Stoner Rock

Howling Giant / Sergeant Thunderhoof – Turned to Stone Chapter 2: Masamune & Muramasa Review

By Dear Hollow on August 9, 2020 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 7 comments

“Last year, I had the privilege of contributing a TYMHM review of Nashville stoner trio Howling Giant, with their album The Space Between Worlds. Jampacked with Torche worship and other catchy, fuzz-revering stoner metal greats, it distinguished itself with how it balanced impressive songwriting and performances with a fantastic sense of levity. While it’s hard to take stoner genres seriously in general, Howling Giant just sounds like three dudes at a jam session having the time of their lives, and that energy is infectious. Less than a year later, and we’re graced with a split!” Stones and swords may break your bones, but riffs are where it’s at.

Stonebirds – Collapse and Fail Review

By Saunders on July 25, 2020 in Reviews, Post-Metal, Sludge, Stoner Rock, 14 comments

“French trio Stonebirds formed back in 2008 and have three LP’s under their belt, prior to the release of their latest opus, entitled Collapse and Fail. This is my first taste of the band’s work, and based on the music contained within their fourth album, Stonebirds specialize in an atmospheric, post-metal tinged form of emotive, dark sludge and doom. Throw in some generally lengthy song structures, a heaping dose of melancholy, and mixture of heavy, grinding riffage and quieter passages of introspective post-metal, and you get a basic idea of what Stonebirds are all about.” Failure as art.

Little Albert – Swamp King Review

By Carcharodon on March 25, 2020 in 2020, Aural Music, Blues, Italian Metal, Not Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Blues, Stoner Rock, 13 comments

“A long time, on a blog far, far away, when I was not yet even a learner n00b, an Angry Metal Ape reviewed haunting Italian doomsters, Messa’s debut Belfry and its follow up Feast for Water. The debut, in particular, blew away our Steely Primate. And while I am not sure to what degree his prediction has come true that Messa’s “name will be on people’s tongues soon enough,” it bloody well should have. Both albums were stunning (although it was the sophomore effort that captivated me, more than their debut). It was with some surprise, therefore, that I found Little Albert, the side project from Messa’s lead guitarist Alberto Piccolo, sitting, all alone and unmolested in the promo swamp.” Swamp kings can do anything.

The Heavy Eyes – Love Like Machines Review

By Huck N Roll on March 24, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Blues, Kozmik Artifactz, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Blues, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 15 comments

“The blues might be simple in theory – I mean, one of the first things we all learn is the 12-bar blues progression – but in practice it is a genre drenched in nuance, feel, and emotion. The technical part of the music is easy, but making it writhe with passion is anything but. It takes a different kind of skill to move people. Memphis’s The Heavy Eyes claim to infuse their version of delta blues with psychedelic fuzz and late 60s heavy rock in an attempt to bring us blissfully back to a disease-free era.” Love machines for all.

Stonus – Aphasia Review

By Doom_et_Al on March 8, 2020 in 2020, Daredevil Records, Doom Metal, Electric Valley Records, Greek Metal, Hard Rock, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 26 comments

“While I can appreciate that certain substances can enhance a listening experience, I’ve always been a bit wary of music that seems designed to appeal to folks under the influence. Maybe I was burned by the rubbish techno of my youth — so repetitive that unless hopped up on MDMA, it’s damn near unlistenable. For that reason, I’ve steered clear of a lot of stoner doom/rock. If I don’t do any drugs, why would I bother with music for which getting high is a sine qua non?” In the weeds.

Shadow Witch – Under the Shadow of a Witch Review

By Saunders on February 23, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Argonauta Records, Doom Metal, Hard Rock, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 16 comments

“I often marvel at the diversity of the wondrous art form of metal music. Doom is no exception, flowering beyond the traditional Sabbathian foundations. Along with its various genre affiliates, it continues to impress in genre depth without deviating too far from slow and heavy pathways. New York’s Shadow Witch lean towards a hard-rocking, bluesy, riff-centric stoner doom template on their third album, Under the Shadow of a Witch.” Wicked witches.

Big Scenic Nowhere – Vision Beyond Horizon Review

By Cherd on January 31, 2020 in American Metal, American Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Psych Sounds Records, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 28 comments

“I don’t think of desert rock as an especially active genre when it comes to innovation. Brant Bjork God knows it can be self referential to a fault, conjuring with each release the same core components of fuzzy, jammy riffs, psychedelic woo woo vibes, earth tones and a gritty dryness worthy of the California landscape that hatched it. The creative peak that launched its best known bands is easily a few decades in the rearview mirror, yet this old conversion van keeps driving the same dusty highways, pot smoke and 70’s rock worship rolling out it’s open windows.” Big empty.

Palace in Thunderland – The King of the Empty Aeon [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Huck N Roll on December 3, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Doom Metal, Fuzzdoom Records, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Stoner Rock, 24 comments

“I don’t read other blogs, but I do follow plenty of people on Twitter, and once in a blue moon one of them makes a good recommendation. In this case that recommendation comes in the form of Palace in Thunderland, a group of fellows out of Massachusetts who ply their trade through an intriguing blend of doom, prog, and stoner rock.” Welcome to the Thunder…Palace.

We Are Impala – Visions [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By El Cuervo on December 1, 2019 in 2019, Instrumental Metal, JetGlow Recordings, Post-Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Spanish Metal, Stoner Rock, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Instrumental Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 49 comments

“It’s a surprisingly fresh combination of psychedelic atmosphere and proper riffs, nestled between the post rock and stoner rock genres. These composite genres are often anything but fresh, comprising musicians who are unable to write riffs and musicians who smoke too much weed respectively, but Visions nails its singular fusion.” Weed out, cotton-candy flavored edibles in.

PH – Osiris Hayden Review

By Huck N Roll on November 13, 2019 in 2019, Drone, Finnish Metal, Industrial Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Svart Records, Drone, Industrial Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 18 comments

“This time around, PH are aiming for something “beyond the limits of modern psychedelia,” something that pulls influence from Gary Numan and Nine Inch Nails. And one of my psychedelic favorites from the past, Julian Cope, fully endorses these guys. This all makes me at least willing to dig in.” Needs more alkaline.