In some ways, Vestjysk Ørken are very much a heavy psych jam band, but within that framework, there’s still a lot of refusal to be defined in their sound. In May, they’ll follow-up 2018’s Cosmic Desert Fuzz (review here) with their second long-player for Interstellar Smoke Records, Full Dark No Stars, and is it instrumental? Not entirely. Is it laced with samples? Not entirely. Is it improv jamming? Not entirely. Is it all of these things? Well, sometimes definitely.

It’s spacious and weighted and exploring psychedelic reaches in its own way, and one gets the sense that the three-piece — who are also the crew behind putting together the Esbjerg Fuzztival, which will be their release party this year — are finding their approach out there in the sonic ether even as they’re having a good time gathering up clips from their favorite movies and, in this case, picking out some of Kurt Russel’s many awesome lines from over the years. No, I don’t think any from Captain Ron made it in, but I could be wrong.

Kind of amazed some studio hasn’t rebooted Captain Ron, frankly. Missed opportunity.

In any case, there’s no music out yet from Full Dark No Stars, but it’s coming next month, as the PR wire informs:

’FULL DARK NO STARS’ sophomore album by Vestjysk Ørken out May 8th 2020

Danish cosmic desert fuzzers Vestjysk Ørken once again sign to Interstellar Smoke Records to release their second album ’Full Dark No Stars’ in May of 2020 on name appropriate black vinyl, limited to 250, just in time for the festival ‘Esbjerg Fuzztival’, which the tree-piece space rockers organize themselves.

Vestjysk Ørken once more take your hand through a grand back catalogue of 60’s and 70’s sci-fi films, dusty desert guitar riffs, smoldering fuzz, funky bass, and earth shattering drums, all mixed with samples, synthesizer drones, and a loose and open relationship with vocals. Once more they take their DIY approach to music and recording to present you with a spacey desert rock opera of epic proportions.

The album follow up on the debut from 2018 (released on vinyl via Interstellar Smoke Records in 2019) with 4 new tracks, clocking in at around 45 minutes total runtime.

First single and pre-order of the album on March 13th 2020!

Full album and vinyl release May 8th 2020.

Vestjysk Ørken live:
14/3 states, aarhus
20/3 races, kbh
21/3 Kansas City, odense

Vestjysk Ørken are:
Søren Middelkoop Nielsen, bass guitar.
Thomas Bonde Sørensen, drums/percussions.
Bo Sejer, guitars & vocals.

https://www.facebook.com/VestjyskOrken/
https://www.instagram.com/vestjysk_orken/
https://vestjyskorken.bandcamp.com/
https://interstellarsmokerecords.bigcartel.com/

Vestjysk Ørken, Cosmic Desert Fuzz (2018)

The two-piece Cegvera, with members based in Mexico and the UK, recently announced the release of The Sixth Glare, their new full-length, as well as tour plans. The band will join Vinnum Sabbathi — with whom they share guitarist Gerardo Arias — in the lineup for Esbjerg Fuzztival 2020 in Denmark this May. Does this mean they’re touring together? Wouldn’t be the first time, but of course nothing’s definite at this point from what I’ve seen and not seen.

With the album announcement — part of which you can see below, talking about the record’s environmental theme — Cegvera also unveiled “Red Swarm Beyond,” a new single that showcases some of the atmosphere and severity of impact throughout the offering as a whole. You can stream that at the bottom of the post here and I’ll hope to have more to come on it before it’s out.

Dig it:

Proud to announce the British/Mexican duo Cegvera will grace Fuzztival ’20 with their presence!

Some might recognise one member of Vinnum Sabbathi in this post-doom outfit and remember the split album they made together. Cegvera have a new album out in March, and we can’t wait to doom on with these legends!

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’.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT www.fuzztival.com

Huset Esbjerg
May 8+9 2020

https://www.facebook.com/events/2277251089027506/
https://www.facebook.com/esbjergfuzztival/
https://www.fuzztival.com/

Cegvera, “Red Swarm Beyond” official video

Good news keeps rolling in from Denmark. Last time out — and by that I mean just last week — it was confirmation that the headliners of Esbjerg Fuzztival 2020 would be no less then countrymen psychedelic masters Causa Sui, and following-up on that, the fest has gone ahead and brought San Diego five-piece Monarch on board to perform. They’re of course on El Paraiso Records, so one can’t help but wonder if they might be doing a few shows around Esbjerg Fuzztival in the company of the aforementioned Causa Sui, who run the label, but one way or the other, they’re keeping excellent company there, as well as with other slated acts like The Whims of the Great Magnet, Hazemaze, fellow San Diegans Sacri Monti (who share Thomas DiBenedetto in their lineup), Japan’s Dhidalah an others.

Not trying to tell anyone how to live their life or anything, but the vibe here seems like it’s going to be pretty insane for these two days, and the getting’s good.

Monarch‘s latest offering was last year’s Beyond the Blue Sky (review here), which was every bit as sweet as whatever pie you want to put it next to.

Here’s what the fest had to say:

Esbjerg Fuzztival 2020 – Monarch

Thrilled to add Monarch to Fuzztival ’20!

In recent years Southern California has proved to be fertile ground for heavy psych, prog and free rock. The amount of excellent bands growing out of the San Diego soil is simply unparalleled. Among the youngest generation of these bands are the five-piece Monarch, a band rooted in psychedelia and experimental prog, with a view towards broader horizons.

There’s something refreshing about Monarch’s take on psychedelic rock: they aren’t afraid to weave allman brothers-esque dual guitar lines with synthesizers and saxophone. They can be heavy, but there’s an unmistakable panoramic quality to their compositions too, reflecting the rich and diverse environment they’ve grown up in, with dazzling pacific coastlines, mountains and desert highways.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT www.fuzztival.com

Huset Esbjerg
May 8+9 2020

https://www.facebook.com/events/2277251089027506/
https://www.facebook.com/esbjergfuzztival/
https://www.fuzztival.com/

Well that’s only appropriate. Causa Sui headlining Esbjerg Fuzztival 2020 in their native Denmark, on a bill that includes the likes of Dhidalah, Sacri Monti, Vokonis, Hazemaze and Vinnum Sabbathi, among others? Yeah, that makes sense to me.

Given the recent stirrings in the Causa Sui camp — they’ll be at Sonic Whip in the Netherlands as well in May and Høstsabbat in Norway in October — and the fact that their last proper studio LP was Vibraciones Doradas (review here), which came out in 2017, I’m wondering if we won’t get a new record from them sometime this year. They’ve done a few reissues of late, with re-pressed Summer Sessions stuff and Free Ride (review here), but they’re probably due a new record at some point in 2020, if you believe in “due.” Could be the shows are a way of trying new material in front of a crowd, or could be it’s all already hammered out and ready to record, or could be recorded or could be they haven’t yet jammed out a note. We live in a universe of infinite possibilities, friends. Causa Sui‘s music is nothing if not a reminder of that.

I applied to cover Esbjerg Fuzztival 2020. Wrote a bio for myself — which was awkward in a hilarious, absurdist kind of way — as part of a grant application and everything. I haven’t heard anything about it so I’d assume it’s a no-go, and my travel schedule isn’t hurting at this point, but if it had happened, I know Causa Sui would be high on the list of reasons I’d be excited to make the trip. I put the entire El Paraiso Records playlist for the band at the bottom of this post, just to make your day better.

Enjoy:

Causa Sui will HEADLINE Fuzztival 2020!

One of the biggest names in free-form jazz influenced instrumental heavy psych in the world will join our small fest! We’re still celebrating the news, and we imagine that you will too! This party will be absolutely legendary – hope to see you there!

Causa Sui consists of Jakob Skøtt, Jonas Munk, Rasmus Rasmussen and Jess Kahr, and have released eight albums since 2005. The trilogy set Summer Sessions that saw the band move away from the heavy-psych of their two first albums to more abstract, instrumental sounds that owes as much to electric Miles Davis or Can as to american stoner-rock.

Causa Sui’s sound has been described as the sound of a giant wave rolling up through the last four decades of rock.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT www.fuzztival.com

Huset Esbjerg
May 8+9 2020

https://www.facebook.com/events/2277251089027506/
https://www.facebook.com/esbjergfuzztival/
https://www.fuzztival.com/

The big name here is Sacri Monti, who move to the top billing of the poster for Esbjerg Fuzztival 2020 to rest alongside Vokonis. I don’t know if they’re headlining or what, but if they were, you’d have to believe it, as San Diego is a long plane ride from Denmark. I actually take this to mean the Cali heavy rockers will be back on tour in Europe in the Spring, which seems fair enough, so we’ll have to see where else their name pops up on festival bills and so on. Speaking of traveling significant distances, Slowjoint won’t, as they’re coming from the northern Danish peninsula Jutland, but Earth Tongue are coming all the way from New Zealand, which certainly qualifies, and the same applies to Dhidalah, from Japan.

Four bands, four different countries? Yeah, that kind of seems to be the story of Esbjerg Fuzztival 2020 through its first two lineup announcements. The first announcement had Hazemaze and Vokonis, who are both Swedish, but also Mexico’s Vinnum Sabbathi and Denmark’s own Vestjysk Ørken, who are also involved in organizing the fest, so it’s quite an international assemblage that’s coming together for the lineup. Especially for a festival that, while it’s two days, won’t be massive by the time it’s done if the one that took place earlier this year is anything to go by — that is, it’s not four days/three stages has some other events are, though I think there’s a pre-party, so that could technically be considered a third day if you wanted to push it — it shows an impressive commitment to geographic as well as sonic diversity. They make it easy to dig what they’re doing, and indeed I do.

Looking forward to seeing who else is involved once January comes around. That’s also when tickets go on sale, as they inform:

Second Band Announcement!

Thrilled to add SACRI MONTI from the US to the 2020 line-up as well as Dhidalah from Japan, Earth Tongue from New Zealand and SLOWJOINT fra Jylland! The most ambitious line-up at Fuzztival yet, showcasing the many nuances of the “stoner”-genre. We can’t wait!

Tickets go on sale in January, where we’ll also reveal the next bands!

Huset Esbjerg
May 8+9 2020

https://www.facebook.com/events/2277251089027506/
https://www.facebook.com/esbjergfuzztival/
https://www.fuzztival.com/

Sacri Monti, Live at SonicBlast Moledo 2019

I’ve been through Denmark’s airport, so while my passport has the stamp — and the last time I was there, the guy at the customs counter had some very nice things to say about the photo from 2013 as relates to my current look; they almost always comment or at least give me a second look — I can’t really claim to have ever been there. If I was going to go, a smaller-ish festival like Esbjerg Fuzztival 2020 would be the reason why. The event, put together by members of Vestjysk Ørken, will feature not only that band for another go in its third incarnation, but also Vokonis and fellow Swedes Hazemaze as well as Mexico’s Vinnum Sabbathi, who one assumes will be announcing a European tour any minute now or at very least sometime in the next couple months — you know, before they fly over. That’s usually how these things work. But yeah, even from here I can feel this one being all about the vibe, being chill but heavy, and everyone there being laid back and having a good time.

2019 looked like an utter blast. I’d expect no different from 2020 once it’s finished being built up. Hell, this already looks like fun.

To wit:

ESBJERG FESTIVAL 2020 – FIRST BAND ANNOUNCEMENT!

We are very proud to present the first 4 bands on the poster for 2020!

VOKONIS will travel across the shallow waters from Sweden with a style that ranges from the heavy riffage and vocals of heavy bands such as Baroness to utterly clean Pink Floydish soundscapes, they aim to completely immerse you!

All The way from Mexico Vinnum Sabbathi merges heavy walls of sound with samples from science and sci-fi to create a unique sonic experience!

Also from Sweden Hazemaze will give you all the Sabbath riffs you could ever hope for and so much more! Today also marks their second full album release!

As per tradition (3 times IS a tradition!) we welcome back Vestjysk Ørken to open the festival for us on Friday!

https://www.facebook.com/events/2277251089027506/
https://www.facebook.com/esbjergfuzztival/
https://www.fuzztival.com/

Vestjysk Ørken, Live at Esbjerg Fuzztival 2019

So, uh, there are 150 tickets for Esbjerg Fuzztival 2019 next May in Denmark. That’s it. 150, total. I don’t have sales figures or anything like that, but I have to think they’ll be gone long before next May comes around. I’ve seen people on the social medias lauding fest — or the fuzzt, as it were — for its sense of curation in the lineup, and I have to agree. Having kept periodic tabs, I’m particularly interested in Electric Citizen being added. I know they’re doing a date in Sweden sometime in the Spring as well, and as they’re RidingEasy labelmates with BlackWater HolyLight, and as both bands have new records out, I have to wonder if they’ll be on tour together in Europe. That’d be a good show, but more to the point here, they fit well in a varied lineup for Esbjerg Fuzztival 2019 that indeed seems meticulous in its mission, importing quality acts of diverse sound while showing loyalty as well to native Danish heavy. It’s not a revolutionary approach, necessarily, bringing in good bands local and otherwise, but it works. And it’ll sell out.

Electric Citizen will return to Europe supporting their 2018 album, Helltown (review here), that found them digging into the heavy rock and regional roots alike. After its somewhat glamified predecessor, Helltown has a pointedly straightforward vibe, but as ever, the band brings a character to their work conveyed through instrumental and vocal presence. It seemed to fly under the hype radar, but they continue to make quality records and it’s good to know they’ll be back out abroad next year. One imagines tour dates are forthcoming.

From the social medias, here’s the Esbjerg Fuzztival 2019 lineup:

Esbjerg Fuzztival 2019 May 10-11

Huset Esbjerg
Stoner/Desert/Doom/Psych

* THE MACHINE (nl)
* ELECTRIC CITIZEN (us)
* HIGH REEPER (us)
* BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT (us)
* ALASTOR (swe)
* DOMKRAFT (swe)
* MYTHIC SUNSHIP (dk)
* PSYCHLONA (uk)
* SAINT KARLOFF (nor)
* THUNDERWHIP (dk)
* STONE CADAVER (dk)
* VESTJYSK ØRKEN (dk)
+ MORE TBA!

Fuzztival Bands Spotify Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/ycmxpkpj

https://www.facebook.com/esbjergfuzztival/
https://www.facebook.com/events/880111745513014/

Electric Citizen, Helltown (2018)

A slew of lineup adds from Esbjerg Fuzztival 2019, which has said that The Machine will headline, playing Denmark for perhaps the first time in their more than 10 years together. The Netherlands-based trio will take the stage at Huset Esbjerg with their new lineup that includes bassist Chris Both, who recently played his first show with the band stepping into the role. The fest has further filled out its two-day lineup with the likes of Alastor and Domkraft from Sweden — the latter of whom seem like they’re going to be kind of all over the place next year — as well as Saint Karloff from Norway, High Reeper from the States and many more.

Seems like they’re taking advantage of some bands being on tour at that time for the busy Spring fest schedule — one imagines that BlackWater HolyLight, the latest of these additions, will be on the road supporting their 2018 self-titled debut on RidingEasy, which is one of the year’s best — but it seems to be an awesome conglomeration that, again, I have no idea why they asked me to be involved with presenting. You know I’d be posting about it anyway.

But here we are anyhow. Tickets are on sale now and limited.

Announcements from the fest’s social media follow:

We are STOKED to announce The Machine will headline Fuzztival in 2019! No introduction needed! We screamed like teenage girls when they agreed to stop by! First time in Denmark, too! (Fact check?)

Please note: The Machine will be filling in for Spelljammer, who unfortunately had to cancel their appearance at Fuzztival.

We have been graced with the presence of the daughters of fuzz. Blackwater Holylight confirmed for Fuzztival 2019!

Let the mojo rise! Psychlona added to the bill! Having just released their vinyl on the danish label Cursed Tongue Records they have set out to prove there’s a desert in ye olde England! The groove is real!

Next on the bill: Domkraft. Wielding a mindbending soundscape of obeliskian riff-majesty, Domkraft discharge layer upon layer of crushing fury, weaving through the wormhole punctures of spacetime.

Fuzztival are proud to present Alastor! Get your occult doom on!

Northern stoners Saint Karloff will be taking the riffs to a whole new stage, with local legends ThunderWhip bringing the old school doom! Ramping up to a great fest!

https://www.facebook.com/esbjergfuzztival/
https://www.facebook.com/events/880111745513014/

The Machine, Rehearsal Video Dec. 2018

BlackWater HolyLight, BlackWater HolyLight (2018)