HIPPIE DEATH CULT: Portland Heavy Rock Power Trio Sign To Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records

Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records are pleased to announce the signing of heavy rock power trio HIPPIE DEATH CULT.

The band comments, "We are beyond excited to announce our signing with Blacklight Media and Metal Blade Records, a label that has been a pillar of the metal community for decades and has always championed artistic integrity over trend-chasing, which is something we resonate with deeply. We are honored to be part of their esteemed lineage.

“Our journey has always been fueled by passion, creativity, and authenticity and we feel right at home working with a team who understands and shares these values. We can‘t wait to unleash some of our most visceral music to date via one of the most respected labels in heavy metal history. Fires are burning and wheels are turning.”

HIPPIE DEATH CULT has steadily become one of the most exciting bands in the modern heavy music scene, pairing massive riffs, deep grooves, psychedelic textures, thoughtful lyricism, and hypnotizing melodies into a sound that feels both classic and contemporary. Formed in Portland, Oregon, the trio — guitarist Eddie Brnabic, vocalist/bassist Laura Phillips, and drummer Harry Silvers — has earned a reputation for delivering dynamic, emotionally charged songs and electrifying live performances that showcase their distinctive sound, transcending traditional genres and captivating fans worldwide.

Since their early releases with Cursed Tongue Records and Heavy Psych Sounds Records, the band has built significant momentum. Their 2019 debut album, 111, and its 2021 follow-up, Circle Of Days, received strong praise from critics and listeners alike, with both records topping the Doom Charts and numerous “Best Of” lists, solidifying HIPPIE DEATH CULT as a standout name in the underground scene.

Following these releases, the band‘s evolution into a power trio marked a turning point, with Laura Phillips stepping into lead vocal duties and infusing even more identity and force into the group‘s sound and chemistry. This progression came fully into focus on Helichrysum, the band‘s first full-length studio album featuring Phillips on lead vocals. Released in 2023, the album was widely praised for its stronger songwriting, greater dynamic range, and the chemistry of the new lineup, becoming their most successful release to date in terms of streams and sales.

The band supported Helichrysum with over 250 shows across North America and Europe, including performances on major festival stages and headlining spots, further showcasing the raw power and intensity that have made their live shows a must-see.

Now signed to Blacklight Media and Metal Blade Records, HIPPIE DEATH CULT is entering a new phase with the most reach and momentum of their career. With a growing international fanbase, an increasingly refined sound, and a new release on the horizon, the band is poised to take the next leap forward. Stay tuned for a new full-length in 2027.

The band will be roadbound for the remaining weeks of Summer and much of the Fall beginning with a US tour that runs from August 14th through September 12th. HIPPIE DEATH CULT will head to Europe and the United Kingdom on September 30th for another stretch of live dates through November 1st.

“After months of dedicated work behind the scenes, transforming our garage into a creative sanctuary and crafting a new album, we‘re pumped to finally hit the road again this Summer and Fall,” the band notes. “This tour is all about reconnecting with our incredible fans across the States and Europe, welcoming new recruits, jamming on some classics, and giving everyone in attendance a chance to be among the first to experience some new material before it hits the streets. We can‘t wait to share these transcendent moments with you all!”

See all confirmed dates below.

HIPPIE DEATH CULT Live:

8/14/2026 Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR w/ Abronia **
8/20/2026 Sunset Tavern – Seattle, WA w/ Earth Tongue **
8/21/2026 Silver Moon Brewing – Bend, OR w/ Earth Tongue **
8/22/2026 The Dip – Redding, CA w/ Earth Tongue **
8/23/2026 Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco, CA w/ Earth Tongue **
8/24/2026 Zebulon - Los Angeles, CA w/ Earth Tongue **
8/25/2026 Hotel Congress – Tucson, AZ w/ Earth Tongue **
8/26/2026 Whiskey Creek Zocalo – Arenas Valley, NM **
8/27/2026 Copeka Coffee – Grand Junction, CO **
8/28/2026 Green Mountain Ranch – Pine, CO **
8/29/2026 What's Left Records - Colorado Springs, CO **
8/31/2026 The Sinkhole – St. Louis, MO **
9/01/2026 Raccoon Motel – Davenport, IA **
9/02/2026 X-Ray Arcade – Cudahy, WI **
9/03/2026 Black Circle Brewing Co. – Indianapolis, IN w/ The Well
9/04/2026 Frankie's – Toledo, OH w/ The Obsessed
9/05/2026 Reggie's Music Joint – Chicago, IL w/ The Obsessed
9/06/2026 James Ballentine Uptown VFW Post 246 – Minneapolis, MN w/ The Obsessed
9/08/2026 Reverb – Omaha, NE w/ The Obsessed
9/09/2026 Hi-Dive – Denver, CO w/ The Obsessed
9/10/2026 The DLC - Salt Lake City, UT w/ The Obsessed
9/11/2026 The Shredder – Boise, ID w/ The Obsessed
9/12/2026 The Chainsaw Cat – Yakima, WA **
** HIPPIE DEATH CULT headlining date

EU/UK Tour Dates:

09/30/2026 Scumm – Pescara, IT
10/01/2026 Freakout – Bologna, IT
10/02/2026 MKNŽ – Ilirska Bistrica, SI
10/03/2026 Kino – Ebensee, AT
10/04/2026 Up In Smoke – Pratteln, CH
10/05/2026 Brin De Zinc – Chambery, FR
10/06/2026 Le Molotov – Marseille, FR
10/07/2026 Trinità Live Club – Genova, IT
10/08/2026 Hostaria – Castel D‘Ario, IT
10/09/2026 Berchtesgaden – Kuckucksnest, DE
10/10/2026 Kulturfabrik – Kufstein, AT
10/11/2026 Camäleon – Vaduz, LI
10/13/2026 Conne Island – Leipzig, DE
10/14/2026 Sunny Red – Munich, DE
10/16/2026 HPS Fest – Berlin, DE
10/17/2026 HPS Fest – Dresden, DE
10/18/2026 Desertfest – Liege, BE
10/19/2026 1001 Bières – Reims, FR
10/21/2026 TBC – Copenhagen, DK
10/22/2026 Geronimo's – Stockholm, SE
10/23/2026 Høstsabbat Fest – Oslo, NO
10/24/2026 Kulturscenen – Esbjerg, DK
10/27/2026 Mist Rolling Inn – Nottingham, UK
10/28/2026 Parish – Huddersfield, UK
10/29/2026 Voodoo Daddy's Showroom – Norwich, UK
10/30/2026 Blondies – London, UK
10/31/2026 Moor Beer – Bristol, UK
11/01/2026 Saturnalia Records – Faversham, UK

Links

https://www.hippiedeathcultband.com
https://www.instagram.com/hippiedeathcultband
https://www.facebook.com/hippiedeathcultband
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwcDKgW8llmhDuD3MaEHs1Q

Thanks to Palmer Turner Overdrive for the details.

US heavy rockers HIPPIE DEATH CULT share incendiary Nirvana cover of "Aneurysm"; European and North American tours announced!

US heavy rock champions Hippie Death Cult unleash their fierce and fun cover of Nirvana's "Aneurysm" on all streaming platforms and announce extensive European and North American tours for this summer and fall!

Watch Hippie Death Cult cover Nirvana's "Aneurysm" /  Stream the digital single at this location

Hippie Death Cult guitarist Eddie Brnabic comments: “Laura (vocals, bass) and I grew up listening to Nirvana a ton back in the 90’s and had recently enjoyed revisiting their catalog, which sparked a renewed appreciation for them and their ethics as a band. When tinkering with cover song ideas for our live set last year, the idea of doing “Aneurysm” came up. It felt fun to play, so we didn’t overthink it and started adding it to our live set over the past year. We had a blast playing it live, often inviting friends up to sing with us and it always went over well with the audience. 

Once we got home from touring at the beginning of the 2024, we headed right into the studio to track a version of it just for the hell of it while it was still kinda fresh in our minds. Right after that I had gone into the studio to produce the new Spirit Mother album, so we had Armand Lance (vocalist of Spirit Mother) track some backing vocals for it, as he had frequently jumped on stage with us to perform it live when we were on the road together in 2023. It was real fun to do, hopefully that comes across. We tracked a couple of other covers that we’d been playing recently along with it that will also likely come out at some point.”

Summer European tour:

6/28 IT Bologna - Freakout
6/29 DE Passau – Blackdoor Festival
7/2 UK Nottingham - Ye Olde Salutation Inn
7/3 UK Preston – The Ferret
7/4 UK Sheffield – Yellow Arch Studio
7/5 UK Huddersfield – Northern Quarter
7/6 UK London – Stoomfest
7/7 UK Swansea - Elysium Gallery & Venue
7/9 FR Lille – Le Bulle
7/11 DE Mannheim - 7er Club
7/12 DE Erfurt – Stoned from the Underground - Festival
7/14 DE Munchen – Unter Deck
7/15 DE Mainz - Kulturcafe
7/16 NL Nijmegen – De Onderbroek
7/17 DE Köln – Stereo Wonderland
7/18 DE Dresden - Chemiefabrik
7/19 DE Karlsruhe – Das Fest
7/20 PT Figueira Da Foz – Woodrock Festival
7/23 SK Bratislava - Garaže
7/24 DE Goppingen – Gastatte Zille
7/26 DE Cottbus – Blue Moon Festival
7/27 AT Linz - Kapu
7/28 SI Ljubljana - Channel Zero

Fall North American tour with Kadabra

9/2 Boise, ID - Neurolux
9/3 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
9/4 Denver, CO - HQ
9/5 Omaha, NE - Slowdown
9/6 Milwaukee, WI - Club Garibaldi
9/7 Chicago, IL - Cobra Lounge
9/8 Grand Rapids, MI - The Pyramid Scheme
9/9 Newport, KY - Southgate House Revival Room
9/10 Youngstown, OH - Westside Bowl
9/11 Philadelphia, PA - MilkBoy Philadelphia
9/12 Providence, RI - Alchemy w/ Acid King
9/14 Queens, NY - Knockdown Center
9/16 Québec QC - La Source de la Martinière
9/17 Ottawa, ON - Dominion Tavern
9/19 Toronto, ON - Bovine Sex Club
9/20 Detroit, MI - Sanctuary
9/21 Louisville, KY - Portal + Artportal
9/22 Atlanta, GA - Altar At The Masquerade
9/23 Pensacola, FL - Handlebar
9/24 Lafayette, LA - Freetown Boom Boom
9/25 Dallas, TX - Ruins
9/26 Houston, TX - Black Magic Social Club
9/27 Austin, TX - The Lost Well
9/28 Las Cruces, NM - Amador Bar & Grill
9/29 Albuquerque, NM - Sister
9/30 Scottsdale, AZ - Pub Rock
10/2 San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
10/3 Long Beach, CA - Alex's Bar
10/4 Los Angeles, CA - Permanent Records
10/5 Oakland, CA - Eli's Mile High Club
10/6 Reno, NV - Lo-Bar Social
10/31 Seattle - El Corazón
11/1 Vancouver, BC - Green Auto
11/2 Kelowna, BC - Jackknife Brewing
11/3 Calgary, AB - Palomino Smokehouse
11/6 Spokane, WA - The Big Dipper
11/7 Yakima, WA - Bearded Monkey Music
11/8 Bend, OR - Volcanic Theatre Pub
11/9 Portland, OR - Star Theater

Hippie Death Cult's journey through shameless and triumphant artistic expression has led them to become a vibrant force in the realms of psychedelia and riff-heavy rock n' roll. This journey has not been without its challenges, but the band has always managed to emerge stronger and more determined than ever. Throughout their formative years, the band underwent what proved to be a very significant evolution, transitioning from a 4-piece to a more cohesive and harmonious power trio. This lineup currently consists of guitarist and founder Eddie Brnabic, vocalist and bassist Laura Phillips, and drummer Harry Silvers.

In 2019, Hippie Death Cult caught the attention of Cursed Tongue Records, who signed them for the release of their highly anticipated album "111." The record was met with widespread acclaim, solidifying their place in the music scene. Building on this success, the band made another significant move in 2021 by signing with Heavy Psych Sounds Records. This partnership resulted in the release of their album "Circle of Days" and a split release titled "Doom Sessions Vol.5" with label mates High Reeper. Both full-length albums soared to the very top of the Doom Charts as well as many “Album Of The Year” lists, further cementing their status as a rising force in the genre. Their latest album "Helichrysum" (2023) marks a significant milestone as it sees bassist Laura Phillips stepping up on lead vocals, adding a powerful new dimension and sense of originality to their doom-tinged ‘70s sound, relentlessly powered by Eddie Brnabic's epic shredding.

Beyond their studio work, Hippie Death Cult is renowned for their electrifying and passionate stage performances. Their captivating stage presence have taken them on tours across the United States, Canada, and Europe, where they have garnered a dedicated and growing fanbase. Fans can expect an immersive and powerful live experience as the band brings their high-energy performances to stages across the globe. With their unwavering dedication to their craft and their ability to push boundaries, Hippie Death Cult is poised to leave an indelible mark on the music scene for years to come.

HIPPIE DEATH CULT is

Laura Phillips - Bass/Vocals
Eddie Brnabic - Guitar
Harry Silvers - Drums

HIPPIE DEATH CULT links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the info.

Hippie Death Cult - Helichrysum (Album Review)

Release Date: October 20th 2023. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Helichrysum - Tracklisting

1.Arise 06:02

2. Shadows 05:52

3. Better Days 06:40

4.Red Giant 04:47

5.Toxic Annihilator 03:22

6.Nefelibata 07:23

7.Tomorrows Sky 06:28

Members

Laura Phillips ~ Vocals / Bass

Eddie Brnabic ~ Guitars

Harry Silvers ~ Drums

Review

Psych Doom/Retro/Stoner Rockers Hippie Death Cult return with a newly determined and creative focus on their latest album Helichrysum with Laura Phillips now being the main vocalist after the departure of Ben Jackson. The band also have a new drummer in the shape of Harry Silvers and he puts in a barnstorming performance with the first rate guitars of Eddie Brnabic. 

Their sound is more Doomed Out Blues based with the right amount of heavy retro rock sounds allowing Hippie Death Cult to move further into the Stoner Metal masses. The Power Trio combo works superbly well for the band with the album being quite a riff-fuelled gloomy adventure with some killer Sleazy moments being added for good measure.

With their trademark Psychedelic Freakout style then I’m happy to state Helichrysum is Hippie Death Cult’s best album to date. The songs have a more mature feeling with the grooves offering an off-kilter sludgy sound with moments of Psychedelic Swirls and waves of Sonic manipulation which comes across superbly well on the excellent batch of opening tracks of Arise, Shadows and Better Days.

The mood is highly atmospheric when the screeching guitars fully kick into gear and moments of 1970’s Classic Hard Rock riff-wizardry and Laura’s vocals have a dramatic BANSHEE effect when Laura hits those stunning high notes especially on Arise. WOW is all I can say. 

There’s a deep affection of Black Sabbath and Led Zepp within this album but Hippie Death Cult add a massive Proto-Doom flavour to this album which still allows the band to add modern sounding Cosmic/Space Rock passages whilst never betraying their Classic Hard Rock roots. The lyrics are on another level compared to their previous albums with a more determined focus that prove Hippie Death Cult can really deliver the BLUES with a heavy Stoner Metal substance holding everything together. 

HIppie Death Cult do have a world-weary presence on this album especially on the more mellower parts of the record. However, they turn into a powerhouse combo when the heavy WEEDIAN grooves appear to restore balance within their dominant Heavy Metal sound. 

The album becomes more daring and sometimes experimental on the later stages of the album on tracks such as Red Giant, Total Annihilator and Nefelibata. There’s some epic levels of Prog Rock with Hippie Death Cult even bringing a touch of classic era Fleetwood Mac to the party and even sees the band bring familiar sounds that fans of Windhand and Royal Thunder will truly appreciate. 

Helichrysum is backed up by stunning production values which is handled mostly by guitarist Eddie Brnabic who also provides assistance on engineering and mixing duties. The band are working with ace record label Heavy Psych Sounds once again and this is another reason why the record sounds so spectacular from start to finish.

Hippie Death Cult have come back stronger and better than ever and Helichrysum is perhaps the making of the band and allowing them to become one of the most essential bands within the underground scene. This album is most definitely Album Of The Year material. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage for the promo.

Helichrysum is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Hippie Death Cult - 111 (Album Review)

Release date: July 26th 2019 (Digital)/August 23^rd 2019 (Vinyl). Label: Cursed Tongue Records (Vinyl). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

111 – Tracklisting

1. Sanctimonious

2. Breeder’s Curse

3. Unborn

4. Mrtyu

5. Pigs

6. Treehugger

7. Black Snake

Members

Eddie Brnabic : Guitar

Laura Phillips : Bass

Ryan Moore : Drums

Ben Jackson : Vocals/Keys

Review

111 is the new album from Hippie Death Cult and it’s quite a highly psychedelic mix of Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, Grunge and classic Hard Rock sounds. The album is quite brooding and heavy from the start with Hippie Death Cult creating a complex sounding atmosphere that is influenced by Black Sabbath and Soundgarden in places especially on the excellent opening song – Sanctimonious.

Sanctimonious sees Hippie Death Cult playing a hybrid Doom Meta/Grunge sound with the heavy atmosphere moving between Black Sabbath style heaviness and soaring Grunge melodies. Even the vocals have a slight Chris Cornell influence to them. The lyrics are very cool and allows Hippie Death Cult music to grow naturally. The listener becomes part of the action with the swirling psychedelic noises working best when the Grunge rhythms appear. This is a fantastic song to open the album with.

Second song – Breeder’s Curse – is straight up Doom/Stoner Rock song with plenty of anger and attitude to match. The riffs are loud, confident and angry from the start. You can hear a little bit of FUZZ ROCK starting to appear as Hippie Death Cult change their style of music for this song. The heavy guitars pitch the perfect balance between classic seventies Doom/Hard Rock and more modern Fuzz/Stoner Rock grooves.

Third song – Unborn – is a song lasting past the eight-minute mark and Hippie Death Cult open with a creepy and almost occult Blues Rock riff. The song takes time to fully get going as Hippie Death Cult add many different genres for a heavier and progressive sound. This is easily one of the best songs on the album as Hippie Death Cult have more fun with this song and the Doom Metal based riffs are quite direct in places. The gloomy lyrics and passionate vocals will leave you wanting more.

Fourth song – Mrtyu – is an instrumental Psychedelic Folk Rock song that is superbly played from start to finish. It’s quite soothing to listen to and is a stark contrast to the other songs held on the album. I will admit that I wanted some heavy sounds to appear on this song. Though, it’s a cool change of pace and I admire the band for including this song on the album.

Anyway, the band get back playing their usual Hard Rock/Doom Metal/Grunge based melodies on the superb song – Pigs. This song has a Classic Hard Rock feel with HDS adding a distinctive Led Zep/Aerosmith approach to their overall sound. The vocals feel inspired by Chris Cornell again and I loved how the soulful vocals soon give way for the darker and heavier progressive guitars riffs to work their magic.

The final two songs Treehugger and Black Snake are more psychedelic but Hippie Death Cult still carry on playing their addictive Doom/Grunge hybrid sound and sees 111 ending on an exciting finish.

Hippie Death Cult should be mightily proud of this release. As 111 is a richly rewarding and deeply engaging album that becomes better with each subsequent listen.

Words by Steve Howe

111 will be available to buy on Digital from July 26th 2019 and on Vinyl from August 23rd  via Cursed Tongue Records.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp