King Buffalo

King Buffalo

King Buffalo is a rock group from Rochester, New York, active since 2013. The band is a stoner rock act whose sound also draws on desert rock, heavy psych, psychedelic rock, space rock, stoner metal and rock, with blues influences. Its recorded output centres on heavy driving riffs, a strong groove, thunderous bass and drums, and layered vocals.

Style and lineup

The group’s music combines psychedelic, blues and stoner elements with a heavy 1970s rock feel. It is described as a trio with soaring vocals and an unrelenting pace. Sean McVay handles guitar and lead vocals, while the group also includes Dan Reynolds on bass and lights and Scott Donaldson on drums and vocals.

Releases and collaborations

King Buffalo releases a three-track demo in November 2013, which helps build attention for the band’s debut full-length album, released in March 2016. The band also issues a 12-inch split with Sweden’s Le Betre on STB Records in February 2015. That vinyl release sells 350 copies on the first day and sells out within days.

The group also appears on a Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland compilation released through Magnetic Eye Records in November 2015. The compilation is issued as a Kickstarter project and features a double gatefold 180-gram vinyl LP, a CD box set and artwork by David Paul Seymour, alongside contributions from Earthless, All Them Witches, The Budos Band, Mothership, Wo Fat, Elder and Mos Generator.