Heavy groove metal band GORILLA WIZARD had had a handful of releases out with newer content on the way! The band discusses all of these matters below.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Mikal and Bertrum have been jamming for years. Ry and Bertrum had also been jamming for years, but with Bertrum on drums. In 2018, Bertrum showed them both his riffs and they started working on songs. Mike showed their friend Gaben and he wrote lyrics. Ry joined as a bassist, Bertrum hopped on guitar, Mikal stuck to drums and Gaben got on vocals. They recorded Tales From The Cauldron in late 2018 and have since been parsing through hundreds of Bertrum’s riffs. In December 2020, Bertrum broke a finger on his fretting hand. Immediately after he finished his last surgery, he began writing “Infinite Wave.” Soon after, the video for Maple Crunch was selected for the Portland Film festival, and the band performed for their online concert. In mid 2022, Gorilla Wizard finished the EP they had been working on and they are proud to be releasing their first work under Sodeh records: White Knuckle/Black Magic.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
Bertrum is a gorilla who is also a wizard. 10,000 years ago, Bertrum ate a space banana and gained magical powers. He honed these powers with the help of the famed sorcerer, Merlin. After another 1500 years, he got bored and took up guitar.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Gorilla Wizard are NYC natives. The overall area is home to NYC hardcore and death metal and Long Island prog-rock. They kinda land in the middle of both and draw from a very diverse scene.
Although the scene in NYC and Long Island was once strongly based on community-minded hardcore and death metal, the amount of venues in which to play said music have been dwindling down over the years.
Current local bands Gorilla Wizard really digs are: Gospel, Fake Piss, False Gods, Flee To The Vault, Buckshot Facelift, Reeking Aura, Charged For Battle, Patterns of Decay, Johnny Booth, Cryptodiria, People’s Temple Project and the Knottie Boys.
4. How would you describe your style?
Heavy groove. Elements of stoner metal, death metal, and doom metal. Verr Hevv.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
Tales From the Cauldron - LP 2019
Infinite Wave - Single 2021
Totally Live From the Portland Film Festival - EP 2021
White Knuckle/Black Magic - EP 2022
Expect big raucous grooves and hairy riffs. Being fans of all things metal, the band will continue to grow and take from multiple sub-genres and add their own signature big hairy sound.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
Currently the band is ramping up for the release of their EP White Knuckle/Black Magic. Soon after, they have a split planned with NY friend Titanosaur, a small offering of groove laden singles, and the next, more thrashy LP: Gorilla Wizard Vs. The Simian Sorcerer. Stay tuned for details.
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
As of right now the band is focused on writing and recording and will not be touring. They may play a show or two, but Bertrum is too busy playing Elden Ring and can’t be bothered.
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
The band has plans to move into other forms of media and tell the stories of Bertrum and his follies for as long as they can. They have plans for comics, a D&D campaign, a novella, and a podcast, along with new music. It’ll always come back to the music.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
http://Gorillawizard.net and http://Gorillawizard.bandcamp.com/merch
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
As goofy as the band seems, the music matters most. We love spectacle with a grandiose show and telling a story, but the music is the most important aspect of this band. The band takes the music and songwriting very seriously.
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