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The year might be 2018, but one of Metro Detroit’s newest bands, Vazum, are taking audiences back to the 80s and 90s with their grungy hard rock sound. If you’re a fan of bands like Smashing Pumpkins, REM, or Bauhaus, these guys will rock your socks off.
Lead by Zach Pliska, a drummer for various Detroit bands such as George Morris, FUR, and Le Votage, Vazum came to fruition in fall of 2017 when he wanted to spread his musical talents into songwriting/vocals and guitar. Pliska struggled getting anything going, but found his inspiration in an unusual manner.
“I had been working on demos but nothing was clicking until I got kicked out of a bar one night and decided to write ‘Fall Guy,’ which was the first song I released under the Vazum name,” Pliska said. “That was the kicking off point to the songs that followed; inspired by break-ups and seeking redemption from exes and myself.”
Pliska recruited Michael O’Connor on bass and Zachary Anderson on guitar to help form Vazum towards the later months of 2017 and into 2018. The trio compiled their first self-titled EP in February 2018 and started to find their voice. They embraced their 80s/90s rock sound and Pliska became more confident with songwriting by tapping into his experience with other bands.
“My biggest take away is to not hold anything back and go for it. There is nothing to lose,” Pliska said.
Pliska handled drums and vocals on the EP, while Jake Woods performs drums for the band during their live shows. The quartet has been rocking shows throughout 2018, including a recent performance at The Loving Touch’s Halloween Mega Blitz III as English goth band Bauhuas.
Photo Courtesy of Vazum
Vazum is currently gearing up for their new album, “Void,” due out on Saturday, November 17. The hard rock group will be hosting a special album release concert that night at Small’s Bar and will be joined by fellow Metro Detroit bands Werewolves and Those Hounds. The 18+ only live show promises to be intense and impassioned, much like Vazum’s new album.
“Overall, ‘Void’ has more energy than the first EP. Lyrically, I stepped outside my world a little and wrote about people I don’t know,” Pliska said.
For more information on everything happening with Vazum, including their upcoming album and live shows, be sure to follow them on Facebook or visit their Bandcamp website.
