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Hard rockers McMurdo Sound Agreement, who have just released their debut album Second Spine, tell us about their top five influences
McMurdo Sound Agreement fuse heavy, hook‑driven songwriting with high‑concept sci‑fi flair, carving out a fiercely independent corner of the North East scene. Rooted in the stoner‑metal spirit of Clutch and Kyuss but warped through their own melodic weirdness, the band build whole narrative worlds across their records — complete with artwork, lore and social‑media easter eggs.
The band have just dropped a sci-fi concept album rooted in the desert rock scene of the mid-00s.
Here, singer and guitarist Sean McCulloch tells us about the albums and artists that influenced the band’s sound…
5. Fu Manchu- California Crossing (2001)
Fu Manchu is the Ramones of stoner metal, in that every song sounds the same- but it’s the best song you’ve ever heard. California Crossing is the purest distillation of their sound: it’s a bunch of middle-aged dudes playing super heavy riffs and singing about skateboarding and cars. The choruses absolutely fly, perfection.
Key Track: Mongoose
4. Electric Wizard- Witchcult Today (2007)
I genuinely think Electric Wizard are a bit scary (they’re like Black Sabbath if Ozzy actually believed in Satan). Live these dudes do not mess about- they are so heavy, it gives me energy. Witchcult Today is a personal favourite because it has some tight well-crafted songs, as opposed to 15-minute dirges (I’m looking at you Dopethrone).
Key Track: Torquemada ’71.
3. Down- Over the Under (2007)
Phil Anselmo is an idiot, but Down are immense. This album is their best; with Pepper, Kirk and Rex all playing at the absolute peak of their powers. Start to finish, it’s incredible but the highlight for me has always been On March the Saints. That song has got me through some hard times… and it was only much later that I learned it was about the Super Bowl. No accounting for taste, I guess.
Key Track: On March the Saints
2. Kyuss- Welcome to Sky Valley (1994)
Queens of the Stone Age are great, but Kyuss will always be my favourite Josh Homme project. The man is a bona-fide guitar maestro, he does his own thing and we’re all still playing catch-up. That’s not to undersell John Garcia, pound-for-pound one of the best vocalists in rock- especially with Unida. Ultimately, Kyuss were one of the first bands to push the Black Sabbath in a new direction.
Key Track: Demon Cleaner
1. Clutch- Pure Rock Fury (2001)
Some would balk at including Clutch in this category, but in the early 00s they were definitely stoner metal adjacent. It’s not their best album (Robot Hive/Exodus is their best album) but Pure Rock Fury is immense and super heavy.
I remember seeing Clutch supporting Motorhead in 2005 at Sheffield City Hall. Nobody was really interested in the support band, so there were less than a hundred people in this massive amphitheatre. They rocked up, absolutely annihilated the empty room and then did a cover of Politician by Cream. I screamed like it was the Beatles, and I swear Neil Fallon looked me in the eye and said “yes”. From that point on, Clutch was my absolute favourite band. They are totally unmatched in rock for their groove and feel.
Key Track: Sinkemlow
