Skeletonwitch – Well Of Despair


Skeletonwitch Well Of Despair abum cover ghostcultmag

Fandom is a curious thing. People feel very intense about about a band and sometimes fret when there is a change. Bands change members all the time. That is the nature of people trying to play music for a living under mixed circumstances at the best of times. For thirteen years Skeletonwitch has been one of the most heavy and consistent bands in the American metal scene. They have made some great records, opened tours for major names, and spread their sound around the globe. Fans certainly didn’t want to accept the change when the band suspended and removed former singer Chance Garnette, due to his personal issues, and much chatter on line centered around the future prospects of new music. Cleverly the band didn’t reveal new vocalist Adam Clemans (Wolvhammer) until just recently and now have debuted the first new music with Adam, in the form of new single Well of Despair (Prosthetic).

Although this track s but a small taste of what is to be expected later this year in the form of a full EP, ‘Well of Despair’ was recorded at Baltimore’s Developing Nations with Kevin Bernsten (Noisem, Magrudergrind, Mutilation Rites) earlier this year. Musically the track is as much of a declaration of intent as anything else. Galloping drum beats pound from the speakers. All the things that made Skeletonwitch great, this track has it. It’s a quick slab of brutal thrashy black-metal inspired riffage that is sure to make fans headbang like mad and take notice. Clemmons sounds excellent. He has a gnarly growl and a lung power equal to Chance’s. It will be great to hear him tackle the back catalog during the forthcoming Decibel Tour with Abbath, High On Fire, and Tribulation. But ‘Well Of Despair’ is a powerful introduction to the next phase of the band. If you had any doubts about the future of the band, throw them out the window now!

 

Skeletonwitch 2016 new band photo ghostcultmag

7.0/10

KEITH CHACHKES

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Audio: Affiance – Gaia, Crowdfunded EP Out Next Month


Affiance band 2016 atomsplitter pr hostcultmag

Melodic metalcore leaders Affiance are self-releasing their new EP on March 11th, titled Gaia, following a successful crowdfunding campaign last year. The bad has premiered the title track, which you can hear at this link or below:

Vocalist Dennis Tvrdik commented:

“The title track is very much the general theme of the EP. If we keep this course, we will destroy ourselves. We can’t survive if we don’t respect our home. Though it may come off as a cheesy ‘global warming’ song, it has more to do with the overall disregard of how our actions today will impact society for the next generation.”

The band is celebrating the release with a special FREE hometown show at The Agora Ballroom, in Cleveland OH on March 11th, when the EP drops.

Pre-orders bundles for Gaia are available now via MerchNow.

Gaia EP track listing:

1. Reboot

2. Gaia

3. Hollow Empire

4. Knowing

5. Crusader

6. PRSVR

7. Exist

Affiance tour dates:

Mar 11: The Agora Ballroom – Cleveland, OH (Record Release show/FREE admission)

Mar 12: The Summit – Columbus, OH

Mar 13: The Ritz- Warren, MI

Mar 14: The Cinema- Connellsville, PA

Mar 15: Waterstreet Music Hall- Rochester, NY

Mar 16: Firehouse 13- Providence, RI

Mar 17: Amityville Music Hall- Amityville, NY

Mar 18: The Loft- Poughkeepsie, NY

Mar 19: Championship Bar & Grill- Trenton, NJ

Mar 21: Arizona Pete’s – Greensboro, NC

Mar 22: The Handlebar- Pensacola, FL

Mar 23: Scouts Bar- Houston, TX

Mar 24: Dirty Dog- Austin, TX

Mar 25: The Rail Club- Ft. Worth, TX

Mar 26: Texas Korova- San Antonio, TX

Mar 28: Aftershock Live Music Venue – Merriam, KS

Mar 30: The Garage- Burnsville, MN

 

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Affiance on Instagram

 

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