Posted in Whathaveyou on October 30th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
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
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 25th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
Mind you, I don’t know that the upcoming first-ever HUFR Fest in Denver is pronouncing itself as “huffer,” but I’m certainly happy to pretend they are either way. In any case, it stands for Heavy Underground Farm Report, which is helmed by Sean Patrick Brooks, and has been put together with the express purpose of showcasing the Mile High City’s homegrown fare alongside the regionally-imported strains of Blue Heron, Luna Sol, Psalm, Sonolith, Godzillionaire and others. It’s a classic-enough formula, and as missions go, there are few more honorable than pulling a crowd into a room and showing them a piece of the scene they’re standing in, whether a given attendee is from there or not.
However you want to say it, HUFR Fest in running three days is showing itself to be not at all without ambition this first time out. They’re calling it, somewhat inevitably, ‘Mile High Riffs,’ and given the largesse of some of these bands — I just heard Blue Heron‘s take on “Head Like a Hole” for the first time; good fun — that would seem to be the standard they’re applying. Looks like fun.
From social media:
HUFR FEST – Mile High Riffs
Denver, Colorado is about to get heavier. Created by Sean Brooks, Andrea Thomas-Brooks, and Zeth Pedulla, HUFR FEST – Mile High Riffs is a three-day celebration of stoner, doom, and riff-driven rock, happening April 24–26, 2026 at Bar 404 in the heart of Denver.
With 17 bands across the weekend, HUFR FEST brings the crushing weight of doom, the fuzzed-out haze of stoner rock, and the psychedelic grooves of heavy underground music to the Mile High City. More than just a festival, it’s a gathering for the heavy music community—fans, bands, artists, and riff worshippers alike.
Prepare for walls of sound, swirling smoke, and the kind of communal energy that only heavy music can create. Welcome to HUFR FEST – Mile High Riffs.
Posted in Whathaveyou on October 31st, 2024 by JJ Koczan
As per Halloween tradition, the venerable Maryland Doom Fest has posted its as-of-now-complete lineup for next year’s edition, and MDDF 2025 looks like a rager. Set to unfold its massive billing across June 19-22 in the riffy epicenter of Frederick, Maryland, the fest will highlight newcomers and established acts alike, as veteran outfits like The Skull and Apostle of Solitude, Hollow Leg, Curse the Son, and others make returning appearances and new incarnations like Legions of Doom, Ages and High Noon Kahuna feature familiar players in new contexts. Always cool to see bands like Thunderbird Divine and Spiral Grave doing the thing, and I’ll admit that my eyebrows went up when I saw Virginia’s Lord would be playing, as I’d yet to encounter word of a reunion from that most chaotic of sludge metal outfits. Sonolith and Demons My Friends and Sons of Arrakis and plenty of others will be traveling for it — Ogre! — so I would expect some tours to be forthcoming, and Sun Years, whose Nov. tour begins — wait for it — tomorrow, will feature.
It’s a family reunion you probably already have on your calendar, so don’t let me keep you from perusing the poster and getting stoked on what you find. From Crystal Spiders to B&O Railroad, there’s both a lot here and a lot here to like, and always more waiting to be discovered by those bold enough to show up to Cafe 611 early in the day. Check it out:
MARYLAND DOOM FEST 2025 – June 19-22, Frederick, MD
WE JOURNEY FROM THE HEAVY UNDERGROUND AND STAGES ACROSS THE WORLD TO ASSEMBLE IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND, FOR A JOYOUS CELEBRATION OF DOOM, GROOVE, AND THE ALMIGHTY RIFF.
JOIN US.
After such a magnificent 10th anniversary celebration of #4daysofdoom in 2024, which involved reorganizing and coordinating two stages in one venue (Cafe 611), we are beyond stoked to share The Maryland Doom Fest 2025 roster and marvelous promotional artwork.
The art design was created by one of our Maryland natives in the local music scene—Ben Proudman, the Frederick, MD-based master artist at Key City Tattoo (IG: @tattoosbyprdmn). Ben is also the drummer for the powerful bands Thonian Horde and Foehammer. Our very own Bill Kole (IG: @BillyDiablo) handled the color design and layouts again this year. He majestically brought this piece to life!
Explore the heavy musical talent of these bands and performers and be prepared for the nonstop riffage party in June! Talent beyond words!!! We can’t wait for our doom community to congregate next summer!!!
Time slots, ticket sales, stage rosters, sponsors, and vendors will be presented by year’s end. — 💀DooM💀
THE SKULL + PSYCHOTIC REACTION + APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE + LEGIONS OF DOOM + COMPRESSION + CRYSTAL SPIDERS + HIGH NOON KAHUNA + RED BEARD WALL + WITCHPIT + STRANGE HIGHWAYS + AGES + SUNYEARS + HOLLOW LEG
FUTURE PROJEKTOR + ALL YOUR SINS + SONOLITH + SPIRAL GRAVE + LORD + SABBATH WARLOCK + GALLOWGLAS + SONS OF ARRAKIS + CROP + HOVEL + OGRE + DREADSTAR + THUNDERBIRD DIVINE + WYNDRIDER + SUN MANTRA + KULVERA + STYGIAN CROWN + CURSE THE SON + BENTHIC REALM + HOLY ROLLER
BLOODSHOT + DUST PROPHET + VANISHING KIDS + BLOOD AND EARTH + FIGHT THE FOLD + DAYTRIPPER + B&O RAILROAD + BAILJACK + COKUS + NEW DAWNS FADE + COMA HOLE + FLORIST + ABEL BLOOD + SEASICK GLADIATOR + ENTIERRO + HEX ENGINE + DEMONS MY FRIENDS + ABOMINOG + VRSA + HIGH HORSE CALVARY
Las Vegas instrumentalists Sonolith self-release their mostly-self-recorded new LP, III, tomorrow, Oct. 4. It is the third release from the sans-vocal outfit, and somewhat counterintuitive to the title, their second full-length behind 2019’s Fire Thunder Wanderlust, but it follows behind 2021’s Voidscapes EP (review here) and is the first offering from the four-piece incarnation of the band, comprised of guitarists Alex Lidey and Ben Dubler, bassist Adam Sage and drummer Ian Henneforth.
Fleshed out atmospherically through a series of three short mood-setting pieces, the first of which is the album intro “Sine Misericordia,” the album gets fairly dark and metal-adjacent by the time they’re doing the guitar-as-keyboard (unless that’s just a keyboard; could be) in “Divide et Impera” or nailing that slowdown in closer “Dweller on the Threshold” before a final sample rounds out, but by and large it is a celebration of heavy dynamics and methods, full in the knowledge of from whence it comes and executed without pretense in homage to heavy ideology itself. Unless a given listener for some reason has a predisposition against songs without vocals, Sonolith make it easy to get on board.
Of course, Karma to Burn are a touchstone for the niche Sonolith occupy, but the mood and purported storyline across III is darker than the West Virginian forebears ever were and the evocations of titles like “Under the Torturer’s Attention” and “To Brave the Desert of Despair” distinguish Sonolith even from where they were three years ago. Picking up from “Sine Misericordia,” “Under the Torturer’s Attention” has a doomier lumber as it unfolds, and as the interlude “Effugium” follows, a background drone and some noise wrought over a sub-20-second break, it aids in the shift into “Midnight Flight,” which is both faster and reveals something of a heavy desert gothism, a surprisingly fun bounce emerging in the bassline as it follows the relatively careening guitar line into the song’s midsection. “Midnight Flight” becomes the entry point to a stretch of four cuts that does a lot to craft the personality of III as a whole.
That’s a succession which, on vinyl, is likely split between album-centerpiece “To Brave the Desert of Despair” and the seven-minute “Legion,” which is the longest inclusion of the bunch. Both establish a foreboding rumble early and build off that, each in its own direction, with the former upping the tempo late and the latter shifting after four minutes in to a stop and rebuild around a stark figure of guitar that’s smoothly brought to a full, all-in nod that’s eventually brought around to the progression from the first half — one hesitates to call these parts verses and choruses, but Sonolith are by no means hookless — to give a sense of completion and make “Legion” a highlight before giving over to the aforementioned “Divide et Impera,” which is more upbeat, sure, but still plenty grim to suit the LP’s narrative.
The story — one of escaping a torturer and finding actual and metaphorical liberation; an analog perhaps for being able to get away from the cruel voices in one’s own head — is telegraphed in the sense of movement throughout the tracks, with the names of the songs intermittently laying out the time and place, whether it’s “Midnight Flight” or closer “Dweller on the Threshold.” The finale follows the creaking-ship penultimate interlude “Seas of Fate,” and is by no means hopeless in mood, but neither does it resound or shimmer in a way that would undercut the brooding of the songs before it. If the character formerly in the grip of this obscure torment has managed to get away, there’s pretty clearly some processing to do in the aftermath of that escape. Off to therapy, then.
How much one does or doesn’t engage with III on a narrative level will ultimately be up to the person hearing it, but even at a more superficial level of engagement — that is, if you listen without following the progression of story to the final bit of dialog that follows “Dweller on the Threshold” as an ending — the songs hold up, expanding on what Sonolith were doing on the spacier Voidscapes and finding new, more individualized expression. Growth in craft as well as lineup. It’s still self-produced, so don’t expect any grandiose largesse in terms of sound, but there’s something appropriate to the plot in the band’s ability to create a claustrophobic feel, and that encourages appreciating III for the depth of purpose brought to it through the arrangements within and between the songs.
The album streams in its entirety below, followed by more background, courtesy of the PR wire.
Please enjoy:
Wizards of riffage cruising the stars in search of the heaviest groove in the universe, Sonolith return from their sojourn to the dark edges of space to deliver their new full-length, “III”.
IN THE BAND’S OWN WORDS:
“Sonolith’s third release was envisioned and summoned into being over the course of two years, burning the candle from both ends while working day jobs, performing live shows, writing, and recording. Sonolith became a four piece with the addition of our second guitarist, allowing for live performance of the densely layered, cinematic, and kinetic instrumental compositions that the band’s come to be known for. ‘III’ tells a story in sound and symbolism of a fraught journey undertaken to escape the persecution of a psychotic tormentor, through the high peaks and low troughs, towards eventually obtaining freedom and spiritual emancipation.”
Tracklist: 1. Sine Misericordia (0:41) 2. Under The Torturer’s Attention (5:33) 3. Effugium (0:18) 4. Midnight Flight (3:36) 5. To Brave the Desert of Despair (6:48) 6. Legion (7:25) 7. Divide Et Impera (5:18) 8. Seas of Fate (0:31) 9. Dweller on the Threshold (6:31)
Written, performed, recorded, and produced by Sonolith at Sonolith Sound Studios in Las Vegas, NV. Drums recorded by Cody Leavitt at Asteroid M Records. Mixed and mastered by Adam Sage & Sonolith. We would like to sincerely thank all of the fans, friends, and family that have supported Sonolith over the years. You know who you are, we know who you are.
Sonolith is: Ian Henneforth: Drums Adam Sage: Bass/Sound Engineering Alex Lidey: Rhythm & Lead Guitars/Artwork/Video Ben Dubler: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Sonolith, “To Brave the Desert of Despair” official video
Posted in Whathaveyou on August 12th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Vegas instrumentalists Sonolith will issue their new album, III, on Oct. 4. The band tell the tale below, and I won’t keep you from that, except perhaps to say that the list of hey-we’ve-played-with-these-bands bands below sort of illustrates the range of sound Sonolith manage to conjure. Last heard from in terms of studio work with 2021’s Voidscapes EP (review here), the dual-guitar outfit don’t have any audio out from the self-releasing new record yet, but their 2022 live outing, Live at Asteroid M, can be found below, courtesy of their Bandcamp. They also featured at Planet Desert Rock Weekend IV in their hometown this past January.
Info came from the PR wire:
Sonolith – Album “III” out Oct 4
Instrumental, heavy metal stoner doom from Las Vegas
Self-released (Vinyl, Digital)
Wizards of riffage cruising the stars in search of the heaviest groove in the universe, Sonolith return from their sojourn to the dark edges of space to deliver their new full-length, “III”.
IN THE BAND’S OWN WORDS:
“Sonolith is known as one of Las Vegas’s go-to live acts for massive riffs, heavy drums, and crowd-pleasing grooves. We have had the privilege to share the stage with bands such as The Obsessed, Truckfighters, 1000mods, Spaceslug, Nebula, Freedom Hawk, Borracho, Mos Generator, Sasquatch, Mothership, Lord Dying, and many more.”
“Upon its release on 9/15/21, the new EP ‘Voidscapes’ earned no. 24 on the September 2021 Doom Charts. We seek to repeat that feat with the release of our latest self-recorded and produced LP titled ‘III’, and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this album.”
“Sonolith’s third release was envisioned and summoned into being over the course of two years, burning the candle from both ends while working day jobs, performing live shows, writing, and recording. Sonolith became a four piece with the addition of our second guitarist, allowing for live performance of the densely layered, cinematic, and kinetic instrumental compositions that the band’s come to be known for. ‘III’ tells a story in sound and symbolism of a fraught journey undertaken to escape the persecution of a psychotic tormentor, through the high peaks and low troughs, towards eventually obtaining freedom and spiritual emancipation.”
Tracklist: 1. Sine Misericordia (0:41) 2. Under The Torturer’s Attention (5:33) 3. Effugium (0:18) 4. Midnight Flight (3:36) 5. To Brave the Desert of Despair (6:48) 6. Legion (7:25) 7. Divide Et Impera (5:18) 8. Seas of Fate (0:31) 9. Dweller on the Threshold (6:31)
Sonolith is: Alex Lidey – Guitars Ben Dubler – Guitars Adam Sage – Bass Ian Henneforth – Drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on October 9th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
I’m late to the party as ever, but Planet Desert Rock Weekend IV — set for Jan. 25-28 as a probably-warmer-than-where-you-are winter getaway in Las Vegas, Nevada — has added more bands to its lineup, including Spaceslug, Beastmaker and Flames of Durga. Curated by Vegas Rock Revolution‘s John Gist, the bill already featured the likes of a Spiralarms reunion, Italy’s Black Elephant, Sasquatch and Freedom Hawk, along with Sun Crow, Borracho and Scorpion Child, Mezzoa and Sonolith. Approached from any angle, this is a rocker’s lineup, and you could probably even do it without feeling like you’re drowning considering the evening starts for each of the four nights. Bonus!
There are more announcements to come as I understand it, and I will expect one about five minutes after this finally gets posted, because that’s just how on top of my game I am.
From social media:
Planet Desert Rock Weekend is ready to unleash the next band for Vegas Rock Revolution’s Planet Desert Rock Weekend IV – January 25-26-27, 2024 in Las Vegas…. It is the mighty Beastmaker! Out of the grave they are back with a vengeance !
Will be cool to have my buddy Trevor William Church back to Vegas for a show and first time with Beastmaker!
In case you hadn’t heard … here is the lineup so far with just two bands left to announce.
PDRW are setup so that you can enjoy your days in Vegas and have curated intimate shows each evening. 3 nights of heavy rock from around the world. Always a friendly crowd and one helluva party! Go alone and immediately will make new friends. Our community is like that!
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 4th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
Planet Desert Rock Weekend IV will take place across three days this coming January in Las Vegas, and if you’re the type to travel, that should be plenty of notice for you to plan your excursion. Assembled by singularly-passionate promoter John Gist of Vegas Rock Revolution, the initial lineup features Sasquatch and Freedom Hawk and Borracho and a Spiralarms reunion and and and and, oh hell you can read it for yourself on the banner.
In all seriousness, it’s a solid bill. Sandveiss are awesome and they and Black Elephant and Mezzoa, Vegas’ own Sonolith are the kind of right on picks one would expect considering the personnel involved in making the thing. I’m not the world’s biggest Scorpion Child fan, but even I know they’re good at what they do and I would imagine they put on a killer show. I guess I felt compelled to mention it since they were the only band I hadn’t talked about yet. Unless I missed someone else. Ha.
Here’s all the info, courtesy of the ol’ social media:
Planet Desert Rock Weekend returns for V4 with a 3 night heavy rock and roll party on January 25-26-27, 2024! After this year’s amazing couple nights, we are excited to bring a new and different lineup w/ some familiar bands from the Vegas Rock Revolution family blended in as always. The unique thing about PDRW is that you have your days to do things in Vegas. Shows start in the early evenings each night and all shows are at one venue each day.
Vegas Rock Revolution is super psyched to have Sasquatch and Freedom Hawk returning to Planet Desert Rock Weekend along with local riffmasters Sonolith!
6 more bands to be announced to finish the lineup. This will be 3 days in Vegas you will not forget.
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 14th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
You had me at Loin Hammer. That’s gotta be one of the best band names I’ve seen in the last couple years, at least. They’re somewhat thrashier than one might expect given the riffy foundations of many of the other bands, but they’re still called Loin Hammer, which is enough to make it an automatic win if you see them live. Imagine being able to say, “yeah, I’ve seen Loin Hammer.” If you’re the type to get a tattoo, that’d be a good one.
You’ll note return appearances from Merlock, Wizzerd, Swamp Ritual and The Gray Goo from last year’s Rocky Mountain Riff Fest. That says to me that in addition to an all-dayer-plus-pre-show-the-night-before, this is also a party and a reunion of friends. Pulling from the Pacific Northwest, the native Montana underground, Las Vegas and beyond, the lineup looks right on for a killer day of up and coming acts.
I looked back at what I said about the 2022 edition, and my impression was largely the same; it’s an intimate enough event that by the time it’s over everybody is going to know everybody. That kind of thing creates a sense of community which sticks as a defining factor as festivals expand — the return performances slated for 2023 are another element in establishing that — and I don’t know if you’ve ever done an image search to see what Kalispell looks like, but if you’re traveling to this one you will probably not regret booking an extra day just to take in some of the surrounding scenery, which is stunning even in Chamber of Commerce photos.
And, as noted, Loin Hammer will be there. So there’s that.
From socials:
Rocky Mountain Riff Fest 2023
April 22 at Old School Records & Eagles, Kalispell, MT
(free pre-party April 21 at Glacier Park VFW Post 2252)
Very pleased to announce the lineup for this year’s edition of Rocky Mountain Riff Fest!
Epic art by @isaacpasswaterillustration
Lineup April 22:
Tigers on Opium Sorcia Sonolith Grail Twin Void Wizzerd Swamp Ritual The Gray Goo Loin Hammer Lacoro
