Cardinal Fuzz and Praying Mantis Records are proud to present ZONG. Hailing from Brisbane Australia, Zong are a three-piece instrumental group focused on improvised cosmic jams with emphasised themes of psychedelic states, tribal rituals, gothic horror, alien encounters and medieval fantasy. Tying this all together is the groups explosive, intense and emotional delivery sounding out in the rich, golden, down-tuned and cranked amplifier glory akin to Black Sabbath and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and the more modern groups Sleep and Earthless. Their true uniqueness, however, lies in their ability to blend genres and sonically improvise together making them a most-satisfying heavy tripped-out listen, and a spectacle to behold as a live performance. Since the live recording of their first ever show one year ago Zong have honed their craft playing with a myriad of bands, recently with Kadavar, Monolord, Ufomammut, Elder and Pallbearer, and now bring you their explosive debut Self-Titled LP, complete with the mind-bending album artwork by their very own drummer, Henry Bennett. Recorded in the homely 70’s styled studios of Unicorn Planet in Brisbane, Zong’s debut LP turned out to be a monstrous swirling tidal wave of heavy riffs, pounding drums, weaving bass and guitar duels, intricate inter-dimensional psychedelia and dark mysticism which propels the listener deep into the chasms of their own imagination while also satisfying the cravings of Black Sabbath and Jimi Hendrix fans. From the “space-giant wreaking havoc in the cosmos” sounds of the opening track Cosmic Embryo, to the eerie desert dancing mysticism and doom of Arcane Sand, through to the pulverising and stark gothic bad-assedness of Giant Floating Head, and into the final majestic Return of the Alien King fuelled with fuzzed out riffs and other-worldly mandalas of delayed guitar and blazing Aztec jungle beats, the album is a journey into the cosmos, through history and your own imagination. A well-curated and interesting blend of old and modern genres and visualised themes. ZONG is: Drums: Henry Bennett Bass: Michael Grinstead Guitar: Zac Anderson