Crobu is a stoner rock band from Sardinia, Italy. They recently released their debut album "More Than This" on May 23rd. The band took time to write about the bands formation, their sound and other things related to Crobu.
1. Crobu is a new band. How did things come together?
Crobu started out as a project by Andrea, our guitarist. In the beginning, there were a few lineup changes while he was searching for the right people. The real turning point was meeting Federico, our vocalist. He happened to hear Andrea riffing on what would later become "The Bleed" from the rehearsal room next door. He popped his head in and asked to jam with the band. From that moment on, Andrea and Federico kept pushing the project forward until the lineup finally clicked with the arrival of Alessandro on drums and Lorenzo on bass.
2. I believe there is both a light and a dark energy to your sound. Was the diverse feel of your music intentional or did things naturally progress that way?
It probably comes down to who we are as people. On the outside, we might look like a bunch of easygoing guys or even class clowns,very positive people who always try to lift others up. But inside, we all have a darker side where we keep our struggles locked away. Instead of venting to people, we pour those feelings into our music. This definitely reflected on the album. A few tracks in particular were written or rearranged while we were in the studio, and they really felt the weight of a tough period we were going through at the time. A perfect example of that is "I Am the Leaf."
3. What was the catalyst for Crobu's formation? Was there any certain band or sound (excellent guitar tones etc.) that made you want to be a part of the whole stoner rock sound?
More than a specific sound, it was the attitude of certain bands that really drove us. Crobu was born out of a simple desire to just throw a couple of amps on the beach and play for our friends, mimicking those "generator party" vibes that Kyuss were famous for. As for our actual sound, it's a mix of all our personal tastes. So yeah, you'll definitely hear Kyuss, Down, and Corrosion of Conformity, all built on a foundation of Black Sabbath , which, honestly, should be the foundation of every single band on the face of the earth!
4. There is a massive musical weight to some of the band's ideas. How would you define "heavy"?
Heavy is whatever resonates with the deepest part of yourself: emotional weight, impact, intensity. It’s not just about huge distortion or massive fuzz. But yes, we do love loud amps!
5. Your new album, "More Than This," will be released soon. What do you hope this release will do for the band?
Truth is, this album has already done something for us: we’re a pretty different band compared to the guys who walked into the studio on day one. Recording it made us way more self-aware and allowed us to improve step by step, throughout the entire writing and tracking process. As for what comes next, just the thought that from now on anyone, anywhere, can listen to our music is a beautiful thing for us.
6. Musicians can put a lot of themselves into their art. How is Crobu a personal expression of its members?
We generally give ourselves total freedom; each song is like a snapshot of a moment, of our emotions, summed up without forcing, very spontaneously.
7. Why do you think there seems to be a resurgence of the genre in the past few years?
We get the feeling there’s a big nostalgia effect at play, driving people to long for something that got lost over time. And it’s not just about stoner rock or music; it’s happening across art and society as a whole. You can see it in the comeback of '80s and '90s trends, from fashion to the way we listen to music, like the resurgence of cassettes and vinyl. We think we're living in a very nostalgic moment. People are probably looking backward to find a sort of safe haven, especially given how uncertain the general climate and the future feel right now.
8. Your genre, I believe, is quite animated. What emotional states do you hope the listener experiences while listening to Crobu?
Once the songwriting was pretty far along, we realized the album was turning out to be quite diverse. There are tracks you can just chill and listen to while having a beer at a bar, more introspective songs to enjoy in a quieter, more personal moment, and others that are perfect for a road trip. Overall, we’d love for this record to become a pleasant soundtrack for different moments in people's lives, pretty much the same way it is for us.
9. What are the future plans for the band?
First and foremost, the plan is to promote the album, and we already have a couple of gigs lined up for this summer. But another major plan is simply to enjoy the record on the beach with a nice, cold beer, after all the hard work and bullshit we had to go through to get it recorded and released.
10. How's the scene in your area? Any lesser known bands you'd like to mention?
The scene around here is actually pretty vibrant, and there are several great bands. If we look at the new generation, we absolutely have to mention some of the younger local metalheads like Toothless Unicorns and T-Bags. They are literally just young dudes, but they absolutely rip.
1. Crobu is a new band. How did things come together?
Crobu started out as a project by Andrea, our guitarist. In the beginning, there were a few lineup changes while he was searching for the right people. The real turning point was meeting Federico, our vocalist. He happened to hear Andrea riffing on what would later become "The Bleed" from the rehearsal room next door. He popped his head in and asked to jam with the band. From that moment on, Andrea and Federico kept pushing the project forward until the lineup finally clicked with the arrival of Alessandro on drums and Lorenzo on bass.
2. I believe there is both a light and a dark energy to your sound. Was the diverse feel of your music intentional or did things naturally progress that way?
It probably comes down to who we are as people. On the outside, we might look like a bunch of easygoing guys or even class clowns,very positive people who always try to lift others up. But inside, we all have a darker side where we keep our struggles locked away. Instead of venting to people, we pour those feelings into our music. This definitely reflected on the album. A few tracks in particular were written or rearranged while we were in the studio, and they really felt the weight of a tough period we were going through at the time. A perfect example of that is "I Am the Leaf."
3. What was the catalyst for Crobu's formation? Was there any certain band or sound (excellent guitar tones etc.) that made you want to be a part of the whole stoner rock sound?
More than a specific sound, it was the attitude of certain bands that really drove us. Crobu was born out of a simple desire to just throw a couple of amps on the beach and play for our friends, mimicking those "generator party" vibes that Kyuss were famous for. As for our actual sound, it's a mix of all our personal tastes. So yeah, you'll definitely hear Kyuss, Down, and Corrosion of Conformity, all built on a foundation of Black Sabbath , which, honestly, should be the foundation of every single band on the face of the earth!
4. There is a massive musical weight to some of the band's ideas. How would you define "heavy"?
Heavy is whatever resonates with the deepest part of yourself: emotional weight, impact, intensity. It’s not just about huge distortion or massive fuzz. But yes, we do love loud amps!
5. Your new album, "More Than This," will be released soon. What do you hope this release will do for the band?
Truth is, this album has already done something for us: we’re a pretty different band compared to the guys who walked into the studio on day one. Recording it made us way more self-aware and allowed us to improve step by step, throughout the entire writing and tracking process. As for what comes next, just the thought that from now on anyone, anywhere, can listen to our music is a beautiful thing for us.
6. Musicians can put a lot of themselves into their art. How is Crobu a personal expression of its members?
We generally give ourselves total freedom; each song is like a snapshot of a moment, of our emotions, summed up without forcing, very spontaneously.
7. Why do you think there seems to be a resurgence of the genre in the past few years?
We get the feeling there’s a big nostalgia effect at play, driving people to long for something that got lost over time. And it’s not just about stoner rock or music; it’s happening across art and society as a whole. You can see it in the comeback of '80s and '90s trends, from fashion to the way we listen to music, like the resurgence of cassettes and vinyl. We think we're living in a very nostalgic moment. People are probably looking backward to find a sort of safe haven, especially given how uncertain the general climate and the future feel right now.
8. Your genre, I believe, is quite animated. What emotional states do you hope the listener experiences while listening to Crobu?
Once the songwriting was pretty far along, we realized the album was turning out to be quite diverse. There are tracks you can just chill and listen to while having a beer at a bar, more introspective songs to enjoy in a quieter, more personal moment, and others that are perfect for a road trip. Overall, we’d love for this record to become a pleasant soundtrack for different moments in people's lives, pretty much the same way it is for us.
9. What are the future plans for the band?
First and foremost, the plan is to promote the album, and we already have a couple of gigs lined up for this summer. But another major plan is simply to enjoy the record on the beach with a nice, cold beer, after all the hard work and bullshit we had to go through to get it recorded and released.
10. How's the scene in your area? Any lesser known bands you'd like to mention?
The scene around here is actually pretty vibrant, and there are several great bands. If we look at the new generation, we absolutely have to mention some of the younger local metalheads like Toothless Unicorns and T-Bags. They are literally just young dudes, but they absolutely rip.