After countless doom, stoner, thrash, black metal, and folk metal records crossing my desk, I stumbled across a band called Winds of Neptune. My first thought? “This is going to be horrible. And what the hell is a Winds of Neptune?”
Sometimes, though, you get pleasantly surprised when you let your guard down.
This three-piece from Detroit rocks that unmistakable 1970s Detroit sound — right in the vein of Cactus, Foghat, UFO, and Budgie — all bands they cite as influences. And they nail it. It’s rare these days to find a record that sounds like genuine old-school classic rock, but that’s exactly what this is.
The lineup is impressive too: drummer Mike Alonso (Flogging Molly), Kevin Roberts (The Meatmen), and Ross Westerber (50 Foot Pipe). It’s wild seeing guys from hardcore and punk backgrounds turning out such pure, vintage rock ’n’ roll — but then again, a lot of those old hardcore heads grew up on classic rock.
Across eight songs in about an hour, Winds of Neptune deliver riff-heavy, hard-driving, blues-drenched Detroit rock that feels both nostalgic and alive. This is the kind of record you didn’t know you needed until it hits.
If you’ve been drowning in walls of distortion from doom and blackened thrash bands, this one’s a breath of fresh air. Trios always seemed to capture that 70s rock magic — and Winds of Neptune fit right into that lineage.
A highly recommended surprise gem. Pick up their self-titled debut on Small Stone Records and turn it up loud.
Winds of Neptune is set for release on November 21 via Small Stone Records.
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- 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)
Rod Orchard is a veteran music journalist and photographer with 35+ years documenting metal, punk, and hardcore. His work has been featured in publications, films, documentaries, and record artwork worldwide, capturing the raw energy of live shows and backstage life.