Samavayo Announce New Album Payan out March 25; Post Studio Documentary
Just when I begin to think maybe the Samavayo in-studio documentary below that covers the making of their new album, Pāyān, is glossing over some of the less-thrilling moments of a given recording process — the times where you’re waiting for something to be set up, or fixed, or reset, or whatever — on the screen there flashes a sign that says ‘2000 Years Later,’ and that about sums it up. Still, the Berlin-based trio look like they had a blast making their latest outing with producer Richard Behrens, which will be out on Noisolution on March 25 and their first record since 2018’s Vatan (review here), and the documentary is a good look at their process, all the way down to celebrating Stephen Voland‘s birthday while they’re there.
Pāyān, the Persian word, translates to ‘the end’ in English, and though I raise an eyebrow anytime a band names a release in some reference to a kind of conclusion — does this mean they’re breaking up? and so on — the release announcement below makes sure to point out that, no, it’s not necessarily the end of Samavayo after some 22 years. There are plenty of other endings around to focus on. Noteworthy contributions from Greenleaf/Dozer‘s Tommi Holappa, Stoned Jesus‘ Igor Sydorenko, Elder‘s Nick DiSalvo and Coogans Bluff‘s Willie Paschen, as well as a cover of Iranian pop singer Googoosh add intrigue to the proceedings, and it would seem that the lesson Samavayo have learned in the last few years of tumult is that if you’re going to do a thing, go all in.
So be it. March 25 is the release. In the spirit of looking forward, here’s the documentary and album announce — complete with cover art featuring the band’s enviable new logo — as well as the previously announced tour dates with Stoned Jesus for this April.
Enjoy:
Samavayo, “Pāyān” Studio Documentary
“Pāyān”. The end. Persian.
SAMAVAYO deals a lot with “the end” in terms of content on their new album. The end of the bad, of the good, the end of humanity, end of the way we treat our planet. It’s about the destruction of our planet, division, racism, greed, exploitation, war, isolation, loneliness. But every end means at the same time a beginning, a new start and beginning. “Payan” – the seventh album of SAMAVAYO in the 22nd year of its existence is fresh and full of energy and power!
“Our sound has never been so clear from the ground up as it is on this album. We definitely can say that after 22 years we have finally found our sound.”
Musically, the record is different from its predecessors: more heavy, more prog, lots of anger and a pinch of punk, Alice In Chains vocals, and last but not least some unusual guitar soli are added by a illustrious bunch of guests who visited the studio: Igor Sydorenko (Stoned Jesus), Tommi Holappa (Greenleaf, Dozer), Nick DiSalvo (Elder) and Willi Paschen (Coogans Bluff) didn’t take long to contribute.
Without too much “world music” sounds, the trio has continued to incorporate oriental sounds, including two songs with Persian vocals again. The title track, as well as the cover version “Talagh” by Iranian pop superstar Googoosh have become extremely gritty versions that rhythmically would also suit Tool well.
“Shot Shot Shot” is, as the song title says, straight in the face. A hard uptempo number that leaves no questions unanswered. “Transcend! Exceed!” comes ingratiating, melodic, riff-heavy and compact. One album. Seven songs. No failure. Extensive arrangements, a grandiose production by Richard Behrens (Kadavar, Silvershark, among others). More versatile than ever, uncompromising and hard-hitting.
But also otherwise the band looks beyond the horizon and has ideals and goals that definitely show that you have grown not only musically. “As a musician, you often travel long distances to concerts. That’s why we decided to compensate our CO2- emissions by investing in sustainable projects. Our website server runs on “green electricity”, we produce fair trade shirts and we look to use as little plastic or recycled material as possible in the production of the records.”
An extraordinary album and a special band that has not stopped for more than two decades and always has new goals. More than remarkable and no end seems in sight.
Tour dates with Stoned Jesus in April:
08.04.22 – Hannover | CAFE GLOCKSEE
09.04.22 – Siegen | Vortex Surfer Musikclub
10.04.22 – Wiesbaden | Schlachthof Wiesbaden
11.04.22 – Hamburg | Knust Hamburg
12.04.22 – Nijmegen | Doornroosje
13.04.22 – Aachen | Musikbunker Aachen
14.04.22 – Dortmund | JunkYard
15.04.22 – Amsterdam | Melkweg Amsterdam
16.04.22 – Gent | Kunstencentrum Vooruit
17.04.22 – Paris | Petit Bain
18.04.22 – Nantes | Le Ferrailleur – Club Concert
19.04.22 – Toulouse | Connexion Live
20.04.22 – Bilbao | Kafe Antzokia
21.04.22 – Porto | Hard Club
22.04.22 – Madrid | SALA CARACOL MADRID
23.04.22 – Barcelona | Razzmatazz
25.04.22 – Martigny | Caves du Manoir
26.04.22 – München | Feierwerk
27.04.22 – Vienna | Chelsea
28.04.22 – Zürich | Dynamo Zürich (offiziell)
29.04.22 – Nürnberg | MUZclub
30.04.22 – Dresden | Beatpol
Samavayo is:
Behrang Alavi, Andreas Voland & Stephan Voland
