Lo-Pan Sign to Magnetic Eye Records; New Album in 2025
Go figure that as I sit down to start typing out the year-end coverage to go up later this week (which is where there aren’t a ton of posts today and won’t be until it’s done; Thursday, maybe Friday at the rate I’m going?) along comes news of the sort that in my brain needs to be immediately posted. Ohio heavy rockers Lo-Pan moving toward the release of their next full-length — their first since 2019, fifth overall and what will be their first for Magnetic Eye Records — is very much that sort of news for me. The band are coming up on 20 years next year, and whatever else they do to celebrate that, the advent of a follow-up to Subtle (review here) will surely be enough reason for them to hit the road in some fashion. This too is good news.
The PR wire didn’t have any new music to go along with the signing announcement — which would’ve been nice, but you can’t have everything, even at Xmastime — but for me, Lo-Pan being part of a label roster that includes Greenleaf, Elephant Tree, Howling Giant, Brume, Heavy Temple, High Desert Queen, Psychlona, Restless Spirit and so on makes a lot of sense. I was lucky enough to see them in 2023, and I hope to do so again in 2025.
Here’s a photo of the band on a nice day and words from the PR wire:
LO-PAN sign with Magnetic Eye Records!
American hard rockers LO-PAN have set their signatures on a multi-album contract with Magnetic Eye Records. The long-running Columbus, Ohio foursome will release their fifth full-length via the label in 2025.
LO-PAN comment: “It’s an honor to be a part of the Magnetic Eye Records roster”, drummer Jesse Bartz writes on behalf of the band. “We are very excited about the plans that we have for 2025 and beyond. Watch this space for more news coming soon!”
Jadd Shickler adds: “I love breaking new talent, but this label is also a home for iconic heavy bands, and that’s exactly what Lo-Pan are”, the Magnetic Eye director explains. “These guys have been intertwined with the riff-rock, doom, and stoner scene going back over a decade, but they’re something else entirely. They deliver classic rock that’s somehow modern, heavy as hell and at the highest possible level since they started. I can barely express the pride and pleasure it gives me to welcome Lo-Pan to Magnetic Eye! It’s been far too long since we heard new music from them, and we can’t wait to be the ones bringing it to the world!”
LO-PAN are an American hard rock band hailing from Columbus, Ohio, well-known for their powerful blend of driving rhythms, melodic vocals, and immersive sonic landscapes.
Formed in 2005, LO-PAN have laboured hard to earn a reputation as one of the most consistent and compelling acts in the modern heavy scene with their blue-collar work ethic with singular artistic vision.
LO-PAN came together in the vibrant underground Columbus music scene out of a shared love of vintage rock, stoner metal, and modern heaviness. This united four musicians with a passion for pushing boundaries. It was no accident that they took their name from the sorcerous villain in the cult film “Big Trouble in Little China” as the band set out to blend cinematic drama with larger-than-life energy.
From their earliest days, LO-PAN distinguished themselves with an intense live presence and a sound that combined classic rock grit with the crushing weight of stoner and doom influences. What further set them apart was an uncanny combination of weighty power and soaring melodies. Their approach pays homage to the lineage of bands like CLUTCH and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY while carving out their own sonic identity.
LO-PAN’s 2009 debut album “Sasquanaut” was an immediate breakout, earning praise for its infectious hooks and monumental grooves, and established the band as a force to be reckoned with in the heavy underground. Sophomore full-length “Salvador” (2011) solidified their reputation, showcasing a more refined sound and greater musical maturity. 2014’s “Colossus” represented a significant leap forward, pushing into new territories with tighter arrangements and more expansive production by Andrew Schneider (PELICAN, UNSANE et al.). In 2019, LO-PAN released “Subtle”, which marked yet another step in the evolution of their sound. The band dared to take risks by exploring new emotional depths with a more introspective and atmospheric approach, which paid off with critics and fans alike.
LO-PAN have toured and shared stages with such heavyweights as HIGH ON FIRE, TORCHE, and RED FANG, among many others, and have taken their high-energy performances to audiences across the United States and Europe. One of the most vital bands in modern heavy music, LO-PAN inspire and captivate listeners with raw, honest, and unapologetically powerful rock that is both massively thunderous and heartfelt.
LO-PAN will release their fifth full-length via Magnetic Eye Records in early 2025.
Line-up
Jeff Martin – vocals
Chris Thompson – guitar
Scott Thompson – bass
Jesse Bartz – drums
http://www.lopandemic.com
http://www.facebook.com/lopandemic
https://www.instagram.com/lopandemic/
https://lo-pan-rock.bandcamp.com/
http://store.merhq.com
http://magneticeyerecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MagneticEyeRecords
https://www.instagram.com/magneticeyerecords/
Let’s go
Weird that the self-titled album is treated as though it does not exist (no Jeff Martin…). But there are some rippers on there (“The Ringing”).
Happy news
Saw them open for COC and they were fantastic!! Can’t wait for the new record!
Amazing news! I love Jeff’s voice. It somehow makes the riffs hit that much harder.