By Crystal Harrell
Formed in 1993 by Hi-Desert resident Patrick Brink, the band VOLUME is back after a long hiatus to finish what they started. The band recently celebrated the 20th anniversary edition vinyl pressing of Requesting Permission to Land, just released worldwide on Oct. 27. A record release show at White Label Vinyl in 29 Palms was held the next day. VOLUME is now gearing up to perform at Four Twenty Bank in Palm Springs on Nov. 17. The event is free for the public and attendees can expect a “psycho groovy” time.
“I’m most excited to just get back out there and bring live music to the people,” stated frontman Patrick Brink. “It’s been 20 years since VOLUME has been an active band. I’m ready to freak out some minds and bring the rock. We are either going down in blistering flames or heads are going to explode from the intensity and sheer volume from these songs.”
The record Requesting Permission to Land was remastered by Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Nebula). From the riff-fueled percussive-frenzy of the EP opener “Habit” to the rhythmic and progressive conclusion of “Headswim,” Requesting Permission to Land is a thrilling collection of heavy acid rock. Plus, the EP features a number of talented musicians, including drums recorded by Scott Reeder (Fu Manchu) and bass played by James Scoggins (Final Conflict).
Over the years, VOLUME has shared the stage with bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Fu Manchu, Mastodon and Acid King, while pulling inspiration from the likes of The Stooges, MC5 and Black Flag.
“I was tired of being in bands that weren’t sure what they wanted, where they were going, and just overall apathetic. I wanted to get down and rock ’n’ roll, make music that had a strong psychedelic edge to it, but still rocked. So I focused on getting better on guitar and writing songs with that in mind,” Brink said.
“I was deeply into music since I was a little kid. I was singing to Elvis and Ernie’s rubber ducky like nobody’s business in kindergarten. I would play the 45s on my Fisher Price record player and sing at the top of my lungs. I even remember writing lyrics in 3rd grade, and in my teenage years, I was singing in a punk band. It just was natural and something that’s always been a part of my life,” said Brink.
VOLUMES is playing a few more shows around Southern California, and after that, the band is heading back into the studio in January at Rancho De La Luna to record another EP with Dave Catching (QOTSA, Foo Fighters, Desert Sessions) producing. Brink is shooting for a 2024 summer release, followed by a number of U.S. shows before heading to Europe next year — although the Coachella Valley speaks to him.
“I like that it still has a small time feel but still is thriving culturally. Lots of musical and artistic energy going around,” shared Brink.
Brink is constantly writing riffs and parts of songs, which he records on his phone as they come to him.
“I then revisit them in a week or so and if I like it, I don’t delete it. If it’s terrible when I go back, I delete it,” he said.
“If it’s got potential, I mark it as ‘maybe’. Then in a month or so, I revisit them again. If I still dig the song, I give it a name, and if it’s just so-so, I end up deleting it so that I can manage all the songs. I currently have about 80 plus songs and parts of songs that I can pull from.”
VOLUME’s music can be found on all major streaming platforms and at https://linktr.ee/volume_rocks.
