Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, radio and podcasters and album reviewers from the doom-stoner underground around the globe. Each month, our critics submit their picks for the best new doom-sludge metal and stoner-psychedelic rock albums. The results are compiled and tabulated into the chart below. This is a one-stop shop for the best new albums in the world…
Fall is upon us here in the northern hemisphere as the blazing summer heat is winding down. That however, is no queue for the smoldering tunes hitting the streets this last month. The entire year seems to have been undergoing a similar trend month in and month out in the world of doom, stoner, sludge, and heavy psychedelic blues. Just when you think an album cannot possibly be topped another creeps in from the depths of the heavy to blow our minds. This months charts are here to present another round of notable albums to the attention of the dedicated purveyors of the heavy underground.
25. ZED – TROUBLE IN EDEN / NEW!
Released August 26, 2016 / Rock, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal Stoner Rock, | Ripple Music – Bay Area, CA
Kicking off the September charts and hot off the Ripple Music press we premier Zed – Trouble in Eden charting in with 80 points.
Desperation Blues was a great album but pales in comparison to Trouble in Eden. Bluesy hard rock to the highest degrees, Zed delivers another 10/10 album. ~Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer)
24. DOPETHRONE – 1312 / NEW!
Released August 29, 2016 / Doom Metal, Sludge, Psychedelic Heavy Blues / Montréal, Québec
New Dopethrone anybody? Of course. The Hand of Doom warns us!
“Lock your doors, lock yours windows… If you have the ability to provide additional security devices please do so”…. Dopethrone return with a short but extremely satisfying EP in “1312”, spewing forth around 12 minutes of menacing, evil, filthy riffology. Sickening sludge heaviness, just more kick ass gear hot on the heels of their split with Fister, and easily up to the high standard they set for themselves on 2015’s “Hochelaga”. Join the hundreds on Bandcamp that have already picked this up, they’ve done so with very good reason. ~Clint (Hand of Doom Radio)
23. HORSEBURNER – DEAD SEEDS, BARREN SOIL
Released July 8, 2016 / Hard Rock, Progressive, Sludge, Stoner, Metal / West Virginia
Clinching on at Number 23, Horseburner demonstrate the power of the allmighty riff prevails…
Do we have a new sheriff in Album of the Year Town? ~Bucky Brown (Ripple Music)
‘David’ is a Goliath ~Rhett Huebshmann (Cool Hard Rock Revolutioner)
What do you get when you mix Thin Lizzy harmonized guitar breaks with Mastodon like riffage and Baroness type vocals? ~Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
22. BABY WOODROSE – FREEDOM / NEW!
Released September 16, 2016 / Psychedelic, Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Stoner / Bad Afro Records
Like the plant they’re named after, Baby Woodrose unleash their new album, brimming with psychedelics like an astronaut on mushrooms peddling a unicycle through outer space! The Copenhagen 4-piece explode the scene letting ‘Freedom’ ring with a permafried mix of Monster Magnet meets Earthless on a tie-dyed arena touring with Uncle Acid. ~Bucky Brown (Ripple Music)
21. HOLY SERPENT – TEMPLE / NEW!
Released September 30, 2016 / Doom, Metal, Rock, Psychedelic Stoner / Melbourne, Australia
Holy Serpent return with a scorching 2nd album, ‘Temples’. In scenes reminiscent of the progression between the first and second albums from Elder you will bear witness to a band raising the stakes in crafting their own sound – heavy and oozing with melody, unexpected twists and surging riffs, searing wah soaked solos and that mile thick guitar tone has so much bite, incredible… The album seems to slow down and get heavier with each track. Penberthy’s vocals are out of this world, the icing on what is set to be an instant classic. Complex, yet so easy to listen to. And you will, again and again. Holy Serpent and Ridingeasy Records have some gold on their hands here \m/ ~Clint (Hand of Doom Radio)
20. EERIE – EERIE / NEW!
Released July 15, 2016 / Hard Rock, Black Metal, Progressive, Psych, Stoner / Tee Pee Records
EERIE’s debut album is being released on TeePee Records. Not the first label that comes to mind to release a Black Metal album. EERIE’s style of Black Metal is firmly rooted in Doom, Heavy Metal, Psychedelic Rock and Stoner Rock at times. The album is more Doom Metal with shades of pure Black Metal being the main heartbeat of this album…
…The album may not seem very progressive from the first listen but with each repeated listen, you begin to hear many different ideas throughout the album. EERIE’s debut album is an exciting and often thrilling release that I want to hear more of in the future. Superb stuff. ~Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun)
19. MOUNTAIN DUST – NINE YEARS
Released July 15, 2016 / Hard Rock, Heavy Blues, Psychedelic, Stoner / Montreal, Québec
Mountain Dust clouds the air with craggy blues swirling with evocative groove while it’s surly vocal chops darken the ozone with plumes of wicked riffage. Demented solos, beefy distortion and spooky harmonic undercurrents give Nine Years a superb debut album rating! ~Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
Is it too early to end the year and name this a top release of 2016? This is seriously some great rock and roll. It has a bit of a heavy psych vibe to it sure to please just about anyone that lays their ears on it.~ Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer)
18. KOMATSU – RECIPE FOR MURDER ONE / NEW!
Releases September 23, 2016 / Doom, Metal, Sludge, Noise, Stoner / Argonauta Records
Debuting on the charts in a tie with Mountain Dust at #18 is the latest from Komatsu. Steve Howe reviewed the album in full at Outlaws of the Sun and summarized below.
Dutch Stoner Rock/Metallers – Komatsu make a welcome return with their new album, Recipe For Murder One. Newly signed to Argonauta Records, the album sees Komatsu with a more determined drive compared to their debut album….
Komatsu do experiment with their sound on certain songs though the atmosphere firmly remains in the Sludge/Stoner Rock world. The production is first-rate as Komatsu have violent and manic energy coming at you from every corner. The instrumental work is perhaps the strongest part of the albums with the vocals not too far behind……
Komatsu have released a stunning new album that not only builds on past sounds but also forges an exciting future for the band. Recipe For Murder One is a must have album. Plain and Simple. ~Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun)
Stream New Track “The Long Road Home” HERE
17. SLOMATICS – FUTURE ECHO RETURNS / NEW!
Released September 2, 2016 / Sludge, Doom, Stoner, Heavy Rock / Belfast, UK
“Future Echo Returns” is certainly my favorite Slomatics record, and in a year that has already seen some phenomenal releases its confidently staking its claim to sit alongside the likes of Conan, Slabdragger and Mantar as one of the albums of the year. ~Simon Ross Williams (Outlaws of the Sun)
16. NAEVUS – HEAVY BURDEN / NEW!
Released August 19, 2016 / Heavy Rock, Metal, Grunge, Doom / Germany
Germany’s Naevus take the path of doom proudly trodden by the likes of Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus and their ilk and decorate its borders with touches of old school heavy metal and Swedish style retro hard/stoner rock. Warmly fuzzed guitar riffs and solos sit atop tight, solid drum and bass pulses coated with slightly nasal, but totally effective, vocals, giving the bands overall sound a slightly laid back sabbathian groove that should go down well fans of both The Sword and Orchid as well as those that like their doom a little more on the traditional side. ~Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
15. MAJOR KONG – BRAVE NEW KONG / NEW!
Released September 1, 2016 / Doom, Metal, Sludge, Instrumental / Lublin, Poland
These Polish instrumentalists are back with 3 tracks of massive doom hymns. Major Kong do not piss around with quiet atmospherics or calm passages – this is heavy, fuzzed up guitar playing that wants to get your head nodding while invoking the animal spirits and sonic sounds of Sleep and Earthless. In case I have not pleaded their case enough, we are talking about riffs, more riffs and huge riffs. ~Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
14. KROH – ALTARS / NEW!
Released September 2, 2016 / Doom, FFOBR, Retro, Stoner / Birmingham, UK
It would be a complete injustice if a band of KROH’s undeniable quality were to be tagged as just another FFOBR band, ok they are female fronted and the music they play does have an occult vibe but they are so far removed from being blues rock it’s laughable. Oliwia Sobieszek’s sultry tones soar majestically over a backdrop of raw distorted riffage and heavy pounding rhythm creating a groove that, apart from the quaint Polish folk of the first track “Krzyżu Święty”, is akin to standing at the business end of a Lear jet while song thrushes fly overhead. ~Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
13. BASTARD LORD – COSMIC TOMB / NEW!
Released August 1, 2016 / Doom, Metal, Psychedelic /Buffalo, NY
Seven tracks of psychedelic doom offer a heavy and groove ridden alternative to being Sabbath clones. Drums and bass pound out a majestic, brutal springboard for the guitar to spew busts of solos out as riffs born from the Devil are laid down with apocalyptic abandon. This is their second album and it should start to cement them more firmly onto the stoner/doom map. ~Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
12. DAWN – DAWN EP / NEW!
Released August 25, 2016 / Metal, Doom, Stoner, Fuzz, Metal / Sydney Australia
Drenched in a languid, dream-like haze, Sydney’s DAWN have an EP of pure alchemy forged gold on their hands. Rhythmic shades of OM in places, bursts of phasered fuzz in others, and ice cool vocals fading in and out of the misty riffs and splashing cymbals. In terms of pace DAWN keep it in low gear throughout, which will no doubt very much appeal to all fans of the ‘tune low, play slow’ gravity inducing mantra. Highly recommended listening! ~Clint (Hand of Doom Radio)
11. SHOGUN – SHOGUN / NEW!
Released August 4, 2016 / Heavy Rock, Stoner, Sludge, Psychedelic Blues / Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Holy god damn shit!?!?! Wicked down-tuned doomy fuzz with epic vocal arrangements and dynamic stoner hooks that penetrate deep within the psyche. This EP is better than most LPs I’ve heard all year. Like Steve said, this deserves to be heard on wax. Favorite track: Quest for Freedom. ~Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
10. SPIRIT DIVISION – NO RAPTURE / NEW!
Releases July 29, 2016 / Hard Rock, Doom, Psychedelic, Metal / Indianapolis, Indiana
Slightly schizophrenic but highly enjoyable “No Rapture” shows a band who are not gonna be tied down to one specific genre or sub-genre, a band who wear their diversity like a badge of honor, saying to the world this is what we do …deal with it
Check ’em out. ~Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
9. HOWLING GIANT – BLACK HOLE SPACE WIZARD
Released August 12, 2016 / Hard Rock, Doom, Psychedelic, Stoner, Punk/ Nashville, TN
Howling Giant are still blowing our minds with their new EP. Stay tuned as there are two more chapters of this saga. Its a ripper.
Howling Giant put the country music capital on the map with their new EP. Its’ killer Anti-Country musical content is space-y psychedelia that fuels this heavy ship’s trek across the expanse of the Rock-o-sphere…Rocketing across the interstellar airways on a stellar path of massive grooves, ones fueled by the thrust of the ever-powerful riff and its incendiary combustion, Howling Giant make themselves heard throughout the cosmos on these four out-of-this-world tracks. ~Dragon (Metal Nexus)
8. FALL OF AN EMPIRE – CROWEATER: AN ECHO IN THE BONES / NEW!
Released August 17, 2016 / Hard Rock, Blues, Psychedelic, Stoner/ Spartanburg, South Carolina
Dark lyrical themes of inner turmoil (Confession), survival against the odds (Croweater), rage,anger and revenge (Uprising) are wrapped in a musical blanket of fuzzy desert/stoner groove injected with elements of bluesy hard rock, polished classic rock and salted with more than a pinch of gritty southern swagger. ~Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
Bone breaking riffs echo with soothing solos and clean, powerful vocals. This is some seriously good heavy rock n roll! Bluesy, psychedelic, metallic, and loaded with rhythmic groove. ~Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
7. TRUCKFIGHTERS – V / NEW!
Releases September 30, 2016 / Fuzz, Heavy Fuzz, Stoner Fuzz, Desert Fuzz, Fuzz / Örebro, Sweden
In their fifth studio album, titled V (Fuzzorama Records and Century Media Records), Truckfighters continue this evolutionary path through (to my opinion) their more mature release. Nevertheless, this album deserves more than a listening and It should be listened carefully and with a mind free from judgments and prejudices….
…To be honest, it took me a very long long time to metabolize this new work of Truckfighters, as it is unlike anything you would expect from the band. To my opinion it represents the most mature and complete album released so far by the fuzzy Swedish trio, where does not shine only a single characterizing element as in some other past productions. In this work we perceive the care with which Truckfighters have rewritten some of their paradigms (e.g. the obsessive use of fuzz that has always distinguished their sound) in a more structured way. ~Outlaws of the Sun
6. BRANT BJORK – TAO OF THE DEVIL / NEW!
Releases September 30, 2016 / Hard Rock, Stoner, Blues, Psychedelic / Napalm Records
There is no denying that Brant Bjork is the coolest guy in modern rock n’ roll. Born in the heat of Southern California, the Low Desert Punks are back with a bluesy affair of classic rock riffs and playa encrusted jams. Veering from the patented funk-laden groove of his early material ‘Tao of the Devil’ present a fresh side of Brant angling more towards the heavy blues, littered with extended jams and savory riffs. Tao re-invigorates the band a step further than the impressive Black Power Flower. Reeferized riffs, dust devil hooks, and retrofied solos dominate on the new one. Napalm Records needs bands like this to maintain their diverse roster. Brant Bjork has graced the rock n’ roll podium once again. ~Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
5. HAUNTED – HAUNTED / NEW!
Released August 31, 2016 / Doom, Stoner, Metal, Occult Rock / Twin Earth Records
Haunted are an aptly named stoner doom band from Italy with haunting female vocals .
It’s not surprising they made the charts on their debut album . There brand of doom has broad appeal with touches of sludge , psychedelia, stoner , and occultic vibes . It is dark and eerie from start to finish. ~Papa Paul (Doomed & Stoned)
4. BEELZEFUZZ – THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOM / NEW!
Released August 19, 2016 / Doom Metal, 80’s, Classic Rock, Stoner Rock, Hard Rock /
Beelzefuzz review beelzefuzz sophomore album is a lesson in retro seventies acid rock . They run the whole gauntlet of what made the seventies great . Classic riffs, doomy bass lines, searing leads, a healthy dose of psychedelia. Then there’s the vocals. This is one of the great vocal performances since the seventies. ~Papa Paul (Doomed & Stoned)
3. OLD BLOOD – OLD BLOOD / NEW!
Released August 27, 2016 / Acid Doom, Stoner, Hard Rock / Los Angeles, CA
It’s heeeerre octopus and company have created a legend ! ACID DOOM ! Perfection achieved? How can you be sooooo heavy, yet so smooooth? Organ driven old blood doom, I mean old school, or do I? Old Blood Doom!!!!!! A new genre is born! ~Papa Paul (Doomed & Stoned)
2. SHADOW WITCH – SUN KILLER / NEW!
Released August 15, 2016 / Heavy Metal, Grunge, Doom, Stoner, Hard Rock / Kingston, New York
Shadow Witch debut the charts at #2 weighing in at 385 points of doomy bliss. See what we had to say. Mandatory listen.
Wow. What else can I say really? The debut from Shadow Witch is an all killer, no filler hard rock album. It’s got a little something for everyone. Full Review ~Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer)
Seventies inspired stoner rock ! Make no mistake about it , this is stoner rock! ~Papa Paul (Doomed & Stoned)
Stoner drenched riffs flashing with slag fueled metallic fury. Retro groove hot enough to melt the shadow of the witch beneath the dying sun. ~Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
1. WRETCH – WRETCH / NEW!
Released August 26, 2016 / Heavy Metal, Progressive, Doom, Stoner, Hard Rock / Bad Omen Records
Stealing the show this month with a total of 545 points (ya we base these on a point system) is Wretch. Check out what local fan Melissa of Doomed & Stoned has to say.
The biggest difference you’ll find between The Gates of Slumber and Wretch is that the days of swords and sorcery from those great Gates records are gone but has been replaced with the grim reality of life and death. Possibly still mourning the death of The Gates of Slumber Jason McCash, many listeners will notice influence and atmosphere comparable to Saint Vitus. Of course there is more than just doom and gloom, there are a few surprises to be found in these gems. Moments of 70’s blues, even an obscure Judas Priest cover. I don’t want to give it all away, so go listen for yourself! Doom and heavy metal fans alike agree that the debut from Wretch is one we’ll be listening to for years. ~Melissa (Doomed & Stoned)
Thanks again to everybody who contributed to the September 2016 Doom Chart list, and those of you who continue to check it out. You folks help give voice to the underground:
A.S. Van Dorston (Fast n’ Bulbous); Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned); Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer); Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect); Clint (Hand of Doom Radio); ‘Doktor420’ (Stoner HiVe); Doombeard (DoomBeardZine); Dragon (Metal Nexus); Gram Pola, Son of Sam (Dirty Denim); Pat Harrington (Electric Beard Of Doom); Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist); Lucas Klaukein – ‘LK Ultra’ (Stoner HiVe, You May Be Dead & Dreaming); Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe); Lyk (Phantasmagoria); Mari Knox Knox (Doommabbestia); Martin Petrov (Rawk’n’Roll – the ‘pass-me-that-bottle’ webzine); Melissa (Doomed & Stoned); MeteorJadd (The Ripple Effect); Papa Paul (Doomed & Stoned); Rod Reinhardt (Captain Beyond Zen); Skip (The Burning Beard); Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun); Steve Miller (Vertical Chamber Apparatus); Steve Woodier (Shrieks From Below); Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe); Tanguy Dupré – “Mr Fuzz” (More Fuzz).
This September 2016 edition of The Doom Chart was edited by Bucky Brown.
Doom Charts 
I really appreciate this list! Every month I check it out religiously and share with friends. Even at Psycho I was surprised how many people didn’t know about it. Keep up the good work folks!
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I want to express my thanks as well. I’m sure it must be a bit of an onerous task to compile this list every month but I anticipate it and certainly enjoy it every time the calendar rolls forward. I’ve discovered and bought many great albums as a result. Please keep up the great work. Thanks again!
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Great list! Wretch and Old Blood are definitely my favorites.
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Thanks for beeing on this List!
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