“One riff to rule them all, one riff to find them, one riff to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.”

~ probably misheard quote from Lord of the Rings…

There’s never enough time or room to give every excellent heavy album its due in a given month, and true to form October was bursting at the seams. The Doom Charts Contributors delivered an additional whopping 33 albums that needed to be heard for this month’s Peroration, so buckle up and enjoy!

The following are professions of love and adoration by Doom Charts Contributors for albums they could not stop spinning. Each month, the Doom Charts critics submit their picks for the best new doom, sludge, metal, stoner, psychedelic and other sorts of heavy rock and metal albums. The results are compiled and tabulated into the chart which is published on the First Friday of the new month, monthly. However, sometimes a love is so great, but for whatever reason the album unfortunately did not make the published Doom Charts Edition or because there were so many contributors in love with that one album, that multiple blurbs were written, and only the one got published… Well, you can peruse that love here…

BURN RITUAL – HOUSE OF THE WICKED
Doom, Stoner Rock
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Self-released

House Of The Wicked by BURN RITUAL is a dark blend of stoner rock and doom that is hypnotizing. Each track offers thick, resonant riffs and haunting melodies that pull listeners into its shadowy depths. This EP takes you on a journey into the heart of darkness!
~ Michael D’Amato (Playgroundz Rocks, D’Amato Production)

CERTAIN DEATH – STRANGE GARDEN
Proto-Metal, Hard Rock
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Self-released

Do not, for the sake of your own sanity, mistake this CERTAIN DEATH for the Canadian death/extreme metal outfit bearing the same name, there are no growling guttural vocals or double kick drum action to be found here just loads of good old melodic hard’n’heavy rock tunes played in a style many of us of a certain age thought we might never hear the like of again.
~ Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist)

CRIPTA BLUE – NO RETURN
Proto-metal, Progressive Rock, Proto-doom
Italy
Argonauta Records

CRIPTA BLUE is a band from Italy who primarily combines proto doom from the 60s with psychedelic rock, but this band is a true chameleon that won’t be pigeonholed quite so easily. You’ll find a lot of variety on their latest release No Return, with songs ranging from trippy and groovy to dark and eccentric, with a flow that lets you know the band is truly letting creativity take the wheel here. An eerie tone to the vocals tops it off, adding a mind-bending quality to the sound. Best of all, it all comes together in a very sophisticated way, proving that CRIPTA BLUE’s instrumental and songwriting skills are well-honed.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)

DEADFORM – ENTRENCHED IN HELL
Sludge, punk, metal
Oakland, California, USA
Tankcrimes

The tone of the album production sends waves of nostalgia through my ears. It reminds me of the days of trading mixtapes and somewhere in the new batch creeps out something unlike anything else. A guttural scream over low tuned brutality. The curiosity about who they could be, where they may reside or what planet they potentially come from. This is the exact headspace DEADFORM sends me to.
~ Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick)

DEER LORD – DARK MATTER PT. 2
Heavy psych, doom metal, stoner rock, space rock
Santa Rosa, California, USA
Self-released

DEER LORD put their space hooves on the scene with their fantastic EP back in 2020, and the deercraft has blasted off to strange new heights ever since. Dark Matter Pt. 2 sees the trio at the top of their game, laying down epic, spaced-out, high octane grooves that are an absolute party to listen to. Heavy and straight up fun in equal measure, DEER LORD have concocted a sound that only sounds like DEER LORD, and the new album is a ride and a half. The sky’s the limit for these guys.
~ Kyle SB (Good Boy PR, Stoner HiVe)

DESERT MANTRA – THE DESERT I
Stoner, Heavy Psych, Rock
Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
Smolder Brains Records

The album The Desert I is a pilgrimage across barren lands and sunbaked terrains with the bass being your constant companion, you can feel its presence in your chest beating, almost replacing your own heartbeat. The drums march along in your head to remind you to keep pushing forward, step by step, through this unforgiven wasteland. The psych and blues enriched guitar notes float upon the breeze, giving hope and solace to the lost and weary traveler whose destination is not yet known. The vocals call out beckoning in a trance like state, as the guide, your navigator calls you still yet farther. 

The Desert I is that type of album, a journey album, an album that musically tells a story, but one that you can also make your own narrative from. DESERT MANTRA was just recently brought to my attention and the attention they deserve as they’re in fine form with something pretty damn special here, so please check them out! 
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)

EIGHT FOOT MANCHILD – DO SPIRITS RETURN?
Brassdoom, Doom Metal
Medford, Massachusetts, USA
Self-released

Well, now for something completely different! Before this release, I didn’t know anything about the Massachusetts based EIGHT FOOT MANCHILD. But someone in the band sent me the promo for this album, their fifth EP Do Spirits Return? and described it as “doombrass” so I figured why the hell not give it a chance?

The production is great. It’s just misty enough to provide the hazy fog of unseen horror lurking within. And it’s just vibrant enough to capture every instrument. Trust me, every detail across these five songs deserves to be heard.

Despite the inclusion of brass, they don’t feel shoehorned into the songs. Likewise, the doom elements don’t seem to be added for the hell of it. Every instrument has its place. I think it’s really awesome the tuba acts as the bass—it’s magnificent and supplies a low end as heavy as any bass guitar.

EIGHT FOOT MANCHILD is a band that I never thought I would hear playing music that I never thought would exist. The best thing is, it’s more than just novelty—this is some seriously great music…doom, brass, or otherwise. Doom metal needs this, even if it may not be ready for it. I hope they put out a full-length soon, ready or not here they come!
~ Justin Wittenmeier (Metal Temple, DoomedForMetal)

ENFORCED – A LEAP INTO THE DARK
Crossover, thrash, hardcore
Richmond, Virginia, USA
Century Media

If you are ready for a full scale, circle pit, stage dive, crowd surf, high energy, spine tingling, gravel throated, chugging riff after riff, pounding, adrenaline packed, music mayhem (not unlike this overly descriptive run on sentence) then your wish has been granted. All of the above and it all happens direct from your living room stereo.
~ Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick)

GHOSTHEART NEBULA – BLACKSHIFT
Doom Metal, Blackened Doom, Cosmic Doom Metal
Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Profound Lore Records

I reviewed their debut full-length, “Ascension,” for Metal Temple and proclaimed it “the best album their label has released.”  Does their second album match that quality or did they fall victim to sophomore slump?

They didn’t match the quality of their debut…they have surpassed it!  The bands self styled “cosmic doom” takes everything that made their previous release so great and pushes it past boundaries while still remaining true to their core sound.  Interestingly enough, the album picks up exactly where “Ascension” left off so, in many ways, it’s also a companion piece.

Blackshift is a doom album that has all the hallmarks of the genre but introduces even more atmosphere, blackened elements, post, drone,  and a psychedelic/spacey world their music grows and thrives inside.

I want to praise the decision to introduce Lucia Amelia Emmanueli as a part of the band on this second album.  She did guest vocals on the previous one but she is used so much more now—and she definitely helps push their sound to the next level.  Her emotive, ethereal voice is powerful, haunting, and another incredible detail for their songs to present.

Of course, this is doom metal, so it explores darker themes.  According to their press release, the album explores concepts such as “sunyata,” the Indian philosophical concept for emptiness.  It also features cosmic themes, reflection on human feelings and even takes a scientific route in exploring quantum entanglement theories.  

That’s a lot of introspective topics but they fit into the band’s ghostly brand of cosmic doom and they present it with deep, dark tones.  Once again referring to their PR sheet, Blackshift is another reality going down into the deepness of the blackest voidness.  Heavy stuff, heavy music.

With Blackshift, GHOSTHEART NEBULA have upped the game for themselves, doom, and any style of music that is atmospheric or boundary crossing.  Although nothing is official yet, I have been trying to form a “best of” list for 2024 in my head.  Blackshift just came and changed the game with this late year stunner. 
~ Justin Wittenmeier (Metal Temple, DoomedForMetal)

GOAT – GOAT
Psych, world music
Sweden
Rocket Recordings

GOAT are harking back to their early days with a downright dirty mix of psych and traditional African music. And while they’re at it, they casually confirm they’re the best band in de world to combine these styles. Stellar stuff.
~ Ronny Dijksterhuis (Stoner HiVe)

HELL VALLEY HIGH – WELCOME TO HELL VALLEY
Stoner, Grunge
Utrecht, Netherlands
Argonauta Records

HELL VALLEY HIGH is here to rock, and that is exactly what they do on the eight tracks on Welcome To Hell Valley. HELL VALLEY HIGH is not going to break any new ground here, but what they do get is lots of points for rocking your socks off.  The eight songs on Welcome To Hell Valley do just that, leveraging their combination of stoner and grunge, some punk attitude, and occasional late 80s vibes to give us a fun little debut full length. They even bring us a very cool cover of a legendary band from their neck of the woods. Fun stuff.
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip)

LAS FUERZAS EXTRAÑAS – ENSAYO ATÓMICO
Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock
Córdoba, Argentina
Self-released

LAS FUERZAS EXTRAÑAS is a band from Argentina who make a great first impression with their debut EP, Ensayo Atómico. The band’s sound is primarily composed of progressive and psychedelic rock and features clean, melodic vocals in the Spanish language. These elements work together beautifully on their own, creating a bit of a retro 70s feel, but my favorite moments are when the music gets caught up in a cyclone of fuzzy stoner or hearkens to whispers of atmospheric space rock. Ensayo Atómico is a well-rounded, multi-faceted, immersive yet mellow listen.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)

LIVING GATE – SUFFER AS ONE
Death, extreme metal
Belgium
Relapse Records

One can be led to water but no one can force them to drink. Why did my inner voice try to resist this album for so long? Perhaps my fear was that it may not live up to an internal expectation. That was all very silly because this record is scorching! There was no way to be prepared for this level of extreme beauty in a technical, death metal assault. Like a scalpel wielded at the hand of a trained surgeon, these riffs cut so clean and smooth while the life-giving blood overflows once that seal of flesh has been broken.
~ Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick)

MERCYLESS – THOSE WHO REIGN BELOW
Death, extreme metal
France
Osmose Productions

It is a cavern of slaughter. Bodies piled high and the screams of those tortured and slain still echo from the blood soaked wall to flesh coated stone. The further we travel the louder those cries ring out. Thunder rumbles and chains rattle. Blast beats and the fierce attacking of blistering riff after riff, slashing and cutting, nothing can stop the butchery. This is the ultimate feast for the death metal demon.
~ Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick)

METHADONE SKIES – SPECTRES AT DAWN
Post-rock, stoner, psych
Timișoara, Romania
Haywire Records

Looking up, the clouds slowly turn dark and lightning illuminates the skies like a pulsing light show of horrific proportion. The sludge soaked psychedelia force heat and cold to meet, generating chaotic winds. The music showcases a cryptic dance of ominous destruction. The lands before us provide nowhere to escape and the distant rumble of imminent dismantling slowly grows louder.
~ Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick)

MIASIS – IN AND OUT OF WEEKS
Post-hardcore, metal, noise
Naperville, Illinois
Self-released

Though it is a short burst, this EP is full scale demolition in the face of it all. With a massive powerhouse of heaviness to welcome you and a melodic passage to connect the two bodies of devastation that begin and end, this is a fun trip down memory lane for fans of Coalesce and similar artists.
~ Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick)

MODOKI – 幻術 げん幻·じゅつ
Krautrock, psychedelic, lo-fi
Japan / United Kingdom
UFO CREAtions

MODOKI is probably one of the most overlooked bands in de jam rock scene and indulges itself in transgressive krautrock and heavy psych that aims straight for an undiscovered solar system trillions of lightyears removed from planet earth. And you can take that quite literally, as 幻術 げん幻·じゅつ is one long instrumental jam session devoid of tactics or boundaries – a psychedelic trip into worlds that will forever be unknown to mankind with all tracks recorded in one take. No fancy editing, just a big, manic, lo-fi explosion that sounds like skin being tortured by a sandpaper machine. Usually a band doesn’t get away with this approach, but when you realise that the MODOKI rhythm section consists of bassist Mike Vest (a.o. HaiKai No Ku, OZO and Kaliyuga Express) and drummer Dave Sneddon (a.o. Blood Robots and Oi Polloi), while Mitsuru Tabata (of Acid Mothers Temple fame) handles the non-stop, fully improvised lead guitar duties, you know something special is happening here.
~ Ronny Dijksterhuis (Stoner HiVe)

MOTHER OF GRAVES – THE PERIAPT OF ABSENCE
Doom Metal, Melodic Death/Doom
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Profound Lore Records

I can firmly say that The Periapt of Absence, is even better and will also find its place on many year end lists.  

Instead of falling into a sophomore slump, the band has managed to craft an album that both hones their sound while expanding it.  The songs are the heaviest they have done yet they are also their most dynamic.  This album is exactly how a band should follow up a well received debut!

The album is, of course, heavy as a coffin filled with lead.  For all their melodic and atmospheric leanings, they are still much darker and more intense than so many other bands out there who do the same style.  It’s an interesting combination; the songs are so goddamn bleak but catchy, engaging, and I could not get them out of my head (although I didn’t want them to leave anyway).

The Periapt of Absence, is an album from a band that has a lot of confidence and the abilities to back that confidence up.  It’s a serious, mature effort that just goes to show how potent the doom genre can be and why we all love it.  This is the next logical step for MOTHER OF GRAVES, their best release yet, and it cements their overall style while setting them up for the future.
~ Justin Wittenmeier (Metal Temple, DoomedForMetal)

MOTHER’S CAKE – ULTRABLISS
Soul, funk, psychedelic rock, britpop
Tirol, Austria
Embassy of Music

Ultrabliss is the fifth studio album by Austrian band MOTHER’S CAKE and their best to date. It uses psychedelic rock, sweaty soul, blistering funk and catchy Britpop to create an explosive, yet laid-back and sexy listening experience. Highly recommended if you like to think out of the heavy underground box and dig experimental music that hasn’t lost its sense of melody and accessibility.
~ Ronny Dijksterhuis (Stoner HiVe)

NOROTH / GRAVE INFESTATION – Split 7″
Death metal
Seattle, Washington, USA / Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Carbonized Records

One can almost smell the brutality creeping out of the cover before it starts to play. Throat blistering and abusive vocals flow over each battle driven, double bass and blast beat heavy shovel lunge of riffs. Though my cryptic senses tingle when the bands slow to a crawl, there is no denial that these tunes are well worn at an adrenaline stricken pace. 
~ Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick)

ODA – BLOODSTAINED
Psychedelic doom
Paris, France
Self-released

For those who believe that the strength of a doom record is based on the quality of riffs, I introduce you to Bloodstained, the debut full length from French outfit ODA.

Gargantuan riffs continually pummel and lead guitar forays take you to other planets, while soothing psych vocals counterbalance the heaviosity. Like a cross between 10,000 YEARS and MOONSTONE.
~ Chris Tighe (The Mighty Decibel)

With Bloodstained, ODA delivered a doom album that’s simply massive. Massive in tone, riffs, atmosphere, you name it, the record sounds BIG, and the band are only getting started. The Parisian crew are working some dark magic in their ability to be simulatenously crushing and cinematic, sacrificing none of the considerable weight of their attack, nor the psychedelic atmosphere that absolutely oozes dark, forbidden occult sorcery. A debut for the ages.
~ Kyle SB (Good Boy PR, Stoner HiVe)

OTTONE PESANTE – SCROLLS OF WAR
Brass metal, doom, jazz
Faenza, Italy
Aural Music

There is a moment within this album of pure, emotional bewilderment. My heart and mind connected to the struggle and sadness being conveyed. It felt as though my body was lost in a soundtrack of malice. Dark and unjust. This was the moment OTTONE PESANTE had hooked me. My instinct was to make note of the track title and damn near cried when it read, “Men Kill, Children Die”.
~ Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick)

PEACH MELBA – MELTING FACE
Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Cologne, Germany
The Lasting Dose Records

PEACH MELBA is a new band from Cologne who specialize in garage psych sounds in the vein of the Pixies, Fuzz, and Meatbodies. This trio skillfully demonstrates one of my favorite elements of garage rock: doing more with less. By stripping things down to a very raw, unembellished sound, the focus centers on unfettered emotion as communicated by contrast: harsh/hushed vocals featuring both male and female voices, loud/quiet instrumentals, and distortion. PEACH MELBA’s debut Melting Face has a beautiful flow, each song moving seamlessly into the next either as a hazy fever dream or with buoyant energy, making this a great album to play from start to finish with no skips.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)

RÜCKWATER – BORED MACHINE
Stoner rock, Doom metal, Alternative stoner
Tampere, Finland
Inverse Records

I agree with the ‘alt-stoner’ label because I find on Bored Machine the predominance of destructive bass, heavy and emphatic rhythms, and the acid and distorted sound of the guitar that characterize stoner, but also an architecture of the tracks that escapes the standards and opens an alternative path. RÜCKWATER has many assets: the two singers who cleverly share the interventions, the rhythm section so creative, the ability to compose real melodies without losing power, the very crazy guitarist, the regular little surprises to revive the listener’s attention. Bored Machine is an album to listen to… urgently!
~ Thierry “Pumpkin-Machine“ François (Metal Intégral)

Adam Walsh (Earmunchies); Andy Kovalcik (Bandcamp-NYP-Hard&Heavy); A.S. Van Dorston (Fast n Bulbous); Ben Bellum (The Greatest Thing You’ve Never Heard); Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned); Bob “Mr. Weird Beard” Baker (More Fuzz Podcast); Bobby Rayfield (Monuments In Ruin, Inherent Records, Mystery Pick); Brandon Collins (Morbid And Miserable Records); Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect); Chris Beck (Doom Tomb Podcast); Chris Tighe (The Mighty Decibel); Clint Willis (Hand of Doom Radio); Damien Regnauld (Stoner Freaks Anthology); The Doom Oracle (Spectral Ecstacy); Edouard Dubuisson (Les chroniques d’Eddy, MetalUniverse); Eric Crowe (Doomsayer Records / Halo Of The Goat Radio); Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist); ‘The General’ (Stoner Rock Army) Günther “Doktor420” (Stoner HiVe); Ioannis Valiakos (Desert Vulture); James Sweetlove (CaveDwellerMusic); JC Cansdale-Cook (The MotorFuzzin’ Ibex); Jim Thompson (Heavy in the Hills); Jipsy Froud (CleanAndSoberStoner); JJ “HP Taskmaster” Koczan (The Obelisk); John Gist, (Vegas Rock Revolution / The Doomed & Stoned Show); Jon Cosky (Gravitoyd Heavy Music); Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun); Jonny Pirie (Hour of the Riff); Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe); Justin Wittenmeier (Metal Temple, DoomedForMetal); Kyle SB (Good Boy PR, Stoner HiVe); Lee Edwards (The Sleeping Shaman); Marc-Eric Gagnon (Stonefly Effects); Mats Florstam (Ozium Records); Matthew Thomas (Taste Nation); Matthew Hartnett (Heavy Galaxy); Mel Lie (Sunday’s Heavy Tunes); Michael D’Amato (Playgroundz Rocks, D’Amato Production); Mitch Kline (DoomyRiffs.com); Mr Stone (More Fuzz); Nick Pipitone (The Third Eye, Monster Riff); Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker (The Ripple Effect); Remi VL (Remi Post Too Many Links); Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip); Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz); Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235); Rod Reinhardt (Captain Beyond Zen); Ronny Dijksterhuis (Stoner HiVe); Ryan Foster (Slightly Fuzzed); Ryan Hilton (Black Throne Productions); S Patrick Brooks (The Heavy Underground Farm Report, Outlaws of the Sun); Scott Spiers (CleanAndSoberStoner, Monster Riff); Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground); Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun); Steve Woodier (Anointing The Sick); Stevie Reek (Howls from The Hollows, Doomed&Stoned, Stoner HiVe); 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).

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.