Glam hair metal that makes you want to jump in their rumbling muscle car with your mullet.

Sunsword: Mega Colossus (NC)(0:28-5:14)

Debut Norwegian duo with doom that ain’t fuzzy and warm.

Spectre: Hymn (Norway)(6:24-12:40)

Mesmer is the second coming of Gypsyhawk, but not coked up.  Girls love whiskey vocals and hard rock.

Wings of Evil: Mesmer (Oakland)(13:09-18:31)

Hardcore dominant Call of the Void rams through with yet another chugging energetic mosh pit of sound.

Never Enough: Call of the Void (Denver)(18:53-21:22)

Artificial Brain’s bassist makes up 50% of Luminous Vault. They are black, death and a touch of industrial.  So far. 

Charismata: Luminous Vault (NYC)(March 2017)(22:03-25:52)

Guitarist from Gorguts and Krallice is in this severely proggy technical instrumental band of nerds. 

Resummon the Unreaching: Behold...The Arctopus (Brooklyn)(26:56-33:33)

Sexy Swedes croon out psychedelic that will warm your grey withered heart.

All Come Hither: Domkraft (Sweden)(34:00-39:35)

Sludge-y, slow dirty Floridians.

Rats: Weltesser (FL)(Feb 2017)(39:59-44:59)

Oh, this Aussie has got to be hot.  Seriously.

Eleven Sigils: Convulsing (AU)(46:01-51:33)

Majestic swirling misty black metal.

Down into the Stream: The Shape of Despair (Finland)(re-release from 1998)(52:25-END)

I’ve played Hivelords before, and in the past awarded them Runner-Up to 2015 Best Sludge.  Members make up Philly band Surgeon.  Check out the album art: http://www.ftg38.com/album-covers/

Proggy and symphonic mix up death and black.

Old Gods: Surgeon (Philly)(0:28-5:20)

The dulcet Swedish tones of Horisont are so hot, so blues-sexy.  If you don’t know this band, it is time.  Let these dudes swagger their jean-clad butts into your fantasies. 

The Hive: Horisont (Sweden)(Feb 2017)(6:25-9:57)

Bethlehem is led by a raging witch.  She screams her rage, and feeds the evil demon living way deep in your soul.   

Kalt' Ritt In Leicht Faltiger Leere: Bethlehem (Germany)(10:36-15:54)

Oskoreien recently released a split with Botanist.  They are symbiotic, playing the same type of emotive raw black metal with melancholy compositions.  This is from Oskoreien’s second album.

Ab Aeterno, Ad Infinitum: Oskoreien (LA)(16:33-25:55)

Spaced out trippy desert rock.  Now I know you’ve read that before, but these Finnish men have a way grooving out in the most delicious way.  A stellar record, thick and gorgeous.  I wish I could have played one of their longer songs, but 60 minutes goes by way too fast.

Tzar Bomba: Craneium (Finland)(27:10-34:42)

Jason Netherton of Misery Index leads this supergroup (Gwar, Black Dahlia Murder) of pumped up chugging death grind.

No Feast (Without Cruelty): Asphalt Graves (VA)(35:16-37:41)

Indian black metal doesn’t surprise me.  These guys have infused their culture, sounds and imagery in a gorgeously varied album.  Whole album is a big thumbs up.

A Clarity of Indignation: Démonos (India)(38:36-44:56)

Savage writhing grit.  Dirty dirty dirty.  Nightbringer drummer.  It represents my anger.

Shadow Fires: Antaeus (France)(45:57-49:56)

Another solid sludge groove album from Fistula.  Sorry you live in Ohio, your state sucks.

Tough Guy: Fistula (Ohio)(50:42-56:31)

One-man band Crimson Moon created a dense black metal album, broken up by stark folk melody and vocals.  First album after more than a decade.

Urilian Worm: Crimson Moon (San Diego)(57:15-END)