GREENLEAF
Greenleaf became a proper band after more than a decade as a loose collective of friends making70s-inspired hard rock and proto-metal. Led by guitarist Tommi Holappa, co-founder of European desertrock originators Dozer, various configurations of Greenleaf with personnel from Lowrider, Truckfighters,Demon Cleaner and Dozer came and went during those early years. But after five records and twice asmany cast members rotating in and out, Tommi began to feel Greenleaf could be something more.Its evolution from side project to focused band began when Tommi reached out to the classically-trainedArvid Hällagård in 2013 to sing on a new track. Arvid’s early stoner rock band Giant Space Cruiser hadplayed with Dozer some years before, and Tommi had kept tabs on the charismatic singer. Along withdrummer Sebastian Olsson, who began as a fill-in but would become the second-longest tenuredGreenleaf member behind Tommi, they worked on one song and then another, Arvid taking things in adifferent direction vocally than any previous version of the project had seen. The sense was immediatethat things had changed, and what they were making was a true album.Playing a few shows, they found an immediate onstage chemistry, and it was undeniable that this was nolonger just a way to fill time between their other bands. This was the foundation for what Greenleafwould be from then on: a locked-in, stage-destroying, anthem-blasting force, led by Tommi’sunparalleled riff sorcery, Arvid’s enrapturing, soul-heavy vocals, Sebastian’s frenetic rhythms and bassistHans Fröhlich’s deep, driving attack.Today Greenleaf are widely recognized as a dominating live act and one of the most prolific andobsessively listenable outfits to emerge from the European heavy underground. With four albums ofdriving, soaring riff-rock power to their credit since transforming into an actual band, they continuepushing the boundaries of desert-influenced rock further with each record and burning downincreasingly massive stages year after year.Now, ten years since the release of the landmark Trails & Passes album, Greenleaf return with The Head& The Habit, a record energized by awareness of their past triumphs and crafted with the maturity of aband who knows how to rock stronger, harder and better than ever before.