Unsigned Band Profile: BATILLUS

What’s What: A New York band by birth, but heavy by the grace of the doom gods - behold, the power of Batillus. The band was formed in Brooklyn by three amplifier worshippers who met by chance; a mere twelve months later, Batillus had already self-released an EP and played with the likes of Withered, Tombs, Rosetta, The Gates of Slumber, Evoken, Bloody Panda, Hull, and Unearthly Trance. Lauded by the metal press as “shudderingly mighty” and blessed with some of the heaviest riffs this side of Dopethrone, Batillus describe their music as “dynamic, atmospheric blackened-doom.” If you like your songs loud, long, and lingering, Batillus’ eleven-minute epics will be right up your alley. They are currently working on a limited CDR version of their self-titled EP and plotting tour dates for the fall. Bring your earplugs.

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Current Release: Self-titled EP, self-released digitally January 16, 2009 (http://batillusdoom.com/batillus_ep.html)
Rocks Like: Electric Wizard, Graves at Sea, Samothrace, Zoroaster, Asunder

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*additional questions by Jacob Round/asst. editor Hails & Horns;
answers by Geoff Summers/BATILLUS*

GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY OF YOUR BAND FROM INCEPTION TO PRESENT DAY.

It's not a particularly fascinating story-- Greg and Willi met while working at a record store, then they found me on craigslist. We played together as a trio for the first time in February of '08 and it just gelled. Since then it's been a pretty fast ride-- we've played a dozen shows in half as many months with bands we respect and admire such as Withered, Tombs, Rosetta, The Gates of Slumber, Evoken, Bloody Panda, Hull, and Unearthly Trance. Revolver Magazine caught us at a show, describing our sound as "uber-slow, beyond-atmospheric blackened doom," and Invisible Oranges (written by Cosmo Lee of Decibel, Pitchfork, All Music Guide) described our EP as such: "trippy Sabbath-isms, mutated Helmet riffs, even black metal tremolo picking [...] shudderingly mighty."

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND?

Dynamic, atmospheric blackened-doom.

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOUR BAND? WHAT SETS YOU APART?

Well, at the end of the day, we're just a doom band. We're not saving the world-- we just like to play fucking loud and we hope people can find some enjoyment in that.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOUR BAND? (Specific tours, planning to record, etc.?)

We're currently working on a limited CDr version of our self-titled EP, which will be hand numbered (limited to 100), hand assembled, and contain a bonus track not included in the digital release. We're also in the beginning stages of planning our first tour, which is likely to be a two-three week affair along the east coast in September of this year. In the meantime, we'll continue to play local and regional shows, and we'll also be harassing our favorite labels until one of them succumbs and agrees to put out some wax for us!