Exciting Updates from Doom/Stoner Rockers The Magpie: New Video, Maryland Doomfest, and Road Break!

We are delighted to announce the release of the  new video for "The Sleepy Eye," a track from the Firelight Records debut last fall. 

Vocalist/guitarist Erik Sugg states, “The song began with a Flipper-esque bassline courtesy of Mike Deloatch. We built on his idea, added a lot of fuzz and heavy, atmospheric dynamics, and created something that’s both introspective and expansive.” Dive into the mesmerizing visuals and immersive sounds that characterize The Magpie's unique style. Click the above video link and let the journey begin!

Maryland Doomfest 2024: Invitation to Perform

It is with great honor and excitement that we share the news of The Magpie being invited to perform at the prestigious 2024 Maryland Doomfest! Save the date, and join us for an unforgettable experience of heavy vibes and sonic exploration.

Road Jaunt with Crystal Spiders: Raleigh, Richmond, Baltimore

Pack your bags and get ready for a road trip! The Magpie is hitting the road alongside the Crystal Spiders for a series of shows in Raleigh, Richmond, and Baltimore from Feb 8-10. Brace yourselves for an electric atmosphere and a night filled with heavy stoner-psych grooves.

Firelight Records Debut: Well-Received and Available!

The Firelight Records debut has garnered positive reviews, with Clean and Sober Stoner noting, "The Magpie has unleashed a challenging album that is well worth delving into." The album is available via mail order, and you can also grab a copy at their upcoming performances. Immerse yourself in the intricate craftsmanship of their sound.

What the Critics are Saying:

"Every aspect of this release is carefully crafted, from the incredibly unique vocal delivery to the overall use of guitars to generate atmosphere and not take the spotlight off anything else." - CLEAN AND SOBER STONER

"The music is quite riff-centric with The Magpie exploring many different styles and themes within the Heavy Rock underground arena." - OUTLAWS OF THE SUN

“Leaves you questioning your senses for a minute. Drips slowly into your system, filling you with hallucinogenic effects that don’t start infecting you until the last minute.” - WKNC

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Erik Sugg From Doom/Stoner Rockers THE MAGPIE And Owner Of FIRELIGHT RECORDS - Favourite Albums Of 2023

Erik Sugg, (ex- Demon Eye, Lightning Born) now part of Doom/Stoner Rockers The Magpie released their excellent debut self-titled album back in September 2023 to great acclaim within the underground scene. 

Erik also started a new record label called Firelight Records where you can read more about that new venture here.

I asked Erik to choose his favourite albums of the year and these are his selections below.

Human Thurma - "Savage"

A years-in-the-making reissue of a heavy underground classic from '90s-era Richmond, Virginia Richmond gave the Pacific Northwest a run for their money in producing brutal, heavy math-noise. Human Thurma was one of the best from this time and place.

Night! Night! - "Suicide City"

 

Chapel Hill, North Carolina is traditionally known for its contributions to the world of indie rock, but in truth, this little town was always a fertile ground for a wide variety of artists. Night! Night! is sure to be a North Carolina breakout. They aptly describe themselves as "sleazy post-hardcore." Their "Suicide City" EP definitely has some Red Fang vibes, but Night! Night! is a band who will undoubtedly bring something of their own into the world of heavy rock.

David Didonato - "Haxan"

David Didonato holds the world record for playing the longest guitar solo ever played, (seriously, it was 25 hours and 55 minutes.) When he's not breaking world records, David takes his classically-trained guitar expertise into heavy realms and provides one-man-metal-band scores for old silent films. Past feats include "Nosferatu" and "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari". For his latest, he joined up with voice actress, Kelli Bland, for a dark and tasty take on the Swedish witchcraft classic, "Haxan."

REZN - "Solace"

The fusion of ambience, space, and atmosphere into the world of metal and heavy rock and roll is not a new phenomenon, but it seems to be a steady-evolving one, particularly when you take into account a band like REZN. This Chicago quartet plays slow and low, but sings high and clean, and drenches their beautiful riffing in multilayers of reverb. At times there are even some hints of flute and other proggish delights. Think YOB meets early King Crimson meets the Cocteau Twins (!)

Church of Misery - "Born Under a Mad Sign"



I'll go as far as to say this is the best album this Japanese doom royalty have ever released. It sounds fresh and inspired, crazy heavy, fuzzy and groovy, and they have a new singer who sounds like a young Buzz Osborn. Earlier this year when they dropped their teaser track, "Most Evil," I got instant goosebumps and an instant reminder of why I loved heavy doom in the first place.

The Magpie Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Firelight Records Links:

Firelight Facebook | Firelight Instagram | Firelight Bandcamp | Firelight YouTube

Firelight Records: A New Home for Incredible, Heavy Rock, Psychedelia, and Experimental Darkness

Firelight Recordings: A New Home for Incredible, Heavy Rock, Psychedelia, and Experimental Darkness

Erik Sugg, (ex- Demon Eye, Lightning Born) is thrilled to announce Firelight Recordings. This new label brought to you from North Carolina, USA explores heavy rock, psychedelia, dark folk, and other sonic offerings of the ambient underground is just now ramping up. If those genre terms are relevant to you, Firelight Recordings is your next destination for new and upcoming great, original heavy music. Please, read on!

Our Firelight Recordings journey begins with Sugg's latest project, "The Magpie," dropping on Friday, September 8, 2023. The band’s Mike Dean-produced, self-titled album blends elements of heavy metal, post hardcore, noise, and vintage psychedelia in ten electrifying tracks. The band has Erik joining up with iconic punk artist, Brian Walsby (Snake Nation, Double Negative) and Mike Deloatch (Crystal Spiders.) 

Get a taste by checking out The Magpie lyric video for "Juice Glass" now, or streaming the full album via Hear Now. You can also listen to the full glory of the album on the Magpie Bandcamp and purchase a download, order a CD, or better yet a vinyl pre-order with an instant complimentary download. Vinyl copies are expected in early December and are limited to 100 copies. If you dig what you hear, please follow The Magpie and Firelight Recordings on social media, and stay tuned for all of their unforgettable musical developments.

Firelight Recordings:

Firelight Facebook | Firelight Instagram | Firelight Bandcamp | Firelight YouTube

The Magpie:

Hear Now (EPK) | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

Thanks to Blackseed Services for all of the details. 

You can read my review of The Magpie debut album here. 

The Magpie - The Magpie (Album Review)

Release Date: September 08th 2023. Record Label: Firelight Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Magpie - The Magpie: Tracklisting

You Are A Parasite

Ceremony For A Fat Lip

Juice Glass

Just One Drop

Derailed

Fix It

The Lurker

The Sleepy Eye

Freaking Out

Flesh Wound

Members

Erik Sugg - Guitar/Vocals

Brian Walsby - Drums

Mike DeLoatch - Bass/Vocals

Review:

The Magpie are a Punk/Doom/Stoner/Noise Rock/Heavy Metal band featuring members such as Erik Sugg (Demon Eye) and Brian Walsby (Double Negative, Snake Nation and Polvo) within their ranks. The band is rounded up by Mike DeLoatch. They have just released their self titled debut album and it's a glorious style of violent Retro-Rock where the grooves are mostly driven 90's Underground Stoner Rock/Metal with a killer 80's Hardcore Punk and off-kilter Psychedelic Rock.

The album has been recorded by the legend Mike Dean which only adds to The Magpie's Doom/Stoner Metal credentials. The Magpie have fun on this album with a more Noise Rock driven Power-Trio delivery throughout the album. There's a buoyant "outsider" energy with the sludgy 90's sound that was all the range back in the day. With the vocals having a more Punk Rock/Heavy Metal essence to them. The Magpie feel inspired by artists such as Black Sabbath, Motorhead, TAD, Soundgarden and The Melvins on the early tracks such as: You Are A Parasite, Ceremony For A Fat Lip and Juice Glass.

The record is quite short, clocking in at twenty eight minutes but The Magpie manages to cover a lot of creative ground within that time. The music is quite riff-centric with The Magpie exploring many different styles and themes within the Heavy Rock underground arena. There's a subtle Speed Punk element that allows the band to play at a furious pace. The music is constantly heavy with screeching guitars and superb levels of Low & Slow delivery which will appeal to fans of Guitar Reverb and Fuzzy Feedback.

The vocals from both Erik and Mike are mostly from a Doom/Occult Rock perspective but work amazingly well with whatever style of music The Magpie plays throughout the album. The lyrics are quite playful with some wicked creative insight from the band mostly on tracks such as Juice Glass, Just One Drop, Derailed, The Lurker and Flesh Wound.

The Magpie deserve credit for making music that is always constantly evolving from what came before it. Not one song sounds the same. There maybe similar ways of playing the music, however, The Magpie delivers an album that feels quite different for the bands the members are mostly known for. This album does have wicked sounding production values that feels like the album could have been recorded during the classic days of Underground Heavy Rock but still having an essential modern day feel.

Another aspect that I admired from the album was Matt's heavy hitting bass lines which added a gloomy Occult essence of the album with Erik and Brian providing excellent instrumental moments on guitars and drums respectively.

Overall, The Magpie have delivered a superbly entertaining album that fans of the Doom/Stoner/Punk Rock scenes should ultimately check out now. As there's a ton of fantastic sludgy creepy sounds for The Magpie to entice you with...

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram