Heavy Underground Band & Album reviews: My favorites in Riff rock/ fuzz/ stoner/ doom/ sludge/ heavy psych/ hardcore & metal

Gnome – Vestiges Of Verumex Visidrome

Gnome are a stoner rock band from Antwerp, Belgium. The band formed in 2016 and have released three studio albums, 2018’s Father of Time, 2022’s King, and their latest Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome, which was released on September 13th 2024. The power trio consists of Rutger Verbist on vocals and lead guitar, Egon Loosveldt on drums, and Geoffrey Verhulst on...

Top 5 On Friday – My Favorite Heavy Rock Record Labels

The underground heavy rock and metal scene would be nothing without the help and support of the record labels. In today’s post, I would like to highlight five excellent labels that I follow, who sign and support the artists that create the heavy riff rock music that I write about. Without these excellent record labels, a lot of bands would...

Heavy Temple – Garden Of Heathens

Heavy Temple formed in 2012 and are from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band play heavy metal riff centric rock with a doomy and psychedelic edge. Heavy Temple released two EPs, 2014’s Self Titled and 2016’s Chassit. Their debut full length album followed in 2021, entitled Lupi Amoris (Wolves of Love). The band released their sophomore album Garden of Heathens on April...

Hashtronaut – No Return 

Hashtronaut are a three piece stoner metal doom band from Denver, Colorado. The lineup is Daniel Smith on bass and vocals, Kellen McInerney on guitars, and Eric Garcia on drums. They released an EP, Tidal Waves Of Ashen Sky in 2022, and other various singles. No Return is Hashtronaut’s debut full length which came out on March 22nd 2024. The...

10,000 Years – All Quiet On The Final Frontier 

The Sweden based 10,000 Years have returned with a new release, All Quiet On The Final Frontier. Formed in 2020, this is the stoner metal’s first album on Ripple Music, which dropped on November 22nd 2024. Their past releases include their 2020 debut EP, 2021’s II, 2023’s III, and various singles also. The lineup is: Alex Risberg on bass and...

Vessel – The Somnifer

Vessel is a two piece stoner rock/ doom metal band from Bendigo, Australia. The band just released their latest album The Somnifer, on Sweden’s Majestic Mountain Records on November 1st 2024. Their prior releases include 2012’s Introspective EP, 2017’s Nostalgia, and 2020’s Vagabond Blues. The band consists of Jordan Forster on guitars and Mason Matheson on bass and vocals. The...

Rev. Jim Forrester Tribute – Sixty Watt Shaman Bassist (1974-2017)

Today is the seven year anniversary of the passing of one of stoner rocks most iconic and coolest guy ever, Reverend Jim Forrester. On December 18th 2017, Jim was tragically murdered in Baltimore, Maryland, outside of a tattoo and body piercing shop, where he worked. It was the result of a gang bang shooting that killed Jim. I remember when...

The Electric Mud – Ashes And Bone 

Florida-based heavy riff rockers, The Electric Mud released their latest album on October 4th, 2024. Titled Ashes And Bone, the album’s theme is based on mankind’s obsession with its own destruction. The band’s prior recordings include 2018’s Bull Gator, 2020’s Burn The Ships, and 2021’s Black Wool EP. Ashes And Bone is The Electric Mud’s third release on Small Stone...

Sergeant Thunderhoof – The Ghost Of Badon Hill

Segeant Thunderhoof is a heavy metal/ stoner doom band from the United Kingdom. Formed in 2013, the band has released 2014’s debut EP Zigurat, 2015’s Ride Of The Hoof, 2018’s Terra Solus, 2020’s Delicate Sound Of Thunderhoof, and 2022’s This Sceptred Veil. They also released 2016’s Live On Earth, 2020’s Turned To Stone, Chapter 2: Masamune & Muramasa / Split...

Top 5 On Friday – Ranking the 5 Throttlerod albums 

Throttlerod formed in the middle of 1999, and began in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2000, they recorded their debut full length album called Eastbound And Down. The band relocated to Richmond, Virginia in 2001. The lineup went through a few different changes throughout the years but the only consistent band member was guitarist and vocalist Matt Whitehead. Drummer Kevin White...