Reunited by an unbreakable kinship that’s spanned years and previous band affiliations on Bird Attack Records, the members of feedtherightwolf have emerged with something bold and invigorating in the modern alternative rock scene. With their self-titled debut EP released on August 30, 2023, through Visibloom Recordings, the band—comprising Josh (Vox), Matt (Guitar), Zach (Guitar), and Rob (bass)—ventures into a sound that is both nostalgic and pioneering.
With the recording helm commanded by industry veteran Paul Lapinski, known for his work with bands like The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Yellowcard, feedtherightwolf delves deep into the essences of grunge and alt-rock that defined the late ’90s and early ’00s while also managing to stand out as kind of innovators.
Currently representing both VA Beach and Jacksonville, FL, feedtherightwolf’s six-song debut has quickly garnered attention across major streaming platforms.
The songs bring a tactile element that can best be described as a love letter to their influences yet future-facing in its presentation.
While Josh pulled double-duty on vocals and drums during the recording phase, the band has a “hired hand” for live performances, adding another layer of intrigue for their upcoming East Coast shows planned for late fall and winter.
In a special feature, we’ve invited feedtherightwolf to open up about the musical influences that have shaped them. Each member shares a list that includes: “The one” – the record that had the most significant influence on them musically, “Out of left field” – a record you wouldn’t expect them to be influenced by, stylistically speaking, “Stop and go listen. Now.” – a must-listen record that they insist everyone should hear.
It’s a rare glimpse into the collective psyche of the band and serves as a unique guide for listeners seeking to understand feedtherightwolf’s intricate soundscapes and the influences that have helped mold them.
🎶 “The one” – the record that had the biggest influence on me musically
Far – Water & Solutions
Rob, bass: A good friend of my sister worked for Epic way back in the day and I remember getting the advanced release of this. At first I couldn’t wrap my head around the production, but it was D Sardy and the songs were just so good – straight-forward, honest, raw – that I ended up falling in love with it. So much that I think I went through three copies of the actual CD b/c I had listened to it so much over the years. It was so awesome to see things come full circle for these guys years later to truly get the credit they deserved. They’ve also touched so many other great projects , more recently Black Map who has such a cool, driving rock sound.
Blindside – SIlence
Josh, vocals: This was a rather difficult one to come up with, but I’ll have to go with a record I absolutely exhausted in the early 2000’s — “Silence” checks all the boxes for me musically. Big vocal melodies which are mostly raw and aggressive, and at times more heartfelt and sincere. Drums that play around the melody and have that off-time groovy, creative feel. Christian Lindskog will always be one of my favorite vocalists.
Thrice – The Illusion of Safety
Zach, guitar: For me, it’s easily “Illusion of Safety” by Thrice – a common thread with all of us for sure. While there is very little of this record that I would say influences how I currently operate as a musician, without this record I’m not entirely sure I would’ve taken the “next step,” so to speak, as far as working harder and staying motivated to learn guitar and whatever instruments I came across.
Matt, guitar
Deftones – Deftones
While Thrice’s “Illusion of Safety” is right up there for me, it’s going to have to be Deftones’ self-tilted album. Funny enough, I grew up hating this band, and the song “Change” made me cringe in my early teenage years, but something happened in my early twenties when I heard this record. I literally couldn’t stop listening to it, and it changed me as a musician forever. There was something so beautiful in the haunting sound of Chino’s voice layered with the dark tones of Stephen Carpenter’s guitar riffs and tone. While I’ll take “Koi No Yokan” over this record today, this album made me fall in love with the band and changed my guitar playing forever.
🎶 “Out of left field” – the record you wouldn’t expect, stylistically
Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
Rob, bass: Thanks to my bandmates for this one! I had always thought LDR was a country singer so never gave her the time of day. Man was I wrong…. This album is perfect and I am literally obsessed with it. So dark, so beautiful. As a “girl dad” it does freak me out a little bit about what my little ones might go through as they become women, but damn Lana is cool.
Steve Miller Band – Greatest Hits, 1974-1978
Josh, vocals: I discovered this album as a kid in the 90’s and fell in love with tracks like “Swingtown, “Serenade” and “The Joker”. I used to drive around all over the place and blast this album in the car with my friends, so very nostalgic for that, as well as it being one of the few artists that my dad turned me onto.
The Bled – Pass the Flask
Zach, guitar: While there are tons of electronic and jazz records I’d love to reference here, I think the correct answer for me is “Pass the Flask” by The Bled. I never really got a gauge on how big that band was in the grand scheme of things, but at my high school and amongst some friends growing up in the local scene they were a big deal. This record just has a great mix of effective, heavy guitar riffs, heart-on-your sleeve vocals, and just an incredible rhythm section. Great breakdowns without sounding contrived.
Sigur Ros – ()
Matt, guitar: As a musician, I always fall in love with melody, arrangement, and overall feel first and lyrics are the last thing that I grab onto. For me, I can’t think of a more perfect record than Sigur Ros’ “().” There’s something so beautiful about completely tuning out of what is being said and just feeling what is happening in the song. They absolutely killed this record from start to finish, and it’s perfect whether I’m making a long drive home or just looking to turn something on to feel inspired by. Hats off to these Icelandic rockers… or are you shoegazers? Actually, what the hell would you call what you’re doing here?
🎶 “Stop and go listen. Now.” – the record that you need to hear if you haven’t already
Be Well – The Weight and the Cost
Rob, bass: Some of my favorite bands released albums during the first year of the pandemic (Nothing, Svalbard, Deftones), but nothing resonated with me the way Be Well’s debut did. It’s weird to even call it a debut given the legendary status of Brian McTernan (and the rest of the lineup, really) but I remember a good friend of mine telling me he was in a band again and it took all of 10 seconds of hearing the song “Magic” and I was totally hooked. Melodic hardcore at its finest, done by some legends of my generation.
From Plan to Progress – Ink Stains and Incidents
Josh, vocals: I was introduced to these guys from the singer in the band Castoff which I played drums for a few years back. Fast, melodic, ripping drums/guitars and amazing vocal melodies. They are from the UK, but unfortunately no longer together.
Hundredth – Rare
Zach, guitar: I’m going with “Rare” by Hundredth. One night we were all out after a day in the studio, and Rob was recommending a bunch of records to check out and this was one of them. It’s a departure sound-wise from everything else they’ve done, which honestly I’m not particularly into, but this record rips. It’s kind of like everything I wanted Smashing Pumpkins to be, but brought more into the modern age. Driving rhythms throughout, simple riffs and chord progressions and all washed out in reverb. A perfect record for a scenic drive with the windows down.
Soulblind – Feel it all around
Matt, guitar: Lately, I’ve been obsessed with the newer bands that are bringing the grunge sound back, and I can’t think of any band doing it better than what is captured in “Feel It All Around” by Soul Blind. It’s dark, aggressive, raw, and sometimes gut-wrenching. It truly hones in on the traditional 90’s grunge sound.
🎶
“Do you guys wanna open for us?” – the band who calls and you just say yes
Quicksand
Rob, bass: I mean as a bassist Sergio is “it” — I might lose points for saying it, but Manic Compression is actually the album that got me hooked. The bass in “Thorn In My Side” made me realize that there are no rules. Plus…. Walter Schreifels. Nuff said.
Thrice
Josh, vocals: Hands down Thrice is my favorite band (it was hard not to choose “Major/Minor” for my album up above). Throughout the evolution of Thrice’s sound I’ve always enjoyed everything they’ve released. Dustin Kensrue is such an amazing song writer and a huge influence on me musically.
Zach, guitar: Thrice for sure. I wanted to deviate, since I referenced them previously, but while of course it would be cool to play alongside colossal bands like Deftones or Alice In Chains, I just spent so much of my teenage years following and idolizing those guys, and it would just hit me in such a powerful way. They just have always seemed genuine in the music they write, and just in the way they carry themselves and I’ve always felt connected to them, so yeah, that would be my mountaintop.
Foo Fighters
Matt, guitar: I’m going to have to go Foo Fighters here. Mostly because Dave Grohl seems like a rad human being, and I can’t think of another band on their level where our band would fit well as an opener. I mean…given the opportunity, I’d rather play to tens of thousands vs. hundreds.
