The best stoner doom, heavy psychedelic, and desert rock albums released April-June 2023
We’re halfway through the year, spring has turned to summer, and the heavy music scene shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s your top ten stoner doom, heavy psychedelic, and desert rocks albums released in April, May, and June of 2023.
10. Vision Quest
Philadelphia, PA USA
With an opening bong rip, High Leaf leaves no doubt about what you’re getting into on their debut album. Vision Quest is forty minutes of prime psychedelic doom, bluesy riffs, snarled vocals, and heavy grooves.
Released May 05, 2023
Riffslayer Records
09. Smokey Mirror
Dallas, TX USA
Smokey Mirror dish out a raucous, turbo-charged psychedelic blues party on their debut self-titled album.
Released May 05, 2023
08. Born Under a Mad Sign
Tokyo, Japan
Nine albums in, and only one original member remaining, Japan’s Church of Misery delivers frighteningly heavy doomed riffs and bluesy, stomping grooves on Born Under a Mad Sign.
Released June 16, 2023
07. Invocation
Chicago, IL USA
The songs on Invocation, the debut LP from High Priest flow together and gracefully swell to a heavy groove, creating a beautifully doomy heavy psychedelic journey.
FFO: Oreyeon, Kel-El, Kayleth
Released June 23, 2023
06. The Serpent Tide
Australia
Doomed heavy metal from down under, with soaring, strained vocals, and an impossible to resist riff-heavy groove.
Released June 16, 2023
05. In Times New Roman…
Palm Springs, CA USA
They’re back! QOTSA’s latest, In Times New Roman… flows perfectly with all of the raw, weird, heavy, and swagger that I love about the world’s most famous desert rock band.
Released June 16, 2023
Matador Records
04. PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Australia
Slightly out of the norm for this site, but when King Gizzard decides to go heavy (my favorite side of KGLW), they go all the way, and this thrashy, insanely titled album from the prolific Australian outfit is an absolute ripper.
Released June 16, 2023
03. Drifting in the Endless Void
Sweden
Stoner rock legends return with a stunning new album.
Released April 21, 2023
02. Superskull
Italy
Nine albums in and the heavy psychedelic luminaries from Italy just keeps getting better.
Released June 09, 2023
01. Margarita Witch Cult
Birmingham, UK
Margarita Witch Cult, from the home of metal, storms onto the scene with their highly anticipated self-titled high voltage stoner doom debut.
Released April 21, 2023
Honorable Mentions
Here are ten more fantastic albums that just missed the 2023 Q2 top ten.
- The Last Voyage – Duskwood
- Goat Rider – King Potenaz
- Beyond the Realm of Common Sense – Grand Atomic
- Remedy – Gozu
- Falling Fathoms – Slow Wake
- Downpour – Kanaan
- Unit 61 – Red Eyed Cult
- Kingdom Cold – Oceanlord
- Cosmic Trigger – Bridge Farmers
- Ingress – Hibernaut
This list was curated by Mitch Kline.