Welcome to the fifth issue of Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries. As you can see, time is still not on my side. I drift between projects like an Alzheimer’s patient, so it's some kind of small wonder that I am able to focus enough to even create this list. Also, sorry guys for not responding to your emails and messages lately. This instalment features a lot of recent discoveries (actually by 'recent discoveries' what I really mean is 'discoveries made over almost two months ago' xd) from countries like Germany, France, Russia, USA, Brazil and Venezuela.

P.S. If this is your first visit here, be sure to check out:

#1 | #2 | #3 | #4

Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries #4

Welcome to another issue of Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries. It's been a while since the last one. Maybe it should be renamed 'Monthly Bandcamp Discoveries'?... Heh... Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. I don't have a lot of free time lately and I don't expect things to change anytime soon. That's why this issue contains only eight entries. It's a mix of some recent discoveries, and some older material. This time you’ll find artists from France, Italy, USA, South Africa and Russia.

P.S. If this is your first visit here, be sure to check out:

#1 | #2 | #3

Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries #3

First of all, sorry I haven't written a blog post in so many days, but I have been preoccupied with work.

You know who loves a good list? Every single one of you. So here's a new list of Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries. From Finnish stoner rock to Mexican dark jazz, here are 11 discoveries I made this past week. For the first time, there's no black metal album closing the list. I just couldn't find anything interesting.

P.S. If this is your first visit here, be sure to check out:

#1 | #2

Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries #2

Ready for a new portion of cool records? Once again, here are 11 records from over the past couple weeks, from French stoner metal to British black metal. As I mentioned last time, most of them deserve a separate review, but I just don't have the time to do that, so at least I can give'em some recognition. BTW. This issue of Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries has been brought to you by the tag 'Heavy Psych'.

P.S. If this is your first visit here, be sure to check out:

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Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries #1

Welcome to my new series - Stoner Mountain's Weekly Bandcamp Discoveries. The name is pretty self-explanatory. I'll be posting my Bandcamp discoveries every week. Here are 11 records from over the past two weeks that you should check out. From French stoner rock to Amercian black metal, here are some of the choicest records from around the world. Most of them deserve a separate review, but I just don't have the time to do that, so at least I can give'em some recognition.

Mother Desert - Sand Hills (2017)

I'm almost coming to an end with the Greek week on Stoner Mountain, which actually has been almost two weeks since I started it. Here are the last few bands. Lets start with Mother Desert, an instrumental psychedelic/stoner rock group from Nea Peramos.

They released their debut album Sand Hills January 12 and it's full of warm psychedelic jams. The sound is raw, gentle, hard, soft, warm, all within the same album. The music on it's own is enough to make you smile, but stop and think about this for a moment. Imagine your listening to this album, while you're sitting on your porch with a cold beer in your hand, enjoying the perfect weather in your free time.

Without a doubt, here we have a very good album that should be in your hands in case you are interested in hearing some solid instrumental desert rock. Of course, it has some flaws, but who cares. You can almost feel the sand in your shoes and the sunshine beating down onto your face.

Bandcamp

Hazy Sea - Electric Abyss (2017)

Don't be too surprised when I tell you, that we have here yet another dope band from Athens. Hazy Sea is an instrumental stoner rock trio and just yesterday they released their debut album Electric Abyss.

Only a few minutes into Electric Abyss, and the positive vibes can immediately be felt. All the songs would fit perfectly in a Robert Rodriguez flick. Dusty, heavy psych stoner rock with an early 90s hard-rock feeling to their music, maybe even the same kind of psychedelic madness that the Smashing Pumpkins exuded on their old albums.

Trying to find a track to skip to get to the good stuff. Can't. It's all good. Great, in fact. My little review won't do it justice, so just listen to it. You shouldn't be disappointed!

Bandcamp

Temnee - Dialectics (2016)

I'm still doing some old requests. So let me take you to trip to Russia to meet these two bands, Voodoo Idol and Temnee. Let's start with the second one.

Temnee is a massive heavy psych instrumental, stoner rock band from Tver (it's located about 160 kilometers north west of Moscow).

Dialectics, Temnee's full-length debut album is a wild psych-stoner ride. The whole album is crammed full of ideas and the breadth of genres covered results in some intriguing music. It's a generally great and always entertaining mash of psychodelia, stoner rock, 70s space rock, krautrock, sweet fuzzy riffage, catchy hooks and even some hard blues based rock and roll. It's filled with tsunamis of chunky riffs, ear-splitting solos, low-end bass and groovy jams — like the soundtrack to a psychedelic drug film.

Sometimes the best releases never receive as much credit as they deserve, and this is one of them. It's an awesome fuzzy, heavy psych instrumental gem you cannot miss!

Bandcamp | Facebook | Soundcloud | VK

Baron Crâne - Electric Shades EP (2016)

Baron Crane is an instrumental band from Paris, France which alternates its style skilfully between jazz, noise and stoner rock to create beautiful soundscapes. They have released a new six-song EP that can be downloaded for free on Bandcamp. Make sure to check out their fantastic self-titled debut EP.

Baron Crane's music is very thoughtful, quite challenging but highly rewarding. It lurches cleverly between incredibly energetic yet memorable melodies, ambition and experimentation. Their well-received previous release proved they are one of the most creative and compelling acts in the stoner rock underground. Once again the band blends progressive rock, jazz rock, noise and stoner rock elements, casting all music boundaries aside, to create epic rhythms and nasty grooves.

Swirling with different time signatures, musical styles and rapturous energy, Baron Crane prove that genres are for the common man and that genius lies in the outliers. It might turn off some conventional rock lovers, but for those who would like to listen to creativity being tested, they will love Electric Shades. It is truly a work of art!

Bandcamp | Facebook

Nyctophiliac - Dark Side Of The Mental (2016)

And now for something completely different. Well, not really, because it's dark jazz time again! And dark jazz is a big part of Stoner Mountain. But I must admit that Nyctophiliac is a bit different. I'm glad to have found it on Bandcamp.

Nyctophiliac is a solo project hailing from Skopje, Macedonia. Dark Side Of The Mental (his full-length debut album) is a musical puzzle consisting of all various types of music (hip-hop, trip-hop, jazz, electronica and of course dark jazz). It's almost entirely instrumental with some sampled vocals in a couple of tracks. The album is full of different sounds, samples, slow vibrating bass lines, laid back jazz sax, hip-hop breakbeats and loops. All fused into one seamless, seductive sound, heavily inspired by Angelo Badalamenti, David Lynch and Dale Cooper Quartet & the Dictaphones. My only complaints - there are 16 tracks on the album and not every song here is quite that good, three or four of the numbers probably could have been dispensed with. But the entire album is very good over all, great late night driving music.

A superb start to his career - well thought out, well crafted. A hint of the great things to come. I recommend this album not only for all lovers of dark jazz, but just for anyone who is into music. Dark Side Of The Mental might be the best place to start with the genre, as Nyctophiliac is closer to hip-hop and trip-hop than other dark jazz artists, which make it easier to listen to.

Bandcamp | Facebook | Soundcloud

Comacozer – Astra Planeta (2016)

The Aussies from Comacozer got together in the summer of 2013 to do some heavy rocking and space jamming. After releasing several EPs, they finally brought out their first studio album Astra Planeta, a name that fits perfectly with its sound.

Their instrumental five track debut album was recorded in January 2016 and released on August 13 through Headspin Records. The record is mostly filled with subtile cosmic melodies, wonderful dreamy guitars and contemplating psychedelics, but they know exactly when to switch over to heavier tones. It starts out as a highly atmospheric and beautiful blend of sounds, with memorable melodies that slowly transforms into something more doom orientated. Especially the last song, Hypnotized by Apophis is an experience you won't soon forget. I surely won’t, it stuck in my head for good. Every note is considered and played with care and a sense of craft. The more you listen to it, the more it falls into place and traps you under its spell.

From beginning to end, it truly is a fantastic work and leaves the listener satisfied. Get this album. Stare at the mythic cover, then insert the disc into the player of your choice and enjoy the astral trip.

Thanks to Andrew & the rest of the band for this wonderful contribution!

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Major Kong - Brave New Kong (2016)

It's about time to present you a release from my country. Just ten months after their last Ep, Major Kong from Lublin is back with another EP. It came out almost a month ago, but I finally got to hear this gem.

Major Kong offers a fully instrumental cosmic trip into bulky stoner metal. Throughout the 13 minutes that is Brave New World, the band manages to create a highly listenable trip. Delivering 3 tracks filled with thick, fuzzy doom drenched in cloudy psychedelica. These guys throw out some crushing riffs, massive grooves and hard hitting drumwork while staying really dynamic in their own distinct way. The tracks are well-written and the overall sound is everything what you could wish for.

Their sound is one big epic adventure, listen without distraction from start to finish. Overwhelming, atmospheric & highly immersive. Currently one of the most heavy Polish bands out there. I can't wait for a full-length album with the same vibe.

Bandcamp | Facebook | Soundcloud
Big Cartel | 8Merch

The Re-Stoned - Reptiles Return (2016)

The Re-Stoned is an instrumental trio hailing from Moscow, Russia. Lead by guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Ilya Lipkin (Rushus, A Foggy Realm, Waldsonne). For around eight years now the three gentlemen have been making a name for themselves.

This band creates a unique sound, influenced by all the pages of the stoner, psychedelic, space catalogue. They're also exploring the depths of prog, acid and blues rock. I was instantly pleased by a sea of fuzzy, psychedelic vibes. This is not necessarily heavy music, but it packs a punch in the first few songs. Considering the genre, The Re-Stoned definitely stands it's ground in terms of musical creativity. Most of all Lipkin shows he is a great writer and composer.

Mighty fine album from one of the most promising instrumental bands I layed my ears on this year. You can't go wrong with all the great jams on here!

Bandcamp | Facebook

Nap - Villa (2016)

Nap is an (mostly) instrumental formation from Oldenburg, Germany and Villa is their debut LP. The band describes itself as "psychedelic sounds, up- tempo beats, grooving Doom and Stoner-riffage". And that's what you'll get on this sweet album; tight, dirty, garage-injected groovy rock. Filled with driving riffs, catchy hooks and a warm 70's sound. Their sound instantly reminds me of the first time listening to bands like Yawning Man, Rotor and Ahkmed (you get the idea?). My favourite track "Xurf", takes us on a psychedelic surfin' desert boogie, it could be played in a Tarantino movie.
Another fantastic album coming from an amazing free form psychedelic/ desert rock trio. It will take you on a fuzzy instrumental trip!

Bandcamp | Facebook | Youtube

Baron Crâne - Baron Crâne EP (2015)

Baron Crane is a refreshing instrumental formation from Paris, France. They play fuzzy instrumental grooves that will get you moving. Rooted firmly in the stoner rock genre while still drawing from jazz, dub and noise rock. A real crazy but absolutely stunning sound. These guys deliver some really great jams. From the production to the song-writing and artwork, everything is top notch on this magnificent record. Gave this one a few spins and it kept me coming back for more.

Their self-titled debut EP was released last year, but it's never too late to write about cool music. Visit their Bandcamp page below & support these guys!

Bandcamp | Facebook

Atolah - Relics (2009)

Atolah is a hypnotic, sludgy, instrumental stoner doom from Perth, Australia (currently Den Haag, Netherland). "Relics" is their debut five track EP. It is a bit generic, but still mind-blowing and heavy as fuck.

Grails - Doomsdayer's Holiday (2008)

Following up last year's Burning Off Impurities and their recent Take Refuge In Clean Living EP, Grails return with their darkest, heaviest record yet. Written and recorded over the last 18 months, Doomsdayer's Holiday delivers on the promises made by their previous albums, taking equal pride in smoky psychedelics and mountain-ascending riffs. With Faust, Earth and Sunn O))) collaborators acting as engineers - not to mention drummer Emil Amos having recently become the new other half of Om - Grails' avant-metal leanings are evident as always. But Doomsdayer's Holiday finds their already-broad palette continually expanding with 70s European film noir and cosmic free jazz explorations complimenting the Middle Eastern psychedelic folk-metal the group is already known for. After a wildly prolific three-year streak that saw the band ceaselessly pushing forward, Grails have finally made an album that pushes back. - temporaryresidence.com

Grails - Burning Off Impurities (2007)

American instrumental psychedlic post-rock. Grails drummer Emil Amos is now also the drummer for OM.

"Following soon after the critically praised Black Tar Prophecies collection on Important Records, Portland, Oregon's Grails return with their first proper studio album since the 2004 release of Redlight. Burning Off Impurities - their debut for Temporary Residence Ltd. out on May 1, 2007 - makes good on the promise of those past releases in delivering an album that not only thrusts the group to new heights, but also pushes the instrumental rock genre forward for the first time in nearly a decade." - temporaryresidence.com

Band's Website | Myspace

Stinking Lizaveta - III (2001)

More Stinking Lizaveta.

Band's Website

Stinking Lizaveta - Sacrifice and Bliss (2009)

To balance such wild and burning disparities of influence takes immaculate skill, and the powerful-as-rampant-influenza stronghold of Philadelphia’s instrumental Stinking Lizaveta completely shit the competition. This is not a genre-hopping disparity (the band are defiantly evil and sludgy), but one of delivery. Jazz-inflected guitars dance wildly over muscular grinds of bass and drum, before crushing homophony arrives and unites them in purpose – you’re listening or dead. - popmusicology.wordpress.com

Stinking Lizaveta is a power trio from Philadelphia that plays heavy instrumental rock. MusicMight categorizes them as "doom jazz". The band gets its name from a character in the 1880 Russian novel The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. - wikipedia

Band's Website|Myspace