Coma Hole

Some bands need five members to fill a room. Coma Hole - the grungy-stoner metal fusion duo from Rhode Island does it with two. What Eryka Fir and Steve Anderson have conjured since their formation in late 2018 is nothing short of sonic sorcery: a wall of sound so massive and so enveloping, that audiences consistently forget they're watching just two people on stage.

"They sound like ten people," one Boston regular remarked after a recent show. Another described their set as "a spiritual experience wrapped in fuzz and feedback."

This isn't hyperbole. This is what happens when raw talent meets vintage tone and modern innovation.

The gear that build a sound

Eryka Fir's journey to bass began with a pivotal moment of self-discovery. "I had been an acoustic guitar player from a very young age," she explains, "and in my early twenties I decided it was time to buy an electric guitar and give that a go. I always wanted to be in a band but never really knew what direction I wanted that to take."

After buying a Les Paul and starting to jam with it, something didn't click. "Ironically enough, when I started jamming around after buying a Les Paul - I hated it," she laughs. The guitar itself wasn't the problem - it was finding her true voice as a musician. "So I decided maybe I should try a different instrument and picked up bass about 7 years ago."

That decision led her to what would become the foundation of her sound: a '70s Sunn Concert Bass head. "Apart from some of my favorite bands of the 90s using their products being part of the appeal, I honestly really loved how simple it was. So many amps I was looking at at the time were overwhelming, and this one had like five knobs that I understood the function of, so I bought it - and it rips and I still love it."

Simple doesn't mean limited. The Concert Bass cranks louder than most modern amps, and when paired with Eryka's complex stereo rig, it becomes the bedrock of Coma Hole's expansive sound. Side A runs the Sunn through a 2x15 Peavey Cab, delivering pure, dry bass tone through an Orange Fur Coat Fuzz. Side B feeds an Orange Terror Head through an Ampeg 4x10, processing reverbs, a harmonizer, an octave pedal, and the "pretty wacky, shimmery-synth" Astral Destiny by Earthquaker Devices.

"Really fills out the space during some of our longer jams," Eryka notes, "and it's pretty spooky sounding."

As our partnership with Eryka has evolved, she's been incorporating our Beta Bass head into her live setup - a collaboration that speaks to the symbiotic relationship between artist and equipment manufacturer. The bass driving this entire sonic architecture? A 1979 Kramer DMZ 4001 aluminum neck bass. "Huge sustain, super comfortable to play and the two pickups made the tone not only so thick, but the feedback noise can be pretty fun to play with."

The rhythm section that needs no one else

Steve Anderson doesn't just keep time - he constructs monuments out of rhythm. His drumming forms the thunderous backbone that transforms Coma Hole from a bass-and-drums duo into something that sounds like a full battalion of heavy music. The ability to shift seamlessly between the punishing, hypnotic grooves of stoner metal and the raw, angular rhythms of grunge gives the band their distinctive edge.

Together, Steve and Eryka have mastered something rare: making minimalism sound massive. Every hit carries the weight of a full band. Every note justifies its existence.

A sound at the crossroads

Coma Hole exists in the fertile ground where grunge's emotional rawness meets stoner metal's crushing, trance-inducing weight. Drawing from the Seattle grunge pantheon - Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Hole, Nirvana - while incorporating the desert rock heaviness of Queens of the Stone Age and Kyuss, plus the fearless experimentalism of PJ Harvey, they've carved out territory that's distinctly their own.

This hybrid sound represents an expanding corner of heavy music, one where bass-and-drums duos are proving that more isn't always more. Sunn amplifiers have been foundational to this evolution, from the earliest doom pioneers to today's psych-soaked stoner rock explorers. Eryka's choice to build her sound around vintage Sunn gear - and now to incorporate their modern Beta Bass - connects Coma Hole directly to this lineage, channeling decades of sonic innovation through every crushing note.

The road & the response

Since 2018, Coma Hole has built a formidable reputation as a live act, conquering stages throughout New England and beyond. From intimate clubs in Providence to sold-out rooms up and down the East Coast, their tours have left audiences stunned by the duo's ability to create an immersive, overwhelming sonic experience.

The fan response has been unanimous: this is something special. Venue regulars speak in reverent tones about the band's ability to transform physical spaces with sound alone. Social media erupts after their shows with testimonials about the visceral, almost transcendent nature of their performances.

"Their live show isn't just loud," one fan wrote. "It's architectural. They build these massive structures out of bass and drums, and by the end you're standing inside something you can't quite explain."

The partnership

At Sunn, we're honored to partner with Eryka Fir and Coma Hole as part of our Sessions series. Artists like Eryka represent everything we value: dedication to craft, respect for tone, and an unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries while honoring the legacy of heavy music.

The fact that she's building her sound on both vintage Sunn gear and our modern Beta Bass speaks to the timeless quality we strive for with every amplifier we build. From the stages of Rhode Island to venues across the country, Coma Hole carries forward a tradition of sonic exploration that's been at the heart of heavy music for generations.

This is what we mean when we talk about tone. This is what we mean when we talk about legacy. This is what happens when the right artist meets the right equipment.

Catch them live

Coma Hole is currently booking tour dates across the United States. For upcoming shows and announcements, follow them on social media and check their official pages.

Don't miss the chance to experience the raw power of this dynamic duo tearing through a venue near you. When you hear that first note hit, when you feel that bass rumble through your chest, you'll understand why two musicians can sound like an army.