Jupiter Zeus ready to rock with US label

Psychedelic rock band Jupiter Zeus have signed a two-album record deal with a US label.

The band’s guitarist, Michael Lawson, from Secret Harbour, said Magnetic Eye Records first discovered the foursome after rave reviews of its debut EP, Green Mosquito.

“We released the EP about two years ago and sent copies out to various places,” Lawson said. “We got reviewed on the Ripple Effect website, which is pretty hard to do, and they gave us a really good review.”

The band, which includes Aidrian Vudrug on drums, Simon Staltari on guitar and vocals and Jeremy Graham on bass, has already started recording its first full-length album.

“It will have 12 tracks,” Lawson said.

“We’ve probably got enough material for five or six albums.

“These guys have been writing songs since they were in high school, so we have about 20 years of material to choose from.”

Lawson joined Jupiter Zeus about four years ago when the band was renamed. Vudrug, Staltari and Graham have been playing together for two decades with heavy rock band Nebula.

Lawson said the members worked collaboratively on songs, with influences stemming from rockers AC/DC, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, plus heavier bands including Metallica, Helmet and Monster Magnet.

“We all like all sorts of different music but that older-style rock, from the likes of Black Sabbath, really struck a chord with us,” he said.

“We draw on all of our influences.”

The US signing was well received by the band, but Lawson said music was still a hobby. “The record label will have lots of connections with good booking agents and there’s an opportunity there to play in the US,” he said.