INTERVIEW: "Nine Eternities In Doom" - An Interview with Trevor Church from Beastmaker.

By: Steve Wilson

Fresno California’s Beastmaker delivered one of the standout stoner/doom albums of 2016 with their debut “Lusus Naturae”. Their second album is out soon, to be followed by an extensive tour. Steve Wilson spoke to their founding member, singer/guitarist Trevor Church about his musical influences and plans for the band’s future. 

SL: You’ve just recorded a new album. What can fans expect when it’s released?

Horror and Doom. There is some Hitchcock inspiration and we’ve got some guest musicians on this album namely Johanna from Lucifer and Nate from Salem’s Pot. We wanted to continue where we left off on our debut writing dark riffs and lyrics of terror. I put some time into writing my guitars solos on this one. Our debut it was just improv solos. So, there are some subtle changes. Most importantly it’s heavy and filled with horror!

SL: Your debut album was released last year (“Lusus Naturae” - out on Rise Above Records). I’ve been lucky enough to hear an early version of the new one. It sounds a little more polished than its predecessor. Have you gone with the same studio, or do you like to try somewhere new each time you record?

We have built a studio at my house and that is where we do everything. Andy does all the mixing and mastering. I write all the music and engineer the record. We have an incredible dynamic together. We both pride ourselves in going through the learning curves and coming out on top. Coming from a place like Fresno there really aren’t any places I’d take Beastmaker to record an album. It’s costly to travel to record an album and we have no time limit. We can work as long as we feel we need too, getting the best result we can.

SL: “Lusus Naturae” and the accompanying 7” vinyl (“You Must Sin”) have artwork by Branca Studio. They have also designed merch for the band. How did you get together with them?

Branca Studio contacted me a little after the release of our demo. It really has been an amazing partnership. Sometimes in life things just click. It was fate that we crossed paths. I think he is the best graphic artist in the business. I don’t even have to give him direction. He just knows what’s up! You can’t buy that kind of friendship man. 

SL: You recently toured the UK and Europe in support of the first record. How did you find it? Was there anything you’d do differently on the next tour? 

Well, I would prefer to not break down multiple times in a rental next time around. We absolutely love touring the UK and Europe. The fans are amazing over there and it just makes it so worth the energy it takes to get on a plane. Hopefully this next time we have a driver. John and I drove and it was pretty interesting. Really it was an adventure. I got off the plane and next thing you know I’m driving on the other side of the friggin road going through roundabouts. We love that kind of thing though.

SL: Beastmaker are strongly influenced by horror movies, particularly those of Italian director Mario Bava (check out ‘Mask of Satan’ from the debut album). What are your favourites? Are there any obscure ones that have inspired Beastmaker songs that we should search out?  

I don’t know about obscure but the biggest influence when it comes to songwriting is “Tombs of the Blind Dead”. That is the epitome of what I’m trying to create musically. I like a lot of different movies from the 50’s to the 90’s. I like to create my own stories though as well.

SL: Moving on to musical influences now - what did you listen to growing up? What goes into the Beastmaker sound beyond the obvious Black Sabbath influence?

I can’t speak for my band mates on this but for me it all began with skateboarding. My cousin Michael was 5 years older and listening to punk/metal. I was like 6 years old when I started listening to bands like The Misfits, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Motley Crue, Dead Kennedys, The Exploited, Sex Pistols, etc…Witchfinder General, and Danzig are really big influences for me musically. I feel connected to what they do and I try to recreate it with my own twist.

SL: For those that don’t know, you come from a musical family. Your dad, Bill Church, played bass in legendary ‘70’s rock band Montrose alongside Sammy Hagar, who would later replace David Lee Roth in Van Halen. Not too shabby! While this must have influenced you growing up, would you say that it has helped you as a musician (in terms of how to start a band and keep it going), or did it not make much difference?

My Dad is an amazing musician, so not to be inspired by him wouldn't make much sense. I had musical instruments all over the house my whole life. Originally my folks wanted me to be a drummer. I have many drummers in my family actually. My Mom’s cousin is Denny Carmassi also of Montrose and Heart to name a few. But, I didn’t like drums much and that’s when guitars started coming around.

Once again my Cousin Michael played guitar and taught me quite a bit. I can’t remember a time in my life where playing music didn’t exist. My cousin’s Brandon and Daniel were also musicians and we learned from each other. I actually really avoided my Dad’s music in my teenage years. I was really embarrassed of “I Can’t Drive 55”.

I was listening to a lot of different music in those days, mainly punk rock and Sammy Hagar to me was a mainstream thing. I always loved the Montrose record though. “Rock Candy” was the first song my Dad taught me to play on guitar. We went camping and I remember saying “hey shows me rock candy” and boom, ‘You Must Sin’ was created. Maybe some people will hear the influence.

SL: Last question! Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. What are your plans for Beastmaker in the coming year?

We’ve got our new album coming out in spring. The rest will unfold. We will be hitting the road for sure. With some new things for our live show.

Band info: facebook | bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Salem's Pot - "Pronounce This!"

By: Jake Wallace

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 22/07/2016
Label: RidingEasy Records

…a tripped out, fuzzy journey through the minds of these mysterious occult rockers, but hidden behind their disguises, there is a band who are certainly serious about making themselves heard and this release has all the necessary ingredients for the cauldron. Overall, 'Pronounce This!' is definitely a contender for one of the best releases of 2016

“Pronounce This!” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Tranny Takes A Trip
2). Just for Kicks
3). The Vampire Strikes Back
4). Coal Mind
5). So Gone, So Dead
6). Desire

The Review:

Swedish spooky psych outfit Salem's Pot are back with their latest release on Riding Easy Records. 'Pronounce This!' is a tripped out, fuzzy journey through the minds of the mysterious occult rockers. Hidden behind their disguises, there is a band who are certainly serious about making themselves heard and this release has all the necessary ingredients for the cauldron.

With 6 tracks resulting in around 50 minutes of eerie stoner bliss, 'Pronounce This!' delivers a huge variety of sounds and atmospheres. Their vintage style and well-established spooky vibe is something that people can appreciate and fans of this type of music will certainly get behind this release. In a world dominated by stoner rock/doom bands who are very similar, Salem's Pot stand out for taking a fresh twist on the old approach. Their fascination with horror emanates throughout the album and the freaky enigma is a great complement to the music.

The first track 'Tranny Takes A Trip' is a great opener as it sets the scene instantly with the creepy organ sounds and traditional psychedelic rock style. The breakdown has a great rolling guitar riff and the vocals soar overhead binding the lyrics to the sound. There are elements of Hawkwind present with the space-rock influences and some of the transitions are very reminiscent of The Doors. The last section of the song is a great jam with guitars and organs fusing together creating a very similar vibe to New Orleans' The Mystick Krewe of Clearlight.

'Just for Kicks' brings some other genres into the mix as Salem’s Pot seem to be able to work all angles into their craft. The track maintains the catchy, fuzzed out guitar riffs but the addition of some slide guitar brings some country/folk elements to the table. The organs hang nicely in the background and keep the ominous tones rolling through their music. There are some great transitions during the middle part of the track after the guitar solo which show the seasoned musical capabilities of this group. Around the 4 minute mark the track dies down and some effects are used in creating a very trippy backdrop to the slow guitar riff building up into a great doom section and when the drums kick in it's a fucking solid groove. The outro has another ferocious guitar riff and the rhythm section is on fire in delivering a great finish to the track.

The third track 'The Vampire Strikes Back' has a more traditional stoner rock sound with some great riffs which remind me a lot of Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats and Greenleaf. One thing that Salem's Pot are very good at is keeping your attention, there are no boring, never-ending passages. It is constant barrage of great riffs, scary vibes and fluid transitions that never slow down or get boring in any way. Another breakdown around the 5 minute mark really emphasizes the horror themes as even the guitar licks sound haunting and eerie as the track comes to a close.

The longest track (12:47) 'Coal Mind' begins with another great doom section which shows that this band has everything to offer in this genre. They can quickly transcend from the upbeat blues/country sound to an absolutely filthy piece of slow doom metal. This is what makes Salem's Pot really stand out for me as some bands want to stick to a particular area and find their comfort zone whereas these guys are extremely comfortable in all areas. Around the 5 minute mark, the effects come back into play, fuzzing away and jousting with your sanity. Some delayed guitar creates another ominous sound and you can't help think that these guys could've provided a soundtrack to every horror movie ever. This track also leans heavily on the harmony guitar styles of Thin Lizzy and the Celtic-sounding riffs are definitely present. It winds down with that same gloomy doom section from the start which I personally enjoyed thoroughly as that intro was too good to just use once.

The penultimate track 'So Gone, So Dead' is a nice breath of fresh air after the sludgy ending to 'Coal Mind'. An acoustic country song might be entirely out of place for most bands, but yet again, Salem's Pot have found their niche and it works like a charm.

The final track is 'Desire'. Probably my favourite track from the entire release, it reminds me of a Black Sabbath/Pink Floyd hybrid which is precisely what I set out to find in life. The organ sounds and patient tempo of the track is highly reminiscent of some of Floyd's more psychedelic releases but the guitar tone and riff styling has Mr Iommi written all over it. It makes me envision a desolate church in the desert with spell-casting sorcerers flocking towards it slowly, their hexes permeating the night sky. The track winds down and just as you think you've had your share of unsettling, creepy organ... think again - the outro is more than enough to raise some final goosebumps.

Overall, 'Pronounce This!' is definitely a contender for one of the best releases of 2016. Salem's Pot have a very distinct sound and have caught the attention of the stoner rock/doom world with their remarkable interpretation of horror-laced, '70s psychedelic rock.

“Pronounce This!” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Live Review: Roadburn Festival 2015, Thursday, April 9th, 013 Venue, Tilburg (NL)

Roadburn festival day 1

You know the feeling when a dream comes true.? I have spent many years thinking about bringing my lame ass towards Tilburg and pay a visit to the doom-dreamteam festival Roadburn. Some years my entering was refused because of the lack of ticket to the festival and  sometimes because of the lack of  vacation-days to spend.

I came to the festival the same day as it started and Thursday was a very busy day.  When I checked the lineup I figured out that there were 22 band I would like to see. A mission impossible.

The day started early because Bell Witch entered the church hall named Het Patronaat. It’s hard to imagine that two people can create such a big sound. When I closed my eyes I imagined at least 5-6 people on stage.

In the beginning I experienced some trouble, the sound and the majestic landscapes  they create on record dissapeared and the sound was a bit blurry, but still as thunderous ,slow and mean as Bell Witch are known for.

The material from their upcoming release ”Four Phatoms” was as good I expected . As a matter of fact it was brilliant. If you are familiar with their former relaese ”Longing” you know what I’m talking about. They haven’t went far away with the new songs but  it’s a bit more hardhitting and a maybe it includes a little more of some metallic moments but without losing their ferocious power that you hear on their debut. To summarize it was a very good start on the weekend for a Roadburnrookie like me..

Next up was Salem’s Pot, the Swedish five piece droogs in masks. They released a fine piece of art last year. Called ” Lurar ut dig på prärien” and they are one of many fine artists signed on the quality record label Riding Easy.

I’m just madly in love with that record but live I was even more impressed by the band. The duals vocals that are absolutely astonishing on the record were  much more dynamica live, the synt effects combined by the guitar-melodies and the theatrical outfit  and a new song for us makes the concert pretty outstanding.

I saw Floor next for a couple of song, but I wasn’t so impressed, however I was told later by many people that the concert was shaky in the beginning but started blooming after a while. To bad because I like the band on record. 

Instead I went into the heat of the Green Room to see Primitive Man.  And holy shit what a performance it was. They completely occupy the stage with their scalp-rippling doom infused sharp edged hardcore and delivered a set with pure brutality that left me feeling numb. Please come visit Sweden soon And bring In The Company of Serpents with you.

One of Thursday’s must see bands for me and one of the main reasons I actually come to Roadburn was Thou, the Baton Rogue based band I was introduced to by a friend of mine.  

Since day one I have been madly in love with the furious way they present their  sludge metal.  Dark, intense and overall a bonecrushing performance and when the band played ’Into the Marshland’ the best song on ”Heathen” the tears starts to drip on my chin. So magical and so intense and so fucking fantastic. The best concert of the day. After the performance my body was emptied. It was so empty I completely forgot to head over to Wowenhand. Shame on me but after all a good decision, beacause I was exhausted and the next band to perform in the church hall was Monolord.

The Venue was filled early and Monolord  slayed.  Their setlist was sick and It had all the ingrediends I needed to feel well again. Heaviness, fuzziness and heavy bass riffs that makes your internal organs shake. Backed up with songs that any band would slit their wrist to write, this performance could only end up in success. And it did. The new songs slotted into their live set very well and as the tone clings out and the band left the stage,  I felt that  I have experienced a band heading for world domination. A definitve Ten Ton Hammer.

As the next performance was about to begin I experienced the lack of food and the early time I left Sweden during the day.  Maybe that was the reason that I didn’t immedietly fall in love with the Swamp Kings Eyehategod ? Maybe it was because I had huge expectation after the Stockholm show at Debaser one week earlier ?  Or could it be that I want Eyehategod to play small venues?

Starting with two punkish song and then heading into ”New Orleans is the New Vietnam” and things are going in the right direction. I forgot the lack of food and as the band lined up sludge metal anthems  I was melting down. Jimmy Bower and Brian Patton are a very good and tight unit and the drummer filled the shoes of Joey Lacaze flawlessly. Typically, Mike Williams performance was great.  To summarize. A very good performance but their recent Stockholm Concert just trumped it for me. This was Eyehategod’s first of two performance at Roadburn. More to come on that later.

This was the end of the first day for me.  A tip to all of you. Don’t travel the same day to Roadburn and make sure you book a hotel early so you don’t have to leave early to catch up the train

Words by: Sven-Ake Alveving

The Sludgelord News: Pyre Climber, No Fun Intended and Big Spaceship Present... Monolord, Salems Pot, BongCauldron + Groak

Pyre Climber, No Fun Intended and Big Spaceship Present...

The Pyre Climber (Doomed Threads) Launch Party w/
(Tickets Available here... http://skdl.it/1FbbLKX)

Monolord
Formed in 2013, this band is made up of Swedish rockers Thomas Jäger, Esben Willems, and Mika Häkki. Both Jäger and Willems were in the Swedish boogie rock band Marulk and started Monolord as a side project as a way to play some more heavier tunes, they quickly added Häkki (from The Grifters, Don Darlings, ex Rotten Sound) and realized that they had something very special between the 3 of them. Monolord became very real very quickly and recording commenced in early 2013. Thomas
Jäger had not sung in a band before this one, but you would never know it by the sound of it. Having met EasyRider Records head honcho Daniel Hall over instagram in May of 2014 when the record was ready to listen to, EasyRider was one of the first that it was sent to and picked up the band immediately after hearing the finished album that will come out worldwide on April 1, until then you will have to sit tight with this first offering of pure hellfire of unrestrained heavy doom that has the ability to shatter windows and put people into an induced coma.
http://monolord.com/

Salem's Pot
Following in the footsteps of the sprawling and self-indulgent jam albums of the early 1970s, over three tracks of swirling heavy psych …lurar ut dig på prärien offers the listener little chance of escape. Summoning the writhing sounds of demon fuzz and distant death knells the opening swell of ‘Creep Purple’, a 14 minute purge of lo-fi garage metal riffs and lysergic comedown finds Salem’s Pot setting out their stall from which to peddle the darkest of doom.

Loose, low slung and inspired by the legends of Sabbath and the extended jams of Hawkwind ‘Dr Death’ and the pounding ‘Nothing Hill’ complete the unholy trinity of tracks replete with lyrics that propel the listener into worlds unknown. Atmospheric realms populated with weed and witches in a reality as miserable and malevolent as it mind-bending and majestic.
https://salemspot.bandcamp.com/

BongCauldron
Since their formation in 2011, BongCauldron have developed a reputation on the local Leeds metal scene as a sleeping colossus. A beast that only ever awakens from its slumber when called upon to thrash out a cacophonous amalgamation of torturous sludge metal, old school thrash-pit discord and homegrown haze.

In full flow, the band is relentless. Having shaken gig-goers to the core in support of bands like Sunwølf, Windhand and Pilgrim this past year, their self-titled EP and first outing into the wilderness comes under the watchful eye of the St Albans based Superhot Records. In their quest to, “Bring you the best from all ends of the underground heavy music spectrum” the label has been responsible for bringing listeners indispensible releases by Trippy Wicked & The Cosmic Children of The Knight, Groan, Vodun and Stubb.
https://bongcauldron.bandcamp.com/

and GROAK
Brand new Leeds doom outfit made up of ex/current members of Wiht, Khuda, Suffering Mind, The Day Man Lost, Wizard's Beard, Cattle and a bunch more. Pessimistic, bleak and slow.
(watch this space)

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It will also be the Pyre Climber launch party so expect plenty of high quality doomed threads, competitions and more. By the looks of it we'll have our second line on sale and maybe even a couple of completely exclusive prints!
www.pyreclimber.com

Poster by Steve Myles

Salem's Pot - '...Lurar ut dig på prärien’ (Album Review)

Album Type : Full Length

Date Released : 29/4/2014

Label : Easy Rider Records

‘…Lurar ut dig på prärien’, album track listing :

1). Creep Purple 14:28

2). Dear Death 09:52

3). Notting Hill 09:12

Review :

There is nothing ordinary about Swedish doom/stoner outfit Salem’s Pot, from the band name, the album title (something in Swedish I presume) as well as its bizarre evocative semi pornographic cover art, and this perception is conjured before I’ve even heard their music. As expected, normality doesn’t factor musically either.  Along similar lines as Electric Wizard, Orchid and like any doom band an obligatory nod to Black Sabbath, Salem’s Pot latest offering is an acid drenched, mind bending and ultimately gripping listen. All contained within three epic tracks.

The odd sci-fi spacey sounds that introduce first track Creep Purple (these guys are clearly into a bit of word play) affirms the peculiar energy that permeates into the core of their music. Initially constructed around a distorted, dawdling doom riff, then taking flight with a wailing guitar solo and up tempo groovy riff, before returning back to the thick beguiling sounds of doom, this fourteen and a half minute hazy onslaught is mightily captivating. Inundated with oppressive distorted tones and cavernous heavily reverbed yet distinguishable vocals, Dr. Death is heavy and majestically trippy. Also incorporating an accordion it adds an almost creepy vintage horror movie vibe, as well as another dimension to the blurred layers of sound. Whilst the accordion may seem a little odd, final track Nothing Hill goes one step further and features in my opinion the most underrated instrument in existence, the cowbell. Within the slightly mental realm of Salem’s Pot, it totally works.

Whilst I’m sure this album would be undoubtedly enhanced by some form of hallucinogenics, the music is a trippy head fuck in itself. There are an abundance of bands in the same vein as Salem’s Pot, the aforementioned Electric Wizard for example; however these guys march to the beat of their own drum.

‘…Lurar ut dig på prärien’ is an album that entices you in to its obscure, consuming stoner doom. A solid release from the Swedes, I look forward to future offerings.

Words by : Heather Blewett

You can get it here

For more information :  

http://salemspot.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Salems.Pot