WRITTEN INTERVIEW- EUGENE PARKOMENKO (BLACK WIZARD)

Black Wizard is a Canadian Stoner/Doom band that has been slowly brooding up a storm. With the release of 2016's New Waste, the band has been able to finally get out of it's native Canada to be able to give the new album proper promotion having just wrapped up touring with Weedeater and Serial Hawk. While on the road for said tour, drummer Eugene Parkomenko answered some questions I had for the band. Let's see what he had to say.


That Drummer Guy- Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. For those that are not familiar, describe Black Wizard.

Eugene Parkomenko- Were a heavy metal band from Vancouver, BC. Few very long time pals that are trying to stay on tour for the rest of their lives…

TDG- The band is just about to start a new tour, opening for Weedeater, along with Serial Hawk. How does it feel to be a part of this tour?

EP- Pretty amazing, we have been huge fans of Weedeater for a very long time & have even played with them on a few occasions. We enjoy each others company to say the least. Who doesn't like to stay up til 7am everyday and drink handles on Evan Williams right…? Serial Hawk boys turned out  to be really great people and friends for life now. Love them to death.

TDG- With your latest album, New Waste, being out for over a year now; how has the reception been for the album since its release?

EP- Reception has been altogether great. This is the first record that we have a done a proper tour cycle for and it really helped getting it out to a larger mass.

TDG- You are also playing a couple headlining shows before the tour with Weedeater officially starts. How does it feel to play headlining shows in comparison to support slots on tour?

EP- The few headlining gigs in Canada at the beginning were really great too, especially Vantopia in Alberta (A 2 day camping boogie van festival where they shot giant fireworks over our heads while we played. Very G’n’R!) We also played a few random ones in the mid-west US on our own with serial hawk opening. Those were pretty chill as we have never been to a few of those places before, but we still had a blast getting to know each other. Being direct support for a great act such as Weedeater is huge for us.  It’s really great to play for a built in fan base, rather than sometime guess if there is going to be anyone there or not…

TDG- With 3 albums under your belt, how hard is it to pick what songs to play live?

EP- We have had a few arguments about the set list for sure. We usually do about 60% material of an album that we are currently touring and throw in 1 or 2 of each previous ones.

TDG- What’s next for shows after this tour?

EP- We have a few festivals here and there through the summer/fall and we are applied for some major tours for late fall. Hopefully we can announce those soon!

TDG- Any new material in the works yet?

EP- Actually, Our fourth album is due out early 2018 and we’re really excited to start playing and touring the new tunes live. It’s different. Again.

TDG- With the band starting about 9 years ago, how much would you say the band has progressed so far?

EP- So much. Wiz has gone through a few member rotations throughout the years with some really talented players and at this point, our sound and what we do is stronger for it. From our first album to what we make today, it’s just a really interesting thing to watch grow.

TDG- What do you like to do outside the band?

EP- Try to stay away from shitty day jobs for as long as possible! We wan to be on tour most of the year but when we’re home we like camping, skateboarding, motorcycles, vans, gigs , etc…

TDG- Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. I really dig what you guys do and it’s awesome to see the great response you guys have been getting. Before we are done, is there anything else you would like to mention that I haven’t brought up yet?

EP- Just wanted to say that you so much for taking the time to do this. I am terribly sorry that I am so late on this. I do most or the TM & Driving on the road so my plate was a little full, but I do appreciate you taking this time! Awesome questions!
New Waste by Black Wizard is available NOW on Listenable Records

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