Seems like maybe it’s the best case scenario imaginable when the work you’re doing changes who you are so much that you need to find a new collective identity to present it. Thus it is that Groningen, the Netherlands, trio Menhir have become Farer. The band formed in 2012 had two EPs to their credit under the now-former moniker, and the story goes that during the writing process for their first full-length they felt that the direction the material was taking warranted a shift in name. Sounds simple enough, right? I have to wonder though what that will actually translate to in terms of sound. You might recall Tartarus Records released their 2014 Uberlith II tape (discussed here) in an actual plaster brick, and its follow-up, 2016’s Hiding in Light, in a block of solid rubber. Good fun all around.

And more to come next year, it would seem, as Farer make their debut. Details are scant on that beyond the existence of such a thing, but here’s the announcement of the name change anyhow as per the PR wire, and a snippet posted on Farer‘s Bandcamp that proffers plenty of foreboding atmosphere:

Doom/noise trio MENHIR finishes recording new record; changes name into Farer

The past two and a half years the Dutch doom/noise trio MENHIR spent most of their time writing new songs for the band’s debut full-length. The record, which is set to be released next year, is recorded, mixed and at the time of writing being mastered.

The band has chosen to go further using a new moniker: Farer. “Our new material is such a far cry from the stoner/sludge we started out with as MENHIR. It is a different beast now,” explains Frank, one of the bass players of the band. “We are still making heavy and compelling music, but doing it from a very different approach. The band has evolved into a different entity and needed a new banner. In a way, it marks the beginning of a new chapter”.

At the moment, the band can’t give away too many details. “However, what you can expect are drawn-out, oppressive and compelling songs. Like we mentioned before, as far as style, atmosphere, and composition one can talk of a definite style change. We went so much further.

We worked together with photographer/artist Niels Verwijk again as well, who made beautiful original work for the album”, says Frank. The band has worked with Verwijk before on the video for Hiding in Light, of the sophomore EP, and he has produced work for acts such as Monnik, BARST and Ortega. Frank continues; “Niels has an extraordinary relationship with the dark. His material is cutting and grating. A perfect match”

The release is planned for 2020. In the meantime Farer will play new material in a couple of venues across The Netherlands. The first show will be in club for the international underground, Vera on December the 21st. Also on the bill that night are conceptual black metal band Grey Aura.

https://www.facebook.com/farer.band/
https://www.instagram.com/farer_band/
https://farer.bandcamp.com/

Every year, without fail, there comes a point at which one is forced to wonder if Roadburn has lost its damn mind. So it is today as the news hits the inbox of Roadburn 2016 “rounding out its lineup” with more bands than most festivals manage to host in a weekend. Unbefuckinglievable.

Over 30 acts have joined the bill for Roadburn 2016, which I’m thrilled and proud to say I’ll be attending and covering while also editing the Weirdo Canyon Dispatch daily ‘zine once again, including Scott Kelly and Sanford Parker‘s Mirrors for Psychic Warfare, Buried at Sea (also featuring Parker), New Keepers of the Water Towers, Usnea, Death Alley, Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Beastmaker, Gomer Pyle, Carousel, Zone Six, The Progerians (who have a new video out that’s getting posted in just a bit, Menhir and of course many others.

Oh yeah, and Jucifer are playing the pre-show. Pure madness.

I can’t wait:

Final additions to the Roadburn bill, including full Cul de Sac line up

New additions to the bill include BURIED AT SEA, MIRRORS FOR PSYCHIC WARFARE, INVERLOCH, CULT OF OCCULT, CHVE, and USNEA.
Full line up for Cul de Sac venue announced, including ‘Roadburn Introduces…’
JUCIFER announced for the Hard Rock Hide Out pre-Roadburn part

BURIED AT SEA

From the beginning surge of feedback through the last filth-caked rumble, BURIED AT SEA’s sound is a monument to the notion of tone as weight. Abrasive in the extreme and matched in aural largesse only by the sway of its rhythm, it surrounds completely and oppresses mercilessly. Here at Roadburn Festival HQ, we are beyond excited to announce BURIED AT SEA will bring their one-of-a-kind dirges to Roadburn 2016 on Sunday, April 17 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

MIRRORS FOR PSYCHIC WARFARE

We always knew they were unusually talented musicians, but in the last few years Scott Kelly and Sanford Parker have also become remarkably prolific, showing a wonderfully multi-faceted aspect to their artistic expression throughout a multitude of projects. They now appear as the sole members of this latest endeavour, MIRRORS FOR PSYCHIC WARFARE. A sort of reverse side of the coin to the unfettered, confrontational aggression of Corrections House, the five songs on their self-titled debut, are more insidious. MIRRORS FOR PSYCHIC WARFARE perform on Sunday, April 17 in the Green Room.

For more information about the above bands click here.

FURTHER ADDITIONS TO THE BILL

In addition to the above, the following bands have also been added to the Roadburn 2016 line up.

CHVE – click here for more info

SIR ADMIRAL CLOUDSESLEY SHOVEL (part of Lee Dorrian’s curated event)
BEASTMAKER (part of Lee Dorrian’s curated event)
CAROUSEL
click here for more info on these bands

CULT OF OCCULT
DANIEL PAYNE
HELL
INVERLOCH
USNEA
click here for more info on these bands

CUL DE SAC LINE UP

Once again, Roadburn Festival is very happy to be hosting our fifth at the Cul de Sac in collaboration with Never Mind The Hype, an independent Dutch music platform (think: rock meets alternative, or stoner rock meets psych). At Cul de Sac, we will focus on showcasing promising Dutch and Belgian bands, plus some acts from further afield. Positioned just around the corner from the 013 venue, the intimate surroundings of the Cul de Sac mean you can get up close and personal with some of the best up and coming bands we could get our hands on.

Once again we have picked one band to showcase under the Roadburn Introduces… banner, and in association with Nevermind The Hype, we’re pleased to announce that the showcase band for 2016 is DOOL. Hailing from Rotterdam, DOOL will lure us into their spiraling netherworld, and connect with the international Roadburn community during an intimate show at the Cul de Sac on Saturday April 16 in Tilburg,The Netherlands. DOOL starts at 2 pm. Click here to read more about DOOL.

Thursday April 14
MOLOKEN
NEW KEEPERS OF THE WATER TOWERS
ZONE SIX
DEAD NEANDERTHALS
GOMER PYLE
MANTRA MACHINE
Click here for more info

Friday April 15
HERDER
ALKERDEEL FEATURING GNAW THEIR TONGUES
COCAINE PISS
NOCTUM
OBESE
CONCATENATUS
Click here for more info

Just as we did last year, Roadburn will focus on Belgium, and in collaboration with one of the country’s foremost bookings agencies, RuffStuff Music, we welcome some fantastic bands hailing from just next door in Belgium – bands that embodied the spirit of Roadburn. Together we will host some exciting, cutting edge bands, alongside Roadburn’s established acts, for the second year in a row.

Saturday April 16
HEMELBESTORMER (click here for more info)
GRIMMSONS
PARTISAN
THE PROGERIANS
WE’REWOLVES
VVOVNDS
Click here for more info

Sunday April 17
SYNDROME
CHAOS ECHOES
MENHIR
WITCH TRAIL
And finish your Roadburn experience with DEATH ALLEY
Click here for more info

HARD ROCK HIDE OUT

In keeping with what has become Roadburn tradition, we’ll be welcoming keen Roadburners to Tilburg on Wednesday, April 13 with a party at Cul de Sac. Whilst newcomers get their bearings, return visitors will slip straight back into old habits. Welcoming Roadburners to Tilburg this year will be none other than our our favourite pair of highly-amplified nomads – JUCIFER. They will park up at the Cul de Sac for the evening and rip through their harsh, thrashy, sludgy, doomy, downright massive tunes.

TICKETS

Day tickets for Thursday and Friday remain on sale, but all other ticketing options are now SOLD OUT. For a full rundown of the line up and to view the line up posters, please click HERE.

Buried at Sea, Ghost (2007)

I’m not even sure how the logistics on this one work. There are to be 50 copies of Dutch trio Menhir‘s Uberlith II EP released by Tartarus Tapes on Aug. 5, and they’re available now for preorder. That part is pretty straightforward. I guess what I’m getting hung up on is the fact that said cassette will arrive encased in a plaster brick, which the buyer will then have to break open — gently, presumably — in order to free the tape itself and make it available for listening. Practical? No. No it is not. Unique? Yes indeed.

The socially conscious — if their choices of samples are anything to go by, anyway — burl-rocking three-piece which features bassist/vocalist Arjan van Dalen, bassist/vocalist Frank de Boer and drummer Sven Jurgens (the latter two also of Ortega), self-recorded Uberlith II and released it late last year on handmade mini-CDs (which they sold out), so it would seem they have a thing for stylized packaging. If nothing else, a plaster brick certainly qualifies as that.

Menhir also released a video for the opener “Mt. Aloha” from the EP last year that can be seen here. Along with notes for preorders from O and Bitcho, Tartarus sent this info on Uberlith II down the PR wire:

TAR036 Menhir – Uberlith II

Around the corner of Queens Of The Stone Age and next to the village of Asterix live the three-piece that is Menhir. It’s a well-picked name for a band that is often described to be ‘as solid as a rock’. Adjectives like ‘heavy, big-ass and overwhelming’ are also often used, thanks to the use of two bass players and one drummer. Formed in 2012 they play a brutal mix of southern and stoner rock. (Feat. members of Ortega).

Edition of 50 tapes
Encased in a solid plaster brick.

NOTE: You will need to break the packaging to get the tape out! Breaking the case is at your own risk!!

http://tartarusrecords.com/album/uberlith-ii
https://www.facebook.com/Menhirband

Menhir, Uberlith II (2014)

My cynical side wins out more often than not when it comes to social issues, and by “wins out,” I mean both in terms of my overall perspective and in terms of how events actually unfold. Expect the worst, don’t be surprised when even something worse than what you thought of happens. And if the NSA is reading this, then fuck you too. Go listen to Kyuss and chill the fuck out on tapping world leaders’ phones.

So when it comes to a clip like that which Dutch trio Menhir — not to be confused with the long-running German pagan metal act of the same name — have put together for the endearingly riffed “Mt. Aloha,” my consideration is not for the promise the future seems to hold in the Jacque Fresco sample that serves as the only vocals throughout, but in the irony of the fact that when he was talking about this social revolution that was coming in 10 or 15 years, it was 1974. I guess the rollback of personal and civil liberties that Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan brought to the 1980s was an extra bummer for Mr. Fresco.

Forty years on from when he was saying it, the idea of harnessing geothermal energy and creating a one-world system based on mutual meeting of needs is a nice thought, but I doubt we’re any closer than we were four decades ago. The shots of the old white guy — who actually seems to be in pretty good shape as he runs away from the colorfully dressed youth — make their point clearly enough, and while I’m not sure what the footage of smiling, skinny, good-looking young people drinking at a barbecue has to do with futurist utopia, if that’s to be the revolution, at least it seems to be a fun time.

Menhir will release their second EP, Uberlith II, on Dec. 13. Whatever my cynicism on the hopelessness of enacting meaningful social change and the likelihood of overthrowing the dominant cultural forces specifically designed not to be overthrown that are ingrained into us from birth, “Mt. Aloha” is a cool song and the Frederik Noordhuis video does the rocking atmosphere justice.

Know justice, know peace:

Menhir, “Mt. Aloha” official video

Menhir on Bandcamp

Menhir on Thee Facebooks