Best of 2026 (May - August)

 2026 STONER ROCK & METAL

May - August

Epic Cover Album (and Epic Album Cover)

-(16)-: FORGERIES Vol 1, 1972-1984

(Severely) hard rock veterans -(16)- put out a cover album last month, and as indicated by the title track, "I Can't Get Enough".  These covers are not intended to sound like the originals, but to sow the band's appreciation for them.  In their words: "We’ve always believed that a great cover is not mimicry but revelation.  It’s finding a song that's already lived inside you since youth and letting it crawl out, bruised and changed. "

Check out the variety of covers here:

Yes, the Bee Gees' Tragedy is smack dab in the middle. And what a choice of Scorpions tune!  Matthias let it rip on his first Scorpions album, especially on that tune.

Anyway, here are a couple for your perusal:

And how about the album art, by the legendary Marald Van Haastern?  Definitely in contention for album cover of the year.

-(16)- are from California, and have been putting out devastatingly heavy music since 1992.

They are:

Bobby Ferry: Guitar, Vocals

Barney Firks: Bass

Dion Thurman: Drums

Alex Shuster: Guitar

Out Today....

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY:

GOOD GOD / BAAD MAN 

By the way, these guys will be at the Palladium a week from today, along with Clutch and JD Pinkus.

Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

Album here, and concert tickets here.

You know what to do.

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!

 STONEBIRDS: PERPETUAL WASTELAND

This French band from Brittany has been around since 2008 but are new to me.  Thanks to Ripple Music, I have found them and will definitely be checking out their earlier releases next.  I find this album addictive, and more engaging with each listen.  I love all six tracks, but these are two of my favorites:

 

Stonebirds are:

Fañch Le Corre : Vocal / Guitars
Antoine Delhumeau: Drums
Sylvain Collas : Bass/vocal

Heavy Medicine

 Because I had a craving for this recently, I am sharing 

New Graham Bywater Release..

TORSO: ANNIHILATION DAY

Ever since Grownman turned me on to Possessor in 2014 I have been a huge fan of Graham Bywater, the band's singer, guitar player and songwriter. His new solo project TORSO has now released music in each of the last three years.  This is one of my favorites from TORSO's August 29th release: 

Graham, with his affinity for horror movies and 1970s art style and imagery, could be likened to Rob Zombie in terms of vision, but with a raunchier and dirtier style of music.  However you want to describe it, I love it and recommend you go check it out here on Bandcamp.

Graham is from London.

 SKULLDOZER: BLOODY GROUND

Instant Album Of The Year Contender

I yam what I yam and I likes what I likes.  Portland's SkullDozer has given us a perfect combination of classic metal and stoner rock ideas, and I can't get enough of it.  Check out the opening track on their High Tide album:

SkullDozer is:

Ben House -Vocals
Justin Morgan -Guitars
Jay Erbe -Drums
Dylan Wills -Bass

Go forth, stand up and fight for that which is heavy!

DIRTY PAGANS: FOREVER HIGH

Dirty Pagans' 2021 album "The Family" was my #3 favorite album of 2021, and they have exceeded expectations with their latest album, "Forever High".  Heavy as an elephant made of lead with a belly full of rocks, there are hooks and riffs galore, expert songwriting, masterful musicianship and intermittent tasteful injections of falsetto.  "Forever High" should satisfy metalheads and stoner rock fans alike, and should make a lot of top ten lists this year.  Here is the title track:

And here is the opening track:

Dirty Pagans are from Adelaide, Australia.  They are:

Matty Dee: Guitar, Vocals

Gregory 'Francisco' Challis: Guitar

James Russo: Bass

Jarradeesha Taylor: Drums

If you liked these tracks, check out the other six here, and go spread the word so these guys will keep making music for decades to come.

DOOM BLANKET BINGO

This came out last year, but I'm just stumbling upon it.

BOG MONKEY: HOLLOW

Bog Monkey are from Atlanta.  They are different and VERY heavy.  I'd like to add that the drum player is a boss.  (Don't you think this tune has a bit of a beach blanket bingo vibe, but in a doomy style?)

"Facemint" is my early favorite, and did I mention that the drum player is bad-ass?

As far as I can tell, Bog Monkey are:

Zach(right): Guitar & Vocals

Joji(left): Bass

Doug(center): Drums

By the way, the album art is dope; it would make for a really cool black-light poster.

Ever-Changing Horizon

 COMING SOON

UFOMAMMUT: HIDDEN

If Italy starts a Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame, Ufomammut should be day 1 inductees.  If you like slow, heavy, skull-crushing doom, this is your band.  Actually "doom" isn't really the right word, but it at least gets you sniffing in the right direction.

Quoted from ufomammut.com,:

VERY IMPORTANT:
UFOMAMMUT= UFO: U(nidentified) F(lying) O(bject) – MAMMUT: italian for mammoth
“UFOMAMMUT” should be pronounced in the italian way, sounding like “oofomammoot”…

Ufomammut are:

Poia – Guitars and Fxs
Urlo – Bass, Vocals, Fxs and Synths
Levre – Drums & Fxs
Ciccio – Soundlord

"Hidden" will be released on May 17

MELVINS: TARANTULA HEART

On the theme of Rock Hall of Fames, if we started a Rock Hall of Fame where you actually have to play rock music to get in, Melvins have to be in it.  Name the style of rock, and Melvins can do it as well as anyone else.  

You should already know, but Melvins are:

Buzz Osborne – guitar

Dale Crover – drums

Steven Shane McDonald – bass

"Tarantula Heart" will be released on April 19th.

On the Horizon...

LA CHINGA: PRIMAL FORCES

Vancouver's La Chinga produced one of my top ten favorite albums of 2018.  At the time, I described the album Beyond The Sky as "everything that was awesome about late 80's hair metal, without the cheesy parts".  In October, we're getting another album, and based on the pre-released track, I am expecting it to be in my top ten albums of 2023.  There are nine other tunes to come, but here is "Light It Up":

In late June, Pale Wizard Records released the Budgie tribute album "Never Turn Your Back On A Friend: 50 Years Later", and La Chinga had one of my favorite tracks on that album, a bonus cover of "Guts", the leadoff track from Budgie's debut album.  Here it is:

In my opinion, La Chinga are better songwriters and musicians than a lot of the bands that sold out huge venues back in the 80's.  I hope you'll pass along this great throwback metal to a friend or two and spread the word.

La Chinga are:

Jason Solyom: Drums

Ben Yardley: Guitar, Vocals

Carl Spackler: Bass, Vocals

FROGLORD: WEDNESDAY

Here's another pre-released track from Froglord's upcoming album "Sons Of Froglord", due on July 7th

For those of you who came for the Metal

 If you checked out the last post but wished it was metal, this one's for you...

This was Superheavygoatass, from Austin, Texas:

Russell Abbott - Guitar, Vocals

Tim Hurt - Drums

Brent Boepple - Bass

Derek Halfmann - Guitar

 That new TORSO album made me nostalgic for some early Possessor.  

Check this out; this is the first Possessor tune I ever heard; the one that converted me.  (There was no video then; in fact it was hard to find a picture or any info on the band members at that time)

This song was from the 2106 album "Dead By Dawn"

Out today......

 

TORSO: A CRASH COURSE IN TERROR

I've been a big fan of Possessor since Grownman turned me on to them back in 2016.

Guitar player/singer/writer Graham Bywater has released a solo project, and while less flamboyant than Rob Zombie, Graham has similarly infused great music with a horror theme, complete with striking cover art and uniquely artistic videos.  

Here's the second video:

(If you're not doing it full-screen, then you're not doing it right)

I previously posted the first video here.

I love Graham's take on heavy metal, and only wish this album were longer (it's 29 and a half minutes).  I will compensate by including some of my favorite Possessor tunes along with TORSO in my commuting playlist this week.

Happy Friday

STONE CADAVER:

MEMENTO MORI, MOTHERFUCKER

OK, I think it's safe to say best album title of the year has now been determined.

The title and album art compelled me to see if the music was worthy of this kind of presentation, and I was abundantly rewarded.  Stone Cadaver is as bad-ass as the cover indicates.  Their music is uncompromising, deliberate and bludgeoning.  The songwriting exceeds expectations.

This one deserves extra volume:

Here's one of my favorites, "Murder Mountain."  It sets an atmosphere and hooks you into a story in a way that makes me think of Blue Oyster Cult's "Feel The Thunder."

Stone Cadaver are from Aarhus, Denmark.

They are:

Anders Bech Nielsen - Guitar, Vocals
Stevie Dalla-Zuanna - Drums
Andreas Cadaver - Bass

You can pick up "Memento Mori, Motherfucker" here on Bandcamp.

-ULTRA

 

    

       ROB ZOMBIE:

The Lunar Injection

Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy

WORTH THE WAIT

My only disappointment with Rob's last album was its length.  Lunar Injection is 10 minutes longer, and far more fulfilling.  Rob has always surrounded himself with great musicians, but this incarnation of the Rob Zombie band is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame worthy, in my opinion.  They complement each other extremely well and have carved out their own unique niche in the world of heavy rock music. 

Lyrics like "high above the earth in a garbage can...my name is Sleazy Rider Man...an outer space mother fuckin' boogey man" are exactly the kind of poetry I've come to love and expect from Rob.  All this, delivered with one of the coolest rock voices of all time.  Rob's distinctive vocal tones are simultaneously raunchy and forceful, and fit perfectly the traveling circus side-show freak half man, half monster persona he's created. 

Check out "The Ballad Of Sleazy Rider":

And here's a sample of why you need the physical copy.  Rob Zombie definitely remembers the days when you would just stare at all the album artwork and let your mind wander while listening to your rock albums.  He has always rewarded purchases of CD and vinyl with killer artwork, but this one's got an exhibit for each tune, with artwork and lyrics.

Now a video for "The Triumph Of King Freak (A Crypt Of Preservation And Superstition)"

John 5 is immense on this album; you'll notice it here for sure. 

The best incarnation of the Rob Zombie band is:

Ginger Fish: Drums

John 5: Guitar

Rob Zombie: Vocals

Piggy D: Bass

While there may have once been a debate about whether Rob's solo work was as good as White Zombie, decades later it's not even debatable that Rob has surpassed anything White Zombie ever did countless times (and I have real love for White Zombie)

Well that's my opinion.  Everybody's got one!

-ULTRA

DIRTY PAGANS: THE FAMILY

Multiple Generations of Heavy Metal Represented Here

This is the freshest heavy metal album I've heard in a long time.

Eleven months from now, I expect this will be on a LOT of top 10 lists.

I honestly can't see myself listening to anything else in the foreseeable future.  

It will take me awhile to stop finding things to like.  

The songwriting and musicianship are without flaws.

Here are two:

(there are sincerely no best two tracks on this album.  It is a work of art, beginning to end.)

Dirty Pagans are from Adelaide, Australia

They are (best as I can gather):

James Russo: Bass

Jarradeesha Taylor: Drums

Gregory Challis: Guitar

Matty Dee: Vocals, Guitar

Hope you'll help spread the word about this masterpiece of a heavy metal album.

-ULTRA

HASHTEROID: Hashteroid

First Class Metal/Stoner Hybrid

When I first reviewed the song "Green Caramel", I knew the full-length release was going to be special.  If you try to imagine what 1980's Megadeth smashed together with At The Drive-In with a splash of Motorhead mixed in would sound like, then you are in the right ballpark for what you can expect to hear.  Too trippy to be called just heavy metal and too manic to be called just stoner rock,  whatever phrase you use to describe Hashteroid deserves the word heavy in it.  

"Green Caramel" is so far one of my favorite tunes of the year, but here are a couple of other great ones:

"Cool Ghost" won't take too long to win you over:

"Stan The Wolfman" will go down as a classic as far as I'm concerned:

Hashteroid are from Vancouver, another addition to the ever expanding list of truly epic Canadian rock bands.  They are:

 Alex Gidora – Guitars & Vocals 

Grant Prouse – Drums

Mike Grossnickle – Bass & Backup Vocals 

Every track here is still growing on me, and I give this one my highest level of recommendation to metalheads and stoner rock fans alike.  

One of the best releases of the year.

-ULTRA