Lords of Atlantis is one thing a surf supergroup, comprised of members from The Madeira, Aqualads, Insect Surfers, and The Manakooras (VG, October ’22). Fronted by guitarists Ivan Pongracic and Jeremy DeHart, the quartet writes catchy instrumentals that keep away from most surf clichés.

Ivan and Jeremy granted VG readers an underwater tour of Lords of Atlantis’ reverb-soaked debut.

“Chariots of the Gods” has an enormous, moist sound – nearly such as you’re enjoying below the ocean.
Jeremy DeHart: That is without doubt one of the very early songs that Ivan performed for me once we have been on the East Coast tour for Blair Pongracic Band, in 2017. I play rhythm guitar, in addition to bass.

Ivan Pongracic: I used the Gomez G-Spring reverb, which is hands-down the best-sounding reverb unit I’ve ever heard. I play lead on that and on the bulk on the album. I haven’t developed my rhythm-guitar chops practically as a lot as Jeremy, who performed plenty of rhythm in Aqualads. He’s a lot more-versatile than me – nice rhythm guitarists are uncommon!

How are your guitar types totally different and complementary?
IP: Dick Dale is my major California-surf affect. As I dug into the historical past of surf music, I found that Dick obtained his tremolo-picking approach from his grandfather enjoying the oud, a stringed instrument from North Africa. The additional I explored, the extra it grew to become apparent that tremolo is widespread to many Mediterranean cultures; in Greece with the bouzouki and in Croatia, the place I used to be born and raised, with the tamburica, which Leo Fender claimed impressed the Strat headstock form.

JD: Ivan performs the entire leads, even on songs that I write, however I take plenty of delight in my rhythm components. I believe individuals have a tendency to actually consider solos and consider rhythm as non-consequential, however an awesome chord half can actually make or break a track.

“Temple of Poseidon” is an actual track, versus a bunch of surf clichés strung collectively.
 IP: That’s certainly one of Jeremy’s tunes and was impressed by rautalanka, the early-’60s instrumental style from Finland. That music was impressed by the success of The Shadows, with Finnish youngsters attempting to emulate these clear, “Strat via a tape echo right into a Vox AC30” tones. By the way in which, rautalanka means “barbed wire,” a reference to the trebly electric-guitar tones utilized by these bands; their songs tended to be very melodic, in addition to fairly melancholy.

Lords of Atlantis was recorded within the music constructing at Hillsdale Faculty, in Michigan. Is that an auditorium or an precise studio?
JD: It’s an enormous corridor with large 30-foot ceilings and tons of reverb. We made positive to place a mic within the room, so we might dial-in that each one reverb as a separate observe. We did some overdubs, however plenty of what you hear are dwell components with myself, Ivan, and drummer Dane Carter, and no bass. Jonpaul Balak was unable to file bass components for this album, so I recorded the others.

What was your studio gear?
IP: I’m a devoted Strat man. For the recording, I used a Clapton signature physique and a Up to date Strat neck with scatter-wound Rocketfire Complete ’60s pickups, that are unbelievable. Additionally, I had an American Classic Reissue ’62 with Seymour Duncan Antiquity Surfer pickups, and a ’65 AVRI Strat with a ’62-reissue neck from 1986. I solely used the center pickup.

For amps, I had my Gomez Amplification gear and simply two pedals – an Xotic EP Booster set all the way in which down, simply to heat up the tone a bit extra, and a Strymon El Capistan echo, which was all the time on and set to about 400ms. That’s a little bit of my signature.

Which unique surf guitarists have you ever met, particularly those who made an enduring impression in your enjoying?
JD: I obtained an opportunity to fulfill Paul Johnson of The Belairs and PJ & the Galaxies. He has all the time been an inspiration to me as a result of I cherished his method to surf music. When everybody else was targeted on Dick Dale, Paul was rather more targeted on creating considerate songs and attention-grabbing preparations.

IP: I’ve been extremely lucky to not have solely met, however turn out to be pals with a few of my best influences, like Jim Skiathitis, of the enduring Australian band The Atlantics. The issues he and the co-guitarist Theo Penglis have been doing pre-dated a lot of Jimi Hendrix’s echo experimentations by three or 4 years.

I additionally grew to become pals with Eddie Bertrand of The Belairs and Eddie & the Showmen, and met the rhythm guitarist from the Shadows, Bruce Welch. The Shadows are certainly one of my best musical passions. With all of my surf heroes, I hope to do the perfect I can to hold on their legacy and ensure the music will not be forgotten.

This text initially appeared in VG’s January 2024 difficulty. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.