Stoner Rock

Woodhawk – Violent Nature Review

By Huck N Roll on November 10, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Stoner Rock, Stoner Rock, 13 comments

“Woodhawk’s debut, 2017’s Beyond the Sun, slipped by all of us, but thanks to some friends who I can reliably state are stoner rock aficionados, that album ended up in my collection. If I had reviewed it here, it would have received a healthy 3.5, as it was loaded with catchy, energetic, desert rock songs, and I simply love Turner Midzain’s voice. For Violent Nature, the band reconvened in Vancouver to record once again with Jesse Gander (Anciients), a relationship that clearly pays rich dividends.” Canadian deserts, man.

Bask – III Review

By Kenstrosity on November 8, 2019 in American Metal, American Rock, Folk, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Season of Mist, Stoner Rock, Folk, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 14 comments

“Asheville, North Carolina. A bizarre cultural potpourri famous for its beer, food, music scene and road construction, Asheville is one of those strange places that is both cripplingly flawed and difficult to resist. It’s a fascinating place, and it has my heart. So it should come as no surprise that I Bask in the glow of III, an Americana-spiked hard rock album that comes direct from my current hometown. We write infrequently about stuff from or within spitting distance of this city, but it seems like every time we do we like what we get—I direct you to Aether Realm and Undrask, for starters—and Bask’s latest continues the trend.” Sweet home Carolina.

Black Mastiff – Loser Delusions Review

By Huck N Roll on October 21, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Grand Hand Records, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 8 comments

“Well, they’re back with a new album on their own label, looking to recapture the magic that had John Garcia intrigued. Can these northern Canadian boys dial into the desert rock sound, or will this be more like winter metal on the prairies?” Desert snow.

Saint Karloff – Interstellar Voodoo Review

By Steel Druhm on October 7, 2019 in 2019, Majestic Mountain Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Occult Rock, Stoner Rock, 34 comments

“When I saw the name Saint Karloff bobbing in the promo cesspool, I was intrigued. Growing up with Saturday morning horror movies in the 70s and 80s, Boris Karloff was like my unauthorized babysitter and creepy uncle, so I felt compelled to hear the band that dared to hijack his name. Upon closer inspection I learned this Norwegian psychedelic occult/stoner act’s sophomore outing, coming hot on the heels of a 2018 debut, is one 40:23 minute song. I was dismayed by this, and immediately considered weaponizing it and dropping it on some unsuspecting staffer like a concrete piano from a fourth floor window. Then I pressed play.” Do that voodoo, that you doo doo, so well.

Goatess – Blood and Wine Review

By Saunders on September 27, 2019 in 2019, Doom Metal, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, Svart Records, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 11 comments

“With tones as murky as three week old bong water and riffs as thick as oak tree trunks, Goatess nail the sonic aesthetics that stoner doom enthusiasts crave. At a whopping 65 minutes in length, Goatess don’t hold back in vomiting their ideas into one marathon package. There’s decent variety within their chosen style and thankfully the more upbeat vibes and stoner cadence generally avoids plodding monotony.” Blood and wine for the Blood and Wine God.

Ghost:Hello – Sound of Color in Space Review

By GardensTale on September 16, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Self-released, Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 41 comments

“Now this is a band who has their shit together for a self-released debut. They got a logo, a professional looking website, even an animated music video. Their online presence is fantastic for a band this young. One of them just might be a web developer, or they get enough from their day jobs to have hired a good one. They have a whole slew of merch available for their new album, including panties. Sure, the name Ghost:Hello is kind of stupid (I keep imagining a sheet-with-holes ghost going “HellooOOoooOOooo!”) but when did a silly name ever stop an eager young band?” Boo-burns.

Lamassu – Into the Empty Review

By Carcharodon on September 5, 2019 in 2019, Australian Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 29 comments

“Stoner rock is one of those genres where it’s hard to put into words what separates the great records from the tediously competent. What is it that makes Kyuss’ Welcome to Sky Valley or Sleep’s Dopesmoker nigh-on perfect records, while another album with all the same constituents just barely scrapes a 2.0? Well, as I say, it’s hard to put into words but, possibly because of its close relationship with the blues, great stoner has a ‘feel’ to it, a ‘know it, when you hear it’ quality.” Empty feelz and bluesy thrills.

The Black Wizards – Reflections Review

By GardensTale on August 28, 2019 in 2019, Kozmik Artifactz, Portuguese Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 27 comments

“In the metal community, race is a somewhat awkward point. Metalheads are largely (though not exclusively) a socially-progressive sort, despite what the epidemic of NSBM would have you believe. Yet look around at any metal festival, and perhaps 1 in a 1000 visitors aren’t of a pallid complexion. The same goes for the musicians; you’ll be hard-pressed finding a whiter group of artists than, say, Nightwish. Of course, on some level this makes sense, considering where the majority of metal comes from.” Reflections on coexistence.

The Electric Mud – Burn the Ships Review

By Huck N Roll on August 21, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Hard Rock, Reviews, Self-released, Stoner Rock, Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, 14 comments

“There are still bands out there that hearken back to the loud, bluesy days of hard rock. Clutch is today’s prime example of that style, and ZZ Top is the granddaddy. Both bands love the blues, and love to boogie. You can add Floridian quartet The Electric Mud to that cadre. These guys are beer drinkers and hellraisers, and on sophomore album Burn the Ships they aim to show us all how gritty southern blues-rock should be played.” Deep South ship kicking.

Worshipper – Light in the Wire Review

By Huck N Roll on May 26, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, Tee Pee Records, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 22 comments

“Most of the time, stoner metal is the epitome of average. It’s below the great but above the bad, bathwater that’s neither too hot nor too cold, a big-screen TV that’s not 4K. I have yet to review a total dud of a stoner metal release, but when you somehow catch something that winds up being your Album of the Year, you’re encouraged to keep hunting for more greatness. Worshipper mine the depths of stoner metal on Light in the Wire, the Boston quartet’s sophomore release.” Motherload or diaperload?