All those year-end lists…

 

 

All those year-end lists…

I love'm! 

We’re about to enter the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown of 2025! A period where we usually do little else but post that daily best album according to all of you that voted. Ending with Number 1 on January 1… We might be doing the occasional weekend break, with a review, a freebie or something. But for the most part, it’s nothing but the Countdown! 

But before we get swept away by that surging Countdown energy… I want to mention that so many of the Heavy Underground crazies will be giving you their lists of favorite albums. Fans, bloggers, bands, artists, labels, pr companies and well, everybody that holds this scene and this music dear! 

Some of them have been doing that for as long as I can remember… Like the amazing Tony van Dorston over on his Fast N Bulbous. I invite you all to go over to his site and read through the amazing article detailing so much of what he listened to last year. And he’s been doing that for as long as I can remember and in such a detailed manner. I love it! And always look forward to him posting his Fester’s Lucky 13: 2025 Year-End Summary post! Thank you for doing that thing you do man! 

And if you think, that’s a lot of freaking music! There’s always more. And there’s always the art as well. And one of my favorite blogs to follow is the one Bobby Rayfield has been doing for ages. Monuments in Ruin! Always looking at things from a different perspective, which is probably why his own art is different as well. And he just put up a post about his favorite Album Artwork of 2025. A stunning selection that focuses on the visual art that enticed him the most this year. Thank you for giving us an insight into your eyes! 

Sure, you all already heard that Frazer Jones has stopped the wheel from spinning over on his Desert Psychlist. A blog we always kept an eye and ear on. Luckily Steve Howe from the majestic Outlaws Of The Sun managed to coerce him into putting his favorite albums from 2025 in order and they’re published there. A sweet farewell to a wonderful dude! 

And as the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown rolls out, we’re sure Year End Lists will pop up! And you can bet your ass we will scour them all. See if we missed something and feel that twinge of euphoria whenever your own favorite albums are featured as well… We love this time of year! 

Fast N’ Bulbous


Monuments in Ruin


Outlaws of The Sun

Dawnrider – The Final Call

 

 

Dawnrider – The Final Call

Frazer Jones published his review of the new Dawnrider album The Fourth Dawn yesterday. Mixed and mastered by no other than Tony Reed (Mos Generator, Stone Axe, Saint Vitus), with a cover and artwork by Vitor Costa (Moonspell, Decayed, Ironsword), The Fourth Dawn is also the band’s first album to be released worldwide by Fernando Ribeiro’s (Moonspell) record label Alma Mater Records, whose commitment is to introduce you to the best Portuguese Metal talents! So… Head on over to Desert Psychlist to read all about the album, be enticed by the words and then have a look at the video below for lead single The Final Call. “For "The Final Call" Dawnrider again mix their doom with a little Maiden-esque NWOBHM, the song dank and atmospheric one minute galloping and strident the next.” See, Frazer knows the deal and Dawnrider knows the doom, the metal and all that’s heavy! 

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Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

The weeks fly by like crazy and we have arrived at yet another Friday! So, I guess we should do another Quick Fire Friday! We’ve stopped looking back at 2020 in the big way we did during January. But since we could have kept doing that since there is still so much we have not mentioned. We might just continue to slip a few 2020 releases into the Quick Fire Fridayrounds. After all, if it’s good, it’s good and if it’s heavy, it’s heavy, and if it’s weird, we love it! So here it is, the  first Quick Fire Friday of February! And we know, we know, the albums and bands deserve more than the few words we will jot down here. More attention and more of our time! But there is so much out there and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. So here it is. The Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday! And its burns hot like molten lava!

King Bastard – Psychosis In A Vacuum

King Bastard is a four-piece blackened doom metal band from Long Island, New York and Psychosis In A Vacuum is their first official studio recording and video. But was already home grown and recorded on their very first demo from 2019. And all of it is just a prelude to the intense noise that will travel down the vacuum tube somewhere in February when their first album comes out called It Came From The Void. And let me warn ya, intense is the understatement of 2021!

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Guía Luz Negra – Almighty

This stoner and doom project is spearheaded by one Dani Bandolier. Who writes for Metal Temple and is much of an enigma! The song is pretty darn interesting though; with some postpunk influences we can almost imagine this being a long lost song from the early nineties. C’mon Dani, show us the rest of your stuff and bring it out on a Bandcamp page!

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Vanta – Zero Kelvin

We love Budapest; been there many times and had the most brilliant of times every one of those times. We hope to return there soon and we hope to see Vanta live on day. Cause the minimal doom metal duo uses post metal and atmospheric elements to convey their feelings of sorrow, anger and angst and do it all expertly and Zero Kelvin is a death song, a beautiful one, composed in collaboration with our cellist friend Márk 'Manó' Rostetter'. The video was shot at Ghost City, an abandoned military settlement near Szentkirályszabadja, Hungary, now completely re-conquered by nature (similarly to Pripyat). It will feature prominently on their soon to be released debut album ØK!

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Taured – Taured

Taured was born in Varese in fall of 2018. Four members: two guitars, bass and drums. The music is inspired by mystery stories and sci-fi movies. And their self-titled six track release came out in October and is one hell of an instrumental stoner and doom metal album! But that’s not what makes this Taured record so good; it’s the subdued atmospheric, post-rock elements that offset the heavy side of Taured that make it such a grand adventure! Why on earth did we not mention this sooner? It will always remain a mystery! Rest assured, this will be on heavy rotation from now on!

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Heavy Heavy – Wait Where's My... Oh There It Is!

It feels totally wrong to have to come back to the awesome Heavy Heavy and realize you did not mention their four track EP Wait Where's My... Oh There It Is! after loving that first track Dead Weight And Broken Dreams so much. So we apologize to them and to you for withholding this incredibly catchy, tasty and Heavy Heavy rock! Or as Frazer Jones stated: “Hard rock that sits on the fence between the underground and the mainstream, don't let that last word put you off though as this is some HOT shit!” Hot shit indeed! Heavy shit! Get a taste of the Heavy Heavy and you will lose your shit! And state something along the lines of... Wait Where's My... Oh There It Is!

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

Stoner HiVe’s

Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

Alain Johannes

Wolftooth

Wolfhand

Romano Nervoso

Orange Goblin

The Dhaze

Pyraweed

Beesus

Black Rainbows

Kayleth

Another week has passed and it was another week filled with lots of different albums. The ten above got the most spins. But there is one that is now on heavy rotation and will surely be for the rest of next week. The self-titled debut by Vitskär Süden. I already saw it mentioned by many of the Doom Chart Contributors the past week, but had not yet found the time to check it out. Even though the Doom Charts ofcourse premiered their first video a couple of days ago: Trickle of The Snail! It has everything you love and yet is entirely different! Go read what Frazer Jones had to say about it on his Desert Psychlist! And after that, check out the rest of the albums! Cause they’re all freakin tasty!

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Is it still Friday somewhere? We hope so, cause we forgot to push the publish button yesterday… As you know we’ve been looking back at 2019 for the better part of January. But we’ve set off with a boom towards 2020 with reviews by Reek of Stoom, Shastabeast & Madman Tony Maim on Ritual King, Dopes to Ethereal, Desert Colossus, Hubris and the premier of the new Vessel single The Void Tempest! And I guess there is already way too much 2020 stuff to keep looking back. But today, on this Quick Fire Friday round, we will do it anyway! All of the releases featured here are from 2019 and all of them should have been mentioned sooner and with more words. Cause we know, we know, the albums and bands deserve more. More attention and more of our time! But there is so much out there and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. So here it is. The Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday. And its burns hot like molten lava!

Mutautu - Somewhere Over The Death Trip

We’ve mentioned the Finnish crazies Mutautu before. Back in 2017 when they released their Basement Tapes. And well, they’ve released a major step forward back in July, Somewhere Over The Death Trip! Still the fuzz powered blues outfit of yore but way more doom and way more stoner. These crazies should get way more attention! So, here it is, your daily chore, rock out with Mutautu!

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Mosara – Demo

Mosara! It features Nikos Mixas, guitarist for Mosara and contributing writer for Metalunderground, The Sludgelord and PureGrainAudio; which should have gotten our attention right? But the demo two track release got buried among all those other releases when the press release was sent in November 2019. Growling doom metal and sludge. Starting off with a doom crawl through the sludge; a beautiful guitar color and snappy drums. Followed by a doom march towards an awesome, awe inspiring cliff edge. Shall we go over?

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Third Island – Unspeakable

Released in November 2019, Unspeakable, the second full length and fifth release by Third Island, is themed around a selection of short stories by H.P. Lovecraft, with each song lyrically following a different story. Alternative metal, post metal, sludge and doom. We mentioned them before and we shall continue to do so, for the Irish quartet take ques from every genre we dig. And although we must confess that we struggle with some of the vocal parts, Unspeakable is heavy by default, and hey, sometimes we need to just enjoy the struggle, just like Sisyphus did. Right?

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Black Capricorn – Solstice

Also released in November is Solstice by Black Capricorn… Frazer Jones of Desert Psychlist wrote: “Excellent, dank dark and moody grooves of atmospheric stoner doom textured with a hint of occult.” Capturing without question the sound we are treated to on the four slow moving doom tracks. Solstice. Ominous. Mysterious. … and dark!

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Seven Serpents – Cursed To Be

Four-piece Seven Serpents from West Palm Beach, Florida released their Cursed To Be single in November. Stoner and sludge metal that has this alternative edge to it, a scream take and a multitude of -core influences. Yes indeed, brutal hardcore and grinding metal core are also there with a fierce, violent and destructive attitude. This is what we mean with freakin good metal!

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Stoner HiVe's Top 5 artists listened to last week...

Stoner HiVe's

Top 5 artists listened to last week...

After a month of only posts about the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown and all sorts of amazing albums from 2017 we are already one week into the new year. And of course we've been checking out some amazing new stuff. So, before we get cracking on all the new 2018 albums already out and soon to be released. We shall try to focus most of the remaining January months on the back catalogue that all deserves attention. And as we aim to do so, we listened some damn fine stuff.  What about the new cats from Eindhoven, that picked up the torch that Peter Pan Speedrock dropped when they quit. It's White Boy Wasted with their debut record The Dirty South Special out on Lighttown Fidelity. Speedrock, punk, hardcore and metal all mixed into a fastball of pure but filthy rock! Gypsy Sun Revival. Psychedelic rock that is both bluesy and spacey and will make you dream of the good times! Nasoni Records doing good stuff again! Mother Mars will captivate you with their interplanetary trip through the bluesy wastelands. On Lunar Highlands released through Pepper Shaker Records is big on fuzz, groove and Sabbathian doom. The re-release of Avon's Mad Marco album by Ozium Records will soon be mentioned, but for everyone who missed out the first time it was released, get it now. It's wild, wonderful and has an bonus track! And there is Stoned Therapists, who sound like they are continuing Queens Of The Stone Age songs we all know in a different way. Their self-released, self-titled album comes across as a different take on the Palm Desert, Rancho De La Luna songs. And we thank Frazer Jones and his magical Desert Psychlist for pointing us into their direction! So, onwards and upwards in 2018 and with already five damn fine record notches on our belt! Check'm out! Check'm all out!

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday 

Another week passed, and another Friday devoted to some tasty Quick Fire madness! We would love to pay more attention to every band mentioned. But you all know how it is. The man has you face down in the dirt and working your ass off. So, we’ll have to make due with this new edition of the Quick Fire Friday. We know, we know, the albums and bands deserve more. But we just simple cannot ever do it all justice. But hey, it’s the Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday. And its burns hot like molten lava!

Avant Garden – Avant Garden

The full-sized self-titled album by Finish three-piece Avant Garden is one kick hell of a record! We of course mentioned these freaks once before and were already charmed by their warm sound, which incorporates indie, alternative and stoner rock. They’re still drawing some influences from QOTSA, but they make it all sound tight and tremendous! Damn, these five tracks are amazing! Give’m a whirl while there’s still time! 

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45Rats – Gazer 

Another band that immediately starts caressing your ear with a velvet touch is 45Rats and their new album Gazer. Seventies inspired hardrock with a fine groove and drive and a tasty lust for the fuzz! This three-piece instrumental outfit was formed back around 2008 in the outskirts of Athens, Greece and have now put out their third release. This time they also invited Zannis Psilopoulos (Contra Limit, The Buzzdealers) to do some guest vocals on Jailtrain! It definitely suits the music well! 45Rats, get them before they scurry off! 

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Holyphant – Holyphant 

Holyphant hails from Italy and deliver some grade A psychedelic doom and seventies inspired hardrock on their self-titled album. It definitely has a lot of divine elements to their tracks which remind of the great folk bands of the seventies. Not that there is much folky about this band itself. The same goes for all those early heavy rock bands. They have definitely left a mark on this powertrio. Deep Purple & Black Sabbath fans united! 

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Son Of The Morning – Son Of The Morning 

Son Of The Morning to you all! Sorry, it’s just that the name immediately wants it to proclaim itself in a loud and booming voice. Just like the three tracks on this self-titled EP wants to be heard loud and booming. Doom rock; with a hard loving trucker drive and a lovely occult taste. The four-piece is fronted by a fine female voice in the name of Lady Helena. Dark music for dark time but with enough room and air to not feel suffocated. This is exactly the kind of wickedness we love! 

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Galactic Gulag – To The Stars By Hard Ways 

A much better review to this awesome release by Brazilian instrumental outfit Galactic Gulag was written by Frazer Jones on his Desert Psychlist. To The Stars By Hard Ways features five amazing heavy psychedelic adventures that definitely look up to the stars but are also grounded with earthy tones and bluesy guitars. A definite trip for every instrumental stoner rock fiend! I’ve been indulging myself every day of the week! 

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Number 20

Number 20

It almost happened. A band that released its album in December of 2015 making it to the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown of 2016. No less than 8 freaks voted for Yuri Gagarin’s At The Center Of All Infinity. And it would have been righteous. For December 2015 counts and it is an amazing album. But it was not to be. Cause they were bested by one single point by these Russian reptile loving cats. Already making the Number 16 spot on the list back in 2010 and now once again. The instrumental psychedelics and excellent stoner tracks on this album are filled with amazing guitar work and massive bass-lines. And there’s always this bluesy undercurrent that flows along. Or as Frazer Jones stated when the band made the Doom Chart back in August: “… re-turn with a mix of old and new tunes, re-mixed, re- recorded and utterly re-markable soundscapes that criss-cross across genres like tire marks on an old dirt road. Funky and experimental sit side by side with gnarly and rocking, on a breath-taking journey of musical excellence.” And we could not agree more! So get rocking with these freaky lizards! 

The Re-Stoned – Reptiles Return

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Deep – Color Of My Soul

Deep – Color Of My Soul

Self released – 2016

Rock, Doom, Grunge, Psych, Stoner

Rated: ***

(edit: Not to be confused with the Italian Deep.) Aptly reviewed by Frazer Jones on Desert Psychlist who told us to beware of this band and it’s seductive power. I did, but after that first track I became a junky anyway and I lost my head. Now I am in way too deep.

(Written by C)

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