Best of 2026 (May - August)

 2026 STONER ROCK & METAL

May - August

Fall Harvest

 

Ready to pick.....

MASTODON: MARROW DEEP

Only a year after the passing of Brent Hinds,  a new Mastodon masterpiece.

The first four tracks are about as strong an opening as any album has ever had.  Listen for yourself here.

Mastodon:

Troy Sanders – Bass, lead and backing vocals 

Bill Kelliher – Rhythm guitar, backing vocals 

Brann Dailor – Drums, percussion, vocals 

Nick Johnston – Lead guitar, backing vocals 

João Nogueira – Keyboards, synthesizer

REZN: CYCLES IN THE INFINITE DREAM

REZN's 2024 "Burden" was in my top ten albums of 2024, and their new album is just as good.

(It is technically not a fall album, having been released in July, but just go with it; it's still ripe for the picking)

I saw REZN open for Elder a couple of years ago, and they blew me away.

REZN are:

Rob McWilliams – Vocals, guitar, sitar

Phil Cangelosi – Bass, backing vocals

Patrick Dunn – Drums, percussion, sitar

Spencer Ouellette – Modular synthesizers, saxophone, lap steel guitar

You can listen to the whole album here.

The rest of these are ready for harvest soon, all to be released in September and October...

STONED JESUS: SONGS TO MOON

Stoned Jesus keeps getting better and better.  Last year's "Songs To Sun" was their best yet, and now, if the two pre-released tracks are indicative of the rest of the album, this one will top that.

Listen to this song twice, and don't be surprised if it's stuck in your head for the next three days; unbelievably catchy.

Igor Sydorenko – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards 

Andrew Rodin – Bass, Backing Vocals

Yurii Ciel – Drums, Backing Vocals

Listen to both pre-released tracks here.

MISSISSIPPI BONES:

MALADROIT BLUES FOR THE COLORBLIND

I own every one of Mississippi Bones' albums, and have played each one enough times that the vinyl or cassettes would be worn through, if I had bought them in those formats.  This band spoiled me for many years with the frequency of their releases, but this new one was four years in the making.  I can't wait to hear the rest. 

Mississippi Bones:

Jared Collins – Lead Vocals

Dusty Donley – Guitar

Derik Dunson – Guitar

Jason Rector – Bass

Jason Miller – Drums

Heather Collins? – Backing Vocals

(can't find confirmation but I think she's back in the band)

Pre-order here.

THE WELL: 

AND FLAMES RAN LIKE LIVING ANIMALS

The Well is one of my favorite bands of all time.  You may recall that they granted me an interview back in 2017.  Anyway, I am really liking the pre-released track, and can't wait to hear the rest of the album.

The Well:

Ian Graham – Guitar and Vocals

Lisa Alley – Bass and Vocals

Jason Sullivan

Pre-orders available here.

GRAVEYARD: FEVER

Here's another band where every single album is a masterpiece.  The band broke up in 2018, and it was like early Christmas when I learned that they're back with another album (and a new guitar player).  There will definitely be more than 10 albums that deserve top ten status this year.  To sound like a broken record, again I can't wait to hear the rest of this album!

Graveyard:

Joakim Nilsson – Lead vocals and guitar.

Truls Mörck – Bass guitar and vocals.

Oskar Bergenheim – Drums.

Pre-order here.

STINKING LIZAVETA: 

CASSANDRA: PROPHET OF DOOM

Ultra-original and ultra-cool instrumental trio Stinking Lizaveta are back, sounding familiar and fresh at the same time.

Stinking Lizaveta:

Yanni Papadopoulos – Guitar

Alexi Papadopoulos – Bass 

Cheshire Agusta – Drums 

Pre-order here.

STEAK: STEAK

Steak's "Acute Mania" and Sergeant Thunderhoof's "This Sceptred Veil" were my top two albums of 2022, in no particular order.  Knowing this, I pre-ordered this self-titled album before even listening to the pre-released tracks.  If the rest of the album is as good as those tracks, this will be high up my top albums list once again.

Steak:

Chris Haley – Lead Vocals

Reece Tee – Guitar

Tom Cameron – Guitar and Vocals

James Cameron – Bass

Dean Deal – Drums

Listen to all three pre-released tracks here.

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE: PERFECTH

There is no discussion of the history of "stoner rock" without mention of Josh Homme.  While the styles of music he plays have been diverse, it is inarguable that even in his mellower stages, everything he puts out is polished rock gold.  

Queens Of The Stone Age:

Josh Homme – Lead vocals, guitar, piano

Troy Van Leeuwen – Guitar, lap steel, keyboards, backing vocals

Michael Shuman – Bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Dean Fertita – Keyboards, guitar, backing vocals

Jon Theodore

You can hear both pre-released tracks here.

VALLEY OF THE SUN:

THE BLACKLIGHT SESSIONS

I love this band and have seen them tear it up live.  So many albums to look forward to this fall!

Valley Of The Sun:

Ryan Ferrier – Guitar, Lead Vocals

Chris Sweeney – Bass, Keyboards 

Johnny Kathman

Pre-orders here.