Nuclear Dog’s Top 30 Albums of 2015

Following is a list of my favorite albums of 2015. This year I downloaded 539 albums from which I tagged 101 as 'worthy'. Thank you HeavyPlanet.net, and especially HeavyPlanet Radio on Facebook, thank you bandcamp.com, and thank you Richard Jones of Sheltered Life PR from whom my introductions to all 539 albums came. From the centenary list, plus one, of albums I flagged as worthy I settled on 30 favorites, of which I’ve listed here for your perusal and amusement.

There won't be any instrumental albums on my list as I find most of them to be tedious. Yes, that’s a character flaw of my own. Nor will you find any bands that affect a vocal sound, the most common being the growling vocals so common in today’s metal oblations. I prefer a vocalist’s natural sound. Many vocals can be awe inspiring, as much or more than the sound of a gifted guitarist. What you will find here is a narrow mix of music that has at its core a powerful guitar and a guitar pedal amp supplying plenty of fuzz and glorious distortion, at worst passable vocals but at best vocals that match ability and intensity with the core guitar, and employing cleverly to adequately crafted melodies, all of which will be playing classical seventies rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, stoner/desert/fuzz rock, or a mad mixture of any or all of those rock attitudes. The overriding hallmark of all these albums, to me, is they represent the truest essence of rock and roll. It's heavy, but not the heaviest. It's melodic, but not poppish. It leaves plenty of room for artistic license in melody and lyrics, but always delivers pulse pounding, sweat inducing, primal, tribal reverberations resonating through to the ancestral core of our pattern seeking genes. And what typically differentiates these 30 albums from all the rest released in 2015 are the songs. An album is considered exceptional on the strength of its individual songs. The more great songs on an album, the greater the album. With all that said and hopefully in mind, here are, in descending order, my favorite 30 albums of the 101 I deemed worthy from the 539 I listened to throughout this glorious, monstrous year of 2015.

30. Shatner – Shatner


The sound of Shatner is unique. Guitars are huge, low, and fuzzy, the bass thumps, and vocals are good. The songs set this album apart in their unique structure, interesting melodies, and mesmerizing execution.

Shatner hail from Boston and consist of:

  Jim Healey - Guitar and Vocals
  Jesse Sherman - Bass and Backing Vocals
  Rob Davol – Drums

Favorite track: Hellhounds

bandcamp / facebook

29. Buffalo Hustle – Buffalo Hustle


Funky, bluesy rock with a beautifully gravel-voiced frontman, twin guitars that play off each other with blissful riffage, a bass that rivals both guitars in delivery and intrigue, and a drummer who is front and center in presence and delivery.

Buffalo Hustle hail from Fayetteville, Arkansas and consist of:

  Nick Brothers - Guitar
  Garrett Parker - Bass/Vocals
  Sam Solano - Drums
  Julian Thomas - Guitar/Vocals

Favorite track: Leave Me Be

bandcamp / facebook

28. deaf horse - House Of Correction



deaf horse are a unique sound, mainly in song structure, which is always a welcome breath of fresh air. The guitars are big and insistent and each song is an individual journey of intrigue and enjoyment.

Deaf horse hail from Bath/Bristol and are comprised of:

Jamie Noble - Drums/Vocals
Ben Noble - Guitar/Vocals
Hammer- Bass
Andrew 'Big A' Townhill-Keys/Guitar

Favorite track: Fred and Rose

bandcamp / facebook

27. Space Probe Taurus – Mondo Satan


Fast paced, hard driving melodies of power and grit, seventies influence, and blazing hot riffs underscored by a driving rhythm section.

Hailing from San Ramon, California, Space Probe Taurus are a part of Ripple Music, Inc. and consist of:
  Sjöberg – vocals, guitars
  Tömte – guitars, backing vocals
  Enberg – bass, backing vocals
  Boman – drums

Favorite track: The Righteous One

bandcamp / reverbnation / label / facebook / YouTube

26. Monocluster – Monocluster


Psychedelic fuzz from Germany, sung in the native language and beautifully rendered with a reminiscence of Colour Haze in its similar quality of heavy psych sound. The song Dantes Inferno was featured as a Song of Day on HeavyPlanet.net back in September ( HeavyPlanet Song of the Day).

Hailing from Cologne, Germany Monocluster consist of:

  Marc – Vocals, Chris – Bass, Jan – Guitar, Ewald – Drums

Favorite Track: Highway

bandcamp / soundcloud / facebook

25. Adapter Adapter – She’s Alive!


Heavy seventies influence with heavy fuzz riffs and Ryder’s wonderfully gritty vocals lend a nasty quality to the bluesy vibe throughout this album. The strength of the album may very well be the supremely interesting songs with the great melodies paired with fetching lyrics, all wrapped up in a hard driving and fun hard rock attitude.

Adapter Adapter hail from Attleboro, Massachusetts and consist of:
  Nick Ryder - Guitar, Bass, Harmonica, Vocals
  Jim Schultz – Drums

Favorite Track: Gospel Zone

bandcamp / facebook

24. Beardmore – Limb


Seventies influence with a bluesy grind, this album delivers some exquisite melodies in its song offerings, all rife with jagged chipped flint vocals, drums that pierce and drive with huge energy, and beautifully executed guitar riffs of fuzzy glory .

Beardmore hail from Aylesbury, England and feature:

Colin Steele - Guitar and Vocals
Ben Arnold - Guitar and Vocals
Tim Bentham - Bass and Vocals
Adam Connell – Drums

Favorite track: Sol

bandcamp  / facebook

23. Isaak – Sermonize


Isaak scored a hit with their debut album The Longer the Beard the Harder the Sound, which landed on label SmallStone Records and generated a much deserved buzz for their exotic stoner fuzz. These hard nosed Italian rockers are back with a new album, picking up right where they left off with another FULL length album, twelve glorious tracks, of European rockslides of crushing, pounding greatness.

Isaak hail from Genova, Italy and are comprised of:

Vocals - Giacomo H Boeddu
Bass - Gabriele Carta
Drums/Vocals - Andrea Tabbì De Bernardi
Guitars - Francesco Raimondi

Favorite Track: The Frown Reloaded

bandcamp / facebook / smallstone / heavypsychsounds

22. Routes of Neptune – Supervillain


Out of the blue, as they say, I was struck by the awesomeness of this uniquely low, deeply fuzzed out boulder-buster of an album. Huge, powerful riffs played deep and sludgy with vocals to match this is a fuzzy, gritty feast.

Routes of Neptune hail from Athens and Naxos, Greece and consist of:
  Babis : (Vocals) Chris 4 : (Guitars) MiLoop : (Bass) Joni : (Drums)

Favorite track: Walk My Road

bandcamp / facebook

21. Black Bear Tribe – Crime of the Century

Big fuzz, deep honey sound, great rock vocals, bluesy vibe, beautifully crafted melodies….there’s a lot to love about this band. Crime of the Century was released back in March with just 3 songs, but a fourth song by the band has recently been dropped on bandcamp.com as well, Coming for My Baby.

Black Bear Tribe hail from New York, New York and consist of:

Jason Kraft - Vocals Sam Perry - Guitar Matt Cincotta - Bass Andrew Nesbitt – Drums

Favorite Track: Love You Dear

bandcamp1 / bandcamp2 / soundcloud / reverbnation / facebook

20. Dixie Goat - Black Sun Child



Big fuzz, big bass, big vocals make for a fucking BIG album. This is stoner rock at its finest. Nuff said.

Their song Watch Your Back was featured on heavyplanet.net on November 2. ( HeavyPlanet Song of the Day )

Hailing from Santiago, Chile Dixie Goat are:
  J.P: Drums K.F: Bass Nikk: Guitar & Vocals

Favorite track: Black Sun Child

bandcamp / facebook / soundcloud

19. Witchskull - The Vast Electric Dark


Owners of the year’s best album name, The Vast Electric Dark, Witchskull have crafted hard driving, hard rockin’ album that has stoner and doom tendencies, but is its own beast, slathering, snarling, and scorching from the first note to the coda. Witchskull were reviewed by Pete in October on heavyplanet.net ( HeavyPlanet Album Review )

The band calls Canberra, Australia home. Its members include:
  Marcus De Pasquale vox/guitar Tony McMahon Bass Joel Green Drums

Favorite Track: Swim the Abyss

bandcamp / facebook

18. DEADWEIGHT EXPRESS - Life Train



Big Seventies blues rock sound, with huge guitar, huge vocals reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and beautifully rendered songs. As a two piece they deliver a four piece sound, loading each song with deep, delicious fuzz and pulse pounding rhthyms, executing clever melodies replete with hooks that will stay with you for ages, ranging from bluesy hoe-downs to psychedelic powerhouses.

Members of Deadweight Express hail from Brisbane, Australia and consist of
  Sonny Ingledew, Calvin Edward.

Favorite Track: 7yrs

bandcamp / facebook

17. The Gentlemen Bastards - Bastards' Brew



This follow up to 2012’s much ballyhooed self titled album does not drop off in quality, effort, or performance, delivering hard punching, fast paced, gritty, grimy, fuzzy bliss led by drummer Stanley’s hard driving beats, Quinn’s beautiful vocals, Barry’s blistering guitar, Böðvarsson’s tectonic rumbling bass, and songs that hook right and riff left throughout.

The Gentlemen Bastards hail from Huntsville, Alabama and consist of: Will Quinn - vocals Bill Barry - guitars Dave Stanley - drums Böðvar Böðvarsson – bass Favorite Track: Skuggi

bandcamp / facebook

16. Padre Lobo - Padre Lobo


Father Wolf rips through the stonersphere with an insatiable force and hunger that is perfectly expressed in the vocals of frontwoman Lore and JuanP’s boulder crunching riffs. A haunting psychedelic sound blended expertly with a low thunder fuzz, this album is an exceptional stoner/psych experience.

Padre Lobo hail from San Sebastien, Spain. It’s members are:
Lore: Voz y maracas
JuanP: Guitarra y aullidos
 Francis: Bombo y platillo volante
Alv: Bajo y alto
Manu: Guitarra trapecista

Favorite Track: Perla y Ópala

bandcamp / facebook

15. Lord Loud - Lord Loud


At spot fifteen comes another female fronted stoner/psych album of the utmost quality. The sound delivers its unique melodies and structures by reverberating through your skeletal core to the depths of your stoner heart, tinging the musical essence throughout with a murky blues-rock soul. Deep, loud, replete with delicious riffs and clever hooks, this is a treat for blues/psych rock enthusiasts across this vast and wondrous stonersphere.

Lord Loud, hailing from Van Nuys, California, consist of:
  Chris Allison Michael Feld

Favorite Track: Living Mystery

bandcamp / facebook

14. Arenna - Given to Emptiness


Arenna are the masters of psychedelic rock, on a pantheon with Colour Haze. Their music is beautiful, exquisite, otherworldly. It’s a mind blowing journey from the opening track to the last, transporting you far and deep away from terrestrial realities to universal possibilities.

Arenna hail from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, its band members include:
  Txus Dr. Sax : voz Javi: bass Guille: drums Kike & Rober: guitarra

Favorite Track: The Pursuer

bandcamp / facebook / twitter / label

13. Year of the Cobra - The Black Sun


Perhaps it’s not fair to include a three track EP in a list that contains so many full album efforts, but if the music is damn good, brief as it may be, I feel compelled to include it. Year of the Cobra are an exquisite sound. The beautifully rendered fuzz is solely bass, delivering both the main riffs as well as driving the delicious melodies, while the vocals render a wondrous hypnotic quality, capping off the type of experience we crave when listening to stoner music. The Black Sun is truly that rare gem of stoner rock, and all the more incredible when learning this is a bass, drum duo.

Year of the Cobra hail from Seattle, Washington and consist of:
  Amy Tung Barrysmith – Bass and Vox Jon Barrysmith - drums

Favorite track: Wasteland

Labels: STB Records, DHU Records, Devil's Child Records, HMVP Records

bandcamp / facebook

12. Kayleth - Space Muffin


Beautifully crafted melodies rendered in multi-faceted expertise are the hallmark of this album. The fuzz surrounds and permeates each song, while being driven expertly by the gargantuan rhythms of bass and drums, expounded by the exquisite vocals of Enrico, and punctuated adroitly with searing, blistering riffs.

Kayleth hail from San Bonifacio, Italy and include members:

Massimo Dalla Valle: Chitarra Alessandro Zanetti: Basso Daniele Pedrollo: Batteria Enrico Gastaldo: Voce Michele Montanari: Synth

Favorite Track: Secret Place, Try to Save the Appearances

bandcamp / facebook / twitter

11. Narcosis - Road To Infinity

 
Hugely entertaining sound. Big fuzz, gifted melodies and incredible song structures, beautiful lyrics delivered by adept vocals, Narcosis, formed originally in 1998, are the culmination of years of toiling in the trenches and improving their craft along each step of the way.

Narcosis hail from Greece. It’s members and contributors include:

  Kostas Pappas : Vox/Guitar
  Jon Toussas : Bass
  Manos Spitieris : Guitar
  Paulos Kounalakis : Drums
  Anja Taraschinski : Keys on "A Hole In The Heart"

Favorite Track: Hangover

Label: G.O.D. Records (Garden of Dreams)

bandcamp / reverbnation / facebook

And now the TOP TEN -

10. Geezer/Borracho - Second Coming of Heavy Chapter One


Two for the price of one! The underground world of rock often produces ‘splits’, releases by 2 bands on one album, which is a very cool thing. Quite often the music on them isn’t available on any other venue so investing in them is worthwhile in order to obtain the awesome music included. This split from Ripple Music is no different. Borracho and Geezer share a similar sound, not so similar you can’t tell them apart, but similar enough you know it’s blues rock at its finest, complementing each other loudly and emotionally.

The split opens with 4 tracks from Geezer who quickly demonstrate they continue their immense rise to elite rock status. Their songs are all intelligently written, emotionally delivered, fierce in execution, and joyous in the experience, layered throughout with exquisite vocals, blistering guitar, pounding drums, and rumbling bass. You will be hard pressed to find 4 finer blues rock tracks anywhere, this year or any other.

Borracho follows with 3 excellent tracks of their own, laying down a feral, pulse pounding occasion of blues/rock celebration. The guitar-work will bore through to your core, vibrating in rhythm to your primal base, leaving you as exhausted and satisfied as if it had been a physical encounter instead of an intangible electric one .

Geezer hails from Kingston, MY and consist of members -
  Richie Turco Pat

Borracho hails from Washington, DC with band members –
  Steve - Lead Guitar & Vocals Tim - Bass Mario – Drums

Favorite Tracks:
  Geezer – So Tired
  Borracho - Superego

Album: cover / label
Geezer: bandcamp / facebook
Borracho: bandcamp / facebook 

9. The Old One-Two – Foxbones



This album is a bit unique in its sound and structure. Stoner funk? Could that be a tag to be used here? I’m using it, at any rate. The vocalist has a gritty, funky delivery that is perfect for the melodies The Old One-Two have crafted, as is the predominant guitar sound, replete with fuzzy distortion goodness. The Old One-Two, however, NEVER skimp on BIG sound for their guitarwork, either in amplified undercurrent or in gritty solo scorching delivery, making for a supremely entertaining and satisfactory rock experience on Foxbones.

The Old One-Two are from Greensboro, North Carolina. Their members consist of:

Hawke Kelley, Chadd Myers, Nathan Myers

Favorite Track: Blind and Brokedown

facebook / reverbnation

8. Freedom Hawk – Into Your Mind


Into Your Mind, in my mind, mark the return of Freedom Hawk to their best, most stoner rock defining sound, not quite present since their 2nd album, the self-titled Freedom Hawk, which is one of stonerdom’s finest albums. Into Your Mind has a similar quality in which Morton’s unique vocal sound is modulated perfectly to match his super fuzzed out guitars. Make no mistake, Freedom Hawk have delivered a whole new bevy of brilliant music that demonstrate their world class sound and ability, employed gargantuan fuzz, massive bass and drum rhythms, and timeless rock melodies.

Hailing from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Freedom Hawk is:

TR Morton: guitars, keys, vox Lenny Hines: drums Mark Cave: bass

Favorite Track: The Line

bandcamp / facebook / twitter / reverbnation / label / website


7. Fairy Duster – KaraSëa



Beautiful stoner sound is on display with this album of 6 exquisite rock gems. The vocalist is deep throated and clear, displaying vocal strength by never yelling, the guitars are beautifully low and replete with distorted sweetness. The bass is a wonderful presence, not satisfied with laying back and providing simple rhythms, but present front and center providing sweet low hum to complement the searing lead guitar riffs. Melodies are intelligent, primal, and unforgettable. The blend of it all is a super sweet stoner rock elixir.

Fairy Duster hail from Fürth, Germany. Its members are:

Bass & backing vocals Sebastian Fischer Rhythm guitar & lead vocals Dani Jonescu Lead guitar Alex Jonescu Drums Tristan Prögler

Favorite Tracks: Viaţa şi Moartea, Love is a Dog from Hell

bandcamp / facebook

6. Aye Mammoth - Lightning and Hellfire



Self styled as a HEEVY RAWK band, Aye Mammoth sets themselves apart with a bevy of incredible, impeccable songs. They have the requisite FUZZED out guitars, exquisite in execution; they have an incredible vocalist who doesn’t strain or yell; and the bass and drums are exceptional; but, the true hallmark here are thirteen – 13! – pulse pounding pearls of perfection, enjoyable in every way. Their sound is a stoner/blues sort of sound, but very unique in that they sound like Aye Mammoth and no one else, and that’s a beautiful thing. Aye Mammoth featured on heavyplanet.net with a Song of the Day in November (HeavyPlanet-Song of the Day)

Aye Mammoth, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, consist of: Micah Loyed - guitar, vocals; Phil Stem - drums; Paul Haggard - bass

Favorite Tracks: Tear The Veil, Raise Horns, Dread Of The Deep

bandcamp / facebook / twitter / instragram / YouTube

5. Sgt. Sunshine - Sgt. Sunshine


As part of label Heavy Psych Sound you could say they are the banner bearer as the psychedelic rock music Sgt. Sunshine have crafted here is enormous, important, and immensely satisfying, ticking off every stoner/psych/desert/retro rock facet available to be crafted into fuzzy melody. The guitar sound is COLOSSAL, fuzzy to its innermost metaphysical depths, executing a familiar stoner/fuzz sound but with enhanced nuances that matches or surpasses any music in the library of the genre.

Sgt. Sunshine call Malmoe, Sweden home. Its members include:

Eduardo Fernandez Rodriguez Roberto Castro Sundin Kalle Olofsson

Favorite Track: Mountain Song

bandcamp / facebook / website

4. Dune Pilot – Wetlands


This a big stoner/desert/fuzz rock sound, influenced directly from the 90s sounds of Kyuss, Slo Burn, et al., as well as more current bands. They can now add their names to that pantheon of distorted metal sound with this wonderfully crafted album that is one of the year’s best releases.
Dune Pilot hail from Munich, Germany and consist of members:

Andris - Vocals Chris - Guitar Georg - Drums SH – Bass

Favorite Tracks: You Ain't the First, Song B, Red

bandcamp / facebook / website

3. Clutch – Psychic Warfare

 Everyone knows the story of Clutch. One of underground rock’s greatest successes, they’ve been around for better than two decades, so the fact is they not only sustain the highest level of rock n roll production, they have actually gotten better, as their last two albums attest. Psychic Warfare is on this list, and on it this high, because it fucking rocks ass! It is the epitome of rock and roll. The best vocalist in the business helps tremendously, but the songs are incredible, the guitars THICK with syrupy riffs, and the bass and drums exquisite in their delivery. My hats off to these Maryland rockers for what they have been able to achieve. I hope the fire continues to burn for decades to come. The song X-Ray Visions was featured in July on HeavyPlanet’s Song of the Day (HeavyPlanet - Song of the Day) as well as in Pete’s Top Ten Albums of 2015, coming in at #6.

Clutch hail from Frederick, Maryland. The band consists of members:

Neil Fallon – Vocals, guitar Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums Tim Sult – Lead guitar Dan Maines – Guitar

Favorite Track: Behold the Colossus

facebook / vevo

2. The Bad Light – Temples



Dropping in just under the wire is the phenomenal Temples by The Bad Light. These Santa Cruz rockers have crafted a fine psychedelic stonerrock album with their 4th release in 3 years. They employ more than one vocalist, a method that works exceptionally well and should, in my opinion, be pursued by other bands. It makes for an exquisite sound. The guitars are gargantuan, executing tremendous stoner/fuzz distortions, underlain heavily with massive drum beats and mammoth bass. The strength of this album is multifaceted as each song is breathtaking in its psychedelic fuzzy goodness, the guitars, bass, and drums are mighty, and the matching vocals between male and female are tremendous, but what really sets this album up on a pedestal are the songs, each of the 8 tracks beautiful to behold.

The Bad Light hail from Santa Cruz, California and consist of members:

EDU CERRO (GUITAR/VOCALS)
DANA SHEPARD (DRUMS)
EMILY PEGODA (VOCALS)

Favorite Track: Arrows

bandcamp / facebook / soundcloud / website / blogspot

Before revealing my Number One for 2015 I want to revisit my Number One of 2014, an album that stands head and shoulders above most, even today. It is as unique a sound while carrying standard stoner metal qualities as an album can get. I will tell you the band hails from the Netherlands but you will be hard pressed to make the connection once you spin it. TBT 2014 and Nuclear Dog's #1 Album - Atacames by ¡PENDEJO!



And now without further ado, Nuclear Dog's 2015 Album of the Year! Enjoy!

1. The Midnight Ghost Train - 
Cold Was the Ground

Which brings us to the album of the year. If I could have only one album to listen to all year this would be it. The song Gladstone alone is enough to sustain me for quite a while. Steve Moss, the frontman for The Midnight Ghost Train has taken his love for songsmiths young and old, such as Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Muddy Waters, and Edith Piaf, using them to channel his own creativity into the finely crafted music of Cold Was the Ground. HUGE! Huge enough to make Donald Trump envious. The guitars are simply enormous, turned loose and riding roughshod through the clever and exquisite songcraft of Gladstone and Twin Souls, BC Trucker and The Canfield....and the entirety of this relentless force of nature. I can’t recall music eliciting in me the excitement I experienced with the initial spinning of Gladstone since I first heard the one two hammer blow of Thumb and Green Machine. Whenever any new album is discovered, the anticipation upon playing it the first time is for exactly what Cold Was the Ground delivered that fine February day of 2015.

The Midnight Ghost Train hail from Topeka, Kansas. They are:

Steve Moss – Vocals, Guitar | Brandon Burghart – Drums | Mike Boyne – Bass | John Fernandes – Violin (track 9) 

bandcamp / website / facebook / twitter / YouTube

There you have it. 2015 was a scorcher filled with a ton of great stuff. There’s another truckload of great music out there that I haven’t even listed here. Stay tuned to Heavy Planet in 2016 for the best stoner/doom/sludge rock on the planet.

Quick Hit: Borracho​/​Eggnogg Split

Borracho/Eggnogg 7" Split

Back in October of 2012 these two fine bands shared the stage as a part of the CMJ Festival sponsored by yours truly. Now the pair unite on the first release in Palaver Records’ new “Sludgy Erna Bastard” series,  pairing up some of the best heavy underground acts today. The limited edition of 300 copies will be available March 19th on black vinyl, with original artwork by Eggnogg’s very own Justin Karol.

Borracho's contribution to the EP is the meaty, bare bones stoner rocker "King's Disease". Signature fuzzed-out riffing, and a tight as hell rhythm section highlight this groove-heavy track.

Bulldozer riffs and frenetic drumming highlight Eggnogg's spectacular offering "Slugworth". Great to hear something new from these dudes if only one song.

Borracho|Eggnogg

Sixty Watt Shaman to Debut New Material and You're All Invited

If you live within driving distance of Baltimore, Maryland then get off your ass and come party with some of the East Coast's heaviest hitters tomorrow night at Metro Gallery.  

Come see the legendary Sixty Watt Shaman debut long awaited new jams alongside well known classics.

Co-headlining the evening will be another stoner rock legend, Dave Sherman, and his latest outlet for grooves and ganja, Weed is Weed.  

And don't be late, because the riff slinging starts early when local boys (and girl) Foghound take the stage, followed by sets from Washington DC's Borracho, and Volume IV all the way from Atlanta, Georgia.

The heavy is happening in Baltimore on Saturday night.  See you there!

Toby's Top Ten of 2013

Well what do you know?  Here we are back at the beginning yet again…a new year.  And you know what that means, right?  Well around here, it means that it's a time for celebration and discovery.  As each member of our staff takes a look back at the vast, eclectic, and truly incredible output of fine tuneage that was released in 2013, you'll likely spot something that was not previously on your musical radar.  If not, then perhaps we'll jog your memory and re-introduce you to an album that you'd unknowingly forgotten.  At the very least, maybe we'll just piss you off as you vehemently disagree with our "best of" selections and wonder how the fuck we managed to leave Kvelertak off the list?!?  Regardless, I can assure you that within our ranks, we'll cover the entire spectrum of heavy music, from spaced out psychedelia to fuzzed out grooves and from swamp-stomp rhythms to the blackest of doom.  So get your pencil and paper ready, because what follows are the 10 records that polluted my ears the most in 2013.  Happy New Year.  

10 Queens of the Stone Age - …Like Clockwork

I don't profess to know the details behind the legal battle (or threat of one) that went down between Joshua Homme and his former bandmates from Kyuss over the latter's use of the name last year while touring as Kyuss Lives!.  I will however admit that my perception of the issue was that it seemed to be a rather unnecessary affair, especially for someone of Homme's stature.  Because of all that, I'll be honest and say that I really didn't want to like this album.  So perhaps that fact alone should tell you all you need to know about …Like Clockwork, given that it still managed to make its way into my top 10 list.  Right from the start with the album opener "Keep Your Eyes Peeled", it's evident that Mr. Homme and company have regained a measure of the quirkiness that made albums like Rated R and Songs for the Deaf the classics that they've become.  And while I'll still maintain that the band was better off when Homme's "too cool for school" demeanor could be compared alongside the batshit crazy antics of Nick Oliveri and the haunting earnestness of Mark Lanegan (both of whom make brief vocal appearances on this album), there's just no denying that tracks like "I Sat by the Ocean" and "If I Had a Tail" are among some of the best that QOTSA have ever written.  So I'll admit, …Like Clockwork was a triumphant return for what is arguably stoner rock's biggest star and it's an album well deserving of a place on this list.    

09 Lullwater - Self Titled

Apparently this Athens, Georgia based band was so enamored with the history and aura surrounding the early 90's Seattle grunge movement, they packed up their shit and moved across the country to record this at the famed London Bridges Studio where Soundgarden recorded Louder Than Love, Alice in Chains made Dirt and Pearl Jam created a little record by the name of Ten.  The result was an album that not only showcases those Pacific Northwest influences, but also maintains a strong foothold in the Southern alternative rock scene of their own home state.  Combine the bluesy emotion of Drivin' n' Cryin' with the feedback and dissonance of Nirvana and you have Lullwater.  That duality, which can be heard on tracks like "The Dream" and "A Plane", is what makes this self-titled release such an interesting listen, and it's why I couldn't get enough of it in 2013. 

08 Borracho - Oculus

Back in the fall of 2012, we asked Borracho to headline our Heavy Planet CMJ Showcase in the Big Apple and they were more than happy to oblige.  Much to our surprise however, the Washington DC based band showed up to the event without their vocalist and proceeded to rumble through a (mostly) instrumental set of thunderous riffs and bowel rumbling grooves.  Little did we know at the time that what we were actually hearing in that grimy New York City basement were the beginnings of what would become Oculus.  Now a year later, with the band having officially "restructured" as a three-piece, with guitarist Steve Fisher taking over vocal duties, the band sounds even tighter than they did on their 2011 debut Splitting Sky…and if you've heard that masterpiece, you know that's saying something.  Furthermore, with the addition of little embellishments like the haunting feminine vocal that hovers over the album opener "Empty" or the organ that seems hidden amidst the riffs in "Know the Score", Borracho have managed to add a sense of depth to their arsenal on this sophomore release.  With only four actual songs (along with the eerie segue "Eye"), this is an album that is meant to be taken as a singular musical movement.  As such, I'd suggest you hear it in its entirety and see for yourself why it made it's way into my top 10 of 2013.   

07 Deville - Hydra

I kind of think the cover shot on this one says all that you need to know about what's to be found within.  Swedish stoner rockers Deville dropped all pretense on Hydra and got straight to the fucking point.  No extended buildups, no ten minute jam sessions and no filler…this my friends is a rock album.  With heavy doses of meaty riffs (check out "The Knife" and "Let it Go"), catchy choruses (see "In Vain") and those all important guitar solos stuck in just the right places ("Over the Edge"), this is an album that I could not put down in 2013.  There are a lot of bands who may have a similar sound and style to the straight forward stoner rock approach that Deville employ, but very few who can lay down eleven equally infectious tracks in a single album.  For that reason, I made sure to reserve Hydra a well earned place amongst my top LPs of the year.  

06 Kings Destroy - A Time of Hunting

Apparently made up of members from various New York hardcore acts who came together with a combined vision to slow shit down, Brooklyn's Kings Destroy were definitely onto something with A Time of Hunting.  The band incorporates a steady, bruising attack with enough melody and emotion (particularly from vocalist Steve Murphy) to warrant the invention of a new sub-genre that I'd call alt-doom.  Head bobbing grooves, crawling tempos and searing guitar solos collide with vocals that transition seamlessly from mid to high range, at times calling to mind the late, great Layne Staley (see "Shattered Pattern").  But it's the band's ability to diversify and veer away from the monotony of a simple chug-a-lug doom approach that places A Time of Hunting on this list.  "Blood of Recompense" could easily be dubbed a stoner rock classic and even manages to introduce psychedelic elements into the mix via the guitar work.  And the album closing "Turul" is quite simply a mind-fuck with it's bouncy, dare-I-say, System of a Down like bridge.  No…classifying Kings Destroy as "just" a doom band would be a disservice to them, because they're quite obviously much more than that.  For that reason, I found A Time of Hunting well deserving of this spot on my top 10 of 2013.

05 Vista Chino - Peace

There really isn't much that needs to be said about Vista Chino (formerly Kyuss Lives!), but I'll say a few words anyway.  For starters, Peace doesn't come off sounding like a rehash of past glories, but instead feels like a new start.  In fact, despite the way it happened (see my writeup on …Like Clockwork above) I'm glad to see John Garcia, Brant Bjork and Bruno Fevery adopt a new moniker and get moving on the next chapter in their already impressive musical legacy (Nick Oliveri played bass on the album, but has unfortunately, since left the band).  Having said that, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that the signature fuzz and desert grooves associated with Kyuss are here in spades, which is an obvious reason for Peace having a spot on this list.  Tracks like "Dargona Dragona" and the epic suite "Planets 1 & 2", the latter of which features vocals from both Bjork and Garcia, are quite simply…bad-fucking-ass.  And speaking of Bjork, who is the primary songwriter in this band, I totally dug songs like "Adara" and "Barcelonian" which just oozed that cool vibe we've come to expect from his multitude of non-Kyuss related projects.  But ultimately, the reason that Peace is one of my top 10 albums of 2013 is because it represents the sum of four equally impressive parts that need to be making music together.  The soulful vocals of John Garcia, the jazzy fills and resonant crashes from Brant Bjork, the fuzzy tones of Oliveri's bass and the meaty riffs from Bruno Fevery belong together and hopefully Peace is just the beginning.  Also, where else can you hear John Garcia croon "I'm gonna stroke my 'stache"?  Nuff said.

04 Sasquatch - IV

Sasquatch made the quintessential "driving record" when they made IV.  With power chords layered on top of more power chords, a devastatingly thunderous rhythm section and truly soulful vocals slathered right on top of it all, these nine tracks just demanded that you twist the volume knob to the right and slam the gas pedal to the floor.  Want a sample?  Check out the first three tracks, which are as solid an opening barrage as I can recall from any album in recent memory.  From the blitzkrieg opener "The Message" to the dissonant harmony of "Eye of the Storm" (possibly my favorite song of the year from this or any album) to the bluesy Hendrix worship of "Sweet Lady", these three tracks will give you a solid idea of the heavy fuzz that lies ahead.  IV is quite simply an onslaught from this veteran power trio and I reached for it time and again in 2013. 

03 Clutch - Earth Rocker

This one almost seems too easy.  In fact, I probably don't even need to say anything about Clutch's Earth Rocker because my guess is that if you're reading this site and you haven't already heard it, then you must not be interested.  On this, their tenth studio album, these veterans of the trade revved up the riff machine and went back to the future…so to speak.  What I mean to say is that besides the bluesy ballad "Gone Cold" (which is waaay fucking cool), the band seemingly abandoned the road they'd been heading down since…well, "Gravel Road" closed out 2005's Robot Hive/Exodus, veering instead into the much more straightforward rock n' roll territory we last heard on 2001's Pure Rock Fury.  It's all here people.  Neil Fallon's barking vocal attack is stronger than ever, as is his lyrical prowess, which is unmatched in this or any other genre in my humble opinion.  Tim Sult brings the riffs in yet another virtuosic performance.  And the rhythm section of Dan Maines and Jean-Paul Gaster remains the best in the business.  Give a listen to the album's title track with it's spacey intro, killer groove and raw intensity.  And if you happen to be a fan of the bluesier side of Clutch, fear not, there's still plenty of harmonica to be found on "D.C. Sound Attack!".  It's just that the heavier, faster cuts make up the majority of this opus, and while tracks like "Crucial Velocity" and "Oh, Isabella" stand out as examples of the album's direction, there's honestly not a bad one to be found in this bunch.  Earth Rocker was a welcome return to a golden era in the impressive history of one of the greatest bands of all time, and for that reason alone, it deserves a spot in my top 10.

02 Supervoid - Filaments

I knew very little about Pittsburgh's Supervoid prior to seeing them live in their home digs last spring, but it was that very set that started them down the path of landing on this list.  When the band took the stage, I was totally mesmerized by their progressive song structures and their mastery of subtlety and nuance as they bobbed and weaved from stoner rock fuzz into crushing metal passages.  Combining harmony with dissonance, this five piece understands the power of the buildup as they develop songs using quiet, introspective musicianship before pummeling your eardrums with gargantuan riffs and monstrous fucking vocals…just listen to "Arcane Groves" for the love of God.  Needless to say, I was counting the days until the release of Supervoid's debut LP in October and once I got my hands on it, I was not disappointed.  Far different than anything else released in 2013, Filaments lived up to the promise I heard that night in the Steel City with songs like "Coat of Luminous" and "Braymerian: War Elephant" which highlight the polarity of the band's attack.  Give a listen to "Ladders" which features a clean vocal style…and please understand, this motherfucker can sing…over shimmering guitars and an ever evolving rhythm.  Or check out the juggernaut stomp of "Wake of the Smoke Jumper" which pairs oh so well with its guttural growls, before shifting gears to become a pseudo black metal number with the addition of a high pitched backing vocal.  So yeah, Filaments had a little bit of everything that we love here at Heavy Planet, but at the end of the day, it was Supervoid's ability to mesh all of those components into such a cohesive final product that puts this album so far up my list of the top 10 albums of 2013.  Don't miss out on this one.     

01 ASG - Blood Drive

And that brings me to my top pick for 2013.  Now ASG aren't exactly a new band on the scene, having come up as a sort of East Coast answer to Fu Manchu back in the early 00's.  Rising from the ranks of the surf and skate crowd in their native Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, the band garnered a respectable amount of success as their music got hand picked for "Viva La Bam" and other TV shows of that ilk.  But aside from a split release (with Black Tusk) about four years ago, it's been since 2007's Win Us Over that we saw a full length album from the band.  Well I'm here to tell you that this ain't your daddy's ASG.  Blood Drive is of course loaded with tasty hooks, but you should also understand that these are sophisticated compositions.  Spin the excellent album opener "Avalanche" and listen as the band hammers out a huge stoner riff and then builds on it with psychedelic effects and vocalist Jason Shi's insistent bellow and otherworldly lyrics.  Or check out "Castlestorm" where they amp up the intensity and the pace as Shi unleashes a roar that'll have hairs standing on the back of your neck.  And so what if "Earthwalk" is an obvious homage to Jane's Addiction, can you honestly tell me that's a bad thing?  Listen to the intricate acoustic guitar that opens "Children's Music" before the band tears into another trance inducing groove.  These songs have depth and as you make your way through Blood Drive, you'll hear a band that is weaving a tapestry of psychedelic stoner rock that won't soon be forgotten.  Simply put, I wore this album out last year and continue to do so to this day.  For that reason, ASG's Blood Drive is my top album of 2013. 

Exclusive Stream/Review of Borracho-Oculus

It's no secret that we're big fans of Borracho's heavy riffs and stoner grooves here at Heavy Planet. Hell, we asked the guys to headline our CMJ Showcase in New York City last Fall and we're thrilled to be sponsoring their upcoming album release party at the Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington DC (that's next Friday, July 19th by the way). But perhaps most exciting of all, we're pleased as fucking punch to be offering you the very first taste of the band's new LP, Oculus…right here…right now. Yep, you read that right, the Borracho camp were kind enough to give Heavy Planet readers the exclusive opportunity to hear their new record in its entirety a full week in advance of its release. So settle in, hit play and come trip out with us as we get acquainted with what is sure to be the soundtrack to the rest of your summer. This is Oculus.

Now I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the underlying theme that seems to be infused into every aspect of this release, and that would be one of "addition through subtraction." Don't get me wrong, I mean no disrespect to original vocalist Noah Greenburg, who was excellent on the band's debut album Splitting Sky (and even better if you saw him live), but this marks the official debut of the band's leaner, meaner three-piece lineup that sees guitarist Steve Fisher stepping to the forefront, grabbing the reins so to speak, and taking Noah’s place behind the mic. So there's that.

But then there's also the more intrinsic fact that, despite its 38 minute run time, Oculus is comprised of only five tracks. Now as you and I both know this isn’t a style of music that places a value on quantity over quality and taken as a whole, these five songs combine to form an album that will transport you through a series of musical twists, turns, peaks and valleys all while paying tribute to the most important aspect of the genre…the almighty riff. For those familiar with Borracho this should come as no surprise, because at their heart, they’ve always been a band that demands the undivided attention of their listeners by way of extended jams that feature a multitude of time signatures and stylistic shifts. And from the very first note to the last fading remnant of reverb and through every nuance of the musical journey in between, such is the case with Oculus.

The album opens to the sound of a fluid bass line from Tim Martin that’s then joined by the heavy kick of Mario Trubiano’s bass drum and a delicate, yet psychedelic guitar lick from Fisher. And for what it’s worth, that’ll be the last time I use the word “delicate” in this review. A ghostly female voiceover hovers in the background adding depth to the buildup and then the hammer drops and the trio unleash the first of what will be many killer riffs to come. Collectively, Borracho grind out a solid, mid-tempo groove for the better part of this first track, entitled “Empty”, but then Fisher makes an abrupt turn into the fast lane and the song becomes an altogether different animal. It’s here that we get our first introduction to the guitarist’s vocal register, which you’ll immediately notice to be much cleaner, yet no less commanding than that of Greenburg. Also notable is the surprising range in Fisher’s delivery as he manages to slide up an octave, never quite reaching a scream, but carrying the song’s newfound pace through to its conclusion with an aggressive authority. “Pick up the pieces, try to move ahead…I won’t find my peace, ‘til he’s filled with lead”.

“Know the Score” throws a similar curveball at its start, with Fisher subtly (I told you I wouldn’t say delicate anymore) plucking at his Flying V before the rhythm section joins in and the three are off and running again. Less instrumental than its predecessor, this one will have you grooving to its serpentine rhythm and singing along as the vocalist advises “so light another cigarette…leave a message at the door.” The highlight is the surprising addition of an organ during the song’s bridge, which leads into a bouncing jam session chock full of fuzz and fury. At this point, Borracho are dialed in and assuming you have a pulse, you will be too. The song eventually comes full circle, back to the original rhythm that captivated you in the first place, and by the time it concludes you’ll be left with a sense of compulsive anticipation for what’s yet to come.

By design, the final three tracks flow together as one epic, stoner rock suite, beginning with “Stockpile”, which at nearly eleven minutes, is the album’s lengthiest song. This one rides out a patient pulse of propulsive rhythm laid down by Trubiano and Martin, who combine to unleash a combination of thunderous percussion, deafening crash and the lowest of low end harmonic foundations. But that’s not to say that Fisher’s guitar takes a backseat at any point on the album and in fact, he showcases his playing here with a considerably impromptu and altogether rad solo. Then in true Borracho style, the song shifts gears, becoming another upbeat romp through riff-infested waters before devolving into the haze and confusion of “Eye” (which oh by the way, happens to be the meaning of the word Oculus). Serving as a bridge between “Stockpile” and album closer “I’ve Come for It All,” this one melds static, feedback and ample psychedelic voice effects before the basis of the final song emerges from the chaos.

And oh what a finale it turns out to be. Deftly combining all of the elements that make Borracho what they are…that would be tradesmen in ultra-heavy riffs, rhythms and hooks, in case you haven’t been paying attention…the song opens with a steady build into another solid groove as Fisher croons…”darkness surrounds me, like a long lost friend…there’s no justice, only revenge.” Of course another shift in tempo is always right around the corner and that’s true here as well, when after a series of stop/starts, the band slows it way down…”you better run, you better hide…I’m coming for you.” And then the album concludes amidst the frenetic pandemonium of another monstrous solo from Fisher before the entire ensemble ultimately fades into nothing.

So there you have our take on the latest from Borracho. Now it’s your turn to take a glimpse inside of Oculus and you can’t do that anywhere else but right here at Heavy Planet. Go ahead…hit play and listen to the beginning of a new era for the band. Listen as they cement their status as a bona fide power-trio, all the while maintaining their commanding grasp on the power of the riff. Listen as they prove the timeless old cliché that less can in fact be so much more.-Toby Cole

We hope you enjoy Oculus as much as we do. Be sure to pick up the album when it's released next Thursday and if you're on the East Coast, you don't want to miss Borracho's upcoming tour dates with the mighty Lo-Pan (click the band's Facebook link below for dates). Finally a big thanks to Mario, Steve and Tim of Borracho for giving Heavy Planet the opportunity to showcase their kick ass new tunes.

 Cheers fellas!

Exclusive Stream: Borracho-Oculus by Heavyplanet on Mixcloud

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In Case You Missed It: Borracho - Mob Gathering

It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since Borracho stormed onto the scene with their excellent debut, Splitting Sky.  Shit man, seems like just yesterday I was calling it an "instant classic” right here on Heavy Planet.  Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too much longer before we have a brand new slab of heavy from the Washington DC based groove-mongers.  In fact, word on the street is that vocalist/guitarist Noah Greenburg made a rare State-side appearance recently (he’s been out of the country for the better part of a year) to lay down his signature snarl on tracks that’ll make up the band’s as yet untitled follow-up LP.  Now that’s good news indeed for worshippers of the almighty riff, but it sure as hell doesn’t put new Borracho music in our hands right now, does it?  Well fear not, because I’m about to give you a Borracho fix that’ll shake your ass and rattle your skull just long enough to tide you over until that next full length drops.  

But before I do, let me first give you a little background information on this project.  You see, back in 2009, prior to Splitting Sky, Borracho was still in the early stages of formation, becoming less of a side project (I'll leave it up to you to read about their history on your own) and more of a full time gig.  With that in mind, the four musicians holed themselves up in an abandoned mansion buried deep in the woods of Virginia with the intention of recording their first songs as a new band.  Now, some of those tracks would become early demos that are probably still floating around out there somewhere, and others would eventually be re-recorded and included on Splitting Sky, but there were two in particular that were left on the shelf to rot…never having been heard outside the walls of that old, rickety mansion...that is until now.  

In case you missed it, Mob Gathering was released last month as a 7” single and it’s your chance to hear these long lost songs and to experience a bit of Borracho history while you're at it.  Now, if you're at all familiar with the band, you’ll no doubt notice that both the title track and its B-side, “Short Ride (When it’s Over)” are relatively short by their standards.  In fact, its safe to say that these songs lean more towards the streamlined “Concentric Circles” style of ass kicking than to the extended jams that made up the bulk of Splitting Sky.  But before you get the notion that this is your standard verse, chorus, verse fare that's fit for the herd, you'd do well to remember who you're talking about.  

Just give a listen to “Mob Gathering” and you’ll see what I mean as it bobs and weaves along a stop, start rhythm laid down by bassist Tim Martin and drummer Mario Trubiano.  Guitarist Steve Fisher rips through multiple tasty hooks that lead into Greenburg's opening roar…"working the land, like a second class citizen"…and just like that, you'll feel right at home back in Borracho's world.  The band sets into their heavy, mid-tempo groove like a stubborn fucking mule for the first half of the track and then abandons it like a sinking ship midway through, as they transition into the musical equivalent of a full speed, lumbering rhino.  Your neck will be wrecked…trust me.

"Short Ride (When it's Over)" picks up right where that one leaves off with a rapid fire riff layered with Trubiano's piledriver percussion.  Fisher erupts throughout with flourishes of guitar wankery that sound all the more virtuosic next to the density of Martin's heavy ass bass lines.  And this may be the most dynamic vocal performance we've heard from Greenburg as he stretches his gruff register to its high end limit and then follows it up by diving to his guttural low.  But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that this song's breakdown will have you moving like a maniac, likely throwing shit around and generally acting like an asshole.  Fact…the neighbors will call the cops.  Also, this may be my favorite Borracho tune ever.

Look people, this one should be pretty goddamn easy.  In fact, all I really needed to say is "Borracho" and you should all know that this is worth checking out.  But just in case you're new around these parts, I think I've given plenty of reasons for you to spin these two epic examples of colossal groove and then delve into the mammoth masterpiece that is Splitting Sky.  Like what you hear?  Buy a copy of the limited edition vinyl that comes in your choice of black or orange/black swirl.  But don't wait too long my friends, there are only 300 of these in existence…and when they're gone…they're gone.  Do not miss it.

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Heavy Planet CMJ Showcase in Review

Fontana's Bar
New York, New York
October 18, 2012

As you more than likely already know, Heavy Planet hosted our first ever College Music Journal (CMJ) Showcase last week at Fontana's Bar in New York City. Much like CMJ, the goal of Heavy Planet is to introduce new ears to the music of independent and unsigned artists. Unlike CMJ however, we tend to focus on those independent and unsigned artists who lean towards the heavier end of the musical spectrum.

Given that fact, we put together a lineup of bands that ran the gamut from neo-stoner art rock to riff slinging doom and from psychedelic sludge to dune riding, desert rock. And just in case that wasn't enough, we topped it all off with a pseudo-instrumental set of mind bending, ear splitting groove that drilled our message home with measured precision. Friends…allow me to recap for you the performances from the inaugural Heavy Planet CMJ Showcase.

Shock Radar

This NYC trio…one of two local acts to play the showcase…took the stage and immediately introduced the crowd to their post-grunge aural trip. With a sound somewhat akin to Bruce Springsteen doing “Feel Good Hit of the Summer”, vocalist/guitarist Lee Diamond and company kicked the evening off in perfect stoner rock fashion, all riffs and rhetoric. Shock Radar, which is rounded out by bassist Larry Hess and drummer Rich Drouin, played an eclectic array of experimental noise fused with flourishes of country twang and punk rock attitude. Diamond's raspy delivery melded well with the crisp backdrop of the rhythm section as the band got the evening off on the right foot. Bonus points to the Shocks' main man for recklessly flinging his Fender stage right as the band's set concluded, thus laying the foundation for what would be a raucous evening of rock n fucking roll.

Summoner

I knew it was time for some riff slinging when I saw Summoner’s Orange amps being loaded onto the Fontana’s stage. And I have to say, I was stoked to finally have a chance to see these guys, especially since I’ve essentially had their recent album, Phoenix, on repeat for about three straight months…seriously. Employing the dual guitar attack of A.J. Peters and Joe Richner, Summoner created a deafening wall of sound from the second they started playing their opening number “Conjuring”, through to the last crash from drummer Scott Smith during "Across Iron Fields".

And to say that every tendon, muscle and sinew in vocalist/bassist Chris Johnson’s throat was visible as he shouted his message into a microphone laced with echo effects would be an understatement. The vocals, which are a powerful ingredient to the Summoner concoction, drape the band’s layered riffs in an ethereal tapestry that adds a measure of depth to their sound that isn't often heard in this genre of music. Listening to the band play "Let the Light In" for example, was chill inducing to say the least. Summoner, who graciously made the trip down to NYC from Beantown to play our little shindig, was a highlight among highlights…wicked fucking good. If you have an opportunity to see these guys live, do not miss them.

Eggnogg

Brooklyn's Eggnogg were next on the bill and once again I couldn't wait.***Psst…since I put the damn lineup together, this will be a running theme throughout.*** After seeing Summoner jostle for position on the small Fontana's stage, this three piece almost seemed to spread out as vocalist/bassist Bill O'Sullivan set up shop at stage left with guitarist Justin Karol flanking him on the right and Jason Prushko situated behind his drum kit in dead center. Having spoken with O'Sullivan prior to the band's set, I learned that Prushko is a relative newcomer to the Eggnogg lineup, and as such, I was curious to hear how that would work out in a live setting. Turns out, the trio was just as tight, methodical and downright militaristic in their slow building, sludgy attack as they sound on their 2011 album Moments in Vacuum.

Given the band's name, you're likely to assume that Melvins comparisons are apropos…and in that assumption, you'd be right. Eggnogg is an aural juggernaut and on this night they had heads nodding in trancelike unison throughout Fontana's. O'Sullivan snarled from behind a mop of hair that was swiped from his eyes only long enough to say a quick thanks before the bludgeoning continued. Karol chugged along as one might expect, but managed to pull off impressive leads whenever his time came. And what of the new guy? Well he held down the band's patient rhythms and unexpected time changes like a seasoned vet throughout the 45 minute set.

In true showcase fashion, Eggnogg took the opportunity to highlight material off their forthcoming LP You're All Invited which seemed to be…at least to my ears…a heavier and darker Eggnogg. But don't take my word for it, take a listen for yourself to the live clip of the eponymous track off that upcoming album below. Also, the band is attempting to raise money via a kickstarter campaign in order to release the new album on vinyl. You can help them out with that by clicking this link: You're All Invited - Vinyl Kickstarter

Valley of the Sun

Valley of the Sun, who travelled the furthest to participate in this showcase, coming all the way from Cincinnati, Ohio, is so fucking good I almost don't have words. For starters, if you aren't already listening to their 2011 EP The Sayings of the Seers, then you need to stop reading this and go download that shit right now. Secondly, I want to thank vocalist/guitarist Ryan Ferrier, bassist Ryan McAllister and drummer Aaron Boyer for agreeing to play this show and for being true road warriors in doing so. It was much appreciated fellas.

Now…on to their set. Valley of the Sun took the stage and immediately erupted with the pure intensity and passion that can only come from a band who loves their craft. All three band members are equal cogs in this wheel. Ferrier, who casts a striking presence sporting the shaved head and bearded look drives the band's sound with his fuzzed out guitar tones and better-than-Cornell vocal delivery. But what you don't realize until you see Valley of the Sun in a live setting is that this band's secret weapon is it's rhythm section. McAllister and Boyer play off of each other so rapidly that it almost goes unnoticed…the former laying down the constantly shifting backbone of the band's attack while the latter pulverizes his drum kit into oblivion. In fact, Boyer played the drums so aggressively that at times, I found myself focusing solely on him…he was that much fun to watch.

Like Eggnogg, Valley of the Sun took the opportunity to showcase new material alongside the massive sounds from their aforementioned EP. And while the new stuff definitely whet my appetite for a new Valley of the Sun record, it was songs like "Hearts Aflame" and "Mariner's Tale" from Seers that drilled their way into my cranium. This is rock n' roll my friends! Combining power, hooks, and intricate melodies and then submerging them in a layer of glorious fuzz, Valley of the Sun breathes new life into a sound that bands like Kyuss and Fu Manchu coined long ago. Nobody inside Fontana's sat still during their set…and if they had…I would have checked their pulse. Phenomenal.

Borracho

Borracho is another band that went out of their way to be in New York City for this CMJ showcase, traveling up from Washington D.C., and for that, we are ever grateful. Having had the occasion to see the band's full lineup a few times in the past, I was extremely curious to get my first look at the new trimmed down, three-piece version that debuted back in September at the Stoner Hands of Doom Festival. With vocalist/guitarist Noah Greenburg on an extended hiatus while he handles day job commitments that have him out of the country, guitarist Steve Fisher, bassist Tim Martin and drummer Mario Trubiano are busy keeping the Borracho torch burning. Their solution? Take the best instrumental sections from the songs on their excellent 2011 album Splitting Sky…and if you've heard it, you know there are many…segue one piece into the next, throw in some killer new material and the end result is one monstrous 45 minute groove. Sound good? Yeah you know it does.

There aren't many bands that can captivate and enthrall an audience without the need for a vocalist. Interestingly enough, I saw Borracho open for a band with just such a talent about a year ago when they played with Karma to Burn, and I can't help but wonder if that band may have rubbed off on them and perhaps influenced their decision to carry on as a pseudo-instrumental trio in Noah's absence. Whatever the inspiration, I'm glad the band has gone in this direction, because their infectious groove, heavy riffs and sheer fucking talent are truly a sight to behold. Trubiano lays down thunderous beats right in time with Martin's thumping rhythm. But it's Fisher who seems to have taken the lead in Greenburg's absence. Without a word spoken, the guitarist raised his Flying V to the sky, shook his beard to the heavens and wailed out riffs, chords and glorious solos galore.

And right about the time that me and the rest of the Fontana's crowd began to wonder what the hell that microphone was doing raised up in front of the guitarist, all Lemmy-like, Fisher stepped right up and belted out the finale to "All in Play"…"and when your armies fail to come…you find your castles come undone…the answer…the answer…is run away." Fuckin' A! And in true headliner fashion, the band launched right into their catchiest, most accessible number of all, as their guitarist proceeded to handle vocal duties on a killer version of "Concentric Circles" before bringing Borracho's set to a satisfying end.

With that, the Fontana's crowd left with their ears ringing and their minds blown. The scene at Fontana's last Thursday night was one of a small community of musicians and their fans coming together to show support and solidarity to one another. This was a true showcase of real musical ability…of talent…of bands on their way up. I'm proud to have been a part of it and I want to thank Shock Radar, Summoner, Eggnogg, Valley of the Sun and Borracho for being a part of it as well. I enjoyed meeting and hanging out with all of the band members and I can't wait to do it again.

For more on all of the bands that played the Heavy Planet CMJ Showcase, check out the following links:

Shock Radar
Summoner
Eggnogg
Valley of the Sun
Borracho

The following is a clip of Eggnogg playing the song "Eggnogg" from their forthcoming LP You're All Invited shot live at the Heavy Planet CMJ Showcase:



Check out more photos from the show below:

Shock Radar

Summoner

Eggnogg

Valley of the Sun

Borracho