Psillobian

We would like to introduce you to Psillobian. I saw these guys when they supported The Wildhearts back in December last year and I was blown away. Let's hear some more about these guys. If you want to check out their music for yourself, check out our Listen Live section where you can hear three tracks from their Chasing Down the Sun EP. These are: Chasing Down the Sun, Worthless and Zombie Stampede.

Psillobian are:

G: Vocals, rhythm and lead guitars.

Arguably, one of the best songwriters / front men in the North West of England. Has many years experience of live performance, having been active in numerous bands since the early 90's. Achieved a BA (Hons) in music, from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1999, but sites the years following the degree as his most important in terms of musical development.

Slick: Lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals.

Lover of all things guitar based. Never more at home than when exploring his instrument and creating new and interesting textures and weaving complex soundscapes around the bands compositions. Carries himself with a "cocksure" swagger onstage, yet surprisingly quiet and refelctive off-stage.

Chaz: Bass and backing vocals.

Gained a degree in music in 2002 and his writing talents and grasp of melody have helped create complex, yet beautifully fluid structures. Though not his primary instrument, Chaz has become a well respected bass player in his own right, utilising his adaptable bass style to add interesting counterpoint to the guitar driven Psillobian sound.

Andy: Drums.

His knowledge of music theory, song structure and general adaptability has ensured that Andy has settled perfectly into the Psillobian line up in a very short space of time. Technically, diverse and with metronome timing, his style incorporates many influences, from the raw, open ferocity of punk and metal to the gentle precision and varied dynamics of jazz.

Background:

Psillobian are a Preston based four piece whose sound draws on many influences past and present, yet remains inherently individual. Think of the riff rock elements of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath with the lyrical approach of Alice in Chains and Tool and now throw in elements of Drem Theatre, The Pixies, Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age and the Foo Fighters and you've just reached Psillobian.

The original version of Psillobian was the brainchild of G and Slick in late 2001 but it was only in March of 2004 after finding a stable line up that Psillobian were truly born. The band has drawn plaudits from many people in their short history and has already established themselves as one of Preston's premier live bands.

They initially enlisted the help of session drummer Rick Gallacher (Severcord and The Bronco's) from December 2003 until November 2004 before finding a permanent replacement in Andy Crabtree. This has given the collective more scope to expand upon their sound and challenge themselves as musicians.

They are already developing a keen fanbase and their website is ensuring that fanbase is not restricted to the UK.

Career Highlights:

In July 2004 the band were voted by local music lovers to play the annual "Live on the Park" at Avenham PArk which showcased the area's fastest rising bands.

After the success of the Avenham Park gig Psillobian were offered a headline slot at Preston's premier live venue "The Mill" (host to such bands as Ash, Killing Joke and Embrace). They have since headlined Die so Fluid (November 2004 and Dead Fly Buchowski (January 205) at The Mill and have also offered support, in a highly successful show, to the Wildhearts (December 2004). Psillobian have also played with Los angeles based hardcore band Year Future during their UK tour in September 2004.

Reviews:

7th April 2004
12 Bar, Preston

Hard to spell, even harder to write in shorthand, the fuzzy rockers Psillobian have that spark of something that makes them a real local band to follow in 2004. Heavy intros and pounding paces abound, with the opening songs being confident dirty, grimy and melodic in equal measure. Noticeably impressive bassist and drums give good grounding, supplemented by the guttural vocals and buzzing rhythm and lead. Nice bulk to open, the “Worthless” and “Smothered” tracks are heavy but are well controlled and don’t stray too far away from their roots.

“Worthless” sounds like Cold but with a very distinctive bass throughout and sporadic flurries of solos, that links up well with the increments of stop-start funk that is “Crystal Drive”. Good control of vocals throughout, backed up with a gruff growl but never over-pronounced. The sound-effect, a peculiar stick-device, is only used twice and this suggest a good knowledge of how not to over-do a interesting quirk.

Tight and precise, with variable tone, Psillobian could travel well with their rounded sound. Hectic, but able to tie together individual traits into a layered sound, the end result is of a genuine promising collective.

Written by Liam Pennington

7th July 2004,
The 12 Bar, Preston

Psillobian just do not get bored of performing at the 12 Bar, and the 12 Bar continues to get more and more interested in Psillobian, as they consistently draw bigger and bigger crowds.

If you have not yet been witness to this spectacle then you are a fool. If nothing else it is worth watching just to see how brilliantly the band fits the stage.

The 12 Bar was made for Psillobian, with the lead singer and bassist unable to fit on the stage and looking quite happy out amongst the crowd, allowing the lead guitarist to stand at the back, towering fantastically over the rest of the world like a proverbial ‘Rock God’, his long, thick, Brian May-esque hair hiding his face from view.

Away from all this their Psillobian’s music is not bad either. They describe themselves as a ‘Stoner rock group’ but come across immensely heavy on first listen. However, it is unclear whether the set becomes more dynamic and melodic as it continues or if human ears gradually warm to the band’s sound. One thing is for sure – it is hard to leave disappointed.

Husky backing

As you would expect, the lead singer has the most tuneful voice
of the 3 vocalists, but only when the bassist adds his snarling, husky backing does the Psillobian sound seem complete.

The set included ‘A Place Called Home’, ‘Worthless’, which at times cleverly employs two lead guitars, ‘Crucified’, which is based around a lively riff similar to Oasis’ Hindu Times only much more eerie, intensified by the third, deep backing voice provided by the self-proclaimed ‘Space Lord’ lead guitarist.

Psillobian have traces of Muse, Iron Maiden, Queens Of The Stone Age and at times even Led Zeppelin, but away from comparisons are sculpting their own sound, so if you are fully against ‘heavy, stoner-space-rock, you are going to have to try very hard not to get your mind changed.

Written by Dan Jeoffroy