Any day that I get to write about Mars Red Sky doing a thing is a good day, in no small part because it means I’m probably going to put on Mars Red Sky while I do. The Bordeaux-based three-piece reissued their 2011 self-titled debut (review here; discussed here) late last year in suitably creative fashion, letting the audience mix it themselves, which you bet your ass I did. It feels like longer than it’s actually been since they released 2019’s The Task Eternal (review here), and one might hope for an EP at least from them sometime soon — their long-standing habit of preceding LPs with EPs well established by now — but I’ve heard nothing in that regard.

Their tourmates for the Summer, Witchfinder — who are also on Mars Red Sky‘s label, Mrs Red Sound (sic) — do have a new album coming though, and that’s something. The two bands will team up for a handful of dates including Red Smoke Festival in Poland, which is just one of the fests Mars Red Sky have slated for the next few months. Take note also of Bear Stone Festival, which looks friggin’ awesome, as well as WoodRock, Rock im Wald and Macumba Open Air, on the list below.

Which reminds me, the list:

MARS RED SKY: new European dates announced

Relentless Bordeaux-based heavy psychedelic merchants MARS RED SKY unleash new European Tour dates including some gigs supported by their label mates: doom quartet Witchfinder.

3C, Sound of Liberation, Ya Ya Yeah and Mrs Red Sound proudly present Mars Red Sky on tour:

02.07.22 SLUNJ (HR) Bear Stone Festival
06.07.22 LILLE (FR) La Bulle Café *
07.07.22 DORTMUND (DE) JunkYard *
08.07.22 JENA (DE) KuBa *
09.07.22 PLESZEW (PL) Red Smoke Festival *
10.07.22 GÖTTINGEN (DE) Vinyl-Reservat *
16.07.22 LA ROCHELLE (FR) Les Francofolies
21.07.22 SANTANDER (SP) Rock Beer the New
22.07.22 OVIEDO (SP) TBA
23.07.22 FIGUEIRA DA FOZ (PT) WoodRock Festival
24.07.22 MADRID (SP) Wurlitzer Ballroom
29.07.22 NEUENSEE (DE) Rock im Wald Festival
06.08.22 ERCÉ_EN_LAMÉE (FR) Macumba Open Air Festival
*With Witchfinder

Artwork by Crime da Mala Editions.

Mars Red Sky celebrated the anniversary of their cult eponymous debut album in December 2021 by releasing an original online tool entitled “Inside MRS”, that allows to remix the album stems. Anyone who bought the record gets a private access code to log in to the website and to listen to the bass only, or to the lead guitar and vocals only, while watching footage of the recording sessions in the Bardenas Desert, Spain, about ten years ago. The band wanted to let the fans explore the entrails of the recordings. This release also features an illustrated lyrics booklet with fans artworks. Available for purchase at this location, through Mrs Red Sound Records: https://marsredsky.rocks/debutLPreissue

MARS RED SKY are:
Julien Pras : guitar, vocals
Jimmy Kinast : bass, vocals
Mathieu Gazeau: drums, vocals

http://www.facebook.com/marsredskyband/
https://marsredsky.bigcartel.com/
http://www.marsredsky.net
https://mrsredsound.com/

Mars Red Sky, Web-mixing teaser

Mars Red Sky, Mars Red Sky (2011)

With what they’re calling the ‘Year Zero’ edition, the new Croatian two-dayer Bear Stone Festival unveils a lineup with immediately international ambitions, with Mars Red Sky, Black Rainbows, Mother Vulture and Acid Mammoth up on top of the poster. It sounds like a pretty genuine outdoor experience, with free-but-limited-to-1,000 entry and free camping on-site, and they say there’s more to come in the lineup, which I’m inclined to believe since although the 12 acts announced would be just fine to fill a two-day bill with six per, there’s also a jam-stage to work out, DJs and other artists reportedly taking part, so yeah, one way or the other, it seems like there will be space for announcements after this.

But it looks like a cool happening if you’re in the area or up for a bit of travel. I can think of worse ways to spend a weekend than by a riverside in Croatia listening to rock and roll and experiencing art of various stripes. I can feel the vibe from here, and it’s not even long enough for everybody to get super-smelly, which is also a win.

Best of luck to Bear Stone Festival on Year Zero, and many happy returns:

Welcome to Bear Stone Festival – Year Zero, the first of its kind

Welcome to Bear Stone Festival, the first of its kind!

This year’s edition of the festival titled #YearZeroEdition will start off Bear Stone Festival as a special preview. Year Zero Edition will be a free admission festival with free camping and an attendance limited to 1.000 visitors. Tickets can be purchased online in digital form via this link –> https://www.entrio.hr/event/bear-stone-festival-year-zero-11209

An audio-visual experience, international gathering of travelers and tribes in the Croatian outback. Two days of psychedelic, stoner, desert, fuzz, heavy rock, electronic and experimental music accompanied by live bands, DJ sets and Jam stage. Stunning landscapes, fantastic psychedelic art installations and projections will shape a unique festival experience and make you reexamine reality.

BLACK RAINBOWS // MARS RED SKY // MOTHER VULTURE // ACID MAMMOTH // SHE LOVES PABLO // STONEBRIDE // DALIBOROVO GRANJE // JASTREB // ACHACHAK // WIZARD OF STONE MOUNTAIN // ARISES // POMELO CHESS SOCIETY //

Slunj, Donje Primišlje, Croatia // 1 & 2 July, 2022 //

MAIN STAGE // JAM STAGE // DJs // CAMPING // FOOD VENDORS // BARS // RAFTING // SWIMMIMG // NATURE and more!

The festival is held in Donje Primišlje (Croatia) on a breathtaking location, on the banks of the river Mrežnica, which with its distinctive emerald color is known as one of the most pristine rivers in Croatia. The location of Bear Stone Festival is also the centre stage for the world famous trance electronic music festival Mo:Dem (Momento Demento).

The Bear Stone Festival is located in the canyon of Mrežnica and is completely surrounded by forest. Both the forest and the river are what make the festival site a part of nature in its most basic and pristine form. The festival site is a 15-minute drive from the towns of Slunj and Ogulin on each side, a 45-minute drive from the world-famous Plitvice Lakes National Park, an hour’s drive from the capital Zagreb and an hour and a half from the Adriatic Sea.

More information at –> www.bearstonefestival.com

https://www.facebook.com/events/2142426915922580
https://www.instagram.com/bearstonefestival
https://www.facebook.com/bearstonefestival
http://www.bearstonefestival.com

Black Rainbows, “Supernova & Asteroid/Fire in the Sky” live at Desertfest Belgium 2021

They say there’s more to come and given the scope of past editions of Monolith on the Mesa, one expects that’s the truth. It’s a different universe since the last time the El Prado, New Mexico-based festival was held, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t note — as you can read below — that this is the first Monolith on the Mesa to be held without co-founder Dano Sanchez, who passed away last Fall. Fellow founder Roman Barham, along with Ashley Sanchez and the Taos Mesa Brewing director Jayson Wylie have continued forward in collaboration, and the first lineup announcement is a celebration of the underground deep and high. Mars Red Sky, WarHorse, The Obsessed, The Otolith, Duel, Love Gang, and Red Mesa are the initial cohort, and that’s an admirable grouping on the levels of style and geography alike, representing West Coast, East Coast, in between and Europe in the span of seven bands. Right on.

I’m glad this festival is moving forward with Monolith on the Mesa 2022, and I’ve no doubt it’ll be a party.

To wit:

MARS RED SKY, THE OBSESSED, WARHORSE, THE OTOLITH, DUEL, RED MESA, LOVE GANG, AND MORE SET TO PLAY MONOLITH ON THE MESA: MUSIC AND ART FESTIVAL IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO

SEPTEMBER 16-17-18, 2022

located at Taos Mesa Brewing The Mothership the festival is open air

Monolith on the Mesa takes the cosmic opportunity of the vernal equinox to announce its return to Taos Mesa Brewing The Mothership, after the forced two year hiatus due to the global pandemic. Dates are set for September 16th, 17th, 18th, 2022. The festival is proud to share part of the line-up today including Mars Red Sky, The Obsessed, Warhorse, The Otolith, Duel, Love Gang, Red Mesa and visual magicians: Mad Alchemy Liquid Light Show.

The line-up remains “true to concept” and will focus on heavy riff-rock acts from across multiple sub-genres including stoner rock, heavy psych, doom metal, sludge, drone, and retro rock. The festival will once again be billed as “a truly singular and mystical experience. A weekend of live music heaviness blasting onto the high desert mesa in full view of the Sangre de Christo mountains.”

This past September the festival lost visionary co-founder, Dano Sanchez. In a statement Monolith on the Mesa producers Ashley Sanchez and Roman Barham, together with brewery director Jayson Wylie, say: “the festival experience is dedicated to our dearly beloved, fallen brother, and co-founder Dano Sanchez. Dano’s contribution has influenced only great times, as summed up in his signature phrase: “Hey bud, let’s party!” We’ll honor Dano by putting on an amazing festival featuring specialty crafted beers from Taos Mesa Brewery (served in reusable cups to reduce single use plastic), interactive art installations in conjunction with Revolt Gallery, and some of the best bands from around the world.”

This year the festival will be open air and focused around the “earthship” amphitheatre which holds 1,500 people. Upcoming festival announcements will detail efforts to make the event more eco-friendly, with less single use plastic and other disposables.

DATES AND TIMES:
September 16th, 17th, 18th, 2022
Doors at 12:00 pm. Bands start at 1:00 pm.

VENUE:
Taos Mesa Brewing The Mothership
20 ABC Mesa Rd, El Prado, NM, 87529
https://www.taosmesabrewing.com/mothership

TICKET INFORMATION:
Monolith on the Mesa will honor tickets and other arrangements purchased in 2020 and 2021. Tickets will be rolled over to this year’s Will Call list.

Single Day Pass $60 ticket link:
https://holdmyticket.com/event/preview/event/be9b80e802fe934571af2d383f254a67

Two Day Pass $100 ticket link:
https://holdmyticket.com/event/preview/event/a2d1bf3d2a361e7df590738ee74e72c4

Three Day Pass $150 ticket link:
https://holdmyticket.com/event/preview/event/79c197fd39ff30a21f68fc545f003cb1

Rain or shine event!

monolithonthemesa.com
facebook.com/monolithonthemesa
instagram.com/monolithonthemesa
twitter.com/onmonolith

Mars Red Sky, “Crazy Hearth” official video

Poland’s Red Smoke Festival 2022 makes its first lineup announcements, with Mars Red Sky and Kaleidobolt joining the bill. The event is of course part of greater Europe’s summer festival season, but like many of its heavier-minded ilk, seems to have developed a culture of its own, and in addition to bringing in some heavy hitters each year, looks like a good time also, you know, on a human level of existing with other people who aren’t dicks. At least for a couple days.

In 2022, four days, in fact. July 7-10 at the Amphitheatre in Pleszew in Central Poland. Mars Red Sky will be among the headliners, and fair enough for that — dying for new album news from them — and Kaleidobolt will play supporting their 2019 album, Bitter (review here), which was both awesome and released by Svart Records. Amazing how often those two things come together.

There’s about zero chance I’d be able to get to this thing, but as someone who makes a habit out of daydreaming about attending European heavy rock festivals on concurrent weekends oh, say, forever, a couple days of long summer heavy in Poland sounds pretty righteous to me. It’s nice to be able to think something like this will actually happen.

More announcements forthcoming, obviously, but here’s the first two:

Red Smoke Festival 2022

SAVE THE DATE! Red Smoke Festival returns with a 4-day edition! July 7-10th. Amphitheatre in Pleszew.

Ticket sale will start in early March.

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/300002808790014/

Mars Red Sky and RSF 2022!

Do we all know them? Sure!
Are they great? Of course!
Is this one of the most interesting bands in the genre? You bet!
It will be one of the headliners of RSF2022.

KALEIDOBOLT at RSF2022!

Speed, power & sweat. Endless dance! It might be one of the biggest highlights of the festival.

https://www.facebook.com/events/300002808790014/
https://www.facebook.com/RedSmokeFest
https://instagram.com/redsmokefest
https://redsmokefestival.pl/

Mars Red Sky, “Hollow King” official live video

Kaleidobolt, Bitter (2019)

I love this record. As much melodic and/or mellow heavy rock has been released since Bordeaux, France’s Mars Red Sky released their 2011 self-titled debut (review here; discussed here), few if any have been able to capture a roll and a basic quality of songwriting and melody as effectively. The idea of the band reissuing the album through their own Mrs Red Sound imprint, well, that’s just ducky as far as I’m concerned. But that the new version comes with access to a tool that lets you play around and make your own mix of it is even more fun.

Maybe I’ll just sit for a while and listen to the bassline of “Way to Rome” on its own. Or mess around with the levels in the harmonies that come up later in “Up the Stairs.” Just for kicks. I’m not looking to replace the original mix of the album or anything — great record, natural feel, doesn’t need me screwing with it — but it’s still an awfully cool idea as a way to revisit an outing well worth revisiting.

The PR wire has details:

French heavy psychedelic trio MARS RED SKY to reissue their cult debut album including a web mixing tool on December 10th via Mrs Red Sound.

For the ten-year anniversary of their eponymous debut album, Bordeaux-based heavy psychedelic merchants MARS RED SKY treat their fans to a very special release including a web mixing tool! The album is due out on December 10th through their own record label Mrs Red Sound.

Heavy psychedelic three-piece MARS RED SKY celebrate the anniversary of their cult eponymous debut album by releasing an original online tool entitled “Inside MRS”, that allows to remix the album stems. Anyone who bought the record, and got a private access code, will be able to log in into the website and to listen to the bass only, or to the lead guitar and vocals only, while watching footage of the recording sessions in the Bardenas Desert, Spain, about ten years ago. The band wanted to let the fans explore the entrails of the recordings. It was created by French web development agency Aropixel. This release also features an illustrated lyrics booklet with fans artworks. Preorder are available at this location.

‘Mars Red Sky’ was recorded by Pierre Fillon in The Bardenas Reales Natural Park, Spain. Mixed by Pierre Fillon and Mars Red Sky in Bordeaux, France. Except “Saddle Point” and “The Ravens Are Back”, recorded and mixed by Mars Red Sky at Mad Reed Studio in Bordeaux, France. Remastered for vinyl by Stéphane Teynié at AD Mastering. Mastered by Mats “Limpan” at Cutting Rooms Studios (Sweden).

Web development: Aropixel. Artwork: Carlos Olmo. Layout: Caroline Paigné. Video editing: Joséphine Labesse. Lyrics booklet cover and back: Freaks.FM. Strong Reflection art: Markus Hiltunen. Curse art: Diogo Soares. Falls art: Emmanuel Garcia. Marble Sky art: Romain Argant. Way To Rome art: Julian Langguth, Black Leaf Designs. Saddle Point art: Luka Noos. Up The Stairs art: Guillaume Magermans. The Ravens Are Back art: Lukasz Marzec.

MARS RED SKY debut album reissue ‘Mars Red Sky’
Out December 10th on Mrs Red Sound
PRE ORDER HERE: https://marsredsky.bigcartel.com/product/mars-red-sky-vinyl-debut-album-reissue

TRACK LISTING :
1. Strong Reflection
2. Curse
3. Falls
4. Marble Sky
5. Way To Rome
6. Saddle Point
7. The Ravens Are Back (bonus track)

MARS RED SKY are:
Julien Pras : guitar, vocals
Jimmy Kinast : bass, vocals
Mathieu Gazeau: drums, vocals

http://www.facebook.com/marsredskyband/
https://marsredsky.bigcartel.com/
http://www.marsredsky.net
https://mrsredsound.com/

Mars Red Sky, Web-mixing teaser

Mars Red Sky, Mars Red Sky (2011)

I try really hard not to make these shows suck. I do. And I think I’m mostly successful in that endeavor, but I tried extra hard this time. With my voice tracks as well as the playlist, which is almost entirely new music apart from the Orange Goblin and Mars Red Sky songs. I wanted to put a little life in my voice and I hope I managed to do so. I know last ep was a special consideration, with the death of Eric Wagner and all, but I’m not trying to be the most softspoken guy on Gimme Metal or anything. I just want to play music that isn’t necessarily aggro all the time. I’m actually pretty excited generally about doing so.

Tried to show that a little bit more. Nobody said anything to me about it or anything. I highly doubt anyone gives a crap. As long as I’m not doing like three-song shows with no voiceovers, Gimme seems content enough to let me do me. But just for myself, I wanted to hopefully convey a little bit of how much I enjoy talking about and sharing music. That’s the point of the whole thing.

Thanks for listening if you do and/or reading. I hope you enjoy.

The Obelisk Show airs 5PM Eastern today on the Gimme app or at: http://gimmemetal.com

Full playlist:

The Obelisk Show – 09.17.21

The Obelisk Show on Gimme Metal airs every Friday 5PM Eastern, with replays Sunday at 7PM Eastern. Next new episode is Oct. 1 (subject to change). Thanks for listening if you do.

Gimme Metal website

The Obelisk on Facebook

Do you want to dream with me for a while, or will it be too much of a downer? It’s okay. This one hits particularly bittersweet for me. I haven’t been to every Høstsabbat, but I’ve been to enough to see how the Oslo-based festival has grown and is growing, and the thought of not being there in a few weeks for this one is that much harder to take as the lineup is revealed today. Imagine the existential payoff of being engulfed in Mars Red Sky‘s melodic wash on the first night and obliterated by Conan the second, or seeing Greenleaf bring the blues of their latest album to life.

I’ve never seen Causa Sui. I’ve never seen Øresund Space Collective. These are bands I think and write about all the time. And newcomers like Slomosa, Jointhugger, Superlynx, Saint Karloff and Kryptograf, Hymn and Kite and Suncraft — these are some of the best up and coming acts the Norwegian heavy underground has to offer. Imagine being able to say you’ve seen Besvärjelsen. The thought of this happening and my not being there makes me genuinely sad.

It’s just a Fredag and a Lørdag, right? I could go! It could happen. It’s not a huge festival. I’ll mask up, of course… After a year and a half of so much bullshit, fear, sadness, ongoing, don’t I have to eventually just accept that this is what life is now and some things are worth the risk? That this is something I need to be the person I am? Who am I without live music?

And there you go. Bitter because I’m forced to reconcile myself to not seeing it. Sweet because I know in my heart these are good, passionate people who make this happen and because I believe in what they do, and even if I can’t/won’t be there to see it, it’s happening. I’m sorry to make this one about me. Really it’s about awesome bands and a righteous bill. If you’re going, enjoy. Live.

Full Høstsabbat 2021 lineup — though I’m hearing rumors about a Torsdag to-do as well — follows here:

HØSTSABBAT 2021 FULL LINE-UP ANNOUNCEMENT

In the spirit of optimistic caution and with safety precautions at the forefront of our minds, we step forward in preparation for our stages to resonate with the heavy once again! The riffs will rise from our home at Kulturkirken Jakob and our Norwegian stage at Verkstedet on Friday the 8th and Saturday the 9th of October.

Today we proudly release the full lineup and hope you are as excited as we are to come together again in celebration of the riff and all things heavy.

Daypasses and program will be out on Friday. Until then, get your festival ticket asap!

TICKETS: https://bit.ly/hostsabbat2021

Lineup HØSTSABBAT 2021 – October 8th-9th

– Mars Red Sky (fr)
– Øresund Space Collective (dk)
– Slomosa (no)
– Hymn (no)
– Conan (uk)
– Causa Sui (dk)
– Gøsta Berlings Saga (se)
– Greenleaf (se)
– Saint Karloff (no)
– Besværjelsen (se)
– Kryptograf (no)
– Kite (no)
– Sibiir (no)
– Orkan (se)
– Warp Riders (no)
– Jointhugger (no)
– Draken
– Gunerius & Verdensveven
– Superlynx
– U-Foes
– Shaving the Werewolf
– Suncraft

https://www.facebook.com/hostsabbat/
https://www.instagram.com/hostsabbat/
http://hostsabbat.no/

Høstsabbat 2019 official aftermovie

Bordeaux heavy psychedelic progressives Mars Red Sky recently announced a couple of weekenders in their native France, the first of which is set for this weekend. I have no idea if that’s still happening or how it might play out given the EU’s turn toward further lockdown measures following a cold-weather-and-everyone’s-apparently-tired-of-masks spike in COVID-19 cases. What I do know — and stop me if you’ve heard this one before — is I really, really miss going to shows. It’s been 10 months since I’ve been in a venue! That’s insane. Even at my most hermit-like, I don’t think I ever went this long.

Mars Red Sky did a couple live streams in June (review here), but they’re clearly hankering too. Not only can you tell from the fact that they’re bothering to book dates at all, let alone maybe even play them, but also their new video for “Hollow King” from 2019’s The Task Eternal (review here) is a recorded live performance of the song. They did it during soundcheck before playing a gig in Dijon last month. Close your eyes and visualize a time when that would be no big deal. Can you?

Bottom line: I love this song. I dug this record a lot and this band remains pretty frickin’ special. I hope to see them on stage again someday.

Enjoy the video:

Mars Red Sky, “Hollow King” official live video

Bordeaux-based psychedelic rockers MARS RED SKY unveil bold new live video “Hollow King” – recorded a few hours before their latest show in Dijon, France. The track is taken from their new album ‘The Task Eternal’, out on Mrs Red Sound and Listenable Records.

MARS RED SKY’s new live video “Hollow King” highlights the band’s unique sounding, propelled by a pachydermic rhythm section, ethereal vocals, enthralling riffs and meaningful lyrics. Video recorded live in La Vapeur, Dijon (France) by Sébastien from Faits-Divers. “Hollow king” is taken from the album “The task Eternal’ (2019), recorded and mixed by Benjamin Mandeau at Cryogene Studio, mastered by Pierre Etchandy.

MARS RED SKY live:
06.11.20 BESANÇON (25) La Rodia
07.11.20 CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (71) Théâtre de Chalon-sur-Saône / LaPéniche (portes 18h30 – concert 19h)
08.11.20 BOURG-EN-BRESSE (01) La Tannerie (portes 17h – concert 17h30)
25.03.21 LYON (69) L’Épicerie Moderne / salle musiques actuelles
26.03.21 MULHOUSE (68) Noumatrouff avec Witchfinder
27.03.21 STRASBOURG (67) La Laiterie Artefact

MARS RED SKY are:
Julien Pras : guitar, vocals
Jimmy Kinast : bass, vocals
MatGaz : drums, vocals

Mars Red Sky, The Task Eternal (2019)

Mars Red Sky on Thee Facebooks

Mars Red Sky website

Listenable Records website

Listenable Records on Thee Facebooks