Aug 27, 2026
We're honored to be featured in The Obelisk's review of our July 31 show at Dingbatz.
Sharing the stage with Precious Blood, Thunderchief, and Clamfight made for an incredible night of heavy music, and we're grateful to have…
Read more
Apr 19, 2026
THE CROOKED SKULLS kick out a serious set of jams on their debut album. It’s a heavy rock, stoner-soaked blend where the groove is irresistible, the riffs are king, and the journey is unforgettable. The whole thing feels like a…
Read more
Apr 16, 2026
click on the link for the video reviewhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wv1z6OuMjbApBnmhW0q8FFEcFbTeWTtj/view?usp=drive_link
Apr 16, 2026
The Crooked Skulls crash in with Midnight Sun, a riff heavy debut that leans hard into groove, grit, and no nonsense songwriting. Across nine tracks, the New Jersey trio blends thick stoner doom weight with biker rock attitude, delivering…
Read more
Apr 7, 2026
We’re honored to have Midnight Sun featured by Stoner Rock Army among a wave of killer underground releases this March. Being included alongside so many heavy hitters shows that the record is reaching beyond our circle and connecting where it…
Read more
Apr 7, 2026
Ashes I See is one of the most personal tracks on Midnight Sun, and seeing it help land us at #7 on Weedian’s March releases makes it hit even harder. This song comes from that place after everything…
Read more
Apr 6, 2026
Landing at #30 on the Doom Charts with our debut album Midnight Sun is one of those moments that feels bigger than the number itself. The Crooked Skulls started as nothing more than a few guys getting together to jam…
Read more
Mar 28, 2026
The Crooked Skulls are quickly gaining traction in the heavy underground, with early support from The Obelisk highlighting both their recorded work and live presence. Covering the release of “Iron Smile” featuring Bob Balch of Fu Manchu, JJ Koczan…
Read more
Mar 28, 2026
The Crooked Skulls come out swinging with their debut album Midnight Sun, delivering a hard-edged take on stoner metal rooted in the spirit of Corrosion of Conformity, Down, and Crowbar, while channeling the desert grit of…
Read more
Mar 28, 2026
The Crooked Skulls’ debut Midnight Sun is already turning heads across the heavy underground, with early praise highlighting the band’s groove-driven power and no-frills approach to riff-heavy rock. Dirty Rock Magazine calls the record “the moment where everything’s come together,”…
Read more““You don’t have to stretch to hear the aggression… a band to watch in the heavy underground.””
““Sludgy, doom heft with 90s groove… honest and unfussy heavy music.” — Dirty Rock Magazine”
““Riffs with metal at their foundation… a burl in the tone… tempered by the pacing, purely for the groove. ”
““Heavy, powerful and melodic.” “A strong entry into the stoner and doom scene.” “Fuzz driven heaviness throughout.” “The Crooked Skulls are on fire.””
“Fusing hard driving rock with fuzzy slabs of riffing, The Crooked Skulls have arrived to kick some ass.” — Mark “Yeti” Richard
“"If it doesn’t groove or growl, it doesn’t make the cut." — The Crooked Skulls”
The Crooked Skulls are a heavy, no-frills power trio out of New Jersey, delivering groove-soaked riffs, fuzzed-out tone, and raw, honest energy. Blending stoner rock, doom, and southern grit, their sound is built on feel, force, and real-world weight.
Formed by guitarist and vocalist Pete Koretzky, alongside drummer Chuck Snyder and bassist and vocalist Dave Van Auken, the band is rooted in the Northeast but forged through classic influence and modern heaviness. Their approach is simple and deliberate: lock into the groove, let the riffs breathe, and hit hard.
Pete’s playing pulls from the weight of Sabbath, the soul of Corrosion of Conformity, and the fuzz of Fu Manchu, shaped further through his connection with Bob Balch. He also contributed lead guitar to “Where’s This Place?” from Quintessence by Valley of the Sun.
Chuck Snyder brings explosive and instinctive drumming, inspired by players like Ginger Baker, Keith Moon, Bill Ward, and John Bonham. His style balances chaos and control, driving the band with power and feel. Dave Van Auken rounds out the trio with heavy, melodic basslines and a sharp vocal edge rooted in punk, sludge, and southern grit, locking the low end into a massive, cohesive sound.
Following their 2024 EP Hivemind, the band released their debut full length Midnight Sun on March 27, 2026 via Electric Desert Records. The album showcases nine tracks of dense riffs, driving rhythms, and stripped-down intensity, earning attention across the heavy underground and landing at #30 on the Doom Charts.
On stage, The Crooked Skulls deliver a focused and powerful live set, letting the music speak with minimal breaks and a seamless flow between songs. No filler, no wasted movement, just a wall of sound built on chemistry and volume.
The Crooked Skulls are not following a blueprint. They are carving out their own lane with riffs, groove, and unapologetic heaviness.
