The Atomic Bitchwax originated as a side project of Monster Magnet lead guitarist Ed Mundell, ex-Godspeed bassist/vocalist Chris Kosnik, and drummer Keith Ackerman. All three of them were by then veterans of the thriving New Jersey stoner rock scene, and, after almost seven years of jamming in their spare time, the trio finally found time to record and release their self-titled debut album in the summer of 1999. Specializing in high-octane, '70s-based hard rock infused with stabs of space rock and psychedelia, and characterized by Mundell's explosive, Tommy Bolin-inspired guitar heroics, Bitchwax's debut stunned retro-rock fans with its unexpected brilliance; but their independent label, MIA, suddenly went out of business barely a year later. Thankfully, the group was instantly snapped up by Tee Pee Records, but their 2000 sophomore effort, Atomic Bitchwax II, was clearly rushed, its songs underwhelmingly second-rate, and the media-shy Mundell struggled to come to terms with his more prominent status as star of the group. In early 2002, The Atomic Bitchwax issued their third album for a third label (Meteor City), the also disappointing Spit Blood, after which they seemed to lose focus as Mundell retreated to his more comfortable, hired-gun role with Monster Magnet. Workaholic Kosnik soon started a new band named Black NASA. But he and Ackerman also resurrected Bitchwax, this time out with Finn Ryan (ex of the space-stoner act Core) on guitar. III appeared through Meteor City in June 2005. ~ Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide
The Atomic Bitchwax are a rock band formed in the mid 1990s by Chris Kosnik of Atlantic Records "Godspeed" and Ed Mundell of A&M Records "Monster Magnet" from Long Branch, New Jersey. The band's first two albums, I and II, had a heavy psychedelic sound with roughly half of their songs containing only minimal vocals and the rest were instrumental. As the band's sound has progressed over the last 10+ years, a more traditional song writing approach was slowly realized by incorporating the band's signature "boxriff technique" with the Kosnik–Ryan dual vocal harmonies throughout their last three releases "TAB3, Boxriff and TAB4". The band also continues to tour live in North America and Europe for the last decade covering 15 countries.
In 2003 Finn Ryan of Atlantic Records Core replaced Mundell on guitar and in 2007 welcomed Bob Pantella (currently of Monster Magnet on drums following the "Boxriff" tour in late 2006. Kosnik and the current lineup completed recording the next full-length titled TAB 4 at "Trax East Studios" in South River N.J. for the fall 2009 release on Tee Pee Records Records. A digital download of "4" is available at the band's website myspace.com/theatomicbitchwax .
