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

Days of Rona: Gerardo Arias of Cegvera & Vinnum Sabbathi (Chapingo, Mexico)

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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?

Despite playing in the same band Vinnum Sabbathi (Juan, Roman and Sam) and Cegvera (Matt), we are all close friends. Though we cannot even practice as a band, we are always in close contact through social media. That is clearly helping everyone out. There is not much we could do as a band but to promote our recent releases again through social media (VS – Of Dimensions and Theories; CGV – The Sixth Glare). As a musician, I have also been writing new riffs (more laid back than I normally like playing them) and that is because I think that’s what I need right now, to remain positive in the middle of this havoc, ’cause it has already taken few things down. Also I have been working on some papers left from my degree, which I hope to finish and publish before this year.

Both bands already had big summer plans including some festivals as well as a tour of 30+ dates in EU and UK. All of it had to be postponed. In Mexico, Vinnum Sabbathi had scheduled a release party for the 4th of April in Mexico City. That one had to be postponed too. From afar, one might think it is easy task to set up a tour. But I have been working on this with my mate Juan for MONTHS. It ain’t easy. We were all looking forward to it so much, cause that would mean not only playing gigs, but also to visit all the friends that we have made along the way. It is really sad to see all of it vanishing so fast. We know that it will happen, we don’t know yet if later in the year or summer next year, but we know that it will definitely happen and that’s what keeps us up. Eternally grateful to all the people that have supported us during this crisis and full of joy to see that they are enjoying themselves with the music that we have recently released. At the same time, a little bit intrigued to see how the current global situation matches largely with the story that is narrated in both releases TSG and ODAT.

Feel really fortunate to say that everyone’s health is very good so far. Roman (VS) has already been sent home to do work from there, while Sam (VS) is still going to his job as the place where he works for hasn’t closed yet. Juan (VS) is crafting guitar cabs from home (The best guitar and bass cabs around – Tamayo amp). Jumping all the way to UK, Matt (CGV) has been sent back home as the place where he was working has already shut down. I was working in a vet clinic, but had to suspend activities already (the clinic is still working though). Luckily I have the support of my family and right now I am with them during the quarantine.

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

Although the situation in Mexico is not as bad as in some other countries, there has been a swift response in terms of isolation rules. For example, all academic activities at all levels have been suspended since the 20th of March till the 20th of April. Also, in drug stores you are not allowed to do bulk shopping. Some people have already been sent back to their homes from their jobs. Some others, not as lucky, have already lost their jobs. Where I live right now (Chapingo, Mexico) there is a truck driving through the streets with a megaphone saying: “Please stay at home, do not expose yourself. Please stay at home.” Feels like if we were living in a dystopian fiction. The truth is that, mostly in developing countries like Mexico, it is nearly impossible for some people to stay at home. Especially people that live from hand-to-mouth. Whenever there is a chance always try to offer them some help or even supplies.

Spoke to Matt (CGV) about the UK rules, and apparently up there they are only allowed to leave home, only for food shopping or pharmacies. Everything is closed and the streets are empty. It was meant to be only for a couple more weeks but probably gonna be a few months like this sadly.

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

I think this has already pretty much affected everyone in the scene and outside: Labels, musicians, venues, promoters, graphic artists and even the audience in general. Local shows cancelled, venues shutting down, cancelled or postponed tours and, sadly, I’ve seen people getting annoyed about all these imminent cancellations.

Not everything is gloom though. I’ve seen that artists haven’t surrendered and are striking back with incredible livestream performances. Take as an example Mike Scheidt (Yob), Kadavar or the good pals from Kurokuma. This is really inspiring and I think artists should try and cheer up the scene with ideas like this one, of course if there is the chance and the resource. I really hope we do one with Vinnum in a near future.

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

Don’t surrender to panic and/or depression, be patient, keep the spirits up. Everyone has been affected already. Always keep it positive. After I was away for four years from my family and bandmates to finish a degree, I am really close to them again. The only thing for me to do is to chin up, tell them how much I missed them and how happy I am to have them close when all this mess is happening. Keep in touch with your close friends/family. Personally, I always find myself with a giant smile on my face whenever a friend from abroad reaches out.

Support your artists, the best way to do it is buying them music and merch. You think buying a digital record does not make a difference, but trust me it does (BANDCAMP, please Bandcamp – Not Spotify!). At the same time think about the people around you. Today, actually, a guy emailed us asking if he could buy a record through Bandcamp, but kindly asked us to save it for him until the storm calms down, that way we reduce the exposure of the social workers. These ideas will definitely make a great difference. Encourage your favourite artists to do livestreams! A band always cheer up whenever we see people wanting to see us playing music even through a monitor. If you have a lot of spare time then it is the moment for your ears to give a chance to listen to that one local band that you never really wanted to check out. You might be surprised by it!

Protect the ones yourself and the ones you love, follow the sanitary indications. This is not a fake situation. It has been proved scientifically that the virus is not lab-made or genetically manipulated (type and search in your browser ‘Andersen 2020 nature medicine’ if you want to know more about it). Try to keep it as local as you can, specially providing support to small shops and producers in your area. And again, please don’t panic. ALWAYS verify the source of information! We are a society that is incredibly vulnerable to mediatic manipulation, specially with all this flood of fake news around us. Always double-check where the information is coming from.

CHIN UP, KEEP THE SPIRITS UP!

https://www.facebook.com/cegueraUK
https://cegvera.bandcamp.com/
www.facebook.com/VinnumSabbathi/
https://vinnumsabbathi.bandcamp.com/
https://stolenbodyrecords.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/stolenbodyrecords/
https://www.instagram.com/stolenbodyrecords/

It actually hasn’t been that long since I listened to one track off a forthcoming record from a band whose last work I dug a lot and immediately had to chase down the rest of the album because the tones hit me so hard. But if you discount that other instance, like on Tuesday, it’s been a good long while. Bristol, UK-based now-duo Cegvera bring expert-level thickness to the proceedings on their upcoming long-player, The Sixth Glare, and the video streaming below for “Red Swarm Beyond” is exactly what got me hooked, as it happens. I guess as far as the idea of a ‘teaser’ goes, whether it’s a whole track (as this is) or not, that’s basically the ideal.

Cegvera‘s last outing was 2019’s Live at Palíndromo (review here) on which some of this material also appeared. All the more reason to hit their Bandcamp.

The PR wire takes it from there:

Cegvera ‘The Sixth Glare’ (Stolen Body)

Dark psychedelia, mesmerising doomy soundscapes, obscured and enlightening riffs are just few components of what to expect from Cegvera’s new record ‘The Sixth Glare’. The album will be released on March 6th by Stolen Body Records (LP/CD/DL) and LSDR (CD).

Following on from their now sold out split release with Vinnum Sabbathi ‘The Good Earth Is Dying’ in 2018, Cegvera have become a two piece – Gerardo Arias (guitar) and Matt Neicho (drums). The bass duties have been taken on by Gerardo splitting the guitar between guitar and bass amps. A sound that needs to be seen to be believed. ‘The Sixth Glare’ represents the first full-length album that Cegvera has to offer as a duo. Recorded and mixed by Joe Clayton at No Studios (Manchester, UK) and mastered by KB at Testa studio (León, Gto. México).

‘The Sixth Glare’ is a reference to the environmental crisis that we are living through today and the anthropogenic extinction events that are referred by world-renowned scientists as ‘the Sixth Mass Extinction’.

The Sixth Glare stands as a conversation that needs to take place. The world is in danger of killing itself. You will find this subject embodied from the smallest scratch of the artwork (Hellbound Graphics, México) to the last second of the final track. The scene is actually set as precursor to Vinnum Sabbathi’s upcoming album ‘Of Dimensions and Theories’ (also to be released this year via SBR) which Gerardo plays drums on.

If it is well true that our planet is facing great biodiversity loss generated by human activity, this record tries to look at these phenomena in a broader context and offers a merely informative in-depth review of the factors that are mindlessly dragging our planet towards decay in modern times. This not only means that humans are depriving other species from their natural environments but they are also threatening their own existence by doing irreversible damage to the biosphere. Similarly, another factor of great importance, the overuse of antibiotics is inducing and facilitating the emergence of abnormal resistance traits in pathogenic microorganisms. At present, antibiotic-resistant diseases also represent and will remain a major threat to the human species.

It should also be said that Gerardo Arias has just become a doctor in Biology and had first hand knowledge on the subject matter.

Tracklist:
Side A (Antibiotic resistance – stages of a disease):
1. Infection (Entrance of the pathogen)
2. Incubation (period between infection and the first apparent symptoms)
3. Prodromal (period between first symptom and the full development of the disease)
4. Convalescence (period of recovery)

Side B (The Sixth Glare)
5. The Great Blackout (Environmental effects of nuclear war)
6. After the Thaw (Thawing of the permafrost)
7. The Sixth Glare (Climate change – Global Warming)
8. Red Swarm Beyond (Wildfires – Bushfires)

Cegvera is:
Gerardo Arias (guitar, bass)
Matt Neicho (drums)

https://www.facebook.com/cegueraUK
https://cegvera.bandcamp.com/
https://stolenbodyrecords.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/stolenbodyrecords/
https://www.instagram.com/stolenbodyrecords/

Cegvera, “Red Swarm Beyond” official video