Wednesday 28 November 2018

Workin' Man Noise Unit - It's Not Nothin' (Album Review)


Release date: November 23rd 2018. Label: Riot Season Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

It’s Not Nothin’ – Tracklisting

1.Opener 04:41
2.Transcranial 02:17
3.Turn It Off 02:47
4.Sloucher 02:18
5.Workin' Man's Blues 04:07
6.Holsten Thrills 03:15
7.Rathaus 04:19
8.Pink Roses 01:47
9.Sud Ripper 01:38
10.Springer 02:21
11.Become the Scum 04:54

Review

Workin’ Man Noise Unit second full length album It’s Not Nothin’ takes a more punk rock approach compared to their debut album. The band still include elements of Heavy Rock, Psych, Stoner and Sludge Rock. However this album has more in touch with bands such as The Clash. This album may not be as easy-going as their debut album but underneath the punk vibes there is some top-notch Torche based melodies.

Workin’ Man Noise Unit are still signed to UK Label Riot Season Records and it’s a perfect match with for both parties. As I couldn’t really see Workin’ Man Noise Unit working at any other label than Riot Season. Riot Season Records have a great reputation releasing the weirder sounding Psych/Doom/Stoner Rock albums from bands you may not necessarily have heard of.

Anyway, back to the album review. Opening track – Opener – is a Punk Rock driven Sludge/Stoner Rock number with the band adding an anti-establishment feel to their music with a slight twinge of Prog Rock Weirdness. The Punk Rock vibe is very strong on this song with the vocals having a Joe Strumner feel to them. The mood is buoyant, angry, vibrant and fun which sets up the tone for the whole album.

Second song – Transcranial - has a fast-paced swirling psychedelic and manic rock energy with the band moving from the angry Punk Rock sounds and swirling Sludge/Stoner grooves. For a two minute song, the band include a lot of different ideas and sounds that complement each other superbly well.

Third song –Turn It Off – carries on the sound from the previous song with the band not letting up with their new-found Punk Rock approach. It’s another short-paced song which isn’t as compelling or convincing as the band try too many ideas that don’t come off as well as they should.

Fourth Song – Sloucher – is a much better song with the band focusing on the more psychedelic aspect on their music. This song is heavy with some epic riffs bursting out at the seams. The atmosphere is very lo-fi but that’s the overall charm of Workin’ Man Noise Unit’s music. The lyrics are direct and very much in your face.

Fifth song – Workin’ Man Blues – is one of the best songs on the album with the band playing a heavier Sludge/Stoner/Blues hybrid sound and it’s packed full of angry sounds from the start. The guitars are distorted at times but offer a true “Punk Rock” approach. The psychedelic/trippy elements of the song are what make everything standout and leave you wanting more.

The second half of the album carries on the experimental Punk/Psych/Stoner/Sludge Rock approach we’ve heard with the songs so far. The album does become a whole lot weirder and angrier as well with the band never sticking to the same style of music on certain songs. One of the songs – Holsten Thrills – has a more Garage Rock feel to it and it’s quite a thrilling song with superb lyrics to match.

Workin’ Man Noise Unit are perhaps more confident on the second half of the album or maybe the listener finally becomes accustomed to their very weird and heavy psychedelic sound. Whatever the reason is, this is where the album really starts to impress on every level with the production being first rate by holding everything together.

Standout songs on the second half include: Rathaus, Pink Roses, Springer and Become The Scum. It’s Not Nothin’ does have a wicked sense of humour contained within the lyrics. However it won’t be for everyone as much of the humour is mainly about everyday life living in the United Kingdom and that may be lost on some.

Overall, Workin’ Man Noise Unit have delivered a glorious and superb sounding album that will keep their established fan-base more than happy until they deliver their next record.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:


Archdruid - IV (Album Review)


Release date: December 14th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

IV– Tracklisting

1.IV(Part 1)
2.IV (Part 2)

Review

Archdruid are a Psychedelic Sludge/Doom Metal Duo from Canterbury, UK. The band will be releasing their first full length record – IV. IV was recorded and written simultaneously and the results are mighty impressive. As this album has a very raw sound that only elevates their music to great heights.

Taking influence from bands such as Pelican, OM and ISIS (The Band). Archdruid add a more progressive Jazz feel to their music. Archdruid are an instrumental band and a very loud one for that. IV is a very challenging album to listen to as the band never settle for one final sound. The album moves freely from one different level of sound to the next. IV is made up of two epic songs IV (Part One) and IV (Part Two).

IV (Part One) is the mellower of the two songs with the band setting up a constant rhythm of Drone based elements for the band to further expand upon within the twenty five minute running time. The Psychedelic riffs take time appear however they bring a world weary style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal with them. The mood can be quite experimental and quite raw. However you cannot deny the excellent instrumental work. The song does become heavier towards the very end and that’s where IV (Part Two) takes over.

If IV (Part One) was all about control and restraint then IV (Part Two) is all about pure aggression and playing a looser style of Doom/Sludge Metal. Archdruid bring their “A” game to this epic slice of heavy rock/metal goodness with the riffs moving from heavy psychedelic grooves to a highly stylized Progressive Jazz based approach. The song can be quite sombre and tender at times. However the best part of the song is when Archdruid leave the mellow parts behind and play the heavy psychedelic riffs that makes their music more alive as a result.

IV is a challenging album to listen to. Maybe the album could have done with better production values but I expect that with future releases. As Archdruid have shown a lot of potential on this album and I want to see how they explore their music further on future releases.

Overall, IV is a stunning, thrilling and sometimes breathtaking album that sees Archdruid hopefully building a bright future for themselves.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Monday 26 November 2018

HIGH FIGHTER SIGNS WITH ARGONAUTA RECORDS!


HIGH FIGHTER SIGNS WITH ARGONAUTA RECORDS!
New album coming in the Spring of 2019!

[Peter Kupfer Photography]

Hamburg-based Sludge and Stoner Metal unit HIGH FIGHTER have signed a worldwide deal with Italian label ARGONAUTA RECORDS. Currently putting together the final songwriting touches, the band's hotly anticipated second album will be released in the Spring of 2019!

Says Argonauta's CEO Gero Lucisano:

"Today I'm beyond stoked to welcome HIGH FIGHTER in the Argonauta family. I remember how their album "Scars & Crosses" has been on heavy rotation here in our head-quarters for many months, and still is an "evergreen" listening these days. Moreover, thanks to the fact they are an hard working band always on tour, I got the chance to see them on stage, where I saw a captivating band with an uncontrollable energy, top professional attitude and awareness of their own means. Speaking with the band, I immediately got we are both moved by the same type of enthusiasm and it'd be such a lack of synergy to not join forces for their new album, which I can already grant it will be totally massive!"

After their ciritically acclaimed debut EP 'The Goat Ritual', self-released in the end of 2014, followed by numerous shows all over Europe including festival appearances at Wacken Open Air, Summer Breeze, Desertfest Berlin & Antwerp, Sonic Blast, Stoned From The Underground, Up In Smoke and many more, as well as numerous gigs on tour with bands alike Ahab, Conan, Crowbar, Mantar, Corrosion of Conformity, Elder, Downfall of Gaia, Mammoth Storm, Brant Bjork or Earth Ship to name just a few, HIGH FIGHTER released their first full-length 'Scars & Crosses' in June 2016 with Finland's cult label Svart Records.

"We have met Gero a few years ago at a show in Italy, and we immediatly felt his passion and love for the underground heavy music scene.“ HIGH FIGHTER vocalist Mona Miluski comments. „Over the past few months, I also got the chance to work closely with Gero due to my daytime job in the music industry, and I have probably not met many people like him before in this very tough business. 

His passionated but also very professional hard work for versatile, heavy bands not only impressed me but the entire band, when Gero made us an offer we could not refuse. We have and always will be very grateful for what Svart Records did for us and our first album, but musically we feel a step to sunny Italy with a label that represents the direction we currently go with our new album has been a great choice and move. We can't wait to start recording in Berlin at the Hidden Planet Studio with our dear friend Jan Oberg (Earth Ship) in the beginning of 2019, and unleash our second full-length baby with Argonauta Records next Spring!“

For More Info Visit:

Official video – 'Darkest Days':
www.youtube.com/watch?v=apMW_u2v8rs

Official video – 'Blinders':
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mVD5kl42QI

Official video – '2Steps Blueskill':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEr35ihG4Gc

Saturday 24 November 2018

Arcadian Child - Superfonica (Album Review)


Release date: November 23rd 2018. Label: Ripple Music/Rogue Wave Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Superfonica – Tracklisting

1.Bain Marie 04:31
2.Twist Your Spirit 04:55
3.Brothers 05:17
4.Constellations 04:03
5.Painting 06:44
6.She Flows 04:21
7.Before We Die 03:04
8.The March 05:08

Members

Panagiotis, Andreas, Stathis and Christos

Review

Greek Psychedelic Stoner Rockers Arcadian Child return with their second album Superfonica and their first for Ripple Music and Rogue Wave Records. After receiving high praise for their debut album released last year. Superfonica is a very different record with Arcadian Child playing a hazier and psychedelic album compared to their celebrated debut album. The album is way heavier with the band adding a more subtle Hard Rock groove.

Opening song – Bain Marie – has a gloomy and almost Occult Rock feel that wouldn’t go amiss from the recent Uncle Acid album – Wastelands. Arcadian Child start adding layers of Alternative Rock and Stoner Rock for a sound that keeps the listener entertained with the atmospheric vocals keeping the whole tone of the album grounded in reality. The instrumental work is played at a constant pace and offers a great insight on what to expect for the rest of the album.

Second song – Twist Your Spirit – is a mixture of Hard Rock and Psychedelic Stoner Rock with elements of classic garage rock that gives Arcadian Child an extra dimension to their sound. The album becomes more progressive with the spaced out vibes allowing the band more freedom to experiment with their sound. The vocals are soulful and matches the music superbly well. The song almost loses its way towards the end when Arcadian Child slow the mood right down. Though I admire their creative choices for the song. As the mood can be very peaceful with an almost gloomy ambient riff that I would love to hear more of on this song.

Third song – Brothers – is one of the standout songs on the album with Arcadian Child striking the almost perfect balance between Psychedelic Stoner Rock and other worldly trippy vibes. The song can be quite doomy with the fantastic lyrics having an addictive feel to them. The music is where the band impresses the most as they play a mixture of different musical styles that all combine for a spaced out journey. Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid feel like the most direct influences but Arcadian Child add a more Space Rock vibe to make this their own definitive sound.

Arcadian Child manage to continue their experimental musical journey on superb songs such as Constellations, Painting and She Knows being some of the standout songs on the second half of the album. Be prepared for more spaced out riffs that is matched by the exciting lyrics the band write through the entire album. Arcadian Child feel inspired by the sixties and seventies hard rock scene where the lyrics are concerned. As they’re genuinely OTT with a classic appeal to them.

As I’ve said before in this review, it’s the music where Arcadian Child impress the most. As Superfonica shows you why Arcadian Child have the potential to be one of the most creative and original bands from the highly respected Greek Stoner Rock scene. There is something magical within Arcadian Child’s music and that’s perhaps down to the new-found Psychedelic energy the band have included within this album.

You owe it to yourself to listen to Superfonica as it’s a beautifully made and highly addictive album that leaves you wanting more.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR and Arcadian Child for the promo. Superfonica is available to buy on Ripple Music and Rogue WaveRecords now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Psychlona - Mojo Rising (Album Review)


Release date: November 30th 2018. Label: CursedTongueRecords (VinylOnly). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Mojo Rising – Tracklisting

1.Stone 05:45
2.Ride 04:35
3.Down In The Valley 06:29
4.Big River 05:43
5.Your God 04:58
6.Juju 04:26
7.Black Dog 04:17
8.Beakfoot 09:01

Members

Phil - Guitar/Vocals
Dave - Guitar/Vocals
Martyn - Bass
Scott - Drums

Review

Mojo Rising originally came out in Feb 2018. It sort of passed me by. As it was released when a lot of great albums were being released. That’s not too say that this is a bad album. Far from it. It’s a great album. I just never had the time to listen to the album fully until now and that’s because the album is getting a vinyl release from in-form record label – Cursed Tongue Records.

So what can you expect from Mojo Rising and Psychlona’s blend of of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rock. Well the band add a heavy Space Rock sound to their music and it has a classic 70s Rock vibe firmly rooted within the band’s DNA. The album has it’s fair share of Progressive Rock and modern sounding Fuzz Rock to give Mojo Rising a vibe that’s becoming quite popular within the Doom/Stoner Metal community.

The album is a collection of great songs with the vocals taking some time to fully get used to. Though the lyrics are one of the best parts of the album. As the lyrics have a certain charm of their own especially as the band have written some OTT lyrics to match the heavy riffs on shown here.

The standout songs are: Stone, Ride, Down In The Valley, Juju, Black Dog and Beakfoot. As this is where Psychlona play the heaviest riffs on the album. If you’re a fan of Kyuss then you will find much to enjoy.

The only criticism that I have for the album is that it can be too laid-back at times for it’s own good. This is an album is perhaps best listening in the summer months and not the winter months that are currently upon us. However Psychlona know how to write a damn good tune that has some fantastic Spaced Out elements to them.

it’s good that Psychlona have signed to Cursed Tongue Records, as they will be gaining more exposure through the vinyl release as the album was sadly overlooked first time round. This will no doubt raise the band’s profile within the Doom/Stoner Rock community and perhaps see the band release some more cool sounding records in the future.

Overall, Mojo Rising is a highly accomplished debut album and will keep you entertained until the next Psychlona record arrives.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe


Friday 23 November 2018

Captain Caravan - Shun The Sun (Album Review)


Release date: November 23rd 2018. Label: Cursed Tongue Records (Vinyl Only in 2019). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Shun The Sun – Tracklisting

1.Crown
2. Illusion of Meaning
3. Shun the Sun
4. Godkiller
5. Zombie Machine
6. Shadow King
7. Dirty Red Velvet
8. Book of Oblivion


Members

Johnny Olsen – Vocals
BK Sæstad – Guitar
Morten Skogen – Drums
Geir Solli – Bass

Review


Captain Caravan are a band who are heavily influenced by Seventies Classic Hard Rock/Doom Metal with a huge Desert/Stoner Rock vibe being part of their overall sound. Their debut album Shun The Sun takes influences from bands such as Led Zep, Sabbath and Kyuss with the band trying their hardest in creating a top-notch vibrant sound.

Opening song – Crown – moves from Psychedelic Stoner Rock, Classic Rock and Desert Rock with relevant ease with the band having an easy-going charm to their music. The riffs are a mixture of old-school grooves and more modern sounding Blues/Stoner Rock vibes. Throw in a few elements of Progressive Rock and Captain Caravan have a deep passion for everything loud and heavy. There is a high amount of guitar solos on this song and that is no bad thing especially when you play the music very loud. The vocals from Johnny have a slight Blues Rock twinge to them and the vocals match the riffs superbly well.

Second song – Illusion Of Meaning – is one of the albums heaviest songs with Captain Caravan playing a more direct Stoner Metal sound. The song has quite a gloomy feel with the atmosphere becoming quite bleak at times. Though the song still has elements of Classic Hard Rock/Metal to give the band a more threatening edge and they play this song with a wicked sense of confidence.

Third song – Shun The Sun – opens with a slow-paced riff that builds up to a heavier psychedelic sound and the band becoming more confident with the heavier aspects of their music. This is perhaps lead singer’s Johnny best performance on the album. As it’s quite dynamic, as you can feel the passion and anger in his voice. The music is another psychedelic trip with the band playing one of the albums standout songs.

Fourth song – Godkiller – is an acoustic song that has an Alice In Chains feel to it especially with the gloomy vocals and heartfelt music.

The second half of the album goes even further into the Doom/Stoner Metal spectrum with songs such as Zombie Machine, Shadow King and Book Of Oblivion being a stark contrast to the opening songs. As Captain Caravan become a different band as a result. The music even has aspects of Grunge starting to appear and the listener will have some great enjoyment trying to figure out which musical direction the band will go next.

Shun The Sun is an expertly produced album with the band sounding very powerful from the start. The music is constantly loud and engaging and will have music fans on the edge of their seat.

Captain Caravan will be releasing this album on vinyl next year via Cursed Tongue Records (Awesome label started by an ex-writer of the blog) and it’s a match made in riff heaven. As CTR are one of the most dynamic labels that have emerged over the last couple of years with some epic releases to their name. Shun The Sun will no doubt fit right at home to the more established bands the label currently have on their roster.

Overall, Captain Caravan have delivered a brilliantly heavy album that’s not afraid to take genuine creative risks and that’s what makes this album so good. You never know what to expect and I want to see which musical direction the band will take in the next few years. Check this band out now as Shun The Sun is a must-have and powerful sounding album.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

An Interview With Jack Sutherland From HAAZE



HAAZE are a Sludge/Doom Metal band from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. The band will be releasing their debut album – SWAMP MAMA – in January 2019.

Swamp Mama is a heavy collection of bleak Doom and Sludge Metal sounds. What makes this band standout is their use of other elements such as Drone and Death Metal to give their debut album an unforgiving and cold feel.

HAAZE are a band to look out if you like your music BRUTAL and LOUD.

I’ll be reviewing their debut album in the next few weeks.

To find out more about the band, I caught up with Bassist Jack Sutherland from HAAZE.

Hi Jack. Thanks for doing this interview. How are things with you today.

Doing good! Thanks for asking.

Before we discuss your new album. Can you give a brief overview of how the band formed and where it is today

Formed from a disbanded band in Mitch’s basement, writing riffs and laying down lyrics.

How would you describe your overall sound. As it’s a distinctively heavy blend of many different musical elements.

It’s a very groove oriented sound with notes of doom, hints of death and a sludgy afterbirth that will leave you liking your lips for more.

You’re about to release your superb album – Swamp Mama – in Jan 2019. What can people expect from the album.

It will leave you sore and begging for more, even your dog will hate you ha-ha. We’re really proud of how it turned out and contains some of the best writing we’ve ever down.

Who is releasing the album and what formats is the album being released upon.

Swamp Mama will be released under Transistor 66 Records on vinyl and digital

What influenced you when writing and recording the album.

We really influenced each other. Our individual tastes differ and from the whole excitement of the process all of those influences complemented each other in a very collective way. From slam to punk, hardcore to death metal and everything in between.

Was recording the album an easy or hard experience.

It was a fun experience. We did most of it live off the floor and Ranjit really helped streamline the process. It was a real pleasure working with him and hope we can do it again.

You’re from Red Deer, Alberta. How would you describe the underground Metal scene in your home-town.

There’s a lot of punk and hardcore, and the kids go crazy for metal over here

Can you recommend any other Doom/Sludge Metal bands from your home-town or surrounding areas that people should check out.

Get some Highbernation in ya, quick.


What is the song-writing method in the band. Is it a group collective or down to one individual.

It’s really a collaborate effort from everyone in the band. Mitch will send us riffs and at jam magic happens. Everyone has their input and whatever noises we make is really unique to us. We wanted this album to catch your attention and be as hard hitting as possible

Which bands or musical artists made you decide or influence you to become a musician or pick up a musical instrument.

Steve Harris got me on the bass

What is your musical setup when playing live or recording in the studio. Do you have a basic setup or advanced setup.

As a bass player it’s straight to the point, overdrive pedal and that’s it

With 2018 almost drawing to a close, what have been your favourite albums you’ve listened to this year.

Been hitting up Aversions Crown, Shadow of Intent and the Beaches quite a bit, still can’t get enough


Thanks for doing this interview. Before you go do you have anything to say to your fans. Best of luck with the new album.

A big thanks to all the fans for sticking with us and supporting us along the way, can’t wait for everyone to hear what we made for them. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, ITunes and check out our pre-orders on BandCamp.

Words by Steve Howe and Jack Sutherland

Thanks to Moshpit Promotions for arranging this interview. Swamp Mama will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Transistor 66 Records from January 1st 2019.

Links:

News: MASTIFF Announce New Album; Release New Track


Like a black mould that just won’t clean away, Kingston Upon Hull’s premier misery spreaders MASTIFF have returned from their darkened sewer, bringing with them a viral monstrosity that threatens to infect and destroy music as we know it. 

Releasing 1st February 2019Plague is the band’s first full-length album on APF Records, and represents the misanthropic quintet at their most aggressive and unrelenting. Born of their disgust at humanity’s false nature, and the way in which our deceit and lies spread through social media,Plague is the culmination of a lifetime of frustration, hatred and sorrow, filtered through the most brutal and pummelling material MASTIFF have ever concocted.

The band have released their first track 'Hellcircle' from the album, check it out here:




Plague was wrought from misery itself in the blistering summer of 2018 at Studio 94 in Hull and recorded entirely live in one room with no tracking involved, with track ‘Black Death’ done entirely in one take. It was recorded, mixed and mastered by Mikey Scott.

The self-styled “miserable band from a miserable town” play a combination of sludge, grindcore and aggressive hardcore and have forged their reputation in a live setting, playing every dive and sh*thole in the country. New album Plague is their most formidable to date, spewing out berserk levels of unadorned aggression and intensity.  Across eight tracks of mutable anger, raw power and bitter resignation, MASTIFF manage to capture the sound of a country in its death throes with lyrical content dealing with everything from sorrow and pain to human failure and frustration. From the opening blast of ‘Hellcircle’ to the apocalyptic finality of ‘Black Death’, the album is a work of nail-biting extremity, and finds the band veering wildly from Nails-esque grind into the depths of harrowing doom. The end result, a band that sounds like it’s trying to rip itself apart through music.

Plague follows on from the band's 2016 debut release Wrank and 2017’s EP Bork. In addition to their critically acclaimed releases, MASTIFF have become revered for their rabidly heavy live shows, gigging extensively with an array of artists such as Agnostic Front, Crowbar, Iron Monkey, Conan and Biohazard plus appearing at renowned festivals such as Bloodstock, Deserfest London, Riff-Fest, Techfest and Dreadfest.

Plague will be released via APF Records, 1st February 2019. Ltd edition vinyl pre-orders are now available via APF Records here. CD and digital pre-orders will be available soon.

Find out more about the band 


Facebook || Twitter || Bandcamp || Instagram || APF Records

Tuesday 20 November 2018

An Interview With BISMUT

Instrumental Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers - BISMUT - will be releasing their excellent debut album Schwerpunkt later this month. The album is very different to your usual Instrumental Rock/Metal albums. As the band experiment with their sound on each individual song held on the album.

You can read my review here. I wanted to find more about BISMUT as they have something different about them which sets them apart from other Instrumental Rock/Metal bands.

Here we discuss the formation of the band, the making of their album and their future touring plans. 

Read on for more info...




Hi guys. Thanks for doing this interview. How are things with you today.

Thank you for interviewing us. We're excited. The buzz surrounding our band and the new album is good, so we're feeling pretty good, too.

Before we discuss your new album. Can you give a brief overview of how the band formed and where it is today.

We all know each other from a shared history of playing in different bands in the city of Nijmegen, like Stonerfront Nijmegen, Geiser and Bandito. We did some great shows together in the past with previous bands and had a shared collective with other bands called Nijmegen Rock City. At some point, while having a drink, we decided to do some jam sessions. After a few of those, we had another drink and listened to our jams. We decided they were too interesting to not follow up on.

This quickly escalated into some cool songs. We started planning for our first show with Samavayo and Mother Engine, in our hometown, for which we decided we would have to play 30-40 minutes. And we did.

So that's in a nutshell where we came from. We've been loving it ever since.

How would you describe your overall sound. As you have included quite a few different elements for a distinctive and heavy progressive sound. Especially on your excellent new album.

Thanks for the compliment! We're pretty happy with the album, too. 

Our sound is mostly jammy, groovy and riffy. And space. There are times when it feels like there are two different spaceships in our rehearsal room. 

We all come from different backgrounds. And we listen to a lot of different types of music, too. From stoner to punk and from metal to jazz and blues. And what happens in our jams we just go with. So our sound is bound to be very unique in that way, because we don't really censor it or try to keep it within a genre.


You’re about to release your superb album – Schwerpunkt. What can people expect from the album.

The album is a lovely journey that you can have a drink to. We think you should sit down, relax and let the music wash over you. It's very organic, because all the songs are the best we could do in a small number of live takes. We played everything together and we did no edits whatsoever. We mixed it ourselves, too. So you're listening to a very DIY product.

What is the main theme of the album and why did you call the album Schwerpunkt. As using Google Translations the English Translation – Main Focus or Main Point. Or Google could be talking absolute bollocks.

The title "Schwerpunkt", which is actually German and not Dutch, is based on the concept by Clausewitz in military strategy. It is defined as the thing most precious to the enemy and when they lose it they will concede and end the war. There are a number of different kinds of things that could be considered a "schwerpunkt" and we decided to name the songs after those. We chose names in various languages - honestly just those that sounded the best - because we believe in a borderless community of people in which language is an instrument, not a barrier. 

Schwerpunkt in German is also the focal point of a triangle, which of course, we are as well. Being a power-trio and all.

And for us it's also about music. Music can or should be seen as integral to our own "schwerpunkt". It is among our most precious belongings that we would never want to lose. Either playing or listening to it. And preferably both.

Who is releasing the album and what formats is the album being released upon.

We're releasing the album on CD and we enlisted the help of the mighty Lay Bare Recordings to release it on vinyl (limited edition colour mix!). It will be online everywhere, so including Spotify, Deezer, Amazon, iTunes, YouTube and Google Music.


How did you manage to sign to Lay Bare Recordings. Great label. 

We have actually known Désirée for quite a while and have always watched each other's mutually interesting developments. Originally, we were going to release the album on Pink Tank Records. But when our contact at Pink Tank went sort of missing, we were very happy to have Lay Bare Recordings step in. We think we may even have a better deal now than we would have had otherwise. That is of course difficult to say, and we do wish everyone at Pink Tank all the best, but Désirée has been a very very big help and we're very happy with her approach and her network.

She's making this thing a whole lot more interesting than we could have done without her.

What influenced you when writing and recording the album.

Just connecting and playing together. We like to jam and we like to think the album reflects that. It's mostly about creating something beautiful together, which is in a sense timeless but also a momentary occasion that will never happen in exactly the same way again.

Was recording the album an easy or hard experience.

It kind of depends on the song. For some songs it was difficult to find the vibe where all three of us completely got into it. For other songs, the first or second take was spot on. The DIY approach was helpful, which put us all at ease and made us take all the time we needed to have a good result. 


The album cover is quite something. Who designed the album cover and how much input did you have with the final designed

Yeah, we're very happy with it, thanks! Well, Ben Warnecke from Moewn designed it for us. We saw his work on the Moewn/Camel Driver split (which is amazing musically, too, by the way) and we loved the theme as well as the atmosphere of it. So we gave him some specific pointers and ideas to work with and he delivered something even cooler than we had imagined. 

You’re from The Netherlands. How would you describe the underground Doom/Stoner Metal scene over there.

It depends on where you are a little bit. There are some amazing festivals and shows in the Netherlands for us but there are also weeks or months where nothing really happens. We do really like the people that are into the music here. The bookers, promoters and fans are all really nice, friendly people who know how to have a party.

Is there a scene for you to perform many gigs. Or do you perform when you can.

We have a nice mix going between doing shows in the Netherlands and in Germany - with an occasional trip somewhere else. We actually get a tiny bit more offers than we are able to play, so we have a little bit of freedom to pick the most awesome shows now and then. We're really grateful to the scene and we get to play nice shows with other cool bands as well.

Can you recommend any other Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal bands from The Netherlands that people should check out.

The names from the Netherlands that come to mind are Mantra Machine, who are playing on our release as well, Mt. Echo, Graansilo and The Machine. We really like Mantis from Belgium and Mother Engine from Germany. They're not from the Netherlands, but close enough?

Would you change anything at all that you’ve been through with the band.

No, resoundingly not. We're doing this as a very free and open collective which means that whatever happens is meant to happen. None of us have to do more than they're able and everyone is doing as much as they can. So it's all very organic and we're helping each other out. Because we're not forcing anything, it kind of just goes, which makes it fun above all else.

What is the song-writing method in the band. Is it a group collective or down to one individual.

We don't really "write" songs. We record jam sessions and then after listening to them, we make them into songs by stretching some parts, skipping others, shuffling them around and repeating some of them. But all of this is done with all three of us equally involved. And then we practice and change them some more.

Are there any plans for you to travel to over parts of Europe to do gigs in the near future.

Always! We're hoping to play some awesome new places in 2019 and 2020, too. As long as time and space permit, we'll play anywhere we can and want to play.

Thanks for doing this interview. Before you go do you have anything to say to your fans. Best of luck with the new album.

Thanks for having us! We're excited about the first responses to our album, by critics and fans alike. We are doing what we love and it's amazing that people enjoy that. They're awesome. And so are you, Steve, we might add. What you're doing is inspiring and important to a keep a scene lively and we thank you for it.

Words by Steve Howe and BISMUT

Schwerpunkt will be available to buy on CD/DD from the band and Vinyl via Lay Bare Recordings from November 26th 2018.

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