Introduction: Due to time constraints as regular individuals running Witching Buzz and focusing primarily on writing reviews, we are limited to publishing only one (occasionally two) review(s) per day. However, we strongly believe in providing greater exposure to deserving bands and musicians who have put in immense effort. As a result, we have launched a new section called “Witching Riffs: Behind the Sound.” In this section, we have crafted a series of intriguing questions that we pose to every band or musician who wishes to share more about their unique projects. While the questions remain the same for each participant, the diversity among bands ensures that the answers will be fascinating and diverse. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this captivating journey as we delve into the minds and stories of these talented artists.
King Potenaz / Italy
What drew you to the immersive and hypnotic sounds? How do you aim to captivate your listeners with this genre?
We have always been attracted to everything that was slow and heavy and at the same time psychedelic and dreamlike and what we have always looked for in music is the journey you undertake while listening… and that’s exactly what we try to do with our listeners… make them travel while listening to our songs.
Can you share the story behind your band name? How does it reflect the essence of your music?
Good question… the history of our name originates in high school and “Potenaz” is nothing more than the distortion of the surname of a friend of ours made by our physical education teacher… since then it has become a catchphrase, almost a mythological figure, which we have continued until today… then we added the “King” to make everything more doom/stoner and that’s it. Finally, we built the concept of our debut album around this elusive figure…
What are some unconventional or unexpected influences that have shaped your unique blend?
I (Giuseppe) am a big fan of dark wave, Piero (the drummer) is a lover of synths and electronic music, while Francesco (the bassist) has a weakness for 90s death/trash… but all three of us are united by the veneration for Black Sabbath and Kyuss… the mix of all these influences has shaped our sound.
How do you approach creating expansive and atmospheric soundscapes? What techniques or methods do you employ to achieve that signature vibe?
The creation of the supporting structure of the songs comes mainly from ideas we then develop together in the rehearsal room, sometimes the riffs emerge in an absolutely random way… the embryo of the song is then enriched by a series of details and devices (such as bridge, atmospheric breaks, solo and synth loops…). Instead, we manage to obtain the particular atmosphere of the songs by playing with the sounds of the various pedals we have available and crossing them between bass and guitar.
Are there specific themes or emotions you seek to convey through your music? How do alternative music help you express those concepts effectively?
The themes linked to our music are various but are mainly linked to inner research, the dream sphere, the occult, fantasy, psychedelic music from the 70s and a bit also to the horror movies of those years… when we create a song we try to bring out all those sensations from the riffs and lyrics… when we realize that we are the first to be able to hear them emerge then the game is done. Doom and stoner, unlike other genres, strike the listener deep in the soul and perhaps it is easier, with this type of sound, to convey to others exactly what you have in mind.
Share a remarkable moment or incident from your journey as a band that exemplifies the spirit of your music.
Recently one of our fans wrote to us privately telling us that he had taken some “mushrooms” with his partner and that he had started listening to our album… the result, according to him, was a fucking psychedelic trip… I would say that this anecdote perfectly summarizes the spirit of our idea of music.
In what ways do you envision your music progressing or evolving in the future? Are there any new elements or experimental approaches you’d like to incorporate?
We’re working on new songs and without wanting to we realized that we had created heavier and significantly longer songs than the previous ones, something we are more than proud of… unlike Goat Rider we want the next album to sound more doom and more atmospheric, in fact we intend to insert more synths and effects this time.
Is there a particular song in your discography that perfectly encapsulates the essence of your music? Please elaborate on its creation and significance.
Without a doubt the title track “Goat Rider”… is the ideal closure of the initial triptych of songs and has the aim of presenting the figure of the infernal motorcyclist with the head of a goat, the herald of King Potenaz, and his crazy race in search of damned souls for his master… on a musical level, it can be said that the track exactly represents our idea of making music and perfectly sums up the message we want to give to the listeners… the opening riff was one of the first we composed (I remember it came out while I was at home strumming with the guitar I had just bought)… the rest of the song is the result of a series of jams in the rehearsal room… only after the studio recording were the synths inserted. there is the desert stoner of the first part, the dreamy psychedelia of the bridge which introduces the occult doom of the long final part in which we have added some majestic choirs that have the purpose of making the whole piece even darker.
Are there any emerging or lesser-known artists within your music genre realm that you find inspiring or deserving of more recognition? Feel free to share their names and what you appreciate about their work.
Within our genre there are a myriad of valid bands but unfortunately little known or do not have the visibility they deserve… just to name a few, our friends and record label mates Pachiderma, our Roman brothers Wizard Master, Titane, Warcoe and many others… all wonderful guys, amazing musicians and great connoisseurs of everything that is doom and stoner as well as music in general…
What do you hope listeners experience or feel when they immerse themselves in your compositions? Is there a specific mood or sensation you aim to evoke?
The answer to question number 6 perfectly explains what we want others to feel when listening to our music.
Turbo Regime:
– Fuzz or distortion? – FUZZ
– Analog or digital effects? – a mixture of both
– Sabbath or Zeppelin? – SABBATH for life
– Heavy riff or mind-bending solo? – heavy riff
– Vintage gear or modern equipment? – vintage
King Potenaz Facebook.
You can order Goat Rider HERE.
Label: ARGONAUTA Records
Promo: Grand Sounds PR
