“Big black shape with eyes of fire

Tellin’ people their desire

The Doom Charts are sittin’ there, they’re smilin’

Watch those flames get higher and higher“

~ probably misheard lyrics by Black Sabbath

As spooky season comes to a close, at least for those not listening to doom year round, we’ve got a whopping 26 albums that our contributors couldn’t get enough of. Going beyond our regular monthly post, they’ve got even more words to share and praise to heap on these albums from October.

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. 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…

-ii- – APOSTLES OF THE FLESH
Dark Pop, Post-Doom, Shoegaze, Industrial Rock
Nancy, France
Self-released

I want to introduce -ii- (pronounced Two Eyes) to the Doom Chart community because their album Apostles Of The Flesh is as dark as the darkest doom albums. Yet, while listening to it, I thought of THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA, HEALTH, ANATOMY OF HABIT, BJORK, and even Laurie ANDERSON. Would these references seem weird here? Perhaps. But personally, I’m very drawn to dark poetry and the freest form of creativity. I’d find plenty of other adjectives to describe –ii-‘s music: heavy, haunting, sensual, Baudelairean… For all these reasons, I fell in love with this album.
~ Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François (Metal Intégral)

AMBRA – REMNANT
Alternative Metal, Progressive Metal, Stoner
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Self Released

AMBRA is an instrumental post-rock trio from Ljubljana, Slovenia, formed in 2015. The band evolved quickly, adding a vocalist and releasing their debut LP in 2019. A little over six years and one new singer later, they have just released Remnant, their second album, which is how I was introduced to them.

And what a great introduction! I was captivated from the first listen and it only took one more for me to know it would definitely be in my top picks for October.

The album is a raw and visceral bunch of stoner-infused post-metal. Like the darkness from which it emerges, it seeps deeper and deeper into you with each listen. It’s one of those albums that leaves a deep mark and resonates long afterwards, providing a lucid and precious reflection of the world around us.

~ Jay Baner (La Capsule Stoner)

AN ABSTRACT ILLUSION- THE SLEEPING CITY
Atmospheric/Progressive death metal
Boden, Norrbotten/Lund, Skåne, Sweden
Willowtip Records

This is unquestionably one of the best albums of the year, regardless of genre.  It is progressive and adventurous without being convoluted or pretentious.   While its seven tracks add up to just over an hour of runtime, each song has several epic, wow moments and crafted so expertly that the hour will breeze. Before you know, you’ll find yourself smashing the play button again.

I like the flow of the album a lot.  The three longest songs are spread enough among the four shorter ones, so each song feels like it has its own time to shine, and listener fatigue doesn’t become an issue.

~ Justin Wittenmeier (DoomedForMetal)

BIRDWITCH – BLESS THE SPARK THAT FOUND ITS HOME
Doom metal, doomgaze, post-metal, progressive, sludge
Norwich, UK
Self-released

Fusing doomgaze, post-metal, and sludge, BIRDWITCH’S aptly named ‘dream violence’ is a haunting, cathartic beast of a sound, exploding with sorrow and fury as the band’s sonic fireworks wreak havoc on the listener. Raya-Mhari Iglesias Beattie’s powerhouse vocals are the cherry on top, shifting between angelic croons and feral, ghastly shrieks that cut to the bone. All hail the BIRDWITCH!
~ Kyle SB (Good Boy PR, Stoner HiVe)

BLACK CHARGER – SMALL TOWN
Stoner Rock
Osnabrück, Germany
Clostridium Records

After releasing several memorable singles and playing a slew of gigs around their native Germany over the past few years, BLACK CHARGER’s full-length debut Small Town is deservedly reaching eager ears on a global scale. The band plays a classic style of stoner desert rock that’s gritty, fuzzy, and dense in all the right places with a hazy infusion of heavy psych and vibrant energy that supercharges their songs. Perhaps best of all, BLACK CHARGER keeps their music down to earth and relatable, with lyrics that focus on topics such as life in a small town and the rise of the stoner/desert scene. This is a band that holds fast to the foundations of stoner rock while creating a very personal experience for the listener.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)

BRIMSTONE COVEN – THE LIGHT SHINES NOT FOR THEE
Hard Rock, Doom, Heavy Blues
Wheeling, West Virginia
Self-Released

BRIMSTONE COVEN are one of those bands that just seem to do no wrong, their songs are always catchy, their albums are always kick ass. The Light Shines Not For Thee is no different as it embodies the band’s bass heavy occult doom blues and the signature vocal harmonies that seem to haunt the stories they tell. The band is subtle in delivery but extremely clever with every note struck in precision, every nuance purposely done. With every listen you may find yourself focusing on something different or discovering something new. 
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)

DAYTRIPPER – THE ALCHEMIST 
Doom Metal, Sludge Metal
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Self-released

The Sages from DAYTRIPPER are back, with two new Sages and four new tracks that serve as the prequel to their terrific debut record.  The songs of The Alchemist tell the story of the protagonist and his rise to being and his effect on the happenings of their debut and in the overall DAYTRIPPER universe…all led by a gigantic puff of green smoke. The songs are heavy (of course) but go in multiple directions, with unique instrumentation, and a juxtaposition between the growls from hell and the ethereal vocals from The Seer Sage that takes the band to the next level. Heavy. 
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)

FLITCRAFT – TRANSMISSION ECHO
Proto, Heavy Metal, Prog
Melbourne, Australia
Pitch Black Records

Melbourne, Australia’s FLITCRAFT loves the classic on their third record, Transmission Echo. The ten songs on the new album sound like Rush, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, and Yes. Cool, right? There is another band that they sound like as well, and I could not put my finger on it until my third listen.  Turns out singer/guitarist Phillip T. King was in Butterfly, who put out one of my favorite albums of the 2020s so far, Doorways of Time, back in 2021. While Butterfly leaned into 70s rock and the proggy stuff hard, FLITCRAFT does so from a heavier approach, incorporating the Deep Purple and Maiden stuff into their already cool Tull, Uriah Heep vibes Butterfly gave off. Also, I love it. 
~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS – BEAR
Doom/heavy metal, heavy rock
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Magnetic Eye Records

What is this?  What kind of name is that?  Those were the thoughts that poured into my head when the promo for this duo’s fourth full-length album Bear.

But they have a Metallum page and were featured on a Weedian compilation so it had to be something I would enjoy and feature on my blog right? Well, they are from Nashville and I’m a fellow Tennessean, so I figured why not at least give it a chance?

I still don’t know what this is, but I enjoy the hell out of this album! Is this doom? Sludge? I think I would say it’s in the doom category—the album is full of massive guitar riffs and bass that could level a forest. But it has a “grunge” feel at times and can be melodic when needed.  

It is also catchy as hell. I mean, every song WILL get stuck in your head for days. On top of all that, the musicianship is tight as hell.  Vocalist Buick Audra sings her face off. Her vocals are clean, but they are extremely potent with a lot of nuances to them. She’s also a riff lord and jams the strings as hard as she sings.

Jerry Roe provides the rhythm machine—and what a machine he is. He’s equally competent on both bass and drums. The tone of his bass is perfect for this style too; he is a riff lord too.  Two in one band?  What a twist! His drums are tight and crisp, providing a rock-solid backbone with the energy of a dozen players.

~ Justin Wittenmeier (DoomedForMetal)

GOATFATHER – HOUSE OF THE RISING SMOKE
Stoner, Doom
Lyon, France
Self-released

The album cover features Donnie-the-Goat’s skull, just like on their 2015 demo. Why? Because House Of The Rising Smoke celebrates GOATFATHER’s tenth anniversary. The rock is highly powerful, the sound is deliciously dirty—it’s pure organic DIY Stoner Rock played with heavy guitars and sung with a raw, relentless voice. You won’t find any speed tempos or slow tempos on this album, nor any gratuitous instrumental displays, nor any electronic flourishes. GOATFATHER is all about raw power and efficiency. Ten years after, the band is completely fitting with its concept.  
~ Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François (Metal Intégral)

HIGH MOUNTAIN – WASTED TALES
Heavy blues, psychedelic stoner
Metz, France
Self-released

Some albums need to be listened to several times to be fully appreciated. And for others, it only takes one listen to fall under their spell and fall in love. This is the case with Wasted Tales, a fantastic album by the Lorraine quartet HIGH MOUNTAIN. From the opening track “ATM,” we are captivated by the cottony atmosphere, by the awesome voice of Frederic Macieri, who whispers in your ear before making it prick up. Gleaming guitars, perfect rhythm section, a few touches of keyboards that give a wonderful cachet to the music: please, don’t miss Wasted Tales.
~ Damien Regnauld (Stoner Freaks Anthology)

KUOLEMANKELLO – PERKEET
Proto Metal, Heavy Rock
Turku, Finland
Svart Records

KUOLEMANKELLO is a proto metal/heavy rock trio whose sound is not only a perfect marriage of vintage, almost ancient-sounding tones and big, classic heavy metal vibes, but it’s ALWAYS deliciously loud. Their debut album Perkeet is a masterful blend of pounding rhythms, a plethora of heavy rock swagger, beautifully gritty harmonies in the band’s native Finnish, and a bit of a punk rock attitude. These elements drive Perkeet along with impressive endurance, not leaving a single dull moment in its wake. Even so, my favorite thing about the album is quite simple: its raw, unadulterated soul: a core of innate, feral energy that has a way of calling to mind why the bare bones of heavy music – sheer volume, intensity, and passion – are so vital to our enjoyment of it.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)

M.E.L.T. – INNERVATE / OBLITERATE
Stoner, Proto-Metal, Heavy-Psych
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Self Released

M.E.L.T. is an American band from Pittsburgh. Innervate/Obliterate is their third LP since 2021. The band has created a unique space for itself in the heavy underground scene, combining elements from fuzz rock to proto-metal, drawing inspiration from artists such as Primus, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and many more.

This third album is a true feat in terms of both its conception and composition. It is a concept album structured around two distinct parts that contrast the inner sensitivity of existence with the state of modern society. And all this without ever seeming to take themselves too seriously.

Musically, they blend all their influences together perfectly to produce a cohesive and deeply personal album.

Overall, this album is bolder than its predecessor, Replica of Mind, released in 2023, while retaining all the power and dynamism of its totally addictive tunes.

~ Jay Baner (La Capsule Stoner)

MONKEYS ON MARS – MONKEYS ON MARS
Heavy Psych, Space Rock, Progressive Rock
Bordeaux, France / Lausanne, Switzerland
Mrs Red Sound

When Mars Red Sky and Monkey3 decided to collaborate, the supergroup known as Monkeys On Mars was born. They set out to create a space odyssey combining the talents of all members from both bands and the atmospheric textures of progressive space rock and heavy psych. Success was achieved, and it resonates throughout this self-titled E.P. The first track Seasonal Pyres builds suspense with ebbs and flows, showcasing excellent guitar works, keys, and the eerie vocals of Julien from MRS. The second track Hear The Call is ethereal and majestic, but the instrumental has a tone of sorrowfulness hanging heavily overhead. Two wonderful songs that are sure to please, but alas we want more! Let us hope to see and hear more from this project in the future. 
~ Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun)

OLD YEAR – NO DISSENT
Sludge, Funeral Doom, Death Doom
Boise, ID, USA
Apocalyptic Witchcraft

They’re crushing. And massive as a really massive thing. They plod somewhere between sludge, funeral doom and death doom, with only feedback as their company, elbow deep in muck and misery.

~ Jukka ‘Shrike’ Kolehmainen (Psychotropic Caravan, Abhorrence, Shrike’s Playlists)

OCTOTANKER – VOIDHOPPER
Stoner, Doom, Grunge
Wrocław, Poland
Self Released

Emerging from the ashes of Prąd, OCTOTANKER presents its debut album, Voidhopper. It is a deliberate continuation of Prąd’s legacy, with OCTOTANKER being the name of Prąd’s final album, released in 2021.

Boasting a rich stylistic range, this new album blends stoner rock, post-punk, doom metal and heavy psych, among others. While this variety might suggest a catch-all album, nothing could be further from the truth: everything is executed with complete mastery. The vocals of singer Marcin Gałkowski provide a true through line. We then allow ourselves to be guided with great pleasure throughout this interstellar journey.

A special mention goes to the comic book proposed to complete the experience. That was all it took to convince the comic book seller that I am ! All of this resonates perfectly with La Capsule Stoner !

~ Jay Baner (La Capsule Stoner)

PSYCHONAUT – WORLD MAKER
Post Metal, Progressive Rock
Mechelen, Belgium
Pelagic Records

World Maker is much more than just a great album: it’s the result of a life-altering journey undertaken by the members of Belgian post metal trio PSYCHONAUT. In fact, I would argue that knowing this backstory is vital to fully appreciating the album, as it dives deep into what it’s like to experience profound joy and crushing devastation simultaneously. Unsurprisingly, World Maker bleeds with emotion ranging from the purest form of love to bafflement to raging anger, which can be heard in the heart wrenching, raw vocals and turbulent, complex instrumental breakdowns. However, it’s the completely uninhibited and raw manner in which these feelings are delivered that make this album PSYCHONAUT’s most soul-stirring yet. 
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)

RUNEMAGICK – CYCLE OF THE DYING SUN (DAWN OF ASHEN REALMS)

Death doom
Sweden
Self-released

The crippling entity known as RUNEMAGICK once again disgrace the airwaves with their latest offering Cycle Of The Dying Sun (Dawn Of Ashen Realms). An absolute onslaught of their trademark blend of Death/Doom that is both joyful and painful. My Album Of The Month!
~ Stevie Reek (Howls from The Hollows, Doomed & Stoned, Stoner HiVe)

SHADES OF DEEP WATER – THE YEARS ON BORROWED TIME
Funeral Doom Metal
Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi, Finland
Meuse Music Records

What I’ve always liked about the band, and an element that “The Years…” has a firm grasp on, is how well the songs are put together. Across the albums 4 song, 41 minute runtime, there isn’t one moment where the songs get lost within their own sound. The album is, of course, slow but never plodding. Every second is used, nothing is wasted.

Atmosphere is as important to this album as the instruments and vocals. It’s heavy as hell but it evokes a true feeling of sorrow and despair. This style of doom metal isn’t supposed to be easy listening so I enjoy the harrowing nature. With that being said, the album is consistently engaging. When a band embraces their style and knows what it wants to do, it always shines through even with music as misanthropic as this. 

This is the most layered album yet in the project’s discography. You can use your ears to peel back the many layers of each song—incredible depth.

~ Justin Wittenmeier (DoomedForMetal)

SOME PILLS FOR AYALA – DYSTOPIA
Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Grunge
Santiago, Chile
Self-Released

SOME PILLS FOR AYALA is the hypnotic stoner/psych project of multi-instrumentalist Nestor Ayala, a musician from Santiago, Chile. Dystopia is Ayala’s latest full-length release, delivering eight tracks of the atmospheric stoner/psych reveries the project is known for, marked by hazy infusions of grunge and captivating spacey vibes throughout. It’s a soothing balm for both ears and soul. 
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)

SOUL BLIND – RED SKY MOURNING
Grunge, Shoegaze, Post Hardcore
New York
Closed Casket Activities

New York’s SOUL BLIND is right in my 90s post rock/post hardcore wheelhouse on their new record, Red Sky Mourning. Quicksand, Helmet, Hum, Failure, Handsome, Into Another, etc., all make me very happy. Add some Alice In Chains and some of the heavier 90s shoegaze bands, and what you get are the ten tracks on Red Sky Mourning; a journey to some of the best musical times of the 90s, updated for one of the better releases in 2025.

~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)

STONEBIRDS – PERPETUAL WASTELAND
Sludge, Psych, Post Rock
Bretagne, France
Ripple Music

Post Rock/Psych/Sludge/shoegaze dealers of heavy, the Brittany-based Stonebirds, are back with their new record, and their final one, Perpetual Wasteland. It’s never great when a band you love is no more, but if they go out the way Stonebirds do on Perpetual Wasteland, there is not much more you can ask for. A proggy, psych/sludge trip with 90s vibes and their brand of skull crushing, killer heaviness. Stonebirds will be missed, but we still always have Perpetual Wasteland.

~ Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour)

VANTRE – CLONOCRACY
Stoner Rock, Heavy Rock, Noise Rock, Alt-rock
Paris, France
Forbidden Place Records

After 3 very interesting EPs and 1 single, I was eagerly awaiting VANTRE’s 1st full-length album. I wasn’t disappointed! This extraordinary instrumental trio consists of a drummer and two bassists, with some judicious additions of synthesizers. The absence of a guitarist and singer raises concerns about melodic impoverishment and tiresome rhythmic redundancy. That’s not the case at all. VANTRE transcends its constraints and creates a complete musical universe, a rhythmic and varied music which generates a multitude of mental images. Clonocracy is a brilliant tour de force!
~ Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François (Metal Intégral)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – BROWN ACID – THE TWENTY-FIRST TRIP
60-70’s Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Garage Rock
Various/World
RidingEasy Records

I’m always excited to see Riding Easy put out another Brown Acid compilation of obscure and forgotten gems. Usually the tracks are everything from garage rock to psychedelic ’60s and ’70s hard rock and generally a bit more rougher and weightier than your average hippie pop/rock. These are the bands that were forgotten, as big names like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple et. al. were getting all the headlines. Some of them only put out one single and then broke up, the stories accompanying these albums are fascinating.
Taking these “trips of brown acid” of the series is a delight, many lost nuggets of heaviness from bands that never really got noticed.

~ Jukka ‘Shrike’ Kolehmainen (Psychotropic Caravan, Abhorrence, Shrike’s Playlists)

WAR – VENIVIDIWAR
Doomgaze, Screamo
Leipzig, Germany
Self-Released

VENIVIDIWAR will have you rethinking how you feel about the often-contentious genres of doomgaze, shoegaze, and emo/screamo. These stylistic influences and more work together to create WAR’s unique, chameleon like tone and, while melancholia is undoubtedly a dominant shade throughout, its anguish isn’t always clear-cut. VENIVIDIWAR contains subtleties that often illustrate a sequence of shifting moods, particularly anger, sadness, and heartbreak. However, it’s the beacons of acceptance, hope, and optimism that pop up from time to time that make WAR stand out from other bands with doleful proclivity. The addition of stoner, math, and prog rock to the mix adds a boldness to these nuances, leading to unexpected twists and turns while providing a beautifully layered, thought-provoking listening experience.
~ Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground)

WODE – UNCROSSING THE KEYS
Black metal, death metal, traditional heavy metal
Manchester, England
20 Buck Spin

WODE have always had a unique way of blending extreme metal with traditional heavy metal while adding tons of atmosphere.  And that’s exactly what they do on their new album.  Extreme vocals swirl around guitar riffs that sound as if they came out of the NWOBHM era.  The creepy atmosphere they’re known for has been turned up from previous releases.  It makes one feel like they are listening to music performed in a deep cavern filled with only bats, torches, the band and the band’s long shadows across the walls.  But the atmosphere never takes over 100%.  This is still fist-pumping metal music filled with catchy infectious guitar hooks that any metal fan would appreciate.  The best thing about this album is, not only does it work for fans of extreme metal, but it could also work as a gateway for those looking to get into more-extreme metal. 

~ Jamie Laszlo (Sea of Tranquility)

Special thanks to the ongoing contributors to the monthly Doom Chart.  You folks help give voice to the heavy underground:

Adam Walsh (Earmunchies); Andy Kovalcik (Bandcamp-NYP-Hard&Heavy); 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); Édouard Dubuisson (Les chroniques d’Eddy, MetalUniverse); Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist); Günther “Doktor420” (Stoner HiVe); Hugh Jones (The OG Metal Prophet, The Prophet’s Heavy Underground); Ioannis Valiakos (Desert Vulture); Jacob ‘Reverend Fuzzcut’ Baker (Monster Riff); Jamie Laszlo (Sea of Tranquility); Jay Baner (La Capsule Stoner); JC Cansdale-Cook (The MotorFuzzin’ Ibex); Jim Thompson (Heavy in the Hills); JJ Koczan (The Obelisk); John Gist, (Vegas Rock Revolution / The Doomed & Stoned Show); Jon McGough (Stoner Rock Army, Stoner HiVe, Outlaws Of The Sun); Jonny Pirie (Hour of the Riff); Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe); Jukka ‘Shrike’ Kolehmainen (Psychotropic Caravan, Abhorrence, Shrike’s Playlists); Justin Wittenmeier (DoomedForMetal); Kyle SB (Good Boy PR, Stoner HiVe); Marc-Eric Gagnon (Stonefly Effects); Mel Lie (Sunday’s Heavy Tunes); Michael D’Amato (Playgroundz Rocks, D’Amato Production); Mitch Kline (DoomyRiffs.com); Remi VL (Remi Post Too Many Links); Rich Piva (Musipedia of Metal, FuzzDoomRip, Rich & Turbo’s Heavy Half Hour); Rob Hammer (Rob Hammer, Doom/Stoner/Sludge/Psychedelic); Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz); Roberto Fuentes (Red House Store); Rod Reinhardt (Captain Beyond Zen); Ronny Dijksterhuis (Stoner HiVe); S Patrick Brooks (The Heavy Underground Farm Report); Stephanie Zalta (DoomCakes, Screaming From The Heavy Underground); Steve Woodier (Anointing The Sick); Stevie Reek (Howls from The Hollows, Doomed & Stoned, Stoner HiVe); Svempa ‘Doomsday Jesus’ Alveving (Cries From The Underworld); Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François (Metal Intégral) & Tom Schmahl (Rock Circuz).

Feel free to send in your albums to stonerdoomcharts@gmail.com where they’ll be delegated to all the Contributors 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 and your favorite albums.