| Sonic Altar | |
|---|---|
 Sonic Altar live 2014 at Blood of The Wolf Fest, Lexington, Kentucky. Photo by AnnSydney Taylor. | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Sonic Bros. (2013) |
| Origin | Lexington, Kentucky, USA |
| Genres | Psychedelic Doom Metal |
| Years active | 2010 - 2014, 2018 - 2019, 2022 - Present |
| Labels | Earthstone |
| Associated acts | Stampede, Xelas, Nest, Rotting Kingdom, Autocrat, Cortex Angel, BOMBS, Blood Carries Disease, Eolith, Tombstalker |
| Website | |
Sonic Altar are a psychedelic doom metal band from Lexington, Kentucky. Active since 2010, their musical and lyrical themes are built around psychedelia, transcendence and impending doom. On at least one occasion they have performed covers sets with guest vocalists under the alias Sonic Bros..[1]
History[]
Sonic Altar formed in 2010 with their debut show happening on 21 December 2010 with Merkaba and Everyone Lives Everyone Wins. After that show they would play live periodically around Tennessee and Kentucky, sharing the stage with bands like Truckfighters, Valley of the Sun[2] and Jucifer[3] to name a few. Sometime in 2011 a demo entitled MMXI would follow with three songs.
Eventually in 2013 they would release their debut album Ritual Synapse via Earthstone Records. Their last show to date before going on a hiatus was on 12 October 2014 with Dirtbag at The Pile Mansion in Lexington, Kentucky. The reasons for the band's hiatus are largely unknown but eventually with time the band began composing new material and practicing while other members kept busy with other bands. The band also notably composed a 30+ minute song entitled "A Rip in The Veil" but it was never properly recorded.[4]
On 2 December 2017 the Blood of the Wolf Festival announced in their third wave of bands that Sonic Altar would be one of the performing acts in late March, marking the band's first live performance in nearly four years. Keener and Smith would be part of the new lineup alongside new bassist Travis and second guitarist Joe, whom handled all vocals.
The band performed with the new four-piece lineup on 23 March (With four new songs) alongside Autocrat, Bed Sore (Who had their final performance), Master's Curse (A one-time reunion and also their first show in four years), All Hell and Withered. The next show to follow would be on 15 April 2018 at The Green Lantern with Dirtbag, Hawkbill and Toke. Following a handful of shows in 2019 and original drummer Dakota leaving Kentucky, the band would go on hiatus again.
Keener would reform Sonic Altar again in 2022 with a new lineup and new material in the works.
Members[]
Current Lineup[]
- Kyle - Guitar, Vocals (2010 - 2014; 2018 - 2019, 2022 - Present)
- Travis - Bass (2018 - 2019, 2022 - Present)
- Adrian - Drums (2022 - Present)
Past Members[]
- Smoot - Bass, Vocals (2010 - 2014)
- Dakota - Drums (2010 - 2014; 2018 - 2019)
- Joe - Guitar, Vocals (2018 - 2019)
Discography[]
- MMXI (EP) (2011, Self-Released)
- Concentric MMXI (Compilation Appearance) (2011, Concentric Dronecult)
- The Sky Trembled, Then All Ceased (Split with Xelas) (2011, Concentric Dronecult)
- Ritual Synapse (Studio Album) (2013, Earthstone)