Jesus and the Gurus

Gothic Festival - Waregem 2008 (Day 2) (Concert Reviews, www.reflectionsofdarkness.com )
Jesus and the Gurus [Club Stage - JU]
Music & Performance
Well, this was easily the weirdest band of the whole weekend! Please note: *weird* in the most positive sense! JESUS AND THE GURUS are like a bizarre mix of LAIBACH, DEATH IN JUNE, RAMMSTEIN, SLAYER, and late period THE SISTERS OF MERCY. They surely have a strong grotesque, tongue-in-cheek element to them, as they proved at the club stage of the Gothic Festival in Waregem. The first ones to enter the stage were keyboarder Gabriell Medicine Man and guest musician Jean van Eisentanz - and this guy alone was enough that my jaw dropped to the floor! Jean van Eisentanz, responsible for percussion and various noises, had metal pads taped to both forearms and both legs, and these pads were connected with a synth. Drumming on these pads on his body throughout the entire show, this unusual construction allowed him to produce strange grooves with metallic sounds or to trigger samples of all kinds. Well, what a cool idea extraordinaire! Gabriell Medicine Man on the other hand, dressed in some kind of pilot’s outfit, had a little Casio keyboard in his hands, to which some sort of handhold was applied at one end. This allowed him to hold the Casio like a machine gun - and he didn’t leave a doubt that the Casio was absolutely supposed to look like that, and a little torch fixed on the upper end of the instrument supported this impression. While blinding people in the first row with this torch he began to create some noises, and during this “jammed intro” guitar player Tom Alien rushed on stage - complete with a white guitar whose guitar body was shaped like a crucifix. Finally vocalist Son ov David entered the stage, in a fully-fledged army uniform including side cap. The song ‘Storms of Steel’ sounded, and just in case you wonder - yes, the song does sound like storm of steel! ‘Panzerlied’, a brand-new song, followed and Son ov David changed the side cap for tank driver’s helmet. How adequate! In the course of the show Son ov David would often change his costumes, from military uniforms to a straightjacket, and for the song ‘Pedo Pedro’ he dressed like a bishop and a nurse (who assisted him a couple of times during their performance) drove him onto the stage in a wheelchair. Sic! Or should I say *sick*?!! An absolutely crazy performance; JESUS AND THE GURUS surely do have something to say but they wrap their messages in cynicism, sarcasm and burlesque overstatements. And it’s not just all about image and show, their electrified Industrial Metal is quite infectious as well. This scene needs freaks like that! To me, JESUS AND THE GURUS were the surprise of the weekend, and a great discovery!
Gothic Festival - Waregem 2008
Jesus and the Gurus ist eine untypische Schweizer Band. Sie ist laut, provokativ mit einer eigenen Meinung und natürlich ist sie nicht neutral. Eine exzentrische Band mit starken Persönlichkeiten. Die Formation setzt sich zusammen aus professionellen Musikern und Performance-Künstlern. Die Band besteht aus: Son ov David (vocals) Schauspieler, Tom Alien (guitars) Studiomusiker und Gabriell M.M. (electronics) Künstler. Ihre Musik besteht aus verschiedenen Musikrichtungnen wie Gothic, Rock, Electro, Neofolk, Heavymetal. Die Texte sind vollgetankt mit Zynismus, Sozialkritik und Rebellion gegen die Menschheit. Jesus and the Gurus sehen sich als Spiegel unserer eigenen Ängste. Ihre Konzerte sind eine Antwort auf alle unsere Fragen oder eine neue Frage nach der Suche unserer Wahrheit. Am Anfang konnten Jesus and the Gurus wegen ihrer unredlichen Bühnenshows nur an Fetish-Partys auftreten und somit waren sie schnell von Boulevardpresse und kommerziellen Fernsehsendern als satanistische Fetishband abgestempelt. Heute allerdings werden ihre Auftritte von ernsthafter Presse wegen Verbrennung der heiligen Schrift und ans-Kreuz-gehängte Tunte gehuldigt und als Kunstwerk anerkannt. Jesus and the Gurus spielen für ein sehr breitgefächertes Publikum. Anzutreffen sind sie an Fetish-, Techno-, Metal- und Gothic-Konzerten und sie machen auch keinen Halt vor besetzten Häusern, spielen also überall wo ihre Show verlangt wird-oder im Nachhinein bereut werden könnte. Für Rituale von Akrons „Templum Baphomae“ sind Jesus and the Gurus als Hofmusikanten anzutreffen. m Jahre 2003 nach Christus am 13. August unterschrieben Jesus and the Gurus einen Plattenvertrag mit dem Berliner Fearsection Label. Am Samhain (Halloween, 31 Oktober) erschien die erste offizielle CD mit dem Titel „Hammering on the Gates of Heaven“ (Fearsection, Vertrieb: Soulfood/Sony).Die Band grenzt sich mit ihrem eigenen musikalischen Stil von anderen Bands ab und bekommt grosse Aufmerksamkeit in der deutschen Medienlandschaft (Orkus, Zillo, Sonic Seducer, Gothic Magazine). Jesus and the Gurus werden wegen dem unkonventionellen Namen der Band und wegen der Show, in Deutschland als eine Mischung aus Marilyn Manson, KMFDM und Sisters of Mercy vermarktet, mit grossem Erfolg.Am 13. (reiner Zufall) Wave-Gothic-Treffen in Leipzig spielten sie in der Moritzbastei als Headliner. Es folgen zahlreiche Konzerte in der Schweiz und in Deutschland. Im Herbst 2005 erschien die Remix CD „Satan..s Little Helpers“ (Fearsection/SPV, Vertrieb: SPV) mit namenhaften Remixes aus der Musik-Szene Deutschland und der Schweiz wie: Das Ich, Blutengel, Feindflug, Noisex, Supreme Court, Saalschutz, Cephalgy, Metallspürhunde, etc.Für Herbst 2006 (06.Okt.06) ist eine neue CD geplant unter dem Titel „King ov Salò“ (Blackrain, Vertrieb: Novamedia) was neue Masstäbe setzt in der Musik von Jesus and the Gurus und ihrer Live Show.
King ov Salò (2006)
The Swiss band JESUS AND THE GURUS not only became popular for their provoking appearance but also for their cynical and critical point of view. Their new CD "King ov Salò" is a new bunch of harsh criticism and hard hitting cynicism against mankind. JESUS AND THE GURUS question and research power in every respect - political, sexual, physical and psychological power, and this even goes along with criticising your own existence. And our protagonists know that this can get a painful and complicated thing. "King ov Salò" is an interesting and demanding mixture of Gothic Rock, Neofolk, Electronics and even Gothic Metal. This makes the album being a melancholic, harsh and even rebellious CD that always sounds like something new but never lets you forget that it is a "JESUS AND THE GURUS" release. Acoustic guitars, monumental synthies mix with slow and harsh guitar riffs, drums and "Son ov David's" melodic voice will let you draw comparisons to Ministry, Laibach and Death in June. This is an album that goes under your skin, touches your soul, entertains you and maybe it will provide you with some answers you were looking for. Released on Black Rain and available October 27th, 2006.
tracklist:
01. Deep Inside
02. The end is Near
03. The song is the Weapon
04. The others
05. March to Hell
06. Hail Satan
07. Storm of Steel
08. Frozen Eyes
09. Praise the Lord
10. Dance of Fire
11. We just Fight
12. Holy Town
13. Leiche Otto
14. Sometimes
15. Dust to Dust
Satan..s little helpers (2005)
The Swiss Electro-Goth-Industrial-Rock-psychos strike again! After causing quite a stir in the scene with their debut, “Hammering on the Gates of Heaven”, they now serve up an apocalyptic second dish in form of “Satan..s Little Helpers.” Son Ov David and his diabolical instrument-rapists have gathered an illustrious group from the ranks of the most influential musicians in the Electro-scene today in order to dress selected tracks of their industro-electronic goth-rock-madness in a whole new acoustic gown. The resulting re- and deconstructions of the band..s hit tunes sound just as diverse as the list of people involved – Blutengel, Tumor, Feindflug, Cephalgy, PAL, to name just a few. The range goes from straight Industrial, via Electroclash with heavy influences of early Eighties Breakdance, down to ultra-brutal noise, but all of the mixes have one thing in common: they kick ass like hell and one can clearly notice that the artists involved have put all of their hearts into the project. And thus, the group..s wild mixture of Industrial à la NIN, Goth Rock à la Sisters, EBM and Sleaze Rock à la Zodiac Mindwarp is bound to rally even more fans to the cause of Jesus and the Gurus than they already have. This is, of course, purely intentional because the band strives for nothing less than total musical world domination. And you can believe us when we tell you that even Satan himself dances around the fires of Hell to the beat of this little musical goodie. As a special, but no less evil treat, the CD contains the brilliant, hellishly satirical-satanical video clip to “Simulator.”
Tracklist Satan's little helpers (CD-2005)
1. BINGO III
2. SO FUCKING SPECIAL (rmy by Cephalgy)
3. GLOWING SUN (rmx by Tumor)
4. SIMULATOR (rmx by Das Ich)
5. WHAT WILL PERISH (rmx by Feindflug)
6. CRASHTEST DUMMY (rmx by P.A.L.)
7. DIE TODAY (rmx by Krankenzimmer 204)
8. 2000 YEARS (rmx by Saalschutz)
9. HEY GUYS, HEY GIRLS (rmx by Noisex)
10. GLOWING SUN (rmx by Der Eremit)
11. LIFE IS NEAR (rmx by Metallspürhunde)
12. PROMISE ME YOUR BLOOD (rmx by Lost Area)
13. HEY GUYS, HEY GIRLS (rmx by Blutengel)
14. PLANET (rmx by Supreme Court)
15. BINGO IV
Hammering on the Gates of Heaven (2003)
I was a bit afraid listening to this album of JATG. Well, to be honest with you, I’ve to admit that it was a pleasant listening throughout powerful electro-rock territories. It’s not that easy to describe their sound and style, but I would qualify it as cyber-rock or a mixture between the guitar assaults of Swamp Terrorists and the crazy power of Sheep On Drugs. Just shake it hard and add some little old taste à la Sisters Of Mercy and you’ll get the totally wild JATG on speed. Those guys don’t take themselves too serious, playing and laughing with some sacred biblical themes… that they prefer to reinvent in a kinky way. Well, it’s all about rock’n’roll… which maybe explains the cover of The Rollings Stones’ “Paint it black”. It took me a few songs to get totally conquered by the catchy power of this band. The way they recover their heavy guitar riffs with linear beats and catchy electronic bleeps sounds simply great! I get wild of songs like “Hey guys, hey girls (nail me on a cross upside down”, the excellent “2000 years”, “So fucking special” and “Promise me your blood”. I would dare to bet that they must be a real cool live band! First I couldn’t really understand this signing on Fear Section, now I think it will be not that evident for the ‘gurus’ to be on an electronic label, but it also illustrates the open minded culture of their company! There’s no way in between: you’ll like it or hate it! (side-line.com)
Tracklist Hammering on the gates of heaven (2003)
1. BINGO 1
2. WHAT WILL PERISH
3. HEY GUYS, HEY GIRLS
4. WHO IS SATAN
5. SIMULATOR
6. PLANET
7. 2000 YEARS
8. EVIL
09. LIFE IS NEAR
10. GLOWING SUN
11. BINGO 2
12. DIE TODAY
13. SO FUCKING SPECIAL
14. DRINK MY BLOOD
15. PROMISE ME YOUR BLOOD
16. PAINT IT BLACK
17. CRASHTEST DUMMY

Jesus and the Gurus "Storm of steel"
Jesus and the Gurus "Simulator" videoclip 2004
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