Italy’s Giöbia return after four years on Feb. 7 with their new album, Plasmatic Idol, which is as unplaceably ’80s synthy as the name would seem to indicate, on Heavy Psych Sounds, and following a release gig in their native Milan, the band will embark on a round of European tour dates — you know, Germany and some of those other nations who aren’t Germany — to support the record. Notable are three stops at the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest that’s of course thrown by their label, and a secret show in Bielefeld that rounds out on May 30. I don’t know about you, but I’m curious as to what’s going on in Bielefeld, Germany, on May 30. Club show? Secret headliner? Can’t-talk-about-it-yet festival appearance? Inquiring minds want to know.

I may or may not actually find out, but so it goes. There are a couple shows without venues listed, so I’ll assume those confirmations are in the works, but either way, looks like a good run and the album rules, so keep an eye/ear/tongue out, and if you’re somewhere in the world where you get to go, good on ya.

Dig:

GIÖBIA – PLASMATIC IDOL EUROPEAN TOUR 2020

We are so happy to present a very special tour !!!

A lot of single shows but also great festivals such as Heavy Psych Sounds Fests in Paris, London and Antwerp !!!

*** GIÖBIA – PLASMATIC IDOL EUROPEAN TOUR 2020 ***
22.02.2020 IT Milano-Cox („Plasmatic Idol“ Release Party)
27.02.2020 CH Olten-Coq D’Or
28.02.2020 CH Winterthur-Gaswerk
29.02.2020 DE Siegen-Vortex
01.03.2020 DE Munich-Backstage
02.03.2020 DE Tubingen-Hausbar neben der Stifskirche
03.03.2020 DE Mannheim
04.03.2020 FR Lille
05.03.2020 FR Paris-Glazart HPS Fest
06.03.2020 BE Antwerp-Trix HPS Fest
07.03.2020 UK London-Underworld HPS Fest
19.03.2020 FR Chambery-Le Brin Du Zinc
20.03.2020 FR Bordeaux
21.03.2020 FR Nantes-La Scene Michelet
22.03.2020 FR Lyon
22.05.2020 SL Ljubljana-Channel Zero
23.05.2020 AT Linz-Kapu
25.05.2020 AT Salzburg-Rockhouse
26.05.2020 DE Weimar-C Keller
27.05.2020 DE Dresden-Ostpol
28.05.2020 DE Berlin-Zukunft
29.05.2020 DE Munster-Rare Guitar Shop
30.05.2020 DE Bielefeld-”secret show”

All tickets available soon via www.heavypsychsounds.com

The new Giöbia album “Plasmatic Idol” is simply impressive: a collection of different sounds and atmospheres, brings the listener to another sidereal world full of dreams and mind travels. You can clearly feel the influence of certain Pink Floyd in some passages but also pinches of Italian Progressive Rock, Horror Soundtrack from 70’s movies, garage 60’s influences, US West Coast Psychedelia, and late 60’s Space Rock a la Hawkwind The production is delicate and smooth, the album flows without interruptions and the music immerses your mind in a cosmic dimension. The vintage organs and synthesizers are used in the best way possible, 8 tracks that capture your attention without distraction. Produced by Bazu the guitar player and singer of the band and Mixed and Mastered By Brett Orrison (Black Angels, Jack White) at Spaceflight Records in Austin, Texas. The Great cover album and artwork is by Metastazis.

ALBUM PRESALE:
https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/shop.htm#HPS113

GIÖBIA is:
Bazu – Vocals and String Instruments
Saffo – Organs / Violins / Vocals
Detrji – Bass
Betta – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/giobiaband
http://www.giobia.com/
https://giobiagiobia.bandcamp.com/
www.heavypsychsounds.com
heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/

I think maybe it was last week that the news about there being a new record from Giöbia came through and I went off about how good it was? Wasn’t much longer than a week, if it was that long. In any case, I maintain the position. Good album, kind of blows the doors down from what they’ve done before in some cool ways. They’re streaming a track now to give some idea about that, and since later today I’m calling Shadow Witch‘s stream out for being early, I’ll do the same here. February is a ways away. Preorders are up though, so probably best to give people some idea what they’re in for. Though, really, it is just a glimpse of the whole.

The PR wire has it like this:

GIÖBIA new album PLASMATIC IDOL – presale starts TODAY

Today we start with the presale of the GIÖBIA first album after 4 years!!!

The brand new release is called PLASMATIC IDOL !!!

The new Giöbia album “Plasmatic Idol” is simply impressive: a collection of different sounds and atmospheres, brings the listener to another sidereal world full of dreams and mind travels. You can clearly feel the influence of certain Pink Floyd in some passages but also pinches of Italian Progressive Rock, Horror Soundtrack from 70’s movies, garage 60’s influences, US West Coast Psychedelia, and late 60’s Space Rock a la Hawkwind The production is delicate and smooth, the album flows without interruptions and the music immerses your mind in a cosmic dimension. The vintage organs and synthesizers are used in the best way possible, 8 tracks that capture your attention without distraction. Produced by Bazu the guitar player and singer of the band and Mixed and Mastered By Brett Orrison (Black Angels, Jack White) at Spaceflight Records in Austin, Texas. The Great cover album and artwork is by Metastazis.

ALBUM PRESALE:
https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/shop.htm#HPS113

USA PRESALE via All That Is Heavy
https://allthatisheavy.com/search?type=product&q=plasmatic+idol

RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 7th, 2020

RELEASED IN :
40 TEST PRESS
250 ULTRA LTD PINK FLUO SPLATTER BLACK-BLUE-GREEN VINYL
600 LTD GREEN FLUO VINYL
BLACK VINYL
DIGIPAK
DIGITAL

GIÖBIA is:
Bazu – Vocals and String Instruments
Saffo – Organs / Violins / Vocals
Detrji – Bass
Betta – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/giobiaband
http://www.giobia.com/
https://giobiagiobia.bandcamp.com/
www.heavypsychsounds.com
heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/

I’m not saying I’ve heard it or anything, but if you think you have a sense of what Giöbia are all about, you’re probably want to going to expand that definition. The Milan-based four-piece get even more spaced out on their next full-length than they were on 2015’s Magnifier (review here), which is fair enough since it was four years ago. They’ve of course been plenty busy since that last album, touring Europe and playing fests like Freak Valley, which they hit in 2016 and released a set from the next year as the Live Freak live album that you can stream below, as well as the 2017 7″ What Have You Done through H42 Records. If you heard any of that stuff, you know it was plenty spaced. Well, get ready to get more spaced. Space space space.

Let’s assume that since the announcement of the album’s existence came in the other day and I’m only now getting this posted that the title and album details have been unveiled as of about three minutes ago and this post is already out of date. The internet is awesome.

From the PR wire:

Heavy Psych Sounds to announce a band re-signing: GIÖBIA are coming back with a brand new album

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS is so stoked to welcome back one of the best european psychedelic bands GIÖBIA with a brand new album coming out in early 2020 !!!

The mystical day 60s rock met neopsychedelic rock mixing up to the point of losing consciousness of their own essence, in an overwhelming and incessant soundtrack with an unmistakable Italian taste, that’s when Giöbia’s acid rock was born. In a vortex that leaves no way out, the unique melodies of this quartet take the listener into a world where the boundaries of reality are no longer defined and anything can ever happen. After their debut in 2009 with ‘Hard Stories’, the band firmly established itself in 2013 with ‘Introducing Night Sounds’, which suddenly brought them to the most important stages of Europe. In 2016 the milestone ‘The Magnifier’ assigned them a place among the most influential bands of the scene. Unable to stop in front of any challenge, Giöbia decided to go on astonishing their audience again finally forging a NEW ALBUM, which will see the light in 2020 via Heavy Psych Sounds, with the promise to upset and reconfirm them as the forefather of a genre that fascinates and amazes anyone who dare to leave themselves behind without fear of never returning.

PRESALE STARTS:
September 26th

The band will be also touring Europe in two slots:
– from February 28th to March 11th, including HPS Fests in Paris, Antwerp and London
– from May 22nd to June 2nd

GIÖBIA is:
Bazu – Vocals and String Instruments
Saffo – Organs / Violins / Vocals
Detrji – Bass
Betta – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/giobiaband
http://www.giobia.com/
https://giobiagiobia.bandcamp.com/
www.heavypsychsounds.com
heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/

Giöbia, Live Freak (2017)

At this point, there’s just about no way this is it for Heavy Psych Sounds Fest, the traveling live incarnation of Italian imprint Heavy Psych Sounds that seems to have bands in any town it stops and to pick up headliners wherever it goes as well. Paris, Antwerp, London and Deventer — France, Belgium, the UK and the Netherlands. Well, considering this year saw the first US-based Heavy Psych Sounds Fest run and that there are still dates to play out next month, yeah, it seems likely to me this is just the beginning for Heavy Psych Sounds Fest 2020.

It’s a striking beginning though, with Mondo Generator (seen above) headlining the shows with support from Black Rainbows and Duel each time out and various others coming and going including Dead Witches, Lords of Altamont, Gorilla, Alunah and Giöbia. No less of a scale than one would expect, and again, it won’t at all be the final announcement of Heavy Psych Sounds Fest 2020. More cities, more tours, more bands, more everything. This is not a label that in recent years has shown even the slightest interest in going anything less than all out, all the time.

The PR wire shows tickets on sale already, because of course. With respect:

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST announce new London, Paris, Antwerp and Deventer editions in 2020 with Mondo Generator, Black Rainbows, Duel, Lords Of Altamont and more!

Heavy Psych Sounds Records, the unstoppable cult and fuzz rock machine rising from Rome, Italy, has announced to once again conquer London, the Netherlands, Belgium and this time also Paris, with their highly acclaimed mini festival series: HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST!

Heavy Psych Sounds specializes in presenting the best artists in the global heavy psych, doom, fuzz blues and space rock realms, and their festival-series is no exception, spotlighting the ever-growing label’s dedication to its craft. HPS is not only THE address for all heavy rock record collectors, but it has also become an important live and festival institution; with a brisk participation from heavy music fans all over the world. Each hotspot of the traveling festival tour features diverse line-ups including both genre leaders and fast-rising acts, all ready to prove their place among the world’s best!

In cooperation with Desertscene, Rock in Bourlon, Metadrone and SOZ Concerts, Heavy Psych Sounds has announced the dates and bands to kick off 2020 in style in London, Antwerp, Paris and Deventer. Featuring high class acts such as Nick Oliveri’s MONDO GENERATOR, BLACK RAINBOWS, DUEL, DEAD WITCHES and many more, the HPS FEST series 2020 will be taking place in March. The line-up, dates and locations will look as follows:

HPS Fest Paris (FR) – March 5th @ Glazart
Facebook event
The Lords Of Altamont
Mondo Generator
Black Rainbows
Duel
Giöbia

HPS Fest Antwerp (BE) – March 6th @ Trix
Facebook event
Mondo Generator
Black Rainbows
Duel
The Lords Of Altamont
Dead Witches
Giöbia

HPS Fest London (UK) – March 7th @ The Underworld
Facebook event
Mondo Generator
Black Rainbows
Duel
Dead Witches
Giöbia
Gorilla
Alunah

HPS Fest Deventer (NL) – March 8th @ Burgerwheesuis
Facebook event
Mondo Generator
Black Rainbows
Duel
The Lords Of Altamont
Dead Witches

Better be quick and get your tickets HERE: https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/fests.htm#hps-fests-2020

“Heavy Psych Sounds is happy to announce the second edition of the London, Belgian and Netherlands HPS fest!“, label owner Gabriele Fiori comments. “Last year was such a success, so we also added Paris. We want to thank all the audiences, who make the label and booking so great. Bands, fans and promoters, we want to thank you all for your support and making it happen!“

Earlier this year, Heavy Psych Sounds also announced a bunch of festival dates in Berlin, Dresden (De), Rome (It) and Innsbruck (AT) to take place in the fall of 2019 with headlining acts such as CONAN, MONOLORD, among further heavy as hell bands alike BLACK RAINBOWS, THE SONIC DAWN, ALUNAH, ECSTATIC VISION and many more. Find out all details, tickets and info at this location.

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

Black Rainbows, Pandaemonium (2018)

Another day, another Heavy Psych Sounds Fest announced. This time it’s in the label’s hometown of Rome, and Black Rainbows will headline a lineup that also features Giöbia, High Reeper, Crypt Trip and Fvzz Popvli. The fest is set for Oct. 12, which puts it smack in the middle of a busy season in Europe, but with that lineup, they shouldn’t have any trouble getting heads in the room, whatever else might be going on at the time — it’s Keep it Low in Munich, which is plenty far enough away so that the two aren’t competing. Another good bill and another cool show for Heavy Psych Sounds, which already this year has done or announced fests on the US West Coast (a tour), Germany (Berlin and Dresden), and Austria. Shit is busy and logistically complex.

I’ll be honest, I’m having trouble keeping up with it all, but here’s what I think is the latest:

Heavy Psych Sounds Records & Booking and Metamorphosis are really proud to announce the HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST – ROME

– Artwork by Branca Studio –

!!! We are so stoked to announce the very first edition of the HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST in ROME !!!

feat.
BLACK RAINBOWS
GIÖBIA
HIGH REEPER
CRYPT TRIP
FVZZ POPVLI

– SATURDAY 12th OCTOBER – TRAFFIC LIVE CLUB –

Headquartered in Rome, Italy, Heavy Psych Sounds specializes in presenting the best artists in the global heavy psych, doom, fuzz blues and space rock realms, and their Festival- series will be no exception, spotlighting the ever-growing label’s dedication to its craft. While the first HPS Fests were held in Italy, the label has since extended its live reach into the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria and even the USA: The underground cult label is not only THE adress for all heavy rock record collectors, but has also become an important live and festival institution; with a brisk participation from heavy music fans all over the world.

Now, Heavy Psych Sounds is set to bring the ROCK to Rome with the just-announced special shows taking place this October 12th!

In cooperation with Metamorphosis, the very first HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST in ROME will feature bands like Black Rainbows, GiÖbia, High Reeper, Crypt Trip and Fvzz Popvli !!!

TICKETS PRESALE (active soon)
www.heavypsychsounds.com

official Facebook event here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/624855984662136/

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

Black Rainbows, Pandaemonium (2018)

This is a pretty big deal. Heavy Psych Sounds Fest, of course the festival arm of the label/booking company of the same name, was already branching out in holding its 2018 edition last month in Austria, whereas to my knowledge all past fests were held in Italy. Now, not only is Heavy Psych Sounds Fest 2019 moving again, but it’s expanding to three cities, and it’s happening in just a couple months in February. It’s kind of astounding, and the ambition isn’t the only thing. Black Rainbows, Giöbia and Deadsmoke will feature all three nights — Feb. 22-24, in London, Brussels and Deventer, respectively — and they’ll be joined in London by Dead Witches, who’ll use the appearance to mark the release of their new album, on Heavy Psych Sounds, and in Belgium by The Sonic Dawn, and in the Netherlands by The Sonic Dawn again as well as Drive by Wire, Kamchatka and Komatsu. I’ll say it again: this is a pretty big deal.

It signals Heavy Psych Sounds Fest not just as a label showcase, but maybe even ultimately a traveling package tour. Who the hell knows what might come next? The door’s open wide.

From the PR wire:

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST to conquer the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands in early 2019!

London, Brussels and Deventer are set to be drenched in fuzz in February 2019, with the next proceedings for HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST!

Heavy Psych Sounds Records are proud to announce further events for their HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST series, which celebrated its last edition in November 2018 in Innsbruck, Austria. The Italian cult & fuzz rock label invited high class acts such as Brant Bjork, Giöbia, Mother’s Cake and Belzebong & many more, to turn the capitol of Tyrol into a psychedelic rock wonderland! Due to the massive success and participation of the heavy rock scene with fans from all over Europe who made the fest so special, Heavy Psych Sounds just announced to expand and will be running the highly acclaimed events in London (Underworld, in cooperation with DesertScene), Brussels (Magasin4) as well as in Deventer (Burgerweeshuis, in cooperation with SOZ concerts) between February 22nd – 24th 2019!

HPS FEST LONDON (UK) – February 22nd at The Black Heart
with Dead Witches (official album release), Black Rainbows, Giöbia, Deadsmoke
Official event // TICKETS

HPS FEST BRUSSELS (BE) – February 23rd at Magasin 4
with Black Rainbows Giöbia, The Sonic Dawn, Deadsmoke
Official event // TICKETS

HPS FEST DEVENTER (NL) – February 24th at Burgerweeshuis
with Black Rainbows, Giöbia, Deadsmoke, The Sonic Dawn, Komatsu, Kamchatka, Drive By Wire
Official event // TICKETS

The London date will also see the release show of DEAD WITCHES (feat. Electric Wizard’s co-founding member Mark Greening) to celebrate their sophomore album ‘The Final Exorcism! Expect heavy as hell shows from all bands, the finest and almighty riffs, and of course lots of cool merch at the Heavy Psych Sounds booth.

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

Italian heavy space rockers Giöbia will reissue their latest full-length, 2015’s Magnifier (review here), via Heavy Psych Sounds this Spring. The new version of their fourth long-player — originally released by German imprint Sulatron Records — will include a bonus track in the Open Mind cover “Magic Potion” and new cover art by Laura Giardino that as you can see below plays off the centerpiece eyeball of the original while conveying in an intricate design the idea of a kind of ritualized swirl, which of course the album itself proffered readily, coated in effects and vibe.

Before they get to Magnifier, the Milano outfit are also set to have a new 7″ come out next month that includes a cover of Hawkwind‘s “Silver Machine” via H42 Records. It’s not streaming yet, but has already sold out on preorders, because yeah, it’s like that.

And speaking of “it’s like that,” pay attention to those label endorsements above, because there are three noted and none of them is insignificant in terms of conveying the quality of what Giöbia do.

From the PR wire:

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Records is proud to announce Giöbia to repress “MAGNIFIER”

Release Date May 5th

Released in:
Limted Coloured Gray Vinyl
Black Vinyl
Cd

Second repress on Heavy Psych Sounds for this incredible Space Rock-Heavy Psych gem. New mastering, new graphics, and a new song added to the tracklist: the heavy psych/freakbeat masterpiece from the Londoner band The Open Mind called “Magic Potion.”

‘Magnifier’ as an album really does have it all…some ace psychedelic stylings, some heavy spacerock, some lysergic sixties grooves and some more delicate shimmery shoegazing.

It has a heaviness that will appeal to some, and the delicate touch that will appeal to others. Another undisputed success for Giöbia.

New incredible artwork by Laura Giardino

Giöbia has been one of the most influential psychedelic bands in Italy over the last years. Seduced by the lysergic side of the ‘60s, by exotic mantras and the evocative power of space-rock, Giöbia is a band from Milano, Italy with many facets and one only faith, that is to turn every encounter with sound into a psychedelic experience.

The band counts four members: leader Bazu (vocals and string instruments), Saffo (organ, violin, vocals), Detrji (bass) and Betta (drums) and their name – Giöbia – comes from an ancient pre-christian festivity celebrated in Northern Italy when a big straw puppet resembling a witch is burnt as a propitiatory ritual towards the forces of nature.

https://www.facebook.com/giobiaband
http://www.giobia.com/
https://giobiagiobia.bandcamp.com/
www.heavypsychsounds.com
heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/

Giöbia, Magnifier (2015)

The label compilation is kind of a lost art in this age of digital whathaveyou. Used to be imprints put together comps on the regular. Some had rough mixes, some had exclusive tracks or things that wound up getting dropped off albums, and they kind of became a place where you might find something special once and then not run into it again. Italy’s Heavy Psych Sounds, with an ever-expanding roster and an already-full slate of releases as a result, seems intent on reviving the tradition. In addition to the label, booking agency, four-way split series and now two organized festivals under its belt, last year saw the release of Heavy Psych Sounds Volume I, and it seems that, indeed, it was the beginning of a series.

Heavy Psych Sounds Volume II will feature exclusive tracks from Black Rainbows and Killer Boogie and will be released on March 24. The same day, Black Rainbows will release their “The Red Sky Above” as a digital single following-up on last year’s Stellar Prophecy (review here) and leading to speculation of a sixth long-player in the works from them.

From the PR wire:

Heavy Psych Sounds Records presents: HPS CD SAMPLER VOL II (2017)

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Records & Booking is stoked to announce: The HPS Records Sampler Vol 2

Europe’s ever-growing riff powerhouse HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS is set to release the second chapter of its “Heavy Psych Sounds Sampler”, featuring 15 bands of the roster among which two exclusive new songs!

This new compilation features 15 tracks taken off the label’s most recent releases (Fatso Jetson, Nick Oliveri, The Freeks…) as well as a nice preview of some upcoming gems from The Sonic Dawn, Farflung, Duel or Cachemira. As an icing on this rifftastic cake, “Heavy Psych Sounds Sampler Vol. 2” offers two exclusive new singles from the mighty Black Rainbows and Killer Boogie.

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS VOLUME II TRACK LISTING:
Black Rainbows “The Red Sky Above” (exclusive track!)
Cachemira “Overpopulation”
Doctor Cyclops “Lonely Devil”
Duel “Witchbanger”
Farflung “You Will Kill For Me”
Fatso Jetson “Wire Wheels And Robots”
Giöbia “This World Was Being Watched Closely”
Glitter Wizard-Mycelia
Killer Boogie “Eight Ball” (exclusive track!)
Mothership “Crown Of Lies”
Nick Oliveri “Anything And Everything”
The Clamps “Must Destroy”
The Golden Grass “Flashing Out Of Sight”
The Freeks “Uncle Jack’s Truck”
The Sonic Dawn “Summer Voyage”

Heavy Psych Sounds Sampler Vol. 2
Out March 24th on Heavy Psych Sounds

Black Rainbows, “The Red Sky Above”

Unreleased dope track for the Italian fuzzsters, 6 minutes of Doomy, Stoner, Sabbathty groove stuff, recorded specifically for the new HPS Sampler. Recorded during their last tour in a cool studio surrounded by white snow mountains in the north of Italy last January 2017. You can taste the change of direction for the band with a monolithic style, more dark, more heavy, more straight in your face!

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS is an ever-growing European record label and booking agency specialized in stoner, hard, psychedelic, fuzzy, doomy rock and more largely, all kinds of blazing retro riffage. Since its creation in Roma in 2007, HPS has released projects for Black Rainbows, Nick Oliveri, Karma To Burn, Naam, White Hills, Farflung, Fatso Jetson, Deville, Hot Lunch, Killer Boogie, Mos Generator, Isaak, The Sonic Dawn, Mothership and many more.

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

Black Rainbows, “The Red Sky Above”