2022 Top Twenty Stoner Rock Albums (#20-11)

The first half of my top 20 heavy rock albums list for 2022. One song from each album, beginning with album #20 and finishing with album #11. 

Artist/Album/Track info displayed for the first 10 seconds of each tune.

Each tune is one I've never posted or included in a playlist.  
The idea is that since these are the best albums of the year, they're deep enough that I don't need to 
re-post in order to make a classic playlist:

                                                                                                           

#20: Dominance and Submission (A Tribute to Blue Oyster Cult) by Various Artists.

  This is a great tribute album; really well done, with the right mix of bands sticking to the original and bands taking risks.  

#19: "Ambos Mundos" by Cachemira

Throwback rock from Barcelona.  I've listened to this album so many times    

#18:  "totally..." by Stöner 

Brant Bjork.  Nothing else needs to be said.  Second year in a row this band is in my top 20

#17:  "The Eye Of The Icosahedron" by Dungeon Weed

Dimitri Mavra of Skunk has put out his second "Doom" album and it's immense.  I use quotes on doom since it's really not what you think of as doom but more like the music you imagined when you laid in bed at night and stared into the black light posters you hung on the wall back in the 1970s

 

#16: "Blue Rumble" by Blue Rumble

Yet another throwback rock album, this time from Switzerland.  Clearly Led Zeppelin fans, these guys are not good but great.  I love this album and would have already worn it out by now if it was on vinyl or cassette

#15: "The Singularity" by Wo Fat 

          

There is no other state that has a list of rock trios as great as Texas.  

Wo Fat have never stopped being elite.

#14:  "Sunrise On Slaughter Beach" by Clutch        

This one took some time to worm its way into my brain, but yet again Clutch delivers a must-own album.

#13:  "Forgotten Mansion" by Witchfinder

Witchfinder is well described as a mixture of Belzebong and Youngblood Supercult.  This French band produced one of my favorite EPs and also one of my favorite LPs of 2022

#12:  "Regenerator" by King Buffalo

Back to back years King Buffalo has put out some of the most distinctive music of the year.

#11:  "Blinded By The Wicked" by Hazemaze

Hazemaze had the balls to make their first Bandcamp release a live EP, and I have been a fan ever since.  I am saddened to hear that after producing this gem of an album, Hazemaze has decided to disband

#10 through #1 on New Year's Eve!
ULTRA  

 DUNGEON WEED

THE EYE OF THE ICOSAHEDRON

Dmitri Mavra has a superpower for writing 1970's hard rock-inspired music and playing it with  energy and sincerity.  His band Skunk's first album was and still is my favorite album of 2017.  A second Skunk album and a release from another band called Slow Phase are both must-haves.  In 2020, Dmitri founded Dungeon Weed.  Deviating significantly from the path he had been on, Dmitri created something I'll describe as Heavy Psychedelic Doom.  I listened to and enjoyed the first album lots of times, but don't think I had fully appreciated it until I heard the new album.  It's huge.  One story, weaved throughout 74 minutes of music.  Even though Dungeon Weed doesn't try to have a 70's sound, "The Eye of the Icosahedron" does maintain one important aspect of 1970's rock: it was meant to be played from beginning to end, while you gaze at the album art and let your mind wander.  That's how we old folks all listened to our music back then.

If I had to pick a favorite, this might be it:

Listen cover to cover and/or purchase "The Eye of the Icosahedron" on Bandcamp:

Dmitri is a gifted and inspired guitar talent who's good at surrounding himself with talent, and the versatility he's shown in this new project is impressive.  

Dungeon Weed is:

Dmitri Mavra - guitar, bass, vocals, synthesizer, graphic art
Chris McGrew - drums
Thia Moonbrook - vocals
Rama - synthesizer, sounds

 

DUNGEON WEED:

Mind Palace of the Mushroom God

PSYCHEDELIC DOOM

From the mind of Dmitri Mavra, who has brought us retro hard rock from his bands Skunk and Slow Phase, comes the trippiest doom album you've likely ever heard.

Way different than what he's done with Skunk or Slow Phase, Dungeon Weed shows how much of a creative force Dmitri is, and how broad is his love of rock.

I love this so much I bought the CD and a shirt.

Check out the video for "Sorcerer With The Skull Face":

Early favorite track is "Beholder Gonna Fuck You Up", but this is likely to change because the other tunes are so great.  If you like doom, heavy psych and/or stoner rock, Mind Palace of the Mushroom God covers all of those bases.  Instantly one of the best albums of the year, you need this in your collection.  I recommend listening to it from beginning to end, just like you did back in the days when your options were vinyl or cassette (8 track?).  You won't be disappointed.

Dungeon Weed is:

Dmitri Mavra: Guitar, Bass, Synthesizer, Songwriting and Artwork

Chris McGrew: Drums

Thia Moonbrook: Backing Vocals 

You can listen to and/or purchase this album here 

Here's the t-shirt I couldn't resist.  $13 plus shipping I thought was totally reasonable too.

More of Dmitri's balck light poster-inspired artwork:

If you missed it, check out my 2018 interview with Dmitri and John from Skunk here.

Hope you'll help spread the word on this gem of an album.

Stay Heavy!

-ULTRA