Southern sludge-metal veterans Crowbar have been out-brutalising metalcore for two decades; they may not be flashy showmen, but they’re a fucking fierce band.

Leeds lads Humanfly bring the bludgeon – and a side-serving of post-metal post-apocalyptic bleakness – on new album Darker Later. Play it loud.

3 is the third and final swansong album from revolving-door retro-rock stoner collective The Kings Of Frog Island. How better to go out than on a high note?

Disappointed by the way QOTSA have drifted of late? Well, Gozu sound like they maybe should have: Locust Season is beefy smoked-out stoner riffola. High grade.

Voyager and Monolith face off on the first release from new post-metal label Science Of Silence; both are competent, but Voyager are well out in front.

Brighton-based UK sort-of-supergroup Blackstorm blend sludge metal and hardcore to captivating effect on their debut Rise Rebel Seers EP. Listen to it NOW.

A Sort Of Spasmic Phlegm Induced by Leaden Fumes of Pleasure… that’s the album title of the year right there, thanks to tongue-in-cheek Swiss stoners Phased.

Thanks to Obiat, your search for the musical equivalent of a hundred magic mushrooms and a bottle of whiskey is over. Eye Tree Pi; turn on, tune up, space out.

Paradise Lost invented and ruled a genre, and then seemingly wandered away. Now they’re back for the goth-metal crown with Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us.

Part Chimp may be aping (arf!) Micheal Jackson by titling their latest album Thriller, but its sludgy noise rock stylings are a little underwhelming.