| Bong | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Newcastle, England |
| Genres | Doom Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Drone, Folk, Exprimental |
| Years active | 2005 - present |
| Labels | Heidenwut, Infinite Exchange, Ritual Productions, Blackest Rainbow |
| Associated acts | 11Paranoias, Ramesses, Peasants, Trollman av Ildtoppberg |
| Website | Official Page |
| Current members | Dawn Terry Mike Smith Mike Vest |
| Past members | Ben Freeth |
Bong are a doom/psych/drone band from Newcastle, England. Active since 2005, this band is best known for a doom metal sound that incorporates drone, psychedelic and middle eastern sounds. Also of note is their frequency of releases in the form of live CD-Rs to compliment their occasional studio works.
History[]
Bong would start in 2005 initially as a quartet. The band's earliest known actions would be in two live split cassettes in A Roomful of Cunts and Evolution Is So Creative, along with supporting touring acts the likes of Brant Bjork and Boris.[1] Following several DIY live albums and splits, Bong would release their debut album Bethmoora on 7 March 2008 for free download. A second album in the eponymous Bong would see release on 22 February 2009. Bethmoora would also see a reissue around the same time with a 28-minute cover of the Pink Floyd song "Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun".[2] Bong would notably play Hallowe'en Doom Fest and share the stage with Sunn O))) in 2009.[3] Bong would also perform more frequently, along with their first shows outside of the UK, including Roadburn Festival.[4]
Signing to Ritual Productions, Beyond Ancient Space would see release on 16 May 2011, reaching a wider audience and attaining positive reception.[5][6][7] Frequent gigs would follow in the Fall of 2011,[8] with work following up on a fourth album.
Mana-Yood Sushai would see release on 9 April 2012 with Bong performing at Roadburn Festival the same weekend[9] and attaining further buzz.[10][11][12] Keeping momentum, Bong would release two more albums in Idle Days on The Yann (30 September 2013) and Stoner Rock (25 January 2014) amid numerous other releases.
Following appearances at Desertfest London and SWR Barroselas Metalfest,[13] We Are, We Were and We Will Have Been would see release on 26 May 2015 to critical praise.[14][15][16] Notably, Bong would also play the Ritual Productions fifth anniversary party at The Black Heart with Ghold and 11Paranoias.[17]
On 18 January 2018 Bong would release a box set chronicling all three performances at Roadburn Festival. On 4 May Bong would release their eighth album Thought and Existence. In 2019 Bong would perform their first ever shows in Russia and appear at Amplifier Worship Festival.[18]
Discography[]
Studio Albums[]
- Bethmoora (2008, Self-Released)
- Bong (2009, No-Audience Underground Tapes)
- Beyond Ancient Space (2011, Ritual Productions)
- Mana-Yood Sushai (2012, Ritual Productions)
- Idle Days of the Yann (2013, Blackest Rainbow)
- Stoner Rock (2014, Ritual Productions)
- We Are, We Were and We Will Have Been (2015, Ritual Productions)
- Thought and Existence (2018, Ritual Productions)
Extended Plays[]
- Onward to Perdondaris (2010, Tarot Formula)
- Untitled (2013, Blackest Rainbow)
- Another Dose (2013, Washy Tapes)
Splits[]
- A Roomful of Cunts (Live Split with Waz Hoola) (2007, Fuckin' Amateurs)
- Evolution Is So Creative (Split with Brothers Yemen and Domovoi) (2007, Fuckin' Amateurs)
- Bong / Wrest (Split with Wrest) (2007, Fuckin' Amateurs)
- Bong / Brothers Yemen (Split with Brothers Yemen) (2008, Self-Released)
- Bong / Sex Wound (Live Split with Sex Wound) (2009, Fuckin' Amateurs)
- Bong / Gnod (Split with Gnod) (2009, Box Records)
- Bong / Quttinirpaaq (Split with Quttinirpaaq) (2009, Blackest Rainbow)
- Blitzed in Brixton (Live Split with Shift) (2009, Fuckin' Amateurs)
- Bong / Pyramidion (Split with Pyramidion) (2013, At War With False Noise)
- Bong Versus the Bots (Live Split with Martin Gregory and Phil Atherton) (2013, Fuckin' Amateurs)
- Live: Newcastle (Live Split with Female Borstal) (2014, Turgid Animal)
- Soundroom Friday 19th July 2019 (Live Split with Corpse Twitcher, Depletion) (2019, No-Audience Underground Tapes)
Live Albums[]
- Under Byker Bridge 08/03/08 (2008)
- Bong Live January 2008 (2008)
- Recorded Live at La Toscana (2009)
- Bong at Tyneside Cinema June 12th 2009 (2009)
- Gilgamesh Lives (2009)
- Live 2009-2010 (2010)
- Samhain Festival (2010)
- Live at Roadburn 2010 (2011)
- All Saints March (2011)
- January Jams (2012)
- Live @ The Rammel Club (2012)
- July Jams (2012)
- Live @ The 13th Note (2012)
- Live at St. Mary's Old Church and Burial Ground (2013)
- ...Yet Another Dose (2013)
- Beyond Live (2013)
- Live @ The Mill, Salford (2013)
- Live @ The Chameleon, Nottingham 14/07/2013 (2013)
- Live Newcastle 6.12.13 (2014)
- 2013-09-06 - Bong - Northumberland Arms (2015)
- Live TwoThousandFourteen (2015)
- Live at the Cluny 2015-05-08 (2015)
- 2014-06-14 - Bong - The Roadhouse, Manchester (2015)
- 2019-08-28 - Bong - St Petersburg (2020)
- Live in Porto, Portugal 2019-10-26 (2020)
Box Sets and Compilations[]
- Bong at Easter (3xCD-R Compilation) (2009, Fuckin' Amateurs)
- In and Around Newcastle (4xCD Live Box Set) (2009, Fuckin' Amateurs)
- Novum Castellum (3CD Live Box Set) (2009, Turgid Animal)
- Live at Roadburn (3LP Box Set) (2018, Roadburn Records)
Members[]
Current Members[]
- Dawn Terry - Bass, Vocals (2005 - Present)
- Mike Smith - Drums (2005 - Present)
- Mike Vest - Guitars, Effects (2005 - Present)
Former Members[]
- Ben Freeth - Sitar, Shahi Baaja (2005 - 2014)