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)

I really dug Ukrainian trio Stoned Jesus‘ 2012 outing, Seven Thunders Roar, and if last year’s Readers Poll was anything to go by, I wasn’t the only one. As such, when it comes to the news below that they’ve replaced their drummer, Vadim Matijko, who wasn’t their first but who played on the album nonetheless, it’s kind of a bummer since I wouldn’t want anything to derail the progress the Kiev outfit has made to this point. So it goes. Guitarist/vocalist Igor Sidorenko seems to have it together in terms of leading the band, and they’re off to a busy start with their new guy, Viktor, with work being done on a new video and a mini-tour in May that will include a slot on the Freak Valley festival. Hopefully more new material isn’t far behind.

The band sent along the following announcement, and here’s Seven Thunders Roar (review here) again in case anyone missed it the first time or wants to revisit:

Stoned Jesus Finds New Drummer: “Electric Mistress” Video and Mini-Tour To Follow

A new kid behind the drumkit is spotted on the set of “Electric Mistress” video. “The times they are a-changin'” Igor (vocals, guitar) muses. “Vadim expressed his desire to leave to concentrate on his brutal-death band a month before our Moscow show. We’re grateful to him for these two and something years we spent together and we’re definitely still friends. Besides he’s still into music!”. Viktor, a newcomer, is reported to be deeply involved in the working process, and his live debut with the band is scheduled for May 16th in Kiev’s Underground Music Hall.

“Electric Mistress” video is again directed by legendary Viktor Priduvalov and is expected late April. It is “some kind of a Lynch story with us in minor roles”, Igor adds. With their Freak Valley 2013 slot confirmed (with Orange Goblin, Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, Long Distance Calling, Causa Sui and The Machine among others), the band is to announce dates for their May mini-tour soon.