AXE DRAGGER, the heavy metal supergroup that quietly assembled one of the most intriguing lineups in recent memory, released their self-titled debut album via Ripple Music on March 6, 2026. The band combines the forces of Phil Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT), guitarist Scott Hill (FU MANCHU), guitarist Don Anderson (AGALLOCH, PILLORIAN), and drummer Hank Sanchez (PLAGUE YEARS).
The record, produced by Billy Anderson — known for his work with Sleep, Neurosis, and Melvins — runs approximately 48 minutes across eight tracks and lands somewhere between the hypnotic desert riff-worship of Fu Manchu, the atmospheric darkness of Agalloch, and the raw, swaggering heaviness of Down. Anselmo's vocals are notably restrained compared to his more extreme work, leaning into his blues-inflected Southern rock register that suits the material well.
Anderson's AGALLOCH background brings an unexpected textural depth to the guitar arrangements: there are moments where the album breathes in ways that sludge-adjacent records rarely do, offering long, open passages that reward patient listening before crashing back into riff-driven heaviness.
The project formed during the pandemic years, with the members writing remotely before coming together to record. Whether AXE DRAGGER is a one-off or the beginning of an ongoing project remains to be seen, but the debut stands strongly on its own merits. Ripple Music continues to be one of the most reliable homes for adventurous heavy rock and metal.
Axe Dragger is available now on all platforms.