On the fringe of chaos, in the Year of the Pandemic, the Cannabeast has awoken: 16 years since their last record, Wisconsin Sludge Metal giants BONGZILLA are back with a new full length album!
The pioneers of Weed Metal have signed a worldwide record deal with Heavy Psych Sounds, who will proudly release BONGZILLA’s forthcoming, fifth studio album entitled “Weedsconsin“. The band has also announced to join the HPS Booking roster for Europe.
Six brand new, mindblowing tracks written by the three long standing original band members – Muleboy (bass, vocals), Spanky (guitar), and Magma (drums) – will immediatly contaminate you by the classic Weed-infected sound the band is known for, while also finding new elements mixed into the bowl. “Weedsconsin” delivers some heavy doses of crushing Stoner Doom and Psychedelic Space Rock that sets it apart from earlier material, but travels down a path of heavy riffs, mind-expanding jams, sonic tones, and stomping beats in the band’s first release as a thunderous three piece.
BONGZILLA’s upcoming album was recorded and mixed by the late John Hopkins at Future Apple Tree Studios in Rock Island, Illinois in October 2020, and was mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering in Chicago, Illinois. “Weedsconsin” is dedicated to the memory of John Hopkins, and will see the light of day through Heavy Psych Sounds, with many more details and album tunes to be revealed, soon. The album pre-sale and a first single release has been announced for February 2, 2021.
BONGZILLA formed in 1995 in Wisconsin. As their name suggests, most of their material is related to marijuana and promotes its legalization. Over the next three years they recorded and released a dozen songs on EPs and split singles, until they signed to Relapse Records in 1998, and have since released four studio albums and a live album through the label. Since the seeds were planted in the mid-90s, BONGZILLA have been sowing Madison, Wisconsin’s rich soil with their homegrown, psychedelic sludge. Following the release of their fourth studio album “Amerijuanican” in 2005, the band toured and remained active until 2009 when the group quietly took a hiatus.
In April 2015 it was announced BONGZILLA was reforming with the Gateway lineup, first announcing a tour of Europe. The band followed up with a four-date tour of the West Coast USA, a tour of the east coast USA and an appearance at Desertfest Belgium. The band began 2017 with a local show in Wisconsin before embarking on another European tour, playing the likes of Roadburn Festival, DesertFest Berlin, DesertFest London, KristonFest and have begun working on material for a new album.
In early 2020, BONGZILLA started their own label Gungeon Records and released a re-issue of their classic album “Apogee”. However, in March of 2020 it would be announced that Cooter Brown would retire from the band due to health and family reasons, with Bongzilla choosing to continue as a thunderous three-piece.
A few months into the pandemic, BONGZILLA began rehearsing and recording for several different record projects – A limited Wake Brewing 7 inch, a full length album titled Weedsconsin, an LP split with the band Tons, and a 7 Inch Split with Boris, the first of a 7 inch Split Series released on Gungeon Records. All projects were recorded at Future Apple Tree Studios in Rockford, Illinois in October of 2020 by the legendary John Hopkins before his sudden and unexpected passing in the late fall of 2020.
On 21st January 2021, the band announces its signing to Italian label Heavy Psych Sounds, for the release of their fifth studio album “Weedsconsin” later in 2021.
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