merlock

orb pondering post doom metal

“It is a fascinating first chapter, reminiscent of much but not entirely loyal to any single microgenre, and the potential is there for Merlock over time to carve a niche of their own within the various strains of capital ‘h’ Heavy.”
— JJ Koczan, The Obelisk

“This power trio is a shadowy hybrid of wailing trad doom, garage-born psych rock, and the proggy side of sludge . . . the [is] band singular in a super-saturated sea of stoner fuzz clones.”

— Sean Frasier, Decibel

“Merlock are fast becoming an essential part of the Underground Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scenes . . . Merlock has released one of the first and must have essential albums of 2023.”

— Steve Howe, Outlaws of the Sun

Described by critics as “gloomy and semi-mystical”, “shadowy and mysterious”, and “epic and ever-climbing”, Merlock melds stoner doom with heavy psychedelic sounds to create orb pondering post-doom atmospheres. Formed in 2017 in Spokane, Washington, Merlock has self-released 2 EPs and 1 full length, Onward Strides Colossus. With several West Coast tours and a headlining slot at Rocky Mountain Riff Fest under their belt, the band strides onward as they wield their colossal riffs across the nation.

Over the last 5 years, Merlock has grown from a psychedelic take on Traditional Heavy Metal into a psychedelic post-doom juggernaut. Often compared to acts like Yob, Sleep, and High on Fire, the band’s 2023 release Onward Strides Colossus was received warmly by the doom underground. In a recent review, The Obelisks JJ Kockzan has noted “the potential . . . for Merlock . . . to carve a niche of their own within the various strains of capital ‘h’ Heavy.” Along these lines, Steve Howe from Outlaws of the Sun had this to say: “Merlock are fast becoming an essential part of the Underground Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scenes . . . Merlock has released one of the first and must have essential albums of 2023.”

In addition to steadily releasing a string of intriguing, genre-pushing albums, Merlock has performed with a wealth of Doom heavyweights and toured nationally. As local support in Spokane, the band has opened for bands like High on Fire and Year of the Cobra, and has performed at Rain City Doom Fest and Rocky Mountain Riff Fest. They have toured nationally and regularly since 2019, gaining fans and momentum with each and every stop.

With tons of support for their orb pondering social media content—including several viral videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels—the band is gearing up to release the follow up to Onward Strides Colossus in 2026, with plans to tour to support the album. Merlock is quickly making their way as a main-stay due to their work ethic, wild social media antics, and truly unique sound. With several successful tours and albums underfoot, the colossus that is Merlock cannot be stopped.