Witch Ripper and Friendship Commanders and Chesticle

Formed in 2012, Witch Ripper is a four-piece metal band from Seattle, WA that blends melodic prog and crushing riffs together with complex precision. After the demise of vocalist/guitarist Curtis Parker’s former band (Iron Thrones), he moved back to his home state with a demo of complete songs to start piecing a line-up together. Parker would soon enlist drummer Joe Eck, guitarist Coltan Anderson, and bassist John Roberson (Asschapel). In 2016 the band began work on their debut album, Homestead, and bassist Brian Kim would replace Roberson shortly after completion. The band have recently released a split with San Francisco band Brume on DHU Records and have plans to tour extensively in 2019, including a spot on The Chicago Doomed and Stoned Festival and Wasington’s own Pain in the Grass Festival, where they will be sharing the stage with the likes of Gojira, Behemoth, and Slipknot.
Friendship Commanders are a heavy duo from Nashville TN. The band is songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Buick Audra and drummer/bassist Jerry Roe. Their fourth album, BEAR, was released on October 10, 2025 via their new label home, Magnetic Eye Records. The ten-track body of work was co-produced, engineered, and mixed by Kurt Ballou at his Salem, MA studio, GodCity. The project is centered around the idea of belonging—where it exists, and where it absolutely does not.