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  

KING BUFFALO: REGENERATOR

After producing one of last year's very best albums, King Buffalo has done it again.

Regenerator is not a rehash of last year's album, but an extension of it.  While the songwriting is similar, King Buffalo's presentation of their musical ideas is ever-evolving, and growing more sophisticated over time.  King Buffalo is an elite level stoner rock band.  I LOVE how Sean varies his guitar tones as these songs progress.

Scott Donaldson: Drums

Dan Reynolds: Bass

Sean McVay: Guitar, Vocals, coach of L.A. Rams

 

and...

MAMMOTH VOLUME:

THE CURSED WHO PERFORM THE LARVAGOD RITES

Like the phoenix, Mammoth Volume keeps rising from the ashes after we think they are all done.  23 years after their first album, and 14 since their most recent release, Mammoth Volume return with a high-quality, thought-provoking achievement (and some of the most stunning album art I've seen in a long time*)

*click on that album art to enlarge it, and really have a look around.  Amazing, if you ask me.  Certain album art really enhances the mood and the credibility of the music it represents - rock 'n' roll album art deserves its own hall of fame, but just like the rock music hall of fame, it would get bastardized to include album art from artists who don't play rock.

Jorgen "Aston" Andersson - Vocals

Daniel Gustafsson -  Guitar, Keyboards

Kalle Berlin - Bass

Nicklas Andersson - Drums, Vocals, Percussions

Guest Performances by Richard Maisa (bass on two songs) and Iza Elfsröm (backup vocals on one song)

Art:

Illustrations: Johnny Dambrowski

Layout & Design: Peder Bergstrand

 

 

2021 Top Twenty Stoner Rock Albums (#10 - 1)

This playlist provides a taste of the very best rock albums of the year, in my opinion.

Each tune is one I've never included in a post or a playlist.  
Since these are the best albums of the year, I can make a great playlist without repeating:

          

#10: "A Better Dystopia" by Monster Magnet

The cast has changed, but Dave Wyndorf always surrounds himself with great talent, and 'A Better Dystopia' stacks up with the best of Monster Magnet's albums.

#9: "Memorial" by Spaceslug

I was still finding more to appreciate about last year's "Leftovers" and now I get a full length release right before Christmas.  Spaceslug is one of the very best stoner/heavy psych bands on the planet.    

#8:  "Working With God" by Melvins

The fact that the Melvins do whatever they want makes them awesome, but it also means I don't like everything they record.  This is one Melvins album where I appreciate everything on it.  The Melvins have managed to stay energetic and fresh for decades.

#7:  "In Carne Persona" by Duel 

Duel's best album so far, and it's top ten status for 2021 is indisputable.  Almost every song has a truly creative opening, and keeps you listening to the end.

#6: "The Burden Of Restlessness" by King Buffalo

King Buffalo made my top 20 last year, but are in my top 10 this year.  How they not only produced another album so quickly, but upped their game and took their songwriting to the next level is amazing

         

#5: "Hushed And Grim" by Mastodon 

          
Almost 90 minutes of new Mastodon.

Enough said.

#4:  "Like No Tomorrow" by Wedge        

One of the first albums to come out this year, and still one of the best.  Wedge has an authentic classic rock sound with inspired, catchy songwriting.  I'll be playing this album for years to come.

        

#3:  "The Family" by Dirty Pagans

Another January release that's stood the test of time, 'The Family' is raw power, with tasteful doses of  falsetto vocals that would make King Diamond proud.

#2:  "Endless Searcher" by Maha Sohona

Maha Sohona is a 122 foot tall demon who is able to spread disease and possess humans(*).  Sweden's rock band Maha Sohona has produced 2 albums, and both are heavy psychedelic masterpieces capable of possessing your entire attention span for their entire duration.

#1:  "Dunbarrow III" by Dunbarrow

As I've said before, Dunbarrow has become the gold standard for the genre that originally inspired them.  

I Wish You A Safe And Happy New Year's Eve!
-ULTRA  

 

TOP TEN TUNES OF 2021

These are my choices for top ten underground rock tunes of 2021, in no particular order, with the exception that I like to finish my top ten tunes lists with my number one track.  I like the way this playlist flows, and hope you do too.  Volume recommended.

Track List:

10)    "Bean King" by Kadabra: One of the catchiest songs on an album that will remind you of Asteroid and Colour Haze, among others

9)    "Not Fragile/Free Wheelin'" by Clouds Taste Satanic: Not written this year, but this 2021 medley of two BTO classics is definitely one of the best tracks released this year

8)    "Bouncing Rick" by Melvins: There are several tunes on this album that are worthy of the year's top ten list, but I chose this one

7)    "Edge of Glory" by Dirty Pagans: It's got a vibe of the most aggressive 1980's metal, and is relentless and triumphant

6)    "Death That Never Dies" by Dunbarrow: Dunbarrow has taken what the band Witchcraft started, and ascended to the next level.  Every tune on this album is great, but this is my favorite

5)    "Siren Song" by Jerry Cantrell: Yet another tune to get stuck in your head, from one of the greatest songwriters of our time

4)    "Mission From God" by Snail: Every Snail album so far has been good for a top ten song of the year, and that tradition continues

3)    "Teardrinker" by Mastodon: I have changed my favorite from this album a few times and may do so again, but at least one of them belongs on this list

2)    "Burning" by King Buffalo: King Buffalo has really turned a corner and taken their songwriting to the next level; This tune is a prime example

1)    "Fill My Mouth" by Goat: There was never any doubt that this would be my favorite track of the year, from the first time I heard it.  Friends with varied musical tastes have told me they like this one.

Coming soon:  top 20 albums of the year, in two installments.

 Released Friday:

There are reviews upon reviews heaping praise on this album, and I don't pretend to be able to do a better job than any of them, but do agree that this album is significant, and am just trying to herd any who don't know towards its greatness.

Here is the tune chosen for a video:

New York has no shortage of great stoner rock bands, but King Buffalo compares with the best of them.

They are (from left to right):

Scott Donaldson: Drums

Sean McVay: Guitar, Vocals

Dan Reynolds: Bass

ULTRA

AND THESE.....

KING BUFFALO: DEAD STAR

This song does not reveal what you'll find if you delve into this gem(*) of an album.  Released back in March, this is one of the year's best albums, and most of these tunes are etched in my brain from being played so many times.

King Buffalo are from Rochester, New York.  They are:

Sean McVay: guitar, vocals, synthesizer

Dan Reynolds: bass, synthesizer

Scott Donaldson: drums, percussion

(*) A gem must be rock; Mirriam-Webster's got my back on that one

THE DEATH WHEELERS: DIVINE FILTH

I previewed the title track back in June, and I'm happy to report that the rest of the album does not disappoint. It has been in my music rotation since the day it came out, and I expect it to be there at the end of the year. There's also a good chance that Motörgasm will make my top 10 tunes list this year. The Death Wheelers are Canada's shit-kickin' biker version of Karma To Burn and after only five years are in the pantheon of instrumental stoneer rock bands.

The Death Wheelers are from Vancouver. They are:

Max ‘the axe’ Tremblay 

Hugo ‘red beard’ Bertacchi 

Richard ‘the bastard’ Turcotte 

Ed ‘back from the dead’ Desaulniers

PSYCHLONA: VENUS SKYTRIP

I love the comment on this video that says that Psychlona sounds like "Farlung meets Fu Manchu".  It really hits the nail right on the head. Again, with the "can't stop listening to this one."

Psychlona are from Bradford, England. They are:

Phil - Guitar/Vocals
Dave - Guitar/Vocals
Martyn - Bass
Scott - Drums

Last, but not least:

TURTLE SKULL: MONOLITHSS

If you haven't noticed the pattern, these are all albums I've been listening to and can't get out of my head.  More psychedelic hard rock.  Thank God this music still exists. 

 

Turtle Skull are from Sydney, Australia.  They are:

Tobia Blefari - Percussion (congas, rain stick, shaker, tambourine)

Julian Frese - Bass, piano, vocals

Dan Frizza - Synths

Charlie Gradon - Drums, vocals

Dean McLeod - Guitars, vocals