Thunderchief - With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star... (EP Review)

Release Date: July 01st 2026. Record Label: ASR Records. Formats: CD/DD

With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star… - Tracklist

Malaise

Chintzy

Catch My Fall

Entrance of the Devil (Zior)

Lie Nation

Slurpee

Members

Rik Surly - Vocals/Guitar/Bass

Erik Larson - Drums

Review

Doom/Sludge Metallers Thunderchief offer their new EP With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star... onto an unsuspecting audience. The record is driven by a black metal approach and down-tuned style of music where the band play some of the fastest and nastiest grooves of their career  within the excellent opening track of Malaise. Thunderchief plays a more violent slab of Punk Metal you’ll encounter in some time. The music is played against long drawn out Doom/Sludge Metal soundscapes that have echoes of SLEEP running throughout. 

You can hear elements of HIGH ON FIRE and  MOTORHEAD running violently free against the backdrop of nightmarish Drone Metal themes and distorted Blackened Sludge Metal firmly settling down for a fast-paced journey into the vast darkness of the underground on the brutal second offering Chintzy. The vocals are violent and way over the top that are delivered by Rik Surly who is on highly inspired devilish form.

The music adapts itself to more modern day Crust Punk surroundings that allows Thunderchief to firmly remain in MOTORHEAD territory on the remainder of the record. Thunderchief splice out lo-fi carvings of the Extreme Metal scene at times before merging within their Punk Metal delivery on tracks such as: Catch My Fall, Entrance of the Devil (Zior), Lie Nation and Slurpee which remain the some of the heaviest, seediest and dirtiest parts of the record. 

Thunderchief are never afraid to offer the listener a seedy, unapologetic and in some cases deeply flawed production values on the EP. As With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star… ultimately provides a thrilling picture of the brutal Doom/Sludge Metal underground scene you rarely witness.

Thunderchief channels some epic SUNN 0))) vibes with the aspects of Drone Metal reaching crazy levels of pure heaviness but the music is still riff heavy where the band never disappoints especially with the excellent drumming from Erik Larson being my favourite aspect of the EP. Erik’s fully committed or perhaps possessed by the POWER OF SATAN which allows Rik to deliver some mammoth sounding instrumental passages of his very own.

With Hatchet, Pike Or Morning Star… is a little short running around twenty two minutes in length but it provides an action-packed ride that’s fun, filthy and brutally entertaining that leaves you wanting more. 

Excellent and Highly Recomemnded.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

www.thethunderchief.com

https://www.facebook.com/thunderchiefrva/

https://www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial/

https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com/music

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers THUNDERCHIEF Announces New Album and Tour for *With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star…”

Virginia-based heavy metal/punk outfit THUNDERCHIEF will release its new full-length album, *With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star...*, through ASR Records on physical and digital form on July 1, 2026, and embarking on a 4-week tour beginning July 6 to support the release.

Continuing the band's blend of aggressive metal, raw punk, and hard rock influences, *With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star...* presents THUNDERCHIEF's most focused and direct material to date. Across the album's runtime, the band delivers a collection of hard-hitting tracks built on heavy riffs, frantic rhythms, and unsettling lyrical content--touching on current social issues including politics, humanity and the dreaded concert-ticket & music-streaming capitalization.

The band states, "We are really excited about this album, it hits on everything we like about making music. We pushed ourselves in a few new directions on this one to include some new elements that weren't present on prior albums, and we're stoked on how the fans have responded to hearing these songs live”."

Formed in Richmond, Virginia, THUNDERCHIEF has developed a sound rooted in abrasive metal/hardcore punk, drawing weight & urgency equally from the respective genres. The new album builds on that foundation, offering a set of songs that emphasize momentum, intensity, and dare we say, “groove”, without relying on studio excess or modern trends to create atmosphere. The band also threw in a cover of the 1973 Zior cult-laden classic, “Entrance of the Devil”.

*With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star...* will be released by ASR Records on July 1, 2026, with a 4-week tour to follow beginning on Monday, July 6, and a southwestern tour slated for October.

For more updates and information, visit THUNDERCHIEF online at www.thethunderchief.com



THUNDERCHIEF - *With Hatchet, Pike or Morning Star...*

ASR Records - July 1, 2026 (CD/Digital)

Track Listing

Malaise
Chintzy
Catch My Fall
Entrance of the Devil (Zior)
Lie Nation
Slurpee

Summer Tour 2026

7/6 Alexandria, VA Galactic Panther
7/7 New Hope, PA John & Peters
7/8 Harrisonburg, VA Coffee Hound
7/9 Pittsburgh, PA Rock Room
7/10 Detroit, MI Paris
7/11 Chicago, IL Liars Clu
7/12 Madison, WI Gamma Ray (Matinee)
7/13 Minneapolis, MN Underground
7/15 Columbus, OH Dirty Dungarees
7/16 Wheeling, WV Carins Pub
7/17 Akron, OH The Matinee
7/18 Buffalo, NY Ask a Punk
7/19 Reading, PA Gnome Hutch
7/20 Saratoga Springs, NY Desperate Annies
7/22 Manchester, NH The Bungalow
7/23 Worcester, MA Ralph’s Rock Diner
7/24 New London, CT 33 Golden
7/25 Portland, ME Madrids
7/26 Bangor, ME Old Towne Theater
7/27 Henniker, NH Henniker Brewing
7/29 Providence, RI Alchemy
7/30 Medford, MA Deep Cuts
7/31 Clifton, NJ Dingbatz
8/1 Philadelphia, PA O’Malleys

Links

www.thethunderchief.com

https://www.facebook.com/thunderchiefrva/

https://www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial/

https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com/music

Thanks to Thunderchief for all of the details

THUNDERCHIEF Unleashes 2025 U.S. Tour — Featuring Erik Larson (Alabama Thunderpussy, Avail, Birds of Prey) & Rik Surly

RICHMOND, VA — Prepare for a barrage of volume and venom as THUNDERCHIEF , the relentless sludge ’n’ roll duo from Richmond, Virginia, take their crushing live show across the U.S. with a full-scale 2025 tour .

The band, known for their no-compromise, genre-defying heaviness, will hit 30+ cities in support of their acclaimed full-length Synanthrope and the pulverizing pandemic-era covers release Dekk Meg... . Armed with bone-breaking riffs, thunderous drums, and a refusal to play it safe, THUNDERCHIEF’s live show is an all-out aural assault not to be missed.

Formed in 2006 by guitarist/vocalist Rik Surly , the band has evolved into an unstoppable two-man demolition unit with the addition of drummer Erik Larson , a key figure in underground heavy music. Larson’s legendary résumé includes Alabama Thunderpussy , Avail , Birds of Prey , Satan’s Satyrs , Morne , and Parasytic , bringing decades of punk, sludge, and metal fury to the THUNDERCHIEF machine.

Check them out on Bandcamp and support:

https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com/album/dekk-meg

2025 U.S. TOUR DATES:

AUGUST

8/20 – Washington, DC – Simple Bar
8/21 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – Curry Donuts
8/22 – Salem, MA – Koto
8/23 – Wallingford, CT – Cherry St. Station
8/24 – Portland, ME – Geno’s
8/25 – Henniker, NH – Henniker Brewing
8/26 – Albany, NY – Ophelia’s
8/27 – Rochester, NY – Bug Jar
8/28 – Kent, OH – Bar Lucci
8/29 – Detroit, MI – JobStoppers
8/30 – Indianapolis, IN – Melody Inn
8/31 – Dayton, OH – Cosmic Joe’s

SEPTEMBER

9/1 – Louisville, KY – Mag Bar
9/2 – Cincinnati, OH – Feel It Records
9/3 – Lexington, KY – Green Lantern
9/4 – Huntington, WV – Truckin’ Cheezys
9/5 – Roanoke, VA – Blindhouse Brewery
9/24 – Richmond, VA – Banditos

OCTOBER

10/1 – Norton, VA – Music Shop
10/2 – Murfreesboro, TN – CrX
10/3 – Memphis, TN – Growlers
10/4 – Fayetteville, AR – Nomads
10/5 – St. Louis, MO – Platypus
10/6 – Columbia, MO – PMD
10/7 – Kansas City, MO – Farewell
10/8 – Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves
10/9 – Austin, TX – Chess Club
10/10 – San Antonio, TX – Slow Ride
10/11 – Houston, TX – Black Magic Social Club
10/12 – Baton Rouge, LA – Punk Rock Flea Market
10/13 – New Orleans, LA – Fred Hampton Free Store
10/15 – Vicksburg, MS – Watermark
10/16 – Birmingham, AL – Firehouse
10/17 – Athens, GA – Flickr
10/18 – Greenville, NC – Suite E

ABOUT THUNDERCHIEF:

Once described as "an incessant nightmare, like Sleep on ketamine" , THUNDERCHIEF has spent nearly two decades refining their brand of riff-soaked, drum-forward punishment . Built on power, groove, and pure gut instinct, the band doesn’t chase trends—they bulldoze through them.

For fans of: Orange Goblin, Weedeater, Cobra Whip
Genre: Sludge 'n' Roll / Southern Doom / Punk-infused Metal

Links

https://linktr.ee/thunderchief
https://www.thethunderchief.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thunderchiefrva
https://www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial
https://youtube.com/@thunderchief2696
https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6UXY1RLQnRZPNBjjfzJepo
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thunderchief/no-sufferance-for-thy-fools-2
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thunderchief/synanthrope

Thanks to Metal Devastation Radio for the details.

Sludge Metallers THUNDERCHIEF Announces Upcoming USA Tour

Richmond, VA’s 2-pc sludge ‘n’ roll misanthropes, THUNDERCHIEF, are heading out for a 2-part tour this late summer and fall, with headlining dates covering 35 cities throughout the Northeast, Midwest & Southeastern US. Somewhere in the relative timeframe, the band will drop into the studio to record their upcoming album—more news about that soon, but rest assured, the band will continue pushing their agenda of unfiltered intensity.

The tour is dotted with a healthy mix of venue stops, DIY spots, & matinee shows—taking their fierce live show to new ears and new territory…the perpetual continuation of what is and what will ever be for THUNDERCHIEF.

8/20 Washington, DC Simple Bar
8/21 Wilkes-Barre, PA Curry Donuts
8/22 Salem, MA Koto
8/23 Wallingford, CT- Cherry St. Station
8/24 Portland, ME- Geno’s
8/25 Henniker, NH Henniker Brewing
8/26 Albany, NY Ophelia’s
8/27 Rochester, NY Bug Jar
8/28 Kent, OH- Bar Lucci
8/29 Detroit, MI JobStoppers
8/30 Indianapolis, IN Melody Inn
8/31 Dayton, OH- Cosmic Joe’s
9/1 Louisville, KY Mag Bar
9/2 Cincinnati, OH Feel It Records
9/3 Lexington, KY Green Lantern
9/4 Huntington, WV Truckin’ Cheezys
9/5 Roanoke, VA Blindhouse Brewery
9/24 Richmond, VA Banditos
10/1 Norton, VA- Music Shop
10/2 Murfreesboro, TN CrX
10/3 Memphis, TN Growlers
10/4 Fayetteville, AR Nomads
10/5 St. Louis, MO Platypus
10/6 Columbia, MO PMD
10/7 Kansas City, MO Farewell
10/8 Denton, TX- Rubber Gloves
10/9 Austin, TX Chess Club
10/10 San Antonio, TX Slow Ride
10/11 Houston, TX Black Magic Social Club
10/12 Baton Rouge, LA Punk Rock Flea Market
10/13 New Orleans, LA Fred Hampton Free Store
10/15 Vicksburg, MS Watermark
10/16 Birmingham, AL Firehouse
10/17 Athens, GA Flickr
10/18 Greenville, NC Suite E

Website: www.thethunderchief.com
Music: www.thethunderchief.bandcamp.com

Socials: www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial

THUNDERCHIEF is heading South in support of their new release “Dekk Meg…” (ASR Records)

THUNDERCHIEF is heading South in support of their new release “Dekk Meg…”

Richmond, VA’s 2–piece nihilistic Sludge ‘n’ Roll outfit THUNDERCHIEF are heading out due south to support their new CD release, “Dekk Meg…” (ASR Records), slated for Friday, January 6, 2023.

The album is the culmination of 12 cover songs that were digitally released as singles throughout 2021/2022, and have now been re-mastered at New Alliance East in Boston, MA. This collection of deep cuts by Sheer Terror, Joe Walsh, Neanderthal, among others, showcases the band making full use of the pandemic downtime.

Photo by Chris Boarts Larson

“Dekk Meg…” (“Cover Me…”) was created in 3 sessions with 6 powerhouse engineers--Mike Dean, Mark Miley, Jordan Faett, Lance Koehler, Allen Bergendahl, and Nick Zampiello

Tour begins January 9 in Asheville, NC and continues on with heavy support from CrankBait, Hot Ram, Christworm, and a rare appearance from Southern heavyweight titans, Hexxus.

1/9 Asheville, NC Static Age Records
1/10 Murfreesboro, TN cXr
1/11 Little Rock, AR Whitewater Tavern
1/12 Denton, TX Dan’s Silverleaf
1/13 San Antonio, TX Faust
1/14 Austin, TX Lost Well
1/15 Houston, TX Black Magic Social Club
1/16 New Orleans, LA Siberia
1/17 Gulfport, MS VFW #1406
1/18 Birmingham, AL Saturn
1/19 Atlanta, GA Star Community Bar
1/20 Charlotte, NC The Milestone
1/21 Charleston, SC Trolley Pub
1/22 Raleigh, NC School Kids Records

Links

Official Website: www.thethunderchief.com
Tour Dates/News; www.artistecard.com/thunderchief
Bandcamp: www.thethunderchief.bandcamp.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thunderchiefrva

THUNDERCHIEF Announce 12 Date Summer Fling Starting July 20th 2022

THUNDERCHIEF will be traveling with its usual 2-piece assault crew Avail drummer/Alabama Thunderpussy founder Erik Larson, and underground crony Rik Surly, who together comprise a fierce series of unrelenting song and volume.

Photo by Chris Boarts Larson

Tour Dates Below for Thunderchief's Upcoming Tour

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp