 What does the metaphor "Gorilla Mask" stand for? What was the band thinking when they decided to equip themselves with the mask of a gorilla? An anthropoid, which is the second largest primate after humans, but an endangered species contrary to them? An animal, which became the frightening aggressor in the form of the film classic "King Kong", but also experienced his most gentle moments with a human female? When you listen to the first CD recording of the band just three years in existence, you start to suspect the reason: powerful and full of energy, brutal to the point of losing their identity, and full of crackling tension even in the quieter moments. A saxophone – at any rate predestined as an instrument with a plethora of expressive possibilities – screeches, fleeces, speeds and unloads in an uncontrollable thunderstorm of sounds. A bass, powerful, deeply sonorous and threatening like proverbial self-praise. And drums, which route all of that into the rhythmic track of a relentless heartbeat. But all of this only symbolizes the mask. You find three musicians behind it, who not only master their instruments with a high degree of virtuosity, but who have also trained and further advanced their skills in all styles. As a result, a haphazard and shapeless chaos is not created, but instead a mixture of hard rock, jazz, grunge, metal and lots more, but for which there are no terms. That sounds very urban and natural, intellectual and emotional, structured and free at the same time. And never boring. Peter Van Huffel was born and grew up in Canada. He moved to New York in 2002, where he quickly became part of the "scene". He formed a quintet, with whom he quickly made a name for himself (not only) in New York. The other band members were Jesse Stacken, Scott DuBois, Michael Bates and Jeff Davis. Collaboration followed with the Belgian singer Sophie Tassignon and additional CD recordings, among others, with Samuel Rohrer, Miles Perkin, Samuel Blaser and Michael Bates (the latter can also be found on Between The Lines). The press called him "one of the most intense performers on this instrument" (All About Jazz), and comparisons were made with Albert Ayler and Peter Brötzmann. But above all John Zorn was also cited. Roland Fidezius is the ideal band member on the bass woofer. He is not only known as a band member in "So Weiss" and the Lorenz Hargassner Quartett, but he has also played/recorded with Chris Hirson and Gebhard Ullmann, the Babelsberg film orchestra and Samuel Blaser. Need it be mentioned that he is not only one of the bassists most in demand in Germany, but also one of the most versatile ones? The Austrian Rudi Fischerlehner took a detour via Africa and New York to wind up living in Berlin in the meantime. He also plays everything from experimental jazz to post-rock, which resounds under his drumsticks. He drew attention to himself in bands such as Grid Mesh, Pinx and Fiium Shaarrk, and he drives his co-musicians in Gorilla Mask with his accumulated experience. "Damned interesting" – Dave Wayne (LA) wrote in the liner notes. Yes, that's true!
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