Posted in Whathaveyou on March 31st, 2026 by JJ Koczan
The October run that Greek heavy rock forerunners 1000mods will undertake this Fall precedes a UK stint set to start Nov. 20, and it continues the strong touring schedule the band have had since beginning the cycle for their 2024 album, Cheat Death (review here), and really for much longer than that, since touring has long been a part of what they do. And having been lucky enough to see them on multiple occasions, I’m a little surprised they’ve never done a live album, because they bring it, but that’s a box yet to be ticked.
Note there are three of them on the poster. They’d been working with a fill-in second guitarist last I heard, and I don’t know if there will be four of them on stage for these tours or not. I’d be curious how it all works as a three-piece, since that’s not a configuration I’ve ever seen them in before, but it’d make sense too if they have someone there holding the spot. Guess you’ll find out if you go to a show.
From social media:
1000MODS – ***GIVE ME MY MEDICINE TOUR – FALL 2026***
Supervan is hitting the European roads next fall, spreading madness and loudness everywhere.
The mighty Grim Rhythm will be joining us as special guests on most of the shows.
1000mods – Give Me My Medicine Tour Sep 25 Fri Forum Bielefeld, Germany Sep 26 Sat Into The Void Festival 2026 Leeuwarden, Netherlands Sep 27 Sun Effenaar Eindhoven, Netherlands Sep 28 Mon Trabendo Paris, France Oct 3 Sat Up In Smoke Festival 2026 Pratteln, Switzerland Oct 4 Sun La Laiterie Strasbourg, France Oct 6 Tue Gala Hala / Kapa – Društvo za kulturno in umetniško produkcijo Ljubljana, Slovenia Oct 7 Wed Randal Club Bratislava I, Slovakia Oct 8 Thu Futurum Music Bar Praha, Czech Republic Oct 9 Fri F-Haus Jena, Germany Oct 10 Sat Keep It Low Festival 2026 München, Germany Oct 11 Sun Beatpol Dresden, Germany Oct 13 Tue Centralstation Darmstadt, Germany Oct 14 Wed Kulturzentrum Faust Hannover, Germany Oct 15 Thu Factory Event Center Dominion Club GbR Magdeburg, Germany Oct 16 Fri Tower Musikclub Bremen, Germany Oct 18 Sun Lindenpark Potsdam, Germany Nov 20 Fri Whelan’s Dublin, Ireland Nov 21 Sat Voodoo Belfast, United Kingdom Nov 22 Sun Dolans Warehouse Limerick City, Ireland Nov 24 Tue Rebellion Manchester, United Kingdom Nov 25 Wed Slay Glasgow, United Kingdom Nov 26 Thu Brudenell Social Club Leeds, United Kingdom Nov 27 Fri Rescue Rooms Nottingham, United Kingdom Nov 28 Sat Thekla Bristol, United Kingdom Nov 29 Sun The Garage London, United Kingdom
Posted in Whathaveyou on December 16th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
Athenian bang-head-against-genre heavy rockers Godsleep have spent much of the last two years on the road supporting their latest release, 2023’s Lies to Survive (review here). I was lucky enough to see them at Freak Valley 2024 (review here), and after witnessing their onstage energy for myself — they blew me right out of the water; I had to sit down — it was little surprise this year when they showed up on the bills for Tabernas Desert Rock Fest, Down the Hill, Keep it Low and others.
That’s not to say I ‘discovered’ a thing, unless you count realizing for myself what the European heavy underground already knew well, just that the set was killer and, as in the best scenarios, gave a new dimension to my conception of who Godsleep are as a band. Fervency is part of it, and stage presence, but listening back to Lies to Survive, that sense of breaking-the-rules of style (which are imaginary, it needs to be said every time) and the righteousness of their delivery are also factors. There are a bunch of reasons to like this band, in other words.
Dates were posted on socials and — wouldn’t you know it? — here they are:
Europe, we’re coming for you! Headlining shows all spring and we can’t wait. Bring the energy, bring the noise, let’s make this tour massive!⚡️
22/04/26 BERLIN (DE) – NEUE ZUKUNFT 23/04/26 DRESDEN (DE) – OSTPOL 24/04/26 WIESBADEN (DE) – KREATIVFABRIK 25/04/26 MARSBERG (DE) – ZUR TENNE 28/04/26 SOLOTHURN (CH) – KULTURFABRIK KOFMEHL 29/04/26 STUTTGART (DE) – JUHA WEST 30/04/26 JENA KUBA (DE) – JENA 01/05/26 MÜNSTER (DE) – RARE GUITAR 02/05/26 BRAUNSCHWEIG (DE) – B58 04/05/26 LANGENBERG (DE) – KGB 05/05/26 HAMBURG (DE) – HAFENKLANG 06/05/26 HANNOVER (DE) – KULTURZENTRUM FAUST 07/05/26 KÖLN (DE) – GARAGEN 08/05/26 VIERSEN (DE) – ROCKSCHICHT 09/05/26 LIMBURG (DE) – LIMEWOOD FESTIVAL 26/05/26 LILLE (FR) – BRAT CAVE 27/05/26 PARIS (FR) – SUPERSONIC RECORDS 28/05/26 NANTES (FR) – COLD CRASH 29/05/26 LORIENT (FR) – PITDOG 30/05/26 HOSSEGOR (FR) – 416 CREW 31/05/26 MONTPELLIER (FR) – SECRET PLACE
-More Dates to be Announced-
Powered by @spider_promotion / @sanitmils Artwork by @bewild
Posted in Whathaveyou on October 22nd, 2025 by JJ Koczan
Cypriot sludge slingers Stonus have three shows coming up next month in the UK. That’s not too crazy, though not a minor trip to undertake, considering both the distance and the fact that the very day after their run through Bournemouth, Bristol and London ends, they’ll be making their way to Stockholm — I assume flying — to appear at Truckfighters‘ Fuzz Fest. That’s a lot. You’ve barely adjusted to the hour time difference between CET and GMT and then you’re back on a plane going northeast. Unless they’re driving, in which case they’d need to leave I think before they actually play the London show.
Either way, there aren’t a ton of shows listed here, but in context, I don’t think you could accuse Cyprus’ favorite stoners of not putting the work in. Note that in December, they’ll scoot over to Italy to take part in Electric Valley Records‘ EVR Fest, first in Ossi, then Cagliari. All of this hurry-up-and-wait comes ahead of the release of their second full-length next year, and presumably that will be through Electric Valley as well, but we’ll see when we get there, which surely we will.
From the PR wire:
What the Fuzz, and Buried in Smoke Present… STONUS (Cyprus) – Mediterranean fuzzed-up heavy rock
STONUS are steadily building their presence across Europe with a raw, high-energy live show and a DIY work ethic. This drive has made them the most internationally active Cypriot rock band today.
STONUS’s acclaimed debut album “Aphasia” found life in 2020 through Electric Valley Records and Daredevil Records, earning its place in various AOTY lists within the heavy/stoner rock scene.
This year, they supported heavy rock powerhouses 1000mods, Truckfighters, Planet of Zeus, and Mars Red Sky on selected dates of their European tours. Later in 2025, STONUS will be headlining Electric Valley Festival (IT), and appearing at Truckfighters’ Fuzz Festival (SE).
STONUS’s highly-anticipated sophomore album is planned for release in Spring 2026, and they are eager to debut the new songs to audiences across Europe ahead of it.
Band Word:
“Freakin ‘excited to return to the UK after 2 years! And yeahh we are visiting Sweden and Italy for the first time for Truckfighters’ super special FUZZ FESTIVAL and Electric Valley Records FESTIVAL. Can’t wait to rock with you all, meet some old friends and have some good fuzzin time!
Special thanks to: What the Fuzz, Electric Valley Records, Buried in Smoke Promotions, Truckfighters and Ouga Bouga Records for making this possible!
See you on the road soon!”
Dates & info:
11/11 – Bear’s bar and venue – Bournemouth (UK) 12/11 – The Gryphon – Bristol (UK) 13/11 – Helgi’s bar – London (UK) 14/11 – Fuzz Festival – Stockholm (SE) 05/12 – EVR Festival – Ossi (IT) 06/12 – EVR Festival – Cagliari (IT)
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 20th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
With their Fall tour — as opposed to the summer one; yeah, it goes like that — currently ongoing, Greek heavy rockers 1000mods have announced more European undertakings set for early next year. The run begins March 5 at A38 Hajó in Budapest, which I’m excited to see on a list of dates because I went there one time, and carries the band into April as they continue to support their new album, Cheat Death (review here). Note that the new tour has them out with Frenzee, whose Apollonia “Api” Xylouris contributes guest vocals on the record. Some potential for onstage collaboration then, certainly, as the two bands run through a succession of shows in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Portugal.
Lest we forget, 1000mods were in the US in Fall 2023. I haven’t heard anything about a return trip for the new record, but with a North American release through Ripple — the band’s imprint, Ouga Booga and the Mighty Oug (also a booking company), has it for the rest of the world — it’s by no means outside the realm of possibility. Whatever you can do though to see them, they are second to none at what they do.
Sound of Liberation, which is co-presenting the tour, posted the following. Remaining Fall shows are included, new dates underneath. You’ll figure it out:
1000MODS – NEW ALBUM & TOUR DATES
Their brand new album “Cheat Death” just dropped, and they’re bringing it live across Europe! Don’t miss out on these epic shows – check the dates below and catch them in a city near you. Plus, we’re thrilled to have them on stage at SOL SONIC RIDE COLOGNE on 29.03.2025 at Carlswerk Victoria + Club Volta, Cologne (tickets via link in bio). 🔥
Looking for 1000Mods merch and vinyl? Head over to our shop:www.sol-records.com. 🛒
Fall 2024 Tour Dates:
20.11.2024 (FI) Helsinki, Ääniwalli 22.11.2024 (SE) Stockholm, Fuzz Festival 23.11.2024 (SE) Borlänge, Broken Dreams 24.11.2024 (SE) Gothenburg, Hemligheten 25.11.2024 (NO) Oslo, Goldie 26.11.2024 (SE) Malmö, Plan B
Spring 2025 “Cheat Death” Album Release Tour: 05.03.2025 (HU) Budapest, A38 06.03.2025 (AT) Vienna, Arena 07.03.2025 (DE) Lindau, Club Vaudeville 08.03.2025 (CH) Pratteln, Z7 09.03.2025 (CH) Geneva, PTR L’Usine 10.03.2025 (FR) Lyon, Transbordeur Club 12.03.2025 (FR) Toulouse, Metronum 13.03.2025 (FR) Montpellier, Victoire 2 14.03.2025 (ES) Barcelona, Apolo 2 16.03.2025 (ES) Madrid, Nazca 17.03.2025 (PT) Lisbon, RCA Club 18.03.2025 (PT) Porto, Mouco 20.03.2025 (ES) Bilbao, Stage Live 21.03.2025 (FR) Alençon, La Luciole 23.03.2025 (FR) Paris, La Maroquinerie 24.03.2025 (FR) Wasquehal, Black Lab 25.03.2025 (BE) Brussels, La Botanique 26.03.2025 (NL) Amsterdam, Melkweg 27.03.2025 (NL) Nijmegen, Doornroosje 28.03.2025 (NL) Groningen, Vera 30.03.2025 (DE) Cologne, Carlswerk Victoria (SOL Sonic Ride Cologne) 31.03.2025 (DE) Aschaffenburg, Colos Saal 01.04.2025 (DE) Erlangen, E-Werk 02.04.2025 (DE) Munich, Backstage 03.04.2025 (DE) Regensburg, Alte Mälzerei 04.04.2025 (DE) Leipzig, Werk 2 05.04.2025 (DE) Hamburg, Knust 06.04.2025 (DE) Berlin, Columbia Theater
All tickets and info available on the official 1000Mods website:www.1000mods.com/tour. 🎫
Posted in Reviews on November 11th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Greece’s foremost heavy rock export, 1000mods return to work with producer Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis, tons more) after collaborating on their 2020 LP, Youth of Dissent (review here, discussed here), for their fifth album, Cheat Death, which collects 10 new tracks across an hour of music issued through the band’s own Ouga Booga and the Mighty Oug Recordings and Ripple Music (in the US). And like Youth of Dissent, the album feels somewhat defiant in its vision of what heavy rock is and can do.
That is to say, where those familiar with 1000mods‘ earlier work might have an expectation of desert style party-isms of the kind that were offered on 2011’s full-length debut, Super Van Vacation (review here; discussed here, also here), with the choice sandy grooves that helped ignite/expose a generational shift in the Greek underground the ramifications of which are still panning out 13 years later, the truth of 1000mods‘ catalog when you listen to it front to back is that they’ve always been a more complex band. Even as they bring Bayles back on board to produce/engineer and mix Cheat Death (Brad Boatright mastered), the band have continued to evolve as they’ve done all along, refusing to stagnate and so — although the title-track lyrically is about love — part of the death being cheated across the album’s not-insignificant timespan is creative stagnation.
1000mods — now the core trio of vocalist/bassist Dani G., guitarist/vocalist George T. and drummer Labros G.; that’s down from the four-piece they were with Giannis S. on guitar; they still have two guitars live — have never put out the same album twice, and as they have all along, the band have not neglected to learn what worked for them and what didn’t on Youth of Dissent, and as Cheat Death moves forward, from the stark colors of its Eva Mourtzi cover compared to the muted tones of the album prior — both covers have a message to send; I’m not belittling either approach — to the rhythmic drive behind “Götzen Hammer” or the get-what-you-see galloping frenzy of “Speedhead,” it both works from its own foundations and remains aware of what 1000mods have done before.
The hooky and somewhat melancholic “Overthrown” and the dreamier build of golly-I-hope-I-get-to-see-them-play-it-live-at-some-point-ever 10-minute finale “Grey, Green Blues” each showcase a mature songwriting process, and special attention seems to have been given to conveying a sense of energy in the material; in both the speedier shuffle of “The One Who Keeps Me Down” and the Hammond-tinged alt-rock verses of “Love,” even in the cello’ed and finger-plucked (plus piano) instrumental “Bluebird” later on, the band are able to direct their songs to different ends that feed into the overarching flow and depth of Cheat Death as a whole. Classic stuff, but there seems to be more consciousness in Cheat Death in terms of the band wanting to shake up the proceedings between the songs. Sometimes that’s a change in mood, as when the mostly-swaying (until the solo, which shreds) “Misery” and “Bluebird” offer a somber stretch before the title-track twists and careens like modern progressive metal playing back to ’80s riffing as the lyrics present a more hopeful take.
Arrangements are part of it too. As noted, “Bluebird” brings in cello (by Nikos Veliotis), while that same song, “Love,” and “Grey, Green Blues” boast keys/organ from Jiomy Amaranth. The feeling of expansion around the core of what 1000mods do musically is almost immediate on Cheat Death as Godsleep‘s Amie Makris joins Dani on vocals, and while also giving the album a singular heavy blowout, “Götzen Hammer” incorporates the voice of Apollonia “Api” Xylouris from Frenzee, semantron by Panos Z. and guitar by John S. That both of these songs appear early on doesn’t feel like a coincidence, as the procession of cuts across Cheat Death bears out an intentional push-pull dynamic, for example, as “Astral Odor” opens up some of the relative intensity of crush, which is something that “Cheat Death” answers back to later on side B. Most of the lyrical framework is brooding, emotive, longing and questioning, but the album is by no means all-downer in terms of point of view.
“Speedhead” might be almost afraid of its own manic shove, but “Love,” “Cheat Death” and “Grey, Green Blues” remind that it’s not all self-doubt and recriminations, and the music behind, in front of and generally all around the words follows suit. In this way, 1000mods create a diverse impression without ranging so far as to lose the plot or cohesion of the material itself, and their songs, which even in mid-album pieces like “Astral Odor” and “Love” are capable of reaching toward seven minutes long, have a quality underlying construction that not only justifies the breadth, but makes it an important part of the point. Shifts in perspective, subject, riff, whatever it might be become part of the album’s persona, and the included guest appearances do much to showcase 1000mods‘ big-picture considerations in terms of how the songs interact, what each one brings to the album, and why and what that adds to the course of its entirety.
To call the skill with which 1000mods execute Cheat Death anything less than masterful is probably underselling how much actual work the band have put into their growth over the last 15-plus years between the studio and touring, and where from 2014’s Vultures (review here, discussed here) onward, they could have been issuing clones of Super Van Vacation and still be one of the biggest names Greece has ever produced in heavy rock, the fact that they’re so uncompromising in their direction, that they don’t write any songs other than the ones they want to write, that somehow-daring chase toward authenticity, makes them all the more respectable.
They could take a probably an easier path but don’t because it wouldn’t be as fulfilling, and accordingly, their albums play out in succession to tell the story of their evolution in installments. Cheat Death is the latest of these, and that it’s their fifth record and the listener still comes out of it wondering where on earth they might go next should be taken as a sign of how special a band they are in the first place. Their commitment to exploring new ideas in their work is unflinching, paramount, and Cheat Death does this with correspondingly punkish grace and heart.
Posted in Whathaveyou on October 22nd, 2024 by JJ Koczan
This will be a good time. For sure, you’ve got two different kinds of party between Half Gramme of Soma and Sadhus the Smoking Community, but the two Greek outfits who’ll head out on tour together this week with the backing of the 1000mods-adjacent Ouga Booga and the Mighty Oug both get there regardless. They’re roommates. They’ve shared members. You might say they’re familiar with each other. They’ll begin the run on Sofia, Bulgaria, at Club Mixtape 5 on Thursday, and do nine shows in nine days before a date in Athens rounds out on Nov. 9.
Half Gramme ofSoma head out in support of their 2022 debut, Slip Through the Cracks (review here), released by Fuzz Ink Records and Sound of Liberation Records, while Sadhus the Smoking Community continue their plunder with the backing of Ouga Booga and the Mighty Oug, which put out their Illegal Sludge LP (review here) last year. Each band has a distinct style in relation to the other, as you can tell even from just the two videos below, but so much the better.
Have fun:
HALF GRAMME OF SOMA & SADHUS THE SMOKING COMMUNITY – ‘Mass Tour’
It’s finally happening…
Sadhus “The Smoking Community” and Half Gramme of Soma have a lot in common.
During the last decade they ’ve shared everything, from their love for heavy sound and fuzz guitars to a poor old bass player, gear and even the same studio! So the time has come for these roommates to hit the road and make a yearslong dream come true: To play their heavy, doomy psychedelic, noisy, smokey music together and tour Europe showcasing their own version of what community means… “Τhe Smoking Community”!
24 OCT: Club Mixtape 5 – SOFIA, BG 🇧🇬 25 OCT: SKCNS Fabrika – NOVISAD, RS 🇷🇸 26 OCT: Mknž Ilirska Bistrica – ILIRSKA BISTRICA, SL 🇸🇮 27 OCT: KUD Channel Zero – LJUBLJANA, SL 🇸🇮 28 OCT: Hospoda Brouk – PRAGUE, CZ 🇨🇿 29 OCT: Bar 227 – HAMBURG, DE 🇩🇪 30 OCT: Waldmeister e.V. Raum für Kultur- SOLINGEN, DE 🇩🇪 31 OCT: Vinyl-Reservat- GOTTINGEN , DE 🇩🇪 1 NOV: Garage Pankow- BERLIN, DE 🇩🇪 2 NOV: Zukunft – CHEMNITZ, DE 🇩🇪 9 NOV: AN club ‘official’ – ATHENS, GR 🇬🇷
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 17th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
The new 1000mods album, Cheat Death, will be out Nov. 8 through Ouga Booga and the Mighty Oug Recordings in Europe/ROW and, as announced just over a week ago, through Ripple Music in North America, and what’s happening below, in addition to spreading the word for preorders opening through both imprints is setting up the unveiling of the first single from the record, the opening track “Overthrown.”
At a little under eight minutes in runtime, the album’s lead cut is a not-unsubstantial sampling of what the hour-long LP has in store for listeners taking it on. If you’re a longtime fan of the band, you know to there’s a lot that’s fair game in terms of where they’re progression might take them at this point, and if the band are cheating death creatively, they’re for sure doing it by continuing to grow as players and artists. I have no ‘skin in the game’ in terms of involvement making or promoting the release, but I find all the same I’m excited and interested to see what people make of it when they hear it. Also I guess I’m no longer pretending not to have heard it. Oops.
Found this on socials. Bonus points for misleadingly punkish cover art:
***1000mods – Cheat Death***
Dear friends,
We’re thrilled to announce that our new album Cheat Death will be released on November 8th through Ouga Booga and the Mighty Oug worldwide and Ripple Music in North America only.
You can pre-order Cheat Death through our brand new website for Ouga Booga!
Pressings: Yellow & Red Splatter Vinyls 2LP Ltd to 500 (available only for pre-order) 180g Black Vinyl 2LP
1. Overthrown 2. The One Who Keeps Me Down 3. Götzen Hammer 4. Astral Odor 5. Love 6. Speedhead 7. Misery 8. Bluebird 9. Cheat Death 10. Grey, Green Blues
Artwork by Eva Mourtzi
On Friday, the 20th of September we will release our first single “Overthrown”
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 9th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
One understood Ripple Music has been on something of a kick signing new bands, between Gin Lady, 10,000 Years, Godzillionaire and SoftSun, setting the stage for a busy rest of 2024 and, assumably, an early 2025 that follows suit. Bringing Greek heavy rock forerunners 1000mods, who over a decade ago emerged from their home country with a powerful fanbase and essentially forced the rest of Europe to take the Greek underground seriously, only to set about a regular course of touring and quality, progressive album releases that have continued to deepen the story of who they are as a band, puts that “kick” on a different level. Ripple will handle US label-stuff, while the band’s own imprint, Ouga Booga and the Mighty Oug Recordings holds down European/rest of world operations.
I’m not going to tell you I’ve heard the next 1000mods album. I’m not saying I’ve heard it. What I am saying is that if you caught wind of 2020’s Youth of Dissent (review here), expect a shift in vibe. The upcoming release — which I’m not saying I’ve heard — follows its own intentions as regards atmosphere, mood, heft and songwriting, and it’s definitively 1000mods in its refusal to hinder the progression on display. It’s not Youth of Dissent, and it’s not Super Van Vacation, either. Set apparently for release in November, it brings new elements and new depths to the band’s style, exploring different influences and showcasing a growth that, at least in terms of listening — not that I’ve done that — seems born organically from how the members have grown as people.
Note the trio configuration here. I’m pretty sure the record was still done as a two-guitar four-piece, but my understanding is the band will press on as three at least for the time being. I don’t know if they’re looking to get someone else in or not. Basically I just saw Todd Severin from Ripple posted the below on social media and got excited. I assume there’s more to come in terms of album details and all that, either in the next five minutes or the next two months.
For now:
This one has been kept under lock and key for a long while, now it’s time to open the box. Please welcome 1000mods to the Ripple Family! New album coming this November. Will be joint release with the band’s own Ouga Bouga and the Mighty Oug Recordings Gonna be massive.
