Anyone who has heard Folivore knows the intense feeling of dread their music produces. Formed in 2010 by guitarist Kyle Kessler and drummer Chris Patzke, Folivore—named as an homage to sludge metal act Weedeater, and because “sloths are the most metal of animals,” according to Patzke—was designed to unite their Holy Trinity of metal.
“Black Sabbath is the Father, the Melvins are the Son, and Lemmy is the Holy Ghost,” Kessler says. “He’s the tie that binds.”
Vocalist Stephanie Vossekuil joined soon after the band was formed, covering their spacious melodies with her hellish screams. Soon, Folivore was playing gigs around town and touring the California coast, following the release of the locally infamous 2010 Rehearsal Demo EP (or the “Vagina Tree EP”, for us believers). Then, in 2011, Folivore fell silent.
“We went through bass players like drummers in Spinal Tap,” says Kessler with a laugh.
They returned the following year with “Friar” Sam Boodt strumming sonic riffs on the bass. Empowered with fresh blood, the slow-rocking coven has recently re-recorded their demo in an effort to shop for labels and deliver their message of black magic, nature’s rule of humanity and exploring the space between consciousness. And it seems to be working. Folivore’s psychedelically crushing sound has earned them a space in the metal community, playing with acts like Swamp Witch, EyeHateGod, Death Monk and Church of Misery.
“There’s been a lot of community that has been down to help us out,” recalls Vossekuil.
Info: 8:30 p.m. Sunday, June 29. The Catalyst Atrium. 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $13. 423-1336.
