Zac Crye – All The Same

 

Zac Crye – All The Same
Jamspace Records – 2021
Rock, Desert, Stoner, Psych, Grunge
Rated: ***

The man behind this one man band project is Zac Crye and that’s how he logically named his project. Not everyone might immediately recognize his name; but he has already earned his spurs with bands like Stronger Than All and Hudu Akil. This new solo release is called All The Same and entails five tracks. Five tracks that move through the desert and stoner rock landscape and often has this distinct Palm Desert vibe to them. With some psychedelic accents, a definite show of love for the seventies era and a grunge attitude, all of the tracks will definitely move the desert rock loving freak inside of you. But it is without any doubt closing track The Road with an old mindfulness, meditation guru doing his weird spoken word magic, that will make you fall in love with this EP. What a track; it will definitely put you in a different state of mind! Zac Crye, now we know!  

(Written by JK)

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Abel Blood – Keeping Pace With The Elephants

 

 

Abel Blood – Keeping Pace With The Elephants
Self released – 2021
Rock, Metal, Stoner, Doom
Rated: ****

It’s a Name Your Price album over on bandcamp; and it will forever be worth more than you will pay for it. There, we’ve said it. Indeed. And now what? Now, we keep returning to the five-track debut release by New Hampshire three called Abel Blood. It’s called Keeping Pace With The Elephants and its an uncut diamond of stoner and doom metal beauty. The drawling, speaking vocals, leave a big mark on the title track and give it this extra intriguing edge. The same can be said for the funny titled opening track The Day That Moby Died. But it’s not just the sparsely doses vocals that set this release apart. There are also those tiny parks of post punk and almost kraut influences that highlight the otherwise grimy, almost lo-fi rock that is coursing through the veins of Abel Blood. Motifs and riffs seem to translate something forlorn; like a lone figure standing in the rural or urban landscape. Waiting for the sky to fall, the Elephants to pass by and for this stoner noirscape recording to stop   tingling the spine. Good, great, almost defiantly majestic!

(Written by JK)

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Vokonis – Odyssey

 

 

Vokonis – Odyssey
The Sign Records – 2021
Metal, Doom, Prog
Rated: *****

We apologized to the readers of the January Doom Charts, for most of the Doom Charts crew were so taken with the album that they all forgot that it would not be released for a few months. And the date is still a month or two away. The date is set for the seventh of May. But when it finally arrives, rest assured, it will blow you’re your mind! We’re talking about the new Odyssey by that Swedish trio Vokonis. And we will keep talking about that album! The Vokonis three have been moving ever forward from their doom metal beginnings to an ever more progressive future. New 6-track album Odyssey by the Swedes is their most accomplished yet; it makes expert use of all the progressive tension arcs available and still retains that incredibly heavy, doom and grunting edge. Rough and wild, yet also very charming and full of shimmering beauty. And extra sweet and tasty cherry on top of it all is Opeth and Kamchatka’s very own Per Wiberg on keys. We all love Per and we all love Vokonis!

(Written by JK)

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Guitars On Drugs – Fractured Thoughts

 

 

Guitars On Drugs – Fractured Thoughts
Self released – 2021
Rock, Punk, Stoner, Doom
Rated: ***

It’s a new release by the Madman! Yes, Tony Madman Maim’s, musical moniker as of 2020 is titled: Guitars On Drugs. Under that name the one man Madman operation has already released five recordings in 2020 and the first one of 2021 is called Fractured Thoughts. “Heavy guitars and riffs, pounding drums, snippets of movie clips, solos with fuzz turned up to 10 - all this matches the voices in my head that tell me nothing makes sense anymore!” Since the Madman has been fighting in the frontlines of the Covid pandemic and lives in the UK we can only agree to that statement; he knows the deal and knows how bad it got and still is on many levels. But even though the world around him seems to make less sense by the minute; his music does not. Perfectly synchronized, the drums, riffs, howling guitars and movie snippets tell you a moving requiem to a mind lost long ago. But don’t get that statement wrong; cause what takes center stage is without any doubt the pummeling drums, that perfect sounding copper in closing track Acid Shock and ofcourse the freakout guitars. Yes, those Guitars On Drugs!

(Written by JK)

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The Doomies 2021

 

 

The Doomies 2021
Revolver Presents
Doomed & Stoned Awards

The cat Jumped out of the bag yesterday; and slashed at all those unsuspecting heavy rock loving crazies! The Stoner HiVe crew, The Doom Charts gang and many more where ask to submit their votes, in order to create the shortlist you see before you. So now it’s up to you! The fans! You can now vote for your favorite songs, bands, labels and everything that counts in that heavy rock scene we all love so dearly! So, revisit all that goodness from 2020 and go cast your vote!

ANNOUNCEMENT!

The nominees for the inaugural Doomed and Stoned awards are LIVE! 

VOTE NOW though this Friday April 9th. 

VOTE at DOOMIES

 
Winners will be announced on 4/20 on the Revolver Magazine Facebook and YouTube Channels! 

BEST ALBUM

Lowrider - Refractions

Acid Mammoth - Under Acid Hoof

Dopelord - Sign Of The Devil

Elephant Tree - Habits

Psychlona - Venus Skytrip

BEST BAND

Lowrider

All Them Witches

Elephant Tree

Sun Crow

King Buffalo

 

BEST SONG

Lowrider - Red River

Dopelord - World Beneath Us

Elephant Tree - Bird

Witchskull - Baphomet's Child

Psychlona - Blast Off

 

BEST COVER SONG

Hippie Death Cullt - Fairies Wear Boots

Howling Giant - Rooster

Khemmis - Rainbow In The Dark

Mos Generator - Son And Daughter

Clutch - Fortunate Son

BEST ALBUM ART

King Buffalo - Dead Star - Ryan T. Hancock

Psychlona - Venus Skytrip - Kyrre Bjurling

Sky Pig - Hell Is Inside You - Droned Artworks

Acid Mammoth - Under Acid Hoof - Branca Studio

High Priestess - Casting The Circle -Jill Colbert

 

BEST DEBUT ALBUM

Kryptograf - Kryptograf

Sun Crow - Quest for Oblivion

Hail The Void - Hail The Void

Slomosa - Slomosa

Zakk Sabbath - Vertigo

BEST NEW BAND 

Slomosa

Bog Wife

Sun Crow

The Crooked Whispers

Big Oaf

BEST LABEL

Ripple Music

Heavy Psych Sounds

Magnetic Eye Records

Majestic Mountain Records

APF Records

GO VOTE! 

THE DOOMIES 2021

2 Headed Dogs - The Engine Is On

 

 

2 Headed Dogs - The Engine Is On
Self-released - February 2021
Hard rock, stoner, psych, garage, punk
Rated: ****

The Engine Is On is Greek trio 2 Headed Dogs' sophomore effort, and the title tells it like it is. This is all out, no holds barred rock n roll with stoner heft and garage, punk, and psych thrown in to make for a wild, blown out ride. Opener "Death Race" bursts forth with a ripping lead that barrels forward with gritty, Nebula-inspired drive. Rough shouted vocals add to the urgency, and exploding cymbals keep the momentum dialed up to eleven. The subsequent title track rages on in similar fashion, grooving and pushing relentlessly as joint vocals yell over rapid fire drum rolls.2 Headed Dogs' endless energy rarely lets up across the LP's nine tracks, but "Brand New Mother" takes it to another level. Its grainy, crunching fuzz riffs plow full steam ahead, and the hedonistic cries for money and more lock in the downright filthy energy. The cherry on top? A flaming hot solo over madcap drum fills. Something resembling a breather is finally found in the mid-tempo ebb of "Last Chance", bringing more Nebula-worship in its blown out noise before drifting off into stripped down psychedelia. There's even a surprise or two still left up the dogs' sleeves in the remaining  tracks, one of which being the choppy post-punk riffing and vocals of "Moonlight Reaction". 2 Headed Dogs have crafted an absolute monster of an album in The Engine Is On, mainlining adrenaline straight to the groove gland with healthy helpings of fuzzy, freaked-out psych.

(Written by Shastabeast)

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The Quill – Earthrise

 

 

The Quill – Earthrise
Metalville Records – 2021
Rock, Hardrock, Metal, Seventies, Stoner
Rated: ****

It’s been a while since we mentioned these grand masters of the grand gestures on the HiVe. Ten years ago in fact when their Full Circle album was released. We apparently never got around to mentioning Tiger Blood from 2013 or Born From Fire in 2017. But they’re back and ready for action! And rightfully made it on to the March Doom Charts! Cause Swedish quartet The Quill show us once again that they are perfectionists when it comes to combining seventies metal with hardrock and then spice things up with bits of stoner and smooth it out with an AOR touch. It’s weird that the ninth album Earthrise surprises once again in its amazing delivery, highly diverse, they opt for heavy metal of epic proportions one track or deliver progrock goodness the next. And yes, even that one sixties influenced psychedelic rock track which borders on becoming a power ballad will blow your mind…

(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…

Nebula
Tomahawk
2 Headed Dogs
Black Aspirin
Black Juju
Spirit Mother
Swamplord
Olde
Polymerase
Stöner

Polymerase – Unostentatious

 

 

Polymerase – Unostentatious
Self released – 2021
Rock, Psych, Desert, Stoner
Rated: ***

They started around 2014 but it wasn’t until 2020 that they actually got around to recording their first four track release. We’re talking about three-piece Polymerase from the Philippines.  Their EP is called Unostentatious and is a very grounded affair. With a low and earthy sounding tone the four tracks all contain this intense groove. Especially on that second track A Night With A Succubus, what a ride, what a might, and sounding so effortlessly, the way that guitar riffs and solos. Ye gods, what a track. The final track Green Is The Color Of Evil throws you a curveball, going more into a sludge and doom direction and offering vocals as well. Grimy almost inaudible vocals, guttural screams and painful screeches. It does not seem to be the route Polymerase should take when you compare it to the three amazing songs that came before. Let’s hope for more of that, and more of that soon!

(Written by JK)

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1782 – From The Graveyard

 

 

1782 – From The Graveyard
Heavy Psych Sounds – 2021
Doom, Occult
Rated: ****

It is the season of doom. The season of the heavy and the evil sounding tones. Right? At least, judging from all those amazing releases featured on this month’s Doom Charts it seems March was destined to be incredibly heavy and sinful. So when you get to write that short little blurb for the March Doom Charts, for perhaps the most evil sounding one; you count yourself pretty darn lucky. The title of the album is From The Graveyard and it starts with slow wind, a soft chilling breeze, haunting echoes and a vague church bell. That should be enough for you to feel giddy and dive head first into the occult doom that is 1782. For it is, without any doubt in anyone’s mind, that perfect kind of sinful reverberation of the wicked soul. The Italian duo has turned into a power-trio and has managed to sound even darker and malevolent. Got some candles left over? Some skulls and a vial of blood? Turn on the glacial occult doom rock of 1782’s new From The Graveyard and your evening and night is covered…

(Written by JK)

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Heavy Psych Sounds

Lord Mortvm – Diabolical Omen of Hell

 

 

Lord Mortvm – Diabolical Omen of Hell
Regain Records – 2021
Occult, Doom, Black, Sludge, Metal
Rated: ***

This kind of music is perfect for Easter! And logical that it jumped to the 17th position of the March Doom Charts! The Norwegian Lord Mortvm is of course a one man operation. His goal: to destroy all false hope of men. His weapon of choice: blackened doom and occult sludge. On his debut release Diabolical Omen of Hell we are served six evil treatments of the secret art. The Lord twirls on a tightrope, keeping balance between vile glacial doom and lo-fi proto black repulsive metal. The Lord is alone; but somewhere behind him march all the demons he conjured and let loose upon this shallow earth. There is no escaping the Lord’s grasp; he will put his mark upon you and will forever haunt your nightmares. The Lord might even be the master of Satan for he not only sodomizes him on the fifth track; but also because Lord Mortvm wants you to know that he is here. Unlike that wile little Beelzebub… The entire forty minutes are indeed a Diabolical Omen of Hell…  

(Written by JK)

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Happy Easter

 

The Doom Chart for March 2021

 

 

Doom Charts

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new...”  ~ Socrates

As the old folk lore goes, March came in like a lion and out like a, well in the Doom Charts case, a fucking lion. Another solid month of new tunes, 23 of which make their debut here on the charts. If you’re on the west coast there is still time to pitch in for Bandcamp Friday and push all proceeds to the bands. Sorry we didn’t get this up sooner, but times have been busy here at headquarters and we can only do so much. Either way, what I always say is every day is Bandcamp Friday and no matter where you’re at the music is at the click of the mouse. 

Today I felt I’d share something personal and one reason for the lag in getting this up a bit later than usual. Anyway, as you all know the Doom Charts is a global affair and our team spans across multiple continents and represents as much of the world as we can within this tight knit heavy underground scene. These posts are generally updated and tallied by myself, who takes time out of my real world life in a fit of passion and obsession for music. Well, I’ve recently been offered an opportunity at my day job at a new company in a new city and have been laboring away over the past month or so packing my bags and uprooting my family to dive into a new adventure in a new city. For those in the Denver, Colorado area, yours truly will be taking up residence starting next week and am excited to get to know the local scene that I hear is absolutely killer. Anyway, enough boasting about my personal affairs (I’m super excited about it), but if you’re in Denver as a band or fan, feel free to hit me up at my email listed on my Bandcamp and lets all keep in touch in the months to come. I’m going to need to find out where all the cool record shops and venues are in the city. And that also said, we’re a global family so no matter where you live on the planet you can count on us to present the best new albums in the world each and every month.

 
A personal message from Bucky who is relocation across country and despite all the stress and work, remains active for the Doom Charts and on his Bandcamp site. Talking about Bandcamp sites; I’ve just hit the magical 1000 albums myself. Uncle Woe’s Don’t Look Down release did the trick. But enough about all that, let’s do the Doom Charts rundown… For the all new, March Edition of the Doom Charts has arrived! And all of the albums mentioned are stunning, from that first mentioned Nothing Is Real record to everyone’s expected Number One... Gonna be listening to all of them again during the Easter weekend...  Personal votes went to: The Quill, Stonus, Yawning Sons, Spelljammer, Acid Mammoth & Greenleaf... But all those others could have just as easily gotten my vote as well! Enjoy all the heaviness and watch out for the evil bunny!!

 
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 March 2021