Doomed Confessionary: Pino Zano (Pale Summit)
Pale Summit is a three-piece doom/stoner/hard rock band from Bochum, Germany.
Founded in 2016, Pale Summit consists of Pino Zano (vocals, bass), Mats Beckmann (guitar) and Chris Cantzen (drums).
Fans of Planet Of Zeus, Lord 13, Cowboy & Aliens, and the like, pay heed.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
We released our first EP »Lakes Of Titan« back in 2015, followed by our debut album »Prophets« in 2021. We’re currently working on our third release and hoping to finish it within the year.
»Lakes Of Titan« had more of a hard rock edge, while »Prophets« dived into what one listener memorably described as “if Mastodon, Motörhead, and Spaceslug had a baby” – we thought that was pretty damn cool.
Our upcoming release will probably be our most experimental project so far. We’ve already put out two singles from it: »Destroyer« and »Sudden Flight«.
What has been the biggest challenge for the band?
Like many hobby bands, we’ve faced the usual challenges – members moving away or running out of time due to life commitments. We’ve gone from five members down to three, and I (Pino, vocals) have picked up enough bass chops to keep up with Mats and Chris. With this current trio, we’ve finally found a rhythm again, and things are starting to feel alive and productive.
What are you most proud of so far?
The feedback and reviews we’ve gotten from listeners. It’s surreal to hear our tracks on online radio shows right alongside huge names. People have even made “Best of Pale Summit” playlists on YouTube, or asked us for lyrics – stuff like that really makes our day and keeps the motivation high for writing new material.
What’s your biggest regret?
Letting the momentum of our debut album fizzle out. After the initial success, the project went quiet for a while due to the issues mentioned earlier. We’re now in the process of waking it back up and bringing new life into the band.
What was your best concert/tour so far and why?
A DIY festival called Privat und Draußen. The atmosphere was incredible, and we genuinely felt like mini headliners that night.
What has been the biggest surprise about the music scene for you?
That being a musician these days often means becoming a brand. We’ve had some promising offers from promoters fall through simply because we weren’t active enough on social media. That was a wake-up call.
What’s currently in your heavy music rotation?
I can only speak for myself – but right now, it’s Tool on repeat.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
A drunk Russian guy once told me after a gig that I need a five-string bass. I’m still meditating under a waterfall to unlock the deeper meaning of that wisdom.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Me personally? I’m basically a human jukebox. I’ll sing along to anything.
Can you say something about the music scene in Bochum?
The Ruhr area and North Rhine-Westphalia in general have a really strong doom and stoner rock scene – lots of great venues and a very active underground.
Where can we see you live this year?
Hopefully at some smaller shows around the Ruhr area – we’re itching to get back on stage.
What are your future plans as a band?
To release our third project and gain more live experience – we want to keep evolving musically, but also reconnect with our audience in person.
How can people best support your band?
Request us as a support act and book us! We’re hungry to play live. And if you dig what we do, support us on Bandcamp – that really helps.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
As the lyricist, our songs are often deeply connected to my personal struggles. But they’re also a conceptual playground for us – musically and thematically – where we experiment and reinvent ourselves with every release.
It means the world when that resonates with people. Thanks so much for your support!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well