As we wrap up one more ride around the sun, it’s time for the much anticipated end-of-the-year retrospectives, ranks and lists where we look back at these last (almost!) 365 days and give some spotlight to our favorite releases. This way we all can share good music, give credit to these amazing musicians and turn the page to 2018. Well, with no further ado, let’s begin Mr. Cosmo’s Top 10 albums of the year!
Don't forget to check out the Top Albums of the other More Fuzz team members !
10: Grotto – Circle of Magi
One of the biggest slip ups I made last year was discovering Grotto after having published my top 10 albums of the year list. No worries, though: they were quick to release their second effort, Circle of Magi, which features a slight change of sound for the band, featuring a few progressive and modern-ish sounding moments along this amazing instrumental record.
9 : Youngblood Supercult – The Great American Death Rattle
The lysergic four-piece form Kansas, Youngblood Supercult, released their third, and strongest, album so far. The Great American Death Rattle is an intense riff-filled 40-minutes dive into the minds of one of the greatest American doom bands of today.
8 : Space Wizard – Volume One
7 : Monolord – Rust
…And now the big names start appearing. Swedish doom masters, Monolord, put out their third record, Rust, through Riding Easy Records in September. Featuring a departure from their usual sound, with bit more polished and complex song structures and vocal lines, songs like “At Niceae” and “Wormland” can easily rank among the best of the year.
6 : Elder – Reflections of a Floating World
Stoner Proggers Elder have made a name for themselves with a perfect history of solid releases, starting with their doom-oriented self-titled and leading up to the progressive masterpiece Lore. Reflections of a Floating World is no different. A brilliant album which showcases the band’s amazing instrumentality and creativity.
5 : Telekinetic Yeti – Abominable
The debut of the year, stoner duo Telekinetic Yeti held nothing back on their very first effort, Abominable. A brutal, over-the-top demonstration of power through spectacular riffage from start to finish. These guys know exactly what they’re doing in every second of the album. A perfect lesson on controlled madness.
4 : Dopelord – Children of the Haze
In my humble opinion, Children of the Haze is safely the best album Dopelord has released so far. Yes. Dopelord. One of the best stoner doom bands out there. I tried to choose two or three songs from here to exemplify this record’s brilliant sound it was way too hard for me – this is a record you’ll want to listen from start to finish in the right order and ambience. It deserves 40 minutes of your complete attention.
3 : Samsara Blues Experiment – One With The Universe
Now we’re finally in the Top 3. This is were we go past the best of the year mark and tend to transcend to decade-wise status. One With The Universe is just one of those records you need a moment alone to appreciate. I’d go ahead and say One With the Universe is this year’s equivalent to All Them Witches’ Dying Surfer Meets His Maker. This is serious art right here.
2 : Galactic Gulag – To the Stars by Hard Ways
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From Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, this fuzzy instrumental heavy psych meets space rock band managed to blow our minds with an exceptional debut with To the Starts by Hard Ways. With brilliant (plain fucking brilliant) musicianship and some of the best guitar work you’ll ever hear, these dudes will leave you speechless.
1 : GOYA – Harvester of Bongloads
Before reading this, if you haven’t listened to Dopelord’s Children of the Haze yet, take a moment to do it. Now you must be wondering: what could possibly top that stoner doom masterpiece? It would have to be a behemoth, a genre-staple. That’s what Goya did. Just like that. They simply put out one of the best albums in the genre. Something to go up there with Dopesmoker, Dopethrone, Dopes To Infinity, you name it. Harvester of Bongloads isn’t the best fuzzy album of the year, it’s more than that. Worship this album, people. It deserves all possible praise.
Don't forget to check out the Top Albums of the other More Fuzz team members !
BONUS: Honourable Mentions
11. Beastmaker – Inside The Skull
12. Red Mess – Into The Mess
13. Radio Moscow – New Beginnings
14. Sons of Geezora – Self Titled
15. Kadavar – Rough Times
BONUS: Top 5 Tracks of the Year
1. Goya – Disease
2. Pantanum – Stormbringer
3. Monolord – At Miceae
4. The Necromancers – Salem Girl Part I
5. Kadavar – Skeleton Blues
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