High Tone Son of a Bitch

High Tone Son of a Bitch
OriginOakland, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2002–2007, 2018–present
Labels
  • Tee Pee
  • Ripple
  • Svart
  • Unknown Controller
  • Magnetic Eye

High Tone Son of a Bitch (often abbreviated HTSOB) is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California, formed in the early 2000s by brothers Paul and Andrew Kott.[1] The group blends stoner and desert rock, psychedelic hard rock, and doom metal, and have been associated with the Bay Area underground heavy music scene.[2]

History

High Tone Son of a Bitch formed in the early 2000s in the Bay Area, with the Kott brothers emerging from the earlier band Cruevo.[3] Their debut EP Better You Than Me was released in 2003 and featured guest synthesizer from Dave Edwardson of Neurosis. A second EP, Velocipede, was recorded in 2004 but was not released at that time. In 2007, Andrew Kott died following a fall, and the band went on hiatus for more than a decade.[4] During the hiatus, Paul Kott played in the Bay Area group Kalas with Matt Pike.[5]

In 2018 Juan Herrera—Paul Kott's nephew and Andrew Kott's stepson, and recipient of a Latin Grammy nomination—encouraged Paul to restart HTSOB.[6] The band returned by issuing Velocipede digitally and releasing the comeback EP Death of a New Day / Eye in the Sky in 2019.[7] The EP received positive coverage from outlets including Ghost Cult Magazine and Revolver.[2][8] In 2020 the band released Lifecycles: EPs of HTSOB with Tee Pee Records, which compiled remastered versions of Better You Than Me, Velocipede, Death of a New Day / Eye in the Sky, and the newly issued Wicked Threads!. The release was previewed by Invisible Oranges.[9]

In 2022, HTSOB partnered with Ripple Music to release Live at the Hallowed Halls, a live-in-studio album recorded in Portland. The record was noted by multiple outlets; for example, Tinnitist called it "a thrilling live in the studio... instant classic".[10] The album features guest appearances from several prominent heavy rock artists performing with the band on live in the studio. In 2025, the band contributed a cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Ruiner" to Magnetic Eye Records' The Downward Spiral (Redux), covered in outlets such as The Razor's Edge.[11]

Collaborations and guests

HTSOB has collaborated with a range of musicians from other underground heavy acts.

  • Matt Pike – guest guitar on Wicked Threads! and guest guitar and vocals on Live at the Hallowed Halls.[12]
  • Dave Edwardson – synthesizer on Better You Than Me and Death of a New Day / Eye in the Sky.
  • Rob Wrong – guest guitar on Live at the Hallowed Halls.
  • Andrea Vidal – guest vocals on Live at the Hallowed Halls.[13]
  • Sonny Reinhardt – guitar on Death of a New Day / Eye in the Sky.[2]
  • John Brookhouse – collaborator on Wicked Threads!.[13]
  • Jake Navarra – collaborator on Live at the Hallowed Halls.

Members

Founding members

  • Paul Kott – guitar[3]
  • Andrew Kott – guitar[4]
  • Ron Nichols – bass[3]
  • Andee Connors – drums[3]
  • Scott Wagner – vocals[3]

Current core lineup

  • Russ Kent – vocals[2]
  • Paul Kott – guitar[1]
  • Patrick Peterson – guitar[1]
  • Billy Anderson – bass[1]
  • Matt Butler – drums[1]
  • Leslie Allred – keyboards, synthesizers

Former members

  • Johann Zamorra – drums
  • Chris Corona – guitar
  • Joe Fucko – bass
  • Bryce Shelton – keyboards
  • Pamela Ausejo – guitar, vocals[13]
  • Eric Rancourt – drums

Discography

EPs and albums

YearTitleTypeLabel(s)
2003Better You Than MeEPShifty, Throne, Unknown Controller
2004 (released 2018)VelocipedeEPUnknown Controller
2019Death of a New Day / Eye in the SkyEPUnknown Controller
2020Wicked Threads!EPUnknown Controller
2020Lifecycles: EPs of HTSOBCompilationTee Pee, Svart, Unknown Controller
2022Live at the Hallowed HallsLive albumRipple Music

Compilation appearances

  • "Ruiner" on The Downward Spiral (Redux) (Magnetic Eye, 2025).[11][14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Pehling, Dave (7 August 2023). "Local stoner/doom heroes HTSOB headline the Golden Bull in Oakland". CBS Bay Area. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Quinn, Paul (24 June 2019). "High Tone Son Of A Bitch – Death Of A New Day / Eye In The Sky". Ghost Cult Magazine. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Frietze, Joe (12 May 2004). "High Tone Son of a Bitch – Better You Than Me". Ink 19. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 Koczan, JJ (2 September 2019). "High Tone Son of a Bitch on Tour Now; Billy Anderson Joins Lineup". The Obelisk. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Kalas – Kalas: Part 2 (Interview)". The Greatest Thing You've Never Heard. February 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  6. ↑ "Juan Herrera Nominated for Latin Grammy". The Latin Grammy Awards. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  7. ↑ Koczan, JJ (28 May 2019). "Reunited California Metal Band High Tone Son of a Bitch to Release New EP". The Obelisk. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Hear Desert-Rock Act High Tone Son of a Bitch's Triumphant New Song". Revolver. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  9. ↑ Rosenthal, Jon (20 February 2020). "High Tone Son of a Bitch Casts "Silhouette"s". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Albums Of The Week: High Tone Son Of A Bitch – Live At The Hallowed Halls". Tinnitist. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Album Review: Nine Inch Nails (Redux)". The Razor's Edge. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  12. ↑ Kennelty, Greg (13 June 2022). "Check Out MATT PIKE & HIGH TONE SON OF A BITCH Sludging It Up On New Single "Monuments To Ruins"". Metal Injection. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 Goate, Billy (18 July 2022). "High Tone Son of a Bitch Drop New Vid "John The Baptist" (feat. Andrea Vidal)". Doomed & Stoned. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  14. ↑ Setzer, Michael (2025). "V.A. The Downward Spiral Redux". Visions (review) (in German). Retrieved 1 July 2026.
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