My 5 Favorite Current Stoner Rock Power Trios
There have been many great power trios in hard rock music. Typically consisting of guitar, bass, and drums, with vocals from one or more of the members, some of the greatest rock music ever created was produced by power trios. Artists that only feature three members are usually talented and each musician carries on an integral role in formulating the music. Usually each instrument is prominent in its sound and together create a well balanced musical structure. Some of the best classic rock bands that fit this category are: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Blue Cheer, Cream, ZZ Top, James Gang, Motörhead, The Police, Grand Funk Railroad, Dust, November, Mountain, Budgie, Rush, among others. Other notable power trios are Nirvana, Melvins, Violent Femmes, and High On Fire. Today I am going to talk about five of my current favorite power trios in the stoner rock genre. I am not including doom, hardcore, or metal bands in this list, but more or less only stoner/ riff rock. I also didn’t include bands like the Truckfighters or Valley Of The Sun, who are currently performing as power trios but started as a quartet. There are many excellent power trios in today’s heavy rock/ psychedelic music, so my list only reflects five of my favorites. I included mostly more established bands and a band that came out this year, with veteran musicians involved. I chose to list them all in alphabetical order because a rating system proved to be too difficult and unnecessary. So here are my current favorite power trio bands in the stoner rock category.
THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX
The Atomic Bitchwax are an American rock band from New Jersey. They formed in 1992 and didn’t release their debut, Self Titled album until 1999. The original lineup consisted of sole original band member Chris Kosnik as bassist, singer, and songwriter, guitarist Ed Mundell, and drummer Keith Ackerman. This original lineup also released 2000’s The Atomic Bitchwax 2, and 2002’s Split Blood EP. In 2004, Ed Mundell left the band to focus on his other band at that time, Monster Magnet. Finn Ryan from the band Core, replaced him on guitar. In 2005, the band released their third full length album aptly titled, 3. In 2006, Boxriff came out, which featured four recorded songs and a live set. In December of that same year, Keith Ackerman left the band and was replaced by Monster Magnet drummer, Bob Pantella.
In April of 2009, TAB 4 was released and two years later, the one track/ forty two minute, The Local Fuzz came out in 2011. In 2013, Chris Kosnik also joined Monster Magnet before the band released their sixth album, 2015’s Gravitron. In 2018, Force Field was released and Finn Ryan left the band not too long after. Garrett Sweeny of Monster Magnet then joined the band on guitar and they released their eighth album Scorpio in 2020. In June of 2022, The Atomic Bitchwax recorded a live album in Germany called Live At Freak Valley Fest, which was released in 2023. I was fortunate to see the band play live on July 17th 2024, in which they played a similar set to the live album. Check out the review of the show here.
I have been a huge fan of The Atomic Bitchwax for over twenty years now! I discovered them in 2004 and remember thinking that they were a techno or industrial band because of their unique name. When I first heard their music, I was completely blown away and loved it! They have remained one of my favorite bands ever since and I have seen them live five times so far. They never disappoint live and deliver a massive sound for only three guys in the band.
BLACK RAINBOWS
I only discovered Italy’s Black Rainbows a couple of years ago. I kept seeing their name on some of the bigger fuzz rock festivals and finally decided to give them a listen. I was completely floored! I couldn’t believe how awesome they sounded and how much material they had released. I became obsessed and was soon down in a several month long rabbit hole with the band’s back catalogue. I couldn’t get enough of them! Their style of stoner rock blended heavy riffs, psychedelic passages, and catchy groove laden rock.
Black Rainbows was established in 2006. The founding lineup consisted of founder/guitarist and vocalist Gabriele Fiori, bassist Luca Giancotti and drummer Tommaso Moretti. They released their debut album Twilight In The Desert in 2007. They released their second album Carmina Diabolo in 2010. A year later, the band released their third album, 2011’s Supermothafuzzalicious!! After a change in the band’s rhythm section, leader Gabriele Fiori also started his record label, Heavy Psych Sounds in 2011. The first release on his new label was a Black Rainbows single known as C’mon, C’mon, C’mon and a Split LP with Farflung. In 2013, the Holy Moon EP was released, followed by 2015’s Hawkdope album. The band kept rolling, releasing Stellar Prophecy thirteen months later. Two years later in 2018, their sixth record Pandaemonium was released. Two years after that, 2020’s Cosmic Ritual Supertrip came out. In 2022, the band released a live recording called Live at Desertfest Belgium.
Black Rainbows went through many lineup changes throughout the years with Gabriele Fiori being the only constant. The list of drummers throughout the band’s history includes Tommaso Moretti, Daniele Conti, and Alberto Croce. The former bass players are Luca Giancotti, Marco De Massi, Dario Iocca, and Giuseppe Guglielmino. The current Black Rainbows lineup consists of: Gabriele Fiori on guitars and vocals, Filippo Ragazzoni on drums, and Edoardo “Mancio” Mancini on bass.
In 2023, the band released their eighth studio album called Superskull (review here). I was really impressed with this recording and ranked it as my number two pick of favorite releases of 2023. On June 28th 2024, the band released a split album with Nebula. Nebula & Black Rainbows Split – In Search Of The Cosmic Tale:Crossing The Galactic Portal features three songs from each band. (review here) Black Rainbows continue to amaze me with their excellent songs and music and they are definitely one of my favorite bands today.
BRANT BJORK TRIO
The latest incarnation from the desert rock godfather himself Brant Bjork, is his new band, the Brant Bjork Trio. The group features Bjork on guitar and vocals, Ryan Güt (Stoner) on drums and old friend and collaborator, desert rock pioneer Mario Lalli (Fatso Jetson and Yawning Man) on bass guitar. The band released their debut album Once Upon A Time In The Desert on September 20th 2024, on Bjork’s relaunched record label, Duna Records. This record is amazing! This is how a legitimate power trio can sound. The musicianship of these three guys is incredible and I believe this is my absolute favorite Brant Bjork release to date. This album is definitely in my top ten of best albums of 2024.
His thirty plus years of being in top notch bands starting with Kyuss and Fu Manchu as a drummer, and proceeding into his long standing solo career as a guitarist/ singer and songwriter is very impressive. However, it’s this band of musicians that has me thinking that this might be his greatest contribution. The Brant Bjork Trio is the real deal and the music is so good on Once Upon A Time In The Desert. For more information on that record and an almost complete list of Bjork’s other works, then click on the link here.
NEBULA
It would be heresy to not include one of my original favorites in the stoner rock world. Nebula was an essential band for me that introduced me to a whole scene of exceptional artists. I discovered them right when Relapse Records re-released their debut Let It Burn in 1998. The band’s original members and ex Fu Manchu band mates was Eddie Glass on guitars and vocals, Mark Abshire on bass, and Ruben Ramano on the drums. Nebula released their debut album 1999’s To The Center and the follow up 2001’s Charged with this classic lineup. They also released 2002’s Dos EPs which combined the Sun Creature and Split with Sweden”s Lowrider EPs and a few additional songs too. In 2003, Mark Abshire left the band and Simon Moon filled in for the recording of 2003’s Atomic Ritual album. I was lucky enough to see the band live for the first time, twice in the same week for the Atomic Ritual US tour with Dennis Wilson filling in on bass.
Tom Davies would officially join the band on September 10th 2004. Nebula released Apollo in 2006. In June of 2007, founding drummer Ruben Romano would leave the band, with Rob Oswald from Karma To Burn replacing him. Heavy Psych came out in 2009 and Oswald left not too long after that. However in spring of 2010, Nebula went on hiatus for seven years and returned to play shows in 2017. The band released a compilation called Demos & Outtakes 98-02 in 2019. Finally, Nebula released their first album in ten years, 2019’s Holy Shit. The lineup consisted of Eddie Glass on guitars and vocals, Tom Davies on bass, and Mike Amster on drums. The band released a live album 2021’s Live in the Mojave Desert Vol. 2 and then 2022’s Transmission From Mothership Earth. In 2023 Nebula released another live recording called Livewired In Europe. Tragically on September 5th 2023, bassist Tom Davies would pass away from a long battle with leukemia at the age of 48. (Check out my tribute post here).
Ranch Sironi joined the band and they released a split album with Black Rainbows on June 28th 2024. Nebula & Black Rainbows Split – In Search Of The Cosmic Tale:Crossing The Galactic Portal features three songs from each band. (review here) Unfortunately another horrible tragedy struck the band and bassist Ranch Sironi died this past June 2024. I really hope the band continues on despite the untimely tragedies. I will always hold a special place in my heart for the band and have been lucky enough to have seen them play live five times throughout the years.
SASQUATCH
Definitely one of my absolute favorite bands today is Sasquatch. They just so happen to be a power trio also. I did an expanded write up of the band here, about the history and album releases, etc. One thing that I will say is that, Sasquatch has always delivered high quality music since their inception. The years between their albums might be somewhat lengthy but they always deliver a rock solid record that usually ends up being my album of the year. I have seen the band live on multiple occasions and they always play a top notch show. The only original member of the band is the guitarist and singer/ songwriter Keith Gibbs. His guitar playing and vocals are undeniable and his songwriting skills are exceptional. Jason Casanova plays bass and Craig Riggs completes the band, on the drums.
The bands album discography is:
- 2004: Sasquatch
- 2006: II
- 2010: III
- 2013: IV
- 2017: Maneuvers
- 2022: Fever Fantasy
I am really looking forward to hearing a new album from Sasquatch. I was hoping the band would release one this year (my sources say that they have one already completed) but it looks like 2025 will be the year (hopefully!).
