Doom Chart: Most Paranoid Albums of 01/11/14

Top 30 Albums

#). artist - album title

1. Sonic Mass - All Creatures Strange
2. Blizaro - Strange Doorways
3. Black Majik Acid - ST
4. The Great Electric Quest - Chapter II EP
5. Doctor Smoke - ST EP
6. Arrowhead - Atomsmasher
7. Blackwitch Pudding - Taste the Pudding
8. Ancient Warlocks - ST
9. Brimstone Coven - II
10. Uzala - Tales of Blood & Fire
11. Sangoma - Diviner
12. SubRosa - More Constant Than the Gods
13. Tombstones - Red Skies & Dead Eyes
14. Earth Witch - Earthbound EP
15. Moosataur - ST
16. Space Mushroom Fuzz - Burning the Almanac
17. Asomvel - Knuckle Duster
18. Satan's Satyrs - Wild Beyond Belief
19. Sandveiss - Scream Queen
20. Wounded Giant - Lightning Medicine
21. Demon Eye - Leave the Light***
22. Doctor Cyclops - Oscuropasso***
23. Valley of the Sun - Electric Talons of the Thunderhawk
24. Wolves of Winter - ST Demo***
25. Velvet Robe - Night Soil
26. In the Company of Serpents - Of The Flock
27. Hollow Leg - Abysmal
28. Sandrider - Godhead
29. Dirt Wizard - No Son of Mine
30. Tombsealer - ST EP

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PARANOID Spotlight on:

ARROWHEAD – ‘Atomsmasher’

I don't mean to rake the coals here, but one of the great debates of 2013 was whether or not certain bands had surpassed their aging influences in creative output.  Arrowhead's guitarist (also vocalist) Brett Pearl makes great use of the incredibly warm tones preferred by Josh Homme when he was the guitarist of Kyuss.  With the John Garcia / Brant Bjork led Kyuss revival act Vista Chino also releasing an album just weeks after 'Atomsmasher' it made for an interesting comparison.  However, Arrowhead is so much more than simple Kyuss-worship and this Australian power trio deserves a better fate than being defined by it's guitar tone.

Don't get me wrong, Orange Amps are a big part of Arrowhead's sound, but to me, 'Atomsmasher' is a collection of great riffs and killer hooks.  One of the band's most distinguishing characteristics are Pearl's excellent vocals.  A nearly perfect stoner rock vocal tone with excellent range to tone things down when needed and then spray gasoline on the fire when it's time to up the excitement with a high flying chorus.  "Horse Called Doom" (currently burning up the doom chart: top 25 songs list), "Blood From a Stone", "Diamonds To Dust" and "Eagle Death Machine" are not only some of the catchiest songs you'll hear in the stoner rock genre all year, but they're also an excellent showcase of the band's emphasis on dynamics, that essential element of the classic album.  This one's got it in abundance.  What you get is 10 excellent tracks and 47 minutes of classic stoner rock.  Is it the most original sound?  Can you hear traces and finger prints of Kyuss and Fu Manchu spread throughout the record?  Does it matter when the music is this good?

If you live in Australia you can order the CD through Von Grimm Records right here.  For the rest of us, follow the link at the Arrowhead listing on the chart above (#6), you'll be happy you did.