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

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…

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John Lancaster – Crash Test In Progress

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.

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El Straffo – Mespotine Sessions

El Straffo – Mespotine Sessions

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Doom

Rated: ***

Somewhere around September of this year the EP Hecho En Mexico found it’s way to the inbox. A tasty but rickety sounding doom groove ridden EP from a band called El Straffo. The band turned out to be two guys going crazy on their instruments, wilding out and exploding in slow-motion. One of them turned out to be the guy behind Vintage Cucumber. On their new also live-recorded Mespotine Sessions the still lo-fi sound has improved considerably and so has their groove. The duo is expert in creating mystique and entanglement. They weave you into their magical hazy tapestry and wrap you tightly with memories of things that might not even really have happened. For on their first EP they seem to cook up their structures and melodies like the great chefs walking the earth now; referring to your old sentiments and emotions but actually serving something completely different. The second one is more straightforward but whirls you into their universe and you just hold on tot the groove and ride out the storm…

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Rites – Rites

Rites – Rites

Self released – 2012

Rock, Sludge, Doom, Stoner, Metal

Rated: ****

The Irish four-piece Rites from the windy little city of Galway hits like a ten stone brick house filled with layers of lead and iron on an early Sunday morning. Founded somewhere in the ugly year of 2009 the guys quickly got to work on their project and carving a name for themselves by slaying on every stage they played. After originally releasing their self-titled EP in the midsection of 2011 it is now gathering new momentum and garnering the attention it deserves. For it is filled with colossal riffs and rhythms and is propelled by a very choppy drummer that hits like bleak lightning one second and bombards like hellhound thunder the next. And all these structures are painted black by intense grunts and guttural howling. The rolling groove that is spread out all over the record is hugely thanks to the expert basswork that slides into a homerun every time the riffs hit their peak. This definitely calls for some unholy celebration of our earthly vessels… Preferably naked and with copious amounts of red wine!

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Junkyard Birds – Freewheeling Freewill

Junkyard Birds – Freewheeling Freewill

Dead Bees Records / Dominomedia – 2012

Rock, Garage, Stoner, Punk

Rated: ****

The four French freaks of Junkyard Birds have released a new album and it’s called Freewheeling Freewill and sports some freaky fine tunes. After having been around since 1996 one might expect depleted inspiration or slow setting inertia. But apart from experience and ability these guys bring high-energy rock ‘n roll with a definite reckless, wild and crazed streak. Switching between sounding like lost recordings of Iggy Pop and MC5 or reviving greatness from Mountain, Blue Cheer and sometimes even Sabbath their eclectic tunes bring deep gratification and joy. And just when you get used to those very different moments they take you on speedrock mission or a stoner groove reminiscent of all those Californian greats. Varied and versatile are understating all these Birds bring to the table; songs that seem to hit from every angle and are an experience in their own right every freaking time again and again…

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Prehistoric Pigs – Wormhole Generator

Prehistoric Pigs – Wormhole Generator

Moonlight records / Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Instrumental

Rated: ****

And there you are like some crazed Charlton Heston screaming at an almost completely buried Statue of Liberty or in this case Leaning Tower of Pisa. While behind the oink’s and grunts of the beasts in charge get louder and more ferocious. They will boar down you and devour you whole; cause these are the Prehistoric Pigs back to exact vengeance upon man. And there might only be three of them; but they produce a sound so huge and so crashing that you will assume it is a gigantic pack of wild boars hurling themselves towards you. And that’s when you hear the music in their righteous stamped called Wormhole Generator. This is seminal stoner with hints of sludge and atmospheric desert rock. With that edgy droning distortion that breaks necks and fuzzes out all need for salvation. For the rescue lies within the psychedelic and hypnotic abilities of these masterful riffs and expert compositions. And then to think that these guys started in March of this year!!! They’re maniacs! And they really did it!!!

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Inflatable Best Friend – DMT Bike Ride

Inflatable Best Friend – DMT Bike Ride

Obvious Records / Self released – 2012

Rock, Punk, Psychedelica

Rated: ***

Inflatable Best Friend is made up out of three guys that have been playing together since their teens. Moving from one houseparty to the next filthy piss ridden hole to play in. Crashing punk parties and freaking out the respectable neighbors of some suburb townhouse. And after so many years they are now about to releases their first aptly named album DMT Bike Ride. For it is a cannon shot of lo-fi grimy, gray, gravelly and concrete psychedelic punk that seems intent on screwing with yer head. Excellent music for an early morning concert in some worn down factory filled with acid freaks and tekno hippies after having to endure an entire night of electric beats and crusty conversations. Will all know what we’re talking about. And on some days we all want to go back there. So here’s yer chance, you just have to blow it up: Inflatable Best Friend.

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Crobot – The Legend of The Spaceborne Killer

Crobot – The Legend of The Spaceborne Killer

Self released – 2012

Rock, Hard, Classic, Stoner, Seventies, Psychedelica

Rated: *****

Thanks to lucAs who had been on the lookout for Crobot’s debut album; we can now claim to be a fan for life of these four freaks. Cause on their first record The Legend Of The Spaceborn Killer they sport an unwavering love for all the good rock stemming from the seventies. With a huge booming sound and a majestic groove they swagger through the psychedelic era and transport all that good stuff through some nineties heaviness and into a classic future. For the future is definitely bright for these guys; they will surely start a new movement and things will surely start happening. They can boast about their classic riffs, excellent vocals, tasty melodies, otherworldly catchiness and a powerful undercurrent of absolute fabulousness. But that doesn’t matter; for these guys are the real deal and some of their songs already rival the ones provided by the masters of yore. Yes; they shine like a retro copper medallion; but the artistry is brand new and the details flicker like diamonds and radiate pure gold. This will definitely end high on my own top 2012 list!

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Voltron – Kaventsmann

Voltron – Kaventsmann

Self released – 2012

Rock, Metal, Sludge, Doom, Core

Rated: ****

Straight from Berlin gutter comes a five piece doom sludge core metal band that tries to blast yer head clean off with a charcoal ray gun. Voltron debuted in 2007 and since then went through many line-up changes. But with their sophomore album Kaventsmann the five are back and ready for the assault. Leaving a bit of room for air and melody Voltron excels in crunching aggressiveness and powerful terra stomping heaviness. They have this classic sludge feel to them and drag the listener along on this marching tempo towards an unholy temple for the worship of some foreign deity. At times it sounds even to large and unholy to be captured and listened to at home. It feels wrong and brings waves of paranoia and irrational fears. So beware; for danger and evil seems to be lurking; but together with Voltron power you will surely be victorious. And if you are unsure after these somewhat wavering and weird words; check it out and be transported to a completely different universe. Build out of seeming absolute but shimmering walls of sound, depraved riffs and guttural vocals. Embark!

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Black Science – An Echo Through The Eyes Of Forever

Black Science – An Echo Through The Eyes Of Forever

Self released – 2012

Rock, Space, Stoner, Psychedelica

Rated: ***

Space rock comes in many shapes, forms and dimensions but so blatantly sciency, esoteric and errrm spacy a band as Black Sience is, are rare to come by. On their third album An Echo Through The Eyes Of Forever they take us on another intergalactic hyper rock journey towards distant worlds and psychic plains. We’ve got warp drive noise explosions and electronic sounds cursing through the very fabric of these compositions without ever losing their rock foundations. But even then the music seems to be based more on a viscose fluid made of pure resonance. It’s a very own and very august universe of music and stylings that Black Science created. Twisted and distorted only by the overwhelming story lines and teachings that hide amongst the ruins of those slow dying song aftertastes. And a lasting aftertaste it has to be; for Black Science apparently has thrown in the towel for now… But a resurrection must surely be looming somewhere in this galaxy...

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Mamont – Passing Through The Mastery Door

Mamont – Passing Through The Mastery Door

Ozium Records – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Psychedelica

Rated: *****

Swedish born Mamont released their debut album a month ago but when listening to the sound and ability that’s blatantly potent on Passing Through The Mastery Door one would think that these guys are old dogs that have been playing together since the seventies. From the first moments on Mammuten the gentlemen go for grand, heavy, gigantic and majestic. It takes a while before the psychedelic side becomes apparent just like their sublime sense of dynamics. But once the bass takes the lead and drags his companions a long you get a sense of how good these guys already are together and that the album is a true piece of art. One the listener is obliged to experience from head to tail; from the first bird noises to the whistling in the instrumental break Woods and the final chirps in closing track Satans Fasoner. Passing Through The Mastery Door is a true musical journey!

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Pile – Dripping

Pile – Dripping

Self released – 2012

Rock, Post, Core, Noise, Punk

Rated: ***

A tip from the very venerable GuestDuder; and a damn fine one it is. The Boston based foursome Pile released their third album Dripping a few months ago. It’s filled with some postrock, post-hardcore noise and slow punk based on an indie rock foundation. There we’ve said it; and there is little more to tell. Apart from that it has a sauce that makes it all very easy listenable and wholesomely digestible. Thanks to some pop and melodic story telling going on in the compositions. With a high level of dynamics in almost every aspect, the record takes on a very own personality and keeps growing with every spin. It very sneakily seems to manipulate your mind into loving every track even though not all of them might deserve it. Nothing weird here but lots of lovely cleanliness!

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