The albums that define
stoner metal.
Our picks for where to start with stoner metal — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top stoner metal artists
Start with one of these.
The stoner metal essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Soundgarden
Songs from the Superunknown
Dark, brooding soundscapes intertwine with explosive riffs and Chris Cornell's haunting vocals.
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Soundgarden
Telephantasm
A potent blend of grunge anthems and heavy rock riffs that encapsulate Soundgarden's raw energy.
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Corrosion of Conformity
IX
A heavy blend of Southern metal and sludge, infused with introspective lyrics and dynamic rhythms.
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Corrosion of Conformity
Deliverance
A heavy blend of Southern metal and sludge, driven by gritty riffs and haunting melodies.
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Baroness
A Grey Sigh in a Flower Husk
A dense tapestry of crushing riffs and atmospheric melodies laced with introspective lyricism.
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Baroness
First
Heavy riffs intertwine with melodic undertones, creating a sprawling soundscape that defies genre boundaries.
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Electric Wizard
We Live
Heavy, hypnotic riffs intertwine with dark, psychedelic undertones creating a vivid sonic landscape of doom.
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Electric Wizard
Let Us Prey
A heavy, distorted barrage of riffs and eerie atmospheres that summon the dark undercurrents of doom metal.
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Torche
Harmonicraft
A vibrant blend of melodic hooks and heavy riffs encapsulating stoner rock's dynamic range.
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Torche
Healer / Across the Shields
A dense fusion of sludgy riffs and melodic hooks that captures the raw energy of early stoner rock.
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Fireball Ministry
Ou Est La Rock?
Raw riffs collide with gritty vocals, embodying the rebellious spirit of late '90s stoner metal.
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Fireball Ministry
FMEP
A raw and gritty blend of stoner metal riffs embodying a rebellious spirit and dynamic vocal intensity.
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Orange Goblin
Frequencies from Planet Ten
A cosmic journey blending heavy riffs with psychedelic overtones and stoner grooves that defy earthly boundaries.
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Orange Goblin
Thieving from the House of God
A gritty blend of stoner metal and heavy rock, pulsating with raw energy and infectious grooves.
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Spiritual Beggars
On Fire
Heavy riffs intertwine with melodic vocals, creating a powerful stoner metal experience that resonates deeply.
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Spiritual Beggars
Return to Zero
A powerful blend of stoner metal riffs and melodic hard rock that evokes a cosmic journey.
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Cancer Bats
Hail Destroyer
A relentless barrage of heavy riffs and visceral screams that embody the chaos of modern existence.
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Cancer Bats
Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones
A relentless barrage of aggressive riffs intertwined with raw, anthemic melodies and socially charged lyrics.
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Grand Magus
Sword Songs
Epic riffs and powerful anthems intertwine with mythological themes, creating a sonic battle cry.
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Grand Magus
Wolf's Return
Heavy riffs and soaring vocals intertwine with a sense of epic storytelling in this stoner metal odyssey.
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Raging Speedhorn
We Will Be Dead Tomorrow
Raw, aggressive riffs collide with unrelenting vocals, creating a visceral soundscape of chaos and intensity.
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Raging Speedhorn
Lost Ritual
Ferocious riffs and guttural vocals collide in a relentless exploration of despair and aggression.
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Sleep
Jerusalem and Dopesmoker
Monolithic riffs and hypnotic rhythms create a sonic landscape that engulfs the listener in an expansive, slow-moving haze.
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Sleep
Volume One
A slow, crushing fusion of heavy riffs and hypnotic grooves that define the stoner metal genre.
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