Photo: Frankie Cavone

Gozer is a refreshing hard rock act based out of the Capital Region that have been hitting it hard with memorable live shows and original music. The band just released a single called “Poisoned Crown” along with a music video for it. Gozer also has been nominated Favorite Metal Artist for a 2023 Listen Up Award. It was a pleasure working with these guys on the music video and with some time passed, we wanted to catch up with rising local rockers and see what else they have in store for this year! Read the full interview below:

How has 2023 been treating you thus far?

This year has been great so far! We’re full of excitement and optimism. Thank you for taking the time to chat and we hope your year has also been great.

You guys have been working on new material and even a music video for a single coming out. What are you most excited about sharing the new tunes with fans?

Thanks to you and Mirth Films, the video looks so sick! We released a single “Poisoned Crown” along with a music video. To be honest we’re just grateful to have the opportunity to make and release music. If tons of people dig it, great. If no one digs it, also great. It’s been a trip seeing this project grow from a concept to what it is today, and the band is united on one common goal…making music.

Now how did the band exactly come together? It seems like you all have musical history prior to the bands existence.

Collectively we all have experience playing across a quarter of the country. Sean and I (Nick K, guitar) played together in another band. Nick M has been in previous touring level projects. We met Mykah while mixing at our producer’s studio. We joke today it was intentionally set up to be a blind date. The 3 of us we’re listening a track when in walks Mykah. Our personalities meshed, we needed a singer, and we all hit it off. Finding this particular lineup was no walk in the park. Prior to COVID, Sean and I went through some horrifying (now hilarious) “audition experiences”. Those moments make you appreciate having a lineup of solid humans that much more.

What have become some of your favorite venues to perform at in the Capital Region?

There’s something great about every venue that has hosted us. The Jive Hive, The Dojo Beyond Space & Time, Pauly’s, Putnam Place, Rocks, Town & Country Skateboards, No Fun…the list goes on and on and they’re all great. I know we’re sounding like a bunch of sappy dorks but it’s the honest truth. Our first gig was at Pauly’s, the crowd was wild for us at Caesar’s Palace, the sound/lighting/stage/photos we’re unreal at Putnam Place. Each venue we’ve played at has contributed to creating so many positive memories and we’ll forever be appreciate of any place that will host us.

Who have been some key people that have helped you get to where you are today as a band?

First off, the band members. I’m guilty of sending sappy appreciation texts on more than one occasion to this lineup. Without Sean, Nick M., and Mykah, Gozer wouldn’t be what it is today and I think we’re all looking forward to keeping this project running as long as we can. Quick shoutout to Seth Maset and Mark Podbielski for being excellent drummers and friends who’ve helped get us up and running. Outside of the band members, our producer Tim Lynch of The Recording Company has been invaluable. The dude’s polite, professional, responsive, and genuine. We also think the 518 music community in general deserves some recognition. A rising tide helps all ships and without venues, promoters, photographers/videographers, and listeners, things wouldn’t progress. Quick shout out to Lucas Garrett of Nippertown for giving us our first review!

Who are some of your favorite local acts you guys listen to or even play with?

Every act we’ve played with has been awesome! Black Tongue Reverend and Greasefire have great stoner rock sounds, Short Wave Radio Band is fun and energetic, Turf N’ Turf is someone you must see, BattleaXXX headlined our first show ever and they rock, The Sugar Hold is fun as hell, House of Saturn and Ice Queen blew me away with their musicianship. WRASP just released a new album too. The list is long and continually expanding.

What can fans expect from Gozer in 2023?

February 25th we’re playing Quinnz Pinz in Middletown, NY with “GEEZER” and “LEATHER LUNG”. Our album should be ready for release in February as well. We have a gig planned at Pauly’s in April also. Other than that, we already have a batch of new songs that we’ll be releasing as singles throughout the year.

Is there anything you would like to plug?

Check out “Follow The Dead”. It’s an Irish made zombie movie that was just released on Amazon. We contributed some music to it (“Braindead” and “My Design”). This movie has been TEARING up the indie film circuit winning TONS of awards. It’s very entertaining and made with passion. Please help them out by watching the movie and leaving a solid comment/rating. We’d also like to plug our friends at “Botched: A D&D Podcast”. This crew does an annual panel at Dragon Con and we’ve been contributing music to their show for years. They’re great people with funny original content. Thanks again for giving us the opportunity to chat Frankie! Can’t wait to work with you in the future and thanks for all you do for artists.