When Ridge emerged on the Swedish stoner rock horizon in the early 2000s, the scene was buzzing with powerful releases that shaped the genre’s sound. Fu Manchu had just dropped Eatin’ Dust, a raw riff-heavy slab from California’s desert; Sleep’s Dopesmoker was building its monolithic cult status; Electric Wizard’s Dopethrone dragged listeners through doom-soaked psychedelia; and Queens of the Stone Age were twisting stoner aesthetics into the mainstream with Rated R.
On the European front, Sweden itself was making waves with Lowrider’s Ode to Io (2000), a seminal album blending doom and stoner grooves with an atmospheric, heavy vibe. It was into this fertile and fuzzy landscape that Ridge stepped—not just as followers, but as distinct voices from the Swedish underground. Their debut, A Countrydelic and Fuzzed Experience in a Colombian Supremo, was no ordinary fuzz-rock record. It was surreal, rustic, deeply melodic—infused with a strange warmth and a sense of space that felt both northern and desert-worn. Now, after more than two decades, Ridge return with two new albums, ready to remind us just how personal and unhinged stoner rock can be. We had the pleasure of talking with Andreas and Jonas from the band to dig into their story—past, present, and beautifully distorted.
Do you remember the first time you ever heard so-calledstoner rock music? What was the song, album, or band that really hooked you?
Andreas: Well, that’s really interesting because I was a really late bloomer. Me and my punkrock-bandmates were at a festival in the south of Sweden and then suddenly a band got up on stage and started. We heard someone in the band scream: “fuck tuning- let’s go!” And then (I think) Regal Begal begun. It was Fu Man-fuckin-chu!
What i didn’t know at the time was that the pioneers of stonerrock from Sweden were at the festivalgig: members from Dozer, Demon Cleaner and the record company Molten Universe. Where Ridge further on landed on…
So. From that day on the band- that later became Ridge, progressed from punkrock to Fuzzrock. Or whatever to call it. Then what happened was that we lost both the singer and the bassplayer…Haha!
Jonas: For me it was Kyuss: “...and the circus leaves town.” Until then I kind of thought that I was the only one to still loved old Black Sabbath...But I wasn’t, because Andreas was a fan too. So. Match made in heaven!
When did you decide to start a band – and what was the main motivation that sparked it?
Do you remember the vibe of those early rehearsals?
Andreas: I worked at a high school with a “criminal-prodigy” and had just started playing guitar when I heard some pupils playing in the music hall. So I asked them if we could jam. Completely idiosyncratic. They were in the ninth grade and I was like 21-22 but we hit it off and then began to rehearse. A lot of shit were written and when mentioned above happened: Fu Manchu came into the ballpark, it began to switch.
But when the singer and bassplayer left the band me and drummer Johan Lien had to change sights. And came in contact with Jonas Jönsson. Who loved Black Sabbath and Kyuss. That I didn’t know of at the time. Actually not quite any other so called stoner actually.
But we rehearsed as maniacs and I thought we had something nobody else had at the time. Well, we started in a small town in the south of Sweden, so it was actually quite true. But. We have always loved communicating and made contact with other bands later on like Dozer, Astroqueen among others because we didn’t know other bands that played that stuff. And we loved the music that no one loved. But we didn’t think at all- we just did what we thought were the best music to play. Unwisely.
Jonas: I was 6 years old and heard Kiss for the first time. That´s when I decided to play in a band just like them. But it took until my early teens until it happened. The vibe was awesome! And I still just love to hang out in the rehearsalroom!
Ridge was one of the pioneers of the early European stonerscene.
How do you look back on those early years? What was it like playing this kind of music in Sweden and Europe back then?
First: thank you so much for putting Ridge up on that bill of heroeprotégés. That’s an honor. For sure. We had so much fun recording in Borlänge and playing with Dozer, Demoncleaner, Astroqueen etc. But there will always be one person that we keep close in our hearts. And that is Martin Stangefelt who steered the wheels in Molten Universe. He took us under his wings from the beginning and we’ll forever love what he did for us.
In the -90:s there were music all around so we tried to get in wherever we could. And got a lot of gigs. But the scene was quite dead in the south of Sweden so we played with Dozer in the north and with Demoncleaner in Stockholm among others. We had a US-tour in the loop when we unfortunately had to call it quits. So we actually feel that the shit didn’t really got to fly accurately. We had so much to deliver and so much more to give the world. That’s why we’re fuckin’ back! (Haha)
Now in 2025, you're releasing two new albums via DaredevilRecords.
What can you tell us about them? Is there a concept or a common vibe that connects the two?
Yeah, that’s insane. On Midsummer’s Eve - June 20th we release “No Troubles in this Town”, “Hymns from the Renascent Ghost” and our debut album (yet again) on all streaming services. The albums have been ready for release about two-three years now so it feels reeeally great to sway them into the world!
We had one of them on a vinyl-pressing plant when shit-hit-the-fan so it got canceled. And then we decided to dig deep in our fuzz-pockets and switch shit around and release both albums at the same time.
“No Trouble in This Town” is the album we think is the best album ever written. Well, stoner-wise that is. Maybe. Or like this: it’s the album we ourselves wants to listen to! And if someone thinks “Hymns From The Renascent Ghost” is better we are more then happylicious. But we think it’s up for listeners to decide because we’re too fucked up in the progress of greatness…(haha!)
How has your songwriting process evolved over the years?
Is it more intuitive or more conscious when a new track is born?
Well, one might think that the songs that were written in the beginning of 2000 is quite different from the ones now. 25 years later. But No. We think the feeling of Ridge is the same.
If the groove- the attitude- the touch- the approach and the feel is wrong- then it’s not Ridge.
Jonas: It was a very special feeling to play this kind of music together again. When we started the rehearsals there was this kind of old thing kickin´ in, a certain groove that´s hard to explain. But I´m sure the fans will hear what I mean!
Andreas: From around 2021 and forward I wrote an insanely amount of ideas and demos- for like six-seven albums. This during a period of two-theee years but we solved it good. It often came back like this: Fuck no! That’s not good! That’s the [better] way! Etc. And in this frenzy Jonas started to write and send songs as well. So it all went down the good road. But we had to take the high road in the end…
So. We recorded a mountain of songs that in this progress is worth 20 songs…
We've also been listening to Kattskrället – it's a totallydifferent world, but really exciting. Could you tell us a bit about that project? How do you balancethese two musical identities?
Andreas: Well, it all started on a “wet and wine’y” evening with an old friend in 2022. He said I should write some punk-and-rock-n-roll-songs and sing in swedish. “Fuck no!” was my answer.
But. I drank some wine (and a lot of rum) and wrote some tunes. Two years later Kattskrället had released 32 songs on Spotify, YouTube etc and made music to a big podcast in Sweden. I love to switch between genres but it’s all rock, just different highs-and-lows on the pedals. I actually use the same pedals as in Ridge so it’s not that different.
It’s a really really inspirational band and live (and on forthcoming recordings) Kattskrället is Jonas from Ridge on drums- yeah he’s actually a drummer, and a bassplayer Johan Anderberg from cool bands like Deranged, Are We Ape? amongst others. We are going to record an EP during the summer and play live so it’s an ongoing band. If you like rockmusic of any kind this is a blast!
Today’s stoner scene is truly global – with bands popping upfrom South America, Eastern Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Are there any newer bands you follow? Who inspires you thesedays?
We have discussed this over the years and it’s really interesting how it all has changed. Neither of us are like: ”everything was better before” but something that we’ve talked about is the - Groove -. Nowadays there is more of a progressive side to the scene and we are so into the almighty RIFFS and GROOVE! The movement and love for this kind of rock- have always been, the greatest thing in this genre. It’s a cruel and brutal world in many ways but the love for music- especially in our community, is like the blanket on a cold Sunday morning. All love.
Andreas: When it comes to inspiration for the new songs and records I gotta say I wanted to get the “Feeling”. The feeling of flow and groove. It’s quite easy to write intricate songs with many and strange riffs. But what’s really difficult is to make songs that swings, grooves and have hooks. So. That was my biggest inspiration all along. I can say that all the songs that were rejected from the band were the songs that were too progressive and lacked groove.
So. That’s Ridge.
We’re a none progressive, old fucking twat that loves ol’ school fuzz-n-roll! Haha!
Regarding new stuff there a two bands- actually with the same drummer, that I (Andreas) really dig: Skallbank and Troubled Sleep. Both from Sweden and in quite different genres but delivers great energy. Ridge were bandmates on Ozium Records with Hästspark that is an unity that delivers in the vain of Kyuss and Alabama Thunderpussy. Heavy and groovy stoner.
If you had to describe Ridge's music as a single image – a landscape, a feeling, a scene – what would it be?
Jonas described it something like this:
Ridge´s music is like... when you’re riding your motorcycle on a straight forward road. And there's a car (new shit) trying to race you. You know he don´t stand a chance, so you kick in the right gear, smile and give full gas. That thrill. Right there and then you are invincible.
Andreas: I can agree on a lot of that but my vision is like a laundromat. You swirl around in blind but suddenly it stops and you slow down…And then it hits you again- with full swirling speed. And when it’s done you feel clean, wet and totally exhausted and exquisite. Haha!
Thank you so much for having us rambling on! It’s been an honor.
They're back – dirtier, louder, and they couldn't care less about what's trending. Stay tuned — part two of the Ridge story is coming soon, diving into their brand-new albums and the fuzzed-out fire that still burns strong. Ridge was, is, and will be! AMEN!
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