Surf Instrumental Review: Agent Octopus-SURF! MONSTER! SURF!!

 Release Date: October 16, 2025

Label: Independent

Website

Agent Octopus is an indie surf band based in Florida. They are influenced by Euro-Slavic song structures and 60’s - 80’s surf pioneers. As the band states on their Bandcamp page, they consistently push traditional surf out of its comfort zone.

Their six-track EP SURF! MONSTER! SURF!! was released prior to Halloween 2025.

“Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman” gets the spook fest started. The howling is heard in the background as the guitar begins a slow step before exploding into colorful sounds that make the scenery real and exciting as you imagine the two creatures facing off. Midway, a transition occurs, with more subtle, tasteful licks, the surf sound intact, while keeping the horror atmosphere alive. Then some tremolo picking to finish it off.

“Alchemy of the Creature” features the familiar, haunting keys that provide the intro layer to set the mood. The guitars are taking form with layers of intricacies that make them come alive. Then a quick step back for some sharp leads as the rhythms are well placed to move it all along. The guitars blend with the bass, drums, and keys, reaching a crescendo of sound!

“The Haunting Sea (The Bride’s Theme...)” begins like a slow burner, waltzing into the unknown dangers of sea and all the ghosts that remain there. The guitar’s beauty shines here even though the subject matter is creepy as hell! Fine musicianship is consistent throughout these tracks. The feeling I got was a “Sleepwalk”- type instrumental.

“March of the Dead Surfers - Halloween Mix” continues with our atmospheric creep show. The drums and bass take off as the guitars engage them into bursts of energy and blasts of tremolo for more effect. Irresistible rhythms and hooks abound! The surfers may be dead, but this band is so alive with reverb and surfy sounds resonating throughout. The sound of waves washes over as the dead surfers march…

“Ghost of Tom Returns” opens with an introduction from a woman named Melody. At a medium tempo, the guitars lay the groundwork for that creepy organ sound to enter the mix. The feeling of trepidation envelops you as the music takes you there. Picturesque and believable!

“March of the Dead Surfers (Bonus)” is a revisit, but a faster tempo takes hold, and the guitar takes its place once again as the driving force of all this music. The supporting positions are strong as they have been throughout. The transitions on lead guitar are exceptional, shifting the mood from exciting to foreboding. Well done!

Agent Octopus Presents SURF! MONSTER! SURF!! will be a fine addition to any surf instro collection.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder

January 14, 2026

Credits:

Lead & Rhythm Gtrs - Art Svrjcek

Bass & Add'l Gtrs - Jim Colby

Drums - Dennis Holt

Keyboards - Art Svrjcek

Farfisa - Mike

Add'l Gtrs - Wes Fleming (Haunting Sea and Night of the Dead Surfers)

Vocals - Melody (Ghost of Tom Returns)

Drums - Gio Maucieri (Ghost of Tom Returns)

Tracks:

1. Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman 02:31

2. Alchemy of the Creature 03:19

3. The Haunting Sea (The Bride's Theme...) 03:53 

4. March of the Dead Surfers - Halloween Mix 03:33

5. Ghost of Tom Returns 03:21

6. March of the Dead Surfers (Bonus) 03:15

Surf Rock Instrumental Review: Magnatech - The Red Boudoir

Release Date: April 15, 2026 Pre-Order

Label: Independent

Website

Hailing from Bocholt, Nordrhine Westphalia, Germany, Magnatech has released several instrumental recordings since the 2020 release, Mr. Magnatech is not afraid of you!

The Red Boudoir is scheduled for release this April.

Magnatech is an ultra-talented one-man show playing all the instruments. He creates music that keeps the spirit of the first wave of surf instro alive and well. Every track adheres to the standard two-minute plus but under three-minute window, with plenty of guitar spotlights and transitions to keep a listener interested.

“Sun, sea & Sylke” sets the waves of music in motion. The soft undercurrents and smooth guitar lines imply that the sun and sea are as smooth as silk. At least that would be my interpretation of what the title means. The guitar creates a very relaxing and beautiful soundscape. This is a mellow way to start, but I am sure it will change very quickly!

“Blood Red Boudoir” draws on the album title, placing greater emphasis on the color’s impact. Straight away, it has an air of mystery and horror, with the organ notes floating through, the bottom end keeping a steady rhythm, and the guitar coming in with subtle fuzz. A very retro ’60s sound takes hold.

“Just like Nathalie” continues with the retro vibe. The lead guitar has a resonating tone as the guitar rhythm stays steady, along with the bass/drum parts. The cymbals crash at just the right time as the guitar shifts back and forth. Real catchy.

“More Twist” is a very familiar song, and many people will recognize it instantly. It’s a minute short of 2. It is compact and impactful, with a jangling rhythm guitar; the leads are punctuated to perfection.

“Geneviève’s Nocturne” carries the retro feel with today’s modern production values. I thought of The Shadows more than once. I like the way he uses the rhythm guitar as a layer of sustainability for the leads to seamlessly weave in and make their transitions.

“Down Witch Alley” starts with an evil laugh, then launches into the rhythms and leads you would expect with a title like that, except this time a saxophone joins in before the layered leads explode with sound, then pull back into the more relaxed tempo of a surf instro. The air of mystery around the framework makes you think about the scenery it creates.

“Sankt Pauli Stomp” is a walk back to when The Shadows were making all their great instrumentals. The guitar and added keys provide an interesting transition in timing and change, then shift back to the focus, with the guitar lines echoing for effect.

“Velvet Delirium” features a resounding bass line, with the guitar taking the lead through a range of sounds and tremolo runs. It sounds thick, and the picking sounds as retro as it gets, making this another look-and-feel to the first wave of surf instro.

“Capri Cascenade” has a solid bottom end, with the guitars taking the spotlight through several tempo and texture shifts. A listener must keep in mind that this is one person making all these sounds come together. This is an important trait shared by all these tracks.

“Nagasaki Shore” picks up the pace with crashing cymbals, and you get the vibe of Japan in the reverberating guitar lines. The bass is always impressive, and, of course, the lead guitar remains exceptional, paying tribute to the first wave.

“Taiga Twist” is full of hooks in the leads and bass. The tremolo and reverb are superb here. The rhythms are significant in all these tracks, and this one is a real toe tapper. The guitar’s effects are used effectively here as well.

“Rathenau” starts with a gunshot (which you will hear a few times), making you think this may go into spaghetti western mode, but it doesn’t. The lead guitar hints at it with its resonant tones, then shifts to a surfy, thick echo-chamber sound.

“Monster Surf Stomp” is a classic ’60s tune, complete with the organ, although subtle, like you would hear on a period TV show. Think of one of those concerts back in the day, at a large hall overlooking the beach in Southern California.

“Salomé” begins with a Middle Eastern motif, then quickly shifts tempo to a more rhythmic, clear guitar line. I think the operative words here are rocking and smooth, with some tremolo runs to remind you of where this music originated and how it’s kept alive.

Those who enjoy ’60s surf instrumental music will love The Red Boudoir and how it maintains its roots from start to finish, using today’s production values and tools to deliver clear, crisp tracks.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder

January 12, 2026

Tracks:

01. Sun, sea & Sylke 2:15

02. Blood Red Boudoir 2:10

03. Just like Nathalie 2:31

04. More Twist 1:59

05. Geneviève's Nocturne 2:28

06. Down Witch Alley 2:12

07. Sankt Pauli Stomp 2:12

08. Velvet Delirium 2:33

09. Capri Cascenade 2:24

10. Nagasaki Shore 2:19

11. Taiga Twist 2:18

12. Rathenau 2:11

13. Monster Surf Stomp 1:54

14. Salomé 2:21

Surf Instrumental Rock Review: Las Arañas del Neptuno-Ride The Madam Psychosis Radio Waves

Release Date: December 4, 2025

Label: Independent

Website

Las Arañas del Neptuno (The Spiders of Neptune) is an Instrumental Surf-Rock band from North Tenerife, Canary Islands.

On Ride The Madam Psychosis Radio Waves, they offer surf intro gems that are not your typical 2-plus-minute runs. They take it one step further with some fine improvisations. Using themes from Sci-Fi and Horror, they color their music with deep guitar runs and complex transitions.

The striking cover art by Gustavo Ponce captures your imagination without a single note being played, which encourages you to listen.

Las Arañas del Neptuno Are:

Lead Guitar: Rodrigo Ramos

Rhythm Guitar/Keyboards: Bruno Gálvez

Bass Guitar: Thomas Mayer

Drums: Ayoze Herrera

“Spider Stomp” kicks things off with an air of mystery before launching into a full-blown guitar tremolo effect, as the thundering bass and steady drums give the lead guitar room to breathe and stretch out into some transitions. Three-quarters of the way in, they switch it up and give their own brand of Spanish-flavored instrumental treatment. In just under five minutes, it’s like hearing two different songs within one. An impressive beginning to what I anticipate being quite a ride!

“Atardecer en El Neptuno” (Sunset on Neptune) is an atmospheric track to reflect an outer space theme. It begins with a tasteful tempo, then eventually transforms into something more with a faster pace, then back again. The emphasis is on the resonant reverb guitar notes that give it the necessary feeling from start to finish. Shimmering guitar notes give you that feeling of being on the beach watching the sunset, since you cannot be on Neptune.

“Bride of Dracula” features a tribal drum as the guitar hits the notes with emphasis as keys play in the background, subtle yet effective, creating a sense of horror and trepidation. The shortest track, at 3:05, showcased the music’s sheer beauty while focusing on the terrifying essence of the subject matter.

“Enchantress of the Nile” sounds like it belongs in Egypt with the appropriate Middle Eastern influences, as your mind takes you there within seconds, imagining what that person would look like as the sun burns and the sand swirls in the air. A key component is the hypnotic keys, which flow through the track as the drums, bass, and guitar follow, enhancing the overall flavor. Toward the end of the song, the beat and tempo shift while the instrumentation preserves the original atmosphere. One of the more complex and intriguing tracks so far.

“Surfer From Outer Space” reaches back to a more traditional surf instro sound, moving away from the complexities of the previous track. The reverb and tremolo are superbly played with some rapid-fire notes that are the earmark of surf instro on display. Your appreciation for this grows with every track, thanks to their diverse ability to take deep dives into any style within the surf instro umbrella. I appreciated it as they moved towards the end, how the music exploded, and how they showed how easy it was for them to get heavy when they decided to.

“Loose Cat Blues” takes off into entirely different territory, with country-blues guitar licks backed by a terrific rhythm section. Here again, they keep their surf instro foundation intact and shape and mold it into something from another genre, thereby creating another sub-genre that showcases the command of their instruments. Adding the harmonica of Thomas Mayer and Bruno Gálvez on lead guitar enables the group to successfully step outside familiar territory. A fresh change and yet another instance of diversity.

“What the Sea Told Me” Is the second-longest track at 5:24. Once again, they get back to the roots of inspiration, the sea, from whence all this music originated with the surf community. There are some finite transitions that encapsulate their brilliant instrumentation and shifting tempos. The guitar leads are majestic as the perfect wave. From the picking to the punctuated sharp leads, this guitar-driven music always allows the other instruments to take their place, and it is showcased here as the bass and drums easily grab the spotlight while the production elements create the necessary separation for your ears. Beauty and power merge here for one of my favorites.

“La Venganza del Neptuno” (Neptune’s Revenge) is just short of six minutes. They could not have picked a better way to wrap up this fantastic album. All their strengths come together here; the tremolo guitar, the thumping and thundering bass and drums, and the transitory nature of their compositions are also in full bloom. This is surf instrumental rock at its finest. Everything about this final track says that the musicians in this band have it together. The music is crisp, clear, colorful, exciting, and precise.

One can never say this brand of surf instro is simplistic in any way; it is quite the opposite. Ride The Madam Psychosis Radio Waves is one of the best surf instro albums of 2025!

Viva! Las Arañas del Neptuno.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder

January 10, 2026

Tracks:

1. Spider Stomp 4:47

2. Atardecer en El Neptuno 4:21

3. Bride of Dracula 3:05

4. Enchantress of the Nile 4:46

5. Surfer From Outer Space 3:35

6. Loose Cat Blues 4:52 (features Thomas Mayer on Harmonica and Bruno Gálvez on lead guitar)

7. What the Sea Told Me 5:24

8. La Venganza del Neptuno 5:57