On June 13th, Portland doomsters Witch Mountain are coming to town, playing the Hard Luck Bar on Dundas.  I’ve been dying to see ‘em ever since I first heard South of Salem, their comeback album, which ended up topping my year-end list last year.  The sultry, soulful, otherworldly vocals of Uta Plotkin really give the songs a big boost.  And on this occasion, her band will be joined by another pair of female-fronted doom units in Blood Ceremony and Castle–a Toronto exclusive for both acts.  Thus, in anticipation of this estrogen-laced triple bill, I figured it was time to count down my Top 10 Female-Fronted Stoner/Doom Bands Going Today.

Here we go…

10. Castle

Unbeknownst to me at the time, I actually caught this band’s first-ever gig at the Smiling Buddha in August of last year.  Althought based out of San Francisco, their guitarist has Toronto ties, which have led them back to town again this summertime.  But it’s vocalist/bassist Elizabeth Blackwell who earns them a spot on this list, her droning, hypnotic voice crooning pagan hymns over a solid backbeat.  They don’t always play slow, but their music certainly captures that evil, occult vibe.  Check ‘em out in the video for the title track off their just-released second album, Blacklands.