EPK – SweetBeast – Illusions (2025)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“We believe our fans will really connect with our debut album. The mix of heavy, low-tuned guitars and melodic, psychedelic riffs captures the essence of our live performances, which our audience already loves. With this album and its singles, we’re aiming to give fans a fully immersive listening experience. We want them to feel transported by the deep, heavy grooves and layered, psychedelic soundscapes as if they’re on a journey through the mind or some otherworldly place. Each track is designed to pull the listener in with dynamic shifts, powerful riffs, and moments of reflection, creating a balance between intensity and space. We hope the singles offer a taste of this experience, sparking curiosity for the full album, which will be best enjoyed as a cohesive journey from start to finish. We’re excited to see how they embrace it.” – SweetBeast
For fans of Queens Of The Stone Age, All Them Witches, Alice In Chains, Kyuss, Pink Floyd
Band: SweetBeast
Album: Illusions
Label: Humalien Records
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Distribution: Distrokid
SweetBeast.ca | Facebook.com/SweetBeastFuzz | Instagram.com/sweetbeastfuzz | Tiktok.com/@sweetbeastfuzz | Youtube.com/@sweetbeastfuzz
Sweetbeastrock.bandcamp.com | Spotify
Digital Single – Dream Eater – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sweetbeast/dream-eater
Digital Single – Illusion fr. Space Queen – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sweetbeast/illusion-feat-space-queen-single
“The record (Illusions) is characterized by heavy grooves, memorable licks, and catchy, heavy, doomy goodness. Any lovers of the groove will definitely be fans of this one.” – Decibel Magazine
“Grungy heavy rock with fuzzy psychedelic twists win the day in ‘Illusions’ (2025), tapping a similar vein to bands like Queens Of The Stone Age, Stone Temple Pilots, All Them Witches, Kyuss, and Alice In Chains. While standing distinctly on their own turf, SweetBeast dishes out addictive grooves and punchy lyrical moments.” – Doomed and Stoned
“How about some brand new heavy-duty stoner rock?! The new single “Dream Eater” from SweetBeast is pretty amazing. “Dream Eater” meanders and bubbles beneath the surface until erupting with a wicked heavy solo and then falls back to its broody state. All in all, it’s a psychedelic journey that you won’t want to miss” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll
“SweetBeast creates tunes akin to an acid trip in the 70s — ideal for headbanging and perfect for getting lost in.” – Kelowna Now
“Making their first appearance on stage in Vancouver after making the trek from Kelowna, something I always appreciate. Shows the band believes they have something more people need to hear and are willing to live the road life to spread their sound. With this confidence comes a great live show, exactly what we got last night. Still grooving in the stoner/psych rock vein, SB leaned into the psychedelic direction a little more. Some great damn rock songs in here lead by a great singer armed with a voice that fit the vibe/sound so well. Fuzz heavy guitars shredding away and more than a few great little solos gave this set its flavor. Got some heavy 70’s era psychedelic vibes with all the wonderful squeals and squeaks coming from them. Just beautiful. Far and away though, the sexiest part of this offering were those drums. With the drummer exuding confidence in their ability, they gave us a great set full of wonderful licks and fills. Always in command on each song they were a blast to watch, full of fun grooves to dance to.” – Elder God Productions (Live Review – RED GATE 22/11/03 – Vancouver)
Video Endorsement from Dave Catching (Queens of the Stone Age / Eagles of Death Metal / Rancho De La Luna recording studio): Dave Catching Intro For SweetBeast at Tune It Down Turn It Up 2020
“They have beautiful harmonies and great melodies, I can’t wait to get them down here to make the album they deserve to make and unleash it upon the world..” – Dave Catching
[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]
Band: SweetBeast
Album: Illusions
Label: Humalien Records
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Distribution: Distrokid
Track Listing:
1. 70/30 – 7:57
2. Thunder – 4:01
3. Dream Eater – 5:29
4. Midnight – 4:38
5. Plastic People – 6:41
6. Illusion ft. Space Queen – 11:26
Album Length – 40:12
Album Credits
• All songs performed by: Eric Gorzynski, John Hermary, Alex Graham, Jackson Cameron Harlton
• All songs written by: Eric Gorzynski, John Hermary, Alex Graham
• Produced by: Self Produced
• Mixed by: Adam Wittke – Arc House Studios
• Mastered by: Dan Harden – The Record Room
• Album Artwork by: Eric Gorzynski
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
Album Band Line Up:
Eric Gorzynski – Guitar/Vocals
John Hermary – Guitar/Vocals
Alex Graham – Bass/Vocals
Jackson Cameron Harlton – Drums
Live Band Line Up:
Eric Gorzynski – Guitar/Vocals
John Hermary – Guitar/Vocals
Alex Graham – Bass/Vocals
Colton Schofield – Drums
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About The Album Artwork:
Our album artwork is inspired by the light and dark aspects of life. The figure is the gatekeeper of the duality of “as above, so below”; the mysterious existence of life that we all go through and can’t always be explained in words. The beating heart is a symbol of a dear friend that we are paying respects to, from all the encouragement and mentoring we got from him throughout this journey.
About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Illusions feels like a journey through shifting realities, blending heavy, distorted riffs with introspective lyrics. Musically, the album leans heavily on low-tuned guitars, swirling effects, and a tight rhythm section that creates a dense, atmospheric sound. There’s a hypnotic groove throughout, with moments of psychedelic exploration, where riffs evolve into mind-bending progressions. The songs fluctuate between heavy riffs and light, airy melodies that offer a contrast, pushing the boundaries of stoner rock.
The lyrics capture a journey through the complexities of relationships, self-identity, and societal pressures. It explores themes of emotional imbalance, liberation from oppression, and the dangers of superficiality in a digital age. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency to awaken from deceptive realities, urging listeners to embrace authenticity and confront their inner demons. With a mix of passionate desire, haunting introspection, and powerful calls to action, the album invites reflection on the struggles between illusion and truth, ultimately encouraging a reclamation of one’s true self.
Overall, *Illusions* is a sonic exploration that invites listeners to journey inward and outward, reflecting the complex relationship between mind, sound, and reality.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
1. 70/30
The song’s lyrics arose from an egotistical situation that comes up from time to time in the industry – when people tell you one thing but then feel that they deserve more out of an equal interaction than the rest of the participants and decide to take more – 70% more and give 30%. This track explores the dynamics of unbalanced relationships, emphasizing the emotional toll of giving without receiving. The narrator questions the subject of self-worth while acknowledging that the other person desires power. The refrain, “Take what you want, I don’t need anything,” and “Smile pretty thing, colourful and dirty,” hints at a genuine disposition and bittersweet reality, where beauty coexists with grime. Ultimately, it suggests that balance (70/30) in relationships and business is crucial for fulfillment.
2. Thunder
“Thunder” is a bold and raw anthem that channels the anger and pain of ongoing racial oppression, drawing inspiration from the murder of George Floyd and the global fight against racism. With visceral lyrics that evoke images of chains, whips, and martyrdom, the song challenges listeners to confront the harsh realities of systemic racism that persist even in a world free of formal slavery. The song urges a collective scream for justice and personal liberation from hate.
3. Dream Eater
This song delves into the subconscious, exploring the idea of dreams as both a refuge and a danger. The “dream eater” symbolizes external forces that prey on vulnerability. With whimsical yet haunting imagery—like “dreams of paisley dripping down like daisies”—the song reflects the fragility of sanity and the allure of escapism. It’s a call to embrace dreams while remaining aware of their potential darkness.
4. Getting Off At Midnight
A seductive and upbeat track, this song captures the thrill of desire, spontaneity, and the feeling of after-work night life. The repetitive chorus creates an infectious energy, inviting listeners to embrace the night and live in the moment. The lyrics hint at a mix of escapism and passion, highlighting the exhilarating rush of connection, while the metaphor of “black holes” adds an intriguing layer of uncertainty.
5. Plastic People
This track critiques the superficiality of modern society, particularly the harmful effects of social media on mental health. With lines like “effects and filters, digital weapons,” the song highlights how the endless stream of digitally altered images fuels feelings of inadequacy, especially in women. This cycle of comparison can lead to doom scrolling, depression, and even suicide, stripping away authenticity and turning people into hollow, “plastic” versions of themselves. By raising awareness of these devastating effects, the song encourages self-reflection and contrasts inner beauty with the hollowness of curated personas.
6. Illusion
The closing track, “Illusion,” serves as a wake-up call to awareness. It encourages listeners to confront the deceptive nature of their realities and societal constructs. The repeated urging to “wake up” reinforces the theme of breaking free from illusions that cloud perception. The imagery of ghosts and whispers suggests a yearning for truth amidst confusion, creating a sense of urgency to reclaim one’s identity.
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Fun Facts – Story Angles:
1. For the past six years, SweetBeast has organized a desert rock festival, bringing together 10-15 bands per event to celebrate the heavy, psychedelic sounds of the genre. In 2018, we had the honor of working with legendary guitarist and producer Dave Catching, known for his work with Eagles of Death Metal and Queens of the Stone Age. We flew him up to Kelowna for an unforgettable weekend where he hosted a free Q&A and meet-and-greet with fans. To top it off, we launched an artist development initiative that gave three lucky bands studio time to record with Dave himself. In 2020, we adapted to the times by hosting a virtual edition of the festival, with Dave Catching and Patrick Hutchinson serving as MCs for a live-streamed event, where they shared stories of their lives in the music industry and introduced all of the bands, which can still be viewed on YouTube.We had a concept of being the “Desert North”, a Canadian roots festival akin to the likes of the origins of the Desert sound down in Joshua Tree, California.
2. We laid down this entire album, live off the floor, in just 2 days. Now of course there were a few overdubs that we plugged in during that weekend but by the end of the 2 days all that was left was the mixing and mastering. We also added some special treats post-production that made the songs really pop, like vocal harmonies in the song “Illusion” done by the lovely ladies in Space Queen, and a few studio effects for added flavor. When we told the studio what we had planned to accomplish that weekend they thought we were crazy, and said it’s usually at least a week of studio time to get all those songs laid out. But we got it done and couldn’t be happier with the results.
3. We seem to be drawn towards alternate tunings. The album consists of 3 different tunings, 2 of which are very similar. After the album was finished we started dabbling in yet another alternate tuning and fell in love. The only problem that persists with this is having to do 2 guitar swaps throughout a 45 minute set.. The tunings are too different to try to tune up on stage so we swap guitars instead. It may seem a bit much at first, but with a bit of planning we aim to make each transition seamless and flow with the energy of the music, in time we plan to have enough material in each tuning to be able to play individual sets catered to the energy of the event in front of us.
4. In 2019 we hosted a secret location show deep in the woods for the second night of our festival “Tune it Down Turn it Up”. We had built a stage with a drum riser out of pallets and plywood, hauled all the gear out there, hooked up a generator, hung a large curtain between the trees behind the stage to project some psychedelic visuals for the show, and started up a massive bonfire to keep the attendees warm through the night. We had a total of 7 bands lined up from 8:00pm – 2:30am, when we got to the final band I recall Eric coming up to me in a panic saying “We’re out of bands, people are still partying, should we (SweetBeast) get up there?!” “Oh hell yeah!” I said with excitement. We got on stage and made all sorts of psychedelic noise, not feeling the ability to conquer a structured song at the time (we called this the SweetBeast meltdown).. Once I’d had enough I got up and handed my bass to whoever wanted the chance to play. Thus commencing a rotating jam with different musicians throughout the remainder of the evening. Around 6:30 am it began to pour rain, shutting down the operation for fear of electric shock.. We hauled all the gear to safety and looked around, still feeling a sense of energy in the remaining crowd, Eric and I had a brief discussion and yelled out “WE’RE BURNING THE STAGE!!” We proceeded to tear the stage apart piece by piece, and like a trail of ants everyone grabbed their piece and brought it to the fire, resulting in approx. 75 ft tall flames that were so bloody hot you wouldn’t dare get too close. Aside from the one girl who sat about 20ft from it in a car tire glistening with sweat.. She was loving it. It was an epic finale to an epic weekend and a memory we will never forget.
5. Eric’s house is where we do all our jams and creation. He has a detached shed in the backyard that’s shared with the neighbors, and over the years (with help from the band), we have slowly taken it over as the people next door have moved out; decorating it with crochet blankets, posters, mood lights and all the toys we need to make it the perfect spot for making music at all hours. In the spirit of making music and being creative, it has been given the name “ The Womb.” Where all the musical babies are born. When the Kelowna scene was thriving, people would either ask to come back to The Womb, or Eric would invite musicians and other funky people back after a night of open mic’s or other events to keep the energy and magic flowing, hosting wild memorable late night jams for anyone who was inclined to join. There have been so many amazing people in and out of there, all adding to the creative and artistic energy that emits from within. It has been the birthplace for all of our music and an inspiration for other artists, and we probably would not have made it this far as a band if we didn’t have The Womb at our disposal.
6. Since 2020, the music scene in Kelowna has faced a tough challenge with the closure of around six local venues. As musicians, it’s been disheartening to watch places that once thrived, and nurtured live music and community art to see it disappear. These closures have made it increasingly difficult for bands like ours to find spaces to share our music and connect with fans. Despite these setbacks, we’ve kept pushing forward, organizing our own events and shows, and expanding our reach by finding shows in other nearby cities such as Vancouver, Nelson, Kamloops, Vernon, Grand Forks, and Revelstoke. We hope to keep traveling further over the years and plan tours to expand our reach to new territories around the world.
L-R – Eric Gorzynski – Vocals/Guitar, Alex Graham – Backup Vocals/Bass, Colton Schofield – Drums, John Hermary – Vocals/Guitar
About:
At the heart of SweetBeast’s sound lies a dynamic fusion of celestial and grounded elements. The music transcends traditional boundaries, blending the cosmic dimensions of psychedelic, stoner, and desert rock. As you surrender to the music, be prepared to traverse the vast, sun-soaked landscapes of the desert through gritty, soul-stirring riffs that define our unique sonic identity.
SweetBeast invites you to lose yourself in our cosmic fusion, a living, breathing entity that wants you to explore the echoes of reverberating guitars and the rhythmic heartbeat of the desert.
Shared Stage with: Spotlights (NY), Pharm, Space Queen, Down the Lees, Gone Cosmic, Gadfly, The Getmines, Charles Mansion, Upcoming: The Well
Tours and Festivals:
2018 – 2024 – Tune It Down Turn It Up – Kelowna, BC
2023 – Okanagan Tattoo Show
2024 – The Get Mines “Lil Rips” Tour
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