GOZU

Info

Genre
- metal
Members
- marc gaffney- vox/guitar
- paul dallaire- bass
- barry spillberg- drums
- doug sherman- guitar
Hometown
- Boston
Record Label
- SMALL STONE RECORDS
Biography
- Gozu first appeared on the scene in 2008 with the the release of their seven track EP. Consisting of members of bands such as Wargasm and Miltown and Clouds, Gozu laid down the rock but also brought the groove on songs such as the human-empowerment anthem “Rise Up” and D.A.R.E.-baiting “Meth Cowboy”. Fronted by the man with a plan, Marc Gaffney, aka Gaff, who has the pipes Chris Cornell used to possess before he started modeling men’s cologne, Gozu plays the sort of rock tailor made to be blasted out on radio airwaves nationwide, ala early Queens of the Stone Age. It’s the kind of rock music that pulls up alongside you while you’re walking down the street minding your own business, demands that you “get in the f@*ing car”, proceeds to drive 90 mph down the wrong side of the highway, and then drops you off miles from home at some abandoned rest stop.After a line-up change which brought on board bassist Jay Cannava of Miltown and Clouds infamy, Gozu continues to chug along at its own pace. Axe slinger Doug Sherman peels off riffs and solos like they’re going out of style and drum god Barry Spillberg beats his drums like they owe him money, and the whole thing just cruises along on a bed of melodies most bands would die for. Small Stone Records snapped up Gozu in 2009 and the band is currently working on its debut for the label, which will no doubt leave many a listener scratching their head, wondering how in the hell Gozu does it and makes it look so easy. But don’t let your guard down, because next thing you know you’ll be on the outskirts of town wondering how you got there and what that catchy song stuck in your head is and where it came from. – (Darryl Shepard)
Current Location
- Boston
General Manager/Booking Agent/Press Contact
- gozuband@gmail.com
Likes
- Birch Hill Dam, Jack Burton vs. David Lo Pan, AudioCotton.com, Orange Goblin, OurStage, Cocked N’ Loaded, Exploding In Sound, The Pour Farm Tavern & Grille, John Wilkes Booth, Lo-Pan, The Last Resort, RETALIATOR, HAMMER AND THE NAILS, Refuse Resist, Calmovita Photography, The Business, Furnace, Behold Oblivion, Mike Ness, Bad Brains, Motörhead, Thin Lizzy, Old Metallica, Diamond Head, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Meshuggah, Pork Pie Percussion, Clockwork Bar, Prohibice, Klub 007 Strahov, Noi!se, Cock Sparrer, Yellow Stitches, Bad Manners, The hotknives, BACKSTAGE München – Werk, Halle, Club, Werkstatt/Studio, Nachtbiergarten, The Offenders, The Droogs, Punto D’Onore, Wild At Heart, This is England, Toots & the Maytals, Darkbuster, Volxsturm, Trojan Records, Cro-Mags, Lich King, Fatal, Hold True Recordings, The Fatal Distraction, RUBBER WHORE HELL, Manic Repressive, Skull Hammer (official), Acaro, Vindicator, Coffin Dust, Judas Priest, Six In Line, Nefarious Realm Productions, Slayer band, Razormaze, The Empire Shall Fall, Goes Cube, NEMECIDE, Metal Wreckage, Prosthetic Records, Razors in the Night, Death Ray Vision, Gibson Guitar, Orange Amplifiers, national beard month, Raw Radar War, Ashers, Moons, Ryan Raftery Photography, Battleships, dead in the dirt, DOOMRIDERS, PanzerBastard, Emperor Custom Cabinets, FINISHER, Western Syndrome, Sweet Cobra, Witch Trial Records, The Red Chord, Astronomer, she rides, Converge, Return To The Pit, Casting Curses, Born of Fire Records, IODA – Independent Online Distribution Alliance, Peyote Radio Theatre – A Tribute to Jeff Buckley, Sonicbids Artist Profiles, The Boston New Music Initiative, Faith No More, lunglust, The Elevens, Kristen Ford Band, Tom Waits, Enormous Room, The Steve Katsos Show, Motherboar, Mellow Bravo, Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub, (the) Melvins, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Paradise Rock Club, Great Scott, The Trash Bar, Headbang TV North American Crew, Bay State College, Mondo Thursdays, Louder Now Boston, Storm King, White Zombie/Sean Yseult, The Metal Zone, Delete-A-Friend Week, Unearthly Trance, Allegro Digital Distribution, Farmers’ Mahket Radio Show, Blackwolfgoat | Malden, MA, University of Doom Metal, Posh Magazine, Sam Black Church, Bottom, Bourbon & Beale, MOB HIT, Larman Clamor, Bad Boys Boston, The Egos, Beyond The Ivy Wall Booking, Trap Them, ROADSAW, Boarcorpse, STONE AXE, Not Being Stabbed Repeatedly, AMP MAGAZINE, The 86’ers, Boston Band Crush, Kevin Barry Orchestra, Like a Bastard, Company Flow, Mr. Bungle, SUPERNAUT The Black Sabbath Experience, Mike Null, Small Stone Records, Phantom Glue, Never Got Caught, The Soda Shop, Kyuss Lives, Black Thai, Cortez, PlaygroundBoston.com
Interesets
- Camping,Shrimping,Shucking Clams,Glory Holes and Rachel Ray, Pillow talking, Pillow biting…The usual
Websites
- http://www.reverbnation.com/gozu666
- http://www.facebook.com/GOZU666
- http://www.myspace.com/gozu666

Press

“To say that Locust Season, their magnificent debut, rocks is an understatement. For much of 2010, I’ve been pining for some serious hard rock and been given slim pickings from the mainstream as well as the underground. Friends, our long national nightmare is over, and we are in Gozu’s debt. Check out “Regal Beagle” below and tell me that if rock radio actually rocked anymore this wouldn’t be a fucking chart topper! ” – Metalsucks.com
“The rock ‘n’ roll world has to produce something really special in the remaining months of this year to crowbar this album off my stereo, and I can’t see it happening. Not that, realistically, I want it to as ‘Locust Season’ delivers like a mailman on steroids. Highly recommended. ” – Uber Rock
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say again: originality is a fine thing, but it’s rarer than rocking-horse crap, and you don’t really need it if you rip off the right material with enough flair. You’ve heard every element of Locust Season before, probably more times than you can count… and that’s what makes Gozu a great listen. So put your foot down and drive, motherfucker – it’s seventy miles to the next gas station, and I’m all out of cigarettes.” – Dreaded Press
“And yet again Small Stone Records have succeeded in discovering the next powerful riff machine. The new entrant answers to the name of GOZU and first appeared on the scene in 2008 with the the release of their seven track EP. Two years have passed since then and ‘Locust Season’ is GOZU’s debut album that enqueues itself seamlessly in the bank of high quality releases from Small Stone Records.” – Cosmiclava
“Small Stone’s reputation remains intact on this release. With only a few small exceptions they’re a label that has a knack of sniffing out talent and quality and Gozu look set to take their place within their revered roster…and if there’s any justice they’ll be sitting near the top of the pile!!!” – The Sleeping Shaman
“An expertly conceived, bombastic stoner rock album that is bound to blow your mind.” – Sputnick Music
“Gozu’s debut has a thick as a brick sound that is a straight descendant from Queens of the Stone Age. The majority of the time, the band hits hard enough and loads the songs up with catchy riffs and vocal lines that you don’t mind the close proximity to “Regular John” and “Mexicola” and the like. Besides, the Europeans (Sweden, I’m looking at you) have been begging, borrowing, and stealing that sound for years – almost a decade – so it’s good to see a local favorite step up to the plate and show the rest of the world that we’re not solely guttural sludge and angular, mathy screech metal.” – Arzgarth – stonerrock.com
“If only more rock and roll sounded this good. Gozu have perfected the lost art of making music that simply rocks your face off. One trip through “Rise Up” and you’ll wonder why you even listen to anything else. The band majors in rock with a focus on stoner resulting in a high degree of tunes that will have you fist-pumping and head-banging well into the night.” – Decoy Music
“Let’s see what elements make for a great album. There are a lot of different ones but good song writing, catchy riffs and punchy lyrics would be a few. Ironically those same elements I would use to describe Locust Season.” – THE SODA SHOP
“2009-WBCN Rumble 2010 SXSW-Austin Texas 2010 – 2 Boston Music Award Nominee 2010 – Boston Phoenix Music Award Nominee SMALL STONE RECORDS ” – deez nutz
“The quartet blasts out a superior brand of hard rock on its debut full-length Locust Season. Not content to simply rewrite Monster Magnet (yeah, I know, work with me here), the band pays as much attention to groove as to grunge, letting the licks slide across rubbery grooves like massage oil over a curvaceous ass.” – SLEAZEGRINDER
“ The whole damn deal is raw, reeks of rancid rubber, and is as rough n’ tumble as a Boston bar brawl.” – BROKEN BEARD
“ They aren’t shy about toying with pop sounds and quirky guitar lines, and that has earned them comparisons to Queens of the Stone Age, but Gozu are far more heavily toned guitar-wise than the Josh Homme outfit, whatever similarities of playing style might crop up. The vocals of guitarist Marc Gaffney are a point of commonality, however, and huge part of what sets Gozu apart from the pack.” – THE OBELISK
“Boston’s Gozu are what you would call stoner rock in the truest sense of the word. In many ways it’s like being transported back to the mid nineties when Kyuss and Fu Manchu were still reigning this genre.” – Matt Smith – GASP.COM
“I still am a huge Queens of the Stone Age fan, but their last album left me quite cold. Gozu are the blanket that will warm me up.” – (Deaf Sparrow)
“Driving stoner rock riffs and soulful vocals.” – (Duncan Wilder Johnson) – The Noise
“Boston seems to be going through another musical resurgence and Gozu’s another fine example of the city’s new breed of bands. These guys are definitely worth checking out.” – (John Pegoraro) – (StonerRock.com)
“What they do is ugly and rural and fucking kicks much ass. Boston has always been a hotbed of amazing bands and Gozu is no different.” – (-iann robinson) – nonelouder