Happy 4/20 - An Interview With Dennis Petersen from SLOWJOINT - Announce New Album And Reveal Album Cover

  

I seem to be the blog that Danish Sludge/Stoner Metallers – SLOWJOINT – always use when they want to announce something or to update their fans with what’s been going on with the band.

So it was cool that Dennis from SLOWJOINT contacted me recently to do this great interview on the HOLIEST OF DAYS for Weedian/Stoner Metal fans. 4/20.

So let me say HAPPY 4/20. Here’s my small contribution to the celebrations. It may not be on the grand scale of what SLEEP achieved last year when they released their album – THE SCIENCES.

It’s been a while since I’ve spoken to SLOWJOINT and I was intrigued to see what Dennis had to say and I was kinda pleased that I did. As the guys have a major announcement. Well it’s major to me as I’m a huge fan of the band.

So let’s see what’s going on….

Hi Dennis. How’s it going. Happy 4/20. Hope you’re getting high on this special day?

Hey Steve. Sure, everyday is a special day, when it comes down to that.

Well it’s been about 9 months since we last spoken on the blog. Always good to feature you around here. So what have you been up to then?

We’ve been spending a little more time writing songs than playing live lately. We’ve had some shows here and there, but mainly we’ve been writing new stuff.

Do Slowjoint have a new record coming out? If so can you give us the juicy details?

We most certainly do. It’s called Jutlandian, and we actually just revealed the cover. It’s hand painted on plywood and you can see the material through the painting, which looks really cool. We’re very happy with it, both the songs and the way the artwork turned out. It’s an ode to Jutland. For what it’s worth…

Is it a Full Length Album or EP? 

It’s a full album. 8 songs in just about 40 minutes.

When will you be releasing it?

We actually don’t know yet. We recorded it in December but things take time with us. Definitely before summer ends. Definitely maybe.

Is this a different sound from SLOWJOINT. Or is it still the same demented Weedian riffs you guys are known for.

It’s a hundred percent Slowjoint, for sure. But it still has something new to it. Tor joined in on the drums right before we recorded The Spliff Split with Gaia. So I guess you can tell that we’re more played together now in some way. There’s that, and also this time we approached the songwriting a little different. Usually I come up with one or two riffs for each song, we meet a few times and jam and then we hit the studio.

This time we met, jammed the two riffs and recorded it on a zoom recorder. That way we could listen to it at home and come up with ideas like we usually do but this time before final recordings. We’re so innovative, ha ha. And it’s not solos and fly-fucking we’re talking about. It’s just different breaks and an alternate riff and small improvements. So the main idea with nonthinking song structure is pretty intact, there’s just a little more effort put into it. I still wrote at least three lyrics on the spot in the studio.

Will it be getting a physical release. If so, who will be releasing it.

Yes it will. Vinyls and cassettes. 300 vinyls with some limited colour thrown in there and a small amount of cassettes. I can’t fucking wait to see the artwork on vinyl! We’re releasing it ourselves in a collaboration with a Danish record store called Vinyltrolden and a label called Virkelighedsfjern which is basically Morten and Kriller from Gaia who are very good friends of ours. Even though they’re from Copenhagen.

Was it a hard record to write and record for compared to your other releases.

Before this record we used to throw away riffs that needed too much effort and work put into it. There is a song on Jutlandian, which caused us some late hours half drunk and grumpy at rehearsal because I thought Tor played the drums in reverse with the kick and snare, until something finally came together and it ended up as one of my favourites. It sounds totally different from what I intended but I’m glad we didn’t just throw it away. So I wouldn’t say it was hard but we definitely took our time getting here, ha ha. As I said we approached it a little differently this time but that was mainly a good thing. At some point I felt like a real musician. Just for a second. And then it was gone…

Did you do anything differently with the recordings compared to your previous releases.

We recorded it in three days with Jacob Bredahl at Dead Rat Studio. Same place as we recorded the split and Weed Wrestling 7”. We always record live except for vocals and guitar dubs and it was the same deal this time. We just want to sound like the three of us together in a room and Jacob seems to know what the fuck to do with us. Plus he’s a fun and relaxing guy to be around so it was all good times. He fucking mixes while brewing beer in the kitchen in the back. He don’t need further presentation from here, ha ha.

Will you be touring the record heavily or will it be one-off shows. 

We have plans. We’re going Pinky and the Brain on this one. But yeah, usually we just do shows on the weekends because Denmark is really not that big.

Are there any plans for you to tour Europe in the near future.

We’re starting off in Denmark and see how far we can get from here. Right now we’re planning on some smaller tours with different bands. We’ve been to Germany a few times and we’re definitely going back there next year! We’re trying to do everything ourselves so it’s a jungle. But for sure, we wanna play Europe!

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

Yeah stash up and get ready for the new release. We’re very happy about it and hope you dig it too.

Thanks Steve! Happy 420

Thanks to Dennis for doing this interview. Lets hope the band have more news soon in the future when the album will be released.

Words by Steve Howe and Dennis Petersen

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

An Interview With Dennis Petersen From SLOWJOINT

 

Danish Sludge/Stoner/Weedian Metallers Sjowjoint are one of my favourite bands within the scene. The band have been going since 2012 and I've must have reviewed all of their releases since then. I've interviewed the band quite a few times over the years and I always enjoy doing interviews with them. As they always give you honest answers and some cool funny stories as well.

If you haven't heard of Slowjoint before then this interview is the best place to start. Slowjoint's music is a highly infectious blend of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal riffs. All held together by pure Weedian Magic.If you're a fan of BONGZILLA or WEEDEATER then you need to check these guys out now.

I'm interviewing Dennis (Bass/Vocals) from Slowjoint.

Hi Dennis. How’s it going. Always good to catch up with you.

Hey, I’m good man. Just came home from loading off gear at our rehearsal. We played Fuzztival last night in Esbjerg, which is a city nearby where I live in south-western Jutland. It was this small amphitheatre located in a small park surrounded by trees and green grass. Fucking beautiful spot. Some of our friends played there too, and the staff was awesome so we had a pretty good party. So yeah, I’m good under the circumstances…

For people not in the know about Slowjoint. Can you tell them a brief history of how the band came together and where it is today. 

We actually kept this shit going for six years now Steve! Isn’t that crazy. I met with some dudes back in early 2012 and started jamming some slow tunes just for the fuck of it. I had been singing in some fast metal bands but I was way more into the American sludge scene with the laid back attitude, slow riffs and blues inspired song writing.

So I changed some beers and stuff for Patrick's old Pbass, and started fumbling around with it. I only knew how to play a little blues on guitar so I just went with that on bass with a big muff and it fit right in.

Other than a little change on the drums we’re still the same band as we were back then. Maybe a little better.. or worse depending on who you ask. We get to play live way more than we ever expected, so that’s good. I don't think we really expected anything when we started out. We just liked the bands of the genre and wanted to play it ourselves

Can you tell our readers what kind of music you play.

I guess it’s sludge metal of some kind. We like to call it Bongsludge or Retarded Blues. It’s loud and has a lot of feedback. And the riffs resembles how your head feels when you’ve had too much whiskey and are clinging to the toilet to make that damn room stand still.

Right. That’s the recap over. So what have Slowjoint been upto since you released the split album with GAIA last year.

We went on a small Danish tour with Gaia. Played some German shows too. The Copenhagen gig almost got cancelled since Weedeater announced they were gonna play another venue in Copenhagen that night, and the promoter thought it was kinda the same audience (no shit). So we moved our own show to the afternoon as a pre-party and we all went and saw Weedeater afterwards. That was fun!

Other than that we just keep playing here and there around Denmark and try to write our next album. We don’t all three of us live nearby each other so we don’t get to jam that often. And lately it has felt like every time there are holes in the calendar some dude contact us and ask if we can play some shows somewhere. So it’s kinda difficult to find the time to meet and actually write new stuff. But we’re just glad that bookers and bands want to do stuff with us, so it’s still a good thing. We love doing tours even though in Denmark it’s usually only on the weekends.

Were you happy with the overall response your split album with GAIA received from fans and critics alike. 

Yeah it’s been pretty good. Overall we’re getting more and more response on the band as a whole so we’re happy with it.

Looking back would you change anything about that release.

No, not at all. Our drummer Tor just came into the band a few months before so we didn’t have a lot of time to write our side of the split, and still we nailed some pretty good songs I think. Jacob (Dead Rat Studios) also really managed to catch a sound close to how we sound live. So we’re happy with it.

I always admire how you release your records on Vinyl and other physical formats. Even if you don’t get the recognition you fully deserve. Will you keep releasing records on different physical formats. Or will you be focusing on certain mediums such as DD, CD or Vinyl. 

Yeah, I do wish we hadn't made 420 copies of our first album. They don’t go THAT fast when people don’t know you yet, ha ha. But people still buy’em so I guess we’re gonna get rid of them at some point. We could be a little more up to date on the digital release platforms though, but yeah, I really enjoy physical formats so we’re definitely gonna keep doing that.

Any funny tour or gigs stories you like to share with us.

Back in May last year we were playing an indoor festival near Copenhagen. We arrived at the venue in the afternoon and it was unbearably hot so the staff gave us free bar and that’s where it all went wrong. I quickly started slamming honey bourbon and ice (my favourite) and kept that going for the rest of the evening. Show went well and before we went to hit the bus i filled a big ass glass to the top with bourbon. But the bus driver didn’t want me to bring it in so stupid me chugged the whole thing down in one go and jumped the bus.

This is the last thing I remember. When I woke up next morning the guys told me that suddenly I had gotten off the bus in the middle of nowhere because I had to take a piss. It was about 10 km from our friends house and I didn’t manage to finish before the bus took off. So instead of just waiting a few minutes for the next bus I started walking out on the dark roads. They had kept calling my phone, with me on the other end mumbling random stuff or taking pocket calls.

I’m not familiar AT ALL with that area so how I managed to find home I really don’t know but it was so late that the guys had fallen asleep trying to stay awake while worried about my drunk ass. When we got outside the next morning I had even stolen a shitty old bike with the rusty chain dangling from it, not at all able to ride… Whiskey have done this to me quite a few times. It’s a matter of measures but my math is not that good when I’m drunk, so it goes kinda wrong sometimes.

It’s been a long time since Slowjoint released an album of their own. Are you busy recording a new album or EP. Can you give us any details on that. 

We have a new album coming out and it’s just about halfway done. Think we’re gonna record it some time this fall or winter. 

What can people expect from this record and when will it be released. 

It’s pretty much the same deal. Swinging riffs and loud amps. We sound better than ever live and I hope that’s gonna be present on the recordings. We’ve tried to approach it a little differently this time. Usually we meet a few times and jam some of my riffs and then we hit the studio, without really knowing how it’s gonna end up. This time we jammed some riffs and did a simple recording with a zoom recorder. Then we can get back to it and add ideas that we always get but can’t do because it’s already recorded.

So it’s still Slowjoint with simple riffs and all that shit but with a little extra thought to it. I think one of the most important things about Slowjoint is the spontaneity and simplicity and by doing it this way I think we still stick pretty much to that. I’m pretty sure there’s still gonna be some last minute stuff on there too, ha ha.

When you’re creating new music. What comes first. The music or the lyrics.

I do a lot of jamming myself. Just play around and coming up with riffs. When I play a good riff enough times the words slowly starts to form them self. But’s it’s pretty basic and down to earth lyrics. There are things being said between the lines but it’s meant to be pretty straight forward. I have this idea with a concept album about Jutland and all the funny/stupid stuff that goes on around here and characterise a true Jutlandian…

What is the songwriting dynamic within the band. Is it a group collective or down to one individual.

I bring a riff or two for a song and then we just start jamming it. Maybe making a second riff with a variation of the first riff or stuff like that. A lot of Slowjoint’s sound and feel comes from jamming so I wouldn’t be able to write a real good Slowjoint song without the other guys.

Patrick is adding more and more bluesy guitar details than he has usually done and Tor has a really simple and laid back drum style but still some times weirdly creative. I really love jamming with those two guys and we always agree a hundred percent that it’s time for a smoking break, so it’s a perfect match, ha ha. 

We have to talk about your bass setup when playing live or recording in the studio. What is your current setup. Do you have an advanced setup or basic setup.

Ooh yeeah, I love talking about Fat Betty. She’s a Sunn concert bass with an old Peavy 2x15 cab. I shove a Pbass and a Big Muff Bass up her ass and it sounds fucking awesome! I have another 2x15 cab and an old Yamaha b100 head to pair her up with, when It really has to be unnecessarily rumbly and loud.

I’m really happy about my setup as you can tell, ha ha. It’s pretty simple but heavy as fuck and works like a tank. You can even buy a t-shirt with Fat Betty on it. Maybe I went a little over the line there…

Do you build your own gear. Such as amps, guitars and speakers. (You can tell I’m not much of a musician or gear person am I).

Soldering is a pain in the ass so no not really. I’ve build a few trash guitars out of gas cans but nothing serious though. I once bought a banjo for money I collected only through bottle bills. Takes time but it’s doable. My old busted squire bass I got from Patrick for some beers and some other stuff. I like it when my instruments have a story or some personality. I’m not really into expensive gear..

How did you become involved in music and why did you decide to play Bass. Was it a particular band or album that got you into music. 

I’ve always loved music and played around with instruments (not played them) since I was a little kid. We had a piano and my father played tuba and trumpets in a brass band. I got my first guitar when I was around 11 or 12. My parents listened to a lot of rock and country, which didn’t really catch on to me before years later.

I had a period with hip-hop in my early teens before I got sick of the gangster mentality and started getting more into rock n roll and later blues and old time stuff. Mountain songs about drinking too much or being high and poor. Love that shit! I started playing bands around the age of 17/18 when I hung around a local venue with rock and heavy on the bill. They had rehearsals there too and people would just hang out there and would start jamming and form bands.

Thanks for doing this interview. Before you go do you have any words of wisdom to say to your fans.

Thanks Steve! To the fans: Thank you and fuck you! … and fuck the government too… and public transportation… fuck everything… LEGALIZE WEED AND DYNAMITE…

Words by Steve Howe and Dennis Petersen

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

UP SHIT CREEK - An Interview with Dennis from SLOWJOINT

It's been a hell of a long time since I last spoke to Dennis from Danish Sludge/Stoner Rockers – Slowjoint. I became a fan of these guys back when I was doing The Sludgelord. Their music is a highly infectious blend of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal riffs. All held together by pure Weedian Magic.

I've interviewed them a few times over the years but I wanted to see how things were going with Slowjoint. Dennis (Singer/Guitarist) has kindly agreed to do this interview where we discuss the future of the band, upcoming releases and if they truly are still UP SHIT CREEK!!!

So light up a BONG and relax with SLOWJOINT.

Hi Dennis. How are things with you all today. Thanks for doing this interview. Been a long time.

Dennis: Hey Steve. Thanks, we’re good.

So can you tell our readers a brief history of the band and where it is today.

Dennis: We’re still going at full speed. Or I don’t know if you can call it full speed with this band but we’re still here! You know the throttle on a lawn mower, the rabbit and the turtle thing? We’re the turtle. We might move a little slower but we still cut that grass.

I've heard you now have a new drummer in your ranks. What happened to the old one. You guys all still friends.

Dennis: No we hate that little fucker! Haha. No he just had to move on. He couldn't find the time for it with his family and other bands and shit. So yeah, we’re good. But that forced us to find a new drummer, and pretty fast cause we had already booked recordings in the studio. Tor is a great guy and he puked at first rehearsal so we knew right away he was the right guy for the job. Me and him was writing some new songs earlier today. It’s gonna be bad-ass!

So what plans you have in future. Please say a new full length album. Do you have any plans to record a new album or new material.

Dennis: It’s not gonna be a full length, I know that for sure. We will release a single track on 7” vinyl on a small label called Weed Wrestling Records alongside a comic book that some crazy Swedish guy drew. It’s weird as fuck and it’s gonna be an awesome and kinda different release. Besides that, we hope that we’re gonna record 3 or 4 songs for an EP. Right now there’s six weeks till we hit the studio and we only have one song down. It’s typical us. We plan to be ahead of everything and always end up doing it all, right before deadline. Up Shit Creek was the same deal so I think it’s gonna be fine.

Will you be releasing the new material yourselves or have you signed upto a label.

Dennis: I don't know yet. I’m sure I can find a small label that wants to release the EP on tape. But the bigger deals are tough to get by. So we’ll see what happens. We’ve been kinda lucky so far so maybe something will come up. We’ll see..

Has your sound changed from your excellent debut album – Up Shit Creek – or is still the same good old fashion weedian influenced dirty heavy based sludge riffs.

Dennis: We’re still the same. I think we sound better live, than on the recordings. Our music is meant to be heard live. Not that I think we sound bad on Up Shit Creek but I hope to catch a little more live sound for the next one. This time we chose to record at Dead Rat Studios in Aarhus. I’ve recorded there a couple of times before and Jacob (Bredahl, ex-Hatesphere) is just talented and fun to be around. He makes you feel very comfortable and I’m sure he’s a good match for us.

I see Up Shit Creek has sold out on Cassette. Though you still have some Vinyl available. How has the reception been to your album on both formats. Looking back are you happy releasing your music on Cassette or Vinyl.

Dennis: Looking back I wish we’d only released a 100 vinyls of Up Shit Creek, cause then they’d been sold out by now. We released 420 vinyls instead so we still have a shit-load of them left. But people order the vinyls every now and then so its fine. We just re-released our first demo Retarded Blues Anthems on a small label called Virkelighedsfjern. It was limited to 50 cassettes and they went pretty fast. We got the half of them for live shows and the other half the label sold on their bandcamp. I think there’s a few left in there but I’m surprised they even sold 5 of them. Back when we released it the first time I dubbed the demo to second hand tapes and it was limited to 27 copies. We sold about half before the rest got stolen at a Christmas gig. Haha.

Is there anything you would change anything about Up Shit Creek the album itself. If so what would you change.

Dennis: No I wouldn't change a damn thing even if I could. That record is Slowjoint as Slowjoint was at that time. I don’t think we changed since then, we just got a little better at what we do. Maybe. or maybe not…

Have you performed live regularly over the last few years. Or is it just a gig here and here.

Dennis: We used to do it here and there wherever I could book shows for us. We’re still not doing major tours but this last year has been good to us. We went on a small Danish tour in February with Grusom, Dirt Forge and Bersærk. We were well received and it was fun as hell. After that we signed with the label that booked the tour. It’s a small Danish label called Tråd. A guy and a gal with a heart for extreme music. We’re very happy with it and we cant wait to see what they have in the bag for us.

What's the song-writing dynamic in the band. Do you all contribute on a riff and build upon from there. Or is it down to one individual.

Dennis: I usually write the riffs and main structure and we jam the rest. We’re not spending months on one song and shit like that. It’s just riff’s and a heavy groove to keep it going. I love this genre…

What equipment do you use when recording in the studio or playing live. Do you have an advanced setup or is it very basic.

Dennis: Patrick uses his big muff and whatever full stack the venue can supply. I use a Yamaha b100, a Sunn Concert bass and a 2x15 cab for each amp. Classic stoner setup. And of course a big muff bass for extra juice! I was lucky to get my hands on the concert bass for a very reasonable price. And they’re hard to find here in Denmark too so I was stoked when I came across it and I had to buy it right away. I’m gonna use this current setup on the recordings in September It’s gonna be loud!

What influences you when recording new music. Is it getting high or is it something more meaningful than that.

Dennis: No we just eat greasy food as we do whenever we’re together. I think a good laugh and a relaxed attitude is key to a good recording session. and weed.

How do you relax away from music.

Dennis: I like being outdoors. Making camp-fires, building shelters and stuff like that. I just moved to a small town that’s located right next to the river. I go canoeing every now and then and I think that is where I’m the most relaxed of all places.

Which albums are you currently digging at the moment. Any albums that really surprised you in a big way.

Dennis: I cant keep up at all with all the new shit coming out. Even in Denmark it’s hard to keep up with all the small stoner bands popping up everywhere. But the newest band I've come across is God Dam from Copenhagen. It’s just the guys from Gaia playing this weird fucked up primitive sludge kinda thing. I love those guys. It’s their guitarist who re-released our demo. I like weird shit and try hard to find the weirdest out there. There’s this old band from Sweden called Philemon Arthur. You should check them out. Also check their Wikipedia history. It’s fucked up.

OK, fantasy question time. If you could arrange a festival line-up with yourselves on the bill. Which bands would you pick to appear on that bill and why. (You can choose any bands from any time period.)

Dennis: and we’re right back at Philemon Arthur! Haha. I’ve come to know so many people over the last year all playing different bands. I think I would invite all of them and have one big heavy party! I don’t need to mention any names but those brakes ain’t gonna work on that train right guys :D

Well Dennis thanks for doing this interview. Been great catching up with you. Do you have anything to say to your fans out there.

Dennis: Get that hand out of your pants! haha. And of course thanks for all the support. Slowjoint loves you! Mojn!

Words by Steve Howe and Dennis Petersen

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp