Rolling Stoner/Psych/Doom/Sludge/Retro/Drone/Space Thread 2012

Wo Fat have a skateboard for sale at their show tonight.

They were made for the Kickstarter campaign but there were no takers for that particular item. Looks super cool though! So are they gonna play any dates elsewhere in the U.S. before Europe?

I think just the one hometown farewell, but I'll ask.

Skateboard is a good deal too. $65 ain't outrageous.

Sadly, no shows outside of Texas on the books at the moment, and it's unlikely they'll tour the states before hitting Europe in the spring. I have to say that when they do tour go and see them. I've never been fully sold on any of their records but they killed live. Absolutely slayed even though there couldn't have been more than 25 people there when they took the stage.

25 people? I guess it is the holidaze. Hopefully they'll pull more people in after they crush Europe.

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“Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” Isaiah 33:14

And now we enter the Top 10 of this years Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 of albums. Which means the world has not come to an end and those Maya, Hopi, Indus cultures and a caseload of lovely freaks had it wrong. So we can now look forward actually seeing who ends up on the Number 1 position according to 56 sent in lists and to 2029 when the world will come to an end according to a few other maniacs or 2060 according to Newton. Hell; as long as we try to make this floating rock a bit better for everyone inhabiting it; I don’t mind sticking around. And I think those freaks we find on Number 10 would not mind either; even though they get their kicks from a very destructive power. Which you can hear in their burning riffs and blistering drums. Their sixth studio album is an almost bombastic inferno of heaviness that borders on insane punctuation and a highly exact execution. Ambitious yet extremely atavistic.

High on Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis

dig the hell out of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbfjxIRMSV0

Yeah, liking that a lot. I started it up, got about 90 seconds in and thought, well, this is very easy on my Purling Hiss-loving ears. Clicked "Watch on YouTube" and sure enough, they're on Richie Records, home to the Hiss.

the whole record: http://spacin.bandcamp.com/album/deep-thuds-2

uh, wait, never mind. no it's not.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGLP1O-PTio/UNbPpMzyAEI/AAAAAAAAEQg/NfHEPmOwYfM/s320/Number9-Missiles.jpg

“So the six angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind.” Revelation 9:15

On Number 9 we find an act that has the same amount of votes as High On Fire; but since this act to some surprise stayed in the top three for ages and has gotten more amount of votes. It has been decided that it is ranked one place above High On Fire. The album was released early this year and their heavy psychedelic sound transports you to the seventies. Thanks to a lazy groove and acoustic folk inspired interludes their progressive riffing and blues motivated soul captivates in a devious and shrew manner. This is not heavy for heaviness sake but classic for classics sake. It has the fine and golden qualities of absolute freedom and rolling with whatever wave of creativity is lying in wait…

Stubb – Stubb

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMR8jVVdG2s/UNh6ETuYcaI/AAAAAAAAESM/5uVBdSb_gkU/s320/Number8-Thunder.jpg

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.” Revelation 1:7

Five points higher as Stubb we find one of those incredible debut albums of 2012. Cause there were quite a few of those this year. This one paints illustrious psychedelic landscapes and gallops through them on huge and powerful doom rhythms. The powerhouse diva on vocals slays like a metal medusa and their complex structures are carefully hidden below layers of impressive basswork and intense riffs. Highly electric and deadly sexy like lightning! It might be their concealed obviousness that does the trick; but after one listen you’re hooked and in love! Ride the thunder!

Royal Thunder – CVI

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“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.” Revelation 17:8

From Royal Thunder we move three points towards the next entry; another debut album and once again these freaks hail from Sweden. Seeped in mystery and tradition the album speaks of haunting tales, ancient myths and tribalistic rituals. Through a colorful mixture of kraut and space rock, enchanting percussion, eastern influences and mesmerizing vocals we are treated to magical voodoo music. Spells are cast and transport towards a psychedelic and occult delirium. It’s a necromancers rejoice at bringing to life long lost music, the visions and the waves of emotions that belong to it. And besides all that it also strikes a chord in the hearts of the most reckless; for it is a vague and distant call to arms for all those who on some level detest the way life in the western world is shaping up to become. Join in with the slaughtering!

Goat – World Music

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-74_IsSJE-jo/UNrJ-gJEpII/AAAAAAAAEVc/knuTFRO2chI/s320/Number6-Tsunami.jpg

“And will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.” Revelation 20:8

And yes, as we skip ahead with seven points to the next entry we once again find a collection of crazy Swedes. Four young dogs that sound like the masters of old. And to complete that fact they produced a true album’s album. Cause from the first forest noises to the last birds singing in the closing track it is a complete and utter musical adventure that transport the listener to green pastures, wide landscapes and mountainous regions. Their sound is huge, cumbersome, heavy and gigantic; like the name of the band suggests; yet surprisingly agile and on some weird and possible insane level folksy, pure and luscious. It sounds like the rumblings of a monstrous storm; but one that does not bring destruction; but life and renewal...

Mamont - Passing Through the Mastery Door

That is not what I would have guessed! My guess is the remaining top 5 will consist of:

Graveyard – Lights Out
Witchcraft – Legend
Om – Advaitic Songs
Pallbearer – Sorrow And Extinction
Conan – Monnos

However it's not easy, there's a ton of other worthy albums that could make it.

Saint Vitus – Lillie: F-65
Neurosis – Honor Found In Decay
Kadavar – Kadavar
At Devil Dirt – Chapter II (Vulgo gratissimus auctor)
Orange Goblin – A Eulogy For The Damned
Captain Crimson – Dancing Madly Backwards
Wight – Through The Woods Into Deep Water
Orcus Chylde – Orcus Chylde
Christian Mistress – Possession
Golden Void – Golden Void
Bong – Mana-Yood-Sushai
Spiders – Flash Point
Alunah – White Hoarhound
Ice Dragon – Dream Dragon
Trippy Wicked & the Cosmic Children of the Knight – Going Home
Ivy Garden Of The Desert – Blood Is Love
Snail – Terminus
Witch Mountain – Cauldron Of The Wild
Venomous Maximus – Beg Upon The Light
Ancestors – In Dreams And Time
Castle – Blacklands
Lento – Anxiety Despair Languish
Pale Divine – Painted Windows Black
Spirit Descent – Seven Chapters In A Minor
Hour Of 13 – 333
Bell Witch – Longing
Dragged Into Sunlight – Widowmaker

You dont think Torche or Baroness will place?

Not with so many other strong candidates that are more clearly stoner/doom, but I could be wrong!

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“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Peter 5:8

As we count on and add another five points we end up at the Number 5 position with exactly a 141 points. And these cats have been around for a while and are not from Sweden but from the British Isle. They released their seventh album this year and it is filled with heavy stoner and metal that roars and grunts and is as steady as Motörhead. And mix that given band with some heaviness from Down and the doom and dark virtuoso we love from Black Sabbath and you approach that well crafted sound of these insane critters. They sound like the perfect soundtrack to a bourbon soaked biker movie and should actually be signed by one of the big whisky brands to provide music for every freaking commercial they ever make. Rock solid, hard hitting and fast driving. This rock’n roll is what’s keeping me breathing!

Orange Goblin - A Eulogy for the Damned

I like Orange Goblin enough to have picked up their box set on Rise Above last year. And while the new one is an improvement over their last couple, I can't help but take them for granted along the lines of Motorhead. So who got displaced? I guess Conan might not have made as big an impact as I'd thought?

idk, i also figured Witch Mountain would be there so it's hard telling.

I think the OM album is kinda controversial tbh, but I wouldnt know what Stoner Hive's core demographic thought of it

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"Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God." Revelation 9:13

Like we mentioned yesterday: we now enter a different part of the league, we enter a league of extraordinary releases. For to reach Number 4 we have to add almost 50 points to Orange Goblins final total. These guys have been making the list since it’s conception and actually made it to the number 1 position of that first year. This year they find themselves stranded on place Number four with 192 points. But their spiritual expedition into the realms and dynamics of heavy music does not care for numbers of points. Filled with seductive arrangements of droning strings, tablas, chants and melodies woven together in a hazy melange of rock at its most languorous the album transports you to an entirely different dimension. And only on a very rare occasion does the bass of yesteryear make its appearance in a sting of sludge. Made for Opium dreams; Ibogaine reveries and Ayahuasca epiphanies…

Om - Advaitic Songs

Yeah, they like Om. It wasn't what I expected but after sitting on it half the year I started re-listening to it and I started appreciating it a lot more, and it crept into my top 20. Previous years' lists can be found at the end of this.

The Obelisk poll will roll out around New Year's. His own personal list is here - http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2012/12/20/the-obelisk-presents-the-top-20-of-2012/

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“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” Romans 5:12

Should you be a gambling man than at one point in your career you will always cross the wrong wires and find yourself burned to a cinder by an electric firestorm. But you will also come across that sure shot; that one lucky guess that isn’t lucky at all. So I ain’t going to bet anyone if they can guess where the guys from Number 3 come from. Cause I am pretty sure seeing as almost half of the list hails from that beautiful country in Scandinavia that you know which that might be. We climb almost twenty-five points and are treated to groovy blues inspired by the seventies and driving stoner grafted on that happening feeling. And then to think they already made it to the Number Two position last year! Let’s hope they have another album ready for us in 2013!!!

Graveyard - Lights Out

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“These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.” Revelation 17:13

Pfew and finally; on Number Two we once again find a band from a different country than Sweden. Germany to be exact. And the city of Berlin to be precise. These freaks wound up with almost 35 points more than Graveyard and looking at their band name they should be considered neighbors or at least be in business together? And yes, they are honoring those bands of yore. That good music, that still remains, to this day, the best that was ever made. And these guys sound as if they were right there; at its conception. They sound like the absolute best of Sabbath, Zeppelin, Cheer and all those other great 60’s / 70’s proto-metal artists. And they never sound like they are trying to emulate; but rather like they showed them the way. Smell it, sniff it, smoke it and enjoy their fuzzed out slightly decayed sound!

Kadavar – Kadavar

Wow, I had no idea Kadavar got so popular so quickly! I guess vintage proto-metal trumps doom this year. Countdown so far - http://stonerhive.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-countdown-so-far.html

1. …
2. Kadavar - Kadavar
3. Graveyard - Lights Out
4. Om - Advaitic Songs
5. Orange Goblin - A Eulogy for the Damned
6. Mamont - Passing Through the Mastery Door
7. Goat - World Music
8. Royal Thunder – CVI
9. Stubb – Stubb
10. High on Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis
11. Colour Haze - She Said
12. Troubled Horse - Step Inside
13. Wo Fat - The Black Code
14. Greenleaf - Nest of Vipers
15. Ufomammut - Oro: Opus Primum
16. Horisont - Second Assault
17. My Sleeping Karma – Soma
18. Ufomammut - Oro: Opus Alter
19. The Sword – Apocryphon
20. Major Kong – Doom for the black sun

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YqZlkLVllrs/UN2jkLsM5II/AAAAAAAAEcc/52aMr1A-S58/s320/Number1-Nibiru.jpg

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6

I guess there’s only one way and one place to end this list truly righteous and beautifully poetic. For it is the year of Sweden and of a lust for that vintage feeling of musical magic. So it is fitting that these guys that sparked so many of the bands we listen to ended up on the Number One position. For they themselves honor the music that inspired them and most of the other great releases this year. With twenty points more than Kadavar they pay homage to the heavy and darkened sounds of yore and exhume a dusty brown air of nostalgia but never one that is stale or forlorn. In fact their vintage atmosphere has a loud and modern feeling to it. Which is something they might have to thank their new members for. It is mystical music that speaks of ancient legends and conjures up visions of true artists fighting their way out of kaleidoscopic straightjackets of their own making. And cast away they dare to take flight in a new fashion that takes some getting used to. But once the buttons are buttoned; it is snug and fits like a glove!

Witchcraft – Legend

Here's the Captain Beyond Zen Top 20. http://captain-beyond.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-40-of-2012-1-20.html

Happy new year.

Love that CBZ list. Windhand at #3!

Giant compilation of unsigned stoner/psych/doom/sludge bands, thought you guys might be interested in checking it out. There might be a few gems on here: http://heavyplanet.bandcamp.com/album/bong-hits-from-the-astral-basement

Someone's gonna make sure there's one of these threads in 2013, right? Not two...

This one was first. But maybe it makes sense to continue to have the separate psych/drone/freak thread, and roll all other stoner/doom/sludge/space/retro discussion into the general Rolling Metal thread. Activity was kind of low here and most people follow the metal one.

Ah, the Obelisk results are finally in! 296 people voted, very nice. However, it sounds like he did not weigh votes based on ranking, which is odd, but interesting results either way.

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2013/01/01/readers-poll-results-the-top-20-of-2012/

01. Om, Advaitic Songs – 108 votes
02. High on Fire, De Vermis Mysteriis – 106
03. Graveyard, Lights Out – 86
04. Neurosis, Honor Found in Decay – 65
05. Ufomammut, Oro – 63
05. Witchcraft, Legend – 63
06. Colour Haze, She Said – 56
06. Saint Vitus, Lillie: F-65 – 56
07. Kadavar, Kadavar – 49
07. Pallbearer, Sorrow and Extinction – 49
08. Orange Goblin, A Eulogy for the Damned – 46
09. Baroness, Yellow and Green – 39
10. Conan, Monnos – 38
11. Swans, The Seer – 35
12. Astra, The Black Chord – 31
13. Greenleaf, Nest of Vipers – 31
13. The Sword, Apocryphon – 31
14. Royal Thunder, CVI – 26
14. Wo Fat, The Black Code – 26
15. Ancestors, In Dreams and Time – 25
16. Torche, Harmonicraft – 23
17. Corrosion of Conformity, Corrosion of Conformity – 22
18. Enslaved, Riitiir – 19
19. Goat, World Music – 18
19. Melvins Lite, Freak Puke – 18
19. Soundgarden, King Animal – 18
20. Amenra, Mass V – 17
20. Samothrace, Reverence to Stone – 17

xpost i never even differentiated between the two. to me, they seem like two threads dedicated to essentially the same stuff that both survived the year, more or less. and it seems like it would be easier to keep it all in one place.

i mean, i understand the difference between the genres, etc., but... i guess maybe the words psych and drone being in both titles may be throwing me off. if it were psych/space/freak and sludge/doom (i think of drone separately anyway), then i could see the point.

but if everyone else thinks they have distinct purposes as they are, by all means, ignore me.

and for the record, i for one definitely want some sort of thread that's dedicated more to psych, space, drone, kraut, whatever than folding any/all of that into rolling metal... these two threads were basically my sweet spot in 2012

I'm not sure which of the rolling threads to post this in (seems like non-indie punk may be more appropriate than this one, but this one is fresher) and there aren't any 2013 rolling threads yet but I've just discovered this record out of Philly on Richie Records and it sounds great
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbfjxIRMSV0

It's Spacin "Deep Thuds." Lots of touchstones being signified in this one.

sorry about that alpine, I didn't remember who said it when I went off on the other thread, but knowing that it was out of a desire to keep things straight, rather than just moaning about pointless threads, makes what I said sound even worse than how I meant it #banDrugs2013

oh no worries at all. i wasn't riled up or anything. was just wondering if that was what you were responding to, or if there had been other discussion I'd missed, etc. all good.

i was responding to a few other things, but i'd rather just drop the matter entirely