“Society has traditionally always tried to find scapegoats for its problems. Well here I am.” ~Marilyn Manson
Not unlike Manson The Doom Charts are here. Feel free to use us as a scapegoat while also discovering the hottest heavy underground albums for the month of August.
Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio, podcasters and album reviewers from the 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…
30. SLEEPING GIANT – SLEEPING GIANT
29. BAD FRANKENHAUSEN – ZWEI: DIE RACHE
27. SACRI MONTI – WAITING ROOM FOR THE MAGIC HOUR
26. BLACK WITCHES – BLACK WITCHES
25. THE COSMIC TRIP ADVISERS – WRONG AGAIN, ALBERT / NEW!
144 POINTS
(Edinburgh, UK)
I advise you take this cosmic trip! Powerful bluesy vocals, searing guitar leads and swirling driving organ gives this a full blown retro feel. Song after song is grooving and rocking.
~‘Papa’ Paul Rote (Doomed & Stoned)
24. ARROWHEAD – COVEN OF THE SNAKE
147 POINTS
(Sydney, Australia)
As the chorus assembles in the dirty ale house down the road, to give their opinions on matters of the day, the important stuff and the weather, it is the fervorous energy coming out of the speakers that will take first dibs in the conversation. The thick fuzz, the dense grooves and the magnificent riffs are mouthwatering and breathtakingly beautiful. It is Arrowhead’s new record Coven Of The Snake blasting loud, drowning out some off those waffling strangers and irrelevant talk about politics. We don’t do politics here, and you might get barred for that. It’s intoxicating, like the drinks served in this premier dive bar, those sun-dried Australian tunes will have your mind drift back towards the atavistic stoner bands, the proto metal outfits and the doom gods. It is that good. And then some. It’s rock. Menacing, tough, resilient rock. It’s heavy rock. And it’s so damn good, you will stay in that bar for as long as they have Arrowhead spinning…
~Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)
23. EL JEFAZO – SIMBIOSIS / NEW!
162 POINTS
(Lima, Peru)
Sometimes you just immediately fall in love with an album. There is something magical about first tones, and those intro notes from Simbiosis the new album by Peruvian threesome El Jafazo work that excellently. They mask the stoner sound that is coming and charm you into a state of doomy bliss. After which, the seven instrumental tracks have no trouble keeping you mesmerized. There are many highlights, but it’s simply such a wonderful album that easily holds your attention from those intro notes till the very final one…
~ Joop Konraad
22. ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM – ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM / NEW!
188 POINTS
(Southend-on-Sea)
The front women of Purson gives us a solo debut album that ‘out Pursons’ Purson. She has taken the classic pop psychedelic sounds of circa 1967 and adds a modern occult flare that both captivates and mesmerizes. It’s like if Sgt. Peppers was occult stoner instead of pop.
~‘Papa’ Paul Rote (Doomed & Stoned)
21. MOURNFUL CRIES – BAD TASTE
190 POINTS
(Santa Rosa, California)
Bad Taste is the inevitable sum of intense demo work, well-formed influences and unmerciful attitudes from the misty world of Mournful Cries. For months I’ve had my eye on the band’s Bandcamp page thanks to their eye catching cover art yet was unable to find a jam that resonated with me until now! From its opening ‘Sea Of Trees’ (4:20), you are tenderly welcomed into their word of tone heavy distortion, haunting grooved out vocals all set to a healthy, inviting pace. ’Hallowed Tomb’ is vocally strong with vintage doom qualities. If you’re seeking tales of blasphemy ‘Angelic Envy’ is for you, if you’re just looking for something to smoke to, ‘Sinner’s Pyre’ will no doubt provide the backdrop for your journey. ‘Witches’ Herbs’ is my favorite due to its grand ability to contort and sail off into a hazy megacosm. The whole album is doom well spent, I’m grouping it with my other strong debuts of the year.
~Melissa Spence, (Stoner Witch Radio)
20. VOKONIS – GRASPING TIME / NEW!
196 POINTS
(Sweden)
A new Vokonis album is a real treat, who says you can’t do crushing riffs on a Telecaster!!
~Steve Rodger (God’s Holy Trousers)
This is certainly the most progressive album of Vokonis’ career and one that hits you like a ton of bricks. The vocals carry a ton of groove with their beefy tone on masculine touch, which the riffs are as much rock n roll as they are progressive sludge. This one will surprise you each and every listen. How bout’ that artwork by Kyrre Bjurling?!?!!
~Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
19. OLE ENGLISH – OLE ENGLISH / NEW!
216 POINTS
(Lafayette, Louisiana)
Follow me children of the sonic cloth to the riff filled land of Ole English. A land where riffs are richly cultivated and expertly calibrated against a thunderous low-end for the ultimate pleasure of you the listener. Give but a moment to go and press play and “you will remember this day…..
~Jamey Morris (Fistful of DOOM)
18. ZED – VOLUME
217 POINTS
(San Jose, California)
There are some bands that you can look back on and say that, “these guys are the reason that I got into rock-n-roll.” For some very fortunate ones ZED is going to be one of those bands. ZED makes sweaty, passionate, heavy rock that oozes from the fiber of their being, and also has a generous helping of gritty swagger to boot. Fist pumping and head bobbing are mandatory. Feast thou upon VOLUME and you too can be one of the fortunate ones.
~Jamey Morris (Fistful of DOOM)
17. WIZARD RIFLE – WIZARD RIFLE / NEW!
235 POINTS
(Portland, Oregon)
There are times when you listen to a record and you love it and then when you step back and try to put into words the reasons why you love it, the words can escape you. The third full length from Portland, Oregon’s Wizard Rifle is one of those records. The simplest thing to say is that this record fucking rules! Some of the difficulty in describing the record is that it is wickedly hard to categorize the duo’s sound. Noise rock, metal, sludge, you wouldn’t be wrong with any, but you wouldn’t necessarily be right either.. What is amazing is the tremendous array of sounds that the duo delivers. The five songs on this record are long, intense, multi faceted, challenging and utterly satisfying.
~Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun)
16. BESVÄRJELSEN – FROST / NEW!
240 POINTS
(Stockholm, Sweden)
‘Frost’ penetrates the earth with cold-rolled riffage and wintrous melody. The mournful vocal croons unite with spine-tingling rhythm and petrifying doom resulting in an epic array of grandiose fuzz. Favorite track: All Things Break.
~Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
15. RICKSHAW BILLIE’S BURGER PATROL – GREASE BEAST / NEW!
259 POINTS
(Austin, Texas)
The first thing that caught me was the nasty tone the guitars have, Grease Beast for sure on that end. Those gnarly sounding guitars are a huge part of what makes me love this album, and the music they created for it. Add in the fantastic vocal work, with all its swagger and punk tinged flavors, and you have one hell of record!!!
~Tom Hanno (Tom’s Album Reviews)
14. MONARCH – BEYOND THE BLUE SKY / NEW!
322 POINTS
(Encinitas, California)
MONARCH, an impressive 5-piece outfit from Encinitas, California exude the full 70’s aura of Progressive Rock: Organ shimmering, groove – inducing rhythm sections, sweet guitar licks and fusion-esque dynamics all rolled into an authentic early prog sound akin to Spring, Quatermass, Caravan etc.
Musically accomplished and very easy on the ears, this album is a great introduction to any new proghead’s collection, and a shoe-in for us older guys who sigh wistfully and succumb to the nostalgia…
~Reek of STOOM (Stoner HiVe)
13. PLANET OF THE 8S – TOURIST SEASON / NEW!
385 POINTS
(Melbourne, Australia)
Awesome, truly. Melodic stoner rock with all the right moves and grooves. These riffy jams are weep-worthy, in my book. Australia brings the goods in the form of Planet Of The 8s. These are some tasty goods, too. Hooks that hook. Tones that tone. Sharp riffs, inspired vocals, bombastic groove, infectious choruses. Think Alice In Chains meets Hark meets ASG meets desert dust. In all of this meeting, you might as well meet your new favorite band. Man tears, friends.. every next track is a total banger. This album, without a doubt, will be sticking with me for quite some time, and on repeated listens, it just gets better. Just what we needed.
~Andy Benson (Nerve Salad)
12. WITCHES OF GOD – INTO THE HEART OF DARKNESS / NEW!
385 POINTS
(Los Angeles, California)
It’s coven time and the Witches of God have gathered, flying right “Into The Heart Of Darkness” with their 3rd opus. They’re landing in a clearing in the middle of the woods. The tribal drums are calling the creatures of the night. The flames of Hell are rising from the earth, heating up a giant cauldron full of greasy evil stoner riffs! Yes, it’s boiling hot and the witches, naked and depraved, are copulating around it with beasts such as prog, doom, punk, psychedelic, folk and so on. They’ve concocted for us a god damn album that’s almost sex in our ears!!!
~Marc-Eric Gagnon (Stonefly Effects)
11. SPIRAL GURU – VOID
406 POINTS
(Piracicaba, Brazil)
Spiral Guru’s blend of groovy Stoner licks and sweet, folkish vocal tones is infectious and intoxicating! Slick and well-crafted, these Brazilians are definitely Bossing the Nova!
~Reek of STOOM (Stoner HiVe)
10. MORGANTHUS – MORTAL / NEW!
434 POINTS
(Warren, Pennsylvania)
Although unashamedly heavily influenced by Black Sabbath these guys are not lazy imitators, far from it. Dustin Ganoe (Drums), Colby N. (Bass) and Doug Miller (Guitars/Vocals) have recorded an album of vintage metal for a modern world. The music is heavy and dark, with a production that gives a ‘live’ feel to the record. Miller’s vocal delivery compliments those heavy tones perfectly, as do his mightily impressive lyrics which focus on the human race’s propensity for self-destruction, misuse of power and our inevitable mortality. So lets raise those doom claws in the air and bow our heads to the new order of the Dark Knights of Metal. Morganthus.
~Bob “Mr. Weird Beard” Baker (More Fuzz Podcast)
9. WAINGRO – III / NEW!
627 POINTS
(Vancouver, British Columbia)
Waingro a three-piece from Vancouver makes more noise than you realize, blasting the senses with a steady assault of heavy, heavy stoner doom and their version of Punk Rock. A local’s favorite they have taken the next step with this, soon to be, stoner rock classic.When these boys were young there must have been steady music playing in their homes the likes of Red Fang, St. Vitus maybe some Kiss? This is their 3rd LP titled ‘III’ and really is something special. Their heavier-than-fuck take leaves everything in the music, and riffing like it used to be. Get this album while you can.
~Mark Partin (The Ripple Effect)
8. BOOK OF WYRMS – REMYTHOLOGIZER
630 POINTS
(Richmond, Virginia)
While Book of Wyrms presented their brand of space doom with a mix of tempos on 2017’s Sci-fi/Fantasy,their second album doubles down on all things low and slow. With the exception of the quirky gallops on the eccentric “Undead Pegasus,” the songs on Remythologizer all fixate on dragging rhythms and muscular riffs with a sinister overcast. This seemingly lessened variety should work against the band but on the contrary, it highlights the growth that they’ve undergone between releases.
~Chris Latta (Indy Metal Vault)
7. THE BLACK WIZARDS – REFLECTIONS / NEW!
744 POINTS
(Portugal)
The Black Wizards play Classic Rock and Stoner with authority and power. Add some Proto-Doom with a psychedelic feel and all is well. Joana Brita wails over the wah-drenched fuzz solos as if her life depends on it. This rocks like a bastard and is full of groove and swagger. Taking influences from the past but sounding vital and fresh, this is probably their best effort yet. This is the good shit.
~Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe)
6. DEAD FEATHERS – ALL IS LOST / NEW!
897 POINTS
(Chicago, Illinois)
The album flows like a river of liquid honey into a pool of mystic fuzz and thunderous bass. The angelic vocals buzz with an enchanting sting of raw emotion and aural delight.
~Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)
5. KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD – INFEST THE RATS’ NEST / NEW!
910 POINTS
(Melbourne, Australia)
Before you start coming at us for this album not being “doom”, let me explain! Whether or not you choose to believe, this planet is DOOMED as f**k! And on their second album of the year (fifteenth in total), King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have expertly constructed “Infest the Rats’ Nest” for all of us to perish to beneath the Earth’s cataclysmic revolt. Half the album is our failure to heed the warning signs of nature, while the other half is about literally taking off to Venus! For me this is the most exciting album of the year and it’s got me believing Stu MacKenzie is Bon Scott incarnate to a certain degree. By far this is their heaviest work, recorded with much fewer members than usual (mostly 3 instead of the usual 7) and revealing the band’s love for trash metal. This style is pretty consistent throughout despite the thematic change ups however there are slight deviations into actual doom like on ‘Superbug’ and you may even hear hints of cocaine-drenched Sabbath. Stu’s vocals ride along with each mauling beat perfectly, it’s a side of him I’m grateful to hear. Straight forward, sincere, heavy, rock n’ roll, trash metal to send us into physical doom. Thank you, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard for you’ve made the apocalypse an exhilarating ride into oblivion.
~Melissa Spence, (Stoner Witch Radio)
4. MERLIN – THE MORTAL / NEW!
1210 POINTS
(Kansas City, Missouri)
Rules are there to be broken and Merlin tear the rule book into shreds with their latest offering “The Mortal”. No one but Merlin would think, with instrumentation already including saxophones,trumpets flutes, organs and something called an omnichord, to add to their armory that most unlikely of rock instruments …. an accordion! This is what Merlin do they swim against the tide of expectation ignoring trends, fashions and fads and deliver grooves that are sometimes chaotic, sometimes complex but always brilliant. “The Mortal” is an album that will be remembered long after the generic hard rock, that has blighted much of the underground scene, has faded from memory and will stand as a musical testament to a band who dared to be different and succeeded.
~Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist
3. HORSEBURNER – THE THIEF
1368 POINTS
(West Virginia)
Horseburner is back with their new album The Thief and takes everything we loved from the previous effort Dead Seeds, Barren Soil and kicks it up a notch. Easily the most ambitious and dynamic release from the West Virginia group to date, it’s remarkable in both composition and execution. The vocal harmonies between drummer Adam Nohe and guitarist Jack Thomas have never been stronger, and the layered instrumentation gives it a lush and colossal sound. Highlights include the sprawling rocker “Fathoms,” the quiet melodic passages of “The Oak,” and the acoustic “Thiefsong.” Don’t miss out on this one if you’re a fan of sludge metal, classic rock, or just music in general! All praise to Horseburner and the all-mighty riff!
~Bryan Coffey (Indy Metal Vault)
2. HIPPIE DEATH CULT – 111
1397 POINTS
(Portland, Oregon)
“111” is an unadulterated joy to listen to!!! The swirling hazy riffs take you by assault right from the start while the tight drums and the boppy bass lines are fixing you firmly inside the groove. The rampageous vocals carry us into a darkened world of deception, lies and materialism. The feel is almost pre-apocalyptical, but I guess it mirrors well our society on the verge of collapsing… Despite the evident 70’s Hard Rock influences, we are engulfed in something sounding fresh; I would personally categorize it as Heavy Doom Psych. A flawless debut album you have to dive into! Album of the year? I think so!!!
~Marc-Eric Gagnon (Stonefly Effects)
1. THE BLACK FURS – STEREOPHONIC FREAKOUT VOL. 1 / NEW!
2534 POINTS
(Argentina)
“Stereophonic Freak Out Vol. 1” is machiavelic in every aspect, like that beautiful angelic looking doll possessed by demons. The Black Furs spear envelops you with its evil. This heavy blues is an oath to the laws of heavy sound. It is in this universe of misunderstandings and diverse noise, that in front of that instrumental strength, where we remove ourselves in the best of our shits.
~Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235)
Special thanks to the ongoing contributors to the monthly Doom Chart. You folks help give voice to the heavy underground:
Aaron Pickford (The Sludgelord); Adam Walsh (Earmunchies); Andy Benson (Nerve Salad); A.S. Van Dorston (Fast n’ Bulbous); Bryan Coffey (Indy Metal Vault); Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer); Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned); Rob Blasko (VolumeForever.com); Bob “Mr. Weird Beard” Baker (More Fuzz Podcast); Bobby Rayfield (Trendkill Radio); Brandon Collins(Super Dank Metal Jams); Bryan Coffey (Indy Metal Vault); Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect); Clint Willis (Hand of Doom Radio); Chris Beck (Doom Tomb Podcast); Chris Latta (Indy Metal Vault); Doktor420 (Stoner HiVe); Doombeard (DoomBeardZine); Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist); Geoff Leapord (Atom Heart Mutha); Gram ‘Son of Sam’ Pola (Dirty Denim); Héctor “Mr. Heavyhead” Hurtado (More Fuzz); Hugo Hulleman (Metalfan.nl); Jamey Morris (Fistful of DOOM); Jason Roach (Indy Metal Vault); Jay Morgan (High Desert Valley Radio); Jim Thompson (Heavy in the Hills); Joe Eldridge (Shadebeast Records); John Gist, (Vegas Rock Revolution); Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe); Ken Elliott (Heavy Planet); Leanne Ridgeway (Riff Relevant); Lucas Klaukien (Outlaws of the Sun); Lyk (Phantasmagoria); Magnus Tannergren (Into The Void Radio); Marc-Eric Gagnon (Stonefly Effects); Marc C. Pietrek (VITRIOL, INC / A DARK UNITED FRONT); Marcus Greybeard (FuzzHeavy Podcast); Mari Knox Knox (Doomed & Stoned); Mark Partin (The Ripple Effect); Martin Petrov (Rawk’n’Roll); Matt Slighter (Cheeto) (Hwy 420, Core of Destruction Radio) 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); Mike Williams (I Talk to Planets); Pat Harrington (Electric Beard Of Doom); Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker (Riff Relevant); ‘Papa’ Paul Rote (Doomed & Stoned); Reek of STOOM (Stoner HiVe); Remi (The Comic Hunter); Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz); Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235); Rod Reinhardt (Captain Beyond Zen); Samir Asfahani (Super Dank Metal Jams); Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun); Steve Miller (Vertical Chamber Apparatus); Steve Rodger (God’s Holy Trousers); Steve Woodier (Shrieks From Below); Svempa Alveving (Into The Void Radio); Tanguy ‘Mr Fuzz’ Dupré (More Fuzz); Tom Hanno (Tom’s Album Reviews); Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe); Tony Van Dorston (Fast n Bulbous)
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. Leave us comments below and let us know what you think about the Charts.
Doom Charts 
I expect to see The Neptune Power Federation – Memoirs of a Rat Queen on here next month.
Cool to see Sleeping Giant just barely make it on the list. Also lot of good music I somehow missed.
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With out a doubt the best chart/count down for music out there right now. I wait impatiently at the end of every month for this list. I have discovered so much incredible music I have tripled my collection. Keep up the amazing work all and keep spinning the vinyl!!
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The Black Furs album ”Stereophonic Freakout” is miles ahead of the pack this month. HDC topped last month’s list, and I liked it, but the Black Furs are in another class of doom/psych/metal. Very heavy. One question, what is up with the album review ? Bad Translation ? Either way, GREAT album by the blac furs.
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As much as I love the doom charts and appreciate being turned on to so many killer bands and albums month after month, I am truly surprised that Black Mountain’s latest hasn’t even received an honorable mention on the past two lists. It’s a great record.
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They’ve had a healthy placing just outside the top 30 since May. Don’t forget the monthly charts are based on a diverse range of contributors to try and collectively represent the underground scenes best albums based on the knowledge and in the know presence of the contributors. Over 300 albums voted on every month. 4 consecutive months in the running is damn good in the big picture. Every album not on the charts is a surprise to everyone, its human nature. Thanks for following.
May – #46/308
June- #38/316
July #88/290
August #302/312
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