The Crooked Skulls are not here to reinvent heavy rock. They are here to remind you why it matters. ‘Midnight Sun’ is out now on Electric Desert Records, a full-length desert rock slab from the New Jersey three-piece that hits with the kind of riff-first authority that fans of Orange Goblin, Fu Manchu, and Weedeater will recognize immediately.
Pete Koretzky handles guitar and vocals through a Gibson and Hiwatt and Orange amp setup that roars with genuine tonnage. His credentials run deep, including previous collaboration with Bob Balch of Fu Manchu and a recorded solo on Valley of the Sun’s 2023 track “Where’s This Place?” Chuck Snyder anchors the band with thunderous precision behind his Tama kit, channeling Ginger Baker and John Bonham without apology. Dave Van Auken drives the low end through Aguilar and Darkglass gear, pulling from Crowbar and ZZ Top while locking tight with Snyder and sharing vocal duties.
‘Midnight Sun’ was recorded with John Naclerio at Nada Recording Studio and mastered by Kent Stump at Crystal Clear Studios. The result is an album that hits hard while keeping its raw edge fully intact. Lyrically, the record covers endurance, reflection, and personal reckoning, honest and unfiltered throughout.
The album is a strong, confident statement from a band operating on chemistry and conviction. The riffs are enormous, the groove never lets up, and the whole thing lands with the kind of weight that sticks.