Bongripper
American instrumental doom metal band from Chicago.
Bongripper is an instrumental doom metal band based in Chicago, formed in 2005.
The group debuted in 2006 with the self-released album *The Great Barrier Reefer*, a single 79-minute track deliberately made longer than Sleep’s *Dopesmoker*. In 2007, they self-released two more albums: *Hippie Killer* and *Heroin*. The following year, they put out *Hate Ashbury* and a collaborative EP with Winters in Osaka titled *Meat Ditch*. Their album *Satan Worshipping Doom* came out in 2010, also self-released.
In 2013, the band issued two split EPs through Great Barrier Records—one with Hate, another with Conan. Their sixth studio album, *Miserable*, arrived in 2014 on Great Barrier Records. *Terminal*, their seventh album, was released on July 6, 2018. In May 2020, they released *Glaciers*, an EP recorded in 2009 that had sat unreleased for eleven years.
The band’s members are Ronald Petzke on bass, Daniel O’Connor on drums, and Nick Dellacroce on guitar.
- Formed
- 2005
- Origin
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Genre
- Instrumental doom metal
- Nationality
- American
- Known for
- Self-released albums, including the 79-minute single-track album The Great Barrier Reefer
Lore & Background
Bongripper formed in Chicago in 2005. In 2006, they self-released their debut album The Great Barrier Reefer, a single 79-minute piece intentionally longer than Sleep's Dopesmoker. The band continued self-releasing albums: Hippie Killer and Heroin in 2007, Hate Ashbury in 2008, and Satan Worshipping Doom in 2010. In 2008, they also self-released a collaborative EP with Winters in Osaka titled Meat Ditch.
Reader's Guide
Bongripper's significance lies in their uncompromising approach to instrumental doom metal, often emphasizing extreme length and heaviness. Their debut album The Great Barrier Reefer was deliberately crafted to exceed the length of Sleep's iconic Dopesmoker, marking a statement of intent. The band's consistent self-releasing model through their early years allowed them to maintain creative control and build a dedicated underground following. Their collaborations, such as the split EPs with Hate and Conan, placed them within a broader network of heavy, slow music. The 2020 release of Glaciers, recorded in 2009, highlights a willingness to revisit and share archival material. Their legacy is that of a band that has remained true to a specific aesthetic—massive, slow, and instrumental—while evolving their sound across multiple albums and EPs. They have become a respected name in the doom metal scene, particularly for fans of extreme, minimalist heaviness.
Did You Know?
- Bongripper's debut album The Great Barrier Reefer is a single 79-minute piece, intentionally longer than Sleep's Dopesmoker.
- The band self-released their first five studio albums before signing with Great Barrier Records for Miserable.
- The EP Glaciers was recorded in 2009 but not released until May 2020.
- Bongripper released split EPs with both Hate and Conan in 2013.
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