Doomed Confessionary: Martijn, Bas & Brandon (Bronson Superfortress)
Photos by Miko Brepols
Bronson Superfortress is a progressive stoner/doom power trio from Landgraaf, Netherlands. Formed around 2020, the band started writing new material, taking a different route after their first project, Scars Of Battle.
Bronson Superfortress consists of Bas Gribnau on bass/backing vocals/sampler, Martijn Ritzen on drums/synth and Brandon Spies on vocals/guitar/synth.
Their sound is a thunderous fusion of stoner doom, prog and heavy psych, blending gritty riffs, crushing rhythms and atmospheric shifts that create a truly immersive experience. Beneath the sonic intensity, their lyrics delve into the dark side of humanity, exploring complex emotions and existential struggles.
Bronson Superfortress released their live EP »Homesick« in March 2025 followed by »Nooses And Nightmares« EP on December 13th, 2025.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Brandon: We delve into the doom genre and mix different elements of other stuff that we like to create our unique sound. We write about folklore horror, tragic events that humankind was responsible for and reveal the dark side of human nature.
Bas: We have been friends for so many years and made so much music that has never seen the light of day that it can be hard to nail things down in genre specific ways sometimes. But that’s a luxury really, we still have lots of ideas.
So rather than a long winded explanation, lets just say: We are Bronson Superfortress, loud music on deaf ears!
Martijn: We are a band named after actor Charles Bronson that also fought as a gunner on a B-29 during WW2. Our music is slow and intense.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Bas: Getting our foot in the door at bigger venues and festivals.
Brandon: Finding our sound. We had so many ideas and bands that inspire us. To mix that down and write lyrics for it was a difficult task.
Martijn: We want to perform our act in a complete show set-up on bigger stages that we sometimes have to shrink when we play in pubs because of the limited space. That way we can incorporate more of the complete sound that we have in mind.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Martijn: We played consecutive shows, released music on streaming platforms and created a local following
Bas: Doing our own DIY recordings and putting it out for the world to hear.
Brandon: That we try to do a lot of stuff ourselves. From designing and drawing our own artwork for our releases, shooting and editing our videos, designing and painting our band shirts is a lot of fun. It’s difficult at first, but now you can create and put out things anytime you want.
What was your biggest regret?
Martijn: No regrets. It’s all about fun!
Bas: As a band: having our rehearsal space burn down. But honestly if that didn’t happen, we probably wouldn’t have recorded as many songs as we did.
As a person: being tempted into hatred and anger, rather than compassion and love.
Brandon: Every experience now has been fun. Discovering how to do stuff ourselves has it’s trial and errors, however with three people just making decisions it’s easier to come to an agreement.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Brandon: I would have to say our show in march this year opening for iPendejo! In De Nieuwe Nor was nice. We haven’t gotten to touring yet.
Bas: Tough to choose, but opening for Pendejo was a lot of fun. And we had a great sound guy.
Martijn: Our show at De Nieuwe Nor: We opened for iPendejo!. The sound was great, the people were cool and we played our hearts out!
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Brandon: How big the doom community is worldwide and how we meet new people in sharing our music online that dig our stuff.
Martijn: Sometimes there’s better food backstage than you get at home.
Bas: How much venues book cover/tribute bands as opposed to local bands who play original songs.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Martijn: I listen to wide range of music, so it’s hard for me to answer.
Bas: Green Lung, Slaughter To Prevail, E-L-R and Sunnata.
Brandon: Converge’s »Hum Of Hurt«, Floor’s »Oblation«, Neurosis’ latest release and a lot of Car Bomb.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Brandon: Play your guitar through a fuzz pedal with the pick-up on neck position past the 12th fret.
Martijn: Never give up. Just keep going!
Bas: Take your playing seriously, but not yourself.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Brandon: Ween, Migos and Kendrick Lamar.
Bas: Spending way to much time writing intricate plotlines for my Pathfinder games, knowing my players will not even experience 20% of it. Also gear acquisition syndrome…
Martijn: Justin Bieber. But don’t tell anyone.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Limburg?
Brandon: Check out Azalea and Sonder. Those are two bands we discovered while getting booked to play in Roermond opening for Lucifungus. Azalea has some stuff out on Spotify.
Martijn: The local music scene is thriving, especially within the hardcore genre.
Bas: Depending on your genre it can be alive and kicking, or damn near impossible to get a foot in the door. The local hardcore scene is alive and well, but Limburg in general has a bit less experimental music.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Brandon: Our next show is on September 6 at Bunkerpop festival in Landgraaf. We’re planning to do more shows next year, but for now we want to record and release some more songs.
Martijn: Bunkerpop is coming soon!
Bas: You should check us out at Bunkerpop in Landgraaf on the 6th of September!
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Brandon: Writing, Recording, getting booked, meeting new bands to organize events with and having fun in the process.
Martijn: We’ll keep writing and playing music as a trio within this genre. Just doing what we love.
Bas: Playing bigger venues with bands in our genre, and outside of our local area.
How can people best support your band?
Bas: Listen to our music, support us on Bandcamp and send it to people who like loud stuff made by independent artists. Or even better, if you are a band and you want to play a gig with us, hit us up and let’s get to work on playing a show together.
Martijn: Come to our shows, listen to us on Spotify and give us a like!
Brandon: By visiting our shows, checking our music on Spotify and Bandcamp and come and say hi when we’re done playing. We don’t bite.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Bas: Thank you for giving us a chance! We’re still a small band and any good word of mouth is very much appreciated!
Martijn: We love that you listen to us and we hope to see you at one of our gigs!
Brandon: Hi mom.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well