Local metal band, The Jiblets, consists of UNL freshmen Joey Walter, singer and guitarist, Jay Schneider, lead guitarist, and their drummer of a little over a year, Lincoln East high senior Jackson (Evi) Otto. They play at a variety of venues around Lincoln such as 1867 bar, Duffy’s tavern, and The Bay. Their music is also available to listen to on Spotify, Apple music, and Amazon music.

The Jiblets can be classified as metalcore: a combination of heavy metal and hardcore punk rock music style. A genre defined by heavy guitar riffs and solos, which are derived from heavy metal, blast beats, and double bass for drums which are a signature of hardcore punk, and harsh vocal stylings with screaming and death growls which can be found in both metal and punk rock. Though, the Jiblet’s don’t let this define the kind of music they make as they are currently experimenting with deathcore, as well as other genres.

“Just hard metal music,” Otto said.

Originally, The Jiblets started out as a cover band called “Jay and the Jiblets”, a name suggested by Walter as a joke. Though they stayed with the name until about two years ago, when they simplified it to The Jiblets.

“Me and Joey found out we both liked metal and played guitar so we recruited a drummer and started playing Metallica covers in my garage,” Schneider said. “Our first gig was at a halloween party in someone’s backyard in 2022. One of Joey’s friends was hosting it, and we were super unprepared. We also got the cops called on us cause we were too loud.”

Getting gigs can be difficult especially for bands that are trying to establish themselves, but the Jiblets seem to have it down.

“Usually we’re reached out to by other bands in the area,” Otto said. “Like they’ll text us asking us if we want to play or there’s like local arrangers that typically put together these types of shows and we’ve become friends with them and they’ll hit us up and see if we want to play a show. Or we just look out for other openings.”

Playing shows has its ups and downs just like anything else, but they can provide unique opportunities.

“In March of this year, we played at the 1867, it’s a downtown bar,” Otto said. “We played with a band called From This Day Forward, they’re one of the biggest local metal bands really. And that show had probably 150 people at it so that was really good exposure for us, one of the best turnouts, one of the most active crowds, stuff like that.”

The Jiblet’s music can be accessed on various streaming services but they’re working on a new recording project that will be available to listen to soon.

“We are recording a 6 song EP right now,” Otto said. “We finished the recording process at the beginning of August, we’re mixing it right now and adding all the after effects and stuff like that, it’s coming together pretty nice.”

It takes a lot of work and dedication to form a rock band and get music out, something countless high school bands have tried and failed to do, but The Jiblets seem to have figured it out.