French heavy psychedelic rockers Pelegrin present new full-length album »The Curse Of Nephtar«; out now on Ripple Music!

Nantes, France based heavy psychedelic rockers Pelegrin have just released their third full-length album »The Curse Of Nephtar« this Friday, September 4th, 2026 via Ripple Music.

Tracklist:
01. Eons
02. Sun And Blood
03. In The Company Of Stars
04. Drawn To Nephtar
05. Plenty
06. The Price To Pay
07. Break The Omen

Courtesy of Purple Sage PR:

French heavy psychedelic rock explorers Pelegrin present their third studio album »The Curse Of Nephtar«, out on September 4th on Ripple Music.

🔥 Listen to »The Curse Of Nephtar« on all streaming services 🔥

After two critically acclaimed LPs that earned them comparisons with Elder, King Buffalo and Slift, French heavy psych explorers Pelegrin are back with their best and most ambitious work to date. Their signature sound – built around rich melodies, nuanced dynamics, and a dash of Arabian spices – has taken some steps towards a catchier and heavier direction. Razor-sharp riffs and powerful hooks are to be expected, amid the trio’s trademark backdrop of proggy, ambient songwriting.

“The album depicts the tale of Nephtar, a powerful black orb that comes to life in the depths of prehistoric ocean Tethys, which used to stand above the current Middle East. Ignored for eons, it eventually uses its manipulative powers to join the surface and subdue all living things. While for a brief moment, it is hoped that using Nephtar will create an era of plenty for all, humans come to realize that the price to pay is exceedingly heavy and start fighting to break the curse,” the band explains.

With »The Curse Of Nephtar«, Pelegrin has created a powerful allegory of fossil fuels and their tragic influence on modern-day events, in the Middle East and beyond. The album draws inspiration from the ‘resource curse’ theory, which observes that oil-rich nations are paradoxically less peaceful, developed, and democratic than comparable countries with no such resources. Told through sound design, spoken word and incisive lyrics, the Nephtar story provides a perfect soundtrack for the chaotic times we live in.

»The Curse Of Nephtar« album comes with a dedicated mini-website featuring visuals, lyrics, storyline elements and the real-world facts that inspired it. “We wished to provide an opportunity for listeners to engage with the album concept on a deeper level. All members of Pelegrin are sensitive to ecological issues – and for some of us, it actually takes a large part in our lives outside of music. These two spheres existed separately for years: the militant sphere, and the creative sphere. Now, for the first time, they have collided,” they state.

Pelegrin »The Curse Of Nephtar« out now on Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital)

Located between Nantes and Paris, the band has been earning a solid reputation as a hidden gem of the heavy rock underground. After self-releasing their first two albums »Al-Mahruqa« (2019) and »Ways Of Avicenna« (2023) to great critical acclaim, they caught the eye of California’s very own Ripple Music – a leading label known for discovering young talents, as well as harboring some of the world’s best heavy rock acts (Hermano, 1000mods, Wo Fat, The Obsessed…).

Largely a studio project for their first years, Pelegrin are now also emerging as a powerful live act that has shared stages with some of the genre’s top bands (Naxatras, Ufomammut, Hippie Death Cult, Deaf Radio). Their third album »The Curse Of Nephtar« (released September 4th, 2026 by Ripple Music) is bound to delight old fans and seduce new ones.

The album was recorded by Arthur Lauth at Brown Bear Recording, mixed by François Roze at Majortone, and mastered by Kent Stump at Crystal Clear Sound. Album artwork was designed by Jo Riou.

Pelegrin is:
François Roze – Guitar, Vocals
Jason Recoing – Studio Bass
Nacim Virieux – Live Bass
Antoine Ebel – Drums, Percussions

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well