…Aug. 22, to be exact, which, yes, is this week. The São Paulo sludge/heavy rockers go as ambassadors of Brazil’s fertile underground scene, and will make stops at festivals here and there along the way of their month-long stint on the European continent. That’s a pretty good run — a month — and with shows about to start, there are still some TBA dates in there, as well as off-days, so I’m thinking if you’re in Europe someplace along their path, you’ve probably got a fair chance of getting Projeto Trator to play wherever you’re at. House show? Back yard gig? It’s time to fill those slots, people. I’d figure toss them some cash for making the stop and, you know, give them food and a place to crash, and it’d probably turn out to be an awesome tour stop. As you can see below, they made their “Vermes” video from clips on tour last year in Argentina. Maybe you could be in the next video.

Either way, if you can help, help. Scene unity and all that.

Projeto Trator‘s latest EP is out now through Abraxas Records, and “Vermes” comes from it. They were writing new material this Spring, but I’ve yet to see word yet of a follow-up. Doesn’t it mean it won’t happen, just means I don’t know.

Alright, here are those dates:

Projeto Trator – European Tour

Projeto Trator is a sludge/doom metal duo from São Paulo/Brazil. Formed in 2006, the band has released 10 works and toured extensively in Brazil and South America many times.

Finally: in August and September 2019 will be the first tour of the Projeto Trator in Europe. There will be more than 20 shows from 8 countries (Germany, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland & Hungary). Half of the shows will be sharing the stage with the Umbilichaos (industrial-noise-one-woman-band), longtime partner of the Projeto Trator in shows and releases.

It will be an unmissable opportunity for anyone who can see live one of the best bands of “doomed” music in Brazil.

Projeto Trator live dates:
08.22 Kopi Berlin DE
08.23 Eldorado Hamburg DE
08.24 Gazarach Bratislava SK
08.27 TBA Ostrava CZ
08.28 Hospoda Brouk Prague CZ
08.29 Marie Antoinette Berlin DE
08.31 TBA Brussels BE
09.01 Mest Fest Hoegaarden BE
09.03 TBA Courtrai BE*
09.04 TBA Gent BE*
09.06 Acu Utrecht NL*
09.07 13 Times Fest Geel BE
09.10 TBA Amsterdam NL*
09.11 TBA Hoorn NL*
09.13 Potse Drugstore Fest Berlin DE
09.14 TBA Estetino PL
09.17 TBA Leipzig DE
09.18 TBA Halle DE
09.19 Basta! Gorlitz DE
09.20 Psych Umami Fest Vernerovice CZ
09.21 Sommafest ’19 Rietschen DE
09.22 TBA Vienna AT
09.23 Edison Bar & Ink Budapest HU
* with Umbilichaos

projetotrator.com
facebook.com/projeto.trator
instagram/projetotrator
bandcamp.com/projetotrator

Projeto Trator, “Vermes” official video

A heartfelt happy fifth anniversary to Abraxas Events in Brazil. For the last half-decade, brothers Felipe and Rodrigo Toscano have worked diligently and passionately to both bring outside heavy to Brazil and to foster their national scene, making an impact almost immediately with their first tour having been Mars Red Sky, who’d wind up recording their second album while they were in the country. That kind of work has only continued since then, and from bands like Radio Moscow to Neurosis, to the founding of Abraxas Records as a natural extension of their booking arm, the company keeps growing while remaining true to its core principles.

Five years will be marked with a two-night Abraxas Fest in São Paulo and Rio de Janiero. Both nights are headlined by Eyehategod and Samsara Blues Experiment, showcasing the reach to established US and European acts, while support will be from Noala and ITD (aka Into the Dust) the first night and Pantanum and Jupiterian the second, highlighting the domestic underground of Brazil.

Seems like a killer time either way, and many more to Abraxas, in terms of both years and festivals:

ABRAXAS FEST – Eyehategod & Samsara Blues Experiment

In October we will celebrate our 5TH ANNIVERSARY. We have prepared a special celebration and we have already called our audience for this great party! We will have the legendary North American band eyehategod for the first time in Brazil, and also the German power trio samsara blues experiment, plus two local opening bands in each of the shows (Noala and itd, day 13/10 in São Paulo and jupiterian And pantanum day 14/10 in Rio de Janeiro!

See you soon!

Art: Victor Bezerra

Abraxas was founded in September 2013 by the brothers Felipe and Rodrigo Toscano, debuting with the tour of the French band Mars Red Sky. Focusing on an audience whose taste transits between rock and roll and classical psychedelia from the 60s and 70s and more modern strands like Stoner, Doom and Sludge, but still without an identity or even a scene established in Brazil, Abraxas quickly became a benchmark in the national circuit by successfully promoting not only the circulation of foreign bands throughout the country, but also a constant and growing movement of local bands themselves.

Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/abraxas-fest-2018—5-anos—rio-de-janeiro__279932

https://www.facebook.com/events/428628674243793/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1925147550842727/

https://www.facebook.com/abraxasevents/
https://www.instagram.com/abraxasfm/
https://www.abraxas.fm/

Eyehategod, Live in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 22, 2018

Abraxas Events continues its series of good works this month in bringing Polish überstoners Belzebong to South America for a round of tour dates. We’re inside the 10-day mark from the launch of the run — it begins July 20 — and Belzebong cross the Atlantic supporting their 2016 album, Greenferno, which saw release through Emetic Records. In addition to these shows coming up, Belzebong have a series of other appearances in the offing for the next couple months, including a stop in Dublin for the inaugural Emerald Haze festival (info here), which is co-presented by this site, as well as Keep it Low 2017 (info here) in Munich, Germany.

The PR wire brought info on the South American shows, courtesy of Abraxas, who also have dates upcoming from Stoned Jesus and a little band called Neurosis. So, you know, kind of a big deal.

Here goes:

BELZEBONG SOUTH AMERICA TOUR – JULY 2017

The weather forecast for South America in July advises for hazy days and favorable conditions for a long and massive bong hit: for the first time ever the highly anticipated tour of Belzebong will finally be happening. In 2016 the Polish band was approached by another Brazilian booking agency that with no apparent reason cancelled the tour just a few days after the announcement. Now with Abraxas taking the wheels, local audience has nothing to worry about!

Belzebong in South America:
20 – Santiago, Chile @ Espacio San Diego
https://www.facebook.com/events/1401445726587237
Tickets: http://www.passline.com/eventos/belzebongenchile2017-livegreenferno2017

21 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Noiseground Festival – EP I
https://www.facebook.com/events/696156643920382/

22 – Cordoba, Argentina @ Casa Babylon
https://www.facebook.com/events/148677302359922

23 – Montevideo, Uruguay @ Bluzz Live
https://www.facebook.com/events/297525870684311/
Tickets: https://tickantel.com.uy/inicio/espectaculo/40002226/espectaculo/Belzebong%20%28POL%29?0

28 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil @ Stonehenge Rock Bar
https://www.facebook.com/events/1033415196796945/
Tickets: www.sympla.com.br/belzebong-polonia–ruinas-de-sade-sc-no-stonehenge__147849

29 – São Paulo, Brazil @ DOOM NATION FESTIVAL SÃO PAULO – Feeling Music Bar
https://www.facebook.com/events/1332711773482904/
Tickets: www.sympla.com.br/belzebong-em-sao-paulo—doom-nation-fest-2017__147268

30 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ DOOM NATION FESTIVAL RIO DE JANEIRO – La Esquina
www.facebook.com/events/295368340908224/
Tickets: www.sympla.com.br/belzebong-no-rio-de-janeiro—doom-nation-fest-2017__147272

Belzebong live:
Aug 18 Sinzendorf Munich, Germany
Sep 01 Emerald Haze Dublin, Ireland
Sep 09 Taller Horitzó Pineda de Mar, Spain
Oct 06 ZetPeTe Krakow, Poland
Oct 20 Keep it Low Munich, Germany

https://www.facebook.com/belzebong420
http://belzebong.8merch.com/services/store
https://belzebong.bandcamp.com/

Belzebong, Greenferno (2016)

Whatever else you can say about long-running New Jersey heavy rockers The Atomic Bitchwax — great band, nice guys, one of the most powerful power trios in heavy rock, tight-as-hell live act, going on 20 years since their first record and they’re still probably held back by their name, etc. — you can’t say they haven’t busted their collective ass supporting their most recent album. Rightly so. 2015’s Gravitron (review here) was well worth supporting. They’ve done several videos and even more, they’ve hit the road as hard as I’ve ever seen them across the US and Europe to deliver the songs to the masses, and it looks like the thread will continue in 2017 as they announce this five-night run in Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

To my knowledge, this is the first trip to South America for bassist/vocalist Chris Kosnik, guitarist/vocalist Finn Ryan and drummer Bob Pantella, but the timing couldn’t be better, with the boom in heavy rock and roll happening in cities like Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires and Santiago. I’ll be interested to see who winds up playing some of these shows with them, but either way, the more people who see The Atomic Bitchwax, the better.

Venado Records, which is presenting the tour along with Abraxas Events, Farma and Red House, announced it as follows:

Well friends, the second initial bomb this year is this!! We are super happy and proud to announce:

The Atomic Bitchwax South American Tour 2017!

Here comes the super stoner rock to all Argentina, Brazil and Chile!

The legendary band formed in 1999, currently composed of Bob Pantella (Monster Magnet) on drums, Chris Kosnik (also of monster magnet) on bass and Finn Ryan on guitar, with 6 Records in their career (The last of them in 2015, gravitron, found them sounding fresher than ever) will be in South America for the following dates:

April
Wednesday 04/05 – SAO PAULO BR
Thursday 04/06 – córdoba ar
Friday 04/07 – Neuquen ar
Saturday 04/08 – Buenos Aires ar
Sunday 04/09 – Santiago ch

Next week all the info, tickets and others!! Share friends!

https://www.facebook.com/The-Atomic-Bitchwax-86002001659/
http://teepeerecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/abraxasevents/
http://venadorecords.com/

The Atomic Bitchwax, Live at Saint Vitus Bar, Dec. 16, 2016

In what can only be called a natural extension of the impulse to spread quality music, Abraxas Events announces a new label venture in the form of Abraxas Records. For the last three years, brothers Felipe Toscano and Rodrigo Toscano have worked under the Abraxas banner to bring outside acts to Brazil and wider South America, and from Mars Red Sky to Stoned Jesus to Kadavar the recently-announced March 2017 run for Samsara Blues Experiment (info here), they’ve been wildly successful. My understanding is that Radio Moscow‘s first South American tour has already become something of a legend.

When Mars Red Sky couldn’t get into the US in 2014 and wound up recording their second album, Stranded in Arcadia (review here), in Rio at Estudio Superfuzz with Gabriel Zander, that was coordinated through Zander‘s partnership with Abraxas. In fact, the company has handled logistics for multiple Superfuzz recordings, and as Abraxas Records comes together, they seem to be keeping that relationship as a central feature of what they have to offer.

The key switch? Where Abraxas Events is known for bringing bands in, Abraxas Records seems more immediately geared toward spreading South American and particularly Brazilian acts to the world at large (it’s worth noting that anyone the company books from elsewhere is usually paired with choice locals as well, so not like they weren’t promoting South American acts before). And they’re not exactly starting off light. First release is from boogie rockers Necro, who today unveil the album art for their third full-length, Adiante, which will be out through Abraxas Records on Dec. 20.

That’s hardly the end of the story. The label has also picked up Saturndust, Fuzzly, Son of a Witch, Anjo Gabriel, Monster Coyote, and The Muddy Brothers. Seven bands on day one. Hard not to be impressed by the ambition, and given the quality of work Abraxas has done up to now, I look forward to this next phase and wish good luck to the Toscano brothers. Like my nation’s vice president once said, “This is a big fuckin’ deal.”

As it should be, there’s a lot of audio linked below, but you’ll also find the details of the label’s formation and background, as well as two new tracks from Necro, whose album will be streaming here one week from today in full.

Dig it:

Abraxas Label Announcement – Necro New Album Release – Artwork Revealed

After 3 years booking tours in South America for international bands like Radio Moscow, Mars Red Sky, Kadavar and Stoned Jesus, just to name a few, and also actively promoting the Brazilian heavy rock scene, Abraxas officially announce a new record label branch.

“Although we have already recorded and released a lot of albums of Brazilian bands in the past years, we have never considered ourselves a proper label, more like a booking agency and event planning company (what is in fact what we do the most), but now it’s time to formalize this other aspect as well.” explains Felipe Toscano, founder of Abraxas with his brother Rodrigo.

The label’s first release will be Necro’s third studio album named “Adiante”. Now singing in Portuguese, the band had a substantial creativity boost, as it is much easier to create complex and interesting lyric structures in their mother language, not to mention the rhythm parts that have gotten even better due to such smart change.

As it couldn’t be different, Necro’s forthcoming album was recorded and produced by Gabriel Zander at Superfuzz in November 2015. The amazing cover was designed by Brazilian artist Cristiano Suarez (https://www.facebook.com/CristianoSuarezArt) and the first two singles are available at their bandcamp page: “Deuses Suicidas” – https://necronomicon.bandcamp.com/album/deuses-suicidas-single and “Viajor” – https://necronomicon.bandcamp.com/album/viajor-single.

São Paulo band Saturndust will be another solid name in the label’s roster. Their first album (https://saturndust.bandcamp.com/ – LP released by Helmet Lady Records) was recorded by the Abraxas brothers and Gabriel Zander at Superfuzz studio in Rio de Janeiro back in September 2014, and the hazy doom trio had just finished recordings of their second work, release due March 2017.

“All bands in the label are long time friends and have supported and worked with us several times since the beginning of Abraxas. Actually, some of them have already been produced/recorded at Superfuzz in our partnership with Zander, like Saturndust and Son of a Witch (https://sonofawitch666.bandcamp.com/ – LP released by Kozmic Artifactz) and I think all of them have opened for a foreign headliner at least once in the tours and gigs we have organized”, Felipe highlights.

The label will comprise Brazilian pioneers of stoner-rock Fuzzly (https://fuzzly.bandcamp.com/) and psychedelic titans Anjo Gabriel (https://anjogabriel.bandcamp.com/album/o-culto-secreto-do-anjo-gabriel) as well as many of the ascending bands of the country’s rich and constantly growing heavy rock scene, like The Muddy Brothers (https://themuddybrothers.bandcamp.com/releases), and Monster Coyote (https://monstercoyote.bandcamp.com/), among others.

From Psychedelic Prog to Sludge Metal, Abraxas aim to erect a milestone in Brazilian rock scene, and as from December 19 all of those bands will be strategically delivered by ONErpm. For physical needs, Abraxas plans the launch of the e-commerce with CDs, LPs, t-shirts and many more stuff by April 2017.

https://www.facebook.com/abraxasevents/
https://twitter.com/abraxasfm
http://abraxas.fm/

Necro, “Deuses Suicidas”

Necro, “Viajor”

We’ve been getting info in drips and drabs about a resurgence from Berlin heavy psych explorers Samsara Blues Experiment. In October came word of the writing being completed for a fourth album, to be recorded in 2017. Then followed confirmations for Desertfest London and Berlin at the end of April, as well as the Riff Ritual Fest in Barcelona the week before. I’d been kind of assuming the album, whenever it’s made and whatever it’s called, would be out by then. I’m hearing word of a tour mostly through Central Europe to take place as well, perhaps in Spring or Summer, but what we know for sure is that before they hit the road for the aforementioned fests, they’ll travel to Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay for their first ever run in South America this coming March.

Will they have a new album in tow for the merch table? Can you even get vinyl pressed that fast? I guess we’ll find out, but I’m intrigued as to the timing on this one. For what it’s worth, my general opinion on the prospect of new Samsara Blues Experiment is “the sooner the better,” but that’s basically been the case since Waiting for the Flood (review here) came out in 2013.

The South American shows, as if it’s even a question at this point, are presented by Abraxas Events. Below you’ll find the poster (gorgeous), dates and some comment from Samsara Blues Experiment guitarist/vocalist Christian Peters on how the tour came together:

Christian Peters on touring South America:

“We are looking much forward to this tour, not only because it will be our first time in South America but because we planned this for very long. I have met Felipe Toscano before he even had a clearer idea he would run Abraxas Booking, and we were supposed to be the first band he wanted to bring to Brasil — back then, basically a fan of our music. Things didn’t work out earlier for us, while in the meantime, in the last years he had Radio Moscow, The Flying Eyes and many others over there and built a real solid booking network… Well, as I said, we are much excited that this is finally happening.”

Good morning South America!

It’s a-happening-thing. We’re coming to Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Brasil in March 2017!

SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT – SOUTH AMERICA TOUR – MARCH 2017

03/02 – Santiago, CL @ La Capilla
Tickets: Mucky Rock (Eurocentro, Santiago) // Respect (Portal Lyon, Providencia)

03/03 – Buenos Aires, AR @ The Roxy Live
Tickets: https://www.allaccess.com.ar/event/samsara-blues-experiment

03/04 – Montevideo, UR @ Bluzz Live

03/05 – Córdoba, AR @ Refugio Guernica

03/08 – Porto Alegre, BR @ RIFF.E Bar
Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/samsara-blues-experiment-em-poa—8-de-marco-a-partir-das-20h__106464

03/09 – Florianópolis, BR @ Célula Showcase
Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/samsara-blues-experiment–florianopolis-sc–090317__102955

03/10 – Belo Horizonte, BR @ Stonehenge Rock Bar
Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/samsara-blues-experiment-alemanha–duna-brisa-e-chama-e-pesta__102815

03/11 – São Paulo, BR @ Inferno Club*
Tickets: https://www.sympla.com.br/samsara-blues-experiment-em-sao-paulo—11-de-marco-a-partir-das-18h__106463
* the hellfire club recently released that was closing their doors, but rest assured that the site will continue to be a house of gigs and there will only be name change.

03/12 – Rio de Janeiro, BR @ Hocus Pocus Fest

https://www.facebook.com/samsarabluesexperiment/
http://sbe-official.tumblr.com/
http://instagram.com/samsarabluesexperiment
https://samsarabluesexperiment.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/abraxasevents/
http://abraxas.fm/

Samsara Blues Experiment, “Midnight Boogie”

Brazilian desert-style rockers Stone House on Fire will offer up a a physical pressing of their second album, Neverending Cycle, in December. Released digitally back in June by the band — at least if the dates on Bandcamp are anything to go by — the vinyl edition will arrive courtesy of no fewer than six different imprints between Brazil and Europe, and aside from the shame of not having one Stateside one in the bunch, it’s hard not to be impressed at the amount of people who’ve gotten behind the band. Then you listen to the tracks and, yeah, yeah, you start to get it. The band, who reportedly recorded Neverending Cycle live to tape in its entirety, play to a post-Queens of the Stone Age ideology, but have plenty of psychedelic and boogie vibing going on as well. I can see wanting to get on board, even if my home nation is apparently dropping the ball here as it does with so many others when it comes to distribution. So it goes.

Info comes from H42 Records via the PR wire:

STONE HOUSE ON FIRE ‘NEVERENDING CYCLE’ Longplayer out December 2016

*Limited up to 300 copies*
150 on red & 150 on black vinyl
OUT: December 2016

STONE HOUSE ON FIRE are back with a new album called ‘Neverending Cycle’!

Stone House on Fire is influenced by the desert sounds and the 60’s lysergic vibe, combining heavy tones, powerful riffs that go from fast to psychedelic, lots of octaved fuzz, creating an unique sound, ready to blow some ears. Also, the energetic and daring live performances create unpredictable, explosive and mind blowing experiences.

“Neverending Cycle” is an album that leans heavily towards the psychedelic side of the stoner genre, taking it’s cues from the more lysergic orientated late 60’s than the usual mid 70’s era that is the de rigueur of many of todays stoner/psych and doom bands. Songs like “Wrath of the Sun” and “Steam Boat” channel the beads and peace sign vibes of Randy California’s Spirit and the 13th Floor Elevators and mix them with elements of the harder edged, fuzz pedal stamping, downtuned psych of today, sprinkling them with a large dose of old fashioned groove along the way…”

Release by:
Electric Valley Records (Italy)
H42 Records (Gemany)
Abraxas (Brasil)
Dinamite Records (Brasil)
Tropical FUZZ Fever Records (Brasil)
Lovely Noise Records (Brasil)

https://stonehouseonfire.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/stonehouseonfire/
https://www.facebook.com/electricvalleyrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/H42Records/
https://www.facebook.com/abraxasevents/
https://www.facebook.com/dinamiterecs/
https://www.facebook.com/Tropical-FUZZ-Fever-Records-1768713486676256/
https://www.facebook.com/lovelynoiserecords/

Stone House on Fire, Neverending Cycle (2016)

Haven’t heard much from Icelandic trio The Vintage Caravan since their extensive European tour this past Spring supporting their second album for Nuclear Blast, 2015’s Arrival (review here). True, they took part in Europe’s always-busy summer festival season, but somehow I half expected them to have a record out this year. As they’re headed to South America next week for a tour presented by Abraxas Events, I’ve no doubt they yet have a few tricks up their collective sleeve. Maybe they’ve been writing? Hard to know for sure, but either way, these shows should be good as they make their way to Brazil and Argentina for the first time.

The PR had this to say about it in semi-translation:

The Vintage Caravan announce first South America tour

Brazil and Argentina will receive at the end of September and beginning of October the acclaimed The Vintage Caravan, from Iceland, yet worldwide recognized as a band that – less than a decade and just three releases – conquered so many fans and the musical critic by doing an exited stoner rock with progressive, psychedelic, hard rock and blues elements. Óskar Logi (vocal and guitar), Alexander Örn (bass) e Stefán Ari (drum) arrives in South America for the first time to a plenty of gigs; 8 confirmed.

Despite the nostalgic aura, mainly strong at the first two albums, the self entitled Vintage Caravan (2011) and Voyage (2012), the music increased by the Icelandic trio is tough, with modern production, so clearly in Arrival (2015), the last released, so mature and full of clever songs.

The South America Tour begins in Brazil, in 29/09, at Porto Alegre. The other venus are schedule to happen at Goiânia/BR (30/09), Belo Horizonte/BR (02/10), Buenos Aires/AR (05/10), Curitiba/BR (06/10), São Paulo/BR (08/10), Rio de Janeiro/BR (09/10) and Florianópolis/BR (11/10).

Besides riffs and harmonies inspired in 70ies rock, with a tone of strong Black Sabbath references or even the Deep Purple classy, The Vintage Caravan has enough authenticity to distill marvelous songs, as unique band in nowadays rock/metal scene.

PORTO ALEGRE (Rio Grande do Sul)
DATE: 29/09
LOCAL: Riff.e Bar
ADRESS: João Alfred strret, 477

EM GOIÂNIA (Goiás)
DATE: 30/09
LOCAL: República Rock Sport Bar
ADRESS: Sol Nascente avenue, Jardim Nova Esperança

BELO HORIZONTE (Minas Gerais)
DATA: 2/10
LOCAL: Stonehenge Rock Bar
ADRESS: Tupis street, 1448

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (Paraná)
DATA: 5/10
LOCAL: Uniclub
ADRESS: Guardia Vieja, 3360

CURITIBA (Paraná)
DATA: 6/10
LOCAL: John Bull Pub
ADRESS: Mateus Leme street, 2204, Centro Cívico

SÃO PAULO (São Paulo)
DATA: 8/10
LOCAL: SESC Belenzinho
ADRESS: Padre Adelino street, 1000, Belenzinho

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio de Janeiro)
DATA: 9/10
LOCAL: La Esquina
ADRESS: Mem de Sá avenue, 61, Lapa

FLORIANÓPOLIS (Santa Catarina)
DATA: 11/10
LOCAL: Célula Showcase
ADRESS: João Paulo street, 75

facebook.com/vintagecaravan/
instagram.com/thevintagecaravan
twitter.com/_vintagecaravan
thevintagecaravan.eu

The Vintage Caravan, “Babylon” official video