Icelandic desert rockers Volcanova will release the EP Cosmic Bullshit on 25th February 2022. Following their acclaimed debut album Radical Waves from 2020, the power-trio returns with six new tracks. Cosmic Bullshit revisits the vibes of their debut, but shows a new dimension of the band’s sound. A fine collection of fuzz, with heavy, melodic riffs, thundering bass-lines, and tight, punchy drums lay the foundation for huge, thick soundscapes. The band’s three vocalists all contribute to massive sounding harmonies and interesting vocal arrangements, rarely found in the stoner rock- genre. All of which is performed with a palpable live energy.
Volcanova was founded in the summer of 2014 with principle song writer Samúel Ásgeirsson on guitar and vocals and after a few lineup changes the band finally settled on a winning formula with Thorsteinn Árnason of (Rock Paper Sisters) on bass and vocals and Dagur Atlason (Churchhouse Creepers) on drums and vocals.
The band have found an infectious groove and togetherness that would be fitting of a band that had been playing for decades rather than a few years. With all the members of the band being strong vocalists with their own character whilst being able to pull off tight three-part harmonies, they keep the listener engaged! Uplifting moments with some tasty lead guitar are underpinned by head banging bass grooves – plus tasteful use of that old staple the cowbell!
Building on this style, the band pay homage to classics such as Black Sabbath with big crushing doom riffs while adding twists and turns with passages that wouldn’t go amiss on a progressive sludge album in the vein of Mastodon or Gojira. They can turn their hand to thunderous fuzzy riffs in the style of Fu Manchu or some sombre moments more alike to YOB. All this coupled with a live show that would made you think that you were in a Red Fang video!
The EP opens with Salem, featuring a whopper of a riff that Tony Iommi would be proud of, crossed with the pounding stoner rhythm of Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. And that pretty much encapsulates Volcanova, you certainly know what you’re gonna get! But the melody is strong, the beat is mesmeric, I’m hooked! Gold Coast and Desolation follow in quick succession without too much variation, and that’s the potential weak-point of any power-trio.
End of Time then catches you completely unaware, delicate semi-acoustic cadences tumbling from your speakers! The chord progression then gets the heavyweight treatment but the melody remains. No Wheels is the current single, see the video below. It’s a simple, pacey number, it’s alright without setting the world alight, although there’s some nice lead fretwork later on. Lost Spot is then the closing track, a mini-epic at virtually seven minutes long. The first three minutes is standard fast-stoner pace, but then comes a fascinating, swirling, slow bridge section, an echo-ey, jangly, melody drifting in and around the mix before the riff builds again up to a fitting conclusion.
Cosmic Bullshit” was recorded and mixed in Reykjavik at Studio Helviti by Helgi Durhuus, Mastered by Esben Willems at Studio Berserk in Gothenburg. Artwork is done by Skadvaldur.
The trio hail from three very different corners of this unique island of lava fields, glaciers and hot springs, to create a fresh take on desert rock. Having extensively toured their own country, the band have been conquering large parts of Scotland! Whether playing cities such as Glasgow or small gigs in the remote highlands, audiences have been falling in love with their special brand of Icelandic stoner rock. They released their debut album Radical Waves via Swedish label The Sign Records in August 2020, which attracted rave reviews and slots in several “Stoner Rock albums of the year 2020” lists… the future is promising!
The EP is released on The Sign Records on 12” vinyl, CD, and all streaming platforms on the 25th of February, 2022. The release is followed by an 18 date European tour, supporting friends and fellow Icelanders The Vintage Caravan.
2022 tour with The Vintage Caravan:
25.02 Turock – Essen (DE)
26.02 Q-Factory – Amsterdam (NL)
27.02 Das Bett – Frankfurt (NL)
01.03 Cassiopeia – Berlin (DE)
02.02 Headcrash – Hamburg (DE)
03.03 Little Devil – Tilburg (NL)
04.03 Het Bolwerk – Sneek (NL)
05.03 AB Club – Bruxelles (BE)
06.03 Artheater – Cologne (DE)
07.03 Backstage Halle – Munich (DE)
09.03 Orpheum Extra – Graz (AT)
10.03 PMK – Innsbruck (AT)
11.03 OKH – Vocklabruck (AT)
12.03 Papiersaal – Zurich (CH)
13.03 CCO Villeurbanne – Lyon (FR)
14.03 Backstage BTM – Paris (FR)
15.03 Le Grand Mix – Tourcoing (FR)
16.03 Le Ferrailleur – Nantes (FR)
