Best New Releases November 2024

The vast majority of November was quite slow for me in the music department, but I'm happy to announce that the month was resurrected near its end by some top-notch sludgy and heavy-metal infused doom albums. This was a particularly welcome change, as I'm in the perfect mood for doom and a heavier sound right now (you may have noticed if you follow me on social media 😉), but doom is also the genre that I'm most picky about. Something about the weather growing colder has a way of changing my musical preferences from primarily stoner/desert and psychedelic rock in the summer to a darker, heavy metal soundtrack in the winter months. What's more, two of my most highly anticipated albums of the year were released early on in November (you may be able to guess them from their respectable rankings on this list), so it all worked out in the end. 

I'm also going to add something new to my monthly lists: an "Honorable Mentions" section. This is reserved for the bands who released great albums that, while not quite Doom Charts material for me personally, still contain at least one song that I really enjoyed and are more than worthy of some recognition. 

So without further ado, let's begin with some Honorable Mentions: 

Honorable Mentions

(In no particular order)

Magick Potion - self-titled

Legitimate, acidic, retro psychedelic fuzz from Baltimore. 

Favorite Track: Fever Dream

Tidal Shock - Riffs of Ha 

Groovy instrumental stoner/psych from Greece that delivers a delicious combination of both desert and spaced-out tones. 

Favorite Track: Interstellar Orbiter 

Astral Kompakt - Goldader

Seven tracks of spaced-out, psychedelic doom, as atmospheric as it is heavy.

Favorite Track: Pirsch

   

Doom Charts

Exactly what I submitted to the Doom Charts for November, in descending order: 

6.) Hraefn - Research Into Infinity 

Utilizing elements of progressive and traditional heavy metal in conjunction with a doom influence, spine-chilling vocals, and unbridled creativity, HRAEFN creates a delightfully unique sound you could call "unsettling doom n' roll". One of my favorite things about their newest EP, Research Into Infinity, is a sci-fi feel throughout its three haunting tracks, giving the sound a palpable eeriness and creating vivid imagery. On a deeper level, these "unsettling" characteristics will do more than just grab your attention, they inspire deeper reflection about yourself and the world around you. 

You can read my full review here.

Favorite Track: Research Into Infinity

5.) Wormsand - You, The King

You, The King is the second full-length album from grunge-tinted sludgy doomlords Wormsand. The layered and sophisticated tracks boast a foundation of viscous sludge, and while there are hints of grunge influence, I hear much more in common with classic heavy metal, progressive metal, and traditional doom. Powerful, ultra-melodic vocals occasionally trade off with sludge metal growls inside a seemingly impenetrable fortress of sound. Delicate notes of doom-laden psychedelia do slip through the cracks, but instead of placating, they build apprehension, rising like an eerie mist. Strong contrasts in intensity, buzzing riffage, and impressive vocals add even more dimension to a sound that could be described, in a word, as "epic". 

Favorite Track: Daydream 

 

4.) Longheads - Layers of Wax

Layers of Wax builds upon a heavy psych framework (STRONG emphasis on the "heavy") with healthy doses of doom, sludge, and even a delightfully noisy garage rock influence. While combining the weightiness of metal with psychedelic rock is nothing new, Longheads' sound is unique in just how stark the contrast is between the various styles they meld together. What's heavy is earth-shakingly heavy, and the psychedelic side of things is utterly trippy and mind-bending. Longheads masterfully creates a formidable and ultra immersive take on heavy psych that you didn't know you needed. 

Favorite Track: Witches Stash

3.) Wizard Must Die - L'Or des Fous

With their second full-length album, L'Or des Fous, Wizard Must Die relies less on their stoner/desert beginnings and dives headfirst into proggy heavy psych, without sacrificing a bit of heaviness. L'Or des Fous features six tracks that, in true progressive form, are fluid and changeable, following a very natural flow as they move between moods. The contrast between each of these layers is sharp, ranging from utterly turbulent to melancholic to peacefully serene, often switching among these with little to no warning. Listening to L'Or des Fous in its entirety is a bit like flying through the clouds at the mercy of the atmospheric conditions: alternately getting tossed around in the tempests, sobered through the gray stratum, and soothed as you soar through sun-streaked wisps. 

Favorite Track: L'Or des Fous

2.) Silverships - Kingdom of Decay 

Silverships, an immensely talented stoner/psych trio from Hamburg, have made quite an impression on the heavy underground scene with their debut EP, Kingdom of Decay. With a sound that's been likened to Queens of the Stone Age meets Pink Floyd and the Doors, Silverships builds upon a foundation of stoner and psychedelic rock to create both a killer groove and tangible imagery. The result is an EP that is incredibly immersive and cinematic, its four very unique tracks playing out like the most compelling theater. If this is a mere taste of Silverships' musical prowess, I can't imagine what they have in store for the future! 

You can read my full review here.

Favorite Track: Kingdom of Decay

1.) Sea of Snakes - Bow to No One 

Seas of Snakes is back with their highly anticipated sophomore album, Bow to No One, which sees the band moving in a much heavier direction. This no-filler album is overflowing with delicious, evil goodness in the form of Sea of Snakes' trademark hulking doom riffs and stoner metal grit topped with those powerhouse grungy vocals. This time, while the tone is even more sinister, hazy, and bone-rattling, there are plenty of nods to old school grunge and heavy metal throughout the album. Most importantly, Bow to No One makes it abundantly clear that Sea of Snakes have zoned in on their signature sound, and it DOOMS! 

You can read my full review here.

Favorite Track: 1313

...

That's it for November, but there's no time to relax... Can you believe that at this time next month I'll have posted my albums of the year list for 2024?! So, while I'll still be scouring the heavy underground for the best new releases in December, I'll simultaneously be gearing up for all those end-of-year festivities we know and love in the stoner/doom community. I hope you're as excited as I am! In the meantime, you know the drill: get out there and show your favorite heavy underground artists some much deserved love!