Doomed Confessionary: Lukas Grumet & Thomas Sager (Laser Eyes)
Laser Eyes is a stoner heavy prog duo based in Graz, Austria.
Pulling the heavy elements of stoner doom into garage rock, Laser Eyes sound more like a multi instrumental endeavor than a 2 piece band. Combining straight to the point hard-rock riffs with dozens of FX pedals, stoner chords and atmospheric ambience, the Austrian heavy rock duo are here to prove they mean business. Expect a heavy load of 90s stoner riffs wrapped in extrovert soundscape.
Laser Eyes just released their second full-length album »Grizzly vs. Guillotine« on February 23rd, 2024 via Grazil Records.
Can you say a few words about your band?
Yo, we’re the dynamic duo of heavy rock from the land of schnitzels and strudels, aka Austria. Hold on tight, ’cause here’s the wild part – we got abducted by Schwarzenegger on our way home from a wild night out. Now, one of us is basically a rockstar superhero. Picture this: That fella is juggling bass and guitar amps, a ridiculous 463 pedals, and looping it all together. It’s like a musical circus, and we’re the only clowns in town! (the other guy (=the drummer) is literally a clown).
But here’s the kicker – there are only two of us! So, when it comes to splitting our massive 50-cent fortune in the band fund, we’re not doing math gymnastics. We just slice it in half, not quarters. Living the broke, intergalactic rockstar dream, one pedal at a time!
What was the biggest challenge for the band last year?
We just wrapped up our new album. It was a crazy ride, squeezing in hours and hitting deadlines between family and work stuff. Plus, we had to jam for a couple of shows on top of it all. Gotta admit, it drained us a bit. But hey, totally worth it in the end!
What can you be most proud of last year?
Despite the sometimes really stressful phases, we didn’t fall out or bash each other’s heads in. Or committed axe murder. That’s something!
What was your biggest regret?
So, we decided to pass on some gig offers, you know, not going all out on shows. It was a deliberate move, but looking back, it was the right call. If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have wrapped up our studio grind and dropped »Grizzly vs. Guillotine« for y’all to vibe with. Priorities, right?
What was the best concert/tour last year and why?
Supporting the mighty Truckfighters in the Arena Wien. Lukas is a huge Truckfighters fan, so this was a childhood dream come true.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Bummer, but these days, it feels like the music scene’s become a bit predictable. Not saying there aren’t any surprises left, but maybe it’s tough to notice them in the flood of tunes we’re drowning in. Music’s everywhere! Can’t buy groceries or grab a shirt without some beat blasting at you. And thanks to streaming services like Spotify, it’s like we’ve got the entire music universe at our fingertips – but it’s messing with our appreciation vibes.
See, the constant music buzz is making folks lose touch with soaking in complex tunes. It’s like everything’s turning into a TikTok version of itself. Stats say people are gobbling up music faster, getting all antsy after the first chorus. If a song’s intro is longer than 20 seconds, it’s basically a no-go. Isn’t this speed-eating music blocking us from finding something fresh? Missing out on those sweet surprises? Honestly, we’re itching for some surprises ’cause we know there’s a whole bunch out there waiting to be uncovered!
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We’ve a bunch of shows planned in our home country (Austria), and perhaps a few gigs in Slovenia. Here are some:
March 7 – Vienna (tba)
March 8 – Graz (Music House)
March 9 – Klagenfurt (Kwadrat)
June 7-8 – Walburgen Rock
What are your plans for this year as a band? What do you personally want the most?
We are unpretentious. Come to shows, grab a beer with us, have fun together, dance!
How can people best support your band?
Beyond the usual stuff, like showing up to our gigs or snagging our albums, we’re throwing it out there – take a second to really soak in the tunes. Musicians are pouring hours, weeks, heck, sometimes years into their craft. Give them some props and don’t treat their masterpiece like a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Instagram story. Show a Little love ❤
Do you have any message for your listeners?
»Grizzly vs. Guillotine« ain’t your run-of-the-mill album – it’s got layers, like a feast that takes some savoring. Let it marinate, and we’re betting each spin will unveil something fresh. Give it a go, and see what pops up with every listen.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well