Another year is in the books. A ridiculous number of incredible albums were released throughout the year, and trimming this end-of-year recap down to twenty albums is always a challenge. Modern variations on doom continues to draw me in. And I found myself drifting toward the progressive end of the music spectrum that I’m excited to explore more. A few of these albums were instantly launched to the top of my list. I initially overlooked a few, only to be blown away when revisiting releases from earlier in the year. After agonizing over the final few albums, and shuffling things around multiple times, this final list feels like the the best, most honest representation of my musical journey over the past calendar year, the twenty albums that I’ll return to over and over again in the future.
20. 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.
19. Hope is Heavy
STONER DOOM
Pretoria, South Africa
An intoxicating blend of stoner riffs, bluesy guitar solos, and expressive vocals create a dark, spacey atmosphere on Hope Is Heavy, the sophomore album from South Africa’s Acid Magus. Stoner doom just as I like it. And the album cover, by Tyrone Le Roux, , and the story behind it, is one of my favorites of the year.
Mongrel Records
18. Pressure
PROGRESSIVE DOOM
Lafayette, LA, USA
By the time you get through this sonic assault of crunchy, technical riffs and irresistible breakdowns from the two-man outfit Radiant Knife you’ll feel bruised, battered, and begging for more.
17. 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.
16. Invocation
STONER DOOM
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.
Magnetic Eye Records
15. Terminal Forest
HEAVY PSYCHEDELIC
Munich, Germany
Terminal Forest is a sprawling heavy psychedelic jewel from Germany’s Swan Valley Heights, dense with lush soundscapes that steadily swell into a relaxing groove. calm … serene … shimmer … swell … soundscape …. bliss …
Fuzzorama Records
14. Doors to the Dead
STONER DOOM
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Hazy grooves lumber and build into dark, heavy riffs on Doors to the Dead, the sophomore studio release from Los Angeles trio Formation Ritual. Jason Tapia’s infectious vocals, and lyrics intertwine perfectly, creating a bluesy, psychedelic, grungy vibe.
13. 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.
12. Remedy
PSYCHEDELIC DOOM
Boston, MA, USA
Boston heavyweights Gozu continue to build on their signature brand of turbocharged doom on Remedy, their latest studio offering. Colossal groove-heavy riffs and blistering guitar solos combine with grunge-influenced melodic vocals, creating an infectious and unique sound that has made Gozu one of today’s most intriguing bands.
Metal Blade Records
11. The Eightfold Path
HEAVY PSYCHEDELIC
Hamilton, New Zealand
If you like being enveloped in psychedelic blues, soulful vocals, a bit of organ, and spacey guitar solos, The Eightfold Path from multi-instrumentalist Craig Williamson is for you!
10. Glass Future
PROGRESSIVE
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.
Magnetic Eye Records
09. 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!
Heavy Psych Sounds
08. Soul Murder
HEAVY BLUES
Melbourne, Australia
It’s clear these three musicians are deeply committed to the essence of the blues. Fuzzy guitar solos add just enough psychedelic color. The vocals are rich with emotion, and the entire album has a warm, boozy, and welcoming energy. Soul Murder, is the definitive modern heavy blues album.
07. Drifting In The Endless Void
STONER DOOM / HEAVY PSYCHEDELIC
Borlänge, Sweden
You might be tempted to write off a band returning from a fifteen year break between albums. But Dozer isn’t just any band, and the stoner rock legends have reemerged with a superb new studio release. It’s clear these guys haven’t just been sitting around. They sound as confident as ever on Drifting in the Endless Void, leaning on the hard-driving, dynamic sound they helped define while merging new influences into the mix and creating an electrifying classic.
Blues Funeral Recordings
06. Afterimage
DOOM 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.
Magnetic Eye Records
05. Desiderium
PROGRESSIVE DOOM
New York, NY, USA
On Desiderium, Brooklyn, NY heavyweights Somnuri continue to build their reputation for creating a genre-bending blend of thrashy and technical, imposing sludgy riffs, and melodic passages. Death growls and clean vocals complement their uniquely ferocious and sonically diverse sound. Three albums in, Somnuri have established themselves as one of the most captivating bands in metal music.
MNRK Records
04. The Flight After the Fall
PROGRESSIVE DOOM
Seattle, WA, USA
Where to start with this one?! First, I completely overlooked this album when it came out in early March. That won’t happen again. Witch Ripper unleash an astonishing blend of blistering progressive metal, soaring vocals that merge perfectly with menacing growls, and bone-rattling riffs. The Flight After the Fall. Complex. Aggressive. Beautiful. Incredible.
Magnetic Eye Records
03. Helichrysum
STONER DOOM
Portland, OR, USA
Helichrysum, Hippie Death Cult’s third studio full length, and their first with Laura Philips on bass and vocals, is a spellbinding excursion through a psychedelic sonic landscape of riff-fueled, doomed grooves. And “Toxic Annihilator” gets my vote for nastiest headbanger-of-a-song of the year.
02. Superskull
HEAVY PSYCHEDELIC
Roma, Italy
Nine albums in, and heavy psychedelic luminaries Black Rainbows show no signs of slowing down. Superskull hits hard right from the beginning, with the band’s trademark vintage heavy boogie, stomping riffs, distinctive vocals, and cosmic energy. This band has evolved with each release, remaining true to their identity while fusing a wide range of influences into their dynamic, captivating sound. Superskull is their best work yet.
Heavy Psych Sounds
01. Margarita Witch Cult
STONER DOOM
Birmingham, UK
Emerging from the birthplace of heavy metal, power-trio Margarita Witch Cult stormed onto the scene with their self-titled debut. Margarita Witch Cult is a riveting high-octane, foot-stomping ripper of an album. Those Birmingham influences are all here on full display. The front-runner for the top spot in my end-of-year list since the first time I cranked it up. Still there after countless spins.
Heavy Psych Sounds
Honorable Mentions
Love Gang, Temptress, Slow Wake, Green Lung, Church of Misery, Dopelord, Domkraft, Giant Lungs, SLOTH, SALTPIG, King Potenaz, Red Eyed Cult, Duskwood, Ritual King, Blackwulf, Moon Coven, Borracho, Sorcia, Kind, Dismyth, Oceanlord, Witchskull, High Leaf, Graveyard, WyndRider
Thank you to all of the incredibly talented musicians from around the world for making and sharing music!
More Annual Roundups
Compiled by Mitch Kline.