Druids Den 0))) issue #1

Interview with local artist Januz Miralles:

This dude is an international artist whose artworks have been exhibited in Europe and all over the world. People have made clocks and other merchandise of his work while some have even found his work good enough to permanently place them on their skin.

He is an Antipolo native, yes, from the Philippines and his middle name could very well be “Underrated”. As a fan of sludge/doom and slow psychedelic music in general, you can occasionally spot him in local shows totally reserved and inconspicuous without an ounce of pride and pretense.

He has made artworks for some foreign bands and is responsible for creating the visual artwork for local slow band, Malicious Birth. So do yourself a favor and make yourself aware of one of the Philippines’ best kept secrets, Januz Miralles.

WD: Greetings Januz! When did you first realize that you had the talent for the visual arts? Who and what influenced you when you first started when you were a kid?

J: When I was a kid, my mom made me join art contests and she used to bring me to her gigs. It was the ‘90s. Since then, I have been surrounded with people who are inclined to art. But as I grow older, I realized that talent isn’t enough; direction is also important. I started making art again in 2008

WD: What medium do you usually work with and what medium did you start with?

J: I started using watercolor and ink then I moved on to acrylic pen tablet, digital, I just use what’s available at the moment.

WD: Can you recommend artists worth checking out whether international or local?

J: I’ve always worship the works of Zdzisław Beksiński. David V. D’Andrea is also good. He makes gig posters, illustrations for OM, Chelsea Wolfe, Grails, etc. The happiest painter in the world, Bob Ross. You should also check out Nesty Malana’s work. (great guy)

WD: Artists are usually very critical of their work sometimes even unrealistically critical. Do you ever feel regretful about your past works?

J: No.

WD: Do you remember the very first artwork you’ve made? How do you feel about it now from your current perspective?

J: I don’t remember that much. I just thought of buying art supplies for no particular reasons. On several occasions I just feel like experimenting.

WD: Are you the type of artist that needs structure and makes a schedule of when you would start doing your artwork? Where do you draw your inspiration from?

J: Coffee. I really need it to start my work. Ideas come to me sometimes when I’m travelling, riding a bicycle or riding a bus/jeepney.

WD: I believe that all art is interconnected with one another. Are there writers, musicians, movie makers or any other kind of artists that have influenced you even if in an unnoticeable, subconscious level?

J: Alejandro Jodorowsky and Jan Švankmajer’s films they are somewhere in my brain and never left.

WD: Can you describe your creative process? How do you go about starting to transpose what you have in your head onto the canvas?

J: Most of my works results from execution to conceptualization. Sometimes, my ideas only come at me when I ride the bus, when I get off the jeepney, or when I iron clothes. My execution depends on the amount of coffee I consume or on the sun’s intensity. That’s probably why abstract is beautiful. You don’t need to depend on the details.

WD: How do you know if what you’re working on is finished? Ever felt that you’ve overdone something or finished something prematurely?

J: When I see myself through it. HAHA

WD: I understand that you have had more shows abroad thanhere in your hometown. Why do you feelthat your artwork is exhibited more abroad? Do you think that certain visual art resonate more in different nations than it would others?

J: I think it’s safe to say that we have a bad taste in art. Galleries just wants something that sells. Art that’s obviously meant to sell rather than show who the artist is. I also blame EDSA.

WD: Aside from doing art? Do you hold a 9-5 kinda job? Do you think it contributes to your art?

J: I retired from regular work 2 years ago to pursue my career in ART. HAHAHA

WD: Ever feel the writer’s block? A kind of artistic constipation if you will… What do you usually do to get over it?

J: Physical activities really help. Riding a bike, walking, listening to music, headbanging, online games. It takes alot of time to get rid of it though.

WD: What’s your poison of choice when making art? Alcohol, weed, psychedelics maybe?

J: Music!

WD: Do you feel that it is important for artists to experiment and explore their consciousness to be better artists?

J: I paint images in my mind—with the aid of the experiences that I’ve encountered, through my memories that I’d like to forget but kept on coming and crawling back to my mind.

Memories that I’d like to disappear but then when it does, I’d still feel emptiness. Memories that I’d like to stay but they force me to expose the truth. There’s no logic or reason, only pure imagination.I can also say that the entirety of my art is the result of errors. I don’t have a favorite mistake. I don’t want to label something as mine. I just like putting those mistakes in an imaginary box, which no one owns, and I bring my mind and soul with them.

WD: What’s your usual playlist when doing art?

J: Incredible amount of Chelsea Wolfe, Grails, The Body, Muscle and Marrow, Om, Godflesh, Meth Drinker, Atrax Morgue, Buzzov-en, Asin and Outkast – Stankonia.

WD: Thanks for the time man… Any last words? Advice maybe to some of the fledgling artists?

J: Art is love, Art is life. Hail Satan!

Intie by W.D.

Stoner Vibes for Sober Minds

Do you really need to be stoned to play stoner music? Do u you need to smoke Cannabis to say that you enjoy listening to stoned, psyched out jams? While we’re at it, do you really need the help of substances, be it legal or otherwise, to play or enjoy music? The obvious and most immediate response would be yes.

Of course you need weed to play stoner music. Isn’t that the reason you call it that? Bands like Bongzilla, Weedeater, Stoned Jesus, Bong Breaker and etc. proclaim their love for weed and its effect it has on our musical experience. Yet others will contest…with what other may refer to “straight-edge” ethos, there are bands that play unbelievably heavy and slow but do not partake in grass rituals. Bongripper plays psyched out heavy jams and proclaim to be straight edge. Mike Scheidt of Yob has been reportedly clean and yet what comes out of his music is so transcendental, spiritual and dark at the same time. I know some who don’t smoke and yet love down-tuned, slow, stoned music.

From a musician’s point of view, getting drunk and stoned can be a catalyst for coming up with great riffs but not always. Somehow, getting yourself inebriated or high as fuck brings down your inhibitions and opens up channels where dark things can come through. You can be less critical and more appreciative of music in general whether it’s your own work or others. But there lies the limitations.

Since you’re more appreciative, anything will sound good. Even crappy ass riffs or lousy performances sound really good and you’d bang your head onto anything. The discriminatory ear loses its efficiency and slacks off. Not that it’s bad but I think a balance is needed. Personally, some of the best riffs I’ve come up with happened while I was seated on the throne taking a huge dump. I guess getting rid of physical crap can free you enough to be receptive to hearing riffs in your head. Different musicians stand by their own methods of songwriting. Some may find themselves inside a crudely drawn pentagram on the floor while smoking from a bong formed from the horn of Satan himself ala Tenacious D.

But anyway, I guess the point I want to get through is that it would be unfair if we limit stoner music to stoners and deprive other sober minds the opportunity to appreciate (either as a listener or as a player) this powerful music that, to be honest, need not the crutch of weed-laced ears to be appreciated and adored as it is. If you don’t smoke weed and get stoner music then good! Cannabis is great and all but it should serve the music and not the other way around. That goes for other substances.
W.D.

Eyes of Fire – Demo 2015
EOF finally release a properly recorded raw record with 3 tracks that will make you want to screw sobriety into submission or stay stoned until you lose whatever is left of your mind. If you smoke weed (as you should), this is a big fat joint of a sludge/stoner record. This recording is drenched in enough reverb that the whole record sounds like a huge cloud of ganja smoke blown in your face by a pipe smoking wizard. The music per se pays homage to sludge greats like IRON MONKEY, EYEHATEGOD, WEEDEATER, BONGZILLA and etc.. and of course, BLACK SABBATH. The guitar tones on this CD-r sound like coughing up a hairball. It’s abrasive… in a good way. The drums are a little low in the mix but that doesn’t take away the groove and swing the drummer effectively lays down. The vocals have a lot a reverb that it sounds as if it comes from space or another dimension… kinda like Johnny Morrow screaming from the grave. (If you don’t know who that is, shame on you). All in all this is a great sounding sludge demo. If you like your filth with a lot of groove/ swing and a lot of hairy fuzz around it, check this one out.

Rivothrill – rehearsal demo 2015
Straight up worship at the altar of Sabbath, this demo has two tracks enough to let you know what this band is all about. Add tortured vocals ala Iron Monkey with Dimebag inspired guitars to the virgin tight rhythm section and you’d have this mid paced, dirty, disgusting piece of filth. Rivothrill played their first gig at the Burning Water SxpX/DAB split and made quite an impression. Hoping to hear a lot more from this band.

Earthmover – First Sighting
Earthmover is an intergalactic vessel piloted by 3 Quezon City natives who play ambient instrumental rock. Give their Cd a spin and you’d be invited to an aural equivalent of what it would be like to be sent into the deepest darkest part of space with a sense of solitude and submission. The guitars can go from a whisper to scream effectively with the bass holding down the bottom end and the drums driving the whole groove into orbit. The CD has 4 songs clocking at around 30 mins. If you want a quick escape to nothingness, Earthmover will bring you there.

Acoustic Wizard – Please Don’t Sue Me; Please Don’t Sue Me Vol. II; III
I first encountered this one-man tribute in youtube while looking for new shit to check out. This dude loves Electric Wizard and his acoustic renditions pay proper tribute to them. Even without the ‘electric’, Acoustic Wizard proves that the music’s heaviness does not only come from the amplification but from the riffs and the songwriting. The guitar work is amazing. The acoustic guitar is used and abused. Heavy handed strumming, open strings, and double takes give the riffs enough juice to still groove even in the absence of drums or percussion. Vocals are executed very well. Raspy and defiant. Acoustic Wizard will transport you around a campfire gathering with some druids in Stonehenge. I wonder what Electric Wizard thinks of it. Check it out. http://www.cvltnation.com/sickest-stoner-folk-you-will-hear-this-week-acoustic-wizard/

CHOICE CUTS

1) Sleep’s Holy Mountain
2) Sleep’s Dopsemoker
3) EHG- Dopesmoker
4) Iron Monkey- Our Problem
5) Yob- the Unreal Never Lived
6) Melvins- Gluey Porch Treatments
7) Crowbar- Odd Fellows Rest
8) Black Sabbath- any of the first 4
9) KYUSS- welcome to Sky ValleyDown- NOLA

W.D.

stints of boredom and meditation..

took note of what i was listening to on these random days..
(by the molester)

11.25
deafhaven- new bermuda
deafhaven-sunbather

11.27
lord mantis-death mask
lord mantis-pervertor
Mgla – Exercises in futility

10.12
Electric Wizard-Dopethrone (12″)
Uncle Acid-Mind Control (12″)
Coffinworm- Great Bringer of Night (12″)
Trapped Within the Machinery- Fifth Element (mp3s)
Electric Wizard- Black Masses (12″)

10.11
Deftones-Koi No Yokan (12″)
Norah Jones- Come Away With Me (12″)
Pink Floyd-Out of this World (cd)
Ramesses- Misanthropic Alchemy (cd)

10.10
Electric Wizard- s/t (12″)
Electric Wizard- We Live (mp3s)
Earth- the Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull (mp3s)
Paganfire-The Executor is Back (cd-r)
Death After Birth/Surrogate Prey- Burning Water (cd-split)
Iron Monkey-Our Problem (cd)
Pestrepeller-Isle of Dark Magick (cd)
Shrinebuilder- self-titled (cd)

10.9.15
Electric Wizard-Time to Die (cd)
Pestrepeller-Isle of Dark Magic (cd)
Kowloon Walled City- Grievances (mp3s)
Matt Elliott-Drinking Songs (mp3s)
With the Dead- Living with the Dead single (mp3)

10.7.15
Eyehategod-s/t (12″)

10.6.15
John Mayer-Battle Studies (cd)
Sonic Youth-Rather Ripped (cd)
Uncle Acid-Bloodlust (mp3s)
Uncle Acid- Mind Control (mp3s)
Chelsea Wolfe- Apokalypsis (mp3s)

10.6.15
John Mayer-Battle Studies (cd)
Sonic Youth-Rather Ripped (cd)
Uncle Acid-Bloodlust (mp3s)
Uncle Acid- Mind Control (mp3s)
Chelsea Wolfe- Apokalypsis (mp3s)

10.4.15
Norah Jones- Come Away With Me (12″)
Uncle Acid- Mind Control(12″)
Eyehategod- Take As Needed for Pain (12″)
Burzum-Filsofem (cassette)
Havohej- Dethrone the Son of God (cassette)
Winter- Into Darkness (cassette)
Om-Pilgrimage (12″)
Serpentine Path-Emanations (12″)
Cypress Hill- Insane in the Brain (12″)
Push Button Objects-Ska 011 (12″)
Archagathus-Canadian Horse (cassette)
Overkill-Feel the Fire (mp3s)

10.3.15
Pus Vomit- Stoned to Death (cd)
Impiety-Advent of the Baphomet (cd)
Baroness/Unpersons split-A Grey Sigh in a Flower Husk (12″)
Shrinebuilder-cd
Neurosis- Times of Grace (cd)
Nekrofilth-Devil’s Breath (cd)
Aura Noir-Black Thrash Attack (cd)
Saint Vitus-Lillie F-65 (cd)
Pink Floyd-Out of this World (cd)
Judas Priest-Painkiller (cd)
Yob- the Great Cessation (mp3s)
AsbestosDeath-Dejection, Unclean (mp3s)
Deftones-Koi No Yokan (12″)
Windhand- s/t (12″)
Eyehategod-Southern Discomfort (12″)
Entombed-Clandestine (12″)
Neurosis- Times of Grace (cd)

10.1.15
Uncle Acid-Vol I (mp3s)
Violator-Scenarios of Brutality (mp3s)
Wormrot- Abuse (cd)
Cryptic Slaughter-Convicted (cd)
Iron Monkey-Our Problem (cd)
Deftones-Koi No Yokan (12″)

9.30.15
Ramesses- We Will Lead You to Glorious Times (mp3s)
Unearthly Trance/Ramesses split (mp3s)
Swans- The Burning World (mp3s)
Neurosis- Given to the Rising (cd)
Eyehategod-Confederacy of Ruined Lives (cd)
Shrinebuilder-self titled (cd)
Eyes of Fire- Demo 2015 (cd-r)
Batillus- Concrete Sustain (12″)
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats- Vol. I (mp3s)