Clutch is a widely disputed band. Most consider it to be the main stoner rock band, other think it is not stoner at all, but most agree – they are great. They have everything a stoner band needs, groovy zeppelin influenced riffs, great drum-bass combo and vocals reminiscent of deserts, muscle cars and good old Tennessee whiskey.

Started with hardcore they later switched to stoner rock influenced by funk and southern rock and of course the mighty Sabbath and zeppelin. It is hard to decide what album is their best still I think their 2004 work ‘Blast Tyrant’ is their best work so far. It is exactly the best thing between the rude old hardcore influenced Clutch and the post 2004 more progressive clutch, which of course lost some of the groove to complexity.

Starting with the bass hook of Prophets Of Doom they start a desert ride of one of the best stoner rock plates ever made. The Mob Goes Wild is way too fast for stoner rock but it is the main ‘never to be top ten’ mainstream hit of this plate. The album is spectacular, till the last note of the ending English Pounds instrumental (very similar to some stuff Led Zeppelin).

Down was started in 1995 as a side project of metal legends Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo and Corrosion Of Conformity axeman Peeper Keenan. They gathered some of the local New Orleans musicians (from bands like Crowbar) and presented a sound that was totally spectacular. Swampy New Orleans metal with a twist of Southern Rock and a mighty influence of the legendary Black Sabbath.

Finally after twelve years and two albums, the band gained full time attention and released their third album “Over The Under”. The album was delayed due to surgical operations, drug problems and even hurricane Katrina. But still it came out with an explosion. The band focused more on southern metal leaving their jazzy and acoustic southern rock experiments for the future. The work starts with a catchy “Three Suns And One Star” and keeps you in a real swamp mood till the final eight minute epos “Nothing In Return (Walk Away)”, it actually somehow reminds me of the old Doors stuff like “The End”. So this album is not just worth listening for me it is definitely one of the best albums of 2007, so I think you can give it a try.

Ever heard of stoner rock? If no than this band will be a great start for this groovy style. The Sword is a four-piece band from Texas, their music is a mix of Black Sabbath, early Iron Maiden and little bit of modern stuff like Mastodon. If short it is groovy rock with mighty fantasy influences.

These guys have only one album, their last year release “Age Of Winters”. Damn it’s great! Even if you’re not much into metal and so it is possible that this record will catch your attention with awesome groove and catchy melodies combined with some really smart bass and guitar work that reminds of the 70^th.

Still interested? Than don’t stop and get this groove of the winter.