Diaries of Doom

Hailing from the vibrant rock and metal scene in Mansfield, Master Charger are now on their third album and show no signs of slowing down. Having made their name across the live circuit on the same bills as the likes of Conan, Raging Speedhorn, Orange Goblin, Alunah, Monolord and Decapitated (to name but a few) as well as a triumphant headline set on the second stage of HRH Doom vs HRH Stoner in Sheffield a year ago, they are now well established as a distinctive stoner metal force. With clear influences from the classic slew of late 60s/early 70s hard rock and proto-metal bands, Master Charger groove, swing and punch to the gut amid snarling, sludgy vocals and guitars detuned to oblivion. Their most recent release prior to now was the 'One For Sorrow' EP from around 18 months ago, with its title track fast becoming a fan favourite. The band's first time recording as a power trio, it marked a noticeable step up in quality (and heaviness). On 'Origin', it seems that ...

  The north of England is home to some of the world’s best contemporary riff peddlers, and most of them are signed to APF Records. It came as no surprise then, when Huddersfield/Leeds stoner doom dudes Sound of Origin announced they’d joined the roster at the same time as they announced their new album, The All Seeing Eye (release: August 21st, 2020). Way back in 2018, these guys knew that they were aiming for a full rebirth with the addition of Joel H. Bulsara on vocals, and the energy between them was visible to all around them. Now the new album is here, and good lord it’s a rager. Talking of that rebirth, the album lays it out plainly with opening lumberer Not Dead Yet, an angular stabbing of riffs that never lets you sit comfortably, and leading into title track The All Seeing Eye. Joe Wilczynski’s guitar tone on this record is planet-sized, allowing the stoner riffs dig deep into the earth and tower way into the stratosphere. The groove is strong throughout this tune, and the...

Tobias Contardo, Carl Lambertus, Filip Larsson and Victor Hansson make up Malmö-based stoner rock quartet Huanastone. Their second album 'Third Stone From The Sun' brings a riff-driven, melodic ambience to their sound, reminiscent of early QOTSA. The Josh Homme influence is highly recognisable, especially in the performance of singer Tobias Cantardo.  With a new label, a band's sound can either drastically decline or dramatically improve. In the case of Huanastone, I'm delighted to say that the latter is most certainly the case. Improving on from their 2017 release 'Second Stone', these Malmö rockers have well and truly established themselves as an absolute gem in the stoner rock scene in Scandinavia, taking after fellow Swedes Truckfighters. The beginning of the album justifies this claim with 'Viva Los Muertos', an opening song that encaptures how they have progressed from a more ambient and instrumental band, transitioning this influence into hard hit...

Another month of this cursed year gone. I went to the pub for the first time in four and a half months over the weekend and I've forgotten completely what gigs are like. Thank god we're definitely coming up to the latter end, I guess? In this month's instalment of my top picks I feature bands from countries as diverse as Argentina and Italy (as well as the North of England). Also, most of the tracks here aren't actually new. Still, if any of these went over your head at any point in the last few weeks (or the last few years), here's your chance to make up for lost time and listen to some new(ish) noise. Las Historias - Las Historias (doom metal/psychedelic rock) - Electric Valley Records The Argentinian scene might not be the most famous in the world for heavy riffs, although it's not without its gems. Buenos Aires trio Amethyst are a favourite recent discovery of mine, with their Down/Sabbath-y extended jams, and the spacey  Fabricantes  know how to pack a pu...

If you’ve ever spoken to a musician for any amount of time, you’ll be painfully aware that they’re shockingly low down on the list of potential recipients for accolades rewarding organisational skills, punctuality, reliability, sobriety etc. It should come as no surprise to you, then, that some bands seek to cut as many liabilities as possible by including as few musicians in their band as they can. For your consideration: terrific two piece bands.   1. Big Business Big riffs + big hooks + big bass tone + big drum = Big Business. Starting as a sort of opening act for, but also members of Melvins around 2006, the duo of Jared Warren and Coady Willis have carved their own identity in the ever expanding face of rock and roll.  I saw them support Mastodon on the Once More Round the Sun UK tour, and they blew a crater into poor, unsuspecting Birmingham. 2. Tuskar   A truly gruesome twosome (that’s the first and last time, I swear) hailing from the UK. It's hard to believe a si...