Posted in Whathaveyou on April 12th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
After a compelling first announcement two weeks ago that put Washington heavy rock institution Mos Generator atop a bill with six other outfits curated from among Europe and the UK’s ever-crowded underground — JIRM, Samavayo, Sergeant Thunderhoof, Omega Sun, and Fire Down Below — the Las Vegas-based festival Planet Desert Rock Weekend V offers four new names today with a similarly curated feel. California’s Fireball Ministry, Ohio’s Valley of the Sun (returning), Canadian upstarts Sons of Arrakis and Italian cosmic rockers MR.BISON (also returning) are the new additions to the lineup, and each brings something specific of their own to the mix for the three-dayer set for Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2025.
And yeah, that’s a ways off, but if you, like me, don’t actually live in Vegas, it’s an opportunity to make your travel plans early. As the city has never been a ‘scene’ hotbed for heavy fare — of course there are good bands who’ve come from there; that’s true of most of the planet — there’s no question Planet Desert Rock Weekend is positioning itself as a destination festival, and letting you book a flight before they’re even more outlandish than they are now is part of that. Not that I was just looking at airfare prices or anything, mind you. Because I absolutely was.
There were eight bands left after the first reveal, and this, as noted, adds four, so I count four more names to come, give or take, sometime between now and next January. I’m not sure how much more one could reasonably ask beyond what’s already being served here, but golly it’s fun to daydream.
Vegas Rock Revolution and Planet Desert Rock Weekend are proud to announce the next 4 bands for PDRW V. We bring back two alumni bands in Valley of the Sun and Mr. Bison, a longtime legacy band Fireball Ministry and rising star with Sons of Arrakis coming to Vegas for a fun filled weekend of heavy rock, friends and a cool environment that is comfortable. PDRW is designed to give you your mornings and afternoons to enjoy Vegas!
Fireball Ministry/ Los Angeles
Rising from quietly smoldering for a number of years we are honored to have Fireball Ministry be a part of PDRW. This is a pure legacy band that has been rocking the scene since 1999 and have shared the stage with the likes of Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, Judas Priest, Slayer, Danzig, Anthrax, Motörhead and many others. Recently it was announced Ripple Music will be reissuing their catalog.
Valley of the Sun/ Cincinnati
Super pumped to have Valley of the Sun return to Planet Desert Rock Weekend after performing at the inaugural one. Led by frontman Ryan Ferrier they deliver straight heavy rocking desert rock tinged stuff that sticks in your head. Their recently released album on Ripple Music landed close to the top of Vegas Rock Revolution’s top albums of the year.
Mr. Bison/ Italy
Mr. Bison has been one busy band since appearing at Planet Desert Rock Weekend II. Their latest album “Echoes of the Universe” has made an amazing splash in 2024 including landing #2 on the Doom Charts for February. Mr. Bison have continued to evolve and challenge themselves including adding a new member who is a multi instrumentalist. We can’t wait to have them back and hear the new stuff live! Mr. Bison is part of the Heavy Psych Sounds label.
Sons of Arrakis/ Montreal
Early on Vegas Rock Revolution has been touting and working with Sons of Arrakis and after hoping to have them as part of PDRW IV, we are excited to have them for 2025! Their sound is an outstanding blend of heavy rock/ heavy psych/ progressive/ stoner with a backdrop of being a Dune themed band. Their debut album ended #2 for 2022 on the VRR end of the year list right behind PDRW alumni Freedom Hawk (2). Their album landed #1 on Doom Charts for July 2022 and #8 overall for the year. SOA is currently finishing up their 2nd album which will be released on Black Throne Productions.
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 23rd, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Yeah, I’ll admit that at about 10:30AM on a Friday morning I had one foot out the door to the weekend. Then this new Sons of Arrakis single showed up and a four-post day became a fiver. Fair enough. The hotly-tipped Canadian heavy rockers offer “Scattering” as a first glimpse of the second album they recorded late last summer, Volume II, for which they’ve announced a June 7 release through Black Throne Productions. In addition to a general uptick in the production sounds on what I’m guessing is the version that will appear on the actual album, the band also have a live video up for the track that’s probably the best argument I could make for seeing them live if their upcoming Canadian run with Salem’s Bend (they’ll play all but three of the shows below, which it feels weird to list since they don’t involve the group this post is otherwise about, but they’re still part of the tour? I don’t know, life is complicated sometimes in unexpected ways), but I also sincerely doubt that for those who heard 2022’s Volume I (review here) much argument is needed in the first place.
I’m intrigued to hear where other songs on the record might go, but “Scattering” contradicts its title in being nothing if not tightly cohesive. Around a twisting riff and melody that build momentum as they go, the band deliver an uptempo shove that should please, among others, those who caught on to the charge Howling Giant‘s latest LP gave this past Fall.
Info, dates, video, audio, all from the PR wire:
SONS OF ARRAKIS Unveil “Scattering”
SONS OF ARRAKIS have released their new single “Scattering”. The track lands ahead of their forthcoming album Volume II due to be released on June 7th, 2024, via Black Throne Productions. Check out an exciting live video shot for the track HERE.
“SONS OF ARRAKIS introduces ‘Scattering,’ the inaugural single from our upcoming album, Volume II, slated for release on June 7th. Coinciding with ‘The Great Scattering Tour’ alongside LA’s SALEM’S BEND, this track signifies a culmination of years of dedicated effort and a significant evolution in our musical approach.
‘Scattering’ is a departure from the intricate compositions of Volume I, presenting a more straightforward yet captivating musical expression. Rooted in our sci-fi desert rock tradition, reminiscent of The Black Mirror, this single serves as a bridge to Volume II, where we venture into progressive territories with syncopated signature riffs, more complex bridges, well thought transitions and harmonized guitar elements.”
Presented by Black Throne Productions, SALEM’S BEND and SONS OF ARRAKIS are set to embark around the Eastern Provinces in Canada for “The Great Scattering Tour” beginning on February 28th, 2024.
Tour Dates: Feb 28 – Minotaure, Gatineau WITH SUBSUN, RITUAL and IN BETWEEN THE MASSES ** Feb 29 – Esco, Montreal with DESTRUCTION DERBY Mar 1 – L’Anti, QC City with TRUSH & DESTRUCTION DERBY Mar 2 – La Petite Boite Noire , Sherbrooke with OCCULT WITCHES Mar 3 – Cafe Zenob, Trois Rivieres with DESTRUCTION DERBY Mar 6 – The Atria, Oshawa with VEINDUZE and VS THE BORG ** Mar 7 – The Lion Pub & Grill, Newmarket with ON THE VERGE, AAWKS, DAD SABBATH ** Mar 8 – Vertagogo, Hamilton with THE ELECTRIC CACTUS Mar 9 – Bovine Sex Club, Toronto with TUMBLE and AAWKS ** – SONS OF ARRAKIS not playing
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 24th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Look at the blue text below and you know what you’re gonna see? Yes, a whole lot of skull emojis. Like a lot. But it happens that each individual one corresponds to a demonstration of the labor of love and community that is the Maryland Doom Festival. From Abel Blood through Zekiah, Maryland Doom Fest 2024 celebrates its 10th anniversary edition with its standard sans-bullshit glut of heavy. Once more the Frederick-based event looks your square in the eye, drops for absolutely immersive days on you and asks if you’re up for it. Well, are ya?
I’m not sure what my summer travel plans are yet — this and Freak Valley have overlapped the last couple years for me — but it’s been since 2019 that I was last down there and oh I’d be so eager to show up and have the three or four people who recognize me (and thus make it feel like an absolute family experience; love love love everywhere you go down there) quietly think to themselves I’ve gotten older and fatter en route to obliterating myself with volume for about 96 hours straight. Fuck. King. A.
Oh, and I hear Thunderbird Divine have new stuff in the works and it’s amazing. So that’s a thing too.
Social media had it like this:
We are super stoked to share with you the Maryland Doom Fest 2024 rosters, schedules, and lineups!!!
#4daysofdoom
THE MARYLAND DOOM FEST 2024
✝️Thursday June 20
Cafe 611-
💀 Thunderhorse 1115-1230 💀 The Magpie 1010-1055 💀 Born of Plagues 905-950 💀 Stone Nomads 800-845 💀 Pyre Fyre 700-740 💀 Dirt Eater 600-640
Olde Mother Brewery-
💀 Spellbook 920-1000 💀 Strange Highways 820-900 💀 Bailjack 720-800 💀 Stone Brew 620-700 💀 Abel Blood 520-600
💀 Ten Ton Slug 915-1000 💀 Thousand Vision Mist 815-855 💀 Crowhunter 715-755 💀 Asthma Castle 615-655 💀 Bonded by Darkness 515-555
✝️Saturday June 22
Cafe 611-
💀 WHORES. 1150-115 💀 AGE/S 1040-1130 💀 Bloodshot 935-1020 💀 O ZORN! 830-915 💀 Double Planet 730-810 💀 Sun Years 630-710 💀 When the Deadbolt Breaks 530-610
Olde Mother Brewery-
💀 Black Water Rising 915-1000 💀 Switchblade Jesus 815-855 💀 Wyndrider 715-755 💀 Indus Valley Kings 615-655 💀 Vermillion Whiskey 515-555 💀 Doctor Smoke 415-455
✝️Sunday June 23
Cafe 611-
💀 Cirith Ungol 1200-110 💀 Mythosphere 1055-1140 💀 Conclave 955-1035 💀 Compression 855-935 💀 Sons of Arrakis 755-835 💀 Curse the Son 655-735 💀 Kulvera 555-635 💀 Old Blood 500-535 💀 Cloud Machine 405-440
Olde Mother Brewery-
💀 Thunderbird Divine 920-1000 💀 Black Manta 820-900 💀 High Noon Kahuna 720-800 💀 Unity Reggae 620-700 💀 King Bastard 520-600 💀 Zekiah 420-500
52 bands over a 4 day weekend at 2 venues across the street from one another!! #4daysofdoom
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 12th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Two cool heavy rock bands touring together — when all you need is what you get. Salem’s Bend will head north from their Californian homebase in order to meet up with Sons of Arrakis for a round of Canadian dates that start at the end of next month. Dubbed ‘The Great Scattering Tour’ by Black Throne Productions, the stint will herald the upcoming Volume II by Sons of Arrakis, while the two acts together will hook up with the likes of Muffler Crunch, Aawks, On the Verge and others.
At nine dates, it’s not the most extensive tour you’ll see undertaken in 2024, but as it’s been since 2019’s sophomore outing, Supercluster (review here), that Salem’s Bend last did an album, so that they’re getting out is a good sign. They mention the prospect of new recordings in the comment below, which comes with the dates courtesy of the PR wire.
Have at it:
Black Throne Productions Presents “The Great Scattering Tour” with SALEM’S BEND & SONS OF ARRAKIS
Presented by Black Throne Productions, SALEM’S BEND and SONS OF ARRAKIS are set to embark around the Eastern Provinces in Canada for “The Great Scattering Tour” beginning on February 28th, 2024.
SALEM’S BEND comments:
“We are really excited to be heading out on the road again, especially since it will be our first time playing in these cities! Last year we rebuilt our home studio in preparation for new recordings in 2024, and we weren’t on the road as much as usual, so we are very much looking forward to hitting the pavement again this spring. Really stoked to be rocking the stage with our buddies in SONS OF ARRAKIS for this tour, I think we’re all going to have a lot of fun out there!”
SONS OF ARRAKIS comments:
“This tour is the first step of SOA’s metamorphosis. 2024 will be a definite year with Volume II coming up soon. Can’t wait to hang out and share the stage with SALEM’S BEND.”
Dates: Feb 28 – Minotaure, Gatineau WITH SUBSUN and MUFFLER CRUNCH ** Feb 29 – Esco, Montreal with DESTRUCTION DERBY Mar 1 – L’Anti, QC City with TRUSH & DESTRUCTION DERBY Mar 2 – La Petite Boite Noire , Sherbrooke with OCCULT WITCHES Mar 3 – Cafe Zenob, Trois Rivieres with DESTRUCTION DERBY Mar 6 – The Atria, Oshawa with VEINDUZE and VS THE BORG ** Mar 7 – The Lion Pub & Grill, Newmarket with ON THE VERGE, AAWKS, DAD SABBATH ** Mar 8 – Vertagogo, Hamilton with THE ELECTRIC CACTUS Mar 9 – Bovine Sex Club, Toronto with TUMBLE and AAWKS ** – SONS OF ARRAKIS not playing
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 1st, 2023 by JJ Koczan
With headlining performances slated from a soon-to-retire Cirith Ungol, noise crushers Whores., mostly-local melodic heavy proggers Mythosphere, Switchblade Jesus, Conclave, Ten Ton Slug (from Ireland; I got to see them one time; way burly; they’ll do well in Frederick), and plenty of other returning acts and newcomers alike, the lineup for Maryland Doom Fest 2024 could hardly be more appropriate a celebration of the annual Chesapeake gathering’s 10th anniversary. Based in Frederick, the four-day ultra-consuming sensory assault of volume will once again take place at Cafe 611 and Olde Mother Brewing, and if you’ve never been, I’ll tell you outright there’s nothing quite like it.
I mean that. Maryland Doom Fest goes harder than the average festival. A day might start at 1PM and not end until 2AM. And now more than ever, as the fest has grown with the two venues running alongside each other, the bill is packed. I think this year was 50 bands? Well, they’ve got 52 for 2024, and while next June is a while out, there’s a tradition to uphold of Halloween announcements, and festival honcho JB Matson (Bloodshot, War Injun, Outside Truth, etc.) pays tribute to his regulars — Shadow Witch, Bailjack, Thunderbird Divine, Thousand Vision Mist (congratulations to Danny Kenyon of Thousand Vision Mist on recently kicking cancer’s ass), among others here — while also giving showcase to outfits like Pyre Fyre, O Zorn! (whose very moniker heralds weirdness), WyndRider and more.
Congrats to Matson and all at Maryland Doom Fest on their 10th anniversary. To do something of this scope once is a lot. To do it across 10 years, well, aside from being fucking crazy, it’s also deeply admirable.
The aforementioned announcement — brief as ever; the poster lands heavy enough to cover any lack of verbiage — follows, courtesy of socials. Ticket link is there too:
WE ARE EXTREMELY PLEASED TO PRESENT TO YOU, THE MARYLAND DOOM FEST 2024 LINEUP!!!!! THIS WILL BE OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!! (#128128#)(#129304#)(#128128#)
52 bands over a 4 day weekend at 2 venues across the street from one another!! #4daysofdoom
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 13th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
According to the below, Dune-themed Canadian heavy rockers Sons of Arrakis should already have begun recording their second album, tentatively and likely titled Volume II, and a quick glance at their social media confirms at least that the process has begun, if not finished. The Montreal-based four-piece have kept busy since they released last year’s debut, Volume I (review here), up to and including figuring out how to navigate through the plaudits heaped upon them from multiple directions at once, playing shows in Canada, apparently writing. They’ve got a new video for “The Black Mirror” from the first record due out this Friday. As I say, busy. ‘Big things,’ and all that.
They’ve assured that 2024 will be more of the same in terms of the activity level, and with the new record impending, that’s legit. Before any of it, next month, they’ll do a quick run of dates in Ontario and then head south to Mexico for their first international dates, playing three nights in Mexico City and doing a radio interview (sounds like the work of a Tamayo), and joining Blue Cheese and others in Tabacalera. The PR wire bought show posters, all the details and ticket links.
And gadzooks, here they are:
SONS OF ARRAKIS Announce October Tour Dates For Ontario, Canada, & Mexico
Montreal-based SONS OF ARRAKIS are to embark on the first international tour with Pale Horse / Black Throne Productions & Morro-Carnal Prodzsz. Describing themselves as Melange Rock and Cinematographic Sci-Fi Rock, the quartet captivate audiences with their electrifying live performances. In Mexico, their tour coincides with the renowned La Dia de Los Muertos festivities.
The band comments:
‘’SOA strikes again with a first international tour! A lot is in the oven for the next few months and we can’t wait to show you Volume II’’
Tour Dates: Ontario: Oct 5 – Ottawa | with Hempress & Subsun | at Live on Elgin Oct 6 – Toronto | with Low Orbit, AAWKS & Tumble | at Hard Luck Oct 7 – Hamilton | with Astral Witch, The Electric Cactus and Cannabusv| at Doors Pub Oct 8 – London | with Yeti on Horseback and Snakes | at Richmond Tavern Mexico: Oct 25 – Mexico City | Local Radio Station Interview at Radio Reaktor Oct 26 – Tabacalera | with Blue Cheese, Powertrip & Criaturas de la Noches | at Denso Rock Ponciano Arriaga Oct 27 – Mexico City | with Compadra, Ugly Miss Piggy, and Pis | at LXS Cavaleras: Espacio Cultural Oct 28 – Mexico City | Chido Carnal Fest Oct 29 – Mexico City | Georgetown Records
Amidst their busy schedule, SONS OF ARRAKIS will also begin recording their highly anticipated new album in August 2023, with the first single from Volume II scheduled for an early 2024 release.
Posted in Questionnaire on February 28th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.
Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.
Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.
The Obelisk Questionnaire: Frederic Couture of Sons of Arrakis
—
How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
It’s always hard to define what I’m doing as a musician, but let’s put really briefly. I’ve always played heavy rock music based around riff ideas and very structured songs. Most of the time, the writing process begins with one riff. Those riffs are often developing when I play my old acoustic guitar at home. Sometimes, I have riffs, beats or melodies in my head that I want to try on the guitar, but I’m not talented enough to nail them. They evolve into something else and after that, it’s like bringing pieces of a puzzle together.
I’ve always been doing this, sit and compose music since I’m 13 years old. My first band was Crazy Head when I was 14 years old. Then, those guys invited me in their band called People Who Care and they were tight for 15 years old guys. They had bases in music and needed a singer and rhythm guitarist in their rank, I immediately accepted the contract. People Who Care morphed in Reckless Ride and this is where we recorded our first decent EP. This band was on the classic rock side with fast and heavy riffs that jumped right in the face. In those bands, I’ve always been the singer and rhythm guitarist. I think I fit well in this role because I’ve done it since my teenage years.
To define what I do and how I came to do it, I also have to talk about my inspirations. I’ve been inspired by so many things and there’s been so many musical epiphanies, but the most significant moment was the first time I listened to Master of Reality by Black Sabbath. Riffs after riffs is the kind of vibe I’m searching for when it comes to music. This is where I come from as a musician. I also like proto-metal music from the late 60’s like Hendrix, Cream, Mountain, Blue Cheer, etc.
Another influence would be more progressive stuff like the album Close to the Edge and The Yes Album by Yes. Hemisphere and 2112 by Rush would be worth mentioning here. I really like concept albums and variations in songs. It makes it more intriguing and fascinating. Lately, the album Innate Passage by Elder really blew my mind!
When I was a kid, I also remember playing guitar over Angus Young on the Live at Donington concert DVD. It’s where I develop my chops and my interest for Gibson SG! Epiphany moment I would say! I also love Metallica’s first three albums because my father introduced me to those when I was just 11 years old. Puppets would be my favorite. Thanks to my old man!
But the ultimate reason why I’m a musician is when I saw Jack Black in School of Rock when I was 11 years old. I was at the beginning of high school and we were a bunch of kids who listened to Metallica, Megadeth, Nirvana, Sex Pistols, etc. We were outcasts in our musical tastes at that time. Dewey Finn was the ”man” (direct reference to the movie) who open the gates and brought the moral caution to rock it!
At the end of Reckless Ride in 2011, there was a musical hiatus for me, but I was just preparing the ground and building my own studio in Montreal that was called Reel Road Studio and then Gamma Recording Studio. From 2011 to 2016, I’ve been in different projects that never took form, but developed ideas and jamming songs and riffs ideas. I was cutting my teeth to say so. Then came Mick Martel from The Hazytones in late 2015. We started this band as a trio and we were motivated enough to start from scratch and put it all together. The first record was out in September 2016, I think. We went on tour in Canada and Europe for a couple of months following the release of this debut LP. This experience changed a lot of things for me and defined a what I do in my actual band Sons of Arrakis.
Ultimately, what’s fun about Sons of Arrakis is that we can’t only fit in one category of genres and styles of music. Everyone has their own point of view and ‘’appellations’’ for the music that we play, starting with the expression Melange Rock. I think that critics and people categorized our music that way because of the universe of Frank Herbert in which we immerge ourselves in. Actually, Melange Rock isn’t one style of music, it’s a vast spectrum of sonorities and genres.
In reality, we play some kind of a stoner-”ish” and desert-”ish” kind of rock. Francis Duchesne, SOA’s lead guitarist, came up with ”Cinematic sci-fi rock” once to differentiate us from ”the vast ocean of stoner rock bands”. It’s also because Francis introduces keyboards and guitar melodies that sound retro-futuristic. For example, on Shai-Hulud, the harmonized slide lead guitar brings this aspect forward. We also have a dual harmonized solo (keys and lead guitar) at the end of Temple of the Desert that is really mysterious and reminds of a laborious walk in the deep desert. In Abomination, in the chorus and the second verse, there’s a wonderful guitar orchestration that almost sounds symphonic.
Furthermore, there are parts in some songs that is more on the classic heavy rock side like the riff in the verses of Omniscient Messiah for example. Sometimes, we like to introduce some heavier parts in hommage to Thrash Metal, like in the bridges of the songs Temple of the Desert and Omniscient Messiah. Another hidden nugget is this doom metal bridge in The Black Mirror that has an overall straight forward desert rock feel. In short, we like to mix many genres and explore different sonorities. That’s why it’s more relevant to call it Melange Rock than stoner or doom I think. These are just few examples.
In short, this is the evolution. The point where I started to play music until now, with my band Sons of Arrakis. It’s hard to develop what we do, but it’s always been about the search for the riff, the sound of rock n’ roll that we all vibe and trip on.
Describe your first musical memory.
I was really young, maybe 5 years old. I remember that father used to play Nirvana Unplugged in NY on our way back from Lake Champlain, upstate New York, to Montreal. He had an old boat in the US, near Plattsburg and he had those cassettes. He also played Neil Young, I think it was a ”Best of” K7. I just remember the vibe and how it made me feel as a kid. The music felt like a haven and I felt safe with my parents and my sister. It almost felt like a fresh breeze from the Northern part of the lake.
In my childhood, I also remember that my mother was a really huge fan of this musical icon in Québec, called Jean Leloup. He was, and still is, the odd yet incredible figure in music and is a true artist. His album ”Les Fourmis” (The Ants in English) was the album that I remember the most, because my mother had the CD and always played it. There were also Daniel Bélanger, who’s also a important figure in the québécoise culture that was defining for me, back in the mid 1990’s.
I would say these are the first musical memories that I have. It was at a very young age, but I remember how it felt and I think my love for music come from childhood.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
I remember listening for the first time to the album “Reflections of a Floating World” from the band Elder. It was back in 2017, I was on the road in the Canadian Rockies and the first riff of the song “Sanctuary” started to play. Images, sounds and emotions merged together and it was a colossal feeling. When I listened to their new album, ”Innate Passage”, I found the same feelings that when I heard ”Sanctuary” for the first time. The song ”Endless Return” is a perfect reflection and a culmination of their work, I think.
There’s a lot a subtlety and refinement in this piece of art. One of the aspect I like the most is the marvelous crisp guitar arpeggios supported by this extremely solid rhythm section that never stops rolling. Elder has a surprisingly sharp melodic sense on this album achieved by the well thought lead guitars and vocals that smoothly float above the mix. Another aspect that I particularly like is the present of this vintage strings sound (Mellotron) that brings this nostalgic 70’s progressive feel to the songs.
Plus, this summer, I had the chance to see them live for the first time and meet them in person on September 6th at the legendary Montreal’s Foufounes Électriques. I think this maybe one of my best musical memory.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
There’s one big life event that deeply changed my vision of life and tested my ingrained beliefs in the summer of 2017. I was with the band The Hazytones at that time and we were gone on tour for a couple of months for this two legs tour. In March and April 2017, we were in Europe for a whole month, then came back for 10 days to leave for a Canadian tour for 40 days.
I was in an important relationship at that time and the tour was really painful because I felt I was away from home, I missed my wife, and felt that the relationship was slowly degrading. I felt insecure, I was scared and angry the distance would have created a chill between us.
When I got back from tour, my ex-wife left the house at the end of May. I felt powerless, but I knew that it was the end and there were no coming back. I blamed it on me for being far from home, too goal oriented, forgetting to take the time. I was stressed out and anxious, and feel that I was one thousand light years away from her, even when I was at home.
It shook my beliefs because I realized at that time that if you want to be part of the music business, it’s not only a lot of money and work, but it’s also a lot of pressure on your love and family life. It’s a lot of sacrifices and it’s often a long desolate road.
I questioned myself a lot at that time, I dropped The Hazytones in June 2017 and I decided to quit for a while and didn’t want to form a new band anymore. I was on the mend. I took care of my studio with my partner for a while and build something that we could be proud of. After a couple of months, I found the inner force to go back in the studio and record those songs that I had in my head while I was with my ex-band: The Black mirror and High Handed Enemy (that will figure on Volume II).
Also, another thing that I learnt from that experience is that I have to take my time more and breathe deeply, enjoy every moment. If I can’t do that, I agitated and feel anxious, it’s not the right thing for me to do. Every step is an effort, but if you want to persevere, you have to take it soft and slow. I don’t want to feel the anger any more, it gives pretty good lyrics though (lol).
One of the most important thing, people who appreciate and love you will stay in the long run. If they don’t, it’s their choice, but as long as they’re present, take it as a gift and be grateful. I’m grateful that my bandmates are here in my life. I’m grateful for the success that 2022 brought us. I’m grateful that I have a good job and contribute to more justice and equity in our society, etc.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
After our debut album, Volume I, was finished recording in December 2020, I was really eager to work on new material for Sons of Arrakis. But, it is really hard to start somewhere… During the pandemic, I had a lot of time to sit down, take my old acoustic guitar and search endlessly of some new riffs and ideas. It was really a moment to take a step back on the agitation of our daily life to breathe a little bit more. At least, it’s the way that I say it at first.
With Sons of Arrakis, we took the time to jam every once in a while during the pandemic to stay in touch, but the main idea was to go forward and I booked some studio time in April 2021 to demo some new songs with my friend Luc at Red Tube Studio in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, near Montreal. I recorded five song ideas that potentially land on Volume II.
A second album is really defining for a band I think. It indicates if the band is creative enough to continue. I feel that there is an artistic progression in the songs I write. I think that SOA has its own identity and I have to find a way to evolve even though we have a strict framework and are stuck with the Frank Herbert’s known universe (haha!).
What I can tell you is that SOA’s new songs will be more straight forward, maybe shorter songs in general. I keep the riffs at the center of the songs, and I try to develop a more progressive side. The riffs are more complex, What I came up first with the recording in April 2021 are evolving in more well thoughts songs because they had the time to mature. There’s a big accent put on vocals and there will be a lot of harmonization and arrangements that will feel larger then life. There will be more harmonized guitar parts and solos, etc.
The last song that I’m working on will be more on the metal side. The song is brutal and there will be many different parts in it. I want this song to be a never-ending progression of riffs. It always takes time to achieve, but it’s worth it. And it’s what keeps it fun!
How do you define success?
Success isn’t something that can be measured, it’s something that you feel and defined by the goals that you set in the first place and their achievement. I think that when you are realistic or pragmatic enough and set objectives that you can reach, it’s always a success. There’s also another element that defines success: hard work. The goals have to be hard to reach in order to feel proud of what you achieved.
With Sons of Arrakis, this year, we have our load of success, especially after the launch of our album in July 15th. We increased our followers, fan base and listeners in a dazzling way. Our debut album has been well received by the critics and stoner rock enthusiasts. It feels like we’re on the map and it’s just another motivation to jump forward into the adventure of a second LP.
But even before that, we introduced a new drummer, Mat Root (Mathieu Racine), to Sons of Arrakis. The first project we did with Mat was the recording of two songs (Omniscient Messiah and Lonesome Preacher) in a live session at Studio Dandurand in Montreal in April 2022. Mat has become the cement of the band and he’s we can rely on him. We feel that we’re on a solid ground with this guys in the equation. In short, we succeeded to introduce this new member in a positive way and create a vibe where we feel that we can go in the right direction and move forward in new projects.
Our album release show was also a success! Even with the gig being canceled on July 15th, we postponed the show on October 14th to play at Turbo Haüs in Montreal for our second show in 30 months. It was sold out! This is what I called a success for us! Even if it’s a small venue of 140 people, it’s the first that we feel that people have a keen interest.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
It’s the hardest question that I had to answer so far to be honest. I’m lucky enough to live in Montreal, a beautiful and secure city that has a lot of wealth. In Quebec, the social security system is made to regulate the inequity and we are not submitted to the phenomenon of poverty that often.
In the other hand, I work in the public school board system and I witness sometimes the hardship that some kids and teenagers are going through. As a teacher, I have the feeling that I have the role to be a positive figure paternal and a caring figure for those youngsters. Sometimes, I wish I hadn’t witness some cases where I say: “There’s nothing left to do”. It breaks my heart every time.
I wish I had enough energy and inner resources to say the right thing and to give a helping hand. The reality is this: we something is too deeply rooted in darkness; it may be not possible to help. When there is abuse, traumas and emotional exhaustion, parental alienation, etc. it makes you feel powerless.
During the Covid-19, the public system in Quebec, but it’s the same situation all over the Western World, suffers from the lack of initiative, the lack of funding, personal that are overwhelmed by the pressure, etc. I which things were different, but I notice and see that things are slowly falling apart.
Not considering that we’ll have to face may other crisis in the 21st century that we aren’t ready to face because we deny, as a specie, the urgency to act differently and change our old habits. In this era of YOLO attitude, individualism push to the extreme, the cult of image and collective narcissism and the polarization and the public opinion, we lost the sense of community. We want peace, love and understanding to be popular again.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
Sometimes, I dream that I compose a song or that I’m working on the recording for one song. This song is killer. This song is fresh and new. It has something special and unique. I feel liberating just to hear it. It’s been such a long time since I haven’t heard anything musically that feels this way.
So if I had something I’d like to create would be in that kind of feel. Something that would be some kind of a musical renewal. But it’s completely silly to pretend that it’s possible in a world where the musical offer is beyond anything people would’ve imagine in the 90’s and the 2000’s. A lot of people that I know have the feeling that everything has already been made. We feel like it’s the end of history and evolution and that we can’t move into a new era.
If I had to create something, it’d be something innovative, that would be a synthesis of every record I know, something progressive and an ultimate concept album. Singles that would be intertwined with a long atmospheric transitions and a mysterious feel. It would have really hooky vocal melodies that would feel a little bit ”poppy” but well balanced. It’s would have harmonized guitar parts and a lot of orchestrations. Heavy, heavy riffs, with distorted fuzz, but not pushed over the top. Well thought and fluid rhythms to would feel transcendent.
Briefly, I don’t have something concrete here, just like in my dreams. It’s just a feeling, a special innovative and well thought of songs with crazy turnarounds and cool permutations. I write too much haha!
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
For me, art has always been something that would have a profound philosophical signification. Art has the function of criticizing the society in which we live in and illustrating its contradictions. To be honest, I will never be a fan of music that talks about partying life style and sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.
I think that poetry has an important role to change people minds about issues in the society and hope for the better. I think music has the role to congregate people in a world where we are more and more individualistic and isolated from each other.
In Sons of Arrakis, we base our music and lyrics around one of the most epic series of novels ever written. So, literature has a huge importance in my life. Not only the universe of Frank Herbert, but I also read Camus, Dostoyevsky, Kafka, Lovecraft, Orwell, and so many others. What I like the most about literature is that books are often a window that allows us to see the world on a different light. Fantastic and sci-fi novels often are allegories of the society in which we live in and usually consist in a dystopian depiction.
I also really like visual art, especially conceptual art. I like things that can make you reflect and think. Something that goes beyond just the superficial things in life. I like art for the way it tries to explain the world in an innovative and original way.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Lately, I’ve been craving to travel to be honest. The last time I travel was at the end of February 2020 in Morocco. We were with a group of friends and got back to Montreal on March 9th. It was 4 days before the first lock down on March 13th. In Quebec, everything shut down even the school at that point. It had an effect on me as a elementary school teacher, I had to go back home and leave my students.
It was the last time I travelled outside of Canada. I went to explore the province of Quebec and went to Toronto a few times, but I miss discovering new region of the world, meet new people. I think that travelling and see other cultures and speaking other languages widens you mind and opens it. It is the best way to see the other side.
It’s the best way of creating a dialogue between ”US” and ”THEM”. It’s a way to comprehend that human beings are all the same after all. We all need to be understood, accepted and loved. It’s a quest for harmony and universality.
I’m eager to travel the world and there are many destinations that I aiming for : South Amercia, Maghreb, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle-East, China, South-East Asia, etc. One thing I’d like to do is to learn to play Sitar properly and to meditate in Nepal. If I have enough time and money, that would be a dream to explore those areas for fore.
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 18th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
Canadian upstarts AAWKS and Sons of Arrakis pair pretty well together. Both issued well-buzzed debut albums in 2022 — AAWKS (review here) and Volume I (review here), respectively, and they have some things in common sound-wise without actually sounding all that much alike. Throw some cool locals on here and there for two long weekenders — one starting tomorrow, one in March — and I guess you could debate whether or not it’s a tour. It’s Ontario and Quebec, crossing provincial lines. I’m not about to tell someone that doing four shows in a row isn’t a tour, so I guess if you want to couple that with another four shows together and call it one tour, who’s gonna argue? Other than gatekeeping assholes, I mean.
Hell, bring this show to New York (or even better, to New Jersey) and I promise I’ll do my best to get there.
Or maybe I should just drive to Montreal? Hmm…
From the PR wire:
AAWKS To Embark On Interprovincial Wormhole Tour With SONS OF ARRAKIS This Week
Thursday January 19th, 2023, sees Barrie, Ontario rockers AAWKS joined by the Montreal based SONS OF ARRAKIS to kick off an out of this world, fuzz-fueled Canadian tour. With both acts sharing a love for cosmic exploration, psychedelic elements and heavy rock music, The Interprovincial Wormhole Tour is a thrilling venture into fantasy realms.
“AAWKS feels like we’re all hopped on the finest, psychedelic-intergalactic spice to have the opportunity to join forces with the mighty Sons of Arrakis for the Interprovincial Wormhole Tour!!! We can’t wait to introduce our hard rocking brothers from Quebec to Oshawa, Hamilton, Toronto and Barrie in January 2023!!!” – AAWKS
“This is the first tour we do to promote our debut album, “Volume I”. We’ve worked really hard to put on a great set list and get out there. AAWKS is the ultimate partner to share the stage with! It’ll be a real psychedelic experience, be ready!” – SONS OF ARRAKIS
Tour Itinerary:
Jan 19 – The Atria, Oshawa, ON – with VEINDUZE
Jan 20 – Doors Taco Joint and Metal Bar, Hamilton, ON – with SUN BELOW, MIDNIGHT TRIPPER
Jan 21 – Bovine Sex Club, Toronto, ON – with INDIAN HANDCRAFTS and LOW ORBIT
Jan 22 – The Queens Nightclub, Barrie ON – with ETHEREAL TOMB
March 8 – Ottawa – TBD
March 9 – Turbo Haus, Montreal, QC – with HAZEHOUND
March 10 – L’anti, Quebec City, QC – with THRUSH
March 11 – Le Murdoch, Sherbrooke, QC – with THE WILDFIRE EXPERIENCE
