It begins. End of Year season is officially in motion, and over at Nine Circles I posted my first list, focusing on stoner and psych hard rock/metal. I still reach for the more extreme stuff, but more often than not when I’m in the mood for hard rock and I DON’T cave into my natural instincts with classic 70s rock and prog I go to the next best thing: those bands keeping that vibe alight in the modern era. Over the next few weeks the (Un)Focused Definition playlists are going to highlight songs from my many (too many, if we’re being honest) Best Of lists, but it starts here, on the Solstice…in the desert.

• Sergeant Thunderhoof – “Blood Moon”
• Abrams – “Blue City”
• Acid Rooster – “Automat”
• Big Scenic Nowhere – “The Waydown”
• Early Moods – “A Sinner’s Past”
• Free Ride – “Outsider”
• Full Earth – “Full Earth Pt. II: Disintegration”
• Lucifer – “Slow Dance In A Crypt”
• Mammoth Volume – “The Battle Of Lightwedge”
• The Neptune Power Federation – “Woe Be Father’s Troubled Mind”
• Sundrifter – “Limitless”

Commentary on each band/album can be found over at Nine Circles. YouTube above, Spotify below. Bndcmpr in between because if you dig the music, support the band! Next week we hit the metal Honorable Mentions.

Be safe, be good to each other. Happy Holidays! See you next week.