This is one of the best lineups I’ve seen for a US-based heavy fest in the 15-plus years I’ve been running this site. I don’t know what else to say about it, honestly. For the fact that Ripplefest Texas is bringing Dozer over alone, let alone any of the other Euro acts involved who have, say, been to North America in the last 20-plus years, it’s astonishing. And not just bigger bands like Dozer and Truckfighters or Mars Red Sky and Belzebong, but Domkraft and Kal-El, bands you know if you’re into this thing but that haven’t been around as long and aren’t as ‘huge’ in the whatever sense that applies in underground music.

And it’s not like they’re skimping on within-US geography either. Of course the desert is well represented, and Texas has a significant presence as it invariably would, but with Gozu and Leather Lung headed out from Boston, Borracho traveling from D.C., Temple of the Fuzz Witch from Michigan, Robots of the Ancient World from Portland, Oregon, and so on, they’ve got all the corners and between pretty well covered. La Chinga coming from Canada. Demons My Friends giving Mexico a nod. It is extensive.

And quality. I don’t know that I’ll be there to see it, but I’d imagine that for most who get to be, it’ll be the stuff of legend. Congrats to Ryan Garney and Lick of My Spoon for bringing it into the world, and safe travels to all involved:

Here it is! The lineup for RippleFest Texas and the amazing art by Simon Berndt @1horsetown 🤘🔥❤️

We still have a few surprises left but this roster is stacked! Don’t miss your chance to see the world’s best heavy music at the largest family reunion of the year. Plus this is the ONLY premier festival that has absolutely ZERO OVERLAPPING so you can see every second of every band! Get your tickets now and we will see you in September!

Tier 2 tickets are almost sold out and the price increases on Monday so get your tickets now:

www.lickofmyspoon.com

DOZER
TRUCKFIGHTERS
BONGZILLA
MARS RED SKY
BELZEBONG
DOMKRAFT
LEGIONS OF DOOM
FATSO JETSON
GOZU
HOWLING GIANT
THE HEAVY EYES
HIGH DESERT QUEEN
KAL-EL
20 WATT TOMBSTONE
THE OTOLITH
TEMPLE OF THE FUZZ WITCH
LEATHER LUNG
THUNDER HORSE
HASHTRONAUT
BONE CHURCH
BORRACHO
SUN CROW
CRYSTAL SPIDERS
TIA CARRERA
ROBOTS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
MR. PLOW
LA CHINGA
FOSTERMOTHER
BLUE HERON
TEMPTRESS
FORMULA 400
DEMONS MY FRIENDS
VERMILION WHISKEY
VIOLET RISING
HUDU AKIL
BUZZ ELECTRO
SHADOW OF JUPITER

GRAND FINALE w/ MARIO LALLI & THE RUBBER SNAKE CHARMERS “Desert Jam Session”

Plus the best light show in the business by @themadalchemistliquidliteshow

https://www.facebook.com/theripplemusic/
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/
http://www.ripple-music.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LOMSProductions
https://www.instagram.com/LOMSProductions/
http://www.lickofmyspoon.com/
https://linktr.ee/Lickofmyspoon

Mars Red Sky, Live at Rock in Bourlon 2023

The first Hudu Akil song in half a decade presents itself in three main movements across its readily-consumable six-plus minutes. The first is a hard-landing succession of hits that opens to the main riff, the drums pulled out with some genre-style ghost-shuffle on the snare — drummer Angel Calderon distinguishes himself throughout — before the layered drawling vocals from founding guitarist Zac Crye start the verse. All is rolling as the trio move through the chorus — the lyrics a warning, “It’s coming for us/Hell and high water/It’s coming for us” — and they cycle through again smoothly to end the first movement.

The second part launches immediately, right at 3:14. A stop shifts into quieter layers of guitar and bass noodling before a forward surge brings an extended instrumental course continuing through the next couple minutes. The first time I heard it I thought the song was over and something else had started to play, but as languid and stoned as Hudu Akil are in “El Mirage”‘s first half, the reality they unveil subsequent to that is sharp and precise while still consistent in sound with the first part.

The last movement is another quiet stretch of guitar, this one developing further with some jangly percussion alongside before it flips over and plays backwards in the fade, the lesson learned being that if you think you know what Hudu Akil‘s next album might sound like and you’re not actually in the band, you’re talking out of your ass. I don’t know where “El Mirage” will end up on that record to be, but it’s an enticing first look at something to keep an eye out for in the New Year.

Crye sent the following down the PR wire:

Phoenix Stoner Metal Band Hudu Akil | New Single “El Mirage”

“El Mirage,” is the first release from the band since we dropped our full-length ‘Eye for an Eye’ with Glory or Death Records in 2018. The track precedes an entire new album of music which is currently in the mixing process.

We released the track exclusively to our bandcamp December 1st, and it goes live on all streaming services on the 11th.

“We just wanted to make an offering to everyone before the years’ end. Making music can be a bit of a process at times so we couldn’t wait to finally release something after wokring on these songs for the last two years. The track hits all streaming platforms on 12.11, and we will be dropping a cool video shortly after. Once we finally have the album in the can, we plan to make a lot more noise in the following months!” -Zac Crye, singer/guitarist

We’re not saying much about the album now, just want to share El Mirage with you guys.

El Mirage available here: https://huduakil.bandcamp.com/track/el-mirage

Written by Zac Crye
Recorded at Switchblade Sound in Tempe, AZ
Engineered by Joseph Asselin
Mix and Mastered by Tony Reed at Heavyhead Recordings

Hudu Akil is:
Zac Crye – Guitars, Vocals
Daniel Rangel – Bass
Angel Calderon – Drums

https://huduakil.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/huduakil
https://www.facebook.com/huduakil
https://www.huduakil.com

https://www.facebook.com/Gloryordeathrecords/
https://gloryordeathrecords.bigcartel.com/
https://gloryordeathrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.gloryordeathrecords.com/shop/

Hudu Akil, “El Mirage” (2023)

For those in other parts of the world, there are really just two states in the union in which one might launch a one-state tour. Texas is one of them, California is the other. If you’re in Europe, think of it like announcing a ‘German tour.’ Hudu Akil, from Phoenix, Arizona, are slated as previously noted to play at Heavy Mash 2022 in Arlington, TX, on Oct. 8, and around that they’ll do dates in El Paso, San Antonio, Austin and San Angelo, so yeah, that’s a legit Texas tour.

They signed to Glory or Death Records earlier this year to release 2020’s Eye for an Eye on vinyl, and according to social media the test pressings for that were a go, though I don’t have an exact release date if such things even exist anymore for this kind of stuff. It’ll happen when it happens. Cool your jets and preorder. Ha.

The dates follow here along with some comment from Hudu Akil‘s Zac Crye, who notes that they’ll be playing largely new stuff in the sets. Right on:

Hudu Akil, the stoner metal trio from Phoenix, AZ, will set out to spread their desert rock gospel around the Lone Star State in October with the following dates:

10.05 – Raves – El Paso, TX
10.06 – Hi-tone – San Antonio, TX
10.07 – Valhalla – Austin, TX
10.08 – Division Brewery – Arlington, TX (Heavy Mash 2022)
10.09 – The Deadhorse – San Angelo, TX

The band will be showcasing their new work alongside crowd favorites with nearly half of the touring set comprised of unreleased material.

Vocalist, Zac Crye says:
“Our most recent album was picked up by Glory or Death Records a year after it was released during the pandemic. When they asked about getting “Eye for an Eye,” on vinyl, they also wanted to know if we could have a new album ready to send out for vinyl around the same time. At that time we didn’t have any new material, so we got to work and crafted some of our favorite songs for this new album, which we are nearly finished writing. So, its time to take the new tunes and see how they hold up in one of the best states for the genre at the moment.”

“I think Texas is a great state to tour because there are so many large cities with great music scenes that are fairly close together. Stoner Rock/Psyche Rock and Heavy Blues are really big around Austin. Those are our vibes with a little dry heat added in.”

“Eye for an Eye” was released in 2020 and is available on all streaming platforms.
Go to huduakil.com for more information.

huduakil.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/huduakil
facebook.com/huduakil
huduakil.com

https://www.facebook.com/Gloryordeathrecords/
http://gloryordeathrecords.bigcartel.com/
https://gloryordeathrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.gloryordeathrecords.com/shop/

Hudu Akil, Eye for an Eye (2020)

For the first time since its inception five years ago, the Heavy Mash Festival held each Fall in Arlington, Texas, will take place over two days. Mountain of Smoke headline Oct. 8 and fest-vets Doomstress headline Oct. 9, and joining them for Heavy Mash 2022 is a righteous cast from in and out of the Lone Star State, including first-timers The Angelus from Dallas, Dee Calhoun from Maryland, Fort Worth’s Novakain, Stone Machine Electric, whose Mark Kitchens organizes the event, Red Beard Wall, Monte Luna, The Infamists and more. Vorvon have played before, ditto for Orthodox Fuzz, but it’s been a few years, and with newcomers like Big Brown Bear and a first appearance from Phoenix’s Hudu Akil, there’s plenty to see.

In years past this site has been involved in presenting the fest and happy to do so. Not so much this year, it seems, but as Heavy Mash looks to expand in terms of reach and lineup, it makes sense to try to reach as many eyes and ears as possible, and well, it’s not like I’m not out here posting about it anyway. All the best to Kitchens and fellow organizer Anton Olson for another successful year and a rager Heavy Mash 2022. Looks like it’s gonna be a party.

So party:

HEAVY MASH 2022 – Oct 8 & 9

Heavy Mash 2022 is set for October 8th and 9th At Division Brewing in Arlington, Texas

Though we’re running a bit late on getting this out, Heavy Mash is back this year and ready to spend a couple of days doing what we love – listening to heavy music and watching these bands do what they do best! This will be the first year we’re letting loose for a 2-day event. Division Brewing and Growl Records will once again host us and the bands, and we hope you’re able to make it out and enjoy!

October 8th Lineup:
Mountain of Smoke
The Angelus
Monte Luna
Orthodox Fuzz
Red Beard Wall
Vorvon
Hudu Akil
Stone Machine Electric

October 9th Lineup:
Doomstress
The Infamists
Novakain
Dee Calhoun
Big Brown Bear

2-day passes available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/heavy-mash-2022-with-mountain-of-smoke-doomstress-theangelus-and-more-tickets-397331989677

Event Sponsored by Division Brewing, Growl Records, and Toke Mage!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1087331922145245
https://www.facebook.com/heavymash/
https://www.instagram.com/heavymashfest

Mountain of Smoke, Imprinted (2022)

Doomstress, Sleep Among the Dead (2019)

First tours? Most bands might start with a weekender, a long weekender, five days, a week, etc. Phoenix, Arizona’s Hudu Akil, who aggro-up a bit a self-aware take on the West Coast fuzz/desert rock model with some screams amid lyrics about getting high, partying, shout outs to 1965 and so on on their 2017 self-titled EP, which itself followed a three-songer released in 2016.

Seems that they’ve finished writing for their debut full-length and they’ll hit the studio upon returning from the tour, so perhaps it’s all for the better that they’ve blown most first-tour expectations out of the water and booked a full three weeks’ worth of shows throughout the end of this month and June and into July. At least they can be sure they’ll have the new material set to go before they actually get to putting it down on tape.

The band send the following down the PR wire:

In just 4 weeks, we embark on our first tour as a band, covering much of the southern United States throughout a 21-day run. We are all very excited about this tour because it is a culmination of our collective dream thus far!

We have just recently finished writing our follow-up LP which we will begin recording after our tour.

Tour Dates:
5/29 Los Angeles, CA – Five Star Bar
5/30 Slab City, CA – The Range
5/31 Carlsbad, CA – Boar Cross’n
6/1 Yuma, AZ – The Maverick
6/2 Tuscon, AZ – The Loudhouse
6/3 Scottsdale, AZ – Rogue Bar
6/6 El Paso, TX – Rockhouse Bar
6/7 San Antonio, TX – The Mix
6/8 San Marcos, TX – KIVA
6/9 Austin, TX – The Lost Well
6/14 Houston, TX – Satellite Bar
6/15 Florence, TX Camp Festival
6/16 Corpus Christi, TX – Black Monk Tavern
6/21 Lafayette, LA – Freetown
6/22 New Orleans, LA – Twist of Lime
6/24 Jacksonville, AR – Elixir
6/28 Fort Worth, TX – The Rail Club
6/29 Oklahoma City, OK – The Blue Note
6/30 Denver, CO – Bar Bar
7/5 Yuma, AZ – Littlewood Co-op
7/6 Tijuana, MX – Mous Tache

www.huduakil.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/huduakil
www.twitter.com/huduakil
www.instagram.com/huduakil
https://huduakil.bigcartel.com/

Hudu Akil, Hudu Akil (2017)