Saola

With a sound that Willamette Week described as “Baby whales pushing a nuclear submarine into the Mariana Trench”, SAOLA is a four piece doom metal band from Portland, OR. SAOLA was formed in the summer of 2014 by four friends who met while taking music lessons at the Portland chapter of School of Rock. The teenage band members immediately began working on original music and performing as much as possible while developing a style that PDX Pop Now! called “an exploration of rhythm, melody, darkness, fuzz and
brimstone”. In February of 2015 they released a four song demo and followed that up with a live recording – “SAOLA’s Big Nighttime Bash For No One”, recorded at The Ash Street Saloon in Portland, OR. They self-released their first full-length album – “Black Canvas” – on April 30, 2016. Recorded at Haywire Studios, the release of Black Canvas was a shining moment for these high schoolers – a turning point in the band’s trajectory. Black Canvas proved to fans that these kids were wise beyond their years and had something worthwhile to say. Doomed & Stoned reviewed the album saying, “With a captivating song-set and music that unfolds with masterful instrumental storytelling, ‘Black Canvas’ is impressive in every way.” Despite their young age, SAOLA has stated to make their mark on the Portland music scene, playing with local doom legends Witch Mountain, Swedish metal giants Monolord and death metal favorites Enterprise Earth. In July of 2016, SAOLA was invited to play the PDX Pop Now! Festival and was chosen by Willamette Week as one of the “must see acts” before the festival and on their list of “best of” after. That same month, SAOLA’s first single, “The Deep”, was included on the Doomed & Stoned compilation – Doomed & Stoned Portland II. The band is currently gigging in support of their album and writing new music all while the members finish up the senior years in high school.
Started on August 20, 2013

Ethan Douglas Conrad (guitar/vocals)
Holden Larson (bass)
Mac Luis (drums)
Zack Trani (guitar/vocals)

Portland, OR