If there was ever a year to skip our year-end round-up, this might be the one; I haven’t exactly been tracking the underground’s pulse in 2023.
Instead, my days have largely revolved around running my full-time business and raising my son—the incredible little addition to our family who arrived back in July.
Life’s been busy.
And that means I’ve neglected Monster Riff. While I typically review 40-50 full albums a year, I’ve only covered 24 splits, EPs, and albums in 2023—just a tiny fraction of the hundreds of new albums that dropped this year.
Still, I’ve been looking forward to writing this article; there were a few albums that absolutely blew me away.
And, on a deeper level, Monster Riff is a little like a music-listening journal, an opportunity for me to reflect on what I enjoyed this year (and a chance for me to queue up some past favorites I’ve since forgotten about).
Writing this article gives me an opportunity to reflect.
So, let’s dive in.
Our Top Stoner Rock and Doom Records of 2023
Here are the albums that ranked best on Monster Riff this year, with scores from the entire editorial team:
The Best of the Best: 10/10
Aiwass: The Falling – 10/10
Album Release Date: October 13. 2023
Album Summary: My personal Album of the Year, The Falling isn’t just Doom or Prog or Metal or simple Crowley worship. It’s art. Sophisticated, complicated, and daring, The Falling is an emotionally charged album with enough metallic edge to blow your speakers. This album is a testament to frontman Blake Carrera’s growth as a musician, and it’s a powerful follow-up to his debut, Wayward Gods.
Favorite Song: “Be Not A Man”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Aiwass’ The Falling.
Howling Giant: Glass Future – 10/10
Album Release Date: October 27, 2023
Album Summary: As much as I loved The Falling, I wasn’t surprised to see Glass Future top the Doom Charts in October; this is a meaty Prog record with plenty to love. This is a terrific album for fans of King Buffalo, Green Lung, Ian Blurton, and similar acts.
Favorite Song: “Juggernaut”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Howling Giant’s Glass Future.
Sorceress: Beneath the Mountain – 10/10
Album Release Date: March 3, 2023
Album Summary: The brainchild of A.L.N (Mizmor) and M.S.W. (Hell), Beneath the Mountain was originally released with 100 physical copies in 2009—and it hardly made a blip on the radar. With the band members’ more recent success, however, they decided to give Beneath the Mountain a proper release through King Volume Records, and thank goodness for that. This album is a mix of fuzzy Heavy Metal, churning Doom riffs, Occult Rock, and plenty of experimentation.
Favorite Song: “Wolves of Asgard”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Sorceress’ Beneath the Mountain.
The Excellent: 9.5/10
Auralayer: Thousand Petals – 9.5/10
Album Release Date: July 14, 2023
Album Summary: The originality within Thousand Petals makes it the most refreshing album we’ve covered on Monster Riff. With so many disparate influences, Thousand Petals is an unpredictable Metal record—but it still follows enough Metal conventions to make it familiar. Much of the songwriting here is impeccable, and the trio of “All My Time,” “Christ Antler,” and “Faith to Reason” fit together like a wonderful musical glove.
Favorite Song: “All My Time”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Auralayer’s Thousand Petals.
Margarita Witch Cult: Margarita Witch Cult – 9.5/10
Album Release Date: April 21, 2023
Album Summary: There’s plenty to love here. Margarita Witch Cult’s greatest skill is combining haunting Doom themes with catchier Stoner Rock riffs—resulting in a unique sonic finger print that is as heavy as it is fun to listen to. If Margarita Witch Cult continues down this path, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them become one of the most exciting and sought-after acts in the underground!
Favorite Song: “Be My Witch”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Margarita Witch Cult’s Margarita Witch Cult.
Tidal Wave: The Lord Knows – 9.5/10
Album Release Date: March 3, 2023
Album Summary: There’s a powerful, energetic undercurrent flowing through The Lord Knows that hits hard. As a casual guitarist myself, songs like “Robbero Bobbero” and “End of the Line” made me want to run off to my guitar to write the coolest, heaviest riffs I could muster. The band channels that energy flawlessly—even when they’re taking risks. The sudden time signature shifts and variations in tone could have worked against them, but The Lord Knows is a stellar effort.
Favorite Song: “Roberro Bobbero”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Tidal Wave’s The Lord Knows.
The Strong: 9/10
Replica Jesus: “Echoes From the Expanse” – 9/10
Release Date: February 3, 2023
Album Summary: Replica Jesus is a fresh voice in the Stoner Rock space, serving up tasty hooks with dashes of Space Rock and Industrial Rock for extra flavor. And for a debut album, Echoes From the Expanse is remarkably complex and layered, demonstrating a great level of maturity among the band members. Just as important: Echoes From the Expanse is expertly mixed and mastered—critical for such a diverse record. Everything pops on this record, and that helps it resonate.
Favorite Track: “Everything Rots”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Replica Jesus’ Echoes From the Expanse.
Astral Construct: Traveling A Higher Consciousness – 9/10
Album Release Date: August 25, 2023
Album Summary: 2021’s Tales of Cosmic Journeys was an incredibly complex album, but Traveling A Higher Consciousness is somehow even bigger and bolder. Tracks like “Accessing the Mind’s Eye” demonstrate a keen ability to slip a few hooks into the Astral Construct tapestry, while “Interstellar” shows this is an album that can get heavy. Astral Construct is one project to keep an eye on. As a solo artist, Drew Patricks has established himself as an electrifying musician, and his vision for what Space Rock can be pushes the subgenre into uncharted territories.
Favorite Track: “Accessing the Mind’s Eye”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Astral Construct’s Traveling A Higher Consciousness.
Lord Mountain: The Oath – 9/10
Album Release Date: January 20, 2023
Album Summary: The Oath is a timeless ode to timeless classics, and it’s all tied together thematically and lyrically for a cohesive, explosive experience. With its powerful Metal riffs, Doom undertones, and strong vocals, The Oath is your soundtrack for slaying dragons or simply fighting traffic on the morning commute.
Favorite Track: “The Last Crossing”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Lord Mountain’s The Oath.
Heezer: Sungrinder – 9/10
Album Release Date: March 31, 2023
Album Summary: With superb songwriting, a hodgepodge of the best influences from the last 30 years of music, and stellar vocals, Heezer’s debut full-length doesn’t leave much to complain about… except that we need more cowbell! No matter what, Sungrinder is one of those albums that should appeal to fans of many genres, making it one of the best releases of early 2023.
Favorite Track: “Dream Machine”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Heezer’s Sungrinder.
Godsleep: Lies to Survive – 9/10
Album Release Date: April 7, 2023
Album Summary: To be honest, I’d been waiting for this album since the first time I binged the band’s stellar 2018 effort, Coming of Age. Lies to Survive sheds a great deal of the band’s original Stoner and Doom influences so they can more fully embrace a ‘90s Alternative sound (think of what 1000mods did with Youth of Dissent). Still, there are some urgent romps on this album, and lead singer Markis is as captivating as ever.
Favorite Track: “Cracks”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Godsleep’s Lies to Survive.
Church of Misery: Born Under A Mad Sign – 9/10
Album Release Date: June 16, 2023
Album Summary: The Japanese Doom heroes struck gold again with Born Under A Mad Sign, which pulls inspiration from serial killers like H.H. Holmes and John Allen Muhammad. While the band is still heavily inspired by Black Sabbath, you’ll also hear moments of bands like 1000mods and Spiritual Beggars, meaning they’ve finally incorporated some more laid back elements into their music.
Favorite Track: “Freeway Madness Boogie”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Church of Misery’s Born Under A Mad Sign.
Clouds Taste Satanic: Tales of Demonic Possession – 9/10
Album Release Date: February 3, 2023
Album Summary: Even for Clouds Taste Satanic, a band known for big, lengthy jams, Tales of Demonic Possession is an ambitious effort. And yet, the band pulls it off with style. All of the right ingredients are here: the riffs are big, the songs are well structured, the band is locked in, and that lead guitar keeps each song fresh and interesting. And thanks to Tales of Demonic Possession’s diverse sound—you’ll find Doom undertones, Stoner Rock riffs, Progressive Rock structure, and Psychedelic trips—there’s a lot for fans of different subgenres to latch onto.
Favorite Track: “Flames And Demon Drummers”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Clouds Taste Satanic’s Tales of Demonic Possession.
Milana: Milvus – 9/10
Album Release Date: April 14, 2023
Album Summary: Milvus is an excellent debut record from a band we will hopefully be hearing about more in the future. At first glance, reviewer Nick Pipitone (editor of The Third Eye) thought this would be another standard Stoner Rock record, but found himself sorely mistaken. Milana combines many genres and elements on Milvus, including the fuzzed-out riffs of Stoner, the experimentation of Psychedelia, and the legacy of American Blues masters.
Favorite Track: “Impermanence”
Read the full Monster Riff review of Milana’s Milvus.
Great read!
Your best-of article was so good! What an impressive list!
Thanks! So much fun to write!
I’ve been a “Stoner” for 60 years, and boys, this ain’t Stoner music, stay in your lane kids.
lol OK, bud
Cock.