Went along to an all-day festival in Bradford last weekend, lots of great bands played the show (THIRTEENTH SIGN, LAZARUS BLACKSTAR, ASOMVEL to mention just 3) and I had a fine time indeed.
Just wanted to tell you all about one band in particular who played, a 4-piece from Wales called SIGIRIYA. I'd never heard of them before this (I doubt many people who were there had, aside from the promoter Rich!), but you might know them by their former name of ACRIMONY who did a split with Church Of Misery about 7 years ago (amongst other things). When they played their set I was totally gobsmacked by the energy and the power of the band, but most of all the apparently-relaxed manner that they played this AMAZING sounding stoner rock. Don't let the lack of info about these guys fool you - this is NOT some new band who are doing the rounds!
I know you hear all of the time about "These guys are the next big thing!", blah blah blah, but I must get on my soapbox here for a quick minute and let you guys know about this band. Don't bother doing a google search for them (yet) because I tried that and all you get is a whole bunch of links for some place in Sri Lanka. They have a Myspace page (see below) but right now, March 2010, there's no music on there for you to check out either!
Anyway, as soon as I can get my hands on something by them, a demo or a video of them in concert or something, I'll link to it on this page. In the meantime maybe try getting yourself a copy of the 1997 Peaceville LP "Tumuli Shroomaroom" or even the CoM split from 2003. That'll maybe give you some idea of what to expect from SIGIRIYA's sound.
Blurb lifted from their Myspace page:
"About Sigiriya
Beneath the soil of a Welsh valley a heavy metal life-force regains strength: rising from the ashes of stoner doom merchants Acrimony, Sigiriya is born. Eight years after the demise of Acrimony, guitarist Stu O’Hara, bassist Mead, drummer Darren Ivey and vocalist Dorian Walters have reconvened. Not wanting the limitations of reforming a project long dead to them, Sigiriya brings a fresh take on their trademark monolithic heavy groove. While Acrimony hailed from the temples of deepest space, Sigiriya come from the earthy depths, bringing hefty, tremor-inducing sonics that pay homage to the riff. Time served in the likes of Iron Monkey, Helvis, Dukes Of Nothing, Black Eye Riot, The Nine and Yeti have only added to their thick output, giving the foursome a more dynamic, meaner, leaner, earthier approach, which has developed an intense dirty sound with elements of boogie, classic rock and even crust. Taking their name from the mystic ‘throat of the lion’ rock in Sri Lanka, their rumble has been moving the Black Mountains of their homeland and will soon be moving the tectonic plates of the earth. To borrow a phrase from their former outfit: ‘Bong On, Live Long…’"
Again, I can't recommend SIGIRIYA to you enough. Totally floored by their show at the afore-mentioned festival!
http://www.myspace.com/sigiriyawales
EDIT: Video from the Dragonfest gig (I shot this):
