Herba Mate’s comeback album is rooted in the band’s everyday life: family, friendship, work, the streets, and their beloved Romagna—a homeland stretching from clay canyons to the sea. The record title evokes a fascination with what races forward: technology, progress, speed, and efficiency. This tension defines our time, shaped by the pursuit of perfection. Yet acceleration also risks disconnecting us from the tangible simplicity of the world around us, made up of water, air, earth, and fire: the elements that bring us back to our essence. This contrast lies at the heart of the album’s concept and sound. The project unfolds across two consecutive releases: “Bolide I & II,” exploring Earth
and Air, followed by “Bolide III & IV,” which will turn to Fire and Water.
“Terra (I),” “Aer (II),” “Ignis (III),” and “Aqua (IV)” form the coordinates of the albums’ narrative and musical language. The tracks were recorded primarily live, with drums, guitar, and bass forming the raw, driving core of each song. The trio lineup remains at the heart of the record, gradually enriched by a cast of guest musicians: Claudio Colaianni (That’s All Folks, Colt.38, Anuseye) and Valentina Paggio on vocals; Gianni Perinelli on saxophone; Stefano Olivi on organ; Silvia Valtieri on piano; and Franco Naddei on synthesizers. The arrangements evolved organically, free from genre boundaries and open to the distinct sensibilities and musical languages of each contributor. Alongside them are soundscapes born in an acoustic studio session, later developed and expanded during mixing into cinematic interludes.
Pre-Order “Bolide I & II” here: https://bfan.link/bolide-1-2
Stream the official trailer for “Bolide I & II” via the YouTube player below:
SIDE A — Terra
01. Gully Island
02. Boogie Mouse
03. Sawdust
04. Milky Way Lungfish
SIDE B — Aer
01. David vs Goliath
02. Daisy
03. Juli
04. Poppy
05. Desert Inn III
Lineup:
Andrea Barlotti / Guitar
Alessandro Trerè / Bass, Vocals
Ermes Piancastelli / Drums
Additional Musicians:
Gianni Perinelli on Sax on A1, A2
Franco Naddei on Synth on A1, A4
Claudio Colaianni on Lyrics and Vocals on B1
Stefano Olivi on Organs on B1
Valentina Paggio on Lyrics and Vocals on B3
Silvia Valtieri on Piano on B5
— About Herba Mate —
Herba Mate is an Italian trio formed in 2000 by Alessandro Trerè (bass, vocals), Andrea Barlotti (guitar), and Ermes Piancastelli (drums). Their music draws inspiration from the vast California deserts—the birthplace of Desert Rock and Stoner Rock, and home to influential bands such as Kyuss, Fatso Jetson, Queens of the Stone Age, Yawning Man,
and Fu Manchu. From their base in Italy, the three friends reinterpret these lysergic sounds through psychedelic dynamics, deep low frequencies, and hypnotic riffs, adding a distinctly Romagna-flavored edge. The band’s name refers to yerba mate, the traditional South American infusion often consumed as part of a ritual.
In 2005, Herba Mate released their first recordings on the self-produced EP “A Desert Section.” Three years later, they began work on their debut album, “The Jellyfish Is Dead and the Hurricane Is Coming,” recorded at Sputnik Studio in Predappio and released in August 2009. Predominantly instrumental, hypnotic, and Experimental, the album captures the transition from adolescence into adulthood, evoking a journey through a desert where the horizon remains an ever-shifting mirage. In 2012, the record was pressed on vinyl by Italian label Blinde Proteus. In 2013, they performed at Maximum Festival alongside California’s Fatso Jetson. The encounter inspired “Early Shapes,” a split album released on vinyl by Go Down Records in 2014. The band continued to build its reputation onstage, sharing bills with Fu Manchu, Pontiak, Damo Suzuki, Brant Bjork, Yawning Man, Psychic Ills, and many others. After a lengthy hiatus, Herba Mate returned in April 2024 with the single “Boogie Mouse / Sì è Lei,” released as a 7-inch vinyl by Edig, the legendary Italian label founded in the 1960s. The trio’s sophomore studio album, “Bolide I & II,” is scheduled for release on Go Down Records in November 2026.