Wytch Hazel - V: Lamentations (2025)

Wytch Hazel managed to create their own space in heavy metal, being at the same time very traditional (highly reminiscent of heavy metal from the 80' and even also proto-heavy metal / heavy blues bands from the 70', with echoes of Cream, Mountain, etc.), but also very personal, developing their own sound and otherworldly atmosphere. Their new album V: Lamentations is another masterpiece in old school epic and melodic heavy metal. Highly recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Goat - Goat (2024)

As is spot on for a self-titled album, this new Goat album sounds very Goat, and I feel that, more than on the previous albums, it put the emphasis on what made the specificity of the Goat sound : the inclusion of afrobeat/world music in heavy psych music, sounding like Black Sabbath, The 13th Floor Elevators and Fela Kuti jamming together, and making a very cohesive and catchy music out of it. Goat is an album as good as it is quintessential Goat! 

 

The BC page. 

 

Mammoth Volume - Raised Up By Witches (2024)

Raised Up By Witches is the second Mammoth Volume album since their return and it's another epic piece of finely crafted progressive heavy rock. Once again they deliver a unique mix somewhere between doom metal and stoner rock, with a strong progressive component. They can remind Mastodon as much as QOTSA (or for those stuck in the previous century we could say they sit between Black Sabbath and Yes). Very nice!

The Bandcamp page.

 

The Ragged Jubilee - Mulholland Overdrive (2023)

Remember very well reviewing The Ragged Jubilee first album in 2012, not only because that was only the tenth post on Blasting Days (this one is the 1452!), but also because I really liked it. In the meantime, four albums and more than ten years later their music sounds heavier, still reminding The Doors at times, still with elements of garage rock that became more prevalent since their second album (that I also reviewed back in 2012), but no more americana/folk elements and Mulholland Overdrive is more like The Doors meets Black Sabbath, joined by the Black Keys. And that's totally fine, since the quality is still there. Good stuff!

Their Bandcamp page (unfortunately Mulholland Overdrive is not yet on it...).

All Them Witches - Baker's Dozen (2023)

When reviewed All Them Witches first album twelve years ago (already on Blasting Days, yes!), I wrote that they were : "A promising new band that could craft a very good magic if they find how to add more of their own voodoo to their already good music". Well, I'm happy to say the promise has been kept, and they did a good job in finding their own voodoo and make it flourish. Their sixth album Baker's Dozen is proving it once again, with enjoyable doses of their usual garage/heavy blues rock sound, but we also get to hear them at their most psychedelic in some songs, and at their most traditional blues in some others. At the same time deep-rooted in American music traditions and experimenting. Good stuff! I hope I'll review them again in another twelve years!

Their website.

 

Bror Gunnar Jansson - Faceless Evil, Nameless Fear (2021)

On the previous Bror Gunnar Jansson album the boogie garage-blues was different mostly thanks to the inclusion of some Earth inspired "drone rock" elements. On the new album  Faceless Evil, Nameless fear there's still an Earth flavour but mostly in one long song. This time the mood is more on the heavy blues side, starting with the first song with its riff that reminds a lot Pentagram. Maybe the album is a bit less surprising, but it's also more cohesive and it's nicely rocking. Again among the best and memorable rock albums of the year. 

BGJ website

 

GA-20 - Try It…You Might Like It! GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor (2021)

In this second album, Try It…You Might Like It! , the Bostonian trio (two guitars and drums) GA-20 cover one of their main influences, the Chicago blues legend Hound Dog Taylor. I preferred their awesome first album (reviewed HERE), but this one's also very enjoyable, the songs are very good, the band is very good, so if you're into vintage electric/Chicago blues and/or into modern garage blues there's no reason you wouldn't like it...

The Bandcamp page.

 

Pimmit Hills - Heathens & Prophets (2020)

Pimmit Hills is the new band formed by King Giant members after one guitarist left, but, while keeping a King Giant flavour, especially with the exceptional vocals of Dave Hammerly, it's also a different thing musically. Their first release Heathens & Prophets is less epic and heavy metal but is more 70'  heavy blues and stoner, a bit like a mix of King Giant, Mountain and Kyuss. And they also do that with a lot of class. I miss KG but I'm happy to be able to listen to Pimmit Hills, talented musicians with one of the very best heavy metal singers. Recommended!

The Bandcamp page.