Release
date: April 8th 2016. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD
Terra
Dementia – Tracklisting
1.
Ashes
2.
Plague
3.
Down
4.
Shadow on You
5.
Satellites
6.
Amoenus
Band
Members
Alex
Gavalda (guitar)
Julien
Aoufi (drums)
François
Cayla (Bass-vocal)
Dan
Letellier (machine-vocal)
Review:
She
Hunts Koalas debut album – Terra Dementia – sees the band Newly
signed to Argonauta Records, the band play an intriguing style of
Doom Metal, Sludge and almost psychedelic ritual ambient style riffs.
It’s a highly complex and intelligent album that will take a few
listens to fully appreciate. The album has six tracks that have each
contain a haunting quality to them.
Opening
track – Ashes – starts off rather quietly before the band start
adding levels of distorted psychedelic sludge/doom metal riffs.
Shades of Conan and Ufomammut do appear from time to time but the
band creates their own haunting sound.
Second
track – Plague – carries on the bleak doom and gloom atmospherics
form Ashes but the band adds a heavier sludge sound to the mix. It
allows the band to create some heavy riffs to drown the volume with.
The added synths add a claustrophobic feel to this song. The vocals
are for the most part, superb, though they can be quite repetitive at
times especially near the end of the song. It shouldn’t distract
you from the overall enjoyment of the album.
Third
track – Down – opens with a slow-paced and heavy pounding bass
guitar before the usual style of doom guitars come to change the tone
of the song. The production is not as sharp on this song compared to
the opening two tracks, though the vocals add quite a depressing and
hollow feel. The riffs can be very down-tempo at times. I still
consider this song as one of the best songs on the album.
Fourth
track – Shadow On You – feels like it was influenced by YOB in
places as the vocals and atmosphere have a certain YOB style quality
to them. She Hunts Koalas do create a more ambient post-rock feel
with heavy sludge rock distorted riffs being the main factor.
Psychedelic noises appear towards the end as the band drift to a more
ambient post-rock driven sound.
The
final two songs – Satellites and Amoenus – offer almost twenty
minutes of heavy sonic musical experimentation that both rank as the
albums finest songs. It’s on these two tracks that She Hunts Koalas
finally offer their own sound. If you’re a fan of heavy doom and
gloom slow-paced riffs then you will enjoy this part of the album the
most. The vocals have an almost eerie feel to them but it’s the
music that impresses the most. Progressive and highly complex in
places.
Terra
Dementia does have a few rough moments but it’s the overall journey
that the band takes you on make this an outstanding debut album.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Barbara at NeeCee Agency for the promo. Terra Dementia will be
available to buy on CD/DD via Argonauta Records from April 8th
2016.
When Argonauta Records
announced their new signing to their label and preivewed one of their
songs, I was transfixed. Not just by the haunting single – Plague –
from the ablum with it's hypnotic style of Doom, Stoner and Post-Rock
almost Cinematic Sounds but also by their brilliant name - SHE HUNTS
KOALAS.
So very different to the
normal Doom/Stoner Rock circles but it showed a band with
intelligence, wit and a sense of originality. I was given the chance
to interview the band and here's what went down.
Hi
guys. How are things with you today.
Things are going
great, thanks. Such a pleasure to write back.
So why did
you choose the name She Hunts Koalas for your band. Any specific
meaning.
It's just to annoy stoner doom purists with a
«WTF name» without 'smoke', 'black', 'goat' … :)
No,
seriously, we let everyone make his own story. One day, someone told
us that it was a direct reference to Tank Girl, I quote, « Because
of the Koala scalp on her head!». People's
imagination is crazy sometimes...
How did the band get
together. Did you all know each other before forming the band.
At
the begining, we were four guys experimenting on shoegaze & noise
stuffs.Original
drummer had to move abroad and Julien came in the band bringing
a new style of play.
We met Dan, mad of analog crazy sounds and he has integrated the band
at keyboards & machines.
From
that moment we naturally slipped to a slow,loud and down-tuned music
while
maintaining our
noisy, dark and psychedelic luggage.
Nathan
(Guitar), also had to move abroad, letting Alex the only guitarist.
Alone but with louder guitar. :)
So, the fixed line-up since a
while is: Julien on drums, Alex on guitar, Dan on machines and
François on bass & vocals.
How
would you describe your music. In
a world I would say 'instinctive', particularly in live performances.We used to say that our music
is a trip from the depth to the astral. Mind-blowing and sweet as
well as it can be crushing, massive and sludgy.
You've
just signed to ace Italian Record Label – Argonauta Records. How
did you get involved with them. Great label doing a fantastic
job. Doing a fantastic
job, yes!. That's why Argonauta Records was one of our first
'target'. Because of his human size, open-mindedness and variety of
the roster. We thought that it was totaly in accordance with our way
to work and our multi-influences music.
We've
been in touch with Gero to submit him Terra Dementia. After several
listenings he was finally totaly into it! We were super happy and
kinda prouds for sure.
Did you have any others to
sign with any other labels. We
were also blown away when Jon from Conan proposed
us a digital release
on his label Black Bow Records after having thrown a ear on the
songs. Have positive feedbacks from labels or bands you like is more
than motivating and means a lot. It's worth all the energy and effort you put into your music...
Also, we are planning a co-production of
several labels to press some vinyls, but it will take a long time if
it happens.
You're releasing your debut album “Terra
Dementia” in April 2016. What can people expect from the album and
why did you call the album “Terra Dementia”. Definitely a bleak
sounding album title.
As
many debut album it's like a 'photography' of what makes the sounds
we like at this moment. Like a fisrt overview to set the
bases...
People can expect passing thru mystic opium filled
landscapes to pachydermic and cataclysmic earthquakes. There is dark
heavy-riffs, loud-tones, psychedelic analog noises, larsens,
celestial glows...
We
used to say it's a little like Sleep meets Ufomamut meets Sigur Ros,
with all due modesty of
course. Yes
«Terra Dementia» is a bleak title. Most of our music or univers is
bleak, dark or melancholic.
It's not a concept album at all
but you can find a path, a progression between the songs from the
beginning to the end, like a loop. The global theme is like the last
breath of a planet and the madness of his livings. Hence the title.
It
can be in the future or in the past, doesn't matter. We just give
sounds and few words to activate your imagination. Was
it a hard or easy album to write and record for. Unexpectedly
the album wasn't too hard to record.
We
did everything by ourselves
in our rehearsal
room in two live sessions. Only synths and vocals were added later
leting us experimenting and testing on some stuffs.
Most of
the song were already existing since a while so it was easy to
record. Mix and arrangement was the longer and harder task. Because
we were little fussy and we wanted 'Terra Dementia' to
sound like what we had in mind.
For
a first time and experience on a full DIY production we are happy
with the result. Mastering was done by Christophe of Sinetracks
Mastering. Cool guy, good and easy to work with!
We
thanks again Romain, our sound guy for giving a hand.
How
hard is it being a band in today's world. What are the most difficult
aspects in being in a band. If
you're agree with the fact that you will loose more money than you
can win, so it's easy :)!
As far as we are concerned music is essential for our mental health in this crazy world. So, we try to give as much as we can inside.
Having buddies to play what you like with, having your twoo arms and legs to scratch a guitar or whatever, meeting people thru music is just a fucking chance. But only reach to play your music font of an audience is a fight, even for a couple of bill...
Booking is a pain! Gain the confidence of the promoters and find a place in their networks is one of the hardest aspect. Feels like you constantly need to sell yourself...
There is more and more good bands and less and less venues. Cool underground venues where you can play DIY shows are closing one by one. Beside of it, there are nice associations and collectives working well to develop this scene.
We can not thank enough those who have given us a chance.
What
is the song-writing dynamic in the band. Is it a group collective or
down to one individual.
It's a little of both. Like in
many bands some songs blooms from a jam. Else, someone comes with a
riff or a piece of song, an idea. Then we start to work arround.
Improvizing or testing to interlock other riffs or ambiances from our
stock. Like playing to 'Legos'.
I set first 'dummy' vocals,
like a 5th instrument to find melodies. Lyrics come after.
The song ambiance and tone influence the text sometimes.
Will
you be touring this record heavily. I know it maybe too early to ask. We can say : some
of you should be ready
in April. Especially in
Italy ;).
We all know the French
Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal scene is thriving at the moment with bands
such as Mars Red Sky, Los Disidentes Del Sucio Motel amongst others
making an impression lately. What is the scene like in France at the
moment. Is it thriving or is it at a complete standstill. I
would say thriving.I
think there is much more excellent bands than we can imagine !
Before
you go, do you have anything to say to your fans. We're
are already working on new stuffs. It would be FAT!
Well
guys, thanks for doing this. All the best with the new album. Thank
you very much. May the Force be with you.
Words
by Steve Howe and She Hunts Koalas
Thanks
to Gero at Argonauta Records and Barbara at NeeCee Agency for
arranging this interview. Terra Dementia will be available to buy
from Argonauta Records from April 2016.
