2024 #20 - #11 Best Stoner Rock Albums

 2024 Top Twenty Stoner Rock Albums (#20-11)

I'm confident that all of these albums in my #20-11 are, deservingly, in someone else's top 10. 

 

#20: Leather Lung: Graveside Grin

This Massachusetts band has great musicians, great songwriting, and "CHARASMA".  I have listened to this album on and off all year long.

#19: Black Elephant: The Fall Of The Gods

Back-to-back Black Elephant albums made my year-end top 20 lists.  More great Italian stoner rock.

#18: Mammoth Volume: Raised Up By Witches

When Mammoth Volume got back together, they didn't try to pick up where they left off.  Rather, they embarked on a mission to explore new ideas and boldly go where few bands have gone before.  Try to see how many different band influences you hear in some of these tunes; it's amazing

#17: Greenleaf: The Head & The Habit

While Mammoth Volume is definitely Swedish stoner rock royalty, Greenleaf is easily in the average person's top 5 Swedish stoner rock bands list.  Greenleaf has not slowed down, and have evolved their songwriting and production games.  As with the other albums in this list, this is top ten worthy.

#16: Mr. Bison: Echoes From The Universe

Three Italian bands in a row.  Mr. Bison leveled up on this album, being heavy and polished simultaneously.  There are Yes comparisons to be made at times.  This album is a ten out of ten 

#15: Free Ride: Acido y Puto

Can a Spanish band sound more like California desert rock than California desert rock itself?

Yes

#14: Monkey3: Welcome To The Machine

Sixth European band in a row, Monkey3 are from Switzerland.  These four words will say more than anything else I could write would:

Best Monkey3 album yet.

#13: Planet of Zeus: Afterlife

Make that seven European bands in a row.  There was a time when calling Planet Of Zeus "Greek Clutch" might have pointed you in the right direction, but Planet of Zeus have evolved so much, other bands should be flattered if they get compared to Planet of Zeus.  I wouldn't argue with you if you picked this one for #1 album of the year.

#12: Delving: All Paths Diverge

Nick DiSalvo lives in Germany now; do we call this the eighth European band in a row on this list, or the second Massachusetts band since that's where he started?  I like this as much as any Elder album.  Again, a number-one-worthy album

#11: Fu Manchu: The Return Of Tomorrow

This is instantly one of Fu Manchu's greatest albums, so it's got to be a special year for an album of this caliber not to be in my top 10.  Spoiler alert:  Bob Balch plays on three of my top 20 album picks

October Blessings

 Check Out Some Of The Rock Gold That's Dropped This Month

PLANET OF ZEUS: AFTERLIFE

Years ago I described Planet of Zeus as Greece's version of Clutch, but now I see they are much more than that.  During the sixteen years after their must-own debut album, Planet of Zeus have not lost a single percent of their aggressiveness, yet have consistently increased the quality of production in a way that accentuates their songwriting and musical talents.  

Hear for yourself:

Planet of Zeus are:

BABIS PAPANIKOLAOU: VOCALS, GUITAR
STELIOS PROVIS: GUITAR, VOCALS
GIANNIS VRAZOS: BASS
SERAFEIM GIANNAKOPOULOS: DRUMS

Check out more of Afterlife here.

BLACK ELEPHANT: THE FALL OF THE GODS

Italy's Black Elephant just released a new album yesterday, and I can already tell this will not leave my commuting playlist for a long time.  As quoted from Small Stone Recordings Bandcamp page,

"Heavy Blues, check... Fuzz, check… Psychedelic, check!"

This album will make a lot of top-ten lists at the end of the year.  Listen for yourself:

Black Elephant are:

Alessio Caravelli: vocals and guitar
Massimiliano Giacosa: guitar
Francesco Glielmi: bass
Simone Brunzu: drums

Listen to more of The Fall Of The Gods here.

OLD BLOOD: MIDNIGHT CLIMAX

Old Blood's Acid Doom was in my top 5 albums of 2020, so naturally this was an instant buy for me.  They seem to have replaced "Octopus" on bass, but I can't find the new bass player's name.  Anyway, "Midnight Climax" is creative, polished and professional.  Every member of this band is a master of their craft, and I have to think they are very good live.  Hear for yourself:

You can hear the rest of Midnight Climax here.  Be sure to check out the very heavy ending track, "Snakes".

BONUS:  NEW TONY REED SINGLE: "EVERYBODY'S BLUES"

I've only recently come to appreciate how talented a musician Tony Reed is.  Someday I will post more on this Rock God, but his story is so vast that I will need to do much more catching up with all his work before attempting such an undertaking.  But for now, check out this single, which he calls a throwback to the 80's.  Tell me this doesn't get stuck in your head for quite a while:

This year is promising to be legendary in terms of the great rock it's produced, and wait till you see what's coming down the pike in November.  I'm out for now; continue to rock hard!

Coming in October...

 

PLANET OF ZEUS: AFTERLIFE

Greek Clutch?

While it's impossible to confuse Planet of Zeus with Clutch, I am not the only one to note some parallels between them.  Both bands have had an uncanny ability to evolve while still satisfying their fans' expectations.  Both bands play energetic riff-heavy rock and excel live.

Since Grownman invited me to post for this site in 2014, I have reviewed the last three Planet of Zeus albums and professed my love for each one of them.  I pre-ordered this one before even listening to the pre-released track.  Listening to it only reinforces my 'evolving while satisfying fans' expectations' comment.  These guys are elite songwriters and musicians, and I can't wait to hear the rest of this album.

Here's the official video for "Baptized In His Death".  I will plead "no idea" on what's going on in this video, but the song kept me watching until the end

Planet of Zeus are from Athens, and have been tearing it up since 2008.

They are:

Babis Papanikolaou-Vox & Guitars

Stelios Provis-Guitars
Giannis Vrazos- Bass
Serapheim Giannakopoulos-Drums

2019 Must Own

PLANET OF ZEUS: Faith In Physics

Planet of Zeus' Crowning Achievement

"Faith In Physics" is Planet of Zeus' equivalent of Led Zeppelin's "IV" or AC/DC's "Back In Black", or Iron Maiden's "Piece Of Mind", or...(you get the picture).  I love all of this band's albums, but this one has it all.  The songwriting and production quality have reached the stratosphere, and there is a variety within the album that will satisfy hard rock fans, stoner rock fans and metal heads alike.

Planet of Zeus has been together for more than a decade now, and they are a well-oiled machine, specifically a hard-rock tractor-trailer travelling at full speed.  

Check out "All These Happy People":

(are they talking about these guys?)

And here's my early favorite on the album, "Man Vs. God":

Planet of Zeus are from Athens, and are:

Babis Papanikolaou-Vox & Guitars
Stelios Provis-Guitars
Giannis Vrazos- Bass
Serapheim Giannakopoulos-Drums

This album will go down as an all-time hard rock classic, and you can find it here on bandcamp.  I personally ordered my copy directly from the Heavy Psych Sounds website here.

Still here?  Go and check the rest of this album out, and I'll catch you next weekend!

-ULTRA

Planet of Zeus: Loyal to the Pack

PLANET OF ZEUS: Loyal To The Pack

Band Evolving

Planet of Zeus keeps evolving with each album, but "Loyal To The Pack" is their most drastic jump to date.  I felt they had made the "big leagues" with their 2014 release "Vigilante", which is as good a hard rock album as you will find.  Check out the title track from "Vigilante" and see if you don't think that "Greek Clutch" is a good nickname for Planet of Zeus during this time: (video appropriately set to a prison riot)

Now with "Loyal To The Pack", Planet of Zeus has shifted direction, from relentless ass-kicking riffs to a more subtle and complex musical palette, while maintaining a level of energy and heaviness. There are quite a few greats here but let's go with "Sea Bastards".  What a contrast from Vigilante, yet do you agree it kicks plenty of ass, but in a subtler way?

 Here's another of my new favorites from the new album, "Your Love Makes Me Wanna Hurt Myself".  If FM stations actually sought out awesome new rock to play, this tune would likely see some airplay:

Anyhow, "Vigilante" will always hold a special place in my heart for its pure aggressive perfection.  I'm not sure at this point where I rate "Loyal To The Pack" in relation to it, but I can tell you the two are hands down my #1 and #2  Planet of Zeus albums, in some order.  

Planet of Zeus:

Babis Papanikolaou: Vocals, Guitar
Stelios Provis: Guitars, Vocals
Giannis Vrazos: Bass, Vocals
Serafeim Giannakopoulos: Drums, Percussion, Vocals

You can get their whole discography (4 albums) for 27.20 euros ($30.51) on their bandcamp page if you are so inclined (all four are worthy).  Until next time     -ULTRA

ULTRA REVIEW - PLANET OF ZEUS

Planet of Zeus: Now With More Ass-Kicking

Planet of Zeus have really outdone themselves on “Vigilante”. “Macho Libre” was a big step up from “Eleven The Hard Way”, and “Vigilante” is perhaps a bigger step up from “Macho Libre.” The band maintains a Clutch-like energy and an emphasis on the riff. Check out “The Great Dandolos” below, and see if it doesn’t remind you of a Clutch tune. Far from being a Clutch rip-off though, Planet of Zeus has created a greater variety of atmospheres on Vigilante than on the first two albums, while maintaining their highly recognizable identity. Every song on this album is catchy, well-written and well-recorded. “Sky High Heels”, “Burn This City Down” and “Tornado” stood out right away for me, but I honestly love this album cover to cover. There are some great Stoner Rock bands in Greece, but my personal “Big Three” are Nightstalker, Planet of Zeus and Lord 13. If you want a guitar-heavy, high energy hard rock album that never lets up, try on Planet of Zeus’ Vigilante for size.

“The Great Dandolos”

 

Planet of Zeus is:

Serapheim G.: Drums

Babis : Vocals, Guitar

Yog : Guitar

J.V. : Bass