maandag 21 juli 2025

Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s 
Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…


Ponddigger
Bask
Aceves
Les Mazoetans
Desert Witch
Electric Jaguar Baby
Phantom Druid
Dahuz
Fuzz Thrower
Polymerase

Good morning! Even though we only had a bit more time available for Stoner HiVe the past week, it did feel somewhat productive. A Quick Fire Friday segments of course helps with that feeling! But we also had time to jot down words about Thunder Volt, Phantom Druid, Fuzz Thrower, Desert Witch, Ponddigger, Polymerase and Aceves. Must hear albums one and all! Just like those twenty featured on the Doom Charts Peroration for June 2025. This week it will be hard, I got three grueling days of rent paying work ahead of me and then a possible thing abroad. So, let’s see how much time will be left to have some HiVe fun… Have a great week everyone! 


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Stoner HiVe's Weekly Top 10 Most Listened

Week 29

 

zaterdag 19 juli 2025

Aceves – Magnum Dopus


 

Aceves – Magnum Dopus
I:AND:I Recordings – 2025
Rock, Stoner, Speedrock, Punk, Hardcore
Rated: ****

Well… I started typing this little write-up with that Pulp Fiction quote, only then realizing, that it might be a bit too insensitive. For we love Zed and we can only show our respect and admiration for the boys and offer them sincere condolences once again for the loss of their drummer, the honorable Mr. Boyles, already some two years ago. On the other hand, the man was a comedian so he might have laughed at the initial opening of this piece. But we hope the band has been able to work through it and will be able to venture on in the future. However, it is that loss, combined with the loss of his father that sparked Zed bass player Mark Aceves into action. Cathartic, sparking all fuses and blowing away all possible negativity with his first solo album Magnum Dopus and opening smash and grab song The True and Indisputable Meaning of Rock and Roll. A powerful throwback to the early sixties rock ‘n roll. What an opening salvo, out of the gates and you shall be shaking your ass immediately. His speech with magnificent bass work warbling underneath inspires and gets your fired up. Indeed, “grit your teeth and boogie!” Fiery and fast, most of the album seems to hold on to that fast paced energy in some way, displaying urgency, need and an energy that jumps into your bones. Learning that he wrote the album in the space of three to four months, recorded all of it and then sat back to listen to the result, seems proof of the vigor and resolve one can feel listening to this entire record..

He makes serious business fun and takes his fun serious, just take second track Still Ain’t Dead. An opening that has you jumping around like a jackrabbit, waiting for the energy to build up, and it does, speedrocking towards the horizon. Lyrically fun, vocally skirting the edges of control, celebrating life and youthful silliness. But even at the borders of all the amusing parts you do get more serious topics, statements about love and testimonials to his children. And those topics are still treated to wild grunge, nineties alternative, speedrock, stonerrock, punk and hardcore. They pump, they almost wild you out, because of the different treatments. And remember, the man did all of it himself. The writing, the playing, the programming, the recording. He’s got an interesting mind and an inspiring take on everything, from music to life and back. And it will have you going back to the beginning once that lovely earnest and heartfelt, you can almost hear the tears in his voice, acoustic testimony to his kids For My Children ends. Cause… Well… ‘Fucking rock and roll Jack, Let’s fucking go! Let’s fucking play this shit!’ 


(Written by JK)




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Polymerase – Mindspace

 

 

Polymerase – Mindspace
Pot Arrow Records – 2025
Rock, Space, Psych, Metal, Doom
Rated: ***

The new Polymerase album Mindspace was released in May through the Pot Arrow Records label. A label founded by Polymerase guitarist and vocalist Vincent Jose and at this moment in time releasing all of the efforts he’s involved in. So, besides Polymerase it has Gutter Prince and Blank Vacuum on its roster. But there’s room for more like-minded, off center, space loving, fuzz freaking artists. And they should listen to Mindspace to know what the label and therefor Polymerase is all about. Back in 2021 we jotted down a few words about their Unostentatious release, and the new one is way more psychedelic and spacious, with ominous overtones and shadows lurking in the distance,Mindspace travels further. You are soaring and gliding through the expanse and it isn’t until fifth track Crows And Doves comes on, before the doom, the metal and the harsh vocals make you plummet back to earth. Divine Reefer kept you grounded, but churned into more of an occult offering, and pulled out more of their South East Asian roots. There’s a misty weave present there, turning the sound into some kind of weird mystical mind-control track. Final song Downward Spiral has more of this; and becomes this uncontrollable maelstrom that sucks you along. Overall Mindspace comes across as a wider vista, an opening of doors and windows, but not yet stepping through cause of the dark and ominous looking skies in the distance. But if you give yourself over and dare to leap, Mindspace will take you on a deep and shadowy journey… 


(Written by JK)




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The Doom Charts Peroration - June 2025

 


The Doom Charts Peroration 

June 2025

“Big black shape with eyes of fire
Tellin’ people their desire
The Doom Charts are sittin’ there, they’re smilin’
Watches those flames get higher and higher”

~ probable misheard lyrics by Black Sabbath


It’s that time again, the Peroration post is here with 22 albums the Doom Charts crew couldn’t get enough of, and get a chance to shine regardless of rankings and votes! Dig in and find a new album or 20 to spin and fall in love with.

 

We do forget to post about the Doom Charts Peroration on our little old Stoner HiVe blog, but we will try to do better. Cause it's a valuable addition to the regular post. All albums featured are treasured immensely by one or more Contributors. I for one, will be listening to all 20 in a row, starting with that amazing new 1968 album, which also made the regular June 2025 Doom Charts, and rightfully so! Has your favorite album gotten the attention it deserves? 

 

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…

 

The Doom Charts Peroration - June 2025 

vrijdag 18 juli 2025

Ponddigger - Nocturnal Hymnal

 

 

Ponddigger - Nocturnal Hymnal
Transcendental Revolution – 2025 
Doom, Stoner
Rated: ****

They sneaked their way into the February 2024 Doom Charts with their self-titled album Ponddigger. At Number 29 they did not get a blurb, but back then we did that Stoner Hype thing and wrote a few words about that great release: "Ponddigger hails from Brodhead, Kentucky and brings a hailstorm of hazy, fuzzy doom and stoner. Their self-titled debut sports all that ten ton heavy good stuff! No stress, no seeds, no stems, no sticks! Some of that real sticky-icky-icky stoner doom!" Well, ‘that shitty stoner band you've never heard of’ is back with another great release, it’s called Nocturnal Hymnal and sports nine tracks of weedy and hazy doom. Out since April 11th on Lexington, Kentucky based record label Transcendental Revolution we get fifty minutes of their take on the doom tradition. Starting off their foggy infusion with a highly atmospheric instrumental campfire tale called Whiskey Cricket. Following Burn Bitch ups the ante, drags you all enflamed from the campfire, gets the fog smelling filthy and the doom a marching! Pretorius feels every bit of a doom anthem as those you’ve been nodding your head and yelling along with for the many years you’ve been alive. The speedier, stoner grooving Buzzards follows, great riffs and guitar work, rolling over smashing drums. And thanks to those echoing vocals, the howls, the vaporous screams, a bit of mystery and an eerie vibe is ever present. The Mephistopheles Children opens with a snippet and tunes into a more occult ambiance, giving us yet another side of the murky Ponddigger universe. A universe that continues on for another four songs, with a more bluesy seventies Necromantic Lover's Waltz and ending with the eight and half minute long Acid Hell (Feat. Benzodrones). A wild and voidian ending to this beautiful Ponddigger creation. A universe steeped in eternal twilight, filled with shadows and a constant fuzzy hum. The perfect soundtrack for howling at the moon… 


(Written by JK)




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Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

 

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

It’s been awhile! Oops, sorry for that flashback again. But we noticed the last Quick Fire Friday we did was way back in May! So, let’s remedy that fact immediately! Let’s shoot from the hip. Fire in a flurry! Here are eight deliciously hot singles, EP’s or albums that we desperately want you all to check out. And we know, we should do more… For there is so much great music out there, and we cannot ever do it all justice. So we came up with a way to shoot out a quick blurb and hope it will entice you to listen to the single or the entire discography! So here it is… Another Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday! And it burns hot like molten lava!

 

The Devil's Cabana Boiz – The Void

Two weeks ago they released yet another single! London's finest weekend warriors bringing you some more of their delicious groove and fuzz. This time however they deep dive into the human condition and turn out a little diddy about the human condition and our tendencies to numb the pain. A slower groove this time, riff heavy, and one that immediately warms the soul and serves as the perfect psychoactive substance to soothe the savage beast inside… 




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Mordbear – Mordbear EP

The Portland, Oregon three going under the name Mordbear are here to serve you three delicious goodies. Based on the sound of yore, the proto metal and the acid rock, the three deliver something inherently spellbinding. Captivated by their tones and their ability to morph that olden times sound into something current is absolutely delightful. The vinyl comes with an eight page comic book, illustrating each track and that must be a wild ride as well, since the tracks combine a weird theory about global warming, 60’s DMT trips and an esoteric view into self-transformation. The three found and share with us their recipe to produce stoner gold! 




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Dipterid Records



The Division Men – San Saba

Soon, The Division Men will release the full album entitled: Hymns and Fiery Dances. Shall we name all the collaborations that go on, on this record? Or just a few? Well, they currently include Rafael Gayol (Leonard Cohen), Rick G Nelson (Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers, Polyphonic Spree, St. Vincent), Jay Reynolds (Asleep at the Wheel), Fredo Ortiz (Beastie Boys, Los Lobos), Leah Shapiro (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), Dana Colley (Morphine), Asya Sorshneva (CocoRosie), Beto Martinez (Groupo Fantasma), Josh Marcus, Jacob Valenzuela (Calexico), Laura Scarborough, Barb Hunter (Afghan Whigs, Pigface), Eric Gorfain (Sam Phillips, Def Leppard, Queens of the Stone Age, Dr Dre), Peter Hayes (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), Roscoe Beck (Leonard Cohen) and Alain Johannes (Eleven, Them Crooked Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey). That should be enough. Enough to check out this single called San Saba and their full album Hymns and Fiery Dances with all that Americana, Western tinged rock. Cinematic and truly wonderful. 




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Motor Music Records
 


 
Superseed – Big Mistake

Did you hear and see Superseed’s first single and video Stand Your Ground? Hope so, cause we were honored to premiere it over on the HiVe. The full album Tremor drops in August on Savage Magic Records, but a new single was released two weeks ago. Big Mistake is no mistake, but a big hooked nineties alternative, grungy and infectious riff fest. And of course, there’s another grand video to accompany the song. A few grand spent no doubt! 




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Astral Goat Dominion - Lucifer (Part I)


Astral Goat Dominion is a ritualistic stoner doom sludge duo and apparently active since May 2024. Italian born but based in Germany they say and Lucifer (Part I) is their first single. Ritualistic indeed, a bit too stale because of it perhaps? Cause it might lack a bit of climax. But the overload on the fuzz reverb and evil organ sounds will spontaneously draw a pentagram in every listeners house… 




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Kokkinià – The Last Are Lost From The List

Out on Bitume Productions since the end of June, the reissue of the Kokkinià album The Last Are Lost From The List. Hailing from Athens, Greece, the four piece delivered this album digitally back in 2022, but it is now available on physical media. Added are two singles and the total package results in more than fifty minutes of alternative rock. Grunge inspired, prog touched and always nodding towards the nineties. Yamas! 




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Cannabus – The Other Jam

A jam, recorded during the Other Side sessions. Instrumental and groovy and happening and cool. It’s Cannabus and their single release The Other Jam. Way more seventies, and the kind of psychedelic blues that explodes out of your speakers. I love The Other Jam. I love Cannabus. And I love their cover art work for all the earlier releases. This one breaks from that tradition, just as the live track Desert Trip-Live At Rhune Mountain did. Which makes me a bit sad. But playing The Other Jam turns that frown upside down! 




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Scott Evil – Big Dipper

We mentioned their Pizzazz single back in May, but the new Scott Evil album Big Dipper is out now! On Spinda Records since early June. The alternative dream pop, the garage indie and the psych gaze just has something to it that makes you want to put this album on whenever the day promises to become exceptionally warm. This is that hazy early morning feeling. Or when the sun is about to set. Lounging and smiling…




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donderdag 17 juli 2025

Desert Witch - La Otra Razón


 

Desert Witch - La Otra Razón
Self-released – 2025
Rock, Stoner, Doom
Rated: ***

Out since May, the debut album La Otra Razón by Chilean fourpiece Desert Witch and now that it has gotten its hooks in me, it won’t let go. It’s got stoner trucking, sandblasted riffs and a bop and bounce to keep you going for miles. But that’s just one side of the Desert Witch, for it also goes the way of doom, touched by occult and something proto and metal. It’s got attitude, weight, and purpose and delivers it all with a willowing sort of sway. Cause even within that determination, there is grace and a flow that easily enchants and takes you away. Part of this magic lies without any doubt in the vocals of Valeria Pérez, which carries as much of the light and dark in just her voice as we can hear in the rest of the instrumentation. And together with the fact that Spanish might not be your native language, turns these ten tracks into something mystical and bewitching. And that is all you can ever want from a Desert Witch…  


(Written by JK)




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Phantom Druid – The Edge of Oblivion / Fuzz Thrower – Fuzz Thrower

 

 

Phantom Druid – The Edge of Oblivion / Fuzz Thrower – Fuzz Thrower
Off The Record Label / PowerWax Records
Stoner, Doom, Metal, Grunge
Rated: **** / ***

How prolific can one man be? If this were a Tour De France competitor, who won all kinds of pre-season races, the world championship and bunches of stages in the Tour and then the yellow jersey, he would or should be tested for performance enhancing drugs. Perhaps we should do the same with the man behind the two projects we are about to mention here. That’s right, a duo of albums in one little shout-out. Cause the honorable Tjeerd De Jong released another album called The Edge Of Oblivion for his one man project Phantom Druid only a month or three ago and now follows that up with a new one man project called Fuzz Thrower, just because he “… couldn't resist recording an album with Jazzmaster, SG, Les Paul, Fuzz pedals, and tube amplifiers…” 


Well that album immediately steers towards a more grunge take on the outsider heaviness he always delivers. And even though the album feels a bit too loose, and like a finger exercise in some places, the overall tone and groove is delicious. There is no denying that here too Mr. De Jong knows exactly how to tap into your stonerrock muscle memory. Thirty minutes of grungy stoner that will of course have leanings towards doom. Cause, well, if you know Mr. De Jong, you know where his tendencies lie. And then there’s the Last American Poet aka Shane Beck who delivers some beautiful spoken word on the final track Soon We Roam, having us relive that inspiring Black Afterglow release they did together. A touch of jazz makes this doom poetry at its best! 


And yes, poetic is once again the new Phantom Druid album The Edge Of Oblivion, where the tempo goes the way of the sloth and the doom metal the way of the zealot. Dark melancholy and twisted anxiety, the skin crawls and the blood bubbles with dread. Over forty minutes of oozing almost primordial doom, traditional in sound, speed and yet so surging and urging you to submerge in the world of the Phantom Druid. There is honor in its delivery and homage to the doom gods of yore, but with every note delivered, you will start to believe in the fact that the Phantom Druid belongs among the pantheon of doom gods… 


(Written by JK)






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You can read much more on Tjeerd de Jong's projects HERE!




maandag 14 juli 2025

Thunder Volt – Wild Ride


 

Thunder Volt – Wild Ride
Self-released – 2025
Metal, Doom, Sludge, Black
Rated: ***

They’ve added a fourth member, turned a blackened corner and burnt everything down to a cinder. It’s the new six track release called Wild Ride by Moscow, Russia four piece Thunder Volt. The new main vocalist that growls and howls is Anna and this is her first outing with the three, who seem to have changed bass player as well. Hell, perhaps only the original drummer might be left. But that’s what you get when you enter the realm of Thunder Volt, it’s volatile, it’s filthy, dangerous and one hell of a Wild Ride. Back in 2021 we wrote about their Entering The Cave and Wanted Man releases. There’s little left of that original sound, sure, there is still doom and gloom, but the smoldering vocals lay waste to all Thunder Volt brought back then. This is apocalyptic doom metal, ten ton heavy on delivery, but not too dense, so one can still breathe and appreciate the view across the hellish tarpits. The Wild Ride is over within twenty five minutes and that’s the only part that seems a little light when it comes to the new Thunder Volt. But knowing Thunder Volt, they will be back soon enough and probably with an entirely new outlook on their sound, their metal and their destructive attitude… 


(Written by JK)




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Stoner HiVe's words on Entering The Cave / Wanted Man



Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s 
Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…


The Big Rip
Årabrot
Red Mess
The Division Men
Dozer
Electric Children
Bright Sunshine
Lommi
Black Sasquatch
Vandhali

Well, the past week shot by! With very little time to do some Stoner HiVe work. But we still managed to get a few posts up. We jotted down a few words about the wonderful new version of Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii, Fusskalt’s new Faceless Man release, the new Red Mess called Hi-Tech Starvation and the amazing new The Big Rip EP Olympus Mons. Which has been on repeat for the past week. We will try to do a bit more this week. But as usual, we can’t promise anything… 


The Spotify Playlist for...

Stoner HiVe's Weekly Top 10 Most Listened

Week 28




zaterdag 12 juli 2025

The Big Rip – Olympus Mons

 

 

The Big Rip – Olympus Mons
Self-released – 2025
Rock, Stoner
Rated: ****

Yes! Here’s another amazing four track EP that’s about to be released. Half of those tracks are already audible on their bandcamp site. We’re talking about the new four track EP Olympus Mons by Norwegian five piece The Big Rip! Opener Behold, This Mountain opens that EP with a quaking vibration, an absolute thunderclap and a luscious tone that reminds of High Desert Queen at certain times. Boisterous and big, elevated to huge once that Viking lore evoking throat chanting enters the track. Refrain and following build will surely shiver your timbers, a break lead by guitar turns into a slowed down tempo with an extremely wide vista worthy of Zeus and his mountain. Kaktus and Kraken Mare are already out and for you to immediately partake in; both sporting rumbling drums, booming basslines and once again that anthemic stonerrock riffage. Where Kaktus is all that and Kraken Mare becomes bigger almost titanous, delivering the ending it deserves. Ending the four track is the title track Olympus Mons, a soulful two minute long instrumental, that offers insights into what The Big Rip might also turn into given time. Highly atmospheric, the views are endless as the sound seems to drift on forever. The Big Rip has been climbing towards the biggest summit they could find. And the four track Olympus Mons sounds like a band enjoying the view from the top. Their next step will be to spread their arms and fly… 


(Written by JK)

You can listen to Kaktus and Kraken Mare now and be all jazzed up for the entire Olympus Mons EP dropping August 22nd! 



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vrijdag 11 juli 2025

Red Mess – Hi-Tech Starvation

 

 

Red Mess – Hi-Tech Starvation
Noisolution – 2025
Rock, Grunge, Stoner 
Rated: ****

The first single for their new album Hi-Tech Starvation is called Huntress and was released May 23rd, and there are six more damn gritty grunge and stoner anthems on the new Red Mess record. The three Brazilians now based in Berlin, got this knack for infusing a bit of noise, a bit of punk, a bit of blues and even a bit of funk into their grunge and stoner. This makes their sound recognizable and extra infectious. Inexistent Color, with its high dynamics. Ransomware with its thunderous ending. Intravenous with a more metal based approach for the intro and then opening into a melody that reminds of nineties alternative greatness. Because raw and wild in that middle section and turning the song into the track which seems to encapsulate a lot of the different aspects of Red Mess and their new Hi-Tech Starvation. All the different elements have their time to play the field. And then going into that two minute long more stoner trucking track that is Xenon seems like the pay-off that wasn’t even necessary and therefor feels extra rewarding. Makes you want to howl, just like bassist/vocalist Lucas Klepa does in following Kind Villain… Hi-Tech Starvation has everything to fill your every need and give you all sorts of satisfaction. Red Mess is back, get served! 


(Written by JK)

You can listen to the first single Huntress of the upcoming album "Hi-Tech Starvation" now and be hungry for the rest to be released in August by Noisolution.




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Fusskalt – Faceless Man

 

 

Fusskalt – Faceless Man
Self-released – 2025 
Stoner Rock, Stoner Metal
Rated: 

Even though I’m generally more intrigued by bands who dare to think outside the box and explore the boundaries of the heavy underground with some kind of quirky conviction, I absolutely love me some straight up traditional stoner rock that harks back to the heydays of bands like Tummler, We, 7 Zuma 7, Red Giant and more modern equivalents like Sasquatch. Fusskalt from Denmark can be added to that list. They showed some promise from the get-go and have come to full fruition on their latest ep/album. It’s packed to the brim with catchy songs, a chugging rhythm section, great leads and tons of energy. Add to that the impressive and convincing vocals of new singer Niko and you’ve got every ingredient needed to separate a traditional stoner rock album from the pack and make it a great one. And that’s exactly what ‘Faceless Man‘ is: a great ep/album and by far Fusskalt ‘s best release to date.


(Written by Ronny Dijksterhuis)




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Stoner HiVe's words on Fusskalt – Drive / Stand in Line