The Ripple Effect

Swedish heavy merchants TIDAL WAVE release epic new album "Volume Tree" on Ripple Music today!

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Sweden's heavy metal and doom powerhouse TIDAL WAVE return with their third studio album "Volume Tree" on Californian label Ripple Music today!

⚡️ Listen to "Volume Tree" on all streaming services ⚡️

With its electrifying blend of classic heavy metal and doom, Volume Tree captures the loud foursome at their absolute heaviest, while showcasing yet another face-melting performance from vocalist Alexander 'Sunkan' Sundqvist. Dark and menacing, these eight tracks are the most towering the band has created to date: “Hangman” churns with grunge weight, while “Temple of Humanity” twists into progressive shadow. Lyrically, it swings from Sabbath-soaked rituals on “Earth” to a snarling bully’s reckoning on “Sideburns” while keeping things fresh, modern and as punchy as a knuckleduster.

The band likes to see Volume Tree as a compilation of creative forces, since it was recorded across three studios and mixed by three engineers, with each track carving out its own unique soundscape and vibe. All tracks were mastered by the talented Joona Hassinen at Studio Underjord, with stunning cover art by Kristoffer Nordgren (Prettyshittyinc). Don't miss their recent Sideburns video!

New album "Volume Tree"

Available on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

Tidal Wave is a Swedish heavy rock band that revels in the power of the riff. As they left their stamp on the Swedish stoner rock scene with their self-titled 2019 debut album "Blueberry Muffin", the talented four-piece returned in 2023 with an impressive and memorable collection of songs that aims to fill each air particle with fire, fuzz and power: their sophomore album "The Lord Knows". The loud foursome delivers the ultimate blend of in-your-face stoner rock and classic heavy metal bravura with epic riffs for ages, unstoppable dynamics and absolutely face-melting vocals from Alexander 'Sunkan' Sundqvist.

Tidal Wave is

Alexander 'Sunkan' Sundqvist - Vocals

Jesper 'Jupiter' Sjödin - Guitar

Adam 'Aden' Nordin - Bass

Rasmus 'Raz' Sundberg - Drums

Tidal Wave links

Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram

Ripple Music links

Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram

Masheena ★ Let the Spiders in

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0000

If your first thought when someone mentions a Norwegian band involves snowstorms, corpse paint and grim-looking men disappearing into dark forests, Masheena are here to send you in a completely different direction. Their road leads straight into a sweaty rock bar somewhere between the golden age of the ’70s, the Californian desert and a tube amp that's working overtime.

What makes "Let The Spiders In" so appealing is that it never sounds like a band trying to recreate a bygone era. Plenty of groups borrow from classic hard rock, stoner rock and blues these days. Masheena sound like they simply belong there.

That feeling hits almost immediately. "Been Waiting", "Going To The Mountain" and "One Eye" roll out of the speakers with the relaxed confidence of musicians who know exactly when to push and when to let a riff do the talking. Nothing feels rushed. Nothing feels forced. The grooves are allowed to breathe, the melodies stick around longer than expected and before you know it you're reaching for the volume knob.

And that's really the story of this album: riffs, groove and songs. Lots of them.

"In Her Eyes" is a perfect example. What starts with a bluesy sway slowly grows into one of the album's finest moments, wrapped in layers of fuzz, melody and pure atmosphere. Elsewhere, "A Game You Don't Want To Lose" and "Life Is But A Sin" lean into heavier territory, proving that Masheena can hit hard without sacrificing the warmth and movement that define the record.

Then there's "Riffy". Any song carrying a title like that had better deliver, and thankfully it does. Gloriously. It's the kind of track that reminds you why rock music was never meant to be overanalysed. Sometimes a great riff, a killer groove and a band locked into the pocket are all you really need.

The best thing about "Let The Spiders In" is that it feels lived in. You can hear decades of record collecting, gigging and music obsession flowing through these songs. There are nods to Clutch, Kyuss, Led Zeppelin, Sabbath and plenty of others, but Masheena never disappear beneath their influences. They take those ingredients and cook up something with its own flavour.

By the time "You Owe Me" storms in and sends the album out in a cloud of dust and ringing ears, there's only one real conclusion: Masheena have made a rock record that understands one simple truth. Great songs don't need tricks. They just need heart, groove and conviction. "Let The Spiders In" has all three in abundance.

-Helge Neumann

Let The Spiders In by Masheena

Tonight the Circle is Meeting Again - or “Where has this band been all my life?”

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0000

It’s been almost 7 years since I’ve written for the Ripple Effect. Not because I’ve stopped listening to music, not because the platform was taken away from me - but because I felt like - I didn’t really have the energy - the fire -that I used to. Life was - a lot - caregiving, routines, etc… I didn’t have that spark to share the things that made me light up - that made my brain lemonade bubble like crystal pepsi when the chords hit just right.

Until last month.

All credit goes to the youtube channel Metal School https://www.youtube.com/@MetalSchoolChannel if you’re a fan of 80’s metal and haven’t subscribed - go there right now. They go in depth on 80’s classic metal bands. So how did an incredible Youtube channel lead me to start writing again???

It was a regular weekday morning - I was playing my youtube subscriptions on my firestick while having my coffee - and Metal School had uploaded their latest video - a retrospective on Mercyful Fate and King Diamond. It played in the background while I scrolled my phone. Then - something tugged at me - “I know that song…” then “Hey that’s a great riff…” then “Holy shit that’s a fucking killer rff… “ then , “What the hell was that? Why have I never heard that before?” followed by, “that fucking bass player is a BEAST!!!”. There was an excerpt from a Danish interview with guitarist Michael Denner talking about “Into the Coven” being on the PMRC’s Filthy 15, saying because of the song’s inclusion on that list there was so much interest generated in the band that MF was able to tour the US for the first time “TUSIND TAK!” he grinned into the camera. I thought any band who pissed off Tipper Gore has got to be worth my time…

Then it began. I didn’t think, “Huh, that was cool. I’ll just continue my life like a normal person.” Because as any of my friends will tell you - that’s not how I exist. I started googling history - side projects demos, Old interviews, old reddit threads, Vintage youtube videos - “Hey why is this guy always cropped out…?” (More on that soon hopefully) - anything related to this band - I totally immersed myself.

Of course I already knew about King Diamond - I had even seen him in concert in 2014. I remember I went nuclear when he busted out “Come to the Sabbath,” but that and “Nuns Have no fun” was my total knowledge of the band at the time.

So much has been written about Mercyful Fate’s influence on the black metal scene because of their occult/ satanic lyrics. But musically - they were a straightforward metal band who wore their influences on their sleeve. Michael Denner and Hank Shermann were influenced by Judas Priest, Michael Schenker, the Scorpions, Wishbone Ash, Hank has even listed Status Quo and Kiss as his influences. As a guitar duo they should be talked about with the same reverence as Tipton/ Downing IMO. In fact, go on Youtube and look for the videos of the two of them playing through Melissa and Don’t Break the Oath for their respective 30 year anniversaries on Hank Shermann’s YouTube channel. You can see the absolute joy on Denner’s face. He looks 20 years younger when he’s playing those songs again. And Hank - stays 100% Danish but you could tell he’s smiling on the inside. (links at end of article) Late bassist Timi “Grabber” Hansen played what I like to call “lead bass” very melodic, tasteful - but not afraid to let you know he’s there. He does NOT get enough credit - I’m not going to go off on drooling fangirl territory here (yet hehe) but seriously TIMI FUCKING HANSEN. And Kim Ruzz on drums on the first two studio albums? Absolutely insane - another one who doesn't get mentioned enough. And then there’s King Diamond - his infernal Majesty. On the early Mercy stuff he hasn’t gotten quite that glass shattering screech yet. And oh - the lyrics….I’m not going to copy and paste them here for fear of the internet police shutting us down - but google is your friend . Some people say they were a bit “hokey” or “overt” - remember - King was in his early 20’s when he wrote them. And he is very open about being “a devoted adherent of LaVeyan Satanism. He has openly championed the philosophy, noting that it acts as a self-empowering guide for individuality rather than a belief in a literal deity. “ (thank you google) . And no, I’m not about to throw myself on an altar now that I’ve listened to the lyrics of “Don’t Break the Oath” - and if you actually listen to the lyrics of “A Dangerous Meeting" it actually warns against playing around with forces you don’t fully understand.

So this is my life now. Yes I know MF reunited in the 90’s with some strong material but when Denner left after 1996’s Into the Unknown he took a lot of the heart of the band with him.

And Yes, I do know the first two King Diamond albums were basically MF without Hank and Kim and those are FANTASTIC records that I’l probably talk about another day.

The MF reunion in 2019 , supposed to be with the classic lineup with the intention of playing the classic material? (unfortunately Timi passed away from cancer right before this happened) No - it's not a reunion without Denner. Nope.

As a journalist I’m supposed to stay impartial - and I’m sure there’s a lot I don’t know but - NOPE.

Anyway, that’s my journey of discovery with my latest obsession -I’m so glad the youtube channel brought a band that was always in my peripheral into my main focus. And this was all the catalyst to me writing again!!! Thank you for reading!

-Rys

Photos from Pinterest and Tumblr and copyright the respective photographers

Denner/Shermann play Melissa album here: https://youtu.be/uUVDIFxBxzw?si=QGIGwbHLZpObIEJ5

Denner/Shermann play Don't Break the Oath album here: https://youtu.be/9QA4kbcX3Go?si=homY9mOt-s6Tua1X

Heavy rock festival RIPPLEFEST TEXAS reveals full lineup for September 2026 edition with Yob, Khemmis, Greenleaf and more; day tickets available!

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Premium US stoner, doom, and heavy rock festival RIPPLEFEST TEXAS returns to Austin, Texas with 25+ international acts hitting the Far Out Lounge and Sagebrush stages this September 17-20th. Weekend and day tickets are available now!

This fall, RippleFest Texas returns for its most ambitious edition yet, boasting over 25 international acts, zero overlapping sets, and a vibe that founder Ryan Garney describes as "a family reunion for heavy heads."

Headlining the 2026 edition are three titans of the underground: Oregon-based doom pioneers YOB, whose transcendent live show has become the stuff of legend, Denver's melodic heavy metal standard-bearers Khemmis, Swedish heavy rock lords Greenleaf, and Canadian sludge-dealing juggernaut Dopethrone. But the depth of this year's roster is where RippleFest truly shines, as the full 28-band lineup stands as a who's who of the international heavy rock scene. This year, US independent powerhouses Ripple Music and Magnetic Eye Records will each host a special label showcase, bookending the weekend lineup in excellence.

Founder Ryan Garney of Lick of My Spoon Productions says: "I could not be more proud of this year's lineup. Just the way it all came together and how it is curated for each night will make it a very special festival. There is not one single band anyone should miss, and luckily, you won't have to because there is absolutely no band overlap at RippleFest Texas! The Ripple Music Showcase and the Magnetic Eye Showcase will no doubt sell out the indoor venue The Sagebrush on Thursday and Sunday nights. The stacked 2-stage lineups at The Far Out Lounge will have some of the biggest names you won't want to miss, and all 4 days will have the best light show in the business by The Mad Alchemist Liquid Light Show. September can't get here soon enough!"

RIPPLEFEST TEXAS 2026

September 17-20 - The Far Out Lounge & Sagebrush - Austin, Texas

Weekend & day tickets available at this location

Ripple Music is the passion-driven imprint that leading metal magazine Decibel Magazine declared "has made a splash in heavy rock and metal,” and Alternative Control labeled "powerhouse tastemaker". The independent Californian label is known and revered worldwide for unearthing the finest bands in heavy rock and metal and being home to leading acts such as The Obsessed, Hermano, Scott "Wino" Weinrich, Poobah, Wo Fat or Colour Haze. Dubbing their festival series "Ripplefest", the record label has been organizing showcase events in cities such as Austin, San Francisco, London, Stockholm, Cologne and Berlin over the years, bringing together a vast and passionate community of fans from across the globe.

RIPPLEFEST TEXAS links

Facebook⎪Instagram

RIPPLE MUSIC links

Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram

The Xroadie Files

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Vanishment- And Now We Die

Rob Ropkins – Vocals, Brian Johnson – Guitar, Jeremy McAllister – Guitar, Nate Baker – Bass, Chris Wozniak – Drums

Scarred In Fate pounding drums thundering bass screaming leads and strong vocals. Darkened Innocence slam sweat thrash and rip it up. How I Bleed crunchy riffs thundering rhythms searing leads and powerful vocals. Steel Demise hit the pit mosh and tear it up. Die in My Shelter fist pump head bang foot stomp and play air guitar. Engraved Under Skin hard heavy fast heavy metal music. Unleash The Storm will have the crowd on its feet just letting loose. Conviction will stick in your head for days. Ellipsis close your eyes and dream. Ashes And Bone screaming guitars soaring vocals with crunchy riffs pounding drums and thumping bass,

Backengrillen- St

Dennis Lyxzén – Vocal/Effects, Mats Gustafsson – Saxophone/Flute/Live Electronics, Magnus Flagge – Bass, David Sandström – Drums/Electronics

A Hate Inferior slowly pulls you into madness. Dor For Langsamt lost in strange imaginations. Repeater II pounding drums thumping bass crunchy riffs. Backengrillen one strange musical mind trip. Socialism Or Barbarism dark music with screaming vocals.

Backengrillen by Backengrillen

Gong – Bright Spirit

Kavus Torabi - Vocals/Guitar, Fabio Golfetti- Guitar, Ian East- Sax/Flute, Dave Sturt- Bass/Vocals, Cheb Nettles- Drums/Vocals

Dream Of Mine one interesting prog rock musical mind trip. Mantivule is a very interesting tune that envelops your senses. The Wonderment prog space rock that takes you away to may memories. Stars In Heaven your dream the day away with melodic melodies. Fragrance of Paradise clap foot tap and groove. Relish the Possibility dreams and emotions pull you in. Eternal Hand lost in memories and emotions.

Lily Lowe – Beautiful Disaster

Lily Löwe / Lill Sofie Wilsberg- Vocals, Adrian Sunde Bjerketvedt- Guitar, Eiliv Sagrusten- Drums, Patrik Svendsen- Bass, Stian Hansen- Guitar

Demons heavy catchy music with great vocals. Haunted House thumping bass pounding drums with strong vocals and crunchy riffs. Puppet Master fist pump head bang sing shout and just let loose. Beg For Your Life crushing riffs screaming guitars with powerful vocals and solid rhythms. Beautiful Disaster close your eye and let the emotions flow. Glitter & Gore is a very catchy rune that has the crowd rocking all night long. Our Secret swing shout and just let go. Wild is a catchy tune that pulls you in. Love Like This the emotions send shivers down your spine.

Hellstedt – All Right As Rain

Mircea Nestor - Everything

Morgana heavy riffs interesting melodies that envelop your senses with screaming leads. This Home crunchy riffs pounding drums thumping bass and strange vocals. Cavalcade take one interesting musical mind trip. Nothing punches you right in the face. Air space rock music journey. Need You mosh shred rip and tear it up. Inside Out sway to a heavy groove. Storm lost in emotional imaginations. _-_ one interesting musical journey.

-Xroadie

Bong Voyage ★ Hedonistic Hard Rock

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Some albums knock politely before entering your life. Hedonistic Hard Rock by Bong Voyage doesn’t enter the room — it crashes through the wall riding a flaming beer keg while somebody in the background screams “LIVE BONG AND PROSPER” into a broken megaphone. Bong Voyage aren’t interested in reinventing hard rock; they’re here to shotgun the entire history of the ’70s and ’80s directly into your face until the bong water boils over and the neighbors call the cops. This debut from the Oslo party-rock degenerates sounds like KISS, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath and Motörhead fighting over the aux cord at 3AM. And somehow… it absolutely rules.

Featuring members of Håndgemeng, Suncraft and Buskas, Bong Voyage deliver a debut that is gloriously excessive, ridiculously catchy and fully committed to the sacred religion of riffs, booze and bad decisions. From the opening blast of "Saturday Rite Special", the band makes one thing crystal clear: subtlety is dead and buried beneath a mountain of empty beer cans and scorched Marshall amps.

The riffs are huge, greasy and absurdly fun, while the production nails that warm retro sound without ever feeling like cheap nostalgia bait. The guitars soar above the thunderous rhythm section, and frontman Charlie Ytterli sounds like he’s simultaneously leading a rock show and surviving a bar fight. Half-sung, half-shouted, his vocals are rough around the edges but packed with hooks you’ll scream back after one listen.

What makes Hedonistic Hard Rock such a triumph is how naturally it balances chaos and songwriting craft. "Large and In Charge" is the obvious centerpiece — a swaggering anthem built for sticky dive bars and raised fists. "UFOria" and "Outer Space Freebase" launch the album into full sci-fi burnout territory, while "One Hundred Million Billion Beers" might honestly be the greatest dumb genius song title of the decade.

Tracks like "Enabler" and "In Possession" prove these guys know exactly how to write melodies that stick in your brain for days. By the time "Escape Prison Planet Earth" and "Wizard of Ozlo" roll around, the whole album feels like an intergalactic pub crawl through the seven deadly sins.

Hedonistic Hard Rock doesn’t want to save rock music. It just wants to get rock music drunk again. Mission accomplished.

-Helge Neumann

Hedonistic Hard Rock by Bong Voyage

US proto-heavy pioneers JPT SCARE BAND release first-ever live album "Live at Crosstown Station" on Ripple Music today!

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Sat, 30 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

US proto-heavy and psych pioneers JPT Scare Band release their first-ever official live album "Live at Crosstown Station" today, capturing the elusive Kansas City outfit in rare live form.

Listen to the "Live at Crosstown Station" album at this location

+ watch the live footage for I've Been Waiting and Acid Blues

For decades, JPT Scare Band has existed as one of heavy music’s most enigmatic cult secrets—a band formed in the early 1970s whose thunderous acid rock and proto-metal fury remained largely undocumented on official releases… until now. Live at Crosstown Station captures a 2011 concert put together by KKFI 90.1 FM in Kansas City. The show was largely improvised and rehearsed just enough to confirm starts and stops. As frontman Terry Swope told the crowd that night after playing "Sleeping Sickness": "We played that song once, in 1975. This was the second time."

This is a vital piece of underground rock history finally seeing the light of day. Despite forming in Kansas City, Missouri over five decades ago, JPT Scare Band didn’t properly issue studio albums until the 1990s and beyond, leaving their legendary live energy mostly to word-of-mouth and battered bootlegs. This live set changes that and offers the clearest sonic snapshot yet of their heavy psych/acid rock hybrid in a raw, room-shaking setting. The release will appeal strongly to collectors of obscure heavy psych and early metal, and anyone who worships at the altar of Sabbath, Blue Cheer, and Leaf Hound.

The multitrack recordings were helmed by local engineer Dave Brock. Sound was run by Rocky Rude, whose resume includes Deep Purple, Mountain, and The Who. Psychedelic visuals by Paul Grigsby's son John Paul (now bassist for Gregory Alan Isakov) flanked the stage. Paul later mixed and mastered the tracks at Kung Bomar Studios. The result is raw, spontaneous, and historically vital: a cult band's live debut, five decades in the making.

JPT SCARE BAND "Live at Crosstown Station"

Out now on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

TRACKLIST:

1. Hungry For Your Love

2. Sleeping Sickness

3. Amazons

4. Acid Blues

5. I've Been Waiting

Formed in early 1970s Kansas City, JPT Scare Band have spent decades graduating from totally unknown to painfully obscure. And yet—original lineup still intact. Still making meaningful music. Still proud of the twisted analogue insanity they've been recording since the days of reel-to-reel.

About the band's genesis, guitarist and vocalist Terry Swope recalls: "The JPT Scare Band had no official beginning. The kind hand of fate brought Jeff, Paul and I together in 1973 and left us to sort it out. We moved into a house and set up our gear in the basement. As we jammed away the days and nights, an odd organic process was set in motion. Jeff, Paul and I discovered that we could make a mighty noise. Rather than question this remarkable development, the three of us simply accepted it as fact. We rarely discussed chords or arrangements; those things were beside the point. All that concerned us was combining our energy and using it to create a habitable musical world. Once we made that happen, our travels began.”

Over the years, word has crept into odd corners of the world. In 2007, Classic Rock Magazine named them among the "Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal" alongside Iron Butterfly, Bloodrock, and Leafhound. The band will take it, even if they never quite called themselves metal. Their first two albums Acid Acetate Excursion and Rape of Titan's Sirens were issued on vinyl only and vanished fast. Their first CD release, Sleeping Sickness, was swallowed when the label Monster Records imploded amid tragedy. For years, JPT existed mostly as rumor and out-of-print artifacts.

Then came Ripple Music. In 2010, guitarist Jeff Littrell reached out to Todd Severin of The Ripple Effect website, asking him to produce an album. Todd instead founded the now world-renowned label Ripple Music and released Acid Blues Is The White Man's Burden as a double gatefold vinyl. Success followed. Fifteen years later, these two forces of nature team up once again to present this essential live work to the masses, with the exclusive release of JPT Scare Band's Live at Crosstown Station in the spring of 2026.

JPT Scare Band is

Terry Swope — Guitar, Lead Vocals

Paul Grigsby — Bass, Vocals

Jeff Littrell — Drums, Vocals

Ripple Music links

Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram

The Stories Surrounding The Show

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Fri, 29 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

This is the first installment of hopefully many where I reminisce about concerts I've attended. But the focus will be on what occurred before, during or after and not so much on the music and bands at hand. Some memories are very short but definitely worth publishing and when that occurs the setup will be two or three short ones pieced together as chapter. Only time will tell though. If nothing is stated my friends names are real and I have asked the involved parties for permission to include them. I sincerely hope you, dear wave riders, will enjoy this as much as I did and still do writing down these memories!

The B-52s at Falkoner Teatret, Copenhagen November 17th 1992

Back on November 17th 1992 we, that would be my childhood friends Andreas, Johan, Kalle and myself, journeyed down the Swedish west coast with the Danish capital Copenhagen as our destination. Our mission was to attend a concert by The B-52s who for some reason omitted Sweden from their Interdimensional Tourgasm Tour. Not deterred by this we were going and I took it upon myself to obtain the tickets and duly called a ticket agent. Yes, this was back when you either called for tickets or if you lived close enough went and stood in line for them, there was no such thing as online booking yet. No problems, I got the tickets easy enough but miscommunication between yours truly and the agent would mean issues later on which we will get to shortly.

If memory serves me it took us just over 6 hours in all to reach our destination. That included the drive south, the car-ferry ride across the Danish Strait from Helsingborg, Sweden, to Helsingör, Denmark and then the drive south on E-47 trying to locate the venue. Keep in mind, this was before GPS-systems so a road map was all we had and this is where the miscommunication reared its ugly head. Falkoner Teatret, or Falkonersalen as it is called today, is located in a part of Copenhagen called Frederiksberg, easy enough right? Well I swore up and down the ticket agent said it was in Eriksberg...which is actually in Gothenburg, Sweden! Yes, you're right, I screwed up big time and this error caused us to drive back and forth through the Danish capital until the guys decided I was wrong and took the exit for Frederiksberg. And lo and behold our chief driver Kalle took us straight to Falkoner Teatret in no time.

As we parked right outside the venue I was still in a bad mood by the mistake I made but as we disembarked the vehicle a pizzeria was discovered and starved as we were hope arose in us all...well, sort of. After just a few steps towards it Andreas wants us to remain outside the venue with other gathered fans in case the band shows up so we could get autographs. Our collective response was:"no problems, you wait here while we eat because we're starving. We'll save you a seat." He joined us under protest but once food was served we all felt better. However, that only lasted for so long. Our next and last mission before the show was to find a grocery store and stock up on Danish beer. The beverage was super cheap in Denmark at the time and we had rented a minivan for this trip so plenty of beer could and would be purchased. There was a store on the other side of Falkoner Teatret, and as we pass it Andreas talks to people already waiting in line and sure enough, while we were eating the band did arrive. They signed autographs and talked to the fans. Andreas' mood dipped considerably hearing this and he wasn't happy with us. Unfortunately for him it was going to get worse once we entered the grocery store.

Wasting little time Kalle, Johan and I quickly grabbed what we wanted and lined up to pay while Andreas took his time. I don't intend to be mean but for an outsider the Danish language is very hard to understand as is their monetary system when spoken. However, Danes understand Swedish much easier...go figure hahaha. Knowing this the three of us walked up far enough so the display on the register was visible and we'd be able to know what to pay hence avoiding any confusion. As we stood by the exit waiting for Andreas, who still wasn't in the best of moods, the cashier overheard us talking about if our friend would even consider checking the display while paying, or is he still too upset to think about it? Well, being distracted Andreas did not consider this and put his loot by the register. The cashier keyed in the price and said something completely incomprehensible in the thickest Danish brogue. Andreas switched to English and German in hopes of getting through to the man whose brogue got even worse which left our friend dumbfounded. By now the rest of us were rolling on the floor with laughter adding more frustration for Andreas who was about to blow. Don't remember who it was that took mercy on him and said: ”step up a little bit further so you can see the display!” Problem solved and we all left in better spirits, even our unfortunate friend who began to lighten up.

We quickly stowed away our beverages in the mini-van and went to line-up outside the venue. Once inside Falkoner Teatret, nowadays Falkonersalen (capacity 2,000) some merchandise was procured and it didn't take long before the support band began to play. The Frank And Walters are an alternative indie-pop band from Cork, Ireland, and they blew the crowd away. Quirky and well-played hook-laden songs won the crowd over and rightly so. Very good, indeed. The place wasn't completely full at that point but once the lights went down and The B-52s hit the stage it was jam-packed. Full-on party mode erupted immediately with dancing, singing, jumping, shouting, you name it with the crowd going nuts. On stage the band, sans Cindy Wilson who was replaced by Julee Cruise of Twin Peaks fame, was in great form and lapped up the happiness and excitement from the audience turning the concert into a great event.

We all got separated quickly but eventually Kalle, Johan and myself found each other towards the back catching our breaths. One of them asked if anyone had seen Andreas but no one had. However, before the show Andreas had mentioned that Kate Pierson usually was to the left of the stage and that's when it hit me: ”Look for Kate Pierson on the stage. Wherever she is and moves look right below at the front row of the crowd.” Lo and behold, it didn't take us long to discover a 6'3 half Swede half Finn moving along with Kate wherever she went staring at her with devoted, lovelorn eyes. Miss Pierson had been Andreas' crush since childhood and nothing would stop him from being in her presence. And nothing did. As much as the crowd swayed back and forth and side to side Andreas never strayed from his idol!

After several mishaps along the way this was a brilliant adventure any which way you look at it. Of course we were tired driving out of Copenhagen bound for Helsingör but it was a happy tiredness and thankfully nothing happened on the way back home. Subdued was the state of mind for a while but once the car-ferry docked in Sweden and we rolled out on E-45 northbound for home driving parallel with the Danish strait, we all came back to life.

-Swedebeast

World Premiere - Listen to "Chase A Buck" from Los Angeles roadhouse singer David Serby!

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Thu, 28 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

What the artist says:

“Every once in a while I like taking a stock phrase (like Chase a Buck) and trying to do something interesting or unexpected with it. Here, I thought it would be funny to signal a word I never actually sing. Thematically, it builds on an idea I really believe but wish I didn’t…it’s extremely hard for humans to change and more often than not they either figure out small ways to short circuit they’re internal wiring, or they’re doomed to stumble along making the same mistakes over and over again.

My two favorite kinds of music are county and the power pop / new wave / punk kind of stuff from the ’70s and ’80s. I think this song combines those genres in a fun way. Thematically and structurally it feels like a country song to me. But, the instrumentation and tempo is energetic and fast, with big open chords under a slide guitar, and a melodic and propulsive bass line.

I brought the song into the band and played it through. We played it through a few times, getting a feel for it, and trying to figure out what the song wanted to be. David [J. Carpenter] said, “I’ve got an idea…” and laid out what became the intro, solo, and outro bass part for the song. He’s such and amazing musician. His part hear really captured what I love about the bass parts by Nick Lowe, Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello, etc... They’re all super melodic, with tons of energy, extremely important to the sonic landscape of the song, and actually very busy when compared to what is going on with the bass part in lots of country music. Without David’s part, it wouldn’t have the same feel, fun, or energy.

Other than the chorus, I have two favorite lines. The first is, “sneakin’ pass the boss / he’s the meanest catfish I ever swum across / one eye on the clock and the other staring at a balance sheet.” I like that it's a very fun, traditional, old school country line that sounds like it was lifted from a Little Jimmy Dickens songs from the ’50s. I also really like the image of a googley-eyed catfish. The second is, “drop into a bar / spend the morning drinking beer / that little place is magic / makes my money disappear.” It’s a twisty way to say, “I’m throwing my money away,” but in a way that completely refuses to accept responsibility. It’s not my fault…that bartender is a sorcerer!!”

Serby’s sonically upbeat new album Broken Heart in a Honky Tonk (out May 29) is frontloaded with high-energy shuffles before it moves into more introspective tunes and ends with barroom honky tonks played with a wink, nod and laugh. He has an adventurous vision for what he does with country music, bringing his own brand of the Bakersfield sound to a modern audience, taking cues from greats like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam.

Serby creates worlds for the flawed characters of his songs to occupy as they search for connection. Each song has a protagonist doing the best they can with problems they’ve most likely created themselves. Serby brings us his distinct perspective of real people singing about real people. Active listeners will be rewarded with the thoughtfulness and craftsmanship of his lyrics.

Serby has played Stagecoach Music Festival twice, sharing stages with Old 97’s, Chris Hillman & Herb Pederson, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, Neko Case, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Wanda Jackson, Leon Russell, Phosphorescent and many more.

Joining Serby and guitarist-producer Edward Tree (The Spencer Davis Group), his musical sidekick for more than two decades, are drummer Kevin Jarvis (Bo Diddley, Lucinda Williams, Brian Wilson, Steve Wynn, the Jayhawks’ Mark Olson), bassist David J. Carpenter (John Doe of X, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, Dead Rock West), pedal steel guitarist Chris Lawrence (Mike Ness, Shooter Jennings, Dave Gleason), keyboardist-accordionist Carl Byron (Hot Club of Los Angeles), and Darice Bailey & Grammy-nominated blues singer Teresa James supply vocal support

The Xroadie Files

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Wed, 27 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Philippe Drouin Obvurt - Le Chemin Du Gaucher

Philippe Drouin Obvurt – Guitar/Bass/Vocals, John Longstreth- Drums

Serenite shredding guitars crushing riffs and pounding drums. Resilience speed metal leads with pounding drums and thumping bass. Acharnement drifting away in your emotions. Passion screaming leads thundering drums with pounding bass. Aria On the G String JS Bach 1685- 1750 let the emotions envelop your very being. Perseverance try and survive the onslaught. Gojira Medley take a wild trip thru your imagination.

Superior Rage- In Memorium

Baelithiel – Vocals, Maikon- Drums, Nemorion- Guitar, Hrafnagud- Guitar

Indecent Condition slams you against the wall over and over. Asmodeus Bacchic dark demented music that envelops your senses. The Night of Rains pulls you into the depths of despair and madness. Soleright mosh shred rip and tear. The Death of the Red Dragon lost in dark imaginations.

Horseman- No Surrender in Dark Days

Stefan Böhm,- Vocals, Oggy Garmenov- Guitar, Kristian Siegemund- Guitar, Julian Klassen- Bass, Michael Kolar- Drums

Dark Days close your eyes and drift away in memories. No Surrender punches you right in the face over and over. Time to Defend catchy groove pounding rhythms with screaming lead sand gruff vocals. Shards and Lies is a heavy but catchy tune. Codeine Cowboy mosh shred rip it up and just let loose. View drifting on a cloud of emotions. Banish the Fake crushes you against the floor . Trouble will find me slow heavy music that envelops your senses. Sending Fire fist pump head bang and rock till you drop. The Core dreaming the day away. Kissing Dirt mosh shred rip and tear it up.

Sacri Souni- Time To Harvest

Mattia Carabelli- Bass, Gianmarco De Santis – Guitar, Giacomo Tagni – Guitar, Alessio Gavioli- Drums

Plow the Void pulls you into dark dreams. Sooth lost in depression and madness. Dissolve to Reunite in Varanasi have music envelops your senses. It Will Crumble Before Us death destruction mayhem and madness pulls you into your imagination.

Ping- Songs From The Nebula

Jørgen Greiner- Vocals, bass, guitar, synth, drum machine, Mattis Janitz- Guitar, banjo, ukulele, flute, bass, backing vocals, synth, drum machine, midi stuff, Tore Hofstad- Synth, accordion, guitar, mandolin, backing vocals, Mats Monstad- Drums, percussion, backing vocals, groaning, Bjørn Arne Johansen- Guitar, backing vocals, mandolin, bass, Roald Madland- Synth, guitar, backing vocals, Additional musicians- Bendik Bjørnstad Foss: Viola, Tiril Dørum Bengtsson: Cello, Embrik Snerte: Bassoon, Sverre Riise: Trombone, Kristoffer Berre Alberts: Saxophone, Kim Alexander Eriksen: Trumpet, Mikkel Ødegård Janitz: Vocals

Accelerating Time strange 60s prog rock that makes you go wtf. Space Time Companion lost in strange imaginations. Bad Boy Pluto just take one interesting musical journey. Daze In Space dream the day away in man imaginations. Callisto clap foot tap and flow with the rhythms. Jewish Space Laser take a trip back to the space rock of the 70s and enjoy the journey. Nebula lost in distant memories. Drag Me Through Space emotional prog space rock. Black Matte Lives take one strange musical mind trip. Multiverse clap foot tap and sing along. Kulper just drifting thru memories.

-Xroadie

Gjenferd ★ Black Smoke Rising

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Tue, 26 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

There’s something gloriously unfiltered about Gjenferd and their second album Black Smoke Rising. It feels less like a modern release and more like stumbling upon a dusty crate in the back of some forgotten record shop, pulling out a mysterious LP from 1971, and realizing within seconds that you’ve struck gold. Warm tube amps humming, Hammond organ swirling through clouds of smoke, guitars drenched in blues and psychedelia — this thing absolutely lives and breathes the spirit of the golden age of hard rock.

The self-titled debut from 2024 already showed that these Norwegian retro-rock disciples knew exactly how to channel the ghosts of Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, early Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin without sounding like a lazy copycat act. But Black Smoke Rising takes everything that worked on that record and pushes it further. The songwriting is sharper, the atmosphere deeper, the production warmer and heavier without losing that beautifully rough-edged analog charm.

Right from the opening moments of “Crimson Rain,” Gjenferd hit the gas pedal hard. The guitar and Hammond organ duel like they were born to live together forever, while the rhythm section drives the whole thing forward with serious muscle and groove. And honestly, the amount of joy pouring out of this band is infectious. You can hear four musicians completely locked into the same cosmic frequency.

“Bound To Fall” keeps the momentum rolling with swirling psychedelic textures, killer bass lines, and another eruption of glorious organ work from Jakob Særvoll, whose keyboard playing is basically one long love letter to the early 70s. Meanwhile, Vegard Bachmann Strand’s guitar tone cuts through everything with fuzzy blues-rock perfection.

The title track “Black Smoke” sounds like some lost proto-metal anthem unearthed from another timeline — heavy riffs, eerie melodies, and vocal harmonies that somehow make the whole thing ridiculously catchy. That’s one of Gjenferd’s biggest strengths: even when they get dark, gloomy, or doom-laden, the melodies never stop pulling you in.

And when the band slows things down, they become even more impressive. “Calling Your Name” drifts through melancholic, cosmic atmospheres with soft vocals and haunting flute passages that feel straight out of an old progressive rock dream. The short interlude “Attergangar” gently bridges the album into its second half before “The Thrill” stomps in like Leslie West joining Deep Purple for a late-night Zeppelin jam somewhere deep underground.

By the time “Ride On” and the epic closer “Spread Like Wildfire” arrive, Gjenferd are completely untouchable. Psychedelic, emotional, massive in scope — these tracks don’t just recreate the past, they make it feel alive again.

What makes Black Smoke Rising so special is that it never feels forced or nostalgic for the sake of nostalgia. This isn’t cosplay rock. It’s a band deeply in love with the roots of heavy music, channeling that passion into songs overflowing with warmth, groove, melody, and soul. For anyone craving vintage hard rock with real heart and absolutely killer Hammond organ, this record is pure magic. Early contender for hard rock album of the year? Absolutely.

-Helge Neumann

Black Smoke Rising by Gjenferd

US heavy psych explorers EALDOR BEALU announce new album "Graves of the Silent Plain" on Ripple Music this summer; debut track streaming!

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Sat, 23 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Idaho-based heavy psych metal merchants EALDOR BEALU have signed to Ripple Music for the release of their new studio album "Graves of the Silent Plain" this July 10th, and present the debut single "Ponderay" today.

Listen to Ealdor Bealu's new single Ponderay

Hailing from the high desert of Idaho, progressive heavy psych quartet Ealdor Bealu was formed in 2015 by Carson Russel (Ghorot), Rylie Colingwood, Travis Abbott (Shadow & Claw) and Alex Wargo. With a focus on shifting dynamics from the ambient to the massive and back again, Ealdor Bealu's sound expands beyond genre boundaries.

Ealdor Bealu conjures a rare and powerful alchemy on their upcoming album and Ripple Music debut Graves of the Silent Plain. Across five deeply evocative tracks — with tracks such as ‘Abandoned to Decay,’ ‘Erosion,’ and ‘Gold Mountain’ — the band melds heavy rock, heavy psychedelia and dark folk ambience. Anchored by dual vocal forces (ethereal female leads and a soulful male croon) and built on patient, explosive dynamics, the album unfolds like a lost soundtrack to a mythical Western. Cinematic, melancholic and strikingly epic. It will be released on July 10th on LP, CD and digital through Ripple Music.

EALDOR BEALU "Graves of the Silent Plain"

Out July 10th on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

Over the past decade, Idaho's Ealdor Bealu has carved a singular path through heavy psychedelia, dark folk, and progressive metal, earning regional, national, and international praise across four full-length releases.

Their 2017 debut, Dark Water at the Foot of the Mountain, landed on several Album of the Year lists with its expansive, haunting 60-minute vision. The 2019 sophomore LP, Spirit of the Lonely Places deepened the band’s heavy psychedelic edge while retaining their atmospheric Western heart.

2022’s Psychic Forms (Metal Assault Records) pushed further into progressive metal, driven by the dynamic drumming of Michael Mulcock and the addition of husky, Americana-tinged vocals from Travis Abbott alongside the established voices of Carson Russell and Rylie Collingwood. It became the band’s most successful release to date, and Cameron Elgart (Crush the Monster) joined on drums shortly after.

Ealdor Bealu has consistently toured the Western US, playing Treefort Music Fest, Offbeat Music Fest, Crucial Fest, and others. The band celebrated their 2025 decade milestone with a career-spanning Treefort set, a two-week West Coast tour, and a performance at Portland’s Sound Castle festival.

Ealdor Bealu links

Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram

Ripple Music links

Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram

Marillion - With Friends From The Orchestra

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Fri, 22 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Three years after the release of 'F.E.A.R.' and ten years after the experimentation that was 'Less Is More' Marillion's second attempt at reworking their own music, 'With Friends From The Orchestra' appeared in 2019. Quality-wise this creation showcase the depth and greatness of the songs and Marillion's incredible writing abilities. Chart-wise the album didn't do much of an impact but that wasn't the intention. Again Marillion used this occasion to spark their creative juices in preparation of the next proper studio album as well as giving their supporters something to nurture while waiting for the "real one". This worked with 'Less Is More' and it worked again. Mike Hunter, the band's unofficial sixth member, was back co-producing with Marillion and he arranged the strings too. The strings were performed by Praise Of Folly String Quartet with the addition of Sam Morris, French horn, Emma Halnan, flute, and Phil Todd, saxophone.

As with any re-imagining recording by a band you like you already have favourite songs which might become even more imbedded as your top picks. Or others will step forward and take over instead. You, dear Wave Riders, will have your personal favourites and that's how it should be. On 'With Friends From The Orchestra' the following below are a cut above the rest for yours truly on this very appealing and good recording.

'Estonia' is in my Top 5-list of Marillion songs as it is. The new beginning on here featuring strings enhances the song right away. Bringing in the reworked chorus with strings, brass and woodwind as well as the brand new section around 4.45 are brilliant addtitions. 'The Hollow Man' is stripped down yet very cinematic with the added orchestra. This is not a huge alteration but very effecful, indeed, especially the way they weave in and out throughout the song. 'Seasons End' offers a miniscule change from the original but it is of dramatic effect. And again, the orchestra which moves back and forth lifts an already great song and the guitar solo is wonderful at that.

Marillion are the masters of reinventing themselves and push forward without forsaking who they are. Usually there are minor tweaks, as this album offers, but they are of great effect showcasing the band's brilliance as songsmiths and creators. Personally I prefer Marillion's way by bringing in an orchestra or strip the songs down instead of simply remix and/or shorten a song trying to create momentum. Their way truly show if a song and its creators are a cut above the rest. A very good album, indeed!

-Swedebeast

The Xroadie Files

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Greve (Sweden)- Bleknat Bortom Evig Tig

Korgath – Vocals, Swartadauthuz – Guitar/Keyboards

Till Striden… lost in dark imaginations. Livets Fjätter Brista crushes your very soul. Nektar av Dödens Gift punches you right in the face over and over . I Dunkel Poesi death metal mayhem. En Sista Färd destruction and mayhem. 16 Vingar… heaviness grabs you and slams you into the ground. Bleknat Bortom Evig Tid death metal blackness. Efter Stormen… melancholic dreams.

Mount Palatine - Wormholy World

Jean the Baron – Guitar/Vocals, Count Boogie -Bass, Lord Of the Groove- Drums

The Sands close your eyes and drift in dreams and emotions. Whisper Of The Holy Lands lost in emotional imaginations. The Dreaming floating on a cloud of memories. Panther Eyes let the music envelop your senses. Ethereal takes you away on a magical journey. Newborn Sun lets your memories take you away.

SLEEPING GIANT - The Beauty of Obliteration

Tommy Green- Vocals, Geoff Brouillette- Guitar/Bass), Matt Weir- Drums, Eric Gregson- Guitar, JR Bermuda – Bass

Conqueror slow crushing riffs pounding rhythms with dark vocals. Mobilizer Of Evil hit the pit slam sweat and thrash about. The Monk lost in dark despair. Slay the King Of Hell thumping bass pounding drums crunchy riffs and screaming leads with gruff vocals. Venom Ripper Gorgon Blaster shred rip and tear it up. Abysmal Flame slowly pulls you into darkness.

Clouds Taste Satanic- Berlin 2023

Steve Scavuzzo – Guitar, Rob Halstead – Bass, Greg Acampora – Drums, Brian Bauhs – Guitar

Second Sight crushing riffs screaming leads thumping bass. Sun Death Ritual Parts I-III just let the emotions take you into special places. Spirits Of the Green Desert Part IV catchy beats thumping bass clap foot tap and groove. Beast From The Sea will let the emotions envelop your senses,.

Kal-El – Astral Voyager Vol 2

Captain – Vocals, Josh – Guitar, Doffy – Guitar, Bjudas – Drums, Knutsen - Bass

Juno thundering bass pounding drums crunchy riffs and strong vocals. The Nine lost in the depths of your imagination. The Prophecy clap foot tap groove and just flow with the rhythms. Juggernaut thundering bass pounding drums catchy riffs a with searing leads. Pan clap foot tap groove and sway. Asteroid take a trip thru your imagination.

-Xroadie

German heavy rock trio SAMAVAYO shares "California Sun" video off upcoming split album with ALUNAH; out June 5th on Heavy Psych Sounds

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Tue, 19 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Berlin heavy rockers SAMAVAYO team up with The Obelisk to premiere their brand new video for "California Sun", taken from their forthcoming "Embers of Belief" split record with ALUNAH on Heavy Psych Sounds.

⚡️ Watch Samavayo's video "California Sun" via The Obelisk ⚡️

Says the band: "California Sky is a psychedelic, acoustic ode to Samavayo’s 2025 US tour, capturing a paradoxical longing for the American desert landscape. It evokes a sense of spiritual belonging in the vast emptiness of Joshua Tree, while reflecting a deep yet helpless emotional connection to the United States and all its contradictions."

The upcoming "Embers of Belief" with UK heavy rockers Alunah features seven tracks total. On their side of the record, Samavayo introduces three new studio recordings (including the latest single Bavar) for an overall exhilarating experience, while Alunah presents two new studio songs (including the latest single La Pucelle) — celebrating the studio debut of new vocalist Daisy Savage — alongside two live recordings as part of the band's 20th anniversary.

ALUNAH & SAMAVAYO "Embers of Relief" (split album)

Out June 5th on Heavy Psych Sounds - Preorder

TRACKLIST:

1. Alunah - On Blacklow Hill

2. Alunah - La Pucelle

3. Alunah - Hazy Jane (Alive '25)

4. Alunah - Violet Hour/Hunt (Alive '25)

5. Samavayo - Bavar

6. Samavayo - Mottainai

7. Samavayo - California Sky

On their side of this new split record, UK doom and hard rock pillars Alunah say: "It features the first recordings with vocalist Daisy Savage and continues our long-standing relationship with Heavy Psych Sounds Records. We are both excited and proud to present our contribution to this split release: two brand new studio tracks that give a glimpse into where this new chemistry as a band is taking us creatively, alongside two live recordings which document and acknowledge the incredible job Daisy did in stepping up to tour and promote our previous full-length. This significant release is part of our “VINGT” celebrations, marking 20 years of Alunah with both new music and festival appearances, including Bloodstock Open Air and Desertfest London. To everyone who’s stood by Birmingham, heavy rock, and doom through the years: this one’s for you!"

Alunah links: Bandcamp⎜Facebook⎜Instagram

Creativity. It burns deep inside, demanding to be heard. And when it wants out, it has to get out. Longing, recklessness and hope: three themes that couldn’t be more human or more relevant right now. Germany's finest heavy and stoner rockers Samavayo are ready to present three outstanding new studio tracks recorded at Big Snuff Studio Berlin with Richard Behrens (Kadavar, delving, Weite, Samsara Blues Experiment) as part of their upcoming split album on Heavy Psych Sounds Records.

Samavayo links: Website⎜Facebook⎜Bandcamp⎜Instagram

Heavy Psych Sounds links

Website⎜Facebook⎜Bandcamp⎜Instagram⎜Youtube

Stonus ★ Space to Dive

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Mon, 18 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Like Monster Magnet, Kyuss and a crew of desert-rock astronauts locked themselves inside a smoke-filled space lab to channel their deepest thoughts through towering fuzz amps — that’s exactly what "Space to Dive" by Stonus feels like. This is far more than just another heavy stoner rock record. It’s a psychedelic deep dive through emotion, groove and cosmic atmosphere, sitting somewhere between the massive riff attack of Truckfighters, the warm fuzz-heavy hypnosis of 1000mods and the floating spacey melancholy of Mars Red Sky.

Right from the opening track “Berlin,” STONUS pull the listener deep into their sonic universe with hypnotic riffs and massive desert-rock grooves. What makes the album so compelling is the way the band constantly shifts direction. Just when a classic heavy-fuzz moment seems about to settle in, the Cypriots open another door — sometimes drifting into psychedelic space-rock territory, sometimes leaning into metallic intensity or almost progressive structures.

The title track “Space to Dive” stands at the emotional core of the album. Described by the band as a battle between consciousness and the subconscious, the song perfectly captures that feeling: trance-like, intense and beautifully disorienting. When harsher vocals suddenly cut through the swirling wall of sound, it feels like waking up in the middle of a dream.

Atmosphere is everything here. The production sounds huge, warm and organic. Recorded in Greece and mastered by Howie Weinberg — known for his legendary work with bands like Nirvana and Kyuss — the guitars rise like enormous fuzz-drenched waves while the rhythm section moves underneath with tectonic force. Vocalist Kyriacos Frangoulis occasionally recalls the cosmic swagger of Dave Wyndorf, the charismatic frontman of Monster Magnet, but never in a way that feels imitative.

Highlights include the explosive “Psychoactive Baby,” packed with spacey textures and crushing riffs, as well as “Tangerine,” whose laid-back, dusty vibe almost channels a Ry Cooder-like coolness.

What truly makes Space to Dive stand out is how unique STONUS sound despite their obvious influences. The band manages to be dirty, emotional, epic and hypnotic all at once without falling into typical stoner-rock clichés. This isn’t just a collection of heavy riffs — it’s a psychedelic journey through inner space, filled with personality, depth and an undeniable sense of exploration.

-Helge Neumann

Space to Dive by Stonus

The Xroadie Files

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Fri, 15 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Rollerball - Submarine

Matt "Tenpin" Boland - Vocals, Dave Talon – Guitar/Synthesizer, Stew "Boots" Maclennan - Bass/Guitar, Cam "Cracker" Roach - Drums

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea drifting on cloud of melodic memories. Submarine screaming leads steady bass pounding vocals with strong vocals. Seasoar will have the crowd on its feet rocking all night long. Youth Bailed (Back to Hell) Your Lullaby is a very catchy tune that pulls you in. We Always Slide just fist pump foot stomp and play air guitar. The Devil's Reprise drifting in your imagination. Run Aground will have the crowd rock n and rolling all night long. Tame Existence is a catchy tune that sticks in your head for days. B-Ray Boogie heavy riffs pounding drums thumping bass with powerful vocals.

Submarine by Rollerball

Meteora - Dissonance

Noémi Holló – Vocals, Máté Fülöp – Bass/Growls, Gábor Kása – Drums, Dániel Baranya – Guitars, Dániel Schreiber – Guitars, Atilla Király – Keys/Vocals, Backing vocals from the Meteora choir – assembled and conducted by Ádám Attila Kurucz

Darkest Light is a very classical influences tune that takes you away into your imagination with amazing music and vocals. Shadows Of Ignorance awesome musicianship that will take you away as you dream of interesting times and places. My Reality Pt IV sway groove and just let loose as the music and vocals envelop your very being. Tragedy Of Illusion Pt III slowly builds and it punches you right in the face and drags you along.

Hrmulja- Dream Horizons

Filip Sertić- Guitar/Drums, Zagreb- Vocals/Guitar/Bass

Dream Horizons crunchy riffs powerful vocals and solid rhythms. Disturbance fist pump head bang play air guitar and rock all night long. If You Allow darkness and melancholia envelops your very being, Moonlight Solar lost in the depths of strange imaginations.

Reversed Chakra- Rarefied

Alice Bianconcini- Guitar, Justin Brett- Vocals, Andrea Gennaro- Drums, Carlo Bellott – Bass

The Wild Boys one catchy tune that pulls you in. Game Of Chess let your imagination flow. Dust close your eyes and dream the day away. All The Way Down take you thru your dreams and emotions.

CARRION VALE – Slay Utterly

Travis Lawson Purcell – Vocals, Alex Arford – Bass, Trenton Limburg – Guitar, Ryan Kurder – Guitar, Matt Behner - Drums

19(fucking)78 slam sweat and thrash till death. Truth or Consequences fist pump head bang and just let loose. 1912 death destruction and madness. 30 on 9 death metal mayhem and aggression. 40 Echoes Upon the Parlor shredding guitars lost in desperation. Lord of 74 punches you right in the throat and rips it out. Bisection 47 try and survive the onslaught. Black Chariot blast betas shredding guitars and thundering rhythms.

-Xroadie

ELEGANT WEAPONS PREMIERE NEW LYRIC VIDEO FOR “EVIL EYES”

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Thu, 14 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

The lead-off track from the new album Evolution

Fronted by Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest) and featuring Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, MSG), Dave Rimmer (Uriah Heep), and Christopher Williams (Accept), Elegant Weapons continue to build momentum around their sophomore album Evolution with the release of the lyric video for “Evil Eyes,” a high-impact opener built around a signature Faulkner riff.

Faulkner describes the track as “an obvious choice to open the album. It’s pacey, energetic… and right out of the gate it gives an introduction to what the band’s about.” The new video, directed by Andy Pilkington (Judas Priest, Motorhead, Saxon), who also helmed the clip for “Bridges Burn,” brings the song to life with striking visuals that match its intensity.

WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO FOR “EVIL EYES”:

Evil Eyes Lyric Video

Evolution is available now on all major streaming platforms and at your favorite retailer.

https://linktr.ee/ExciterRecords

The Xroadie Files

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Wed, 13 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Olhava - Memorial

Andrey Novozhilov- Guitar/Bass/Synths/Vocals, Tim Yusupov- Drums

Ageless River X lost in distant dreams. After I’m Gone pulls you into melancholic madness. When The Ashes Grow Cold drifting on a sea of memories. Ageless River XI lost in the depths of your imagination. Memorial darkness envelops your very spirit. Ageless River XII lost in loneliness. The River Wakes just try and survive the onslaught. Ageless River XIII floating on a sea of melancholic memories.

Gorrch - Stillamentum

Droich- Guitars/Bass, Chimsicrin- Drums/Vocals/Keyboards

Nimbus grabs you by the throat and pummels your senses. Virago death destruction and madness. Larv pulls you into the depths of dark imaginations. Crypt mosh shred rip and tear. Angor lost in dark imaginations. Phlegma crushes your very soul.

Old Sorcery - The Outsider

Vechi Vrajitor- Everything

Magick Triumph pulls you into strange imaginations. Barrowgrim Asylum lost in eerie dreams. Innigkeit remembering strange emotions. The Interior Gates Of The True Soul darkness envelops your very spirit. The Pain Threshold drifting in melancholic dreams. Where Sorrow Reigns pummels you into submission.

Abysmal Grief - Taetra Philosophia

Lord Alastar- Bass, Regen Grave- Guitar/Keyboards/Drums/Synths, Labes C Necrothytus- Vocals/Keys

Deus Cornatus pulls you into strand imaginations. Taetra Philosophia cathcy riffs strong vocals with eerie keys. Leambulacrum Luctus takes you into strange imaginations. Lumen Ad Urnam lost in melancholic dreams. Corpus Mortuum slowly drags you into hell. Speculum Fractum dark doom melancholic mayhem. Lamentum strange dreams and melancholic imaginations.

Unfyros- Star Blood

Anti Ittna H.- Guitar, Nox Vector- Drums, T. Von Kollaja – Bass

Skinning Winds pulls you int strange dreams. Her Freezing Wings fist pump head bang mosh and let loose. Elemental Poison death destruction and mayhem. Black Magnetism pulls you into darkness. Dark Star Talisman dark dreams and emotions envelop your senses. Into Obsidian Chasm the pits of hell open and demons pour forth devouring all. Nefyral (Cold-Whisperer) mosh shred rip and tear at your senses.

-Xroadie

LEX LEGION – COMPRISED OF KING DIAMOND BAND MEMBERS – UNLEASH NEW SINGLE, "GYPSY TEARS"

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Tue, 12 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Following the explosive debut of their first single, Lex Legion returns with "Gypsy Tears," a haunting and powerful new track that further reveals the depth and identity of this veteran supergroup.

The single releases today, and its music video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/L0CuHWB_0Zw

Featuring members of the classic King Diamond lineup—Mikkey Dee, Andy La Rocque, Pete Blakk, and Hal Patino—alongside vocalist Nils K. Rue (Pagan's Mind), Lex Legion continues to channel decades of heavy metal mastery into something both timeless and fresh.

Where their debut single "Sleep Eternally" hit with immediate force, "Gypsy Tears" showcases a more atmospheric and dynamic side of the band.

Built on eerie melodies, driving rhythms, and soaring vocal lines, the track balances mysticism with raw power—shifting between evocative passages and undeniable, headbanging momentum.

Driven by Mikkey Dee's unmistakable groove, layered with intricate twin-guitar work from La Rocque and Blakk, and anchored by Hal Patino's melodic basslines, the song creates a cinematic soundscape that feels both classic and forward-looking. At the center, Rue delivers a commanding vocal performance filled with drama and intensity.

It’s now time to release our second single; “Gypsy Tears”. Another great song with a lot of fire and bite, this one is a real driving banger! The video, it’s more of a short movie, does a great job of telling the story in the lyrics. Release is on the 5th of May. Check it out! - Mikkey Dee

At its core, the song is a dark portrait of obsession, told through the eyes of a watcher who cannot let go. The video reimagines this as a timeless story of love and longing that stretches beyond reality itself. Through layered metaphors, the lyrics transform personal conflict into vast, symbolic landscapes—where emotional collapse feels like war-torn ground. - Nils K. Rue

Gypsy Tears is the essence of me, Mikkey, Andy and Hal. With me and Andy trading off solos and the power of Mikkey and Hal’s rhythm section all supporting the powerful vocals of Nils, the song really brings a new dimension to metal in 2026. The video is tasteful, mystical and raw. It’s a piece of art that will leave no one untouched. - Pete Blakk

"Gypsy Tears" is the second single from Lex Legion's upcoming self-titled debut album, set for release on June 12, 2026 via MNRK Music Group.

The album captures the spirit of classic heavy metal while embracing the experience and chemistry that only decades of musicianship can bring.

With "Gypsy Tears," Lex Legion continues to build momentum toward one of the most anticipated hard rock/metal debuts of the year.

"Gypsy Tears" is available now on all major streaming platforms, and can be ordered via this link:

https://lexlegion.ffm.to/lexlegion-album

LEX LEGION LINEUP:

Nils K. Rue - vocals

Pete Blakk - guitar

Andy La Rocque - guitar

Mikkey Dee - drums

Hal Patino - bass

'LEX LEGION' TRACK LISTING:

1) Sleep Eternally 3.56

2) Gypsy Tears 3.57

3) When The Stars Align 3.52

4) (I Am) The Resurrected 4.27

5) Lost Inside 3.33

6) Darkness 4.28

7) Saviours 4.03

8) Life Eternal 3.25

9) Far Away 2.58

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

https://lexlegionofficial.com/

KAL-EL ★ Astral Voyager II

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Mon, 11 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

KAL-EL don’t just push the fuzz on Astral Voyager Vol. 2—they ignite it, and it spreads like a slow cosmic weather front across an endless black sky. The sound doesn’t sit in front of you. It surrounds you. It seeps into everything, warm and glowing, like distant starlight bending through thick space dust, carrying echoes of an unexplored universe that never really faded—it just kept drifting outward.

“Juno” doesn’t start so much as it emerges, like a machine waking up inside a dark planet. The groove rolls forward like something massive turning in deep space, slow and inevitable. Each note feels dense, almost physical, like it has weight in your chest. Above it, Ståle Rodvelt’s voice cuts through the haze—clear, floating, almost detached from gravity itself, like a signal sent from a ship lost between systems. Nothing rushes. Everything pulls you in.

“The Nine” stretches time until it becomes unstable. Ten minutes feels less like duration and more like drift—like being carried through layers of atmosphere that don’t belong to any known world. The guitars don’t just play; they smear across the void in glowing arcs. The rhythm section doesn’t follow time—it bends it, like orbit adjusting itself around invisible mass. Somewhere in that movement, you lose the sense of where you are supposed to be.

“The Prophecy” arrives like a slow change in gravity. Everything feels slightly tilted, slightly unreal. The groove sways like a vast metal structure swaying in unseen wind, patient but alive. Then the breakdown hits—not as a moment, but as a collapse of light. It’s as if something enormous shifts just beyond the edge of perception, sending waves through everything you thought was stable.

“Juggernaut” doesn’t walk in—it presses down. The low end feels like continents of sound grinding against each other, slow and unstoppable. The bass doesn’t support the track; it becomes the ground, the air, the pressure in your ears. And yet, through all that weight, melodies rise like structures breaking through storm clouds—huge, radiant, almost painfully beautiful in contrast to the mass below.

“Pan” brings motion back into the void, like debris caught in a solar wind. It moves fast enough to feel alive, but never escapes the gravitational pull of the record. Everything is still being dragged through that same vast field of tone, just at a slightly sharper angle now, like something trying to remember momentum.

And then “Asteroid” loosens everything completely. The structure dissolves. What’s left is space—huge, unmeasured, breathing space. The riffs don’t develop anymore; they echo, like fragments of transmissions bouncing between dead stars. The melodies hover just above perception, weightless and distant, as if they’ve already left the system and are only now arriving as memory.

Astral Voyager Vol. 2 doesn’t behave like a collection of songs. It behaves like a single expanding field—one continuous movement through density, light, and distortion. No edges. No interruptions. Just flow, pulling everything along with it.

Released on Majestic Mountain, it carries the feeling of something both ancient and newly formed, like a fossil of future music being uncovered in real time. Even the knowledge that Tony Iommi once acknowledged them feels less like a reference and more like a signal echoing across generations of heavy sound.

This isn’t an album you listen to. It’s a space you enter. A slow drift through molten tone, where everything solid eventually turns fluid, and even silence feels like it’s moving. So let go of direction, and let it carry you wherever it has already decided you’re going.

-Helge Neumann

Astral Voyager Vol. 2 (North American Version) by KAL-EL

The Xroadie Files

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Fri, 08 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Black Magic Tree - Terra

Alessandro Monte – Vocals, Christian Reuter – Guitar, Max Milan Bergrath – Guitar, Michael Hupp – Drums, Philipp Ott – Bass

Time Parrots (Hit Me Up) over driven guitars crunchy riffs pounding drums thumping bass and strong vocals. Popcorn Coke is a very catchy tune with screaming leads and soaring vocals. Pagos is a great song to cruise on down the road to. Grace clap foot tap groove and just let loose. Chasing the Light will have the crowd on its feet rocking all night long. Love Doubt let the emotions send shivers down your spine. Summer grab your air guitars sing shout and let the music envelop your senses. Roadway a slow bluesy number that brings back memories. Veleno rock n roll all night long.

The Last Sound Revelation- The Proximity Effect

Niccolò Sbernadori- Bass, Francesco Salvitti- Guitar, Tiziano De Sante- Drums, Valerio “JPeck” Pecoriello.- Guitar

Delirium pounding drums scorching leads thumping bass with crunchy riff. Angle of Incidence close your eyes and let your imagination flow. Pressure Difference brings back memories and emotions. Source of Frequency has a very funky bass with interesting musical movements. Wavelength take s you away into the depths of your imagination. Large Distances will have your imagination going wild. Hypercube lost in the depths of dream and melodies. The Dominant one magical musical moment. The Proximity Effect sway groove and just let loose.

Tarlung- Axis Mundi

Philipp Seiler- Guitars/Vocals, Marian Waibl- Drums, Rotten – Guitars

Static Noise crunchy riffs pounding drums thumping bass that envelops your senses. The Valley Of Nowhere lost in the depths of your imagination. Burning Out darkness pulls you into nothingness. Sea Of Drowned Souls just let the melancholic music flow thru you. Swans sway groove and just let loose. Full Circle floating on a cloud of melancholic memories. Between Earth And Moon darkness death and destruction envelops your very being. Axis Mundi pounding drums crunchy riffs and gruff memories.

Axis Mundi by TarLung

Desert Storm - Buried Under The Weight Of Reason

Matthew Ryan — Vocals, Ryan Cole — Guitars, Elliot Cole — Drums, Andrew Keyzor — Bass

Newfound Respect death and darkness envelops your very spirit. Shamanic Echoes crushing riff pounding rhythms and screaming leads with gruff vocals. Woodsman fist pump head bang and mosh till you drop. Cut Your Teeth slow grinding heavy metal mayhem. Rot To Ruin Side close your eyes and let the emotions flow. Carry The Weight slowly pulls you into nothingness. Dripback grab your air guitars riff play leads and just flow with the heaviness. Law Unto Myself dreaming the day away. Twelve Seasons fist pump foot stomp and just let loose.

Buried Under The Weight Of Reason by Desert Storm

Witchcraft- A Sinners Child

Magnus Pelander- Most Instruments/Vocals, Fredrik Landh - Bass, Clas Olofsson – Guitar, Micke Dahlén – Drums

Drömmen Om Död Och Förruttnelse crunchy riffs pounding drums searing leads and interesting vocals. Sinner's Child close your eyes and let the emotions envelop your senses. Even Darker Days melancholic music pulls you into your imagination. Själen Reser Sig crushing riffs slow steady doom metal that pulls you in. Sinner's Clear Confusion one strange musical mind trip.

WITCHCRAFT - A Sinner's Child EP by HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Records

-Xroadie

Houston doom metal trio STONE NOMADS releases new single "Prophecy" on Ripple Music; US summer shows announced!

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Thu, 07 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Houston, Texas melodic sludge and doom metal merchants STONE NOMADS present their new single "Prophecy", and announce a string of US shows including appearances at Maryland Doom Fest, Gravitoyd Doomfest and Ripple Music showcase this summer.

🔥 Stream new Stone Nomads single "Prophecy" at this location 🔥

Since their ignition in Houston in 2021, Stone Nomads has channeled the journey of life and death into a signature sound built on sludged-out, powerful riff-based sonics and shapeshifting heaviness. Their third full-length and Ripple Music debut Empires of Stone channels themes of fear, societal struggle and mortality into a boiling and earth-rumbling formula that showcases the trio's devastatingly crushing firepower, while also revealing a deeper, progressive side — brooding and expansive. Described as "pure metal magic" by Doomed & Stoned and "an album of outstanding proportions" by Distorted Sound Magazine, it will appeal highly to fans of heavier-than-thou acts à la High On Fire, Crowbar and Obituary. Empires of Stone is available now on LP, CD and digital at this location.

Their upcoming US tour will span ten dates across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, including appearances at Gravitoyd Doomfest IV and Maryland Doomfest, along with a special Ripple Music 15th Anniversary Showcase celebration on June 27th:

May 2nd - Houston, TX - 4th Annual Gravitoyd Doomfest

June 19th - Winston Salem, NC - The Den

June 20th - Richmond, VA - Bandito’s Burritos

June 21st - Frederick, MD - Maryland Doomfest presents Knights of Doom

June 22nd - Cleveland, OH - Smedley’s

June 24th - Detroit, MI - Outer Limits Lounges

June 25th - Louisville, KY - Mag Bar

June 26th - Indianapolis, IN - State Street w/ Wolftooth

June 27th - Chicago, IL - Ripple Music 15th Anniversary Showcase - Reggies

August 8th - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall

From the heavy heart of Houston, TX, Stone Nomads charts a monolithic path through the darker realms of doom and sludge. The power trio—conceived in 2021 by Jon Cosky (Guitar/Vocals) and Jude Sisk (Bass/Vocals)—explores the weighty concepts of life and death through a lens of pummeling riffs and progressive sludge sensibility.

Their sound is a tectonic blend, drawing equally from the classic doom of Sabbath or Trouble and the savage, sludge-laden attack of High On Fire, Crowbar and Obituary. This evolving vision has been captured on two Doom Charts-approved monoliths Fields of Doom (2022) and …At the Gates of Solitude (2023), building towards the imminent release of their crushingly heavy third album, Empires of Stone on international heavy powerhouse Ripple Music.

Known for a live show that is both energetic and utterly immersive, Stone Nomads have carved their name across the Texas scene and southern US on stages shared with the likes of Crowbar, Soulfly, The Obsessed, Eyehategod, Elder, Khemmis, as well as on three multi-region headline and co-headline tours, establishing themselves as a formidable and essential live force within the heavy underground scene.

Stone Nomads is

Jon Cosky – Guitar & Vocals

Jude Sisk – Bass & Vocals

Ben Wozniak – Drums

Stone Nomads links

Website⎪Facebook⎪B andcamp⎪Instagram⎪Youtube

Ripple Music links

Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Twitter

The Xroadie Files

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Wed, 06 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Saint Omen - Mysteries Of Rebirth

Geroni J. Saint-Hilaire - Everything

Invocation Of Rebirth [Intro] pulls its wait into strange imaginations. Hell Money drifting in darkness. Devil Eyes eerie feeling come over your senses. Bone Shakin' Mama one trance trip in space and time. Those Who Harm just let your emotions take you away. Smokeless Fire strange vocals and eerie melancholic music. Satan Man Mysteries Of Rebirth try and survive your mind trip journey. Undead dreams and memories come flooding back Levitation pulsating rhythms envelops your very being. Communion lost in strange musical moments.

Mysteries Of Rebirth by Saint Omen

DeadPeach – Touch Me I’m Peach

Giovannini, MRSteveman,Stefano Scola

Toys crunchy riffs interesting vocals and steady beats. II Cammino Della Spirale take a trip into psychic imaginations. Cybertrain lost on many dreams and melodies. Rain Again has a very punk rock feel. Umbrelli close your eyes and dream. Touch Me I’m Peach mosh shred and tear it up in the pit. The Liar take one catchy musical mind trip.

DeadPeach- The Demo Tapes Green

Giovannini, MRSteveman,Stefano Scola

Acua catchy riffs pounding drums thumping bass and interesting vocals. Media lost in strange imaginations. Bianca A Febbraio is a very interesting mind trip. Un Senso getup and dance the night away in fast mode. Wave With Your Name thumping bass pounding drums with a catchy rhythm. Heart grab your air guitars and riff away. Vaseline punk rock mayhem. Hungry doom punk music that just envelops your senses. Green mosh till you drop. Liar 1995 screaming leads thumping bass and pounding drums acid rock madness.

Hexjakt- Blessing Of The Damned

Hampus Henningsson – Guitar/Vocals, Toni Åkerman – Bass/Vocals, Dan Nordin - Drums

10,000 Crows slowly pulls you into dark dreams and madness. Black Circle blackness encircles your very being. Void Throne take a trip into your dark dreams. Wyrd pulls you int the darkness of time and space. The Act Of Dying melancholic music that envelops your senses. Don’t Talk To Strangers one slow very melancholic dark version of the Dio Classic. Monolith crunchy doom riffs pounding drums thumping bass and eerie vocals. Cathedrals pulls you in and wont let go of your madness.

Homegrown- St

Cedric Bergendal- Guitar, Marcus Bertilsson- Guitar, Adam Jensen- Bass, Oskar Brindmark – Drums

Frihetsvisa I A Mole strange space rock madness. Haxjakt I Snetakt clap foot tap and groove. Huldran just let the music envelop your senses. Adams Apple close your eyes and drift away. Mylingen dreaming the night away with many memories. Ringforsens Orca close your eyes and trip the musical mind highway. Den Hornkronke has several different musical directions that will drive you mad. Ganglat Till Karingberget sitting with friends strumming mandolins and other string instrument as as they sway and have fun. Ringopolskan lost in melancholic dreams and imaginations. Talisman has a very old school feel that just has you letting loose.

Homegrown by Homegrown

-Xroadie

My personal reflection on the history of The Seventh Gate and Palkoski

noreply@blogger.com (The Ripple Effect) — Tue, 05 May 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Discography The Seventh Gate:

1. The Bane Of Your Existence Demo (2001)

2. Satan Rock Demo (2001)

3. None So Bloody As The Kingdom Of Christ Full-length (2001)

4. Cheap Sex And Painkillers Full-length (2003)

5. Portrayal Of An American Terrorist EP (2005)

6. Folie á Trois Full-length (2006)

7. Folie á Trois (made for labels only) Demo (2006)

8. AOTTMLHDYETP? Full-length (2007)

9. Shamans Of Luciferan Misanthropy EP (2009)

10. Cogito Ergo Doleo/ Horrors Of The Divided Mind Split (2010)

11. Random Antagonist Complex Full-length (2010)

Lineup The Seventh Gate:

Steven Kerchner vocals (2000-2010)

Nick Ellis guitar, backing vocals (2000-03), bass guitar (live) (2003)

Davis Mullen guitar (live) (2003)

Todd Wuehrmann guitar, backing vocals, bass guitar (studio) (2004-2010)

Paul Littlefield drums (2000-01)

Julia Wall drums (live) (2001)

Mike Beer drums, backing vocals (2001-07/08)

Skip Marimow drums (2008-10)

Andre Weldy bass guitar (2000)

Ashley Stride bass guitar & backing vocals (studio) (2001)

Edson Guerro bass guitar, backing vocals (2002-04)

Dan Boyd bass guitar (2005-07)

Ron Fezzy McGinnis bass guitar (studio) (2006, 2007)

David Frantz bass guitar (live) (2006-07)

Scott Nussman noise (live) (2006)

Tim Otis chants, percussion (studio) (2006,2007)

Katie Brutal Boyle voice (studio) (2006, 2007)

Brendan Mackalooloo vocals (studio) (2006, 2007, 2010)

(live) (2009)

The Seventh Gate first came into fruition in 2000 when vocalist Steven Kerchner joined forces with guitarist Nick Ellis, drummer Paul Littlefield and bassist Andre Weldy. After honing their skills in rehearsals and on the live front, time finally arrived in 2001 for the band to hit the studio. That year The Seventh Gate unleashed two demos, 'The Bane Of Your Existence' and 'Satan Rock', as well as their full-length debut, 'None So Bloody As The Kingdom Of Christ'. By then Weldy had left and was replaced by Ashley Stride. She, however, only appeared on the recordings, prompting Edson Guerro to join the fold in 2002. Keep in mind that during their existence The Seventh Gate didn't always have a bass player, neither live nor in the studio. Hence there are sections in their history where no 4-stringer was around.

Julia Wall stepped in to cover for Paul for a live show which he couldn't attend. Eventually Paul departed The Seventh Gate and Mike Beer was unveiled as the new sticksman. Not long after this another change occurred when Edson Guerro joined on bass guitar. As time rolled on work commenced on full-length number two, 'Cheap Sex And Painkillers', which came out in 2003. Around this time guitarist Nick Ellis left with Davis Mullen stepping in for some live shows until Todd Wuehrmann arrived in 2004. The revolving door situation continued shortly afterwards when Edson Guerro departed leaving the band without a bass player for probably a year, meaning that when 'Portrayal Of An American Terrorist' was recorded the band was back to being a three-piece. Todd would play bass guitar whenever needed though. Eventually Dan Boyd stepped in somewhere during 2005 and it was during his tenure, the latter part of it, I first encountered the band.

While I was visiting my girlfriend, and future wife-to-be, in Maryland in the summer of 2007, we decided one day to be tourists down in Baltimore. As the day wore on and evening approached with us still being in town, she took me to this tiny but awesome basement venue called The Sidebar as a show was scheduled there. Several bands were on the bill, none whom I had ever heard of before since this was grindcore and extreme metal, something I wasn't well versed in at the time. After all was said and done one band stood out and that was The Seventh Gate. Before and after their brilliant set we hung out a lot with their singer Steven Kerchner. Our conversations gave a lot of insight of the band and it helped to trigger a growing fascination for the music they played. That, plus we had a damned good time!

With Dan in the band they released two full-lengths, 'Foile á Trois' and 'AOTTMLHDYETP' in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Not to forget the demo-version, or shortened version, of 'Foile á Trois' which was sent out to labels only. Although Ron Fezzy McGinnis from Admiral Browning played the occasional studio bass in 2006 and 2007 for them. As did David Frantz whenever help was needed on the live front. Some time toward the end of 2007 or early 2008 drummer Mike Beer left and Skip Marimow, a band mate of Steven Kerchner from Ol'Scratch, was drafted in 2008.

In 2009 the brilliant EP 'Shamans Of Luciferian Misanthrophy' saw the light of day followed in 2010 by 'Cogito Ergo Doleo/ Horrors Of The Divided Mind', a split with Finns Concrete Icon. The same year also saw the release of 'Random Antagonism Complex', full-length number 5 which also commemorated the band's 10-year anniversary. At this point The Seventh Gate had written a lot of songs about a fictional character called Frank Palkoski. This degenrate person appeared around since about 2003 but didn't appear in any recorded songs until 'AOTTMLHDYETP?'. Once he did he took over the life of the band. Therefore at their tenth anniversary show it was announced that The Seventh Gate were no more. Instead this show was the birth of Palkoski. As it turned out this was one of Skip's last shows as Nick Crisostomo, previously with Immortal Decay and later with Khaotika (double duty) eventually took over amidst the birth of the new band.

Discography Palkoski:

1. Random Antagonist Complex Full-length (2010)

2. The Oblivious Ape Who Covets His Own Full-length (2011)

3. Palkoski 2012 Demo Demo (2012)

4. RAC & TOAWCIO Full-length (2012)

5. The Shittiest CDR You've Gotten From A Shitty Demo & Noise EP (2013)

Metal Band

6. 62 Tracks Of Trash Full-length noise (2014)

7. Never Again Full-length (2016)

Lineup Palkoski:

Steven Kerchner vocals, aux drums, noise (2010-2016)

Todd Wuehrmann guitar, backing vocals, piano (2010-2016)

Helena Goldberg bass guitar, backing vocals(studio) (2011)

Greg bass guitar ( ?-2016)

Skip Marimow drums (2010)

Nick Crisostomo drums, backing vocals, accordion (2010- 2015)

Davis Mullen vocals (studio) (2016)

Jessica Bateman flute (studio) (2011)

The newly formed band picked up right where The Seventh Gate left off with the exception of going even heavier and faster, as well as focusing wholly on the insanely deranged world of Frank Palkoski. 'Random Antagonist Complex' was re-released under the new moniker before touring and the constructing of a new album ensued. 'The Oblivious Ape Who Covets His Own'saw the light of day in 2011 which featured Akris and Lord bassist Helena Goldberg on the song 'For Those Of You Not Invited To My Funeral...This Is The Business Of Not Inviting You To My Funeral'. Palkoski stuck to the trio format throughout their existence although former The Seventh Gate man Davis Mullen would sing one song, 'The Sand' on the last release 'Never Again'. Oh let's not forget Greg though, who was the unofficial fourth member of the band. The guy is fictional and an internal joke which went so far that the guys contemplated making a cardboard cut-out of him and put on stage. 2012 also witnessed the birth of a demo, 'Palkoski 2012 Demo'.

Eventually Palkoski unveiled an extensive CD titled 'Random Antagonist Complex & The Oblivious Ape Who Covets His Own' which is those two releases put together on one disc. This was followed by 'The Shittiest CDR You've Gotten From A Shitty Metal Band'. A crammed- packed recording which was given away at shows. Another release, a noise concoction, was unearthed in 2014. '62 Tracks Of Trash' is in reality just noise and talk capturing the band on tour just talking trash. Palkoski then got busy working on new material and the creative juices flowed freely. Enough songs were recorded to make not just one new album, they actually had enough songs almost ready for a second CD or perhaps an EP. While discussions were underway which way to go – one CD or two, drummer Nick went out on tour with his other band, Khaotika. Sadly tragedy struck and it struck hard. On April 6th 2015, the van which carried Khaotika and their tour mates Wormreich was involved in a car accident killing Nick and two members of Wormreich. Palkoski ceased to exist there and then although almost a year after this tragedy 'Never Again' was released posthumously on March 18th 2016. Containing the unfinished 4-track EP ''Reflections' as well as the hour-long song '…....' which is split into 17 parts, making 'Never Again' a great eulogy for Nick Crisostomo. As it was, this was also the official closure of Palkoski.

-Swedebeast