The Contributors send in their list on a monthly basis. On it, they list the albums they loved the most during that month. Those results are compiled and tabulated into a monthly chart. Does this mean the number one album is better than the number two or forty? Nope, it was just loved by more during that periode in time. Ask again next month, next week or the next day and places might have shifted. The Doom Charts was never invented as a ranking system. It was made to guide the ever growing family and friends in the Heavy Underground through the stunning amount of releases on a monthly basis. A way to become a place on the internet to quickly get your fix and an idea, and then move on to all those other sites to dive into the band’s history some more. And discover even more albums. Cause all the Contributors have their own sites, podcasts and outlets they write for. It’s there, at those sites, you can get the real lowdown on everything heavy…
Below, the Doom Charts Top 100 of 2025! It’s comprised of all the votes that were cast in that manner throughout the year. Our Tallymaster Remi VL keeps score of everything and everyone and after doing the math, these are the results. In total, 2107 albums received votes this year. We bow before all those bands and thank them for giving us their wonderful music. We thank the labels and PR companies involved for spreading the music and the good word. And we thank all the Doom Charts Contributors for everything they do throughout the year. We can’t thank everyone enough. You included! Thank you for following along and being part of the Heavy Underground. So, without further ado, dive into the Doom Charts Top 100 of 2025, find your favorites, discover your new favorites and let everyone know if your favorite isn’t there. Cause it might be someone else new favorite album after that…
Welcome to the Doom Charts Top 100 albums of 2025...
Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio, podcasters and 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…
100. WYATT E. – ZAMĀRU ULTU QEREB ZIQQURATU, PART 1 — 6633
99. KADAVERMARCH – KADAVERMARCH — 6766
98. SLUMBERING SUN – STARMONY — 6786
97. STONE NOMADS – EMPIRES OF STONE — 6840
96. LACERTILIA – TRANSCEND — 6868
95. ZÅLOMON GRASS – TROUBLE IN TIME — 6936
94. TUMBLE – LOST IN LIGHT — 7020
93. WITCHROT – SOUL CELLAR — 7264
92. BENTREES – SILVER VEINS — 7277
91. YAWNING MAN – PAVEMENT ENDS — 7296
90. ORDOS – FIRE — 7543
89. HEXECUTIONER – TORNIT — 7596
88. GIÖBIA – X-ÆON — 7712
87. BASK – THE TURNING — 7826
86. GIANT HAZE – COSMIC MOTHER — 7837
85. PSYCHONAUT – WORLD MAKER — 8025
84. MUSEUM OF LIGHT – DIVINER — 8028
83. PSALM – IN DARKNESS… HAVE MERCY — 8334
82. ASTRALPLANE – OUT OF THE VOID — 8384
81. GHOSTSMOKER – INERTIA CULT — 8857
80. AAWKS – ON THROUGH THE SKY MAZE — 8947
79. EARL OF HELL – EARL OF HELL — 9030
78. IRONRAT – BENEATH IT ALL — 9093
77. SHREW – SHREW — 9120
76. LORQUIN’S ADMIRAL – LORQUIN’S ADMIRAL — 9168
75. BLACK MOON CULT – OPHIDIAN FUTURE (THE CHILDREN OF YIG) — 9348
74. MEZZOA – TON 618 — 9367
73. TORPEDO TORPEDO – ARROWS OF TIME — 9500
72. WITCHCRAFT – IDAG — 9594
71. PENTAGRAM – LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE — 9633
70. FUZZ EVIL – SMEAR MERCHANTS — 9639
69. MOTORPSYCHO – MOTORPSYCHO — 9690
68. TAR PIT – SCRYING THE ANGEL GATE — 9740
67. MAHA SOHONA – A DARK PLACE — 9928
66. NIGHTSTALKER – RETURN FROM THE POINT OF NO RETURN — 10028
65. HÅNDGEMENG – SATANIC PANIC ATTACK — 10605
64. ATOM JUICE – ATOM JUICE — 10676
63. BIRDS OF NAZCA – PANGAEA — 10692
62. HOMEGROWN – HOMEGROWN — 10766
61. THE LUNAR EFFECT – FORTUNE’S ALWAYS HIDING — 11022
60. CROP – S.S.R.I — 11072
59. DEAD MEADOW – VOYAGER TO VOYAGER — 11232
58. WOLFTOOTH – WIZARD’S LIGHT — 11420
57. LO-PAN – GET WELL SOON — 11448
56. ICARUS BURNS – ICARUS BURNS — 11592
55. APPALOOZA – THE EMPEROR OF LOSS — 11740
54. MOOCH – KIN — 11988
53. KING POTENAZ – ARCANE DESERT RITUALS VOL. 1 — 12000
52. HIBERNAUT – OBSIDIAN EYE — 12654
51. HEXJAKT – BLESSING OF THE DAMNED — 13140
50. GREY CZAR – EUARTHROPODIA — 13617
Progressive Rock, Heavy Rock, Metal
Salzburg, Austria
Argonauta Records
With a sprawling sound that incorporates stimulating time changes, theatrical presentation, and excellent production, GREY CZAR have set the bar extraordinarily high with the progressive rock masterpiece that is Euarthropodia. A conceptual album of a world taken over by a kingdom of insects that find themselves in a state of turmoil and decline, the album overflows with creativity and a plenitude of surprises. The narrative is explained across the nine tracks that include acoustic interludes, prog-rock flourishes, and attention-to-detail augmentations with a phenomenal lead vocal that is heightened even further with harmonies. GREY CZAR succeeds in making a gratifying listening experience with Euarthropodia and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more unique and enticing output for the first third of 2025.
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)
49. FOOT – THE HAMMER — 13896
Rock, Grunge, Psych, Stoner
Melbourne, Australia
Copper Feast Records
The Hammer truly brings the gavel down on some heavy concepts. It’s the result of a 2-years-long creative process that rendered a gritty and unabashedly honest version of FOOT‘S moody signature sound. While still brimming with the energy, robust riffs, and atmospheric reprieves the band is known for, each song has an air of confrontation, generating the notion of facing one’s hardships in a candid and confident manner, an encounter that was perhaps a long time coming. In the way, The Hammer will not only hook the listener with its delightfully tempestuous grooves, but it has a powerful way of inspiring introspection, tenacity, and self-reliance.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)
48. BOGWIFE – FROM ASHES — 14542
Stoner, Heavy Blues, Psych
Aalborg, Denmark
Majestic Mountain Records
I have been a fan of Aalborg, Denmark’s BOGWIFE since their first album, Halls Of Rebirth, from back in 2020, and am now happy to report the four piece is back with their third record, From Ashes, which is all about their desert/stoner with elements of heavy psych and blues splashed in stylings across the new eight tracks. From Ashes will make fans of the band very happy and bring new recruits to the BOGWIFE camp with their great riffs, stoner/psych fuzz, heavy blues infused grunge, and attention to songcraft and melody.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)
47. CONAN – VIOLENCE DIMENSION — 14872
Doom Metal, Extreme Metal, Sludge
United Kingdom
Heavy Psych Sounds
If we could hear the music of the Neanderthals, I’m sure it would sound like CONAN‘s. Their low-tuned, fuzzy, shouted, extreme doom metal can only find its inspiration in the primitive brain of a human species close to nature. For hundreds of thousands of years, humanity has never been able to find peace. Even today, through video games, movies, current events, the immoral massacres in Gaza, Ukraine, the Congo, etc., we are all surrounded by death and involved in the Violence Dimension. That would be the message. Anyway, this 7th opus by the British trio will delight fans of crushing riffs and primitive savagery to the highest degree.
~ Thierry “Neanderthal-T“ François (Metal Intégral)
46. MÖUTH – GLOBAL WARNING — 14904
Heavy Psych, Stoner Doom
Stockholm, Sweden
Bonebag Records
MÖUTH’s debut album Global Warning is a hypnotic blend of stoner doom and psychedelic prog rock, packed with pounding riffs, raw emotion, and atmospheric storytelling. Balancing brute force with mesmerizing grooves and catchy hooks, Global Warning is an immersive, high-energy ride through fuzz-drenched landscapes and thought-provoking themes.
~ Ryan Foster (Slightly Fuzzed)
45. PALE HORSE RITUAL – DIABOLIC FORMATION — 14994
Doom, Stoner, Sludge
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Black Throne Productions
As if it was inevitable, PALE HORSE RITUAL found its right place in the December Doom Chart. Diabolic Formation couldn’t miss this unholy target thanks to its lead-heavy riffs, low-tuned saturated bass, slow pounding rhythms, and howling-at-the-moon guitars. I felt like I was witnessing the return of Black Sabbath with a powerful sludgy and fuzzy garage mix. The inspiration from the Elder Masters is very present (sometimes a bit too present) and so is the connection with our ancient coven. To my great delight, PALE HORSE RITUAL unearths Doom with its horror and 70s psych roots and manages to make it effective as Hell!
~ Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François (Metal Intégral)
44. SKOGSKULT – SKOGSKULT — 15314
Stoner Rock, Doom
Umeå, Sweden
Bonebag Records
SKOGSKULT (meaning “forest cult” in English) has released a self-titled debut that is filled from start to finish with crushing metal bite, raw and unfettered expressiveness, spooky interludes, and vivid imagery…a combination that draws the listener in and hooks them instantaneously. You’ll hear elements of stoner metal, doom, and even a nod or two to black metal, but the icing on the cake for me is the vocals – powerfully expressive and able to go from melodic and serene to blood curdling screams at the drop of a hat. The album utilizes “imagery of Skinwalkers, Norse burial rituals, and occult gatherings” and, as the band’s name implies, smacks of something supernatural and deliciously wicked going down in the dark recesses of the forest.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)
43. CATTLEMASS – ALPHA 1128 — 15334
Doom, Proto
Los Angeles, California
Seeing Red Records
Alpha 1128 is the first full length from Chris Price’s one-man band project CATTLEMASS, and it sounds nothing like that it is just him playing all the instruments; but instead sounds like a band crafting what is to me the perfect sounding modern doom record. That is the beauty of the eight tracks that make up this doomy galactic masterpiece. Price is not new to the game, but CATTLEMASS is, and this being the first real project that he can call his own, it is amazing how he was able to craft his vision on Alpha 1128 and create THE sound of modern doom that leverages all we love from the past and brings it to 2025. All hail CATTLEMASS! A perfect debut record.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)
42. HEBI KATANA – IMPERFECTION — 15496
Doom, Proto, Hard Rock
Tokyo, Japan
Ripple Music
Imperfection is the fourth full-length album and Ripple Music debut from Japanese samurai doom trio HEBI KATANA. Lyrically, this highly anticipated release is inspired by “wabi sabi” and “enzo”, significant concepts in Zen Buddhism. Tonally, Imperfection has a slightly crisper sound and a heightened emotional expression compared to the band’s previous albums, marked by sharp contrasts in which placid interludes often give way to intense vocal and instrumental surges. While Imperfection is arguably HEBI KATANA‘S most eloquent and sophisticated release to date, the band’s trademark blend of doom and proto-hard rock are still very much in place, creating a listening experience as well-rounded as it is moving.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)
41. SEEDY JEEZUS – DAMNED TO THE DEPTHS — 15519
Progressive, Stoner, Acid, Psychedelic
Melbourne, Australia
Label Brown Music / Lay Bare Recordings / Echodelick Records
SEEDY JEEZUS is a stoner rock band that formed in 2010. However, Tony Reed (Mos Generator/Big Scenic Nowhere/Pentagram) recently joined and has steered the band into a more prog-like direction. But don’t worry. After listening to their third album, Damned to the Depths, I can assure you this is not a bad thing. This record, which centers around death and mourning, has the ability to sink deep into one’s subconscious. The whole album is unique but also contains comfortable familiarity for any fan of classic rock music, meaning each song has its own character and personality while, at the same time, paying homage to classic rock tracks of the past. For example, it’s hard to listen to opening tracks “Is There All That is” and “Golden Miles” without thinking of Pink Floyd’s “Young Lust” and the funkier parts of “Shine on you Crazy Diamond”. The atmospheric “The Hollow Earth” obviously pays homage to Black Sabbath’s “Planted Caravan” while containing crunchy guitars that swirl in and out of tribal percussion and haunting flute playing by guest artist Kasinda Faase. The seven part “Morning Sea” on the back half contains everything one would want in a prog rock epic: great vocals, moody sections, spacey passages, blistering guitar solos, voiceovers and creepy narration. Be assured, if this album was released in 1975 we might be looking back on it as a 1970’s prog rock masterpiece.
~ Jamie Laszlo (Sea of Tranquility)
40. ZOAHR – MOSAIC — 15520
Desert Rock, Heavy Blues, Space Rock
Pirmasens, Germany
Self-released
Parts funky stoner, parts spacious psych and parts weighty blues ZOAHR‘s “Mosaic” is the sound of a band at the peak of their powers, a band revelling in the music they make together be it laying down some melancholic blues or wigging out on a cosmic jam. If you are looking for something that has an across the board level of accessibility yet is at the same time blustering and biting then look no further than this gem of a release.
~ Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
39. PALM DESERT – RAYS OF THE GOLD AND GRAYS — 15561
Desert, Stoner, Rock
Wroclaw, Poland
Electric Witch Mountain Records
To say that PALM DESERT “still has it” on Rays of the Gold and Grays, their first album in nearly a decade, would be a gross understatement. In fact, the band is stronger than ever, delivering their soaring stoner/desert riffs, gritty bursts of energy, hypnotic breakdowns, and ultra expressive vocals like absolutely no time has passed. Overall, this release has a noticeably more optimistic atmosphere than some of PALM DESERT‘s previous albums, on which there were some discernible storm clouds lurking behind the sunny grooves. The energy and emotive expressiveness the band historically brought to the table are still very much there, but in a lighter and airier format that makes it even easier to jet off on a captivating mind flight as these eight songs wash over you.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)
38. COSMIC REAPER – BLEED THE WICKED, DROWN THE DAMNED — 16038
Doom, Stoner, Metal
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Heavy Psych Sounds
If you’ve been craving some delectable cosmic doom, COSMIC REAPER delivers a heavy slice of just that on Bleed the Wicked, Drown the Damned. I hesitate to make comparisons, because every band has their own identity, but I can’t help but hear some similarities to fellow label-mates Acid Mammoth and that of course is a compliment! COSMIC REAPER brings a meditative, crushingly slow and heavy doom that is accompanied by the sorrowfulness and emotional weight of the genre. This is further accentuated by clean vocals that take command over the arrangements, guiding us through the inferno and the nine circles of hell.
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)
37. STONED JESUS – SONGS TO SUN — 16340
Stoner, Progressive, Rock
Kyiv, Ukraine
Season of Mist
STONED JESUS return with perhaps their most ambitious and creative release to date, carefully crafting songs with intention and meaning across the album Songs to Sun. The attention to details doesn’t go unnoticed, nor do the heartfelt sentiments and emotions conveyed throughout. The layering and production compliment the progressive approach, elevating an already impressive album into the stratosphere. If Songs to Sun isn’t prolific enough, the band has announced that it’s the first in a trilogy, with two more albums in the pipeline. Now that’s something to be excited about!
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)
36. KOMATSU – A BREAKFAST FOR CHAMPIONS — 16475
Psych, Stoner, Sludge, Heavy metal
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Heavy Psych Sounds
Eindhoven-based heavy hitters KOMATSU are back with their fifth studio album. Reduced to three these self-proclaimed super massive mothersludgers swing for the fences and manage to hit home run after home run. The trademark relentless, bulldozing foundation is still there, but the individual instruments get more room to breathe and added subtleties are being incorporated into their sound. It makes ‘A Breakfast For Champions‘ not only a great album, but the best one yet in their already impressive catalogue. So, it’s about time to get your fists pumping and give those neck muscles some well-deserved exercise. Horns up!
~ Ronny Dijksterhuis (Stoner HiVe)
35. THE ELVEN – SOLSTICE — 17270
Southern Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Barcelona, Spain
Spinda Records / Clostridium Records / Echodelick Records
A superb album that captures their love for classic ’70s rock, a rock that drew on the blues but also drew on the legacy of the greats of Southern rock and soul. Thus, we find well-crafted songs in which the details play a vital role. Gentle compositions that, despite gravitating towards a peaceful atmosphere, don’t forget the power of the most authentic hard rock. The union of Isaiah Mitchell with the musicians of SATURNA is a sure bet.
~ Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz)
34. TURTLE SKULL – BEING HERE — 17457
Fuzz Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock
Sydney, Australia
Art as Catharsis Records
Being Here, the newest release from vibrant Australian fuzz rockers TURTLE SKULL, is filled with luscious, neo-psych grooves and soaring, sunny tones. However, you’ll find hollows of stark realism hidden in the shadows, where the poppy psych and seraphic vocal harmonies make way for “flower doom”. Here, fuzzed-out buzzing tones, pounding drums, and a sinister glint from the vocals create a feeling of apprehension. Whether daydreaming among the flowers or cloaked in darkness, Being Here consistently tackles weighty and thought-provoking subject matter, reminding the listener to “be fully present, to embrace the chaos, the beauty, the weight of it all”.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)
33. WINDS OF NEPTUNE – WINDS OF NEPTUNE — 17886
Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Small Stone Records / Kozmik Artifactz
Skidding across a Detroit parking lot, is Michigan’s WINDS OF NEPTUNE and their chrome-plated UFO as they crash land into the heavy underground landscape. Muscular, loud, unpolished and undeniable. Born during the pandemic by three veterans who played in bands like Flogging Molly, The Meatman and 500 Ft. of Pipe, their debut is a fuzz soaked love letter to the seventies! Freeway burning, bell bottom swagger, cosmic power and enough guitar heroics to make you go nuts! And smeared across that veneer, is a lysergic shimmer that makes every track feel like its leaking some weird color radiation fluid! Gravitational and centripetal all at the same time!
~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
32. GAUPA – FYR — 18144
Stoner, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock
Falun, Sweden
Nuclear Blast Records
It is a pleasure for me to introduce a new release from the Swedish band GAUPA for my first contribution to DC. I have been a fan ever since I discovered them a few years ago, and their progressive stoner music has never disappointed. And this new four-track EP is no exception — it’s a distillation of what they do best – in fact, it’s exactly what they always do. Their music is a wonderful universe into which I immerse myself with delight as soon as I press “play”. In this magical world, there’s a nymph called Emma Näslund who rules over some ethereal and delicate naiads. She swirls around us, and we float with her, totally captivated by her voice. The magic ends at the end of the fourth track, as we return to reality, feeling peaceful! It’s a journey that will leave no one indifferent.
~ Jay Baner (La Capsule Stoner)
31. DEAD SHRINE – CYDONIA MENSA — 19090
Stoner, Psych
Hamilton, New Zealand
Astral Projection
I did not think New Zealand multi-instrumentalist Craig Williamson could top all the amazing work he has done in the past, like the classic Datura records, the killer Arc of Ascent albums, the trippy neo-folk of his Lamp Of The Universe output, or even the first DEAD SHRINE record, The Eightfold Path. Williamson, however, does just that with the second DEAD SHRINE record, Cydonia Mensa, which takes his new project to a new cosmic level. WhereThe Eightfold Path was made up of mostly older songs and ideas from his writing with his other projects, the songs on Cydonia Mensa are all new compositions written specifically for this band, and wow does it show the continued brilliance of the creator of all of this killer music over multiple decades. The latest from DEAD SHRINE hangs with or even surpasses some of his amazing past output, cementing Williamson as an underrated genius of our time. Album of the year candidate.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)
30. GIN LADY – BEFORE THE DAWN OF TIME — 19467
Seventies Rock
Sweden
Ripple Music
Before the Dawn of Time is a record that takes all the best of the past six GIN LADY records and brings the best aspects of all of them to this record. Their sound has expanded (the harmonies are next level), some new elements added (tons of great instrumentation), and the stars have aligned for the band over these eleven songs. The 70s rule the day here. but think more Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan than Led Zep and Black Sabbath. Add a bit of psychedelia to the mix, maybe a little prog, and here we are, with GIN LADY‘s best offering from an already excellent band.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip)
29. BRIMSTONE COVEN – THE LIGHT SHINES NOT FOR THEE — 19575
16720 Points
Doom, Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Stoner Rock
Wheeling, West Virginia
Self-Released
BRIMSTONE COVEN are one of those bands that just seem to do no wrong, their songs are always catchy, their albums are always kick ass. The Light Shines Not For Thee is no different as it embodies the band’s bass heavy occult doom blues and the signature vocal harmonies that seem to haunt the stories they tell. The band is subtle in delivery but extremely clever with every note struck in precision, every nuance purposely done. With every listen you may find yourself focusing on something different or discovering something new.
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)
28. CASTLE RAT – THE BESTIARY — 20540
Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Epic Metal, Medieval, Fantasy
Brooklyn, NY, USA
King Volume Records / Blues Funeral Recordings
I think to fully enjoy The Bestiary by CASTLE RAT and it’s artwork you’d better not take it as face value. Rediscover your teenage soul, remember your Heavy Metal Mag posters, your reading of The Great Power of Chninkel, your games of Dungeons & Dragons and let yourself be carried away by the music of the Brooklyn band. It’s a pure, juicy blend of Doom Metal and NWOBHM, a collection of big riffs and bright solos. The songs are driven by Riley’s powerful and supple female vocals. I was afraid the band’s creativity would be hampered by the caricatured (almost parodic) concept, but that’s not the case at all. The album is lively and diverse!
~ Thierry “Pumpkin-Rat“ François (Metal Intégral)
27. MESSA – THE SPIN — 22325
Doom, Gothic Rock
Italy
Metal Blade Records
Once again, MESSA put out an AOTY contender with their 4th album ‘The Spin‘. This time, the band take their trademark ‘scarlet doom’ sound and combine it with 80’s gothic rock to brilliant effect. Sara’s vocals sound the best they’ve ever sounded, Alberto’s solos are out of this world and the rhythm section of Marco and Rocco glue the whole thing together perfectly. Riffs, blast beats, slide guitar, trumpets, proper guitar solos, incredible vocals, piano ballads – it’s all on this album and showcases why MESSA are one of the most original and exciting bands on the scene today.
~ Jonny Pirie (Hour of the Riff)
26. RED EYE – III — 22909
Traditional Doom, Heavy Psych
Málaga, Spain
Self-released
This album dooms like all doom albums should. But don’t let this fool you as the band crosses genres with a masterful ease, with overtones that range from the old school doom of Pentagram to the death metal sound of Obituary (check out Sagittarius A). Definitely one of the albums of the month, check it out today!
~ Ioannis Valiakos (Desert Vulture)
25. MOUNTAIN DUST – MOUNTAIN DUST — 23324
Heavy Psych, Stoner Rock, Desert Rock
Montreal, Québec
Cardinal Fuzz
MOUNTAIN DUST delivers an epic blend of psychedelic stoner rock and desert rock, with marvelous musicianship and melodic vocals. The slower tempos incorporate hints of doom and sludge, making this heavy psych album a truly outstanding musical achievement.
~ Michael D’Amato (Playgroundz Rocks, D’Amato Production)
24. CRYSTAL SPIDERS – METANOIA — 23496
Doom, Stoner, Psych
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Ripple Music
So why is the new record from CRYSTAL SPIDERS, Metanoia, so great? First, force of nature Brenna Leath is back doing all of the amazing things she does on bass and especially with her vocals, that somehow sound better than ever. It may have something to do with the addition of the harmonies to the songs that work so well. Second, Mike Dean is back behind the board, crafting the sound that CRYSTAL SPIDERS were meant to deliver. Next, Brenna has her band now, with Reid Rogers on guitar and Aaron Willis on drums. Rogers, who has played in a bunch of cool bands, brings a different vibe on guitar, leveraging his work in NWOBHM/Maiden style groups but also his love of bands like The Beach Boys to incorporate those harmonies and even more melody into the seven tracks while Willis is not just a drummer; he is a multi-instrumentalist who is the second part of those harmonies that you are hearing, and a talent whose ideas have been incorporated into what resulted in Metanoia. A true group effort and a band that has all the pieces in place to make their album of the year candidate record.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)
23. SHEEV – ATE’S ALCHEMIST — 24325
Progressive Doom, Progressive Metal
Berlin, Germany
Ripple Music
Ate’s Alchemist is a tough album to sum up in a short paragraph simply because there’s so many small nuances serving to shape the substance of the whole of the offering on display. On any given track, analytical listening will unveil small overtones contributing to the overall atmosphere of mystique conjured by these three musical geniuses. As a man with deep-rooted punk rock ethos, I’m more critical with prog than any other genre (by a country mile!), however I’m finding nothing whatsoever to pick apart here on Ate’s Alchemist. This is PRECISELY the type of album I’ve felt progressive stoner music has needed to serve as a shot of adrenaline strait into the chest cavity. I’m completley floored, and hope other bands take note. If you, dear reader, are the type of listener always on the hunt for original, unique music – whether compositionally or from a sound production standpoint – you are going to find a lot to love on Ate’s Alchemist.
~ Jacob ‘Reverend Fuzzcut’ Baker
22. WARLUNG – THE POISON TOUCH — 24690
Doom, Metal
Houston, Texas, USA
Heavy Psych Sounds
Dark and menacing, yet soulful and melodic, WARLUNG delivers again on their latest studio full length, The Poison Touch. The powerful dual vocals shine on this record, there’s plenty of searing guitar solos and hard-charging groove, and the band sounds tight and focused. Now five albums in, these guys have really honed their unique blend of psychedelic, proto and classic metal, and bluesy hard rock. Like their previous work, The Poison Touch is sure to age well.
~ Mitch Kline (DoomyRiffs.com)
21. YEAR OF THE COBRA – YEAR OF THE COBRA — 24892
Stoner, Doom, Heavy Rock
Seattle, Washington, USA
Prophecy Productions
The Seattle-based Doom Duo deliver their self-titled opus and it’s KILLER! 8 tracks of bass/drum driven Stoner/Doom that showcases just how groove-laden and talented they are. Highly recommended!
~ Stevie Reek aka Steve De Rique (Howls from The Hollows, Doomed & Stoned, Stoner HiVe)
20. SUPERNAUGHTY – APOCALYPSO — 25201
Stoner, Grunge
Livorno, Italy
Ripple Music
Livorno, Italy’s SUPERNAUGHTY make the leap over to Ripple Music for their third, and best so far, album, titled Apocalypso. These guys are masters of combining killer stoner grooves with all sorts of 90s grunge worship, with some other bits of fun mixed in. On Apocalypso they have perfected their formula with the eight killer tracks that make up their new record. Apocalypso dances its way into eternity with great vocals, killer guitar work, a solid and tight rhythm section, and production that has really captured their sound perfectly.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)
19. BONE CHURCH – DELIVERANCE — 26325
Stoner, Doom, Texas Boogie
Connecticut
Ripple Music
Ripple Music’s BONE CHURCH have been bringing us some killer bluesy stoner doom for almost ten years now, but never has the Connecticut band more sound like they were from Texas, or maybe North Florida, then they do on their new record, Deliverance. While the first records leaned way more into the doom side of things, especially vibe wise, the seven songs on Deliverance are as party album as BONE CHURCH can possibly get; more ZZ Top than Sabbath, with other Southern Rock and rocking blues bands thrown into their already killer mix of heavy. Great stuff for new and old BC fans, and fans of filthy ZZ Top infused heavy ass blues metal.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)
18. ACID MAGUS – SCATTERLING EMPIRE — 26379
Heavy, Stoner, Progressive
Pretoria, South Africa
Mongrel Records
Third album and third masterpiece for ACID MAGUS! I’ve been waiting for several months for this release and believe me, it worth the wait! If you still don’t know the band, ACID MAGUS offers us an awesome heavy prog stoner rock. The five from Pretoria are true genius, period! And this artwork, my friends, a piece of art, as usual! Strongly recommended.
~ Damien Regnauld (Stoner Freaks Anthology)
17. HÖG – BLACKHOLE — 26600
Stoner, Proto, Psych, Garage
Portland, Oregon, USA
RidingEasy Records
What does the debut record from Portland’s HÖG sound like? Like Motörhead if they were more bluesy and had a guitar virtuoso in the band that could shred with anyone doing it today. Like if Grand Funk were more like Judas Priest and AC/DC. Like Blue Cheer on so much speed. Like a brawl between three or four rival motorcycle gangs where everyone walks away with at least something broken. It is not often that a record makes me stop in my tracks like Blackhole did the first time I put it on. All I could muster was “Holy shit”, because the eight songs on this record just kick so much ass. This is 35 minutes of non-stop, killer, filthy action.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)
16. KHAN – THAT FAIR AND WARLIKE FORM // RETURN TO DUST — 26992
Melbourne, Australia
Heavy Psychedelic, Hazy Psychedelia, Heavy Stoner
Full Contact Safari Records
Two years and a half after their last album, Creatures, the Aussie trio KHAN and their hazy psychedelia are back with their new baby! Creatures was a pure gem but with That Fair And Warlike Form // Return To Dust, the musicians keep pushing the limits with this new breathtaking record. The album consists of two long compositions of 23 minutes each and it’s such an amazing trip! The textures, the feelings and the emotions that you can get on these two songs are growing on every listen. Between desert rock, heavy psychedelic and heavy stoner, the energy that the musicians create is unique and has a powerful sensation that will give you goosebumps. Put yourself comfortable, press play and get ready to live an epic experience that you’re going to remember for a while…
~ Édouard Dubuisson (Les chroniques d’Eddy, MetalUniverse)
15. MARGARITA WITCH CULT – STRUNG OUT IN HELL — 28043
Proto, Stoner, Doom
Birmingham, UK
Heavy Psych Sounds
The English stoner band based in Birmingham, home of Black Sabbath, is back with his second album. Three years after the self title record, MARGARITA WITCH CULT are faithful and close to their sound, which is a modern and faster version of Sabbath riffs. Loud, raw, and melodic, Strung Out In Hell is a very good surprise with a furious and intense rock n roll energy. You’ll never get bored because each song is a gem. Cherry on the sunday : a cover of Billy Idol’s White Wedding classic song… in a heavier way of course! In “The Fool”, you will even find some trumpet! Sludge, proto metal mixed altogether with psychedelic and doom elements, that’s the tasty recipe that the three amigos will offer you. The record is fresh and original and I really enjoy every note of their unique sound. Strung Out In Hell will be on my top rated albums of 2025, that’s for sure…
~ Édouard Dubuisson (Les chroniques d’Eddy, MetalUniverse)
14. BORRACHO – OUROBOROS — 28917
Stoner, Doom
Washington, DC, USA
Ripple Music
The new album OUROBOROS by BORRACHO is another beautifully heavy step in the evolution of the band. The new record continues the progression of the bands songwriting and riff wrangling adventures. This band isn’t slowing down at all, BORRACHO just keeps getting better every record. Moving in a slightly different direction on OUROBOROS, the songs are punchy and heavy and combine what seems like an impossible blend of raw and refined sounds that compel me to play the record over and over again. Borracho manages to bring live energy to this recording, a feat not easily accomplished. The mix is perfect, and each member of the band is outstanding at what they bring to the music. I can’t get enough.
~ S Patrick Brooks (The Heavy Underground Farm Report)
13. SLOMATICS – ATOMICULT — 28971
Doom, Space Rock, Cosmic Sludge
Belfast , Ireland
Majestic Mountain Records
SLOMATICS these fine gentlemens from the heart of Belfast ,the city of steel and storms, heavy as stone yet reaching for the cosmos! SLOMATICS summon riffs like stone hammers against the earth, carving monuments of sound that feel both ancient and interstellar. Their doom is seismic, vibrating through bone and sky alike. Few bands capture the sensation of staring into infinity while being crushed beneath it.
~ Svempa ‘Doomsday Jesus’ Alveving (Cries From The Underworld)
12. NAXATRAS – V — 29233
Psychedelic Rock, Space Rock, Synth Rock
Thessaloniki, Greece
Evening Star Records
The Greek Gods of modern psychedelic rock/space rock NAXATRAS are back with their fiftth album and what a blast! What I love about this band is that they can evolve in their own musical universe and they are getting better records after records. The keyboards give a futuristic sound close to the synth-rock universe and it gives an epic trip to the listener. Thrilling bass, Gilmorian guitar solos and a 70’s progressive rock side, this album is such an unique experience. V is simply pure awesomeness of modern psychedelia and definitely a serious contender to the psych’/space rock AOTY. Get ready to live an exciting experience with this masterpiece of blend of genres and with a touch of world music (greek/turkish/egyptian).
~ Edouard Dubuisson (Les chroniques d’Eddy, MetalUniverse)
11. PARALYZED – RUMBLE & ROAR — 30392
Retro, Heavy Blues, Stoner, Heavy Rock
Bamberg, Germany
Ripple Music
PARALYZED is back with Rumble & Roar, a new piece of brilliant Heavy Blues/powerful Stoner. Since the band’s creation, the four musketeers are still united and live studio recording remains their rule. Please, do not change nothing! Rumble & Roar is literally rumbling and roaring. Note, however, that these are concentrated on the A side of the album, while the second is more surprisingly calm, deep and surreal without denying the big sound that has characterized the band since its beginnings. Excellent rock music, lively production and an exceptional singer make this album a must-have!
~ Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François (Metal Intégral)
10. WARCOE – UPON TALL THRONES — 31892
Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Stoner
Pesaro, Italy
Ripple Music
It’s always a real pleasure to follow and support a band from its very beginnings. You witness its progress, its evolution, and sometimes even its shifts in direction, all in real time… This is the case for me with WARCOE from Pesaro Italy, who have just released their third album, “Upon Tall Thrones,” since their beginning in 2021. In my opinion, it’s a crucial album in a band’s career, which should be the one of maturity. And that’s exactly what “Upon Tall Thrones” is. The songwriting is solid, even down to the smallest details—where, as they say, the devil hides. This bodes well for an occult doom metal album. While the Black Sabbath influence is still clearly present, it has now been skillfully integrated, and the band has fully developed the unique identity it has been cultivating so successfully since its beginnings. The album is more incisive and darker than its predecessors, yet also more balanced and sensitive. The artwork itself reflects this, further reinforcing the band’s identity: clearer and more narrative than previous releases, it truly reflects the musical content of the album. With “Upon Tall Thrones,” WARCOE proves that they are now a band fully in control of their faculties, while embracing their influences. They manage better than any other band to transport us back to the beginning, and these days, that’s something truly valuable.
~ Jay Baner (La Capsule Stoner)
9. RAINBOWS ARE FREE – SILVER AND GOLD — 32241
Heavy Psych, Stoner, Doom
Norman, Oklahoma
Ripple Music
Another totally monumental slab of jagged groove, wicked tone and commanding aura. The angularity of the rhythm and sharpness of the riffs and wales elevates these guys to another plane compared to everyday acts in the heavy underground. Think Monster Magnet meets System of a Down at a desert generator party.
~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
8. HOWLING GIANT – CRUCIBLE & RUIN — 37686
Stoner, Prog, Doom
Nashville, Tennessee
Magnetic Eye Records
Crucible & Ruin shows that if there is a next heavy underground band to take the Elder/King Buffalo leap to the next level, it is HOWLING GIANT. Why, you say? Zach Wheeler’s drumming is off the charts, showing he is one of the best players out there today. Sebastian Baltes hangs right with Zach in keeping down the low end and anchoring all of the amazing stuff coming at you. The addition of Adrian Zambrano as a second guitar and fourth member has brought both a new level of musicianship and a bigger overall sound that makes all of these songs just huge. Vocalist/guitarist Tom Polzine just rips it up with his axe work and the best vocal performance of his career. The sound that has been captured is pretty much perfect, while the songwriting is next level as well. It would have been easy to continue down a more melodic hard rock path like their last album, but instead Crucible & Ruin is the most complex, heavy, progressive group of songs, that takes their sound to the stratosphere. A for sure album of the year candidate and a must listen for everyone.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)
7. DUNES – LAND OF THE BLIND — 39456
Stoner, Hardrock
Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Ripple Music
This album came as a surprise for me because I’ve never heard of this band before. I’ve listened to the album more than five times by now! They play a classic stoner with clean vocal, heavy guitar riffs and a solid fuzzy sound. What I like about the disc is the tempo and the unique atmosphere of the compositions : confortable and healing for the soul. A very positive and furious energy that deserves to be spread all over the stoner world! Let’s dive into this awesome trip in the burning desert of the Dune universe. Land Of The Blind will be on my 2025 list, that’s for sure!
~ Edouard Dubuisson (Les chroniques d’Eddy, MetalUniverse)
6. TEMPLE FANG – LIFTED FROM THE WIND — 41316
Heavy Psych, Stoner Rock, Free Rock
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Stickman Records
A TEMPLE FANG live experience is always a singular event. Adventurous, emotional and spiritual. It heals the soul and mends the heart. That is probably why they’ve already released quite a few of their concerts on vinyl. On their new studio album Lifted From The Wind, with new drummer Daan Wopereis in their midst they’ve managed to capture more of their live energy and serve it to you as the perfect example of how to catch lightning in a bottle. Or perhaps more like fireflies, circling inside the jar before being released into the cosmos to perform that wonderful free rock dance. For that is what Temple Fang is about, release and freedom. And their psychedelic rock, free rock searches its own way and knows, without any resistance, to find its way into your heart. With a magical feeling for subtleties and control, they manage to keep you enthralled for an hour and fifteen minutes long. Letting themselves be guided even more by the whims of the great magnet and lettings their egos disappear with every note. Just listen to that beautiful Josephine, that slow meandering start, the beautiful lyrics, until the moment that his love is being sucked away by a storm. The way the whirling guitar lines ascend, not dark, but almost heavenly. You feel the pain, but also a form of serene understanding, which radiates and sounds so beautiful. Calmness and tranquility descends, like a faint summer breeze as you stroll through a flowery meadow, somewhere high in the mountains…
~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
5. GODZILLIONAIRE – DIMINISHING RETURNS — 43710
Alternative Rock, Stoner Rock, Grunge
Lawrence, Kansas, USA
Ripple Music
Accurately described as GODZILLIONAIRE‘s most eclectic release to date, Diminishing Returns delivers and builds upon everything we know and love about the Kansas-based stoner/alternative rockers, while successfully exploring some new stylistic components. The band maintains their foundation of stoner rock, grunge, and alternative rock (with some nods to metal in the mix), but experiments with sounds that are on both the lighter and heavier ends of the spectrum. Frontman Mark Hennesy’s lyrics are more heartfelt and personal than ever, and his vocals elevate their use of contrast, expanding upon their trademark approach of alternating between soothing and frenzied moods. However, I think the most important takeaway from Diminishing Returns is less about its specific genre affiliations (or lack thereof), and more about its incredibly accurate illustrations of emotion and the human condition. This is one of those albums that you can both rock out to and identify with on a profoundly deep level.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)
Some records just knock you over. Whether it is because it reminds you of a time in your life, or because the lyrics hit home for you, or the music is just catchy, memorable and expertly played, or maybe because the band in question has caught lightning in a bottle. Maybe in the case of Diminishing Returns, it is all of the above. GODZILLIONAIRE have created what I consider a perfect record that should be experienced by all. The playing, writing, and production on Diminishing Returns is perfect. The record goes in all sorts of directions but never is scattered or seems like it is veering off track. Mark Hennessy’s ability to tell a story in his lyrics and his trademarked voice made Paw stand out to those who know what shit is good, and he has somehow topped this with GODZILLIONAIRE and Diminishing Returns.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip)
4. GOYA – IN THE DAWN OF NOVEMBER — 44416
Doom, Stoner, Sludge, Grunge, Metal
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Blues Funeral Recordings
Descending from glacial altitudes down to the fiery gates of the underworld, GOYA has returned with the monumental album ‘In the Dawn of November.’ It’s a crushingly heavy and melodic album that oozes despair while pointing the middle finger to the heavens. The production is excellent, highlighting the band in every facet. Although the bass and guitar tones are especially thick which help capture the weighty feel of the compositions. The album cover (as well as the album itself) is a favorite of the year and only reminds us of how we long for the wintry November days ahead.
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)
Do you like your doom heavy, tuned low, chock filled with riffs, and super depressing? Well, the six songs on the new GOYA record, In The Dawn Of November, are here for you in a big way. How big? How about bringing in legend Jack Endino behind the board, and you can certainly tell he has his fingerprints all over this record. There are not enough super heavy yet very accessible records out there, but now we have In The Dawn Of November to change all that. Heavy, doomy, melodic, expertly played, perfectly produced, and enough sadness to make you an emotional wreck, the new GOYA record rules and is a for sure album of the year candidate and one of my favorite doom records in a very long time.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)
3. KAISER – 2ND SOUND — 49765
Stoner Rock
Helsinki, Finland
Majestic Mountain Records
KAISER’s 2nd Sound hits like a sandstorm of fuzz and thunderous grooves, recalling the first spin of Astroqueen’s Into Submission or Kyuss’s Blues for the Red Sun—but this isn’t just a nostalgia trip. Blending stoner rock with metal and doom, KAISER crafts a sound that’s both crushingly heavy and effortlessly expansive, nailing that elusive desert-cruising vibe. With massive riffs, immersive atmosphere, and bone-rattling weight, 2nd Sound proves KAISER isn’t just following the greats—they’re blazing their own trail through the dunes.
~ Ryan Foster (Slightly Fuzzed)
“2nd Sound,” is huge and dirty, combining elements of doom and good ol rock and roll. With such a description, I was expecting a lot of riffs and groove. Well, got a planet sized load of riffs and grooves. Vocalist Otu handles the guitar and apparently can use it to form entire mountain ranges of stoner heaviness. KAISER‘s “2nd Sound” Is a confident, convincing album with a mammoth sound that is quite dynamic yet very well grounded. This album will appeal to fans of doom, rock, stoner and just about anyone who wants to bang their head.
~ Justin Wittenmeier (DoomedForMetal)
2. KRYPTOGRAF – KRYPTONOMICON — 50422
Doom Rock, Progressive Rock
Bergen, Norway
Apollon Records
On their highly-anticipated album Kryptonomicon, Bergen-based doom rockers KRYPTOGRAF embark upon a nautical voyage. The sunny skies and smooth sailing tend to be short-lived, and tempestuous waters carry our minstrels through a hard-fought battle with the water-dwelling inhabitants of the underworld. Blood will be spilled, souls will be claimed, and heavy truths will be discovered, all to the tune of the most beautifully layered rendition of KRYPTOGRAF‘S brand of doomy retro rock yet. In spite of its relative brevity, Kryptonomicon sounds like an album that was developed over a long period of time, gaining odds and ends like a folk tale and aging like a fine wine, allowing intricate details to blossom naturally. Here, KRYPTOGRAF proves that they possess the instrumental aptitude, songwriting prowess, and incredible storytelling abilities to allow them to sail well beyond the horizon into any direction they choose.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)
KRYPTOGRAF returns, keeping the sound that gave them birth intact, in a heavier and more complex, but equally attractive, effort. Focusing on a deeper approach to melodies, KRYPTOGRAF immerses us in a well of heavy vibrations with an evident vintage aroma. Taking progressive elements to give shine to their forceful songs, the quartet confirms that they are not a fleeting band, but a group that delves into their songs so that they have a contemporary aspect, thus moving away from certain conventions that their classic 70s hard-rock songs may suggest.
~ Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz)
Set your sails and let the gales blow you across the murky warm waters, with KRYPTOGRAF as your captain you will never be lost at sea. Waves of proto-metal riffs, 70’s influence, and progressive structures from below are abundant and crash down upon you and I. There’s a ‘seasoned’ feel to their signature sound, no doubt experience and honing of skills has brought them to new levels with the seven tracks on ‘Kryptonomicon’. Though not rocking the ship too much the second half of the album has a slight deviation from the first, with a more significant feeling of doom and despair. The compositions and song smithing are as sharp as a knife across the board with the blade pointed right at your jugular. We may not know what lies beyond the horizon, but right here right now, KRYPTOGRAF are in top form with an album that will surely be on many end of the year lists!
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)
1. KAL-EL – ASTRAL VOYAGER VOL. 1 — 57596
Stoner Rock, Space Rock, Metal
Stavanger, Norway
Blues Funeral Recordings / Majestic Mountain Records
Astral Voyager Vol. 1 is a stellar addition to KAL-EL‘s discography. It’s an album that rewards repeated listens, revealing new layers each time. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the band, this release is worth your time. It’s heavy, it’s atmospheric, and it’s got a story to tell.
~ Michael D’Amato (Playgroundz Rocks, D’Amato Production)
KAL-EL’s latest album may draw from classic stoner and doom roots, but it’s anything but by-the-numbers. Packed with cinematic world-building and interstellar atmosphere, it plays more like a sci-fi epic than a standard riff fest. From crushing doom to blazing rock and spaced-out psychedelia, each track unfolds like a chapter in a larger cosmic saga—boldly paving the way for Vol. 2.
~ Ryan Foster (Slightly Fuzzed)
Even long-time fans of the band that already have a favorite album will realize the grand scope of this record, and I can almost guarantee that album will be replaced by this one. KAL-EL have hit the pinnacle of their sound, pushing everything to new levels. The fuzzy space infused stoner riffs and the out-of-this-world vocals of the front man, combined with the stunning production have KAL-EL never sounding better. Astral Voyager Vol. 1 may very well be the stoner rock album of the year, and in strong contention for AOTY. With that being said, we still have the second half of this space odyssey on the horizon with Vol. 2 to hit later this year.
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)
The band has a knack for world building, letting the music act as storytellers as well. The way the guitars build up the opening moments of the title track is nothing short of special. Once the whole band joins, the song becomes a space dirgy, laced with catchy melodies before spiraling down into a riff fest. The Captain’s vocals offer up a catchy chorus that took days to leave my head. KAL-EL has managed to combine such a sprawling, adventurous sound with songs that are truly memorable and this opening song fires right out of the gate. It only gets better from here. KAL-EL’s Astral Voyager Vol. 1 is a trippy journey through the cosmos that’s as heavy as it is psychoactive. I recommend this to any fan of this style but even if you aren’t really into this normally, the album still offers enough to give it a chance. As for me, I’m an instant fan and can’t wait to see what Vol. 2 brings.
~ Justin Wittenmeier (DoomedForMetal)
KAL-EL knocks us out with what is possibly their best album. A mind-blowing expedition and the first chapter of an ambitious double album that seeks to tear apart space and time. With a crushing heaviness thanks to a bass that provokes seismic oscillations, KAL-EL takes care not to neglect the melodies, treating them with delicacy. Generating authentic hooks that will test your neck, their catchy choruses, hordes of fuzz and a martial rhythm give us an unforgettable experience. Revering the legacy of both Sabbath and Scandinavian Stoner pioneers like DOZER, KAL-EL will drive you crazy..
~ Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz)
Special thanks to the ongoing contributors to the monthly Doom Chart. You folks help give voice to the heavy underground:
Adam Walsh (Earmunchies); Andy Kovalcik (Bandcamp-NYP-Hard&Heavy); Ben Bellum (The Greatest Thing You’ve Never Heard); Bob “Mr. Weird Beard” Baker (More Fuzz Podcast); Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick); Brandon Collins (Morbid And Miserable Records); Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect); Chris Beck (Doom Tomb Podcast); Chris Tighe (The Mighty Decibel); Clint Willis (Hand of Doom Radio); Damien Regnauld (Stoner Freaks Anthology); Edouard Dubuisson (Les chroniques d’Eddy, MetalUniverse); Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist); ‘The General’ (Stoner Rock Army); Günther “Doktor420” (Stoner HiVe); Ioannis Valiakos (Desert Vulture); James Sweetlove (CaveDwellerMusic); JC Cansdale-Cook (The MotorFuzzin’ Ibex); Jim Thompson (Heavy in the Hills); JJ “HP Taskmaster” Koczan (The Obelisk); John Gist, (Vegas Rock Revolution / The Doomed & Stoned Show); Jon Cosky (Gravitoyd Heavy Music); Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun); Jonny Pirie (Hour of the Riff); Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe); Justin Wittenmeier (Metal Temple, DoomedForMetal); Kyle SB (Good Boy PR, Stoner HiVe); Marc-Eric Gagnon (Stonefly Effects); Mats Florstam (Ozium Records); Matthew Thomas (Taste Nation); Matthew Hartnett (Heavy Galaxy); Mel Lie (Sunday’s Heavy Tunes); Michael D’Amato (Playgroundz Rocks, D’Amato Production); Mitch Kline (DoomyRiffs.com); Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker (The Ripple Effect); Remco van Hattum (Riffsniffer); Remi VL (Remi Post Too Many Links); Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip); Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz); Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235); Rod Reinhardt (Captain Beyond Zen); Ronny Dijksterhuis (Stoner HiVe); Ryan Foster (Slightly Fuzzed); Ryan Hilton (Black Throne Productions); S Patrick Brooks (The Heavy Underground Farm Report, Outlaws of the Sun); Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground); Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun); Steve Woodier (Anointing The Sick); Stevie Reek (Howls from The Hollows, Doomed&Stoned, Stoner HiVe); Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François (Metal Intégral); Tom Hanno (Tom’s Reviews, The Third Eye) & Tom Schmahl (Rock Circuz).
The Doom Charts membership ebbs and flows and the following people have moved on to other projects or are only part of it in a different way. We thank them for their contributions to what the Doom Charts are today:
Aaron Pickford (The Sludgelord); Andy Benson (Nerve Salad); A.S. Van Dorston (Fast n Bulbous); Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer); Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned); Chris Latta (Ghost Cult Magazine); The Doom Oracle (Spectral Ecstacy); Doomsday Jesus (DoomsdaysJesus); Duncan Evans (Alternative Control, Ghost Cult Magazine); Eric Crowe (Doomsayer Records / Halo Of The Goat Radio); Fuzzy Cracklins (Fuzzy Cracklins); Graur Zaur (Crypt Guard); Geoff Leppard (Atom Heart Mutha); Gruby (Doomsmoker); Héctor “Mr. Heavyhead” Hurtado (More Fuzz); Hugo Hulleman (Metalfan.nl,Orange Maze); Jacob ‘Reverend Fuzzcut’ Baker (CleanAndSoberStoner, Monster Riff); Jadd Shickler (Blues Funeral Recordings/ Magnetic Eye Records); Jamey Morris (Fistful of DOOM); Jason Roach (Ice Howl); Jasper Hesselink (Weirdo Shrine); Jay Morgan (High Desert Valley Radio); Jipsy Froud (CleanAndSoberStoner); Ken Elliott (Heavy Planet); Leanne Ridgeway (Riff Relevant); Lee Edwards (The Sleeping Shaman); Luca Piazzalonga (Tales of Wrath Booking); Lucas Klaukien (Doom Charts Founder! Paranoid Hitsophrenic, Stoner HiVe); Magnus Tannergren (Into The Void Radio); Marco Berg (Majestic Mountain Records); Marc C. Pietrek (Vitriol INC / A Dark United Front); Mark Partin (The Ripple Effect); Martin Doomed Desbois (Le Mellow Man, Metal Alliance Magazine); Mathieu van Der Hert (Dutch European Stoner Rock); Matt Slighter (Cheeto) (Hwy 420, Core of Destruction Radio, Halo of the Goat Radio); Mike Williams (I Talk to Planets); Mr Stone (More Fuzz); Nick Pipitone (The Third Eye, Monster Riff); ‘Papa’ Paul Rote (Doomed & Stoned);Pat Harrington (Geezer); Pat Schober (Monster Riff); Scott Spiers (CleanAndSoberStoner, Monster Riff); Robert Pannell (Doom Loom); Roman Tamayo (Doomed & Stoned, LSDR Records, Vinnum Sabbathi); Silvi Pearl (Doomed & Stoned, Electric Fire Records, Napalm Records); Steve Rodger (God’s Holy Trousers); Tanguy ‘Mr Fuzz’ Dupré (More Fuzz); Todd Severin (Ripple Music); Tom Maene (Polderrecords); Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe) & Wombat Tarantino (Wombat Cult).
Feel free to send in your albums to stonerdoomcharts@gmail.com where they’ll be delegated to the crew above to determine their thoughts and gather the votes at the end of the month. Leave us comments below and let us know what you think about the Charts.
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