... Interview with Stuart from SIGIRIYA

With their debut "Return to Earth", here's a band that released almost exactly one year ago, one of the best albums of Stoner Rock from these last years... As punchy as Mike Tyson in his golden days, SIGIRIYA is an incredible riffing machine which even takes a higher dimension on stage for some of the most memorable performances you could ever expect... Too bad, vocalist Dorian recently quited the band , which implies a delayed new album but doesn't discourage at all his old buddies, as Stuart  (guit) proves it with his usual  communicative passion and enthusiasm :

 

So, how is it going, not too hampered by this hand’s injury ? I suppose that at least during the 1^st weeks you’re completely off to play guitar… isn’t it too hard to stand ?

 

Yeah not too bad thanks Steph, despite my thumb injury which has been a bit tedious. Being right handed and having my hand in a cast has been interesting , not able to work or jam has been a bummer though. The break ran straight up along the main bone into the joint, which at first was a big fear as it may have healed and maybe fused the joint? But the specialist assured me it should be fine.

Don’t you feel sometimes a bit frustrated when interviews turn out to include for the most part questions concerning Acrimony ?

I think we’re bound to get it for some time to come really being like four fifths of Acrimony and I think Sigiriya’s yet to stretch its legs fully. Personally I don’t get frustrated if people like to find out the odd thing about the band. We sure get more attention now than when we were active, which I think happens to a lot of cult bands that cut it and quite before their time.

I presume that the departure of Dorian was felt like a big loss by you guys but in some way, don’t you think that the coming of a new singer could almost definitely help to be fully recognized as Sigiriya and not as the new band of ex Acrimony members ?

Dorian was obviously a huge part of the band and his voice informed a lot of the songs, just like they did in our Acrimony days. There’s nothing wrong with being viewed as ‘the new band of ex Acrimony members’ I reckon anyway. Sigiriya already has its own identity so any new person who joins the fold will have to fit in with us and our ethos (and history) and rather than choosing someone that will take us further away from our roots we will be looking for someone who knows our roots, as essentially where you come from makes who you are now.   

Were you aware for a while that Dorian was going to quit or did it suddenly happen ?

We knew it would happen one day sadly and when the bomb drops you always find it hard to get your head around. Think he was finding it hard to juggle the band with family life and that’s the way it goes I guess? We still wish him all the best.
 

 

What would be the profile of the new singer ? Did you already have some concrete applications for Dorian’s replacement or will you take care about that when you recover the use of your hand and then rehearse again ?

Nothing set in stone at the moment, we’re just gonna keep jamming and writing for the next lp and keep putting out feelers. Dor was a story teller, a hell of a frontman and a loon. We’re not gonna be looking for a Dorian clone but any prospective replacements have definitely got to be a character who shines and can hold a tune.

I’ve read that you’ve got about 6 new songs composed, are they all completed with lyrics ? could you tell us if they retranscribe a palpable evolution in Sigiriya’s sound ? you described one of them as a mix of 70’s ZZ Top and classic era TROUBLE, I would be really curious to listen how it sounds like !

I think that there’s probably 4 in the bag with a rough lyric style (that will probably change with a new singer) and another 4 near completion. There’s a little work in progress if you like and yeah the sounds kinda the same, a little bigger and dirtier. Why fix something if it ain’t  broken, right? Yeah we’re calling that one ‘Trouble at the top’ at the moment, for a laugh as it’s got the classic ‘Top style 70’s main riff and structure mixed with a massive Trouble breakdown and solo which fuckin rules to play!!

The production of “return to earth” had a very particular sound, raw, dirty, almost sludgy… is it something that you’ll try to keep for next album or do you feel this needs a change, an improvement ?

I don’t think we’d like to change that vibe too much. Maybe make it more massive which is always the challenge. Personally I think it’ll have the bass a little more up there and dirtier as is with our live sound, keeping the drums banging and the guitar heavy and singing.

 

                                             live at Morrowfest - credit goes to Jez Walshaw

 

Your (memorable) show at Roadburn only included songs from the album, but did you ever play new songs live ? Is there any songs that you already know you won’t play live anymore when new ones will be definitely ready ? -oops sorry ! I now remember about 2... was definitely  toostoned when I prepared that one :( -

Ha, we did actually play 3 new tracks a Roadburn and 2 of them have been in rotation since the Lord Vicar, Orchid euro tour. I think we’ll always get excited by a new tune and just throw it out there for kicks because we’re chuffed. If we think it’s a winner, let it run. There will always be songs that get cut for a while and will hopefully return when we feel the moments right.

I’ve been really impressed by your way of playing live, very expressive, are you conscious that you’re almost constantly smiling, making faces on stage… is that so orgasmic ?!

Play it from the heart every time mate, mistakes ‘n all.

Was the spring tour with ORCHID and LORD VICAR the best you’ve ever had with any of your bands ? It looks like that it has been a nice human adventure too … ? Which country that you haven’t reached yet would you like to play in preferably now ?

Yes personally it was one of my favorite tours that I’ve had the chance to do; a lot of craziness mind you, but that goes hand in hand. And getting to play with two very accomplished bands every night definitely makes you step up you game. Lord Vicar are one of my fave doom bands also and they kill it every time, plus they will always be true and good friends. I think there’s still a load of places we’d like to play, France, Spain, Sweden, Japan , ha the list goes on and on..

 Some weeks ago, you posted on FB a message that was warning people about a distributor that ripped you off, you then recommended to buy Acrimony and Sigiriya stuff just through Church Within or you directly… it seems that a few other bands have had the same troubles with that guy, are things arranged or is it an integral loss for you ?

Man, it’s a bit of a shitstorm really that I don’t want to bother or bore people with. Just deal with us direct or with Oli at Church Within Recs, that’s all I can say.

After the London’s desertfest and Roadburn this spring, you played at festivals in Germany and Austria this summer… how did you enjoy those both last ones ? Is to play at Roadburn definitely the ultimate highlight for a stoner/doom band or did you take an equal pleasure and have been as proud and happy with the others ?

Roadburn was a definite high point for us as Sigiriya. But they’ve all been a real pleasure and honour to play. We dealt with and met some amazing people doing these shows and hope to do more of the same when we’re back up and running.
 

 

Wales and Brittany (where I live) have common celtic historic roots, including in the native language, traditional music, etc… do you feel attached to this culture ? (by the way, I should tell ya that my family name in Britton means “the welsh” !)

I guess I’m proud to be Welsh but don’t really associate myself with culture etc.

Could you imagine a decent reason that would push you to shave your beard ?

NO.

Could you please cite any new interesting welsh stoner/doom/metal bands that is worth discovering? I know that Wales is a pretty small country but is there any other towns outside Cardiff that allow to play in good conditions ?

Personally I’m not really keyed up on any new bands, as I tend to keep myself to myself and sadly we don’t tend to play around Wales at all. There is the odd show here and there, but that’s about it. I will tell you to check out HARK from Bristol, they’re a bunch of Welsh dudes, one of them being Jimbob ( One of my best mates and ex TAINT frontman/ He also did the ‘Return to earth’ artwork ) – They win bigtime!!

I remember reading that you formed SIGIRIYA to “feel if the old magic was still there”, I won’t take any risk by thinking it still is, but how do you see the future of the band now ? It’ll be of course delayed but are you still planing to release the new album in 2013 ?

Well I will say that myself, Dar and Mead are still having way too much fun too pack it in. Personally, I enjoy the camaraderie, just jamming with these guys and I guess we’ll keep it going so long as we’re chuffed to do it. As for the record, the plan was to record in jan/feb 2013 and maybe again work with Billy Anderson one way or another? Then to get it out by March 2013. Now it’s in the lap of the gods so to say. We’ll just keep our heads down writing  and see how things pan out?

Could you tell us which SIGIRIYA merchandise is currently still available ? plus add something if you wish, thanx a lot Stu !!!

Yeah get in touch through our facebook page to get a low down on merch and you can deal direct with one of us to see what’s what. Also any of you out there fancies giving the vocal duties a turn, please get in touch also. Big up to you Steph, much thanks always for the support!!

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/sigiriyaofficial

http://www.doom-dealer.de/

 

 

 

my ROADBURN 2012...

That's my report : no long descriptions, no setlists... just my shit !

***** THE TOP 3 :

ORCHID : the equivalent of CANDLEMASS special "epicus..." show last year = MEMORABLE... a bit more than an hour of HITS (from the ep and album) with a fantastic sound, and two new songs that ripped... The guys are very impressive of fluency and should blow everything away with their new album.  I've very rarely felt such a communion between a band and its fans, pure moments of shared happiness !

YOB :  Mike and his buddies did something I hardly could have expected with playing the cultish "the unreal never lived" in its entirety (and the song "adrift in the ocean" as unexpected bonus)... The sound was HUGE, just perfect for a 1hour and 15 minutes LESSON of epic and crushing heaviness; particularly at ease in his killer growls, this gig confirms my opinion that Mike S. became definitely the most complete vocalist of the Doom scene.

 

NECROS CHRISTOS : ten times heavier than on album, imagine the carnage ! one of my fave DM gigs ever, certainly the best DM vocal performance I've seen Live; they definitely have created their own style... impatient to see them again in June at the Hellfest !

+ bonus gigaplus : the DIAMOND QUEEN from The Grass Company

**** Other significant HIGHLIGHTS

SIGIRIYA : excellent performance from the welsh band; Stuart is incredible on stage : very incisive and groovy, funny to see how he's always smiling during his awesome solos ! great vocal performance here too

LORD VICAR : due to some little problems with the sound, particularly on Chritus vocals, they needed a bit of time to be at their usual high level, but the set was globally memorable with obviously a good part of songs from their brilliant sophomore album

OM : no photos, definitely too dark to take good photos (at least in my position with my camera) but a perfect ambiance though... massive heavy sounds with refinement, tightness and dark emotions

 + bonus superplus : our own cocktails with RHUM and grapefruit, plus the excellent general ambience reigning during the festival

*** GREAT

VOIVOD : playing "dimension hatröss" in its entirety, that says it all !

CHURCH OF MISERY : too bad about the Bass problems but the new singer is very competitive and this australian guitarist is always a fucking master !

THE WOUNDED KINGS : I liked very much the few moments I've seen, but too short ... I'm ashamed towards such a great band and so nice people : in March I already missed a great part of their gig in Rennes cause I had been too longly talking with the singer of TBDLB and now I just see the 1st song of their set, feeling very bad at that moment I need to go outside during a little hour... victim of a serious technical problem of proportions in what I was smoking :(

THE OBSESSED : good set but I was expecting better, with let's say ... more taste ! Wino did the job, nothing more special.

DOPETHRONE : I expected something a bit wilder from Montreal's trio, they seemed a bit stressed and tired, certainly the consequences of  Vincent's guitar that had been stolen during the travel ! but their filthy Sludge ripped and to see Carl hammering is drums so heavily was amazing.

DANAVA : no photos as I was too much in the back of the small Stage 01, but the set was good with if I'm not wrong all the songs from "hemisphere of shadows" except one, adding two great songs of the sophomore album for maybe the bluesiest gig of my week-end.

HUATA : the french band was very awaited by their recent and old fans and attracted quite many curious too I guess... thinking something like "who are these druids playing fuzzy occult Stoner/Doom with a bottle of chouchen in hands ?" A bit stressed, having to face again some sound problem capacities, but soon in their set, the french band presents finally to the world "the Atavist  of Mann" and it makes no doubt that new fans have been conquered by their extreme heaviness, accentuated by very tight and serious performances from the guitarist and Ronan on vocals.

MARS RED SKY : would deserve a better mention certainly, but I saw only about 10 minutes of this french band that really  needs more attention (including from me first !).

SAVIOURS : sweat, hair and Metal... that's the 3 words that come in mind when thinking about their performance, very catchy brand of metallic Stoner n' roll !

CELESTIAL SEASON : very good moment with those dutch death/doomsters playing their "solar lovers" album 17 years later; didn't remember that the Stoner overtones were so nicely present there, great !

BONGRIPPER : too bad I was really tired for one of Saturday's last gigs, but they were immensely brutal which along with my last joint (before leaving back to France) definitely finished me !!!

+  the listening session of the new ST VITUS : great idea and thanx for this special rolling paper !

+ the enormous breakfasts I took at the hotel

*AVERAGE

40 WATT SUN : should be seen in another context, to play on the biggest scene wasn't appropriated at all

WITCH : a few good moments/riffs but their repertory is definitely too unequal.

- DISAPPOINTING  :

SLEEP - how can this get so much praise ? too fucking noisy, most of the songs were so hardly recognizable ! he, look at the photo ... seriously, does a band who originally play some Sabbathian stuff need so many amps ???

- the TRAVEL to arrive at Tilburg, late after various successive problems that led me to miss D.USK !

- Too many people at some point this year, that's a serious problem for the smaller rooms... it was impossible to see CONAN for example unless you arrived at least 15 minutes before; that has been the only band I personally missed for that reason but that was the same problem for most gigs in Stage 01 and the Green Room. I saw LORD VICAR, DOPETHRONE, NECROS CHRISTOS, HUATA and a few others, in rather great conditions, just because I was there about 20 minutes before the gig started ! Otherwise, if luckily there's still one or two places in the hall you have to pray not being behind 2 or 3 giant dutch or vikings !!!

Nothing dramatical and hard to live at all, this is just to say that this is a waste of time for discovering bands like I used to do last year or at the Hellfest for example...

All in all this was pretty memorable, a little bit under2011 for myself but not so surprising as last year  included more DOOM bands I think... But I'm a bit afraid about next year, considering that E.W. will be curators, I fear this will bring many more people pretending for a ticket to the festival, including certainly mainstream people... the price of success !

THANX to the organisation and bands for all those great moments :)

Interviews serie "WIVES ov DOOM" pt 1 : with Susan "Soggy Bog" and Ronnie "Sigiriya"

Here we go with the first chapter of an interviews-serie which I thought could be interesting... It's not that I feel tired of always interviewing men, but I thought it could be interesting to let women speak for once...! 

Maybe not as often as I should, I sometimes realize how mine (Nathalie) is cool, understanding my passion and all the time it requests, the special environment around Doom and dark Stuff in general (lyrics, symbols, T-shirts, etc...), my absences for gigs/festivals ... and that could be worse on that point if I was musician ! Precisely, I tried to transpose those feelings to musicians and wives of musicians or other people involved daily in the scene... How do they live this ? Are they mainly proud, undifferent, sometimes angry ? In "compensation", do they sometimes ask some special favours (doesn't always mean something particularly exciting for us, ha ha ! ) ?

 All this led my thoughts to ask the following few questions (or a free writing on the subject) to some nice and friendly "WIVES ov DOOM"... thanx to them for their contribution, their outspokenness and good spirits (which we often need in our moments of weakness), thanx for their freshness and all the love they show to their men !

If this gets good feedback as I hope, there'll be more episodes to come... and by the way other blogs have to be warned that "Wives ov Doom" is already a registered trademark , ha ha ha !

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... ?

- Susan - (Wife of Bob from The Soggy Bog Radioshow)

1) I guess I don't quite get the heavy music and find most of it depressing or just a cacophony of noise. I like lyrics so if I can't understand them it doesn't appeal to me. I have gotten used to the music and honestly don't even hear it anymore. I did learn just recently that the music of Bob's ipod has been soaking into my brain because at the last Ghost and Blood Ceremony shows that we went to, I knew most of the lyrics. Even at Maryland Deathfest last year, I found myself moving my head to some of the bands. I am even looking forward to going again this year, mainly for the time alone with Bob and the people watching but it's a start.

I don't purposely annoy him with my music but on family trips when my 8-year old daughter and I crank the radio and belt out Katy Perry, Salina Gomez or Taylor Swift songs, it is fun to watch him cringe.

2) I am proud of Bob and all of the shows that he has done. I am often impressed with the concept shows that he puts together and thinks the interviews are great too. He is so creative. Metal is a necessity in his life and I am happy that he has this positive outlet.

3) Hmmm, housework, you just struck a nerve. Since Bob is a stay at home dad during the day while I work we disagree on how much time should be spent on prepping for the Soggy Bog. He is a great dad, cooks dinner every night and does the homework with the kids, so I should relax.

4) Bob records the Soggy Bog while I am at work, so the time he spends putting it together is not usually an issue. It does at times annoy me when he wants to escape into his ipod or computer with headphones on or on Friday night when he asks "Do you mind if I listen to my show?" I know he is doing what he loves, but some times I feel it does cut into our kid- free time.

 

- Ronnie - (Wife of Stuart from Sigiriya)

1) Well, we both like doom - I'm probably just as passionate about doom as he is - the slower the better for me! (actually I just contributed to Terrorizer's Doom Special, coming out soon). We have both liked heavy music since we can remember, which is probably why we get on so well. but actually, we don't just listen to doom at home, we listen to all kinds of stuff from old school punk, t-girl punk (like Jane County and The Electric chairs), High On Fire, Sleep, experiemental stuff like Virgin Prunes, Zz Top and boogie rock, Stu loves loads of country stuff (he even likes Dolly Parton and Shania Twain!), there's even been stuff like Strauss, Elgin and Beethoven blasting from our stereo! I think it's good to listen to all different types (obviously our fave is doom and the more experiemental stuff) as it adds to Stu's music - if he only listened to doom, his riffs would be very insular, boring and not very inventive!

2) I'm very proud of what he is doing with the band - I've even helped them out along the way...

I think it's always rewarding to play what you want to play. I'm a bit sick of hearing people slag off bands when they get bigger, saying they've 'sold out'. It's great for bands (and musicians) to play what they want and to keep true to their beliefs, whether that's playing in an undergound band or playing in a well-known band. There is nothing wrong with wanting to get paid for playing, either and it's so sad to hear that awesome underground bands have fallen by the wayside because they've fallen into the peer-pressure trap of wanting to stay underground instead of getting paid a decent amount (and getting a bit more well known) so they can continue doing what they love (and what we love to hear). Playing in an undergound band is a constant struggle as you never seem to make enough to survive so you have to take on jobs. Then you have to try and balance what you love doing with the job - and unfortunately paying the rent, bills, etc will always win.

Stu will always have to play guitar - if I smashed up his gear tomorrow he wouldn't be the stu we all know... He needs to play.

3) Actually, it is Stu that does most of the cooking (he's a good cook!) and he always does the housework. It's me that is constantly away on tour! (I go across the UK as Lilly Laudanum - a doom-inspired and blood-smeared burlesque artist!) He stays at home playing his guitar and looking after the cats.

4) As I said, it's me away more than him! When he is away, it's my turn to look after the cats, but I do a lot of stuff that he doesn't like doing (I can't see him diong a burlesque act - even though I've tried to force him to do a version of Rasputin the Mad Monk to Mastodon - he was having none of it!) and I've got a lot of friends that I see and do crazy stuff with. I especially like to go out when they rehearse in the house as the sub-bass vibes have loosened my teeth.

Thanx a lot again  to Susan and Ronnie !!! I will certainly put next episode on line within the next days, it should include some cool words from Women closely related to KINGS DESTROY, ATOLAH, RITUALS... and more to come later !  if you feel YOUR Wife/Girlfriend could be interested, just show her the questions and tell her to send me answers by mail ;)

"return to earth" by SIGIRIYA

With "capricorn" (Orchid) and "carnal altar" (Serpent Venom), The Church Within rds has puted out brilliant releases during the first part of 2011, prooving more than ever that this is THE rising star in the highly competitive environment of the doom/stoner record companies; but will the programm of the second half be as good ?!!!

Obviously YES if we yet just consider that Lord Vicar's new album comes out pretty soon and simultaneously with Spancer (a godly piece of sludge soon reviewed here too) due to be released by mid-september, there's "return to earth" the debut album of SIGIRIYA... Coming from Wales, these guys aren't newcomers in the scene at all, even if their actual name doesn't evoke you much for the moment; indeed there's two good and essential reasons that will help you to definitely remember that moniker : 1st this is at 80% the same line-up as ACRIMONY (cultish stoner band who broke up 8 years ago after a split album with Church Of Misery) and 2nd this debut album simply kills !
While ACRIMONY was a fantastic purveyor of psychedelic stoner doom, SIGIRIYA (name of Sri Lanka's holiest mountain)  is more into heavy rockin' stoner metal...
8 years have passed, they certainly have grown up as musicians, compositors and just as humans, being more positive and mature; I certainly wouldn't say that the general atmosphere doesn't smell green smoke anymore but the horizon seems more clear and bright.
As a natural result, the music of SIGIRIYA sounds more modern, percussive and direct with a developped sense of refreshing groove; being self-financed (the band signed later with Church Within)  the recording of this debut album has been done rather quickly which certainly accentuates the excellent live and raw type of sound that fits perfectly well with this new approach.

While "whisky song" is certainly the most representative song of the album (sounding seriously like a riff-rock potential hit) my fave one is the closer "deathtrip to Eryi" which takes you step by step in an intersideral cosmic journey of 10 minutes full of harmony and deepness... I wouldn't be surprised if a more important part of next album takes that subtle direction ! Well, as for now, you can buy eyes closed this godly "return to earth" from these top notch STONER merchants...
To end this, you have to know that  there's  perspectives about a tour, early 2012, with  their label mates Lord Vicar... AMAZING !!!

http://www.reverbnation.com/sigiriya
http://shop.doom-dealer.de/