GIGANTUM Blows Minds with Debut LP, Air Lyric Video “For All My Friends”

From Los Angeles hails the fearsome new foursome GIGANTUM, with seasoned area musicians Mia X (lead vocals, bass) and Blare N Bitch (guitar, vocals) from Betty Blowtorch, Mark Lüntzel (guitar, vocals) from Deathkings, and Chase Manhattan (drums) from Behold! The Monolith. Their new 40-minute self-titled record is an up-tempo blend of psychedelic and punk rock influences with definite doom overtones.

It begins with “Monkey King” and this great climbing bass groove and big drums (inspired by a monkey that ate the sun), and a killer stoner riff at 1:00 and a soulful second guitar. I wish it’d gone on longer, but it is interrupted by Sun Wukong and a return to the punky intro. There is a switch between rhythms and styles done with seamless skill, and Gigantum makes us believers in their sound as a result.

Today Doomed & Stoned is bringing you the lyric video “For All My Friends,” which speaks of the fragility of friendships in this current age. “This is for my friends dead or gone,” Mia X muses with jagged tones. “I may wish you well or nothing at all.” The rhythm feels like someone angrily pacing as they fume about the whereabouts of someone who was once meaningfully present to them.

“Is more poppy with a bit of anger behind it,” explain Nia and Blaire. “It jams out all the emotion. It’s about losing friends either purposely or through misunderstanding or death and the complicated feelings that go along with that.”

“Are you hanging on?” she sings in a way that we can feel her pain. “I try to forget you.” The closing two minutes are a cathartic stretch where no words are needed, just the purifying force of a good ‘70s-style psychedelic proto metal jam. The bass at 4:14 is the kind that you can really feel in your gut with the right speakers, it’s tuned just right.

“Forever Dreaming” has an absorbing rocker that transforms into something radically different, but convincing. There are vocal moments not to be missed in the third minute of the song. I’ll bet this would be downright haunting to experience live. After an interlude that almost becomes timeless, there is an eruption of powerful and emphatic psychedelic rhythms.

“Brain Haze” follows and it came about, Mia says, “when Blare and I were talking about how the mind’s pathways are affected when the brain is on the fritz. Having consciousness during a really hard time, it becomes like a dream where you are disassociated and know what is happening, but you are a passenger in your own life.”

It’s a solid doomer that begins with a banger of a drum intro and big, resounding beats that once again come out really well over a good pair of car or home speakers. “Brain Haze” is a psychedelic fuzz frenzy with a jazzy beat that ushers us into dark rock realms with a dangerous sounding low-end riff. I could hear every instrument distinctly in this mix and with great presence thanks to Charlie Waymire at Ultimate Studios (mastered by Ernesto Homeyer). After four minutes of sinister doom rock, we are transported into something more meditative and entrancing, taking us to a place of calm and assurance deep within our crowded heads, aided by wistful and enchanting blues guitar.

There’s no denying the band’s verve on “Rock Box,” the penultimate track, with its rapid fire percussion from Chase Manhattan (who personally owns 8 drum sets and 80+ snare drums). “Musically,” he says, “it’s our ode to punk rock Gigantum style going 100mph.” This one really rattles with a verve that proves to me why rock 'n’ roll will never die, especially as the planet becomes more paved over. It’s just the kind of vibe people need to let out their steam in this hotbox zoo of 2024. And yes, you get to yell “hey, hey, hey, hey!” to this one which is always fun.

Record closer “Necron 99” is the longest (just 12 seconds longer than “Brain Haze”). It features a solemnly stated intro with wavy hypnotic groove and whispers of “wizards,” inspired the band says by 1977’s WIZARDS, an animated film brought to much of the scene’s attention by Electric Wizard with their own “Wizard in Black.” It’s one of the best songs on the album, with its angry chants juxtaposed with Mia’s wild, unhampered vocals.

The lyrics are not solely fantasy and have a subtext for our world. The song turns into doom 'n’ roll after a freak-out psychedelic solo, followed by a wicked riffing low-end groove, the lead guitar still drunk with psychedelic energy. It was a big, pleasant surprise at the end of this tour de force (listen for the spirited yelp of relief after those titanic closing beats).

It’s wide ranging heavy music odyssey that spans six hefty heavy rock tracks on 'Gigantum’ (2024), and you can get it digitally right here with the wide release date scheduled for September 6th.

Give ear…

SOME BUZZ

Gigantum, a fresh rock band from Los Angeles, USA is ready to show the scene their unique flavor as they release their debut self-titled album on September 6, 2024.

They are now proudly presenting their third single “For All My Friends”, which is another showcase of the band’s ability to blend personal stories with innovative music. Bassist and primary lyricist, Mia X reflects on the song’s creation:

“I love to write. I like hearing what everyone is thinking or feeling and then coming up with a story for it. I need to hear the music and feel it to know what I’m going to say. The instruments always tell a story. Is more poppy with a bit of anger behind it. It jams out all the emotion. It’s about losing friends either purposely or through misunderstanding or death and the complicated feelings that go along with that.”

The band further explains that each of them brings ideas from different musical backgrounds, but with the cohesiveness of having played together previously for a decade. This leads to heartfelt and complex rock n’ roll that is engaging, catchy, and will shake the foundations of all the venues it’s experienced live in.

“For All My Friends” is groovy, foot-tapping fun, and also a “Dear John” letter for anyone that you left or has left you. It is recommended for fans of Iron Blanket, Black Sabbath, and Clutch.