Next Friday, South African fuzz rock luminaries Ruff Majik issue their new album, Elektrik Ram, through Mongrel Records. It’s slated to stream here in its entirety on Thursday the 27th with a full review, and in the interest of honesty and in keeping with what I feel is the spirit of the release — so, again, honesty — I’ll confess I’m a little nervous to write about it.

Rest assured, I’ve heard it enough. Can’t stop listening, actually. But that’s only part of the point. I’m addition to being maddening in its catchiness and setting a standard for memorable songcraft that nothing I’ve heard so far this year comes close to touching, the album follows in brutally upfront and sometimes hilarious fashion a narrative of mental health crisis on the part of guitarist/vocalist Johni Holiday — also responsible for the odd bit of percussion; like, say, a whole box of instruments being shaken at once.

This story plays out as Elektrik Ram engages the fullness of real life in love songs, the odd bit of triumph as in the second verse of its title-track (“I come to lay waste”) and good fun mined from tales of terror and paranoia like “Delirium Tremors” or the brash-as-fuck-and-it-knows-it leadoff “Hillbilly Fight Song,” which is enough to make you believe Waffle House opened a franchise in Lydenburg. I’ll save the review for the review (too late), but through it all, the songwriting recounts the tale without losing a beat or giving up any of its immediacy for the sake of narrative. It’s not the kind of record that comes along every year, and for the band, a high point of their career to-date.

Among its other strengths in structure, melody, performance, variety, and so on, Elektrik Ram is rife with minute aural details, be it the continuity thread of samples as they relate to the material itself or the or that triangle in “Delirium Tremors” that’s so purposefully obnoxious. Or maybe it’s just that part where the corporate boss from the “high-flying world of riff management” comes on with the many big plans for Zurich, Budapest, Shanghai, speculating that Philadelphia will be tough, whereas New York and Chicago are pushovers in what’s obviously a joke, but probably a fair assessment nonetheless.

All of these moments are collected throughout the album, and so in setting up this interview, there was a TON of shit that I wanted to discuss with Holiday. To wit, the interview runs over an hour and I didn’t even get to ask if he was tempted to fade the end of closer “Chemically Humanized” after including “I’ve seen the end/It fades out slow” in the lyrics of the earlier “Mourning Wood.” There are a bunch of those kinds of things that are discussed, however, so part of my hesitation here as well comes from the fact that, if you’re reading or watching this today, right now, you probably haven’t heard the full record yet.

I could’ve waited to run this until after Elektrik Ram is out, but at the same time, it’s a pickle since I already know I’ll want to refer to information from this interview in the album review, so having it here helps that. I’d tell you to check it out maybe after the release but how fucking likely is that not fucking likely at all thank you very much. So here we are.

It’s a good chat though, either way, and Holiday goes deep on the state he was in when some of this material was being written and recorded. It’s worth a watch or I wouldn’t be posting it, is what I’m saying, but no question you’ll have more context for it after next week when the album stream goes live. We make the most of what we have when we have it.

So please, enjoy:

Ruff Majik, Interview with Johni Holiday, March 17, 2023

Ruff Majik release Elektrik Ram April 28 through Mongrel Records. Initial singles can be heard on the player below, and more info is at the links that follow.

Ruff Majik, Elektrik Ram (2023)

Ruff Majik website

Ruff Majik on Facebook

Ruff Majik on Instagram

Mongrel Records website

Mongrel Records on Facebook

Mongrel Records on Instagram

Last time I posted about the upcoming Ruff Majik LP, Elektrik Ram, I said I needed to dig into it more. Well, I’ve done that and it’s stellar. A can’t-put-it-down album, and even when I do manage to stop listening, I still hear the songs playing in my head because they’re that infectious. And it’s different songs on different days, because they’re all up to the standard. In the boldness of their arrangements, the no-holds-barred lyrics and the way they break out of heavy rock genre limitations, it’s a triumph of a record. Earlier this week I did a video interview with vocalist/guitarist Johni Holiday, and we went pretty deep into what was going on with him as it was coming together — spoiler: a lot — as well as the love songs that appear throughout, one of which is the latest single, “Queen of the Gorgons.”

There are 11 cuts on the album and “Queen of the Gorgons” is the fourth to stream. They’ve gamified it accordingly with all sorts of shenanigans in the lyric video. You might find the song a fitting complement to “She’s Still a Goth” on side A, and while I’d love to go on a long, long rant about the work outdoing themselves with this record, I’m slated to stream Elektrik Ram in full on April 27, and I honestly don’t care if they release every song from it beforehand, I’m fucking honored to have it on the schedule. It’s an adventure. Don’t skip.

Preorders are up, so have at that if you will, and you can see the rules of the game below along with everything they’ve put out from the record this far. If there’s more I’ll post more because it’s that kind of thing. From the PR wire:

Ruff Majik shares new single from upcoming album Elektrik Ram and announces vinyl pre-orders.

Pre-order Elektrik Ram on all digital platforms:
https://orcd.co/elektrik_ram

Pre-order Elektrik Ram on 180g black vinyl with gatefold sleeve.
Rest of World – https://mongrelrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/elektrik-ram
South Africa / Africa – https://www.mpiremusic.co.za/products/riff-majik-elektrik-ram-180g-gatefold-lp

With iconic music press buzzing over Ruff Majik’s new album Elektrik Ram, set for release on the 28th April 2023 via Mongrel Records the band release fiery new single Queen of The Gorgons.

A rewatching of the classic 1981 ‘Clash Of The Titans’ set Johni Holiday’s brain gears into motion, somewhere during a delirious recovery state. Basically, we all know the story of the gorgon Medusa, and how she was slain at the hands of Perseus. In this version of the story, the tables have turned, and Perseus (the speaker) finds himself head over heels in-love with Medusa, and fairly close to worshipping her, singing about admiring her ‘serpentine locks of hair’ and ’emerald eyes set to stun’. Of course, Johni also delves into biblical references when he asks the serpentine woman to build him ‘a church from my ribs’ so he can sing her hymns every day.

“It’s about admiring a woman for her fierce attitude and way of life. She has no care about the speaker and has no need to care about him. The story revolves around his maniacal worship of her, and her indifference to his existence.” – comments Johni

If you’ve been wanting to get your hands on an Elektrik Ram vinyl – here’s your chance. Watch the lyric video for Queen Of The Gorgons and as you will notice it’s full of Easter eggs. Whoever finds all the Easter eggs first wins a copy of Elektrik Ram and a one of a kind, never to be printed again t-shirt.

Rules:
1. Take screenshots of all the Easter eggs you find.
2. Post them as a story, reel or a regular post in order, and remember to tag the band.
Watch the official lyric video
Buy / Stream Queen Of The Gorgons: https://orcd.co/queenofthegorgons

The horned infant known as Ruff Majik emerged from the primordial ooze when the band moved from the historical town of Lydenburg in 2012 to the capital city of Pretoria, where they honed their craft for a few years before finally entering the studio to record for the first time. Now, with a number of EP’s and two lauded albums under their belt, not to mention a megaton of local and international touring, they return with what might be their defining work in the shape of ‘Elektrik Ram’.

Current lineup:
Johni Holiday
Jimmy Glass
Cowboy Bez
Steven Bosman

http://www.ruffmajik.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089579216305&mibextid=ZbWKwL
http://www.instagram.com/ruffmajik
https://www.tiktok.com/@ruffmajik

http://mongrelrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/mongrelrecords
http://www.instagram.com/mongrel_records

Ruff Majik, “Queen of the Gorgons” lyric video

Ruff Majik, “Cement Brain”

Ruff Majik, “Elektrik Ram”

Ruff Majik, “She’s Still a Goth” official video

Ruff Majik, Elektrik Ram (2023)

I feel like I’m doubling down on heavy shit, and that’s probably a good thing. This is a killer show. New Dozer, the riffy cut from the new Enslaved right after the Polymoon song where they sound like Enslaved. The most arrogant track from the Mathew’s Hidden Museum record (not a rag on it, the arrogance is what makes it), the closer from the Sandrider record where they do the big riff thing, fucking Stoned Jesus’ “Season of the Witch” that I’ve been dying to share since whenever the hell it was I got the record, god damn, and Black Sky Giant’s gorgeous post-prog immersion and Ruff Majik’s new single speaking of fucking arrogance, but like super-depressed-you’re-actually-kind-of-worried-about-them arrogance. Their new record is so fucking good. I’mma put it on right now, and mark your calendar because I’m streaming it April 27. That’s right. I book shit that early. Hell, I’ve got a stream slated for July 12. Who even knows if the planet will still be here?

Anyway, the list in progress: it’s got that Abanamat and Hail the Void that everyone’s all over, Cleõphüzz whose debut album came out after they already broke up — I love this genre — and new The Freak Folk of Mangrovia that I got like five minutes before making the playlist, and a fucking band called Bong Corleone! Bong Corleone! I don’t know how that alone wouldn’t make you listen to the show. Dread Witch are heavy as hell, and I played the longest Swarm track I could because they rule and I figured the more of the show they take up the better.

I know I always say thanks if you listen. And hey, thanks if you listen. But if you don’t catch this one, it ain’t my damn fault. Show is awesome.

The Obelisk Show airs 5PM Eastern today on the Gimme app or at: http://gimmemetal.com.

Full playlist:

The Obelisk Show – 03.03.23 (VT = voice track)

The Obelisk Show on Gimme Metal airs every Friday 5PM Eastern, with replays Sunday at 7PM Eastern. Next new episode is March 3 (subject to change). Thanks for listening if you do.

Gimme Metal website

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I still need to dig into the new Ruff Majik album, Elektrik Ram — I’ve had the record for a bit but I’m backlogged and there’s time — but their new single “Cement Brain” emphasizes so much of what I appreciate about the band’s work to this point. There’s a solid underpinning of heavy rock, desert-ish but less fuzz-soaked than they’ve been at other times (not a complaint), and the swagger with which they commune outside genre is wonderfully brazen. Instrumentally, “Cement Brain” has a current almost of hip-hop to it, and the vocal arrangement they put over top manages to sound like an absolute toss-off, casual Friday show up and see what happens, but reveals the depth and consideration that is truly such an asset to their approach.

With tongue-in-cheek all the while and songwriting and production sharp enough to cut glass, Ruff Majik are an act with a genuinely individual point of view, in South Africa or otherwise. Yeah, you’ll hear some Queens of the Stone Age sometimes and those vocals remind me every now and again of Guns ‘n’ Roses if Axl hadn’t tragically bought into his own purported genius, but what Ruff Majik bring in terms of craft and persona is their own, and I’ll gladly put them against any of the best bands Europe has on offer in heavy rock. I very, very much hope someday to see them live.

I’ve got a lineup listed below that I’m pretty sure corresponds to the four dudes pictured above — cheers to Johni Holiday on the 1991 mullet, and I mean that unironically — but before I review the album, which I certainly will, I need to get my hands on a lyric sheet and complete list of personnel involved, who, what, where and when (the why is generally answered with “because the song wants it”). That’s a note to myself, but I’ll tell you that the more I hear of Elektrik Ram, the more I feel like I need to hear. Singles working as singles should. Fair enough.

The PR wire takes it from here:

Ruff Majik releases new single Cement Brain from upcoming album Elektrik Ram

DOWNLOAD / STREAM ‘CEMENT BRAIN’
https://orcd.co/cementbrain
https://mongrelrecords1.bandcamp.com/

Ruff Majik returns with the low-slung boogie of Cement Brain taken from the band’s forthcoming long-player Elektrik Ram out 28th April 2023 on Mongrel Records.

As with previous single Elektrik Ram (and album title track), Cement Brain was once again inspired by and written in a mental health facility. Vocalist Johni Holiday had gone in for treatment of severe agoraphobia and a crippling panic disorder, which he self-medicated with alcohol and many other substances. In the window of time that he became well and had a clear head, he penned this number as a plea to his friends and family to never let him slip back into his old ways again.

“On the surface, it’s about escaping an abusive relationship. But deep down, the relationship in question is my relationship with substances such as alcohol The song pleads with the listener to not let me go back.” Explains Johni on the message behind the track.

Current lineup:
Johni Holiday
Jimmy Glass
Cowboy Bez
Steven Bosman

http://www.ruffmajik.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089579216305&mibextid=ZbWKwL
http://www.instagram.com/ruffmajik
https://www.tiktok.com/@ruffmajik

http://mongrelrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/mongrelrecords
http://www.instagram.com/mongrel_records

Ruff Majik, “Cement Brain”

Ruff Majik, “Elektrik Ram”

I don’t see a release date for Ruff Majik‘s impending fourth album, Elektrik Ram, in the PR wire info below, and I’m not sure what to make of that if anything, but when the South African band put out “She’s Still a Goth” (posted here), it was reportedly April 2023. That’s still my best estimate, and if “She’s Still a Goth” was an early teaser, then “Elektrik Ram,” the title-track, builds on that with more cheeky goth and a purposely rough, almost garage-style sound to its strummed riff. You’ll note the use of the word “triumph” and considerations of it as a “battle song” in the quote, and you can hear that in some of the turns of lead guitar, but as ever for Ruff Majik, there’s a lot happening in relatively little time, and it’s still very much recognizably their own.

I’m really looking forward to this album. Expecting something different from 2020’s The Devil’s Cattle (review here) considering the years in between and the two songs they’ve made public thus far, but if they’re growing weirder I think that’s only an asset in their favor and the further out they reach from their desert-style heavy rock roots, the stronger a band I think they’re becoming. One assumes tour announcements are forthcoming as well, so with that in mind, I’ll turn you over to the info in blue and the track streaming at the bottom of this post.

Also, if you’re on TikTok, they’ve been doing some skits and posting practice footage on there. Might be worth giving them a follow.

Here you go:

RUFF MAJIK UNLEASH EXPLOSIVE NEW SINGLE ‘ELEKTRIK RAM’

DOWNLOAD / STREAM ‘ELEKTRIK RAM’
https://orcd.co/elektrikram
https://mongrelrecords1.bandcamp.com/track/elektrik-ram

Elektrik Ram is the new single and title track from South African stoner rock reprobates Ruff Majik’s upcoming album.

Vocalist and guitarist Johni Holiday’s quick stint in a mental wellness facility brought on the lyrics and structure of Elektrik Ram. “What started as a fun ditty, emulating the sound of Siamese Dream era Smashing Pumpkins, became a triumphant battle song chronicling the power of picking up where you left off and trying again.” Explains Johni.

He delves deeper into the message behind the song, “Conquering dependency on medication and machines (as a replacement for human contact) to step out victorious. It’s a song about not letting go of rage but using it instead to break through the barriers of modern living.”

The first gasps of air this song took was a three-part harmony that Johni wrote using only his acoustic guitar and a tape recorder to lay down the ideas. From there it was presented to the other members of the band, with the idea of making a relentless juggernaut of a song. “It should sound like a swarm of bees, but with an uplifting crescendo” Johni said.

Lyrically, Holiday referenced the feeling of being incapacitated on a hospital bed and combined it with an allegory for oppressive and dogmatic religious views, to drive the point home that “fate will not grant you any favours, you must take them.”

Current lineup:
Johni Holiday
Jimmy Glass
Cowboy Bez
Steven Bosman

http://www.ruffmajik.com
http://www.facebook.com/ruffmajik
http://www.instagram.com/ruffmajik
https://www.tiktok.com/@ruffmajik

http://mongrelrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/mongrelrecords
http://www.instagram.com/mongrel_records

Ruff Majik, “Elektrik Ram”

With the release tomorrow of their new single She’s Still a Goth, Lydenburg, South Africa, four-piece-with-new-press-shots-soon Ruff Majik also announce the coming of their next album, Elektrik Ram, due from Mongrel Records in April 2023, which may feel and sound like the distant future when people live on Mars and there’s no war on Earth and someone still being a goth would be like a big surprise I guess, but, you know, isn’t actually that far away. Far enough that I haven’t asked to hear the record yet though, not least since I don’t know whether or not it’s done.

I know this song rocks. Among the rampage of admirable qualities in Ruff Majik‘s music, whether it’s the frenetic guitar strum and intertwining leads of Johni Holiday or the depth of vocal arrangement that’s somewhere between Axl Rose and Josh Homme, the shove of groove, etc., the willingness to have actual-fun is a standout, and “She’s Still a Goth” — why on earth wouldn’t she be? — is a blast in that very spirit. Written in homage to Holiday‘s wife, Anni Buchner, who’s been doing art for the band for years now as Ale & Cake Illustration — she helmed the Pulp comic they had out last year as well, and that also was actual-fun — it is nonetheless a reminder that, no matter who you are, where or how you live, gender, orientation, anything, at some point, everybody has had a crush on a goth girl. It’s a part of life in modern times.

Ruff Majik would probably need to slow down a bit to play toward actual goth music, but I’ve known goths into Misfits and Ministry and so on, so maybe there’s a place for them to play at ‘grim’ for a while — at least for the sub-three-minute run of this track — and if the rules are bent, so be it. One more reason to look forward to Elektrik Ram, which will serve as the follow-up to 2020’s The Devil’s Cattle (review here), an absolute fucking destroyer of a rock album that the band of course didn’t get to give nearly the support touring that it deserved because, well, you were there.

Ooh, I wonder if they’ll have a pandemic song on the record. Those are lyrics I want to see.

Onto the list of 2023’s most anticipated it goes, and I’m just kind of assuming they’ll head back up to Europe to tour, but I haven’t actually seen dates or anything yet. April release means Spring festival season is in play, though, so it’ll be worth keeping an eye out.

Enjoy the video. Yes, it’s got a bat:

Ruff Majik, “She’s Still a Goth” video premiere

South African stoner rock cult Ruff Majik releases their first new music since the critically acclaimed 2020 album The Devil’s Cattle. Frontman and chief songwriter, Johni Holiday splatters latest single She’s Still A Goth with 80’s tinged goth saturated rock and roll synth-wave. Biting down on a dirty riff and even filthier backbeat the song includes a doom infused breakdown and highly flammable swagger throughout. The track is the first single from their highly anticipated upcoming album Elektrik Ram, which drops in April 2023.

Johni and his wife’s (Anni Buchner of Ale & Cake Illustration) fascination with b-grade horror and gothic imagery has always been influential in the lyrical themes and overall image of the band. When Anni fell in love once more with 80’s tinged gothic synthwave during the pandemic, it inspired him to write a tune in ode to her – featuring references to classic gothic imagery whilst still fitting neatly into the realm of Tarantino-esque desert rock.

It’s just a love song. Nothing more, nothing less. Packaged neatly in a ghoulish package…” – Johni Holiday

Buy / Stream She’s Still a Goth on Mongrel Records
https://orcd.co/shesstillagoth

Current lineup:
Johni Holiday
Jimmy Glass
Cowboy Bez
Steven Bosman

Ruff Majik, The Devil’s Cattle (2020)

Ruff Majik website

Ruff Majik on Facebook

Ruff Majik on Instagram

Mongrel Records website

Mongrel Records on Facebook

Mongrel Records on Instagram

South African good times/bad times heavy rockers Ruff Majik are set to head out on a tour of their home country beginning June 16. They go supporting The Devil’s Cattle (review here), which is only fair since it’ll be the first real domestic stint they’ve had since the album came out in 2020. Between South Africa’s pandemic situation and the band’s own goings on, that record has been waiting to get its due for a while now, even as the band — who may or may not actually be sponsored by a sunglasses company, mind you — has started work on the follow-up. They’ve gone pretty quickly from one LP to the next over the last few years, and that momentum helped them leading into The Devil’s Cattle, but of course when the world stops you kind of have to stop too or you might fall off.

In any case, glad they’re hitting it now. I have to assume a return to Europe was planned for sometime in 2020, so it could be that might happen this Fall, or maybe next year when/if that next record surfaces. I’ll take it as it comes, and in the meantime, if you didn’t check out their comic book, that’s linked below the dates as well just for fun.

From social media:

Introducing: THE GREAT TREK!

Our first inaugural bi-annual tour of South Africa! (We told you we were gonna do it, we weren’t lying).

Come catch us on the road in June and July at these fantastic spots!

In association with Mongrel Records, Plug Music Agency, Marshall Music SA, M-PIRE MUSIC, Planet Karavan and No Reason Clothing!

Our fabulous shades, as always, sponsored by Pit Viper!

Amazing poster by Cic•a•trix !

Ruff Majik live:
16.06 Cape Town Woodstock Brewery Next Fest
17.06 Cape Town Open Sesame
18.06 Stellenbosch Daisy Jones Raised by Riffs
19.06 Cape Town M-Pire Records
20.06 Swellendam Karoo Saloon
22.06 Knysna Ad’s Pub
23.06 Bloemfontein Chillax
24.06 Parys The Picked Pig
25.06 Pretoria Railways Fuzigish
01.07 Johannesburg The Irish Uncle Mother’s Yndian Mynah
02.07 Durban Robsons Real Beer
03.07 Durban The Westville Warehouse
05.07 Port St. Johns Jungle Monkey
06.07 Mdumbi Mdumbi Backpackers
07.07 Morgans Bay Yellowwood Forrest Backpackers
08.07 East London Gonubie Sports Club TBC
09.07 Port Alfred Guido’s Beach Bar
10.07 Kenton on Sea The Den
14.07 St. Francis Christy’s Seafood and Grill TBC
15.07 Port Elizabeth Eddie Mac’s
16.07 J-Bay @Work Rocking Sports Bar
17.07 Cape St. Francis Joefish Restaurant at the Cape St. Francis Resort
29.07 Potchefstroom Dia Bebados

Read the next issue of PULP here: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/pulp/list?title_no=657983

http://www.ruffmajik.com
http://www.facebook.com/ruffmajik
http://www.instagram.com/ruffmajik

http://mongrelrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/mongrelrecords
http://www.instagram.com/mongrel_records

Ruff Majik, The Devil’s Cattle (2020)

Ruff Majik, “Heart Like an Alligator” official video

This was fun. I asked the other day on the ol’ social medias for requests and wound up getting a whole playlist’s worth. It was a genuine surprise, but hell’s bells, there’s some good stuff here, and as I’m normally so focused on trying to fit as much new music as humanly possible into the two hours, the chance to revisit some oldies but goodies from Saint Vitus, Sleep, Mos Generator, and Throttlerod was great, not to mention the chance to shine light on new stuff from Steak, Weedevil, Kurokuma and Lark’s Tongue, the latter of which, I admit, was my own request.

I included the names in the playlist so I could do oldschool radio-style shout-outs, which was fun in the voice breaks, and I appreciated the chance to hear stuff I wouldn’t have otherwise, like Wallowing or Buñuel, the latter whose new album is out today on Profound Lore and is pretty wild heavy stuff. Maybe I’ll do this kind of thing from time to time. Next show I might just load up on psych tunes and let it ride. Ha.

If you listen, or you see these words, thanks.

The Obelisk Show airs 5PM Eastern today on the Gimme app or at: http://gimmemetal.com.

Full playlist:

The Obelisk Show – 02.18.22

The Obelisk Show on Gimme Metal airs every Friday 5PM Eastern, with replays Sunday at 7PM Eastern. Next new episode is March 4 (subject to change). Thanks for listening if you do.

Gimme Metal website

The Obelisk on Facebook