Author & Punisher is the Industrial doom and experimental metal project of Tristan Shone, a mechanical engineer and musician, based in San Francisco. Formed in 2004, Author & Punisher blends heavy, mechanical-sounding drones, custom-built Drone Machines and Dub Machines, and industrial textures with crushingly slow, doomy riffs, creating music that feels as much like a machine as it does an album.
Rather than following traditional band structures, Shone designs and plays all the instruments himself, using devices that are custom-designed and fabricated from raw materials and open-source electronic circuitry. He was inspired to build his own instruments to achieve sounds that conventional instruments could not accomplish, merging synthesiser drones, guitar-like feedback, and percussion into a single overwhelming sonic force. The result is music that is both physically imposing and intellectually immersive.
Author & Punisher is essentially Tristan Shone, handling vocals, electronics, and all instrumentation through his self-engineered devices. The project merges Industrial mechanics with Doom metal aesthetics, producing albums that are as experimental and avant-garde as they are heavy and punishing.
Shone’s work is notable not only for its sound but also for its physicality: his live shows are immersive performances, where his Drone Machines and Dub Machines become instruments and every note resonates like part of a carefully controlled, mechanical ecosystem.
Author & Punisher deliver a distinctive form of industrial heaviness, built on mechanical rhythms, custom-built machine instrumentation, and crushing sonic density. Catharsis sits at the centre of their approach, both on record and through their intensely physical, high-impact live performances.
Author & Punisher’s catalogue spans nearly two decades of industrial and doom exploration:
The Painted Army (2005) – early experimentation with heavy, mechanical textures
Drone Machines (2010) – expanded sound palette and fully realised mechanical instruments
Ursus Americanus (2012) – darker atmospheres and industrial weight
Women & Children (2013) – further refined, heavier production
Melk En Honing (2015) – textured, immersive industrial doom
Beastland (2018) – critically acclaimed, combining crushing heaviness with subtle melodies
Krüller (2022) – complex rhythms and dense mechanical soundscapes
Nocturnal Birding (2025) – upcoming release continuing experimental industrial explorations
Each release emphasises Author & Punisher’s core strengths: mechanical heaviness, unflinching experimentation, and immersive atmospheres.
This page focuses primarily on Author & Punisher T-shirts, hoodies, and accessories, sourced from Relapse Records as well as other trusted suppliers and produced to a high standard. Designs reflect Author & Punisher’s industrial, machine-driven aesthetic, often featuring stark, dark artwork and harsh, utilitarian visual styles that mirror their mechanical, immersive sound.
Carefully packaged physical formats for collectors
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30-day return policy for straightforward exchanges
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Stock rotates regularly, so if something catches your eye, it’s worth picking it up while available. We’re also looking to expand the range with more T-shirts, hoodies, and accessories in the near future, depending on availability from official suppliers. CD and vinyl releases may also feature alongside apparel where possible
Fans of Godflesh or Neurosis will likely find Author & Punisher sits comfortably in a similarly intense, experimental corner of heavy music, where innovation and weight are equally important.
Author & Punisher are associated with Relapse Records and the broader Industrial metal scene. If you’re interested in discovering similar artists, feel free to explore our Relapse Records Collection or browse through the Industrial Metal Category. You may also enjoy checking out our blog, where we dive into the different subgenres of Metal \m/.
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