I presented you these british masters of powerful Heavy/Stoner Rock band a few months ago ((here). Thomas from Time to Blast (an excellent french webzine and radioshow) kindly proposed me to share this nice little interview he recently did with Ollie (voc/guit), just a few days before embarking with Orange Goblin for an important UK tour, followed by first continental dates with italian psyche-rockers DOCTOR CYCLOPS. Give a look on all forthcoming dates listed below and if you haven't yet, check out the great debut album of GRIFTER on Ripple Music ...
What have been your previous experiences before Grifter ?
We've all
been in a lot of bands in the past, most of them have been local bands
covering anything from punk to hard rock to thrash...etc. Foz, our
drummer's most successful band was a psychobilly band called The Lost
Souls and Phil and I used to be in a band many years ago called Nero
Circus who shared a label with Acrimony, put out an album and did some
touring in Europe and toured the UK with Orange Goblin in their early
days. We've spent a lot of time building up to Grifter and this beats
everything!
Can you tell us about the beginning of Grifter ?
We
started the band in September/October 2003. At that time it was mostly a
side project but it quickly became apparent that this beat everything
else so it became our main focus almost immediately. We did the usual
thing of playing a ton of local gigs and demoing tunes and slowly people
started taking notice. Thanks to getting stuff out there on the
Internet we started getting gigs further afield and label
interest...etc. it's all snowballed from there really.
How could
you define your spirit and music ?
Rock
and roll is a spirit in itself and we play rock and roll. We try to
avoid labels and genres for what we do...it's just rock and roll with
guts and drive. We want to play stuff that, first and foremost gives us a
buzz...then hopefully other people will pick up on that buzz we're
getting and some of it may rub off on the crowd.
What are your
lyrics about and why ?
All
kinds of things really. Some are daft stories like Bucktooth Woman and
Alabama Hotpocket that amuse me and others like Asshole Parade have a
more serious meaning looking at humanity and how we've kind of lost
control of ourselves financially and spiritually. Something like Strip
Club often gets misinterpreted but is actually pointing out that some
guys value intelligence and personality in women and not just tits and
ass. I kind of like to take rock and roll cliches sometimes and flip
them around.
How did you end up on Ripple Music ?
Initially
they were a blog so I sent them our last EP, "The Simplicity Of The
Riff Is Key", for review and they loved it. At that point they were
getting ready to launch the label and asked if we'd be interested in
doing a vinyl split with Stone Axe, Sun Gods In Exile and Mighty High.
Obviously we weren't going to turn that down. We decided to go ahead and
record an album at the same time as recording tracks for the split and
while we were doing that the guys at Ripple offered to put it out.
They're great guys and a great label. They've achieved so much in less
than 2 years of being a label and have so much more potential.
What
are your plans for the near future ? New album in the making ?
Ripple
have asked for another album so we're getting songs together for that
as well as getting ready for the Orange Goblin tour and our first trip
to Europe with our Italian friends Doctor Cyclops in Belgium and to play
the a freak Valley festival in Germany.
Could you tell us a little
anecdote about your gigs supporting Orange Goblin and other great UK
acts ?
We're
really excited to be doing these gigs with them. I've known them for
years but to be invited to tour with them and have Ben make all the
arrangements with the promoters for us is a big thrill. Over the last 8
years we've played with so many great bands over here in the UK, too
many to mention and we've made some good friends along the way. One of
my favourite things is to get various members of other bands up on stage
with us to help sing our set closer "Sweat Like Horses"...it's always a
drunken party!!!
What about the gig with Stubb (one of my other
UK favorites of the year) and Doctor Cyclops last december ?
That
was a great gig. We heard that Doctor Cyclops were coming over to see
Cathedral's last gig so I figured it would be good to get them a show n
London so we got our buddies in Stubb to play and had a great band
called Ten Ton Tabby opening. We got a great turn out and all the. Bands
played killer sets. Doctor Cyclops impressed a lot of people.
Is
it your first time touring Europe ? (what are you expecting from this
great tour ?)Phil
and I have been over in our old band but this is our first time with
Grifter. We can't wait to get over there as we've heard European
audiences are great. It was awesome to be invited to play the Freak
Valley festival and, having played Belgium before I know the people
there are amazing. We're hoping to put on a good show, meet some awesome
people and drink some killer beer.
If you think of anything else,
feel free to add !
Cheers
Tom. We hope to meet you all on tour at some point to share a beer and
indulge in some kick ass rock and roll...it's all about the rock and
roll!!!
April tour with Orange
Goblin Saturday 7th - Desertfest, Camden Sunday 8th - The
Fleece, Bristol with Church Of Misery, Dopefight, Slabdragger Monday
9th - Legends, Newcastle Tuesday 10th
- The Classic Grand, Glasgow ... Wednesday 11th - Sound Control, Manchester
with Jucifer, Bastard Of The Skies Thursday 12th - The Garage,
Swansea Friday 13th - White Rabbit, Plymouth with Kernyuck
Saturday 14th - O2 Academy, Oxford with Desert Storm, Komrad
May Thursday 17th - Room 66, Leuven, Belgium with Doctor Cyclops,
Wheels Of Smoke Friday 18th - La Theatre Du Taverne, La Louviere,
Belgium with Doctor Cyclops Saturday 19th - Freak Valley Festval,
Netphen, Germany
June Friday 22nd - Underground, Plymouth
July Saturday 21st - Scream Lounge, Croydon with Trippy
Wicked, Mother Corona
The first day of last summer saw the light one of the best albums of 2011 ("the Sorrowful Sun"), the first day of Spring 2012 "Tome of the Future Ancients" saw the light and there's no risk in predicting a great position in many faves list of the year to that 3rd album from the KINGS of gloomy psyche DOOM !!!
Being so intensively creative and productive, the first day of each season could now be a Day-off to celebrate the delightful sonic invocations of Ron and his buddies, far more exciting than just a climate affair...
While the 2nd album already shown a more personnal approach, leaving the main influence of Electric Wizard for something gloomier and more psyche, ICE DRAGON push here things far more further to reach by (numerous) moments pure excellence.
As suggested wisely my friend Wes Cueto in his review of "the Visage of Astaroth", ICE DRAGON is the kind of band to listen in various states, at various frequencies and I would add in various situations/places too... that's what I did several times daily over the past 10 days : in my car with my (seduced) oldest son, , stoned under my shower, loud with headphones near the sea or while running at dawn with my dog in the woods, low in the dark, half drunk/half stoned, totally clean at breakfast and even completely stoned while doing things of life with my wife... !!!! and thanx guys it made me always feel so fucking good, so fucking high ! just like you were certainly when writing/recording all those 12 pieces of misery...
Vania posted recently on FB a question like "why do people need drugs, when there's music?"; to that, a guy answered something like "because with drugs music is even better", concerning "Tome of the Future Ancients" this is just the exact truth.
ICE DRAGON fear nothing, experiment with weird DIY elements, express its most inner and primal feelings in a unique gloomy way... ICE DRAGON breathes life in its truest entirety: sometimes beautiful and refined, often raw, authentic and decadent... Always dark in its form, like the world we'll leave to our descendents.
Where "the sorrowful sun" was letting place to some quiet accoustic parts, "Tome of ...." is far more obscure and heady, that doesn't prevent of psychedelic spacey moments but the guys have released here their most crushing songs ever with "Manuscript 408", "NATIAIWS", "Illuminations Foretold", "Astronomical Union" or "the Bearded Mage", and believe me I already enjoyed so much previous anthemic songs like "Poseidon's Grasp", "Mistress Death" or "Flowers".
The interpretation is enriched craftily like said before but also with more refined instruments like mellotron or sitar (the beautiful intro of "the Bearded Mage"). The psychedelic edge is also developped even if not always obvious considering the extremely hauting and dark atmosphere reigning supremely, it's more palpable and spacey in songs like "Man sitting in a Fields of Green Grass" or "Steal away from hell".
If they generally sound the same, like a young Ozzy, Ron 's vocals have noticeably changed in a few songs, being more menacing , even kind of martial and/or possessed like in "Night" where it seems he did come back from Katmandu via Tchernobyl , what a an apocalyptic mood in here ! and this song paradoxically includes the most beautiful solo ever composed by the band... divine !
ICE DRAGON never played songs including 10 riffs each, never intended to have a clean sound which wouldn't fit at all but just denature their charm and that's still not the case here, but they have never been so original, and if they can be demonstrative that 's rather in mesmerizing catchiness.
I know we're just at its beginning (even if 12 years represents yet almost a generation) but in my opinion this 3rd album is so far the trippiest DOOM affair of the century and it'll certainly proove a timeless caracter that already allowes to affirm that we've got here a CULT release, HAIL the DRAGON \m/
For 90% of you, I guess it's needless to present you our latest french sensation CULT OF OCCULT (but for the 10% remaining, go HERE and read the longest interview of the blog's history... !!!)
Their debut EP is simply fantastic, but is ONLY released in an edition of 100 copies, so HAMMERHEARTRecords decided to start off with re-issuing this one, thus upgrading it into a full CD, which they will do in JULY as 500 limited edition release and 300 vinyl LP’s for the true maniacs...
Here's the 2nd episode of the interviews-serie "WIVES ov DOOM"... Of course, I won't do an introduction each time, so if you have NOT read yet the 1st chapter that explained why I wanted to let speak wives/girlfriends of people deeply invested in one way or another in the scene, here's the LINK...
Now, let's go with the shared feelings of Sarah, Soph and Sam, huge thanx to them !Of course questions are the same, but, as you'll see, answers can be pretty much different from one woman to the other...
1) I wanted to know which are your feelings towards the passion of Mister for Doom and Heavy musics in general... Could they be slow and gloomy or fast and brutal, how do you enjoy these weird sounds ? Do you sometimes take vengeance and play crappy Pop stuff just to piss him off ?
2) Are you proud of what he's doing with his band/blog/Radioshow ?!! Do you think this is more rewarding to play in a respected but underground Doom band than playing shit in a wellknown band ? Do you think playing Doom is necessay to his equilibrium and maybe that only this kind of music can bring him what he needs or is looking for ?
3) Does he still have enough time for both houseworks and cuddles, or sometimes there's difficult choice to make between both ?!
4) When he's listening music with headphones, computering on the net, practising with his band, playing gigs far away... do you feel alone quickly or is it an opportunity for you to meet friends/parents, make some things you enjoy but can't do together, etc... ?
1) I think Pierre knows that although I am supportive of his musical endeavours, I have never really appreciated the genre much in general! I think the weirdest thing for me is when he sings bass lines in the shower or gets a drum beat stuck in his head and taps it out on EVERYTHING! So yes, I definitely take my revenge with some pretty crappy pop whenever I can, to inject some melody into our lives!
2) I am very proud of Atolah's musical achievements! They have developed a pretty good (albeit small) cult following and I think they enjoy the respect of their Doom and Heavy peers! I think the whole band would prefer to be respected as musicians and songwriters than to have a shitty top 5 hit. Plus it is much easier to be supportive of weekends away jamming or recording when the motivation comes from the joy of playing and seeing what that means to him (even if I don't quite understand it!)
I definitely think that Pierre gets something from his music that nothing else can give him. It must speak to him somehow, but since you are asking this question, I guess it speaks to a lot of people.
3) Ha! Despite his attempts to cultivate his Doom Rock image, Pierre is pretty whipped! So actually as much as I am tempted, I can't really complain on this front! Even though I have been stood up on Valentine's Day a couple of times so that he could go jam!
4) Sometimes it can be isolating when he wants to go into his music world - but I agree it is a good opportunity for me to spend time on my hobbies and with my friends, family etc, - so I never feel too neglected! I think he strikes a pretty good balance.
Soph (Wife of Dave fromALUNAH,also member of the band as vocalist/guitarist)
1) For those that may not know I'm married to Dave the guitarist in Alunah, the band which I also sing and play guitar in, so luckily we are on a par music taste wise. However, saying that, there are a lot of bands which we strongly disagree on. For instance, Dave listens to a lot of thrash, grind and nwobhm which I can really do without. As well as doom, stoner, sludge etc I listen to more '60s psychedelia, motown and folk. I live for the melody in music whereas he lives for the riff, so we do have a lot of friendly disagreements on what bands are awesome... mainly him informing me that Iron Maiden are unbelievably amazing and me informing him they're shit! The majority of music we listen to we both love, we've been together for 13 years and have been married for just 4 months - I don't think I could have lasted that long with someone who didn't share my musical tastes. Neither of us will ever back down on the Iron Maiden front! If I ever wanted to piss him off all I've got to do is put Big Elf, Ghost or Ray Lamontagne on the stereo... all big loves of mine, he doesn't share my view!
2) I know for a fact that Dave would not play music that he didn't enjoy playing, regardless of the fame or the money. He's been in bands since he was 16, all very different styles which reflect his tastes at the time. He's got such diverse tastes that its not just about the doom, its about playing whatever he enjoys. His last 3 bands Sonic Lord, Godsize and Alunah all have doom elements but each one totally different. I'm proud of Dave for many things but music wise, a couple of years into our relationship Dave started a sludge band in Birmingham called Sonic Lord. I was in my late teens when they started gigging with such bands as Khang, Sloth, Mistress etc. I used to love seeing him up there on the stage playing with bands I loved... plus, if I'm honest I was also jealous as it was something I'd loved to have done. We actually met Jake, Alunah's drummer at a Sonic Lord gig, his girlfriend Liv and him were always cropping up at Sonic Lord shows. Unfortunately Sonic Lord split up a few years back but we're still selling vinyls now. Dave was also in Godsize who split up last year. When they went on their first big tour I was so proud and again, jealous! The tour was with Freebase in Metallica's 1999 tour bus! I've only heard half of what went on during that tour, and I think that's all I want to know! Being 20 years old and watching your boyfriend's band sell out venues was pretty special. I'm hoping that with our achievements over the past 6 years with Alunah, and me overcoming my absolute fear of singing, has made him proud.
3) We try to make time for each other, both of us work full time, are busy with Alunah, run Catacomb Records and each have a million other projects going on. We don't live in each others pockets, we don't demand to know where the other one is every minute of the day or night and have the utmost respect and trust for each other. Dave's a lot better at cuddles than he is at housework... saying that though I reckon I am too! We've got a very 1950s outlook... I do the baking and he fixes my car! He is pretty good at washing up and cleaning the bathroom though!
4) Its not something I really notice that much as we're both really busy. When he's not on his guitar or fixing up a car, he's building computers or on the computer researching his latest project but that's what I love about him. Who wants an unmotivated couch potato who up to date on all the latest television? If there's ever a time when I want to take a break from my things and he's busy, I have family, friends and Johnny Depp films to keep me occupied!
1) Mister doom’s passion and ambition are awe inspiring. He keeps me on my toes
and I often feel I have to keep up with him with my own creative
endeavors. I consider the “weird sounds” normal and enjoy a very
eclectic musical variety. I love angry music, but also play a lot of gay
music like The Smiths, etc. He makes fun of me a lot for that.
2) We are both very unconventional people and somewhat pretentious. I have
never liked the idea of making art with the thought of profiting from
it. I don’t value mainstream music as much for that reason and respect
Mister doom’s integrity whole heartedly.
3) No competition, he knows where it’s at!!!!!
4) Currently we don’t have the internet at home and haven’t for quite some
time, but I think this will change soon. The only reason being so we can
listen to sick podcasts and watch porn. We have a place in our house
called “the cave”. He spends a hell of a lot of time down there, but he
makes time for kitchen talks and Star Trek. His band schedule certainly
does not dictate my social life. I’m his number one fan and I’m front
and center at every show. Also mediator/driver… Mister doom has a
tendency to get rowdy.
After a successful demo, here's the debut album from Idaho's UZALA, released on vynil via At War With False Noised rds (same label as Fellwoods "Wulfram") and on tape format via Witch Sermon... Far from being young hypsters that jumped in the Female-Doom trend wagon, the quatuor confirms here a very interesting identity. First, the style of the band is an original mix of Traditionnal Doom influences and some other various hard rock and Metal acts from the 70's and 80's, from Deep Purple and Blue Cheer to Bathory and Celtic Frost !!! Second, even if Darcy is the main vocalist (and she does it damn fucking well, in the delightful vein of Sharie from TWK), her man Chad Remains also sings on two songs...
This coincides with two different kind of atmospheres and tempos : while most of the songs (understand when she sings) are slow and mesmerizing with fuzzy guitars, bonecrushing rythmic and a general bleak mood, "fracture" and "wardrums" sung by Chad are filthy pieces full of Frostian riffage, there's a kind of savage fuzziness in the laden that is totally amazing. Even if this could surprise at the first listening, I think this can be complementary... don't you like it when a Doom band plays one or two rawer and faster songs on stage (often covers)? yezzz, so why not on album ?!
The production could sound a bit lame at first but it's also here that the band marks its territory, I think it's a false impression, indeed UZALA seems to constantly evolute in a very obscure and foggy sphere, just like if a nebulous and mystical veil was protecting them, this differs from the masses and is in fact a positively distinctive force
"the reaping", "cataract" (unfortunately for vynil lovers, this one just appears on the tape and digital formats) and the beautiful cover of Diamanda Gallas "gloomy sunday" are my highlights of this great debut, but there's absolutely no fillers here, prooving that UZALA is really a band to count on from right now... You also have to know that several split eps are planed this year with Pallbearer, Mala Suerte and Bongripper, and also that the band will tour the West Coast of the States (several dates will include Fellwoods, awesome line-up !), so watch out for more infos on their FB page...
Prepare yourselves to dive into the realm of ancient wisdoom! EVIL SPIRIT will take you by surprise, like a cloud of opium. Your brain will take a trip into the morbid hallucinations of your dormant inner traumas. And the worst is that it's going to be the most pleasurable experience you'll ever live. Into the cauldron, EVIL SPIRIT cast its life. Let's celebrate the birth of the deformed demigods. This, my friends is the first interview ever answered by this filthy entity.
1- Marcelo, it's been a while you're bathing in music in many different forms, but obviously Metal is the root of all your evil spirit! I am not aware of previous bands in which you were involved. Is EVIL SPIRIT the first serious attempt at adding a stone to the mighty temple of musical creativity?
You hitting the nail indeed Nathaniel; I've been involved in music in many different settings, both as a fan and as a performer, since I got infected some aeons ago. My upbringings as a child up until I was a teenager were very, very modest (not only monetary but also culturally speaking), so I had not all the access kids have nowadays, since I grow up in a tiny village of 100 houses in the North of Argentina, and my family was constantly broken, a condition I seem to have inherited haha! However, I would always find the way to get exposed to music, through friends and acquaintances, and avidly devour the most I could, even if the amounts and variety in offer were really limited. I'm talking pre-internet times, and provincial South America, where life is cheap. Since I was deprived of any scene at the beginning and had no clear guidance until my middle teens, I will put an ear to whatever crossed my path and sounded interesting; so I was lucky to go from King Crimson and Genesis to The Damned, 13th Floor Elevators and The Doors. It must be said that in the early eighties, when democracy got reinstalled after military dictatorship (and the Falklands war) there was a resurgence of national consciousness and pride, so the "Rock Nacional", which was mostly crap, was very strong at the time, so I eventually paid attention to that because of friends and not having too much choices, but realized soon after that that was not my cup of tea, even though all things rock were of interest, the wilder the better. i will then start doing my own research and discoveries, dwelling in the corners of outsider music, brewed by punk and new wave, but eventually no wave will get infiltrated, to damaging consequences. Eventually, someone heard me sing in one of those nightly meetings with alcohol, since I was possessed by Jim Morrison's phantom, and introduced me to a band looking for a vocalist. That band was called LA INSIGNIA DE LA ROSA BLANCA, shortened for practical reasons to LA INSIGNIA, which went on to play several shows and had a growing following, even though we didn't manage to make any recordings nor releases during my stay. That's where I would go doing my first stints as a full frontman and lyricist, and it was in this period, my late teens/late eighties, where my exposure to music will take a dramatic turn. I got acquainted with a circle of freaks where all tribes where represented, and tape trading was at its height, so I will start consuming loads of metal.Then I had a short stint in a blackthrash band called NECROFAGIA, that lamentably went nowhere. When both bands ended, it was clear I wanted to pursue musical activities, which ended in moving 1200 kilometers away to the capital Buenos Aires. I stayed 10 years there and any attempt at meeting like minded people failed, so I got involved into the core of a publishing group releasing and writing for a mag, ESCULPIENDO MILAGROS, covering the outer limits of the musical spectrum. When this came to an end in the late '90s, it was evident my thirst for musical creation had to be satisfied, so I picked drums to learn, and moved to Berlin, where another long, though more fruitful travelogue started, mainly on what generically is called experimental music. I have since played many countries and festivals (Portugal, France, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland) working under my solo alias SPASTIC DEMENTIA, put to rest, now renamed LIGHTBRINGER, and duo or group settings, among them GODS OF RAIN, SUS FUTUROS, ONDE or PICKAXE.
2- What reeks of originality in EVIL SPIRIT is your approach to the music. You're not hesitating to mix different styles into a big bowl (doom, rock, black) and that's especially noticeable through the wide range of vocal tessitures you're using here. How did this idea of mixing all these different influences come to fruition? Is this just a teaser for the next tracks of EVIL SPIRIT to come?
Since we didn't invent the wheel, we can't be called original I guess. However, even if both of us wanted to play doom with a death metal stench, there was no limitation from the let-go. Some of our influences and sources of inspiration are evident, some others not. I won't go on listing which ones are and are not, and at the moment of writing music, they become somewhat irrelevant, because at the very instance of composing, you are put in front of a void, of the blank, naked piece of paper that has to be filled with, hopefully, your own ideas. That's where our approach to styles and influences starts, and where it ends, too. It is all about having an organic approach to music making, to try bringing what the actual piece needs, and come up with a result that has an internal logic, a meaning. Without forcing the process or filling the piece with unnecessary twists and turns, or boring arrangements that play in detriment of where the music has to go. In that sense, we can rightfully be called "old school". Though in the other hand, we address songwriting which seems a tradition in extinction, and not many care about their disappearance.
3-Sure, you're "reiferting" the band by playing drums and singing at the same time. As you're a two piece, I wanted to know how you share the composition work with Ari Almeida (guitar and bass). Are you also composing riffs by any chance? Do you see expanding the band to a third member? So far, wasn't it a problem for you when you played gigs to be just 2 (and you stuck behind the drum kit)?
I only can tell that I was a singer before I started playing the drums ov death. I in fact, like all in my life, started really late for what is considered a good learning age (I was 29!). Since there was a strong need to play drums, I forced the process, bought a drum kit, and tortuously did teach myself to play, even though some other stupid drummers discouraged me on the way, they can actually go fuck off! It was never on my interests to become a highly technical drummer and it will never be. If something, I would aim for having taste and a personal style rather than breaking any speed record, simply because I'm basically more interested in playing music than showing off. To make a long story short, the singing while drumming (or vice-versa) came from not wanting to give up singing once it became prominent that the drums where here to stay. I did play a lot of improvised and free music, where both things became natural, at least to me, and since i never ever gave a shit about what others told, said or considered right or wrong, there was (is) no rules!
In Evil Spirit, Ari (Almeida) and I composed all the material together in the rehearsal room starting basically from improvisations, even though Ari will come with some great riff beforehand, riffs need to get housed in tank armor, then put ready to kill . Since we weren't lucky finding a fitting bass player, and because Ari's guitar is so heavily down tuned (he plays though a bass amp indeed), we skipped that for the time being and concentrated in writing and arranging the songs. As a practice that harks back to my tenure on the experimental music scene, we won't go just jamming and playing randomly, but instead, trying to find a focus from where a structure is more likely to take shape, and once we found it, go from there. Like also breaking in the middle of a sequence and trying to get back a certain riff and put it to work, sometimes in my case, by singing musical lines to Ari to play, or make it fit in the sequence. Ari is a magnificent riff machine, so we interact in each detail and in accordance to where the music leads.
So far we only had a debut show appearance, for which occasion we asked the services of Arsenij, a friend of us. No, we didn't perform as a duo with a drummer singer, and no, we don't want to look even weirder as a two-piece live band haha! I think being a duo has been a forced situation so far, but the good side of it is that the working chemistry solidified and we kinda developed our own take on metal, that's the only that always matter!
At the moment of writing this we got Chris Westby on board on bass duties, who most notably played with Cruciamentum on their last European tour, and we hope he wants to stay with us!!!!
4-Nevertheless, it looks like your "sempiternal punishment" demo sells fast and well, and is pretty well received. Does the connexion to Iron Bonehead records help to get your band a good exposure? By the way, you dwell in Berlin and have already helped and worked for Iron Bonehead several times in the past. How did you meet Patrick in the first place? Was it him who offered to release your demo?
We couldn't be more fortunate than be part of Iron Bonehead's roster; in fact, a line of excellence. Patrick Bonehead has been into the band's music from the beginning, he heard our first rehearsal recordings and was already into it, since then he's been following the slow development of our material, so when we finally managed to nail the demo recordings together, he didn't hesitate in offering us a release. Something I wholeheartedly approved and appreciate, and a fact of mutual respect and support. There was no need to look further. Iron Bonehead has been exploring the abysses of the underground where few have the temerity to delve, unearthing raw gems of obscure brilliance. Not for the uninitiated, and certainly not for the faint of heart!! Our alliance and camaraderie harks back to the times previous to the first Nuclear War Now! Fest held in Berlin. I had found out this label, carrying an incredible and carefully selected amount of mostly obscure vinyl artillery, was in fact based in Berlin: I got in touch and was received with cold beer, so the pilgrimage to the IB headquarters turned into a religious commemoration, and as far as my individual forces reached, spreading their gospels of satanic metal madness.
IB has also been an important mover into shaping the local metal scene and what Berlin has to offer, when it comes to live shows. Really a lot of obscure bands from all over the globe wouldn't have had a chance to perform in this city wouldn't have been Patrick (and Anna, his girlfriend, who runs Witches' Tone and Necro Shrine Rds) in the first place. Really amazing, hard working people, and no nonsense. This adds an extra degree of cultural importance to their tireless efforts that will be sorely missed, since they relocating outside of this city.
5-Now you've got good connections in Denmark too. Not only was your logo drawn by the hand of doom of Ustumallagam, of DENIAL OF GOD's fame, but you'll also take part in the warm up show for the next METAL MAGIC festival in Fredericia in summer 2012! Good points for such a young band. Is your passion for horror movies related to your meeting with Ustu? What are your expectations for the gig? Will you have new stuff for sale at this special occasion?
Again another killer close encounter (of the third kind hoho)! I don't remember exactly how I got in touch personally with Ustu, sure I'm a great admirer of DoG (my Kutte has a couple great looking patches by them) but it might have been by getting his Tornado Mag (which I totally recommend). Being a flick freak and digging dirty raw stuff brings all the drunk fucks together, right? I had seen some of the logos Ustu had done and liked they were all different. Unlike artists who draw logos and have a signature style they sort of reproduce, Ustu's ones are straight to the point, I could see something of a NWOBHM-ish approach very suitable to our music. I asked and 3 fucking days later the logo was in the mail!!!!! I couldn't fucking believe how fast it came, that was extraordinary to say the least, plus the logo fits our dreary imagery (I wanted claws on it as both Ari and I are Zé do Caixão -aka Coffin- Joe fans!). Ustu likes our music and even though I know this lagoon creature a little bit he talks no bullshit, so we have been invited by him in the first place, and by Martin (of BONE/SERPENT SAINTS fame and MMF main force) who also likes what we doing, so is really a honor to play there. As for expectations, we are looking forward to meet the Danish beauties, deliver the shit and get drunk! for sure it's gonna be good times haha! And I know those people know how to have fun. We are working meanwhile in a limited edition t-shirt which is gonna look great since we have the approval to use the killer drawing of Daniel ''Desecrator'' Corcuera we used for the artwork on our tape! Which turns out, has to be said, was another lightning stroke in a path of blessings. To me Daniel is one of the most important and one of my favorite artists working on the metal underground today; if you didn't yet, check out the work of The Master! His drawing, which we picked for the cover, was lying around since 2007, however it looks like if we had commissioned the work as it couldn't have been better fitting.
6-The lyrics are pretty varied along the 3 tracks. Some are pretty blasphemous, others are dark and the last song has a necromantique edge. All of them topped by a pretty Liebling-esque interpretation. What inspires you when it comes to writing lyrics? As metal is loaded with clichés, I'd like to know if you try to avoid them at any cost, or rather enjoy playing with them. Where's the boundary between sounding "inspired" and "blatantly stealing from the elder ones"? Mind you, I saw very well some tributes hidden in your texts under the shape of: "jump in the fire", "surrender or die"... héhé! First class tastes!
What is a cliché remains a cliché. I'm not interested in writing cliched lyrics, since i want them where they belong, printed into the booklet that's it, so they have to sustain themselves and have something to say. That's part of the tradition of songwriting at the end. The topics chosen in our lyrics are however not alien to the way of writing common in metal, for the sake of hell, I did not innovate much on topics already established. However, I tried to give them a bit of a twist, a personal vision, even though you can keep on going with finding references, quotations, or whatever people might discern, which turns out, haven't been quite intentional, but i recognize that being a music junkie, that seemed inevitable. The way we write music applies to the way I wrote the lyrics: organic, without forcing them, otherwise, you have to deal with pronunciation, and english is far from being my lingua mater. There is a tribute though, and it is credited on the booklet, an adaptation - on the first track of the demo - of the 1911 silent classic L'Inferno, by Giuseppe de Liguoro, which is loosely based but in part textually quoting sentences on the film. Indeed, film should be considered as the greatest source of inspiration to my writings, the other comes from some obscure corners of my mind.
It has to be noted that for me there was a gap of 20 years without having written a song lyric, so it was a scabrous process…but that's been so far a new start, which hopefully will keep evolving into more fruitful, uncharted territories.
7-Talking about tastes, it looks like you're a metal and music junkie. What makes you still feeling enthusiasm when it comes to discovering new bands? I remember that some months ago you talked about some recent purchases of yours (mostly ep's in the death metal style), and you were somehow regretting not to be totally blown away by these new bands and their music. Still, where does the future of good metal is hiding according to you? Which bands do possess the soul that will make us go on?
That's a different terrain and at the same time, part of the same area: music-making and avid music consuming are entirely related in my case as it is my school: i learned by listening, and my record collection is also my library filled with "study books". I had no musical training nor my parents paid piano or violin lessons when I was a child. So i always been a record fetishist that wished I had more money to afford even greater amounts of records. That's a senseless obsession for most common people, but I'm sure many a reader of your zine share a passion. Since my interests cover a wide range of musics (besides metal, contemporary classical, industrial, noise, fluxus, sound art, free jazz, soundtracks, electroacoustic, and outsider musics in general) it's been difficult for me to focus on exhausting certain artist's discographies, though I've been getting closer with Mercyful Fate/ Diamond and a couple more. At the moment of discovering music, there is new in the old, and old in the new, so to say there is no time barriers, since, as we all know, lots of music have been discarded, discredited or merely overlooked at their time, so I enjoy quite much the sort of music archeology. Still hard to tell what strikes a nerve when listening to new stuff, still it proves right that the first impression is what actually count, even though there is exceptions of rediscovering stuff I found dull at first listen. Some recent records of bands I have been into (though not all of them really new) are the ones by Pustulation (Dk), Anima Morte (Swe), Invidious (Swe), Necronomicon Beast (Br), Hades Archer (Chl), Griftegard (Swe), Bestial Raids/ Cultes des Ghoules (Pol), Kerasphorus (US, RIP), Unaussprechlichen Kulten (Chl), Necrolisis (CR), Pseudogod (Rus), Heresiarch (NZ), Anhedonist (US), Black Oath (It), Necrowretch (Fr), Ilsa (US), Nocturnal Witch (Ger), Hellbringer (Aus), 40 Watt Sun (UK), Black Salvation (Ger), Bloody Vengeance (Ger), Ritualization (Fr), Vassafor (NZ), Antichrist (Swe), Swallowed (Fin), Absconder (US), Voids of Vomit (It), Innsmouth (Aus), Antedeluvian (Can), Negative Plane (US), Druid Lord (US), Cruciamentum (UK), Pallbearer (US), Sepulcral (It), Loss (US), Procession/Vein (Chl/Swe/Dk), and countless others…dig deep underground, that's where the gems of quality stuff reside. A mixed bag but for the metalhead of nowadays, I assume we almost all listen rather to the music than a determined style. Still, there is a strange feeling of missing the train since bands keep popping around every day. I just think we shouldn't care much on innovations but quality, at least that's my policy. At the end, innovations will happen beyond a conscious, determined choice, or a will to innovate. In other words, new things will happen when bands decide to take risks and venture into the unknown. And in music, innovations have been taking place in so many different directions, it's difficult to determine a clear path towards what really new things take place…
8-To which extent other musical styles than metal find their way into your approach of EVIL SPIRIT?
Other non-metal musical styles can be perceived but aren't that self-evident. I guess that film and film-soundtrack play an interesting role, in my case also certain approaches derived from new classical music and improvisation, alien forms that contribute to create an atmosphere. I might mention Christian Vander and Magma being great influences, and certain streams of progressive rock, even though we aren't remotely tech in any sense, we actually despise technicality! Same to psychedelic rock and hard-krautrock, but at certain extent that is implied in the metal canon anyway.
Having listened to many different kinds of music, I find it difficult nowadays to recognize what is actually non-metal, since metal has been nurturing from many other sources, regardless of the purists, and incorporating other styles of music seems inevitable. We embrace diversity, but at the same time, are very conscious of a tradition we want to follow, although there is no fuckin' rules!
9-Hey Berliner, you're in fact originating from Argentina! When did you land in Germoney? How did you adapt to the occidental rites of degringolade? It must feel like a strength to have your feet and soul rooted in 2 cultures. Any schizophrenic anecdotes to share? What are the southamerican/argentinian bands of old and modern days you can recommend to us (please avoid the classic stuff everybody knows like SARCOFAGO, and dig some obscure bones)!
By now I'm approaching 12 years in Germany and it feels alright, if it weren't for certain whims of the weather, though nothing one can't get adapted to. I moved here with a clear goal, to deepen the musical path, so I pretty much embraced the experience, letting myself be metamorphosed by the environment, and injecting blood into making of this a worthwhile and enjoyable transition. I paid my duties learning German as soon as I could, and feel part of this society. In the other hand, I never was the kind of person that has a sense of nostalgia about years gone by; there is some good and other forgettable episodes when moving from one country to another, but they aren't worth mentioning here. In any case, German society and codes are certainly quite different than those in South America, but seen in retrospect, it's something I had no big troubles to deal with. Anybody wanting to dig into Argentine hard rock should first and foremost approach the holy trinity of Pappo's Blues/Riff, Pescado Rabioso/Invisible and V8. Given the circumstances, being into a post traumatic military regime, many quality metal bands resurfaced since the eighties with their own brand of heavy NWOBHM hints and speed thrashing rage, to name a few, El Reloj, Bloke, El Dragon, Hellion, Uzi, Militia, Horcas, Boxer, Samson, RetroSatan, Apocalipsis, Vibrion, 1917, Leviathan, Lethal, Bunker, Thor, Cancerbero, Corpus Christi, Dhak, and more recently, Infernal Curse/ Nocturnal Evil…As a side-note and without generalizing, several an Argentine metal band was impregnated by a nationalistic pride, which they exteriorized not only by singing in spanish, but by addressing it on the lyrics and cover art. An attitude, to be honest I at large found to be pretty stupid.
Another South American bands from different eras worth mentioning are Graf Spee (Ur), Kulto Maldito (Bol), Exterminator (Br), Mortuorio (Per), The Force (Par), Mirthless (Per), Bestial Holocaust (Bol), Morbid Spell (Par), Ekron Cult (Par), Diabolical Messiah (Chl), Violent Attack (Par), Curriculum Mortis (Per), Warpath (Chl), Azul Limao (Br), Alta Tensao (Br), Hadez (Per), Flageladör (Br)…this list would be endless, I recommend checking if you haven't yet, the Retrospectiva al Metal Chileno (1983-1993) book (though written in Spanish) and LP or the site www.metaleros.de to get a greater insight into the vibrant scenes of these countries.
10-What is the future looking like for EVIL SPIRIT? Some new stuff composed already? A move on a different label maybe? More gigs? More fun? More dirt? Tell us all and then go relax with a beer and some chaos echoes in your ears. You deserved it after such an exhausting interview! Gracias mein Freund. Hope to meet your first class moustache and laughing eyes soon.
By now we keep on composing and working on new stuff, at our own slow pace. There is a couple non-demo songs already worked and some surprise for the upcoming shows, and many unfinished ideas we might work on. If the forces of the afterlife keep with us, there will be more studio recordings this year, let's see where the travelogue goes, and who keeps interested in supporting us. I can only tell we keep very active even though each of us has their own normal-life commitments (and miseries) to deal with. So far there is two shows coming in April 2012 (Fredericia and Berlin), but we are certain there will be others. Thanks Nath for the well thought questions, it has been fun to answer the first Evil Spirit interview ever! Keep the flame burning with your own Résistance! Metal & Hell!
After an interview with Walter Broide by Vania about two months ago, Argentinean STONER is again under our lights with the surprising BANDA de la MUERTE and their excellent 2nd album "Pulso de una Mente Maldita", to be officially released this week, simultaneously with their first steps in Europe in the company of their S.A. brothers of CULTURA TRES...
This new album shows a great improvement in terms of structures, catchiness, melodies... It's also not just the better production but vocals are deeper too, the rhythmic section more tight and thick, solos are amazing; even if there's 2 fast and short songs, this is still powerful and heavy but more refined, less raw and punk... Vocals in spanish add a special touch to some potential "Radio-Stoner" Hits that you should hurry-up to discover ! Support these guys by checking out this hot masterpiece and/or by going to one of their European live shows (the line-up in Birmingham is absolutely awesome but Dutch and other dates are worth going too !) ... Xoni (voc) answered a few questions :
* Hey guys, first, thanx for accepting this interview... Your sophomore album "pulso de una merte maldita" just came out, there's positive reviews from foreign blogs (written in english) but how are the 1st reactions in Argentina (where I suppose the expectations were pretty high, considering the 1st album had a great success but came out more than two years ago) ... ?
Hey! Thank you very much for the interest.
We don’t care about expectations, at all. We just focus on our songs. I think that if you are thinking about what others want your album to sound like, then you are not doing honest music, and BANDA DE LA MUERTE is about being hones to yourself.
* Continuing on the local aspects of your popularity, I suppose that your audience in Argentina goes further the underground Stoner/Metal/punk rock scene, do you get for example airplay in national radios or videos on TV, interviews in important rock magazines... ?
Stoner/Metal/punk are not so popular music styles in Argentina, but there is a growing community of people that are very interested in what’s going on in music, so personally for us we had very good reviews in rock magazines such as Rolling Stone Argentina, and our music has been played in the main radio stations, most of the times in the heavy rock programs.
* This new album shows a great improvement in terms of catchiness, melodies... It's also not just the better production but vocals are deeper too, the rhythmic section more tight and thick, solos are amazing; even if there's 2 fast and short songs, this is still powerful and heavy but more refined, less raw and punk... What were your objectives when composing/recording this new album ? What kind of mistakes/defaults from the 1st album did you want to avoid in particular ?
You know, the first album was more like a demo. We spend about 200 US $ recording it. So we didn’t think it would be so well received.
In this new album we wanted to sound better in the composition, we just love to play songs, heavy sounding songs.
* You'll tour Holland by the last week of March (next week in fact !) with CULTURA TRES, PENDEJO and UNDERSMILE... pretty excited I suppose ? the dutch band PENDEJO includes guys from S.A. origins, do you already know them ? how did exactly come this opportunity , from Mudfest or Pendejo ? Are you aware about the dutch local specialties (not to just name their awesome weed !!!) ? What are you gonna buy first : tulips, weed or a good local beer ?!
Beer Jajajjaa
We are very good friends whit CULTURA TRES. We toured together in Chile and Argentina. They help us a lot with the tour. We have heard PENDEJO and they are great, but we don’t know them personally.
* I heard that you planed the whole month of April to tour Europe but only have a couple of other dates aside dutch ones, isn't it a bit frustrating ? are you still opened to other dates, if for example someone reading this has any last minute-opportunity ?
We are open for more shows of course we want to play as much as we can, but I don’t think we should feel frustrated since we are playing in Germany, Switzerland, England and Belgium. We are very thankful.
* With you and C.T. soon touring in Europe, that's a great part of the South American Sludge movement that is gonna be represented here, do you feel a special pride towards this ? What are your expectations for this 1st coming in Europe for the band and as individuals ?
I don’t think it is about being proud, we are going to play our music, we understand it is a bit different and we hope people to be able to enjoy that difference. The main thing is to show the way we play heavy rock in South America.
* I don't follow closely this S.A.S. scene but from what I see, BdlM and C.T. are very active towards the rest of the world in terms of promotion/gigs/exposure whereas most of the others are generally quite withdrawn, I know you've got some precious help coming from a nice girl living in Sofia, how do you organize and share the tasks? Do you concentrate yourselves on S.A. and her Europe?
Since this is our first time in Europe, we were a little lost, and then we received a lot of help from this "nice girl living in Sofia" jaajaja that we really appreciate.
In South America we have help from the indie record label Zonda Records, our manager, and our press agent. but we work a lot ourselves for the band.
* Are you opened individually to various and different musical genres ? Do you feel attracted in particular by the scene of a precise country ? Are any of you listening Doom MEtal bands ? LOS NATAS and DRAGONAUTA are pretty wellknown names, BdlM starts to get an echo here in Europe but there's certainly others we don't know anything about, so please could you recommend some cool argentinean Doom/Stoner/Sludge bands ? Do you see an evolution throughout the years concerning the development of the local scene ?
We love many kinds of music and doom metal is not the exception. Argentina has plenty of great bands, you should hear ARARAT, POSEIDOTICA, BUFFALO, SICK PORKY, AVERNAL, THE KILLING
You will find that many of us play in those other projects too. In Buenos Aires playing live is like a party because you see and play with your friends.
* The first album was released on Zonda rds, is it still physically available ? What about the new one ? could you please precise the different formats available, especially if there's vinyl to come ? Also you've got a nice T-shirt for sale (thanx again for providing one to the blog's contest! ), what's the price and do you have any other merch available ?
Our first album is available on CD.
The new one is going to be available on vinyl, which is very cool for us. This limited edition vinyl only will be distributed via Clear Spot International (http://www.clearspot.nl/) in Europe and North America and via the band’s label in South America.
And also, we have made a video playing the entire album live, so everyone have the chance to watch it online( have a look on it below !).And we really love to play live, and the songs get a different approach, so it is a good way to know more about the band, and the music in our country.
We also have some t shirts but I know nothing about the price yet, jajaja.
* Now, let's speak a bit about Football (another passion quite often shared by men !)... Why can't Leo Messi, the best football player of the history after Pelé (in my opinion), be as good, decisive and influent in his national team ? Do you think like me that as talentuous as he can be, he depends also of the collective and at least half of the other 10 players could not play in FC Barcelona ?
Ja ja ja, you are talking to the wrong guy.
I don’t know anything about football, there is no room enough for two passions such as football and music.
* In a recent past, the national championship in Argentina has been often subject of terrible violences between supporters, is it more quiet now ? Was or Is it the reflect of a part of the actual argentinean youth or just a minority of stupid fanatics ?
Well, again, I am not very into football, but people go blind with that and it is being a little out of control I think. I don’t think that it is the reflection of the Argentinean youth.
* Outside Argentina but still in South America, where do you get the best feedback from? And outside S.A.? Of course I'm convinced and wish you'll have tons more gigs coming but if you had to choose just one place for a last gig, where would it be ?
In Concepcion Chile we had a great show, but we love to play in Buenos Aires, in fact the South American sludge fest is in Buenos Aires.
* I'm sure this is an important point for you but I'm sorry I can not read a single word of spanish, so what are your lyrics speaking about? Is speaking in english something you can ever imagine, even just for a cover (maybe you already play some live ?) ?
We love music in English, in fact the music we made is originally made in English, we played some Stooges, Sabbath staff that is obviously in English.
But we speak Spanish and sing in Spanish.
Maybe in the future it would be nice to make an English version of some album
* Maybe I'm wrong but from what I know, the economical situation in Argentina isn't that bad compared to a period where there was a lot inflation... how do you see and live it ? Is there anything positive done by officials for cultural activists in general and people involved in music in particular (bands,gig organizers, independent radios, etc...) ?
I think things are a little better, but rock in Argentina is independent.
Nobody puts money in rock, so we do it because we feel a real passion. And it is supported by fans and very few people who really love music. I think that is a good thing in a way because when you see a show, you can almost hear the effort.
* Thanx a lot guys, maybe I forgot something you feel important you wanna talk about, so here's your chance to do it now... all the best to you for the tour and new album !
Thanx to you for the support of rock music! And I’m sorry about my English jaja.
A little reminder for the forthcoming European dates : 28/03/2012 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Winston Kingdom (w/ Cultura Tres) 29/03/2012 - Arnhem, Netherlands @ The Stage (w/ Pendejo, Cultura Tres) 30/03/2012 - Gouda, Netherlands @ SoWhat (w/ Pendejo, Cultura Tres and Undersmile) 31/03/2012 - Middelburg, Netherlands @ De Spot (w/ Pendejo, Cultura Tres and Undersmile) 01/04/2012 - Roermond, Netherlands @ Azijnfabriek (w/ Pendejo, Cultura Tres and Undersmile) 05/04/2012 - Birmingham, UK @ Scruffy Murphy's (w/ Cultura Tres, Stone Axe, Alunah, Stubb and Trippy Wicked) 11/04/2012 - Zürich, Switzerland @ Eldorado 12/04/2012 - Freiburg, Germany @ Slow Club 15/04/2012 - Antwerp, Belgium @ TBC (w/ Aguardente)
Seven years after their 1st ep "Hecate", here's the new recording of NY's Doom act AGNOSIS who reformed in 2011, after a break of five years, around its both original members Andrew (bass, also in the almighty ARCHON) and Austin P. (guit/voc), joined by a new drummer Austin L. (also in PANOPTICON and SEIDR)...
And so, is there any particular evolution to be noticed ? Does the AGNOSIS style still sound pretty original while so many bands appeared in between ?
The answer to both questions is YES ! Well, "particular" is maybe not the most exact word concerning the musical evolution, "logical" would be more realistic, as I guess the guys have simply evolved as musicians and individuals certainly too, met many other doomsters (Archon for exemple is a very rich collective affair) and learnt from them, improving their level of composition. Another thing that is really palpable and serves their identity is that the process of recording matured considerably (Austin L. is also a producer now), the production is very clear and thick at the same time.
Containing 4 songs, "a painful pattern" lasts a bit more than 30 minutes which is yet appreciable to enjoy this comeback : solid and also extremely promising for some more stuff to come (let's hope shortly).
I must admit that at first listening , I was a bit suprised by the first song "the weight of distrust", a pretty long instrumental , but this was more considering that the ep had only 4 songs including yet a cover... In fact this is a perfect introduction to the heavy and menacing Doom of AGNOSIS : based on powerful and rather slow downtuned tempos, the trio likes it heavy and crushing , nothing too technical but extremely heady and catchy.If the older stuff was sometimes eying on (early) Sludge tendencies, the new one sounds more dark and scary, almost tinged with mesmerizing epicness like on the majestuous "writing by candlelight". This song is the longest by far (13 minutes), it represents certainly the most completely what the guys wanted to achieve with this comeback and allows to expect brilliant upcoming material.
Of course, I can not forget a special mention for the PENTRAGRAM's cover "all your sins", an already cult extended version with the prestigious appearance of Mr Dave SHERMAN on vocals... Slower than the original and even more crushing, the musical interpretation is at the level of the guest's performance : HUGE !
So if you wanna do yourself a cheap and immediate favour, there's not hundreds of solutions, this one is guaranteed and not complicated : check out "a painful pattern" NOW !!!
With all those specialized labels in order to categorize modern bands precisely, there's a term (yet enough clear and without any possible confusion) that we do more and more rarely use nowadays : ROCK'N ROLL... to the point that we could even sometimes ask ourselves "does the pure "rock'n roll" style still exist ? Is there any new upcoming bands that could perpetuate the legacy of AC/DC, THE RAMONES, THIN LIZZY, MOTÖRHEAD, ZZ TOP and other few references of a genre that will never sound outdated, as long as it'll still be based on hearted wildness, authenticity and groove... ?
Hopefully YES, there's still some bands that assume simply and with a remarkable conviction this musical membership and LEGAL FINGERS is one of them, which we can willingly agree with and fully support... I suppose that won't prevent them from being classified as Stoner or Riff Rock or Retro-something but if that helps them to gain attention, then where's the problem in fact !?
One thing is sure, this american power-trio seems to come directly from the late 70's where almost everything imaginable was tolerated and experienced in music, caracterised by unrestrained inspirations and guys living a total carefree life... Main influences can be certainly found in THE HELLACOPTERS, THE RAMONES and THIN LIZZY, but a more obscure and psychedelic edge can also be detected through smoked-out riffs or top-notch spacey solos, while it can be followed by some sleazy Glam type of excentric vocals with amazing boogy moods ("fuck city")...
I love this, very easy-going stuff, though certainly not as basic as it could seem technically (just like the lyrics I guess...) but very solid and catchy in terms of structure always thick and very well-balanced.
If I had the possibility to airplay some kind of accessible Heavy Rockin' stuff in a big audienced radioshow, I would for sure choose several songs from this "No Time for Tenderness", like the dynamiting opener "(I just wanna get alright) Tonite !", "Downtown Prowler" or the seducing "Meat Candy"... There's indeed a few real potential HITS in here, but, before anything else, LEGAL FINGERS can appeal to a wide range of TRUE heavy, boogy and Psychedelic raw sounds and that's already a great performance with this highly recommandable debut !!!
We're
really excited to be doing these gigs with them. I've known them for
years but to be invited to tour with them and have Ben make all the
arrangements with the promoters for us is a big thrill. Over the last 8
years we've played with so many great bands over here in the UK, too
many to mention and we've made some good friends along the way. One of
my favourite things is to get various members of other bands up on stage
with us to help sing our set closer "Sweat Like Horses"...it's always a
drunken party!!!
.JPG)
