Outlaws Of The Sun - Top 25 Records Of 2020

Here's my list of the best records of 2020. This was another great year for music despite the musical world being sidelined by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Gigs were cancelled around the world. Bands had to think of new inventive ways to release and record new music. 

I don't want to get drawn into the current bleakness of the world but celebrate these amazing albums that impressed myself over the last 12 months.

It was a tough year for myself personally which led me to take a 2 month hiatus earlier this year due to family and personal issues. Though the lure of the RIFF was too strong and called me back into action.

I want to thank you all for reading the blog on a daily basis and letting me air my views on releases within the world of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal.

I want to personally thank Frazer Jones at Desert Psychlist for his endless encouragement and support this year and in-depth chats on Facebook. Same goes to Matthew Thomas, Gizmo, Michael William Petry, Edd JR Saylor, Todd Stealey, Håkan Nyman, Marty Harvey, James Marshall, Bill Goodman, Bucky Brown and Neils CTR for their support as well. 

I have to thank the awesome PR Reps and Record Labels who let me review their promos in 2020.

Right. Oscar Speech Over. Time to get down to serious business of HEAVY RIFFS

Top 25 Records of 2020

1. Green Druid - At The Maw Of Ruin

 2. Lowrider - Refractions

3. PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS - Viscerals

4. Elephant Tree - Habits

5. SLOATH - III

6. Valkyrie - Fear

 

7. The Brothers Keg - Folklore, Myths And Legends Of The Brothers Keg,

8. Forming The Void - Reverie

9. EMPRESS - Premonition

10. KIND - Mental Nudge

11. Geezer - Groovy

12. Vinnum Sabbathi - Of Dimensions And Theories

13. Cegvera - The Sixth Glare

14. Stone Machine Electric - The Inexplicable Vibrations Of Frequencies Within The Cosmic Netherworld

15. Creston Spiers - Brown Dwarf

16. Jahbulong - Eclectic Poison Tones

17. Somnus Throne - Somnus Throne

18. Black Rainbows - Cosmic Ritual Supertrip

19. King Chiefs - Flying Into Void

20. Superlord - VS. Gargantuan

21. Twin Wizard - Glacial Gods

22, Black Helium - The Wholly Other

23. OHHMS - Close

24. Volcanova - Radical Waves

25. River Cult - Chilling Effect

King Buffalo - Dead Star (EP Review)

Release date: March 20th 2020. Label: Self Released (Everywhere Else) / Stickman Records (Europe). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Dead Star – Tracklisting

1.Red Star Pt. 1 & 2 16:21

2.Echo of a Waning Star 03:04

3.Ecliptic 03:51

4.Eta Carinae 08:01

5.Dead Star 03:57

6.Red Star Pt. 2 (Radio Edit) 04:41

Members

Sean McVay - Guitar, Lead Vocals & Synth

Dan Reynolds - Bass & Synth

Scott Donaldson - Drums & Percussion

Review

Dead Star is the new EP from famed Psych Stoner Rockers – King Buffalo – and it continues the spaced out heavy journey the band perfected on their last album. It’s good to see that Dead Star is on for a considerable length running past the 36 minutes mark. Dead Star is equally ambitious as King Buffalo previous albums with the band focusing on experimenting more with their overall sound.

Opening song – Red Star Pt. 1 & 2 – is a Progressive Spaced Out Opera with the band playing a melody of different styles that fall under the branch of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal. The song is always constantly evolving with traces of Drone, Post-Rock, Sludge Rock and even Classic Rock for a consistent and challenging style of music. The ethereal vocals feel coming from a distant galaxy of some sort but the music is the EP’s main strength. The 1^st part of the song runs for 12 minutes and it’s an absolute delight to here. Though it’s the 2^nd part that’s perhaps the best part of the entire EP with King Buffalo feeling hugely inspired by SLEEP and their legendary Dopesmoker opus. You’ll understand when you hear the song.

Second song – Echo Of A Waning Star – is more of a laid back Psychedelic style of music with King Buffalo moving into Post-Rock territory but there are still some fantastic Heavy Stoner Sounds to explore with a trippy Psychedelic vibe that King Buffalo are masters at conjuring gigantic huge riffs out of nothing.

Third song – Ecliptic – is a different change of direction from the band. As this song is more Electronic based with a gloomy 80s sci-fi setting. Maybe influenced by John Carpenter in places but this song still fits into the overall vibe of the EP. There is still a Doom/Stoner Rock sensibility running throughout this song but just played in a different style and it’s a gloriously hip song that’s superbly played from start to finish.

Fourth song – Eta Carinae – is the type of song that King Buffalo can play standing on their heads and it still sounds remarkably fresh and original. This has more of a 70s/80s influence but still showing a modern Psychedelic aesthetic as well. The ambient sounds interact superbly well with the instrumental work the band lay down here. This song runs for 8 minutes or so and King Buffalo have a lot of time to play with and treat the listener to a more refined style of Psych Stoner Rock.

Fifth song – Dead Star – starts off as a semi-acoustic song and I thought that the song would stay that way but the band wisely up their game and bring the heavy grooves back with a thundering presence. The 1^st half of the song is wonderfully played but I prefer the 2^nd half of the song where the heavy riffs appear. Though it’s good to see a different side from King Buffalo. This song feels like a mash-up of All Them Witches and Elder but King Buffalo still allowing their own creative ideas to reign supreme.

The final song is the radio edit version of Red Star Pt 2 and it’s good to hear this song by itself. As this song is my favourite part of the entire EP. It’s King Buffalo at their most loudest, flamboyant and bombastic best.

Dead Star is a masterclass of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal that show why King Buffalo are highly thought of within the Doom/Stoner Metal community. For myself, personally speaking, this is the best release I’ve heard from King Buffalo yet. As it allows the band to try something different whilst retaining their classic sound and without alienating their established fan-base.

Dead Star is an essential release and if you’re a true Doom/Stoner Metal fan then you need this record in your collection. This EP will end up as one of my favourite records of the year…..

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to King Buffalo and Nick at Stickman Records for the promo. Dead Star is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Stickman Records in Europe and from King Buffalo everywhere else.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp