“We must become so alone, so utterly alone, that we withdraw into our innermost self. It is a way of bitter suffering. But then our solitude is overcome, we are no longer alone … And suddenly we find ourselves in the midst of the world, yet undisturbed by its multiplicity, for our innermost soul we know ourselves to be one with all being.” ~Hermann Hesse

… our huge world has shrunk to the size of a pea! Our social contacts are limited to a cool “one square meter distance ritual”! Our bathroom mirror meets us daily as our only friend! We crave for variety in shimmering colors, while we put the oil sardine tin in the metal bent shopping cart! … The self-made hermit goes home frightened! – alone… alone? … alone with ourselves? Ey, a grinning monster sits on our shoulder and gloatingly whispers in our ear: “You are alone with your thoughts, your feelings, with the fears of your soul and there is no escape, mate!“ And this mean monster is exactly the one we fear most, isn’t it? All these years we have made the greatest effort to cloud the view of this monster with the razor-sharp eyes, with journeys around the world, social activities and escape into everything that could distract us!

And now we crumble, under it’s gaze to sawdust, because we CANNOT FLEE!!

Dude, knock the dust out of your self-cut hair and shake the sawdust out of your bulging pockets! You are not alone! You have a friend, the monster with the razor-sharp eyes! Take on the wild ride with your new stranger friend, dude and spit with it neon-colored ash rain on this pea world! ~MelLie & her monster

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. BURN RITUAL – THE VOID

29. DEAD QUIET – TRUTH AND RUIN

28. VOLCANOVA – RADICAL WAVES

27. THE MOONHAZE – END OF TIME

26. SLOW GREEN THING – AMYGDALA

25. EYE OF DOOM – CURSE OF THE PHARAOH / NEW!
(Doom, Heavy Metal, Progressive, Stoner)
275 POINTS
(Vancouver, British Columbia)

Eye of Doom radiates with a vision of crushing doom swirling with groove and soaring with melodic solos. Can’t wait to see where these guys go with this.
~BUCKY BROWN

24. QUEEN MARSA – QUEEN MARSA EP / NEW!
(Doom, Hard Rock, Metal, Sludge)
310 POINTS
( Palma de Mallorca )

Rooted in the proto-metal of the early 70’s and in the most vibrant moments of wild hard rock of that decade, they do not hesitate to make use of different styles to enrich their songs. Echoes from Seattle in the 90’s or sandy and crunchy riffs more typical of the California desert, as well as lysergic brushstrokes are elements well elaborated by QUEEN MARSA to create a work of pure primitive wild rock. With influences from Led Zeppelin or with the legacy of bands like Budgie, its five powerful songs hit the listener with force without forgetting the eternal Black Sabbath to bring darkness in some moments. Tracks that balance between raw and rudimentary riffs on acid heavy-blues threads more typical of Free.
~ROBERTO LUCAS

23. PREDAWN – LIVING ROCK / NEW!
(Doom, Heavy Metal, Traditional Doom)
318 POINTS
(Gothenburg, Sweden)

Swedish Proto-Metal exponents PREDAWN deliver a venomous, volcanic breed of Heavy Psych/Garage that gets your head nodding like Churchill the Dog on speed humps! Slick, bombastic and barbed with catchy riffs, this is a definite no-brainer addition to your collection!
~REEK OF STOOM

22. OLD BLOOD – ACID DOOM/ NEW!
(Doom, Acid Doom, Stoner, Psychedelic )
360 POINTS
(Los Angeles, California)

Old Blood play acid doom. Their incredible first album was simply titled Old Blood, so why not name your sophomore album Acid Doom. Their version of acid doom is traditional and progressive. It’s very seventies sounding blending the geniuses of early Genesis and Black Sabbath. The result is simply amazing. Very deep and incredibly wasted. Take a trip on Acid Doom.
~PAUL ROTE

21. THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX – SCORPIO / NEW!
(Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, Metal)
432 POINTS
(New Jersey)

The Atomic Bitchwax have more than 20 years and 8 albums of wild, groovy fuzz under their belts and their new album Scorpio is a public declaration that they refuse to slow down or let up! From start to finish this is high energy stoner rock that will have you banging your head and screaming like your hair is on fire! It’s an overload of killer guitar leads, catchy riffs, and fist-pumping rhythms that all collide and make you feel damn glad to be alive!
~BRANDON COLLINS

20. PURIFICATION – PERFECT DOCTRINE / NEW!
(Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Doom)
448 POINTS
(Portland, Oregon)

Atmospheric old school doom edged in new school psychedelics and decorated in gothic tinted vocals that lean towards the theatrical.
Good stuff!!!
~FRAZER JONES

19. SOUND OF ORIGIN – THE ALL SEEING EYE / NEW!
(Hard Rock, Space Rock, Heavy Blues, Heavy Metal)
520 POINTS
(Huddersfield, UK)

Sound of Origin burst out of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire full of vim and vigour with a fuzz drenched whirlwind of a debut release, then just as their sun started to rise they suddenly found themselves eclipsed by a series of potentially devastating setbacks that would of seen many other bands call it quits. Sound of Origin, however, are tough Northern lads and slowly overcame their problems and began work on a new album. “The All Seeing Eye” is that album, it is not only harder, heavier, fuzzier and more powerful than it’s predecessor it is also testament to a band who believed in themselves and refused to give up.
~FRAZER JONES

18. VALKYRIE – FEAR
(Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Stoner, Classic Rock)
558 POINTS
(Virginia)

After five years Valkyrie is back; perfecting their sound from their last output Shadows. Fear harbors a stunning amount of awesome riffs, addictive hooks and beautiful melodies. With Jake and Peter Adams at the core of Valkyrie’s line-up there are still elements of Baroness seeping through the songs. But Valkyrie prove that their mix of proto-metal, stoner and classic rock is an impressive entity on its own.
~HUGO HULLEMAN

17. TEMPLE – FUNERAL PLANET / NEW!
(Doom, Metal, Grunge, Psych, Stoner)
572 POINTS
(Sweden)

If you’ve spent any amount of time lurking around the heavy underground, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the label Ozium Records. While not a big outlet, they have the propensity of finding some of the latest and greatest Swedish bands flooding the scene. Temple is no exception and is comprised of two other groups (also signed by the label) Silver Devil and Surfing In Hell. The combination of these two bands seem to have created a hefty and visceral fuzz-laced homage to the likes of Electric Wizard or Acid King, not sounding like a clone of either but the inspiration seems obvious. With a massive sounding production, so massive in fact… Funeral Planet… if played at the right volume, could wake the dead.
~ADAM WALSH

16. SLOMOSA – SLOMOSA / NEW!
(Retro Rock, Heavy Metal, Doom, Stoner)
595 POINTS
(Bergen, Norway)

Catapulted straight to the top of 2020’s best debut albums. The bass punches with thick, hooky groove as the vocals caress along its desert rock base. Can’t quite pinpoint who they remind me of but surely will appease fans of Truckfighters and QOTSA.
~BUCKY BROWN

15. BAD MAGICK – SUPERSTITION EP / NEW!
(Rock n’ Roll, Proto-Metal, Doom, Stoner)
644 POINTS
(Buenos Aires)

Direct from the label “Venado Records”, breaking the clichés of South American stoner / doom bands, Bad Magick emerges, psychedelic punk rock with 70s winds and with the vertigo of the scandinavian classics, “Superstition” explosive debut EP that paves the way to this formidable Argentine band.
~ROBERTO FUENTES

14. KING GORM – KING GORM/ NEW!
(Doom, Rock, Post-Metal, Hardcore)
650 POINTS
(San Diego, California)

Nine heavy-progressive tracks that are played under frenetic rhythms that are supported by prodigious keyboards. Songs that evoke tales and legends of the past and that tell the story of four heroes on their quest to save the land of Irondale. With a cutting musicality as a great endorsement, the songs waste energy between dreamy melodies inspired by the hard-progressive of the 70’s supported by silky vocal harmonies and a prominent sound of the hammond organ and mellotron. A bass that creaks and that seems to have no place in the style of the band, manages to take its place by taking some moments of prominence with its monolithic roughness. Songs that are molded into different forms by enriching themselves with different sound references without losing their progressive essence.
~ROBERTO LUCAS

13. THE CROOKED WHISPERS – SATANIC MELODIES / NEW!
(Doom, Metal, Sludge, Punk)
735 POINTS
(Los Angeles/Portland)

If the Horned One was to form a band then the odds would be in favor of it sounding something like The Crooked Whispers. The band, made up of members of LáGoon, Hour of 13, Luciferica, and Fulanno, jam a groove that could only be described as sinister and menacing, a groove built on filthy guitar tones, grizzled bass motifs and crashing percussion that is then layered with vocals that range from creepy to demoniacal. Ironically these guys call this collection of filth drenched tomes “melodies”, somewhere Satan is laughing spreading his wings!
~FRAZER JONES

12. BALL – LIKE YOU ARE… I ONCE WAS… LIKE I AM – YOU WILL NEVER BE / NEW!
(Garage, Psychedelic, Hard Rock, Stoner,Punk)
774 POINTS
(Stockholm, Sweden)

Sleazy, greasy garage rock fronted by a singer who sounds like Alice Cooper after one of his snakes has squeezed around his neck a little too tight. Grooves so filthy and dirty you will feel the need to take a long hot shower after listening to them. Yes my friends this is that damn good!
~FRAZER JONES

11. KITCHEN WITCH – EARTH AND ETHER / NEW!
(Hard Rock, Stoner, Doom, Blues)
840 POINTS
(Adelaide, Australia)

Spearheaded by lead singer Georgie Cosson’s full, bluesy pipes, Kitchen Witch’s sophomore LP is everything good about heavy rock. Desert, doom, and the 70s come together in a stylish and grooving melting pot that’s one earworm rhythm after another.
~SHASTA BEAST

10. DUNGEON WEED – MIND PALACE OF THE MUSHROOM GOD / NEW!
(Doom, Stoner, Psychedelic)
924 POINTS
(Oakland, California)

Holy heavy metal thunder! Mind Palace Of The Mushroom God creates a dark, dank, smoke filled atmosphere that warps your senses with a combination of plodding, percussive blasts, synthesizer and heavy, mind melding fuzz. Enter now valiant listener.
~JAMEY MORRIS

9. HOWLING GIANT / SERGEANT THUNDERHOOF – TURNED TO STONE CHAPTER 2: MASAMUNE & MURAMASA / NEW!
(Progressive, Stoner, Heavy Metal, Space Rock)
940 POINTS
(Nashville, TN | Bath, UK)

One gets the feeling that Howling Giant and Sergeant Thunderhoof had a handshake and a competition trying to out do each other that has resulted in a massive split release. The second chapter in the Turned To Stone series from Ripple Music has allowed these 2 rising artist to have a true battle of the bands. With 2- 20 minute tracks each to span their side of the wax. It makes them have to break out of that comfortable place they call stoner prog and just entice us to sit down and listen again and again riff after riff. Another classic split record that wows.
~MARK PARTIN

8. BLUES PILLS – HOLY MOLY! / NEW!
(Hard Rock, Blues, Heavy Psychedelic, Soul)
1200 POINTS
(Örebro, Sweden)

BLUES PILLS are back, recovering their best version. The songs maintain a constant in their development and always end up hatching in moments of anger and heaviness no matter how calm they are at the beginning. The band hits us with acid riffs between the vocal waste of its singer Ellin Lason. Exploring the entire spectrum of sound that goes from blues to soul, through jazz, psychedelia and the most rabid hard rock, they offer us a varied and accomplished work. Its appearance is the most contemporary built with much quality despite its origin of vintage and retro sounds.
~ROBERTO LUCAS

7. BLACK ELEPHANT – SEVEN SWORDS / NEW!
(Stoner, Heavy Rock, Psychedelic, Blues)
1428 POINTS
(Savona, Italy)

Seven Swords by Italian quartet Black Elephant has everything to become the soundtrack to your perfect car-ride, movie, book, apocalypse or whatever is in need for a perfect soundtrack. It meanders from all out hard rocking fuzz to cosmic blues and stoner, even touching base with the godfathers of it all in the track Red Sun And Blues Sun. It’s all there and then some! The world’s ending anyway. You might as well have some fun with it!
~JOOP KONRAAD

6. HYDRA – FROM LIGHT TO THE ABYSS / NEW!
(Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Stoner, Classic Rock)
1800 POINTS
(Pleszew, Poland)

Here is a promising new player in the stoner doom scene. Poland isn’t only great purveyors of Death Metal. Here is their first official release on Piranha records.After releasing an inviting single in early 2020, When the Devil’s Coming Down. They offer us an amazingly effective stoner doom, comfortable under forty minute journey of
pure pleasure. Strong vocals are leading the way, ozzy-esque or a-la Count Raven, which is great for that genre but without entering the copycat annoying trap. Pretty effective riffs , sometimes slow and heavy as the genre needs but also active dynamics and explorations to avoid being boring are involved here. Hydra is more into the Doom side than Stoner, but brings best for both enthusiasts. Sabbath seal of approval acquired. Five songs each aiming right into any doomsters heart, bullseye. Favorite Track: Magical mind, a track that i wish i personally wrote myself!
~MARTIN DESBOIS

5. MOTORPSYCHO – THE ALL IS ONE / NEW!
(Progressive, Rock, Avante-Gard)
1960 POINTS
(Trondheim, Norway)

After 31 years and now with their 25th studio album released “The All is One” is the Southern, Psych, Alt, Prog rock album from Motorpsycho which completes “The Gullvåg Trilogy” started with “The Tower and “The Crucible” and ending with this behemoth of a 2x LP. However, don’t be fooled as this album stands on it’s own. The 42 minute long dark forboding centerpiece 5 parter epic “The N.O.X.” glues the beginning and end of the release as one of the most ambitious songs they have written. This is a superb album just waiting for the reward of being heard.
~MARK PARTIN

4. TURTLE SKULL – MONOLITHS / NEW!
(Heavy Psych, Stoner, Fuzz, Doom)
2340 POINTS
(Sydney, Australia)

Aussie Psychonauts TURTLE SKULL have really raised the bar on their latest release “Monoliths”. A Trippy, visionary course of eight tracks encompassing the gamut of Psychedelia which delight and dazzle with superb musicianship and craft – very strong AOTY contender!
~REEK OF STOOM

3. BRIMSTONE COVEN – THE WOES OF A MORTAL EARTH / NEW!
(Stoner, Metal, Occult, Heavy Rock)
3630 POINTS
(Wheeling, West Virginia)

So much is right with this new release from the West Virginian trio, Brimstone Coven. This is a solid representation of doom rock and an album worth spending your time with. This laid back, chill inspiring slab is perfect as we approach the Autumn months. “When the World is Gone” is a proto-metal fan’s dream. Look no further for an album to fill your doomsday void. Here is the perfect piece.
~ROBERT PANNEL

2. BILL FISHER – MASS HYPNOSIS AND THE DARK TRIAD / NEW!
(Retro Rock, Stoner Rock, Heavy Metal, Doom)
3740 POINTS
(Nottingham, UK)

Here comes Bill Fisher with his solo album Mass Hypnosis and the Dark Triad. Far away from the Church of the Cosmic Skull theology, the guru renew more with his old Mammothwing’s adepts via an album brilliantly mixing Heavy Rock, Prog Rock and Doom in a singular symmetry. A conceptual album exploring themes in tune with our times such as narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy and sociopathic behavior saw through the prism of the social media. Be ready to be mesmerized by intense melodies filled with fuzziness!!!
~MARC-ERIC GAGNON

1. PSYCHLONA – VENUS SKYTRIP
(Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Doom, Sludge)
6696 POINTS
(Bradford, UK)

After entering the charts at #16 last month before the official release, Psychlona have ran away with the August charts almost doubling any other contender. Truly a testament to its prowess with considering all 288 different albums voted upon this month.

Venus Skytrip is a jam packed space rock adventure swirling with ferocious fuzz and melted by molten waves of heavy psych. The lads have managed to combine high octane desert grooves with relentless swagger and progressive crunch. Wow!
~BUCKY BROWN

August Spotify Playlist:

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); Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer); Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned); Bob “Mr. Weird Beard” Baker (More Fuzz Podcast); Bobby Rayfield (Trendkill Radio); Brandon Collins(Super Dank Metal Jams); Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect);  Clint Willis (Hand of Doom Radio); Chris Beck (Doom Tomb Podcast); Chris Latta (Ghost Cult Magazine);  Chris Tighe (The Mighty Decibal); Duncan Evans (Alternative Control); Eric Varasiftsky (Stoner Rock Army); Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist);  Geoff Leapord (Atom Heart Mutha); Graur Zaur (Crypt Guard); Héctor “Mr. Heavyhead” Hurtado (More Fuzz); Hugo Hulleman (Metalfan.nl,Orange Maze); Jamey Morris (Fistful of DOOM); Jay Morgan (High Desert Valley Radio); Jim Thompson (Heavy in the Hills); John Gist, (Vegas Rock Revolution); Jonny Pirie (Hour of the Riff); Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe); Ken Elliott (Heavy Planet);  Kyle Twadelle (Stoner HiVe); Leanne Ridgeway (Riff Relevant); Magnus Tannergren (Into The Void Radio); Marc-Eric Gagnon (Stonefly Effects); Marc C. Pietrek (VITRIOL, INC / A DARK UNITED FRONT); Mark Partin (The Ripple Effect); Matt Slighter (Cheeto) (Hwy 420, Core of Destruction Radio) Matthew Thomas (Taste Nation); Mathieu Van Der Hert (Dutch European Stoner Rock);  Mel Lie (Sunday’s Heavy Tunes); Mel Lie (Sunday’s Heavy Tunes); Mike Williams (I Talk to Planets);  Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker (The Ripple Effect);  ‘Papa’ Paul Rote (Doomed & Stoned); Reek of STOOM (Doomed&Stoned, Stoner Hive); Remi (Remi VL); Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz); Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235); Robert Pannell (Doom Loom); Rod Reinhardt (Captain Beyond Zen); Roman Tamayo (Doomed & Stoned); Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun);  Shasta Beast (Stoner Hive); 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); Tom Schmahl (Rock Circuz); Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe); Tony Van Dorston (Fast n Bulbous); Wombat Tarantino (Wombat Cult)

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.