The Atomic Bitchwax

The Atomic Bitchwax formed initially as a side project featuring Monster Magnet lead guitarist Ed Mundell, ex-Godspeed bassist/vocalist Chris Kosnik, and drummer Keith Ackerman. By that point all three musicians had already established themselves within New Jersey’s active stoner rock community, yet nearly seven years passed before they carved out sufficient time to document their efforts, issuing the self-titled debut in summer 1999. The trio specialized in high-octane, ’70s-based hard rock laced with elements of space rock and psychedelia, anchored by Mundell’s explosive, Tommy Bolin-inspired guitar work; the independent release on MIA astonished retro-rock listeners with its sudden impact, only for the label to cease operations roughly a year afterward. Tee Pee Records promptly signed the group, though the rushed 2000 follow-up Atomic Bitchwax II delivered largely uninspired material, while the media-shy Mundell found his elevated role as focal point difficult to navigate.

By early 2002 the band had moved to a third imprint, Meteor City, for the similarly uneven Spit Blood, after which momentum faded as Mundell withdrew into his familiar sideman position with Monster Magnet. The industrious Kosnik soon launched Black NASA, yet he and Ackerman revived the Atomic Bitchwax by recruiting guitarist Finn Ryan, formerly of space-stoner outfit Core. Their third album, titled 3, surfaced on Meteor City in June 2005, earning favorable notices that spurred extensive touring across Europe and elsewhere. In 2007 Monster Magnet drummer Bob Pantella assumed the drum chair, appearing on the fourth album TAB4. The 2011 release The Local Fuzz comprised a single continuous track exceeding forty minutes and built primarily from aggressive, unyielding guitar riffs. Heavy road work persisted over the ensuing years, encompassing further international dates. Kosnik became a full-time member of Monster Magnet in 2013 while continuing to divide commitments with the Atomic Bitchwax’s expanding touring calendar. Gravitron, the band’s sixth album, arrived in spring 2015, followed by Force Field in 2017.