No more Matt Pike, but we've still got Al Cisneros, along with Dale Crover on drums and Bubba Dupree on guitar. Yes, this is a significant change, but damn does it sound nice. I am 100% on board after hearing these two pre-released tracks; how about you?
The full album (with 3 more tracks) will be out on September 3. You can find it here on Bandcamp.
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
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!)
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:
Two years ago, this band put out my #2 favorite album of 2023, and now they're back with another album of the year contender. I preordered this when I heard about it, and have been listening to it since its release on July 18th. These guys are no nonsense; just guitar, bass and drums and an old-school hard rock attitude. Check these out:
The album includes a heavy version of Billy Idol's "White Wedding". Here's a live version where the vocals seem to be possibly edited but the instruments seem legit.
Margarita Witch Cult are from Birmingham, the city that produced Black Sabbath and Judas Priest.
They are (l-r):
Scott Abbott - Vocals & Guitars
George Caswell - Drums & Vocals James Brown - Bass, Vocals, Synth, Mellotron, Guitars
Bristol, UK's Froglord Released their new album last week, and I haven't been able to stop playing it.
I've referred to Froglord's sound in the past as "groovy doom", but that doesn't quite describe the diversity they manage to provide, while still maintaining a distinctive sound.
Here's one that will be a lot of peoples' favorite. Lots of volume is your friend here. When the harmonica kicks in is the exact moment I was hooked:
Here's another one:
And if you didn't catch their cover of Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" that I posted a couple of weeks ago, you can check it out here.
Froglord are:
Vocals: Benjamin 'Froglord' Oak Guitar: Jordan 'Caudata' Cross Bass: Luke 'Bufo' Clemenger Drums: Chris 'Anura' Seldon
I rate this album a ten out of ten.
If you like it too, check out their entire catalog here, and spread the word so that they'll get the recognition they deserve and be able to come play in Boston some day.
A brand new Dead Meadow, with the last bass tracks ever laid down by Steve Kille, who succumbed to cancer last April. This was released today, but after one listen I believe it will land in my top few favorite Dead Meadow albums. Check out the lead track:
The incomparable Dead Meadow, originally from Washington D.C.:
Jason Simon: Guitar, Vocals
Steve Kille: Bass
Mark Laughlin: Drums
L'IRA DEL BACCANO/YAMA: TEMPUS DEORUM
L'Ira Del Baccano produced one of my top 10 favorite albums of 2023, and now they have a new single, released in a split with a band I had never heard before, but am so glad I found. Also released today, this album has already blown me away. Check out these amazing tracks:
This is so freaking heavy:
And here is the band that caused me to pre-order this album:
Yama are from The Netherlands. They are:
Alex Schenkels: vocals, bluesharp Sjoerd Albers: guitar Peter Taverne: bass Joep Schmitz: drums
And finally, released three weeks ago today, (and it's been in my car playlist shuffle ever since), is this masterpiece from a band that keeps getting better with each release:
THE DEATH WHEELERS: THE ECSTASY OF MOLD
The Death Wheelers add to their bag of tricks with each and every record. Easily one of the best stoner rock/heavy psych/doom instrumental bands of all time, these tunes never drag or get stale. The Death Wheelers are masterful songwriters and musicians, and take no prisoners. Even though it's early, I am confident this will remain one of my favorite albums of 2025 when December rolls around. Here is one of 10 tracks that each rate a 10 out of 10:
The Death Wheelers are from Quebec, Canada. They are:
Max ‘the axe’ Tremblay
Hugo ‘red beard’ Bertacchi
Richard ‘the bastard’ Turcotte
Ed ‘back from the dead’ Desaulniers
If you want more Stoner Rock, check out my Stoner Rock #29 Playlist here.
New Nightstalker (one of my favorite bands) due on March 14 on Heavy Psych Sounds Records
New Pentagram!!! due one week from today, also on Heavy Psych Sounds. With Tony Reed on guitar, this promises to be one of the best albums of the year.
New Lo-Pan due on April 4th. Lo-Pan's last album was their best yet, so I can't wait to hear the rest of this one.
Finally, another new Dope Smoker album (back-to-back years!). This one's due on April 20 (of course).
And the cool thing about it is that you can preview the current state of the tracks and give the band feedback. As stated on their Bandcamp community page:
"This is not the final product!
Don't like the mix? Too much bass? Not enough 'I didn't wanna see youz' on the first track? Well! Now is your chance to do something about it! Leave a comment with some feedback, I will reply to every comment!
Change to outcome of the album! Have your influence on the Album! Help me to finish this album!"
Enough said. Also, back in 2018, Sleep surprised us with a 4/20 release. Dare I hope that this may happen again this year???
Slower has released one of the very best albums of the year...again.
The five Slayer covers they released in January blew me away, and I still listen to all of them on a regular basis. Now, two more covers and four originals. In the words of Bob Balch, from the Heavy Psych Sounds Bandcamp page:
"Bob Balch here. This second SLOWER record “Rage And Ruin” consists of Amy Tung/Barrysmith (Year Of The Cobra) on vocals and bass, Esben Willems (Monolord) on drums and myself Bob Balch (Fu Manchu, Big Scenic Nowhere/Yawning Balch) on guitar.
When we started this album the original intention was to cover SLAYER’s EP “Haunting The Chapel” in its entirety. We started with “Chemical Warfare” then went on to “Haunting The Chapel” but once we got to “Captor Of Sin” we realized that tune didn’t want to be slowed down at all. So we started writing our own songs and I’m glad we did. The result is “Rage And Ruin.” Two sides with Slayer songs in the middle bookended by SLOWER originals. We are super proud of this record and can’t wait for you to hear it!! Mixed and Mastered by the very talented Esben Willems. Recorded at our individual studios."
Check these out:
Possibly the coolest cover tune I've ever heard:
And an original that's an instant classic:
If you've been reading this, you know the band is:
