The Well is a power
trio from Austin, Texas, and if you dig psychedelic doom stuff with
occult rock, a little bit of a retro vibe and female vocals, then
you probably already know them.
Two years have passed
since Riding Easy released their debut album “Samsara”, I decide
to trough if The Well have something new and fresh. Ian Graham
(guitars, vocals) agreed to share small portion of information.
Hi Ian! How are you?
What's going on in The Well?
Hello! We’re good -
just finished up at the studio and are starting to get all the pieces
in place for the release of Pagan Science, our second album on Riding
Easy Records - photos, music videos, artwork, new merch. All the
visuals to go along with the music.
You already
announced that the record of new album goes on full speed. What is
your progress now?
Yep! Just wrapped in
the studio. We’re sending off the masters on Monday.
How does the new
album record session go? How much time usually do you need to finish
the song? Do you have “difficult” and “easy” tracks?
It’s hard to call a
song “finished” usually; there are always little changes and
nuances that are added or subtracted as we continue to gig them after
recording, but as far as the recorded songs, it definitely depends.
Some took months to finish and were polished in pre-production, while
a lot of them were pretty much just riffs when we went into the
studio and came to life as we started the tape.
Will the new album
differ from “Samsara” both in musical and lyrical sense?
It’s still us, but
with more density. It’s big. It’s hypnotic. It’s heavy as hell.
Samsara was our first album, so a lot of the tracks were songs we’d
already played in our set numerous times, and therefore it has a very
live feel. Writing Pagan Science with the studio in mind allowed for
more of a plan alongside more room for experimentation.
The Well – Mortal
Bones
What are your plans
consider album's release? Do you already have certain dates and
label?
We’re looking at an
October release with Riding Easy Records.
When “Samsara”
was released, it turned to be a popular or at least recognizable
album pretty soon, I guess that it gained good reputation to The
Well. How do you see this stuff now? What are its strongest points?
Samsara will always be
close to our hearts as those songs were our first steps together as a
band. Our babies. We’re grateful that its positive reception has
allowed us to continue to tour and record and spread our music to a
wider audience.
When the band plays
psychedelic stoner doom music with female vocals some people and
media tend to label such groups with “occult doom rock”. What do
you think about it?
Ha.
I’m into it.
Such music usually
deals with topics like drugs, Satan and evil in general. Do you share
the love to these images?
I’m
interested in those subjects for sure… drugs and the occult.
However, I think that all of these specifics are just symbols for a
general dissent with popular culture or the mainstream. I don’t
believe in evil, and I don’t believe in good. Any absolutes on a
moral level can be construed completely differently if the
perspective is flipped. I’ve been interested in mind alteration
since I was a child. But aside from drugs, information is another
conscious altering tool that I focus on.
The Well do gigs
here and there in USA, how many states did you already cover? How
often do you play?
We’ve hit up most of
them at this point, but can’t wait to see them all again and add
some new ones when we hit it again this fall in support of the album.
Ian, you took part
in kickstarter company for Planet of Doom, what is this project
about?
It’s an animated film
that highlights art and music in the doom scene, much in the vein of
the 1980s Heavy Metal. Curated and written by talented artist, David
Paul Seymour, we’re excited to be a part of it.
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!
Release
date: August 19th
2016. Label: Meta Matter Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Heavy
Burden – Tracklisting
1.Heavy
Burden
2.Black
Sun 05:01
3.Naked
4.Dead
Summer Day
5.The
Whistling Tree
6.Cloudless
Sunstreams
7.Future
Footprints
8.Timeless
Illusion
9.Dancing
In The Summer Rain
10.The
Dwarves Revenge
11.Outro
Band
Members:
Mathis
Straub - drums
Sven
Heimerdinger - bass guitar
Oliver
Großhans - guitars
Uwe
Groebel - guitars/ vocals
Review:
Naevus
(Stoner Psych band from Germany, not to be confused with the British
experimental band of the same name) have been absent from the scene
for a few years (to say the least). The last full length offering
from them was in 1998, “Sun Meditation” on Rise Above Records.
They released a handful of rare tracks and covers along the way, but
were mostly silent during that time. The band had officially got back
together in 2012 and has released the soon to be classic, “Heavy
Burden”.
In
true classic/vintage doom (think Sabbath, Pentagram and early NWOBHM)
the riff rules! If you are a wah fan, this is some of the best
sounding wah on record! The twin guitar attack is done very well,
each taking their own tone and filling up the sonic wall that is
Naevus.
Their
use of dynamics is what really sets “Heavy Burden” apart. They
set up galloping sections with grand walk down passages and aren’t
afraid to sit on a riff. The vocals are sung, yes sung! They tend to
stick to tried and true subject matter, but it doesn’t sound
contrived or forced. There’s a ton of Ozzy in the vocal production,
but that has been missing from a lot of bands as of late; in my
opinion.
Naevus
swings these tracks like they should. In a world of odd time
signatures and math rock, it’s refreshing to feel your head nod in
that familiar groovy way. Stand out tracks for me are; Black Sun,
Dead Summer Day and Dancing In The Summer Rain.
If
I were to have one criticism it would have to be that the whole album
is a bit clean. The mix could have been a bit rawer. Is that a
complaint? Not at all, all the parts have their space and are given
equal time in the spectrum. I would love to see how this plays live,
with volume and the fever of a crowd. I bet it’s HUGE! Fans of
Black Sabbath, Trouble, Pentagram and tasty wah should grab this,
turn down the lights for a few hours and enjoy repeated listenings!!
Words
by Bill Bensen
Thanks
to Timon at Mountain Range PR for the promo. Heavy Burden will be
available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Meta Matter Records from August
19th 2016.
This
honoured band was born in Japan, Nagoya, in the year 1991, this means
that Eternal Elysium celebrate their 25th
birthday this year. And how else could the band celebrate such a date
if not with release of another album? So Yukito Okazaki (guitars,
vocals), Tana Haugo (bass), vocals) and Antonio Ishikawa (drums)
present their new work named “Resonance of Shadows”.
They
already played it live in small tour which took place in three cities
in Japan, and they already think about spreading these tunes further
abroad. What do they plan? How does “Resonance of Shadows”
differ from previous full-length “Within the Triad”? How was the
band spending these seven years that lie stretched between both
records?
Let’s
ask Zaki and Tana themselves.
Hello
Eternal Elysium! How are you? What’s new in the camp of Eternal
Elysium?
Tana:
Hi Aleks, thanks for doing the interview with us. It’s 2016 which
means the band has been in existence for 25 years and we’ve just
released our sixth album. The current lineup has been at it for 13
years. Wait, you asked about something new?!
Eternal
Elysium new album “Resonance of Shadows” is already finished; did
you already receive your portion of praise and exaltation?
Zaki:
Lots of people gave us great reactions soon after we put that out.
Those are much better than before in Japan. I think the new album is
finding new fans.
Tana:
We released this one on Okazaki’s label, Cornucopia, so the whole
process has been completely DIY, which means it takes us some time.
There's
a long break between “Within Triad” and new album. Is being in
the band an integral process for you or something that you usually do
when you have free time?
Tana:
The band is a major part of each three members’ lives. We rehearse
twice a week and gig regularly in Japan. The time between albums is
long, but in that time we have also released a split 10” and CD
with our buddies SardoniS and our mini-album “Highflyer” came out
on CD and vinyl in 2012-13. Often the two formats have some time
between them, and we usually need
to record something for
bonus tracks as well.
Zaki:
I learnt a lot about the 2011 disaster in Japan. The result is that I
found a kind of truth in all this, and I decided to try to spread
much more great vibes and thoughts from our music. I was drifting on
a sea of despair and sadness while I was looking for any information
that would give me hope for the future. I found the current answer,
finally, and that content became some of the lyrics for songs on the
new album. The term between our last album and this new one is almost
the same as the distance from the edge of despair to hope.
What do you put in
the new album’s title?
Tana:
Looking at it simply, Okazaki wanted to use some form of the word
“resonate” and I wanted to use some form of the word “shadow”.
We wanted to express the hope and healing power of music, resonating
through the universe, while acknowledging that there are dark things
happening beneath the surface, hidden, in the shadows. Duality,
positive and negative, dark and light, despair and hope. All of this
is vibrating around us. Shadows are deceptively simple. They can
convey so much and yet reveal so little. The blur of a shadowy line
leaves so much to the imagination~ is the truth beautiful or hideous?
Eternal Elysium –
Cosmic Frequency
Eternal
Elysium had no songs with Japanese lyrics though I know that it
sounds cool alongside doom metal tunes (thanks to Ningen-Isu and
probably Corrupted!), don’t you want to finally try it?
Tana:
Yes, we’re actively singing in Japanese now! We started sneaking
some Japanese lyrics in on “Within the Triad” and since then the
use has increased. “Resonance of Shadows” is close to half and
half, English and Japanese. Dual-language is the natural state of our
existence here, for me especially. Also, as Okazaki began to feel
stronger about the messages he’d like to convey in songs, he
realized he could express himself much better in his native language.
Japanese listeners have definitely picked up on this. Ironic isn’t
it that the lyrics for the cover song, “Hiroshima”, by the great
Flower Travellin’ Band, a Japanese band, are actually in English!
Zaki:
I got back to my roots, my early musical experiences. I remember
singing traditional Japanese songs a long time ago, but after the
shock of heavy/hard rock such as Sabbath, Purple, Zep and so on, I
lost all interest in singing Japanese songs. My early vision of
Eternal Elysium was to release our albums overseas. I couldn’t
imagine anyone being interested in bands using Japanese at the time I
launched Eternal Elysium in the early 90s. So singing in English was
not too unnatural for me.
How
do you see band’s progress on the new album? What are your personal
achievements in “Resonance of Shadows”?
Zaki:
We became more expressive than in the past. That's a result of
playing a lot, both on gigs and in the studio, and trying to know
each other better. We noticed many points that we didn't have, and
we’re still polishing our skills so we can better convey our vibes.
We’ve made judgments about what we can and can’t do well,
throwing some of it out and going for a more simple approach. Amount
of overdubs was less than past releases. We want to show more clearly
what we're doing. This approach is a better match with the contents
of lyrics. My score for the newalbum is
great. I can say this album is still a transition point. I like the
quality of this new one, but I’m not completely satisfied, because
I believe in our potential. We'll progress more in the future,
totally.
Another
important new idea that I brought to this recording is changing the
tuning of our strings a bit higher. The point is to play at 528hz, a
natural, organic frequency/tone. Some people say that 528hz has the
power to cure DNA damage. I absolutely feel different vibes from this
tuning. I hope people listen and feel great resonance from new album.
Search for info about this magical tone if you're interested.
Tana:
“The Breeze Says Go” is the first song that I’ve written for
Eternal Elysium. Okazaki is our chief song-sculptor and writer, with
jam sessions being our principal source for new material, so “Breeze”
is a bit of a new path.
Eternal Elysium -
Hiroshima
When
did you start to write “Resonance of Shadows” songs? How many of
them are included in the album and is there something left after the
record session?
Zaki:
The oldest tune on new album is "Views on C#". This song
was included on 10 inch "Mysterious Views in Stone Garden",
so that was 2008. We kept playing this instrumental as an
opening
tune on gigs. We began to play this song really well and the
arrangement was changed and polished, so I decided to record it
again. We began writing the other songs in 2011, and needed a long
time to get enough to make a full-length. Some tunes were used for
the EP and Split, and a lot songs and ideas were thrown out too.
How
long did you record the album? Does the experience of being together
in one band for so long make it easier and faster task?
Tana:
The basic tracks were recorded mainly over a couple weeks in
September-October. The guitar overdubs, vocals, mixing and processing
then took place over the next several months. We worked at Studio
Zen, which is where we rehearse and Okazaki has his recording studio,
so we had the freedom to take our time. We functioned much better as
a total group for this recording session, but nothing is ever “fast”
with Eternal Elysium.
Eternal
Elysium played with Nepenthes and resurrected Greenmachine in July!
The first one has an ex-member of Church of Misery in its lineup, the
second one was a well known outfit some time ago, so I’m wondering
are there any new names in Japanese doom scene?
Zaki:
I want to introduce some local doom bands from our hometown, Nagoya.
First one is nibs. I'm just mixing their debut album. They have great
technique to play doom rock. Cornucopia will release their debut
album soon. Vomit Monster is not a new band, but I don’t think you
know them. They released a full-length from Cornucopia too. Stone
Banquet is playing doom/stoner sound. Crocodile Bambie is also a
great stoner/desert rock band. Amber Vial is playing
doom/ambient/post rock. From other areas in Japan, Ithaqua is playing
psychedelic doom/sludge. They released an album last year, you should
check. Fucho made a great album, too. Ele-phant has an interesting
blend of doom and post rock. Japanese doom/stoner scene is still
small, but it’s gradually growing.
Tana:
As for some new names on the scene: Most of these bands have been
around for a while, but maybe not well known outside Japan. Ithaqua
from Kochi, playing a psychedelic mashup of Melvins and High on Fire,
dark and heavy sludgesters, Bloodshot, from Takayama, they give me
chills. Then there’s The Donor, kind of like Greenmachine’s
“younger brother”, hailing from Kanazawa, their guitarist also
plays now as a Greenmachine member. From our hometown, Nagoya,
Crocodile Bambie rocks the desert-stoner rock sound.
Eternal Elysium –
Sunset Puff
Don’t
you plan to get out with these two bands outside Japan and do a small
tour together to support “Resonance of Shadows”?
Tana:
That would be epic and we can dream, but there are no plans for the
three bands to tour together outside Japan.
Did
you ever live through creative crisis? Did you suffer from the lack
of ideas?
Tana:
Of course! After so many years together, we sometimes find ourselves
falling into familiar patterns and comfortable grooves. Not only in
the group, but as an individual too. It happens, but you just have to
keep going, climb to the next peak. Inspiration is everywhere, but
you need all of your senses to be receptive to it which can be tough
when you’re in a routine, with the band and with life. I get a lot
of good juice from spending time out in the woods and mountains, away
from digital chatter, surveillance cameras, and pointless hustle and
bustle. Trying something creative outside of music and exploring the
work of other artists too, are prime sources of inspiration and offer
new perspectives and concepts which can send me on a new trip
musically.
It
seems that Eternal Elysium regularly takes part the split albums, do
you plan for one more split in nearby future?
Release
date: June 11th
2016. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD
No
Rapture – Tracklisting
1.Whispers
In The Embers 05:36
2.No
Rapture 03:42
3.When
The Sun Explodes 03:10
4.Rewinding
Life 03:27
5.A
Dark Request 03:02
6.The
Mourning Song 03:47
7.Wendigo
07:35
Band
Members:
Chris
Latta: Bass Guitar/Vocals
Stephen
Hoffman: Guitar/Vocals
Jace
Epple: Drums
Review:
Spirit
Division’s new album – No Rapture – is a steady and heavy mix
of Doom, Stoner and Psych riffs. The vocals are firmly rooted in
classic heavy metal territory. Opening track – Whispers In The
Embers – offers dual vocals from Chris and Stephen with slow-paced
doom and gloom based riffs. The atmosphere does become more
fast-paced with the vocals taking a more sinister turn. Taking
influence from Saint Vitus and Black Sabbath but with a more sinister
approach to their music. It’s quite a bass heavy affair with
grizzled guitars to match.
Spirit
Division have already started to win praise for this album. It’s
praise well deserved as they have delivered an exciting and well
crafted album. The album is not going to change the world of
Rock/Metal but it will entertain you for the next thirty minutes or
so. The songwriting is a definite highlight as Spirit Division have
written intriguing lyrics on the majority of the songs especially on
No Rapture, Rewinding Life and the epic song Wendingo.
The
production could have done with more work at times as the volume can
be very low at times. Apart from that minor issue, Spirit Division
have released an album that plays to their strengths mainly with the
riffs, great vocals and superb lyrics. No Rapture is an album that
will be enjoyed by both fans of the Doom/Stoner Metal scenes. As this
leaves you with no doubt that Spirit Division have something
different to offer people with No Rapture. Though I have a feeling we
won’t see the true Spirit Division until after a couple of more
releases when they build upon their enormous sound. Until then, No
Rapture is definitely worth your time. Excellent and Highly
Recommended.
OXEN
is the loud outfit from Holyoke, Massachusetts. If you’re looking
for fresh and new music based on stoner, hard rock and sludge, then
you know that do. The fresh and heavy sound of OXEN is a charged and
powerful substance which works well as a generator of highly
intensive energy.
The
band worked as a quartet till now, and every member not only
performed his direct duties but also sang, so vocals styles of their
first full length “The Vanishing” varies from song to song. Hans
Dalhaus (drums, vocals) is here to tell about latest news from the
band.
Hello Hans! How are
you? What's going on in OXEN lair?
Hey
Alex! I am doing well. Oxen is amping up for the release of a split
we are doing with our CT buddies Warm. We also are getting excited
for August to play RPM Fest in Greenfield MA. It’s a whole camping
weekend of Metal and Rock with an awesome line up of bands. Good
times!!
What’s lineup will
make your company on RPM Fest?
It’s a 3 day event.
We are smack dab in the middle of the opening night. The order is
Godeater, Problem with Dragons, Oxen, Barishi, and Lich King. Check
out RPMfest.org for details. The weekend just continues to be amazing
after that.
How did you form the
band? What was your primal motive when you formed OXEN?
Oxen
was originally a collaborative idea between me and Ben Reigle. We
lived on the same street at the time and would hang out quite a bit.
I think we were both going through struggles in our personal
relationships and needed an outlet. We both had so much in common
with our musical interests we decided we should form a band. Hence
the birth of Oxen. Our personal lives eventually sorted themselves
out but the band remained.
Recently
Ben left the band to focus on his plans to open a tattoo shop called
“Great Spirits”. He was a huge driving force behind Oxen’s
original sound. It was hard seeing him go. The remaining members;
Myself (drums/vox), Chris Danielle (guitar/vox) and Eric Racicot
(bass/vox) pondered breaking Oxen up but decided not to. We are
currently playing as a power trio which has been amazing. This new
form has pushed each of us more in our individual abilities to write
songs. I’m very excited as for what you’ll be hearing in the
future from Oxen.
OXEN - Transmission
Hans,
you have mentioned split with Warm, how many songs do you have for
it?
We have 3 songs.
Does this material
differ from the one you have on “The Vanishing”?
If
you’ve listened to the album I would say these songs are a
continuation of the sounds from “Colour out of Space”, “Waxwing”,
and honestly if you go back to our EP, “Pollution”. That song was
always a favorite.
You
released the debut full-length "The Vanishing" one year
ago, what's your progress with writing the material for next
full-length album?
“The
Vanishing“ took a while to get out but the material itself we wrote
rather quickly. We currently have a roster of songs ideas that we
have prioritized and are going through. There is definitely a sound
on parts of that album we want continue to hold true to as the sound
of Oxen. You will hear that consistency in the upcoming split we will
be releasing. (Release date to be determined) I feel we are taking
our time more with writing this time around. When writing “the
Vanishing” we were just so excited about the stuff we were coming
up with we wanted to get it out as fast as we could and share it with
the masses. I feel we are a little more restrained this time and each
member is less afraid to speak up if they approve or disapprove of an
idea. It’s a real collaborative effort. It’s very fulfilling as a
musician.
Do
I get it right that the album exists only in digital format? Didn't
you search for labels to release it?
We
have CD’s of “the Vanishing”. You can buy them through our
website or at shows. We didn’t really push for label support. We
talked about it but it didn’t really fit our lifestyles. We all
have careers and music is our outlet. If a label was to come along
and show an interest we would definitely ponder it but currently it’s
the creating that’s the driving force. We play about 5-6 shows a
year and they are always a blast. Some bands are road dogs and play
constantly and I give them all props. That’s just not where we are
at.
How much money do
you spend on the band? Isn’t it expensive?
The other great thing
about our band is we have Chris Danielle. Not only a great guitarist,
Chris is an amazing sound engineer and owner of Yucky Studios. He
also is a savvy videographer and photographer. He has made it
possible for Oxen to record and put out our music without breaking
the bank. He made it possible for us to shoot all the videos we have
as well. Yes there are other expenses but we figure it out. It’s
worth it.
You
labored your sound for two years and finally it turned to be the
blend of hard rocking stoner with tiny pieces of doom and sludge here
and there. Can you say that you have reached the ultimate sound on
"The Vanishing"?
I
personally feel we just scratched the surface with “the Vanishing”
as to where our sound is going. Our first EP “Glass Coffin” was
originally instrumental and then I introduced some vocal ideas I had
and everybody dug them. When we started “The Vanishing” we still
were not sure what direction we were going in. We were still kind of
an instrumental band but we knew there was now option for vocals. As
song ideas were introduced I just started grabbing onto them and
writing vocal parts and telling stories.
Chris
as well started bringing his vocal ideas and all the songs came
together. Eric joined the band right before we were to record and
even though he brought his stylings to the album his parts were
already written. His input on the newer stuff has been huge. After
Ben’s guitar playing left the picture it was discovered that not
only does Eric tear up the bass he is a shredding guitarist. You may
find him wearing both hats in the future.
OXEN
– Pollution
On which elements
would you like to focus working over on the material for the second
album?
I
think now that we’ve realized we are a band that can be
instrumental and have vocals its now finding the balance between the
two. One thing we’ve been doing differently this time around is
just showing up to our space and riffing as a band and seeing where
our playing takes us. Before Ben or Chris would come in with a song
idea and we would just learn it. We ‘d add a few things here and
there but basically it was complete. I think now we are writing more
as a group. A good example of our group effort from “the Vanishing”
would be “Colour out of Space” and “Matchstick”. I feel those
two were a real collaborative effort. They both started as riffs and
took form in the practice space. We all have ideas and it’s the
blend of all of them that defines Oxen’s sound. Also it makes for a
truly satisfying process.
Which
song would you choose from this album to demonstrate the essence of
OXEN?
That’s
a tough one. If you’re asking more of the sound you will be hearing
in the future I would say “Colour out of Space”, “Wax Wing”,
and “Cursed Sand”.
I
see that all four of OXEN lineup are listed as vocalists, who's the
main dude in the band who sings general parts of the songs?
All the lead clean
parts are me and all the Gruff parts are Chris. Ben sang lead on
Matchstick as well.
What kind of lyrics
do you prefer to use in OXEN? Do you have any conception for it?
I
wrote the lyrics for a majority of the album. Chris wrote lyrics as
well for a couple of the songs he’s lead on. Our song lyrics fall
in the Sci fi/ fantasy realm. When I write I like telling stories. I
always loved Mastodons telling of Moby Dick on “Leviathan”. It
was epic. That’s my song style.
Hans
the band is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts; how does your
surroundings influence upon you?
Winters are long here.
It makes for some good time for writing!
What's about local
scene? Where and with which bands do you usually play?
This
area of Western Massachusetts has a huge folk and bluegrass scene and
that is what most of the venues are catering to. It is honestly
getting harder and harder to find a decent rock club to play at. In
the past 6 months 3 great heavy music venues shut down for stupid
reasons. Its truly frustrating. That being said we have a thriving
metal/Rock scene here. We’ve played a lot of shows with local acts
such as; Problem with Dragons, Neon Fauna, Black Pyramid, Warm,
Moontooth (NY), Dead Empires (NY). There is so many great unsigned
bands around this area. And the community of metal heads is solid. As
I mentioned before we are getting ready to play RPM Fest which is a
metal/camp fest with 3 days of music. Its in its 3rd
year and each year it keeps getting better thanks to Promoterhead.
They are a local metal promotion company. Very cool!
Then
I wish you good luck with playing on RPM Fest and finishing all deals
with the split record.
Thanks
for showing interest in our band and giving us the opportunity to
share our story. Good luck with the website and Blog!
Release
date: August 05th
2016. Label: Sargent House. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Guidance
– Tracklisting
1.Asa
2.Vorel
3.Mota
4.Afrika
5.Overboard
6.Calla
7.Lisboa
Band
Members:
Dave
Turncrantz, Mike Sullivan, Brian Cook
Review:
Guidance,
the sixth album from Russian Circles sees the Chicago based
instrumental three piece honing their sound into an even sharper form
while at the same time, sees them becoming even grander in scope and
execution. With every album since the bands debut Enter in 2006, they
have broadened their instrumental sound to include ever expansive
sounds and they have gone even further in doing this with Guidance.
The
album ranges in both sounds and musical emotions, from the opening
salvation of Asa to the closing peak of powerful beauty that is
Lisboa and all that is in between,especially the stunning Overboard,
a song that is packed full of vigour and the majestic Vorel.
The
albums centrepoint and undoubted highlight is the initially uplifting
Mota, a song that climbs and climbs with a sound that exudes
positivity until shifting and eventually descending into a carefully
controlled bass led transcendence and a pummelling finale and this
works extremely well and spurs the song onto an even greater glory.
This compelling end morphs perfectly into the following track Afrika,
a song that again, is serene at first and then transforms into a more
mammoth composition. Afrika is a driving and uplifting track that is
full of redeeming anthemic qualities and serves to highlight the
contrast and power of the Russian Circles sound, something that
happens again and again on Guidance.
It
has to be said that bassist Brian Cooks recent work with Sumac
appears to have had a bearing on this album as there is, at certain
times, an added aggression to both his bass playing and the heaviness
on the album but is perfectly balanced by the more peaceful sounds on
Guidance, and it has to be said that even these more peaceful sounds
have an added power to them. Every time though, when the sound turns
more mellow, the continuation of that heaviness is never far away and
adds to the tense atmosphere that prevails and makes Guidance such a
compelling listen.
The
playing in the album is superb all the way through and highlights how
tight the band are when performing together and you can sense a
connection between all three members that results in how good the
album sounds.
Guidance
is a powerful album throughout with an heaviness that is epic in its
vision and that is a vision that is powerfully executed from
beginning to end and Russian Circles, as they have done since their
inception have upped the ante with these seven tracks of instrumental
post metal brilliance.
Words
by Gavin Brown
Thanks
to Rachel at Silver PR for the promo. Guidance will be out to buy on
CD/DD/Vinyl via Sargent House from August 05th 2016.
