Tummler

Tummler came together in Champaign, Illinois in 1996 when guitarist and vocalist Brad Buldak joined forces with drummer Jay Vance. Drawing from the most crushing recordings of the 1960s and 1970s, especially Black Sabbath and Iron Butterfly, the group refined its doom and stoner rock material through repeated appearances at area venues and committed three tracks to tape as a demo in 1999. By that stage guitarist Cas and bassist Dr. Hill had joined the lineup, allowing the band to secure a deal with Mans Ruin and deliver its thunderous debut album Queen to Bishop VI in June 2000. Mans Ruin’s subsequent collapse forced a two-year delay, after which a reconstituted Tummler—now featuring guitarist Ryan Jerzak and bassist Ginchy—landed a contract with Detroit’s Small Stone and finally recorded the long-postponed follow-up Early Man, which surfaced late in 2002.