Doomed Confessionary: Asbear & Romain (Buskas)
Photo by Thomas Moe Ellefsrud
Buskas is a doom metal duo based in Oslo, Norway.
Their self-described “shaman doom from the void” uses heavy down-tuned bass guitar and a very heavy drum set, where gloomy mood and distant dreams go hand in hand through the soundscape. From chilling calm tracks to heavy atmospheric fuzz riffs, with both clean and intense vocals.
The band’s debut single »Desiderium« was also included on Forbidden Place Records annual mixtape compilation »Escape To Weird Mountain Vol. 9«. »Desiderium« is available now on all major streaming platforms!
Can you say a few words about your band?
We are Buskas, a duo that play something we call “shaman doom from the void”, and was formed in 2022.
Romain Emeriau from Nantes (FR) on drums/vox and Asbear from Lillehammer (NO) on bass/vox. It’s bass and drums only, so we really try filling all that space with lots of noise and shogazy, alien, horror sounds, mashed with punchy riffs that will hopefully open up the void.
We previously played together in a band called Downyard in 2016, same lineup, but with a vocalist. We ended up splitting right after our first EP back then, ironically called »The End«. 5 years went by and we didn’t talk, and all of a sudden me and Romain ended up playing together as a duo again. We started to jam and find ourselves, Buskas was born and we started writing music.
The name “Buskas” means “bush” in english. Both of us live in the capitol Oslo, Norway.
What was the biggest challenge for the band last year?
The biggest challenge in 2023 was to record our debut album, and write it of course. We used most of the year polishing the tracks and went into the studio with Jørgen Øiseth Berg as producer.
One other challenge was to find our sound together, we spent alot of time with that, and trying out different effect pedals and amps before we hit the studio.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Besides writing and recording our first music, we seem to work really well together, and have a great dynamic. We are stoked to have been supporting our friends in the band Karavan abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, and have managed to play lots of gigs already this year in Norway. We will support local legends in the band Barren Womb, on their Norwegian tour in our home town, that will happen 5th April this week at the venue Vaterland!
And we have something special coming up for the release of our debut LP, but that must stay a secret right now.
What was your biggest regret?
We are happy to say we don’t have alot of regrets. Things happen for a reason and we are doing our best in life.
What was the best concert/tour last year and why?
The only gig we did last year must be our first gig ever as a band, at our local favorite venue called Brewgata in Oslo. We tested our material before entering the studio in September the same year. We had a bit of a shock that so many came to see us, and the response after our first gig was beautiful and overwhelming. Much love to the staff and crew at our beloved Brewgata bar for letting us play that gig!
Photo by @lastad.co
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
That black metal got a huge popularity boost again in the band Witch Club Satan, its awesome really!
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Gatecreeper, and High On Fire (can’t wait for their new album), Lord Dying and Emma Ruth Rundle.
Also Tom Petty, Eric Burdon & The Animals, and Deathchant! If Im going to chill out I always put on Brian Witzig’s Iron Horse album. Its hard to name them all.
Can you say something more about the music scene in your Oslo, Norway?
Its flourishing! Looks like there are a ever evolving and growing community of so many different bands and artists that its hard to keep track of everything really!
In our town there are many things going on, The Inferno Metal festival just ended which is always super popular, and audiences from all over the world attend this event, the same can be said about Høstsabbath Festival that happens in the fall by the end of october, and now we even got our own Desertfest that will happen this summer, paired with the huge festival Tons Of Rock! A Death Metal festival is also happening, its just so much that its hard to attend everything if you are a local!
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We are going to play a release show for our album in Copenhagen, Denmark later this year, more on that later. We are going to play a couple of gigs outside of Oslo here in Norway too, in cities like Drammen 20th April and Trondheim this summer.
Photo by Thomas Moe Ellefsrud
What are your plans for the future as a band?
We are already deep in the writing process for our second album already, trying to stay ahead before we drop our debut LP around August/September this year.
A small tour will happen next year, and we are in the process of planning a tour outside of Norway in 2025 along with some scandinavian dates.
We are getting some merch ready too, and we will have a nice vinyl for you by the end of the year.
How can people best support your band?
Right now we are in the beginning stages, so the only thing you can do is come to our gigs!
You can also buy our music if you like, at our Bandcamp. Right now its only one track there, our first single called »Desiderium« that we released 1th January this year.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Keep your head up, and spread some love to your friends and beloved ones!
Hopefully, we will meet someday in person!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well