Sunday 31 March 2013

Interview with WEED PRIEST

Weed Priest cover art

Today on Sludgelord I am interviewing WEED PRIEST. The brilliant Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal Overlords who recently impressed us here with their amazing debut album. The album is starting to make waves within the Sludge/Stoner Metal world. I recently described the album as:

"Weed Priest have delivered an outstanding debut album that should get them noticed within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene. There are enough riffs to thrill and delight people in this world and beyond."

So lets get down to business with these demonic overlords.

Q1 – Hi guys, Thanks for doing this. How are things with you guys Today.

Hi, Sludgelord! No bother! Things are just splendid, thank you!


Q2 – For people not in the know, can you give them a brief bio on how the band came about.

Fate brought 3 of us together for the invocation of Weed Priest almost 4 years ago when planets aligned in the right way for it to happen. We just had loads of jams, rehearsals, gigs, and rituals of worship of Tomy, Ozzy, Bill, Geezer, Bobby, Vino, Pike, Jus, Dixie, Lori and other deities. Recorded some songs during rehearsals, which later appeared online and on demo CD. Took more than a year recording the debut album. It's out now and we're starting a more gig active phase again.

Q3 – How would you describe your sound. As I call it Occult based Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal.

Exactly! Or it could be also described as: "swing like a butterfly – sting like a bee!"

Q4 – Which bands and artists influence you directly as musicians.

Black Sabbath. And a few thousand more.

Q5 – Your have just released your excellent new album. Was it an easy or hard album to write and record for.

We approach music creation process in terms of religion. For us composing is channeling messages from beyond – getting into a certain trance state when we "hear" music inside of us and release it in form of riffs and melodies. We're just a cog in the machine of Doom, just a step between transdimentional entities, strings, pickups, drums, microphones, amplifiers, effect pedals, amps, cabs and finally – souls listening (experiencing) this process. It is a great honor to be chosen for this uneasy task.

As for recording – we took our time with it. Went to several different locations, tried different gear and ways of recording, shot the video for Final Spell song. Had good times and bad times, learned a lot along the way.


Q6 – Are you happy with the final result. Would you change anything about it.

It is what it is and what is was meant to be – otherwise the lords of hell will punish us for channeling their messages in a wrong way. We shall find out soon.

Q7 – It is starting to receive some great press from the Sludge Metal community. Are you happy with the responses so far.

Hell Yes! More than happy! Well what can we say? - People in Sludge Metal community have great taste. We never doubted it. And it's nothing surprising: here bands are rated according to their talent and work and not adds or being played 20 times a day on a national radio.

Q8 – It seems the UK and Irish Sludge/Stoner Metal scene seems to be on the rise thanks to great bands like Conan, Undersmile, Harvester, War Iron, Electric Taurus, Desert Storm, Slomatics and Wizard's Beard. Have you toured with any of those great bands or can you recommend any others to check out.

Yes, the scene is rising like tide. Slowly and surely. Let's hope one day it becomes a Killer Wave and washes this world away.

We've played with some of these great bands and we'll surely cooperate with more of them now that we have the album out.

Besides the aforementioned we'd strongly recommend checking out other Irish doom and sludge monsters On Pain Of Death, Brigantia, Five Will Die, Tome, Nomadic Rituals and Rites. More on the stoner metal/stoner rock side of things: Castero, Astralnaut, Wizards of Firetop Mountain.


Q9 – Have you toured with any famous bands or artists. If so who have been your favourite.

Really famous – perhaps not. But in 2011 we met our doom brothers Hooded Priest from Belgium/Netherlands - a secret organization Doomed Priesthood Mafia was formed as a result of that encounter. In 2012 Dublin Doom Days we shared stage with Wounded Kings and Gorilla Mansoon and they were also great craic to party with!

Q10 – In 5 words can you tell us what the live Weed Priest experience is like.

Don't try this at home.

Q11 – Are you guys full time musicians or do you all have regular jobs to pay the bills.

Apart from some occult activities and being full time members of Weed Priest we also do bank robberies, paranormal investigations, executions, exorcisms and mercenary work in Middle East. Bills gotta be paid.


Q12 – What are your favourite bands around at the moment. Do you listen to modern day rock/metal or do you just listen to the classic era of Stoner/Sludge/Doom/Post-Rock/Post-Metal.

We listen to everything. Thousands of bands and artists. The Dubliners, Muddy Waters, Thin Lizzy, Wu Tang Clan, Morbid Angel, Darkthrone and Ludwig Van – you name it and we've probably listened to it. Not very keen on gaga bieber gangham style and other mainstream shite though.

Q13 – What are your views of blogs featuring and reviewing your records, as opposed to mainstream music magazines?

We ourselves read blogs, not mainstream magazines. Blogs are more interesting, blogs are were we get recommendations and follow what's happening. That's why we send our music mainly to bloggers to review and they help us a lot to promote our music.


Q14 – Has BandCamp been a big help in getting your music across. Was it an easy decision to release your music for free download.

We only allow to stream our album for free, we charge a small bit for downloads. Bandcamp is a convenient way to get our album heard and their fees are fair enough.

Q15 – What are your views record companies shutting down blogs and websites due to illegal downloading. Some people are for it and some people are against it.

We're more or less indifferent. We have no love for corporations and no sympathy for their revenue losses (supposedly caused by illegal downloading). And we ourselves don't expect to earn a lot from our digital releases. Moreover – we don't think war on illegal downloads can be won. But on the other hand – if someone is forced not to put links to illegal downloads, or if users cannot get everything for free – that shouldn't be a question of life and death either. There is more than enough brilliant free music out there.


Q16 – What are the most and least rewarding aspects of participating with the band. Obviously the reality of how expensive it is being in a band could be considered as a negative aspect.

Being in a band is a trip. An expensive one, yes, both financially and emotionally. Creativity is required but also work, and the ability to both stand your ground and compromise. The best reward is goosebumps we get at certain moments during a rehearsal or gig, when all 3 of us and those around us are in a certain state of mind, diving into the energy of sound, when amps roar and breathe their waves of vibrations on our backs, the audience receives this energy and reflects it back to us, and we can see the same fire burning in the eyes as we see in ours.

Many people have experienced this feeling. Both musicians and listeners. And probably our colleagues druids, quimbanda priests and bible bashers speaking in tongues. Weed Priest is both psychedelic and religious experience.

Q17 – Do you have any future plans for the upcoming 12 months or so. Anything we should be excited about.

Just played a few CD launch gigs, more gigs will follow around Ireland and hopefully later in UK and elsewhere. New songs are already composed, now being rehearsed and demons willing second album will see the light of day before the end of this year.

We'll be celebrating The Great Sabbath/Beltain in "Walpurgis Night II" metal fest (3rd May, Galway) alongside Astralnaut, Brigantia, Dark_Matter and others. You, Sludgelord, should come over! Some irish shtoner doom, ol, ceol & craic and stuff. Bring friends too. We'll find you a place to crash.


Q18 – If you could provide any advice to people wanting to start a band, what would it be.

You might consider paying for services of good astrologer or crystal ball gazer. Selling you soul to the devil is another option. Voodoo rites sometimes come in handy. But don't jump into these activities hastily, this stuff is serious shit.

Q19 - Finally, Do you have anything to say your fans

Stay high! (and don't forget to say your prayers)

Well guys thanks for this great interview. Really appreciate it. Good luck with your album as it's fucking brilliant. Hope to see you guys on tour if you ever come over to the UK.

You can buy Weed Priest S/T debut album on both physical and digital copies on their BandCamp Page.

Check This Great Band From The Links Below:

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BandCamp

Nero Di Marte - S/T Album Review

Nero Di Marte cover art

Nero Di Marte
Nero Di Marte 


Prosthetic Records
19 March 2013

The band:

Francesco D'Adamo - Guitar
Sean Worrell - Guitar, Vocals
Andrea Burgio - Bass
Marco Bolognini - Drums

Tracks:

01. Convergence (6:28)
02. Time Dissolves (6:33)
03. Resilient (7:26)
04. Nero Di Marte (12:18)
05. Drawn Back (5:56)
06. Anoptikon (9:24)


This Italian outfit from Bologna was formed back in 2007 as Murder Therapy. After a few releases under that name they signed a deal with Prosthetic Records and subsequently changed their name to Nero Di Marte which had already been picked as the name of the new album. Apparently that name originates from two different sources: one being the god Mars’s role in mythology while the other is the influence the planet Mars had in the processing of iron according to alchemical tradition. And after numerous spins on my player choosing this name makes sense. Because on the one hand the band comes on like a brutal war machine - Mars the God Of War; on the other hand the experimental side of them is almost like an alchemical process. The end result? Fucking fantastic, you hear!

What these Italians offer is something akin to Mastodon. Their music is heavy as hell yet experimental without going overboard, just like Mastodon. It might seem too chaotic and spazztic at first but already after the first listen Nero Di Marte has swept aside any doubts I might have had. Over 6 songs clocking in at 48+minutes the band drags me through the wringer, throws me in the wood chipper and then piece my remains together any which way they can. And this happens every single time I listen to the album, awesome!

I have no idea what Nero Di Marte sounded like when they were still called Murder Therapy, all I can say though is what they did then has paid off now. The four members have really gelled together and seem to know subconsciously what they all can do as a unit. And with any band that reaches that plateau magic happens because whatever they do turns out fantastically. It's totally worry-free, flowing excellent music on display whether is brutally heavy or slower more spacey. Regardless the variation Nero Di Marte is near perfect.

As always with me when I come across a new band that is really good I want to explore their past. That is always fun, well most of the time at least. Even if the previous releases aren't good you know where they came from and how they evolved. However with these guys I really don't have any concerns at all. I am just looking forward to hear their past.

If you hunger for new music that will challenge you and put you on your toes, look no further. Nero Di Marte has everything you are looking for, all you have to do as a listener is to buy the album, put it in your disc player, crank it up and let these Italians sweep you away. It will be a tumultuous albeit amazing trip that you will return for time and time again. Absolutely fantastic is what it is!

Written by Håkan Nyman

A great review by Håkan which echoes my own thoughts about this great album. My fave track has to be the brilliant 12:18 minute epic title track. It perfectly shows what this band is all about. Heavy as fuck excellent experimental progressive riffs.

Nero Di Marte is available to buy now on Prosthetic Records from all good stockists.

Check The Band From Links Below


MERDARAHTA live 03.22.13 [FULL SET]


Merdarahta is an Ambient/Doom/Drone//Noise Metal Band from Canada.

The members are:

t. das, m. mongeon, l. newton, m. bourgon, m. vilandré, m. das, s. choquette, d. menard, m. cleal

Merdarahta are an amazing Ambient/Doom/Drone/Noise Metal band who I have featured before. They feature Topon Das - one of my fave ever musicians from FUCK THE FACTS. He also happens to be a brilliant producer and one hell of a nice guy as well.

Well Merdarahta are an excellent Ambeint/Doom/Noise/Drone Metal band I can't recommend highly enough. They have just released a full set video on YouTube and it's brutal as fuck. Very atmospheric and a little bit creepy to boot.


The 22 minute video is brilliantly put together and shows you what to expect from this great band. If you want to hear more then headover to BandCamp as they have two excellent releases available for free download.

Great work as always from this superb band.

Check this great band below:

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BandCamp

The Tragedy We Live In

The Tragedy We Live In cover art

The Tragedy We Live In is an Atmospheric Doom/Sludge Metal Band from Belgium

The members are:

Drums: Mathlovsky
Guitars, noise: Helemaal Onbeschaafd
Bass : Mass Von Leffe

The Tragedy We Live In is a hard-hitting and brilliant band who have recently caught my attention. Their blend of Instrumental Music which blends Sludge, Noise, Doom, Drone and Post-Rock can only be described as unrelentless and simply breathtaking to listen to.

Their amazing S/T debut album is one I have been listening to nonstop on a daily basis. The 8 tracks and 33 minutes will leave you begging for more. The way the band blend the different genres is a joy to behold.

It's heavy and pulsating from the word go. First track - The Tragedy We Live In - instantly draws you in with it's blend of different vibes of Instrumental Rock music. Though the album fully kicks off when the awesome 2nd track - Chains - comes out of nowhere with a powerful based Sludge Metal riff.

Strap yourselves in as your in for an unforgettable wild ride. The Tragedy We Live in are masters at blending quiet ambient based Post-Rock vibes with the heavier Sludge/Noise/Doom Metal riffs.

My fave track on the album is the 8:45 minute epic - There Must Be A Way Out. It's breathtakingly heavy from the word go. It shows what highly talented musicians the band actually are. They know how to play on your emotions by drawing the listener into their volatile world. Dreamy atmospheric ambient riffs end the song on a high note.

Next track - Wahnsinn - puts the album on familiar heavier territory with some pulsating drumming leading the way. Another one of my fave tracks on the album.

I have done enough track by track reviews. You still have 4 more outstanding tracks to check out. But believe me they are just as great as the first 4 tracks. Especially Artemis and Inside The Demons Heart.

If your a fan of recent Sludgelord faves - Sannhet - then you going to love this like I did. The Tragedy We Live In have delivered a  brilliant and wonderful album I can't recommend highly enough. It's expertly produced and played by everyone involved.

Belgium have another great band to add to their ranks. The Tragedy We Line In demand your attention now.

What's even better is the band have the album up for free download from here. Believe me folks you can't pass this up. It doesn't get any better than this. Fucking Awesome. End Of.

Check This Great Band From The Links Below:


BONG GOBLIN

Buddy Waters cover art

Bong Goblin is a Sludgey-Psyched Out-Stoner-Thrash Metal Band from St. Albans, Hertfordshire

Well folks what we have here is a very strange beast indeed. A heavy as fuck Sludgey-Psyched Out-Stoner-Thrash Metal Band who take influence from Electric Wizard, Mastodon, Death and Slayer.

We have featured this band a few times now on the Facebook Page as we fucking love this release. Their new album - Buddy Waters - is one schizophrenic heavy as fuck release which a few of you have liked on the Facebook Page.

This album is very hard to describe in words. So I will say this. You want something weird, wonderful, strange, full of fantastic psych based riffs then Bong Goblin is your band.

Bong Goblin are one of those bands you know you either instantly like or not. There is no middle ground with Bong Goblin. The album cover tells you what to expect. Ourselves at Sludgelord are big fans of them. Mainly thanks to great tracks such as - The Wizard's Brew, The (Grand) Bong Goblin and Swamp Human.

The album does have a rough DIY feel to it, which sorts of gives it an unexpected hard-hitting edge.

See for yourself. Headover to BandCamp and download it now as it's available on Pay Now Deal.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Check The Band From The Links Below

Facebook
BandCamp

DERAILED

loneliness cover art

Derailed is an Instrumental/Post-Rock/Sludge Metal One Man Virtuoso from Augsburg, Germany

Derailed is the work on one highly talented individual - Dan Zambo. He normally produces some cool electronic/lo-fi/folk/experimental mystical based music on Bandcamp.

Now Dan has decided to venture into the darker realm of Sludge Metal and fusing Doom and Post-Rock to great effect.

Derailed first release is called Loneliness and it's an great release to check out. Loud, heavy and full of great riffs to check out. Some excellent Post-Rock landscapes lurking in the background before the loud and heavier Sludge Metal riffs take over.

If your a fan of Pelican, Mono and Russian Circles then your going to love it.  Headover to BandCamp and download this now as it's available on Pay Now Download.

Hopefully this will be the first of many releases from Dan's heavier alter ego.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Check Derailed from the following links.

BandCamp

BURDEN OF THE NOOSE

The Forgotten Plague cover art

Burden Of The Noose are Stoner/Punk/Sludge Metal Band from Birmingham, UK

The members are:

Vocals:-Karl 'Poon' Lane
Guitar-Skot Cooper
Bass- Dirty Arse
Drums:-Keiron Rose

Burden Of The Noose are a band we featured recently last year. We raved on about them for their hard-hitting blend of lo-fi Punk infused Sludge/Stoner Metal. They even received an endorsement from DOPETHRONE.

 Head over to this link and look who left a comment for the band.

"cheers from DOPETHRONE))) MTL CANADA!!!!!!!

you guys take us to the swamps with the heavy sludge at first and upgrade the violence with some D-beat crust ending... death metal vox.. good mix of styles!!, great sound quality too... ..a little more "moving around" wouda made the video better, considering the brutality of the sound, but overall, I give it a good 8.5/10

CHEERS!!!"

Well the guys are back with their latest EP - The Forgotten Plague. And it rocks like a mother-fucker. 7 hard-hitting tracks to knock you right fucking out. It's loud, nasty, heavy, angry and pissed off all in one go. First track - Bitch Goat - sets up the scene perfectly. If you like this sort of nasty based Sludge music then your in for a treat.

Brutal distorted vocals to match the heavy pummelling riffs on show. Burden Of The Noose have created a monster here. Heavy and brutal from the start. This is Sludge/Stoner Metal forged in the pits of hell. Don't go expecting uplifting riffs as it isn't the bands style. Just superb in-yer-face Sludge/Stoner Metal to head-bang to over and over again.

Check out other ace tracks - The Begging Game, Cancerous Bollock, Family Affair and Lucifers Path.

Burden Of The Noose have delivered a superb EP and one that should tell the world of Sludge/Stoner Metal that a great band has truly arrived. This could lead the band onto bigger and better things. Brilliant.

You can download this on BandCamp Pay Now Deal. So headover and download this monster now. You won't be sorry.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Check This Great Band Below

1000mods - Valley of Sand - European Tour News

Valley of Sand cover art

1000mods are a 4 Piece Desert-Rock/Stoner Metal band Chiliomodi, Greece

The members are:

Dani / Bass & Vox
Giannis / Guitars
George / Guitars
Lab / Drums

1000mods are a band who have been on the blog before. They are a band we are big fans of here. They have been on a few other cool blogs as well. Their 2011 debut album - Super Van Vacation - made my best records of 2011 list.

Well the guys are back with their stunning new EP - Valley Of Sand - A 4 song and 35 minute magical ride full of eerie desert based psych/stoner rock riffs. 3 of the songs here are from their superb debut album but all played live.

The centerpiece of the EP has to be the 17 minute epic - Valley Of Sand - A song that will transport you to the harsh territories of the hot desert sun. It takes time building up the atmosphere. Dreamy Desert Rock riffs which has extra layers of Fuzz, Psych Rock and lashings of huge Stoner Rock riffs near the end of the track. Dani sounds like he is chanting directly to the Sun Gods. He is on a journey of wonder and enlightenment but  he is expertly backed up by his fellow band members.

It's great to have these guys back as they are one of the best Stoner Rock bands Greece has to offer.

Valley Of Sand is available to buy from BandCamp now. Along with their other releases. Or you can head over to their Last.Fm Page and download Super Van Vacation from their for free. See what your missing out on!!!

Now the guys are going to head out on a European Tour. Catch them while you can.

12.04 Fri - Greece, Agrinio @ Dewars
18.04 Thu - Bulgaria, Sofia TBA
19.04 Fri - Romania, Bucharest @ club PANIC
20.04 Sat - Romania, Cluj Napoca @ Gambrinus Pub
21.04 Sun - Slovenia, Ljubljana @ Klub Gromka
22.04 Mon - *Available*
23.04 Tue - Germany, Cologne @ Sonic Ballroom w/Planet of Zeus
24.04 Wed - Holland, Utrecht @ ACU w/Planet of Zeus
25.04 Thu - UK, London @ The Black Heart - Desertfest Opening Gig w/Enos
26.04 Fri - *Available*
27.04 Sat - Germany, Berlin @ Astra - Desertfest Berlin
10.05 Fri - Greece, Trikala @ Kentriki Plateia
11.05 Sat - Greece, Thessaloniki @ 8Ball
24.05 Fri - Greece, Athens @ AN Club w/Half Gramme of Soma & Omega Monolith

Check out these superb Stoner Metallers below.

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Friday 29 March 2013

Interview with BEASTWARS


Now on Sludgelord I am Interviewing James Woods (Nope not the actor) but bass player of the amazing New Zealand Sludge/Stoner Metal band - BEASTWARS.

Beastwars are about to release their amazing 2nd album - Blood Becomes Fire. An album I recently described as:

"You do not know what you have just experienced but you know you will be coming back for more. If you miss the earlier heavier days of Mastodon and Baroness then let me introduce you to your favourite new band. That is seriously how great Beastwars are. Beastwars can be mentioned in the same breath as those two great bands.

All in this entire album is an incredible experience I cannot recommend highly enough. It is a contender for one of the best albums of 2013.

Blood Becomes Fire is going to launch Beastwars on a global scale. End Of."


So lets started with one of the best bands currently out there. The brilliant BEASTWARS.

Q1 – Hi guys, Thanks for doing this. How are things with you Today.

Good thanks. It was a sunny day, I hung out with my little girl then picked up her big brother from school, went to a park and we all had an ice block. Rock n' Roll!!


Q2 – For people not in the know, can you give them a brief bio on how the band came about.

Half a dozen years ago Clayton and Nato drunkenly vowed that they were going to start a kick ass rock band. They came across myself and Matt, and lo, the frankenstein monster that is Beastwars was born.

Actually, Matt approached the band after a gig as an instrumental 3-piece and drunkenly told us we needed a “fucken singer”, and that he was the man for the job. You may have noticed the presence of alcohol in that story. It's not incedental.

Q3 – How would you describe your sound. Sludge, Post-Metal, and Stoner do form major parts of you great sound.

I just say that we're a dirty rock band when people ask me. But yeah, we get called sludge, stoner a lot. I like sludge. Oozing between my toes.


Q4 – Which bands and artists influence you directly as a musician.

Stooges, Swans, Flipper, Joy Division, Gordons, Birthday Party, Snapper, Neil Young, Butthole Surfers, Scott Walker, (very early) Sonic Youth, Black Flag, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Roots Manuva, Low, Melvins.. is that enough? I could go on. And on.

Q5 – Your about to release your brilliant new album – Blood Becomes Fire - Bet your looking forward to finally having the album released upon the world. Brilliant album.

Yeah, thanks, we're all pretty stoked about it.

Q6 – Can you tell us what is the overall theme of the album. As it feels like a soundtrack to the end of the world. Especially on tracks such as Tower Of Skulls and The Sleeper.

Mortality, sacrifice and disease are all things that we deal with in our daily lives, and this has manifested in our music to lesser and greater degrees. But I also think humanity is blindly stumbling toward some almighty self wrought extinction event.

Being a teenager in the '80's you had the prospect of a nuclear holocaust hanging over your head constantly, but the ambiguity of this oncoming apocalypse means there is nothing to focus on, just a general feeling of dread. I try and blank out the anger and frustration with a wall of howling, obliterating noise.


Q7 – Was it an easy or hard album to write and record for. And are you happy with the final result.

At the risk of downplaying the great deal of work we put into rehearsing, the songs seem to flow together for us fairly easily once we start playing them. We love playing together, so it doesn't seem “hard”.

The recording however, was very, very intense. Ten days isolated in a city at the other end of New Zealand. Focused pretty much constantly on the recording the whole time. But yeah, the results are worth it. We're really happy with the album, and are looking forward to all you guys hearing it too.

Blood Becomes Fire cover art

Q8 – Who designed the amazing album cover. Quite possibly the best album cover I have seen this year. Epic in tone and nature.

Nick Keller (http://nickbkeller.blogspot.co.nz/) is an artist here in Wellington who was coming to our gigs and digging us, and a mutual friend introduced us. We thought his stuff was incredible. He did the cover for our first album and blew us away, so there was no question about asking him again really. He just got where we were coming from conceptually from the start.

Q9 – The video of Tower Of Skulls is fucking superb as well. How did that one came about. It feels like an mini-apocalyptic movie. Heavy, scary and trippy all in one insane package.

We wanted to try something a bit less obvious, more psychedelic in tone. We were more interested in style than narrative so it was a good mix.




Q10 – Like the rest of the Sludge/Stoner Metal world, I noticed you guys on your incredible début album. That really launched you guys to the international scene. Bet you were blown away with the reception you guys received.

Absolutely. We weren't expecting the response at all. We made the album for the people who came to our shows in N.Z. and ourselves. It was a real buzz having people all over the world digging it.

Q11 – With you guys being from New Zealand. Is there a Sludge/Stoner Metal scene down there. I know of great bands such as Arc Of Ascent, Shallow Grave, Spook The Horses and Stone Angels. Can you recommend any other cool bands to check out.

You've mentioned most of the ones I know already. Mountaineater, Keretta and Jakob are two others that spring to mind. I don't really listen to much metal so I'm not too sure what's out there, sorry.

Q12 – Do you guys perform regularly in New Zealand or do you have to travel further afield such as Australia to perform live.

We haven't left N.Z. yet. We toured here 5 times last year on the strength of the first album, but there's only 4 million people in N.Z. so you canonly play so much.


Q13 – What is the live BeastWars experience like. Can you describe it in 10 words or less.

Loud. Heavy. We demand your attention. You will be rewarded.

Q14 – Your new album is going to be released on CD/Vinyl via Destroy Records. How did that come about. As your début album was released through a couple of labels on both CD and Vinyl.

Both albums (cd and vinyl) were released through Destroy, but distributed by other (larger) labels. Destroy is a friend's label and only has a couple of other releases. We paid for everything on both albums and consequently had complete control at every step. Not something we would relinquish lightly.

Q15 – How big a help has BandCamp been in getting your music across.

Brilliant. It's hard to know exactly, but we get quite a few listens on it, and the paypal ticks over. I think the hardest thing with Bandcamp (like itunes etc.) is getting noticed in amongst everything else, but if you get yourselves out there, it works in musicians' favour financially.


Q16 – What are your views of blogs featuring and reviewing your records, as opposed to mainstream music magazines?

We don't make mainstream music. I found out about bands when I was a kid by reading Maximum RocknRoll and other zines from around the world, and listening to specialist shows on student radio. Blogs are the modern version of that DIY ethic.

Q17 – What are your favourite bands around at the moment. Do you listen to modern day rock/metal or do you just listen to the classic era of Stoner/Sludge/Doom/Post-Rock/Post-Metal.

I don't really listen to a lot of metal, but I like Yob, Sunn(((o))) and Red Fang. Sabbath are a perennial favourite of course, and I'll always have a soft spot (like a sucking chest wound) for Reign In Blood, even if I don't listen to it all that often. These days I'm listening to Low, Robert Wyatt, Keith Thornton (Dr. Octagon, Kool Keith), Roots Manuva and too much more to list here.


Q18 – Do you have any future plans for the upcoming 12 months or so. Anything we should be excited about.

Playing around N.Z. and a couple of dates in Australia with Unida in May. We would love to come further afield. Just need to finish paying for the album. And talk to someone about booking shows in the US/Europe

Q19 – We all know that being a band can be a very expensive business. How do you cope financially and emotionally. It must take a lot out of you at times.

Yeah, sure is. Juggling the touring and the family and the job is hard. I'm very lucky to have the support of my good lady wife, Rachel. xx

Q20 – When your not performing with the band, how do you relax to get away from the pressures of being with the band.

Ha ha! The band is the relaxing stuff! That's the time away from the pressures of daily life, where all that matters is the riff you're playing now. Or getting to the place where you're going to play the next riff.

Q21 – If you could provide any advice to people wanting to start a band, what would it be.

If you love playing your own music, get a job. Being in a band is expensive. If you want to earn a regular income playing music, learn to play other peoples songs. If you want to be a rock star, get ready for a life of disappointment.

And then death from alcohol poisoning or a heroin overdose. Then you might get famous. Might. Know what's important to you. Would you rather play with a bunch of good mates who you gel with, or the sickest, shreddingest motherfucker session musos out there? Both work, in the right circumstances.


Q22 - Finally, Do you have anything to say your fans

Thank you all, the buzz you get from playing to a room full of people going mental to your music is unlike anything else. I wish I could share it with you all. Oh, hang on.. Seriously, thanks for all your incredible support every step of the way. It's mindblowing.

Well thanks for doing this. I really appreciate it. Good luck with Blood Becomes Fire. That album is going to be massive. It's a great album. Hope to see you guys play live one day.

Thanks to Matt for doing the interview. And Thanks to Nathan at Destroy Records for setting this up for me. Really appreciate dude. Thanks again.

Check This Brilliant Band From The Links Below.

Facebook
BandCamp

You can buy Blood Becomes Fire on CD, Digital Download and Vinyl from April 19th 2013 via Destroy Records

Interview with CROWN

Psychurgy cover art

Today on Sludgelord I am interviewing the brilliant CROWN – the awesome Electronic/Sludge/Post-Metal duo who I have featured a couple of times now. First with their excellent début EP – The One and most recently with their amazing début album – Psychurgy – Their major league début on Candlelight Records.

I recently described the album as:

“Trust me when I say you have not heard Sludge/Post-Metal the way Crown perform it. Psychurgy will change your perception of industrial based music. Crown take things apart and rebuild them in their own highly original way. Distorted riffs and vocals might be hard to distinguish at first but give this superb album time and it will have you in its wake”

Well this hugely talented duo has agreed an interview with me which I am pretty excited about since I have been a fan a while now. So lets get down to business with CROWN.

Q1 – Hi guys, Thanks for doing this. How are things with you Today.

Pascal : Things are going well & fast. We are very busy, with the upcoming LP, gigs, and all that stuff. But that's very positive, and we love it !

Stephane: Hey you're welcome Steve ! yeah we're busy as hell since the signing with Candlelight, interviews, rehearsals, preparing tours, merch , etc etc etc


Q2 – For people not in the know, can you give them a brief bio on how the band came about.

CROWN is born in the summer of 2011. We're a duet, two bearded guys, two guitars and a machine. We released 2 EP's in 2012.We're playing some heavy music, low guitar tuning, industrial, intense and dark.

Q3 – How would you describe your sound. Sludge, Post-Metal, Electronic and Industrial genres feature heavily but how would you guys call it.

Stephane : yeah we're mixing a lot of styles, we can maybe call it Industrial sludge doom. Let's call it sludgypopyindustrialyglam hahaha.

Pascal : It's just a mix between all those kind of music and many more things we listen since many years. Some people says it's more industrial, or more sludge, doom, i think it doesn't really mater !

Q4 – Which bands and artists influence you directly as a musician.

Pascal : I love bands like Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Isis, NIN, but things like The Bloody beetroots, Death grips for their incredible sound !

Stephane : Definitly : Neurosis, NIN, Killing Joke, Ministry, The God Machine, Godflesh, Black Sabbath, Motley Crue, Eisenvater, Depeche Mode, Massive Attack,Treponem Pal, and so many more …

Q5 – Your about to release your début album – Psychurgy - Bet your looking forward to finally having the album released upon the world. Brilliant album.

Stephane : Thanx a lot ! Yeah the album will be released on april 22nd in Europe and June 11th in north america via Candlelight Records and yeah we can't wait to spread the disease hehehe.


Q6 – Can you tell us what is the overall theme of the album. 

Stephane : it's all about occult, paranormal and black magic. Aleister Crowley is a big influence as well. But nature and elements too. Nihilism and misanthropy , a big mix of all of that in fact. I'm on the dark side definitely.

Q7 – Was it an easy or hard album to write and record for. And are you happy with the final result.

Stephane : it was a real instinctive and painful process, we had about 2_3 demo songs and the album was written in 2 weeks. I am the most unsatisfied guy on earth so i'm happy of course but not satisfied as well hehe.

Q8 – How did you guys hook up with Candlelight Records. Congrats on that one by the way.

Pascal : We send some demo songs to many labels, and Stephane send them to Candlelight during Christmas time, i told him that it was a bad idéa, nobody is working usually at this time. But we get a quick positive answer, and that was like a present !

Stephane : yeah since that Pascal owns me tons of beers hehehe.

Q9 – France seems to have a lot of great bands making a name for themselves across every scene such as Stoner, Doom, Post-Metal and Sludge. Have French bands been hiding away over the past decade or so. As the last few years there has been a mini-explosion of great bands and talent to choose from. 

Pascal : There was always great bands in France on different scenes, like electro, hip-hop. There is still great project like SLEEPPERS, GOJIRA, CELESTE. 

Stephane : Yeah Gojira is maybe the most famous metal french band, i love Hangman's Chairs, Kickback, Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord, Monarch, etc , so many good bands !!

The One cover art
Q10 – I first noticed you on your excellent EP – The One – which received a great response within the Sludge/Post-metal scene. Were you happy with the response you received for The One. Though now I think you guys will be getting a whole lot more for Psychurgy.

Pascal : The one got a lot of great reviews, but all the professionals and reviewers were waiting for an excellent album, so we had a kind of pression. We did our best on Psychurgy, hope it will work.

Stephane : We didn't expect to have so much cool reviews but it happened and now we're under pressure with Psychurgy because all of you guys are waiting for the LP, finally we did it hehe, we've put heart and soul in it. 

Q11 – I have “used/borrowed” the next question from my colleague Aaron before. But I think it's a cool one to ask your band. – I’m assuming all musician like to talk about the gear they use, so with that in mind what do you use in terms of guitars, amps and why? Also what tuning do you use?

Pascal : We both used TRAYNOR combos amp. Great Canadian manufacturer. We recently signed with Schecter for 8 strings (blackjack SLS C-8) tuned E-A-E-A-D-G-B-E. Actually we are working with "Arts In Bloodshed custom effects" to build and design 2 signatures distortion pedals, and it's very exciting !

Q12 – What is the live CROWN experience like. Can you describe it in 10 words or less.

Stephane : beards, bellys, heaviness, absynth, downtempo, video, evil, loud, 16 strings, no drummer.


Q13 – Do you perform regular gigs in your home town or country. Or do you have to travel further to perform live.

Pascal : We do some shows in Switzerland, because we love this country and the people here ! We toured one week with our friends from ZATOKREV in Germany last year, and we have lot of fun together ! Of course we play in France too, and we will soon be on the road to support Godflesh for some shows and of course at mighty Roadburn on april 18th !

Q14 – How big a help has BandCamp been in getting your music across.

Pascal : It's a fantastic way to sell around the world safety and easily.

Stephane : yeah it"s definitely an excellent tool to sell your music and for promo when you're not signed on a label.

Q15 – What are your favourite bands around at the moment. Do you listen to modern day rock/metal or do you just listen to the classic era of Stoner/Sludge/Doom/Post-Rock/Post-Metal. 

Pascal : Personnaly, i've got the same pleasure to listen to Seven son of a seventh son, or the last Cult of Luna.

Stephane : actually Motley Crue, The God Machine, Kvelertak, Ken Mode, Coilguns, Clutch, Generation of Vipers, Portal , The Casualties, Tragedy, Nails, Baptists, Primitive Man, Batillus, Colt Silvers, Nate Hall, David Lynch, and so much things, oldies like Thin Lizzy, iron Maiden, Scorpions, Wasp, Pretty Maids, White Lion, in fact a lot of hair metal etc etc . 


Q16 – What are your views of blogs featuring and reviewing your records, as opposed to mainstream music magazines?

Stephane : I'm no more into mainstream magazines since 4-5 years, even if it's always a good thing for a band to appear in these magazines for promo etc etc . I prefer undergrounds blogs because people who own them are really passionate and everything is coming from the underground so we have to keep it alive and support these blogs !

Q17 – Do you have any future plans for the upcoming 12 months or so. Anything we should be excited about.

Pascal : Lots of secret plans.hahaha. Seriously, we planned to be on tour end of this year. Some shows will be announced soon, for this summer.

Stephane : touring with Kiss and Motley Crue !!


Q18 – We all know that being a band can be a very expensive business. How do you cope financially and emotionally. It must take a lot out of you at times.

Pascal : For sure, we do many things ourself, so we spend a lot of time on the band, but it's exciting anyway, because all is working fine actually. We work both in a venue together, so we are very close, like a couple :)

Stephane : being in a band is having good time, having sex with chicks with big boobies and earn a shitload of money ? am i wrong ? hehehe

Q19 – When your not performing with the band, how do you relax to get away from the pressures of being with the band.

Pascal : I don't like to be relax. Anyway, when i need a break, i take my motorcycle and ride around. We have nice places in our area, and some mountains too !

Stephane : i like to have a walk in the forest or mountain, watching films, watching some silly programs on TV, listening to creepy music and be with my family and of course drinking beers with fellas and eating tons of cheese, really, i'm addicted …


Q20 – If you could provide any advice to people wanting to start a band, what would it be.

Pascal : Choose the right line-up, with people who wants the same things, and are ready so spent time and money together. It's important to make good music But on some scenes, it's hard to find a place because there are so many bands doing the same kind of music.

Stephane : choose the right bearded guy yeah, not too old not too young, and be prepared to not get any chicks and boobies with this kind of music, stay humble and honest, because there are a shiploads of good bands behind you, before you and in front of you . Touring and playing in a band is a real job.

Q21 - Finally, Do you have anything to say your fans

Pascal : We love you :) Hope we can meet more and more people, we really like it ! It's was amazing in some small club we did in Germany, when people came told us, they bought cd and t-shirt on band camp, and knows some songs.

Stephane : yeah ! come to our shows and drink beers with us ! We're looking forward to see you on the road !

Well thanks for doing this. I really appreciate it. Good luck with Psychurgy. That album is going to create some major waves for you guys. It's a great fucking album. Hope to see you guys play live one day.

Pascal : We hope it too ! Thanx

Stephane : Thanx a lot Steve, yeah we hope too ! Take care !

Thanks to Stephane and Pascal for the great interview. And Thanks to Darren for setting everything up for me. 

Check Crown from the Links Below.

Official
Facebook
BandCamp

Craig Wilson Recommendations


We haven't done this before but if this is successful we might run it again. Craig Wilson is a fan of the blog and he sent me a very big list of bands to check out. Some we have featured before and some we haven't.

So I am going to publish Craig's recommendations as all them are fucking superb bands to check out. They are all on the heavier side of things but still great music.

Thanks to Craig for the tips. If any other fans want to try send me an email and I will publish.

Enjoy.

Swinelord
http://swinelord.bandcamp.com/album/i-feel-fucked

Blunt Trauma
http://blunttraumaband.bandcamp.com/album/shotgun-and-a-shovel

Dope Deal
http://dopedeal.bandcamp.com/

Ramlord
http://hypaethralrecords.bandcamp.com/album/crippled-minds-sundered-wisdom

Black Goat Of The Woods
http://blackgoatofthewoods.bandcamp.com/

Dead Neon
http://deadneon.bandcamp.com/

Corrupt Moral Altar
http://baitinthetraprecords.bandcamp.com/album/corrupt-moral-altar-luciferian-deathcult

Boar Worship
http://boarworship.bandcamp.com/album/pro-death

Dead Again
http://deadagain.bandcamp.com/album/occultus-lake

Bruxers
https://soundcloud.com/bruxers

FULL ZENITH

Demo 2013 cover art

Full Zenith is a Sludge/Stoner Metal Band from Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Right folks what we have here is a very cool band indeed. Full Zenith are a band I think deserve your attention. As they play some superb fast and furious Sludge/Stoner Metal to rock the fuck out to.

Here is the bio they sent me:

"We're 2 potheads and 2 XXX'ers that like to get heavy, hazy, and weird. The demo began as an explosion of light through a smoke filled blanket fort, myself and Dustin (screaming/guitar) taking our cues from sludge doom & stoner jams, but mixing our collective musical backgrounds to try and make something entirely our own. Sleep//Metallica//Life of Agony//90's Shoegaze//Crowbar//Rage Against the Machine//80's hardcore sensibilities mix with newer influences of Bongripper//Hangman's Chair//Wolves in the Throne Room//Dopethrone//Ice Dragon//Wo Fat//YAITW//our friends inHomewrecker//Code Orange Kids, all congealing with hash oil and chicken grease to clog the veins of the Ohio Valley with this: fullzenith.bandcamp.com

We love the monster we've created, and we want to share it with anyone who'll listen. Expect more to come very soon, until then may your ears ring with the finest of doom."

Now their debut demo does have one fucked up vibe but it also includes some great riffs to headbang to.

Yeah I like this band very much. So headover to bandcamp and download this now. You will definitely be surprised. Light up you best bong and press play and rock the fuck out to FULL ZENITH.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Check The Band From The Links Below:

BandCamp

BONEWORM

Boneworm s/t cover art

Boneworm is a Sludge/Doom Metal band from Portland, Oregon, USA.

The members are:

Boneworm is Tim Burke. Tim plays guitar and shoulders the burden of knowing exactly how you are going to die.

Boneworm is Dave Becker. Dave plays bass and, like a lich or a Roman emperor, only seems to be growing more powerful with age. 

Boneworm is Chaz Rocker. Chaz plays drums and hangs out with your Camaro-driving uncle. Ask about the weekend they drove to Reno."

Right folks what we have here is a Sludge/Doom/Noise Rock band in the vein of The Melvins and it fucking rules. Apparently these guys have contacted me before but I missed their emails. Guys - I AM SORRY - as you guys are fucking brilliant.

Can't believed I missed this!!! - Anyway here is a bio of the band and what to expect from their crazy as fuck S/T album.

"The themes on Boneworm's self-titled debut are brutish and desolate. Songs of love have their place in timid ballads and frivolous pop ephemera. But concepts like failure and crushing doubt are burdensome beasts that are best caged and conveyed in music that is unafraid to handle them. This has always been the dire necessity of metal music. 

Boneworm tells these tales by calling upon rasped howls, punishing bass, and the occasional guitar solo that delicately pulls us aside and promises that nothing will ever be ok again.

For a genre that is frequently looking outward into the psychedelic aether, Boneworm offers their doom with a sense of crushing immediacy. Which is the more terrifying, the intricate words of a sinister hex being cast, or plaintively being told that nothing matters because time is already
against you?

To be fair, imagery of bubbling cauldrons and mystic dimensions is overkill when you're already writing your music against the backdrop of Portland, Orygun. A discerning ear will detect the homages and influences, but Boneworm's sound is brewed and bottled in a northwest style. This is the soundtrack to rain-slick blacktop glowing under sodium lamps. This is the thump and rattle of freight trains and rattling windows in the industrial district. This is the distinct sound of Cascadian doom.

Boneworm is a new band from Portland, OR (spawning such bands as YOB, Diesto, Norska, etc.). We wrote some songs. We recorded them with the prolific Adam Pike of Toadhouse studios (and incidentally FOH engineer for many state side Red Fang gigs).

We have our first self titled album out on bandcamp and are providing free downloads (name your price, including $0.00). Go ahead and grab yourself a copy.
http://boneworm.bandcamp.com/

My thoughts are that the album is a work of insane twisted genius. The 3 track and 42 minute opus will have you on the edge of your seat. It's got a groovy lo-fi appeal which will win you over in no time at all.

So if your into Unsane, Diesto and The Melvins then this is going to rock your fucking world like it did mine.

You heard from the band themselves. It's available for free download now. Go ahead and grab yourself a copy. Seriously I don't want another pissed off email from this band.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Check The Band From The Links Below:

UNRU

DEMO MMXIII cover art

UNRU are a Black Metal/Crust Metal band from Germany

UNRU are a bleak as fuck Black Metal/Crust Metal Band that will tear your soul apart. They play music that is loud, mean and very, very fast. It gives them a furious edge to them that you will find impossible to ignore.

Their Demo MMXIII is a 11 song and 25 minute blast of superb Crust/Black Metal riffs. This is heavy from the word go and it doesn't stop until the very end.

The instruments are used as weapons of torture on this release. The vocals have a disturbing and scary edge to them. It feels that Satan has came alive to torment every living soul on the planet. That's how bleak and scary things actually get. And I loved every disturbing minute of it.

UNRU are a band who have the power and determination to re-define what we call HEAVY. This is earth-shattering metal at it's most primal. Evil has a new name - UNRU.

If you have the guts to listen to something dark and disturbing then UNRU are your band. Headover to BandCamp and download this excellent release now. It's free. But be prepared to have nightmares for days.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Check This Great Band From The Links Below

Facebook
BandCamp

IZAH​/​Fire Walk With Us split EP

IZAH/Fire Walk With Us split EP cover art

IZAH is a Sludge/Noise/Post-Rock Collective from Tilburg, Netherlands

The members are:

Tijs van Wegberg - drums
Frans Terhorst - bass
Twan Bastiaansen - guitar
Roel van Oosterhout - guitar
Michel de Jong - synth / guitar
Sierk Entius - vocals / synth

Fire Walk With Us are an Instrumental Sludge Metal band from Amsterdam

The members are:

Herman Wilken
Geert van der Beek
Ralph Van Reijendam
Nico Nijland

One of these bands have been on the blog before - Fire Walk With Us and now they have teamed up with another brilliant Sludge Metal band from Holland. The brilliant and heavy as fuck - Izah.

Their new split EP is a fucking blast from start to finish. 3 tracks to show some of the finest Sludge Metal The Netherlands has to offer. Izah provide one epic 11 minute track and Fire Walk With Us provide two shorter superb tracks as well. So you have 24 minutes of finely tuned sludge metal carnage to blow your whole world apart.

This is available to download on BandCamp Pay Now Deal. So headover there now and download this excellent release right now. You won't be sorry.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Check The Band From The Links Below:

Izah


Fire Walk With Us

Official
Facebook
BandCamp

NIGHT - DESCEND - ASCEND EP

Descend : Ascend EP cover art

NIGHT are an instrumental ambient metal band from York, Pennsylvania, USA.

The members are:

Bobby Yagodich - Guitar
Matt Jackson - Bass
Zach Nace - Guitar
Mark Bixler - Drums

Night are an amazing band who we have featured before. Their blend of instrumental music struck a chord with me as they packed a mighty fine mean riff which oozed creepy atmospherics.

Well the guys are back with their superb new EP - Descend - Ascend. A 3 song and 19 minute blast of great atmospheric doom and gloom based Post-Metal riffage.

The guys waste no time in getting down to business to show you what they can do with their instruments at their disposal. The title track Descend - Ascend has an uplifting post-rock/post-metal vibe matched with a darker creepier side as well. Very hard to do but Night pull this off perfectly.

Probably the best track off the EP. Up next is Bodach where Night unleash their heaviest work to date with a lot of heavy sonic carnage mixed in with the doom/post-metal riffs merging in the background.

Finally we have Maps. A track which starts with a subtle Post-Rock riff before adding more and more layers  of music before all hell breaks loose around the 2:35 minute mark. Post-Rock vibe is firmly now in the background with the heavier blasts of Doom/Post-Metal coming through. And what a ride it is.

Just a shame its on so short as your getting in the mood and then it ends. Now it's time for Night to start recording that illustrious full-length. They have shown they have the talent and drive to succeed in releasing a top-notch album.

All in all an excellent release from a superb band. Highly Recommended.

You can get a copy of Descend - Ascend from the band themselves.

Check This Great Band Below:

Facebook
BandCamp

The Dry Mouths

And Show Us 2013 cover art

The Dry Mouths are an Alternative/Stoner/Grunge Rock band from Almeria, Spain

The members are: Juanjo, Cristo y Andrés

The Dry Mouths play an intriguing blend of Grunge, Alt-Rock, Stoner Rock and even Post-Rock at times. They are influenced by Sabbath, Nirvana, Oceansize, Biffy Clyro and Explosions In The Sky. Sound weird and wonderful. Well it is. And it fucking works wonders.

They have released 3 albums so far. With their latest album - And Show Us - being the best by far.

2012 - Moon's True Delay Lenght Wah Foo Era

And Show Us is a superb release which grabbed me by surprise as I wasn't expecting the sheer scope of noise and effects of what the album contains.

The Dry Mouths have a keen experimental side which they play brilliantly to their advantage. One minute they are playing a straight up Stoner Rock track and the next it changes into a mid-90s Grunge Rock classic vibe. Then they start adding Post-Rock vibes to confuse you yet again. But its do damn catchy and hard-hitting at the same time.

All 3 albums are up for free download/buy now on BandCamp right now. Their new album is available via Mediafire as well. So do yourself a favour and check this amazing Stoner Rock band now!!! - You won't regret it.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Check The Band From The Links Below

Thursday 28 March 2013

Interview with GODSIZED


Today on Sludgelord it is my pleasure to be interviewing rising UK Groove/Hard Rock/Stoner Metal crew – Godsized – who blew me away when I saw them live in concert. And their brilliant debut new album – TIME.

The band have kindly agreed an interview with me which I am very thankful for. So lets get started with one of the best UK Rock bands currently out there.


Q1 – Hi guys, Thanks for doing this. How are things with you Today. Hope the European Tour has been going well.

 yeah man it's been going great, we're very lucky that we get to travel as far and wide as we do as an un-signed band

Q2 – For people not in the know, can you give them a brief bio on how the band came about. 

The band has been going technically since 2005 but we really got going in 2006 when Glen joined and we chanmged direction and got a whole lot more serious - since then we've added band members along the way, we're all based quite far apart but love what we do so travelling for shows and rehearsals is all worth it

Q3 – How would you describe your sound. As you incorporate a lot of great sounds and genres to your music such as Groove Metal, Hard Rock, Stoner and NOLA. 

I hate to get too bogged down in genres and sub-genres to be honest. I view Godsized as a rock band incorporating lots of different elements from metal, blues and other less obvious music


Q4 – Which bands and artists influence you directly as a musician.

On a personal level the whole band listens to quite a broad musical spectrum but I think as a unit we can all agree on the classic 70s rock acts as major sources of inspiration. Sabbath, Zeppelin, ZZ top, Thin Lizzy, Free - the good stuff

Q5 – Your about to release your debut album – Time -. Seems a long time coming. Bet your looking forward to finally having the album released upon the world. Great album by the way. 

Thanks man, glad you like it! Oh yeah this beast has been a long time coming but we're all very happy with how it came out. We wanted to avoid the modern processed & pro-tooled to within an inch of it's life vibe and wanted to keep it more life sounding, I think we got that.

Q6 – Can you tell us what is the overall theme of the album

I don't think there is an overall theme to the album as sme of these songs are nearly 3 years old and some more like 3 months old - one thing we wanted from the outset was for it to be musically diverse. It'd be way too easy to write 12 songs that all sounded like Walking Away. We wanted to show we were not just a one-trick pony


Q7 – Was it an easy or hard album to write and record. And are you happy with the final result.

Yeah we're all pleased with the outcome, we really wana know what our fanbase reckons! It was pretty easy to write and record because we did it organically under our own timings - one of the benefits of not having a label constantly pushing you to stay on schedule

Q8 – I love the different styles you guys bring together but giving it a great hard-rocking edge. Especially Mother and The Bounty Hunter. Which seem have gone down a storm on the live stage. What are your favourite tracks to perform off the new album.

Personally I like 'Soul Taker' 'It's a Hanging' and 'Still Waiting' best from a live scenario


Q9 – You guys have a formidable live reputation across UK and Europe. How do you prepare before doing a gig. Any secret rituals. 

Jagermeister shots and me and the drummer Dan usually trade Spinal Tap quotes

Q10 – Some of my friends have started into getting your music. They ask me are they any good. I tell them all the same thing – Look they were personally asked by Zakk Wylde to support Black Label Society on their last European Tour. So yeah they are good. Bet that was a personal highlight supporting a legend like that. 

Absolutely man, a complete honour, we managed through some mutual friends to get him a CD, his son Jesse dug it and let his old man listen to it and then the tour offer came in. I still can't believe it

Q11 – Godsized have always been a hard-working touring band. You always seem to be on the road. Is the band your full time job or do you have other jobs as well to support the rock and roll lifestyle.

Unfortunately yes we all have day-jobs still. We make money with this band but not enough to do it full time. The music industry has always been rough but at the moment it's very hard to make a living from it


Q12 – Does this take a toll on your personal life. Hanging out with family and friends. Are they supportive of the band

Yeah we're all pretty lucky to have supportive, friends, family, girlfriends and wives - we couldn't carry on without their help!

Q13 – What are your views of blogs featuring and reviewing your records, as opposed to mainstream music magazines?

We're lucky that we get blogs, webzines and the main-stream print media's attention. It's something we don't take for granted and are thankful for any review/column inches we get!


Q14 – Do you have any future plans for the upcoming 12 months or so. Anything we should be excited about. 

Well we wana hit it pretty hard touring behind the record, we have some nice festival slots coming in now so that'll be cool along with some decent support slots we're going after in late summer. Who knows man, best bet is to keep your eyes peeled on the webiste!

Q15 – If you could provide any advice to people wanting to start a band, what would it be

Don't do it kids. ha ha ha ha - seriously though play live as much as possible. That's where any band can really be judged. Onstage where you can't hide behind pro-tools and fancy website designs.

Q16 - Finally, Do you have anything to say your fans

Thank you for sticking with us and for showing up to the shows again and again. We love you lot!

Well thanks for doing this. I really appreciate it. Good luck with Time. It's a great fucking album. Hope to see you guys play live again one day.

Check Godsized from the links below:

Facebook

Interview with DRUGANAUT


Now on Sludgelord I am interviewing a band who haven't released their début album yet. But they have released a couple of excellent EP's which we are big fans of at the blog.

I am interviewing DRUGANAUT – a local band from Aaron's and my own home town of Newcastle Upon Tyne. They have been on the blog before.

Druganaut are a mean as fuck Sludge/Stoner Metal bands that you should all check out. They have a superb live reputation which I have witnessed for myself. They have opened for UK Legends – Orange Goblin and US Legends – Karma To Burn – which had the excellent Desert Storm as main support who are fans of Druganaut as well.

Well I finally had to interview lead singer – Craig the leader of these low down insane gang of Sludge/Stoner Metal outlaws outlaws. Before they are too busy to talk to us. As these guys will surely be getting bigger when their long-awaited début album is finally released.

So lets get started with Craig from DRUGANAUT.

Q1 – Hi Guys, Thanks for doing this. How are things with you Today.

Good thanks unfortunatly the rest of the lads couldnt make its just you and me (Craig)

Q2 – For people not in the know, can you give them a brief bio on how the band came about.

I had a good ides of what i wanted to do musically and people i wanted to work with so i put some feelers out winter 2010/11 and we had the original line up togeter and jamming by early march. it really came together fast we all gelled as a unit and havent looked back since. We have all been in various bands over the years but this one feels special.


Q3 – How would you describe your sound. Sludge, Stoner or Doom. Put me straight in your own unique style.

We like to change it up a bit song to song anywhere from stoner/blues to doom/rock and every thing in between. As long as its high energy and has your head bobbing we'll play it.

Q4 – Your currently recording your début album. Can you tell us what to expect and when it will be released. As the teaser trailer floating about on the internet has just made me want more.

We have never stopped writing material so your gonna get everything from the first song we ever wrote to brand new stuff. We have finished all the music and some of the vocals so we only have a few more sessions till its done, so not long to wait now. As you mentioned we put a teaser online in the form of a music video for our song SOBER AGAIN this is the first completed track from the album check it out at youtube.com/druganutband

Craig - The Man, The Myth, and Natural Born Hellraiser

Q5 – You released two EP's for free download. Was that an easy decision to make. To release music for free. Obviously there is a lot of cost in producing these EP's

We were really lucky with both of those demo recordings that we managed to record them for free. A friend of ours Kyle had access to studios. he needed a band to record for his College projects and we had songs ready to be put down so it was mutually beneficial. We had only been a band for 5 weeks at the time of the first demo it was recorded quickly in 2 sessions we have never really had money as a band so we had borrowed a drum kit to record it, when we got to the studio we realised we had no felts so me and Scott had to fashion some from our socks and masking tape. I love working with a non exiztent or shoe string budget i dont know what we would do with money and facilities at our disposal.

Q6 – I have seen you guys live in action supporting two very legendary bands in Orange Goblin and Karma To Burn. What was that like. Any cool stories or secrets you can share with us. I know Desert Storm who were main support to Karma To Burn thought you guys were excellent.

Both those gigs were amazing for us. I have been a fan of orange goblin for a long time and when i heard they were playing newcastle i found out who was promoting the gig and started a online campaign to get us on that show. It was so successful i ended up getting a email from the promoter asking us to tell our fans to stop emailing them about it, shy bairnes get nowt my friend haha. the best bit of that show for me personally was looking to side of the stage and seeing Goblin frontman Ben furiously banging his head to our set. 

Karma to burn had a different feel to it we were debuting our new guitarist who had only had 3 practises with us so every one was hyped up and ready to go, it turned out pretty good i think. we ended up getting karma's guitarist william stoned out his mind after the show so that was fun.


Q7 – You guys have an incredible presence on stage. To the point you look like a band not to fuck around with. Gives you a great hardcore based edge. Was that the plan to have a dangerous live persona.

Yeah certainly we all have the same mentality when it comes to the live performance, in that its not enough to play good music you have to engage your audience visualy. Iam an entertainer and when I go out there i give it my all, when iam on the stage i own it. The whole band have a great energy and presence live which gets the audience really hyped up. We've come along way as a live act since you saw us last us, if you thought it was hardcore before you need to get out and see us now we're tighter, heavier and more viseral than ever.

Q8 – Your music has reached a few blogspots mainly ourselves and Doommantia. Have you been happy with the response so far.

We have only been a band for 2 years now and the support we have had so far from people all around the world has been awesome. We have had amazing reviews for our demos and live performaces, featured on various blogs and earlier this year we were featured in metal hammer as on of the stoner/doom bands to watch out for which was massive for us.

Q9 – You obviously do a lot of local shows. There are not many venues in Newcastle Upon Tyne that feature the genres we love. Trillians now and again. Legends is once in a blue moon. Though I loved what you guys did at Morden Tower with a couple of other bands such as Lords Of Bastard.

Alot of the shows we do now locally are in small independant spaces such as the newbridge project, morden tower, star and shadow cinema and heartattack and vine. There are some great gigs going on around newcastle on a regular basis now. The local scene in newcastle is very strong with alot of great bands putting on interesting shows.


Q10 – Is it hard to get local gigs in the North East of England. Though I know you have a few coming up which am hoping to get along to. Need my druganaut fix.

Not really not if you have a knowledge of the venues and promoters in the area you just need to get out there and talk to people. We book the magority of our own shows. we have 2 newcastle shows in the next few months Tue April 16th at the Cluny and Sat june 1st at Heartattack and vine. All details on our facebook page facebook.com/druganautband

Q11 – There are some great North East Sludge/Doom/Stoner Rock Bands such as Sorry For Nothing, BONG, Hesper Payne, Waheela and Nately's Whore's Kid Sister. . Can you tell me some other local bands to check out.

Yeah there are some great bands out there at the moment Waheela as you mentioned are good friends and gig buddies. Corpse twitcher and transylvanian sexpest are bringing the noise and drone, you've got bands like Haikai No Ku and Tide of iron, Neolithic and Bhang from Sunderland i could go on and on.

Q12 – Have you tried in using BandCamp to promote your music. Or are you waiting to release the début album to get involved in that side of things.

We have just ordered alot of merch and once the album is done we will be selling tshirts and cd's through various online outlets including bandcamp. up till now we've tried to keep our online presence simple with facebook/youtube/soundcloud but once the album is ready we will be taking our soundcloud down and looking at other options.


Q13 – We all know that being a band can be a very expensive business. How do you cope financially and emotionally. It must take a lot out of you at times.

It amazes me that we've got this far with no money behind us, we've had a lot of luck and the support of some great people over the last 2 years. We have a passion and drive behind us that keeps it interesting we're a brotherhood and we all look after each other so i can honestly say that we dont let things get on top of us.

Q14 – When your not performing with the band, how do you relax to get away from the pressures of being with the band.

We all have our vices drugs, booze, sexual misadventure, denim and a shared love of live music. i personally have a love of martial arts, Kyle loves to produce music, Shef loves to skype fat lasses and record wrestling themes, billy loves to play bass he's currently in 4 bands, James enjoys the finer things in life such as strong white cider. we're a mixed bag of nuts.


Q15 – If you could provide any advice to people wanting to start a band, what would it be.

Theres 3 things you need to do before you start a band in my opinion.

1) Get involved in your local scene. Go out to shows, check out the bands, check out the venues.
2) Talk to everyone. When your at a gig talk to the musicians, the promoters, the audience. Build contacts.
3) Love what you do. If you have no passion for your music than whats the point?

Q16 - Finally, Do you have anything to say your fans

Thanks for getting behind us, the best is yet to come x

Thanks to Craig for this great interview. Any Geordies following Sludgelord, see these ace rockers as soon as you can. As they fucking rule!!!

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