From left, TRUCKSTOP’s Jerry Larew Jr. and Austin Erb soundcheck prior to their concert at the Adelphia on Saturday evening. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

MARIETTA – It’s not just a vibe — it’s a manifesto when you’re talking about TRUCKSTOP, a rising heavy metal band forged in the chaos of COVID and now shaking stages across Ohio and beyond.

TRUCKSTOP is made up of Dylan Hibberd (guitar), Jerry Larew Jr. (guitar), Justin Ewing (bass), Austin Erb (drums and vocals) and Nash Morris (lead singer).

Their genre-defying sound weaves classic heavy metal with threads of nu-metal, hardcore, punk, thrash, and even “80s glam vibes”, a self-described “cornucopia of sounds.” No backing tracks, no pretense. Just sweat, distortion and energy.

The band’s origins are as unfiltered as its music. It started in 2020 during the pandemic when Larew, Ewing, and Morris were hanging out at a lake.

“We were swimming, talking, and coming up with band names,” Ewing said. “Jerry blurted out ‘Truckstop,’ and it just stuck.”

From left, TRUCKSTOP’s Dylan Hibberd and Justin Ewing soundcheck together before a concert at The Adelphia on Saturday night. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

COVID turned out to be a strange blessing, according to the band, with venues shut down, the band holed up and recorded a full album, all before playing a single show.

“By the time the world opened back up, we were ready to hit it full force,” said Larew.

They recruited drummer Austin during those early days, a match made in metal heaven.

“He came over to jam and within an hour, we knew. It was like, ‘don’t leave.'”

Hibberd, originally a fan from Cincinnati, became a full-time member after hanging around long enough. It just made sense.

TRUCKSTOP, a local band, works on perfecting their audio mix before their concert at The Adelphia Saturday night. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“I was in a different band at the time, but when that fell through, this felt right,” Hibberd said.

Each member has their own favorite song. Ewing’s is “Grape Season,” a softer, more introspective track. Larew backs the title track, “Blood Witch,” for its explosive energy and his favorite guitar solo. Erb names “Call of the Void,” praising its old-school feel and “Nightstalker”‘s outro. Dylan picks “Space Games” for its bounce and energy, but also nods to “Poor Decisions,” an unreleased track already popular with live crowds.

“People are already singing along to it, and it’s not even out yet,” said Ewing.

TRUCKSTOP’s music is on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Pandora. They’ve dropped music videos for “Call of the Void,” “Toe Tag,” and the newest single, “You Better Run.” On social media, it’s @truckstopmusic on Instagram and “TRUCKSTOP” (one word, all caps) across other platforms.

In the past year, the band has seen momentum with not only packed local shows, but also at venues in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. With an ever-growing following, they’re setting their sights on the next big leap: touring. “A lot of bands do mini tours before they’re ready. We didn’t want to be that band playing to two people,” said Jerry. “Now we’re ready.”

At a recent hometown show, they shared the stage with Indiana band Damage and Detroit’s Riding with Killers. The lineup included a member of 90s rock legends Sponge, and the connection goes deeper. TRUCKSTOP met Riding with Killers’ frontman, and Taproot’s guitarist, Taylor Roberts at a past show and stayed in touch.

“He remembered us – gave me a hug like, ‘Hey man, how’s it going?’ That doesn’t happen often.” said Larew.

Upcoming shows include Cleveland’s Grog Shop, the Point Park Festival in Parkersburg on August 8, Discovery World on September 6, and Columbus’ Spacebar on July 19. To hear more from TRUCKSTOP check this video: https://tinyurl.com/y28njdjr.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com