Non-profit band, Savage Lands – founded by Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren, and musician-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastelare – are releasing their debut album next year. Army of the Trees comes out February 15, 2025, through Season of Mist records, with 100% of the royalties supporting the preservation projects that the non-profit is leading in Costa Rica, Africa and France. The album features contributions from Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), John Tardy (Obituary), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Lord of the Lost, Maria Franz and Kai Uwe Faust (Heilung), Julien Truchan (Benighted), members of Black Bomb A and others. Keep reading to find out more.
Pre-order/pre-save Army of the Trees here:
https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/SavageLandsArmyoftheTrees
Donate here: https://savagelands.org/donation/
Having seen first-hand how deforestation threatens Costa Rica’s rain forest, two angry metalheads are banging their heads together to protect the world’s ecosystem. “After hearing the chainsaws on a daily basis, we knew it was time to act,” says musician-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel, “because the buzzing is only getting louder.”
Verbeuren and Demercastel founded Savage Lands in 2022. Thanks to their music, the 501 (c) (3) non-profit has preserved 100,000 square feet of forest in high-risk areas along the Costa Rican coastline. 100% of the royalties from their first album, Army of the Trees, support their ongoing preservation projects in Costa Rica and other countries.
The roots behind Savage Lands run deep. Dirk and Sylvain first met in France during the late ‘90s, when they both played in the socially conscious thrash metal band Artsonic. But just like a tree, the organization is supported by different types of branches. “As a non-profit, we depend on the support of other organizations, fellow artists and our listeners.” Dirk says.
In Costa Rica, Savage Lands partners with scientists, forest engineers, ecological parks, private businesses and other non-profits. Their Green Alliance (Alianza Verde) has led to more than 11,000 trees being planted in deforested areas throughout Costa Rica, which were planted with the help of 1,200 volunteers.
“What Savage Lands is doing is fantastic,” says Dr. Jane Goodall, whose global institute is partnering with the metal non-profit’s European branch on preservation projects in France and Africa. “Nature is music. Trees have music, but when we lose species after species, our ecosystem collapses. Savage Lands are using their music to support projects that promote biodiversity, which will help make the world better for future generations.”
Collaboration also fuels the creative fires of Savage Lands. The core band includes Poun and Etienne Treton from the veteran French metalcore band Black Bomb A, along with Loco Muerte’s Florian Pons. When they planted their ecological flag on Hellfest’s main stage in 2024, movers and shakers from across the metal sphere showed up to support. Not only did the festival leader pledge to donate 1 million Euro to the organizations over the next five years. Daniel de Jongh (Textures), Silje Wergeland (The Gathering), Jesper Liveröd (Nasum), Alejandro Montoya (Cultura Tres), Vincent Price (Body Count), Billy Graziadei (Biohazard), Shane Embury (Napalm Death) and Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) all joined for an appropriately bloody and scream-worthy rendition of “Roots.”
“I’m happy to be a part of such a truly important cause.” Embury said after the performance. “We are connected with every living thing on this planet and Savage Lands is helping to preserve nature’s treasures.”
Army of the Trees features even more metallic fire power. Out of the sludgy distortion that spews from “The Last Howl” crawls Obituary’s John Tardy, who pays a fitting tribute to the endangered Howler monkey by unleashing his inner primate with spit-flinging growls. “Black Rock Heart” carves out a wickedly blackened groove, though the song’s aggressive chug is fueled by more spiritual concerns. “We wanted the music to reflect our mounting frustration with the way the real estate heat wave is destroying Costa Rica’s ecosystem,” Sylvain says. “For so long, nature has been trying to warn us that we’re putting our future at risk.” Who else could represent the magical spirit of the forest but visionary artist Chloé Trujillo and Heilung’s chief of ceremonies Kai Uwe Faust.
Heilung are also working with Savage Lands outside of the recording studio. The world-famous Nordic collective donated $1 for every ticket sold during their most-recent U.S. tour to support their Season of Mist labelmates. “Supporting Savage Lands was an easy decision for us,” says Maria Franz, whose soothing high notes grace the melancholic power ballad “No Remedy.”
“That’s another beautiful thing about Savage Lands,” Sylvain says. “As a band, we’re not limited to just one genre. We can adapt to boost the strengths of whomever is joining us.”
Savage Lands’ debut album introduces several new species of metalhead to their ecosystem. Eurovision’s darlings Lord of the Lost spill their blood and glitter over the spiky riffs that puncture “Out of Breath”. Holding court over lead single “Ruling Queen” with her serpentine cleans and lioness roar is none other than Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz. “Now is the time to take a stand,” the band roar in a fierce rallying cry during the album’s climactic title track, backed by Julien Truchan from Benighted and other pillars from the French metal community.
“Our goals are attainable,” Sylvain and Dirk say. “By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism. But we must work together and quickly. Ecosystems are still under attack. If we don’t, then there won’t be any wildlife left to save.”
Army of the Trees tracklisting:
01 Black Rock Heart (feat Kai Uwe Faust, Chloe Trujillo) (4:36)
02 Ruling Queen (featuring Alissa White-Gluz, Kenny Andrews) (4:31)
03 The Last Howl (featuring John Tardy, Andreas Kisser) (6:04)
04 No Remedy (featuring Maria Franz) (4:27)
05 Out of Breath (featuring Lord of the Lost, Chloe Trujillo) (4:49)
06 Better Man (4:23)
07 Never Be Up (3:42)
08 Army of the Trees (4:26)*
09 Visions of Life (4:02)
10 Addicted (4:45)
Collaborators:
Stephane Buriez
Ardag Basmadjian
HK Nico + James at Vamacara
Guest features:
Kai Uwe Faust – Vocals (Black Rock Heart)
Chloe Trujillo – Vocals (Black Rock Heart, Out of Breath)
Alissa White-Gluz – Vocals (Ruling Queen)
Kenneth Andrews – Guitar (Ruling Queen)
Andreas Kisser – Guitar (The Last Howl)
John Tardy – Vocals (The Last Howl)
Maria Franz – Vocals (No Remedy)
Lord of the Lost (Out of Breath)
*”Army of the Trees” features Steeven Corsini (Loco Muerte), Auré Jäger (Akiavel), David & Viber (Sidilarsen), Niko Jones (Tagada Jones), Julien Truchan (Benighted), Stéphane Buriez (Loudblast, Sinsaenum), Nils Courbaron (Bloodorn, Sirenia, DDC) and Aurelien Ouzoulias (The Beat Factory, Mörglbl).
Savage Lands lineup:
Poun – Vocals
Sylvain Demercastel – Guitars
Etienne Treton – Bass
Florian Pons – Drums
Dirk Verbeuren – Drums on “Black Rock Heart”, “The Last Howl” and “Out of Breath)
Follow Savage Lands:
https://savagelands.org/
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/savage-lands/1712738479
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5fft5SyNYhNar3PdYtKQSF
https://m.facebook.com/p/Savage-Lands-100081754354224/
https://www.instagram.com/savagelands_project/