A hell of a year with amazing releases for a thriving music scene!
Well, 2016 was a roller coaster for everybody I guess. Especially in our scene where we have experienced the passing of legendary heroes that shaped our music but on the other hand there were so many releases and it wasn’t all about quantity but also quality. So here it is my top 10 of what I favoured through the year, including some quite odd releases! I am a new member here on More Fuzz and I would like to thank Mr. Fuzz and all the guys and gals in the writing team, also the bands who still trying to do their best and create this sonic realm for us to be a part of, and lastly every single one that keeps on reading More Fuzz ! Keep on rocking in the free world!
Don't forget to check out the Top Albums of the other More Fuzz team members !
Top 10 Albums of 2016
10 : Mountain Dust – Nine Years
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I think that if we had fewer amazing records this would be higher on a top 10 but when in a year you have so many amazing things to listen to some will get the lower places. Last but not least in this instant grabber. You can hear the Led Zeppelin influence in this record with vocals wonderfully placed in the very first seconds and the blues-y melodies with blistering solos accompanied by a heavy organ presence. This debut is radio friendly and a 70’s qualitative classic rock for today.
9 : Naxatras – II
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Not long after its predecessor the second effort by the lads from Thessaloniki channels more mystical & darker elements this time. Fully analogue written, they took the old school vintage approach for recording. They don’t gabble but express their craft through hard work and excellent musicianship. Not so energetic as the first but more immersive a bit kraut rock with jazzy elements.
8 : Cambrian Explosion – The Moon EP
Eastern melodies blended with space rock and prog? Tool meets Pink Floyd and brought to you with fuzzy guitars? All of this and more, in the newest EP by Cambrian Explosion where the fuzz rock gets its otherworldly treatment of progressive rock and long cosmic jams like Causa Sui in quite a package! Full Review Here.
7 : Green Yeti – The Yeti Has Landed
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This came out of nowhere and it totally obliterated everything. Heavy as fuck, and doomier than you can handle, “The Yeti Has Landed” shows how heavy psychedelia and doom can create a mix of headbanging anthems and at the same time give you the ticket for immersive auditory travelling. Thundering drums and monstrous basslines serve as the bedrock for the guitar melodies to pound and stretch over it accordingly as would be Sleep approved.
Full review here.
6 : BUS – The Unknown Secretary
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One of the best releases this year, the greek underground scene is not only about the stoner and heavy rock but also the proto-doom and NWOBHM furiousness and razor-sharp riffing. This record is so even and excellently structured for a debut that grabs you from the very first song. The melodies are like hooks, while the vocal lines stem from early 80s bands like Witchfinder General, Angel Witch, Saxon and Diamond Head… and are very sing-along appropriate. For Fans of Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats.
5 : Druid – Odysseus
It is debatable amongst scholars which is Homer’s magnum opus, the war and heroic tale of Iliad or Odyssey about the long journey of Odysseus? Druid –not so much lyrically but as seen in their cover and title they choose the second for their magnum opus! From the gargantuan first track that clocks in over 18 minutes to the organ-drenched “Forlorn Hope” you can hear the monolithic 70s hard and heavy rock and even proto-metal iommic riffs in the second part of the LP.
Full review here.
4 : Truckfighters – V
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Truckfighters almost reinvented themselves with “V” by balancing their sound with familiar ultra mega fuzz foundation and grunge sounds with a bit of prog rock patterns. Big refrains and sometimes fast sometimes melodic guitars, and a new guy behind the kit! Their songwriting skills for pure and fun rock n roll never cease to amaze me, like in tracks “The 1” and “Calm Before The Storm”.
Full review here.
3 : Planet Of Zeus – Loyal To The Pack
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70’s acolytes you will definitely love this pure rock ‘n’ roll LP by Planet Of Zeus. Either the southern rock sounds or the more widely approved style of Clutch and QOTSA song-writing with biting vocals and riff complexity in the style of Mastodon and Baroness, makes this one a listen to remember. For people who love their rock provocative and also friendly to radio stations the band released their most coherent and well-written work.
Full review here.
2 : Ruff Majik – The Fox
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This is a very exciting record and quite refreshing! It encapsulates the raw energy of the band with their fuzzy as fuck guitar tones accompanied with vocals a la Jack White. Fast, and super crazy it blends the ferocious style of Wolfmother and 70s garage rock bands but also more contemporary acts like Black Keys. All of the above make it a guaranteed trip of groove and rock n roll!
1 : 1000mods – Repeated exposure to…
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Well, ladies and gentlemen, here is my Fuzziest Album of 2016! This is the third LP by Chiliomodians and this time they manage to express their steady evolution, backed by heavy guitars (Mike Pike would approve) to serve their heavy blues or their fast punkish songs. Their most mature effort up to date showcases even more tight craftsmanship than before with songs like “Above179”, “Loose”, “A.W.”, and into the “Into the Spell” are definitely live staples.
Full review here.
Don't forget to check out the Top Albums of the other More Fuzz team members !
Honourable Mentions by Atmosphere Levels
By Fat Level
Brant Bjork – Tao Of The Devil
Filthy Lucre – Mara
Asteroid – III
This Is Nowhere – Music to Relapse
Zakk Wylde – Book Of Shadows
King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard- Nonagon Infinity
Nightstalker – As Above So Below
Lee Van Cleef – Holy Smoke
Buffalo Fuzz – Buffalo Fuzz
Witchcraft – Nucleus
By Purple Haze Level
Baby Woodrose – Freedom
Cyanna Mercury ☿ – Archetypes
Hail Spirit Noir – Mayhem In Blue
Childish Gambino – Awaken, My Love
Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre
Causa Sui – Return to Sky
Psychedelic Witchcraft – The Vision
Church Of The Cosmic Skull – Is Satan Real?
Mephistofeles – Whore
By Temperature Level
Ghost – Popestar
Kvelertak – Nattersfed
Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
Rival Sons – Hallow Bones
Void Droid – Terrestrial
The Rare – Breed Looking For Today
Fox 45 – Ashes Of Man
Messa – Belfry
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