Living in Florida reminds me why I do not like reggae. It's too happy, and all sounds the same. But you do not have to get stoned to music that sucks. In fact here are ten examples of albums you can break out the bong to. After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2023. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 Stoner Rock albums of 2023.
10- Bongzilla -"Dab City"
Carrying on the long-running tradition of delivering some of the best sonic baked goods, this stoner metal band rumbles on with no less enthusiasm as they had in the 90s when they started this.This album shows a band still doing what they do best, it has enough ebb and flow for me to keep my interest when something that normally drones on the kinds of jams they do might lose me. If you are a fan, then they surely will deliver what you love about them.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/bongzilla-dab-city.html
9-Dozer -"Drifting into the Endless Void"
Sweden is not the sort of place I would expect bong-inspired hymns to descend from. But here we are. I should look to Europe for this sort of thing, since aside from Kyuss I am not big on the desert rock thing. These guys are darker than most stoner rock, they have a tense drive to them but steer away from allowing a retro sensibility to haunt them.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/11/november-is-doom-dozer-drifting-into.html
8-Gozu-"Remedy"
I was wondering before I pressed play what this band did to get signed on Metal Blade Records. The answer is to write vocal-oriented songs that stand out from the pack. The vocal harmonies recall Alice in Chains, while the guitars have more of a Black Label Society grit to them. To their credit, they keep things pretty dynamic. Perhaps their influences are worn on their sleeves, but it all comes together better than most, riding a middle ground that is neglected in heavy music these days.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/11/november-is-doom-gozu-remedy.html
7- Stoned Jesus- "Father Light"
This band from Ukraine falls along the more bong blazing styles of hard rock. Given the nature of their lives the lyrics are apocalyptic in tone, I am surprised bands there are still making music at all. Last July was their first rehearsal since the invasion took place. The current events influencing the tone of the songs, without preaching to you about them.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/02/stoned-jesus-father-light.html
6-High Priest - "Invocation"
This band from Chicago brings it in a manner that pays homage to many bong-savvy genres. The first song strikes an effective balance of atmosphere and beefy rock riffs with a punch. that does not rely on Sabbath too heavily. I can hear the post-grunge strains of early Foo-fighters, mixed with a more surreal current running through it. They seem to always serve the songs.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/11/november-is-doom-high-priest-invocation.html
5-Strange New Dawn- "New Nights of Euphoria"
This Norweigian band features members of Green Carnation and In the Woods. The opening track has progressive elements but with an aggressive pounding propelling it. The sung vocals have a somewhat maniacal feel to them. The attack of the guitar is a little more black metal than doom, but you can hear how these elements are fighting against one another in harmonic chaos. Gloomy prog that grows on you with it's brand of weird.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/11/november-is-doom-strange-new-dawn-new.html
4-Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs - "Land of Sleeper"
The newest album from the British stoner/sludge outfit finds the more punk undercurrent that ran through their previous album smoothed out in favor of a more Sabbath like lumber. This was an element of their sound before, but this album is refined into a more metallic direction. I like the sonic heaviness in play , that balances out the fact they are more of a metal band now. That is not to say there are not some burly moments that lean into more of a Motorhead like rumble when they step on the gas.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/02/pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-land.html
The shadows sway with the bong-laden haze of this band's gloomy dirges. There is a great deal of maturity possessing the debut from this Oakland-based band. One of their most apparent strengths lies in the voice of Lyra Cruz. Eliot Rennie's drumming certainly helps to keep things moving in a fluid manner. I really love what is going on here, aside from the deliberate choice to sacrifice the metallic heft of guitars, I think they make perfect choices in a flowing organic fashion.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/09/haurun-wilting-within.html
2- Rezn- "Solace"
The fourth album from this amazing band out of Chicago. They often drone with a trippy vibe that carries exotic chord phrasings that make you feel like the drugs are already kicking in. There are lots of well-layered sounds that sit in a much darker place than what you expect from psychedelic music, which is perfect for me. This perfection multiplies when they stop jamming around a get into the swirl of their songs which finds an androgynous tenor vocal weaving melodies around this concoction.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/02/rezn-solace.html
1-Royal Thunder - "Rebuilding the Mountain"
It's been seven years since their last album and the band went through some personal shit before returning reconfigured with drummer Adam Diprima back in the fold. This album took several listens to really grow on me, but was a worthwhile journey. They can not be accused of doing more of the same and the lengthy break brought a fresh coat of sonic musing to the table.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/05/royal-thunder-rebuilding-mountain.html
No comments:
Post a Comment