Garganjua - Towards The Sun (Album Review)

Release date: January 17^th 2020. Label: Holy Roar Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Toward The Sun – Tracklisting

1.Transcending

2.The New Sun

3.Mire

4.Transcendence

5.Light Bearer

6.Controlling Waves

7.To Ascend (Awakening)

Members

Scott- Guitars/Vocals

Gaz - Bass/Vocals

Gazz - Guitars

Ben - Drums

Review

Toward The Sun is the 3^rd album from UK Progressive Doom/Sludge Metallers Garganjua and it sees the band fully complete their journey in creating the same type of emotionally charged music that YOB and PALLBEARER are known for. Which is quite an accomplishment as the band started out as a Doom/Stoner Metal band with their debut release.

Their musical journey since then has led up to this album and it’s their most accomplished album to date with an array of outstanding ideas that have a haunting and emotional feel to them.

Opening song – Transcending – is a Post-Rock/Doom based song with ambient sounds and rhythms and a cool audio-clip laying down the groundwork and themes for Toward The Sun to follow. The haunting gloomy guitars are played briefly while the Ambient grooves are delicately played.

Second song – The New Sun – carries on the beautifully played Post-Rock/Doom/Gloom atmosphere of the opening song before the song brings in lush sounding vocals and heavy progressive melodies that build up to a more violent style of Doom Metal. The vocals and riffs both take a more dramatic turn with Garganjua living upto their Doom/Sludge Metal roots with an avalanche of punishing riffs that can be quite unsettling at times. Though the mood is always emotional and addictive at the same time. The song does have a cool way of moving between different Hard Rock/Heavy Metal textures where the mood can be beautifully quiet and then highly volatile the next.

Third song – Mire – starts rather slowly and is perhaps the “template” that Garganjua are most comfortable using by creating slow-paced grooves that take time to come alive and explode with violent aggression. Shades of YOB and PALLBEARER can be heard within this song with Post-Metal lyrics shining through. T The bleak growls adds substance to the whole atmosphere of the album but it’s the Ambient/Post-Rock vibes being played that held my attention throughout.

Fourth song – Transcendence – is a hypnotic style of Post-Rock, Doom, Sludge and Psychedelic sounds that show a different side to Garganjua for the first few moments of the song. The audio-clip once again leaves you feeling ashamed of being apart of humanity and Garganjua drive that message home with their unflinching style of Progressive Doom Metal that takes no prisoners. The music is flawless and you can’t but agree with everything that is being said on this album.

The other 3 songs on the album Light Bearer, Controlling Waves and To Ascend (Awakening) all carry on the deep progressive and emotional themes that Garganjua play superbly well throughout with To Ascend (Awakening) being the best song on the album.

The final 3 songs on the album is where Garganjua create some of the heaviest and best moments on the entire album. As the band throw a lot of different sounds and ideas at the listener that maybe too heavy going at first. Though it’s a wonderfully cinematic experience that demands many repeated listens.

This is the type of album that could launch Garganjua into the forefront of the UK Doom/Sludge Metal album. There is no denying that Toward The Sun is a masterclass of Progressive Doom/Sludge Metal and is most definitely Garganjua’s beat album to date and hopefully their calling card to bigger and greater things.

Toward The Sun is an unmissable album and demands your full attention.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Justine at Holy Roar Records for the promo. Toward The Sun will be available on CD/DD/Vinyl via Holy Roar Records from January 17^th 2020.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

GARGANJUA - Through The Void (Album Review)

Release date: April 2018 Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Through The Void – Tracklisting

Crushed Beneath The Tide

Adrift

Through The Void

A Distant Shore

Members

Scott- Guitars/Vocals

Gaz - Bass/Vocals

Gazz - Guitars

Ben - Drums

Review

I must have started to write this review then delete it all just to start again at least four or five times now.

I'm obviously no journalist, I'm just a chap who is lucky enough to be able to hear some of the best new heavy music that gets released year after year and all I have to do in return is to put into words what I thought of it.

Easy right?

Wrong....

Especially when you have bands like Garganjua releasing records like their phenomenal new album "Through The Void"

I'm lucky enough to be able to consider them friends and we have shared a stage together a few times now and they're all too humble when we tell them how good they are to actually listen to us. I'm pretty confident in saying that after the release of "Through The Void" they're going to have to start listening to an awful lot of people telling them much the same.

Garganjua have managed to release a frankly breath taking, mature, emotional and completely captivating record that in places is reminiscent of Pallbearer, Yob and Ahab. It's like being drawn into the sea by its beauty and then before you know it it's pulled you in and swept you away without a trace.

There are four tracks on offer here, but don't think you're being short changed as each and every track is pretty much a masterpiece in its own right. The perfect blend of clean heartfelt and low rumbling vocals, huge riffs that ebb and flow like the tide and a rhythm section that drives the chaos beautifully.

Standout tracks for me being the immense "Crushed Beneath The Tide" and the title track itself. The former being the album opener and being blessed with a riff that has no right to have that amount of swagger and groove on a doom record and the latter is now available as a video the band released as a thank you for hitting their Pledge Music target to get the vinyl release this album so richly needs.

I strongly suggest you click on the following link and go and listen to it now...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1582219131874351&id=263223580440586

"Through The Void" is nothing short of a magnificent release and the band should be proud of what they're about to unleash on the world. Their Pledge campaign may have hit its goal but there is still time to add your name to the list and make sure you secure a copy of what's going to be one of the essential doom records of the year.

Words by Simon Williams

Through The Void will be released via their Pledge Music Campaign here in April 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Through The Void - An Interview With GARGANJUA

UK Progressive Doom/Sludge Metallers – GARGANJUA – released their debut album A Voyage In Solitude back in 2016. We are huge admirers of the album and the band as well.

Fast forward two years later and GARGANJUA will be releasing their superb new album – Through The Void in 2018. To get the album released on Vinyl, the band have started a Pledge Music Campaign which you can view here.

I caught up with the band to discuss the making of their new album and the decision to setup a Pledge Music campaign. You can read all about this below.

Hi guys. How are things with you today.

Very well thank you.

We are here to talk about your new album – Through The Void. I've only had a brief listen recently but it sounds fantastic so for. Though SID is raving on about it. What can people expect from the album.

'A Voyage In Solitude'. is only 4 tracks again but clocks in at around 45 minutes this time. I personally think this album is a world apart from the first. Still doomy and epic but it takes a different path on the journey. We've ventured into new territory on this album too musically. Bit more progressive, some new instrumentation. I think this album is heavier and more melodic for us.

If 'A Voyage In Solitude' started the journey then 'Through The Void' is the storm in the ocean.

When will the album be released.

We are hoping for in late April/early May.

You recorded this album a long time ago. Why has it taken so long to release the album.

In truth, we needed time after this album was recorded to just seperate ourselves from it as it was a heavy experience. We also wanted to think about our release options. There was a lot of label interest so we had a lot to think about. We're very proud of this album and we have always wanted to do a vinyl release so this was the decision we took in the end. And ultimately none of the label interest suited what we were going to do going forward. Vinyl is a time consuming business also.

What influenced you all when recording the album.

I think this album definitely came from within. As opposed to being inspired by the music that surrounded us at the time. It was perhaps more of an outcome of where we were as people. Whilst I wouldn't say this album is original, I don't think it wears its influences on its sleeve like maybe 'Voyage...' did if that makes sense.

You're currently running a Pledge Music Campaign to release the record on vinyl. Did you not have any label interest to release the album on vinyl.

There was label interest but ultimately nothing really stood out and worked for us. Nothing that fully supported the vinyl dream either so we thought we'd try the pledge thing and if that doesn't work, we will just release it on other formats.

Was it a hard decision to start a Pledge Music Campaign.

Yes, in truth, none of us whole-heartedly wanted to do it as its a bit risky and would put the release back a bit but on the other hand, we knew we had nothing to lose. If we're successful then great but if not, we still have an album we're very happy with to release so its not going to derail anything major.

Will the album be released on any other formats such as CD, Cassette and DD.

We will release on CD and DD only if the vinyl pledge is not successful. If it is successful, on all 3 formats.

You released your debut album A Voyage In Solitude back in 2016. Were you surprised by some of the reviews it received originally.

Yes very much so. We just write what we write and when we play, we collectively just lose ourselves in what we do. It makes no difference to us if anyone else gets it/likes it but the response was very unexpected at the time and ever since really. We have been very humbled by that.

Looking back would you change anything about the album at all.

No I don't think so.

Will you touring your new album heavily in 2018. Or will it just be a few gigs here and there.

Just gigs here and there. There may be a short run of dates to mark the release but no extensive tour plans at the moment

What have been your high points and low points with the band.

We've been fortunate to not hit too many lows as a band so far although needing to pull out of Siege of Limerick was not something we wanted to happen. Highs for us so far have been, playing Bloodstock, recording the albums and just having the opportunity to play our instruments.

Would you change anything about your time with Garganjua.

No its been a really good experience for us all so far.

Are you all involved with different musical projects or is this your main band.

Nah, this is our main band at the moment.

What is your musical setup when performing or recording live. Is it an advanced setup or a basis setup.

Its very basic. 2 guitars, bass and drums with 3 of us doing vocal duties live.

How hard is it for Garganjua stand-out from the crowd. Or do you not worry about things like that.

We don't really think about things like that. We want to sound good but mainly from a selfish point of view and not because we want to stand out or impress anyone. This band is for us. This band is so we can zone out and lose ourselves for a time. Its our form of expression. If people want to join us for the ride, the more the merrier but we're heading out on the journey anyway.

Before you go, do you have anything to say to your fans.

I would like to thank anyone that follows or supports the band in any way and if you would like the album on vinyl, please follow our pledge link and help us in any way you can.

Thanks for doing this. All the best with the new album.

Thank you for your time dude.

Words by Steve Howe and GARGANJUA

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Pledge Music Campaign for Through The Void

Garganjua - A Voyage In Solitude (Album Review)

Release date: January 2016. Label: Hibernacula/Black Bow Records. Format: CD/DD

A Voyage In Solitude – Tracklisting

1.Witch Hoarder

2.Isolation

3.A Voyage In Solitude

4.Extinction

Band Members:

Scott Taylor – Guitar and Vocals

Gareth Owen – Bass and Vocals

Gazz Chambers – Guitar and Vocals

Ben Weston – Drums

Review:

I like Garganjua. I like them as a band, and as people. We've been lucky enough to gig with them a couple of times in the past and hope to do so many more times in the future.

Gaz originally sent me a download of their first EP, which I loved, and so when he told me they were booked into Skyhammer Studio (home of Chris Fielding who has probably produced more albums in your collection, than you even realise) to record their full length I was more than a little bit excited to hear the results.

My excitement was totally merited because what Garganjua have delivered with their debut full length "A Voyage In Solitude" is nothing short of magnificent, and belies their short time together as a band.

Opening track "Witch Hoarder" opens with a simple guitar part laced with the threat of the fuzz and weight that you know is hiding behind it. And when it kicks in, I can see the heads nodding and the hands punching the air at venues everywhere across the UK that this track will no doubt cause.

The track (and the album as a whole) makes the most of Gaz and Scott's contrasting vocal styles (a growl that's lower than a whore's knickers and a Yob- infused clean vocal respectively) and never over use either one.

"Isolation" is the albums single with it's radio friendly run time of nine minutes and is the most mellow and shortest of the albums four tracks. (Yes 4....) - I'm not actually going to say anything about this track but will instead direct you to a link to it so you can hear for yourself how good it is......

Track 3 and album namesake is another beautifully crafted doom opus which to quote blog boss Steve Howe is a "stunning mix of Yob and Pallbearer". Guitars and based tuned to God knows what, but it's VERY low and wonderfully balanced drums, restrained one minute ringing out huge fills the next. Also notable is Scott's impressive vocal which takes the lead on this one, and the hook will get stuck in your head for days at a time.

"Extinction" closes the album in a similar fashion to the one it began in. Quiet guitars which again give way to a full assault from the rest of the band. The thing I love about this track is that whilst it is as heavy as Jeremy Clarkson's bill from his defence lawyer it also oozes melody at almost every point.

So there you have it. Garganjua have delivered a mature, confident and disgustingly heavy record, that would easily make my end of year list if it had only been released a month earlier.

"A Voyage In Solitude" will be available on CD/DD via Hibernacula (CD) and Black Bow Records (Digital Download) in January 2016.

Words by Simon Ross Williams

Thanks to Garganjua for the promo. This is a brilliant album and as SID rightly points out, if this was released a month earlier this would have been an album of the year contender.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Interview with GARGANJUA

I was asked recently to interview UK Sludge/Doom Filth Merchants – GARGANJUA – as I was a fan of their debut EP – Trip Wizard. GARGANJUA will be releasing their debut album in early 2016 and by all accounts it's going to be HEAVY!!!

Before then I decided to catch up with the guys to see how things are going with the band and what we can expect from the album. So lets get started with GARGANJUA!!!

Hi guys. How are things with you today.

Hello, We are very well thank you.

So why did you choose the name GARGANJUA for your band. Any specific meaning.

Haha the name came about as we wanted something that sounded MASSIVE, sort of like Mastodon or Bison haha. We came up with Gargantua originally but there are a few bands called that already....so we changed one letter to be "original" haha.

How did the band get together. Did you all know each other before forming the band.

We've all known each other for years and all played together in various other bands but It started off with Scott and Gaz(bassist) getting together and recording riffs in Scott's bedroom and that was basically how Trip Wizard was born. We decided to ask Benj to be involved as we all have similar musical tastes and it went from there really. Played a couple of gigs and just really enjoyed it so decided to record something. We never thought it would get out of the bedroom to be honest.

How would you describe your music. Apart from it being pure fucking heavy.

Musically I'd describe it as Melodic Doom. There are so many genres and sub genres that I dont give it much thought but that'd be our interpretation.

You released your debut EP – Trip Wizard – last year. How was the response to that EP. I loved it when I reviewed it for The Sludgelord.

Trip Wizard seem to get a positive response which was surprising. I mean, we loved it but personally, it was very stripped down and basic so I didn't expect much of a response but it was very positive.

Would you change anything about it.

We wouldn't change anything, we had such a blast just jamming and hanging out, it sort of felt like it used to back in the day when you're starting your first band. It just flowed and felt great. I still love listening to it. Probably the best first record I've ever been a part of.

Apart from the music itself, I think the album cover makes it stand out. Shows your wicked sense of humour. Who designed the cover.

Got to be honest, the artwork was just a really old school public domain image that we loved haha! We were so keen to get the EP out, we just found something simple we liked quickly haha.

You're about to release your debut album soon. Can you give us more details about that.

The new album is completely different from Trip Wizard!! A lot has changed for us in the last 18 months, on various levels and we started to look at our music differently. We wanted to expand the sound, explore melody more and lyrically, write about more than just goblins and wizards. Basically, it's like a different sound all together now. We got a second guitarist on board which gave us more to do dynamically and personally, its a game changer.

Its 4 songs and 40 minutes long. We are planning on releasing a "single" soon and will hopefully release before the end of the year but we haven't set an official date yet.

Are you releasing it yourself or have you got a small label to release it.

The album is going to be released digitally through Black Bow Records and physically through Hibernacula Records

How hard is it being a band in today's world. What are the most difficult aspects in being in a band.

Being in a band is tough but it always has been in our opinion. We weren't playing in bands in the 90's when record labels had cash and getting signed was deemed as "making it". Things have clearly got harder in recent years but if you enjoy it, its worth it. We've always had that attitude.

Some people say the UK Sludge/Stoner/Doom Metal scene has hit it's peak and it can't get any bigger. What is your own verdict on the UK scene.

Our perception of the UK scene is that it's very strong, probably the strongest its ever been. There is a definite sense of community in stoner/doom especially and I think that's down to people still really having a love for live music. It still feels like days of old when people would travel to shows, help each other out and generally rep for each other. Its a great place to be.

How is the scene like in your home town of Leicester. Do you play gigs there regularly or do you have to travel further afield.

The Leicester scene has definitely improved over the last year, there are a couple of people doing really good work locally for the city which is great to see but our attitude has always been to travel to everywhere we can. We've done the whole, week in, week out in your own back yard type of thing but reaching new audiences and making new friends is what we like to do.

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

Song-writing wise, certainly for the new album, the blueprints for the tunes were done by Scott. They'd be emailed over and if the rest of us liked it, we'd set to jam the idea out and gradually the fine tuning begins and everyone will contribute in their own way before the song is complete. Although I believe the title track was born out of a spontaneous jam at practice and just grew into the beast it is now within 2 hours haha. Lyrically is generally a 50/50 job between Gaz and Scott.

With you guys being from Leicester. We have to talk about MAGE and the sad passing of guitarist – Ben Aucott. I spoke to Ben a few times via Social Media but he was a lovely real genuine guy who I knew did a lot for the local music scene. How is everyone doing especially the MAGE guys who I have a lot of time for. Amazing band and people as well. My condolences to Ben's family and friends at this sad time.

Needless to say, the loss of Ben shook the local scene massively and has continued to extend outwards. Collectively we've been jamming within the same scene as Ben for over 12 years and his previous band with Andy, Outburst were hugely influential on us growing up. I cannot imagine the impact its had on the Mage boys but its a great community and we all chat and are there for each other every step of the way. Its a day by day thing.

And your performing on the Ben Aucott memorial gig in November with Mage and Temple of Lies. How much of an honour is that. Can you give us more info about that gig.

The only word to use is 'honour' at being asked to play the memorial show, we'd have been there regardless anyway but to able to jam it is obviously extra special and a great way to celebrate Ben's life.

The gig is at Duffys in Leicester on November 28th so come down, jam your balls off and raise a beer to Ben.

Well guys thanks for doing this interview. Can't wait to hear your debut album. All the best with Ben's memorial gig. Looks like it's going to be a top night. Before you go do you have anything to say to your fans.

Thanks for your time and the only thing left to say is, keep your eyes peeled for the album and we also have some tour dates to announce for early 2016 so hopefully we will see you soon.

Words by Steve Howe and Gaz Owen

Thanks to GARGANJUA for taking the time out to talking to me.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp