The Hums of the HiVe – Episode 1

The Hums of the HiVe – Episode 1

March. Remember March? We do and we remember all those amazing albums we listened to. But to make things easier for all of us out there, our very own Reek of STOOM decided to podcast One track of all the amazing albums we mentioned throughout March into one big Hum. Yes, The Hums of The HiVe – Episode 1 is here. Two hours of amazing albums we mentioned in March on the HiVe! All thanks to the amazing Reek of STOOM! Go check it out!

The Hums of The HiVe – Episode 1

(00.00.00) 01 THE GONERS [SE] - Are You Gone Yet?

(00.03.57) 02 SILENT AGREEMENT [DE] - Solid

(00.07.45) 03 HUNTSMAN [US] - Colossus

(00.14.07) 04 SLIFT [FR] - Ummon

(00.19.48) 05 ELDER [DE] - In Procession

(00.29.15) 06 SIENA ROOT [SE] - Final Stand

(00.35.10) 07 GALACTIC TYRANNOSAUR [US] - Voyager

(00.40.40) 08 BEEHOVER [DE] - Weisenheimer Blues

(00.47.31) 08 GOMER PYLE [NL] - Scum Trade

(00.52.23) 10 JEGULJA [DL] - Exit Sandman

(00.58.24) 11 LORD LOUD [US] - Timid Beast

(01.01.44) 12 MILLIONAIRE [BE] - Strange Days

(01.06.06) 13 MONDO GENERATOR [US] - We Are Mondo Generator

(01.09.15) 14 THUNDERCHIEF [US] - Saipan Death March

(01.16.46) 15 DELIA POPARAD [RO] - Thee Moon (feat. Shole)

(01.20.23) 16 I SAW THE DEEP [NL] - Vimana

(01.25/44) 17 PHE [HL] - We Are Gods

(01.30.33) 18 BRANT BJORK [US] - Jungle In The Sound

(01.34.33) 19 HALLAS [SE] - Beyond Night and Day

(01.40.00) 20 DEWOLFF [NL] - North Pole Blues

(01.42.01) 21 LUNAR SWAMP [IT] - Green Swamp

(01.47.28) 22 THE DITCH & THE DELTA [US] - Molt

(01.53.30) 23 LORDSHIP [US] - Age of Fire

(02.01.53) 24 WOR PIGS [FR] - From The Waves

(02.11.38) 25 OZZY OSBOURNE [UK] - Ordinary Man

The Hums of The HiVe – Episode 1

Top 10 Most Listened To Albums Last Week…

Stoner HiVe's

Top 10 Most Listened To Albums Last Week…

Witches of Doom

Puta Volcano

Phe

Slow Phase

Ritual King

Camel Driver

Gaupa

Haunted Summer

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

Lucifungus

Something different… We decided to post the  Top 10 of last week. Because we listened to a lot of different albums, but had limited time to really dive into them. But the 10 listed here will definitely continue to get a lot of spins! So check’m out! Check’m all out!

Doomed & Stoned in Wales

Doomed & Stoned in Wales

From the Land of Song emerges yet another impressive Doomed & Stoned compilation, curated by the Reek of Stoom in his far-reaching efforts to hear all that is heavy. Doomed & Stoned in Wales presents a diverse range of music as rich as the land's storied history, traveling from hard-hitting stoner and psych to full throttle punk and sludge, only to be slowly crushed in the end by low and slow doom. Ironbird takes a proggy spin on stoner and Lacertilia brings a bassy desert groove, before the unpredictable psych of one-man band Caravan Obscura and oddballs Moon Goose turn everything on its head. Two acts especially enjoyable and unexpected are another one-man outfit, Fuzzasaurus, whose Breeders-like bass is catchy beyond reason, and Dead Shed Jokers with their  Western bluesy stylings. Wales brings the wild, however, with Tides of Sulfur's punishing high-speed sludge assault, and shows off its doom credentials with the bottomless low end of Kitten Spider and LUNG's nodding Sleep worship. Billy Goat's Doomed & Stoned has gifted us yet another goodie bag of heavy to dive into, showing Wales to be a well of underground music bursting with talent and style. 

(Written by Shasta Beast)

Doomed & Stoned in Wales

Flynotes – The Goddess of Sunrise

Flynotes – The Goddess of Sunrise

Haeverk Industrier – 2020 (March 7th)

Doom, Sludge. Space

Rated: **********

Russian Psychedelic Doom trio Flynotes demand utter dominion over the ears with their incredible and panoramic gravitas on The Goddess of Sunrise. "When The Alcohol Ran Out" opens with mournful, lamenting vocal over a reverb-soaked, 'surf's - up' guitar snarl, haunted with wistful recollections of what could never be again. Blunt cudgels of heavy drum open "The Shadows in the Garden" and the immense power of their sound unleashes with sheer force and grisly rhythm overlaid with sensorial sweeps and ambient noise. "Aurora" quietly rolls in on calm waves of lush synth and evocative guitar refrains before the huge, expansive riffage arrives complete with soaring solo and rampant tempo. "Kaleidoscope" blossoms in an Eastern awakening of pentatonic sax and atmospherics until once again planet-sized riffs and bass throbs ramp up the pace and launch under their own velocity. The dark hypnotics and shrill, acid slide guitar breaks of "No Love No Glory" carry textures and presence over a hard percussive landscape spiked with anthemic aural spires. The bombastic might of "When August Crashes Against Autumn" immediately evokes comparisons with King Crimson before an echo-fed guitar refrain unfolds in gentle ebbs like Ash Ra Tempel. "Great Time Irreversibility" is a strident fizzling acid of sludge .Cheese-wire sharp guitars descend into Stygian glooms of Psychedelic horror and grim foreboding, the slow pulse rhythm seemingly dragging out the impending inevitable. Closer "About J."  is a reposed ambient tapestry of soft Jazzy guitar and horn, a safe and gentle return from the pit. The sound, musicianship, concept and execution of this album is truly staggering. The production is highway-wide and Flynotes capture an essence of true progressivity and vision. A plausible AOTY contender.

(Written by Reek of STOOM)

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Pale Mare - EP II

Pale Mare - EP II

Seeing Red Records - April 2020

Sludge, thrash, doom

Rated: *****

Following up their barnburner of a debut EP in 2017, Toronto trio Pale Mare bring the aggression and up the ante with EP II. The Canadians meld sludge, thrash, and doom to build a caustic and furious sound that's akin to a more varied High on Fire, and is both carefully crafted and utterly relentless. Opener "House of War" hits the ground running with an avalanche of riffs and grimy, chunky low end, somehow catchy while throwing in neck-snapping breaks. About halfway through, the tune shifts to an instrumental section of eerie atmospherics and soaring guitar, and this is where Pale Mare show they haven't been sitting on their laurels since EP I. Longer, somewhat subdued (by their standards) passages of doom and tension building instrumentation are peppered throughout the album, working to build loads of tension and mood while still maintaining the trio's blood-pumping sense of heavy. With this powerful addition to their arsenal, the sludgers proceed on a scorched earth assault through the rest of the release. "Zealot" feels ready to explode at any second with manic riffs and battering drums giving no respite, while "Voidgazer" is out for blood with a hammering wall of sound. Closer "Remains" deals in massive doom and Sleep-like bounce, bringing the tracks to a fittingly crushing end. Pale Mare have outdone themselves on their second effort, taking their signature uncompromising sound and expanding on it with layers of well-constructed atmosphere. The result is four raging epics that will demand and consume your attention.

(Written by Shasta Beest)

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Dictator Ship – Your Favorites

Dictator Ship – Your Favorites

The Sign Records / Dewar PR – 2020

Rock, Roll, Hard, Garage, Punk, Blues

Rated: ****

We love that atavistic style of rock ‘n roll, that early sixties garage, that seventies punk, that groove and punch, that grab and smash, those wild and wicked kick out the jams! And for whatever weird reason the Scandinavians have been doing that particularly well the past years... In come the four Swedes from Dictator Ship and their debut album Your Favorites. Seven high energy rockers that sounds like they live and direct. There’s a lot of soul and a lot of boogie going on, on Your Favorites, the pedal is pushed to a righteous degree. Which gives it an intense party vibe and a funky edge of southern goodness. The four Swedes deliver a debut album, filled with indestructible material which will already be tough to beat on their next. This pirate ship has their boat filled with rum and rock and welcome each and everyone!

(Written by JK)

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Phe - Glooming Dawn

Phe - Glooming Dawn

Self released - April 2020

Stoner, grunge, doom, desert

Rated: *****

The Netherlands' Phe were brought to my attention by HiVe overlord Joop himself, and oh did he deliver. Phe are a three piece playing heavy, atmospheric stoner rock with layers of harsh distortion and touches of doom. Following up on their 2017 self-titled debut, their first full-length "Glooming Dawn" will be released April 11 and is a resounding statement of purpose. The trio are in total control of their unique sound, dealing out wave after wave of riffs in gritty, weighted tones over a thrumming bass and hammering skins, with a minor sonic boom for a bass drum. Over all this noise lie the captivating vocals, a combination of raw shouts and passages that border on spoken word in their delivery, operatic and haunting like a dirtier take on Nick Cave. These elements all tie together to create an easy, smooth flow from the album's beginning to end, starting with the leaden-toned crush and nod of doom opener "Vortex". Offering respite from the pummel is "The Lion & the Snake", a dangerous mix of morose and catchy Nirvana-esque grunge that never ceases to be heavy. There's no weak track in the bunch, and "We are Gods" stands tall as one of the highlights of the album. The intro is steeped in decidedly evil doom, with satanic, echoing guitar over a writhing bass that builds in intensity with the vocals, eventually exploding into an anthemic uproar of yells and grinding, nodding riffs. Track after track, "Glooming Dawn" shows Phe to be a band in full mastery of their sonic identity, bringing a distinct and varied take on heavy that's deeply affecting and undeniably groovy.

(Written by Shasta Beest)

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Stone Machine Electric – Stone Machine Electric

Stone Machine Electric – Stone Machine Electric

Self released / Dewar PR – 2020

Rock, Doom, Sludge, Stoner, Jazz

Rated: ****

Are you still spinning the shit out of Darkness Dimensions Disillusion that came out on Sludgelord Records last year? Well, to commemorate their first ever live gig which happened on March 26 2010 opening up for Wo Fat the Stone Machine Electric duo will now release a seven inch featuring two early recordings. Walking Among The Blind and Mushroom Cloud bring forth their very own style of heaviness to a very sludgy degree. Both tracks are powerful and pack a mighty punch, but opening track Mushroom Cloud does seem to blossom more into its own in regards to that second track. It’s dirty and explosive, it’s machinal and harsh! And it’s exactly what we like about Stone Machine Electric. Now let’s hope they get to perform live again soon and let’s hope we can celebrate more decades of Stone Machine Electric!

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 5 Most Listened To Albums Last Week…

Stoner HiVe’s

Top 5 Most Listened To Albums Last Week…

Ledfoot

Phe

Häxan

The Heavy Eyes

Woorms

We know, it's Sunday. We normally post the Most Listened Top 5 on a Monday. But due to work we do not have time tomorrow. Or tuesday... So we do it today! Ledfoot and his magical White Crow album has been spinning relentlessly. And we sincerely hope you crazies out there, check it out, cause it is insanely good. Gothic blues, atavistic blues, the blues of yore done right! Phe! The Glooming Dawn comes out next week. Which would have been a release gig party, but due to the crisis had to be cancelled. But it will still go live next week! Keep an eye on their bandcamp site! Häxan stormed the Doom Charts and stormed around the warroom. What a record! Love Like Machines by The Heavy Eyes, once again The Heavy Eyes guys deliver the golden goods! Heavy psychedelic blues that just immediately captures your heart and soul. And the Woorms trio deliver something equally stunning but totally different with their album Twitching, As Prey. A must listen album if you ever loved anything about sludge metal. Must listen! But then again, they all are! So check'm out! Check'm all out! 

Her Name Was Fire – Decadent Movement

Her Name Was Fire – Decadent Movement

Raging Planet / Dewar PR – 2020

Rock, Grunge, Stoner, Alternative, Pop

Rated: ****

The Portuguese duo Her Name Was Fire brings us some sleazy stoner, grunge and alternative rock with this high pop sensible catchiness and fanciness. Very soon after Decadent Movement we start dancing and we shall not stop! It’s a Queens of The Stone Age soul with Bud Spencer Blues Explosion believes and a fire burning hot! High energy is an understatement and talent seems to be running wild within these cats. Delicious songs about the darker sides of human existence done with so much air and light you cannot do anything else but celebrate it all. It’s a damn fine rocker! A rocker that has everything you need to bring air to these twisted days we’re all experiencing. It’s sexy, it’s intense and simply irresistible Fun. With a capital F! Her Name Was Fire !

(Written by JK)

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Ledfoot – White Crow

Ledfoot – White Crow
TBC – 2020
Rock, Blues
Rated: *****

We knew about this cat before that album. But thanks to the Damned album from 2010, which featured Madrugada’s Sivert Hoyem on the track Wicked State Of Mind, we really got to know Tim Scott McConnell. His stagename, Ledfoot. His craft, blues. On his newest release White Crow the man hypnotizes and mesmerizes with his twelve string plunking. His dark bariton is smokey and weathered. Wasted and worn memories of Wovenhand, Mark Lanegan, Blind Lemon Jefferson and John Fahey pass through your mind like shifting sands, cause the entire album seems to transcend everything and all. And that’s because his roots music continues to fascinate and enthrall, even if the fundamental keynote never changes. In fact, his open approach whips around the same chords, which just seems to add to heartbreaking beauty that is White Crow. One foot on the stompbox, one foot in the grave, Ledfoot brings you his own version of Gothic Blues, and it is the only blues that will save…

(Written by JK)

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Häxan – Aradia

Häxan – Aradia

Fuzzed & Buzzed Records / DHU Records – 2020

Rock, Proto, Doom, Blues, Occult

Rated: ****

As we struggle  to whittle down the amount of albums we choose as the best ones released during March, we are completely awed again by the amount of great music. So much, so many. And then we come across the new Häxan album Aradia… And we get the shivers… And right after that we get to write the blurb for the March Doom Charts for Aradia… As we wonder through those sounds of yore, the blues of yesteryear, that aged doom and the proto-metal that started it all you realize that there weren’t that many bands that did it as good as Häxan does today. On their new album Aradia we hear that occult touch done with a golden shimmer! With a wicked glint in their eyes the foursome give a record filled concise rockers that all seem to mesmerize. Pulling you ever nearer to the bubbling cauldron… Aradia, a brilliant album that touches you right there… Where all the shivers start…

(Written by JK)

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The Doom Chart for March 2020

Doom Charts

"Don’t worry ’bout a thing, cause every little thing’s gonna be alright." ~Bob Marley

"And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be." ~The Beatles

Doom as defined; ruin, death, fate of destiny, unavoidable ill fortune. To those of us here who know Doom intimately as a music scene and community, know its in fact a blessing, a hope, birth, and/or a wonder. One thing we can all agree on; music can calm the nerve and ease the pain with universal healing powers. Lets take this time to revel in Doom. The good kind of Doom, a collective of heavy music and kinship representing all things heavy each and every month. We’re all in this together. 

March has brought us a surge of fantastic album discoveries, with over 300 unique album votes and 21 new entries in the top 25. There are no excuses, we must listen to more music to stay sane during these times of quarantine. If you’re reading this, you’re likely as timid as we are on what the future may bring but you’re also a part of the best of the best in the heavy underground scene; Welcome to the newest edition of the Doom Charts! We’re here to help.

Yes, exactly what Bucky said… We’re here to help! And they're out there... Once again... The March Doom Charts! (Has a nice ring to it...) Get yourself some good tunes to get you through these perilous days! I think six of my choices made the list... But a few others only just missed out... Gomer Pyle, Elder, Sky Valley Mistress and Siena Root for instance are just below that published list... And then there are 300 more below those! What the hell!?! The sheer amount of great music is incredible! The past two months have been amazing music wise! So there’s always a silver lining to those dark doomy clouds… 

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 2020