Bring forth the Doom
From Fu Manchu to Clutch, there is no mistaking the heavy riff that is the signature sound of Stoner Rock. Slow, distorted and full of bass, its a perfect companion to your Halloween festivities.
Of course, no witches brew is complete without a few eye of bats and the critical ingredient for this caldron is a touch of psychedelia. White Zombie are a fine example of this "Horror" sound, fronted by the the one and only Rob Zombie. An American singer and film maker, Rob's live shows are a slasher fans treat, full of special effects and walk on horror characters. Check out his Hellbilly Deluxe 2 album for a great example of this genre.
"Black Hole Sun" by 90s legends, Soundgarden is another top example of the psychedelic sound, albeit with less of the bass riff. Their 1994 track "SpoonMan" is a better example of this.
But this list wouldn't be complete without the Grandfathers of metal. "Sweet Leaf" by the mighty Black Sabbath is perhaps a quintessential, mainstream example. A slow, deep, hazy riff trudges through the first half of the song before a tighter middle section wakes you up, only to drop back into that groove.
But then if we are really gonna go for it, how about "Stone a Pig" by Bongzilla. There's a hat tip to the final missing ingredient. Perhaps we will leave that bit out...
One thing is for sure, those heavy riffs work best with a bit of down tuning. Check out our shop for the strings you need to get there. Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky 12-56 will hit the spot. And if you need a setup to go with all that extra tension - We've got your back.
And remember, When you're searching a house because you think there's something dangerous there, for goodness sake, turn the lights on!
Happy Riffing
Chris
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