Photo by Joe Alberty
Decibel Magazine is currently streaming the self-titled debut from Detroit rock trio WINDS OF NEPTUNE in its entirety. The premiere comes in advance of the record’s official release Friday, November 21st via Small Stone Recordings.
Comments bassist/vocalist Ross Westerbur, “This record is the culmination of a road that started in [guitarist] Kevin [Roberts]’s basement with us jamming Deep Purple and Jethro Tull songs. The band and the songs kind of emerged organically from there, and it’s very cool to see a record come out of that same process. Although we won’t stop jamming Deep Purple and Jethro Tull tunes anytime soon.”
Adds Decibel, “On this eight-track bruiser, WINDS OF NEPTUNE do their Detroit roots proud with their heavy riffs, bluesy thunder and relentless groove.”
Stream Winds Of Neptune HERE.
The three members of WINDS OF NEPTUNE have all been in bands together, but never the same band, and never at the same time. With classic ‘70s rock in their hearts, the Detroit three-piece realize their self-titled debut for Small Stone Records after years of preparation across this tumultuous half-decade.
Indeed, it was pandemic restlessness and perhaps escapism that propelled Flogging Molly drummer Mike Alonso, guitarist Kevin Roberts (The Meatmen), and bassist/vocalist Ross Westerbur (500 Ft. Of Pipe) to start jamming Free and Jethro Tull covers in the basement during lockdown, and the years since have seen the advent of WINDS OF NEPTUNE as an ongoing project.
And yes, each member of the band has been previously involved in projects with each of the other two members. Kevin and Ross were together in the heavy psych/blues band Bluesong, Kevin and Mike in the old-school thrash metal project Mykronian, and Ross and Mike in the MC5-inspired stoner trio Aquarius Void. You will be quizzed on this later.
The name WINDS OF NEPTUNE comes from the final unreleased Bluesong instrumental, connecting the threads. With their foundation in songwriting, the chops to live up to their influences in the likes of UFO, Budgie, and Captain Beyond, and the will to get out and do the thing live, what started as a way to stay sane in dark times has turned out to be the end game of years of shuffling through projects. Welcome WINDS OF NEPTUNE.
Winds Of Neptune was recorded by Jake Halkey and Al Sutton at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan, mastered by Chris Goosman at Baseline Audio Labs in Ann Arbor, Michigan and features artwork by Bloodworld and layout by Alexander von Wieding. The record will be released on CD and digital formats with two bonus tracks as well as Black Dust vinyl (limited to 200 copies).
Find all preorders at the Small Stone Bandcamp page HERE.
Winds Of Neptune Track Listing:
- The Faun’s Rhyme
- Gas Giant
- La Cacciata
- Temporal Mutant
- U.S.L.
- So Sayeth The Mouth Of The Void
- The Fitz (Bonus Track – CD/Digital Only)
- Queen Of Sumatra (Bonus Track – CD/Digital Only)
WINDS OF NEPTUNE:
Ross Westerbur – bass, vocals
Mike Alonso – drums
Kevin Roberts – guitar
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