Mos Generator - The Late Great Planet Earth (2005)

This is a concept album about ... well, the end of civilization.
I have a weakness for depressing concept albums. This one fits the bill.

Empire's fate to crumble.
Empire's fate to fall.
The world that will be left behind.
Turns its back and forgets time.

The Late Great Planet Earth takes you from On The Eve, to Six Billion People Dead, to the Closed Casket, on to Exit the Atomic Age, and the World Set Free. The album starts and finishes with vinyl record crackles, and if you have it on repeat, you can't quite tell when it ends and starts over.

I saw Tony Reed (now of Pentagram) and the boys on this tour at Stoner Hands of Doom in Mesa, AZ two years in a row. The first time, I honestly wasn't interested and went outside to smoke.
The second time, was after I had discovered this album and played it until it was written into my DNA.
I loved the show.

The SHoD festivals were held at small clubs, over half the attendees were the bands themselves, and you got plenty of chances to interact with them. I was writing for a stoner rock forum at the time, and spent about an hour interviewing Tony afterwards. Nice guy. That was 21 years ago, and all I can remember was telling him how much I liked the album and the fact that it played so well on repeat.

Mos Generator re-released this album and you can buy it on Bandcamp. https://mosgenerator.bandcamp.com/album/the-late-great-planet-earth-20th-anniversary-2025-remix-taken-from-the-3lp-box-set
(Sorry about the yt playlist link. Maybe try the bandcamp instead.)

This is a gloomy album without a hint of cheer. I hope you are in the mood ...