Jucifer

Jucifer
За Волгой для нас земли нет

During their long career, the sludge duo from Georgia, Jucifer, was waived by the underground scene worldwide as one of the most qualified bands in the world. With numerous full-length records, Jucifer approached sludge metal under a slower point of music, reaching drone and experimental paths. Their minimalistic style of playing was greatly related with the band and characterized Jucifer; the band does not use any bass and their songs sound mostly like a heavy jamming recorded on disc. Their latest release,’ За Волгой для нас земли нет’ or ‘There is no land Beyond the Volga’ in English, refers to the battle of Stalingrad during the WW2, which is one of the most monstrous moments in human history. Nazi’s crimes in the Russian city and the death of millions triggered the Red Army’s rage and the Russians fought back for liberation. The record has achieved to gain some supportive and rejoicing reviews. Personally speaking, I’m not sharing the joyful mood about the record and I did not enjoy it to the full. Honestly speaking, the record’s progression is too slow in my opinion, forcing me to stop the record and listen to the rest sometime later. The record is about one hour and twenty minutes long, and the jamming-like sounding of it doesn’t help at all. Actually the tracks are way too slow for a record that long. I feel the need to explain my opinion about drone which I separate from sludge-metal. Drone music needs to be atmospheric and actually feels great in EP’s and small records. Building a great concept album under the specific music label, it just doesn’t feel right. In conclusion, Jucifer recorded sixteen tracks, loaded

Report: Jucifer + Support Acts – Athens, Greece

Jucifer is a very special case of a band. Living in a tour bus and going around the world, playing on gigs 12 months a year is not something anybody can do. And luckily, thanks to CTS productions, we were able to see them for the first time in Greece this Saturday! I am going to throw a little spoiler in here for the rest of the report to say that the profit of the night were the two unbelievable Greek supporting bands. But let’s take it from the start. I was welcomed in the venue by the unbelievable sound of Korsikov’s guitars (no bass here, but it turns out that they did not need one to amaze us). I knew this band only from a nice stoner song (Liqweedator) that they had released in the infamous compilation “Miss fortune was a henhouse manager” by Spinaloga records, so I didn’t know what to expect from this band in terms of a live performance. Let’s just say that they are the best Greek band that I have seen live those two years that I’m attending concerts in Athens! Have you ever wondered how would it sound if Motorhead mixed with Weedeater? Or how would it sound if Buzzoven were playing on fire and had their sound channeled through a volcano? Well if you have, Korsikov are your guys! They nailed every sound the produced on stage, whether that was the opening psychedelic/stoner masterpiece named “ Intrabduction“ that I never wanted for it to end, or the more sludgy, groovy riffs that made my head go up and down, or their characteristic speedy parts, resembling High on Fire or Motorhead, that made my blood boil, or even their last crazy, pure crust, 50 seconds in duration song “ Baka Bagero“! Every member was full of energy, showing to the crowd that they do something they love, joking around and warming us up for what was about to follow. What is more, the drummer is a rabid dog and the lead guitarist/ singer sounds like he has swallowed Petrozza and Lemmy together. These guys were off the freaking grid, wherever they play again I’m bound to see them and so should you. Plus, any time now the will release some official material so be on the lookout! Then along came Earth of distrust, fresh from their latest release “Victimology”. I made an effort to estimate the influences of Korsikov before, but if I tried the same with them I’m quite sure my head would explode. The question about Earth of distrust is not “What do they play?”, it is “What don’t they play?”. An amalgamation of unrelenting doom/sludge riffs, with ambient elements and lots of crust passages (as it is proved from the Disrupt cover they played, “A life’s a life”!), bonding with perfect hardcore – and many times pure grind- vocals! If the Korsikov singer had swallowed Petrozza and Lemmy, this guy had swallowed a demon! There is no other way to explain the ferocity and rage emitting from his voice! I’m talking about face twisted and red, veins pumped, vocal chords in the verge of bleeding, the whole nine yards people! Excellent work from this band as well, they left me dazzled and trying to follow what they were doing, as each song was like a totally different story from the previous one (“How to handle a razor”, my oh my, what a song!). The singer kept stating that it was about time we all witnessed the mighty Jucifer, the opening bands and the fans as well and his wish did not take long to come true.