Bantha Rider Stream Binary Sunset Massacre in Full; Album out Tomorrow
Posted in audiObelisk on December 3rd, 2020 by JJ KoczanTomorrow is Bandcamp Friday, and among the packed slew of releases for that monthly waived-fee holiday born of the COVID-19 pandemic comes the debut album from Polish instrumentalist heavy rock trio Bantha Rider. The desert-minded three-piece from Warsaw offer a reminder of just how much of the Star Wars canon takes place amid the dunes with Binary Sunset Massacre, and songs like “Rancor’s Delight” and the prior-posted single “De Wanna Wanga” offer burly-toned riffs based around themes taken from the George Lucas/Disney ouevre, which only seems to grow stronger in its cultural presence as each new week brings an episode of The Mandalorian and ever-ubiquitous merchandising. My sister’s house has an inflatable Baby Yoda X-mas decoration in the yard. You can buy Star Wars Le Creuset that looks like Han Solo in carbonite, or a waffle maker that’s shaped like the Millennium Falcon. Should we really be surprised at a record taking place on Tatooine?
Probably not, but Bantha Rider‘s dug-in-deep fandom clearly goes beyond “hey check out Leia in a bikini” grade. The green-skinned pig-guard at Jabba’s palace gets his own song in “The Gamorrean” — just a couple tracks before “Rancor’s Delight,” as it happens — and “Boonta Eve” refers to a holiday celebrated by the Hutts with a commemorative podrace. Yes, I had to look that one up. The fun of the release, however, extends beyond the references being made, as Bantha Rider careen and twist around one progression and another across the eight included tracks. I’m sure there are people who might come upon Binary Sunset Massacre and not be aware that Sand People always ride single file to hide their numbers or not have picked up on “Pazuzu” as a connection to the actor Max Von Sydow, who was in The Exorcist as well as Episode VII and sundry tie-in media.
I can’t really say if not being familiar with the thematic “source material,” as it were, would affect the listening experience or not, except to speculate that, as with any themed offering, you can put as much into it as you want, and if you want to ignore the Star Wars and just dig on some riffs, well, it’s not like there are lyrics here to rub it in your face, so whatever. While I’d advocate for as complete a listening experience as possible in any situation, it’s not much different than people who listen to political music without concentrating on the politics. Ultimately, you get out from it what you want. I’ll take Binary Sunset Massacre on its own level though and hope for continued exploration of this particular galaxy and its oh-so-blowuppable planets.
Album is streaming in full ahead of its release tomorrow. You’ll find it premiering-ish below, along with some more info, etc.
Enjoy as you will:
Bantha Rider, Binary Sunset Massacre official album premiere
Chris (guitar/visuals) on Binary Sunset Massacre:
“Took us three years to record this album since releasing our EP in 2017. It was a tough ride ’cause our drummer lives 1300km from the rest of the crew for 2 years, so the big issue was to play once in 1-2 month, with heavy logistics to play any show during that period. But after like 5 days, 4-5 hours per day rehearsing new tracks before entering the studio, with great help of Jacek Stasiak we finally recorded our first LP at lovely Kongo Studio January 2020 just before the pandemic outbreak. After mixing, mastering everything by Jacek, making the whole artwork by myself, montaging video by our friend Tomek and big help with the whole publishing and promotion job by Patrick of Piranha Music, it’s done! We are coming back with 54 minutes of instrumental journey from doomy riffing, impros, stoner trips, to dynamic metal punches. This album gathers up our music inspirations mixed with the dusty vibe of Tatooine and other movie mythologies. We’re getting ready to play some shows next year as we hope this Covid fucker dies – so see ya soon Booyooss!!!
“PS. and YES we still have no singer…”
Bantha Rider was formed in Warsaw in 2016. The band consists of Chris (guitar), Art (drums) and Bart (bass). They released amazing self-titled EP in 2017 with 4 instrumental stoner metal killers. EP release was followed by mini-tour with mexican bands Terror Cosmico and Weedsnake.
In 2020 they signed to independent label Piranha Music, to release their full length debut album “Binary Sunset Massacre”. The album, with amazing artwork by band’s guitarist Krzysiek Lesi?ski, sounds like a perfect soundtrack to cruising in the desert, but in a galaxy far, far away.
Bantha Rider is:
Art – Drums
Chris – Guitar
Bart – Bass
Bantha Rider, “De Wanna Wanga” official video
Bantha Rider on Thee Facebooks