Boston's GOZU — Marc Gaffney (vocals and guitar); Joseph Grotto(bass); Doug Sherman (lead guitar); and Seth Botos (drums) — return riffing and screaming with their fifth full-length Remedy.
It arrives via Black Light Media/Metal Blade on May 19. Pre-order it here.
Today, the band has shared the video for "Tom Cruise Control." Watch it below.
"'Tom Cruise Control' will take you riding into the danger zone," the band shares. "It will take you right into the danger zone! Turn 'n Burn."
The record was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Dean Baltulonis (Death Ray Vision, The Hope Conspiracy) at Wild Arctic studios in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The album will be available via Digital/Streaming, CD, and vinyl. The U.S. vinyl variant will be Blue/White Melt, while the European vinyl variant will be Red/Black Melt.
About the album Gozu says, "A wise man said, 'To rock is human, to roll is divine. Gozu's Remedy should be cranked at full volume, all the time,"
Gozu will also hit the road this May.
"On May 19, Gozu hit the road with some serious BGVs. Get ready to stop, drop, and open up shop! See you all at a club near you. Woooo."
All dates are below.
GOZU ON TOUR:
5/19 — Brooklyn, NY — Saint Vitus
5/20 — Philadelphia, PA — Kung Fu Necktie
5/21 — Pittsburgh, PA — Green Beacon Gallery
5/23 — Indianapolis, IN — Black Circle *
5/24 — Columbus, OH — Ace of Cups *
5/25 — Newport, KY — Southgate House/Revival Room *
5/26 — Chicago, IL — Reggies / Music Joint *
5/27 — Lincoln, NE — Cosmic Eye Brewery
5/28 — Denver, CO —The Crypt
5/30 — Houston, TX — Black Magic Social Club
5/31 — Austin, TX — The Lost Well
6/1 — Arlington, TX — Division
6/2 — New Orleans, LA — Gasa Gasa
6/3 — Nashville, TN — Springwater *
6/4 — Atlanta, GA — Boggs Social & Supply *
6/5 — West Columbia, SC — New Brookland Tavern *
6/7 — Raleigh, NC — The Pour House *
*With Ancient Days
ABOUT GOZU:
This is Gozu's world, we're just living in it. Given that it has been five years since the Boston quartet dropped the monstrous Equilibrium, returning with Remedy is one hell of a way to make sure that everyone — whether previously familiar with them or otherwise — realizes that they are perhaps the most badass of American rock bands, for they have taken everything to the next level.
"There is a certain maturity mixed with a childlike enthusiasm to play music, and we all are better players now than on Equilibrium," says vocalist/guitarist Marc Gaffney. "We have all really tried to look at what we enjoy but more what we do not enjoy. Playing music is a gift and when it becomes A Nightmare on Elm St Part 37.3, you are done." The result is nine tracks of their signature combination of fuzzy, '70s-inspired riffs, rich, catchy, grunge-esque vocal melodies and a touch of old school trippy psychedelia written and played with the utmost passion and enthusiasm, eclipsing everything else in their catalogue. "The band wanted a very heavy groove-oriented album with singalong choruses. We also wanted sonically to hit you in the chest, like a three-combination, left-right-left, like Micky Ward. Harmonies and melodies were something we really looked at and wanted to shine, and thick guitar tones, driving bass and drums were under the microscope."
One element that gave the band a kick in the pants going into Remedy was drummer Seth Botos joining Gaffney, guitarist Doug Sherman and bassist Joe Grotto. "Seth brings such an impeccable work ethic and freshness to the band that it was infectious. He is the breath of delicious fresh air the three old men needed. He reminds us of a young Kevin Bacon/Wayne Rooney." Auditioning drummers ate up some of the time elapsed between records but like for so many bands the biggest obstacle was COVID, which slowed down the whole process.
Recording with honorary fifth member of Gozu, producer/engineer Dean Baltulonis (Death Ray Vision, The Hope Conspiracy) at Wild Arctic studios in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, sessions were unlike any that the band had previously experienced. Botos laid his drums down in just a day-and-a-half, taking all suggestions his bandmates had and putting his signature spin on them, echoing the fact that they were all invested in the process more than ever before.
The band obviously hopes to tour the record after so long off the road, and they would love the opportunity to share the stage with bands they admire. When asked what other unfulfilled goals they have at this juncture, Gaffney answers without hesitation: "To always improve, write better, play better, enjoy everything that we are offered and take advantage of it. I feel we are always setting goals for ourselves so we are not stagnant or believe we can’t do more. The goal should always be to have fun, kill it and let the music set people free. The minute we stop setting goals and challenges for ourselves is the minute we have failed."