https://www.high-endrolex.com/18

Gozu Announce European Tour Dates

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 15th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

Boston heavy rockers Gozu began recording their next album in February, and I believe they’re in the ‘getting close’ phase of the process, if it’s not already done. I haven’t heard it, if it’s finished, but Europe will get a preview as the four-piece head abroad for a run of dates around festival appearances at Desertfest Belgium in Antwerp and the two Heavy Psych Sounds Fests in Germany. You can see there’s a fair amount of open dates here — and I know I always say that if you can help, you should, but it applies all the more here. Gozu don’t just get out every year like it’s a never-ending album cycle and their last record, Equilibrium (review here), came out in 2018. They’re due and you can help make it a party. Who wouldn’t want to do that? There are few things more noble in my brain.

I mean that, too. Since I was nine years old, before I even knew what a bar/venue was, I wanted to open one. Third grade. Never had the money to do it and likely never will, but if you or someone you know with a space can help these guys out, duh. Time’s a wasting.

From social media:

Gozu tour Euro 2022

Update!

Euro Tour News:

Things are looking nice!!! We currently have some dates that are still open so please Write to: info@heavypsychsounds.com for all booking inquiries.

FRI 14.10 2022 ANTWERPEN-DESERTFEST
SA 15.10.2022 SAARBRUCKEN- HORST
SU 16.10.2022 OPEN SLOT
MO 17.10.2022. OPEN SLOT
TU 18.10.2022 VIENNA ARENA BEISL
WE 19.10.2022 OPEN SLOT
TH 20.10.2022 KIEL-SCHAUBUDE
FR 21.10.2022 BERLIN-HPS FEST
SA 22.10.2022 DRESDEN-HPS FEST
SU 23.10.2022 OPEN SLOT
MO 24.10.2022 OPEN SLOT
TU 25.10.2022 OPEN SLOT
WE 26.10.2022 OPEN SLOT
TH 27.10.2022 ZURICH-SAFARI BAR
FR 28.10.2022 FONTANAFREDDA-ASTRA
SA 29.10.2022 OPEN SLOT

We look forward to seeing you!!
#tour #europe #heavypsychsounds #heavypsychsoundsrecords

GOZU is:
Marc Gaffney – guitar and vocals
Joe Grotto – bass
Doug Sherman – lead guitar
Seth Botos – drums

https://www.facebook.com/GOZU666
http://gozu.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/gozu666
https://www.instagram.com/blacklightmediaofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/BlacklightMediaOfficial/
http://www.blacklightmediarecords.com/

Gozu, Equilibrium (2018)

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Heavy Psych Sounds Announces Fest Lineups for Berlin and Dresden

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 9th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

In a manner not dissimilar from how its California fests took largely the same expansive lineup from San Francisco to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to San Francisco, Heavy Psych Sounds is bringing a circus to Berlin and Dresden on Oct. 21 and 22. In association with Greyzone and ElbSludgeBooking, the label has assembled a lineup that includes HPS bands and others like 1000mods and Gozu, and that sense of community outreach isn’t to be understated. The synergy between booking and releasing is a big part of what has allowed Heavy Psych Sounds to become the underground nexus it is, able to do more for bands than many other outlets. The festivals in cities across Europe and now in the US as well are another extension of that.

That’s not really an insight as to the lineup here or the label’s ethic or taste — also choice — but the fact is this is Heavy Psych Sounds doing what it does. More power to them, and so on.

From the PR wire:

Heavy psych Sounds Berlin dresden 2022

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST BERLIN & DRESDEN full lineup announcement

Heavy Psych Sounds Records & Booking will smash Berlin and Dresden with their highly acclaimed mini festival-series, the HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST!

In cooperation with Greyzone Concerts and ElbSludgeBooking, Heavy Psych Sounds has revealed the full lineup for the upcoming HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST BERLIN & DRESDEN !!!

The HPS Fest Berlin & Dresden will be taking place 21st and 22nd of October, 2022 at the Festsaal Kreuzberg and Urban Spree in Berlin and Chemiefabrik in Dresden !!!

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST – BERLIN & DRESDEN
@ Festsaal Kreuzberg / Urban Spree, Berlin
@ Chemiefabrik, Dresden
October 21st and 22nd 2022

feat.
1000 MODS
NICK OLIVERI
BELZEBONG
BLACK RAINBOWS
ACID MAMMOTH
THE LORDS OF ALTAMONT
HIGH REEPER
SLEEPWULF
TONS
HIPPIE DEATH CULT
GOZU
OREYEON
WEDGE
MOTHER ENGINE

BERLIN TICKETS PRESALE:
https://www.greyzone-tickets.de/produkte/602

BERLIN FB OFFICIAL EVENT:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1358860387859773/

DRESDEN TICKETS LINK:
https://www.konzertkasse-dresden.de/event/heavy-psych-sounds-fest-dresden-dresden-chemiefabrik-2022-tickets-54749.html

DRESDEN FB OFFICIAL EVENT:
https://www.facebook.com/events/554544359334945

heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com
www.heavypsychsounds.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/
https://www.instagram.com/heavypsychsounds_records/

1000mods, Youth of Dissent (2020)

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Desertfest Belgium 2022 Makes First Lineup Announcements

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 10th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

desertfest belgium 2022 dates banner

October feels like a long time away, but so does four o’clock this afternoon, so fair enough for Desertfest Belgium 2022 to make its first lineup announcements for Antwerp (Oct. 14-16) and Ghent (Oct. 30). Am I crazy or should they not add a third one? Maybe Brussels or Liège? Imagine the entire month of October weekends in Belgium, each with its own Desertfest? Not everyone can spend a month touring in a loop around Belgium, but hell, it’s not like they’re short on bands. Do a third, maybe a fourth edition and make it like some kind of October… fest. I bet that’d work. Octoberfest. A totally original idea specifically for this circumstance that I just had right now. You’re welcome.

Looks like the Elder and Pallbearer tour will swing through, and I’ll be interested to see if Gozu are doing any broader touring or are just hitting Antwerp and out — also how that might be timed to their new record currently being tracked — and certainly the Belgium edition of Desertfest is established enough that it’ll probably sell out both these editions without the full lineup announced. Hey guys, if you want me to book DF Liège, just let me know. I’m around.

Meantime, PR wire:

desertfest belgium 2022 first posters

DF 2022 ANTWERP & GHENT: FIRST NAMES! CAVE IN, ELDER, PALLBEARER & MORE

Antwerp tickets: https://desertfest.be/antwerp/information/ticketing/

Ghent tickets: https://desertfest.be/ghent/information/ticketing/

Now that you’ve secured your Early Bird, of course you are dying to find out what’s in store. Or maybe you wanted to wait out this first announcement before shelling over your hard-earned cash?

Whatever may be the case, the wait is over. We are excited to share our first names with you, for both the Antwerp and Ghent edition. A couple of scene stalwarts, as well as some more out-there choices. Here we go!

Confirmed for ANTWERP & GHENT: ELDER and PALLBEARER are two legendary tastes that go very well together. To drive that point home, they will be appearing together at both Desertfest Belgium editions this fall. That’s it, that’s the message – don’t tell us you need to know any more to get your engines revving! But just in case, we’ll throw in IRIST and their unholy mix of metalcore and doom. All of these will be appearing in both Antwerp and Ghent.

Confirmed for ANTWERP ONLY are the illustrious don’t-call-it-post outfit CAVE-IN, and balls-to-the-wall rock band GOZU.

Confirmed for GHENT ONLY we have the Japanese post-screamo legends ENVY, and French apocalyptic doomsayers REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER.

Only one more thing left to say: go get your tickets! Reduced Combi formulas are now available, for the separate events as well as one super-duper joint combi-to-rule-them-all:

DF ANTWERP & GHENT REDUCED COMBI: 149 Euros
(valid 4 days: 14-16/10 – Antwerp & 30/10 – Ghent)
DF ANTWERP ONLY REDUCED COMBI: 120 Euros
(valid 3 days: 14-16/10 – Antwerp)
DF GHENT ONLY REDUCED DAY TICKET: 52 Euros
(valid 1 day: 30/10 – Ghent)

We’ll be back with more names to add, very soon..

http://www.desertfest.be/
https://www.facebook.com/desertfestbelgium/
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_belgium/

Elder, Live at Desertfest London 2022, April 30

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Gozu to Begin Recording New Album Feb. 25

Posted in Whathaveyou on February 18th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

So what’re we looking at here? Hopefully a Fall 2022 release, conditions permitting? Whatever it ends up being called, and whatever goofball, probably-referential names they give the songs, the next full-length from Boston’s Gozu will be the third record they’ve done in a row with producer Dean Baltulonis behind 2018’s Equilibrium (review here) and 2016’s Revival (review here), the collaboration between engineer and band having resulted in the latter’s two sharpest, hardest-hitting and most aggressive offerings to-date. As to what the new LP holds — it’ll be their second for Metal Blade-offshoot Blacklight Media — beats the crap out of me. I don’t live in Massachusetts anymore, so I’ve neither seen Gozu play nor generally made myself a nuisance hanging out with them in years. I don’t miss much about where I was in the Bay State, but I do miss running into these cats every now and then.

Alas, maybe shows. But before that happens, Gozu will likely wrap the recording process at Noise Floor — I’ll assume drums are first and Noise Floor is a good space for that, since I’ve been to Wild Arctic and at least last time I was there it was a pretty tight couple rooms — and Wild Arctic in New Hampshire. And while Baltulonis is at this point a familiar part of the makeup, it’s worth noting as well that this will be Gozu‘s first record with Seth Botos, who was announced as their new drummer last Fall. I’m curious how the lineup change may or may not affect Gozu‘s dynamic and groove, and I don’t think I’m overselling it to call this one of my most anticipated albums for later this year. I’m told it’s 10 songs as of now.

Their announcement was short and sweet:

gozu

Gozu is Recording for Metal Blade/Blacklight Media in Dover, NH starting on Feb 25th at the Noise Floor then Wild Arctic studios, Portsmouth, NH.

At the helm will be none other than Dean Baltulonis, who has produced and engineered Gozu’s last two albums, Revival and Equilibrium

This will be their first recording with drummer Seth Botos.

GOZU is:
Marc Gaffney – guitar and vocals
Joe Grotto – bass
Doug Sherman – lead guitar
Seth Botos – drums

https://www.facebook.com/GOZU666
http://gozu.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/gozu666
https://www.instagram.com/blacklightmediaofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/BlacklightMediaOfficial/
http://www.blacklightmediarecords.com/

Gozu, Equilibrium (2018)

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Gozu Announce New Drummer Seth Botos and Album in the Works

Posted in Whathaveyou on October 14th, 2021 by JJ Koczan

Put Boston heavy rockers Gozu on your list of bands eyeing up a release for 2022. I just did, anyhow. The four-piece will follow-up 2018’s Equilibrium (review here) not a moment too soon, and it seems as well they’re set to do so with a lineup change under their collective belt. Seth Botos, also of Lesser Glow, becomes the fourth to sit atop the throne on drums for the band, following in the stomping and swinging and every now and then bashing you right over the head footsteps of Barry SpillbergMike Hubbard and Pat Queenan (lest we forget Alex Fewell did a couple shows in there too). Significant company to keep, as just about anybody who’s heard a Gozu record can attest, myself included.

As to the state of their next record, which will see issue through Metal Blade imprint Blacklight Media, they’re in the have-riffs-time-to-make-it-all-songs stage, and bringing Botos into the band alongside guitarist/vocalist Marc Gaffney, guitarist Doug Sherman and bassist Joe Grotto is of course part of that process. Figure they hammer it out over the winter, hit the studio maybe early 2022, get the record done by March, release over the summer/next Fall in time to tour where and when conditions permit? Europe first for festivals before or after the record’s out? That’s my release plan for them, anyhow. I’ll make no claim to knowing actual deadlines or whatever.

The band and Botos had the following to say:

Gozu Seth Botos

We wanted to get back to our roots and let the groove hit fucking hard n heavy therefore a change was needed and we found the player that, in our minds was the perfect person for the job. It’s actually the first time in years we all looked at each other, smiled and knew the band had found that brass ring we were on a crusade for. We would like welcome Seth Botos (Lesser Glow) as the keeper of the Gozu groove!

Says Botos: “When I got the call that GOZU was looking for a drummer I didn’t hesitate and reached out immediately. I like to hit hard and hold it down so it was a no-brainer. The combination of fantastic songwriting and monster riffs makes their music a blast to play. I’m stoked to be joining them and am looking forward to seeing what we can create together.”

GOZU is:
Marc Gaffney – guitar and vocals
Joe Grotto – bass
Doug Sherman – lead guitar
Seth Botos – drums

https://www.facebook.com/GOZU666
http://gozu.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/gozu666
https://www.instagram.com/blacklightmediaofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/BlacklightMediaOfficial/
http://www.blacklightmediarecords.com/

Gozu, Equilibrium (2018)

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Friday Full-Length: Gozu, Locust Season

Posted in Bootleg Theater on May 29th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

 

Gozu‘s Locust Season (review here) came as a surprise. From out of one of the US’ most established heavy undergrounds — namely Boston’s — came a largely previously unheard four-piece, who immediately signed to Small Stone and dropped a debut album that sounded like most bands’ third record. Who the hell were these guys?

Guitarist/vocalist Marc Gaffney and guitarist Doug Sherman had been in bands together before and performed in a variety of styles, but arguably it was then-drummer Barry Spillberg who had the most established pedigree, having played in Wargasm. Bassist Jay Cannava (also Clouds) would be out of the band by their next record and the position was nebulous for some time, but Locust Season was nothing if not solidified in its purpose. Recorded with and mixed by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studio in Allston, it was brash in its aggression, weighted in tone and downright arrogant in how much fun it had. The album itself wasn’t nearly so foreboding as the Alexander Von Wieding cover — though haunting — made it out to be, with Roadsaw‘s Craig Riggs sitting in alongside Gaffney for vocals on opener “Meth Cowboy” and second track “Mr. Riddle,” two immediate bangers that fostered a seething groove that was nonetheless righteously soulful.

The album turns 10 years old this summer and the vocal arrangements still stand out. As Sherman‘s leads cut through riffs piled higher than the Blue Mountains and Spillberg propels the band forward in a kind of tension of tempo that marks Locust Season not just as an early release, but one fueled by multiple impulses, Gaffney pulls out falsetto backing vocals behind his lead vocal lines, acting as a chorus for himself, and through “Meth Cowboy,” “Mr. Riddle” and “Regal Beagle” and onward into album highlights “Kam Fong as Chin Ho” and “Jan-Michael Vincent,” his voice remains a standout factor, as creatively arranged as it is sure in its performance. Brimming with swagger that was earned as they went, Gozu‘s songs tore through most of Locust Season‘s 41-minute runtime, brazen in their heavy-rock genre rulebreaking when they wanted to be but still making an impression on the basic level of their riffs and groove, taking what might’ve served as the total aesthetic of another band starting out and instead using it as a foundation to launch their own identity. This was staggering at the time, but it might be even more impressive in hindsight because of how the band’s sound has developed in the years since.

Bottom line? Sherman and Gaffney — the two remaining founding members of the band — knew what they wanted Gozu to be. The band had gozu locust seasonissued a self-titled demo in 2008 — it’s on Bandcamp; good luck finding a CD, even in Boston; I never managed to — that featured “Meth Cowboy” and “Rise Up,” which follows “Jamaican Luau” on side B of Locust Season, but even there the roots of what Gozu would become are plain to hear and the band’s purpose feels set. Certainly there’s been progression in their craft — they’ve grown more patient in their slower parts, and as their lineup solidified with bassist Joe Grotto handling low end and Warhorse‘s Mike Hubbard taking over for Spillberg and the four-piece gained more stage experience together, they naturally became a more dynamic unit. But you can hear that potential in the songs on Locust Season. “Meth Cowboy” and the penultimate “Meat Charger” and “Jan-Michael Vincent” have featured in live sets for years, and revisiting their studio versions, the band’s comfort level with them is readily apparent. “Rise Up” might be the most forgettable track on the album, but it serves its place momentum-wise on side B in terms of the album’s overarching flow, and as closer “Alone” takes hold with swirls of guitar solos over a slower-rolling tempo, Gozu present their interpretation of the classic heavy rock trope of sticking the longest, most drawn-out song at the end.

That’s something they’d push even further on 2013’s The Fury of a Patient Man (review here and here), which would be their final outing through Small Stone, but the malleable rhythm and encompassing melody of “Alone” remains striking, with Gaffney‘s high-register singing far back in the mix behind and adrenaline kick of drums and steady guitar push. The song finishes well enough ahead of its seven-minute runtime (on the CD version) to allow for the hidden track “Tomorrow” from Annie being sung by someone’s kid, I’m not sure whose. It’s quite a journey from “Meth Cowboy” to “I love, tomorrow/You’re only a day away,” but so it goes. One more example of Gozu doing whatever the hell they wanted to and getting away with it because there was no one to really stop them except themselves.

The Fury of a Patient Man was an absolute monster of a follow-up to this record. It showed the potential they demonstrated in Locust Season was no fluke and that their identity, while recognizable in the material, was not so rigid as to be unable to progress as it moved forward from one release to the next. Their wont for gag song titles aside, it was clear Gozu were a sonic force to be reckoned with, and as they moved through 2016’s Revival (review here) and 2018’s Equilibrium (review here) — tracking both LPs with producer Dean Baltulonis at Wild Arctic Studio in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, they honed an ever-sharper take that was both more aggressive and more spacious when it wanted to be, the latter album adding breadth to the overriding shove of its predecessor. One way or the other, asses continued to be kicked.

A split with Hubbard was somewhat unexpected when it occurred, but Gozu aligned with Patrick Queenan of Sundrifter in July 2019 and proceeded to tour Europe last Fall. They’re reportedly writing new material, though of course like everyone else, their plans have been hindered by the gutshot-to-productivity that is 2020. All the better then to revisit their debut 10 years after the fact and remember how absolutely blindsiding it was the first time around. Who the hell were these guys? Turns out they were Gozu.

As always, I hope you enjoy.

I don’t know how much of this I have in me. There’s stuff scheduled for next week, whatever. A Pale Divine track premiere. That’s something to look forward to. Maybe a Temple Fang stream? We’ll see.

New Gimme show today, 5PM. http://gimmeradio.com

Same as ever.

The rioters are right. I hope no one gets sick while rioting. For future reference, this was the week the President of the United States threatened to shoot black people.

Great and safe, your weekend, I hope.

The Obelisk Forum

The Obelisk Radio

The Obelisk merch

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Days of Rona: Douglas Sherman of Gozu

Posted in Features on April 7th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.

Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.

Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan

gozu douglas sherman

Days of Rona: Douglas Sherman of Gozu (Boston, Massachusetts)

How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?

Everyone in Gozu is doing great considering the unique situation we are in. We were actually in the middle of writing a new album when this all blew up. So now Gaff and I are exchanging ideas daily through text and have accrued an enormous stockpile of riffs. We are also scheduled to go in the studio late summer depending on what happens in the next month or two.

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

In Boston we have a stay-at-home advisory in place: all non-essential business are closed and everyone is asked to stay at home unless for an emergency. Practice social distancing!

How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and music?

We are in uncharted territory so I see lots of frightened friends. I also see lots of artists trying to focus as much as they can at home on their craft and making efforts to connect with each other through technology. Human interaction is a basic need and can quell fears.

What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?

We need to breathe, listen and know that in the end we will all get through together. I also think you will see a totally different and more empathetic humanity when this is said and done.

Much love to everyone.

https://www.facebook.com/GOZU666
http://gozu.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/gozu666

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Heavy Psych Sounds Fest 2020 Announces New York Show for May 23

Posted in Whathaveyou on February 11th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

heavy psych sounds fest 2020 new york banner crop

Don’t act like you didn’t see it coming — and not just because they hate that in New York. Italian imprint Heavy Psych Sounds spread its Fest-y wings along the Pacific Coast last year pretty wide and pretty successfully, so yeah, an Eastern Seaboard date didn’t at all seem out of the question. And you’re doing East Coast, assuming you can get a venue, you’re probably doing NYC. Would I surprised if a Philly date followed or preceded? Nope, especially with High Reeper and Ruby the Hatchet on the bill here, as that’s where they’re based. But you know, one thing at a time. As if.

To be held at the Knitting Factory, the first Heavy Psych Sounds Fest in New York will take place May 23 with Ruby the Hatchet getting their due as headliners and playing alongside High ReeperGeezer — who’ll use the occasion to mark the release of their new album, Groovy — Gozu down from Boston and working their next record, and The Golden Grass, who I hear tell also have new material. If you can remember it afterward, it’s going to be a night to remember.

At some point — and I’m not necessarily looking forward to it — I’m going to have to start referring to Heavy Psych Sounds, which already hosts festivals in L.A. and San Francisco in California as well as in Paris, London, Antwerp and the Netherlands and Switzerland,  as a “Roman empire.” We’re getting close. Just to let you know. One more might do it.

Here’s info from the PR wire. Tickets on sale Friday:

heavy psych sounds fest 2020 new york

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST TO CONQUER NEW YORK IN MAY 2020

Due to the massive success and participation of the heavy rock scene with fans from all over Europe, HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS has just announced to expand and will be running the highly acclaimed FESTS also in NEW YORK on May 23rd !!

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST – NEW YORK
May 23rd, 2020

Brooklyn @ Knitting Factory

featuring
RUBY THE HATCHET
HIGH REEPER
GEEZER*
GOZU
THE GOLDEN GRASS

*Release party of the brand new album Groovy !!

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 13th:
https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/fests.htm

heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com
www.heavypsychsounds.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/

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