Groan

London’s reefer-induced riff rockers Groan were formed in 2010 and put a few demos online that rapidly caught the stoner/doom scene’s attention. They released their first album, The Sleeping Wizard, on Doomanoid Records that year. The band soon earned a reputation as an exciting and totally entertaining force live, with charismatic lead singer Mazzereth acting as ringmaster general at gigs. "Doom diehards will absolutely love this album's dedication to walloping, great riffs" - Kerrang! "Awesome, mind-expanding riffs so spaced out they're practically aliens" - Terrorizer "This is what all 'Stoner Rock' is meant to be... 10/10" - Doommantia "In so many ways it kicks more ass than most of the albums that have been released by established time served bands... Groan are keeping the riff alive and well and giving us what Cathedral have failed to do over the last two albums" - The Sleeping Shaman In the nine months after the album was released, the band played live all over the country, smoked the GDP of a small African nation, wrote off a brand new Ferrari California, decorated their rehearsal room with gifts from hookers, and even split up and re-formed in a day. After a split EP with Finnish doomers Vinum Sabbatum in 2011, Groan released their second album in 2012 on Dutch label Soulseller Records – The Divine Right of Kings – to great critical acclaim. "There's a sense of groove and swagger to every one of the 10 tracks on offer: a real party album" - Terrorizer "Reminiscent of Cathedral at their most unabashedly rocking... Groan can't help but be a good time... infectious and fist-pumpingly dopey... [The Divine Right of Kings is] an easy record to be excited about and I can’t think of a reason not to be. Recommended." - The Obelisk With new members Zel Kaute (Vodun, ex-Pettybone) and Mike Pilat (ex-Ocean Collective) joining on drums and guitar respectively, the band took a heavy metal sidestep with their five track EP Ride the Snake in late 2013. “Stylistically, they’ve kept Ride the Snake in line with The Divine Right of Kings, proffering old-school metallicisms with a stoner rock sense of humor. That blend might come to define them over time, and it’s more in balance here than it was on the last full-length” – The Obelisk With yet another new lineup forming in 2014, Groan went back into the studio with founder members Mazzereth (vocals) and Leigh Jones (bass) joined by long-time drummer Zel Kaute and new guitarist Lindsay Hamilton. The new EP, titled Highrospliffics, was recorded by Sam Thredder (Slabdragger) and was released on 23rd February as a free download through the band’s Bandcamp page. With more live shows already booked for 2015, Groan look to build on their reputation as the number one party stoner band in the UK and leave nobody in doubt as to their position at the top of the UK underground stoner/doom scene. UK Reefer-based Riff Rockers.