Stoner HiVe: Number 19

zondag 17 december 2023

Number 19

The Lord Knows we love that Tidal Wave album that made the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown of 2023 on Number 20. No less than 768 albums received votes and many of them received multiple votes. Which I guess means that all of them were loved by many. And on Number 19 we find many! No less than three albums made by four bands had the exact same amount of points; only a mere 10 points more than Tidal Wave. Psychedelic and alternative, bluesy and classic, expansive and cinematic. Three albums moving in very different directions but all heavy in their own way…

That one heavy psychedelic album felt as much as living entity as the title hinted at, atmospheric by default and with such soaring leads and floating vocals, you would surely and immediately sail away with those dynamic and laidback dirge sounds to a state of blissful being.

That other album proved to be yet another great blues and classic hardrock record from the boys that have been at it for quite some time. Slowly but decisively moving into that classic rock territory with every album they release. Soulful and retro, the album opts for more ease and slow tunes and less boogie and groove. They boys wanted everything more mellow and open, and they achieved that without any doubt.

The expansive and cinematic album is a collaboration between two bands that both deliver their absolute forte on every of the seven tracks. But these seven need to be digested in one sitting; for this is one grand spacious and wild adventure. Controlled, powerful chaos, like a perfect swirling Taoistic ritual. The two bands manage to weave an intricate and extremely detailed psychedelic tapestry that feels like you are on a majestic journey into the outer reaches of everything. Art in every sense of the word.

On Number 19 we find…

Khan – Creatures

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Graveyard – 6

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REZN & Vinnum Sabbathi – Silent Future