Posted in Whathaveyou on January 19th, 2026 by JJ Koczan
It was like two weeks ago that The Knights of Doom 2026 — the inaugural edition of a two-dayer put on by JB Matson and the crew from Maryland Doom Fest, which ended its decade-plus run in 2025 — announced the first names for its lineup. The full bill has been revealed since, and if you’re getting mini-MDDF vibes off the list of names, many of whom are veterans of past years, I don’t think that’s unfair, but there are some newcomers as well. And if you do some quick division on 35 bands over two days, you know that’s 17.5 per day — actually it’s 16 on June 20 and 19 on June 21; yes I had to count — so those days are probably going to start early, go late, and be jam-packed in a spirit that should be familiar to anyone who hit MDDF during its time.
You can see how this might go, right? Folks show up for the family reunion — and MDDF was very, very much that; a more loyal crew would be hard to find on the Eastern Seaboard if you even deigned to look — and bands get added. This year is two days. It’s got room to grow, and I don’t know if it will — on some level, these folks have been-there-done-that in terms of building a festival culture and vibe, let alone managing four days’ worth of logistics with 50-plus bands shuffling about — but this will be the starting point one way or the other. It can only happen first once, and with love and respect for many in that family from a little ways north, I hope it goes off without a hitch.
The announcements were made on social media:
💀KNIGHTS OF DOOM ‘26 final band dump / rosters / complete lineup!!!
Wolftooth, Vanishing Kids, Foghound, Crop, Moonsinger, Uga Buga, Clamfight, Sun Voyager, Locust Pointe, End of Age, Thunderbird Divine, Black Manta, Bog Wizard, Faith in Jane, Black Night, Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf
June 21:
Lie Heavy, Borracho, Stone Nomads, Curse the Son, Bloodshot, Stormtoker, Hovel, Mourn the Light, Thunder Horse, Kulvera, Born of Plagues, Dreadstar, Professor Emeritus, Strange Highways, Gravedigger’s Biscuits, Grave Next Door, Double Planet, Bleak Shore, Burn the Martyr
Posted in Whathaveyou on July 11th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
This weekend, Houston heavies Stone Nomads will take part among the killer-lineup hordes at the inaugural Asheville Doomed and Stoned Fest, having already announced that their third album — no title yet — will be released this Fall through Ripple Music. The quote below, where they talk about being in the studio with Randy Burns, is from a post in May when the tour dates were announced, so I’m assuming the record’s done by now and this is the beginning of the label’s promo cycle, but you never know. September? October? Is it time for 2025’s slew of Halloween releases to start being unveiled? It might be.
I’d call it a quick year if every day weren’t so excruciating and/or horror-filled. Nonetheless, groove heads will of course be keeping an eye out for this third LP to come, whenever its arrival might actually happen.
The label’s announcement, the band’s announcement and the live dates follow, culled from socials and prior PR, because sometimes you DIY it and put a thing together to tell a story:
Says the label: You like heavy, I know. So how much heavy can you take? Please welcome STONE NOMADS to the Ripple family. New album coming this year!
Says the band: We are absolutely stoked to announce our signing to Ripple Music ! Shoutout to Todd Severin & Pope John for making it happen… stay tuned, we have a crushingly heavy new album dropping later this fall
Stone Nomads live: July 11th – Al’s Bar – Lexington, KY July 12th – Doomed & Stoned fest – Asheville, NC July 13th – The Den – Winston Salem, NC July 15th – The Cobra Lounge – Nashville, TN July 16th – Sweetwater – Atlanta, GA July 17th – Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, FL July 18th – Deviant Libation – Tampa, FL July 19th – Poor House – Ft Lauderdale, FL
The band is currently in the studio with legendary producer RANDY BURNS (Megadeth, Death, Possessed) putting the finishing touches on their 3rd album, scheduled to be released in the fall of 2025.
Here’s a quote from the band:
“We have been hard at work in the studio the past few months putting together a banger of an album (our first on [Ripple Music]…more info coming soon…), can’t wait for the world to hear it later this fall! In the meantime we are super stoked to get back out on the road this summer and do what we do best with in front of all of our rowdy friends across the southern US.”
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 14th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
This past weekend, Houston’s Stone Nomads took part in the third Gravitoyd Doomfest in their hometown, and they’ve got a weekender in Louisiana coming up, which sounds pleasant whether you’re doing shows or not, frankly. All well and good, but it’s the Southeast that the band will be focused on in July as they make their way to and through the Asheville Doomed & Stoned Fest with a string of club shows subsequent to their July 12 appearance at the festival in North Carolina.
The band promise more shows to be announced, and with a slot already confirmed at Ripplefest Texas in September and Tampa Doom and Gloom later this Fall, they’ll for sure have other opportunities for get-outs. Their next album may or may not be out by then as well, as they’re recording and dropping hints of a release plan to unfold in the coming months for what will be their third long-player.
Poster and dates off the PR wire:
Texas powerhouse sludge metal trio STONE NOMADS announce the first leg of their 2025 US Tour, with 11 dates spanning the southern US in May and June. The trek features 2 festival appearances – DOOMED & STONED fest in Asheville NC and GRAVITOYD DOOM fest in Houston TX. The band is also scheduled to appear later in the year at RIPPLEFEST TX (Sept) and TAMPA DOOM & GLOOM (Nov). More dates and a full second leg to be announced in the summer.
May 16th – Midcity Ballroom – Baton Rouge, LA May 17th – Santos Bar – New Orleans, LA July 11th – Al’s Bar – Lexington, KY July 12th – Doomed & Stoned fest – Asheville, NC July 13th – The Den – Winston Salem, NC July 15th – The Cobra Lounge – Nashville, TN July 16th – Sweetwater – Atlanta, GA July 17th – Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, FL July 18th – Deviant Libation – Tampa, FL July 19th – Poor House – Ft Lauderdale, FL
The band is currently in the studio with legendary producer RANDY BURNS (Megadeth, Death, Possessed) putting the finishing touches on their 3rd album, scheduled to be released in the fall of 2025.
Here’s a quote from the band:
“We have been hard at work in the studio the past few months putting together a banger of an album (our first on a yet-to-be-announced label…more info coming soon…), can’t wait for the world to hear it later this fall! In the meantime we are super stoked to get back out on the road this summer and do what we do best with in front of all of our rowdy friends across the southern US.”
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 5th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
With no Desertfest New York this year (and, let’s face it, maybe not next year either), I don’t have the luxury I’ve enjoyed throughout the 2020s thus far of consoling myself at missing Ripplefest Texas by seeing some of the same acts coming through without having to fly out to do it. Not so much this year. In unveiling its full lineup for this September, Ripplefest Texas 2025 lays out an absolute dream of a bill — from Weedeater to Suplecs to Mothership to Author and Punisher (new record by then?) to Sundrifter and Mr. frickin’ Plow and Lake Lake — it’s the most imperative US festival lineup I’ve seen pretty much since Ripplefest Texas last year.
I’ve never been to Ripplefest Texas and it’s been over 15 years since the last time I set foot in Austin, but I’d be there in a hot minute for this one. Gonna start a GoFundMe for the flight and lodging (more likely, beg my wife). If you get there, congratulations on your life.
Check out the new adds and the full lineup below. It’s a beautiful thing:
The best family reunion of the year is back! The lineup for RippleFest Texas 2025 is now complete and you will not want to miss your chance to see the best music at the friendliest festival in the world. Lick of My Spoon Productions brings you the only open air festival in the US with ABSOLUTELY ZERO BAND OVERLAPPING! New bands added to an already stacked lineup are ASG, Author & Punisher, Mondo Generator, High Desert Queen, Bronco, Rainbows Are Free, The Absurd, Volume, Gran Moreno, Karma Vulture, and Desert Suns.
The festival will once again be held at The Far Out Lounge and Sagebrush in Austin, TX on September 18-21, 2025. Get your tickets now at www.lickofmyspoon.com.
Full List of Bands: Weedeater Whores. Mothership Author & Punisher Mondo Generator ASG Unida Wo Fat Valley of the Sun Left Lane Cruiser High Desert Queen Mos Generator Telekinetic Yeti Human Impact Mountain of Smoke Thunder Horse Suplecs Kind Bronco Sundrifter Rainbows Are Free Fostermother Mr. Plow Kupa Pities Luna Sol Shun Gran Moreno Stone Nomads Volume The Absurd Desert Suns Karma Vulture Lake Lake Sons of Gulliver
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 31st, 2025 by JJ Koczan
My understanding is that at some point in the between-now-and-September, the full lineup of Ripplefest Texas 2025 is going to be laid out in a nice, orderly, day-split-style fashion. I don’t doubt it, but that’s not what this is. If you caught the update from the Austin-based festival last week, you know they’ve started a round of daily adds, and so this is a weekly catchup. The second one, as it happens. It’s the one with Wo Fat and Suplecs in it, which to be sure are distinguishing features.
Mr. Plow, whose pretense-free heavy rock charm springs eternal, as well as punkers Lake Lake from Ohio, and the duo Sons of Gulliver. Maybe I’ll sneak one more in here — Stone Nomads! The Kupa Pities! — before it’s posted. I’m traveling so it’s kind of complicated timing-wise.
In any case, you’re perfectly capable of hitting up the Ripplefest Texas socials if you want to get a sense right now immediately of the full lineup as it stands. It’s rad. We’ll get there.
For now:
RIPPLEFEST TEXAS 2025 – NEW BAND ANNOUNCEMENT: SUPLECS
Hailing from New Orleans, and formed in 1996, Suplecs has been a power trio force to be recon with in the stoner rock community. Consisting of Danny Nick (former EYEHATEGOD), Durel Yates, and Andrew Preen, Suplecs released their first album “Wrestlin With My Lady Friend” on Frank Kozik’s famous Man’s Ruin Records in 2000 produced by Danny’s EYEHATEGOD bandmate Jimmy Bower. Their sophomore effort “Sad Songs, Better Days” would be released the following year again by Man’s Ruin Records and produced by Dave Fortman, then rereleased in 2002 after the demise of Frank Kozik’s home for all things heavy.
Their music has been featured on TV shows such as “Dog The Bounty Hunter” and “MTV’s Fun Factory.” Age, marriage, children, business ventures, and divorce all played roles in the members of Suplecs lives over the last decade. 2025 will mark the 25th Anniversary of Suplecs Annual Mardi Gras show in New Orleans that has become a staple for over 500 people every year. In early 2024, Suplecs decided to write new material after many years of “playing the hits” from their early releases. With all that has transpired in their lives, Suplecs is currently finishing up writing on their fifth album which promises to be a culmination of previous efforts with more raw heaviness and age old swagger than some of their earlier works.
We are excited to have these legends performing this year. It’s a live show you won’t want to miss!
—
NEW BAND ANNOUNCEMENT: LAKE LAKE
Lake Lake is a glimmer of hope in a sea of black hoodies. A noisy near death dance party in a world of folded arms.
“I saw this band a few years ago and wondered why everybody else didn’t know this band. Then when I listened to their new record I had to get them to RippleFest Texas. They were actually the first band I booked for 2025.” -Ryan Garney, Lick of My Spoon Productions
—
NEW BAND ANNOUNCEMENT: MR. PLOW
For over 25 years, Mr. Plow from Houston, Texas, has thrilled listeners with their original brand of heavy rock. Taking musical inspiration from heavy 1990s bands (like Fu Manchu, Kyuss, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Melvins, Clutch, Helmet, Quicksand, and others) and lyrical inspiration from popular culture and novels (particularly those of Kurt Vonnegut), Mr. Plow self-released 3 albums: Head On (2000); Cockfights and Pony Racin’ (2004); and Asteroid 25399 (2006). Mr. Plow then signed with Ripple Music and released their fourth album, Maintain Radio Silence, in August 2018 (a mere 12 years after their last release). Mr. Plow is currently working on material for a new album, which will hopefully be released sometime before 2030.
Mr. Plow consists of Justin Waggoner (vocals, guitar), Jeremy Stone (guitar, vocals), Cory Cousins (drums, vocals), and Gabe Katz (bass, vocals).
—
NEW BAND ANNOUNCEMENT: SONS OF GULLIVER
Since their first single “Desert Boogie” in 2023, Texas drum ‘n bass duo Sons of Gulliver has been releasing a steady stream of tunes and gigging across Texas, honing their brand of beefy, booty-shaking stoner metal. It all culminated in their debut self-titled EP released in May 2024, on which Justin Potter and Dolphin Riot explode forth with a ferocious exuberance and knack for gigantic grooves. Sons of Gulliver’s potent combo of pulverizing tone and swinging rhythms recalls The Midnight Ghost Train and Clutch at its heaviest, and Potter’s earthy growls add a primal edge that hammers it all home. This boogie van has longhorns on its grill and Mad Max at the wheel.
—
NEW BAND ANNOUNCEMENT: WO-FAT
While Wo Fat may be speaking a familiar language to the apostles of the riff, there isn’t anyone that sounds quite like them.
Wo Fat’s journey slinging their Texas-sized psychedelic blues doom began in 2006 with their first album The Gathering Dark, and the swampadelic visionquest of overdriven, fuzz-laden riffage and jazz-minded jam explorations have continued through six more studio albums, a live album and a couple of splits including their latest and most daring psychotropic exploration of heaviness to date, The Singularity, released May 2022 on Ripple Music. Having gained a reputation as one of the premier US Stoner Metal bands, they have stayed true to the deep, dark blues that wails from within and have forged their riffs with a primal grooviness, giving them a consistency of style, even while they have progressed and matured as a band, with their musical forays getting heavier, trippier, and even bringing in elements of jazz fusion and prog at times on the latest album.
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NEW BAND ANNOUNCEMENT: STONE NOMADS
STONE NOMADS is an American doom-sludge-metal power trio based in Houston, TX. The band, formed by Jon Cosky (Guitar/Vocals) and Jude Sisk (Bass/Vocals) in 2021, incorporates the sounds of modern Sludge Metal, early Doom Metal and all things heavy. Conceptually, the band explores the journey of life and death through the heavier and darker side of things, delivered via sludged-out, powerful riff-based sonics.
—
NEW BAND ANNOUNCEMENT: THE KUPA PITIES
The Kupa Pities are a German heavy fuzz-rock band with a garage attitude. Blasting tunes from a Mad Max resurrection, this machine is rollin straight outta the desert into your 90’s closet, shredding flannel shirts with hardcore attitude.
Founded in 2020 The Kupa Pities released their first album “Godlike Supervision” in November 2021. Incorporating their live energy and widening their sound, the second album followed in May 2024.
There is no greater family reunion than RippleFest Texas, so get your tickets now and get your eardrums and bodies ready for lots of crushing music and warm hugs!
Posted in Whathaveyou on March 28th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
A couple noteworthy collaborations here, with Kyle Thomas (Trouble, Exhorder, Alabama Thunderpussy) sitting in on vocals with Houston’s Stone Nomads for their cover of Trouble‘s foundational doom metal classic “The Tempter” and Esben Willems taking on drumming duties either on that song or the whole release, I’m not really sure, and I’d be remiss not to point out that the tour the trio will undertake in June alongside Red Beard Wall will be stopping through Maryland Doom Fest 2024 in Frederick, MD. Lots going on as the band make ready to release their Beyond the Gates four-songer through Gravitoyd Heavy Music — whose fest in Houston they’ll also play May 4 — but it was the stream of “The Tempter” and the darker, rougher edge they brought to the original that ultimately got me on board here, and you may find the same to be true, whatever other thrills are abounding as you listen.
The impending short release is a complement to 2023’s second full-length, …At the Gates of Solitude, which I flat out whiffed on after digging 2022’s debut, Fields of Doom (review here), but whether you heard that album or not, the charge they bring to “The Tempter” stands well on its own, and if you end up feeling like maybe you’ve got some homework to do in catching up with their doings, I promise you you’re not alone.
Time marches to the beat of the PR wire:
STONE NOMADS: New EP, Kyle Thomas Collab, Tour Announcement
Sludge-Doom power trio STONE NOMADS. The Texas outfit will release the EP “Beyond the Gates”, a follow-up and exclamation point to book-end last year’s full-length LP “…At the Gates of Solitude”. The release features 2 new songs, a remixed bonus track from the LP, and a new version of the classic “Trouble” doom track “The Tempter” featuring collaboration with metal vocalist extraordinaire Kyle Thomas (Exhorder, Trouble) along with the return lineup of guitarist/vocalist Jon Cosky, drummer Esben Willems (Monolord, Slower), and bassist/vocalist Jude Sisk. The EP was mastered by grammy award winning engineer Alan Douches (High On Fire, Cannibal Corpse) at the famed West West side in upstate NY.
“Beyond the Gates” will be released on Vinyl and digital on June 10th through Gravitoyd Heavy Music.
TRACKLIST 1. Witch 2. The Tempter (featuring Kyle Thomas) 3. Sorrow 4. Overlords (2024 re-mixed version – digital only)
STONE NOMADS is an American doom-sludge metal power trio based in Houston TX. The band, formed by Jon Cosky (Guitar/Vocals) and Jude Sisk (Bass/Vocals) in 2021, incorporates the sounds of early Doom Metal, modern Sludge Metal and all things heavy. Conceptually, the band explores the journey of life and death through the heavier and darker side of things, delivered via sludged-out, powerful riff-based sonics.
The band has released 2 full length LP’s (2022’s”Fields of Doom” and 2023’s “…At the Gates of Solitude”) and 1 EP (“Fiery Sabbath”) via Texas based label Gravitoyd Heavy Music. The band has enlisted drummer Ben Wozniak to take over percussion duties and is embarking on a US Tour to support the release of “Beyond the Gates” with festival appearances at both MARYLAND DOOM FEST and GRAVITOYD DOOM FEST.
STONE NOMADS 2024 US TOUR 5/4 – GRAVITOYD DOOM FEST (HOUSTON) @ Black Magic Social Club 5/24 – SAN ANTONIO, TX @ Venue tbd 5/25 – HOUSTON, TX @ White Oak Music Hall 6/18 – ASHEVILLE, NC @ Fleetwoods * 6/20 – MARYLAND DOOM FEST (FREDERICK) @ Cafe 611 * 6/21 – WINSTON SALEM, NC @ Reboot Arcade (Fri) 6/22 – KNOXVILLE, TN @ Brickyard Bar * (Sat) 6/23 – CHATTANOOGA, TN @ The Dark Roast * (Sun) 6/24 – MEMPHIS, TN @ Venue tbd * (Mon) 6/25 – LITTLE ROCK, AR @ Venue tbd * (Tues) 6/29 – HOUSTON, TX @ The End (Sat) *w/RED BEARD WALL
STONE NOMADS is: Jon Cosky – Guitar/Vocals Jude Sisk – Bass/Vocals Ben Wozniak – Drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 24th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Look at the blue text below and you know what you’re gonna see? Yes, a whole lot of skull emojis. Like a lot. But it happens that each individual one corresponds to a demonstration of the labor of love and community that is the Maryland Doom Festival. From Abel Blood through Zekiah, Maryland Doom Fest 2024 celebrates its 10th anniversary edition with its standard sans-bullshit glut of heavy. Once more the Frederick-based event looks your square in the eye, drops for absolutely immersive days on you and asks if you’re up for it. Well, are ya?
I’m not sure what my summer travel plans are yet — this and Freak Valley have overlapped the last couple years for me — but it’s been since 2019 that I was last down there and oh I’d be so eager to show up and have the three or four people who recognize me (and thus make it feel like an absolute family experience; love love love everywhere you go down there) quietly think to themselves I’ve gotten older and fatter en route to obliterating myself with volume for about 96 hours straight. Fuck. King. A.
Oh, and I hear Thunderbird Divine have new stuff in the works and it’s amazing. So that’s a thing too.
Social media had it like this:
We are super stoked to share with you the Maryland Doom Fest 2024 rosters, schedules, and lineups!!!
#4daysofdoom
THE MARYLAND DOOM FEST 2024
✝️Thursday June 20
Cafe 611-
💀 Thunderhorse 1115-1230 💀 The Magpie 1010-1055 💀 Born of Plagues 905-950 💀 Stone Nomads 800-845 💀 Pyre Fyre 700-740 💀 Dirt Eater 600-640
Olde Mother Brewery-
💀 Spellbook 920-1000 💀 Strange Highways 820-900 💀 Bailjack 720-800 💀 Stone Brew 620-700 💀 Abel Blood 520-600
💀 Ten Ton Slug 915-1000 💀 Thousand Vision Mist 815-855 💀 Crowhunter 715-755 💀 Asthma Castle 615-655 💀 Bonded by Darkness 515-555
✝️Saturday June 22
Cafe 611-
💀 WHORES. 1150-115 💀 AGE/S 1040-1130 💀 Bloodshot 935-1020 💀 O ZORN! 830-915 💀 Double Planet 730-810 💀 Sun Years 630-710 💀 When the Deadbolt Breaks 530-610
Olde Mother Brewery-
💀 Black Water Rising 915-1000 💀 Switchblade Jesus 815-855 💀 Wyndrider 715-755 💀 Indus Valley Kings 615-655 💀 Vermillion Whiskey 515-555 💀 Doctor Smoke 415-455
✝️Sunday June 23
Cafe 611-
💀 Cirith Ungol 1200-110 💀 Mythosphere 1055-1140 💀 Conclave 955-1035 💀 Compression 855-935 💀 Sons of Arrakis 755-835 💀 Curse the Son 655-735 💀 Kulvera 555-635 💀 Old Blood 500-535 💀 Cloud Machine 405-440
Olde Mother Brewery-
💀 Thunderbird Divine 920-1000 💀 Black Manta 820-900 💀 High Noon Kahuna 720-800 💀 Unity Reggae 620-700 💀 King Bastard 520-600 💀 Zekiah 420-500
52 bands over a 4 day weekend at 2 venues across the street from one another!! #4daysofdoom
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 1st, 2023 by JJ Koczan
With headlining performances slated from a soon-to-retire Cirith Ungol, noise crushers Whores., mostly-local melodic heavy proggers Mythosphere, Switchblade Jesus, Conclave, Ten Ton Slug (from Ireland; I got to see them one time; way burly; they’ll do well in Frederick), and plenty of other returning acts and newcomers alike, the lineup for Maryland Doom Fest 2024 could hardly be more appropriate a celebration of the annual Chesapeake gathering’s 10th anniversary. Based in Frederick, the four-day ultra-consuming sensory assault of volume will once again take place at Cafe 611 and Olde Mother Brewing, and if you’ve never been, I’ll tell you outright there’s nothing quite like it.
I mean that. Maryland Doom Fest goes harder than the average festival. A day might start at 1PM and not end until 2AM. And now more than ever, as the fest has grown with the two venues running alongside each other, the bill is packed. I think this year was 50 bands? Well, they’ve got 52 for 2024, and while next June is a while out, there’s a tradition to uphold of Halloween announcements, and festival honcho JB Matson (Bloodshot, War Injun, Outside Truth, etc.) pays tribute to his regulars — Shadow Witch, Bailjack, Thunderbird Divine, Thousand Vision Mist (congratulations to Danny Kenyon of Thousand Vision Mist on recently kicking cancer’s ass), among others here — while also giving showcase to outfits like Pyre Fyre, O Zorn! (whose very moniker heralds weirdness), WyndRider and more.
Congrats to Matson and all at Maryland Doom Fest on their 10th anniversary. To do something of this scope once is a lot. To do it across 10 years, well, aside from being fucking crazy, it’s also deeply admirable.
The aforementioned announcement — brief as ever; the poster lands heavy enough to cover any lack of verbiage — follows, courtesy of socials. Ticket link is there too:
WE ARE EXTREMELY PLEASED TO PRESENT TO YOU, THE MARYLAND DOOM FEST 2024 LINEUP!!!!! THIS WILL BE OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!! (#128128#)(#129304#)(#128128#)
52 bands over a 4 day weekend at 2 venues across the street from one another!! #4daysofdoom
