Profits are up once again in the last quarter of the year! We’ve been treated to so much incredible music from all over the world this last three months. Maybe it’s October, and the significance of Halloween, I don’t know, but this quarter’s top ten definitely leans toward the darker end of the spectrum of music you’ll find featured on this site. And once again, the quality of releases was out of this world, making this a very challenging exercise. Some of these albums immediately rose to the top. Others danced in and out of the top ten. I hope you enjoy these releases as much as I do. And THANK YOU to the supremely talented musicians who create and share this music.
10. The Infinite Mirror
HEAVY PSYCHEDELIC
Manchester, UK
UK power trio Ritual King has created a mesmerizing sonic landscape at the fringes of heavy blues, psych, progressive hard rock on their excellent sophomore release, The Infinite Mirror. Hypnotic vocals and delicate guitar work seamlessly blend with hard-hitting riffs across five expansive tracks. This one just gets better with each listen.
For Fans Of: Sergeant Thunderhoof, Swan Valley Heights, Psychlona
Ripple Music
09. This Heathen Land
OCCULT
London, UK
In five short years, Green Lung have established themselves as rock and roll’s preeminent occult storytellers, spinning hair-raising tales of what might be lurking in the shadowy woods. The London-based band continues their reign with This Heathen Land, a wicked brew of searing heavy metal, crushing doom, and delicate folk.
For Fans Of: The Well, Salem’s Pot, Holy Serpent
Nuclear Blast
08. Epic Truths & Fantasies
PROTO DOOM
Colmar, France
French power trio Supertzar unleash a colossal slab of sinister riffs and lumbering grooves drenched in vintage heavy 70s vibes on their debut album, Epic Truths & Fantasies. Sabbath worshipers, this is a must-have album.
For Fans Of: Black Sabbath, Early Moods, Kryptograf
07. Songs For Satan
STONER DOOM
Warsaw, Poland
The riffs hit hard, the guitar solos are spacey and psychedelic, and the vocals are as wicked as ever on Dopelord’s latest full length, Songs For Satan. The Polish doom dealers dredge the murkiest depths of religion on this seven song collection, and once again prove they’re one of the heaviest bands on the planet.
For Fans Of: Monolord, Weedeater, Belzebong
Blues Funeral Recordings
06. Seven Nights in Memphis
DOOMED BLUES
New York, USA
New York power trio Reverend Mother holed up for a week at the renowned Easley Recordings in Memphis, TN to record their latest record. The result, Seven Nights in Memphis, an intoxicating collection of songs brimming with vintage boogie, powerful, enchanting vocals, and heavy blues swagger.
For Fans Of: Heavy Temple, Alunah, Dead Feathers
05. Glass Future
PROGRESSIVE PSYCHEDELIC
Nashville, TN, USA
Electrifying bursts of progressive metal. Dreamy psychedelic passages. Chunky riffs. Soaring, melodic vocals. And hooks galore. This is Glass Future, the mesmerizing sophomore studio album from Nashville-based trio Howling Giant.
For Fans Of: Elder, Baroness, Torche
Magnetic Eye Records
04. Magma Tres
HEAVY PSYCHEDELIC
Cantabria, Spain
Magma Tres, the third studio release from Spanish heavy hitters Wet Cactus, is a cosmic blend of hard-charging, bluesy rock and roll and soulful, rhythmic vocals. These guys have been churning out stellar heavy psychedelic music for ten years. This is their best work yet.
For Fans Of: Mothership, Greenleaf, Black Rainbows
Electric Valley Records
03. Umbra
STONER DOOM
Spokane, WA, USA
The rain-soaked Pacific Northwest is a hotbed of doomed psychedelic music. Spokane-based trio Kadabra quickly established themselves in the scene with their outstanding 2021 debut album, Ultra. On Umbra, their potent sophomore studio release, the band sounds dialed in, with more swagger, more punch, and more doom!
For Fans Of: Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Margarita Witch Cult, Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows
Heavy Psych Sounds
02. Afterimage
STONER METAL
New York, USA
Restless Spirit serve up a truly unique blend of scorching heavy metal, crushing riffs, irresistible breakdowns, and powerful vocals on Afterimage. Metal music fans of all stripes should have this album in heavy rotation.
For Fans Of: High On Fire, 10,000 Years, Firebreather
Magnetic Eye Records
01. Helichrysum
STONER DOOM
Portland, OR, USA
With the addition of bassist and vocalist Laura Philips, Portland power trio Hippie Death Cult has delivered one of the most exciting releases of the year. Helichrysum, the band’s third studio full length, and their first with Philips on bass and vocals, is a spellbinding excursion through a psychedelic sonic landscape of riff-fueled, doomed grooves. And “Toxic Annihilator” might just be the nastiest headbanger-of-a-song of the year.
For Fans Of: Ruby the Hatchet, Holy Grove, Witch Mountain
Honorable Mentions
- Giant Lungs – Giant Lungs
- The Shining Son – Appalooza
- SLOTH – SLOTH
- Grave Watcher – Burn Ritual
- SALTPIG – SALTPIG
- Thrones – Deathchant
- Dawn of the Dusk – Mars Red Sky
- Silence By The Raging Sea – Occult Hand Order
- Short Cuts – Chief of Smoke
- Devil’s Night – Ancient Days