Following the Sea of Tranquility YouTube series, these are my own picks for favorite bands who only released albums since 2000.
Since the pandemic started, I’ve spent a lot more time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning up. I tried watching TV shows, but I miss too much when I can’t keep my eyes on the screen, so I started watching YouTube channels. The Sea of Tranquility channel has by far been the most consistent and prolific content creator, averaging between two and three videos a day. And the main dude, Pete Pardo, had a full-time job! Makes me feel super lazy. He gets an impressive range of guests on between prolific metal and rock author Martin Popoff, the Hudson Valley Squares (including at least a couple women), and the UK Connection. I started regularly tuning in at 8 AM CST for his daily countdown of bands and albums. In October he featured “spooky albums,” in November important hard rock and heavy metal albums, prog stocking stuffers, then a series of albums that are 50/40/30 years old in 2022, followed by perfect album sides, Southern rock albums and power trios. Early in the year I started dropping suggestions of favorite 21st century bands, and this month he made it happen!
While the channel has over 77K subscribers, Pete gets frustrated that only a tiny fraction tune in for his new album reviews. And while a lot of his audience prefers content about prog, hard rock and metal from the 60s through 90s, many of these episodes are getting more than 400 views, and turning a number of people on to some great newer bands. It’s funny how perception of time changes. Rock ‘n’ roll has been around seven decades, so while in 1980, twenty years ago (1960) was ancient times, now 2000 seems like yesterday, even though it was 22 years ago. This perspective of course is related to my age. Anyway, here’s the playlist for all the episodes so far, followed by my own picks.
Pete’s mainly following the criteria of bands that were formed after 2000, and members weren’t in significantly well-known previous projects. I’m loosening that up to allowing bands who formed in teh 90s, as long as their output was after that. At the end of the month, Pete will talk about exceptions, and I’ll mention some bands that released some albums in the 90s, but the bulk of their major/important output was later. Unlike other months, Pete isn’t ranking his choices, as probably feels he’d need more time to think about that. Mine are ranked. I have a pretty dead-heat tie for the top two, and the tiebreaker could be who has the best upcoming 6th album. Neither bands have release dates announced, but I think both have them recorded. Perhaps there will be fresh news by the end of the month!
#17: Papir
Formed: 2008, 8 albums
VI (2019)
Papir are part of a European cadre of jam masters who specialize in jazzy improvisation and fuzzy crescendos that includes Colour Haze, My Sleeping Karma, Electric Moon and Causa Sui. On V (2017) the Denmark band celebrated their move from El Paraiso to Stickman with a double album that expanded their reach to touch on prog and post-rock. On VI, they reign it in to a succinct 39:22. The relatively lush sounding reverb-heavy soundscapes actually remind me of some of the sparkling guitar-centric moments of the early work from shoegazers like Ride.
#18: The Black Angels
Formed: 2004, 6 albums
Wilderness of Mirrors (2022)
The resurgence of psychedelic rock in the 2000s were kickstarted by Colour Haze and a gaggle of Swedish bands like Lowrider, Dozer and Truckfighters, then garnered some global interest with Dungen and Witchcraft. In the states, The Black Angels were the key spearhead, even founding an annual psych fest that became Levitation. The Austin band brought a distinct American flavor to their sound, informed by home town heroes The 13th Floor Elevators, some Velvet Underground inspired drone, juiced up into interstellar overdrive. 18 years into their career, they fine tuned their songcraft for their best album yet.
#19: Wolf People
Formed: 2006, 3 albums
Disbanded/Hiatus: 2020
Ruins (2016)
I hate to admit this but I missed my last chance to see them live because when I saw them in the listing, I confused them with Canadian indie band Wolf Parade. Fuck! By the time I corrected that mistake and learned how amazing their particular take on folky psych prog is on Fain (2013), Steeple (2010) and early singles comp Tidings, they were never to return, only leaving us their crowning achievement, Ruins, before breaking up. Fortunately, main songwriter Jack Sharp started another project called Large Plants, and this year’s The Carrier sounds like it could have been the next Wolf People album. One of the best albums of the 2010s, Ruins was also one of the first records I bought when I started buying again to populate my wall in the office/doomcave.
#20: Magic Circle
Formed: 2011, 3 albums
Journey Blind (2015)
Rock ‘n’ doom is something that a few bands had flirted with, but not consistently, other than Green & Wood, who flamed out over a decade ago, and High Reeper. It took a bunch of hardcore punk veterans (The Rival Mob, Mind Eraser, Boston Strangler) to nail it on their 2013 debut, the liveliest doom album in years. It provided a perfect setting when I took a 30 mile bike ride to Three Floyds Brewery and they played the album in its entirety while we sampled incredibly dark barrel aged stouts. Departed Souls (2019) found them stretching out into psych prog territory a little, with not quite as satisfying results of their peak Journey Blind. Sadly, I hear their journey is over, before I ever got to see them live. A small consolation, I did get to see singer Brendan Radigan sing with Pagan Altar, and he is now also a full member of Sumerlands, who’s Dreamkiller is out Sep 16.
#21: Spirits Of The Dead
Formed: 2007, 3 albums
Rumours of a Presence (2013)
Norwegian psych prog band hit the perfect balance of 70s influences and modern production on their last and best album. It kicks off with “Wheels Of The World,” with a wonderfully propulsive guitar riff that pays homage to Tony Iommi’s riff on “Wheels Of Confusion” from Black Sabbath’s Vol. 4 without copying it. The psychedelic interlude at 2:30 steps the song off to another level, introducing the kind of bittersweet melody that first made Radiohead stars. “Song Of Many Reefs” should please lots of folks who crave the feel of the early Queens Of The Stone Age, which the tune resembles but still retaining the band’s own sound, especially when they stretch out into a proggy excursion with some laid back, virtuostic soloing from Ole Øvstedal. Psych pop gem “Golden Sun” keeps the hot streak aflame with a gorgeous melody that literally haunted my dreams the first night after I heard it. Amazing. Things take a darker turn with the interlude-length “Dance Of The Dead” with spooky vocal effects. “Rumours Of New Presence” demonstrates vocalist Ragnar Vikse’s versatility, where he starts out in a higher pitch over the watery ambiance that’s more delicate than many female leads in recent bands, but then drops to a more sinister, heavier, doomy style, but without overdoing it. The album wraps up with the longest track at 7:38, “Oceanus.” Propelled by some cavernous Bonhamesque drumming by Geir Thorstensen and a wickedly complex bass line from Kristian Hultgren, it’s a maritime-themed epic with a powerful groove, one of the band’s most impressive accomplishments. The band had announced a fourth album was coming, but aside from the track “Blueberry Chopper” in 2019, they’ve been quiet. I hope they are able to overcome their obstacles and rock again.
#22: Troubled Horse
Formed: 2000, 2 albums
Step Inside (2012)
I’m hopeful that Sweden’s Troubled Horse has another album in them. Five years since their last one is no big deal when it took them twelve years to come out with their first. While they shared three members with Witchcraft, it’s Martin Heppich’s leadership that differentiates them, particularly the country-ish twang on some of their best songs.
#23: Hidden Masters
Formed: 2009, 1 album
Disbanded: 2013
Of This & Other Worlds (2013)
Another one that got away. Hidden Masters was a brilliant new addition to Lee Dorian’s Rise Above roster, psychedelia with the virtuoso chops of Cream and a smattering of proggy embellishments, it looked like the beginning of a beautiful partnership. Except they broke up soon not long after the release of their only album. Now, rather than making lists like this, their record will be just another unknown buried treasure to be excavated every now and then by the lucky few. Nine years later I’m still playing the hell out of it, and will continue to try to spread the word.
#24: Golden Void
Formed: 2009, 2 albums
Disbanded: 2015
Berkana (2015)
Another band that lasted a short time, it’s my favorite project from Isaiah Mitchell. Yes, his jams with Earthless are tip top, but I get a little bored by them, both on record and live. I really love the batch of psych prog tunes he came up with here. It seemed he tried to carry over the tunes and vocals into his other project with Black Heaven (2018), but it just wasn’t the same. Just one of those inspired bursts of creativity that hardly anyone noticed.
#25: Christian Mistress
Formed: 2008, 2 albums
Disbanded: 2016, Resurrected: 2022?
To Your Death (2015)
There’s nothing more frustrating than the rollercoaster of discovering a new favorite band, only for them to break up way too soon. There’s a handful of those on this list, who would have been higher up if they would have released more albums. I loved Christian Mistress the second I heard their Agony & Opium EP (2010). They stood out from the crowd of traditional heavy metal thanks to some top notch songwriting, and Christine Davis’ smoky, soulful vocals. It’s rare for a band like this to make such an emotional impact. Their breakup was very unceremonious, with no major announcement. At least I got to see them live once in a small bar. Good news though, they just announced they are going to play Hell’s Heroes V in Dallas next year! Hopefully that means they’ll also record more music and do a proper tour. Fingers crossed!
#26: Mastodon
Formed: 2000, 8 albums
Crack the Skye (2009)
I became a fan of death metal and early grindcore bands like Napalm Death, Bolt Thrower, Death, Coroner, Terrorizer, Carcass, Entombed, Voivod and grew renewed appreciation of Slayer back in 1988-90. But aside from a Bolt Thrower show in the early 90s, I lost touch with the metal scene for the entire decade. I occasionally took notice of the developments of the exploding subgenres of black metal (Darkethrone, Enslaved), sludge metal (Neurosis) and all the many variations of death metal. But then in 2000-02, I really got into some new albums from Electric Wizard, High on Fire, Isis, Entombed, the revived Iron Maiden, Opeth, and the debut album by a band from Atlanta called Mastodon. I realized I really needed to start going to metal shows again, after my decade-long rabbithole of indie and noise rock, trip hop and (ugh) drum ‘n’ bass electronica. The anticipation for Leviathan (2004) was building, and I had my ticket for Mastodon way ahead of time when they came through town. Seeing them in a small club that briefly existed down the street from me, The Bottom Lounge, was pure catharsis. I didn’t realize how unsatisfied I’d been with live music until I had my face melted with Brann Dailor set up right at the front of the stage about three feet from me, my body pummeled by the shockwaves of his drumming. I’m forever thankful for that. Another soul saved by rock ‘n’ roll, again.
#27: Khemmis
Formed: 2012, 4 albums
Hunted (2016)
One of the brightest new lights in doom formed after University of Colorado Ph.D. candidates Phil and Bem first met. They connected with Dan, an engineer, and Zach, a brewmaster at TRVE Brewing, which made for a unique chemistry and influences including Wishbone Ash/Thin Lizzy/Iron Maiden twin harmony lead guitars. Their mix of rock ‘n’ doom, high fantasy adventure epic metal and stoner rock whipped up into a special recipe goes down easy and leaves a lingering, complex aftertaste. Their professional lives prevent them from being the kind of road dogs necessary to reach a higher level of success, but they are fine with only an occasional gig for the lucky few astute enough to recognize a great band without having them stuffed into their pieholes by alogrithms.
#28: Spirit Adrift
Formed: 2015, 4 albums
Enlightened Eternity (2020)
Spirit Adrift emerged from the deserts and mountains of Arizona in 2015, quickly releasing the doomy Behind – Beyond EP (2016), with two tracks spanning nearly 28 minutes. The songs were slightly less sprawling on the full length Chained to Oblivion later that year. Remarkably, it was all recorded by one person, Nate Garrett. Immediately a peer amongst the cream of American doom bands like Pallbearer, Magic Circle and Khemmis, Spirit Adrift stands out with Garrett’s intense, contemplative lyrics that deal with his sobriety and metaphysical explorations. Not that I’m gonna dock a metal band points for singing about dragons and beer, but this band (Garrett assembled a touring band by 2017 who have partially participated in recordings since), is special, and are continuing their explorations, drifting from doom to twin guitar hard rock, trad metal and modern metal influences. Garrett also played guitar in the death metal project Gatecreeper. Over a year ago, he relocated to Bastrop, TX and will be recording album number five at Red Nova Ranch, just a few miles from Rancho Bulboso (FnB headquarters).
#29: Kadavar
Formed: 2010, 6 albums
Kadavar (2012)
Berlin Germany’s Kadavar’s brand of hard rock and heavy psych can easily be taken for granted given how many bands now tread that territory. Just ten years ago, however, the scene was less crowded, and their harder rocking variation of Witchcraft and Graveyard’s proto-doom was a welcome addition. Like Swedes Graveyard and Truckfighters, Kadavar were one of the few exceptions of European bands who toured North America regularly. I was lucky to see their amazing live show several times the past decade, three towering, hairy dudes who go by the nicknames Wolf, Tiger and Dragon. Their recordings drifted from stoner psych to more catchy AOR-influenced rock, Uncle Acid style occult psych, prog and kosmische in The Isolation Tapes (2020) and a great collaboration with Elder, Eldovar, that further explores space rock. They may not be breaking new ground, but they remain creative and adventurous. Looking forward to album #7!
#30: Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats
Formed: 2009, 5 albums
Blood Lust (2011)
I love seeing a band rise to become at least a cult sensation based on word of mouth. Their first album Vol. 1 (2010) was initially released as a tape and CD-R, which sounded like it was recorded from an airvent outside a dungeon, but with catchy hooks in songs like “Crystal Spiders” and “Witches Garden.” Rise Above picked ’em up, and not every band of theirs catches on, but people raved about Blood Lust (2011), probably because within it’s psych noir was hidden the heart of a Beatles freak, just like Tame Impala took off. Well, except Uncle Acid stayed on a smaller scale, and I could still see them at small clubs. Hopefully album six is coming soon, as it’s been four years since Wasteland (2018).
#31: Purson
Formed: 2011, 2 albums (+2 Rosalie Cunningham solo)
Disbanded: 2017
Desire’s Magic Theatre (2017)
31 is the hardest spot because I have a bunch of bubbling under bands that could just as easily make the list. I went with Purson, because if we were to include Rosalie Cunningham’s (who, like Prince, wrote and performed all the instruments on the records) two subsequent solo albums full of amazing psych prog, we’ve got an exceptionally promising body of work that would likely be boosted further up this list, given that her latest, Two Piece Puzzle, will likely be near the top of my Lucky 13 at the end of the year. It’s being way underrated.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Formed: 2000, 5 albums
Fever to Tell (2003)
One of two bands from the New York garage scene that I think actually developed artistically enough for me to stay a big fan of. No doubt there’s always a little pop devil whispering in Karen O’s ear to completely sell out and be a solo pop star, but for the most part she has taken her own road, though the band did bend to some trends on their last couple albums. They were demoted out of the top 30 though, because while I hoped their new release, Cool It Down, would be a banger, it was not. Rather, it was their worst album by far, following the pattern of Vampire Weekend in chasing trends. Bummer.
List so far.
- Purson
- Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats
- Kadavar
- Spirit Adrift
- Khemmis
- Mastodon
- Christian Mistress
- Golden Void
- Hidden Masters
- Troubled Horse
- Spirits of the Dead
- Magic Circle
- Wolf People
- The Black Angels
- Papir
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