‘Smeik’ by Mother Bear | New Album, ‘Zamonian Occultism’
Exclusive track premiere of ‘Smeik’ by Dortmund, Germany based stoner/doom trio Mother Bear, taken from the upcoming album, ‘Zamonian Occultism’, out July 29th 2022.
Instead of trying to create a new kind of sound, Mother Bear had originally planned on expressing their love for Electric Wizard through their debut album. In the end, however, it turned out differently: ‘Zamonian Occultism’ is a hybrid mix of influences, from sludge à la Weedeater to dragging doom in the style of Saint Vitus with a pinch of Dead Meadows psych – and from time to time, you can even feel the tranquility of the hot desert sands. Recorded live and cast into a bold and contemporary sound by musician, sound engineer, and friend Arno Augustin (Drens).
The album’s theme is the result of two years of Covid and the rekindling of a shared love for Walter Moers’ Zamonia series. Every song title relates to Zamonia in some way or form. Seeing the continent of Ugglies, Muggs, and Lindworms through the fogged glasses of doom, it looks more occult than one might think.
‘Zamonian Occultism’ is proof of this and builds bridges from the Ruhr area of Germany all the way to Zamonia, visually supported by an album cover by Sarah Gräfingholt.
The debut will be released 29 July 2022 under their own label on tape and digital, with a first concert celebrating the release on 10 August 2022 as support for EyeHateGod and Eremit at JunkYard Dortmund.
Formed in 2017 in Dortmund, Germany, by Florian Grass (drums) and Kevin Krenczer (bass guitar) alongside their former blues and psych band Saint Gallus Convention Tapes, the stoner doom band released their demo ‘Bear Mother’ in the same year, followed by the single ‘PKB-7’. After a short hiatus, Jonas Wenz, bass player in the hardcore band Second Sight, joined the cathartic doom duo on the guitar and vocals. The sloth of bears is united in their worship of the muggroom, their love for loud amps, as well as the creed of slow music for slow minds. Slowly, loudly, but with furious outbursts: Mother Bear truly does their namesake justice – a fantastic band name says YOB’s Mike Scheidt.
Headline photo: Sebastian Beierle
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