Fixtures of Garden State Stoner Rock Shovelhead Release Fourth Album "A Place of Dead Roads"
There's a good chance you haven't heard of Shovelhead even though they've been rocking the New Jersey heavy underground for over three decades now, but the band's lasting mark isn't lost on stoner fans in the Garden State. In fact, Tommy Southard of Solace declares, "Those in the know KNOW that Shovelhead is one of New Jersey's best kept heavy rock secrets. Those who don't know, SHOULD KNOW!"
When Shovelhead got their start, the budding stoner sound was dominated by greats such as Monster Magnet and Fu Manchu, bands that deliver that characteristic gritty, barreling energy that, as you'll quickly find out, absolutely saturates Shovelhead's sound. So, not only has Shovelhead stood the test of time as a band, but they continue to keep the flame of classic stoner rock burning bright and hot.
Shovelhead - A Place of Dead Roads
Shovelhead continues this mission on their fourth album A Place of Dead Roads (self-released by the band on September 12, 2026), their first new music in over twenty years. The album explodes right out of the gate with timeless, riff-driven stoner rock underlined by punchy energy and groove. This atmosphere quickly blends with a strong presence of vintage heavy rock, adding an abundance of warmth to Shovelhead's tone as it unfurls like a ribbon of sun-parched highway, an image made even more vivid by long instrumental stretches. Naturally, heavy psych makes an appearance, delivering refreshing waves of hypnotic trippiness that tend to get stronger in the latter half of the album. To mark this shift, A Place of Dead Roads is split by Ghost in the Garden, a haunting instrumental interlude that provides a soothing respite and stark contrast to the blistering heavy rock thrashing. To add to their immersive sound, completely capable of standing on its own instrumentally, Shovelhead is graced by a powerful vocalist whose echoing, unrestrained intonations are often less about melody and all about raw expression.
The official music video for "Witching Hour"
Taken together, all of these elements create a rollicking ride that seems to end far too soon, hooking the listener from start to finish with the driving energy of classic stoner, the timeless grooves of heavy rock, and cool splashes of psychedelia.
Now, if you need me, I'll be jamming to the rest of Shovelhead's discography... Better late than never, right?
More About Shovelhead
You can follow Shovelhead and listen to their music at the following links:
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