Reino Ermitaño isn’t exactly the most prolific band in the world; Veneratión Del Fuego is only their
fourth record in 10 years of existence, and it’s the first one since 2008’s Rituales Interiores. But again, who really
needs an album every year, since now we all have around 100 “favorite bands”?
And Reino Ermitaño isn’t just another retro-doom band. There
are several reasons for that; first, a lady handles vocals: Tania Duarte does an
excellent job behind the mic, with that epic desperate feeling. Second reason, Reino Ermitaño come from Peru, not the first South American
country you think of when mentioning Metal.
And the awesome thing with Reino Ermitaño is that they do not just
rely on these "labels" to claim they're special, they utilize and exploit them perfectly.
The Spanish vocals sang by Tania Duarte fit the music perfectly and add some
mystique to the music.
Veneratión Del Fuego, kicks off in a very typical manner: “Quimera” and “El Sueño Del Condor” are two classical and very fine pieces of doom rock,
played the old-school way, with a very fuzzy and gloomy sound, as if you were
listening through a thick layer of smoke.
But things start to be really exiting when third track “Sobre Las
Ruinas” starts. That’s another classic doom song here, but it ends in a
fantastic psychedelic orgy of guitar solos and keys. That's probably a contribution brought by
new guitarist Eloy Arturo.
And things just keep on getting better, especially when the 9-min epic
“Cuando La Luz Te Encuentre”, comes in with a violin that pops out of nowhere in the exact right moment. But that’s not all, since the song also contains
what appears to be a drum solo in the middle of it, before a totally
psychedelic finish. Amazing song!
The rest of the album is just as fantastic, with some classic
songs like “Soy El Lobo” and “El Rito”. These tunes are just a lesson of what
traditional doom should sound like; they have the perfect sound, the cool
riffs, the killer breaks and the psychedelic solos all over them. The ending of
“El Rito” really reminded me of early Sabbath. Can't really think of a better influence!
However, there is one more track that needs to be highlighted here; another
9-min epic song: “Sangre India”. This one displays some cool traditional elements that prove how much Reino Ermitañoperfectly use their heritage. That folk moment in the middle of the song is just AMAZING. Not to mention
that it is probably the first time I appreciated listening to pan flute. Guys;
believe me, nothing to do with the boys coverning Celine Dion songs in the
subway halls. This cool folk moment transforms into another acoustic
psychedelic part, before the electric guitars start roaring again. This song is
one of my favorite ones on the record, and one of my favorite songs this year !
Reino Ermitaño is truly a fantastic doom band; that managed to
combine some very classic doom with elements from their Peruvian roots.
Nothing too flashy or progressive here, just some very fine doooom.
I probably keep on repeating that but I totally believe in what
I’m saying: stop accepting what important metal labels keep on feeding us every
month (although they have a lot of good stuff, no doubt about that) and go
looking for original and different bands! I Hate
Records is probably a good place to start if you're into doom: last year the label released the
fantastic Wounded Kings
album In The Chapel Of The Black Hand. This year however, their highlight album is clearly going to be Veneratión Del Fuego!
The more I listen to that record, the more the statement becomes obvious: Supermothafuzzalicious is one of my favorite albums this year. The thing is, Italy’s Black Rainbows have reached a surprising level of excellence with their third album. Not that the previous records were bad or something, it’s just that the “pretty cool Italian stoner rock band” has become one of the best stoner/rock bands around. Supermothafuzzalicious is not as heavy or as dark as its predecessor, Carmino Diabolo; it’s even what you could describe as a “fun” record. Sounds fun, makes you wanna run around naked and hug strangers, but it also sounds like the fruit of the hard work of rock experts. Wondering how come? Well just try to measure the perfect balance on Supermothafuzzalicious: heavy riffing, cool choruses, psychedelic elements and a sick beat that will contaminate your mind before you know it. Everything falls into place; the record is so dynamic, so entertaining and simply EXTREMELY pleasant to be listened to. What else do you guys need to run to your local record dealer and grab a copy of this masterpiece? An interview with the power-trio mastermind, Gabriele? It’s your lucky day coz’ all you need to do is to scroll down that page and you’ll get to read a very cool interview in which you’ll sense the genuine passion of Gabriele for Rock.
First question is pretty simple: how does it feel to be releasing your third record?
Hey Yath!We feel good!!When you arrive to this point, it sure means that there’s at least someone out there who likes you! So it’s pretty satisfying. We had to work hard to get there: hundreds of concerts and lots of work at home; blood and sweat man! But now here we are and the feedback is very good so far, and everywhere! And we still are into this rock n roll life, for sure!
What does the title “Supermothafuzzalicious” mean? Is it an addition of all the words that would define the music on the CD?
Yes it is! The album title came to mind, when I was playing with the word « motherfucker » from that word I thought why not motherfuzzer, after that I was thinking to something about 70’s stuff, something delicious, and i added mothafuzzalicious… But our sound is a turbo sound! So came “Supermothafuzzalicious”!! And I thought yeah! I fuckin like it!! It sounds very nice in your ears! And I think it reminds a lot what we do and what is in the album: the use of Fuzz!!
Congratulations also on the artwork, it’s really fantastic, who conceived it?
The artwork this time is a masterpiece by GODMACHINE from UK (Carmina Diabolo artwork was made by Angryblue). For me he’s the best and most Talented illustrator right now, and we are honored to have his drawing on our best record ‘til now!
AWESOME!
I do think the guys is super talented and the art really reflects the atmosphere on the album…
Illustrations in this kind of music are very important, they evoke what is in the music, they are very close, imaginary and psych music. Something colored and a bit dark at the same time!
Was it an easy record to make? It sounds like it was.
The production was pretty much the same on the previous albums. I recorded everything by myself in the Channel 5 Studio… So we had a lot of time to spend on the basics sounds (for me it’ s the most important passage). Have time to mic the guitar amp in different ways, or try to mic the snare with different mics… After that we go to Pino Santamaria’s bigger studio. He’s got a great sound man; and we trust him a lot... He took care of the mixing part of the album with us… Last but not least: Fabrizio de Carolis a Reference Mastering studio, the best of middle Italian master studios.
Black Rainbow's mastermind Gabriele
Supermothafuzzalicious also sounds “fun” and makes me want to party.
Songwriting of this album seems easy but is not. To a first approach everybody can listen to it but there’s more, yes the bit sometimes is fast and is rock n’ roll, and when you play rock’n’roll, you must have fun man! This is sure! In fact last song of the vinyl (the bonus track) is a cover from the mighty Eddie Cochran “C’mon everybody”. Our tribute to the roots of rock!
It’s like a big scream of your love for rock!
With these songs we wanted to explain how much we love this kind of music, how much we are in debt with that, coz’ is the music style we play… Yes, maybe sometimes we are reffered to as a Stoner rock band, but the root comes from that. We start playin’ our instruments inspired from band of the 50’s and 60’s, and 70’s… And we want to spread the word of rock n roll!!!
I also felt it was a very personal record for you; because of the lyrics as well.
Yes it is, especially the lyrics, sometimes you have the song inspired by blues rock lyrics like “Lady” that is a song that talk of women or “Burn Your Nation” rock’n’roll hymn, sometimes you have the psychedelic lyrics like “Solar System” or “Mastermind”, I like the album coz’ there is a lot of different atmospheres from one song to another, songwriting-wise and even in the way I sing these new songs!
Tell me about the groove and that “dancing” beat on the record, it really stands out…
After the last album ”Carmina Diabolo”, we wanted to make the new record, with cool beats and so it goes, inspired by rock’n’roll beats we created this album! Especially when you play live, I think you win if you have songs with “dancing” beats, cause people go to concerts yes to listen, but everybody at least wanna dance! And they reminds you cause you bit them with your beats!
Carmina Diabolo, Black Rainbow's second coming was much heavier and darker than the new album
Do you think some of your fans will be surprised? You previous records were a bit “darker” and “heavier”.
I think yes… Maybe they were expecting a Stoner volume number 3! But you can recognize it still is the same band that wants to explore new things, I think we are not a band that found a formula and that repeats it in every record, we are professional musicians and we can play also other things… Our big influence comes from the band Motorpsycho… They have explored all kinds of rock, from psychedelic to hard rock and so on. We would like to do quite the same, in the next steps we want to make something more psychedelic and loopy tunes, we are not only into stoner things, even if we comes from there!
Great, because I personally LOVE the psychedelic effects, with the use of awesome keyboards, how do you insert them to the songs, because I guess most of the songs are written based on riffs?
For the previous records I used to play all the Synths but for this album we called our friend Dario Di Gennaro, who is a professional keyboard player as well! After we done all the basic tracks, he started having fun with the songs, so we tried a lot of different things, dub the riffs or improvise on the songs… At least we cut all the shit things and kept the good ones!
Although people use the term “stoner” rock for many bands that have nothing to do with stoner rock, I consider Black Rainbows as a genuine “stoner rock” band. Even though you were just saying that Black Rainbows is a “rock” band that will explore many different territories...
Yes, like I said before, we are not only in this kind of music, you will discover on the next albums, we are stoner oriented yes, cause we love that tune… But step by step I think we want to change and will evolve, maybe more psychedelic, maybe more hard rock we don t want to be the same band on every album… We can do better!!!
And what is the definition of stoner rock anyways?
Is the sound that bands such as Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Nebula, Monster Magnet have played in the early 90’s, it means the use of some amps, the use of fuzz, some kind of drums, detuned guitars and basses, it comes as well from late 60’s and early 70’s bands like Captain Beyond, UFO, Black Sabbath, Hawkwind…
I also think that this record will help you take things one step further, it’s potential is pretty huge and it sounds universal, any rock fan can like it!
Yes we hope to increase our fan-base… Coz’ in that album there’s much work, blood and sweat! Yes a general rock fan can find in it many things, when you listen first time it is catchy and sounds easy to listen to… But we need more audience, so we still are working hard and touring as much as possible.
How’s the feedback on the album so far?
The feedback is so good, in a few weeks we’ve sold a lot of albums, we had 2 European tours and we are doing another European tour in April with Farflung from LA, lots of good reviews and people contacted us just to say that they loved the album! This is a step further indeed!
Do you guys have any special double LP edition planned?
In April we will release on Longfellow Deeds/Heavy Psych Sounds a split album with 6 unreleased songs including 3 incredible songs from Space Rock Legends: Farflung. It will be a single vinyl, with an inner-sleeve with lyrics and credits. The artwork was done by Rise Above. It will be a limited edition vinyl and or digifile… Will be a super cool album: something like 40 minutes of unreleased music. Farflung recorded 2 of their songs at the Rancho de la Luna (Chris Goss studio) with amazing guest appearances from Dave Catching (QOTSA, EODM), Gene Trautman (QOTSA, EODM)… Really cool!
Are you going to tour to promote these releases? Any chance to see you guys on stage in France soon?
We have played in December with NY heavy psych band Naam. The Paris gig was just awesome! Maybe in April we’ll be in south-east France… Just check the dates on the web right here!
On the song “Burn Your Nation” you say you wish you were born in the USA. You ever been there? And did Black Rainbows play any shows there?
Absolutely. You know US is the land of rock n roll… The entire story started from there… So it’s just a fun sentence, like some sort of verbal tribute! But we’ve never been there… But we are planning to go so soon!!! Very soon... Stay tuned!
Behind The Line: Great video for the second track on Supermothafuzzalicious!
What’s you’re wildest dream? Like the rock’n’roll artist you’d most like to tour with?
Wildest dream?! 6-months touring; non-stop and visit all the countries. Not sure if we go on tour with Kyuss, Monster Magnet or Fu Manchu… Maybe all three of them!!
Great! Thanks Gabriele for the fantastic interview and thanks to Xavier for Longfellow deeds records!
Just a few months after releasing the extraordinary album Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light Pt 1, Dylan Carlson’s Earth are back with Part 2. Nothing surprising, as these two albums were recorded during the same sessions. However, part 2 is slightly different as it exclusively contains improvised pieces of music and was recorded in “live” conditions. It’s always a pleasure discussing music with Dylan, because you can feel his passion and his entire devotion to the art. It’s also nice to see that such a talented musician, often referred to as being a genius and that has contributed to the evolution of Rock Music itlself, also has specific opinions about our world and our society. Although understanding that opinion is not necessarily as easy as feeling pleasure listening to his music…
Earth - From left to right: Adrienne, Dylan, Karl & Lauri
Dylan, how does it feel to be promoting a record that just came out, but that has been recorded almost one year ago?
I am excited to be doing it, I had hoped they would both come out the same year, but things happen, and we have been touring so much this year it is nice to have some time to reflect and present a new show for the next tour. Besides, it would have been prohibitively expensive to manufacture both records and for people to purchase them together in these dire economic circumstances.
Do you still “hear” that record the same way?
I haven't started listening to the second half again, although now it is time to get it ready for the road and add some new old material to the set. I still am quite into what we did and think it is our best work to date. I am very proud of the second part, since it is almost all improvised at the time of recording and came out quite well.
In general do you look back at your older recordings? Do you accept them fully or do you wish you could go back in time and change some things?
I would not change them for the world, I think that whole idea is weird and unnecessary.
So Angels…Pt 2 was record during the same sessions as the first part?
Yes it was. I was having a health crisis and didn't know if there would be any more Earth albums, so I wanted to get as much done as possible.
And you told me the last time that all of the songs were improvised?
Yes, from the title track of the first part through all of the second album we just rolled tape and went for it, them I added some off the cuff overdubs, no more than 2 per track.
So everything was recorded completely in live conditions.
Yes, we were all set up in the room with minimal or no baffling and a great room mic, and we all played together, kind of like an old blue note or miles session.
This is probably Earth's best line-ups ever: Lauri's Cello is more and more important in the band's sound And Adrienne's been playing with Dylan in Earth since '01
Please tell me more about the “process” of improvising and recording. How do you define the direction you want to follow, how do you transmit the feeling to the other musicians?
I work with musicians I know are going to step up and do cool things, that I don't have to worry about or write things for. I let people alone to contribute and they always do there best. I am not a dictatorial type person. Partnership values are more conducive than Dominator values.
And how is part 2 different from part 1 in your opinion?
The first part goes from the oldest most composed song 'old black' to the freest 'angels of darkness/demons of light' and part 1 has a darker feel, while the second one has more hope and is swinging hard by the last track.
Just like part 1, the artwork is unbelievably awesome. Did the same artist handle it?
Yes, the art is by Stacey Rozich again.
Now is this an outstanding artwork or is this an outstanding artwork??
These 2 records were influenced by oriental music. Do you have an idea about what you're planning to do next? Have you started to work on the next record?
No, and No idea yet, although things are always percolating. I have some solo projects scheduled to do between touring, one of them quite ambitious, so that and the upcoming tours next year (UK/EU already planned) are what's in front of me.
What kind of music do you listen to these days? I know you like many different things, do your musical tastes change with time or not at all?
I always go back to favorites, I have always loved music. Newer bands I am into right now (and for always after this) are the Smoke Fairies and the Unthanks. Older bands I am into right now are Mr.Fox. Jethro Tull, and UFO.
The world seems to be in a critical era right now, especially the “western” world, with all the social movements, the financial crisis… Do you think that artists and musicians in particular can make a difference?
Yes I think so, especially when the time comes to take to the barricades. I think that we are seeing the death's of many paradigm's right now and one of them is the way music is consumed and treated, I would like to see a return to the importance of live music and a new way for musicians to travel to cities and towns and play 3 or more shows at smaller venues per town, and not always be playing one night stands. The way bands have to tour ties them closely to the consumer economy and the economy of waste, fuel and mini-marts and fast-food and the alcohol industry and airlines etc... It also creates a kind of pillaging/military frame of mind if one is not careful, with concern for logistics and 'invading' cities and towns and vanishing the next day, one does not get to absorb the aura and feel of the community, that is why I always try to talk to people and interact with the audience, the band and the audience are both conjuring an event together.
Do you think they have to pick a side and sort of support this or that movement?
Musicians I am sure have varied agendas and I would not presume to speak for anyone else. I believe int the restoration of magic, and a magical world-view. I think we have been told/sold many lies- beginning with intensive agriculture/acquisition of wealth/the privileging of the written word over oral culture/the 'renaissance'/ the 'enlightenment'/ aristotelian logic and dualism/ capitalism and marxism/ etc. The whole idea of the world getting 'better' as we move 'forward'. The golden age probably never existed, but if it did it was in the distant past not the future, there was no mother nature 'red in tooth and claw' we have not ascended with history out of barbarism but 'advanced' into it as time has inexorably flowed 'forward'.
Yath
Thanks to Dylan Carlson of course & thanks also to Pascaline and Lauren !
