“Savage Masters” is the first Zozobra record in five years, the longest-ever gap between albums for this project led by Cave In’s Caleb Scofield, and it barely lasts for more than 15 minutes. If they’re only able to write a quarter of an hour worth of songs during these five long years, they better come with something rather spectacular, otherwise the fans will feel slightly disappointed. Fortunately, they do. I mean, when six tracks rush in and kick you hard before you even know what hit you, it’s a sign they’re doing something right.
Furious, noisy and raging, “Savage Masters” sees Zozobra eschewing the psychedelic meanderings and downplaying the sludgy elements of their prior releases in favour of a faster and more frantic approach. The group has completely rebuilt their sound since their last effort “Bird of Prey” and their focus these days resides in raging, aggressive riffs, heavy bass, pounding drums and raw, blood spitting screams, projecting a real sense of danger and fury. “Black Hole” for instance sounds like a more streamlined Converge, while “A Chorus of War” resonates with a crushing intensity that reminds me of Integrity. In a recent interview we did with Scofield, he mentioned that this effort was entirely recorded live at Translator Studio and it definitely shows as all songs surge out of the speakers with the same power of an intense live performance. Trust me when say that it will feel like these three guys are playing in your living room. 

Band info: www.facebook.com/ZozobraOfficial 
Label info: www.brutalpandarecords.com

 


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Five years on from their second full-length effort “Bird of Prey”, Boston’s Zozobra led by Cave In bassist Caleb Scofield are set to return with their heaviest and most stripped-down effort to date. The aptly titled “Savage Masters” features six tracks in fifteen minutes and sees the band ditching the more proggy and sludgy elements of their sound in favour of a more frontal and burly approach. We caught up with Scofield to find out more about this new release and this recent transition towards a heavier sonority.

“Savage Masters” comprise some of the most aggressive and stripped-down music the band has ever made, what pushed you to write a heavier and more direct record?

I think we were just looking to set this recording apart from previous releases. Having three people in a room together resulted in a much faster paced writing process and I think as a result a faster paced sound. Before now it has been me alone in a room with a four track. Having Adam and JR to collaborate with was very exciting and I feel like it's transparent in this group of songs. 

Did your involvement on Old Mans Gloom latest effort “NO”, which leans towards a more experimental approach to composition had any effect on this new direction for Zozobra? Like you had you to do something that was going the opposite side?

To some extent, yes. The OMG stuff is a big commitment to listen to from start to finish but that's always kind of been the idea behind that band. I personally don't have the attention span to make it through an entire gloom record but I commend someone who does. I wanted the Zozobra record to be more to the point. Leave the listener wanting more instead of feeling like they wish they could have the last hour and a half of their life back.

Have these songs been around a while in earlier demos, or are these all newly made specifically for Zozobra?

These songs were written specifically for this EP. I have been trying to avoid making demos of songs and letting them lay around for to long. I've been guilty of that in the past and it tends to take the excitement out of things. Each song was written in a practice or two and then we would just move on to the next, no reason to keep editing and trying different arrangements or ideas. I'm done with that method of songwriting.

Judging by some the titles like “The Cruelest Cut”, “Venom Hell” and “A Chorus of War” it seems that you’re putting a lot of bad stuff out? Am I right or it’s just a coincidence?

I was in a very negative place for a while. I feel a lot better now.

This new effort also sounds incredibly powerful. How much of “Savage Masters” was recorded live and what can you tells us about the whole recording process?

It was all recorded live at Translator audio in Brooklyn by our good friend Andrew Schneider. We went down for a few days, slept on the floor, woke up and recorded music. It was a blast. Translator was destroyed shortly after by hurricane sandy. It was a great time but it is bitter sweet knowing what a loss our friends have experienced. They put their heart and soul into that place.

For the recordings of this new effort you call out to your band mates in Cave In, guitarist Adam McGrath and drummer J.R. Conners. When exactly did they get involved with Zozobra and have you written any of these songs collectively?

The three of us had still been getting together once a week to play. Mike had approached me a while back about doing an EP for Brutal Panda. I figured the timing and logistics would work out great so long as I could get Adam and JR to get on board. After some arm twisting they committed to the idea and we began writing the songs. I think this was in the spring of 2012.

How do you view Zozobra compared to your other projects? What were you hoping to achieve when you first started the band?

At the time I just wanted to see if I was capable of writing and releasing a record. Now it's more about just getting together with friends, playing loud and having a good time. I don't have any expectations when it comes to music any more regardless of what band it is. It's just more about having a shared experience with people that are important to me.

You have been playing in bands for more than 15 years now, is there anything you've learned over this time that you personally value in life or music?

At this point almost all my closest friends are people that I know because of music. These are all people that I have learned from and grown with and have helped me become the person I am now, for better or worse.
I have also had the opportunity to see a lot of the world because I play in bands. That is an opportunity I don't think I would have ever had otherwise and will always be grateful for.

Zozobra is about to hit the road together with Kowloon Walled City, what can fans of the band expect from this tour?

Savagery beyond comprehension. Total sonic annihilation. Middle aged guys begging promoters to give them gas money. 

"Savage Masters" is set for release on April 2nd via Brutal Panda Records and can be pre-ordered on vinyl here.
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The debut album of U.S. sludge metallers Norska went completely unnoticed by me when it was issued in September last year, and only recently I the opportunity to hear it when I received the album promo from their record label Brutal Panda. I’m just glad they did it, because I consider this a tremendous record.
One of the aspects that immediately grabbed my attention about Norska was the connection with Yob as they feature bassist Aaron Rieseberg in their ranks. Yet, although it’s easy to find parallels between the two bands, they never hold out for very long as Norska have a few twists of their own to save themselves from being viewed as merely an extension of Yob.
Opener "Amnesia” is way uglier and heavier than anything Yob has ever written, evoking the angular, oppressive and slow-motion crunch of acts like Zozobra and Rwake coupled with some caveman roars. While the sound is layered, complex and grievous, it is always pleasantly engaging. Following track “Nobody One Knows” delves into a sluggish tempo, displaying some repetitive and heavy riffs that create a hypnotic wall sound. The thirteen minutes epic “They Mostly Come at Night” is an impressive doom-sludge theme offering some gigantic riffs crawling at the pace of burning lava. Despite its length, the song never gets too dreary or lethargic in pacing as Norska throw in some bursting metallic riffs and engaging guitar harmonies to keep the waters from becoming too placid and saturating.
All in all, this is an imposing release that will surely appeal to all sludge and doom believers. 

Band info: www.facebook.com/norksarock
Label info: www.brutalpandarecords.com

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