Those times again to agree & disagree but also find hidden gems!
The year has passed and what’s better than getting a few tops to read through and finding awesome music which somehow got passed you.
For me I feel like 2018 have had a dip in quantity of quality albums which made this years list a little easier to write than 2017.
But those albums stacked with kickass tunes sure made a big impression in their own ways.
You be noticing the instrumental jam albums taking a step back this time but alas forth comes the power of the riff!
For those about to fuzz…
Don't forget to check out the Top Albums of the other More Fuzz team members !
Top 15 Albums of 2018
15 : JIRM – Surge Ex Monumentis
Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus surprised me with the namechange to simply JIRM.
You can still here their roots but they sound more focused towards one progressive sound throughout the album.
Some days the wails of Karl together with the awesome riffs in Nature of the damned comes to my mind and then I just gotta listen to the album. ^^
14 : Graveyard – Peace
A band that pretty much every Fuzzer knows, I was late to the game but Hisingen Blues was instant love for me.
Their bluesy hard rocking tunes is a lesson in how to rock but their last album Innocence & Decadence felt lackluster.
I thought Graveyard was laid to rest but they came back with a newfound spirit and some of their best tunes yet in Peace.
13 : Forming The Void – Rift
One of few doom albums this year which I feel stands out with its atmosphere and overall awesome sound.
You can read my review of Rift here and then let yourself be dragged down their empty sea of doom.
12 : The Atlas Moth – Coma Noir
For me The Atlas Moth outdid themself with Coma Noir, off all their albums this one brings me back the most.
The sound is unified but every song grabs you for different reasons, you can find my review of it here if you wanna know more.
11 : Tons – Filthy Flowers Of Doom
Earlier this year Mr Fuzz did a special video about the best albums that was released on 420 day.
These guys was on it and their filthy sludge & doom sound was totally my cup of tea.
If you dig bands like Bongzilla, Weedeater and the likes than you should give this one a listen.
10 : Sergeant Thunderhoof – Terra Solus
This was my first exposure to these guys who effectively blends doom, stoner & psychedelic rock.
They definitely caught me by surprise, you can check out my review here for Terra Solus.
9 : Clutch – Book Of Bad Decisions
One the last 2 records bluesy hard rockers Clutch have been moving towards a more straight up hard rock sound.
And while it hasn’t been bad this is a welcome return to their blues influence and also some funk on the amazing In Walks Barbarella.
They get your head moving and Neil Fallon is still one of the best singers out there with his voice and lyrics.
IMO he wrote one of the best lyrics of the year, about what he would do if he was president of the USA.
“Put Jimi Hendrix on the 20 dollar bill, and Bill Hicks on a five note” 😀
8 : Sleep – The Sciences
Strangers for few to none, Sleep surprised us on 420 with an amazing album full of trademark Sleep’ian sounds.
Here they really stuck to what they do best and it sounds like it could have come out just a few years after Dopesmoker.
Most noteworthy to me though is Giza Butler, what a tune! Some of the best riffs since Dragonaut and kickass lyrics!
7 : Black Rainbows – Pandaemonium
Black Rainbows keeps putting out quality releases filled with high energy Stoner rock.
You know what you gonna get by now and you know it’s gonna be good, the Motörhead syndrom of sort. ^^
The track I Just Wanna Fire is one of my favorite songs of the year! Perfect to get you psyched! Or drive way too fast! 😛
6 : Kikagaku Moyo – Masana Temples
These guys from Japan have been blossoming into the scene for a while now and here I think they made their best album yet.
They keep it calm & beautiful mostly but when they do pick up the tempo it’s just the right amount.
No Acid Mothers Temple crazyness, just a refined and unique sound in the best possible way.
5 : Haggard Cat – Challenger
Haggard Cat is a duo who released an album full of ass kicking songs like Toke & Telekinetic Yeti did last year.
They show how it’s done with their heavy songs filled with catchy hooks & attitude!
Seing them live is on my bucketlist since I can imagine it to be an intense experience!
4 : Dopethrone – Transcanadian Anger
The filthiest and heaviest album on my list! Dopethrone goes straight to the point with their drugged out sludge & doom sound.
You can read my review here for a more detailed insight into Transcanadian Anger.
3 : Dead Meadow – The Nothing They Need
Been digging Dead Meadows unique take on psychedelic rock for some time but here they really hit the right spot for me.
The songs are slow to mid tempo and guitarist Jason Simon really shines with his riffing.
Just like David Gilmour of Pink Floyd you can feel the emotions coming out through the guitar playing.
Just put on the track Unsettled Dust, those guitar solos are soo beautiful! An album perfect for calm nights in solitude!
2 : Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman
The godfather of Desert rock is back and while I’ve listened to Kyuss quite a lot I never payed much attention to Brants solo records.
I didn’t hear his stuff until Tao of the devil came out 2016 and since I thought it was alright I didn’t expect to fall in love with this one.
Mankind Woman is packed with awesome guitar playing and full of feelgood vibes and this is the kind of album you’d play out in the sun during summertime with beers and good company! Right on!
1 : Weedpecker – III
Weedpeckers III is the first album I heard 2018 and my first acquaintance with them and after just a few spins they blew my mind away with their amazing musicianship and fresh take on Psychedelic Stoner Rock.
This is the kind of album that doesn’t sound like everyone else apart from some minor influences you can notice sometimes.
And the major strength on III is the variation within each song and the beautiful riffs & melodies which always flows from one to another.
I think few releases comes along these days that feels innovative and sounds like nothing you’ve heard before but Weedpecker sure managed to put their joints together and record something special!
The mix & mastering is top notch as well so I got nothing to complain about here! A true album of the year!
If you haven’t heard this one yet then get on it!!!!
Don't forget to check out the Top Albums of the other More Fuzz team members !
Honorable Mentions
Atomic Simao – Levitation Loom Four : Really cool psychedelic rock mixed with jazz, funk and awesome saxophone parts.
Clouds – Dor : Funeral doom metal that grabs your inner sorrow with beautiful atmosphere and great vocals.
Deep Space Destructors – Visions from the Void : Awesome Space rock/heavy psych with Hawkwind influences.
Windhand – Eternal Return : Not super fond of the vocals but I keep coming back to this album for the amazing guitar riffs and solos.
Øresund Space Collective – Live in Berlin 2018 : ØSC’s improvised space rock never cease to amaze me and here they delivered one of the best gigs I’ve heard by them.
Thanks for reading
Don't forget to check out the Top Albums of the other More Fuzz team members !
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