Crobot : "Obsidian"

The opening track of their new album finds a more aggressive take on rock that has more in common with newer Mastodon, than the more anthemic arena rock of the previous album. I get this progression for the band as they have been booked on festival bills where other bands were certainly rocking harder than they were. On the second song, he goes up into his higher register as the band brooding on grunge-ridden grooves. I do like it better than the previous song, though it sounds like the way most hair metal went in the 90s which is still a vibe I can get down with. "Nothing" retains the album's momentum, as they put their foot to the gas to keep things high energy while still carrying melodic melody to soar on the choruses, a pretty safe formula to work from. 

The moodier atmosphere gliding through "From the Ground" reminds me of I Mother Earth, though the big soulful chorus, brings it back closer to the mainstream, enough of the trippy 90s-flavored weirdness is there to work. Not enough bands are doing this sort of thing so it seems a worthwhile direction for them to explore further. "Disappear" is where the album begins to take more of the middle road regarding the hard rockin pursued here. This includes the song "Metal", as they have already touched on more metal moments previously in the album, and in the interest of just writing good songs, I am not too invested in them having to be a metal band. I would rather hear them explore some of the lesser-traveled ground they touched on earlier. 

The intro to "The Flood" has a spoken part that reminds me of Spinal Tap's "Stonehenge", the song itself is a suitable blend of deliberate grunge-tinge stonerisms. The melody is catchy enough which is the crux of things for these guys. "Ancient Druid Crown" feels like they are going back to the well with the same groove they used on the previous song which is not as effective as the first time around but doesn't;t suck either. While some elements of "Head of the Beast" move in a more metallic, they have the sense to back off on the verses so the vocals have room to breathe. The chorus does not slap as hard as some songs. "White Rabbit" is not a Jefferson Airplane cover, but a grooving original song that might be one of the album's best. It has one of the album's coolest guitar solos that does not conform to shredding expectations. "Happiness" is a ballad that closes the album. It sounds like a sappy Chris Cornell solo cut. I will give this one a 9, I do not think it hits like the previous album which was more interesting but they are good at what they do. 

pst452

the Top 10 Hard Rock Albums of 2022

These albums are not aggressive enough to be metal. They do have more balls to them than the ones on the rock list. Ok now that that is out of the way, much like in years past I sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. The fact these artists 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. Sure, you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However, I listen to five new albums a day so yes, I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it. I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 hard rock albums of 2022

10 -Infected Rain - "Ecdysis" 

Some of this bands heavier elements are negated by the poppier hooks, this band from Moldova blends the elements well. This is their 5th album, so they have perfected both their melodic side and their denser more aggressive one. Bands like Jinger and Spirit Box have made impressive names for themselves by creating similar sounds. These kids have a more symphonic thing going that owes more to Within Temptation when she soars into clean vocals. 

Abysmal Hymns: Infected Rain : "Ecdysis"

  9-Dorothy- "Gifts from the Holy Ghost" 

I was at first reluctant to cover this album as the buzz around it was this was some kind of Christian metal. I did some research and found that she is just in recovery, so all the religious trappings are not based in formal Christianity and lyrically it is just based in metaphor. While she does lay it on thick with the gospel influence and blues swagger. This is poppy hard rock, not far removed from say the Pretty Reckless sonically.

Abysmal Hymns: Dorothy : " Gifts From the Holy Ghost"

 

8-Blacklist-"Afterworld"

This band features singer song writer Joshua Strachan of Vaura. They infuse post-punk and goth atmosphere with the anthemic kick of hard rock. Working of a tension that is a subdued calm before the storm piece that feels more like an intro than what unfolds on the palm muted clouds gathering. To be a band from Brooklyn it is impressive that they are not so concerned with trying to be cool that they forget to rock out and even throw some guitar solos in. 

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober- Blacklist : "Afterworld"

  7-Slipknot- 'the End So Far"

Every metal band likes to go into the press gauntlet before releasing an album and tell them how this is going to be as heavy as one of their really heavy albums or it's their heaviest album yet is also another classic. None of these are close to true when it comes to the new Slipknot. They try to resurrect their classic sound at time completer with dj scratches. But Vended does Slipknot heavier, however these guys are better songwriters. It is clear they are doing what they set out to do even if there is some misdirection regarding what that is. They are still nu-metal but happen to be a band that proves nu-metal is not limited to ADIDAS flavored rap metal.  

Abysmal Hymns: Slipknot : "The End, So Far"

 6-Disturbed - "Divisive" 

One of the few big commercial radio rock bands I have listened to. This is due to the fact their sound owes as much to Judas Priest as the nu-metal they came from. Everything is a huge anthem for these guys. They are great at this return to form that puts them head and shoulders above most of their peers

Abysmal Hymns: Disturbed : "Divisive"

5-Hoaxed- "Two Shadows"

This Portland duo creates dark and driving rock that works of mesmerizing melodies. The drumming is influenced by metal, though the overall sound while ominous not broods more than it gets in your face. At times they conjure a retro-metal witchy feel that makes me think of the Devils Blood. The drummer really loves her double bass, which keeps trying to pull the songs in a more metal direction where the atmosphere of the vocals and guitar want to pull it back in a more 90s goth path.

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober- Hoaxed : "Two Shadows"

 

4-Puppy-"Pure Evil" 

Was not expecting this album to carry this kind of dark dense metallic crunch they pack here. The high thin reedy treble of the vocals feels like a mix of Billy Corgan and Tom Petty. This album rocks if you are into melodic grunge tinted hard rock with metal moments

Abysmal Hymns: Puppy- " Pure Evil"

3-Bloody Hammers - "Washed in Blood"

Their last album was great, I am not sure how they are going to meet such a high bar. They choose to do it by getting a great deal heavier in the riffs department. They still have catchy choruses thanks to the croon of the strong baritone vocals. These arena rock anthems knock it out of the park, with bigger production value. 

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober - Bloody Hammers - "Washed in Blood"

2-Crobot-"Feel This" 

These guys made the Skid Row album that Skid Row should have made. Brandon Yeagley is not paying tribute to Sebastian Bach, but he captures his spirit much better than Skid Row's most recent singer. They play a style of high energy hard rock, that gives ample balls to the guitars. This album rocks to its own beat while bringing familiar sound of the era it pays homage to.

Abysmal Hymns: Crobot : " Feel This"
 

 1-Bush- ' the Art of Survival"

Here is an album that grew on me with each listen. In some ways this is a Bush album in name only, as Gavin Rossdale is the only original member. It does still retain the gritty grunge feel of their 90s work. This band came across as a less of a band wagon jumper in their prime and had an emotional grit that told me Rossdale had deep personal wounds he was processing through his music. At the same time, he had record companies breathing down his neck and pressure on his to get radio hits. He has delivered more solidly than most of his peers from this era have yet to

Abysmal Hymns: Bush : "the Art of Survival"

November is Doom -the Top 10 Stoner Rock Albums of 2022

 

Do you smoke weed? Have you continued to smoke more this year? Here are the albums you should have been listening to. These are album that are not prog or doom, falling somewhere in the middle with more than likely a heavy doses of bong blues to them Ok now that that is out of the way, much like in years past, I sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for this year to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. The fact these artists 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. Sure, you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However, I listen to five new albums a day so yes, I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it. I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 stoner rock a albums of 2022

10-White Hills- "the Revenge of Heads on Fire" 

This duo sounds continues to evolve. This is a re-imagining of their "Heads on Fire " album from 2007. The songs are re-worked and re-mixed. Now it is something clearly more stoner rock than psych- garage rock. Things are still trippy, but heavier. The vocals drifting as the drums batter against the swirl of sonics swarming the song. There is still a very 60s throb to it

Abysmal Hymns: White Hills : "the Revenge of Heads on Fire"

 

9-Alunah - "Strange Machine" 

Hailing from the same city in England as Sabbath, but to their credit they are not trying to sound like them, aside from the lumbering riffs. Their female vocalist aides in this endeavor. She has a strong alto and recalls many of the so-called occult rock bands from a decade ago. There is a wider range of sounds that deviate from what you expect from this sort of thing

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- Alunah : "Strange Machine".

8-Sasquatch- "Fever Fantasy" 

Los Angelos has not been the best poster child for legalizing weed as they have had the worst Covid cases next to New York, and homeless tent cities lining the streets. It had brought a surge of weed worshiping metal bands to the forefront with these guys being one of them. Their newest album finds them clawing their way to the top of the stoner heap 

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- Sasquatch - "Fever Fantasy"

 

7-Thammuz-"Sons of the Occult" 

 This Swedish bands proves themselves very capable of doing some interesting, blues-based things, that offer melody and chops without relying on shredding noodling solos. At the albums strongest points, they work off a hushed tension that assembles darker sound that I love. When the vocals are more hushed they work best with the music.

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom -Thammuz :' Sons of the Occult"

  6-Shaam Larein- "Sticka En Kniv I Världen"

The occult gloom of this Swedish band's sound marks this as the darkest band on this list.  like the dark throb that opens the newest album by this Swedish band. Colored by the kinds of clouds that might hang over a doom album, sultry vocals shroud the emotive narrative of the song as the guitar builds layers of sonic tension. The vocals often weave hypnotic chants rather than concern themselves with hooks,

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober-Shaam Larein: "Sticka En Kniv I Världen"

5-Greenbeard-"Variant"

This Texas band reminds me a great deal of the winning combination of sounds that Atomic Bitchwax used on their less coked out punk racing moments. You know the times when they had had catchy songs and grooves?  These guys are not limited to just that kind of straight forward rocking, they are able to pack the bong and dish out some very 70s cruising grooves as well. At the end of the day could you draw comparisons to Queens of the Stoneage? Yes, but Monster Magnet was doing this before those guys and this band is carrying the tradition well.

Abysmal Hymns: Greenbeard : "Variant"

 

4-Amon Acid - "Cosmogony"

The English based band is doom of a space rock variety owing more of their existence to Hawkwind than Black Sabbath. Though they are heavier and more ominous than most of the psyche bands who cross over into doom. The dynamic range is impressive going from crushing weight to using exotic Middle eastern flavored chord progression to unwind serpentine riffs.

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- Amon Acid- " Cosmogony"

3-Melvins - "Bad Mood Rising" 

Some things are expected with a new Melvins album. There will be a degree of weirdness. The opening track of their new album finds this degree dialed up to the high end of their weird spectrum. This proves to be a very solid outing for the band doing what they do best, I would not say it's as heavy or sludgey and more like something to pack the bong to

Abysmal Hymns: Melvins : "Bad Mood Rising"

2-Crobot- "Feel This" 

These guys made the Skid Row album that Skid Row should have made. Brandon Yeagley is not paying tribute to Sebastian Bach, but he captures his spirit much better than Skid Row's most recent singer. They play a style of high energy hard rock, that gives ample balls to the guitars. Though the surreal bits of atmosphere that make up these songs, proves the devil's cabbage is in play. 

Abysmal Hymns: Crotbot : "Feel This"

 

 1-Clutch -"Sunrise on Slaughter Beach"

With their 13th album it might first feel like the Baltimore based band is circling what they did on the more explosive "Psychic Warfare" album, but the deeper you venture into it, this changes. While the opener does try to recapture that magic, they return to the grooves where their true strength lies. They took top place because these songs are infectious, and this is an album you can just leave on repeat. 

Abysmal Hymns: Clutch : "Sunrise on Slaughter Beach"

Crobot : " Feel This"

These guys made the Skid Row album that Skid Row should have made. Brandon Yeagley is not paying tribute to Sebastian Bach, but he captures his spirit much better than Skid Row's most recent singer. They play a style of high energy hard rock, that gives ample balls to the guitars. They are not intent on just cock rock as there is a more Rage Against the Machine groove to "Dizzy". The vocals fall in all the right places. By the time you get to the anthemic sounds of "Set You Free " You might find yourself wondering why these guys are not all over the radio. The crash into a harmonica-tinged boogie with " Better Times", this is almost too straight froward rock for me, but it works for what they are doing.  

They tap into trippier sonics with the grunged out vibes of the more Soundgarden influenced "Golden". They are at their most metal on the gallop of "Without Wings". Then it might as well be the late 80s with the brand of cock rock they bring on " Livin on the Streets".  They switch back to a more 90s grunge tone with "Into the Fire". The guitarist is very capable in every respect.  The flip to cock rock on the song after makes it feel like this is an intentional formula. "Holy Ghost" is harder hitting, though on more of the Guns N Roses side. The hooks are there, and worth repeat listens, 

Then things are oddly angular and almost Devo like in terms of the bouncing guitar going into "Never Break Me". Not their strongest chorus but balanced out by the unique verses. The album closes on more of a trippy grunged tip, if it was dipped in an 80s power ballad. I will give this one a 9.5, as it rocks to it's own beat while bringing familiar sound of the era it pays homage to.  

Crotbot : "Feel This"

 Four albums and a few lineup changes later this band from Pennsylvania is putting out the best album Skid Row new made. I have heard their name thrown around when it comes to stoner rock bands but hear fairly mainstream 90s hard rock. "Dizzy" has more stomp to it, and a Soundgarden like slither to the riffs. The vocals are more Sebastian Bach in their attitude than Chris Cornell. He always belts and never croons. By the time we get to "Set You Free" the anthemic radio rock jams are set to stun at 11. It is big and hooky and also not normally what I am into. After this song the album as a whole tends to ride a much finer line between cock rock and grunge.   

"Better Times" is a clear-cut example of what is rock music not metal. It is pretty energetic, and the vocal are in your face.  They are back to a post-grunge groove on "Golden" which could have come out in the late 90s. Props to them for being able to tap into that sound. The chorus is very post-sell out Soundgarden. While it a more metallic take on a grunge like power ballad "Without Wings" is pretty solid and gain a great deal of momentum fast. They are back to a more rock n roll feel on "Livin on the Streets". The highly refined grunge groove of "Into the Fire" come closer to metal, but are pretty effective . It is one of the album's best songs. 

"Dance with the Dead" is not as effective as the previous and comes across as a little cheesey.  The best blend of grunge and hair metal is on "Holy Ghost" which might be the album's best song. Everything flows well and there are some metallic shifts of dynamics. There isa quirky Devo like bounce to " Never Break Me". It is an unexpected turn considering what they have been doing thus far on this album. There is a solid groove to "Staring Straight Into the Sun" it however feels like they have already gone to this well one too many times. Over all this album is very fine tuned and slick, these guys are hooky songwriters even if this is within the confines of a tried and true formula, I will give this a 9.