Posted in Whathaveyou on January 14th, 2020 by JJ Koczan
Much ado in the ever-whirling universe of Roman heavy spacers Black Rainbows, who’ve not only issued new pressings of their 2018 LP, Pandaemonium (review here), but have announced that their next album is already in the can. Doneski. I don’t know about you, but I anxiously await the news of a release coming through Heavy Psych Sounds any minute now, since as we all know, Black Rainbows aren’t ones to waste time. To that end, they’re currently booked to play three editions of the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest in March in Antwerp, Belgium, London, UK and Deventer, the Netherlands, as well as a couple other odds and ends this Spring.
Only snag there is they’ll need a new bassist to do it, as they’ve put out word that Giuseppe Guglielmino is no longer with the band. They’ve got an email listed where one might apply for the position, and though they’ve been through a couple low-end specialists at this point, that still seems like a pretty primo opportunity for any four-stringer out there who wants to join an awesome touring band with a following. Talk about stepping into a cool situation. Anyway, the email’s below, and if you play bass and were thinking about moving to Rome — aren’t we all? — then you might want to drop a line.
Words in blue from thee social medias:
We’re very sorry to announce that Peppe, our bassplayer is no longer a member of Black Rainbows:
Unfortunately our life and band plans were not matching anymore.
We really thanks Peppe for everything done so far and happy we shared this path together until now:
Anyway, we care about to say that he recorded the new album, which we are so proud to present really soon!
In the meantime we are looking for a new bass player in our area, if you think you can fit in the band …write at infoblackrainbows@gmail.com
Today we want to celebrate the repress of the BLACK RAINBOWS last album PANDAEMONIUM with 2 new different covers and coloured vinyls !!!
AVAILABLE IN: – LTD YELLOW SPLATTER BLACK / GREEN FLUO / RED VINYL (WHITE COVER) – LTD GREEN FLUO VINYL (GREEN COVER) – DIGIPAK
“Well after one and half year, we just realized that our dear last album Pandaemonium was sold out!! We went to pick copies for the tour and some single orders and we realized copies were finished! We are so excited to repress it and it will be an amazing repress cause of two new different covers and vinyl editions. We want to thanks all the people who supported us buying the album so fa.r”
Posted in Whathaveyou on June 28th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
It’s going to be a busy couple months for Black Rainbows. The Italian magnates of heavy psychedelic rock have two recently-announced reissues on deck for July 26 release, and they have a bunch of killer shows booked, including dates with Orange Goblin and Wolfmother and stops at numerous festivals, HRH Doom vs. Stoner, Up in Smoke, and four dates of the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest among them. That will take them through the end of the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a new album followed sometime sooner than later in 2020, though I wouldn’t fight with them if they decided to do an American tour either. I think they’re about due, don’t you?
Here’s the (hypothetical, of course) package: Ecstatic Vision, Duel and Black Rainbows. I’d say Nebula headline, but Nebula are already touring this Fall, and I’m thinking a 21-date full-US tour in Spring 2020. Just don’t hit New York while I’m at Roadburn and that’ll be great, thanks.
…And booking shows is that easy, right?
Seriously though, Black Rainbows have been around for 12 years and frontman Gabriele Fiori‘s label, Heavy Psych Sounds, has made itself among the most essential outlets going in no small part because of picking up bands like Duel and Ecstatic Vision — also Fatso Jetson, Yawning Man, Brant Bjork, etc. — so yeah, I think it’s time we got them over. Let them play some fest or other to make a little cash, and set them up with Made in Brooklyn for a bunch of merch, and they’d be good to go. They can get robbed in Chicago, for the complete ‘American Tour’ experience. Shit, while we’re daydreaming, I’ll drive the van and write a book about it. I always wanted to do that anyway.
I’m getting off track. Dates from the PR wire:
Heavy Psych Sounds Records & Booking is really stoked to present BLACK RAINBOWS – Heavy Space Psychedelic Tour Dates
Our heavy fuzz riffers BLACK RAINBOWS are presenting a bunch of gigs during the next 6 months !!!
The band will play single gigs but also perform at some of the biggest European festivals such as UP in SMOKE festival at Z7 in Switzerland, Black Bass Festival in France, HRH Doom Vs HRH Stoner in UK and at the HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Fest in Rome, Innsbruck, Berlin and Dresden.
!!! Don’t miss them !!!
– Heavy Space Psychedelic Toud Dates – 06.07.2019 IT Roma-Traffic w/Orange Goblin 07.07.2019 IT Chiusi-Lars Fest w/ Wolfmother 12.07.2019 IT Isernia-Rock in Musica 25.07.2019 IT Parma-Splinter Club 26.07.2019 FR Saint Felix-Panic Fest 27.07.2019 IT Alessandria-Cascina Bellaria 30.08.2019 FR Bordeaux-Black Bass Fest 28.09.2019 UK Sheffield-HRH Doom vs Stoner 03.10.2019 CH Basel-Up in Smoke Fest 04.10.2019 CH Chur-Palazzo Bowling & Beat Club 05.10.2019 IT La Spezia-Shake Club 12.10.2019 IT Rome-Traffic HPS Fest 01.11.2019 AT Innsbruck-PMK HPS Fest 06.12.2019 DE Berlin Dresden-HPS Fest 07.12.2019 DE Berlin Dresden-HPS Fest
Since the release of their debut album, Twilight in the Desert, in 2007, Roma rockers Black Rainbows have become one of the most essential acts in Europe’s heavy underground. As the spearhead of an entire movement of Italian bands, They’ve issued five full-lengths to-date and are on the precipice of their sixth in 2018, with founding guitarist/vocalist Gabriele Fiori and bassist Giuseppe Guglielmino welcoming new drummer Fillippo Ragazzoni to the fold for the first time.
Across albums like 2010’s Carmina Diablo (recently reissued), 2011’s Supermotherfuzzalicious!!, 2015’s Hawkdope and 2016’s Stellar Prophecy, Black Rainbows’ sound has oozed between classic ‘90s-style stoner fuzz and deep-cosmos psychedelia, drawing on the best of hard-driving space rock to conjure a vibe totally tripped-out and all its own. By bringing Ragazzoni on board, the riffs have gotten tighter and are fuzzed as ever, and two years after their last outing, Black Rainbows enter 2018 refreshed and with well-earned veteran status resulting from countless tours, festival appearances, and their track record of absolutely unstoppable energy. In january they released their new record Pandaemonium.
BLACK RAINBOWS is: Gabriele Fiori – Vocals, Guitars Giuseppe Guglielmino – Bass, Vocals Filippo Ragazzoni – Drums
[Click play above to stream Black Rainbows’ Pandaemonium in its entirety. Album is out April 6 on Heavy Psych Sounds.]
Largely through sheer force of will, Black Rainbows have become Italy’s foremost purveyors of heavy psychedelic rock. Pandaemonium is the sixth full-length from the Roman trio, and they’ve never sounded more driven or lysergic then they do in its nine-track/45-minute run. Led by guitarist/vocalist Gabriele Fiori, the three-piece run a colorful gamut of high-energy, sopping wet groove, and whether they’re in the maximum-fuzz thrust of “Riding Fast ‘Til the End of Time,” dug into the more threatening lumber of “Grindstone” or languidly making their way through the cosmos on album finale “13th Step of the Pyramid,” they burn and melt classic influences into something of their own; whether it’s culled from Sabbath, Fu Manchu, Nebula, Monster Magnet or Hawkwind, it doesn’t matter. It’s Black Rainbows.
This has, admittedly, been the case on their last couple records. Pandaemonium, which is further marked out by the desert-space-grunge opener “Sunrise” and the megahook that follows in “High to Hell,” was preceded by 2016’s Stellar Prophecy (review here) and 2015’s Hawkdope (review here), and with them, it forms something of a trifecta of the band discovering and subsequently building on their distinct sonic persona. That’s not to slight their 2014 split with Naam, White Hills and The Flying Eyes (review here), 2013’s Holy Moon EP (discussed here), or 2012’s Supermothafuzzalicious!! (review here) — or, for that matter, 2010’s Carmina Diablo or 2007’s Twilight in the Desert; though the latter was derivative and that seemed to be the point — simply to say that as time has gone on, Black Rainbows have come more into their own sound-wise, and Pandaemoniumrepresents the to-date apex of that process.
Tone, as ever, is essential to what they do, and Fiori‘s is dead-on righteous in “The Sacrifice” but as Fiori and bassist Giuseppe Guglielmino welcome new drummer Filippo Ragazzoni, they seem to lock into an especially potent trio form. The longest tracks on Pandaemonium are the highlights and show this best, “Grindstone” moving fluidly from its initial lumbering to a tripped out spacious midsection, minimalist and topped with samples but tense and building its wash toward a crescendo that (presumably) closes side A and offers one of the record’s most satisfying payoffs. With “Sunrise,” “High to Hell” and “The Sacrifice” before it, Black Rainbows shift deftly between catchy heavy rock songcraft and more expansive fare, eventually ceding the ground to the Wyndorfian strum of tracklisting centerpiece “Supernova and Asteroids,” which though it’s only a little over two minutes long, emphasizes just how important atmospherics have become as part of Black Rainbows‘ overarching methodology.
The wash of effects, near-constant swirl, and echo on Fiori‘s voice are, of course, appreciated, but it’s what Black Rainbows accomplish by varying their tempos, structures nnd overall scope that makes Pandaemonium succeed as it does. With vinyl in mind, it’s side A that shows this best with each song developing its own presence while feeding into the overarching groove of the record as a whole, and as it would in homage to the classic form, side B pushes the limits of the band’s aesthetic (not that “Grindstone” doesn’t in its own way). After “Supernova and Asteroids,” the ultra-fuzzed “Riding Fast ‘Til the End of Time” takes hold with full-throttle forward motion, turning on a dime into the bridge and the chorus from itis decamatry verse, an extended solo section marked out by organ in the second half only adding to the sense of build throughout, the feeling that Black Rainbows have become experts at this kind of sonic gamesmanship.
Where earlier cuts might’ve gone back to the hook to finish out, “Riding Fast ‘Til the End of Time” keeps going further out until it just kind of ends, leading to the six-and-a-half-minute “I Just Wanna Fire. Seemingly inspired lyrically by a trip to the desert, it plays up the more open, jammier side of Black Rainbows sound, and by the end of its run, the effects swirl and the depth created are not only evocative of the place, but hypnotic in their own right. There’s something of a return to earth with the stoner rock shuffle of “The Abyss,” but even this is given a due drenching in reverb, fuzz and echo. Still, rhythmically, in its janga-janga boogie, the song recalls post-Kyuss early aughts stonerism, and even finds Ragazzoni half-timing the drums to maximize the open feel in the second half. A steady line of organ — almost a drone, for its consistency — threads through the arrangement, making the shorter cut feel even fuller and hold to the sense of space brought to the proceedings by “I Just Wanna Fire” before.
A long solo section and slow ringout — that organ fading in the process — leads to the cry-in-the-vastness line of noise that starts “13th Step of the Pyramid.” There’s a sample that may or may not come from an old episode of In Search Of, and as Fiori‘s vocals enter shortly after the first minute, the immediate association is with Monster Magnet‘s Spine of God-era liquefaction. This is not a detriment, and as they have with influences all along — the best example perhaps being “The Abyss” just before — they take these elements and make them their own. A drawling, patient roll plays out and builds to a head just as they pass the halfway point into larger, more forward riffing, the nod infectious and the impression clear that, hey, this is it: no coming back this time. Fair enough. It’s been a trip and in the end of “13th Step of the Pyramid,” the listener finally finds out where it’s all been leading.
The answer, of course, is “huge jam.” Fiori seems to layer rhythm and lead guitars for an even more packed arrangement, but it’s even more about the vibe the whole band creates in the process. Choice groove, an emergent standout riff, a final build, and residual effects swirl on a fade when they’ve cycled through the last measure. It’s a patient but still energetic finale, and it’s one worthy of the record preceding all the more because of the underlying sense of consciousness and purposefulness behind it. I don’t doubt that Black Rainbows experiment in the studio. Frankly there are too many effects used in these songs for “happy accidents” to never occur. And I don’t doubt that they jam — you can hear the chemistry even in this new lineup. But there’s intention for all of it beyond simple indulgence, and as distant the ground is that Pandaemonium covers, the band is never unsure how they want to get there. One more reason that, six albums deep and more than a decade into their career, it’s time to consider Black Rainbows masters of the form. Their heavy psych wants for nothing in spirit or sound, and their songwriting has never sounded more assured of its reach. As well it should be.
As to what it actually means to be high to hell, you’ll have to ask Italian trio Black Rainbows on that one and I’m sure they’d have a good answer for you. Maybe something like, “It’s when you’re really really high,” and if so, fair enough. The song “High to Hell” features second among the nine tracks on the Roma outfit’s sixth album, Padaemonium, which is out next week — because, hello, next week is April — on Heavy Psych Sounds, and offers some of its best fuzz and one of its most memorable hooks. And with lines about living like an astronaut and the end of time, it’s more than solid lyric video fodder. So here we are.
I’m going to have more about Pandaemonium next week — and by that I mean I’ll be streaming it in full with a corresponding album review, on Tuesday if all goes according to plan — so I don’t want to get too deep into what they’re going on any given track, but songs like “High to Hell,” “The Sacrifice,” “Riding Fast Til the End of Time” and so on provide anchors in their hooks that allow guitarist/vocalist Gabriele Fiori the space to reach both out into space and deep into the dirt for earthy fuzz that propels them. Like much of their work over the last several years, it gracefully balances elements and creates something whole and individualized from them, rather than simply pitting one element against another. Hell, I’m reviewing the dam thing in spite of myself.
Alright, gonna stop there. Check back next week for more lavish praise heaped on Black Rainbows and that full stream. In the meantime, enjoy the “High to Hell” lyric video below, followed by more info from the PR wire info.
Dig in:
Black Rainbows, “High to Hell” lyric video
Italy’s stoner rock icons BLACK RAINBOWS unveil a fuzz-driven new track off their sixth album “Pandaemonium”, due out April 6th on Heavy Psych Sounds Records.
“High To Hell” is the first excerpt off BLACK RAINBOWS’ new album “Pandaemonium”. The intro riff is a sledgehammer of fuzz and crunch striking the listener from the outset, while Gabriele Fiori’s sharp and hard-hitting vocals echo like a loop that won’t let go of your brain. Everything in this song is addictive. The Italian trio shows us how it’s done, with the fuzziest and fiercest stoner rock anthem you’ll hear this year!
“Pandaemonium” will be released on limited Silver vinyl, Orange Fluo Splatter Multicolor vinyl, as well as CD and digital.
BLACK RAINBOWS is Gabriele Fiori – Guitar & Vocals Giuseppe Guglielmino – Bass Filippo Ragazzoni – Drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 22nd, 2018 by JJ Koczan
You know the question I’m about to ask, right? You have to. It’s almost too obvious. Will Pandaemonium — the forthcoming sixth long-player from Italian heavy psychedelic rock forerunners Black Rainbows — be the album that finally brings them to US shores? It is to wonder. One would think that with all of the groups guitarist/vocalist Gabriele Fiori has brought to Europe through the booking wing of his record label Heavy Psych Sounds over the years, there must be plenty of acts with whom they could partner for a run at least of the coasts/major markets, if not all 48 contiguous states.
Especially with the arrival in North America of underground heavy acts like Truckfighters paving the way for Greenleaf and 1000mods and others, it seems like there’s something of a shift happening to make European bands coming to the US to tour a more sustainable prospect. Of course, I don’t know if it’s even on Black Rainbows‘ radar in terms of goals — America isn’t exactly ingratiating itself to the rest of the planet these days, admittedly — but as many times as they’ve crossed back and forth over Europe over the years, they’d seem ripe for striking out into some new territory. At least for a festival or two.
Just a thought on the occasion of Black Rainbows announcing another sizable European run, which they did thusly via the PR wire:
Italian stoner icons BLACK RAINBOWS announce extensive European tour and festival shows
Italy’s heavy psych fuzzers BLACK RAINBOWS have announced a full European tour in support of their upcoming new album “Pandaemonium”, with special appearances at Desertfest London and Hellfest, plus a support for High On Fire.
The band will be touring Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, France, England and the Netherlands. Their sixth studio album “Pandaemonium” will be released April 6th on all formats via Heavy Psych Sounds Records.
BLACK RAINBOWS ON TOUR
16.03 – Rome (IT) 30 Formiche 22.03 – Martigny (CH) Sunset Bar 23.03 – Torino (IT) Blah Ba 24.03 – Parma (IT) Titty Twister 29.03 – Olten (CH) Coq D’Or 30.03 – Seewen (CH) Gaswerk 31.03 – Strasbourg (FR) Maison Bleue 01.04 – Feldkirch (AT) Graf Hugo 02.04 – Graz (AT) Club Q 03.04 – Wien (AT) Viper Room 04.04 – Salzburg (AT) Rockhouse 05.04 – Augsburg (DE) City Club 06.04 – Innsbruck (AT) PMK 07.04 – Milano (IT) Cox 18 19.04 – Winterthur (CH) Gaswerk 20.04 – Frankfurt (DE) Feinstaub 21.04 – Arlon (BE) L’Entrepot 22.04 – Osnabruck (DE) Bastard Club 23.04 – Mannheim (DE) Kurzbar 24.04 – Stuttgart (DE) Keller Klub 25.04 – Berlin (DE) Jagerklause 26.04 – Dresden (DE) Chemofabrik 27.04 – Leipzig (DE) Geiszer 16 28.04 – Erfurt (DE) Tiko 03.04 – Deventer (NL) Burgerweeshuis w/ High On Fire 05.05 – London (UK) Desertfest 2X.06 – Clisson (FR) Hellfest 30.06 – Alessandria (IT) Bliss Beat Fest
BLACK RAINBOWS is Gabriele Fiori – Guitar & Vocals Giuseppe Guglielmino – Bass Filippo Ragazzoni – Drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 10th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
I’ve been keeping a keen eye on my inbox since last month when the first word hit about the new Black Rainbows album in the works for a 2018 release. That bio I wrote finally came down through the PR wire and it’s been followed up by the revealing of the cover art and tracklisting for what’s been no-doubt-suitably titled Pandaemonium, the sixth long-player from the Roma-based heavy rock forerunners. An April 6 release date has been confirmed with preorders beginning Jan. 16, of course through band frontman’s own far-reaching imprint, Heavy Psych Sounds.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of records I’m looking forward to hearing this year — I’ll have a huge list up in about a week and a half — but I have the feeling Black Rainbows have something special in store this time around, and I don’t want to miss it. Still haven’t heard any of it, but definitely one of my most anticipated.
Details from the PR wire:
BLACK RAINBOWS to release sixth album “Pandaemonium” on April 6th through Heavy Psych Sounds!
Two years after their widely acclaimed fifth album “Stellar Prophecy”, Italy’s most emblematic stoner rock trio BLACK RAINBOWS returns with their new full-length “Pandaemonium”, coming out April 6th on Heavy Psych Sounds!
The 9-track, 45-minute long record bears the torch of the new wave of stoner-occult riffing à la Black Sabbath, in a heavier way. Some songs may recall Fu Manchu, sounding heavier than ever, then you’ll get hit by an entrancing doom-sludge-stoner suite (“Grindstone”) and a couple of lysergic, dreamy, heavy psych songs that will blow your mind. The album sounds killer and was recorded at Forward Studios, one of Italy’s finest recording spots.
Produced by Gabriele Fiori and engineered by Fabio Sforza, the album has a special focus on drums which were handled for the first time in Black Rainbows by Filippo Ragazzoni. Bass riffing is solid and has a mellow sound, and the wall of fuzz from Fiori’s guitars will drive you nuts! Artwork was once again designed by the visionary SoloMacello. This is the sixth studio album from the band, and by far the best one yet. It’s the more solid and complete album they have ever recorded.
“Pandaemonium” will be released on limited Silver vinyl, Orange Fluo Splatter Multicolor vinyl, as well as CD and digital.
BLACK RAINBOWS New album “Pandaemonium” Out April 6th on Heavy Psych Sounds Presale start January 16th HERE
TRACK LISTING: 1. Sunrise 2. High On Hell 3. The Sacrifice 4. Grindstone 5. Supernova & Asteroids 6. Riding Fast Til The End Of Time 7. I Just Wanna Fire 8. The Abyss 9. 13th Step Of The Pyramid
Artwork by SoloMacello
BLACK RAINBOWS is Gabriele Fiori – Guitar & Vocals Giuseppe Guglielmino – Bass Filippo Ragazzoni – Drums
