Riff rock and band reviews: My favorites in heavy fuzz/stoner/doom & metal

Spirit Mother – Trails

Sometimes when I hear a band or album for the first time, there’s something there that draws my interest but doesn’t initially grab me. I will sometimes listen to a recording several times before the pieces start to fit together. This was the case with the band Spirit Mother and their latest album Trails. I was intrigued with the band...

Cortez – Thieves And Charlatans 

Cortez is a heavy rock/ stoner metal band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band formed in 2006 and just released their latest album, Thieves And Charlatans on Ripple Music, on October 18th, 2024. The current lineup includes Matt Harrington on vocals, Scott O’Dowd on guitar, Alasdair Swan on guitar, Jay Furlo on bass, and Kyle Rasmussen on drums. Alexei Rodriguez played...

Emu – Emu 

Emu is a heavy riff rock band from Australia. The bio on their Bandcamp page simply states: “A rock n’ roll power trio hailing from the Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia. Emu is an explosive sonic hurricane, letting rip cosmic & righteous jams.” I couldn’t agree more! The band totally shreds and create an enormous sound with only three members. The...

Sun And Sail Club – Shipwrecked 

The Sun And Sail Club is a side project band that features Fu Manchu (review here) members Bob Balch, also in Big Scenic Nowhere (review here) and Slower (review here) on guitars, and Scott Reeder (Smile) on drums. On bass guitar is current Fireball Ministry and former Kyuss and The Obsessed four stringer, Scott Reeder. The lineup is completed with...

Black Elephant – The Fall Of The Gods 

Black Elephant is a heavy psychedelic blues rock band from Italy. They just released their latest album, The Fall Of The Gods on October 18th 2024, on Small Stone Records. This is the band’s third record on the acclaimed label (fourth overall), the other two releases are 2018’s Cosmic Blues and 2020’s Seven Swords. The lineup consists of: Alessio Caravelli...

Wizzerd – Kronia

Wizzerd are a heavy rock band from Kalispell, Montana. They formed in October of 2014 and just recently hit their ten year anniversary as a band. Wizzerd’s previous albums include their debut 2016’s Doomchild, 2019’s Self Titled, and 2022’s Space? Issue No.001. They also released various EPs, splits and singles. The lineup of the band features Jhalen Salazar on guitar...

Aeternal Chambers – Self Titled 

Aeternal Chambers is a new three piece instrumental rock band that formed in 2023. The band members came from the European rock band Obiat and features Neil Dawson on drums and percussion, Raf Ruett on guitars, keys, and f/x, and Alex Nervo on bass, keys, and f/x. Both Neil and Raf are located in the United Kingdom and Alex is...