Another day, another Ripple Music pickup, and this time it’s Shadow of Jupiter from Chicago and Indiana. The four-piece will play the inaugural HUFR Fest this April, and it seems fair to expect that set to be something of a preview for their second full-length and Ripple debut, Bones, which is set to release this summer.

I’m kidding a bit about the ‘another day, blah blah,’ but it is striking just how much of an assemblage Ripple has going at this point. And growing, as the Flinstones vitamins commercials used to say. I’ll be honest and tell you I don’t know much about Shadow of Jupiter — their 2023 debut, Porta Coeli, was well received (obviously) and streams below; they played Ripplefest Texas in 2024, etc. — but summer seems as good a time to learn as any. Here’s to hearing new music. Always.

The PR wire has it like this:

Chicago heavy doom rockers SHADOW OF JUPITER sign to Ripple Music!

Midwest-based stoner and doom foursome SHADOW OF JUPITER have joined the Ripple Music roster for the release of their sophomore album in the summer of 2026.

Shadow of Jupiter is a Chicago/NW Indiana-based outfit whose roots run deep in the heavy underground. From proto-doom to the heavy, stoner sounds of the 70’s, their unique combination of soulful vocals complements their heavy, riff-driven scores. Author of Sonic Seducer and heavy underground music critic Sunil Singh dubbed their music “Fury Blues”, perfectly acknowledging their blend of Robin Trower’s tasty tones mated with the bleak melancholy of Sabbath and the anger of Corrosion of Conformity.

Their 2023 self-released album, Porta Coeli, propelled Shadow of Jupiter into the sonic jetstream with incredible shows as the supporting act for many highly acclaimed national and international heavy underground bands touring through Chicago. Shadow of Jupiter also performed at Ripplefest Texas, Rhune Mountain Festival, Grand Rapids Doomfest and HUFR Fest.

Their upcoming sophomore album “Bones” is slated for release in the summer of 2026 on Ripple Music. As for now, the band is set to take the stage at Reggie’s in Chicago on 4/12 and HUFR Fest: Mile High Riffs in Denver on 4/26.

http://shadowofjupiter.com/
https://linktr.ee/shadowofjupiterband
https://shadowofjupiter.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shadow_of_jupiter_official/
https://www.facebook.com/ShadowofJupiterOfficial/

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

Shadow of Jupiter, Porta Coeli (2023)

Looks like a banger of a way to lose time for an entire weekend. Inhale the mountain air till you pass out, wheel yourself into Denver’s Bar 404 and set up shop for three days of curated heavy local and farflung (though not the band Farflung), find your bliss and if you’re lucky you might even remember it afterward. The first-ever HUFR Fest — gonna be more like a HUGR Fest by the time everybody’s done giving hugs — will launch with a bang. Looking for something without the same headliners you’ve seen a hundred times? Here’s an event digging into the underground for real and finding something to offer apart from the did-you-know-High-on-Fire-won-a-Grammy norm. I don’t even know Vashon Seed, but I’m keen to find out.

Okay I took two seconds and googled. Roots in Sub Pop pre-grunge Seattle noise, heavy punker approach, one record out in Sept. 2020 (hell of a time for a debut), find it below. See how easy and fun it can be to learn new things?

Six bands Friday, six bands Saturday, five on Sunday. Deer Creek seem to have dropped off, which is unfortunate, but there’s still nary a clunker to be found. If you go to this one, I hope it’s as much of a blast as it looks:

HUFR FEST: Mile High Riffs

April 24–26, 2026 | Bar 404, Denver, CO

The Heavy Underground Farm Report proudly presents HUFR FEST: Mile High Riffs, a three-day celebration of Colorado’s heaviest underground sounds. From stoner rock and doom to psychedelic and desert grooves, this festival unites local legends and national rising acts for a weekend of riffs, community, and fuzz-soaked vibes.

LINEUP
Friday, April 24
Vashon Seed
Hibernaut
Violet Rising
Lord Velvet
Sonolith
Lost Relics

Saturday, April 25
Psalm
Momovudu
Godzillionaire
Luna Sol
Blue Heron
Cobranoid

Sunday, April 26
Nomestomper
Black Sunrise
Messiahvore
Shadow of Jupiter
Peach Street Revival

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/650816331403023/

Weekend passes are $65 and on sale now.

Don’t miss your chance to experience three days of pure, riff-driven energy in the heart of Denver’s underground scene.

Venue: Bar 404, Denver, CO
Dates: April 24–26, 2026
Tickets: Available now through official HUFR FEST channels

https://www.instagram.com/TheHeavyUndergroundFarmReport
https://www.facebook.com/TheHeavyUndergroundFarmReport

Blue Heron, Emulations (2025)

The Vashon Seed, Tardigrade (2020)

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