Interview with Bantoriak

Bantoriak have released one of the most trippiest debut albums of the year so far with Weedooism. It's style of Stoner, Doom, Psychedelic Rock and Drone will leave you in a trance. It's being released on our good pals – Argonauta Records.

If you're into Sleep, OM and Kyuss then this is the album for you. I wanted to find more about the main man behind Bantoriak. I'm happy to say that Izio – the genius behind Bantoriak has agreed to talk to me at Sludgelord HQ.

You can find out what I thought about this brilliant album here:

Now lets get started with Izio aka BANTORIAK.

Hi Izio, How are things with you today. Thanks for doing this interview.

Thanks for the interview.

We are mainly here to talk about your new musical project – Bantoriak. Can you tell our readers how this project came about?

Project born by the will to express in a personal view, 30 years of listening and passion for a different type of music genre.

What inspired you to form Bantoriak as it’s a weird, trippy and psychedelic wild ride?

Mostly I get my inspiration from the sound of stoner/doom/psychedelic bands, trying to create a personal sound mixing with ambient/drone influences.

You’re about to release your new album – Weedooism. Can you tell people what to expect from this album.

In my vision it's a trip through images which spark of emotions of a human soul from Apollonian to Dionysian moods

Why did you choose the name for – Weedooism – for the album? Any specific meaning.

"Weedooism" it's a combination between "Weed" and "Voodoo" two kind of things that alter human perception , make the mind more receptive and introspective.

Was this a hard album to write and record for? As it’s a multi-layered and complex album at times.

As most of creative processes, Weedooism started from a rough idea too, refined and stratified during studio sessions.

You have a few special guests helping you out on the album. Was it easy convincing the people to participate on the album? (Fabio is from EREMITE, Rosy from Professional and Giacomo from ISAAK)

It was a pleasure working with all of them , because i always appreciated their own bands and their albums. When I asked them to work together with me at Bantoriak they were enthusiastic and they helped me so much to draw the album up.

Especially Mattia Cominotto (sound engineer)who produced the perfect sound for Weedooism.

Did you write all the music and lyrics yourself or did you have help from your friends on the album.

Bantoriak was born like a one man band project , but without the artists who helped me, Weedooismit would be not the same.

Weedooism feels like an out of body experience where you’re kept in a trippy state from the different noises and sounds you have created on the album. Was that your intention to create something tribal, trippy and psychedelic?

Yes, my intention was to create a sound trip that passing through various imaginary in one vision.

Which bands and artists influenced you a musician. Any specific band or album that stands out.

My favourite artists that influenced me: OM, SLEEP, KYUSS, SUNN O)))

You’ve probably read my review. Though the more I listen to the album I feel this album is very personal to you. Especially on Lysergic Tantra. As it brings a sense of reflection of remembering times in your youth.

Yes, I read your review and I really enjoyed it, 'cause I think that you have hit the essence of my work. In effect this is an album that tells so much about me and Lysergic Tantra reflecting a part of me and of my life story

You have a weird and wonderful vocal style that’s very much your own sound. Can you describe how you prepare to lay down vocal tracks in the studio as it’s more of a tribal/chant style?

Thanks. I'm fascinated by vocal techniques used in some rituals and ancient cultures, so I just tried to put them inside my work. To obtain the right voice and attitude you must have a good control of your breath and a sort of ''spiritual'' mood.

What is your musical setup when recording in the studio or playing live. Is it an advanced or basic setup?

The setup is basic:

Guitars (Gibson Les Paul Custom 1980 - Fender Telecaster)and Bass (Fender Precision)are dropped in D .

Valvular amplifiers (Fender Deluxe combo- Matamp -Mesaboogie bass amp)

Cabinet (Orange 4*12- ammpeg 8*12)

Handcrafted bronze drum kit

Love pedal fuzz, Ibanez vintage delay

Electric Piano and Organ

You’re currently signed to Argonauta Records who are signing a ton of great artists to their label. How did you hook up with Gero? Did you have any other offers to release your record?

Argonauta Records have a lot of interesting bands, so I already knew the label for this reason. Giacomo (Isaak singer) suggested me to contact Gero, who was interested to produce this album, so I never contacted other labels.

Italy has a well deserved reputation within the Sludge/Stoner Metal world for providing us with great bands to check out. Ufomammut, Zippo and Doomraiser amongst others. How is the Sludge/Stoner Metal scene perceived in Italy?

Yes, in Italy there are some cool bands but anyway it's an underground scene that has a peak of popularity in the last years 'cause there are a lot of bands in USA and Europe that play in a vintage attitude .

Which bands/albums are you currently enjoying at the moment? Any you like to recommend to our readers.

I'm listening to bands such as Eremite, Ape Skull, Vinum Sabbatum and the new album from Eyehategod.

Can you tell us what the long term plans for Bantoriak, Future tours or albums? Can you see Bantoriak becoming a full time band with actual band members? Or do you see it as a studio project at the moment.

Album will be released on 13th April and some gigs will be confirmed soon. Bantoriak has members who are live musicians and other stuff will be released in the future but it's a project not a full time band at the moment.

What other musical projects are you currently involved with.

I am in a band called The Jackie O's Farm where I play piano, guitar and percussion.

Finally do you have anything to say to your fans and our readers?

Thank you and Enjoy the TRIP!

Words by Steve Howe and Izio Orsini aka Bantoriak

Thanks to Gero at Argonauta Records at Barbara at NeeCee Agency for arranging this interview. Thanks to Izio for taking the time out to talk to us at Sludgelord HQ. Weedooism is available to buy from Argonauta Records now and it's a great album to trip out to.

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Check out the excellent song - Lysergic Tantra - from Weedooism.

BANTORIAK - Weedooism (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: April 13th 2015

Label: Argonauta Records

Weedooism – Track Listing

01 Entering the Temple

02 Lysergic Tantra

03 Try to Sleep

04 Hidden Number Two

05 Smoke the Magma

06 Chant of the Stones

Bio

BANTORIAK is a project by Izio Orsini, involving other Italian musicians, that follows the one vision of an experimental work influenced by psychedelic, doom and atmospheric sound. Beyond genres, it flows as hypnotic trip from the Ganges river to the California desert, reflecting the genuine approach on the musical taste, playing entirely with 70's vintage and handcrafted instruments. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Mattia Cominotto at Greenfog Studio (INFECTION CODE, EREMITE), Weedooism features on drums Fabio of EREMITE and guest vocals by Rosy (PROFANAL) and Giacomo (ISAAK).

Review:

Bantoriak's debut album - Weedooism - is a very hard one to describe. Parts Stoner, Ambient, Drone and New Age Mysticism. Bantoriak feel like the next evolution of Stoner Rock especially if you're a fan of OM, Sleep and Black Sabbath. There are not many bands around like Bantoriak as they take you on a trippy journey of self discovery with huge space rock weedian riffs to alter your perception on time and space.

Opening track - Entering The Temple - is aptly named as this song transports you into a higher dimension of being with eastern based chants and hints of Ambient Drone Noise to get your mind ready for the trippy journey that awaits you. It's an inspired and brave choice to open the album with this kind of track as it doesn't scream excitement but it opens your mind to the possibilities of where this album is heading. Second track - Lysergic Tantra - keeps the trippy spaced out vibe though traces of Doom Metal and Stoner Rock start to make their presence known with the albums standout track.

This is Bantoriak in full mystic spaced out crazy flow and it's a joy to listen to. As the music becomes ever more majestical to lure you into a trippy blissful state. The vocals once again fall under the eastern based chants as Bantoriak let all the positive Stoner Rock vibes do all the talking. There is still a sense of Doom and Gloom amongst the crazy psychedelic and experimental nature of the song.

Third track - Try To Sleep - carries on the spaced out journey with conviction as the music becomes ever heavier as Bantoriak explores some of the albums heaviest moments on this track. Bantoriak is primarily the work of one man - Izio Orsini - though he has involved other musicians from the celebrated Italian Hard Rock/Stoner Rock scene. Though all the work and vision is down to Izio. He takes you to a twisted version of Desert Rock where nothing is as it seems. Izio is truly enjoying his role as the Mystical Shaman weaving tales of spaced out riffs and ideas that your brain may not fully comprehend on the first listen of the album.

Fourth Track - Hidden Number Two - is possibly the albums more experimental track as Izio ventures into the realm of Electronica with hints of ambient noises creating a more unsettling vision as the song stays bleak and desolate through out. The song has a haunting piano playing at different times and it's quite emotional at times. Bantoriak then industrial based noises which I didn't expect at all. The doomy guitars finally appear towards the end though it's the superb piano work that holds your attention.

It's back to normal business with the 5th track - Smoke The Magma - which sees Bantoriak transport you back to the realm of Desert Rock with the heavy riffs drenched in vibrant Stoner Metal energy. Tribal based chants are the main vocal delivery once again as the album relies on the listeners imagination on what the chants/vocals actually mean. And that's one of the strongest points of the album. The vocals make you think what the heck is going on but in a good way. It doesn't distract from the brilliant music that Bantoriak has created here. As Bantoriak expertly merges Drone, Doom, Stoner and Desert Rock to impress you with.

All this leads us onto the excellent final track - Chant Of The Stones - which is the albums more straight forward Stoner Rock/Metal song. It still has its fair share of experimental noises but it plays out like a true Stoner Metal song as the riffs explode into loud violent energy for you to rock out to. It has plenty of distorted droned out fuzz for all you Fuzz Rock fans to survive from. Bantoriak brings in 70s style Hard Rock/Prog Rock to the album which ends the album on a mighty loud finish. Weedooism is a strange, weird and wonderful album from a hugely talented individual.

If you're a fan of spaced out trippy Stoner/Doom Metal then this album is the one for you. I loved it. Kudos to Gero at Argonauta Records for signing another great band/artist to his label. Weedooism is a brilliant album. Though it's a shame it only lasts 30 mins or so. Hopefully the next record will be slightly longer. Other than that hunt this album down when it's released soon.

Thanks to Barbara at NeeCee Agency and Gero at Argonauta Records. Weedooism will be available to buy on CD/DD from Argonauta Records on 13thApril 2015.

Words by Steve Howe

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