Photo by Hillarie Jason. The Middle East Nightclub, Cambeidge, MA 2/16/2020
Stoner Rock band Valley Of The Sun have signed a new record deal with Ripple Music, in conjunction with Fuzzorama Records. The four-piece from Cincinnati will release their next studio album in 2022. Catch them New Year’s Eve opening for Clutch!
Ripple Music has announced the final bands for RippleFest Cologne the 2021 edition. The fest takes place at Club Volta on November 27th. Tickets are on sale now! Joining the bill are up-and-coming European stoner rock acts Savanah, Aptera, Fire Down Below, Astral Kompakt, Stonebirds, and Vug.
Crystal Spiders – Morieris
With the second Crystal Spiders album, Morieris (Ripple Music), coming out just a year after Molt, it’s fair to say that it picks up where its predecessor left off. The guitar has a more noticeable presence courtesy of producer Mike Dean playing a more hands on role in the proceedings, but the songs remain primarily driven by Brenna Leath’s thumping bass and attitude-filled howls along with Tradd Yancey’s muscular drumming.
Witchcryer’s second full-length album comes with a noticeably broader scope in comparison to their 2018 debut. In contrast to the more groove-friendly approach to Doom Metal seen on Cry Witch, the song lengths on When Their Gods Come For You (Ripple Music) run longer with a greater emphasis on atmosphere and methodical structuring. The lyrics also work to give the album a more palpable sense of purpose, running the gamut of underworld and death figures from various world mythologies.
Like the previous installment, the third chapter in Ripple Music’s Turned to Stone series is framed as a challenge between two contenders for Stoner Doom supremacy. But while Chapter II saw Howling Giant and Sergeant Thunderhoof put forth their competition as a battle of wits between mythic swordsmen, Chapter III is the culmination of an ongoing meme war between Merlin and Wizzerd. It also operates on a similar template as each band is given a full epic track to put their best foot forward.
Late 2020, the somber Seattle slayers of Sun Crow released their debut album, Quest For Oblivion. Though Ghost Cult missed the initial release, we’re happily taking advantage of the album’s re-release on Ripple Music. It’s no surprise the record topped doom charts, as it’s a perfect showcase of doom and gloom mastery.
Following up a breakthrough album, such as Boss Keloid’s last opus Melted On The Inch (Holy Roar) which finished at #4 in Ghost Cult’s Album of the Year poll in 2018, is a challenging proposition. Stray too far from the magic formula and you risk undoing that giant stride taken forwards (even without being a band that has always taken efforts to ensure development and evolution of their sound is a given); repeat the previous approach and accusations of diminishing returns, or playing it safe, abound along with an invariably inferior product. Continue reading
Salem, Massachusetts’ heavy rock band Mother Iron Horse has signed with Ripple Music. Their new album Under The Blood Moon later this year. This comes as the fourth signing as part of Blasko’s special series on the Californian powerhouse.
San Antonio Doom metal Thunder Horse will release their new album Chosen One this Friday, March 12th on Ripple Music. They have shared a new single and video, the title track, over at Doomed and Stoned! Check it out!
Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal band Hail The Void has signed with Ripple Music and is working on a new album, their second. The band is the second band to join the Californian label as part of the special series of releases curated by Blasko. More info and new music to be announced soon.