Metal Up Your Ears....

 AXE DRAGGER

Released yesterday, this album is bound to make a lot of "Best Of" lists at the end of the year.

As quoted from their Bandcamp page...

"Forged across state lines and fueled by sheer riff worship, AXE DRAGGER is the true supergroup heavy metal has been waiting for. Born from the long-distance communion of Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch and ex-Pentagram drummer Pete Campbell, the project achieved legendary status with the additions of original Pantera vocalist Terry Glaze and Dark Funeral bassist Fredrik Isaksson.

Soaked in the soaring 80s metal spirit of titans like Riot, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio and Armored Saint, and adorned with modern weight and production, their self-titled debut album is a timeless, earth-shaking beast, meticulously crafted crash by crash over a relentless year. AXE DRAGGER reloads the golden age of heavy metal in legendary fashion, staging a full-blown takeover of all headbangers' stereos worldwide. Prepare for the next heavy metal classic!"

Strong words, but this band delivers.  Hear for yourself.  I have had the pre-released tune "Axe Dragger" stuck in my head for over a week.

Here's another tune with a video:

Bob Balch's playing here, along with his work in the band Slower, shows he's not just a guitar god for stoner rock, but for heavy metal also.

Fredrik Isaksson: Bass

Minnesota Pete Campbell: Drums

Terry Glaze: Vocals

Bob Balch: Guitar

2026 Spitting Out Treasure....

All kinds of great music already released and about to be released this year.

Here's a taste:

JACK HARLON AND THE DEAD CROWS: INEXORABLE OPPOSITES

Picked this up on a recommendation and was pleasantly surprised:

Another excellent Australian band:

Tim Coutts-Smith: Vocals, Guitar

Jordan Richardson: Guitar

Brayden Becher: Drums

Liam Barry: Bass

NEW MEXICAN DOOM CULT: ZIGGURAT

Another recommendation I'm ecstatic I followed:

Stoner-Doom perfection from Sweden:

Nils - guitars, vocals
Fredrik - bass
David - guitars
Magnus - drums

MOTORPSYCHO:THE GAIA II SPACE CORPS

 

The mighty Motorpsycho return with another gem of an album, only a year after releasing my personal number 2 favorite album of 2025.  A week after release, I'm enjoying this one just as much.  

Norway's equivalent of Pink Floyd:

Bent Sæther – rhythm & lead guitars, lead & background vocals, bass 

Hans Magnus "Snah" Ryan – electric sitar, background vocals

Reine Fiske: Electric lead guitars

Olaf Olsen: Drums

DESERT COLOSSUS: APPARATUS

Dutch stoner rock veterans have released their finest album yet, and for some reason, decided to offer it as a "Name Your Own Price" release.  This appears destined for my 2026 top ten; I can't stop playing it.

Frank Zoomer: Vocals, Guitar

Leon van Wijk: Guitar, Background Vocals

Tom Collé: Bass, Accordion, Bacground Vocals

Frank Fey: Drums, Background Vocals, Synths, Trumpet

WEEDPECKER: V

Polish stoner rock veterans are contending for both album of the year and album art of the year.

Piotr Dobry - guitar,vox,synths
Piotr Kuks - bass
Zbigniew Promiński- drums
Piotr Sadza - sytnhs
Tomasz Walczak - synths

And last, but not least....

ROB ZOMBIE: THE GREAT SATAN

If you have read many of my posts over the years, you know I've always had a soft spot for Rob Zombie.  I've enjoyed whatever musical avenue he's gone down over the years, with my only complaint being that the albums are usually not long enough.  After years with John 5 on guitar, Rob's brought back Mike Riggs, who played on the Sinister Urge and Hellbilly Deluxe albums (both among my very favorites).  This album is getting very good reviews, and count me among the fans (although once again I do wish it was longer!)

Rob Zombie is from Haverhill, Massachusetts.

His current band:

Rob Zombie: Lead Vocals

Mike Riggs: Guitar

Rob Nicholson (Blasko): Bass

Ginger Fish: Drums

Out Today: Three Absolutely Epic Releases...

SUPLECS: HYMS UNDER A BLOOD MOON SKY

It's been 15 years since the last Suplecs album, and I definitely didn't expect to hear another one.  Far from being old and washed up, Suplecs have returned with a ferocity.  I preordered this back in December, based on this track they had released.  Suplecs have written some stoner-rock-hall-of-fame caliber songs over the years, and this is as good as any of them.

I'm just giving the rest of the tracks a first listen, but this one is another early favorite:

New Orleans' Suplecs are:

Danny Nick: Bass, Vocals

Andrew Preen: Drums

Durel Yates: Guitar, Vocals

BELZEBONG: THE END IS HIGH

Polish stoner metal/doom gods Belzebong are back with another face-melting, brain-dissolving, volume to eleven, must-have album.  Another album I pre-ordered (back in November) due to a pre-released track I thought to be as good as any of my previous favorites.

Hear for yourself:

Again, the rest of this was just released today, but here's the closing track, making a crushing entrance:

Belzebong are:

Sheepy Dude: Bass

Alky Dude: Guitar

Cheesy Dude: Guitar

Hexy Dude: Drums

L'Ira Del Baccano: The Praise Of Folly

Italy's L'Ira Del Baccano are such masterful musicians and songwriters that I pre-ordered this one without any pre-released tracks available.  Based on my previous three purchases, I was confident not only that I'd like this album, but that it would be a strong contender for my top ten of the year.  One listen in, I know I was right.  If you've checked out my previous posts about this band, you already know, but if not, make sure you've got your good speakers and sit back for this:

L'Ira Del Baccano are:

Alessandro “Drughito” Santori - guitar
Roberto Malerba - guitar/synth
Sandro “fred” Salvi - drums
Ivan Contini Bacchisio - bass

There's a whole lot of great stoner rock looming on the 2026 horizon, so keep checking back; it will be worth your while!

Chopped Up's DEBUT delivers a good ole ass kicking!

Chopped Up - Chopped The Fuck Up

Chopped Up come out of the gate swinging. If you like horror movie intros/outros, old school death and blood-spattered grindcore, you'll dig deep into these dudes. Chopped The Fuck Up, is a really fun and gorey ride. I love the pace of the four track EP. It's never self-indulgent or overly technical. Tracks all come in under 3:00 minutes which makes this one a great relisten. I'm a big fan of the combo pig squeals(used just the right amount) and the gag reflex triggering, gutteral vocals. My favorite track off this EP is Meat The Cleaver, which begins with a spasdic Ratamahatta-Max Cavalera style scat. I really respect the band's take on the genre. This is one you can throw on and rock out to. No pretense and it doesn't leave you feeling queasy. 

****And before anyone says, "but you didn't make mention of the band members who are well known Pro Wrestling veterans who've toured the world spilling their opponents (and their own) blood on mats around the world". Yes Shlak(CZW, etc) and Dirty Daddy(ROH/NJPW) are prominent members of this band (and several others over the years). I give this a Dave "what's his face" FIVE STARS. Happy? Now throw this on and frogsplash ya mother.

  

 STUFF I MISSED FROM 2025

(Part 3)

Here's another album from 2025 that should have been high in my rankings:

OTU: YOU'LL GET THROUGH THIS

Now here's one that I didn't really miss;  I bought it back in May, but didn't really recognize how great it is until the new year.  I liked it, but for whatever reason didn't play it much.  Recently I decided to revisit it, and realized what an absolute guitar legend Otu is on this album.  All twelve tunes have their own distinct feel, but each of them is sneakily completely bad-ass.  Here are two that might help get your attention, but all of them are worth your while if you like your music heavy.

Otu is a musical phenom, singlehandedly writing, playing and producing everything he puts out.  Perhaps you've seen some of his "If _________ Wrote ________" tunes on YouTube;  they are phenomenal.  To say that he nails every artist he attempts to sound like is an understatement, and now I am just starting to appreciate his own original songwriting.

Check out Otu on YouTube and on Bandcamp

 

 STUFF I MISSED FROM 2025

(Part 2)

Here's another album from 2025 that probably deserved top ten status:

SEEDY JEEZUS:  DAMNED TO THE DEPTHS

This is another one I learned about by perusing The Obelisk's top albums lists.  I've become such a Tony Reed fan and was a bit embarrassed that I had not heard of this project, but so grateful to have found it now.  This is an Australian band which had worked with Tony before, and he has now become an official member of the band. I frequently think of Pink Floyd when listening to this album, and I think it's because of the clarity of the sound and the quality of the songwriting.  Here are two of my favorites; see what you think:

The whole album is great, and rates a ten out of ten in my book.

Seedy Jeezus are:

Mark Sibson: Drums, Percussion

Paul Crick: Bass, Mellotron, Synth

Lex Waterreus: Guitar, Vocals, Synth

Tony Reed: Guitar, Synth, Mixing, Production

 STUFF I MISSED FROM 2025

(Part 1)

At the end of every year, I put out my top 10 albums list and a month or two later I find some gem of an album that deserved  to be on the list.  Should I re-do the list?  Heck no!  If I did, I'd keep finding more great tunes and in 2026 I'd be putting out a revised Best of 2012.  Also, I'm not pretending to be the ultimate authority on what's better than what. I'm just trying to spread good music to more people, so the artists I like will get more attention, make more money, and create more great music; kind of selfish and benevolent at the same time.  Anyhow, with that out of the way, here's one of a few albums that probably deserved to be in my top ten for last year:

My first awareness of Amy Tung Barrysmith came when I bought the two albums by Slower (in my 2024 Top 10).  I saw she was in a band called Year Of The Cobra but didn't investigate.  Fast forward to January 2026, when I checked out the Obelisk's 2025 Top Albums list and saw all the attention this Year Of The Cobra album got.  I felt obligated to listen, and was hooked in almost instantly.  I listened to it multiple times without realizing it is just drums and bass;  Amy is that good of a bass player.  Anyhow, here are a couple of my favorites from an album without any weak tracks:

Year Of The Cobra are:

Amy Tung Barrysmith: Bass, Vocals

Johanes Barrysmith: Drums

LOBO DEL HOMBRE's Debut KYHYJE is a stone(r) cold killer of an album.

Lobo Del Hombre

album: KYHYJE

 I was literally just sent a heads up from the band about their debut album, KYHYJE. LOBO DEL HOMBRE hail from Argentina and are a very solid Stoner Rock Band. The warm fuzzines and groove of their riffs generously heat the cockles of my frozen New England heart. I'm a sucker for Stoner Doom Rock Vibes and this band checks off all the good stuff on my list. You can feel the dust coming off the stereo speakers as the band confidently navigates an oftentimes well worn genre with some fresh gusto. The vocals, (although I have no idea what they translate to) are delivered with a sexy growl and well placed roar. - fuck yea!

The production is stellar. I get Motorhead meets Kyuss vibes and you can't teach that. Ok, back to looking like I'm actually doing some work. Spin this album!

This was a pleasant and welcome surprise. Great start to this dismally cold year. 

-grown man out!