Everything here is new. All of it. I didn’t do a classic track or anything like that. Just straight up new music. This playlist originally started coming together before I did the last episode, and I wound up scrapping it and going with the Reed Mullin tribute instead. Certainly no regrets there, but it’s not like I didn’t want to play new Candlemass, so here it is a couple weeks later.
So everything is new. Some of it is instrumental. Cegvera, Kanaan, Saturno Grooves and Kungens Män at least, and if I think a full two-hour show with 13 songs might be the fewest I’ve ever done, which means that, on average, these are the longest songs. Whatever. I thought the show hit a good flow with some rocking stuff early in new Geezer and the Maryland doom of Galactic Cross, gets super-heavy for a minute and then trips out, but whatever. If you don’t agree, don’t listen I guess. I don’t get ratings figures or anything, but I don’t imagine I’m busting the doors down at Gimme Radio every Friday at 5PM. I know that’s drive-time, but do the ancient ways of broadcast timeslots still apply when people are using apps to hear it? Rest assured, I have no idea.
Either way, thanks if you can listen. Sorry to be a bother if you can’t. If you want to look at this is as a list of bands I think you should check out, then fine. I ain’t trying to sell anyone anything, but of course appreciate your support.
The Obelisk Show on Gimme Radio airs every Friday 5PM Eastern, with replays Sunday at 7PM Eastern. Next new episode is March 20 (subject to change). Thanks for listening if you do.
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 27th, 2020 by JJ Koczan
You can still preorder Humulus‘ new album, The Deep, but the fact that it is out as of tomorrow, Feb. 28, might actually make it more of an “order” without the “pre-” part — at least in terms of shipping. Either way, it’s not too late. The Italian rockers-of-riff-and-beer have been steadily building toward the release over the last couple weeks, first unveiling a video for the track “Gone Again” as taken from the still-technically-upcoming LP and then just a few days ago putting out word that this Spring they’ll take their message to the people directly, playing mostly in Germany — which seems to be how it goes these days for a lot of bands; I guess you go where the good shows are, but I have to think poor Latvia is getting the shaft, not to mention the Iberian peninsula or Scandinavia up north, or I guess all those parts of Europe that aren’t Germany — but with a couple shows in Switzerland as well. Fair enough. One doubts it’ll be the last round of shows Humulus undertake to support the record anyhow.
Based in Brescia, in Italy, the trio have a release party scheduled for March 7 close to home, and their ties with independent brewery Elav will apparently result in some show there, unless they’re just going drinking — which is possible — but you can find out about all that kind of whatnot on the social medias. The tour dates and that preorder/order link follow here, with the “Gone Again” video at the bottom:
HUMULUS – THE DEEP – 2020 SPRING TOUR
16.04.2020 – CH Basel, Sommercasino Basel 17.04.2020 – CH Winterthur, Gaswerk 18.04.2020- DE Karlsruhe, P8 19.04.2020- DE Leipzig, Ost-Passage Theater 20.04.2020 – DE Frankfurt am Main, Nachtleben Frankfurt 21.04.2020 – DE Dresden, Chemiefabrik 22.04.2020 – DE Berlin, Toast Hawaii 23.04.2020- DE Köln, Mongogo Cologne 24.04.2020- DE Münster, RARE GUITAR 25.04.2020 -DE Jena, Kulturbahnhof Jena
Artwork by ROBS -Dotwork Tattoo-
Massimiliano Boventi on The Deep release:
We are super excited about the release of the new LP. We are very satisfied about the sound of the record and the guys from our label Kozmik Artifactz are doing an amazing job with this new release. The most important thing for us is to find the good combination with the new and the old songs to do the best live show possible. So we are working hard in the rehearsal room for arrive at this point.
When we write new songs we always try something new… we need this to not get bored. So every time we really don’t know how our fanbase can react to the new elements, the new sound etc. This is our way and we hope to satisfy old and new listeners’ expectations.
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 23rd, 2020 by JJ Koczan
On about a daily basis, I run into promo copy about records that tries to, at least in some way, sell the product. That’s what it’s ultimately about, right? Even a name-your-price download is competing against an entire universe of distraction for someone’s limited attention, so yeah. One way or the other, we’re all complicit in the big capitalist slaughterhouse. So. That said, there are few things I see that I find as genuinely encouraging about a record than what you see in the quote below from drummer Massimiliano Boventi, who explains that Humulus set out to write shorter songs for their new album, The Deep, and wound up doing exactly the opposite.
To be clear, I’m all about bands consciously trying to bring new ideas and dynamics to their work. It’s how progression happens much of the time, and it keeps creative people interested in the creative process. What’s great about the below, however, is that when the material let the players know what it wanted to be, they went with it, took the songs in their more natural direction, and put the record together the way the record needed to be put together. They didn’t force it, in other words. A band being recognize that let the material develop as it will is pivotal.
The Deep is out Feb. 28 through Kozmik Artifactz. Preorders are up now:
Italian Heavy-Stoner Rockers, Humulus, Return With New Record ‘The Deep’
It is with great pride that we can finally announce our first Kozmik release of 2020!
Beer-loving Italian rockers, Humulus, return with mighty new album “The Deep” out 28th of February on vinyl and CD on Kozmik Artifactz.
Speaking of the new record, drummer Massimiliano Boventi said:
“The title will be “The Deep”. We started working on this record less or more one year ago between tours and gigs around … one fun fact: when we met the first time for taking decisions about the direction of the new songs we said like “let’s try to compose shorter songs”, maybe just for make something easier to listen for more people … so not too much later the first 2 songs were ready, the first was 9 minutes long the second 15 minutes – so in a totally spontaneous and natural way we realized that this is our direction … we love to jam and make different atmosphere during our rehearsal and the result is that we can’t cut our songs. So I can say the one of the detail of the new record is that more than in the previous one songs are more and more a mix between doom and stoner rock riffs and psychedelic and trippy atmospheres.”
The Deep will be released on limited edition heavyweight vinyl 7 CD on the 28th of February on Kozmik Artifactz.
VINYL FACTZ – Plated & pressed on high performance vinyl at Pallas/Germany – limited & coloured vinyl – 300gsm gatefold cover – special vinyl mastering
TRACKS 1. Devil’s Peak (We Eventually Eluded Death) 2. Gone Again 3. Hajra 4. Into The Heart Of The Volcano Sun 5. Lunar Queen 6. Sanctuary III – The Deep
Humulus are: Andrea Van Cleef – Guitar/Vocals Giorgio – Bass Massimiliano – Drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 18th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
Brew-loving Italian heavy rockers Humulus will release their next album, The Deep, in Feb. 2020 through Kozmik Artifactz. Sounds like something that’s going to happen way, way in the future when we have flying cars and colonies on Alpha Centauri and not-at-all a rising tide of right wing fascism? Well, it’s like five months from now, so unless we’re in for the most condensed stretch of awesome progress ever — and not to play the cynic but I’m guessing we’re not — it’ll probably just be more of that rising tide thing. The good part, however, is new Humulus. Keep up. Also, it’s happening on Kozmik Artifactz, which seems like a fair jump for the Bergamo/Brescia three-piece, who’ve worked with Kozmik-offshoot Oak Island Records in the past, including for 2017’s Reverently Heading into Nowhere (review here), as well as with Taxi Driver Records.
Drummer Massimiliano Boventi had some cool stuff to say about The Deep, so you’ll find below what he sent to me. They did some light touring for the last record, so I’d expect no different this time out:
Humulus – The Deep
Our new LP will be out in february 2020 for german label Kozmik Artifactz Records. The title will be “The Deep”.
We started working on this record less or more one year ago between tours and gigs around…one fun fact : when we met the first times for take decision about the direction of the new songs we said like “let’s try to compose shorter songs”, maybe just for make something easier to listen for more people…so not too much later the first 2 songs were ready, the first was 9 minutes long the second 15 minutes — so in a totally spontaneous and natural way we realized that this is our direction… we love to jam and make different atmosphere during our rehears and the result is that we can’t cut our songs.
So I can say the one of the detail of the new record is that more than in the previous one songs are more and more a mix between doom and stoner rock riffs and psychedelic and trippy atmospheres…
For the first time there will be also an acoustic song in the record.
As the last works (Reverently Heading Into Nowhere and Walrus EP) this record was recording during this summer at Indiebox Music Hall in Brescia by Giovanni Bottoglia.
Humulus is: Andrea Van Cleef: guitar, voice Giorgio Bonacorsi: bass Massimiliano Boventi: drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on August 14th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Holy shit this looks like a good time. Don’t get me wrong, I post about a lot of festivals all over the place and often say the same, but if you’ve got two minutes and 45 seconds — and if you make it to the end of this run-on-ass sentence, let’s face it, you do — go ahead and check out the recap video at the bottom of this post of last year’s Elav Stoner Open Air in Bergamo, Italy. I know it’s edited together to look cool and I know rocking out in slow motion is universally awesome and blah blah blah, but even so, look at that space. Look at the vibe. Look how relaxed everything seems, everybody just having a good time, downing some beers and watching killer bands play. What the hell is life about if not that very thing?
That was the first edition of the festival, and it’s grown significantly since. Elav Stoner Open Air 2018 features Bergamo’s own beer aficionados Humulus in a returning role, and alongside them are the likes of Mars Red Sky, Samavayo, Sonic Wolves, Papir playing a special jam set and a regular set, Belzebong, Weedpecker, Da Captain Trips and more. Just absolutely killer. I don’t want to say “job well done” before it happens and jinx anything, but seriously, this looks like an incredible time. It’s free to get in if you can get there, and it’s three nights of killer shows back to back to back. I’m sorry I won’t get to see it, but I’ll look forward to the video after the fact.
Lineup info and links follow here, as seen on the social medias:
ELAV STONER OPEN AIR FESTIVAL 2018
13-14-15 September 2018
@ Birrificio Indipendente Elav (Comun nuovo – Bergamo, Italy)
\\\\ FREE ENTRY ////
LINE UP:
Gio 13 ::: Da Captain Trips + Sonic Wolves + Samavayo Ven 14 ::: RAIKINAS + Papir (jam set) + Humulus + Mars Red Sky Sab 15 ::: The Black Lodge + Dead Man’s Blues Fuckers + Weedpecker + Papir + BelzebonG
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 28th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Very cool that Electric Wizard are headlining Up in Smoke 2018. Very cool. Not saying it isn’t. And right on that Dopethrone, Messa, Child, Humulus — have to wonder if they’ll bring their own beer — and Giant Sleep are playing too. Awesome. The name I want to focus on here, however, is Ancestors. The returned/reactivated Los Angeles unit will have their new album out on Pelagic Records by the time they head to Europe to play Up in Smoke presumably as part of a larger round of touring, and I’m pretty sure I’ve said this already, but watch out for that fucking record. Really. It’s a stunner.
2018 has already seen a fair share of righteous outings — I’d list them here, but you know, stolen laptop — and a couple real landmarks are still to come, but don’t let the new Ancestors get by you just because it’s been a while since they put anything out. I’ll have more to say about it, I’m sure, because it’s the kind of record about which one doesn’t easily shut up, but yeah. Take it as an(other) early heads up.
Here’s Up in Smoke‘s announcement:
UP IN SMOKE 2018 – ELECTRIC WIZARD & 6 MORE ACTS CONFIRMED!
GET YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A WEEKEND PASS!
Up In Smoke Indoor Fest 2018 has just announced a bunch of new bands, including their second headliner: The almighty ELECTRIC WIZARD, bringing their new album “Wizard Bloody Wizard” to make Pratteln tremble once again! Also confirmed:
DOPETHRONE (CAN) – The riff comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s clean and elegant… sometimes it’s filthy, grimy and about as elegant as a sledgehammer to the sternum. “Dopethrone are the kind of humans that eat the blues for lunch and wash it all down with a giant jug of crust punch! This is one of those bands that will have the crusty punks head banging right next to the stoners, both united under the bad sign of doom.” (CVLT NATION) The Canadian trio released their new album “Transcanadian Anger” few days ago!
ANCESTORS (USA) – Ancestors formed in 2006 and instead of “choosing between prog rock or heavy rock,” merged the styles to create music rife with atmosphere, tension and raw human emotion. They create mighty, modern music that dovetails innovative arrangement, crushing primordial riff interplay and melodic instrumental passages with textural atmospherics. They will release their long-awaited new album this summer via Pelagic Records.
MESSA (IT) – Messa play evoking doom metal with a dark jazz twist. Deliciously haunting female vocals, rhodes piano and 70’s fuzz guitars combine to conjure a sound that is all of their own. With influences as diverse as Windhand, Bohren Und Der Club Of Gore, The Devil’s Blood, Jex Thoth, Angelo Badalamenti, Bellwitch, John Coltrane and Aluk Todolo, the band has moved from the droning occult doom of their first LP “Belfry” to a new, darker and more atmospheric approach clearly showcased in their new record “Feast for Water”, released in March!
CHILD (AUS) – Hailing from the urban wilds of Melbourne, Australia, Child combine the heavy emotion of the blues with the tone and raw power of hard rock to create a visceral musical experience that reaches right into the chest of listeners. Since the release of their runaway self-titled debut in 2014, Child have continued to develop their unique brand of heavy blues through constant writing and extensive touring. The band released their latest EP “I” a few months ago!
HUMULUS (IT) – Humulus is a Psych-Stoner power trio from Brescia/Bergamo (Italy), formed in 2009. Their first self titled album was released by Go Down Records in December 2012. The ten tracks of this first work fully reflect the stoner attitude of the band and their aggressive sound that is best expressed during their live shows. Their latest LP “Reverently Heading Into Nowhere”, more psychedelic and heavier than ever, came out in the Spring of 2017.
GIANT SLEEP (GER/CH) – Giant Sleep are five guys from Germany and Switzerland, worshipping the power of the riff. The sound of the quintet penetrates the worlds of the subconscious and incomprehensible with no regard for genres nor boundaries. Modern post- and prog-rock elements meet the classic sound of the 70s; an original mixture of lively and creative music. On their second album “Move A Mountain” Giant Sleep takes you on a journey through rock history and beyond.
Taking place October 5th & 6th 2018 at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland, highclass acts such as JOHN GARCIA & THE BAND OF GOLD, ACID KING or SASQUATCH have already been confirmed with many more to come. Tickets for Up In Smoke are available HERE!
SHARE & WIN: To get another chance to win a weekend pass for Up In Smoke 2018, please visit the Facebook page for more info!
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 17th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
Beer-guzzling Italian heavy rockers Humulus might be a little late for Oktoberfest, but one imagines they’ll find plenty to keep their livers busy with anyway as they trek through Germany next week on a Noisolution-booked six-day jaunt supporting earlier-2017’s Reverently Heading into Nowhere (review here). The band offers a quick check-in ahead of the run, and it turns out they’ve almost completely sold through the first pressing of their second long-player, and though more are reportedly 200 more on the way, if you happen to be in the path of the tour and want a copy, now would seem to be the time to pick it up. Fair enough.
Reverently Heading into Nowhere was released through Taxi Driver Records and Oak Island Records. Here’s that update from the band, some cool art and the dates for next week’s stint:
Humulus – Humulus Germanicus Tour
We really can’t wait to hit the road and have a blast in this 6 days tour in Germany. In the past we had 2 shows in Germany (one at Keep it Low in 2015) and were always very nice situations. When our last LP came out it was well reviewed by German magazines and blogs and our German label (Oak Island Records) and promoting agency (Noisolution) are doing a great work with us. We really expect to having good time, nice shows and meet old and new friends.
We have only few copies left of our last LP in limited edition vinyl for this tour… then new 200 copies will be repressed by the label in black version and they will be available from spring 2018. So don’t be shy German people: come to our shows, enjoy our music, and grab the last copies of our R.H.I.N.O.
20.11.2017 – Munich, Rumours 21.11.2017 – Wiesbaden, Kesselhaus w/ The Flying Eyes 22.11.2017 – Düsseldorf, District 6 23.11.2017 – Berlin, Jägerklause Berlin w/ Dead Kittens 24.11.2017 – Jena, Kulturbahnhof Jena w/ Nap 25.11.2017 – Ulm, Kradhalle
Tour is booked and promote by Noisolution
Humulus is: Andrea Van Cleef: guitar, voice Giorgio Bonacorsi: bass Massimiliano Boventi: drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on July 6th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
Pretty impressive lineup that Italian heavy rockers Humulus have put together in conjunction with Elav Brewery for what’s being called Elav Stoner Open Air 2017, with Monkey3 and Karma to Burn headlining and performances locked in from Humulus themselves as well as Toner Low, My Sleeping Karma, Monte Nero, Ride Paranoia, Elepharmers and Bangarang. It’s a two-night affair, and one assumes that since it’s actually being held at the brewery itself it’ll be as much a party as it is a show, but all the better for the heavy and psychedelic vibe that seems to be the event’s ultimate aim.
Four bands tomorrow, five on Saturday. I know it’s kind of a crapshoot to think you’re going to be able to make it out to this one on such short notice if you didn’t already plan to go, but consider this notice at least that cool stuff like this is happening somewhere on the planet. On the most basic level, ideas like this one seem worth supporting to me. It looks like a good time.
Fest info follows, as run through a major tech firm’s translation matrix from its original Italian:
Elav Stoner- Open Air Festival
The Brewery opens the doors for the Stoner event of the year.
Friday 7 and Saturday, July 8, 2017 will arrive in the year of the ELAV STONER OPEN AIR FESTIVAL at #Bergamo, a two-day stoner music with nine bands, between national and international, which will alternate on stage with: Psych-Stoner , Psychedelic vibrations, garage, rock and some blues notes …
The billboard took shape under the artistic direction of the Humulus, power trio Psych-Stoner of Brescia / Bergamo. Guest star of Karma to Burn, US trio that with their rock instrumental stoner will explode the stage!
Friday, July 7
MONKEY3 (Switzerland) Psychedelic vibrations, stoner rock slides with a twist prog, instrumental music that invites to travel through the mind. During a 14-year career, Monkey3 has released 6 albums. Over the years, the Swiss quartet played everywhere in Europe, taking part in the best festivals: Roadburn, Hellfest, Desertfest, Burg-Herzberg, Freak Valley …
HUMULUS (Italy) A power-trio Psych-Stoner set up in 2009. Their first album of the same name comes out for Go Down Records in December 2012. In 2015, after a change of training, the Humulus are ready to write new songs; An EP of 3 songs entitled “Electric Walrus EP” sees the light in October 2015. 2016 is a year full of important concerts and new ideas for new songs that will compose the new LP entitled “Reverently Heading Into Nowhere.”
ELEPHARMERS (Italy) Stoner rock band from Cagliari, two guitars with heavy tuning, battery and voice. The sound of the trio brings with it the teaching of the Black Sabbath, the “cosmic” blues of the 60s and 70s, the groove of the stoner of the ’90s. The Elepharmers sound continues to have a sabbatical matrix, but with respect to the first album the songs are longer and more dilated, there are more instrumental parts and the arrangements are richer, thanks to the presence of acoustic guitars and synth arrangements and hammond By Matteo “Baro” Paper.
Bangarang! (Italy) Quartet with a loud rhythm, a strong ironic vein and the lyricism of the sampler that becomes a sort of “virtual singer”. The Bangarang Concert! Is littered with voices, noises, quotes, and dialogues around and inside the songs. In 2016 the Bangarang! Come back with a new work in the studio: ten tracks that go to create RELIGION CATODICA, an album that tells the many aspects of Italian television, for good and for evil, and which leads to the extreme consequences of the fusion of the power of a schizophrenic power trio And the quotation of the sampled voices.
Saturday, July 8
KARMA TO BURN (USA) With their rock instrumental stoner they are ready to blow up the stage! For more than 20 years, the US trio proposes a rock stoner that is for all such lovers a solid and historic reference point; With their latest EP “Mountain Czar” Karma To Burn propose another wave of what they like to call “Mountain Rock” … and we are ready to make us invest in this mountain of increasingly aggressive and rhythmic riffs .
MY SLEEPING KARMA (Germany) Aschenburg’s rock psychedelic German group, with 4 studio albums behind and a lot of live experience. With their new album “Moksha” and a series of live sold out across Europe, My Sleeping Karma arrives at the Brewery together with their instrumental rock, a real journey out of the mind: hypnotic atmospheres, engaging guitar riffs and a Massive dose of rock that never breaks.
TONER LOW (Netherlands) Band Doom Stoner who released the third album “III” in April 2013 on Bilocation Records / Kozmik Artifactz and Roadkill Rekordz. The band features a rock stoner characterized by very low and rhythmic obsessive frequencies typical of the doom, which live become a real space trip.
MONTE NERO (Italy) The Monte Nero project is a unique Distinct Music Moloch. After 15/20 years of ripening in various cellars, dance halls and stages throughout Italy, some operative musicians from rock band Bergamo (Gea, Spread, In The Howling Storm) are transferred to the BDC Room by Stefano Locatelli To spend another two years of maturing. Then, when the elements have reached full maturity, they blend together to create rock songs with a rich, intense aroma and full and round flavor.
RIDE PARANOIA (Italy) A rock band from Brescia, born in 2014, is the meeting between the two completely different music companies. Claudio, Davide, Andrea and Marco are part of The Credo band, which has been active since 2006, the fifth element of the band is Giovanni, eclectic guitarist, formerly a member of the French Wine Coca and Waiver. The result of this sound fusion has given rise to the sound of the Paranoia Ride, explosive mix of stoner, garage, rock, embellished with a touch of electro.
