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Place of Skulls Interview: Victor Griffin on As a Dog Returns, Spirituality, The New Pentagram Album, Playing Roadburn, Why Music Should be More Than Just Heavy Riffs, and Much More

Posted in Features on December 23rd, 2010 by JJ Koczan

Legendary American doom guitarist Victor Griffin — of Death Row, Place of Skulls and Pentagram — and I spoke over the course of two consecutive nights. When I called the first night for the interview, he was in the car, listening to an early mix of Last Rites, the new album by Pentagram — whom he rejoined earlier this year — and though that wasn’t the intended topic of the discussion, it was bound to take up some of the time.

What instigated the conversation was the newest record by Place of SkullsGriffin‘s priority band. Dubbed As a Dog Returns, the album is unquestionably a reboot for the trio of Griffin, bassist Lee Abney (also of Death Row, who reunited for this year’s Roadburn festival in The Netherlands) and drummer Tim Tomaselli. In addition to getting back to their doomed roots, As a Dog Returns also revitalizes Griffin‘s lyrical explorations of his Christian faith, songs like “Breath of Life” and “He’s God” as open and honest in their subject matter as I found Griffin to be in our talk.

The second night of the interview, Griffin was in his studio working on some solo overdubs for Last Rites, and as we moved from Place of Skulls and his beliefs to his return to Pentagram and working once again with vocalist Bobby Liebling, whose sobriety has been discussed here in the past, Griffin took a step back to take a look at both bands’ overall place in doom, and his as well, opining on why in its 30-plus years as a genre, doom has never really hit the mainstream in the way of some other styles, and whether or not he’d even want it to.

Fact of the matter is this: I could go on and on about what Victor Griffin said or whatever, but what it rounds out to is this is one of the best interviews I’ve ever done. For The Obelisk or any other outlet. Victor Griffin was more sincere in his answering my questions than I could have possibly asked, and at the end of the second phone call, I felt like I genuinely knew more about his perspectives on life, music, and God. I hope that as you read through the 7,400-word exchange (with a centered photo to differentiate between the two days), that comes across more than anything else.

Q&A is after the jump. Please enjoy.

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Place of Skulls Sign to Giddy Up! Records

Posted in Whathaveyou on October 21st, 2010 by JJ Koczan

Well how do you like that? Looks like Giddy Up! Records has picked up none other than the mighty Place of Skulls for their roster. This is killer news not just for the band, who’ve secured a US release date for their new album, As a Dog Returns (review here), but also for the label, because Victor Griffin is a fucking legend. Congratulations to all parties involved.

Here’s how the PR wire tells it:

Giddy Up! Records is pleased to announce the addition of Tennessee doomers Place of Skulls to their expanding artist roster, which currently includes Moth Eater, Black Water Rising and Demonica. The New York City-based indie imprint will release Place of Skulls‘ fourth full-length, As a Dog Returns, in North America on Nov. 9, 2010.

Says Giddy Up! label head Steve Seabury: “To me, Victor Griffin is a legend in the doom scene. I am like a little kid at the doom store. It’s an absolute honor and privilege to have Place of Skulls join the Giddy Up! Records family. This record is just amazing. I love it.”

In related news, the band will kick off a two-week European tour with Eternal Elysium this Saturday. As a special bonus, Place of Skulls fans in or around Berlin are eligible for a free pass to Hammer of Doom 4 in Wurzburg and a free copy of As a Dog Returns. Contact placeofskulls@msn.com for more info!

Place of Skulls European Tour 2010
w/Eternal Elysium
10/23 Posthalle, Hammer of Doom 4 FestivalWürzburg, GER
10/24 Gebäude 9 – Köln, GER
10/25 Le Klub Paris, FR
10/26 Little DevilTilburg, NL
10/28 LoppenKopenhagen, DK
10/29 Rockefeller/ John DeeOslo, NOR w/Orange Goblin
10/30 Tribute Sandnes, Stavanger, NOR w/Orange Goblin
10/31 TBA
11/02 HafenklangHamburg, GER
11/03 MauRostock, GER
11/04 White TrashBerlin, GER
11/05 FalkendomBielefeld, GER
11/06 JH De LochtinkEeklo, BEL
11/07 Baroeg, Dutch Doom Days 9 – Rotterdam, NL
11/08 RosenkellerJena, GER

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Moth Eater EP for Sale on iTunes; Stream “The Aftermath” Here

Posted in audiObelisk, Whathaveyou on July 27th, 2010 by JJ Koczan

Today is the day Moth Eater‘s new EP, The Thunder God of Monster Island (Giddy Up! Records) goes live for sale on something called… iTunes(?). I’m not sure what that is, but I hear tell it’s all the rage amongst the children, and if there’s one thing that’s good for the children, it’s killer doomed sludge of the kind Moth Eater play. Mothers will be shocked, fathers will disapprove, rock and roll shall reign.

To celebrate the iTune-ification of The Thunder God of Monster Island, Moth Eater have generously granted me permission to host the track “The Aftermath,” which you can stream below. Enjoy.

The Aftermath

Purchase The Thunder God of Monster Island on iTunes

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Moth Eater Ready to Drop the Hammer of the Thunder God

Posted in Whathaveyou on July 8th, 2010 by JJ Koczan

Long Island heavy metallers Moth Eater would like it to be known they’ve signed to Giddy Up! Records, which just happens to be the label helmed by bassist/all-around-good-dude Steve “Buckshot” Seabury. But here’s the thing. It’s not like Giddy Up! is just some dick-around label name made so the band could release their own stuff. He’s got real bands and very real distribution, so I’m sure the decision to add Moth Eater to the roster was not made lightly.

Here’s the news off PR wire:

Moth Eater, the Beers Village, New York-based doom/metal band featuring guitarist John Conley of Scar Culture, Dave Ardolina and Steve “Buckshot” Seabury of Dirty Rig, and vocalist John Alaia, have just signed a deal with start-up metal label Giddy Up! Records. Giddy Up! Records will release the band’s debut mini-record, The Thunder God of Monster Island on July 27. The band’s music was produced, recorded and mixed at Gain Studios in New York City.

Moth Eater have posted the new track “Aftermath” on their MySpace page. The track features world renowned Hurdy Gurdy player and composer Geoff Kooris who adds to the band’s already intense sound. “When I listen to our music, I get the sudden urge to smash someone’s face in with a shovel. Then I become grief stricken and sob uncontrollably for a few hours, drink a beer, then I repeat the process.” states John Alaia about the band’s music and upcoming release.

The band will perform and host The Thunder God of Monster Island release party in New York City starting at 9PM on August 6th at Ace of Clubs.

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