APE VERMIN Embark On "The Riders of The Damned Tour Part 2" w/ MEAN GREEN

Apr 2, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments News

North Carolina progressive sludge metal trio Ape Vermin will hit the road this spring for “The Riders of the Damned Tour Part 2,” across the U.S. alongside stoner metal trio Mean Green. The run supports Ape Vermin’s crushing full‑length "Andromedas Colossus," the band’s most dynamic, melodic, and brutally expansive release to date.

The tour launches May 16 at Bull City Metal Fest in Durham, NC, and storms across the Southeast, Texas, the Southwest, and the Mountain states before closing June 12 in Chattanooga, TN (dates listed below).

The announcement arrives alongside the release of the band’s new lyric video for “Awakened,” created by filmmaker Kenji Tsunami of Tsunami Films (also bassist for Narcotic Wasteland). The track, an explosive fusion of sludge, thrash, and cosmic devastation, showcases the album’s apocalyptic themes and the band’s sharpened, evolved sound.

“‘Awakened’ is my personal favorite. Hell has come back to life. The Colossus is awake. Prepare for your imminent obliteration,” says guitarist/vocalist Brett Lee.

Formed in 2017 by Brett Lee, drummer Seth Lynn, and bassist Jared Edge, Ape Vermin has carved out a reputation for no‑frills, high‑volume, amplifier‑worshipping heaviness. Their sound, described by the band as Colossal, Epic, Unique, Exciting, Heavy, pulls from sludge, doom, thrash, groove metal, death metal, and progressive rock.

With "Andromedas Colossus," Ape Vermin pushes further into a dark, prophetic sonic realm built over a decade of writing. The album’s ten tracks range from the obliterating opener “Obliteration Imminent” to the tribal‑tinged instrumental “Pulse Driver,” the environmentally charged “Mining the Colossus,” and the epic closer “Return to Andromeda.” Lyrically, the record explores outer‑space phenomena, extraterrestrial mythos, prehistoric terror, psychedelic visions, and sci‑fi horror, an entire universe crafted in Lee’s mind.

“We want to take listeners on an epic sonic journey. This record is extremely dynamic, melodic, visceral, and dark. Fans can expect even more crushing material. We’re already working on the next LP,” adds Lee.

Recommended for fans of High on Fire, Crowbar, Mastodon, Yob, and Conan, check out “Andromedas Colossus” (released May 17th, 2024) at the following links:

Bandcamp - https://apevermin.bandcamp.com/

Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/album/1Y5DAyV5AP3hLNSMDfuQkh

"The Riders of The Damned Tour Part 2" w/ Ape Vermin, Mean Green
5/16 - Durham, N.C - Bull City Metal Fest
5/17 - Winston-Salem, N.C - The Den
5/18 - Atlanta, GA - Boggs Social
5/19 - Savannah, GA - TBA
5/20 - Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits
5/21 - Orlando, FL - TBA
5/22 - Tampa, FL - Brass Mug
5/23 - Lafayette, LA - Freetown Boom Room
5/24 - Dallas, TX - Reno's Chop Shop
5/25 - Corpus Christi, TX - Boozers
5/26 - San Antonio, TX - TBA
5/27 - Austin, TX - TBA
5/28 - Houston, TX - Black Magic
5/29 - El Paso, TX - The Rockhouse
5/30 - Albuquerque, NM - TBA
5/31 - Scottsdale, AZ - Pho Cao
6/2 - Palmdale, CA - Transplants Brewery
6/3 - Las Vegas, NV - The Griffin
6/4 - Salt Lake City, UT - TBA
6/5 - Cheyenne, WY - TBA
6/6 - Denver, CO - TBA
6/7 - Colorado Springs, CO - Whats Left Records
6/8 - Kansas City, MO - The Warehouse
6/9 - Chicago, IL - Reggies
6/10 - Lexington, KY - Als Bar
6/11 - Nashville, TN - TBA
6/12 - Chattanooga, TN - JJs Bohemia