetry to me!

(written by JK)

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Drone Rock Records

Astral Glide – Flamingo Graphics

Self released – 2020

Rock, Stoner, Hard

Rated: ***

Florida fourpiece Astral Glide released their debut album Flamingo Graphics early June. Nine tracks of raw, grimy, lo-fi hardrock, stoner and grunge with a southern edge. The recording gives off this proper ‘our first’ vibe and the quality therefor lacks some overall touches here and there. Which can’t be said for intention or ability; even though not every track sticks to what appears to be their forte, they all add something to the mix. Heavy and broad one moment, speedy and narrow the next. Space Machine without a doubt being a favorite of mine, mirroring a bit some early Goss. The Lake as well, Goss like atmosphere and has this different take to this heavy thing we all love. In all, Astral Glide offers up a tasty plate of heavy rock; but it might perhaps take a second album to get the flavoring just right.

(Written by JK)

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zaterdag 8 augustus 2020

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

We hope it’s still Friday somewhere cause we are in dire need of some fast action! Some Quick Fire Friday action! You know the deal, still too little time to do things properly, but there is a bit of green light on the horizon. So, we do hope to do some more during the upcoming week. But for now we just want to melt, before we melt down, on this sweltering hot day, in the bath of lave that the Quick Fire Friday is! So here we are! And we know, we know, the albums and bands deserve more than the few words we will jot down here. More attention and more of our time! But there is so much out there and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. So here it is. The Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday. And its burns hot like molten lava!

Six Steps Above The Earth - Step 3 Special Edition Cassette

Six Steps Above The Earth’s heavy, slow and monotone sound got a special treatment with their Step 3 release. The Doom, Drone, Doomgaze thereof now gets an extra special treatment on a Special Cassette edition. Those crazy Greek music fiends decided to release only 10 pieces of it! “Step 3 recording period was full of ideas, sessions and lives. In Step 3 special cassette edition we are trying to convey this climate by adding 2 tracks, one unreleased track from studio and one from live recording….” Interested? Better hurry!

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Hellhookah - The Curse L.P.

Somewhere around September the awesome Olde Magick Records will release Hellhookah’s latest album The Curse on vinyl. And rightfully so! Sabbathian goodness, dark, ominous and twisted. The Lithuanian duo makes you hallucinate and will damn you forever to the doom! Golden doom it is!

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Under The Mountain – Black Velvet

The honorable Bucky Brown stated about their II album : “The albums ranges from straight up heavy rock, to 80's metal, shades of hardcore and back to pulsating doom all in 10 solid tracks. One of those albums you can play on repeat and never burn out. The vocals are straight fire.” We wonder where the guys from Under The Mountain are going next, cause on August 16th they will release a video of their version of the Alannah Myles song Black Velvet. The Teaser can be viewed HERE!

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Athon – Reverse Satyr

Argonauta Records will release their first album at the end of September. But we can already get completely crazy on the first single Reverse Satyr! Athon from Italy brings out the Sludge in ten ton heavy form! The album will feature five blistering tracks showcasing forty minutes of pure, raw and finest sludge, doom and stoner metal. It’s Athon on Argonauta and it’s awesome!

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Mothman and The Thunderbirds – Nomad

If you tease us by namechecking and stating that your first single is: “a blend of stoner metal, sludge metal, and hard rock, and is recommended for fans of Mastodon, Baroness, High on Fire, and Hyborian.” We will surely go and peruse the bandcamp site provided! Well, the Mothman did not lie and did not exaggerate, if anything, he understated! Nomad is Jupiterian heavy! Freakin hell!

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vrijdag 7 augustus 2020

Valkyrie – Fear

Relapse Records – 2020

Rock, Hard, Metal, Proto, Prog

Rated: ****

I only briefly listened to the new Valkyrie album Fear before the July Doom Charts rolled around. The honorable John Gist then stated that the Number One spot was well deserved and the only possible one for this month; and that sealed the deal. We had to dive deep into the sound of the new Valkyrie. Hugo Hulleman of course already did the deed for the Doom Charts mentioning the Baroness link, the mix of proto-metal, stoner and classic rock and paying homage to their riffage. So, we continue on and begin to hear all of those comparisons made. The Thin Lizzy, the Blue Oyster Cult, the Pentagram, the Uncle Acid and of course the Sabbath love. But then we start hearing those more eighties influences, some Killing Joke or post gothic edge; giving an eerie feeling of loss during the chorus and then going all seventies hardrock afterwards, pulling on the emotional thread. Cause there is depth here. Melancholy and sadness taking center stage for the most part. Offset by wild guitar playing, absolutely stunning bass and riveting drum-work. We had little time to listen before the July Doom Charts rolled around; it then took some time to grab hold; but now it just keeps on spinning!

(Written by JK)

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maandag 3 augustus 2020

The Doom Chart for July 2020

Doom Chart

“Lose your dreams and you might lose your mind.” ~ Mick Jagger

The struggle is real… and with each new day on this big blue marble, everyone, every human being, is either coping or moping. Both can be a creative catalyst, of course, an artist’s muse where on one hand is the spirit of “Can Do”, the will to overcome adversity and thrive. On the other hand, the wraith-like “Won’t Do” never knows contentment nor a harmonious moment. The musicians we each know so intimately, be it solely through the emanations of their music-laden masterpieces, or perhaps as firsthand, befriended faces, may be a type of lifeline in these trying times. Yet, have they not always been so? The crafters of shelters where we seek refuge to buttress withstanding the storms of life… Landlords of our very own fortresses where we must encircle our dreams with unwavering defense. For the loss of them is to be loosed of the very lifesblood that is our symbiotic survival, and our very sanity.

We have indeed been struggling. Ever since the pandemic hit, we had to throw a lasso around another job so we could keep Mr. Charley of our back. It has meant that there has been less time available to HiVe, to do the work for the Doom Charts and to basically keep listening to all that amazing audio gold that is released on a daily basis. And we sorely miss it, but also must come to grips with the fact that the workload will not get any lighter the next months... But complaining about this seems so unfair, I am healthy and I am employed and can do so much fun stuff and can even do whatever the hell I want some of the time... So, I'll just refrain from complaining and add to the Mick Jagger quote, late guitar magician Robert Buras's favorite song: If I Can Dream by Elvis Presley...

Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio, podcasters and album reviewers from the heavy underground around the globe. Each month, our critics submit their picks for the best new doom, sludge metal, stoner-psychedelic and heavy rock albums. The results are compiled and tabulated into the chart below. This is a one-stop shop for the best new albums in the world…

The Doom Chart for July 2020