Ol Scratch

BIO:Beginning life in 2004, Ol' Scratch began as a 5 piece monster in a garage in Northern Virginia. Playing metal with a sludgy southern tinge, they began playing shows locally in 2005. Switching bassists halfway through the year, the new lineup went on the road for a few tours and a ton of DC area shows supporting such acts as Alabama Thunderpussy, Trouble, and Dixie Witch. Early 2006 saw the release of "Blood Puddin'", a five song EP recorded at Harmonia Studios with engineer Greg Clark (Clutch, King Valley...) and mastered by Uncle Punchy. More shows followed, playing with doom icons Unorthodox, Earthride and War Injun. On the road again, they made a strong showing at 2006's “Maine Stonerfest” and played shows everywhere from Maine to Florida. Late in 2006 the band recorded and released a split CD with Fredericksburg, VA metal band LORD, recorded by engineer Tim Otis (Admiral Browning, Black Canary...) and mastered by Vince Burke (Sourvein, Beaten Back to Pure...). 2007 brought big changes with the loss of another bassist, Steve changing from rhythm guitar to handle the low end duties, and their vocalist, Joel, mysteriously quitting the band. The new lineup...a solidified 3 piece finds Matt Williams still on drums, Steve Payne on bass, and James Haun handling guitar and vocals. The new lineup shows the band evolving into a darker, heavier doom-metal style in the vein of Goatsnake, Weedeater and Electric Wizard. A busy summer is ahead with many shows on the horizon, including a tour with MD sludge-prog outfit Admiral Browning, and a tentative slot on the legendary “Stoner Hand of Doom” festival in November.REVIEWS:"Relentless, gut punching sludgefuck torture rock from a buncha hill dwelling hairballs from Virginia...It is music for dynamite fishing and fire eating, the call of backwoods savages to the great feast of fear and terror" -Sleazegrinder"damn heavy and mindblowing... like old High On Fire mixed with Clutch and Melvins...really dirty and filthy... for sure a CD I will listen to more than once.-Daredevil"Obviously a live band....Solace like riffing over a hoarse bark vocals"-Stonerrock.com"There is more than a hint of the DC doom... with a bit of Weedeater...and a bit of COC Southern groove. Lyrically, Ol’ Scratch is all about the darker side of existence. Not the anxiety and depression fueled by loss and despair, but the anxiety and depression fueled by drug deals gone bad, bad drugs, and bad vagina on drugs"-Hellride