Welcome to the Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio and podcasters, and album reviewers from the doom-stoner-heavy underground around the globe. Each month, our critics submit their picks for the best new doom, sludge metal, stoner-psychedelic and heavy 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…
Last month we featured every album submitted over the course of the year in one big happy list you could read here. As you may have noticed, the styles within represent a wide cross section of music within one big heavy underground scene. The Doom Charts are here to showcase not just doom, but rock, metal, blues and psych across the heavy music scene worldwide. If January is any sign of what’s to come in 2018 we are in for a treat as the tally indicates a new beginning, a fresh start, a resolution to continue the support of our underground heroes doom and abroad. We are all on the same team; doom, stoner, sludge, metal, punk, blues, etc. Comment below for suggestions, thoughts, and join in on the fun.
25. TRAIL – SPACES / NEW!
(Darmstadt, Germany)
This five-track debut album has all the dynamics and tension arcs one desires from a mostly instrumental psychedelic rock adventure. It is grounded in stoner and flies high in all its heaviness. The German fourpiece has a knack for making something highly natural out of progressive and trippy music. This adventure takes you places. And while most of these records seem to take you to outer space or into a realm beyond imagination. This one burrows deep into your fantasy and describes a fictional reality that feels to real you extend your arms as if to touch it. Sure, agreed, this is just a fancy way or describing something awesome that we really really love!”
~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
24. OZONE MAMA – COSMOS CALLING / NEW!
(Budapest, Hungary)
Cosmos Calling by Ozone Mama has been rightfully praised for its soulful vocalizations, its sassy riffing, and fresh rhythms – all of which can be traced back in the bloodline to the musical greats of the ‘60s and ’70s. At every turn, from “Straight On Till Morning Light” to “High Ride” to “Moon Pilot,” the band shows good musical instincts at every turn. Hell, the gritty “Freedom Fighters” may just become the anthem we were all looking to put a little fire in our belly in gumption in our function. Surely a sound like this is coming from the mountains of California? The deserts of Arizona, maybe? Okay, ya got me; it’s Sweden, isn’t it? As a matter of fact, for a sound this fresh you’ve got to high tail it all the way to Budapest, where there’s quite an impressive stoner-doom scene – I’ve been telling you guys: keep your eyes on Hungary!
~Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned)
23. AN EVENING WITH KNIVES – SERRATED / NEW!
(Eindhoven, The Netherlands)
An Evening With Knives offer their new album. It’s a steady and heavy progressive mix of Doom, Stoner and Post-The-Hell whatever styles of sounds. The mood is heavy and very atmospheric with superb vocals from Marco. Serrated is not an easy album to listen to. Maybe that’s the overall point of the album. To make you feel uncomfortable and revisit the album. As the band contain a lot of different ideas for most of the songs held on the album. Overall this is a superbly entertaining album that leaves you wanting more.
~Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun)
22. HEAVYDEATH – SARCOPHAGUS IN THE SKY / NEW!
(Sweden)
This album can be covered in three words – heavy as fuck! Growling vocals sit uneasily on top of bludgeoning riffs that summon up an atmosphere of doom and darkness. A claustrophobic production that surrounds the listener with the weight of these songs makes sure that when the music drops down to a single instrument, you mentally take a moment to get your breath back before the next onslaught begins.
~ Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
21.MYTHIC SUNSHIP – UPHEAVAL / NEW!
(Copenhagen, Denmark)
Mythic Sunship blurb: “It’s been a good start of the year for psychedelic rock! For all that good trippy music! Upheavel, the new Mythic Sunship record, delivers the goodies once again. Grade A psychedelic space rock straight from the heart of Denmark. It’s jazzy, it’s groovy, it’s sunny and it’s spacious doom with the exact right amount of kraut. Progressive repetition in its purest form! ”
~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
20. KAYLETH – COLOSSUS / NEW!
(Verona, Italy)
Italian space rockers Kayleth have an almighty epic record on their hands. Like the bastard son of Orange Goblin and Monster Magnet, this album sets out for outer space with heavy riffs, plenty of fuzz and enough attitude to destroy anything that stands in their way.
~Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
19. ABSENT – TOWARDS THE VOID / NEW!
(Brasília, Brazil)
“Towards the Void” is the showcase of a band that counts with very competent musicians that defy talent in the sound they produce. Mixed and mastered in the Studio Bacamarte, Pernambuco; guitar, bass and drums recorded live in the Studio FM2 in Brasilia; and vocals to the part in the “refugee” of Thiago and Caio, the work presents a production polite enough to doesn’t sound expendable and null, but visceral so that any emotional and atmospheric work dirt load is preserved. In the course of the work we will notice references of bands like Electric Wizard, Monolord, Cathedral, Acid King, Windhand and so on. “Towards the Void” may be the album that many Doom Metal fans, especially those less open to the more traditional psychotropic and atmospheric verve, did not expect or did not order, but who suddenly invaded the end of 2017 and established itself as the work that every fan of the genre in the country NEED to listen.
~Matheus Jacques (October Doom)
18. SHADOW WITCH – DISCIPLES OF THE CROW
(Kingston, New York)
Psychedelic Doom Metallers Shadow Witch return with their new album Disciples Of The Crow. Newly signed to Salt Of The Earth Records it’s good to see the band expand more on their progressive sound with opening track Love Could Be Like This creating quite an uplifting Doom/Stoner Metal vibe. It’s very demonic parts but it’s so damn catchy with the band writing 80’s classic sounding Doom/Hard Rock lyrics. The vocals from Earl are more focused and soar to new heights. Shadow Witch could have easily released Sun Killer Part Two but nope, they have raised the ante and excitement with a more daring and genuinely exciting record.
17. THE RE-STONED – CHRONOCLASM
(город Москва, Russian Federation)
On December 1, Oak Island Records launched the eighth study album of the Russians, The Re-Stoned, a delirious piece of progressive instrumental, a master piece of fine compositions of heavy blues. The firmament of the Re-Stoned shines back in the darkness like fireflies in the forest. Another fairy tale to take you to the gates of nirvana.
~Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235)
16. FUZZ LORD – FUZZ LORD / NEW!
(Chillicothe, Ohio)
Fuzz Lord lives up to its name with a crushing yet melodic output of heavy stoner/doom. The guitars attack with progressive intros and interludes with an asphyxiating rhythm drenched in fuzzy groove. The vocals command like a whiskey driven pirate exploring the stage like a ship on shark infested waters.
~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
15. THE AGE OF TRUTH – THRESHOLD
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
This is an absolute beast of a hard rock album and The Age Of Truth are down to earth guys, to boot. Prepare to be riffed to pieces by The Age Of Truth‘s debut into the heavy underground family via ‘Threshold’. The vocals ooze with masculinity, as the guitar strokes us with breakneck precision guided by tight, brooding rhythm.
Stadium-level heavy rock for the underground masses. Pick this up today and save the lies for tomorrow.
~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
14. FU MANCHU – CLONE OF THE UNIVERSE / NEW!
(San Clemente, CA)
Fu Manchu has consistently played to their strengths on this album. While the album is rocking and fun on one hand it is a little dark and pessimistic in spots, kind of like a good monster movie. The record hits on all the sweet spots of classic Fu Manchu, astral planes, monsters, speed and a little bit of paranoia (not sure what would be causing that…..)
~Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun)
13. CLAMFIGHT – III / NEW!
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Simply titled III, the darkness shines bright with amazing melodies and magical atmospheres. Leaning towards a progressive take on everything heavy, the five tracks on this record waft by and leave an odor of pure excellence. The intense sludgy and filthy metal is still there. But Clamfight has turned into something much more on this record. There are ominous almost ambient grooves here, as if a massive storm is about to hit. There are moments of droning thunder, where the blizzard is all around you. And there are moments of pure beauty, a ray of guitar sunlight bursting through or a breeze of low humming bass. And all of this seems to translate an unholy odyssey, a trial of the Gods. And all of that comes with a massive amount of raging riffs and pulverizing drums. Yes, III has it all! Dynamic, scorching, uplifting, aggressive and majestic! III has it all! ”
~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
12. ORPHANS OF DOOM – STRANGE WORLDS/FIERCE GODS / NEW!
(Kansas City, Missouri)
With a name like the Orphans of Doom you would expect to hear something a little doomy and dank but these Kansas City dudes, although incorporating doomic elements into their sound, are actually more of a post-rock/sludge hybrid. “Strange Worlds/Fierce Gods” delivers swirling, post-rock flavoured guitar refrains and intricate solo’s, that border on the edge of progressive. amidst a feral onslaught of bear-like bellows, spine crumbling bass and pulverising percussion, the trio combining to create a huge whirlwind of noise easily strong enough blow your mind as well as your speakers.
~Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)
11. SOMALI YACHT CLUB – THE SEA / NEW!
(Львов, Ukraine)
Only magic that becomes one of the best sensations and purges for your everyday stress. More experienced and more skilled musicians, but also more ambitious on their ideals. exceeding expectations
~Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235)
10. THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX – FORCE FIELD
(Neptune, New Jersey)
In an age where tracks seem to be getting longer and longer, this album is a blast through riff an’ roll territory – 12 songs in 35 minutes show that The Atomic Bitchwax are here to deliver some short, sharp shocks of 70’s groove, punky aggression and insanely catchy stoner anthems that will make your day light up.
~Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
9. APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE – FROM GOLD TO ASH / NEW!
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
After four years, Apostle of Solitude is back with new music for the downtrodden and broken people of the world. From Gold to Ash is their heaviest and most somber outing to date, and you won’t find any up-tempo songs like on their previous efforts. What you will find are slow burning, complex songs with intricate vocal harmonies courtesy of Chuck Brown and Steve Janiak. The seven tracks perfectly encapsulate the feelings of being trapped beneath the cloud covered grey skies of Indianapolis during the dreary winter months. Highlights include the sleepy melodies of “Autumn Moon” and the solemn heartfelt vibes of “My Heart is Leaving Here.” Highly recommended!
~Bryan Coffey (Indy Metal Vault)
8. WITCHCRYER – CRY WITCH / NEW!
(Austin, TX)
Witchcryer starts things off with just enough fuzz to make you itch, but those smooth as silk riffs and hooks will snare you in ’til the end. Pulverizing, no frills drums set pace with deep, gut-foraging bass lines and then… Ms. Bravo. Those seductive, decidedly feminine tones host a simmering rage beneath and that angst slips out in every song.
This is straight heavy doom rock with zero tease and comes at you head first to spin one mighty platter of menace. ‘Cry Witch’ is not veiled in gimmick or attempting to conceal mimicry in smoky haze. No member of Witchcryer is going kiss your ass to get you to listen, either. But listen to it, you should.
~Leanne Ridgeway (Riff Relevant)
7. WOLFTOOTH – WOLFTOOTH / NEW!
(Richmond, Indiana)
On their debut full-length, Wolftooth borrows nothing but the best from their musical idols and leaves the rest on the cutting room floor. Strong song writing, bluesy grooves, thrashy riffs, and southern harmonies make this one a real winner. Whether it’s the bouncing mid-tempo beat of “Aegaeon” or the slower paced rocker “Season of the Witch,” there’s a lot here to enjoy. I recommend listening while LARPing with your friends in an open field, or maybe something more low-key like an imaginary battle with your six-year-old son in the comfort of your living room.
~Bryan Coffey (Indy Metal Vault)
6. KING BUFFALO – REPEATER
(Rochester, NY)
This EP is the next step that King Buffalo started with their debut album “Orion”. These three songs were developed in their studio space, honed down by being performed live and have finally been recorded. Big grooves are order of the day here, giving the songs room to breathe while the band weave their spell of fuzzed up psychedelic hymns dedicated to the worship of mind altering music.
~Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
5. MERLIN – THE WIZARD / NEW!
(Kansas City, Missouri)
Kansas City riff conjurers Merlin have gifted us with yet another new record, ‘The Wizard’ (2018). If you think this is just doom as usual, think again. In fact, give this a listen right now. The first thing you’ll notice is the prominence of the saxophone, something Merlin have been experimenting with off and on for some time, but now have incorporated into their compositions in a way I find quite convincing.
“It’s been four long years since Merlin’s last conceptual album, ‘Christ Killer’, was released,” frontman Jordan Knorr tells us. “In that time of chaos, band members have come and gone, the cast has changed, equipment has broken, alliances were created, and a whole lot of rituals have been performed…Merlin have twisted our sound even further into the realms of the mystic unknown and unfamiliar territory.” All things considered, ‘The Wizard’ is a joyous celebration of doom, psychedelia, and magick.
~Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned)
4. GRAJO – SLOWGOD II / NEW!
(Spain)
For a few moments there I thought I’d hit play on a new Conan album… . Then those stellar Grajo vocals scythe through the low, low riffage. Slowgod II is the bands much anticipated second outing and it has been worth the wait. Grajo deliver the gravity from a variety of angles: prehistoric slow and low (Altares, ER) , more upbeat paced stoner riffs that bristle with hooks and maintain the weight (Queen Cobra, Horror and Pleasure), and exotic heavy mesmerisation (Melmuerta, Malstr0m). The debut album was no slouch whatsoever (check out the incredible ‘I am the Sea’), but the songs overall have more density and impact. An excellent outing from Grajo, don’t sleep on this one!
~Clint (Hand of Doom Radio)
3. CRYPT TRIP – ROOTSTOCK / NEW!
(San Marcos, Texas)
Even better than their debut. The TX power trio has unleashed a hazy jam-ridden leviathan of heavy blues. There is an underlying southern rock vibe ringing in the background melding with a groovy, dusty funk unmatched by most in the current scene. Fantastic!! This is good enough to go to the top of the albums of the year poll for now.
~Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
2. CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – NO CROSS NO CROWN
(Raleigh, North Carolina)
COC are back! And with Pepper Keenan this time. The band has taken their time with creating No Cross No Crown. The result is an very focused album that could have been the successor of Deliverance and Wiseblood in the nineties. Everything you loved about those records is here on this new album. The songs are raw, catchy, chaotic and have that signature COC-sound. A must for fans of Keenan era COC.
~Hugo Hulleman (Metalfan.nl)
1. WEEDPECKER – III / NEW!
(Warszawa, Poland)
III takes the already amazing elements and effects of earlier albums and augments them to an unbelievable state of tranquil psychedelic euphoria. With an incredible influx of more progressive flavoring, what results here is nothing short of musically miraculous. The listener is immersed within these streams and rivers of otherworldly liquidity as their soul is awash with the lysergic baptism of WEEDPECKER ‘III’.
~Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker (Riff Relevant)
Special thanks to the ongoing contributors to the monthly Doom Chart. You folks help give voice to the heavy underground:
A.S. Van Dorston (Fast n’ Bulbous); Bryan Coffey (Indy Metal Vault); Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer); Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned); Brandon Collins (Super Dank Metal Jams); Bryan Coffey (Indy Metal Vault); Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect); Clint (Hand of Doom Radio); Doktor420 (Stoner HiVe); Doombeard (DoomBeardZine); Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist); Gram ‘Son of Sam’ Pola (Dirty Denim); Hugo Hulleman (Metalfan.nl); Ken Elliott (Heavy Planet); Leanne Ridgeway (Riff Relevant); Lucas ‘LK Ultra’ Klaukein (Stoner HiVe, You May Be Dead & Dreaming); Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe); Lyk (Phantasmagoria); Magnus Tannergren (Into The Void Radio); Mari Knox Knox (Doomed & Stoned); Martin Petrov (Rawk’n’Roll); Matthew Thomas (Taste Nation); Matheus Jacques (October Doom); Mathieu Van Der Hert (Dutch European Stoner Rock); Melissa Marie (Doomed & Stoned); Melissa Spence, (Stoner Witch Radio); Pat Harrington (Electric Beard Of Doom); Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker (Riff Relevant); Paul ‘Papa’ Rote (Doomed & Stoned); Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235); Rod Reinhardt (Captain Beyond Zen); Samir Asfahani (Super Dank Metal Jams); Skip (The Burning Beard); Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun); Steve Miller (Vertical Chamber Apparatus); Steve Woodier (Shrieks From Below); Tanguy ‘Mr Fuzz’ Dupré (More Fuzz); Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe).
Feel free to send in your albums to stonerdoomcharts@gmail.com where they’ll be delegated to the crew above to determine their thoughts and gather the votes at the end of the month.
This January 2018 edition of the Doom Chart was tallied and edited by Bucky Brown.
Doom Charts 
Thank you guys. Really appreciate the time and effort that goes into this list. Love me some doom charts! Keep it up
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This is one of my go to sites the first of every month. Great job 🙂
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Still working my way through this list. Most of these bands/artists are on deezer which is great. Listening to Somali Yacht Club, truly amazing stuff!
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