Album

Album

Introducing the fantastic band The Heavy Eyes, their fifth album!

May 11, 2026

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3

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The Heavy Eyes

Introducing the fantastic band The Heavy Eyes, their fifth album by the heavy blues and rock giants from Memphis, Tennessee. Six years after their last album, The Heavy Eyes return with their most electrifying work yet. Focus is 11 songs full of new energy, which strengthen their strong riff-rock and move into heavier sound spheres. Sprawling guitar solos caress gigantic rhythms while slow, soulful vocals preach the gospel of a reborn band - ready to take heavy rock fans to the promised land with what can already be described as an instant classic. Fans of The Black Keys, Royal Blood and Rival Sons will love this!

The album will be released on June 12 in collaboration with Magnetic Eye Records.

Formed in the sweltering Memphis heat, The Heavy Eyes — Tripp Shumake (guitar/vocals), Matthew Qualls (guitar), Wally Anderson (bass) and Eric Garcia (drums) — forge a lean, no-frills sound rooted in the power of heavy blues and classic rock. Originally a trio, Shumake, Anderson and Garcia bonded over shared influences like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, quickly carving out their own identity with a self-titled debut recorded in a break room and praised for its unmistakable grit.

The 2012 follow-up, Maera, sharpened their attack with its immediate, riff-driven songwriting and a thunderous rhythm section, while 2015’s He Dreams of Lions marked their first proper studio recording and introduced guitarist Matthew Qualls. By 2018, Qualls was a full-time member, and the band began crafting their fourth album, Love Like Machines. The road to that album was anything but straight. Recorded between New Mexico and Memphis, its completion was threatened when Shumake was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. Battling fatigue from treatment, he pushed through to finish the vocals, delivering a more polished yet unmistakably raw version of the band’s sound.

Though the album's 2020 release and a long-awaited European tour were derailed — first by the pandemic, then by Shumake’s successful kidney transplant in 2022 — The Heavy Eyes never stopped moving forward. Now, in 2025, The Heavy Eyes are gearing up to self-release their fifth studio record in collaboration with Magnetic Eye Records, as well as bringing their electrifying live show to European stages.

About the album, guitarist and vocalist Tripp Shumake comments: “This album is The Heavy Eyes taking everything that has inspired us in the musical landscape and not giving a damn if it fits our particular genre. We want to use those impressions to bend our sound into new and exciting ideas for the listener and us, while still remaining true to our Memphis rock and roll roots. To focus on the thrill of creating something that wasn’t there before.

Stream / Buy / Download the album on Bandcamp

The Heavy Eyes is
Tripp Shumake - guitar/vocals
Matthew Qualls - guitar
Wally Anderson - bass
Eric Garcia - drums

The Heavy Eyes links

WebsiteFacebookBandcampInstagram

Magnetic Eye Records links

WebsiteFacebookBandcampInstagram

Thank you very much Purple Sage PR

I am not the owner of the picture, video or original song. Therefore, all rights belong to their respective owners. If you are the owner of the picture, video or any of the songs, write me a private message located on the information page and I will delete the video, photos immediately!!

Photo by © The Heavy Eyes promo

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