June brought us a couple glorious heat waves and lots of hot music releases. It was a challenge to keep up with all the great material in my inbox! But I am certainly not complaining. The abundance of quality jams hitting the scene right now is exciting and inspiring! I narrowed things down to 5 diverse releases that I thinks are well worth the listen. Whether you turn up the big speakers, set the ear buds to noise cancelation, or rock out in your car, these bands have something delicious to offer:
June: 5 Top Heavy Underground Releases and Singles
5: Trog- Horrors Beyond
Heavy Metal/Death Metal
This New Jersey based death metal band just released their debut album and it is serious business. The first four tracks are pulverizing, with mad double kicks, pig squeal gutturals and speed demon riffs. This is the stuff to listen to for a shot of furious energy. The fifth track changes things up a bit with a slower, sludge opening, but it soon picks up the pace and has some incredible screams waiting for you, followed by more tasty death metal guitar licks to chew on. The final track is dark and brooding at first and then gets nasty with insane rhythmic exchanges. It’s a great wrap up for this thrilling album.
4: The Cosmic Gospel-I Sew Your Eyes So You Don’t See Me How I Eat Your Heart
Alternative/Psychedelic
This one is just fun. I mean, that title alone is entertainment. This single was just released and is a radio edit from the bands debut album, which dropped in December, 2023. The single release in June was accompanied by a highly stylized video that brilliantly fits the feel of the song. With a mixture of light hearted melody lines and heavy psych grooves, this track reminds me of the brilliant work of King Gizzard & The Wizard Lizard. The whimsy and edginess of this song is very satisfying and has me checking out the rest of the album.
3: Kalandra- Are You Ready?
Here is a band that bends and blends genres with incredible grace. The Norwegian alt/folk/metal group produces hauntingly beautiful arrangements lead by delightfully sweet vocals and backed by heavy riffs. They blend old world magic with modern edge to form songs that play out like stories. The drums and vocal phrasing on this track are engaging and urgent, giving a dark feel to the choruses. This newest single release is an exciting precursor to the upcoming album drop, set for August.
2: King Bastard- From Whence They Came
Progressive Sludge
This sophomore album from New Yorks King Bastard was highly anticipated and it did not disappoint. The drums, the guitar peals, the bass… so heavy it takes your breath away at times. Friends, this is an album to listen to, start to finish, in a darkened room while you think about nothing other than what you here. The spirit of Peter Green can be found haunting this album all over the place. It is tribal, heavy, and immersive. Check out this Deep Dive into the epic track, Dawn of Man from our YouTube channel with Clean and Sober Stoner:
1: Greenleaf- The Head & The Habit
Stoner/Desert Rock
Greenleaf’s The Head & The Habit is my number one pick for a few reason. The first being that the drums through out the album are delicious, just so powerful without ever taking over. Second, the vocals are expertly arranged with a subtle lilt, in concert to the music so as to pull the listener along each step, on to whatever is next. Third, and maybe most notable, the musicianship across the board is marvelously skillful. The album carries a nostalgic, familiar feel while still being fresh and inventive. With the fusion of heavy doom breakdowns, strong vocals, and prog-rock sensibilities, this one has a multi-generational appeal.