Why not
right? Everyone else is doing it. I actually look forward to compiling best of
the year lists each and every year. Although I haven’t been as anal about them
as I was a few years ago I still enjoy going back through the catalogue and
organizing the albums that had a profound impact on me throughout the year. The
problem is that each and every year I seem to be listening to more and more
albums and the competition for making these lists is grueling. For those that
have done this you know what I’m talking about. For this features sake I have
ranked my “Best of Bonanza” according to albums specifically residing in my
bandcamp collection and that were not available on vinyl or I did not yet have
the time to purchase on vinyl. These albums had both repeated listens and all
around excitement that put them just over the edge of some other well done
albums. I’ll be putting together another separate list of my Favorite “Records”
(vinyl) of the year so be patient. Without further ado, I present my picks for
the best albums of bandcamp released in 2016.
“Best Al
Yeti album yet! Dirty, smokey harmony layered with smooth catchy groove like baby
butt cheeks covered with a grizzled beard!"
“Peace
Killers murder the tranquility with a raspy Thin Lizzy meets marijuana
cigarette sparked by proto-metal flame! Combining twin guitar finesse,
throttling rhythm and groove a mile wide. The debut album provides rollicking
blues based solos, infectious vocals, and at times aggressive chorus's that
will have your blood boiling with delight.”
I didn’t
actually purchase this one yet, as it was a late discovery and I am conserving
funds for the holiday season, but had I found out sooner, this album might even
be ranked higher. Think of a mellower version of the occult driven retro blues
style of Graveyard. Very bluesy, very stoney, and ultra groovy. Check them out.
“Slightly
reverberated and charismatic vocals set to an astonishing stoned out groove.
Take a look to what the others had to say. It’s stirring up some dust in the
stoner scene and makes for some high expectations of what more is to come.” I
wrote this on their first EP. The Black Hole Space Wizard EP takes it to the
next level.
“Heavy
psychedelic blues blistering with dynamite vocals. This is the real deal.”
“Agile
psychedelic stoner pop akin to the masters of classic 70's Rock jammed with
arcane riffs mimicking a modern Woodstock
in the spirit of Nashvillian Blues. A Walk in the Dark lights a fire so hot
you'll be peddling laps into a tie-dyed western sunrise. Favorite track: A Walk
in the Dark.”
“Low
tuned bass meets high output fuzz in a well-orchestrated take on occult driven
blues. Order of the Goat comes in hot on riffs and heavy in doomy groove”
“Stoner
drenched riffs flashing with slag fueled metallic fury. Retro groove hot enough
to melt the shadow of the witch beneath the dying sun.”
These
Aussies are utterly spectacular. Prepare for a holocaust of punk fueled rock
and roll riffs, with vocals verging on Danzig
meets Motorhead. The band calls is Psychedelic hard rockin’, panty droppin’
sonic suicide. Can’t argue that!
“Roast
burns us with 4 tracks of unadulterated heavy blues, caramelized with brain
melting solos sautéed in proto-doom. The Zeppelin esque' squelch seers with
Pentagram harmony on the debut EP steeping in Sabbath worship and smoldering
with heavy psychedelic aroma. The young dudes from CA manage to concoct a
flaming set of irresistible tunes. Mesmerizing artwork to boot! Wow! Big future
ahead!”
“This is
a truly massive album chalked full of filthy riffs, evocative groove, and
noxious vocal tones.Long songs don't lose their welcome. Absolutely no droney
boredom to be found whatsoever as can be typical in the doom arena. Heavy rock
n' stoner blues with off the charts distorted fuzz.”
Why I haven’t ordered the vinyl of this is
beyond me. Probably me being cheap as usual……
“They
call it dancing doom in their description. I would have to agree that's apt.
The dreamy psychedelic licks bake like rays of Sun scold a naked drunk and the
cosmic riffs break like stone under dynamite. On my 4th straight listen and I
don't have to stop. This is intense!Favorite track: Daggers Doom and Doubt.”
“From the
strong, serenading Spanish vocal accents to the hypnotically driving riffs,
Horizon eclipse the boundary of quintessential stoner rock. I so need this on
wax. Hell, I still need the last one too. Somebody send me some money
please!! Favorite track: El Padre.”
“Oozing
with heavy blues and glistening with jaw dropping psych, Fuddge soothe the
musical craving with a mind bending fuzz fest powdered with sensational
atmospherics. Eat this shit up, it's all organic and loaded with lysergic
groove. Favorite track: Lilith.”
This may be my EP of the year!
“What we
have here folks is a fine demonstration of Greece taking the lead in the
battle of heavy, gritty, and groovy stoner rawk. Sweden held the #1 spot for some
time, but Stone Cream just made a statement. The riffs echo like steel cones
crushing stone into cream, dried over rusted walls of whiskey soaked vocals.
Stone Cream dela creme. Favorite track: Haunted train.”
“This is
your homework Larry. The fucking Heathens Are Loose with a wildly melodic fuzz,
pile driven with savage distortion and sensational groove.Favorite track:
Whistleblowers.”
Seriously
amazing proto-metal meets heavy blues. Great overall musicianship and classic
metal vocal tones with a bluesy swagger off the charts. The album cover is
exceptional and matches the overall vibe of the album.
“Smooth,
heavy distorted grooves. Thick slabs of sabbath worship, coupled with fat hooks
and bluesy solos. Yes, I dig this a lot! FDJ nailed the Freedom Hawk reference.”
“Slow
burning stoner riffs with a hauntingly doom drive amplify like rock and roll
spirits in a moonlit desert. The vocals veer in and out of sinister wales to
melodic echoes as the creamy riffs blister with a groove-laden psych and the
twisted melody rings over the heavy blues crusted atmosphere. Favorite
track: Titos.”
This album
seemed to have a lot of traction early on and then sort of dropped off the map.
For me it got better late in the year and another one I should have grabbed on
vinyl. Very good retro stoner blues meets classic doom. Well executed all
around.
10 THE HAZYTONES - THE HAZYTONES
“FDJ
mentioned Graveyard which is an apt comparison. The Hazytones bring a hazy as
fuck Graveyard-esque tone to the table. The vocals have that eerie occult squelch,
slightly reverberated, and the riffs just seer with tripped out groove. This is
wicked shit. HIGHLY recommended.Favorite track: Day Of The Dead.”
9 CHILD - BLUESIDE
Wow, what an
intense blues album. Distorted fuzz meets classic blues. This will be mine (on
vinyl). Oh, yes, she will be mine!
8 ELBRUS – ELBRUS
“Thick,
hypnotic, fuzz laced blues howl with a soulful vocal croon and ample
distortion. Taking the heavy Aussie blues to the next level. On par with
'Child's latest monster just released on the same label.”
7 FIRE DOWN BELOW - VIPER VIXEN
GODDESS SAINT
“I
listened twice just like FDJ said and I was double drenched with super groovy,
hard-hitting riffs backed by grunge-laced vocals and atmospheric psychedelics.
Fire Down Below is hot in all the right places! I'll definitely be going in for
third degree riff burns. Favorite track: The Mammoth.”
6 WHITE NAILS - FIRST TRIP
“White
Nails take you on a groove induced ride chock full of hard rawk riffs, stoner
glazed vocals, and bass heavy licks. Don't let First Trip be your last. This
will have you tapping your toes daydreaming of nail polish. Favorite track:
Silver linings.”
5 THREE LEG DOG -RED SUN
“I never
pay this much for digital, but Three Leg Dog completely blew my mind with its
stoner infused fuzzy blues soaking with psychedelic bliss. The price is high,
but the bone chilling grooves are paramount. It’s as if Black Cowgirl merged
with Youngblood Supercult for world domination. Favorite track: Red Sun.”
4 TURNIP - WINDOW KILLER
“The Evil
Engineer nailed it with this find. It's got a little bit of everything from
heavy psychedelic swampy blues, to foot stomping southern country rock n roll.
Has its vocals firmly 'Plant'ed in the Zeppelin school of swoonage. Killer
compositions with an evocative Americana meets Texas stoner-rawk
atmosphere.Favorite track: Never to Bleed.”
3 FALL OF AN EMPIRE - CROWEATER: AN
ECHO IN THE BONE
“Bone
breaking riffs echo with soothing solos and clean, powerful vocals. This is
some seriously good heavy rock n roll! Bluesy, psychedelic, metallic, and
loaded with rhythmic groove.”
2 STONED COBRA - ARMED AND HAMMERED
“The
cobra is not only stoned with heavy grooves galore, but it is armed with
metallic riffs and hammered with bluesy solos trembling like a hallucinogenic
fantasy. This is rock and roll for the modern metal militia loaded with enough
ammo to supplement the hard rock revolution upon us now.”
1 MOUNTAIN DUST - NINE YEARS
“Mountain
Dust clouds the air with craggy blues swirling with evocative groove while it's
surly vocal chops darken the ozone with plumes of wicked riffage. Demented
solos, beefy distortion and spooky harmonic undercurrents give Nine Years a
superb debut album rating! Favorite track: Dead Queen.”
There you have it. Let us know what your
favorite camp story was this year. Until next time we’ll keep the bandcamp fire
stoked with more killer finds right here at Bucky’s Bonanza.
-The Huntsman
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