Suplecs Announce Hymns Under a Blood Sky Out Feb. 20; First Single Streaming
If you can’t funk with Suplecs, we ain’t gonna be friends. The narrative holds it’s been 15 years since the New Orleans fuzzstrutter power trio released their still-latest album, 2010’s Mad Oak Redoux (review here), and that’s plenty long for a band that good to go unheard-from studio-wise, but the horrid truth is Mad Oak Redoux was itself built on sessions that took place earlier. If you want to go further back, their last album-proper was 2005’s Powtin’ on the Outside Pawty on the Inside, which as noted below coincided with Hurricane Katrina. That was neither the first nor the last time circumstances would shit all over the notion of Suplecs getting their due. 20 years later, if the world ended between now and Feb. 20, I couldn’t really say it would be a surprise.
Longtime denizens of Small Stone showcases, the band played Ripplefest Texas this year and no doubt woke up some heads. Last time I saw them was at the end of 2022 in Virginia (review here) and their groove was glorious. This goes right to the top of my most anticipated for 2026 list and if the Deep Purple-derived riff of opening track “Got Nothing” — streaming below, of course — is anything to go by, I have a lot to look forward to.
From the PR wire:
New Orleans stoner metal trio SUPLECS (with former EyeHateGod) to issue new album “Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky” on Ripple Music; first single streaming!
New Orleans stoner rock veterans SUPLECS announce their great return with the release of their first studio album in over a decade, “Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky”, this February 20th through Ripple Music and stream the first single “Got Nothing” today!
Get a full shot of adrenaline with new single “Got Nothing”
The album’s genesis took place in a hallowed Mid-City rehearsal space; the same warehouse that incubated the foundational New Orleans sludge of Crowbar or Graveyard Rodeo and echoed with the grooves of The Meters. Drawing inspiration from this legacy, Suplecs started crafting new material before being forced out by complaints of noise — an ironic fate for a room once dedicated to forging the city’s sound. They proceeded to track the album at High Tower Studios with esteemed engineer James Whitten (High On Fire, Thou), resulting in a mature, sonically diverse and emotionally charged collection.
“Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky” is a gut-wrenching ride through the New Orleans trio’s world. It ranges from the relentless, Maiden-meets-Sabbath attack of “Got Nothing” to the haunting, brass-backed NOLA jazz funeral dirge of “La Ti Da” featuring the horns of Egg Yolk Jubilee. The album fearlessly tackles themes of death, divorce, suicide and addiction (“Blackwater Rising”), balanced by moving tributes such as guitarist and vocalist Durel Yates’ ode to his mother, “I See You”. It weaves in diverse influences, from Black Flag swagger to prog-jazz intricacy, culminating in the dynamic first single: “No Apologies.”
The album’s title and artwork are deeply rooted in New Orleans history and personal narrative. The cover features a 1960s painting by Danny Nick’s father, famed Jackson Square artist Richard “D.Nick” Nick, depicting the pirate Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, which housed an arsenal of weapons strategic to the victory of The Battle Of New Orleans in the War of 1812. The title, Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky, serves as a tribute to the band’s resilient, outsider spirit—forging an arsenal of riffs in secrecy to pay homage to the only home they’ve ever known.
SUPLECS “Hymns Under A Blood Moon Sky”
Out February 20th on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital) – PREORDER: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/hymns-under-a-blood-moon-sky
TRACKLIST:
1. Got Nothing
2. Pentacle Star
3. I See You
4. Forest of Fire
5. Blackwater Rising
6. Old Spanish Trail
7. Damn These Pills
8. Mountain
9. $6 Man
10. Heartless Bodies
11. No Apologies
12. La Ti Da
Hailing from New Orleans and formed in 1996, Suplecs stands as a powerhouse trio in the stoner rock scene. Consisting of Danny Nick (ex-EyeHateGod), Durel Yates, and Andrew Preen, the trio forged their legacy with their first two albums on Frank Kozik’s iconic Man’s Ruin Records: 2000’s “Wrestlin’ With My Lady Friend” (produced by EyeHateGod bandmate Jimmy Bower) and 2001’s “Sad Songs, Better Days” (produced by Dave Fortman of Ugly Kid Joe). This era cemented their reputation through relentless coast-to-coast tours with heavyweights like Clutch, Alabama Thunderpussy, High On Fire, Corrosion Of Conformity, Gwar and Halfway To Gone.
Their third album, 2004’s “Powtin’ On The Outside, Pawty On The Inside” was produced by another NOLA heavyweight, Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity. Unfortunately, the album failed to gain the traction it deserved as it was released on local label Nocturnal Records, which was sidelined along with the band and everyone from New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina.
After a period of rebuilding, Suplecs reemerged through various appearances over the next few years at SXSW, helped by their new home Small Stone Records. In 2011, they would release their fourth album “Mad Oak Redoux” and gained a coveted High Times Magazine Award as “Stoner Rock Band Of The Year”. The following years saw them continue their musical journey with appearances at Voodoo Fest, Mutants Of Monsters Fest, and Bayou Boogaloo, along with yearly pilgrimages to their second home in Austin, Texas. Their music has been featured on TV shows such as “Dog the Bounty Hunter” and “MTV’s Fun Factory”.
Marked by life’s passages, Suplecs have maintained a vital presence, most notably with their annual Mardi Gras show—a New Orleans staple for over 500 attendees, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. Now, after years of fan-favorite live sets, the band is channeling decades of raw experience, swagger, and heaviness into writing their highly anticipated fifth album, promising a powerful culmination of their storied career.
SUPLECS is
Danny Nick – Bass, Vocals
Durel Yates – Guitars, Vocals
Andrew Preen – Drums, Percussion
https://www.instagram.com/suplecsnola/
https://www.facebook.com/p/SUPLECS-100063769833972/
http://www.ripple-music.com/
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ripplemusic/
https://www.facebook.com/theripplemusic/
