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Music

Wino and Conny Ochs Have Been Through Hell, but the Folk Duo is Back With A Heavenly New Album

Stream the soulful pair's new album 'Freedom Conspiracy' in its entirety.

Photo by Albert Mojica Doom icon Scott "Wino" Weinrich has had a rough year, and that dark energy is part of why his latest effort, another acoustic collaborative release with German folkie Conny Ochs, rings so true. He's clearly in a far more positive place now, and it's a joy to hear his weathered voice soar again.

"It feels very natural to play with Connie, and although it’s been awhile, I can’t wait to tour," Wino tells us. "Our spontaneous jams are really uplifting, and we have a powerful delivery with Conny's strong vocals and beautiful, ultra-solid rhythms. The challenge is making simple powerful, but we know that you don’t have to be tuned down and electric to be heavy; it’s the power of the song, and the performance. It’s a rush."

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Ochs feels just as strongly about the work he's created with his seemingly unlikely compatriot, with whom he shares a band, a love for Townes Van Zandt, and a punk rock background. "There is a balance and openness that grew from the first album. We were on the road together for a long time with Heavy Kingdom, and along the way, we began to understand more about our ways of life, our songwriting, and our struggles. Many songs on the album grew from experiences we had together," he explains. "To let someone into your songwriting is not easy It needs a lot of trust and understanding. We push each other a lot when we ́re together."

When asked for an overaching theme or concept for Freedom Conspiracy, Ochs' answer didn't come as much of a surprise. "Personal liberation," he states firmly. "The freedom of the spirit, and the heart. I feel that is in all the songs we write. That is what brought us together, too."

Sounds like a match made in heaven by two souls who have been through hell.

Get on board with Freedom Conspiracy below; the album's out March 31, and preorders can be placed in the US via Earsplit Distro (order internationally through Germany’s Exile On Mainstream Records).

WINO Tour dates w/ Black Label Society:

4/03/2015 The Paramout - Huntington, NY

4/04/2015 Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom - Hampton Beach, NJ

4/06/2015 Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ

4/08/2015 Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD

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4/10/2015 Piere’s Entertainment Center - Fort Wayne, IN

4/11/2015 Orbit Room - Grand Rapids, MI

4/12/2015 The Rave - Milwaukee, WI

4/14/2015 The Cotillion - Wichita, KS

4/16/2015 Mesa Theater & Club - Grand Junction, CO

4/17/2015 The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT

4/18/2015 Ace Of Spades - Sacramento, CA

4/19/2015 City National Grove Of Anaheim - Anaheim, CA

CONNY OCHS Tour Dates:

3/27/2015 Distrò - La Spezia IT

3/28/2015 Socio - Massa Carrara IT

4/03/2015 Bardamu / Calderara di Reno - Bologna IT

4/04/2015 La Girada - Udine IT

4/06/2015 Maximum Festival - Zerobranco IT

5/16/2015 Maximum Circus Festival - Berlin DE

5/29/2015 Eulenbruch Festival - Rostock DE