“There is not much mental distance between a feeling of having been screwed and the ethic of total retaliation, or at least the kind of random revenge that comes with outraging the public decency.” ~ Hunter S. Thompson
A snide dig at the current state of the world. But that is all you will get from us here. For you have come to the right place, acolytes of the Apocalypse. This is Doom Charts, a global collective of bloggers, journalists, album reviewers, podcasters and radio show hosts with their fingers on the pulse of the heavy underground. Each month, our fellow heavy rock fiends submit their picks for the best new doom, sludge, metal, stoner and psychedelic rock albums. The results are compiled and tabulated into a chart. This month however they’ve sent their top picks of the entire doomed year of 2016. Yes, the Doom Charts have a final say about all those great albums released in the twelve past months…
First off we thank all the bands for releasing all that great music we find on the list and we say thanks for the ones that delivered equally impressive music that unfortunately just fell short of making this final Doom Chart list. Secondly, a thanks goes out to everyone working on the chart and everyone out there keeping the underground scene so vibrant. That means you, you silly bugger reading this. For everyone buying the records, cd’s, downloads, shirts, visiting the festivals and concerts, and wanting more of that good stuff over and over makes sure this thing we’ve got here can grow and continue to blossom into the most beautiful monster it can be…
Thanks for visiting the Doom Charts. Which we all do for the bands, the music and the fans!
50. THE HAZYTONES – THE HAZYONES
The Hazytones bring a hazy Graveyard-esque tone to the table with vocals brimming with eerie occult squelch, slightly reverberated, and riffs searing with tripped out groove… ~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
49. TROLL – TROLL
Their self-titled album’s calling card is a classic vintage sound –the vocals are clean and laid back, and the riff forecast is for early St Vitus/Trouble rumblings. There’s an almost horror movie vibe in the opening track ‘The Summoning/Troll’ and throughout most of the album actually, with the exception being ‘Infinite Death’ which has a very cool rocking stoner groove to it. This is the kinda gear to kick back to a bunch of beers with. ~ Clint Willis (Hand of Doom Radio)
48. AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED – ARC
An unexpected and extremely welcome dose of scathing Sabbath doom groove. The foot is off the accelerator here, and the riffs seethe out of the speakers with deadly intent. Amazing album. ~ Clint Willis (Hand of Doom Radio)
47. SINISTER HAZE – LAID LOW IN THE DUST OF DEATH
Putting on biker jackets festooned with Blue Cheer patches, Sinister Haze rev up their hogs and thunder down Highway Stoner/Psych/Doom to a soundtrack of filthy riffs and wild vocals.~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
46. CHILD – BLUESIDE
‘Blueside’ is a fierce heavy blues outing. Slow burning tracks that all build to inferno levels, five tracks of heaven and hell right here. ~ Clint Willis (Hand of Doom Radio)
45. LIMESTONE WHALE – LIMESTONE WHALE
They have full control of their sound which crosses multiple influences, without dwelling too much on them but transforming them into colorful compositions. Bluesy components, streaked with soft psychedelia but from deep hard-rock roots, with plenty of references to bands that have made history; A successful tasty sound cocktail! ~ Mari Knox Knox (Doommabbestia)
44. BUS – THE UNKNOWN SECRETARY
This four-piece from Athens serve us a meal from good old Hardrock, Proto-Metal and Doom. Starting in an unusual upbeat mood, they push you back in the early 80s without sounding too retro – this is hardrock! Killer riffs and catchy melodies lead you into what’s later called Heavy Metal and Doom. If you ever dug the old metal heroes, hurry and don’t miss this Bus. ~ Doktor420 (Stoner HiVE)
43. FIRE DOWN BELOW – VIPER VIXEN GODDESS SAINT
This stunning debut album will lead you directly into the desert. To burn the road through dust and smoke, while the dashboard Jesus continiously nods. A mesmerizing voice leads you to well known places without a moments bore. Big names come to mind but the footprints are not too huge for this Belgian mammoth. ~ Doktor420 (Stoner HiVE)
42. OLD BLOOD – OLD BLOOD
The music itself has such a wide appeal that fans of Classic Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, Psych Rock and Blues Rock will find themselves drawn to this album. It’s a dark, creepy and hugely enjoyable affair for an album that is killer and no filler. Old Blood have delivered a stunning debut album. ~ Steve Howe (Outlaws Of The Sun)
41. DUNSMUIR – DUNSMUIR
Two Words; Neil Fallon. Deserving more than just side band status, Dunsmuir slays us with super catchy metallic guitar crunch, simple yet hard driving rhythm, and as always superb lyrics and vocals by the man, the myth, Mr. Fallon. ~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
40. KHEMMIS – HUNTED
They nailed that sweet spot between heaviness (with a bit less reliance on thick stoner grooves), and accessible, memorable tunes that reflect rock and roll influence like Thin Lizzy and early Iron Maiden. Gorgeous dueling guitar leads and harmonies, peaking on the title track with some of the band’s best melodies, instrumental interplay, solos, and dramatic storytelling. ~ Tony van Dorston, Fast N Bulbous
39. CHURCH OF MISERY – AND THEN THERE WERE NONE…
This split opinions – with a revamped lineup, shared lyric duties and a more punky feel, there was a rumbling of “not a classic COM album”. Fuck ‘em, this a was a nasty riff heavy monster with killer solos and attitude. . ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
38. SALEM’S POT – PRONOUNCE THIS!
Trippy, swirling freakiness where the riffs stay in the ‘60’s but the energy comes from today. A modern day trip that makes me want to grow my hair some more! ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
37. LORD VAPOUR – MILL STREET BLUES
Heavy, heavy stoner played with shit loads of distortion that edge the songs into doomy blues. Add some attitude and some garage rock and this was one of the surprises of the year. ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
36. BEASTMAKER – LUSUS NATURAE
I’ve been calling this the “album of the decade” and I’m not sure I’m being hyperbolic here. It has everything I’m looking for: heavy riffs and catchy hooks in abundance. ~ Lucas Klaukien – ‘LK Ultra’ (Paranoid Hitsophrenic)
35. 1000MODS – REPEATED EXPOSURE TO…
Chuck full of fuzzy riffs, wide guitar vistas and unquestionable good hooks. Aggressive when it wants to be, wild and groovy or even bluesy. This album has it all, washes down all that came before and is a definite crowning achievement after ten years of playing. ~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
34. DEMONAUTA – TIERRA DEL FUEGO
Chilean stoner/fuzz that grooves like a bastard, has pedals dialled up to 10 and launches the desert sound into deep space. I love the smell of distortion in the morning! ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
33. MEPHISTOFELES – WHORE
Sabbath worship is evident here – and so what! Play 3 minor chords through a fuzz box and you cannot get away from their influence. These guys do it way better than a lot of others – great fun to get your head nodding.~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
32. WASTED THEORY – DEFENDERS OF THE RIFF
If you’re not ready for a beer brawling, bar hopping, biker rawking, ball busting, dick swinging, head banging good time then don’t buy this album. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it. ~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
31. MARS RED SKY – APEX III (Praise for the Burning Soul)
Still highly atmospheric the band seems to slowly build towards an apex with every song and the entirety of the album. With less tempo, the arcs are shaped with dreamlike vocals, space rock explorations, pop sensible melodies and hefty doom-ridden riffs. ~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
30. HOWLING GIANT – BLACK HOLE SPACE WIZARD PART 1
Shimmering vocals that lift with their melancholy harmonies and pummel with their aggression soar and dive, looping through massive riffs that cycle refreshingly across psychedelic doom, desert groove, and blistering metal for a blend that’s unlike anything else heard this year. Infectious! ~ MeteorJadd (The Ripple Effect)
29. MOS GENERATOR – ABYSSINIA
A recognizable territory filled with heavy rock that is bluesy, soulful and decidedly stoner. Energetic rock filled with amazing riffs and vocals that keep getting better and better. Mr. Reed perhaps besting himself with one of the later songs on the album There’s No Return From Nowhere. Which is heavy in every aspect possible, thanks to the acoustic parts and monstrous guitarwork. In fact, the entire record shifts and turns like that and keeps you on your toes. Spicy, hot and luscious! ~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
28. WITCHTHROAT SERPENT – SANG-DRAGON
Psychedelic Doom at it’s best. Wah-wah fuzz fights with the impressive riffs on display. Despair filled vocals that avoid the cookie monster cliché are the icing on this impressive piece of Devil’s cake. ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
27. TRUCKFIGHTERS – V
Everyone loves those Swedes and seeing them live will only make you love them more. Their stage antics and wild shows are always highly entertaining. You can count on them to show you a good time. With their fifth album they even managed to outdo their former releases. And they managed to outdo themselves, turning their wild no nonsense stoner rock into something much more adventurous. Which took quite a few fans to take slowly to their new album. But once the coin dropped, they were ofcourse once again victorious! ~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
26. FOGHOUND – THE WORLD UNSEEN
A perfect combination of Classic Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal and good old fashioned Hard Rock.Heavy anthemic rhythms set the mood. Hazy guitars and confident vocals create a damn fine powerful album. Shades of 70s classic hard rock spliced with a meaner modern day based Doom/Stoner metal sound. ~ Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun)
25. KING BUFFALO – ORION
These guys understands the concept of making a true album, regardless of how much that’s changed in this century. Orion is a carefully-paced record that conscientiously parcels out weighty, bluesy, drony-psych numbers that go cosmic one minute and anthemic classic rock the next. A sense of timelessness pervades ever bar and riff; King Buffalo have drawn from the entirety of heavy rock history and molded an iconic record to outlast us all… ~ MeteorJadd (The Ripple Effect)
24. MAMMOTH WEED WIZARD BASTARD – Y PROFFWYD DWYLL
“Y Proffwyd Dwyll” sees MWWB weaving into the space/doom fabrics of their sound elements of ambient psych and prog complexity.~ Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
23. DOMKRAFT – THE END OF ELECTRICITY
A groove filled slab of Stoner/Doom/Heavy Psych tied together with lashing of fuzz and riffs that draws upon a blues base but builds into so much more. ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
22. LA CHINGA – FREEWHEELIN’
Vancouver’s premier sleaze rock trio are at it again … actually, that’s a terrible start … La Chinga have pushed things to all new lows on their Small Stone Records debut. The name of the game here is capital A, Anthems! ~ Lucas Klaukien – ‘LK Ultra’ (Paranoid Hitsophrenic)
21. SLABDRAGGER – RISE OF THE DAWNCRUSHER
Grimy, Sludge filled riffs full of aggression provide a backdrop on which the vocalist can howl out his anger to his heart’s content. Intricate guitar parts raise this album above the normal sludge cut’n’paste merchants. ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
20. SVVAMP – SVVAMP
Arguably the band of the year over at Riding Easy Records, Svvamp jams along with a 70’s hard rock swagger dripping with groovy basslines contained by bluesy riffs and tie-dyed vocal croons. Riding Easy dug these guys up straight from the retro svvamps of Svveden and are we thankful for it. ~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
19. GOZU – REVIVAL
With enough rhythmic horsepower to crumble stadiums, the heavy rock act have released what may be their strongest yet, and most powerful Ripple release to date. Gaffney’s electric vocals paralyze the airwaves backed by the unparalleled groove tighter than the straps on a loaded 18-Wheeler chugging across the open highway! ~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
18. GOATESS – PURGATORY UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
This enticing embodiment of all that is Doom and sullen wields its power with fuzzed-out, thickened guitar tones and semi-bluesy branding. Intermittent touches of psychedelia embellish this forward thinking release of crushing intensity. Founded on fiery guitar riffs, shuddering rhythms, stone hard drumming and of course the very voice of Doom itself, Chritus Linderson. Every track is an irresistible head-nodder that ultimately offers you audio absolution with its grandeur. ~ Patrick ‘Dragon’ Whitaker (Metal Nexus)
17. BABY WOODROSE – FREEDOM
A glorious mix of Monster Magnet homage, garage rock and a rocket fuelled trip into outer space made this album an unstoppable piece of head banging fun. ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
16. YOUNGBLOOD SUPERCULT – HIGH PLAINS
This band have put their own spin on the blues adding to the genre elements of psych, doom, stoner and classic rock and shaking all these parts up in one big cocktail of musical excellence. ~ Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
15. CONAN – REVENGEANCE
Hack and slash imagery embedded into sludgehammer riffs, emanating from a dark dungeon underneath an age old castle… Conan never disappoint, consistently summoning forth a suffocating low end brutality on every album. Tony Roberts’ iconic artwork feels synonymous with Conan now – is he the secret fourth member of Conan? ~ Clint (Hand of Doom Radio)
14. SLOMATICS – FUTURE ECHO RETURNS
Lumbering deep space doom with phasers set to stun and the gravitational pull of a dying planet. ‘Future Echo Returns’ is a 2016 must have for any fans of the low and slow doom claw inducing riff. ~ Clint (Hand of Doom Radio)
13. BRIMSTONE COVEN – BLACK MAGIC
A truly primordial slab of occult metal churning out paralyzing black magic riffage unto the masses. Combining the guitar crunch of classic Deep Purple with a diabolically molten tone dripping with moody blues-based solos, Black Magic will meld your mind with supernatural groove. Unearthly bass lines primer the voracious guitar leads while disenchanted vocal chords polish the mystical atmosphere. ~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
12. BORRACHO – ATACAMA
Have Borracho managed to avoid the curse of the ‘difficult third album’? You betch’a “Atacama” is their best yet! ~ Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
11. WRETCH – WRETCH
Doom metal, stoner rock and the gravity of loss. There is so much drama hidden in this record it seeps out with every riff and every guitar color. Born out of the demise of The Gates Of Slumber and born out of the loss of a close friend, the new power trio moves through seven tracks that memorize all the goodness of doom, heavy rock and the world of fuzz. Raw, heavy and emotional. Once again, we must state with a heavy heart that so much great stuff has to be born out of loss and good things coming to an end… ~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
10. VOKONIS – OLDE ONE ASCENDING
Monolithic grooves of dark riff heavy desert/doom twisted and weaved into a sonic tapestry of traditional hard rock and metal. ~ Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
9. YEAR OF THE COBRA – IN THE SHADOWS BELOW
Occult/doom-lite grooves built around a massive basslines and thundering drum patterns. ~ Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
8. GREENLEAF – RISE ABOVE THE MEADOW
The second album since Greenleaf completed its transformation from a rotating studio assemblage of fuzz-rocking friends into a demolishingly tight, blow off the roof, riff-blasting real band, Rise Above the Meadow, sees guitarist, band leader and Dozer co-founder Tommi Holappa making a definitive statement. And that statement is, “I basically invented Swedish stoner rock, and it was all building up to this.” This is Greenleaf throwing down the gauntlet. You won’t find a more perfect archetype of what Sweden has done with the style: the stratospheric riffs, the desert-inspired spaciousness, and the battened-down, balls-out, hard-rocking energy, all of which Tommi’s founding band Dozer cultivated for nearly two decades. Now, Tommi and Greenleaf have taken up the mantle as Sweden’s reigning riff-rock kings. Take notice. ~ MeteorJadd (The Ripple Effect)
7. WITCHCRAFT – NUCLEUS
Doom masters still have the magic touch with this album. Clean vocals convey passion and pain while the music mixes old school with the present. ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
6. BRANT BJORK – TAO OF THE DEVIL
It seems like his mythical persona is ever growing and that he’s becoming an even bigger guru. It’s his voice; his warm and complete matter-of-fact uttering. With his laid-back tunes he guides us through his tried rock method. A dash of Hendrix, a truckload of soul and funk, wise words which could also be uttered by Marley and an attitude straight from the skater and surf community. The new record proves it all over again. It contains universal truths and sundried tones, raw and edgy on some moments, funky and soulful on others and always warm, windswept and dusty. And above all, bluesy and with an intense groove. The Tao cannot be articulated with mere words. But the man has found the right amount of music to do it with…. ~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
5. GEEZER – GEEZER
This is the 3rd review I wrote for Geezer‘s new album. What more can I say about this album. Spaced Out Stoner Riffs with a sideline of Heavy Blues running throughout. The epic three pronged attack of One Leg Up Sun Gods and Bi-Polar Vortex ranks as the most exciting Stoner riffs I’ve heard this year. This is an album that will entertain the hell out of you. ~ Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun)
4. ELEPHANT TREE – ELEPHANT TREE
The Brits rode high on the Doom Charts for four months straight. And rightfully so, their debut album is so chuck full of swing and groove, so densely packed with melodies and songwriting skill, you almost forget about the high intensity desert rock and blues roots that fuels it all. Riff upon riff and hymn upon hymn… ~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
3. COUGH – STILL THEY PRAY
Boasting a production sound that sounds like Satan was at the mixing desk, this is a thick slab of nasty, unrelenting hymns to the power of feedback, riffs and heaviness. ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
2. WO FAT – MIDNIGHT COMETH
Swamp blues performed with a psychedelic swirl of fuzzed out Doom. Heavy grooves and joyful jams made this a must on my playlist. ~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
1. ASTEROID – III
From the opening notes of the occult driven bassline to the searing guitar leads and strapping vocals scattered throughout the album, ‘III’ has managed to split the divide between being the heaviest, most evil sounding band on the planet to being a gentle giant in hard rock act in the scene propelled by enchanting vocals echoing like angels through the caverns of hell putting itself at this year’s Doom Chart’s album of the year. Now, don’t let that get your panties in a bunch at the fact that “this ain’t doom” as Asteroid demonstrate how it’s done with a melodic tendency and celestial intent rather than brute doom. The band maintain a super high supernatural psychedelic factor with 7 songs covering the gamut of life and death tales, encompassing the full spectrum of heavy rock and roll with a vocal tone off the charts and perhaps vocalist Robin Hirse’ most powerful yet. Intense stuff folks and our #1 pick for a reason. ~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
Thanks again to everybody who contributed to the Doom Charts during 2016 and special thanks go out to all that contributed to this year-end-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 2016 End of Year list edition of The Doom Chart was tallied by Bucky Brown and edited by Joop Konraad.
Doom Charts 
1. Saint Vitus – Live Vol 2
2. Beastmaker – Lusus Naturae
3. Black Rainbows – Stellar Prophecy
4. Mephistopheles – Whore
5. Blood Ceremony – Lord of Misrule
6. Holy Serpent – Temples
7. Goatess – Purgatory Under New Management
8. Electric Citizen – Higher Time
9. Volur – Disir
10. Low Orbit – S/T
11. Melvins – Basses Loaded
12. Year of the Cobra – …In the Shadows Below
13. Big Business – Command Your Weather
14. River Cult – Demo
15. The Well – Pagan Science
16. Possessor – Dead By Dawn
17. Turnip – Window Killer
18. Geezer – S/T
19. Eerie – S/T
20. Electric Wizard – Unreleased Halloween Album
Foghound – The World Unseen
Cough – Still They Pray
Comet Control – The Center of the Maze
The Hazytones – S/T
Castle – Welcome to the Graveyard
La Chinga – Freewheelin’
B17 – Goodbye
Merlin – Electric Children
Elephant Tree – S/T
Sonic Mass – You People Never Learn
The Watchers – Sabbath Highway
Sourvein – Aquatic Occult
Sinister Haze – Laid Low in the Dust of Death
Goya – The Enemy
Son of a Witch – Thrones in the Sky
The Company Corvette – Never Enough
Kroh – Altars
Ancient Warlocks – II
Red Wizard – Cosmosis
Horehound – S/T
Astral Cult – The Sacred Flame
Haast’s Eagled – II For Mankind
Lacertilia – We’re Already Inside Your Mind
Fuzz Evil – S/T
White Nails – First Trip
Megatherium – Superbeast
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice list dude!!
LikeLike
thanks for the list! found some new music for myself to enjoy.
and want to drop three highlights for me from 2016:
SUMA – The Order of Things
Spaceslug – Lemanis
Weedruid – Into the Acid Swamp
hail satan worship doom!
LikeLike
Just found out about that Spaceslug record. That would have made my top twenty I think
LikeLike
Man what with you people where is Talismana by Sweat Lodge? That’s prolly the best album other than beastmaker lusus naturae.
LikeLike