SHEAVY
Steve:
Well, after a slow start, 2006 was actually a pretty busy year by our
standards. I got back from a long trip to Brazil in May and we started
jamming right away. After getting warmed up with a few gigs here in St.
John's we received an offer from Last Resort Management in Germany to do the
Stoned from the Underground festival in July. Now usually we don't even
consider things like this due to the enormous cost of travel but Matte at
Last Resort was persistent and after he successfully booked a tour of
Germany for us we just said to hell with it. I put $7000.00 in airfare on
my credit card and we were gone!
The tour started in London where we met up with the guys from Rise Above and
a slew of old friends. There were even some folks there who'd seen us when
we toured the UK back in 1998 before going to Dynamo in Holland. I swear,
the best part of touring is meeting friends new and old.
For the most part, the tour was great. Our driver was fantastic, the venues were good
and the hospitality was awesome. There's no comparison between Europe and North
America when it comes to the treatment of small touring bands. You're lucky
to get a beer over here but in Europe, they treat you amazingly well. Yeah,
it was crazy hot in the van, we got accused of not being "true metal" at the
Headbangers Festival and I totally blew my voice out after a show with no
monitors but hey, we had a blast.
Since returning from Germany we've been writing new tunes. In comparison to
other albums we've spent a long time writing this one and I'm hoping the
effort really shows. As with almost all of our releases I think you'll find
a strange mixture of material on this album. We've got a few tunes that
wander off into doomland, a few straight up rockers and even a couple that
might get us a little closer to that ever so ridiculous label of "true
metal."
Right now, the working title of the album is "The Machine That Won
the War" and we're hoping to have it ready by April 2006. We're not even
sure if this will be a Rise Above release. I'm financing it myself and I
think we may just go it alone on this one. It may make it a little harder
to buy but hey, there'll be plenty of crappy sounding mp3's flying around in
no time! Peace and love from everyone in the sHEAVY camp. Sure hope you
guys have a great year. Enjoy the tunes.
- Wolfmother "S/T"
- Mastodon - "Blood Mountain"
- The Sword "Age of Winters"
SIENA ROOT
Sanya:
We will remember 2006 as the year when "Kaleidoscope", our second album was released. It was a great year in many aspects. Our show at Crossroads was filmed and broadcasted. We toured a lot and played some really cool festivals like Woodstock and Trip in Time. 2006 was also a year when we got to know a lot of new friends and fans. Thank you, all of you who are so nice and supports Siena Root. We hope to see you again.
- Cream "Fresh Cream"
- Frank Zappa "Freak Out"
- Jefferson Airplane "Takes off"
GIDEON SMITH & THE DIXIE DAMNED
Gid:
"2006 was a trying year with many uphill battles while the band and myself worked ahead with music burning on our minds. We managed to record a good bit of music. We contributed songs to the Antiseen tribute on TKO, one track as a solo song I did live at Sun Studio in 2000, and one track I sang lead vocals with Brothers Of Freaks, an all star band. We did our cover of Donovan's "Season Of The Witch" for the Sucking the 70's II set on Small Stone Records. Our song "Wish You Were Mine" ended up on a Kelly Slater Surf
Television show.
SOLACE
Justin:
2006 saw Solace emerge from a short slumber and rise back to the top of our game. Starting the year off at the 11th Roadburn Festival and playing to a sold out crowd cemented our resolve to push harder than ever before. We put together a DVD of our Roadburn experience and also released our Hammerhead e.p. as a limited 10" vinyl. We played a few shows, but mostly put our time into writing new material and digging up some of our older tunes to use during our upcoming UK tour with Orange Goblin.
2007 will see the release of our new album A.D., and a new DVD of videos and possibly another e.p. of brand new material. Many new shows are in the works so keep your eyes open. We'll keep you posted at www.diedrunk.com.
- Reino Ermitano "Bruhas del Mar"
- The Sword "Age of Winters"
- Sasquatch "II"
SONS OF OTIS
Ken:
Well here we go again... I wish I had better news to share, but shit
happens!!! In 2006, we once again lost our drummer!!! How many times is this
you ask
Too many to count!!! Frank and I continue the fight with our
trusty drum machine until we find someone solid!!!
As for OX, my side project, I just released a new 12" called "Aftermath" on Kult of Nihilow.
that`s good news!!!
As for best albums... We don't really buy or listen to much new music, but
Frank is diggin' the new Hank III. I got the new Gov`t Mule, which has it`s
moments.
Once again we say thanks for the support over the years and we`ll be back!!!
SPACERITUAL
Nik:
Spaceritual experienced a varied and exciting year of uplifting
musical vibrations, and mind-altering visual realities, from the
awesome 'Club Bangbang' at the 100 Club in Oxford ST, London, and the
whacky and wonderful 'Farm' in Skegness with all-night jamming, to
the seaside in Ilfacombe, and up to northern England, and Scotland,
beautiful scenery, people, and performance experience.
Then back to Ilfracombe for a biker's birthday bash, and sudden dimension shift
for the band, as Dave 'Venusian Android' Anderson, [motordrive
bassman], and John 'The Ghost' Greves [sonic synthesist], decided to
jointly eject from the Spaceritual mothership mainframe, to persue
their own musical trajectories, and destinies in other dimensions.
Enter the chameleon, Jerry 'D' Artagnian' Richards, [big bass mover],
and Chris 'Mekon' Purdon [delatron, dikmikator, world dominating
fiendish triwave progenitaliator of sonic vibrations], to power the
band to otherworldly interfaces and mind warping hyper-realities.
such is the nature of change, and other grand designs.
During this time the band were involved in the making of a BBC TV
documentary about 'Hawkwind' in the early 70's, and it's involvement /
influence / support / effect on the alternative culture of that time,
regarding free concerts, support of social issues and worthy causes,
playing concerts in prisons, and other auspicious venues etc., and
the Spaceritual were filmed as part of the program, performing at the
Inn On The Green, Portobello Road, situated where, in the early 70's,
Hawkwind used to play free concerts under the fly-over. time plays
strange tricks.
The band then completely re-invented itself, with a completely new
show, of new material from their much vaunted, forthcoming studio
album, and several new [to the band] Robert Calvert songs, creating a
great deal of excitement amongst the band, and it's audience, and
opening the possibility of a live album, and a live DVD, as well as
the already forthcoming DVD "Spaceritual- Satyricon", and studio
album, all available soon.
Spaceritual rounded off the year, with a 'day-before-newyearseve party', again at the Inn On The Green, which has now become the band's spiritual home. Welcome to the future,
Welcome to the newyearnewdaynewworldnewreality.
STINKING LIZAVETA
Liz:
06' was a dream come true for St Liz. It kicked off with a monster UK tour opening for COC and Clutch, two of the greatest hard rock acts in the world. At the finale show at London's Astoria, we had Jason and John Paul sitting on their kits and drumming with us -3 drum attack! The evening ended in a Strongbow drink off, which Pepper let me win, so I could just lose it all on my hands and knees a couple hours later.
When we got back to the states, we did our own full national tour, which was an epic journey through the desert. Then we recorded our new record with the analogue wizard himself, Steve Albini. Then we shot down south to New Orleans for our annual Halloween gig at Checkpoint Charlie's. This show alone makes worth being a band, it never disappoints, best party of the year
SUMA
Johan:
In 2006 we finally released our second album after some delay. For the recording we hooked up with Billy Anderson to put some songs on tape and it evolved into "Let The Churches Burn", released on Speakerphone Recordings in November. The release of the album was follow by a month long tour around Europe. Good times indeed!
- Chang Ffos - "Trust This Arcane Device"
- Melvins - "(A) Senile Animal"
- Sunn0)))/Boris "Altar"
SUN DIAL
Gary:
2006 went by very quickly, but it was the first year where sun dial didn't play live for some time. Relapse reissued the first albums "Other Way Out" and "Return Journey" and Acme released "Shards of God" at the end of 2006 with reissues of "Acid Yantra" and "Libertine Deprogrammed." And that feels about right as it sums up aspects of what we've done so far to date. But we're looking ahead. Ahead to the new album which was partially completed in December and we hope to complete in January and gigs coming up in 2007 including crossroads TV in march and the Roadburn Festival in April.
- 13th floor elevators - "Singles Box Set"
- Joolie Wood "Tales of Colour and White"
- V/A - "Not Alone / Aids Charity Album"
SUNN 0))) / SOUTHERN LORD
Greg:
2006 marks the most successful year for the Southern Lord label yet. We experienced massive growth! The rise in popularity of Boris has been an unexpected and welcome to surprise. In some ways it helped re-install our faith in the fact that that people can connect with quality, heavy music. Also the Sunn / Earth European tour earlier in 2006 was very memorable. It was amazing to play to large receptive audiences night after night.
2006 culminated with the release of the sunn 0)))/ Boris "Altar" collaboration album. It was a great honor to be part of this challenging project with incredible musicians. The final result exceeded all our expectations. It is an album Im not only proud of being part of the creative process of but also to have in the Southern Lord catalog.
For 2007 we are going to continue to forge ahead and hopefully keep up with the growth of the label. I hope we can continue our relationships with bands weve been working with for awhile now and be effective for the new artists we are working with.
We will be releasing new albums from The Hidden Hand, sunn 0))), Striborg, OM and Earth as well as debut releases from: Orcustus, Glorior Belli, Grave Temple Trio [Stephen O'Malley, Attila Csihar, Oren Ambarchi] as well as re-issues of: Asbestos Death, vinyl releases from: Velvet Cacoon, Wolves in The Throne Room etc.. and of course many many other projects are in the works.
- Om "Conference of the Birds"
- Brightblack Morning Light "S/T"
- Celtic Frost "Monotheist"
TAINT
Jimbob:
2006 finally presented what we'd been leading up to for 11 years, the
release of our debut full-length "The Ruin Of Novα Roma." A slow and
steady progression from our 'early days', but one that couldn't have
happened any sooner. The reviews and praise received from friends,
peers and press alike was a welcome reward.
Our visits to mainland Europe have been fun and exciting,
and given us new brothers in arms; Knut, Blutch and all our friends
in France. Great times. Sharing a bill with Motorhead and Saxon is something
we could never have predicted, and the invitations to play Hellfest, the Dour
Festival and Ieperfest were all welcome and fun trips.
We ended the year with some great shows in London and our first trip to Greece. We have the new album written and ready for recording in June '07, so will be seeing you all soon.
- Kylesa "Time Will Fuse It's Worth"
- Converge "No Heroes"
- Thom Yorke "The Eraser"
THRONES
Joe:
2006 has been a complete time dislocation for me with an abortive attempt at a new life in southern California and alot of moving my shit up and down the coast. Best stuff I did last year: Last High on Fire tour -good shows, good times, debilitating illness. I played To Cross The Bridge lying down in Minneapolis. Thrones & Growing US-There's nothing like travelling with people who are on the same page as you. Thrones & Zombi UK-Hobnobs and sizzurp. Riding my motorcycle from Washington to Los Angeles. 1500 miles, only two hours on the highway.
- Candlemass "Candlemass"
- Marnie Stern "In Advance of the Broken Arm"
- Harvey Milk - "Special Wishes"
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