“We were going to start a doom band and we were like, ‘What’s the heaviest name for this band? What’s just a massive, dumb, heavy, big thing?’” recalls vocalist and guitarist Jono Colliver. “Buddha [drummer Nathan Johnston’s nickname] was like, ‘Maybe like Colossal or Colossus?’ And then I said, ‘What about Dr. Colossus from The Simpsons?’ And I think Buddha said, ‘Well why don’t we just make all the songs about The Simpsons?’”
Mixing doom metal with obscure references to Springfield’s buttery cast of characters may sound completely daft, but Dr. Colossus somehow pull it off on their self-released three-track debut EP, IV. Named after the series’ fourth season – which first aired from ’92 to ’93 – listening to the EP is like playing a game of ‘spot the quote’ amongst a sea of Black Sabbath-esque sludge.
“It’s interesting to hear what people pick out of each song, like what lyrics they actually notice,” Colliver notes of tracks like Son Of A Pig, which includes classic Ralph-isms “I choo-choo-choose you” and “Do you like stuff?” “Some of the references just go unnoticed which I think is just as good. If you’re not thinking about The Simpsons, [the lyrics] sound a bit dark and sinister when you put them in a doom song.”
The EP was released digitally earlier this year, but it’s been six to seven years coming. Colliver and Johnston have been playing in bands together for the past twelve years, however recently Johnston has dedicated his time to Melbourne alternative rockers Kashmere Club, while Colliver has toured the world as Vance Joy’s bassist (who recently returned from Glastonbury, an experience he says was “surreal”). Having recorded the EP during some fleeting downtime, the duo distributed it to various music blogs and labels. 7” vinyl and CD releases are in the works, amongst some other old-school formats.
“A German label asked us if we want to release the EP as a limited edition cassette,” Nathan says. “We’re gonna do it. I think it will be limited number, like 20 or 30. Just so kvlt, you know?” He then goes on to explain that the owner of the label doesn’t speak English, so he wouldn’t get the Simpsons gags at all – he just really digs the music.
“We’re pretty serious about writing good songs but we’re also pretty serious about not taking it too seriously,” explains Colliver. “Doom and heavy metal in particular is always taking itself so seriously. Why bother being so serious about it? The sound is dark and depressing enough.” He pauses momentarily, before continuing; “I think unless you’re turning the formula on its head, you’re never really going to create anything new. It’s easy to emulate a doom band, which I think is boring unless you’re adding something to the equation. You’re just sort of paying homage to Black Sabbath otherwise… so why not pay homage to Black Sabbath and The Simpsons instead?”
It may have started as a joke, but Dr. Colossus plan on releasing more music (i.e. covering different seasons) and expanding into a full band in the future. And as for the issue of copyright infringement, well… they’ll play it by ear for now.
“All they can do at the start is a cease and desist, so they force you to remove the content,” Colliver says somewhat sheepishly, before joking. “But then like, in doing that it’s like such a good PR stunt. Can you imagine the headline? ‘Melbourne doom band sued by Murdoch’.”
BY JACK PILVEN
