“This? This can’t be the Doom Charts. I’m heavier than this…”

~ Misheard quote from Stephen

We hear all sorts of stuff from all sorts of angles and sources, but what we should really lend our ear to is all those stories of hope, love and wonder. And of course, those fine and mighty Heavy Underground albums. Sorry, been feeling a bit emotional and philosophical of late, Sunil Singh, posted a great story at the exact right moment for me. Leading me down a rabbit hole of books about ‘knowing’, ‘humanism’ and ‘synchronicity’. Conclusion: we know very little, but can feel all that more. And letting that feeling ride the almighty wave of the Great Magnet, can transfer the right kind of energy to you and all around you… And that, can lead to ‘connectedness, wholeness, and timelessness’… The way a song can circle back towards that main riff is amazing, the way a song can circle back to the one that started the story is truly miraculous. And that’s what music is, a fucking miracle… And the sheer amount of great music we can listen to makes it all even more wonderous and huge. It’s magical… And to serve you all again, with 39 new albums on this month’s edition, out of a voted list of 241 heavy albums, is a blessing… Sorry, I’m feeling a different kind of heavy, the heavier side of emotions… And I know, I should be heavier than this… So, let’s press play and let that energy be transformed into the other kind of heavy!

Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio, podcasters and 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…

40. STRUCK/DOWN – TO WITCHES.. / NEW!

39. BLACKSTAFF – GODLESS / NEW!

38. GREEN INFERNO – TRACE THE VEINS / NEW!

37. CAIVANO – CAIVANO / NEW!

36. KAPITUR – COVERED IN DUST / NEW!

35. ETERNAL ROT – MORIBOUND / NEW!

34. HOWL AT THE SKY – IN LINE FOR THE END TIMES / NEW!

33. AGUSA – PRIMA MATERIA / NEW!

32. DISMYTH – FOREST OF THE SORROW / NEW!

31. THE FIRE MYSTICAL – THE FIRE MYSTICAL / NEW!

30. BENTHIC REALM – VESSEL / NEW!

29. DEAD GALLERY – DEAD MAN’S THEME / NEW!

28. TFNRSH – TIEFENRAUSCH / NEW!

27. MAIRU – SOL CULTUS / NEW!

26. HIGH PRIEST – INVOCATION

25. YAWNING BALCH – VOLUME ONE / NEW!
968 Points
Stoner, Psych, Instrumental
Palm Desert, California
Heavy Psych Sounds

So where do I sign up for one of my two favorite desert/stoner rock instrumental bands partnering with the legendary guitarist from one of the innovators of the scene? Well apparently, Heavy Psych Sounds has me covered with the team up of these two beasts of the genre. Yawning Man never disappoints, and Bob and his band Fu Manchu are untouchable, so this must be great, right? Well turns out it is pretty f-ing impressive, and of course it is, given what Bob does when he guests or partners with other bands (see his out of this world solo and overall guitar work the Big Scenic Nowhere album from last year) and how consistently great Yawning Man is.  The chill out/drop out album of the summer.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip)

24. LIE HEAVY – BURN TO THE MOON / NEW!
980 Points
Doom, Stoner
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
JM Records

NOT ON BANDCAMP

A perfect name for Karl Agell of COC fame’s new band, which incorporates all the best parts of stoner, doom, and kick ass heavy rock. You can hear bits of his old band but in no way is this some cheap imitation, as the twelve tracks stand firmly on their own no matter what band the singer came from. Karl is the star here but it’s not just him bringing the goodness, the band is filled with killer veteran musicians from the Raleigh scene that just bring it to Burn To The Moon, like they have been holding on to these songs for years and could not be more excited to expose the riffs to the world.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip)

23. REZN & VINNUM SABBATHI – SILENT FUTURE / NEW!
1090 Points
Progressive, Heavy, Psychedelic
USA & Mexico
Blues Funeral Recordings

Probably the most exciting collaboration of the year! When psych/doom masters REZN join their forces and their talent with Mexican cosmic astronauts Vinnum Sabbathi, the result can only be awesome, and it is. Silent Future is an expedition, a tribal trip, an unreal ecstasy and probably the greatest thing you will hear this year. What a blast!
~ Damien Regnauld (Stoner Freaks Anthology)

22. OJO MALO – BLACK LIGHT FEVER TRIPPING / NEW!
1155 Points
Stoner, Sludge, Hard rock
El Paso, Texas, United States
Self-Released

West Texan stoner/sludge/hard rock act OJO MALO come out of the gates swinging with their debut. This is a gruff, gritty, groove laden offering that holds the listener’s attention from start to finish. Steve Salazar gives us a powerfully gruff vocal performance, backed up by impressively catchy guitar work that will have you either nodding or banging your head throughout. If I had to simplify the band’s sound I would describe it as Life of Agony meets High on Fire meets Crowbar meets Motörhead.
~ James Sweetlove (CaveDwellerMusic)

21. FROGLORD – SONS OF FROGLORD / NEW!
1316 Points
Doom Metal, Stoner Blues, Swamp Rock
Bristol, UK
Self-Released

FROGLORD has seven EP’s and albums in three years from what I count. That’s pretty impressive but even more impressive is how good they all are. It’s got your fuzzy, swampy riffs and thick bottom end and it also has excellent vocals. The songs are well written and constructed considering how prolific he has been. I also like the artwork on each release. There is a good amount of quality music being released under the hard rock/metal umbrella, this is certainly a good example of that. It’s even got a cool CCR cover. Give it a listen.
~ Andy Kovalcik (Bandcamp-NYP-Hard&Heavy)

20. MALTERRA – HYDROSPHERE / NEW!
1350 Points
Rock, Psych, Alternative, Metal, Stoner, Prog
Santa Rosa, California, USA
Self-Released

Alternative metal is one of those genres that encapsulate everything. And seems highly fitting for the four track Hydrosphere release. For the album moves expertly through all sorts of metal genres, by way of prog and psych. A highly interesting, complex, and wayward album that manages to still be accessible thanks to the melodic elements. And that bass work in Tsunami, mouth-watering!
~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)

19. FLORIST – CONTACT / NEW!
1467 Points
Stoner Rock,Doom, Hard Rock
Tampa, Florida, USA
Self-Released

“Come on, come on, come on, let’s go space trucking” sang Deep Purple and Florida’s FLORIST are doing just that with their debut release “Contact“, a heavy dose of rightous cosmic boogie flecked with touches of doom and desert rock, their mission… to boldly doom where no man has doomed before.
~ Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)

18. THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD – NEWS FROM THE INVISIBLE WORLD / NEW!
1746 Points
Desert Rock, Groovy Prog Rock
London, UK
Spencer Park Music

I came across this album by pure chance and it has stuck with me ever since. With its thunderous riffs and its ground-shaking grooves, there are songs in there that have everything it takes to become classics in the global prog / desert scene. Check out the opening groove of “Shake the Jar” and the brilliant (almost Opeth-like) build-up of “Golden Thread” and “Wonderful”. I have never been a massive fun of keys and programming because I have always felt that bands tend to over-use them, but if done right, they can seriously carry an album several levels up. In “What a Time to be Alive” the band delivers a masterclass of how it should be done, with a tune that easily travels across the land of Camel and King Crimson to modern day QOTSA vibes. For the closing song “Nostalgia Now”, I can’t help but thinking how huge it would have been if a certain David Bowie had been behind the microphone. Together with Prosperina, Our Man in the Bronze Age, and Boss Keloid, THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD are my new favourite band from the UK scene. Overall, this album is a definite AOTY contender for everyone that will give it a listen, and I ‘d honestly urge you that you do so today!
~ Ioannis Valiakos (Desert Vulture)

17. RADIANT KNIFE – PRESSURE / NEW!
1880 Points
Progressive, Sludge
Lafayette, USA
Self-Released

The fifth outing from Louisiana-based Progressive/Sludge outfit RADIANT KNIFE is a searing-hot smorgasbord of Technicality, Intent and Aural destruction from the get-go: First track, “Slumber” batters you into submission with fierce, piercing riffs and off-kilter patterns and this pretty much continues unabated through nine tracks of devilishly inventive Sludge Metal!
~ Reek of STOOM (Howls from The Hollows, Doomed&Stoned, Stoner HiVe)

16. GRIP – SOLSTICI / NEW!
2013 Points
Doom, Post-Metal, Sludge
Reus, Spain
Big Tortuga Records

There is so much going on in each of the songs that make up “Solstici” that it is hard, in just one sitting, to take it all in. Flashes of gothic post-punk, echoes of mystical occult rock, essences of convuluted prog as well as the usual suspects of stoner doom and sludge can all be found nestled away on this little diamond in the rough. This is seriously good music played by seriously good musicians.
~ Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)

15. VIRAL TYRANT – VULTURES LIKE YOU / NEW!
2280 Points
Doom, Sludge, Metal, Black
Portland, Oregon, USA
Ripple Music

Be warned! You might get your head cut off by the razor sharp, barbarian axe swinging riffs! VIRAL TYRANT delivers some severe sludge, doom, and thrash! All blackened, twisted and almost burned to charcoal, but actually scorched to the exact amount to make Vultures Like You dive on that sun blistered corpse as if it was the most delicious feast you ever set eyes on…
~ Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe)

14. JUKEBOX MONKEY – SMILES BECOMING TEETH / NEW!
2431 Points
Stoner Rock
England, UK
Self-Released

England’s JUKEBOX MONKEY returns with album number two. They continue their hard driving rock approach, but display a few new tricks up their sleeves, combining stoner rock, grunge, and metal in a more dynamic effort than their 2017 LP. 
~ Ryan Foster (Slightly Fuzzed)

13. EIGHT FOOT MANCHILD – SHRINE OF THE ORANGE SUNN / NEW!
2519 Points
Rock, Metal, Doom, Stoner, Funk, Brass
Medford, Massachusetts, USA
Self-Released

Self-proclaimed doom-brass rockers EIGHT FOOT MANCHILD are back with a new EP, and it’s another funky home run. The riffs are bigger and brassier, the songwriting is more intricate, and the jazz and funk influences feel even stronger. There’s a joy and tongue in cheek sense of fun amid the heaviness as well, to make this one of the most entertaining and unique records of the year so far.
~ Kyle SB / Shasta Beast (Stoner HiVe)

12. MARIJUANA JOHNSON – REEFER CHAMBER / NEW!
2535 Points
Stoner Rock, Stoner Metal
Dayton, Ohio, USA
Self-Released

I don’t smoke weed, and haven’t in nearly 31 years. Listening to MARIJUANA JOHNSON makes me worried about having to take a piss test. It’s like they processed everything great about Stoner Rock and Metal into a potent hash that would knock the whole city of Amsterdam on its ass. Reefer Chamber is a little bit heavy, psychedelic and grooved-out with more than a nod to the mid-90’s classics that gave birth to the genre. Now, where’d I put my Visine…
~ Scott Spiers (CleanAndSoberStoner)

11. SOME PILLS FOR AYALA – SLEEP WALKERS / NEW!
2596 Points
Heavy Psych, Stoner Rock
Santiago, Chile
Self-Released

SOME PILLS FOR AYALA is the solo project of Chilean musician Néstor Ayala Cortés (At Devil Dirt). Among several EPs and singles released since 2021, this full length album (45 min) is his most delightful piece of space’n’spice cake. I am flabbergasted when I think that a single man wrote, played, sang, recorded and engineered this jewel. It’s such a tour de force. Sleep Walkers has a strong flavor of psychedelia merged with leaden riffs and most of all you will discover here what a great vocal work means – Oh yeah! Néstor is a stunning vocal performer! This album is 90% heavy psych + 60% stoner + 30% fuzz + 20% space = 200% pleasure!
~ Thierry “Some Pills-T“ François (Metal Intégral)

10. URSULAR – PRETA / NEW!
3822 Points
Doom, Metal, Stoner, Psych, Rock
Berlin, Germany
Self-Released

Integrating saxophone into doom metal and calling this Saxodoom made me smile at first – “Did the word Saxodoom originate in a marketing manager’s brain? Haha!” Still, the reality of URSULAR‘s sound has quickly earned my utmost respect. Sax fits perfectly with doom and the result is mesmerizing. More over the band is powerful, the female singer is mind blowing and the story-telling about Preta (Buddhist hungry demons) is an interesting concept. I was told that 1 album purchased is 10 karma points earned (to prevent you from reincarnating as Preta).
~ Thierry “Preta-T“ François (Metal Intégral)

9. MAMMUTHUS – IMPERATOR / NEW!
5395 Points
Heavy Rock/ Doom/ Stoner
Wellington , New Zealand
Self-Released

MAMMUTHUS comes right out of a slumber barreling towards your ears like a sonic ancient creature pushing you to keep moving as the shadow is casting . This excellent debut full length grabs you quick with thick riffs and super strong vocals that harkens back for me to a late 2000s band Venomin James.  Vocals really stand out all through the album and the last track “Formless” features guest female vocals to really spice things up.  One of my favorite discoveries as far as new bands in 2023.
~ John Gist, (Vegas Rock Revolution / The Doomed & Stoned Show)

8. MELT – REPLICA OF MAN / NEW!
5797 Points
Stoner Rock, Hard Rock, Psych Rock
Pittsburgh PA, USA
Self-Released

Oh yeah this is certainly a cool fuzzy stoner hard rock album but its so much more. Many different rock elements are incorporated making the songs sound classic and familiar. The hooks quickly wormed their way into my ears right to my brain and left me craving more and more listens. This is a good one, dig in.
~ Andy Kovalcik (Bandcamp-NYP-Hard&Heavy)

7. CAVERN DEEP – PART II – BREACH / NEW!
6230 Points
Doom Metal, Heavy Psych
Umeå, Sweden
Bonebag Records

The Lovecraft-like story told in two albums by CAVERN DEEP goes on, deeper and deeper. Part II – Breach is a masterpiece of doom metal extended with dark psychedelia. That means crushing riffs, hypnotic jams, and surreal atmospheres. This album stands out from the competition and becomes brilliant thanks to the exceptional quality of the vocals. I said to myself maybe one day we’ll rename Doom Metal to Deep Metal to commemorate this unique band. Total worship.
~ Thierry “Cavern-T“ François (Metal Intégral)

6. OCCULT WITCHES – MASTERMIND / NEW!
6307 Points
Occult Rock, Heavy Blues, Psych, Metal
Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
Self-Released

In December 2022, OCCULT WITCHES had already taken the Doom Charts team by storm with their stunning album “Occult Witches”. – “Crazy!!! 2023 here we come!!!” was their cry of joy. Barely half a year later, these Canadian witches are soaking our music-savvy hearts with a new, addictive devil-magic brew from their cauldron.  Exquisite ingredients of 70’s occult rock and metal rock’n roll are mixed with a magical master hand with subdued classical folk, heavy blues, a dash of psych and stoner fuzz. Rounded off with a phenomenally beautiful and captivating bluesy voice.  Sit down by a crackling campfire and let your mind be swept away by this most wonderfully groovy, occult-tinged rock ‘n’ roll witch the band has poured their entire soul into. “If it doesn’t raise your heart rate, you might be dead inside…” (Adam Walsh, teammate of the Doom Charts).
~ Mel Lie (Sunday’s Heavy Tunes)

5. WIZARD MASTER – ABLANATHANALBA / NEW!
6650 Points
Doom, Occult, Rock
Italy
Electric Valley Records

Ablanathanalba is not the magical password to change Harry Potter’s friends in a tomato, a knife or something else but the brand new album of italian doomsters WIZARD MASTER. After the mighty Phasmatis, they’re back with more gritty, more dirty and more lovely occult doom as Italians knows how to do so well for a few years. Love or be cursed!
~ Damien Regnauld (Stoner Freaks Anthology)

4. SORCIA – LOST SEASON / NEW!
8220 Points
Metal, Doom, Sludge, Stoner
Seattle, Washington, USA
Desert Records

Three years later, SORCIA is back with its sophomore album: Lost Season. On the first part of the album their music goes straight to the point. The heavy riffs go forward without looking back, the rhythm is powerful, the vocals alternate between a clear voice and a roaring scream. Then the last two tracks are tinged with a touch of psychedelia and dressed up in a more doomic atmosphere. No way to get bored listening to Lost Season cause each song has its own interest. Something is certain : fuzz lovers, this album is for you!
~ Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François (Metal Intégral)

3. AURALAYER – THOUSAND PETALS / NEW!
12579 Points
Stoner, Doom, Rock
Greenville, South Carolina, USA
King Volume Records

You like riffs? Think you have heard all of them?  Sure, guy.  Put on this album and prepare to be taken away to a world where the only thing that exists is riffs, riffs, and more riffs.  You get a riff!  She gets a riff!  He gets a riff!  EVERYONE GETS A RIIIIIIFF!  Absolutely fantastic album for anyone who loves the guitar and doom laden stoner rock/metal.  But it isn’t just about the guitars.  The bass slaps, the drums are incredibly solid and clever, and those smokey, stoner vocals are just perfect.  Oh did I mention the guitar solos?  Total wizardry.
~ Justin Wittenmeier (Metal Temple, DoomedForMetal)

2. MUTOID MAN – MUTANTS / NEW!
13413 Points
Metal, Punk
New York, USA
Sargent House

Things it’s impossible not to do while listening to this record. 1: Headbang 2: Laugh 3: Have the best time ever. I haven’t stopped listening to Mutants since it came out. The production is next level, the playing is insane, the songs are fantastic, the riffs are disgusting. All killer, no filler AOTY contender. Bring on the UK tour next month!
~ Jonny Pirie (Hour of the Riff)

1. THUNDER HORSE – AFTER THE FALL / NEW!
19778 Points
San Antonio, TX
Hard Rock, Stoner Metal, Doom
Ripple Music

THUNDER HORSE remains untamed and battle-born with a ferociously metallic harmony, infectious stoner fuzz and galloping rhythm. The vocals remain virile with an overwhelming sense of dissonanse between manufactured virtue and reality.
~ Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect)

The mighty THUNDER HORSE is back with their third album, and they are not afraid to bring the heavy, musically or lyrically, with After The Fall. The band has never sounded better and production on the album is next level, but where THUNDER HORSE really excels is at throwing personal, introspective words together with their gigantic style of Texas doom that knocks you into next week. Just listen to Monolith and you will understand completely. Another step forward for one of the best out there doing it today.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip)

The Doom Charts Mixtape…

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); Andy Kovalcik (Bandcamp-NYP-Hard&Heavy); Ben Bellum (The Greatest Thing You’ve Never Heard); Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer); Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned); Bob “Mr. Weird Beard” Baker (More Fuzz Podcast); Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin); Brandon Collins (Morbid And Miserable Records); 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 Decibel); Damien Regnauld (Stoner Freaks Anthology); The Doom Oracle (Spectral Ecstacy); Doomsday Jesus (DoomsdaysJesus); Duncan Evans (Alternative Control); ‘The General’ (Stoner Rock Army); Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist); Fuzzy Cracklins (Fuzzy Cracklins); Geoff Leppard (Atom Heart Mutha); Graur Zaur (Crypt Guard); Gruby (Doomsmoker); Günther “Doktor420” (Stoner HiVe); Héctor “Mr. Heavyhead” Hurtado (More Fuzz); Hugo Hulleman (Metalfan.nl,Orange Maze); Ioannis Valiakos (Desert Vulture); James Sweetlove (CaveDwellerMusic); Jamey Morris (Fistful of DOOM); Jasper Hesselink (Weirdo Shrine); Jay Morgan (High Desert Valley Radio); JC Cansdale-Cook (The MotorFuzzin’ Ibex); Jim Thompson (Heavy in the Hills); JJ “HP Taskmaster” Koczan (The Obelisk); John Gist, (Vegas Rock Revolution / The Doomed & Stoned Show); Jon Cosky (Gravitoyd Heavy Music); Jonny Pirie (Hour of the Riff); Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe); Justin Wittenmeier (Metal Temple, DoomedForMetal); Ken Elliott (Heavy Planet);  Kyle SB / Shasta Beast (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); Martin Doomed Desbois (Le Mellow Man, Metal Alliance Magazine) Matt Slighter (Cheeto) (Hwy 420, Core of Destruction Radio) Matthew Thomas (Taste Nation); Mathieu Van Der Hert (Dutch European Stoner Rock); Matt Hartnett (Heavy Galaxy); Mel Lie (Sunday’s Heavy Tunes); Mike Williams (I Talk to Planets);  Mr Stone (More Fuzz); Nick Pipitone (The Third Eye, Monster Riff);Pat Schober (Monster Riff); Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker (The Ripple Effect); ‘Papa’ Paul Rote (Doomed & Stoned); Reek of STOOM (Howls from The Hollows, Doomed&Stoned, Stoner HiVe); Remi VL (Remi Post Too Many Links); Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip); Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz); Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235); Robert Pannell (Doom Loom); Rod Reinhardt (Captain Beyond Zen); Roman Tamayo (Doomed & Stoned); Ryan Foster (Slightly Fuzzed); Ryan Hilton (Black Throne Productions); Scott Spiers (CleanAndSoberStoner) ; Silvi Pearl (Doomed & Stoned, Electric Fire Records); Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun); Steve Rodger (God’s Holy Trousers); Steve Woodier (Deathrattle Podcast); Tanguy ‘Mr Fuzz’ Dupré (More Fuzz); Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François (Metal Intégral); Tom Hanno (Tom’s Reviews, The Third Eye); 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.