Humulus
Biography
HUMULUS is a Psych Stoner trio based in Brescia and Bergamo, Italy. They formed in 2009, and their self-titled debut album was released by Go Down Records in December 2012. Their sound was inspired by bands like Karma To Burn, Orange Goblin, and Kyuss. Following the album's release, the band immediately embarked on a tour through Italy and Spain until Winter 2014, when singer/guitarist Cristiano Benicchio quit the band. The same year, the band was proud to brew their own Black Stoner IPA thanks to the cooperation with the independent brewery ELAV from Bergamo, Italy.
In the Spring of 2015, singer/guitarist Andrea Bellicini (ex-Van Cleef Continental) joined the band, adding a more psychedelic and dynamic music style and widening the influences beyond the Stoner genre. After a few months of rehearsals, the Electric Walrus EP was self-released. It features three more structured songs than in the past, with refined melodies and a warmer feel thanks to the bluesy vocals of the new frontman. The band kept writing songs, touring, and performing at various festivals including Keep It Low, Somenfest, and Burn The Witch.
In Spring 2017, their sophomore studio album Reverently Heading Into Nowhere was released on vinyl edition for the German label Kozmik Artifactz and on CD for the Italian Taxi Driver Records. A three-year European tour followed, including many festival appearances such as the Freak Valley Festival, Up In Smoke, Duna Jam, Dome of Rock, and Tabernas.
In Summer 2019, the band announced its third full-length, The Deep, released by Kozmik Artifactz in February 2020. It is more atmospheric and introspective, especially in the expanded opening and closing tracks. However, there is no shortage of Stoner Doom riffs, which are Humulus' DNA. The promo tour was drastically cut back due to the pandemic. However, they did manage to perform at Desertfest 2021 in Belgium and Lake On Fire 2022 in Austria.
Andrea Bellicini left the band in November 2022, but stalwart members Giorgio Bonacorsi and Massimiliano Boventi did not give up. A month later, Thomas Mascheroni (Thomas Greenwood and the Talismans) joined the lineup. Through extended jam sessions in the rehearsal room, they were able to find a new balance quickly. This is how the seven songs in Humulus' fourth album Flowers Of Death were conceived. The track "Seventh Sun" features Stefan Koglek from Color Haze on guitar. Kozmik Artifactz released the vinyl edition on September 1, 2023. The CD edition is due out in November 2023 via Go Down Records.
LINEUP
Thomas Mascheroni | guitar, vocals
Giorgio Bonacorsi | bass
Massimiliano Boventi | drums
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