Doomed Confessionary: Marco Ziggiotti (Toilet Snake)
Photo by Cosimo d’Agnessa
Another Friday, another interview…
Toilet Snake is a three-piece doom/sludge metal band from Milan, Italy.
The trio released their self-titled debut EP in March 2022 which was reissued as limited edition vinyl with alternate cover art on July 7th, 2023 via DHU Records.
Toilet Snake is Marco (guitar/vocals), Davide (bass) and Giacomo (drums).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Toilet Snake is a three-piece sludge-doom band with a punk attitude from Milan, Italy. Our songwriting is pretty straightforward and no-frills. We’ve been active since around 2018 and published our first self-titled EP in 2022, initially digitally and later on cassette – all self-produced. Then in 2023, we hooked up with DHU Records from the Netherlands, and they dropped a sick limited edition vinyl back in July.
What was the biggest challenge for the band this year?
In the first half of the year, we were all about getting that vinyl out. We wanted a cool new artwork by ZZcorpse, so it needed some serious focus for that extra touch. But the real challenge, in my opinion, was keeping the momentum going. Juggling families, full-time jobs, and me moving away from Milan made things a bit more complicated.
What can you be most proud of this year?
Once again, the DHU vinyl release is the absolute highlight. I can still vividly recall the day Robert hit me up on Instagram, saying, “Hey, loving your stuff, want to press a record?” The whole journey was exhilarating, and we’ll forever be thankful for hitting that jackpot.
What was your biggest regret?
I wish we had more time to play and create together. Looking back, we could’ve put more into the vinyl release, but, you know, we’re just a bunch of lazy Italians, ha! Reviews have been a bit hard to come by, but hey, that’s how it goes. JJ Koczan from The Obelisk called it “a beast of classic heavy riffing and sludgier intention,” and I think that pretty much nails it.
What was the best concert/tour this year and why?
We got a last-minute gig at a squat in Milan in mid-August, and you know how it is – most Italians are at the beach. So, we didn’t expect much of a crowd. But, man, it turned into an epic night. We played on the squat patio, and the place was packed. We had a blast!
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Alright, it might be old news from late 2022, but that Pantera ‘reunion’ stirred up some bittersweet feelings, given all we know. I feel fortunate that I caught them live back in the day during the Reinventing The Steel tour.
On a different note, the other day Show No Mercy hit the big 4-0 – can you believe it? I was a baby when those guys were making history!
Where can we see you live next year (concerts/tours)?
We’ve still got a live gig in Villafranca near Verona on December 16 at Fine di Mondo, and we’re totally hyped. As for next year, the Milan area is a definite, preferably in some occupied spots. I guess our philosophy is a sort of think globally and act locally in this sense.
What are your plans for the next year as a band? What do you personally want the most?
For sure, we’re aiming to play more live because the crowd response has always been awesome – it just feels right. But our main focus is delivering some new stuff. Personally, I’d love to release something fresh by the end of 2024. Something rawer and heavier, of course.
Do you already know what are you doing on New Year’s Eve?
At the moment, we have no plans whatsoever. Any takers looking to book us for a special gig? We are cheap and fun!
How can people best support your band?
Best way to support us? Grab the vinyl from DHU Records, check out our EP on Bandcamp, or snag some cool merch. And don’t forget to follow us on socials, spread the word, and make sure to catch us at our shows!
Do you have any message for your listeners?
As the saying goes, “Good sludge metal takes time to cook.” So, stay patient, TS is cooking up something special for y’all.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well