This last week, I’ve been listening to Gozer. Namely their album “The Far Realm” and their new song “Sunseeker”. Their sound is a mix of Stoner rock, progressive metal and a mix of different heavy riffs. We talked about influences, how they got together and what lies ahead for the band. Catch them as they play in the capital region and beyond by year’s end.
Who is the best band or artist you have seen live?
Sean Murphy: Story of The Year has always been one of my favorites. Just insane energy- backflipping off guitar cabs, spin kicks, you name it. Some honorable mentions: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Erra, Every Time I Die, Rush, Victor Wooten. I used to work concerts for a living, so I’ve seen quite a bit over the last 10 years or so.
Nick Kossor: Edguy & Hammerfall, 2005 at BB King's in Manhattan. Tight AF, and they both gave such fun, energetic performances.
Jackson Tollerton: Rage Against the Machine at MSG and Black Sabbath at Mohegan Sun. Hearing “Killing in the Name” and all the other heavy hitters from one of the biggest musical powerhouses ever- at The Garden? I wept.
How long has the band been together, and how did you get started?
Gozer: The band started in 2018. Nick K and Sean had played together previously in a different project and had been out of thelive show game for a few years. The band started as a more “horror rock” type of deal that was all instrumental. We also contributed original music to various podcasts and films. Our first live show was at Pauly’s (RIP) in 2019. It’s very funny to see just how far we have come from that point. A few lineup changes later, here we are! Shoutout to the 518-music scene for being welcoming, collaborative, and willing to give new bands a platform.
Your album "The Far Realm" has such an expansive sound, covering rock n roll from multiple angles. What kind of music do you guys listen to as a band, and does it come through in what you write?
Gozer: It’s expansive because of two factors. Sean is trying to write songs that sound like Erra, Spiritbox, Dayseeker and other metalcore acts. At the same time, Nick K and Jackson are channeling The Sword, Clutch, Mastadon, and Tool. The confluence of both those styles is very much our sound as a whole- and “The Far Realm” to a tee. Nick M can drum anything and really brings things together with his touch and style. He also very much enjoys his stoner rock/metal genre.
As the band grows and changes, what can we expect from the next Gozer album?
Gozer: We would say this next album covers just as much ground sonically. The tracks vary quite a bit, but it still fits nicely under the “Gozer riff rock umbrella”. All the songs will be bigger, tighter, and more energetic than “The Far Realm”.Our goal every time we write new material is to push the envelope in terms of overall song quality and production. We can’t wait to share what we've been cooking up with Jackson on vocals. The dude is a powerhouse of charisma, talent, and work ethic. His presence pushes each of us to higher creative levels and has made us more optimistic than ever about the future of Gozer!
You're playing November 7th at Putnam Place. Other than that, what does Gozer have in store for the autumn and winter?
Gozer: We’ve got a nice lil cluster of shows coming up. October 18th we're headed north near Plattsburgh with Executive Disorder and Mortuary Service. November 7th, we’re at Putnam Place with Ginger Geezus and Joe Mansmann & The Midnight Revival Band for their album release show. On November 22nd we’re at No Fun with Jupiter Queen, Grief Group, and Eight Foot Manchild. November 29th, we're in Newburgh with our pals in Mama Doom. There might be a December show in Brooklyn- we’re just waiting for the lineup to be confirmed. We're beyond excited to extend our reach beyond the 518 to get new listeners. The rest of the winter will be focused on recording and mixing the album. Lastly, we have a single/video coming out sooncalled “Monolith” that we think will set the tone nicely. We can’t wait to show everyone how far we have come as a band!
