A little curious that even though Ukrainian heavy rock forerunners Stoned Jesus have issued two singles/videos from their upcoming Season of Mist label debut, Father Light, in “Porcelain” and “CON” — both streaming below — no actual release date for the album has been announced. Of course, I say this even as the Kyiv trio announce a new stretch of November touring, and I’m writing before the daily glut of 10AM East Coast US press releases come in, so it could well be that word of such a thing will come through after this is posted — that kind of thing happens from time to time; I see something on a band’s socials and jump the gun with what later turns out to be half the news and need to adjust — probably about five minutes after, if past is prologue. I hear going on tour around an album launch is a thing that happens, so it would make sense.

And you’ll no doubt note that they’ll do cuts from the largely inescapable Seven Thunders Roar even as they play new songs — I very much enjoy how stubbornly not-stoner everything they’ve done since has been — and one assumes they’ll find welcome either way. They’re Ukraine’s biggest export in heavy rock, and even the fact that they’re calling the run with countrymen VOVK the ‘Heavy Resistance’ tour speaks to the fact that they know it. Guitarist/vocalist Igor Sydorenko has been outspoken on social media in providing historical and cultural context to the Russian war of aggression in his home nation that’s been going on for the last seven months, up to and including launching the Jams for Victory series, a third installment of which has been released.

Tour announcement follows, and again, if and when word shows up about the record, I’ll let you know.

Here you go:

Your favourite psych/grunge/doom/prog trio is back on the road! STONED JESUS are going on Heavy Resistance tour in November, playing live shows in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania. Apart from playing the now-legendary Seven Thunders Roar (2012) material, we will premiere new tracks from our upcoming fifth LP (including recently released “Porcelain” and “CON”).

Joining us are fellow Ukrainians VOVK (post-metal/progstoner), who are currently working on the follow-up to their debut album Lair (2019). By visiting the show you can not only enjoy the music but also support Ukraine and help us win on the cultural front as well!

10.11 Kablys – Vilnius, LT
11.11 Sveta Baar – Tallinn, EE
12.11 Vagonu Haal – Riga, LV
13.11 Lemmy – Kaunas, LT
14.11 Drizzly Grizzly – Gdansk, PL
15.11 Pod Minoga – Poznan, PL
16.11 Hybrydy – Warsaw, PL
17.11 Fuga – Bratislava, SK
18.11 Form Space – Cluj-Napoca, RO
19.11 Mixtape 5 – Sofia, BG
20.11 Expirat – Bucharest, RO

Poster by Soares Artwork

Line-up:
Lead-Vocals and Guitar: Igor Sydorenko
Bass and backing vocals: Sergii Sliusar
Drums and backing vocals: Dmytro Zinchenko

https://www.facebook.com/stonedjesusband
https://www.instagram.com/stonedjesusband/
http://stonedjesus.bandcamp.com/
https://stonedjesus.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/seasonofmistofficial
http://www.season-of-mist.com/

Stoned Jesus, “CON”

Stoned Jesus, “Porcelain”

Earlier this month, a trio of Ukrainian musicians came together as Jam for Victory and released a collection of improvised tracks (discussed here) in order to raise funds for wartime charities responding to the Russian invasion that’s been going on since February (and actually much longer). Igor Sydorenko, best known as guitarist/vocalist of Stoned Jesus, has taken the lead on the project — from behind, on drums, in this case — and has a new group involved of Ukrainian musicians assembled, with members of Ghost Cities and Ignea on board for the new jam session, aptly titled Vol. II as a follow-up release.

Different players mean different personalities musically, of course, and the inclusion of sax and synth is a marked distinguishing factor between the first session and this one, but you and I both know what’s up here. It’s a jam recorded on a phone. If you’re going to bitch about the audio fidelity, you missed the point
The point is buy the fucking thing at (at least) the asking price and know that in addition to supporting cool players with a righteous idea, you’re helping cash get to where it needs to be on the ground in Ukraine.

Until the next one:

JAM FOR VICTORY is an opportunity for everyone in the Ukrainian music underground scene to try and remember what it is to be a musician in these terrifying times. They never played with each other before, so it’s all pretty spontaneous! All proceeds go to local Ukrainian charities, so feel free to support us in any way possible. Enjoy and share!

Tracklisting:
1. II-5 08:10
2. II-6 09:30
3. II-4 05:04
4. II-2 09:47
5. II-1 12:17

Eugene Zhytniuk – guitar (originally keyboards in Ignea)
Igor Sydorenko – drums (originally guitar + vocals in Stoned Jesus)
Mykola Lebed – saxophone, synth (Ghost Cities)

https://jamforvictory.bandcamp.com/

Jam for Victory, Vol. II (2022)

As Kyiv’s Stoned Jesus unveil the first audio from their new album to see release hopefully soon as their debut on Season of Mist, one can’t help especially thinking of the fragility of porcelain itself but be reminded of the fact that the trio should’ve been on an extensive European tour this Spring if not for the ongoing brutalization of their home nation at the hands of Russian forces. Here in the US, the propaganda is pervasive and on the Ukrainian side — doesn’t take much for America to go anti-Russia, even though America pretty much pulls all the same bullshit, just on Black and Brown people — but even considering that it’s hard not to consider the lost homes and lost lives as a crime against humanity. Warcrimes. Think there will be any tangible consequences? Were there from the US’ war in Afghanistan or Iraq? For the Americans, I mean.

If you’d say “keep politics out of music”: All things are political. Grow up.

This song rules, and Igor is right when he calls out Porcupine Tree — can hear some In Absentia in the atmosphere — for “Porcelain,” and the percussive bent that underscores the driving riff could be Swans drawn. To me it sounds more like Stoned Jesus acknowledging their prog leanings of recent years while reengaging with the riffier methods of their early work. Finding a balance, maybe. Mountain climbing in their own way.

Can’t wait to hear more.

You can donate to help Ukraine here: comebackalive.in.ua

From the PR wire:

STONED JESUS Premieres New Single, “Porcelain”

Ukrainian sludge rock trio STONED JESUS is now releasing a brand new song, “Porcelain!” The song and visualizer, which was created by the band, can be found at THIS LOCATION.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Igor Sydorenko comments: “‘Porcelain’ was one of the last songs I brought to my bandmates for the upcoming album, and they loved it instantly! In fact, we all loved this track so much we decided we’d play it live even before the album’s out, so now it makes all the sense releasing it as a single. People told me it sounds like 2000s PORCUPINE TREE covering 2010s SWANS but to me it’s just another amazing chapter in the STONED JESUS songbook. Hope you’ll enjoy it too!”

The song is taken from the band’s new upcoming album, for which the details will be revealed at a later date. Stay tuned!

“Porcelain” can be pre-saved across streaming platforms HERE: https://orcd.co/stonedjesus-porcelain

Line-up:
Lead-Vocals and Guitar: Igor Sydorenko
Bass and backing vocals: Sergii Sliusar
Drums and backing vocals: Dmytro Zinchenko

https://www.facebook.com/stonedjesusband
https://www.instagram.com/stonedjesusband/
http://stonedjesus.bandcamp.com/
https://stonedjesus.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/seasonofmistofficial
http://www.season-of-mist.com/

Stoned Jesus, “Porcelain”

Ukrainian heavy rockers Stoned Jesus have inked a deal to release their next album and perhaps more through Season of Mist. The Kyiv-based trio follow quickly in the footsteps of countrymen and tour-mates Somali Yacht Club in aligning with the label, and their fifth full-length will follow behind 2018’s Pilgrims (review here), which was their most ambitious and progressive-sounding offering to-date. I’ve been looking forward to the new stuff since they entered the studio last July, and if I’m honest, before that as well.

It’s impossible to get out of this post (nor would I try) without mentioning that Stoned Jesus‘ home country has been invaded for the last month-plus (years, really) by neighboring Russian military forces. If you follow the band or guitarist/vocalist Igor Sydorenko on social media, you’ve already seen first-hand accounts of their current life in Ukraine, a question more of surviving than promoting their band. Their Spring tour with Samavayo, which was set to begin at the end of next week, was canceled owing to the fighting and the band’s very real need to be where they currently are. For what it’s worth — next to nothing — I wish them the best and hope this little bit of good news heralds more to come on the more serious issues they and their nation are facing. It seems low-stakes to compare heavy rock and war, but these are lives we’re talking about either way.

You can donate to help Ukraine here: comebackalive.in.ua

From the PR wire:

STONED JESUS Signs to Season of Mist

Season of Mist is proud to announce the signing of psychedelic rock trio STONED JESUS. Forged in Kyiv in 2009, this Ukrainian band submerges themselves in the world of doom, grunge and prog, while maintaining their own identity. Their upcoming album will be the fifth in line and the first to be released through Season Of Mist.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Igor Sydorenko comments: “I’ve always been a huge fan of progressive music – progressive not in the number of notes played per second, but progressive in terms of songwriting, concept and attitude.

“And I rarely saw rock and metal labels encouraging this deeper approach, until I discovered Season Of Mist. This is the label that I can describe with one word: ‘eclectic.’ And this is the label that not only approves the idea of artistic freedom, but openly indulges in it! So we’re extremely happy that these exact people are going to help us share our creative vision with the whole world from now on.”

Formed by Igor Sydorenko in Kyiv in 2009, STONED JESUS quickly progressed beyond their tongue-in-cheek moniker. The Ukrainian trio’s second full length “Seven Thunders Road” converged doom, prog and grunge in their own recognizable way and the album’s centrepiece, 13-min long “I’m the Mountain”, boasts 15 million plays on YouTube.

STONED JESUS’s next LP “The Harvest” sounded like a blend of MASTODON, PORCUPINE TREE and SOUNDGARDEN, and their charismatic live shows and relentless touring schedule helped to double and then triple their fanbase in mere months.

While being integral to the European psychedelic rock scene STONED JESUS helped popularize, creatively STONED JESUS never stopped pushing the envelope, taking influences for their newer material from such diverse acts like SWANS, THE CURE, KING CRIMSON and DEFTONES.

Line-up:
Lead-Vocals and Guitar: Igor Sydorenko
Bass and backing vocals: Sergii Sliusar
Drums and backing vocals: Dmytro Zinchenko

https://www.facebook.com/stonedjesusband
https://www.instagram.com/stonedjesusband/
http://stonedjesus.bandcamp.com/
https://stonedjesus.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/seasonofmistofficial
http://www.season-of-mist.com/

Stoned Jesus, “Bright Like the Morning” acoustic live 2020

There’s a lot you could say about this, as for the last few weeks Russia has been bombarding Ukraine in an invasion apparently attempting to recapture some kind of perceived Soviet heyday on the part of Russian president Vladimir Putin, but really, all the thoughtful analysis has been done. All the thinkpieces are either written or currently in progress and I have nothing much to add to it except to say that human beings have treated each other like fucking garbage since before the dawn of time. Even twins consume each other in the womb if they can. People are fucking scum.

The rest of us in the world outside Kyiv, well, golly, we’d sure like to help out with that no-fly zone but I’m sure seizing some yachts and making the deep sacrifice of paying more for gas will bring Russia to heel. Right, doesn’t that sound likely? No, I’m not casting my Senate vote as a dickweed music blogger for sending ground troops. I’m saying if we as a species weren’t a complete fucking wash there wouldn’t be a war in the first place. And in the meantime, I’ve found the ease with which my own country has turned to lazy, stereotype caricature of Russian culture with a lack of acknowledgement of our own imperial history — hi from a nation born of colonialist genocide and built by slaves who just spent 20 years in Afghanistan for… some reason — to be likewise fucking disconcerting.

So yeah, here’s a tour canceled on account of war instead of plague. Coming soon, famine and death.

Fuck everything:

STONED JESUS + SAMAVAYO TOUR CANCELLED

Hi friends,

Due to the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine, and Stoned Jesus being a Ukrainian band stuck in their country, all tour dates with Samavayo need to be cancelled.

It’s extremely hard to find words for all this, so please best simply read Stoned Jesus’ statement below and think about helping / donating if you haven’t already. We hope this nightmare will end very soon and send all our strength and hope to people in Ukraine and those affected.

STONED JESUS STATEMENT

“This spring should’ve been about celebrating the tenth anniversary of our most important album, Seven Thunders Roar. Hitting the road, meeting the old friends and making the new ones, playing our music, spreading the message of peace and mutual understanding. Unfortunately, right now for us and our whole country it’s all about survival. We’ll see each other soon, when the dictator and his horde are defeated, and the new Stoned Jesus album will also be released this year. For now – don’t pray for us, rather donate to Ukrainian charity via link in our bio. The Truth is on our side!”

HOW TO HELP

https://linktr.ee/HowToHelpUkraine2022
(Link from Stoned Jesus’ bio)

Please also check with your ticket provider, some might be able to offer donating your ticket to Ukrainian charity instead of returning it.

Thank you for your support,
Your SOL Crew

Stoned Jesus is:
Igor Sydorenko – Vocals & Guitars
Serhij Sljussar – Bass
Dmytro Zinchenko – Drums

Samavayo is:
Behrang Alavi, Andreas Voland & Stephan Voland

https://www.facebook.com/stonedjesusband
https://www.instagram.com/stonedjesusband/
http://stonedjesus.bandcamp.com/
https://stonedjesus.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/samavayo/
https://www.instagram.com/samavayo/
https://www.samavayo.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/samavayo

Stoned Jesus, Live at Green Theatre

Samavayo, “Transcend! Exceed!” official video

Both Stoned Jesus and Samavayo have new records impending for 2022. That’s good news out of Kyiv and Berlin, as far as I’m concerned. That the two heavy rock units will pair up for a run of European tour dates? Well, that’s pretty nifty as well.

And Stoned Jesus? They’re well within their rights to take out 2012’s Seven Thunders Roar (review here) for another go for its 10th anniversary. However many millions of YouTube plays later for “I’m the Mountain,” it’s safe to say they’ve inspired a fair amount of riffage in the years since Seven Thunders Roar came out — and I’m not saying I’ve heard anything from their next full-length or something like that — but some of their new stuff blends those heavy-rolling impulses with the band’s newer, more progressive style as well. From what I (haven’t) heard, in any case.

This’ll be a good run. I hope it happens, and if you get to go, I hope it’s a killer time. Shows presented by Sound of Liberation.

Dates were posted as follows:

Stoned Jesus – 10 Years of Seven Thunders Roar tour with Samavayo

This is happening!!! With our first tour in 2+ years we’ll be celebrating 10 Years Of Seven Thunders Roar all over Europe in April of 2022 #10yearsofSTR

The rest of the world – no worries, we’ll try to get to you as well. Keep an eye on Sound of Liberation updates!

Our pals from Samavayo will be supporting us – their new album arrives in late March! Our new album, btw, arrives a little later in 2022

Sound of Liberation proudly presents:
Stoned Jesus + very special guests Samavayo
10 Years Of Seven Thunders Roar – Europe 2022

08.04.22 – Hannover | CAFE GLOCKSEE
09.04.22 – Siegen | Vortex Surfer Musikclub
10.04.22 – Wiesbaden | Schlachthof Wiesbaden
11.04.22 – Hamburg | Knust Hamburg
12.04.22 – Nijmegen | Doornroosje
13.04.22 – Aachen | Musikbunker Aachen
14.04.22 – Dortmund | JunkYard
15.04.22 – Amsterdam | Melkweg Amsterdam
16.04.22 – Gent | Kunstencentrum Vooruit
17.04.22 – Paris | Petit Bain
18.04.22 – Nantes | Le Ferrailleur – Club Concert
19.04.22 – Toulouse | Connexion Live
20.04.22 – Bilbao | Kafe Antzokia
21.04.22 – Porto | Hard Club
22.04.22 – Madrid | SALA CARACOL MADRID
23.04.22 – Barcelona | Razzmatazz
25.04.22 – Martigny | Caves du Manoir
26.04.22 – München | Feierwerk
27.04.22 – Vienna | Chelsea
28.04.22 – Zürich | Dynamo Zürich (offiziell)
29.04.22 – Nürnberg | MUZclub
30.04.22 – Dresden | Beatpol

Stoned Jesus is:
Igor Sydorenko – Vocals & Guitars
Serhij Sljussar – Bass
Dmytro Zinchenko – Drums

Samavayo is:
Behrang Alavi, Andreas Voland & Stephan Voland

https://www.facebook.com/stonedjesusband
https://www.instagram.com/stonedjesusband/
http://stonedjesus.bandcamp.com/
https://stonedjesus.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/samavayo/
https://www.instagram.com/samavayo/
https://www.samavayo.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/samavayo

Stoned Jesus, Live at Green Theatre

Samavayo, Vatan (2018)

Though best known as the frontman of Kyiv-based heavy rock forerunners Stoned Jesus, guitarist/vocalist Igor Sydorenko always seems to have something going on in addition to that outfit, whether it’s Krobak or stand-up comedy or whatever it might be. Arlekin is a prog-minded solo incarnation, with which Sydorenko debuted in 2014 via Disguise Serenades, professing at the time his love of neo-prog rock, particularly Marillion (also mentioned below) and relating it to his discovery of that music, saying, “This is an attempt to recreate a naïve sincerity of that different kind music, the music that is still around but not really popular. Ok, not popular at all.”

And it’s true, Arlekin‘s kind of prog — pastoral, not overly technical, rooted in folk at least as much as rock, fluid instrumentally and melodically, not shy about throwing some piano or flute or synth in the arrangement, whatever the song might call for — has never been cool. It’s always been too genuine for that. Accordingly, there’s no irony in “In Possession of the Moon,” and even as 12-minute opener and longest cut (immediate points) “Old Mother Europe” pushes some distortion forward in its later moments, there’s never volume expended simply for its own sake. From the playful pop of “Night of Two Knights” to the bassier proto-New Wave of “It Wouldn’t Last,” the organ-meets-mellotron flow of “Mirror of Shadows” and the more directly keyboardian instrumental “Adult’s Responsibilities” at the finish, each piece is in conversation with a different side of what progressive rock might mean, and they’re drawn together by the organic production and performance of Sydorenko himself.

Nov. 5 is the release date for The Secret Garden. More info follows:

ARLEKIN – The Secret Garden

ARLEKIN is a love letter to British neo-progressive rock scene of the 1980s, delivered by Igor Sydorenko, known for his work in STONED JESUS, KROBAK and other projects.

“Hearing Marillion’s debut album, ‘Script For A Jester’s Tear,’ back in 2003 changed my life. I’d been writing and recording music before that, but this particular brand of melodic and emotional song-oriented progressive rock became my jam,” says Sydorenko. “Discovering other bands from the genre like IQ, Pallas, Pendragon and Collage only further cemented my affection toward the style, so it felt natural write some material of my own own in this vein.” With demos surfacing online on prog music forums since 2005, ARLEKIN’s debut LP, ‘Disguise Serenades,’ arrived only in 2014.

Being busy with STONED JESUS, now a household name for heavy and prog rock audiences across the globe, Igor nevertheless found some time last year to dig through and rework old demos to finally bring ‘The Secret Garden,’ ARLEKIN’s second album, to life. Even if you’re not familiar with the genre but enjoy the likes of Genesis, Pink Floyd, Camel or even Tears for Fears, give this short release a spin or two!

Tracklisting:
1. Old Mother Europe
2. Night of Two Knights
3. In Possession of the Moon
4. It Wouldn’t Last
5. Mirror of Shadows
6. Adult’s Responsibilities

Photo by Olha Androsova.

https://www.facebook.com/arlekinband
https://arlekin.bandcamp.com/

Arlekin, “Mirror of Shadows” official video premiere

Arlekin, Disguise Serenades (2014)

Kyiv heavy forerunners Stoned Jesus have, as of today, begun the recording process for their next full-length. What’s being billed thus far only as the hashtag #stjvth will serve as the follow-up to 2019’s Pilgrims (review here), and likely not see release until sometime in the first half of 2022. It could be May, folks. It could be September for all I know, but assuming everything goes to plan, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of Stoned Jesus in Springtime?

The trio played all of one show last year, but to look at their upcoming schedule they’re clearly looking to make up for lost time. It saddens me — sincerely, I mean this — that I’ve never seen the band live. They were confirmed for Desertfest New York 2020, and, well, poof went that idea. They’re on fest bills now in their native Ukraine as well as Switzerland, which is certainly a start, Will the new Stoned Jesus record be done by the time those take place? Certainly stranger things have happened.

Two videos have been posted — one from each set — from the aforementioned 2020 gig. The plugged-in “Apathy” and “Bright Like the Morning” from their acoustic set, which just came out. Originally featured on 2012’s Seven Thunders Roar (review here), the song should be readily familiar to anyone who’s dug into that record owing to its bending the algorithms that rule our lives and listening habits to its will over the last nine years. Someone had to do it, we’re just lucky Stoned Jesus don’t suck.

And that latter point is a big part of why I’m looking forward to their next album. Bet it doesn’t sound like the last one, but also bet it’s still cool. Adventures in songwriting with Igor & Co.

Enjoy the clip:

Stoned Jesus, “Bright Like the Morning” acoustic live 2020

Igor Sidorenko on “Bright Like the Morning”:

“We’ve always been very skeptical about bands doing unplugged versions of their tracks, but the funny thing with like 80% of StJ numbers is that I actually wrote them on the acoustic guitar and they are SONGS! So playing a handful of them last year in stripped down variant felt really natural and lotta fun. This particular “Bright Like the Morning” is currently our favorite version of the track!”

Acoustics September 1, Kyiv Tickets: https://concert.ua/uk/event/stoned-jesus

Filmed by
Aleksandr Sinkin
Dmytro Burko
Sergii Burko

Edited by
Sergii Sliusar

Thanks to
Eugene Kibets and HMG
Vlad Lyashenko and InshaMuzyka

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/igorfromstj

Summer 2021 Festivals:
30.07 – Faine Misto (Ternopil, UA)
8.08 – PALP festival (Switzerland)
14.08 – tba, UA
28-29.08 – ????? Family (Kharkiv, UA)

Stoned Jesus is:
Igor Sydorenko – Vocals & Guitars
Serhij Sljussar – Bass
Dmytro Zinchenko – Drums

Stoned Jesus, “Apathy” live 2020

Stoned Jesus store

Stoned Jesus on Twitter

Stoned Jesus on Facebook

Stoned Jesus on Instagram

Napalm Records website

Napalm Records on Facebook