Some bands take themselves too seriously. Hey Satan is not one of them. This Swiss trio delivers heavy riffs with a good dose of humor and laid-back energy. Their latest release, Flamingos, is a fuzz-soaked, groove-heavy ride that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel – just makes it spin faster and louder.

We had a chat with Frank – and not just about the new record.
- Where did the name "Hey Satan" come from? Was it just a joke, or was there a deeper meaning behind it?
No deeper meaning haha ! We found the name funny and easy to remember, so we went for it immediately.
- How did the band come together, and what are your musical backgrounds?
The Band was started by the guitariste François, me Frank (on drums) and a second guitar player named Laurent. François and I started music together in rap-metal band called Eastwood back in 1993. Then after Eastwood, we founded Shovel, a more hardcore Deftones sounding band, then Houston Swing Engine, then Songs of Neptune and then Bloody Sailor. We started Hey Satan in 2013 with Laurent, a guitarist, bass player who replaced Reno in our band in 2004. Unfortunately Laurent had to stop playin because of hearing loss, so we replaced him by Reno, who also sang in a metal band called Kruger. It sounds like a big musician orgy but it is our story haha !
- If you had to describe what makes your music unique in one sentence, what would you say?
Our music is unique to us because it’s the only place in life where we dont have to make compromises.

 

- I have to ask the obvious question: Why flamingos? What inspired this album title?
I guess it’s simply the name of one of our songs. It sounds good and let’s face it : birds are cool !
- Is there a deeper concept in the lyrics, or is this more of a "let's have fun" kind of record?
You will have to ask François about it. I guess he talks about personal experiences also, but mainly, he wants people to have fun and give them energy.
- There’s a noticeable alternative influence mixed with the stoner vibe. What bands inspired you on this album?
The usual same, Fu Manchu, Led Zeppelin, RATM, Kyuss.

- How does the songwriting process work for you? Do you jam together, or does someone bring in the main ideas?
We always start with one of Francois’s great riff, or one of my beats. Then we try to build something coherent, catchy, and sometimes try to suprise people with slower or faster parts. Reno is new to the band, but his basslines bring the heaviness that was sometimes missing in our past records.
- Is there a particular song on the album that you're especially proud of? If so, why?
I personnaly love the monster. We start our shows with this songs and i love his weirdness and heaviness. Really fun and easy to play also. I love it
- If you had to compose a soundtrack for a movie, what kind of movie would it be?
Something fun with motorcycle, car chases, and the calfornia sun.

 - How’s the stoner scene where you’re based?
There are a few bands out there, but we don’t really know them. Maybe it’s because we are too old haha.
- Do you have any tour plans for this album? Any chance you’ll make it to Hungary?
As i told you, we are getting old. Two of us are dads, we have full time jobs and Hey Satan is for the fun of playing a few show and make good records together. But maybe Hungary one day, who knows ?
- If you could tour with any stoner band, past or present, who would be your dream lineup?
Fu Manchu and QOTSA

- If Hey Satan was a cocktail, what ingredients would it have?
Probably a mocktail with lemonade for Francois and I, and something stronger for Reno haha. Whisky and pee maybe ?
- If flamingos weren’t extreme enough, what other animal would you write a song about?
Cats. They rule man.
- Finally, what message do you have for the Hungarian stoner rock community?
Keep being cool and have good taste in music in a world full of Swifties

We exchanged emails with Frank – and not just about the new record.
Because sometimes, all you need is loud riffs, a weird sense of humor, and a couple of flamingos to remind you why rock ‘n’ roll still matters. AMEN!

Fotos: https://fotaugrafiero.ch/

https://www.facebook.com/heysatanrock/, https://www.facebook.com/coldsmokerecords/

Gondolkoztam sokat, hogy is kezdjem ezt a cikket a Lo-Pan új lemezéről. Egy olyan zenekarról beszélünk, akik idén már 20 évesek és ezalatt eljutottak a "legenda" státuszig, mégse hallunk felőlük szinte semmit. Nehéz helyzetben voltam, mert elismerem profizmusukat és nagyszerűségüket, de személyesen nem fogott meg egyetlen albumuk sem, pedig a dörgedelmes riffek nagymesterei! Emiatt próbálok egy objektív felütéssel kezdeni és egy szubjektív véleménnyel zárni.

A Get Well Soon a Lo-Pan eddigi legkomplexebb és legsúlyosabb albuma, amely húsz évnyi tapasztalatot és érzelmi mélységet sűrít egy erőteljes, 45 perces utazásba. A lemez központi témája a veszteség elfogadása, legyen szó személyes, politikai vagy történelmi kontextusról. A hangszerelés továbbra is masszív és feszes, a dalok egyenes vonalvezetésűek, de a lírai világ sötétebb és gondolatébresztőbb, mint valaha. A Northern Eyes, Rogue Wave és Six Bells kiemelkednek az albumról, a politikai töltetű God’s Favorite Victim pedig merész húzás. A Lo-Pan itt nem csupán a saját történetét meséli el, hanem reflektál a világ káoszára is. Nem könnyű hallgatnivaló, de annál fontosabb és időtállóbb anyag.

 

Azonban, mint a cikk elején említettem, engem nem igazán fogott meg. Nincs számomra semmi fogódzkodó, sem egy megjegyezhető dallam, sem egy jó gitárszóló. A Riffek nagyon dörögnek, ezt elismerem, főleg nagy hangerőn, de ez kevés, mert jellegtelenek. Minnél többet hallgatom, annál jobban megszürkülnek. Valószínűleg ez abból is adódhat, hogy napi szinten több albumba kell belehallgatnom és ezért már azt érzem, hogy ugyanazt hallgatom számról számra. Te ne érezd ezt és hallgasd örömmel! AMEN!

https://www.facebook.com/lopandemic , 

https://www.facebook.com/MagneticEyeRecords

I finally had the chance to listen to the new Komatsu album! So far, only once, so this is just a quick overview, but it should serve as a solid outline.

Since guitarist Mathijs Bodt left the band, I was curious whether they would bring in a replacement or continue as a trio. And… there was silence, but an even bigger surprise: they’re carrying on as a three-piece! The lineup now consists of Mo Truijens (guitar, vocals), Martijn Mansvelders (bass, vocals), and Jos Roosen (drums).

I expected the music to take a more open, spacious direction, but that’s not what happened. At first glance, I’d say this is an incredibly dense album. The overall style remains: a sonic madness soaked in sludge, packed with hardcore elements and an apocalyptic atmosphere. The sound is thick and full, yet every instrument remains clear. The mix is just dirty enough to let the weight of the sludge truly hit. Tight, dynamic, and brutally groovy! The lyrics fit the music perfectly—dark, oppressive, and filled with tension. The whole album is shrouded in an indescribable sense of menace, which perhaps only the final track manages to resolve.

This is not a one-time listen! A perfect blend of stoner and sludge. AMEN!

https://www.facebook.com/komatsurock, https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS

Végre sikerült meghallgatnom az új Komatsu albumot! Egyelőre csak egyszer, így most csak egy gyors ismertetőt tudok idefirkantani, de vonalvezetőnek ez is megteszi.

Mióta Mathijs Bodt gitáros kilépett a zenekarból, kíváncsi voltam, vajon bevettek-e valakit a helyére, vagy trióban nyomják tovább. És… nagy volt a csönd, de még nagyobb a meglepetés: hárman folytatják! A felállás most így néz ki: Mo Truijens (gitár, ének), Martijn Mansvelders (basszusgitár, ének) és Jos Roosen (dob).

Azt hittem, hogy a zene ettől sokkal szellősebb irányba fordul, de nem ez történt. Első blikkre azt mondanám, hogy egy kifejezetten sűrű album született. Az irány megmaradt: egy sludge témákkal átitatott zenei őrület, amely bőségesen tartalmaz hardcore- és apokaliptikus hangulatokat egyaránt. A hangzás vaskos és telt, mégis minden hangszer tisztán kivehető. A keverés pedig kellően mocskos ahhoz, hogy a sludge súlya igazán érvényesüljön.   Feszes, dinamikus és brutálisan groove-os! A dalok szövegvilága is illeszkedik a zenéhez – sötét, nyomasztó és tele van feszültséggel. Az egész lemezt áthatja egy megfoghatatlan, fenyegető érzés, amit talán csak az utolsó dal old fel.

Ez az album nem egy egyszer hallgatós darab! A stoner és a sludge tökéletes keveréke. AMEN!

https://www.facebook.com/komatsurock, https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS

The Sergeant Thunderhoof is a band that has always stood out from the crowd! Their albums usually have a concept behind them—some history, a bit of mysticism, a connecting thread that holds everything together. All of this is wrapped in a highly professional musical cloak, balancing on the edge of psychedelia and raw power. They recently released The Ghost of Badon Hill, and now there’s already a live album, Avon Calling. So, I thought it was the perfect time for a short interview with them! 

Your first live album is coming out in March. Why did you feel this was the right time
for a live release?
 - Actually this is our second live album. ‘Live on Earth’ came out in 2016, so this felt like a good time to do another and feature only songs that have been created after the last one.
 How was the recording process different compared to a studio album?
 - It was incredibly simple to be honest, we literally just recorded the show and our engineer has just adjusted the levels in the mix. So there’s plenty of mistakes and things, but that’s the beauty of live music.

 

 Is there a particular song that you feel turned out even better live than in the studio?
- I think ‘Another Plane’ really shines as a live track. It certainly shows off the musicality of the band.
 Did you try to stay faithful to the original sound, or did you make any significant
changes to the songs for the live setting?
- Live should never be the same as the studio. We don’t go out of our way to make significant changes, but neither do we fuss too much about any changes.
 For someone who has never seen you live, what can they expect from this album?
- Just good rock energy and a fantastic crowd.
 

The Ghost of Badon Hill has a monumental and atmospheric feel. What was the
concept behind it?
 - I was inspired by our local history and folklore, specifically the invasion of England by the Anglo Saxons in the 5th and 6th century. We definitely tried to capture the atmosphere of that time and place.
 The title and theme seem to have historical or medieval influences. Were legends or
real events an inspiration for the album?
- Both. The legend of King Arthur is closely tied to the battle of Badon Hill. So the entire album is an enigma, wrapped in a myth and sprinkled with reality.
 How does this album differ from your previous releases in terms of songwriting and
sound?
- It’s more concise, more thoughtful. Perhaps it’s less psychedelic and lysergic. It’s a very focussed album, for better or worse.
 Do you have a favorite track from the album? If so, why?
- Personally, I really like The Orb of Octavia. I think the whole band shine on this.
 The album cover is visually striking. Who created it, and what was the concept behind
it?
- That’s our wonderful artist Sara-Jane Swettenham who has done all of album covers over the years. We always give her artistic freedom to express herself.

Thank you for the interview. AMEN! https://www.facebook.com/sergeantthunderhoof