It’s that time of year where all us music junkies scramble
together what we perceive to be our favorite albums of the year. Call it the
“best” our “favorite” or “top albums” but in the end, each and every one of us
has a unique twist and combination of tastes that the real intent of these
lists is to keep spreading the word about great music. The hard part lately is
there is so much access to music these days with platforms such as Bandcamp,
Spotify, Amazon, etc…. that it’s up to the individual to decide how deep down
the rabbit hole they want to go. As you will see with this list here, the
rabbit hole is a tunnel protruding beyond the core of the earth and into space
for eternity. This is a representation of albums I found on Bandcamp that
either did not have a physical option or I just didn’t have the funding at the
time to purchase on vinyl or CD. I typically only buy vinyl but nonetheless, my
these are all fantastic and worthy of your attention. I did
rank them. Keep in mind after the first 25 or so they are all pretty equal on
my chart lists, but its more fun to assign numbers if you ask me. Not a
competition, but kind of a competition.
1.FIRE IN THE FIELD - WAR BONNET
Not only does War Bonnet extinguish the flames set by the
scorching debut Gypsy Tea Room, it retains the rock n roll fury with another
layer of banging guitar licks, catchy grooves, and stage commanding vocals.
Those guitar freak outs buried within seal the deal rather nonchalantly.
Favorite track: Duke of the Valley.
2.RED SCALP - LIKE GHOSTS
The head bangin’ riffs hypnotize you with their
spiritualistic groove but the god damn horn solos smoke out like a big chief
torching greens off the peace pipe. A big, fat holy fuck alert!!!!Favorite
track: Lost Ghost.
3.RED STONE SOULS - MOTHER SKY
Vivid fuzz electrifies with a bar room brawl full of energy
and hard driving rhythm and groove. Don’t fill out your year end favorites list
until you grab a hold of this ripper. This is NWODHM: New Wave of Detroit Heavy
Metal. Nuff said.
4.CATAPULT THE SMOKE - BORN AGAIN
Catapult the Smoke have birthed a first-class assault of
massive riffs, crushing, yet melodic, vocals and progressive layers of intense
groove on ‘Born Again’. This is how it’s done folks. Ripple Rock of the highest
caliber.
5.BALEFUL CREED - SEISMIC SHIFTER
'Seismic Shifter' picks up right where the debut left off
amassing a 10 on the "riff"ter scale. The strapping vocals tremble
with a mountain splitting groove as catchy as "A-fuckingmen" closing
a beer bong prayer in church. Highly addictive album. Favorite track: Baleful
Creed - Lose Religion.
6.HOWLING GIANT - BLACK HOLE SPACE WIZARD Part 2
Howling Giant return with Part 2 of the BHSW saga launching
rocket fueled riffs beyond the atmospheric boundary of standard hard rock fare.
Astronautical fuzz echoes over metallic solos as the progressive harmonies
consume by way of gravitational force. Part 2 is a gorgeous and monolithic slab
of stoner metal that'll have you begging for more. Keep your eyes on these
guys. They're going places. Favorite track: Visions.
7.PORNO WOLVES - RENEGADES
Zeppelin esque harmonies rock the stage with the poppy and
soulful punch of Wolfmother all while maintaining a fresh, unique twist on
modern, heavy, and progressive blues rock. This is big folks. Grab it while you
can!
8.SANHEDRIN – A FUNERAL FOR THE WORLD
A Funeral For The World celebrates all things heavy metal
with a scorching metallic fuzz overlain by Maiden esque vocal chops and a
groove factor off the charts. For any fan of metal, stoner, doom, or hard rock.
This will go down as one of the strongest debut metal albums of 2017. Mark my
words.
9.OPERATORS - REVELORS
The Operators operate the airwaves with retro driven intent
showcasing a gravel packed vocal wail skirting the divide between NWOBHM and
melodic stoner rawk. The riffs revel with intensity and the groove tangles the
listener between bluesy solos and punk rock energy staking claim as a modern
day version of Deep Purple. Favorite track: Rolling Hitch.
10.ATRAGON - I, NECROMANCER
Atragon are the whole package. Crushing doom riffs, potent
and engaging vocals/lyrics and a hard rocking edge keeping it from fading into
plod territory. The songs morph from low and slow into a hard rocking riff fest
of bluesy solos and metallic hooks all together in unison. Something for the
whole family to enjoy.
11.SCUZZY YETI - SCUZZY YETI
This is enormous! The girthy vocals penetrate deep with
brute groove. The proto-stoned power metal meets scuzzy biker blues will leave
you begging for more. Like a Red
Desert or Black Cowgirl
meets Grand Magus. Can't get enough!
12.CORTEZ -THE DEPTHS BELOW
Cortez’ latest album is everything that is hot in hard rock
and metal. The Depths Below incorporates elements of all our favorite styles
including groovy grunge, punk, heavy metal, and an under arching stoner groove
through and through. The groove is undeniable, the chorus lines are a kick in
the ass. This one should appeal to a wide swath of the heavy underground
population. Hell, this has tracks that would be acceptable on the mainstream FM
Rock Radio and would be a welcome addition and lesson of how it is done. Love
it.
13.WUCAN - REAP THE STORM
Wucan’s latest album Reap the Storm takes the listener on a
progressive journey through folksy blues, proto-tinged psych fronted by an
amazing female vocal that is well worth the patience to sit through. It took me
a couple listens to discover the beauty within the epic masterpiece, flute and
all. Again, the only thing separating me from this on a platter of wax is the
international shipping and poor timing when it came on my radar as I had
already extinguished my vinyl budget for the day.
14.THE WEIGHT - THE WEIGHT
The Weight are not a new band on my radar, but their latest
album is of course new. I hovered over the buy vinyl option several times, but
with my constant need to straighten my budget out at home and the steep
international shipping prices, I failed to score the vinyl up until this point.
These guys are right down my alley with a bluesy classic rock vibe while
incorporating a mild Southern Rock twang at times. The weight of this one will
surely summon a sense of nostalgia while existing as a modern example that rock
and roll is alive and well.
15.THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION - NEATH A SHIN EI SUN
I only just discovered this band late in December and was in
shock at how powerful these Aussies music was. I must have listened to this one
on repeat 4 times in a row. The combination of fast paced energy and stoner
baked psychedelics really scored high marks with me and that closing track is
one of the most epic songs I’ve heard in a long time. This band is well worth
fighting for, as are a huge swath of bands in the Australian heavy rock scene.
16.THE SHELTER PEOPLE - THE SHELTER PEOPLE
This is flat out 21st
century heavy, psychedelic blues rock of the highest caliber. Ya, they might
sound like the great underground acts of the 1970s but it's here, it's now,
it's the late teens! The EP is one the best of the year and the CD is free
shipping to boot!
17.THE ELECTRIC SHAKES - ELECTROHYPNOSIS
Electorhypnosis is defiantly one of the most under rated
albums that came across bandcamp this year. So under rated even myself has yet
to add to my collection. The album is packed full of thrilling punky blues
swaggering with garage sweat and catchy melodies and thick fuzzy groove.
Stunning album deserving to be out on wax.
18.OCTOPUSSY - DWARVES & GIANTS
Octopussy is back with a rife stench of powerhouse riffage
echoing with melodious keys, retro-tinged reverb, and a stellar spin of hard
charging heavy blues. Dwarves and Giants has surpassed all expectations of
greatness with this immaculate display of modern stonerfed arena rock. Imagine
Clutch meets Audioslave loaded with a diverse array of psychedelic grandeur.
And don't forget about that drumming.... Favorite track: Birdman.
19.VOID COMMANDER - SHROOMING WINDOW
Massive tracks high
on low end riffage and progressive with bluesy psychedelia. Void Commander
shows no signs of sobriety on its trip through psychotropic fuzz.
20.MOTHER MARS - ON LUNAR HIGHLANDS
Strap your belts and
fasten your helmet tight, come December 6th, the sound barrier will break with
a blustery explosion of rustic Sabbathian doom. On Lunar Highlands is an epic
musical journey clod-hopping through dusty belts of asteroid rock by way of distorted
delta blues.
21.THE AGE OF TRUTH - THRESHOLD
Truth be told, Threshold slams groovy riffs down harder than
a lie detector test on on the mainstream media. The vocals ooze with
masculinity as the guitar strokes us with breakneck precision guided by tight
brooding rhythm. Stadium rock for the underground masses! Ripple Music
approved, Kozmik Artifactz tested, pick this up today and save the lies for
tomorrow.
22.ELECTRIC AGE - SLEEP OF THE SILENT KING
Imagine a metallic
lovechild of C.O.C. and DOWN. Hailing from the deep south, Electric Age maul
the listener with a suave set of pipes belting out absolute perfection as the
gnarly riffs induce text book head bangage and deep, intoxicating groove. This
is surely one of the most under talked about albums released in 2017 in the
heavy southern metal category.
23.BLIND HORSE - PATAGONIA
Blind Horse navigate the midnight pampas with an illusory
vision of crushing rock n roll. The Brazilian stoner funk destroys the airwaves
with poignant psychedelia, dynamic riffs and a tranquil groove. Think the South
American 'Jeremy Irons and the Ratgang Malibus'.
Favorite track: Soul Locomotive.
24.THE WIZARDS - FULL MOON IN SCORPIO
The guitars stroke like vintage Husqvarna chainsaws in their
prime axing gigantic redwood riffs fueled by proto-tinged Danzig
worship.
25.RED BOWLING BALL - ALONGSIDE THE TRAVELER
Red Bowling Ball deliver all strikes with a damn near
perfect game of heavy ass blues. Alongside the Traveler is both an invigorating
listen as it is an example of artistic grit and pummeling rock and roll
ecstasy.
AND MORE……..
26. VENOMOUS MAXIMUS - NO WARNING
27. MOTHERSLUG - THE ELECTRIC DUNES OF TITAN
28. DRUDE - DRUDE
29. SUPER SNAKE - LEAP OF LOVE
30. METEOR CHASMA - A MONKEY INTO SPACE
31. VAL CALE - BLACK STUFF
32. GIANT SLEEP - MOVE A MOUNTAIN
33. ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN - ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN
34. HAVE BLUE - MELTED MIND
35. BEES MADE MONEY IN THE VEIN TREE - MEDICINE
36. THE MIRACLE MONGERS - DUMB MONSTERS
37. TAIGA WOODS - TAIGA WOODS
38. PURPLE HILL WITCH - CELESTIAL CEMETERY
39. MOUNTAIN THROWER - DA BEACH
40. BRETUS - …FROM THE TWILIGHT
41. THE BRUNSWICK - CATHARTES AURA
42. SUGARAY RAYFORD - THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN
43. NEOGA BLACKSMITH - CHRONONTONIUS
44. THE WICKED ONES - THE WICKED ONES
45. FALL OF AN EMPIRE - CROWEATER2: THE LAST WISHES OF KINGS
46. DEAF RADIO - ALARM
47. SURFING IN HELL - CATCH A WAVE
48. MILK BROTHER - MILK BROTHER
49. IGNU - LIGHTNINGFLASH FLINTSPARK
50. BONE CHURCH - BONE CHURCH
51. BEERWOLF - PLANETFALL
52. NOSIS - NOSIS
53. KURSE - TALES OF THE WIZARD EP
54. ORBITAL EXPRESS - LIGHT YEARS FROM HOME
55. THE TRONA EXPERIENCE - HELIOS + SELENE
56. DIRTY SWEET - ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH
57. THE RIVEN - BLACKBIRD
58. BLACK PRISM - BLACK PRISM
59. THERMATE - BLACK DESERT HIGHWAY
60. MOUNTAINS - DUST IN THE GLARE
61. DEAD QUIET - GRAND RITES
62. HUMULUS - REVERENTLY HEADING INTO NOWHERE
63. HIGH PRIESTESS - DEMO
64. MOSGILA - MOSGILA
65. FIVE HORSE JOHNSON - JAKE LEG BOOGIE
66. REGULUS - QUADRALITH
67. THE TESKEY BROTHERS - HALF MILE HARVEST
68. KOOK - KOOK
69. THE ROAD MILES - BALLADS FOR A WASTELAND
70. EARTH WITCH - OUT OF THE SHADOWS
71. HUMANOID - THE MIST OF PLUTO
72. HOLY MONITOR - HOLY MONITOR
73. VERTICAL - VERTICAL
74. HIGH DESERT SKY - ELECTRIC CITY
75. SHADOW GIANT - HONKYTONK ON THE MOON
76. DRYLAND - DRYLAND
77. LIZZARD WIZZARD - TOTAL WAR POWER BASTARD
78. THE SMOKING BONES - MOOD
79. 3RD TRIP - SCALE OF CONFUSION
80. STONE CREAM - SLAVES OF DOOM
81. ODDISEE - THE ICEBURG
82. COSMOS OVERKILL - REVOLUTION
83. SLOWMIND - METAMORPHOSEON
84. GORILLA PULP - HEAVY LIPS
85. SMOKE HEALER - HIGHWAY MEETS THE SKY
86. BOTTLE - WHERE HERE IS
87. THE REDLIGHT DISTRICT - BLACKMAIL
88. DEMONIC DEATH JUDGE - SEAWEED
89. CARDINALS FOLLY - DERANGED PAGAN SONS
90. RIFF FIST - KING TIDE
91. HOBO MAGIC - THE WORLD TODAY
92. ARTEAGA – VOL. II DIOS SOL
93. JESSE BROWN - KEEPING APPEARANCES
94. SUN RIDER - III
95. DESERT COLOSSUS - OMNIBEUL
96. ANGUS BLACK - ANGUS BLACK
97. SOUL MESSENGERS - VISION & FAITH
98. GYPSYLAND - GYPSYLAND
99. DEEP - DEEPKVLT
100. GODS & PUNKS - INTO THE DUNES OF DOOM
101. HIS MASTERS VOICE - THE DEVILS BLUES
102. NAMAZU - WORK CITED
103. HEAVY STONE - BLACK MAGIC
104. CATAPULCO - CATAPULCO
105. HAMADA - SFAIRO
106. BROTHER SISTER HEX - END TIMES
107. PONTIAK - DILECTIC OF IGNORANCE
108. OLD MAJOR - OK
109. SPIRAL - RUINS
110. RED MESS - INTO THE MESS
111. CHILDREN OF ATOM - CHILDREN OF ATOM
112. MONTANA ELECTRICA - SELVAS Y TRÓPICOS
113. HOT RAM - LEAVE A BEAUTIFUL CORPSE
114. THE MOONSHINE BRAND - WELCOME TO GYSPYTOWN
115. BETWEEN THE LINES - BETWEEN THE LINES
116. THE LAST COYOTE - GUNFIGHTER TALES
117. WITCHTHRONE - THE CHRYSTAL MAN
118. BARK - YEAR OF THE DOG
119. MOUNTAIN OF WOLVES - POISON
120. WARLUNG - SLEEPWALKER
121. WEIGHT OF THE TIDE - ALL TOLD
122. BLACK ROAD – BLACK ROAD
123. NORA JANE STRUTHERS & THE PARTY LINE - CHAMPION
124. PURPLE DINO - AND NOW WHAT? 125. STONE DISCIPLE - HOLLOW MOUNTAIN
I listed 125 killer albums here as a testament to how rad Bandcamp is in addition to how much great stuff there is out there. I am sure I forgot many others and to those who don’t see your album on here it probably got lost in the never ending shuffle. I will also be compiling another list of Favorite Records I purchased this year happily residing in my home vinyl collection. We may even have a list of non-rock vinyl albums I spent a great deal of time listening to this year including Country Western, Americana, and Folk rock type albums. As always, please comment below and let us know what I forgot. Cheers to another successful year at bandcamp. I’m not expecting it to die down anytime soon.
-THE HUNTSMAN
